No Roads Left

Chapter 4-Nothing to gain
Everything to fear

Asgard

The shining realm's brightness was dulled for Thor. Since his return, it did not feel like home. Then again, it hadn't felt quite right since Loki's fall from the Bifrost.

All those months thinking Loki dead, mourning his brother's loss, then the surge of hope when he learned he was alive. But it was dashed when Loki refused to give upon his dreams of conquest. Even more crushing was the knowledge he'd had Loki in his grasp, and the mortals stole Loki right out from under him on Midgard. Fury gave him no explanation as to Loki's whereabouts, just a veiled threat about how he was next if he didn't cooperate and get hell off Earth with the Tesseract.

He obliged, using the artifact to return to get home to Asgard. But it was no happy homecoming for the thunderer. The first few days were the worst. His father refused to speak, and his mother wouldn't look at him. He'd borne the brunt of his father's anger before, but bearing the full force of his mother's disappointment was something new.

He failed. Again. Simple orders—return with Loki and the Tesseract, and he'd only brought back one, and not what he really ought, failing Loki.

Hardly happy thoughts for the beginning of the day, but he'd already been up since before dawn, unable to sleep, so he'd gone down to the training field, working his way through different forms with sword and staff. Now back in his chambers, Thor stripped off his armor, flinching as he ran his fingers over the wound on his left side, where Loki stabbed him. He wouldn't let Eir heal it, leaving it as a reminder. It gave him a little hope—if Loki meant to kill him, he would've tried harder.

Cold comfort, considering how much they'd hurt each other. And of course, someone would have to come bother him. Thor sighed, hearing someone knocking at the door. He strode over, surprised to see it was Sif, and he let her in.

"If you wanted a sparring partner, all you have to do is ask," Sif said, offering a warm smile.

"I wanted to be alone," Thor said. "What brings you here?"

"Have you taken breakfast yet?" she asked.

"No," Thor replied, searching for a clean tunic.

"Then eat with me," Sif said. "Then we can go into the city and see what trouble we can find."

"Thank you for the invitation, but not today, Sif," Thor said.

"You're wasting away, you know," she said. "You need to get you, enjoy life."

"How can I enjoy anything, not knowing where Loki is?" he replied.

"He's on Midgard, hopefully rotting in a cell somewhere," Sif said. "You're better off without him. Asgard doesn't miss him, so why should you?"

"Sif, let it go," Thor said. "Did my father send you to check on me again?"

"I came because I'm worried for you," Sif said. "You spend too much of your time worrying over Midgard when your love and loyalty should lie here, with Asgard."

"Don't doubt my loyalty and dedication to the realm," Thor said. "And anything else is none of your business, Sif."

"I know you've been talking to Fandral about the secret paths," Sif said. "If you go back to Midgard, you'll be defying the Allfather again, just for the sake of some mortal."

"Not for Jane," Thor said.

"You'd risk your father's wrath to go look for Loki? Are you mad? He tried to kill you," Sif said. "How can you believe there's any good left?"

"Because I can't give up on him," Thor said.

"The Allfather is right, you know," Sif said. "You would be better served by what lies in front of you, and we'd all be better off if Loki just stayed dead."

"Leave. Now."

Sif frowned, started to say something more, but Thor took her by the arm, gently leading her toward the door, showing her out.

Damn her for throwing his father's words back at him. Since returning from his Midgardian exile, his father's unsubtle machinations to bring him together with Sif were unwelcome and brought an awkwardness to the easy relationship he'd always shared with the goddess of war. It also served as his father's way of trying to distract him from his grief over Loki and the destruction of the Bifrost, and his way back to Jane.

Knowing Sif's true feelings for him, and not hearing it from her also further strained their friendship. Her opinion of Loki also did not help. All problems to deal with later. Much later.

88888

The simple act of joining his mother for the evening meal wasn't simple. Thor stood outside his mother's chambers, listening to the muffled voices of his arguing parents. Flinching as he heard something break, Thor pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Never in all his years had heard his parents go at it like this. His mother was angry, and nothing would console her. Not him, and certainly not his father from the sounds of things. Pressing his ear to the door, Thor tried listening to what they were saying, but his mother had warded her chambers, and while he could hear them, he could not understand them.

Inside, Odin, king of Asgard, watched as his wife paced and her eyes wandered over he belongings, clearly trying to pick out something else to throw should she have need of it.

"Bring him home," Frigga said.

"Frigga," Odin said, reaching out, trying to catch his wife's hand as she came close, but she turned away.

