Loki went to find his friends and saw that they were well despite the previous festivities. Then he went for the less pleasant task of speaking with Odin about the trial. It would be the first time he had seen the Allfather alone since Loki had learned the truth. He resolved to keep the conversation strictly business since he wasn't ready to deal with other things yet. He approached the throne room and prepared to give the guard his staff before entering. The guard shook his head.

"The Allfather has directed that you keep your weapon with you Prince Loki," he informed Loki.

Trying to reinforce I am his son or trying to make amends with me as a stolen relic? No, remember this is a time for thinking about business only!

Loki kept his staff and walked into the throne room. Odin dismissed the person he was speaking with and turned to Loki.

"Do you wish to discuss the trial and sentencing," Odin asked.

"I do. The trial arrangements of Asgard are found to be acceptable by both the Midgardian jurisdictions I represent. As for sentencing, imprisonment is found to be acceptable but it has to fit certain guidelines," Loki stated.

Loki then laid out the expected and suggested guidelines. Odin nodded.

"They were the ones wronged so it is only right they set the punishment. My son, with how you plan your words I am curious why it is you call them "Midgardians" versus by their own terms," Odin inquired.

"It seems here best as those are the terms Asgard understands and respects. Any Aesir representative on Earth, however, would be expected to remember, and preferably use, human terms to describe them and their home," Loki explained.

"Has Thor been doing so?"

"He has," Loki confirmed.

"That is well. Loki, my son, we should speak about other things," Odin said neutrally.

Loki tensed.

"I do not wish to have this conversation now," he rebuffed neutrally.

If ever.

Odin sighed. It only made Loki tense more. How many times had he heard that disappointed sigh in reference to himself and never, or hardly ever, in reference to Thor?

"I should not force it upon you. I hope someday we can speak for I have allowed misinterpretation about your place in this family," Odin replied.

Loki merely gave a stiff nod. Odin gestured.

"You may leave without causing offense," Odin said.

Loki was too proud to walk away as fast as he could but it was tempting.

The trial was anticlimactic. The evidence against Malekith was clear, so the trial was short. The sentence was given exactly as Loki had suggested. After the trial he had an interesting conversation with the Alfheim representative. They spoke about the spells which would be used to keep Malekith imprisoned and the effects of his actions on relations with Svartalfheim.

"You are an intelligent and powerful sorcerer. You may come to Alfheim to speak further about such matters with us as yourself Prince Loki," invited the elven ambassador.

They knew I was making trips there? Why didn't they tell Thor when he was looking for me?

"We have long been interested in seeing what you could do with the proper knowledge and encouragement," the elf added.

Asgard's attitude towards magic has annoyed them. They decided they could allow me to study since I did disguise myself there and that gave them plausible deniability. It would be nice to just go there and study…

"We would like to see more of Hawkeye. His proficiency with a bow is quite fascinating," the elf mused.

Loki smiled.

"It is isn't it," he commented.

Tomorrow they would be going back to Earth. They could have gone right after Malekith was taken to his cell, but Thor had begged for them to stay one more day. As Asgard was treating Loki well enough and the others were intrigued with it he gave in. It was pleasant to spend time with his brother. Loki gave Thor recommendations on what to read. Thor took them seriously and then asked Loki for a sparring match.

"I said it would be glorious would it not? Though perhaps I need to be careful not to hit your staff directly with Mjolnir. I would not want to break it."

Loki grinned mischievously.

"No need for that hesitation brother."

"You are plotting something," Thor countered.

"When am I not," Loki jested and Thor groaned.

It was freeing to have such an exchange without the bitter undertones which would have accompanied it in the past.

"Aye, your mind is always thinking," Thor added affectionately.

Just like Danny said Nicholas was always thinking in Hot Fuzz. I should show Thor that movie. He would like the explosions and the partnership between the more fun loving Danny and the serious Nicholas.

"Well, you'll just have to see what I'm thinking of this time," Loki teased.

Tony had subtly scanned Mjolnir while Thor was in the tower. He had confirmed that Loki's staff should be able to stand hits from Mjolnir. In fact, his satisfied shield brother had said, a shock wave should be generated. Loki could take advantage of that…

Loki accompanied his brother to the training fields. Thor smiled at him.

"You use your skills and I mine brother," Thor asked happily.

No mocking of Loki's skills or how he shouldn't use them since it would be "cowardly". Yes, the present was much better than the past.

"Agreed."

Things soon got interesting as Loki made duplicates of himself and Thor called on lightening and threw Mjolnir lightly around to try to locate the real Loki. (Though as lightly as possible so that if he hit Loki he would not severely injure him. Loki, in return, did not use any type of spells on Thor which could cause injury. He only evaded Thor and laughed merrily.) Eventually they battled toe to toe and, as Loki knew would eventually happen, Mjolnir struck his staff.

He was prepared. He felt the shockwave build and routed it all back at Thor. Loki was left standing while Thor was sent flying across the training field. When he was younger Loki would have gladly let Thor slam into the wall and then healed him afterwards if Thor seemed too injured. Now Loki threw off a spell so Thor hit a gentle cloud of air instead of the wall. Thor bounced back to his feet, dropped Mjolnir, ran to Loki and hugged him close.

"Marvelous brother!"

Loki smiled contentedly and hugged his brother in return. It was marvelous.