Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Marvel Universe or Disney, The Amazing Stan Lee and Joss Whedon, or anyone else involved with the movies or comics are the ones who do. I am not making any profits from this writing, it is all for the purposes of fun and creative writing.
Author's note: Again, I apologize in advance if any characters seem OOC.
Chapter 15
" Loki, brother please open your eyes for me." Thor said through his tears, staring down at his brother's lax face.
Loki remained silent to Thor's desperate plea, boneless in Thor's arms as his older brother gave him a light shake in a fruitless attempt to rouse him. Around the bed, the Avengers and the four Asgardians watched on in concern, they too wondering why the second prince of Asgard did not awaken at the contact from his joyful elder brother.
It was Clint who was struck by a sudden idea, as he turned to the Hulk who was watching on with a frown.
" Hey Hulk, how about you let Bruce come back for a second, I think we could use a doctor right now." The Archer suggested.
" That's using you brain from once Tweety." Tony snarked, earning a dirty look from said archer.
The Hulk gave a curt nod and stepped forward, the others getting out of the way as the giant green rage monster made his way over to the two brothers. Taking in a deep breath, the Hulk closed his eyes and after a few minutes, the massive green form started to shrink and shift back into the form of a normal-sized man, albeit a scantily clad one with only Frigga's talisman around his neck and his shredded and stretched pants low on his hips.
" Geez, its cold in here." Bruce said, naturally wishing he had adequate clothing, but thanks to his counterpart it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
With his bare feet chilled over the icy floor of the chamber, Bruce quickly closed whatever distance remained and leaned over to get a better look at a still deeply unconscious Loki.
" Thor, you're gonna have to lay him back down so I can check him over." Bruce said quietly, watching as Thor opened his mouth, no doubt to voice a very loud protest but then with a small sigh, Thor nodded mutely. Blinking back tears, the Thunderer gently lowered his brother back onto the bed, instantly seizing one of Loki's pale hands and holding it tight as he knelt by the side of the bed and allowed Bruce to come closer.
Even though Bruce was not a medical doctor, he still retained the basics of first aid. In his element, Banner started by first taking Loki's pulse, finding it to be slow but strong and silently marveling that just a few days ago he had seen this god die in a very horrible fashion, then get resurrected through powerful magic, and then fight his way out of Hell itself. He sure looked good, not a mark on him and a fullness to his face, looking peaceful in every sense of he word. Bruce hovered over Loki, carefully reached out and gently using his thumb to pull back the lid of Loki's right eye, and then his left, eying the striking green irises and checking his pupils. They were a bit larger than normal, but seeing as to how Loki did not so much as twitch at Bruce's touch, it was a safe bet that the size was due to the deep sleep that still gripped the dark haired god.
Thor held Loki's warm but unresponsive hand reverently between his larger, slightly dirt-covered and scratched up ones, his thumb gliding back and forth over the smooth, pale back. The Thunderer was still silently shedding his tears of relief.
From where they stood, the other Avengers and the Warriors Three and the Lady Sif could not help but marvel at the sheer difference between the real Loki laying before them, and the lie projected by Menkos. Menkos's lie was a distorted and power hungry maniac with a ghostly white face that also held a sunken quality to it, slicked-back hair, and greenish-blue eyes that held madness and the promise of pain. The Loki they were now beholding had none of those qualities, sure he was pale, but there was actually blood under his skin, lending the slightest pinkness that made his not match the simple white, quarter-sleeve tunic he was wearing, the v-neck of the garment showing the smooth collarbone beneath. His cheeks were still high, but was offset by a healthy fullness to his face, which was strange cause according to everything that they had seen and what Loki had said himself, the man had not eaten in god only knows how long. His hair was long and reached his shoulders, falling about in soft ebony waves that were clean and lustrous, not matted and tangled with dirt, blood, and who knows what else as it had been when they had last seen him in the Norn's projection. And even though he was still thinner than Thor by a lot, there was a definite broadness to his shoulders and chest, a clear mark of the musculature he had undoubtedly gained as a result of all the heavy battling he had been through.
To put it simply, Loki looked good. He looked really good.
He was neither the more of less emaciated maniac projected by his murderer, nor was he the slightly delicate looking young man they had all seen get brutally murdered to allow the aforementioned lie. He may have had a softness to him that came with such deep sleep, but there was no denying that Thor's kid brother was only a kid in name, that he was and looked every bit a man in his own right.
Tony had several inappropriate comments running around his head, and maybe a few crass jokes about a certain sleepy Disney Princess but he wisely kept his mouth shut. No need to end up pissing off his fellows, especially Thor, the jokes could wait. As for right now he joined the others as they watched Bruce finish his cursory examination.
" What can you tell Friend Banner?" Thor asked immediately as Bruce drew back, a slight frown marring his brow.
" Well I can tell you right now he looks better than even before he was murdered, and even though he's been asleep for apparently a whole year, maybe even more, there's no emaciation or atrophy. His pupils are sluggish but responsive even though he seems basically comatose." Bruce said as he scratched at his temple.
Thor immediately took Loki back into his arms, pressing his cheek against the side of his brother's head, closing his still tearful eyes and reveling whole-heartedly in the feel of his living, breathing brother.
" But why does he not awaken now that Thor holds him?" Sif asked softly, slightly nervous because the two white wolves were eying them all intently where they sat side by side a few feet away, almost like two obedient and tamed hounds, almost.
" Maybe its a gradual process?" Steve asked with a shrug.
As everyone fell silent as mulled over the many possibilities as to why, it was Thor who spoke.
" My friends, remember what the Norns told Loki before he fell asleep, what they promised him." He said as a smile started to spread across his face.
As everyone turned their minds to the projection the Norns had shown them all, one by one realization dawned on every face, followed by a tired yet happy smile.
" The Sisters of Fate, they told my brother that the next time he opened his eyes, he would be in Asgard. It is clear to me now that Loki will not awaken until we're home." Thor declared.
" Well then, what are we waiting for, call up Heineken!" Tony said with a grin, earning laughs from everyone, except perhaps the four Asgardians who did not get the reference, but smiled at the mispronunciation of the great Gatekeeper's name.
" We shall have to get out of this mountain then, to ensure that Heimdall can see us and the Bifrost can reach us unobstructed. I would have nothing go wrong." Thor said with conviction as he ran his hand tenderly over Loki's head, the latter sleeping still.
But no sooner had Thor said these words, a low rumbling sound unexpectedly filled the air. Everyone looked around in alarm as the chamber began to shake a little, like a low grade earthquake was happening. It was Natasha who spotted the cause.
" Guys look!" The Black Widow shouted as she pointed towards the tunnel they had all slid down to gain entrance into the chamber at the heart of the mountain.
" Oh crap!" Clint shouted as he and everyone watched the tunnel collapse in on itself, ice and rock crumbled over the opening.
Thor clutched his brother to his chest protectively, watching helplessly along with the others as the only way in and out of the chamber disintegrated before their very eyes. It all happened within the span of a few minutes, and by the time the chamber stopped shaking the tunnel was nothing but a pile of glistening ice and jagged rock.
They were effectively trapped.
" Oh geez, this is not good." Bruce said as a tell-tale green tinge started spreading over his skin once more, the Hulk never was one for confined spaces of any kind.
There were sounds of concurrence all around before all eyes turned to Thor, who was hastily wrapping the bluish-black fur quilt Loki was laying under around the unconscious god, almost like he was swaddling him as he gathered Loki into his arms with care. But he did not hold Loki in a bridal-style carry, instead Thor held Loki to his chest vertically, so that the tall, sleeping god was slumped against him bonelessly. Loki was by no means some sleeping damsel, so Thor made it a point not to carrying him like one. With Loki's head resting securely on his shoulder, Thor spoke.
