Chapter 21: The Incident and the Very Important Person

The week after Storm's birth, things were fine. Loki missed his work, but the baby didn't really give him much time, though he tried to spend some of his free time with Alex. At the moment, they were making a puzzle in the new playroom. The room was beautiful, with a lot of toys for both children. Storm was sleeping in a crib and Alex was solving the jig-saw puzzle. Suddenly, Friday told them something.

"There has been an incident in the lab. Please shelter in place."

Loki was a bit worry about the kind of incident that could have happened in the lab, but he didn't bother too much. Not until he heard a roar and punches.

oOo

Steve, Natasha and Sam were all trying to calm down the beast. Tony had tried to come up with a way of calming the Hulk instantaneously, but it did the opposite and now he was on the loose. Wanda had been the first to try something, but the green monster had smashed her in a wall violently and she was now unconscious. Vision was helping, but he didn't want to use the gem so he would not destroy the building.

But the Hulk decided he didn't want to be around the Avengers and ventured further into the compound and soon he was in the living quarters like some kind of instinct had guided him there.

oOo

"I regret to inform you doctor Banner had an incident and is now on the other side of the wall" said Friday.

Loki panicked. Of course the Hulk was there for him.

"Alex, come here."

Loki took the crib and hid both Alex and Storm behind the toy box and covered them with a green blanket Alex had started carrying around a few days before. Loki didn't know where the blanket was coming from, but he could worry about that later. Once the children were hidden, he stood up in the middle of the room. He didn't have his magic or any other advantage, but he would not let the Hulk close to his children.

"You stay there! Don't come out!"

Hulk then torn down the wall and was in the room, facing Loki. At that moment, Storm started to cry. Loki moved away from the children and toward the beast.

"Go ahead, fight me."

But Hulk was not interested in Loki apparently and he pushed the small god. Hulk then advanced toward the children, not seeing them. Loki did what he could. He picked up a big block and throw it at Hulk.

"It's me you want! Come and get me!"

Hulk turned toward Loki and roared, but did not attack. He then proceeds closer to the children.

"No. I'm here! Here!"

Loki punched Hulk in the side, but the monster was getting closer to the children. Where were the Avengers?

Right on cue, Captain America arrived with Iron Man.

"Hey big guy, come fight with someone your own size," said Tony.

But then, the worst happened. Hulk's hand slowly descended toward the blanket still hiding the kids, Storm still screaming. Suddenly, a kind of bubble formed under the blanket, shielding the two kids as Hulk took the blanket. Alex was holding the crib and Storm just stopped crying. Hulk then cuddled with the blanket.

Loki ran to his kids seeing that the beast was calming.

"Are you okay? Who put that shield?"

Loki couldn't go past the shield, he could just touch the blue bubble.

"Daddy! I think I did... I was scared and I wanted a bubble to protect us. I thought about it, but I don't know."

Loki then realised the shield was blue and a bit cold. Passing his hand on it, he could feel Alex. Loki, master magician, understood his son had done magic. But then, Alex stood up and couldn't get out of the protective bubble.

"Daddy!"

In the background, the rest of the Avengers were talking to Bruce who had regained his form.

"Bruce, what happens?"

"Tony wanted to test his formula. He asked me to think of a stressful event of the past days. So I thought of the blanket I lost, this blanket. I had to keep calm and not change while he gave me the formula, but I think something went very wrong. I'm sorry, I didn't want to destroy anything. I thought the formula would prevent me from turning."

"Wait, that's your blanket," asked Steve.

"Yes. I thought I left it in the living room the other night, but I couldn't find it."

"Well, I've seen Alex with it yesterday and this morning. He must have taken it," said Steve.

"And the Hulk probably just wanted it back," said Bruce.

Loki was in front of Alex trying to figure out the situation.

"Alex, I want you to calm down."

"Daddy! I'm stuck here, I cannot stop the magic."

"Listen to me, you need to control your emotions to work on your magic." But Loki knew it wouldn't work with a child. "Okay Alex, focus on my voice."

Then Loki proceeded to sing an old asgardian lullaby his mother used to sing. It was soothing and it calmed Alex down. Still with the same voice, he instructed his son on how to control his magic.

"Now, you want to embrace me, you want to be able to come to me," said Loki.