"Or send Thor after him," she said.

"You know how much it cost to send Thor in the first place," Odin said. "I don't think I can do it a second time."

"Use the Tesseract," Frigga said. "As you were so determined to have it returned."

"The Tesseract will be used in the repair of the Bifrost, and nothing else," Odin replied. "Its use has already attracted attention the realms do not need. If Thanos dares attack Asgard, he will be dealt with."

"What if he goes after Loki instead?" Frigga asked.

"Thanos will face the might of Asgard," Odin said.

"That is not an answer," Frigga said.

"My wife, you know I have my reasons for everything," Odin said.

"Leaving our son abandoned and alone in the realm he tried to conquer?"

"Loki must face the consequences of his actions," Odin said. "Just as Thor had to face his."

"The humans Thor trusted lied to him and I can only imagine what lies in store for. . ."

"Enough," Odin barked. "Loki got himself into this mess, he can get himself out of it. He has his wits, and his magic."

It was then Frigga picked up a vase, hurling it past her husband's head. She meant to miss, but the Asgardian king paled slightly.

"Know this, husband—when the time comes, I will go to Loki, and nothing you can say or do will stop me," Frigga said. She turned to walk away, but Odin caught up with her.

"Frigga, what have you seen?" he asked.

"Enough," she said, throwing his words back at Odin. "Can you at least tell me if he's safe? I cannot see him because of the shackles you had him bound with, like an animal. And how can Loki defend himself with his magic bound?"

"Loki brought this on himself," Odin said, as if it explained everything, and as if he had no small part in setting Loki on his path of self-loathing and destruction. "And his bindings were the only way the council would permit Loki to set foot back in Asgard."

"The council has no right to make any decisions regarding our family," Frigga said. "You are the Allfather."

"Loki is no longer the boy we loved and raised," Odin said.

"You would deny our son?"

"Loki will either come back to us of his own free will, or he will not. Frigga, the choice is his alone," Odin said. "I have other matters to attend, and Thor waits for you."

He let himself out of his wife's chambers, sparing not a glance for his son as he stalked by, Frigga hot on his heels. But she stopped in front of Thor, pulling him into an embrace. Letting him go, she smoothed back the hair from his face.

"What were you fighting about?" Thor asked. "Loki?"

The set of Frigga's lips and the steel in her eyes gave him all the answers he needed.

"Your father won't relent," she said. "Because of his own stubborn pride. He also refuses to send you back to Midgard."

"What else?"

"He had the audacity to say Loki made his own mess, and he can get himself out of it," Frigga said. "Your father believes if Loki wants to return home, he will. He is correct in that we can't force Loki to do so. He would only resent your father more than he already does."

"Loki does what he wants," Thor said, a sad smile gracing his features.

"He always has," Frigga said. "Now, my son, has your day been a good one?"

"I had a disagreement with Sif," Thor said.

Apparently it was one of those days.

"Why?"

"Loki," Thor answered. "Sif said he wasn't worth saving."

Frigga patted his arm, trying to reassure her son as much as herself. "Perhaps she did not mean it," she said.

"I hope so," Thor said. "I don't want to lose anyone else."

"Thor, come. Let's eat, and after that, I would like you to help me find a book I'm certain is in Loki's chambers."

Offering his mother an arm, Thor smiled. The chance to rifle through Loki's things? He would gladly take that opportunity.

88888

Diego Garcia

Loki fell into a routine—sleep, eat, read. His days were sometimes livened up by visits from Graham or Ratchet. The most recent from the medic included a stern lecture about behaving himself when he was to be questioned. And apparently, it was to be this day, as the two beings he knew to be called Prowl and Kup arrived to replace Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

"Leave," Prowl said.
A glance passed between the twins, before they turned their attention to Kup, who nodded toward the door.

"Why do they do that?" Prowl asked.

"Because they don't think you're quite in your right mind," Kup said. "Considering."

Prowl exvented in a sigh, turning his attention to the prisoner, who was sitting on the edge of his berth, watching them with amusement.

"Ratchet told you we were coming, correct?" Prowl asked.

"He did mention it," Loki said, noting how Prowl kept running a hand over his chest. It was an unconscious action.

"We need to know everything you know about the Chitauri," Prowl said. "And the other threat you mentioned to Ratchet."

"Where would you like me to start?" Loki asked.

Before Prowl could answer, he was doubled over in obvious pain, hand over his chest again.

"Prowl, sit this one out," Kup said. "I know the little one's making you twitchy. I can handle this. I can get Hot Rod or somebody else if I need help. Besides, if I can't handle one clever organic, it's time to retire."

