The plan "Forget Loki" was failing, and Tony was miserable. His life had gone back to how it was before, spending days in his workshop, going to conferences and publicity functions, and otherwise being Iron Man through appearances and benefits. It was a busy life, and Tony had thought it would help distract him.

His every free moment was still spent feeling as though Loki would materialize any moment smirking and passing some snide remark, or even worse, imagining the horrors Loki could be going through in that dungeon. Loki's softened gaze was burned into his mind, the last time Tony had ever seen him.

Tony could only take so long of pining like a teenager before reaching the end of his patience, and soon he decided that he would take matters into his hands, or at least make a substantial effort. Anything to keep him from going mad.

Tony was going to figure out how to contact Thor or severely harm himself trying. Tony remembered once, when Thor had needed to visit his home, he had yelled at the sky, at the gatekeeper of Asgard, apparently. Tony wondered if he could do the same thing and have the gatekeeper send a message to Thor.

Feeling like an idiot, Tony stood out on the broad, white expanse of his roof and stared up at the cloudless sky. Could Asgard even see him out here? Thor had mentioned how the gatekeeper of Asgard could see all, but that seemed extensive even for Thor's folk. If he could see all, there was little chance he would focus on one little puny mortal.

"Hey! Asgard! Heim-dude, if you can hear me, I need a message to be sent through to Thor!" Tony scratched at his chin in discomfort. "Thor, I need your help badly. I know you probably have godly business to attend to, but this is a manner of great importance to me. I'm sure once you know what it is, you'll totally agree. Just so you know, I feel like an idiot out here yelling at the sky." Tony was glad that his neighbors didn't live close.

Tony fell silent, unsure of how to tell if it had worked, or if anyone had heard his desperate plea. He stared at the pristine blue stretch of sky and wondered how the weather could be so opposite to his mood.

He ended up sitting on the edge of the roof, kicking his feet, half-formed plans bubbling to the surface of his consciousness and then quickly sinking back down as he realized they were terrible. There was no conceivable way for a human to access another dimension and he was just going to have to live with that fact. Maybe he would just wait until another Avengers crisis came up and Thor visited Earth again.

Who knew how long it would take for that to happen. Tony put his head in his hands as he felt utter helplessness flood through his body. There was nothing that he, a simple human on the simple planet Earth, could do. What use was being a hero if you couldn't save those who needed it?

"Sir, there has been a strong energy burst on the roof," Jarvis alerted, jolting Tony from a nap on the couch. His immediate thought was that Loki had actually come back, but Loki wouldn't have appeared on the roof of all places, and Jarvis would have recognized his energy signature and told him so.

"The lifeform is registering as one Thor Odinson, sir."

Tony grinned. "Thanks, Jarv." He sprang off the couch and took the spiral staircase, two stairs at a time to the roof, feeling his heart jumping in his chest. It had actually worked; yelling at the sky had actually yielded the results that Tony wanted. He was a genius.

"Thor! You came!"

"Stark, it is a joy to see you." Once the thunder god was in sight, decked in full armor, including the red cape that was always blowing in the wind even if said wind was nonexistent, Tony realized the other flaw in his plan: how much was he to tell Thor?

As Tony approached Thor, he noticed the intricate patterns that had been stamped on the rooftop under Thor's feet, and he made a mental note to take readings on those later.

"The mark of the Bifrost," Thor stated, following Tony's gaze.

"Fascinating." Tony shook his head, tearing his gaze from the markings and back up to Thor. "You heard me calling?"

Thor smiled warmly. "Heimdall heard you and informed me. What is the problem, Man of Iron?"

Tony swallowed. "This may be a long story. Do you want to come inside, sit, and maybe have a drink to go along with this fabulous tale?"

Thor looked curious, nodding and stepping forward to follow Tony. "Of course. Any problem of my shield brother is one I would be happy to share."

Tony's nerves skittered as he brought Thor into his living room and poured him a glass of whiskey from the wet bar and sat across from him.

"Okay, Thor, I'm going to tell you a story, and I want you to wait until the very end to say anything, okay?" Tony's throat felt incredibly dry, but he didn't want alcohol impairing his reasoning abilities at all. His way with words had to be as sharp as a knife to make sure Thor didn't throttle him.

