A/N: Apologies for the delay, but I had to wait until I felt apathetic enough about this chapter that I didn't mind posting it. I dislike writing with so many characters in a scene. Not sure how successful I was.
This is also the last chapter that follows the guidelines of the prompt. If you feel anyone (Hawkeye) is a bit out of character, I'm probably aware of it, and it's just me getting the prompt out of the way so I can get to the good stuff (angst Loki).
When Thor arrives back on Midgard, it's to a team of SHIELD agents prepared with an array of scientific instruments and measurement devices. A few of them jump at his sudden coming to existence, but for the most part, they remain focused on their instruments.
"Welcome back to Earth," one of them steps forward and Thor nods his head in greeting.
"Have your instruments been successful?" Thor asks. Before he had left, Fury asked him if he would return at a specific time and place in order for SHIELD to study more about inter-realm travel.
"We'll need time to work through the data," the agent says stoically. Thor wonders if all SHIELD agents were taught to cast out emotion. It is a trait he finds foreign, yet admires in a certain way. He has learned that emotions can be deceiving.
This thought reminds him of Loki, and his heart clenches in sorrow. His brother had seemed distraught when he left him with the Chitauri, but Thor knew not to be fooled by anything Loki said. Not for the first time, Thor wonders what had gone wrong. What had happened to the brother he knew and loved? He had been so sure that Loki intended to die when he let go of the spear so long ago on the fragmented edge of the Bifrost. It had pained his heart night and day, until he learned that Loki was on Midgard, terrorizing its people and putting the woman he loved in danger.
He wants to embrace his brother, hear his forgiveness and take him back to Asgard where he might stay, recover. Thor wants his family back. But he has spoken with Odin, heard his words of wisdom, and Thor knows that Loki has chosen his own path. Now he must face the consequences as Thor had done when he childishly invaded Jotunheim.
Perhaps Loki will learn, as he did.
"I'll escort you to the Avengers base," says the agent.
When Thor arrives, he is greeted by the rest of the Avengers in the common room. They look serious, but he notices some of their faces have a brightness he had not seen when they had been fighting Loki.
"My friends!" He greets them with a smile. They all nod politely, and Thor takes his seat.
Steve looks up and says "Sorry to be so formal, Thor, but we've got to know: so what's the situation with Loki? Is he locked up for good?"
Thor nods gravely. "He has been taken back to the realm of the Chitauri, as was decreed by the Allfather.
Natasha Romanov speaks up at that. "But he was in league with the Chitauri from the beginning. Why would sending him back be a good idea?"
Thor is about to explain when he is surprised by Clint Barton's voice.
"Because they threatened to punish him if he failed to take over Earth."
Clint seems just as surprised that he has spoken. But when he notices the rest of the group staring at him, he rubs a hand on his neck and continues. "When I was… being controlled, he talked about them. Now that I think about it, it seemed more like they were the ones pulling all the strings. For a guy set on taking over the world, his reasoning wasn't very sound. I mean, he didn't even like it here. Half the time he ever spoke it was about how much better Asgard is, how humans are worthless, blah blah."
There is silence for a moment.
"But he was still using the Chitauri to accomplish his goal," Natasha says, looking at Clint. "We all saw. He was the one that brought them here, he wanted them here."
Thor is beginning to feel an uncomfortable chill crawling up his spine. There is a moment from the battle with the Chitauri that still bothers him.
Clint looks thoughtful. "I remember he had nightmares."
This causes the whole group to shift in curiosity.
"Nightmares?" Bruce speaks up. "The guy actually let you around him when he slept?"
"What I wouldn't give to see a sleeping god," says Tony.
"Well, I mean, I was under his control," says Clint, beginning to regret speaking up. "I—the only thing I wanted to do was protect him, you know? He was in my head. But I watched him writhe in his sleep. He would say—he would beg for the, the pain to stop. He was scared shitless of these guys. They definitely did something to him."
