First of all, I need to thank so much to those of you who reviewed, favorited or followed the prologue; I really didn't expect such a nice response to such a short piece of writing! Enjoy :)
"Great. This is just fantastic." Loki murmured to himself when he looked around.
Everyone was there. Everyone he could remember from the time of his egregious attempt of global domination.
Loki heard someone gasp next to him. When he looked right, he saw the SHIELD agents standing in a circle around the spaceship with their weapons pointed to the ground.
"Sir?" an agent close to Loki called to Fury.
Fury raised his head and set his gaze on Loki. Loki swallowed heavily but otherwise gave no indication that he was aware of Fury staring and continued walking towards the Avengers.
And his brother.
Suddenly, Fury took out his gun and pointed it at Loki. His movement was followed by every SHIELD Agent and in an instant, Loki found himself being surrounded by countless guns ready to fire. He stopped, unsure what to do.
"There is really no need for this." Loki said with a pretended cheerful tone, his mouth being twisted into a fake grin, similar to the one he put on when Thor confronted him on Asgard.
"Don't you take another step." Fury replied sternly. Loki didn't dare to disobey and so he stood a few metres in front of Fury and the Avengers as if he froze to the spot.
The situation attracted the attention of the Avengers who were no less surprised to see Loki standing in front of them. Clint was the first one who came to his senses; he took out his own gun and started walking towards Loki.
"How do you dare to set a foot here again?" Clint hissed while he was approaching Loki.
Loki made a few quick steps back; when he saw that Clint was still coming towards him, he drew his daggers out. He wouldn't just stand there unarmed, facing all those people who hated him to the core.
In an instant, he understood that it was a bad idea.
"Sir, he is armed!" The agents started to scream one over another. Clint only smirked.
"Just give me a reason to fire. Please." He said with venom in his voice.
Loki's eyes were quickly gazing from one person to another, trying to assess the situation. It really didn't look too well. Loki knew that their basic weapons couldn't cause him much harm but now there were simply too many of them. Loki started to panic; the situation was developing exactly the way he hoped it wouldn't. He had no idea what to do and so he only stood there with the daggers still firmly in his hands.
"Quiet." Fury's authoritative voice resonated around and abruptly everyone stopped screaming. Fury took one step closer to Loki with his gun still pointed at Loki's chest.
"Loki, put the weapons down."
Loki felt that he was beginning to sweat. The situation seemed to be hopeless; Loki couldn't dream to fight off all the Avengers combined with SHIELD forces. At the same time, no one was willing to listen to anything he tried to say; his strongest weapon, his silver tongue, was rendered useless.
Loki glanced at the other Avengers; the Iron Man was standing looking surprised and genuinely interested in the situation developing in front of him. Agent Romanov was ready to go to support Barton at any moment; the soldier seemed to be simply curious.
"Thor." Banner said in an urgent voice, trying to attract the god's attention to what was happening. Thor finally snapped out of his shock and began walking towards Fury and Loki.
"Director Fury, it is okay." Thor said trying to calm the situation down.
"No, Thor. It is not. I can see a hostile force ready to attack the Earth. Again." Fury emphasized the last word.
Thor knew he should have expected this; yet he found himself unsure how to proceed.
For years, he had hoped that some connection with his brother would be restored. When Loki was in the dungeons, Thor would spend evenings walking towards Loki's confinement only to stop himself before the entrance to change his mind.
Thor needed his brother.
No matter what he claimed, he loved Loki.
However, after mourning his brother for the second time only to realise that once again Loki had fooled him, Thor's attitude towards his little brother shifted towards indifference. If their relationship truly meant so little to Loki, Thor would not waste his time trying to reconcile with him yet again.
Ironically, maybe it was Thor's indifference that made Loki understand how much he valued Thor's affection.
It pained Thor to leave his brother lying on the ground in an agony yet he knew that he would prove himself to be the witless oaf Loki thought him to be had he done something else.