Thor nodded warily. "Go ahead, my friend." He had taken off the cape, and the effect was to make him only slightly less intimidating.

So Tony launched into his story, trying with all his might to keep strictly to the truth and make it as sensitive as possible to the ears of a brother. He told of how Loki had started to show up in his home, how Tony eventually stopped fearing for his life and actually enjoyed the company. He carefully watched the play of emotions on the blond god's face, but was surprised with how calm Thor remained. When he described how pale and weak Loki had looked the last time he came, Thor's expression darkened, but didn't break.

"Do you know what's being done to him, Thor?"

Thor frowned deeply. "I knew he was in prison, but I have been out dealing with turmoil in the other realms. I have not been home for long enough to visit Loki in his cell."

Tony took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I think his punishment of imprisonment for eternity without his magic and with possibility of torture is harsh, and this is coming from the man he threw out of a window his first time here."

Thor watched him carefully. "You are omitting important information from your tale, Tony Stark." Thor's scrutiny turned calculating. "Why do you care so much for my brother?"

Tony ran a nervous hand through his hair. He had known this was coming. "Because I see myself in him; what could have happened to me in different circumstances. There are parts of his story we are missing, things about him that no one took the time to question. He was hurting, and not one damn person tried to help him." Tony looked Thor in the eye bravely. "Loki needs a friend, Thor, one who understands him and can help him. He needs much more than a dark cell hidden underground where he'll be forgotten."

Thor was silent for a few moments. Tony could see the cogs turning behind those blue eyes.

"You have fallen in love with my brother, haven't you, Tony Stark?" The god's face was carefully blank of emotion. Tony was seeing his life flash before his eyes.

He swallowed dryly. "Yes."

Thor stood suddenly and approached Tony, who shrank in his seat like a skittish dog. "Now Thor, let's not be hasty-" His sentence ended in a yelp as Thor pulled him bodily out of the chair by his shoulders and yanked him into a bear hug.

"You, my friend, are just what Loki needs. You are his beacon of light in the world of darkness in which he has been caught."

Tony coughed and then rasped, "I can't be anything if you strangle me."

Thor released Tony, that warm smile on his face again, this time directed straight at Tony.

"So," Tony began, rubbing his upper arm that would probably have a bruise in the morning. "You don't want to kill me?"

"Of course not! Loki can fend for himself if he doesn't return your affections, but he has never had someone as just as Iron Man fall in love with him!"

Tony wouldn't really call himself "just," but Thor's reaction was the best he could have hoped for. He wasn't going to disagree.

"What do you suggest, then? Loki's is locked up in that dungeon for eternity, and it was Odin who gave the sentence, right? Can a decision by Odin be overruled?"

Thor looked thoughtful. "Odin is the supreme ruler, and his word is law. He is stubborn and heavy of hand, but when it comes to his sons and what is best for them, hopefully he will see reason."

"You agree with me, right? You agree that it's not right for Loki to be stuck in there forever?"

Sorrow was hidden in Thor's eyes. "Father has always been tougher on Loki, and now that I know of Loki's true heritage and his fate, I understand that maybe the Allfather fears of what Loki is capable. But locking Loki in the dungeons forever will not solve his problems and is much too cruel a sentence for one who is a prince to the throne of Asgard."

"So, what do you think of banishment in terms of rehabilitation?"

Thor brightened at that. "It is a great teacher of humility and love. Once you live with those you thought inferior, you discover that perhaps they are more like you than you thought before."

"Would that be good for Loki?"

"I do think so. Loki was taught one lesson when he attempted to take over your world, but actually living alongside mortals would be much better." Thor's happy expression faded. "Convincing my father will not be an easy task. He is of strong mind and harsh on those who betray him." Suddenly Thor's face lit up as an idea struck him. "Perhaps if we both speak to my father he will see sense. You are known as a great hero of Midgard in my home world."

Tony stared Thor and realized he was being completely serious.

"Loki's sentence needs to be changed, correct?" Thor asked.

Tony nodded. "Well, yeah. He should be given the same chance you got when you started that war in the icy place."

"Jotunheim."

"Sure. Do you think it's possible?"