" There is no way I will allow this mountain to bar me from bringing my brother home." He growled before he turned his gaze upwards at the ceiling and yelled as hard as he could.
" HEIMDALL!"
Thor's angry and determined voice echoed through the chamber, but to everyone's dismay, there was no roar of multicolored beam of light hurtling through the ceiling to take them back to Asgard.
" Damn it, this mountain must be interfering." Steve said in frustration.
" Heimdall open the gate!" Thor yelled one final time, receiving no reply.
Thor gritted his teeth and shook his head before he looked down at his brother's sleeping face as spoke to Loki, though it was doubtful whether the latter could even hear him.
" Your whole life I have been failing you as a brother, never being there when you needed me, never trying to understand you as a person. I even allowed myself to be deceived into thinking you had gone mad and were capable of so many unspeakable things. I cannot change the past, but I refuse to fail you for one moment more." Thor said to Loki's sleeping countenance.
Then with a fire burning in his eyes, Thor strode forward, half carrying half dragging Loki with him towards the group of people who stood across from him. Making his way to Steve, the Thunderer, with some hesitance carefully handed Loki over to a stunned Captain America. The Super-soldier quickly snapped out of his shock, and wrapped his arms around Loki and the thick furs that surrounded him, holding the surprisingly heavy but still deeply unconscious god to him much like Thor had been doing. Steve placed a steadying hand to the back of Loki's head to keep it from lolling. Without even thinking, the other Avengers, and the four Asgardians all gathered around Steve and his priceless charge and stared at Thor.
" Guard my brother, I'm going to get us out of here." Thor said, his voice holding no room for argument as he turned his gaze to Mjolnir where the hammer still rested on the floor, having been forgotten when Thor had run to the dome just a few minutes earlier.
With his mouth a firm line of determination, Thor held out his large hand with the palm out. With a soft whistle Mjolnir came to life and slowly lifted off the icy ground before gracefully flying across the air into Thor's waiting hand.
Thor wrapped his hand firmly around the spiraling handle, the air around him crackling with electricity as his blue eyes seemed to glow with it. Then, with a yell Thor leapt into the air, no doubt to send himself hurtling up into the ceiling of the chamber to smash his way through the rock of the entire mountain, but instead Thor let out a yelp of surprise and he was stopped by something pulling back on his cape with a good deal of strength.
Thor turned to see one of the pure white wolves hanging on to Thor's cape with its jaws, standing on its hind legs and gazing up at Thor with amused red eyes.
" What in the Nine?!" Thor exclaimed in annoyance and yes, anger too because the wolf had effectively halted his flight.
" That's one strong mutt." Tony said flatly, silently impressed that the wolf had effectively grounded the god of thunder.
" It's a wolf Tony." Clint griped.
" Whatever." Tony shot back with a snort as all eyes watched the spectacle that was unfolding.
Thor sank back to the floor with a light thud, but before he could yell at the wolf and tell it to cease chewing on his cape for it had yet to let go, the other wolf materialized out of nowhere, gracefully rising to its hind legs placing its front paws on Thor's chest. The wolf itself was heavy enough to have Thor needing to take a small step back, but then the god steadied himself and gazed at the wolf with confusion.
" What are you two doing?" Thor asked in annoyance.
In response the wolf that was just about face to face with Thor let out a small bark, panting like a happy puppy with its elegant white tail wagging. Then the wolf promptly leaned forward and gave Thor's face one huge lick before lightly shoving off the god's chest back onto all fours.
The wolf that had clamped its jaws on Thor's cape stepped from behind the Thunderer and gave Thor's free hand a lick of its own before coming to stand by its fellow.
" What's going on here?" Natasha asked, her confusion shared by everyone else.
" Puppy love maybe?" Tony said without missing a beat.
" Shut up Tony." Steve said in exasperation before he stepped forward, carefully carrying Loki with him as he made his way to Thor, being careful not to get too close to the pair of red-eyed wolves.
Steve wordlessly handed Loki back to Thor, the latter sending the soldier a grateful look as he held his unconscious brother to him.
The two wolves gazed at Thor, seeming to almost be smiling at him.
" What do you think they want?" Clint asked as he and the others all cautiously stepped closer to Thor and Loki, eying the two deadly animals warily. The last thing they wanted was to set them off and see them in their beautiful yet terrifying gigantic ice-forms.
" No idea, but from the looks of it they would rather you didn't smash your way through the ceiling Thor." Steve said.
Then suddenly, one of the wolves let out a loud bark and stamped its front paw against the icy stone floor, as if to get their attention.
" You two know a way outta here by chance?" Tony asked with a hint of sarcasm and maybe feeling a bit silly cause he had just asked a pair of wolves for a way out.
In response both wolves pointed their gazes upward towards the ceiling, their red eyes glittering like rubies against the light that was shining up there. They both looked back down to the group and then back up again as if to say, look up.
So everyone did, well everyone who was awake anyway, and they all felt a jolt go through them at what they were seeing. There at the center of the ceiling, over the bed that Loki had been resting in, that crystal-like ice formation that jutted out of the rock and served as the light source for the chamber was glowing more brightly now, the bluish-white light now sporting a definite prism-like quality to it that was definitely familiar to everyone.
In other words, there were rainbow colors swirling around inside the ice-formation now.
" It's a Bifrost." Thor said softly as he looked up at the ice-structure. A happy, relieved smile spread across his face at the realization.
There were quiet laughs and gasps of happiness, but then Volstaag spoke.
" But how do we activate it?" He asked, a stricken look coming across his face.
As if to answer the two wolves both barked loudly and boldly stepping forward. They flanked Thor on either side and then looked expectantly at the mortals and the four Asgardians.
" I think they would like you all to gather around." Thor said, tightening his hold around Loki, one arm around the latter's waist while the other was around his lax shoulders in a secure hold.
With some trepidation, the mortals and the four Asgardians gathered around Thor, effectively encircling him, Loki, and the two wolves who thankfully did not move to attack. They didn't so much as growl as they waited patiently with elegant tail wagging for everyone to form a tight ring, which was much easier with Bruce being their instead of the Hulk. Once everyone was shoulder to shoulder, the two wolves looked to Thor and Loki and seemed to almost smile at the brothers before they both suddenly threw their heads back and howled.
The sound it was something straight out a dream, while the underlying sound was like that of a normal wolf's howl, it was mixed with a silveriness and purity that made it truly otherworldly. At first they started as one, but then one wolf would soften its howl while the other amplified its own, forming a strangely melodic duet that echoes beautifully through the icy chamber of the mountain.
" Mmm." Came a soft sound that had Thor gasping and looking at the source of it.
Loki.
All eyes turned to the sleeping god and a jolt went through each and every person as they watched Loki stir within his brother's arms. As the two wolves continued their haunting song they all watched as Loki's eyes moved rapidly beneath his eyelids as a small frown marred his brow.
" Brother?" Thor whispered in wonder as he watched and felt his brother tense and move sleepily within his hold, like a newborn babe often does, before going limp once more, asleep but clearly indicating that he would not be so for very much longer.
" He's waking up." Natasha said softly, causing everyone to break out in shaky smiles.
They were so focused on seeing Loki showing definite signs of life that no one noticed the there was a rainbow colored energy swirling about the tip of the crystal ice-structure up above them that was rapidly expanding and growing brighter until a low, reverberating hum filled the air.
" Look!" Fandral said as he pointed up at the ice-structure with wide eyes.
All eyes turned upwards it time to see the bright ball of swirling Bifrost energy that had formed at the tip of the ice-structure, and it didn't take any of them long to figure out what was coming.
" Hold on to each other, come in close!" Steve shouted in alarm.
