Chapter 25

When Loki woke again, he heard soft breathing next to him. Turning his head, he saw Thor sitting close to the bed in a chair. He sighed, wondering how long Thor had been there and how long he had slept.

Thor sat up straight. "Loki." He was quiet, less boisterous than his normal tone.

"What are you doing here?" Loki tried to sound annoyed, but couldn't muster the feeling behind it.

Thor didn't meet Loki's eyes. "Strange told me….that you wished to see me. I think it's time we spoke."

Loki looked away from him. He had remembered saying something of that sort before Strange had put him under the sleeping spell. "Speak then." He said briskly, swinging his feet over the bed and sitting at its edge.

Thor put a hand behind his neck. "When you fled, I thought over your words for some time."

"That must have taken the entire day," Loki returned wryly.

Much to Loki's surprise, Thor got out of his seat and knelt in front of him, his head bowed with shame. "Loki , Mother loved you to her dying breath. We were a family, and I know she still saw good in you even if the All-Father had given up on you, I -had given up." He paused, and Loki knew he was wording his next sentence carefully. "When mother died, I had did not think it had affected you, as you were beyond reason. But seeing you when we spoke in the dungeons….I know I was wrong." His words faltered as he looked away. "It was cruel of me to lay blame for her death as I did." He raised a hand to stop Loki from speaking again, "I know that you place the burden on Mother's death, but know that none of us could have stopped her from protecting another's life at the cost of her own."

Loki was surprised when Thor suddenly rose and pulled him into an embrace. Loki didn't hesitate to put his hand on his brother's back and pat it. "Loki, I thought I had lost you on Svartalfheim, I was beside myself. I will not let you die in front of my eyes again."

Loki pulled away, his face hardening into a disbelief. "So that is it? You will forgive my faked death and attempt to usurp Odin?"

Thor stood, his face also turning stony. "I am still distrustful of you. But as you are still mortal at the moment, I will all I can to protect you. I owe you that much." Thor let a smile grace his face.

"Come, let us go downstairs and have some tea."

Loki's eyebrows rose. "You don't drink tea."

Thor let out a little laugh. "No, but Strange has a unique trick of filling a mug with beer one it's emptied."

Loki smiled. "Allow me to get washed up and I will join you presently. "

"I heard that you and your brother finally spoke to one another." Xavier began with his fingers steepled together.

"We did. " Lok said shortly, turning only slightly to look at him from his position standing in front of a bookshelf. Despite his reluctance, they again met for another session.

Xavier noted the rude tone, but said pleasantly. "And you 'cleared the air' between you?"

Loki merely shrugged in response, "For the most part."

"I sense that you did not tell him everything, that you're holding something back. Do you think that's a good idea if you want him to trust you?"

Loki shifted on his feet knowing that he had struck a nerve. "He and the other Avengers would not believe me."

"Believe you?" Xavier inquired.

Loki waved a hand dismissively. "Nevermind, I will tell them in my own time. "I don't think they would unless I'm 'healed'."

Xavier understood that this line of inquiry was closed for the moment. He decided on a change of topic. "Since we are on the topic of families….." he trailed off and handed Loki a book that read. "Finding my Shadow. Adoptee Children and Their Search for Family." He looked up.

The professor rested his chin on his interlocked fingers. "I think it's time we talked about your heritage. I also gave a copy to Thor."

Loki snorted, "It's hilarious that you think he actually will read it."

Xavier again ignored Loki's rudeness. "If Thor doesn't, Doctor Banner will explain. I think he understands since he came from an abusive home."

Loki turned his head at this statement to look at Xavier, who's turn it was to look surprised. "You don't know about Dr. Banner's life?" Loki's puzzled expression made him continue. "His mother was loving enough, but his father was an alcoholic that abused his wife and his son. One night, Bruce and his mother were trying to escape him and his father killed her. Needless to say, he was committed to a mental hospital, and Bruce was raised by his brother's sister with love and care." A pause ensued and then, "What you both will be reading can give me some insight on your childhood." He turned to leave. "I'll go and let you get on with reading. We'll meet again next week."

As expected a week later, Thor, Loki and Professor Xavier met in the library for the session.

"What did you think of the reading, Thor?" Xavier questioned the older Asgardian who shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Doctor Banner explained the types of abuse that takes place in families." Thor returned quietly, in a tone that sounded raspy and quiet.

"And you, Loki?" Xavier turned the question to him.

"I understood that children often wonder who they are, and upon finding out, feel rejected by the birth parents despite love from an adoptive one." Loki answered pensively.

"Thor, you didn't know that Loki was an Jotun until Loki's fall from the Bi-Frost, is that correct?" Xavier turned his attention the thunderer who nodded meekly.

"Alright. Now Loki, I want you to tell me how you discovered that you were an Jotun."

So Loki delved into the tale of how he had been touched on the arm in the Jotunheim by one of the warrior and rather than being burned, his skin had turned blue. How he had not believed it was true that he might be Jotun until he'd gone down to the vaults and picked up the Casket of Ancient Winters. How his skin had begun to turn into that of an Jotun. And how Odin had finally had spoken the truth as to how he had come to live on Asgard and the King and Queen's second son and prince.

Thor for the most part, listened to this tale feeling dumbstruck at the end of it. "So that's why….that's why you killed Laufey, and tried to destroy the Jotunheim. Were you trying to claim the Jotunheim rightfully as your own? Or Asgard? Is that why you came to Earth to tell me that Father was dead when he was not?" Thor's voice was growing louder, more angry with every sentence. "Why didn't you confide in Mother? In me?"

"You would have just laughed and thought it one of my tricks, Thor!" Loki was now shouting. "I was trying to prove that I was a good son, to erase that part of me that I despised the most!"

"Enough." Xavier called firmly, and the tension was soon cut off. "Thor. Therein lies the problem. The deep seated hatred of the Jotuns and the glory of defeating them being toly not only to you but to him brought a identity crisis that made Loki question who he was and why he was brought to Asgard as a political pawn. It would set anyone into a downward spiral." Xavier rebuked the Thunderer.

Thor sat back, stunned. "Loki, I heard your words before you….let go of Gungnir. It was only then that I understood that you were trying to prove yourself worthy. I don't care if you're an Jotun, brother. What I said, all the jest I spoke were made in ignorance of your state of mind. We cannot go back to how we were as children, but perhaps we can begin to repair our relationship You're as much an Asgardian as any on our realm. And your life means as much to mean as I think mine does to you."

"I think we've made good progress today." Xavier finally said as the two brother fell silent. "I think it is time we end our session. Sometimes it is better to just walk away from things and go back to them later when you're in a better frame of mind. Let's have some tea."

TBC...

A/N: I know it's been a long time since I've updated this fic. Honestly, my life has been chaotic since October and has only improve this last month or so. I hope that it was good, as I wrote it solo. Thank you for the kind comments and continued support!