Asgard is lost, and all that is left of its people is aboard that refugee ship, including the princes. Thor finds Loki looking out into space, on his own, as usual.

Thor had never seen his little brother like this. He stepped closer, close enough to put a hand on Loki's shoulder. The fact that Loki moved into the touch, even if it was just the slightest bit and probably unconscious, shocked Thor even more than the look in his brother's eyes. As softly as he could Thor asked:

"What are you worried about?"

"He will find me."

"Who?"

Loki ignored the question.

"Asgard was relatively safe. Now I have nowhere to go. He will find me."

"Loki, whoever you pissed off, you'll handle it. We'll handle it."

"There is no end to your arrogance, is there?"

Thor dropped his hand from Loki's shoulder.

"What?"

"After everything that happened you still think there's nothing in the universe you can't handle."

Thor studied his brother's face. Fear. A bone deep terror he'd never seen on the ever confident Loki. His brother was terrified. Loki spoke in a low, flat voice:

"I failed. He made sure I understood what the consequences would be."

"New York? Are we talking about your attempt to take over Midgard?"

Loki huffed out a bitter laugh.

"Do you really think that was what I wanted?"

"Well you certainly tried pretty hard!"

"I had no choice!"

"You could have said no."

"He made it very clear to me that that wasn't an option."

The way Loki avoided his eyes made Thor's throat close up.

"What did he do to you?"

Loki grimaced.

"Even if I was particularly eager to relive it, which I'm not, neither of us would have the words."

Thor closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn't imagine what his brother had gone through, and if he was absolutely honest with himself, he didn't even want to. But this was Loki. Mischief, illusions, manipulation. Thor refused to believe he'd just obeyed.

"So what were you're options?"

"Make it absolutely clear that I was doing my best. And hope you and your friends would be good enough to stop me."

Thor's head snapped up.

"What about becoming King of Midgard?!"

Loki just looked at him with a half smile. Thor couldn't believe it.

"You never wanted that!"

Loki sighed.

"I thought I did. I was mad, and confused, and unbelievably jealous. But no, I never really wanted a throne. Any throne."

He straightened.

"And now, I have nowhere to go. Midgard has been compromised before and might be again. Jontunheim is bleak and barren. Asgard is gone. He will find me, Thor. It might be centuries, but he will."

"What do you think will happen if he does?"

"If I'm lucky, he will only punish me for incompetence, which will mean a relatively quick, relatively painless death. Something like being choked, or maybe have my neck snapped. As opposed to suffering more pain any being can take with their mind intact if he suspects I did it on purpose."

"I will not let any of that happen."

"Again with the arrogance, dear brother."

"I mean it. You won't have to face him alone. I'll fight with you, side by side, and if that's the only thing I can do, then I'll die with you. Side by side."

Loki swallowed, his eyes bright with tears.

"And what would be the use of that?"

"My brother wouldn't have to die alone", Thor said simply.