Loki woke up sat on the windowsill with one of the furs wrapped around him and, in his early morning daze, wondered if he'd fallen asleep reading and Frigga had draped it over him and took his book away like she used to when he was in Asgard. Then he remembered everything and sighed. Frigga was worlds away and so was everything he'd ever taken comfort in. He thought of Thor and wondered if he was upset.
He hoped not.
Loki pulled his hand out from his lap and examined his hand. His skin was pale white and he smiled, at least he didn't have to look at the disgrace of his Jotun skin this early in the morning. Or what the dark haired male assumed was morning. It appeared it was always dark and foggy outside.
'How can they live in a place like this?' He thought as he looked out in the gloom.
He heard a knock at the door but made no sound, ignoring it.
"Loki? Are you awake?" He heard Vili say through the thick wood.
Loki wondered if he should be honoured or worried that the King himself had come to check he was conscious. He decided to be worried.
When he got no response, the Jotun King started sliding and clicking all the locks out of place and Loki quickly made his mind up that it was in his best interest to pretend he was asleep.
He rested his head against the window and closed his eyes as Vili opened the door and stepped in. Vili muttered something to someone who was with him and they shuffled away, leaving just him with Loki.
The Prince heard his footsteps approaching and tried not to flinch when he stopped in front of him.
"Loki," He nudged Loki's arm but got no response. Vili sighed and pressed his hand to the side of Loki's head, making his gasp and open his eyes because of the ice cold.
Vili smiled as Loki's skin involuntarily faded to blue and didn't move his hand until his eyes had also turned red. Loki looking down at his hand again and grimaced.
"Oh, get over it," Vili muttered and took the fur off Loki, glad to see he'd remained in the clothes they had provided him and hadn't changed back into his Asir clothes.
"Get up and make yourself presentable," Vili gestured to Loki's hair – one half was kind of okay whereas the other half was sticking out in every direction but down – and gave him a plate with fruit on it. It was the most unappetising thing Loki had ever seen but he thanked Vili anyway. The prince got down from the windowsill and used the window as a mirror to try and do something to his hair.
"We have a meeting with the All-Father today," Vili announced, sat on Loki's bed.
Loki stopped what he was doing for a second then continued as if he hadn't heard.
"He insists that you are present so he knows you're unharmed," He continued, watching Loki.
After raking his fingers through his hair to try and keep it back he gave up on that idea and concentrated on trying to flatten it.
He was concentrating on his hair so much he didn't realize Vili was now centimetres away from his ear.
"If you speak unless you're spoken to I assure you, it will not go in your favour,"
Loki shuddered at the cool breath against his ear and neck but nodded. Vili wrapped an arm round his back and placed his hand on Loki's neck, making him freeze. He looked in the window and realized that at some point his skin had faded back to white but was now turning back to blue.
"And if I see you in your Asir form again I will treat you as one," Vili's other hand came up in front of Loki's chest and ice morphed around it and came to a sharp point against Loki's cheek. Loki looked at both Vili's hands and nodded mutely.
Vili left shortly after that, saying there were guards outside Loki's room and when he's ready they'll take him to the meeting hall.
Loki eventually got his hair to stay back, using a little magic, and snuck over to the door to hear the guards talking.
"… I heard the Prince would be there too, what's his name? Thor?"
Loki's eyes widened.
"Yeah, well, Vili said if he steps outta line we have permission to 'protect ourselves and our king'" The second guard said and they both laughed at that.
So if Thor raised his voice or looked as if he was going to threaten anyone they were going to attack him then claim they were protecting their king? Brilliant.
Loki could only hope Thor would keep his temper in check.
"Thor, please. Promise you will keep your temper in check," Frigga all but begged her eldest son.
Thor nodded but the barely contained fury in his face showed that it was very unlikely.
"Thor," Frigga cupped his face, making him look at her and not Mjolnir. "Remember they have Loki. If you do anything they might hurt him. It's not just you you're putting in harm's way, alright?"
