Chapter 16: Steve

Steve wasn't sure what to think as he followed Thor into the Observatory. He'd only seen parts of what had transpired there as he'd fought the Chitauri. Now there were three Frost Giants lying motionless on the floor and Loki sat slumped against the dais in the middle of the room, bleeding from a wound in his stomach. The giant purple alien had left with the spaceship.

Thor fell to his knees beside Loki, seeming to forget once more that he was the enemy. "Please tell me this is another illusion," he begged.

Loki laughed, but there was little humor to the sound. "Illusions are never this painful," he groaned. He certainly looked in a bad way to Steve.

Thor shook his head angrily and pressed his own hand over Loki's, trying to slow the bleeding. He turned to Steve. "You have healing stones." His expression begged Steve to give him one.

Steve felt something icy stir inside him. He stared at Loki, the man who had robbed him of his closest friend. "You don't deserve to live," he said.

Loki held his gaze evenly. "I know."

Steve clenched his fists at his sides. All the anger and grief that had consumed him these last few days had been bearable – just – because he was focused on bringing Loki to justice. Now the man was right in front of him, wounded, defenseless, admitting his guilt.

But Steve knew he couldn't let Loki die out of hatred. It went against everything he'd ever stood for. Avenging Bucky at the expense of his own conscience was something he simply couldn't bring himself to do.

Steve withdrew one of the healing stones from his belt pouch and knelt beside Loki, crushing the stone over the Asgardian's wound. Tears temporarily blurred his vision before he blinked them away. When had doing the right thing ever been so hard?

Loki took a shuddering breath as his wound began to heal. "Thank you," he said weakly.

"This doesn't mean I trust you," Steve replied. "Don't make me have second thoughts."

Loki managed a slight smile. "I'll try not to." He got to his feet unsteadily and moved to the body of the female Frost Giant. Blood trickled down the side of her head, Steve saw. Loki held out his hand to Steve. "Stone."

Steve looked to Thor, who gave a slight nod, before he handed Loki a healing stone. The god of mischief crushed it over the giant's wound and it healed within seconds. The Frost Giant rolled over with a groan and looked up at Loki.

"Where's Thanos?" she asked.

"He escaped," Loki replied, and Steve assumed he was referring to the purple alien.

The Frost Giant growled, sitting up. "Then I shall go after him and fulfil my king's command."

Loki shook his head. "No, General. I wish for you to return to Jotunheim with your troops." He conjured the Casket out of thin air. "Take this."

Thor stepped forward before Loki could hand the Casket to the Frost Giant. "Loki, that is not–"

"Mine?" Loki cut across. His skin was turning blue, and as Steve watched he looked more and more like a Frost Giant.

The brothers stared at each other for a long moment, then Thor nodded. "Father will be mad," he warned.

"Is that supposed to shock me?" Loki asked.

Danvers flew into the Observatory and landed. Her gaze settled on Loki and she raised her glowing fists. "You?"

"Me," he replied.

Danvers turned to Steve. "Should I blast him?"

The Frost Giant general moved to stand in front of Loki. "Try it," she growled.

"That's enough," Steve said as Pietro entered at super speed with Wanda in his arms and set her down. He didn't want a second battle starting so soon after the first.

Banner, shirtless and human once more, supported Natasha as she limped into the Observatory. "The blue giants have killed all the remaining Chitauri," he reported. "But Tony's gone!"

Steve's stomach flipped sickeningly. "What?"

"His suit got busted and they took him into the ship," Natasha explained glumly. "There was nothing I could do."

Steve helped Banner sit Nat down on the dais steps. "Are you alright?" he asked her. Much as he hated it, Tony would have to wait.

"I'll be fine," Natasha replied. She nodded toward Loki. "Is this cool?"

"Yeah." Steve hesitated. "I think."

"I can go after Stark," Marvel offered. "Space is something of my specialty."

"No." Steve shook his head. "We need a plan first."

"I have a plan," Loki offered.

"Yeah, we've seen those," Banner replied coolly.

Steve faced Loki. "You've got some explaining to do before we hear anything else out of you."

"Indeed."

Steve turned to find Odin standing in the doorway. Heimdall and a troop of Asgardian soldiers were with him. They took up positions around the room, weapons held ready.

The female Frost Giant shifted warningly, but Loki gestured for her to stay cool. He bowed his head to Odin. "Allfather."

"Laufeyson," the king replied and Loki winced slightly. "You brought an army into my Realm uninvited."

"Father, Loki is–" Thor began.

"A traitor to Asgard," Odin finished bluntly. "He has committed various crimes including impersonating myself, escaped justice, and–"

"Helped prevent the massacre of your people today?" Loki suggested mildly.

Odin glared at him. "One good deed does not eradicate a life of crime." He gestured, and a couple of soldiers moved forward, preparing to shackle Loki.

"Wait!" Wanda pushed her way to the front of the group with Pietro. "I can vouch for his trustworthiness," she said, gesturing at Loki.

"How?" Odin asked.

"I can read minds," she replied.

That was news to Steve. He gestured to Loki. "His magic, can you see past that?"

Wanda nodded. "He can block me, but he can't hide anything if he does let me in." Her eyes turned red as she focused on Loki. "He wants to kill Thanos," she said after a moment, then added with a smirk, "and he wishes Doctor Banner weren't here. He's afraid of the Hulk."

Loki scowled at Wanda as Banner and Nat chuckled. "Thanos means to destroy the Nine Realms," he said. "You'll never be able to defeat him without my help."

"Is this true?" Odin asked Wanda and she nodded.

"But can we trust him?" Steve asked.

Wanda met his gaze. "Right now? Yes."

There was a moment of silence, then Odin turned to Loki and said simply, "If you ever betray anyone ever again, my retribution will be swift. And final." He held Loki's gaze for a long moment, then turned and left the Observatory with Heimdall and his men.

Steve turned to Loki. "You said you had a plan?"

Loki smiled. "I always have a plan."