And Alex wanted it, so his magic was released and he came to embrace his father. Loki was proud of him.

"You did it. You have magic! I'm so proud of you."

"Daddy, does that mean I can do magic?"

"Well, you will need to learn how to do magic."

Loki turned to Steve and Bruce.

"Sorry Loki, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare anyone," said Bruce. "Alex, it's me."

"He is still the man we know, Alex, there is no need to be afraid," said Loki.

"I'm not afraid! I just have to think of protecting Storm and you can't touch me," said Alex.

"You were thinking about her," asked Loki.

"Yeah, I was thinking that I needed to protect her. That's when the bubble appeared!"

"So the kid has magic," said Tony. "Wow! Now I feel lame, without super-serum, anger issue nor magic. I'm just an ordinary guy."

"Like there's anything ordinary with you," said Steve. "Alex, did you take Bruce's blanket?"

"I found it. No one was using it," said Alex with a small voice.

"Alex, it is not yours, you shouldn't have taken it," chastised Loki.

"I'm sorry daddy... Please don't send me in the cage, please," said Alex as he was starting to cry.

Loki hugged Alex to reassure him. What should he do? By taking the blanket, Alex had caused a Hulk incident and there were damages, the Avengers would want some kind of reparation. But if Loki offered to take Alex's punishment, he's the one to be sent to the cage and he was not ready to leave Storm.

"Alex, no one is going to put you in the cage," said Tony, "never! It was a mistake to take the blanket without asking, but you will never go to the cell."

"You should apologise to mister Banner," whispered Loki in his ear. "Come on, I'll stay with you."

Loki and Alex approached Bruce, Alex still clenching his dad.

"Hey Alex, I'm not mad at you, okay? It was just a lab experiment gone wrong. It's not your fault."

"I'm sorry for taking your blanket," said Alex. "It's so soft."

"I forgive you. Are you mad at me?"

"No. I got magic now!"

"Traumatic experience can unlock someone's magic. I saw Thor falling from a tree when we were young and somehow, I managed to slow him down as he felt. That's how I discovered I had magic."

oOo

It was a quiet day at the compound when suddenly, a flash of light erupted. Loki instantaneously got scared. It was cleared the Bifrost was delivering someone, but when Thor arrived, he was usually bringing the rain, the thunder or something. This was too quiet to be Thor, therefore, someone else for Asgard was coming, and Loki knew it was for him.

"Friday, what do we have," asked Steve.

"An old looking man with a specter and a helmet « answered Friday.

"Odin..." said Loki frightened.

He was not wearing his Jotun skin, but he looked even paler than normal. Immediately, he felt to his knees. At least it was a blessing it was nap time, the kids were in their room. Steve came to kneel in front of Loki.

"Hey, listen to me. No matter what he wants, we'll deal with him. Loki, he did give you to me, right?"

"Yes, I belong to you for the next 1500 years."

"So I can do whatever I want with you and your kids. Therefore he has nothing to say about any of it. You will not act like a slave here, this is over. It's time to show him how we do things on Midgard. I want you to stand proud and free. You are not a slave. And the most important, Storm was born on Earth, and here everyone is born equal and free. Those rules apply to you and your family, Loki. Tell me you are not a slave."

"I am not a slave."

"Good."

"But if Odin is here, it is for a reason. Please, Mister Rogers, if he wants to bring me back to Asgard, could you keep my children? I won't create an interplanetary incidence by refusing to go back for retraining if it's the reason for his visit, but don't let him take the children."

"I won't."

Loki rose from the floor. Outside, Vision and Wanda had greeted the AllFather and they entered.

"Should we kneel," asked Bruce. "He's a king."

"No need to kneel before me," said Odin. "I come in peace."

"Greeting, your majesty," said Steve. "I am Steven Rogers and this is my team, the Avengers."

"Very nice meeting you all," said Odin. Then the old man look at Loki.

"Welcome to Midgard, AllFather," said Loki politely with a small bow.

"May we know the nature of your visit," asked Steve.

"Well, you see, I want to speak with you. I send my son deliver slaves and I would want to make sure you are okay with the services you are receiving."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about any of it. Everything is fine."

"Well, then, you won't care if I speak with you and the slaves. Where are the others? I believe there was a small child and a baby on the way."

"They are currently taking care of a daily duty of theirs," said Loki. "They are unavailable at the moment, your majesty."