"Then I guess it is a good thing we sent him back," Natasha says coolly.
But Clint is finding himself increasingly drawn into the memories of his captivity. Once Natasha had knocked Loki out of his head, he had felt nothing but anger and hatred about what had happened. He purposely refused to remember any of Loki's actions that were less than evil. But the news of Loki's punishment is bringing everything back.
"He… Loki, he talked a lot actually. About you—" he looks at Thor, "and about Asgard. But never about his plan, or what he intended to do with the Chitauri. They didn't seem like friends, more like enemies. He couldn't wait to be rid of them, in fact."
The chill in Thor's spine manifests itself into a coldness clinging to his entire body. Was he wrong? Was Loki truly being used by the Chitauri, rather than the other way around? If so, he had sent his brother into the worst of traps.
Suddenly, he remembers what has been bothering him about the battle. He and Loki were struggling on the roof of Stark's tower.
"Look around you!" Thor had pleaded, and Loki actually complied. In that moment, something had changed in his brother. Thor had seen regret, sadness, pain. But Loki was too smart for his own good, Thor realized now. He had covered up his moment of weakness with a knife to Thor's side. Thor had thought that moment symbolized their rupture as brothers forever.
"It's too late. It's too late to stop it.."
Loki could have easily killed him. Why didn't he? Why the moment of weakness? Why only a small dagger when he could have easily torn out his heart?
"Thor, you doing alright there, buddy?" Steve speaks and Thor meets his blue eyes.
"I fear I have made a grave mistake," he says slowly.
Tony smirks but his face remains serious."What, you don't actually think there's anything he doesn't deserve? After what he did? I'm sorry Thor, maybe Earth isn't that special to you, but this is my home. He killed thousands of people. So what if the Chitauri rough him up a bit. He's lucky he isn't getting death."
Thor feels anger swell in him even as he tries to force himself to agree with Tony.
"I must remind you that he is my brother, no matter the false path he has chosen. I believe that his punishment should reflect his intent, not just the seriousness of his crime."
"If he were tried on Earth, he would've been executed," Natasha says flatly.
There is a pause, then Bruce says "Sorry Thor, I agree with Tony on this one."
Clint is staring hard at his clasped hands. Steve has his lips pressed into a flat line, his expression grim.
"I've never liked the idea of execution," Steve begins, "I don't think that's what we should be comparing this to. Thor, what exactly are you worried about with the Chitauri? You talked with your father about this, and together you made a decision. Why have doubts now?"
Thor looks uncomfortable. He glances at Clint, then at the center of the room.
"Perhaps I have always had doubts. You know Loki only as a source of chaos and evil. I know him as a brother. When he fell from the Bifrost, I thought him dead. Seeing his actions on Midgard, speaking to him, I still never regained the brother I lost. He changed. Or was changed. Even he, with all his powers as sorcerer, could not have controlled where he fell. It is possible that he would fall into the realm of the Chitauri, where in his weakened state they could have… taken advantage of him."
Clint winces and Thor looks his way. "Hawkeye, you have seen my brother without his guard up. You say he had nightmares. Do you believe what I have said to be true?"
Clint keeps his gaze down, and the rest of the group watches him fidget.
"I… don't know. I really hate sympathizing with the guy who forced me to, to do all that. And the guy who basically wrecked all of New York. I don't want to be what you base all this on. But… I'd say, from what I observed, you're right." Clint looks up at Thor. "I'd say that Loki was tortured pretty badly if it caused the nightmares he was having. Probably not the only reason, but a big reason for wanting to take over Earth was just trying to appease them."
Thor decides then that something must be done.
"I'm sorry, my friends," he says. "I know that Loki is your enemy, but I think it my duty to return to the Allfather to reassess his punishment. I swear to you it will be just and he will not be able to return to Midgard."
"Whatever you need to do Thor," Steve replies. "We left his punishment in your control for a reason. Just… make sure he doesn't escape, okay?"
Thor nods, and stands to leave.