Thor sighed at this, seeing Frigga's point. "Alright,"
Frigga let go of him and rung her hands nervously as she watched Odin walk in dressed in his armour with Gungnir in one hand.
Odin walked up to his wife and dismissed everyone from the room – including Sif and the Warriors Three – except Thor and Frigga. He disliked showing his softer side to anyone but his family so when he had a moment with them he would always dismiss everyone else.
He ushered Thor over to them and propped Gungnir against the throne so his hands were free to hold one of his wife's and place the other on his son's shoulder.
Frigga was the first to break the silence. "Bring my son home, Odin, please," She implored.
"I will do my best," He nodded.
"And Thor, behave," She pointed a finger at him and he nodded too.
"What are we going to do?" Thor asked his father.
Odin sighed. "Whatever we can do,"
Thor watched the Bifrost light up as Heimdall opened up the portal to Jotunheim. When they got there, there were several Jotuns waiting to escort them to see Vili. Thor, Odin and the four guards they were allowed to bring with them followed them silently to the palace. Since Vili's rule it had been cleaned up and fixed so it was less of the ruined remains of a temple and more of just a run down one.
They were led to the hall where a table was set up with four seats, two either side.
The Jotun guards led Odin and Thor to one side of the table and told them to take a seat. They sat in tense silence for a few minutes before all the Jotuns suddenly knelt with their heads down to the floor.
The door to the hall opened and Vili stepped in with Loki beside him and a few guards behind them.
Thor stared at Loki in shock. He'd never seen Loki's Jotun form before…
Odin didn't react as Vili and Loki took the seats opposite them, Vili in front of Odin and Loki in front of Thor.
"All-Father," Vili nodded in greeting.
"King Vili," Odin nodded back.
There were eight Jotun guards stood around the perimeter of the room whereas the Asir guards stood behind Thor and Odin.
"I hope you don't mind all the guards," Vili smiled.
"You said four," Odin glared.
"I said you could bring four. I never said how many I would bring. Not that I need this many but…"
Odin looked around then back at the Jotun King. "If you don't need this many dismiss them,"
Vili sensed the challenge in Odin's tone and waved them all out but the two that were outside Loki's room.
Finally, Odin looked Loki over with his one good eye, silently checking to make sure he wasn't injured.
Vili grabbed Loki's arm and made him stand up. "You can check him yourself if you wish, All-Father. I assure you, he's fine,"
Odin stood up and walked round the table to stand beside Loki, turning him to face him. He leant closer to his youngest son and talked quietly.
"Are you hurt?"
Loki shook his head but didn't look up at the All-Father.
"Loki," Odin tilted his chin up to make him look at him and Loki tried to keep his skin from turning white. "You don't have to be ashamed of this form," He muttered sincerely, sensing that was why Loki wasn't looking at him.
Loki nodded and Vili grabbed his arm and dragged him back into his chair. Odin fought the urge to punch Vili and walked back to his own seat.
Throughout this whole exchange Thor's eyes hadn't left Loki and Loki hadn't once looked at Thor, afraid of what he would see in Thor's expression. Fear? Disgust?
Loki noticed Thor had to leave Mjolnir outside the hall and Odin had to leave Gungnir so they were pretty defenceless.
"So," Vili clasped his hands together, getting everyone's attention. "The truce,"
"Yes," Odin leant forward, clasping his hands together on top of the table. "What are your conditions?"
"As I have said: No Asgardian can set foot in Jotunheim without a Jotun escort and permission from the king,"
"And in return no Jotun can set foot in Asgard without an Asir escort and permission from our king?" Odin asked, casually leaving out that in their original deal they needed permission from Loki not the king.
Vili's eyes flicked to Loki then back to Odin. "Of course,"
Odin and Thor both saw this and realized their mistake.
"Except Loki," Odin continued calmly. "He comes back to Asgard,"
Vili laughed. "Why would I agree to that?" He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
"Why do you want him so much?!" Thor spoke up for the first time.