"And you let him talk whenever he wants," asked Odin to Steve.

"Loki can talk for himself," said Steve. "If you want to talk, we can go to a conference room."

"Yes, that would be nice, please."

Steve led the AllFather to a conference room in another part of the compound. Loki was following a few steps behind, trying to act like a slave, but not act like a slave. What should he do? Do what his former father and king expects of him or do what his master wants? In the room, Steve pulled a chair for Odin and then sat. Loki stayed standing, behind Steve, not knowing what to do.

"Come sit, Loki," invited Steve.

Loki sat down beside Steve who leaned toward him.

"You are not a slave and we are going to show him," whispered Steve.

"I believe the baby is born," said Odin.

"Yes, your majesty," said Steve to the point.

"Is the baby healthy? Is he okay," asked Odin pointing at Loki.

"He has a name, you should know, and he can answer for himself," said Steve turning to Loki.

"We are both fine, your majesty," said Loki. "Thank you for your concern."

"Good, good. So I want to know if you are satisfied with the services you are currently receiving from the slaves."

"Loki is doing a good job here," assured Steve.

"And the others?"

"The others," asked Steve, not because he didn't understand, but because he wanted Odin to tell him more.

"The other slaves. This slave has given two other slaves so far."

"Let's make something clear. First, Loki has a name and we all use it. Second, his children also have names. Maybe you should ask about that. And third, the children are not slaves, they are just children. They are free and I won't treat them as slaves, never."

"They are slaves under Asgardian's laws," said Odin evenly.

"The baby was born on Earth. Here, everyone is born free and equal."

Loki knew they were in dangerous territory now, but Odin choose to ignore it.

"So only this slave is serving you."

"Yes, only Loki is working," said Steve firmly.

"And did you have to discipline your slave? Was he ever disobedient or refuse to obey?"

"No. Loki is doing a good job and I don't have any complaint," said Steve looking at Loki who was looking at the table, not making eye contact with anyone.

"Earlier, this slave lied to me about the work of others. He said the children were taking care of duties. Now you are telling me the children are not working," said Odin.

Loki opened his mouth. What should he say to that? Nothing, of course. A slave doesn't speak.

"The children have to take a nap every day, they need to rest. Loki didn't lie to you as it is a duty for the children," said Steve in a diplomatic fashion.

"I see... Had he given you any other trouble? My raven reported the time he drenched you and the punishment that follow. Was it any other?"

"Just one small incident," said Steve brushing the matter off.

"Do you feel like the slave knows its place? Have you noticed a change between the warlord you met when he attacked your planet and the slave you have now?"

"He is different, there is no doubt about that," said Steve. "Loki is now part of the people living here, with his family. He is very different than he was before."

"Slave, did you learn your place?"

"Yes, I did, your majesty."

Loki was still not making eye contact with anyone.

"And what is your place exactly?"

"Bellow everyone else."

"And yet, you are sitting at the table. Captain Rogers, why are you allowing him?"

"Well, you see, slavery has been abolished here on Earth. The closest we have is the term prisoner. Loki is a prisoner of the Avengers and he has a job. He is not humiliated or debased, but treated like someone without freedom, but with dignity. Loki has a job and he has rights," said Steve. "When people are treated like they are nothing, they rebelled. If we showed them the good way, if we show them respect, encourage them when they behave and tell them when they don't, we are rehabilitating those people. Loki doesn't have freedom as a consequence for his crimes, but he is not a slave here."

"That goes against his sentence. He has been sentenced to slavery. If I had wanted him as a prisoner, I would have put him in a cell under the palace," said Odin.

"Yet, you had Thor bringing him here, to us. As I understand, I can do with Loki as I want. Therefore, he is a prisoner with a job. He has to do the tasks that are assigned and he has to stay in some areas. We know at all-time where he is and so far, we have been able to keep him in check."

"And do you think of yourself more as a slave or as a prisoner," asked Odin to Loki.

Loki took his time to think, then he looked at Steve and back to the table.

"Mister Rogers told me I'm not a slave here. I am by the laws of Asgard and I will never cease to be. But on Midgard, the closest equivalent for my status is to be a prisoner and have a job," said Loki.

"Hum...," said Odin. "I also know the slave has a bracelet that replaces his chains. Was there any incident with this?"

