Pained Past

"Am I taking us to the helicarrier?" Natasha asked Cap as they closed the ramp after everyone had sat down comfortably.

"Yeah. we have a lot of talking to do with Fury and Banner." Cap said sitting down next to Tony. Sitting opposite them was Thor and Loki. Feeling regretful about what happened the last time they saw each other, Loki started talking to Thor.

"I am sorry for disgracing your name on Asgard, brother, but I didn't know what else to do." Loki said sadly glancing towards Thor.

"You need not apologise, brother, to me, your actions were not those of cowardice."

"Wait. Where you're from, trying to take your life is considered cowardly?" Cap asked confused. He knew people had similar opinions in the '40s but he was taught not to judge people who were struggling. He was unaware that there were still people that thought a similar way.

"Yes. Asgard is home to a race of warriors. We are expected to meet our end in battle, honourably, not by one's own hand. By doing this I have brought shame to the house of Odin and more importantly, the royal family and that is unforgivable." Loki looked down at his hands to avoid eye contact.

Tony spoke this time. "So, you trying to off yourself brought shame to the royal family? Harsh place you live." He with disbelief in his voice.

"Yes?" Loki replied looking confused. "Considering I used to be part of said royal family."
Tony looked hesitant. He didn't know whether to believe it or not before Thor spoke. Was he really royal or will he be exposed once again Tony wondered internally.

"Brother, do not speak like that. You are as much a prince now as you were before, blood-related to me or not. You will always be my brother, therefore you will always be a prince." Thor said taking his brother's hand in his own.

Loki shook his head. "Not if Asgard finds out the truth. They will never see me as a prince. You don't understand Thor.

"just because you are not of Asgard, it doesn't mean that everyone will hate you, brother."

Loki whispered almost inaudibly. "I'm a Jötunn."

"What?"

"when we first went to Jötunheim a frost giant grabbed my arm. It turned blue and had raised markings on it. When we got back I went into the vaults to find the Casket of Ancient Winters. My whole form changed, Odin found me and eventually told me the truth." Loki had tears running down his face. Whispering once more he said, "I'm Laufey's son."

"Laufey's Son?" Thor couldn't hide the shock in his voice. "Brother, I am so sorry. I should never have taken you to Jötunheim that day and should never have encouraged you to kill your own father." Thor looked defeated.

"You weren't to know brother. Asgard and father will never accept me, not now." Loki sniffled as he tried to hold back the rest of his tears. Natasha turned in her seat to give Steve and Tony a look of sorrow. They looked at each other returning the look. Natasha wiped a tear from her eye.

"Brother, please try to understand. Your race does not change our bond. It does not change the experiences we went through as children and the bond we have built as brothers. Loki, I know you better than anyone else in the whole nine realms, including mother, I know how much you miss her. Know that she never stopped looking for you. She has checked every day with Heimdall and she never stopped. Father has tried to talk to her but she will rest well knowing that I am with you to keep you safe." He knew that any good news about their mother would make Loki feel safe.

Loki wiped a few tears from his face and looked up at Thor.
"When we are done here, when your friends have helped us, I wish to return home. I want to see mother. She will keep me safe from them, won't she brother?" He looked up at the older prince looking and sounding no more than a scared child.

Tony couldn't help but see some of his own troubled childhood in Loki. He knew what it was like to have a father that was never proud of him and to always be compared to someone else. He knew what was like to be captured and tortured by someone else, having to act against your will. He had numerous problems because of it and he couldn't imagine the number that Loki must have.

"Of course she will brother. She loves you more than anything and refused to talk to father for several months after what happened at the Bifrost. And if you let me, brother, I will also keep you safe. I will not let anyone harm you and I definitely won't allow father to cast any kind of punishment onto you."

"Thank you, brother."

The Quinjet landed on the helicarrier and the ramp opened. Steve told everyone to wait in the inside while he went to get Fury for Tony. He and Natasha took the scepter to the lab and alerted Fury that Loki was here and warned him to listen to Tony carefully. Curious as to why they had given him a warning, Fury decided it would be best to heed their advice because he was not in the mood for dealing with Tony when angry, or at all for that matter.