As one Steve, Tony, Clint, Bruce, Natasha, Volstaag, Fandral, Hogun, and Sif all strode forward, crowding around Thor, Loki, and the two wolves, there arms locking around each other just as a low, ominous hum from up above filled the air.
" Everybody hang on!" Thor shouted, squeezing Loki tightly and bending over, curling his body protectively around Loki while the Avengers and the Warriors Three and the Lady Sif all gathered around him to ad further protection.
A suddenly, loud roar shot through the air, reverberating through all of them as the ball of swirling energy exploded into a solid beam of multicolored light that careened straight at them.
" We're going home brother." Thor whispered as everything around him faded into silence and began to bleach white.
Thor smiled down at his brother's peaceful face before he pressed a kiss to Loki's cheek and then buried his face into the younger god's neck. As he did so, the Bifrost beam finally washed over them with a loud roar, bathing the living circle comprised of Asgardians, Midgardians, and two pure white wolves in bright multicolored light. Then just as quickly as the beam of light had touched down, it was being sucked back up into the ice-structure from which it had originated. when the beam dissipated fully, the group of people and yes, two animals, who had been standing beneath it were no longer there, a smoking symbol burned into the icy floor and an empty king-size bed the only mark that anyone had every been inside the frigid chamber.
There was an eerie silence that spanned a life age and then with a loud groan, the chamber began to shake violently. There was a sound like thousand of panes of glass were simultaneously shattering as the ceiling of the chamber cracked and began to collapse. The ice-structure groaned as it came loose from its lodgings and crashed onto the bed, shattering itself and destroying the furniture it landed on.
From the inside out the mountain that had served as Loki's resting place collapsed, the summit caving into its heart while the rest of the behemoth rock structure followed. In an explosion of ash, rock, and ice, the mountain died, having fulfilled its purpose of guarding a lost prince as he slept, regained his strength, and waited to be found.
Now the Prince had been found, and finally taken home. It was the moutain's turn to rest. With a final shudder the last vestiges of the mountain crumbled away, swallowed up by the ash and heat of Muspelheim, leaving behind nothing but a pile of jagged rubble and melting ice.
Meanwhile, through the nebulous branches of Yggdrasil...
Thor gritted his teeth as his hair and Loki's dark tresses whipped together violently about his face, making things difficult to see as he and his fellows were pulled through the branches of the universe, shooting past realms and the nebulous cloud formations. The Bifrost beam that had taken them all out of Muspelheim roared and flickered as it carried them still. Jerking his head to get the hair out of his face, Thor tightened his hold and looked around through squinted eyes. On either side of him the two sentinel wolves flew with effortless grace, the speed of the beam blurring their hind legs and making their pure white fur shimmer. They looked almost like two spirits faithfully floating amidst the chaos, still keep guard over Loki.
While they were grace, as mentioned before, the rest was chaos.
The ring of interlocked arms had fallen apart due to the great speed of the Bifrost beam. Some still had a hold of each other while others were flying alone through the beam
" Whhoooohoooohooooo!" Clint cried, exhilaration painted across his face as he flew with his pack straight, just like he remembered Natasha doing. This ride was going way faster than the one they had all used to get to Asgard that first time.
A few feet from him on his right, Natasha was gliding as graceful as ever, a small smile curving the corner of her lips. Tony flew a few feet away, his suit glistening brightly against the many colored lights of the beam, no doubt having the time of his life beneath his HUD. Steve was flying with a precarious grip of Bruce's wrist, trying his best to keep the other man steady, while also looking grimly determined not to spin around too much. Hogun had a similar hold on Sif's wrist, the pair flying side by side.
" SWEET NORNS MAKE IT STOP!" Volstaag yelled as he flew, spinning around almost as fast as a top, with Fandral desperately clinging to one of his legs.
Thor turned his gaze back to the most important member of the group and felt relief wash over him when he saw that Loki, with his loose raven hair flying about his head, was still out cold. Thor locked his hands together at Loki's back, securing his hold further. But he cried out when he heard a distinct roar through the din of the Bifrost beam.
" BANNER!" Thor yelled, watching in terror as Steve was forced to let go of Bruce's rapidly expanding wrist.
" Bruce no!" Tony yelled, helpless to do anything but watch as his friend lost control.
Against the many different colors of the beam, they all watched as Bruce let out another scream as he form shifted and expanded into the Hulk. The Hulk let out a loud roar as he tumbled through the air, everyone trying desperately to to get out of the way of the massive flailing arms and kicking legs.
A loud bark had all eyes turn to the two wolves. Everyone watched stunned as the pair of ethereal animals seemed to share a nod before turning their red-eyed gazes to the tumbling Hulk.
They all watched in astonishment as the two wolves morphed back into their ice-form. They had all thought the wolves had looked gorgeous yet terrifying back in the chamber, but now there were no words to describe how awe-inspiring the two creatures looked now, in their true form, flying through the space between the realms with the many lights of the beam bouncing off the icicles that made up their forms.
With a loud roar from one of the ice-wolves, the pair gracefully banked right in near perfect synch towards the Hulk. One of the wolves did a twist through the air over the Hulk while the other eased up beside the flailing rage monster. Flanking him on either side, the wolves as one gently nudged the Hulk with their great paws and sent him towards the center of the beam so that he was flying directly behind Thor.
" THOR!" The Hulk screamed, finally flying straight and calming down somewhat.
Thor looked over his shoulder to send a breathless grin the berserker's way before movement to his side caught his attention. Thor, and subsequently the Hulk watched as the two wolves separated from each other and gracefully moved about the beam, using their great snouts and paws to gently pull of nudge the other flying bodies towards the center of the wide beam of light. Without even thinking, the Hulk reached out when one of the wolves nudged Steve right at him. Steve grabbled onto the Hulk's hand and made his way up the rage monster's arm and clung tightly to his bicep. Next came Volstaag, who clung to the Hulk's arm the moment he was within reach, followed by Fandral who looked just as relieved to hold onto something solid. Natasha gracefully joined those that were holding onto the Hulk like an anchor, her arms going around the Hulk's neck. The Black Widow sent a full smile the Hulk's way, the big green guy grinning back at the lovely lady for a few seconds, but got back to focus as Sif and Hogun joined them, each of the them coming to rest against the Hulk's chest on either side of Natasha and cling to his shoulders.
Clint let out a noise of disappointment as one of the crystalline wolves nudged him to the Hulk's waiting arms, coming to cling as the arm that the Warriors Three and Sif were holding onto. And finally, with a light shove of its paw, one of the wolves sent Tony to the Hulk, the Man of Iron all but crashing into Steve who sent him an annoyed look, to which the genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist simple grinned back beneath his HUD. With everyone effectively holding onto him, the Hulk grinned with relief as he slowly closed his arms around everyone, effectively holding them all in place against him, but making sure not to squeeze to hard.
With a triumphant back, the two wolves shrank back into their pure white forms and retook their positions on either side of Thor as the Thunderer, with relief etched into every line his face, flew forward with Loki secure in his arms, and the Hulk flying straight and steady just a few feet behind him.
While Thor and his fellows were careening through the universe, on Asgard night had fallen, but all were in a panic.
" What do you mean you lost sight of them Heimdall?!" Frigga shouted, alarmed beyond words.
" My Queen, I had eyes on Thor and his fellows on Muspelheim, they last thing I saw was all of them entering the mountain that appeared after they all appealed to the Norns. But once they were inside, I saw no more. It was as if the whole of Muspelheim became veiled by a force my sight could not see past. Forgive me your majesties." Heimdall said from where he was kneeling before Odin and Frigga before the golden throne of Asgard, bowing his head gravely.
" It must have been the Norns then, for they are more than capable." Odin said before he shook his head in clear frustration.