"Loki has not tried to run. The bracelet electrocuted him once when he got out without authorisation, but he was trying to stop his son from going after a squirrel. It was an accident, nothing more," said Steve, ignoring the incident in the cell when Loki had been electrocuted.

Odin nodded.

"But you had to punish him by sending him into the cell. Does it work as a good method of punishment?"

"I think Loki is better situated to answer that question. But in my opinion, it is best to be fair with people, not too harsh, because they might become more violent after," said Steve, then looked at Loki, a silence permission to speak.

"The punishment is efficient. The cell is not cruel in any way, but I won't say I like being there, far from my son. It gave me time to ponder my actions and see the errors of my way."

"And, let's say there was an opportunity for you to run away, would you?"

"No." Loki had answered that quickly.

"Why is that?"

Loki thought for a second. Because he would be found by the Avengers, because of the bracelet that would electrocute him, because he had to leave with the children, because he would be sent to the cell, because Heimdall would find him if he was successful in his escape, because... He had been beaten severely for his escape attempts while in Asgard, but knowing it won't come to that here was not a reason to escape, or not escape.

"I know I have to atone for my sins. Mister Rogers is treating me well and I must admit I love being here. It is a prison, even though a golden one, but for the first time of his life, Alex is happy, he nearly has the life I had wished for him and so will Storm."

"Alex and Storm. Good name," said Odin. "So you want to stay for them?"

"Mister Rogers made it so that they have everything they need as long as I behave. I want to be a good person for my children."

"Yes, children had the power to change a person," said Odin wisely.

"While I know I don't deserve to be happy, I'm also aware that my children don't deserve to suffer for my crimes."

"Though your sentence was for you and your bloodline," stipulated Odin. "They may not be guilty, but they are slaves in the eye of Asgard."

"But they are living on Earth now and our laws are different," said Steve. "Those children are now under the protection of the Avengers and they will stay here. For the moment, we have no reason to complain about Loki. He is doing his job and he is a good father."

"I must admit that Midgardians do things differently than us," said Odin. "The sentence says that Loki is to be given to those he wrong, meaning the Midgardians, the Jotnar and then, the Asgardians. Once in your possession, you can do with him whatever you want. Today, I just want to make sure you do not have problems with the slaves."

"When you say he has to serve on Jotunheim, do you mean the children too," asked Steve.

"Loki belongs to you for 1500 years. When the time comes for him to serve the Jotnar, you won't be there anymore and the children will be adults. At that time, if they belong to a different master than Loki, they won't be given to the Jotnar."

"I also want to make something clear, those two children are not going into training. Loki is their father, therefore he would decide how they would be educated," said firmly Steve.

"If a master wants his slave to have another education than the training, it is allowed. And usually the parent is responsible to make sure his children know the rules of the household," answered Odin. "If it's not too much to ask, I would like to see the slave quarter and the punishment room. Also, I would like to observe the slave in his work."

Steve nodded.

"Well, I can totally agree to the first request. As for the other, Loki is not working at the moment. You see, we have a policy that a mother who just give birth goes on maternity leave in order to take care of the baby. Fathers are also entitled to it."

"And this slave request a leave?"

"No, we gave it to him. Taking care of a new born is a lot of responsibilities, even more for a single parent. All the Avengers are supportive of Loki, but he is the father, therefore, he is taking care of the new baby," explained Steve.

"So the slave is not working at the moment?"

"He is working on other duties for the moment," said Steve. "Like taking care of a newborn."

"Hum," let out Odin pensively.

"AllFather, those are the rules on Midgard," said Loki. "In order to make sense of the situation, the Avengers changed my status to a prisoner with a job to have a better understanding by their standards. It is pretty similar to being a slave; I don't have my freedom and I have to work. I have to respect the Avengers and I don't have proprieties of my own. It is still within the parameters of being a slave. The Avengers just made a few changes so it would be in terms they know. They say I am under house arrest, which means I have to wear the bracelet and never leave a certain perimeter. There are still punishments, but the Midgardians don't beat people. And with all those conditions and constrains, it gives me a better understatement of their cultures in which I am to live for a part of my sentence. I can reflect back on my crimes and I came to realise I treated them unfairly and poorly. They have better standards for their wrongdoers that we have in Asgard."