Thor's hands curled into fists. "It has to be. I have failed Loki as a brother. I should not have allowed this to come to pass in the first place. Loki does not belong in the dungeon; that is no place for a royal prince." As he spoke a frown pinched his features, and the thunderous expression on Thor's face, along with the desolate one that had been on Loki's face was what sealed his resolve. Tony would travel to Asgard with Thor and try with all his might to convince the Allfather that he was speaking sense.

Tony reached out and squeezed Thor's arm. "Easy there," he said softly. "I'll do whatever it takes to help Loki, okay? I'm right with you, no matter what you decide to do."

Thor looked up and met Tony's gaze. "Thank you, Stark." He closed his eyes, holding off powerful emotion. "In three days' time, my father will sit on his throne and hear petitions from the people of Asgard. It is then that we will stand before him and plead our case. I will retrieve you on the dawn of that day." Thor held out a hand the size of a dinner plate. "Do we have a deal, Anthony Stark?"

Tony smiled and felt nerves claw at his stomach, but he took Thor's hand in a firm grip, shaking once. "We have a deal, Thor, we have a deal." Tony felt as though he was not only signing over his fate, but Loki's as well, and it was terrifying. But Tony was nothing if not up to the challenge.

XXX

During the three days that Thor was gone, Tony spent most of his time either thinking of what he was going to say to the supreme ruler of the world of gods, or wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into. He was way over his head on this one.

Needless to say, Tony didn't sleep well over those three days, and soon the gnawing feeling in his stomach was a constant presence. The genius wondered if he was getting more grey hair just from the stress that was weighing down on him, and it was only the thought of Loki alone in the dungeon that kept him going.

The night before Thor was to come and get him, Tony stared at the ceiling in the darkness, willing himself to get at least a little bit of the sleep he needed to stay alert the next day. Unfortunately, Tony was not very good at bullying his body into sleep, so instead he continued to formulate what he was going to say in his mind, editing what he had been fretting over for the past three days until the thoughts in his head were entirely too loud, especially if he wanted to get any sleep. He eventually wrote it off as a lost cause.

By morning, Tony was wired and fidgety. Looking in the mirror, he noticed that his hair stuck up in all directions and that he had bags under his eyes.

A cup of coffee and a searing shower later, and he was feeling almost one hundred percent. Now, what should one wear when going before the king of the gods? He ended up choosing trim slacks and a deep blue shirt that he had been told looked good on him. He made sure to trim his goatee and even lint-rolled his shirt. He was buttoning his cuffs when Jarvis chimed in.

"Sir, Thor Odinson is on the roof."

Tony gave himself one more cursory glance in the mirror before deciding none of it would matter in front of Odin. Tony just had to make sure he kept his wits and his arguments convincing. It was just Loki and Thor's dad, right? Oh, Tony had never liked meeting the parents.

Thor was somewhat somber when Tony met him on the roof, and Tony had to wonder about his strained relationship with his brother, having no siblings himself. It was fascinating.

"Tell me one thing, Thor. Is your father as terrifying as he sounds?" Tony moved closer to the god, refusing to allow his teeth to chatter with nerves.

Thor tilted his head. "I am perhaps not the one to ask. I do not think him to be at all fearsome, but he is my father." Thor chuckled lightly. "To a mortal, maybe."

"Aw, geez, Thor. Way to make me feel so confident about this."

There was one thing to be said about what they were doing: Tony was actually going to Asgard, the place where Thor and Loki grew up in, the place where the humanoid species had extremely advanced technology and lived for thousands of years. Tony was taking a trip to the homeland of the gods, and it was exciting.

"Come, Tony, the sun is rising and we mustn't delay." Thor stood in the center of the patterned circle and beckoned for Tony to do the same. As Tony moved into the circle, Thor spoke again. "Keep in mind that we will no longer be on Midgard, amongst humans. All beings you see will be Asgardian, and our rules differ greatly from yours. It would do you well to keep close to me and be on your best behavior while in the halls of the palace."

Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "It's your brother's freedom that's at stake here. Of course I'll be on my best behavior." Tony desperately hoped that he would be able to appeal to the Allfather. "Although, I'm not entirely sure how bringing me to argue Loki's case will actually help. Won't Odin just see me as a puny bug that should be crushed under his cosmic boots instead of someone who is actually, you know, intelligent?"

