After the sparring match, Thor had that look on his face that communicated he had something to say he wasn't sure how Loki would react to.

"Out with it," Loki interjected.

"Brother, do you wish to see if there is anything you would like to bring back to Earth from your rooms? Everything there," Thor's eyes briefly flashed with pain remembering Loki's letter, "is yours."

Loki wasn't sure if he wanted to face his old quarters but he could tell Thor was working hard to accept the idea of Loki not living here.

"Alright. Come with me. We both need showers anyways," Loki agreed.

Thor smiled.

"JARVIS told me about you and Tony's tendency to at times forget them," Thor teased.

Loki snorted.

"It's for a good cause and not just because we feel like it," Loki retorted.

"Brother, I don't at times refrain from bathing for just that reason. In battle there is no time," Thor argued.

"There were times when facilities were available and you couldn't be bothered. Then you would make things worse by trying to inflict hugs on me," Loki rebutted.

"How could I forget that? Come here brother," Thor called.

"No, you've gotten a hug already. You will not add more of your dirt to my clothing," Loki said. Thor pouted. When they got to Loki's rooms he waved Thor to the shower. Loki stood and looked around. He had had so many bittersweet, with emphasis on the bitter, memories here. He found himself thinking of Malekith and how Thanos had used the dark elf's greed to get Malekith to move against Earth. A troubling thought occurred. During the sparring match Loki reflected on how, in the past, he might have let Thor hit the wall- though he would have healed him afterwards. If Loki had met Thanos could Loki have been the one turned against Earth? When he had first moved there he had thought himself above mortals. It was an unquestioned thought like frost giants being monsters. Could Thanos have used that, in addition to Loki's desire to be noticed, to turn him against the place Loki now thought of as home? Loki shivered. Of course that had to be moment Thor came out of the bathroom.

"Loki? What ails you brother?"

Loki quickly plastered a smile.

"It is nothing," he replied.

Thor gently put his hands on Loki's shoulders and then cupped Loki's cheek.

"Your thoughts are always worth something brother. Please tell me," Thor coaxed.

Loki looked away from his brother's concerned expression.

"I had reason to be bitter, but what if Thanos had found me? My bitterness could have harmed people who had nothing to do with what happened."

"He did not find you and you came to love humans. You would never hurt them Loki," Thor assured him.

"Except the ones who threaten others," Loki amended.

"Yes, but those are exceptions. Loki, you did not harm Earth."

Loki let his brother pull him close. He let Thor's heartbeat soothe him.

"Bitterness is understandable, and the causes of it should be addressed, but it can bring ill to those who do not deserve it," Loki finally said. Thor held him tightly.

"You are wise my brother," Thor murmured. Loki grasped Thor tightly as a difficult thought came to him.

"I know not if this could make things better, or make them worse, but I should…try to speak with Odin."

"You do not have to. You have reason to be angry with him," Thor's rumble was comforting.

"He seems, at least, to be willing to speak. If I can lessen this pain, so that no one can exploit it, I should try."

"You are more loyal and loving than you give yourself credit for Loki," Thor said soothingly.

"Sentiment," Loki smirked ruefully. Thor nodded and pressed his cheek against Loki's hair.

"Do you wish me to accompany you," Thor asked.

"He is your father whether he is mine or not. I may say some things you would consider hurtful to him."

"You are hurting. I would not leave you to face any other challenge in pain. Why I should I now?"

"Some things have to be faced alone, but perhaps you could wait here for me? I may need someone to talk to afterwards. Then again, that still might put you in a harmful position," Loki commented.

Thor tilted Loki's head so Loki was looking at him.

"You are my brother and as much as I love father I am not happy with him for how he dealt with you. Let me support you Loki. Your friends have already done so much. I also know that the ones you feel the closest to are not the ones that are here," Thor observed.

It was true that he would feel more comfortable bearing his heart to Tony, Pepper, Happy or even Rhodes. He was still learning to trust the others. Yes, he could call his closer friends on his Stark Phone, but he had a feeling he would want someone to talk to in person. Maybe he could teleport back to Earth and then come back? No, he might be too upset to teleport back to his room let alone to Earth. Would it be fair though to expect Thor to hear Loki's unhappiness with Odin? Loki had mostly tried to make him an unspoken subject to keep Thor from being stuck in the middle.

"Brother, I do not mind," Thor assured him.

"You must tell me if you do," Loki told him.

"If need be I will go back to Earth and bring back Tony or the Lady Pepper for you."

"I am not the only one to have become wise brother," Loki commented sincerely.

With that Loki gave his brother a gentle squeeze and left to find Odin.

He found the ruler of Asgard in his chambers with Frigga. She took one look at Loki's face and then walked over to him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and squeezed his hand.

"Come to me if you wish Loki. I love your father but I love you too and want to help," she said gently.

"I appreciate that mother."