And so he left Loki lying helplessly on Sakkar, hoping that no foe would find him.
Fortunately, Thor's reverse psychology and luck resulted in the best possible outcome.
Loki found his courage and led the decisive reinforcement to Asgard; he fought bravely alongside Thor against Hela and in the end it was him who undertook the dangerous mission to the Vault to carry out the essential part of the plan.
Thor was immensely relieved when the Asgardians were saved. However, he couldn't stop thinking about Loki to whom he started to refer as his little brother once again in his mind.
What happened to Loki?
Did he manage to get away before Asgard erupted?
Thor couldn't stand the idea of his brother dying alone in the Vault under the palace because he finally decided to do the right thing.
On the other hand, Thor couldn't shake the idea out of his head that Loki might have changed sides yet again and by now he may be gods know where scheming with their enemies.
And so Thor felt immensely relieved when Loki stepped into his cabin in the spaceship.
At that moment, it didn't matter to Thor that Loki is most likely somewhere else. Thor was just happy that Loki was alive.
"I am here." Loki said with a barely visible smile when he caught the little object that Thor has thrown at him.
Impossible.
Thor couldn't believe it.
Loki not only saved the Asgardians; he also willingly came back to Thor despite not knowing Thor's attitude towards him nor Thor's intentions. Loki couldn't have known what would his older brother try to do with him. Would Thor try to put Loki back to some provisional prison as that was where Loki should technically still be as Odin's condemnation was to last for the rest of his days?
Loki came even though he must have known that soon Thor would be crowned as the king of Asgard.
At that moment, overcame by emotions, Thor's faith in his little brother was restored. Thor decided that he would give Loki no reason to regret his decision to place faith in him. Thor knew that he had also done great slights to his brother and he was determined not to repeat such mistakes that had almost cost him the person he loved most in this world.
Without thinking, Thor quickly walked to his brother and pulled him into a crashing hug. Thor was only a bit taller than Loki; yet thanks to Loki's lean figure and Thor's masculine one, Loki found himself being snuggled up to Thor's chest. Surprisingly for Thor, Loki didn't make an attempt to get away from Thor.
Quite the opposite.
"I can't breathe, Thor." Thor heard Loki utter sarcastically.
Thor loosened the embrace a little. To Thor's astonishment, Loki used the little additional space to draw his arms around Thor's back to return the hug.
Thor didn't know for how long they were standing there, frozen in time and enjoying the comfort that they could provide only to one another.
"Loki?" Thor whispered against Loki's shoulder.
"Yes, brother?"
"I missed you."
There was silence for a while; Thor didn't need Loki to say anything, he was perfectly happy with his brother being comfortable enough to once again return the brotherly affection of a hug.
"I missed you too, Thor." Loki finally said almost inaudibly and with insecurity.
And then Thor found himself uttering the words he never hoped to say again.
"I trust you, Loki."
Thor quickly shook the flood of memories out of his mind. He had to act. The situation didn't look well. Thor wasn't surprised at the apparent hostility from his Midgardian friends towards Loki but he had to stop it from getting nasty. He decided that first he had to make sure that the SHIELD understood that Loki is no danger to them now.
"Loki." Thor said looking into his brother's eyes. He was worried to find so much fear in them.
"Put the daggers down." He added trying to sound reassuring.
Loki kept the eye contact with Thor and then slowly, he let the daggers slip from his fingers on the ground.
Then everything went mad.
In inhuman speed, Fury ran to Loki and without a warning knocked him down. Loki, whose attention was still focused on Thor, didn't have time to realise what was happening and so he found himself lying on his back on the ground unable to catch his breath.
"Fury!" Thor screamed and ran towards Fury.
"Stay there!" Fury yelled at Loki who tried to push himself up. Loki twitched at the sound and stayed on the ground.
Thor rushed in between his brother and Fury. He quickly scanned his brother to make sure Loki was alright and then turned his attention to Fury. It took all of Thor's lately acquired ability of self-control not to cry out at Fury.