" Why would they do such a thing? How will Thor get back with Loki and the others then?" Frigga asked desperately as tears gathered in her weary eyes as she clutched at Odin's arm.
" I do not believe the Norns did this to be cruel and bar Thor's return, since they all did find the mountain, perhaps they are facing the sentinels the Norns appointed to guard Loki, and the veiling of Muspelheim is to ensure fairness, that Thor could not just seize Loki and summon the Bifrost. We have experienced the Norns well enough by now to know that they are not in the habit of making their trials easy." Odin said to his wife grimly.
" What do we do then husband?" Frigga asked tearfully.
Odin sent his wife a pained look as he reached out and gently cupped her cheek before speaking.
" We have faith in our son my wife. Thor vowed that he would find Loki, whatever it took. We must believe that Thor will prove himself to the sentinels. Our sons will return to us." He said quietly, but with determination shining in his eye.
Frigga smiled and nodded mutely, reaching up to wipe at her eyes and compose herself as Heimdall rose to his feet.
" I apologize for once again bearing terrible tidings, I just wish that my sight would stop being tampered with." The Gatekeeper grumble.
Odin nodded in agreement and Frigga sent the gatekeeper a sympathetic look. Heimdall gave his king and queen a low bow and turned to take his leave, but then he stopped dead in his tracks and gasped out loud, causing both Odin and Frigga to step forward in concern.
" What is it Heimdall?" Odin asked.
" Everyone shield your eyes!" The Gatekeeper cried, his deep voice booming through the hall as he practically threw himself over Odin and Frigga, using his body to shield them.
No sooner had Heimdall shouted, a blinding white light abruptly filled the air, followed by an ear-shattering roar. There were cries and shouts all around as people ducked for cover against the blinding light. Through squinted eye, Odin looked past Heimdall's shoulder as he held a protective arm around Frigga, stunned to make out a distinct beam of light that swirled and roared in the center of the hall.
But just as quickly as it had appeared, the beam began to dissipate in a vast array of colored, in a fashion that Heimdall himself was quite familiar with.
" Bifrost, but stronger than ours." The Gatekeeper rumbled over his shoulder as his amber eyes took in the dissipating beam.
" What the hell is going on?" Frigga asked over the slowly fading roar that still had her ears ringing.
As the Bifrost dissipated, all in the great hall could make out a large, dark shape within the light. The guards were on alert with their weapons in hand, ready to engage the possible threat.
" GRRRAAAAAAAAARRRR!" Came a loud, angry roar as the hall shook from something very heavy landing on it.
When the light vanished fully, there was a stunned silence for about a split second before there were gasps and shouts all around as everyone beheld the sight of the Hulk in all his enraged glory standing in the center of the hall with his back to Odin, Frigga, and Heimdall.
Before anyone could say anything, the Hulk turned around, revealing that he had his arms full of four familiar Asgardian warriors, and four superheroes of Earth all crammed together tightly. They were all clinging to the green behemoth, some like Volstaag and Fandral looking grateful to be alive, while others like Clint and Tony with his HUD up off his face showing mild disappointment that the ride was over.
" It's them!" Odin shouted as he and Frigga nearly knocked Heimdall off his feet as they ran past him with surprising speed to greet the warriors who had gone with Thor to Muspelheim.
" Thor!" Frigga yelled out, her eyes frantically searching for the one person who was not in the Hulk's hold.
Hulk looked over his shoulder and grinned before he turned back to a rapidly approaching Odin and Frigga and stepped too the side.
" Hey buddy, let us down!" Tony said as he tapped lightly on the meaty green arm he and the others were dangling from.
" Gotcha." The Hulk acknowledged before he bent down slightly and released his hold around the eight of them.
Steve, Tony, Clint, Natasha, Sif, Volstaag, Hogun, and Fandral all landed on their feet, shaken but alright and yeah covered in soot and dirt still. A loud cry had all eyes going to Frigga, who had stopped dead in her tracks with Odin beside her, her hand at her mouth and her eyes rapidly welling with tears. There was a look of shock on Odin's face as he stared with wide-eye at the sight that greeted Frigga and him once the Hulk had stepped aside.
" Mother, Father." Thor said softly from where he stood, his own eyes welling with tears as his gaze fell on his parents. On either side of him the two ice-wolves stood, dutifully alert and taking in their new surroundings but with their tails wagging.
A hush fell over the entire hall as all eyes noticed the tall, fur-bundled figure Thor was holding against him. While the person was mostly obscured by the large bluish-black fur he was wrapped in, people could make out a pair of pale feet dangling a few inches above the ground, Thor holding him up almost in a fireman's carry.
From where she stood, Frigga let out a shaky breath and let the tears fall from her eyes as she raised her other hand, which was trembling violently and wordlessly pointed to the swathed figure in her eldest son's arms.
Thor blinked his eyes rapidly and turned his gaze down at his brother's sleeping face, tucked against his shoulder and hidden beneath the fur before he looked back up to meet his mother and father's expectant gaze. Letting out a shaky breath and finally letting the tears fall, Thor let a bright and joyful grin spread across his face before he nodded his head rapidly, a small sob bursting free.
Frigga let out a shrill cry that rivaled the roar of the Bifrost that had just deposited Thor and his group before she scrambled forward, nearly falling on the skirt of the gown she wore as she all but flew across the rest of the distance that separated her from both of her sons. Odin let out the breath he didn't even realize he was holding, gasping slightly and looking like he was about to collapse.
Frigga rushed forward and all but leapt into the air as she tackled Thor, and by proxy Loki into a rib-crushing hug. Thor let out a watery laugh as he buried his face into his mothers shoulder and wrapped one of his large arms around her, using the other to keep Loki pressed against him. Frigga sobbed with abandon as she reached out with a shaky hand and pulled away the bluish-fur comforter that obscured Loki's face.
" My baby." Frigga cried as she finally beheld the face she had been yearning to see for six agonizing days.
There was a collective gasp through the entire hall as everyone else gazed upon Loki. The second Prince of Asgard, thought dead, was now before them all, looking peaceful in deep unconsciousness and the only other word that could be used to describe how he looked now, no longer bloodied and gaunt with the strain of endless battle and horror of Niflheim, was exquisite.
With a gasp, Frigga reached out with shaking hands and seized Loki from Thor, who relinquished his hold around the slight form with great reluctance, but this was his mother after all.
Frigga gracefully sank to the floor, weeping joyfully as she tenderly cradled Loki to her as if he were still a babe, and not the grown man who easily towered over her. Loki remained unconscious even as Frigga showered his face with kisses, her hands cradling his had, tending stroking his face and hair. Movement in front of her had Frigga looking up with tearful eyes to see Odin wordlessly sink to his knees across from her.
Frigga let out a loud laugh as she spoke.
" Look at him." She said before she let out a tearful laugh and pressed her tear-stained cheek to Loki's pale forehead.
Indeed, Odin's one eye was focused solely on his youngest sons sleeping form, the thick bluish-black fur comforter Thor had wrapped him in having fallen away to pool around Loki''s lower chest to reveal him further. Odin was breathing hard and his eye was wide with awe at the sight of his youngest, thought dead but newly returned to him literally by the three hands of fate.
With a shaky breath, Odin reached out with both hands, one weathered hand coming to rest over the top of Loki's raven-haired head, while his other came to rest over the center of his son's chest.
From where he stood just behind his weeping mother, Thor cried silently with a smile on his face as he watched his father feel Loki's heartbeat with a look of wonder on his weathered face.
" His heart beats my wife, our son's heart beats." Odin said as a single tear rolled down his relieved and smiling face.
Not caring at all about his usual stoicism, Odin leaned forward and pressed his lips to his youngest son's brow while the hand he had pressed over Loki's heart sought out one of his son's hands from beneath the fur. Odin gripped Loki's hand tightly in his own as he kept his lips pressed to the latter's smooth brow. They could all see that Odin's whole form was trembling with emotion, but he restrained himself from weeping out loud as Frigga was having no problem doing.