Loki had kept his head down during his monologue, but he had translated his situation in terms everyone in the room could understand.

"Prisoner with a job," said Odin. "Close enough."

oOo

Odin was inspecting the cell. Steve and Loki were staying outside of it.

"When was the last time the prisoner was here," asked Odin.

"Maybe two or three months ago," said Steve.

Loki nodded.

"What was the reason?"

"He had difficulties adjusting to our way of doing things," said Steve.

"Adjusting to a new life," said Odin. "How long?"

"Three days."

"And the prisoner can do whatever he wants in the cell? He has food and water, even a bed," observed Odin.

"Yes. The punishment is to be here with no contact. I won't starve someone, even if the person was not pregnant. On Earth, we have a saying. 'Don't do to other what you don't want other to do to you.' If I were a prisoner, I would like to be treated well, which include having a bed, food and running water."

"You would treat the worst person in the universe with dignity?"

"Loki is far from the worst villain in the universe. Knowing there is life out there, I think there is way worst."

"Well, you're not wrong," said Odin observing the surveillance cameras. "You can observe him while he's in here."

"Yes. If there is a problem, we will know."

"I have a few questions for your prisoner, if you don't mind," asked Odin.

Steve looked at Loki.

"Do you mind," asked Steve.

Loki shook his head.

"When you are in here, how do you feel?"

"Bad. Guilty. I think about the reasons I landed in the cell. If you are asking if I love having time off from work, it's not how it works. I cannot work and it's not free time if I'm not free to do what I want. Sometime, the psychological punishment is worst that the physical one. When I am here, my mind is enough to convince me to be good."

Odin looked at him and Loki slowly raised his eyes so he was looking in the AllFather's eyes.

"Last time I was in there, I missed Alex so much. I promised I would never do a misdeed that would impact him in any way. And now that goes for Storm as well," said Loki, now looking at his father. "I want to be good for my children and I won't commit a crime ever again."

Then, realising he was looking at a free man, Loki lowered his head and his sight dropped to the ground.

"You seem to have changed," said Odin. "Maybe even for the better."

"Loki is not the same man he was in New York," said Steve.

Hearing Rogers calling Loki a man, Odin looked and waited for a reaction, but Loki was still as a statue, even relaxed.

"I believe that, because if you had called him a man five years ago, he would have incinerated you on the spot. Look like he is tamed now."

"We are offering him the support he needs," said Steve.

"I would like to see the children, and the living quarter."

So the trio made its way to the living area. Nap time was getting to a close and Storm would need to be fed.

"Mister Rogers, can I request a moment with the children to breastfeed before our esteemed guest enters the room?"

"Yes, sure. I order you to change once you're in the room. And I order you to change back when I will knock on the door. Now go ahead, we'll meet you there."

Loki bowed, which was unusual, and went ahead. It was the first time Odin and Rogers were only the two of them.

"He calls you 'mister', not 'master'", observed Odin.

"Because I asked him to. I don't want to be a master, but I know I have a kind of authority on him and I can command him. I would prefer him calling me 'Steve' like most people here, but he is not comfortable with it yet. However, he respects and obeys all the Avengers."

oOo

Loki was glad for the chance to explain the situation to the children and to breastfeed without an audience. He didn't mind the Avengers seeing him in his Jotun form, but he really did not want Odin, the AllFather, to see him as a Frost Giant. At least, mister Rogers seemed to understand that giving him the order to change only once in the room and change back before they entered.

When he entered the room, Storm started to rage, or whether cry. Loki changed as he was going for her. Alex was already awake and was waiting for his father to come back, knowing it wasn't time to get up yet. So Loki started to feed Storm.

"Alex, come here. I need to tell you a few things."

So Alex sat on the bed next to his father who had Storm in his arm.

"We have a visitor. He is the king of Asgard and we all need to be on our best behaviour right now, okay?"

"If he is from Asgard, are we slaves again?" Oh, Alex was worried the same charade they played with Thor would be back.

"Yes and no. We don't have to kneel, but we need to be polite and do what is asked of us."

Alex looked like he did not understand everything.

"I want you to stay close to me, to listen to everyone and do as they say. If the king asks you questions, you stay polite and you stay honest. You call him 'AllFather' or 'your majesty'."

"Okay daddy."

