First there was a rumble, and then a flash of light so bright that it seared my eyes. And then pain. Intense, blinding pain on a molecular scale. It seemed like every atom in my body was being wrenched apart, and I bucked against Thor's iron grip. But all to no avail; the Thunder God's hold on me was unbreakable.

Just when I thought I might scream or pass out or go mad from the thrumming pulse of power that was surrounding me, it all stopped.

Suddenly; violently; there was silence.

Thor released me, and I staggered, trying desperately not to fall to an undignified heap at his feet. It was a battle I nearly lost; remaining upright by the barest of margins as I struggled to catch my breath.

Apparently cross-realm travel was a little tough on us mere mortals.

"Forgive me," Thor murmured from just over my shoulder. "You left me with no choice in the matter. Surely you can…"

His words were cut short as I whirled around, my fist connecting solidly with his jaw. That leonine head rocked back, and he stared at me, eyes bright with shock.

"What the fuck," I roared. "Do you even realize what you've done?!"

"I…I did what was necessary," the blonde god stammered.

"YOU FUCKING KIDNAPPED ME," I snarled, advancing on him, my fists balled and shaking with rage. "You did the exact same thing Loki did, only without the added bonus of making me your own personal little toy soldier!"

"You refused to help me," Thor bellowed in return, his anger slowly growing. "A few simple words were all that I required, and you denied me even that!"

"So that makes it okay to just take me," I demanded. "To rip me out of my home? Off of my goddamn planet, for fuck's sake?! Did you even stop to think how SHIELD is going to view this? You just committed an act of aggression, Thor! They're gonna call this an attack!"

Thor took a step back, his brows drawing together as he mulled over my words. I watched as something akin to panic twisted his expression before he finally raised his gaze to meet mine.

"That was not my intention," he whispered. "When you refused to help me, I…let my impulsive nature take hold. I was not thinking clearly."

"Obviously," I snorted.

"Can you not understand why," Thor asked, a pleading tone creeping into his voice. "You are the only one that can help Loki!"

"Yeah, I got that," I replied wearily. "Told you back in my apartment that I got that. But I also told you that I don't care."

Thor huffed out a deep sigh and dropped his gaze to the floor. I shook my head, swearing bitterly under my breath. I'd had my fill of these gods coming into my life and turning everything to shambles. By all rights I should be back on my couch, drunk off my ass, instead of wherever the fuck I was now.

I peered around, taking my first real look at my surroundings. Now that my anger was momentarily spent, I felt curiosity taking hold. It's not every day that I get kidnapped, dragged halfway across the universe and dropped smack in the middle of a place no human has ever been…so I supposed I should try and make the best of it.

After all, there was no way out of this. I was a 'guest' of Asgard until someone decided it might be a good idea to send me back to Earth.

The circular room I found myself in was adorned in ornate scrollwork, every inch gilded in what looked to be pure gold. In the center of the floor was a raised platform, and standing upon it, watching us impassively, was one of the largest men I'd ever seen. I grumbled at myself for allowing my anger to blind me to the fact that we were not alone. It's stupid shit like that that gets you killed; when you start slipping, and fail to notice what's around you.

That's why there's no old age home for master assassins. Sooner or later we all start slipping.

I eyed the stranger warily as he continued to stand stock still, his steady gaze boring into me. Finally he intoned, "Greetings, Clint Barton of Midgard. Your presence is welcomed here in the Golden City."

"Let me guess," I snapped. "You're Heimdall, right? The Watcher?"

"I am indeed," he answered calmly, still holding his position.

"And you…what? Hang out here all day? Like some sort of cosmic doorman?"

"I guard the way in, and out, of Asgard. I watch for any threat to the kingdom. I see all I turn my gaze toward; all that is, and all that will be."

"And what a bang up job you're doing," I said, letting the sarcasm drip from my words. "I assume you saw this coming?"

"I did."

"Didn't think maybe you should…I dunno…advise your crown prince against practicing the age old art of human trafficking?"

"The end result will justify the action taken," Heimdall replied cryptically.

"Somehow, I don't think it will," I growled.

