Am I happy with this. Not entirely, but I started this story as a sort of outlet for some dark stuff I was going through (rape). It helped, as did all of you, but I've now reached the point where to focus on this dark stuff would kind of hinder my recovery. I'm sorry if you're not as satisfied as you'd like, but I hope you do still like this ending a little.

Thor knocks on his brother's door, knuckles just grazing the metal. When nothing happens, he sighs and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His fingers itch for Mjolnir – the feel of the leather and humming power has always soothed him whenever he and his brother are at odds – but he'd specifically left the weapon in his room. He would not have Loki feel as if he came to threaten.

"Loki, I know you can hear me."

Silence.

"Loki, brother."

The air-conditioning turns on overhead, blowing cool air onto Thor's hair.

"Please, I would speak with you." He stares at the closed door for several more minutes. It has been thus for the last week they were…given back. Loki and Agent Barton have both refused to speak to their shield brothers and sister. Thor only knows of one instance, when he fell upon them by accident, talking to each other.

0/0/0/0/0

"…who are lucky," his brother's voice snaps. Thor pauses on his way into the library. It is dishonorable to listen in to another's private conversation. He draws in a quiet breathe and inches closer to the door frame.

"Sure," Agent Barton snarls back. "I get to be the one who remembers nothing. Lucky me. I can't even tell my wife how I cheated…"

There is a muffled, half choked sob that sounds more like a growl.

"You did not cheat her, Barton," his brother says softly.

"Easy for you –"

"Would you accuse her thus, if she had been raped?"

"I wasn't…I wasn't raped!"

"What is the difference?" Loki asks. "Would you think differently if it you're your comrades? Would it not be rape?"

Agent Barton sighs. "No…no, it would."

"It's always harder to forgive ourselves." Something clinks.

"So, you believe that too," Agent Barton presses. "You don't…blame yourself?"

Loki gives a hollow laugh.

"Yeah," Agent Barton says. "I didn't think so either."

0/0/0/0/0

Thor sighs again. "Very well. I can wait, my brother. I shall not force you."

He's just about to leave for the elevator, when the door slides open and Loki slams him against the opposite wall. The plaster cracks as his shoulders smash against it. Loki's emerald eyes spark as if made of fire.

"How dare you," his brother hisses, just barely above a whisper.

"Loki, I –"

"You know nothing!" Loki presses his Jotun strength against Thor's chest. Were he human, Thor knows he would be short of breathe. Oh, Loki…even now, angry as he is, Loki is holding back. Thor rests a gentle hand on one of Loki's trembling one.

"I know enough."

"I came willingly –"

"That's not how this works." Thor squeezes the slender hand beneath his. "Please, do not insult my brother so. I know him. He fought his enthrallment at every second of his imprisonment."

Loki's lips curl up to a snarl before he looks away, his grip lightening. "Not for long."

"Always."

Loki growls, a deep guttural, feral thing. "And yet you deny me justice. You let my…our tormentors go free."

"I have given my word, brother." He tightens his grip on Loki's hand. "Think you I do not also wish to rend their limbs asunder? Do not belittle my love for you or my loyalty to my comrades. Had I the choice, I would impart on them untold pain for what they have done."

Loki's eyes swim with unshed tears. His lips curl back. "What quaint words to spout, and yet how empty of meaning."

Thor's skin tingles as his power crackles across his arms and shoulders. A few sparks snap in his vision. "Do not dare to presume, brother."

"Ah, there is the brother I know. So full of a warrior's pride." Loki grins wide. "Have I rankled you?"

Thor takes a deep breath in, holds it, and blows it out. "Why must you seek to prod me into anger? I only wish to help. I do not…Loki, let me aid you."

"You can aid me by letting me have my revenge."

"And my promise?"

Loki looks away. "What is a promise to one who lies and steals?"

There is a double meaning there, simmering at the crest of that wave. An emotional trap that waits to engulf him, should he misstep. Thor steals himself. "You must stop this, Loki. Compare yourself not to these women. A trickster you are, but never have you forced someone as they."

Loki pushes off him. "I enthralled Barton –"

"Thanos took him," Thor interrupts. "As he took you. It is not the same, as you well know."

Loki fists his hands until his knuckles are white. "So you intend to go through with this?"

Thor allows the abrupt change. "Yes."

"How many?"

"Three."

"And after?"

Thor pauses. "I shall leave that to you, brother."

Loki bares his teeth. "As best you should."

0/0/0/0/0

The first date starts at a cafe across from Anthony's building - comically called Avengers Tower now by the common people. Thor sighs as he glances back at the silver glass windows, knowing his comrades are glaring through them, and pushes through the cafe door. The bells tinkles overhead. The perky girl at the front lights up.

"Thor, oh my gosh! This is so cool! Can I get - " She colors, straightening her red shirt. Her nameplate - Abby - glints. " I mean...sorry, I mean, how can I help you?"

She still bounces a little on her toes.