"I said that it is okay." Thor said slowly.
"Get out of my way, Thor."
"He is my brother."
"I remember you saying that he was only adopted." Fury raised his eyebrows ironically.
Thor glanced at Loki quickly enough to see a flash of hurt in his brother's eyes. It was gone before anyone else could notice it.
"We came to Earth to ask for shelter. I was hoping that you would provide it to us." Thor stated firmly.
"The Earth has no problem with you Asgardians. Only with him." Fury pointed to Loki.
"Loki has paid for his mistakes." Thor tried to reason with Fury.
"Oh, has he? It doesn't seem so." Fury was openly sarcastic now.
"What exactly was the punishment he received on Asgard? Being scolded by his father?"
"No." Thor said only.
"Then what was it?" Fury was staring right into Thor's eyes.
"Loki was to be confined to the dungeons." Thor replied.
"For how long?" Fury asked the question Thor feared.
"For the rest of his days." Thor answered trying to appear as calm as possible.
"Well…since Asgard is clearly incapable of carrying out the sentence now, the Earth will make sure that justice is being served. Seize him." Fury instructed the SHIELD agents. None of them seemed particularly happy to approach the God of Mischief who was clearly being protected by the God of Thunder but nevertheless, they moved forward.
"Stop." Rage was accumulating in Thor and he felt that his hand were beginning to itch – a sign that they would start sparkling soon.
"Director, please, listen to me." Thor found himself speaking urgently. "The circumstances have changed. Loki helped me to save Asgard. Please, let us go and I promise I will explain all to you as soon as possible.
Loki was observing the whole argument from the ground. He felt heat in his cheeks as they were turning red; he felt so humiliated. All those people have defeated him once and now all that was standing in between him and them was his brother's protection.
With a new-found dignity, Loki pushed himself off the ground which, of course, attracted both Fury's and Thor's attention.
"I don't need your help, Thor." Loki said firmly while staring at Thor.
"I think you do, Loki." Thor answered emotionlessly. He didn't have energy for his brother's games now.
"I said that it was a bad idea to come to Midgard, remember? But you decided to come here nevertheless." Loki's tone was bitter.
"It was the safest place where to bring our people. You know that! I couldn't..." Thor found himself being interrupted.
"You couldn't do what, Thor? Compromise the safety of your people because of me? Of course not." Loki hissed.
"You came to save those people, Loki! So don't pretend you don't care about what happens to them!" Thor was starting to shake with rage. Loki was only making this worse.
Loki opened his mouth to retort something nasty to Thor but he couldn't articulate the words. Thor was right, of course. Loki cared about Asgardians and he didn't want to put them in harm's way. However, he couldn't admit this. It would only show that he cared and he wasn't willing to display this part of himself in front of his enemies. It was so much easier to be angry and bitter, pretending not to care about anything. More you care, more you have to lose. Loki learnt this lesson a long time ago.
Still, Loki also learnt what it meant to be left utterly and infinitely alone in the universe.
"I don't want to fight, Thor." Loki said without specifying whether he meant to argue with Thor or to fight the SHIELD.
Thor's eyes softened and he offered an understanding smile to Loki. It both emboldened and irritated Loki. From one side, he was relieved to be understood. From the other, he didn't like that Thor seemed to be able to read him like an open book. Loki was the God of Mischief and Lies, the Master of Deceit, he couldn't allow anyone to see right through him. Not even his brother.
"No matter what may have happened somewhere on Asgard lately," Fury's voice brought both Thor and Loki back to reality, "Loki never paid for his crimes on Midgard. What is more, we have nothing but your word that he won't try to terrorise this planet again. I won't let that happen."
"I was there too." Banner's voice came out of blue. Fury looked at him expectantly.
"Thor is…right. I can't believe I am saying that but Loki did come to help us. Maybe he deserves to be given a chance to prove himself." Banner finished.