"Neither did Odin, when I first informed him of what Thor had done," the Watcher returned. "But I assure you that I have followed this course of action to its end, and while there are moments of strife, this is how it must be."

"Oh, well that just makes everything okay then," I muttered to myself.

Heimdall turned to Thor then, stating blandly, "You have made great strides, my prince. But your impulsive nature is still a hindrance to your eventual rule. While you mean well, you must consider all aspects of your actions; how they will affect all involved. Your father awaits you both in the throne room. I would not dally."

"Thank you, Watcher," Thor answered in a small voice, inclining his head slightly.

"Have you any further questions, Clint Barton," Heimdall asked, spearing me once more with that odd, orange stare.

"Just one, really."

"Yes?"

"Does everyone in Asgard have an addiction to fucked up headwear, because damn," I smirked. "I thought Loki's was bad."

Thor scowled at me as I held Heimdall's gaze, facing off against the Watcher. After a long moment, the taller man's mouth twitched at the corner and he gave me a slight nod.

"Go, then, Clint Barton. Go in peace. And mind your tongue when you face the All-Father. He is not as forgiving as I am."

"Let's go," Thor growled as he took hold of my upper arm, pulling me toward the nearest archway, and beyond, Asgard.

-x-x-x-

I stopped short as we exited the Bifrost, digging in my heels and gaping at the scene before me.

"Holy. Shit," I breathed as I shook free of Thor's grasp, my eyes darting over the distant skyline. It hit me then exactly how far from home I was, and I suddenly felt very small.

Ahead of me lay a long, narrow road leading to the Golden City…and I could finally understand where the name came from, because goddamned if every single spire and arch wasn't gilded and shining. The road itself shimmered in cycling colors; every hue of the rainbow represented. It made me slightly nauseous to look directly at it, so I focused on the tallest structure instead, putting one foot in front of the other, trailing in the wake of the God of Thunder.

As we drew close to the city itself, I felt an odd nervousness roiling in my belly. I'd been pretty much everywhere in my time with SHIELD, spending more time on foreign soil than I ever did in my own country.

But this? This was a little more foreign than even I was used to.

Thor strode through the gates, nodding at the pair of guards flanking the entrance as they bowed in deference to their crown prince. I snorted in amusement at the clunky helmets they were sporting. 'God help these guys in an actual battle,' I thought. 'It's gotta fuck up their balance, wearing that nonsense.' Thor glared at me then, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking, and I just shrugged by way of reply.

"Come along, archer," he huffed. "We still have quite a distance to cover."

"Lead the way, Blondie," I snapped. "Sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can go home."

I was a little surprised by the interior of Asgard. It looked like any number of European villages I'd visited, only far cleaner and well…more golden. There were women hanging out wash next to their houses, men shoeing horses and children darting through the crowds. Granted, everyone seemed to be about seven feet tall, and they all turned curious eyes my way.

But overall, Asgard was not nearly as strange as I'd expected.

I nearly recanted that thought as we came upon a large, open aired marketplace. The nearly familiar, almost-like-home feeling was quickly replaced with a general sense of 'what in the actual fuck?!'.

The first sight that shook me was a man made entirely of flame. As I was gawking at that, I nearly bumped into a wolf the size of a cow. He was guarding a stall heaped high with the pelts and horns of beasts I'd never seen…and hoped never to encounter. I side-stepped the large, snarling animal only to find myself caught in the stare of a tall, veiled woman. It took me a moment to realize what it was about her that I found so unsettling. The pupils of her eyes were reptilian, vertical slits, and I caught slight movement under her head scarf, as though something beneath was flexing and coiling.

Thor chuckled at my expression of shock, and once again took my upper arm in one large hand, guiding me through the crush of people. "Not what you are used to, eh Hawk?"

"Not really," I muttered, casting one last look over my shoulder at the marketplace. "I guess the weird helmets are pretty far down on the list of messed up things Asgard has to offer."

"I imagine the sights here are somewhat troubling for one of Midgard. Magic was lost from your realm eons ago, and as such your people have been blinded to the mysteries of the Universe."

"You can keep the giant wolves and snake-women," I stated flatly. "I'll take a cold beer and a cheeseburger over that any day of the week."