Thor squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "While there is a chance Odin will see you as a lesser being, you are the first to show that you truly care for Loki. I believe the extra voice as well as your status as a savior of Midgard will definitely help Loki's case."

Tony took a deep breath. "Okay, let's get this over with," he said calmly while apprehension clawed at his stomach.

Thor smiled and dragged Tony closer, and he kept his hand firmly gripping Tony's upper arm. "We are ready, Heimdall," Thor said strongly, looking up into the sky that was rippling with the colors of the sunrise.

Tony was not at all prepared for the rush of color and the powerful force dragging him upwards. Flying in his suit was absolutely nothing like this vertical ascent in which colors surrounded them in a rushing vortex. The wind dragged at Tony's clothing and hair, and Tony could swear he saw galaxies and nebulae beyond the swirling colors.

When they landed, it was only Thor's strong grip on his arm that kept him from sprawling on the patterned stone flooring. The room around them took his breath away, as did the thought that they were in another dimension entirely. The golden, rounded walls had strange circular patterns interlocking across their surface, and the large opening that they had entered through showed a sprawling landscape of stars. The contrast of colors, richer than Tony had ever seen, were spectacular, dancing in his eyes as a huge grin broke across his face.

"Welcome to Asgard, Anthony Stark, son of Howard," a deep, smooth voice greeted. Tony's gaze was wrenched from the beautiful surroundings to the man standing in the center of the room, a man with dark skin and golden eyes that matched his fabulous armor. He was leaning on a thick, important-looking golden sword, with a helmet nearly as strange as Loki's goat horns.

"Stark, this is Heimdall, gate keeper of Asgard," Thor said, releasing the hold he had on Tony's arm and moving closer to the man on the raised dais in the center of the cosmic room.

"Hello," Tony responded nervously, unsure exactly what counted as small talk on Asgard. "Thanks for, uh, delivering my message to Thor."

Heimdall bowed his head towards Tony. "Your mission is an important one and involves a prince of Asgard. You are a hero of your world and deserve recognition."

Tony was flattered. Here was this guy with an omniscient gaze, apparently, and he was offering Tony compliments and recognition. This super space man thought he was a hero.

"Thanks again, really," Tony responded, resisting the urge to dash around the room and run his hands over everything he could reach. He wished he had his equipment here to take readings and find out what made all the fancy mechanics of the room tick. His awe was near crippling.

"I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors," Heimdall bid them, nodding his head one last time.

"Thank you, Heimdall," Thor said, leading them out of the golden room and to a sight that was even more flooring. Where the golden room ended started a shimmering, translucent rainbow bridge that stretched over shimmering blue water towards a towering city of gold cutting into the sky in the distance. It reminded Tony of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart, and that comparison did not bode well for his feeling of security on the whimsical bridge.

"Holy…"

"Have you the knowledge of horseback riding?" Thor asked, jerking Tony out of his reverent stupor.

"Uh, not really?" Tony had been forced into lessons as a young child, but after a few well-enacted temper tantrums involving small explosions and a broken dishwasher, Tony had been allowed to quit. He didn't really get along well with horses.

"No matter," Thor responded. "You can share mine."

Tony, having been a little preoccupied with the startling view, had not noticed the saddled horses waiting patiently near them, and before he could comment, he was hoisted up onto the back of the largest.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, startled as Thor climbed on in front of him.

"I advise you to hold on tight," Thor instructed and then smirked. "The fall is quite long."

Tony stared down at the flat ocean that ended in a waterfall off the edge of the world and wrapped his hands around Thor's midsection without complaint.

Thor urged the steed forward, and they took off down the bridge that led straight to the heart of the grand city of gods. Tony watched dazedly as the ground beneath them glittered madly as they galloped and wondered if he was having a seizure. The otherworldliness of his surroundings combined with the knowledge that he was very much out of his element made him feel helpless and awed at the same time, and Tony wondered worriedly if he would be able to pull himself together to speak clearly in front of Odin. There was just so much to take in at once, especially for a man who had to know how everything ticked. Tony didn't know how anything worked here.