Prowl's look changed to a glower directed at the other bot. "No."

"Go see Ratchet, or I'll comm Jazz," Kup said.

"You wouldn't," Prowl said, straightening, but it took effort.

"Try me," Kup said. "Go."

"Is he ill?" Loki asked.

"You could say that," Kup said. "Now. Let's get started. The humans didn't bother asking you a thing?

"No," Loki answered.

"Prime thought they were smarter than that, but apparently not," Kup said. "We hit SHIELD's database, so we do have some information. We just need you to plug the holes."

And Loki spent the next few hours doing just that—explaining, answering questions until Ratchet showed up.

"Loki needs a break," the medic said, ignoring the glare from the ancient mech, and happy for the grateful expression Loki's face.

"Don't let him out," Kup said.

"I won't," Ratchet said, having been threatened that very morning with incarceration from three ranking members of the chain of command—Optimus, Lennox and Red Alert. Like he believed any of them. But he wasn't letting Loki out.

"I hope you weren't alarmed by Prowl," Ratchet said. "He tends to have a certain affect on everyone."

"He seems very. . .competent," Loki said.

"That's one way of putting it, but that's not what I meant. Thank Primus he's at the end of his gestation cycle," Ratchet said.

"He is pregnant?" Loki asked.

"Yes," Ratchet answered. "You're not repulsed?"

"How can I be, when I share the same ability?" Loki asked.

"What?"

"In my Jotun form, my true form. . .Jotnar can sire and bear children, if they choose," Loki explained. "Apparently so can your species. How is that possible? You're machines."

"Autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron," Ratchet explained. "But you can call us Autobots."

"Your species?"

"Faction," Ratchet said. "Cybertronian works. And we're not all male. There are female Cybertronians. Are there female Jotnar?"

"Not that I know of," Loki said.

"Well, I just came to see how you're doing since Graham's gone," Ratchet said. "Let me know if you need anything."

"I will," Loki said.

88888

Loki was awakened in the middle of the night by the scuffling and arguing of his two guards. The now familiar voices of the twins brought a smile to his face as he listened to them bicker.

"'Sides, stow it," Sunstreaker said.

"I can't wait until Prowlie goes on leave. Once he's off duty, we'll have the run of the base."

"Keep telling yourself that," Sunstreaker snapped. "It's your fault we're stuck here. Again."

"You'd think they'd pull us off guard duty instead of sticking us here," Sideswipe said. "Hey, Loki, you awake?"

"I am now," Loki said, sitting up.

"You know, for somebody's who supposed to be this megaminded supervillain, you're not very smart," Sideswipe said.

"Why is that?" Loki asked.

"Trying to kill your brother," Sideswipe said. "Are you crazy?"

"He's not my brother," Loki said.

"Whatever," Sideswipe said. "Whatever he did, whatever you did, does it matter? You're still brothers."

"Why does it matter to you?"

"I know if one of us dies, the other isn't far behind," Sideswipe said. "I don't think I could live without Sunny, and vice versa. We've seen how this story ends, and it's not pretty. Just ask Prime."

"I'm sure your Prime has more important things to do than talk to me," Loki said.

"Maybe," Sunstreaker interjected. "But Sides is right—the path you're on ends bloody, and nobody wins. Think you can live with yourself if you finish the job?"

Loki had no answer.

"Nobody understands," Sideswipe said continued. "Sunny and I-we finish each other's thoughts. We don't even have to say a word sometimes, we know what the other is thinking and feeling. We're two halves of one person in two different bodies."

"What Sides means is you and your brother might not share the same connection we do as twins, but you have a bond, and you shouldn't break it," Sunsteaker said. "Nothing is so bad you should want to kill your own brother."

"I'm his heart, he's my head," Sideswipe said, grinning at his twin as a slow, small smile graced Sunstreaker's features for a few seconds before he turned back to his job.

"They think he's psychotic and crazy, and they love me, but think there's not much going on in my processor most of the time," Sideswipe said. "One of our therapists said I talk all the time but I never say anything. Why should I, when I don't want to talk about myself? It's easier to talk about things, or whatever.

They also don't like us because we're not Autobot enough for their overdeveloped sensibilities," he said. "That's what Ratch calls it. They're just afraid of us because we'll do what they can't—what we have to do to keep everyone else safe."

"So you're feared rather than respected?" Loki asked.

"I never said that," Sideswipe answered. "I should let you get some sleep. I figure I'll hear about it in the morning."