"Fair enough, archer," Thor laughed. "Come. We are nearly to the palace."

I turned my gaze to the highest spire of the skyline, which lay just ahead. "That's the palace, I suppose? That's where you and Loki grew up?"

"It is," Thor rumbled, leading us down a short alleyway and into a courtyard filled with flowers and greenery. Just on the other side rose an impressive set of wide, golden steps that led to the palace itself. I tilted my head back and looked up at the towers and archways that loomed over us.

"Looks…homey," I remarked dryly.

"To an extent," Thor returned, pausing at the foot of the stairs to turn an appraising eye my way. "Thank you for agreeing to speak to Odin," he blurted out. "I cannot tell you what this means to me."

"It's not like I really had a choice, Thor," I scowled. "And personally, I think you're sorta crazy for even wanting to help someone who keeps trying to kill you. Even if he is your brother. Kind of."

The frown Thor sent my way was expansive, and I just sighed and shook my head.

"Yeah, okay. Let's go," I groused. "Don't want to keep Daddy waiting longer than necessary."

-x-x-x-

I shook free of Thor's grasp as we approached the throne room. "I think I can manage the rest of the way on my own," I snapped. "It's not like I'm gonna run off, and even if I did, where would I go?"

Thor nodded and ushered me in ahead of him. Immediately my jaw dropped at the sheer size of the room; it was easily the size of a football field, with huge golden columns flanking a long red carpet that led to the dais. I craned my neck, staring up at the ceiling that soared at least fifty feet overhead.

"Jesus," I mumbled. "You guys don't do anything small around here, do you?"

"Pardon," Thor asked.

"Nothing," I replied. "Just…nice place."

The Thunderer gave me a curious look before striding down the red carpet toward the throne. I trailed after him, my eyes fixed on the other end of the room. As we drew closer, I was met with the sight of Odin All-Father, seated stiffly upon his throne, his face a mask of thinly veiled rage. A woman stood at his side, a calming hand on Odin's shoulder.

'Oh shit,' I thought. 'Somebody is gonna get it.'

As we stepped to the foot of the dais, Thor went to one knee. "Father," he began hesitantly, only to be cut off by the white haired king.

"What have you done," he hissed.

"I have brought you proof of Loki's role in the invasion of Midgard," Thor said hurriedly. "As I suspected he did not…"

"You have brought me a prisoner," Odin roared.

"I…no," Thor sputtered. "The archer…"

"Did not come here of his own free will! You captured him, did you not?"

Thor held his tongue, his gaze falling to the carpet before him.

"Was it your choice to accompany my son here, mortal," the All-Father demanded, his one blue eye spearing me where I stood.

"No," I answered blandly. "It wasn't."

"And you told him as much? That you would not assist him in this fool's errand?"

"You know I did," I shot back. "Your little guardian already said that he told you everything!"

"Silence," Odin shouted, and then turned his attention back to Thor. "Rise, you stupid boy. Showing me deference will not lessen my anger in this matter."

The woman at his side leaned in to whisper in the All-Father's ear as Thor stood to his feet. He waved her away with a growl, and she frowned down at us both.

"You have always been soft when it comes to your wayward brother, Thor," Odin intoned. "Even banished; tucked away in another realm, he has the power to skew your thinking. Were you thinking when you made this decision? Did you consider what you may have wrought by taking this course of action? Or did you simply see a way to clear your precious brother's name; nothing more?"

"I had not considered what trouble may arise by bringing the Hawk here," Thor answered in a small voice.

"Of course you didn't," the king exploded, rising from his seat to pace the length of the dais. "It was not you that had to make peace with Midgard after Loki's attempt to rule! It was not you that had to promise that no other Asgardian harbored such aspirations. No. You simply threatened to bring war down upon their heads if they attempted to hold your brother!"

Thor seemed to shrink into himself with each venomous word that fell from Odin's lips, and even though I was still pretty pissed at him, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the dressing down the big guy was taking.

"Hey, hang on a second," I ventured. "I think you're being a little rough on Thor."

Odin whirled on me then, snarling. "And why should I care what you think, mortal? Your opinion in the matter means little to me."