Tony wondered if Thor had felt anything like this when he had first visited Earth.

As they neared the spear-like palace, the outer parts of the city surrounded the bridge below; smaller, more humble buildings that were amongst beautiful greenery and azure water. They got larger and larger as they moved along, leading up the biggest of the structures on Asgard: the palace.

After what felt like a lifetime of wind and sparkling bridge, Thor pulled the horse to a stop at the golden gates to the city and dismounted before lifting Tony bodily off the horse and setting him down like a toddler. Tony would have complained about the manhandling, but he was too busy watching the two guards stationed at the gate. They were armed with dangerous looking staffs and were outfitted in the similar golden armor to the gatekeeper's. Tony could sense a bit of a theme as he stared up at the tall golden gates that kept intruders out of the city of gold.

Thor handed the bridal of the chestnut steed to one of the guards, and they stepped out of the way as the gates swung outward and granted them entrance into the heart of Asgard and right up to the front of the palace. From up close, the palace was even more intimidating as it pierced the belly of the sky.

All of Tony's knowledge of the universe and the laws of science was being crushed the further and further they walked into the city, and when they finally entered through the grand entrance to the palace, where another set of guards admitted them, Tony was feeling smaller and smaller.

"Stark, you look faint," Thor said worriedly.

Tony shook his head and attempted to pull himself together. "I'll be okay, this is just a little…," he gulped, "daunting."

"I suppose it would be to a newcomer."

"Heh." As Tony's gaze swept across the entrance hall he realized that this place looked exactly how Tony imagined a palace of the gods would look: tall ceilings, otherworldly architecture, strange armor and weapons as decorations. It was exactly the sort of place Tony could imagine Thor growing up. This was the thunder god's natural habitat.

Thor turned to the next guard they happened to pass. "Is the Allfather currently in the throne room?"

"He is, sir," the guard responded, bowing his head respectfully. Tony wondered if the people got sore necks around here from all that bowing.

"Thank you," Thor responded, turning to Tony. "Do no fret, Tony. You are brave, and you should not fear my father."

Tony swallowed with his suddenly dry throat. "Yeah, I'll try not to be nervous about arguing with the king of the gods."

"Come, we must speak with him before the day is through." With that, Thor led Tony towards what was supposedly the throne room. Tony's heart was in his throat as they reached a pair of huge stone doors that were covered in strange engravings.

The guards stationed at the doors pulled them open to allow Thor and Tony to pass through, and Tony's eye was immediately drawn to the long, open room with a wide path to the throne at the end, edged with huge stone pillars. The room was grand, possibly as big as Tony's house, and it made him feel extremely small.

As they walked toward the intricate stone throne at the end of the room, their footsteps echoed through the cavernous room. When they neared the throne, Tony was surprised to see that the Allfather looked rather grandfatherly. His hair and beard were white, and he was outfitted in gold. His working eye regarded them carefully, blue and glittering in the sunlight that slanted through the windows that opened to the city on either side of the room.

Tony was reminded of the x-raying, one-eyed gaze of Nick Fury, and it gave him a uneasy feeling.

"Father, I wish to speak to you regarding a matter of personal importance," Thor announced once they had stopped at the foot of the massive stone throne. Tony tried to make himself small, but the Allfather's gaze had already landed on him.

"You brought a mortal into our palace?"

"The same mortal who assisted in the capture of Loki. He is deserving of honor and recognition."

Odin's one-eyed gaze traveled lower, resting on Tony's chest where the arc reactor could just barely be seen. "Ah," he said lightly. "The mortal with the magic in his chest." He turned back to Thor. "Speak your mind, son. I have no time for games."

Thor stood tall, facing his father, and Tony could almost see how the blond shifted from Thor the friend to Thor the son of the king. "I wish to discuss my brother's sentence."

Odin's gaze turned frigid. "A matter that does not concern you."

"He is my brother. Of course it is a matter of my concern," Thor countered strongly. "What is being done to him?"

"Loki is receiving the punishment he deserves: time in the dungeon, time to think about his wrongdoings."

"How long do you propose he spend thinking about his wrongdoings?" Thor asked darkly.