With laugh that sounded more like a sob, Thor stepped around his mother and came to kneel beside his father, reaching out and pressing one hand to his father's hunched over back while his other hand went to his mother, gently cupping the side of her neck.
Both Frigga and Odin looked up at the touch, their tearful eyes meeting Thor's. Then as one both Frigga and Odin's hands shot out and seized Thor, yanking him forward.
From where they stood, Steve felt his eyes fill and a smile spread across his face as he watched Thor's parents pull him to them, the three of them encircling Loki in the middle, squeezing the day lights out of him and each other. Beside him Tony rubbed at his eye, something had gotten into it damn it, while Clint didn't bother to wipe the single tear that was rolling down his cheek. Beside him Natasha was smiling and there was a definitely sheen to her eyes as she watched on. The Hulk stood grinning ear to ear, very pleased with the entire thing. Volstaag had tears streaming from his eyes into his beard, beside him Hogun was smiling fully, while Sif too wept and Fandral grinned, albeit all of them with some sadness for they knew that while they had helped to restore the smile to the faces King, Queen, and Prince they served, it was not enough to earn back the places they had had before, for a single act could not magically wipe away all that Thor held them accountable for.
" My wife, our sons have returned to us." Odin said, smiling as he watched Thor rest in blond head on Loki's chest with his ear pressed to his brother's head, Odin and Frigga's hands both petting his blond locks while Odin held Loki's hand is remaining hand and Frigga cradled the back of Loki's hand in her.
" Yes my husband, the two halves of our heart have been returned to us." Frigga said before dissolving into joyful tears once more with Loki pressed to her heart.
A low rumble had Frigga and Odin looking up in time to see the two large, pure white wolves that had materialized with their sons come to sit beside them. One by Frigga's side, the other by Odin, the pair of them looking at Thor and Loki with warmth clear in their bright red eyes. Frigga and Odin both frowned in confusion for a moment at the two large animals sitting beside them, but quickly dismissed it for they seemed friendly enough and they would surely get an explanation.
Commotion at the other end of the hall had everyone save for Thor and his family turning in time to see Jane come running in with Darcy and Selvig behind her. She stopped dead in her tracks when she caught sight of the people at the center of the hall.
" They did it." She said in wonder as a grin spread across her face before she bolted forward with Darcy and Selvig scrambling to keep up behind her.
Things quickly grew chaotic after that, Heimdall boomed loudly for all to hear and to spread the word throughout all of Asgard that Thor, along with the warriors of Midgard, the warriors three, and the Lady Sif, had returned safely, and most importantly that they had returned with Loki, alive if senseless. Odin had taken one good look at Thor and then to the other slightly disheveled and weary warriors and whisked them all away to the healing chambers, the ice wolves included.
It was there that Eir and her fellow healers descended on everyone, albeit a bit worried about the two rather larger than normal white wolves that refused to leave Loki's bedside. While Eir and her best healers set about examining Loki with care, Frigga and Odin never leaving his side, Thor had to almost be physically wrested just a few feet away from his brother so that the healers could tend to the numerous cuts and bruises he had taken while in Muspelheim.
Thankfully, the injuries proved to be minor, and Bruce came back to the forefront without any incident and the healers gave everyone a simple draught to combat the exhaustion that was gripping all of them. And yes, they even managed to fix Fandral's half-burnt eyebrow as well, but surprisingly the Asgardian known as Fandral the Dashing didn't really care about that as his and everyone else's attention turned to the main thing.
Loki.
Throughout the entire pocking and prodding by the healers, the second son of Odin slept on without so much as twitching once.
" Why does he still not awaken?" Frigga asked Eir, worry radiating off over her in waves as she held Loki's lax hand between hers, her eyes darting between him where he lay and the Chief Healer of the palace.
" Physically, Prince Loki is restored better than full my Queen, every wound, the starvation, exhaustion, all of it has been wiped out. But this sleeping spell is of the Norns, and nothing within my power can combat." Eir said with apology clear in her voice.
" Then we shall have to be patient for a little while more." Odin said with a sigh as he laid a hand on his wife's shoulder in reassurance.
" There is one other thing that is odd though." Eir said suddenly as she turned her gaze to Loki where he lay.
" What do you speak of Healer Eir?" Odin asked as his and everyone's eyes went to Loki too.
" Do you see that ring the Prince wears on his right hand?" Eir said as she pointed to the ring on Loki's hand, the one with the three oval gem stones, a bright red stone flanked on one side by a black stone, and a white stone on the other. There were nods all around.
" Well, one of my healers tried to slip it off of the Prince's hand, but it will not budge regardless on how tight one pulls on it." Eir explained as she eyed the ring with a slight frown, not liking that it was an unknown variable.
" Looks like the Sisters of Fate left our son with a parting gift, for it is quite beautiful." Frigga commented.
" But how will that help us rouse Loki from his slumber?" She added with a small sigh.
" Hey, he did stir a little when those two started howling." Tony said, out of his suit, clean of all sooth and dirt as he pointed to the two wolves in question.
" You are correct Friend Tony." Thor said as he, with Jane by his side stepped forward and pointed to the two wolves.
" These two were the sentinels that were guarding Loki inside the heart of the mountain father, they may not look so imposing now, but they are able to shift in size and shape into two truly awesome beasts. They are the ones who transported us from within the heart of the mountain to hear. They sang together in the wolf's language and while they did so, Loki stir in my arms for a moment before the Bifrost took us." Thor explained.
" My son, tell us everything that happened in Muspelheim." Frigga said, a desperate edge to her voice as she eyed her eldest.
Without complaint, Thor began to tell his parents of what happened in the realm of fire and the truly awesome power of the Norns. Of course Clint, Tony, and even Steve provided some colorful commentary about the many fiery beasts they either felled or narrowly escaped from. Frigga and Odin both had pride showing on their faces when Thor told them about how they had all humbly asked the Norns for guidance, though he tried to downplay his own involvement in that. There were quite chuckled at the part about the impromptu ice slide once they had all gotten inside the mountain. Odin, Frigga, Jane, Darcy, and Selvig, along with the many healers in the hall listened on in awe when Thor got to the part about the chamber within which Loki had lain, under a dome of ice with the two ice wolves guarding him.
" The wolves let me pass after I knelt before them and stated my purpose. When I reached the dome, the ice melted away at my touch and there he was, sleeping as peacefully as he does now with no sign of the pain and trials he suffered through. After that Friend Banner being a healer himself examined him and found him to be in perfect health, though deeply unconscious. I tried to call out to Heimdall but after receiving no reply I was going to use Mjolnir to smash my way through the mountain if I had to. But then those two." Thor gestured to the two wolves who were happily panting away, allowing Frigga to stroke both of their great heads with her delicate hands where they sat obediently side by side next to the Queen and by proxy Loki as he continued.
" Stopped me just as I was about to take flight by sinking his teeth into my cape. They activated the crystal Bifrost that had hung over Loki's bed by howling together, it was almost like a song, thus bringing us safely here."
" There are no words to describe such power." Odin said, gazing down at the two wolves with respect as he spoke.
" I take it that you to have both come here to continue keeping guard over my son?" He asked.
One wolf barked lightly and wagged its tail while the other suddenly rose to his feet and trotted over to Thor, nuzzling lightly at his leg before looking up at his with happy eyes and then turning his red eyes back to Odin, sending the All-father a clear message.
They would not just be guarding Loki it would seem.
" My sons then?" Odin asked with a knowing smile on his tired yet relieved face.
The wolf by Thor's side let out a happy bark, causing chuckles all around as Thor patted the beautiful creature's head with a smile, but then he grew serious once more.