Loki changed Storm and then, there was a knock on the door, giving Loki permission to change to his favorite form. Rogers didn't wait long and opened the door, followed by Odin in the room.

"I present you Alex and Storm," introduced Steve.

Loki crunched to Alex and whispered in his ear.

"Say hello to your majesty."

"Hello your majesty."

Odin approached Alex and looked down to him.

"You must be Alex. How old are you?"

Alex gripped Loki's leg and answered.

"I'm three, mister your majesty."

To be fair, Alex had rarely seen someone with a white beard or an eye patch like that. But Odin smiled hearing the young boy speak, so Odin crouched down, to be at the same level as Loki, Alex and Storm.

"Tell me, Alex, do you love it more here or in Asgard?"

"Here, I love it here."

"And this is your room. There are a lot of things for your sister, but you have a few toys. Is that a snake?"

Odin stood up and looked at the room. Loki was nervous, knowing there were toys and other things they had got through the reward system.

"Yes, that's my snake," said proudly Alex. "We got it for five gold stars!"

"Gold stars? What are those gold stars," asked Odin.

Steve stepped forward to explain.

"You see, in order to maintain control over them, we established a reward system. If they behave, they can earn gold stars, like points. And after a certain amount of stars, they can have toys. It encourages Loki to behave and it's a good way to teach him responsibilities."

Well, it was a way of saying it, but close to the truth. Now, Loki was nervous Odin would ask for the system to be removed, giving that slaves are not supposed to own things.

"There is a system similar in prison on Earth. Prisoners can earn money and buy themselves things that they may not absolutely need, but that they would enjoy. It teaches them the value of work," said Steve.

"Work... Good, good. You seem to be doing well with them," said Odin.

"I am doing my best, but they are mostly irreproachable."

"And do either of the children possess magic?"

Oh no! What would Odin do if he were to learn Alex did? And Loki couldn't get Rogers' attention without it being suspicious.

"We discovered that Alex does have a bit of magic," said carefully Steve.

"And what can you do, Alex?"

"I can create a shield around Storm and I," said the boy.

"Do you have control over it or was it spontaneous?"

"What does spontaneous mean?"

Loki immediately put his hand on his son.

"Pardon him for asking, AllFather, he is sorry for his mistake. To answer your question, it happened without his control," said Loki really fast.

Odin looked at Loki trying to meet his eyes, but, of course, the slave was looking at the ground, and now, so was Alex.

"I'm sorry for asking, mister AllFather."

"It's okay, Alex, you are pardoned," said Odin while turning toward Rogers. "But it begs the question of your control over them. You see, the slave bond placed on Loki allows you to control his magic by giving him order. That bond should have transferred through blood to the next generation and prevented Alex to use any magic without order."

Steve didn't know what to answer or what would happen next. Loki was silently panicking. What if Odin thought the bond was not strong enough and decided to bring them back to Asgard?

"It could mean you do not consider the boy as your slave," suggested Odin.

"Well, he is a child, not a slave," answered Steve.

"Yes, that would explain it," said Odin. "It would weaken the bond between you and your slaves."

"Well, it should. I don't want to have slaves," said Steve.

"But you accepted to take them nonetheless. When my son came to deliver the slaves, you were the second one to whom he offered them. If you don't like slaves, why take them?"

"Because, your majesty, I know some other people would not be righteous in their way of handling Loki and his children. We need to show Loki the right way to treat other people, and we can only archive that by being righteous in our way of living with him," said Steve. "I consider him a prisoner and nothing less. He is here under house arrest and the Avengers are ready if he does something, but we also trust him. He has earned it. We will not treat him as a slave, but as a prisoner and his children have nothing to do with his past life."

Odin nodded.

"Well, I guess that answered most of my concerns. I would like a moment alone with the prisoner," requested Odin.

Steve nodded and Loki approached him, giving him Storm. Steve then left the room with both children, leaving Loki alone with Odin. If it wasn't for Steve, Loki would be nervous to leave Storm with someone else, but he trusted mister Rogers to be good with his daughter. Now, Loki was nervous because he was alone with his once father, the man who sentenced him to slavery.

"Can the others hear us here?"

"Yes. The artificial intelligence is always listening."

"Can you turn it off?"

"Friday?"

"Yes mister Loki," said Friday.