Odin narrowed his eye. "A life sentence, the proper punishment for the damage and destruction he caused, time to find his remorse."

"Yet, no chance of redemption." It was phrased as a statement, not a question.

Odin's voice quieted. "You still believe he is redeemable after all he has done?"

"He is my brother and your son. Of course I believe he can change. Why is it so wrong to hope that the brother and son we love is still there?" Thor held eye contact with his father's steely gaze. "It is a crime to deny him the chance to prove he has changed."

"What would you have me do?" Odin snapped. "Release him on the people of Asgard? On the helpless people of Midgard?"

"Of course not. Though you may believe it, I am not a foolish child anymore." Thor's voice remained steady and calm. "Loki obviously deserves severe punishment, but allowing his anger to fester underground in a cell meant for the common pillager is not the way to change him. Without a chance to prove himself, of course he will never change."

"I am through with this, Thor. I have more important manners to attend to than to hear you whine and complain."

Tony couldn't remain silent any longer. "You're son isn't important?" he asked calmly.

Tony suddenly had the full attention of the Allfather, who seemed surprised that Tony had spoken.

"See, I have trouble believing that imprisonment is Loki's only punishment. Now, what kind of father decides that torture is a good thing for their son?"

Odin was a cold presence on the throne. "What right have you to speak to me in such a manner, mortal?"

Tony swallowed and continued. "I'm the one Loki has been visiting."

Tony could tell that the statement meant something to Odin, and now he had the Allfather's full attention. Tony figured the king had probably thought Loki was scheming with his doppelganger magic, but Tony was proving that notion wrong.

"See, when Loki attacked New York, I was part of the group that helped to stop him. He actually threw me out of a window."

"Yet you come here to defend him," Odin responded.

"Hold on, hear me out," Tony said, raising his hands in a placating gesture, stepping forward slightly. He could feel both Odin's and Thor's eyes on him as he spoke. "As you well know, we did end up defeating him in the end. It was about a month and a half after Thor took Loki away that he first showed up in my home with intent to harass me."

"We were unaware, at first, that Loki was using his sorcery to travel to Midgard," Odin stated. "Once we discovered it, it did not take long to dampen his magic for good."

Tony winced slightly. "But, you see, I found out that Loki wasn't visiting me to cause destruction or to try to take over the world again. He was there for nothing else but to relieve his boredom, and somehow I had become the best choice."

"If it is compensation for the trouble Loki caused you that you seek, you have come to the wrong place, mortal," Odin said darkly.

Tony sighed. "Believe it or not, your son's really not as bad as you seem to think he is. When he's not suffering from emotional trauma and under the influence of cosmic evils, he's actually a guy I can relate to." Tony coughed and resisted bringing the daddy issues into the conversation. There was no use insulting the guy on the throne.

Silence echoed though the huge room as Tony allowed his statement to sink in.

"After a few weeks of visits, I didn't even mind. He's not bad company."

"What is your point?" Odin asked sharply, clearly annoyed.

"After a while, he started looking green around the gills, but he wouldn't tell me why. Keep in mind, at this point he had even told me the screwed up tale of his childhood, so it was suspicious that he was keeping something like this from me." Tony kept eye contact with the Allfather, despite the steely gaze and the sweat dotting Tony's forehead. "I suspect, either your guards have been beating him up without your knowledge, or that you're having them torture him on purpose. Do you know what dampening his magic does to him?"

"If you are so sure you know what's good for Loki, what would you recommend?" Tony could sense that the Allfather was getting closer and closer to kicking them out of the throne room.

"Do what you did with Thor. Obviously it worked."

Thor lifted his chin. "Father, Loki deserves a chance just as much as I did when I went to Jotunheim without your permission. I killed dozens of Jotuns and nearly started a war between our realms. Surely Loki's crimes are not much worse than that."

Odin's gaze flitted back and forth between the two of them, his expression unreadable. "Why do you care so strongly, mortal? I can understand Thor's worry, but yours? Loki is a god who will outlive you by thousands of years. Your life is trivial in comparison."

"Is it so hard to think that I actually care? You must not by overly fond of your son if you find it so hard to believe that someone other than his brother actually cares for him." Tony wondered if he had been too snappy with his response as the silence stretched and Odin's gaze burned his skin.