I bristled at the tone he directed at me; as though I was less than dirt. A simple mortal, and so far beneath him that I should have no opinion.

"That's your son," I shouted, pointing to where Thor stood, his head bowed. "And he's in pain, in case you hadn't noticed. Or do you just not care?"

Odin drew himself up to his full height, glaring down at me balefully. "I am well aware of who he is, archer," he bit out. "But I am no longer sure of what he is. Where does his loyalty lie? With his home and the realm he swore to protect? Or with his traitorous 'brother' who was bent on the destruction of your world." A bitter smile played over the king's face and he continued in a sly whisper, "But, of course you are familiar with Loki's actions. Were you not in his service for a time?"

"Oh, fuck you," I snarled. "You know very well that I was. And now I'm not. So don't treat me like I'm some sort of villain. I've already got one cranky, one-eyed asshole in my life, I sure as shit don't need another!"

"Have some respect, Clint Barton," the woman at Odin's side snapped. "You are addressing my husband, the king."

"Lady," I barked. "I give respect when it's earned, and so far, not a single goddamn member of your family has earned that from me. Both of your sons have turned me into a thing to be hauled around for their own purposes; my wants and needs be damned. Your husband has insulted me, he's being a real dick to your remaining kid, and truthfully? I've had my fill of this bullshit. You want to paint Loki as a monster? Fine. He kinda is, and I personally think he deserves to be punished for what he did!"

The low gasp Thor voiced was my first clue that maybe I'd gone a little too far. The look of fury in the tall, regal woman's eyes only served to confirm that feeling. I had to fight the urge to cower as she swept down the stairs, her head held high and shoulders squared. She stepped to me and I met her gaze head on, waiting for the backlash I could feel coming.

"How dare you," she asked softly, her low tone belying the chill of anger I could feel coming off of her. "How dare you pass such judgment upon my family?"

"It's pretty easy, actually," I snapped. "I'm just going off my experiences with them. You may not like what I have to say, lady, but you can't tell me how to feel."

"My title may be 'Lady', but my name is Frigga, and you will address me as such," she stated flatly. "And if you are quite finished with your…callous assessment of those I love, perhaps you could tell us what you know of Loki? Thor obviously thought the information you carry important enough to bring you here. So, please…enlighten us."

And just like that, I had that feeling you get as a kid when your mom or a favorite teacher called you out on the carpet. That slightly embarrassed, wish-you-were-anywhere-but-where-you-were feeling.

"Yeah, okay," I groused, scrubbing my palm over the back of my neck.

So I told them everything I could safely relate. I told them of the Other, and of Loki's moods after being pulled out of himself. I told them of the mysterious 'Him', and how Loki seemed to be in terror of disappointing this unknown man. And through it all, I watched as Frigga's gaze went from icy to harboring a tiny spark of hope.

That's the thing about mothers. When their kids go bad, they never really want to believe it's true, and almost always hold out hope that they can somehow be redeemed. And even though Lady Frigga had given me a proper bitching out, I really didn't want to think of what she'd do to me if she thought I'd delivered her false hope.

"So it seems that Thor's suspicions had some basis in truth," Odin muttered. "Yet Loki refused to share such knowledge with us."

"You know how stubborn he can be," Frigga sighed.

"But why," Thor questioned. "Why would he not attempt to save himself?"

"That is something you will have to ask him," Odin huffed. He turned then and gestured to the guards flanking his throne before sending a sour look our way. "Perhaps he will speak to you."

And just like that, Loki was dragged into view.

He was dressed in ragged clothing that hung on his too thin frame; streaked in grime and dried blood, and his usually neat hair fell in a knotted curtain about his face.

I managed to cage the gasp that rose in my throat, and I glared daggers at Thor. "Did you know about this," I demanded. "Did you know he'd be here?!"

"No," Thor breathed, and the look of utter shock on his face convinced me far better than any words ever could.

The guards forced Loki to his knees before Odin, and he crouched there, head bowed. Something about this scene raised the hackles on the back of my neck, but I bit my tongue until I tasted blood and waited.

We all waited.