" I do not believe the howling of these two wolves was what made Loki stir for those precious moments, I believe it was the fact that we would be transported home that did that." Thor said before he sighed.
" So then why does he not open his eyes now that we are in Asgard?" He asked.
" Hey Point Break, the main thing here is that we got him home, I'm pretty sure those three sisters up there are just testing your patience now, seeing as to how they've been testing just about everything else with all of us." Tony said with a grin.
" Since when are you so deep?" Bruce quipped, while also agreeing with Tony's surprisingly sage words.
" Uh genius among other things?" Tony shot back as he pointed to his own chest.
" Well then, I suppose we shall just have to wait till morning and go from there if need be." Odin said with a sigh as all eyes turned to Loki who was laying on one of the healing beds, still out cold.
A little while later...
After Eir's rather disappointing prognosis that they would all have to wait for Loki to rise on his own, Thor had promptly gathered Loki in his arms much like he had done when they had all arrived back on Asgard not an hour earlier. There was no stopping Thor as he carried Loki up to his room, with everyone following close behind.
Thor had settled Loki on his king-size bed, going so far as to tuck him in. No one made and snarky comments or giggled, all of them just watching on as Thor fussed over Loki, looking so happy at simply being able to do the fussing in the first place. While Thor tended to Loki with all the dedication of a brother-hen, Steve and the rest of the Avengers, Jane, Darcy, and Selvig all mingled about the room with Frigga and Odin.
Volstaag, Hogun, Fandral, and Sif all graciously excused themselves and took their leave of Thor. Thor did not look upon them so coldly anymore, his gratitude for their service evident, but he did not protest that they were leaving. It was telling enough, but the four warriors accepted it and left with as much dignity as they could.
It was while Frigga was having a quiet conversation with Jane that Odin had walked up behind her and lightly tapped her on the shoulder.
" What is it my love?" Frigga asked as she turned to face Odin, who had a small, content smile on his face.
" My wife, look." Odin said as he gestured around the room.
Frigga quickly stifled a happy laugh a the sight that greeted her.
There on the bed, Thor lay fast asleep with his arms protectively wrapped around Loki. The Thunderer hadn't even bothers to take of his boots of his torn and singed cape. Mjolnir had flown off by itself and was now resting on its marble pedestal by Thor's bed. Frigga smiled as she say the barest hint smile grace Thor's sleeping face, a look of true peace and contentment on his face that seemed to melt away the weariness and the grief that had marred his face for so many weeks, years really if one were to be honest.
But, Thor and Loki were not the only ones no longer awake. On one of Thor's large, plush sofas both Steve and Bruce sat completely passed out, as though they had simply taken a seat on the thing side by side and lost consciousness as one. At Thor's desk which he hardly ever used, Tony had fallen asleep with his head resting over his folded arms, the Ironman suit neatly folded back into its briefcase form resting my his sneaker covered feet. Natasha was gracefully slumbering in one of the plush chairs Thor kept by the large fireplace that was alive with a roaring fire that warmed the whole room.
It was Clint that had Jane and Darcy giggling, while Frigga chuckled, and Odin and Selvig smiled. There resting by the foot of Thor's bed were the two wolves, both of them gracefully reclined on the fur rug Thor kept there on the floor, was Hawkeye snoring softly with his head resting over the flank of one of the large white wolves, moving up and down lightly as the animal breathed, not bothered in the least that it was being used as a living pillow by the human.
" Thor was right to come to love this band of Midgardians so." Odin said as he stared at the rooms sleeping occupants.
" Shall I conjured some cots for them?" Frigga asked softly as she took her husband's hand.
" Later my love, for now they seem content where they lay, let us away and let them sleep, for they had earned it ten-fold." Odin said as he began to lead Frigga over to the bed where Thor and Loki slept.
" I would rather stay here with my sons All-father, but I know that they are safe and sleep will not come to me on this night, my heart and soul are filled with too much excitement and joy." Frigga said with a small, shaky smile.
" The feeling is mutual my Queen." Odin said in turn as they both came to stand by Thor and Loki's bedside.
With fresh tears of joy gathering in her eyes, Frigga leaned down and pressed a kiss, first to Loki's brow and then to Thor's who shifted for a moment before settling, his arms unconsciously tightening around Loki.
" Sleep my loves, but rise with the sun when morning comes." Frigga whispered, her eyes going to Loki as she said this.
Odin ran his hand over Loki's head with great tenderness, smiling down at his newly returned son. There was so much that Odin wanted to say to Loki in that moment, so much, but Odin knew that he wanted his son awake for his words so he would have to be patient. After running his hand over Thor's head in similar fashion, Odin reluctantly drew away and turned to his wife, and the three mortals who were still awake.
" Come, let us leave our weary warriors to their rest." Odin said with a smile as he took Frigga's hand and led her, Jane, Darcy, and Selvig out of the room as quietly as they could. Frigga dimmed the lights in the room with a soft wave of her hand, plunging the room into quiet darkness.
Some time later, in the wee hours Frigga quietly stole back into Thor's room, slightly disheartened to see that Loki still slept silently in his brother's arms, but still happy that he was still here and not a figment of her dreams. With her magic, Frigga conjured some simply cots and deposited each sleeping mortal onto them, leaving them with warm blankets and soft pillows for the rest of the night.
The two ice wolves were still awake, their pure white fur almost glowing against the darkness, calm, and ever vigilantly keeping watch over the sons of Odin, and also the Avengers of Midgard.
The rest of the night passed on in relative peace, although there was a definite buzz in the air around Asgard, no doubt from the word spreading like wildfire that Thor had returned with Loki, the two princes of Asgard together and safe.
The sun peaked over the horizon, bathing everything in soft light. The palace of Asgard glittered brightly against the light of the knew day. Light slowly filtered into Thor's room, but it did not arouse the many Midgardians who slept within it on the . Where he lay in his bed, Thor's brown knotted in a frown as something tugged at his foot.
With a small groan Thor opened his eyes and came back into awareness. In an instant his eyes focused on the spot on the bed next to him, and to his relief, Loki was still laying there in his arms, breathing deep and peacefully. Still relieved, Thor also felt bitter disappointment at seeing that Loki had yet to awaken. Another tug at Thor's boot covered foot had the Thunderer turning his head to see the source of the mild annoyance that had abruptly brought him back to the land of the conscious.
The pure white ice-wolf released its hold on Thor's shoe covered foot with a small whine, its bright red eyes glittering with warmth.
" What do you want?" Thor asked quietly rather than shouting in annoyance, seeing as to how his friends were littered around the room, still fast asleep.
It warmed the Thunderer greatly that the Avengers had all opted to stay here in his room rather than return to the guest quarters that had been provided for them.
The wolf just tilted its head in a very dog-like manner before simply stepping away without a care that it had just woken up someone who was sleeping. With a small grumble the wolf rejoined the other wolf where it was dutifully sitting at the foot of Thor's bed.
" Damn dog." Thor grumbled as he carefully pulled his arms away from Loki, being careful not to jostle his brother despite how deeply Loki still seemed to be sleeping.
Thor leaned over so that he hovered over Loki, staring down at his brother sadly as he spoke softly.
" Will you not rise to greet the new morning over Asgard with me, my brother?"
Thor sighed quietly when all he received in reply was silence and Loki's eyes remaining shut. He felt his eyes burn with an all too familiar sting, but he quickly forced the urge to dissolve into tears away as he reached out to tenderly cup the side of Loki's neck as he so often had done throughout their lives. Taking in a deep breath Thor spoke.