Loki was staring at him in disbelief. He would never expect Banner to speak in his favour.
Fury was pensive for a while.
"I am willing to consider Loki's…eh…repentance." Fury said weighting each word. "But you must understand that until I am presented with a sufficient amount of evidence that he poses no threat to us, I must insist on constraining him."
"You have my word that Loki is not here to bring havoc, director." Thor insisted.
"I am afraid that is not enough, Thor." Fury replied.
"Thor." Banner spoke to his fellow Avenger. "Fury is right. You cannot expect him to trust Loki after what happened on Earth. I believe his offer to be fair."
Thor closed his eyes for a second. He knew that there was no alternative; he needed the Earth to serve as a safe haven for his people; he couldn't antagonise it now.
Thor opened his eyes and looked straight into Loki's.
Loki understood Thor's decision instantly.
Thor will give him up to save his people.
So I am no more than another stolen relic, locked up here until you might have use of me?
Loki remembered his own words.
He would never be anyone's first choice.
Never.
He understood why Thor made this decision.
Loki wasn't angry at Thor. He knew that Thor didn't have any alternatives. He also knew that Thor didn't wish to do this.
But it still hurt.
"It's alright, Thor." Loki found himself saying quietly while lifting his sight from the ground to Thor.
Thor's expression was penitent when he softly nodded to Loki. Then he turned to Fury.
"I will do as you suggest." Thor said emotionlessly and stepped away from Loki.
Fury beckoned to the agents.
Loki closed his eyes to calm himself down.
He can do this.
He will not panic.
Thor won't leave him to rot in chains for too long.
Yet despite attempts to appear strong, Loki couldn't help but twitch when he felt strong hands on his shoulders. He opened his eyes only to find agents standing all around him.
Loki decided to let them do what they had to. Now when Thor agreed to play according to Fury's rules, he knew that resisting had no meaning. He would only be defeated and ridiculed.
Maybe he never should have returned to Thor.
Loki's pupils widened when he saw heavy chains being brought to him by one of the agents. Unconsciously, he tried to take a step back, but he was being held tightly by the other agents. Their fingers painfully dug into Loki's shoulders and he was left with no choice but to let the man come face to face with him.
Loki's eyes rested on the chains and with dread he realised that these were not ordinary chains. They were very much like the ones he was forced to wear on Asgard; spelled to prevent him from using magic.
Since when did Midgard have their own sorcerers?
Roughly, the agent grabbed Loki's right wrist and secured the manacle tightly around it. Loki bit his lip not to hiss in pain as he felt the cold metal pressing against his skin. Quickly, the agent seized Loki's left wrist and tied it up next to the other.
Loki's stomach was in knots.
He was completely powerless.
Again.
It was so much like in Asgard. All the memories flooded Loki's mind and Loki was unable to block the fear from creeping into his eyes.
He felt someone gripping him by the elbows and pushing him away.
"Loki."
Loki turned his head to see Thor coming to him.
Thor took Loki's hands into his own as his mother used to do when Loki needed her support.
"Loki, I promise I will make this right. I will not abandon you. Do you trust me?" Thor's words were urgent and filled with need.
Loki wanted to tell Thor that he believed that Thor would come for him but he was unable to say the words loudly because actually, he doubted his brother would manage to get him out of this.
Thor was amongst his friends now.
What if he forgot about Loki?
What if he got persuaded that Loki is way past being worth caring for?
What if Thor realised that he was better off without his brother anyway?
And so Loki only returned Thor's gaze before the grip on his elbows tightened and unable to resist it any longer, Loki let himself be dragged to one of the black Midgardian cars standing nearby. They seated him in between two agents whose pressing on Loki's elbows didn't loosen. The doors next to Loki were closed and with worry Loki noticed that Fury had taken the seat in front of him.
The car began to move and Fury turned his head back towards Loki.
"I don't know how you managed to deceive Thor and Banner but I will get the truth out of you. You will tell me what you are doing on this planet. I promise you that."