Thor finds himself softening at her young affections. The youth of this planet are so vibrant, so free with their adorations of their celebrity idols. It amuses and charms him. He remembers being so eager when he was their age. "I am meeting a young woman, Miss Amora Charming. Has she arrived?"

Abby's cheeks pale and she swallows hard. "Ah, yes, she's...she's here. I'll just...over here."

Thor follows her scurried steps. The warmth of before drains as he sees Amora sitting at the table in the middle of the room. Of course, capitalizing on her drama and publicity. He pulls back his shoulders. It matters not. Stepping in front of Abby, Thor sits down beside Amora.

"My, how sharp you look," Amora says, her eyes scanning him up and down. A leer cruelly curls up her red lips. She leans closer. "I could eat you up, your highness."

Thor ignores how Abby sucks in a breathe and hurries away. "I thought it best to keep my end of the bargain and dress well."

"Those pants are practically sinful, you naughty boy. Trying to start something before evening?" She trails a finger lewdly down his arm.

He catches her hand before it can land on his leg. "Your terms did not include intimacy."

"And if I change the terms?"

"Do you?" Thor raises an eyebrow. It will not be the first time someone has expected more from him while dating nor will it be the last. That does nothing to stop the sick tightening of his stomach.

Amora sighs, snatching her hand back. She flips her hair back behind her shoulder, exposing the pale flesh. "No, I do not. Really, Thor, must you be such a killjoy? I was only teasing."

"Of course." Thor tries to ignore how his skin crawls. Loki must have felt much worse during his captivity with these harpies. Thor has no right to complain of a few touches and words. "Shall we?"

The rest of the date passes with only a few more silken words of suggestion and stolen touches. Thor allows them. If this is the price of freedom for his brother and comrade, it is a low price indeed. He will endure.

"I had such a good time, my dear," Amora says as they stop on a bridge. The water below gurgles as it passes along. The night is a tepid, the stars bright, and the streetlights shade Amora's flawless face perfectly. Were this any other situation, Thor would name this romantic. As it is, he can barely wait for this to end (it has to end soon, or he might go mad).

Amora places a hand on his cheek and turns his face towards her. "I'm afraid the bell has tolled and our time tonight has ended."

"Until next time, then, my lady." He kisses her knuckles. "I pray you have enjoyed your time with me?"

"Of course." She smirks. "Do not think I did not catch your smooth escape of kissing me."

She makes a point to examine her hand while Thor's heart stills in his breast.

Finally, she shrugs. "It is, after all, the first date. I can be patient and wait for a real kiss after the second."

It is both a promise and a threat, as Thor knows well. He nods. "As my lady wishes."

She laughs. "Such a gentleman."

She disappears in a flash of white light and Thor is left standing before the Avenger Tower. He enters and asks Jarvis to take him to his floor. He wants not to see his shield brothers and sister. Their well meaning pity would only anger him. Of course, as the elevator door opens, he never seems to account for his brother.

Loki leans against the wall, arms crossed. "You return early."

Thor notices the tense muscles, but can't find it in himself to play the older brother. "She wearied of our time together."

"Did she now."

Thor marches last him. "I have not the patience for your wordplay, brother, leave me, please."

Silence.

Then: "Did she keep to the terms of your agreement?"

Thor pauses at the door frame of his bedroom. He can still feel her gaze and touch on him. "Yes."

More silence and then the elevator doors ding open and closed. Thor slumps against the door frame. Tears tickle the edges of his eyes, but he fights them back. He is no coward. He can endure. It is nothing that the Hawk and Loki did not suffer.

He straightens.

Only two more dates.

He will endure.

0/0/0/0/0

The second date is at a pond, a picnic Amora said. He waits an hour, but she never shows. Thor finally leaves.

Anthony blinks as he comes into the kitchen.

"I thought you on your date."

Thor grabs a apple. "She never came."

"Huh...maybe some magicky thing came up."

Thor nods. "Perhaps."

"Welp, let's not look this gift horse in the mouth." Anthony claps him on the back. "Come on, I wanna test my new design against your lightening."

0/0/0/0/0

Thor waits three more days before he visits Loki. He finds his brother sitting on the end of his bed, staring out the window. He sits beside him.

"She never came."

"I'm sure you wept."

"Will she be coming?"

"...no."

"We had an agreement," Thor hears himself say for some reason. As if he's not relieved he won't have to see her again.

"You flinched."

Thor glances over quickly. "What?"

"When I asked if she honored your agreement." Loki's hands fist the blanket. "You flinched."

Thor had not realized.

"She is dead," Thor states with utter surety.

"Yes."

"...did it help?"

"...no."

"Than I am sorry for it." Thor resists the urge to hug his little brother and protect him from this hurt. "I know her victims will rejoice, but I sorrow that you must carry this pain."

Loki touches his hand. "It will pass."

Thor nods. "It will. And I shall aid how I can, when you need."

Loki laughs. "I expect nothing less, Odinson."

And thus the two men stayed, moving forward, yet baring the burdens of the past. Perhaps, one day, they will lesson to mere echoes, perhaps not. But they will be met head on, and never alone, and that is all one can truly ask for.