" No matter, even if by some strange design the Norns make you sleep a life-age of the universe, I shall wait for you to open your eyes without fail. Asgard could crumble, the roots of Yggdrasil could get snuffed out, and I myself would grow older than father and still, I would be here by your side, for that is what I should have done for all you life as your brother Loki, and that is what I shall do for you from now, until I take my last breath." Thor declared softly before he leaned in close and pressed a gentle kiss to Loki's brow before he drew away.
With a lingering look of sadness in his eyes but a small, determined smile on his lips, Thor reluctantly shifted backwards and got up off the bed. Thor turned away and stretched, in the process summoning away the heavy armor he had slept in, leaving him in a simple, sleeveless leather chest piece. With a sigh Thor reached up and undid the clasps of the cape that still hung from his shoulders.
Had he looked behind him, he would have seen that the ring on Loki's hand was now lightly glowing, the three oval stones each seeming to have a small light within them. Silently, the glow seemed to emanate from the ring and spread over Loki's entire body in soft iridescence. Just as quickly as it manifested, the glow disappeared and the jewels of the ring dimmed.
But no sooner had the glow extinguished, a pair of bright green eyes flew wide open, clear and without any trace of sleep. They blinked rapidly a few times before darting across the room, their owner silently taking in his surroundings and letting out an almost inaudible shaky breath.
Without making a sound, Loki sat bolt upright.
" This is Thor's room." The shellshocked Prince though in confusion and awe as realization dawned on him. He was so shocked he couldn't even cry out as his mouth worked silently. Movement at the corner of his eye had Loki slowly turning his gaze to the side, and his already wide eyes grew impossibly wider as they fell on someone he had almost given up hope of ever seeing. Nearly falling over himself, Loki gingerly climbed out from under the covers he had been tightly tucked under and crawled on his hands and knees across the bed, almost soundlessly making his way to the tall blond figure that had caught his eye.
From where they sat, the two ice-wolves sat side by side not making a single sound to alert Thor, but turning to each other to share an almost smiling look as if to say.
Finally.
Thor, with his back to the bed and totally oblivious to the truly earth-shattering event that had just happened behind him, folded his burnt and slightly torn cape up a little before tossing it over the back of the chair and then braced both his hands over it and leaned heavily as he bowed his head and let out a deep breath as he hung his head, his hair falling about his head. Around him everyone still slept, and so Thor bit back the frustrated yell that was threatening to burst out of him.
So lost was Thor in his dejection that he didn't see nor hear the dark haired figure who padded across the room from the bed on bare, slightly wobbly feet towards him.
Thor was about to turn and maybe go to the bathroom to freshen up, but then he froze as he felt a warm hand clamp down hard on his shoulder. The rest of the world vanished in that moment, and all Thor knew was the hand on his shoulder, feeling the tremors that were wracking it. With a shaking gasp, Thor slowly turned around to face the unknown person behind him.
The moment he turned, Thor felt the breath leave his lungs in one large swoosh as his eyes grew impossibly wide. Thor's wide blue eyes stared back at equally wide bright green ones.
Thor gawked at Loki, Loki gawked at Thor. For what seemed like hours, with the rest of the world faded way, way into the background, but was actually mere seconds the brothers just stood there staring at each other. It was Loki who finally broke the impasse.
" Brother." Loki finally whispered, his voice barely above a whisper, so soft with disbelief.
That softly spoken word, almost inaudible was still enough to snap Thor out of his shock. With a wild cry Thor all but leapt forward, his arms shooting out, reaching for Loki. Thor screamed even louder when his arms finally made contact, wrapping tightly around Loki's thinner frame as he all but tackled his brother in a bone-crushing hug.
Thor's cried immediately woke up the other people in the room.
Steve was instantly on his feet and ready to defend, but his movements stalled completely when his eyes fell on what was happening just a few feet away.
" What the hell?!" Tony yelled as he too shot to his feet from his cot, Bruce doing the same a few feet away.
" Oh my God." Bruce whispered as the breath left his body.
Tony forgot all about the answer he wanted when his eyes fell on the sight by Thor's desk, realization dawning on him in the span of a view seconds as he eyes went wide and his jaw hit the
" Thor what?" Clint yelled, but his voice died away into stunned silence, Natasha beside him with her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
There standing with the light of the new morning shining brightly against them stood Thor and Loki, their arms wrapped tightly around each other. Thor was squeezing the living day lights out of Loki's thinner frame, but the younger brother, alive and awake with happy tears streaming down his face from his brilliant green eyes seemed not to care at all as he squeezed Thor back just as hard.
" Loki." Thor cried over and over again as tears of joy and relief gushed from his eyes.
Loki pulled back a little so that he could look Thor in the eye as he spoke.
" Is this real?" He asked through his tears.
Thor reached up with both hands and tightly gripped Loki's face between them.
" Yes brother, this is real, you're home now, you're safe." Thor said through his tears laughing and sobbing at once.
" Where's mother and father?" Loki asked instantly, his eyes darting around looking.
Yanking Loki back to him, Thor looked to his friends who were watching the scene, still shocked, but with joyful smiles on their faces.
" Friend Barton, got find the guards, tell them to get our mother and father here immediately, tell them the second Prince of Asgard has awakened, tell them Loki has awakened. Go, quickly!" Thor cried joyfully with a tearful smile as he clung to Loki.
" I-I'm on it, I'm on it!" Clint shouted, quickly dashing a hand across his eyes before he all but flew across the room to the doors, almost yanking them off the hinges as he ran out to find the nearest guard.
" Thor what happened? I know that I was gone for a long time, but what happened after I was..." Loki trailed off as a haunted look spread across his face, remembering the event that had started the chain.
His murder.
" Hey, hey Loki look at me! Brother look at me!" Thor ordered sternly, grabbing Loki by his chin and forcing him to look at him as he spoke.
" It's alright now, we're all fine, but what is the last thing you remember?" Thor asked, his heart pounding wildly inside his chest.
Thankfully Loki seemed to focus in on his brother's voice as he answered.
" The Norns, I remember the Norns and the roots... the root Yggdrasil. I remember getting sleepy and them telling me that the next time I opened my eyes, I would be home, I would be with you all again. But Thor what happened right after I was killed, did he hurt you? Did he hurt Mother and father?" Loki asked through his tears, desperation shining brightly within their bright green depths. It didn't take much to guess the "he" Loki was referring to, and everyone else in the room felt anger at Menkos fill their hearts for a moment before they quickly focused back on Thor and Loki. Clint wordlessly ran back into the room nodding to Thor who sent him a grateful look. Clint had found a guard and spread conveyed Thor's message, the guard scrambling to inform the All-Father and All-Mother that their second son was awake. Clint came to stand between Bruce and Natasha as they all watched on.
" Brother, much happened, but right now you should know that everything is alright, mother and father are safe. Everyone is safe." Thor assured,all the while feeling overwhelmed beyond measure because so much had indeed happened, but he could not divulge it all to his brother, not when everything was so fragile.
" Why won't you tell me?" Loki asked, concern and dread spreading across his face as he clutched at Thor's muscled arms.
" What happened? And why are there two wolves in your room?" He asked as he noticed the two striking animals sitting obediently at the foot of Thor's bed.
But before Thor could say anything, Loki caught sight of the other people in the room. His green eyes first fell on the tall, handsome man with blue eyes and short blond hair wearing a strange red, white and blue outfit, who was smiling back at him with tearful eyes. Beside him was another man, shorter than the blond with with dark brown hair and a stylishly cut beard and warm brown eyes, there was a strange glowing blue circle in this man's chest that shone through the fabric of the shirt he was wearing. A few feet away from this man was another man, built much like the man with the glowing chest, streaks of gray in his dark hair with a deep olive complexion and kind dark brown eyes. He smiled warmly at Loki and the newly awakened God could not help but smile back shyly before he turned his gaze to the next unknown, another man, with short dark down hair and an intense face with equally intense dark blue eyes, the man smiled hesitantly at him, to which Loki nodded mutely before he turned his gaze to the final stranger. It was a stunning young woman with deep red hair and deep green eyes. When there eyes met, Loki drew back from Thor a bit so that he could bow to her.