"It would not be difficult to offer Loki what you gave to me," Thor coaxed. "Sentence him to time amongst mortals on Midgard; time to learn humility. A lesson can be learned from living alongside mortals."

"Loki is a danger to all of us. He thrives on destruction and lives for revenge," Odin replied sharply. "You are requesting that I release chaos itself."

"How much damage can the guy do without his magic in a human body?" Tony questioned. "I can even be his guide or keeper if that's necessary."

"You are infatuated with my son," Odin said, strangely soft.

Tony blinked and felt his heartbeat speed in his chest. "I care about him, and I want you to see how unfairly you're treating him," Tony said, surprising himself with how calm he managed to sound despite his fraying nerves.

Thor stared at the Allfather thunderously. "Father, you must see your favoritism."

"Enough!" The king's voice echoed through the stone throne room, and a ringing silence followed. "I will not sit here being fussed at by my son and a mortal. You want Loki out of the cell? Fine. He is your responsibility, human, and will be until he redeems himself in my eyes." At this Odin smirked. "He will live in a mortal form until this happens, which could be for a very long time." He gaze was icy as it pinned Tony in place. "Good luck with the God of Mischief and Chaos."

He turned to the guards on either side of his throne. "Bring the prisoner in chains."

They both bowed their heads and scurried off.

"You will see, Father, this is the right choice," Thor began.

"Silence," Odin snapped.

Thor's mouth became a thin line as he moved to stand beside Tony again.

After what felt like a lifetime of awkward silence, there came the faint clanking of chains, and a group of armed guards brought a figure whose head was bowed, to the foot of the throne.

"The prisoner, Allfather."

This was not the proud god that had been visiting Tony, pestering and joking with him. This Loki was weary and defeated with blood in his hair and spotting his tattered clothing, pale and weak. His normally sleek hair was ragged and hanging limply. His back was facing Tony, so he couldn't see the trickster's face, and Tony figured Loki hadn't seen either Thor or Tony standing there at all.

"You brought me here, after all this time? Was the urge to mock me finally too much?" Loki's voice was brittle, but still sharp as ever.

"You will not speak to me so, child, or I will put you back in that cell."

Loki let out a bark of laughter that sounded suspiciously like a sob, but he didn't speak further. Thor made an aborted movement forward, and the look on his face was painful. Poor Thor had had no idea of Loki's condition. Tony had known of Loki's fate, and the sight of him was still shocking.

"You are here, Loki, because your punishment has been renegotiated."

"I suppose full-time torture is needed, correct? I'm definitely not beaten down enough."

In that moment, Loki reflected one of Tony's biggest defense mechanisms: hiding emotion behind sharp sarcasm.

"You are lucky, Loki, for the voices that have spoken on your behalf," Odin said blandly, nodding past Loki to Thor and Tony. "They have convinced me to banish you to Midgard instead of eternal imprisonment."

Loki turned his head around, looking over his shoulder in barely-veiled astonishment at Thor and Tony. Tony made eye contact with the god, and a strange chill danced down his spine. There was something strange about knowing that the real Loki was a few yards in front of him.

Loki's face quickly cleared of any emotion but boredom as he turned away from them and back to the Allfather.

"You are to be banished to Midgard until you have learned your lesson, banished without your magic and illusions."

"You really want me on Earth, where I killed thousands of mortals?"

"They will not recognize you. You will not give them that chance. Anthony Stark will be making sure of that. One wrong move and you are back in the dungeons with no chance of redemption."

Loki was deathly silent.

The Allfather stood from his throne and started down the stone steps to the floor. "Come, we will go to the Bifrost."

The guards ushered Loki along, and as Loki's gaze met Tony's, Tony he was startled by the icy stare. With that one dark expression, Loki managed to completely uproot Tony's confidence and make his skin crawl with nerves.

Tony knew, as they followed the Allfather out of the palace, that it was way too late to change his mind.

Thanks to everyone who is sticking with this fanfic! I'm hoping to keep up with the weekly updates, so expect a new chapter every Thursday. (I'm probably going to regret saying that, but whatever) Also, this story is going to have 12 chapters.