"Because he is the rightful prince of Jotunheim," Vili answered simply.
Thor went to stand up and the Jotun guards stepped forward. Loki finally looked at Thor and shook his head desperately.
Thor looked confused then Loki looked at the guards and back to him and he understood, sitting back again. Odin glared at Thor, silently telling him to stay calm, and looked back to Vili.
"Is there any way we can persuade you to let him go and continue negotiating the truce?" Odin asked and Thor and Loki both tensed, waiting for Vili's answer.
The King thought about it for a moment and nodded. "I wouldn't say there is no way,"
Odin nodded, seeing a chance. "What would you want in exchange?"
"This is all hypothetical?" Vili asked and Odin nodded. He smiled and looked at Thor. "How much do you love your 'brother'?"
Thor wasn't sure how to answer that. There was no way he could put it into words. Vili detected this and smiled again.
"New question: How much do you love that hammer of yours?"
No one expected what happened next.
"Take it," Thor answered straight away, making Vili, Loki and Odin all sit forward in shock.
"If it means Loki can come home with us, take it," He continued when no one reacted.
He looked at Loki and saw he was shaking his head, looking confused.
Thor was going to say something to him but Vili spoke up first.
"'Take it?' You're willing to hand it over just like that, in exchange for Loki?"
Thor nodded quickly.
There was a commotion in that hall and Vili rolled his eyes. "Excuse me; my Commander-In-Chief is causing trouble again,"
Vili stood up and left the room, the two guards following to wait outside. As soon as the door closed Loki spoke.
"What are you doing!?" He hissed at Thor, quickly turning his skin Asir again and planting his hands on the table.
"I'm trying to get you back to Asgard, if the hammer is what it will take then so be it," He answered back, reaching across the table to take Loki's hand. Loki pulled his away quickly as if burnt and tried not to think about the look of hurt that shot across Thor's face.
"But you love Mjolnir!"
"Not as much as I love you," Thor answered truthfully.
Loki sighed and sat back in his chair. "Don't do this, please," He whispered.
"Why not?" Thor went round to kneel beside Loki's chair.
"I don't want to be the reason you lose Mjolnir,"
"Loki, if it means I could get you back home I would give them my lungs,"
Loki laughed a little at that. Before anyone could have anything else Vili stormed back in.
"Sorry about that," He sighed, sitting back in his chair and glaring at Thor – who glared back before going over to his chair. Vili glared at Loki and he reluctantly changed back to his Jotun form.
"There is one problem with giving you Mjolnir," Odin pointed out. "Only Thor and I can lift it,"
"We'll find a way," Vili said with confidence.
Odin didn't bother arguing further. "Alright,"
Vili smiled. "Good. Shall we exchange now or would you like to keep it a little longer as a bargaining chip a I will with Loki,"
"Can't we give you it and take Loki today?" Thor asked.
Vili thought for a moment and nodded. "But you must bring Loki back to every meeting as I will with Mjolnir,"
They agreed and Thor was sent with both guards to retrieve Mjolnir while Vili and Odin waited with Loki, all stood up. When they returned he placed the hammer on the table but Vili was still holding onto Loki's arm.
Vili looked down at Loki then back at Odin. "Or… I could keep both,"
Thor held his hand out and summoned Mjolnir to him.
"Okay, okay," Vili laughed, shoving Loki forward. Thor dropped Mjolnir and caught Loki, keeping one arm around his waist after he'd regained his balance.
Vili sat back down as Thor put the hammer back on the table and he dismissed them.
The guards escorted them back to the Bifrost site and waited for them to leave. As soon as they got back to Asgard Loki let his skin turn back to ivory. Thor's arm tightened around Loki's waist and he looked up at the Thunder God to see him smiling at him.
Thor kissed Loki's cheek and whispered in his ear. "Welcome home, brother,"
A/N: Sorry this took so long. All looks to be going their way, huh? Well….