"Would it be possible for you not to listen to the conversation? Maybe ask mister Rogers or mister Stark for permission to cut the microphones for a short time?"

"Wait a second please."

They both waited.

"I am now cutting the microphone and cameras in this room until you or your guest leave the room," said Friday.

"Thank you Friday," said Loki all the while keeping his eyes to the floor. And then, the pressure was too much. Steve had told him not to act like a slave, but Odin was here, so Loki sank to his knees in front of his better. He was on both of his knees. Oh, he had knelt in front of his king before, but free asgardians were to kneel only on one knee, only the slaves should kneel on both.

"Why did I sentence you to slavery?"

"To punish me for my crimes, Your Majesty."

"And?"

"To teach me a lesson, your majesty. So I could learn my place."

"Yes, and what more?"

"To make me serve those I offended. For retribution. Your Majesty."

"And what more?"

Odin wanted more?

"To atone for my mistakes. Your Majesty."

"Go on."

"I have done many misdeeds and crimes, therefore, I need to be punished. Your Majesty."

"You need to learn how to take responsibility for your actions. Are you learning?"

"Yes, your majesty, I am learning a lot."

"But you are also happy in this life. Here."

"Your Majesty, I am not happy to be a slave, but this is my place and I deserve it."

"Loki, I wanted you to learn how to be responsible, to respect everyone, no matter who they are. Have you learned those lessons yet?"

"Yes, I have. I am more responsible, but I have to say the children have much to do with me pondering the consequences of my actions. And I now respect the Avengers, not because I am their slaves, but because I come to know them, because I am living with them."

"And do you only respect the Avengers?"

"No, I respect all humans, Your Majesty."

"Only the humans?"

"The asgardian as well, your majesty."

"And what about the jotnar?"

"I had not had contact with them in a while, therefore, I cannot answer that. I apologise, Your Majesty."

"No. You have. Both Alex and Storm are half-frost giants through you. Earlier, you breastfed and had to change to your other form. Have you learned anything from that?"

"I wish I have learned more about the jotnar while still a free man. Before Alex, I had no ideas I could even get pregnant."

"But do you respect the frost giants?"

Big question. Did he respect those monsters? He was one of them after all.

"I respect them more each passing day. I have to revert to my original form in order to feed Storm, therefore I have come to be less scared of my own skin. As for my children, I would never hate them in anyway."

"I think your mother would be proud of your redemption so far."

His mother. Loki wanted to ask about her. He missed her. He had thought of honoring her by naming his daughter Frigga, but Storm was not uniquely a girl, she was a frost giant and therefore both, so Loki had opted for a less female name.

Loki wanted to react, to say something, anything. But the AllFather had not asked him a question and therefore, he should not talk. A slave does not ask questions.

"I won't always be king and Thor will take my place. Knowing you are on the path of redemption would greatly relieve me, Loki. I can now leave in peace. But you should know your sentence would carry on for the rest of your life. You know that, right?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Do you have anything to say to that?"

"Some of the Avengers told me about the concept of parole, which is something we do not have. If a prisoner is reformed, he can be freed or have a leisure sentence after some time. Of course, said prisoner has to earn it and demonstrate he is now good and had learned. I know this is not my case and that no one would free me, but I would like to hope my children could be totally free. They may not be slaves here, but they are according to Asgard's law. They have done nothing and I would just want them to not have to pay for my crimes as well."

"Then you should not have committed those crimes in the first place," said Odin.

"Oh, I wish I could erase what I have done so my children would not be burdened by it. But it is also my sentence that gave me my children. I may not be grateful of the way they came to my life, but I am eternally grateful to have them."

"So you would want the asgardian's laws to change to be more like midgardian's laws?"

"Looking at both ways of treating prisoners, I came to think Asgard could use Midgard as an example. That Asgard could learn from Midgard."

"Well, you have certainly come a long way to admit midgardians are doing something better than asgardians."

"With all due respect, AllFather, we should use them as examples in other areas as well. Asgard is more developed than Midgard, but midgardians are not the ants as I once thought they were."

"This is the son my wife would be proud of. I must now go back home, but I missed you, my dear son."

And being the AllFather, the all-powerful, Odin used his magic to go, leaving Loki kneeling on the floor. Did his own father just admit missing his son? Did he admit Loki was his son? Acknowledge him as his son, even in private?