" M-My lady." He said with quiet politeness despite his tears.
To say that the four Midgardians, and perhaps Thor too were stunned would be an understatement, because the last thing they expected was for Loki, after all the Hell he had been through and the deep sleep he had just woken up from, was to still be a proper gentlemen in the presence of a lady.
Natasha quickly schooled her features and bowed back to Loki as she spoke.
" Prince Loki." She said formally.
The others all followed suit, Steve, Tony, and Bruce all bowing and saying "Prince Loki", as a show of respect, and also kicking themselves for not doing so earlier.
" I-I thank you for the kind respect you have just shown me, but please forgive me I just... Who are you?" Loki asked, eying the four Avengers with curiosity and confusion marring his face.
It was the strangest feeling in the world for the four people standing in the room, having fought against a warped version of the same green-eyed Asgardian Prince who was now gazing at them with curiosity, but not a hint of malice or madness. It was like they had entered the twilight zone
" Brother, brother look at me." Thor said, quickly gaining his overwhelmed brother's attention as he moved to explain.
" Brother, as I said before, much has happened since the day of my coronation. It would be unwise to start telling you the whole story because you just woke up, but I will. Right now you should know that these four people, along with a few others helped me find you, because the Norns hid you away after you fell asleep and I had to search for you. These people are from Midgard, they are my friends, and they are yours too." Thor explained.
Loki was stunned silent as he looked from Thor to the five, before turning back to Thor.
" H-How do you know about the Norns brother?" Loki finally asked.
Thor was about to answer when the doors to his room flew wide open. All eyes turned to see Frigga rush in first with Odin hot on her heels.
The moment her eyes fell on Loki, Frigga stopped dead in her tracks.
" Oh!" She cried as her hands went to her mouth, her eyes wide as she beheld her two sons. Behind her Odin too came to a halt.
Loki gawked at his mother and father, frozen in Thor's arms. There was a long moment where no body moved and then Loki blinked and snapped out of the paralysis that gripped him.
" MOTHER!" Loki screamed as he shot out of Thor's arms and barreled across the room, all wobbliness from before forgotten the moment he caught sight of his mother.
" My son!" Frigga cried as she too ran forward with her arms held out, tears falling from her eyes and a wondrous smile across her face.
Thor felt fresh tears fall from his eyes, while the five Midgardians in the room felt their eyes filled as they watched mother and son finally, finally reunite.
Loki picked Frigga clean up off the ground as he hugged her tightly, burying his face into her shoulder and weeping anew with sheer joy.
" My son." Frigga whispered over and over again as she pressed kisses to Loki's head, her arms like a vice around him as she squeezed him back just as tightly.
Loki set his mother back down on the floor and drew back a bit so that he could raise a trembling hand and gently cupped her cheek, causing the Queen to sob and covered the hand with her own, pressing tearful kisses to the palm.
" Mother." Loki said softly, sounding not like a God or Prince, but a little boy who had been bereft of the one who loved him unconditionally all his life.
" Loki, my Loki." Frigga sobbed before she pulled Loki back into her arms fully, nearly squeezing the breath from his lungs.
There wasn't a dry eye in the room at this point, save for Odin who somehow remained with his face carefully neutral as all eyes were focused on Mother and son so no one noticed when Jane, Darcy, and Selvig quietly entered the room after having been informed by the guards that Loki was awake. Tears immediately filled Jane's eyes, and Darcy was right there with her, both of them smiling ear to ear. Selvig brought a shaking hand to his mouth to keep himself from crying out at the sight of such joyful reunion, his own eyes filling with tears when he saw the tearful yet radiant smile that was on Loki's face as he hugged his mother.
It was now and forever that Erik Selvig gave up any lingering fear or hatred towards Loki, for no madman or monster would ever show the kind of genuine joy and happiness Loki was currently showing as he and his mother clung to each other.
Movement approaching mother and son had Loki looking up into the tearful eye of Odin. With a gasp, Loki's face went slack as he stared at his father. With great reluctance, Frigga drew away, only to find herself taken into the strong and loving arms of her weeping, yet smiling eldest. Thor and Frigga watched on with everyone else as Loki and Odin finally faced each other.
They stared at each other for the longest time, Odin with his face not giving anything away, and Loki with tears still streaming from his wide green eyes, looking so unsure it was almost physically painful to watch. Everyone watched as Loki took a deep breath, wiped away his tears as best he could and composed himself, his face hardening into a truly regal countenance, but his brilliant green eyes gave away his longing. Loki stood up straight, almost towering over the All-father before he raised his right hand, his arm going across his chest in the warriors salute as he started to sink to one knee.
" I greet thee Allfather." Loki said, his voice strong and composed as he bowed his head, but before he even came close to the ground, two large and strong hands gripped him by his upper arms, effectively halting his movement. Loki looked back up to gaze at Odin, his eyes growing wide at the absolutely stricken look on his father's face.
" It is not your king who stands before you Loki, but your father, just your father and he would see his jewel of a son newly returned to him, only with his head held high." Odin said
" Wha?" Loki gasped softly, tears falling from his wide eyes once more, totally flabbergasted by what had just come out of Odin's mouth.
Loki let out a shaky breath, trembling and in clear disbelief as he watched a single tear fall from Odin's eye. As it on auto-pilot, Loki reached out and wiped it away, looking from his wet finger to Odin's face with wide, uncomprehending eyes, as if he could not believe that the Allfather had just said what he said and was actually crying.
Tony fought tooth and nail not to let his face crumble right then at there, allowing a few tears to fall. Steve had tears silently streaming down his face too, while Bruce had to look away. Clint was crying without shame, his arm around Natasha's shoulder as the hardened Assassin herself had tears running down her face.
Frigga sobbed, while a weeping Thor held her close. From where they stood, Selvig had his arms around both Jane and Darcy, all three of them unable to keep their own tears from falling. Only those who were truly heartless would not have been moved by the sight of Odin and Loki in that moment, an adoptive father opening admitting his failures and calling himself unworthy of the child he wronged.
Before Loki could properly say anything further, Odin reached out and took Loki's pale yet vibrant face into his calloused hands with such tenderness that it nearly took Loki's breath away. Loki gave no resistance, too stunned to react at all as Odin pulled his head down a bit and pressed his bearded lips to his son's forehead.
Loki let out a harsh breath and closed his eyes, still not sure what to do or how to react, all of him just soaking up the love Odin was giving him.
" Father." Loki finally whispered as he opened his freshly tearful green eyes and met Odin's single eyed gaze.
" My son." Odin whispered back before he released Loki's face only to pull him forward into a full, almost bone-crushing embrace.
Loki was stunned for only a moment before he was melting into his father's hold. His mind was still racing, thousands, if not millions of questions milling around inside his head. But as for right now, those questions would have to wait as Loki returned his father's embrace whole-heartedly. Hands at his back and in his hair told Loki that his mother and brother had joined them, reverently using touch to reassure themselves once more that he was really there.
Loki knew that something monumental had happened, and a plan was already forming in his mind as to how he would get answers if his family was not forthcoming. But as for the moment, Loki didn't care as much about that as he did for the simple fact that he was currently having a hard time breathing because his Father was squeezing him so hard, while his mother and brother were also their with him. There were also several people in the room that were definitely involved, Midgardians no less, and they all seemed to care about him for some reason. Loki's curiosity was definitely peaked, and he being who he was despite all the literal Hell he had been through, would get answers, but for right now only one thing mattered.
He was finally home.