Odin gestured for Loki to sit with him.

"I was trying to protect you Loki. I wanted you to be safe and no one to mistakenly think something of you that was not true," Odin began.

"Your treatment could have encouraged me to become a monster. Being neglected and disrespected has a habit of doing so I have heard," Loki replied.

"That was not my intent my son."

Loki could sit no longer. He paced for a moment and then spun back around towards Odin.

"Not your intent? What was your intent exactly? To have another Thor? Well, I'm sorry to say I must have disappointed you a lot if that was the case. Then again, my black hair could have been a tip off I would be different.

Thor said I was to be some sort of peace tool. How was that going to work? You would send a brainwashed frost giant back to Jotunheim and expect them to be overjoyed at this? Why didn't you go through with that? Was it because you realized they wouldn't want a brainwashed prince…or that they would never be interested in taking back an abandoned runt? Was that why you told Thor that those plans no longer mattered? Or was it that you realized even perfect Asgard could not make something useful out of me?

Then again, could you perhaps have had another plan you wouldn't tell Thor about: the shining, golden son, who would never allow such a thing? A plan to let me think I was pathetic and useless on purpose so I would be willing to do anything for you? Turn me loose on the hated enemy and then disavow me as a monster? Well? That one certainly seems the most plausible! You knew how to love Thor, so how could you not love me? One you supposedly chose to make your own," he snapped bitterly.

This was why he had wanted to avoid this conversation. His anger was tied to his vulnerability at being betrayed and they came pouring out in a way he could not control. He didn't look at Odin, too ashamed to show his emotions, but he knew he had to look at Odin to try and see Odin's. He quickly wiped away the tears he hadn't noticed he was crying and spun back on the offensive. He had to try to keep control of the situation.

"Well? Tell me," Loki demanded.

He tried to keep it at a demand but some part of his heart also cried for it. Odin, who had stood up, sat back down. He sighed and Loki held back a disparaging laugh.

"Loki, my son, I did have plans for you to be a peacemaker but it was no fault of yours that I discarded them. I realized they would not take you back, but that spoke poorly of them and not you. My son, who I have long owed the truth that you make me proud, it was they who suffered for leaving you and not the other way around. Your skills may not be ones that Asgard and I can easily adapt to and understand, but that is our weakness and not yours. I held you back because I did not know how to let you safely shine. I meant to protect you, but as you said, encouraged a path which could have led to you being not safe.

I would never turn you into a weapon. If you felt that was so then all I could refute that would be a pained 'no Loki' because that is a horrible thought. I would never disavow you. I am sorry for not seeing part of why you pulled pranks and for letting my fears blind me to the pain you were feeling at not being able to use your skills as Thor did his. Your skills are needed and you are right that there is more than one kind of warrior. You are a warrior that can prevent fights from even starting and that is needed. When I first fought in the war I was like Thor and eager for glory. As the dead, from both sides, piled up around me I came to hate it. When I heard you crying I had had enough. Perhaps it was like when you decided to leave Loki: I saw what was happening and I did not want it to continue. I did not want any more blood on my hands. When I picked you up and you changed I thought of peace yes. That plan made me feel I could love you without being too sentimental. It is not easy for a king to love. You deserved to be loved without any of those plans. You who were struggling so hard to live and only wanted the help that you deserved.

As you grew and it became clear how different you were it terrified me. Terrified me because you could be in danger. Terrified me because you have a skill with words and magic unlike anything Asgard has ever seen. I have to have some skill with both to be an effective king, to prevent more wars, but they did not come to me as effortlessly as they do to you. After what I had seen, I could see how they would be useful but I could not relate to how to support them. I am as I was raised. I told myself that I allowed you to use them was enough. That it was alright that I did not compliment you because keeping you from the attention Thor had would keep you safe. Instead, it taught you that you were unvalued. Asgard needs you, but I would cause you more pain if I forced you to stay. I will not do so which is why I swore the oath Thor told you of.

I am king. I should have let you go to Alfheim and if the truth came out protected you. I should have told you the truth and then encouraged you of the good in you: your loyalty to Asgard, your love for your family and the good your skills could accomplish. I hope you can see the truth in my words, but I should not be surprised if you cannot. I have not done well by you," Odin finished.

Loki leaned against a wall and worked not to tremble. It was what he would want to hear but was it true? He breathed in and out once and then was able to make a polite expression appear on his face.

"If I might think upon what you have said," Loki asked in an attempt at neutrality.

His outburst was bad enough. He didn't want to do anything else that could cause a diplomatic incident since he had come to Asgard representing Earth.

"Go and think in peace Loki," Odin replied with some kindness.

Loki made it back to his rooms and quickly shut the door.

"Brother," Thor asked.

Loki leaned against the door and kept his eyes closed. He felt more tears would threaten to fall if he did not keep his eyes closed.

"Brother is it alright for me to come closer to you," Thor asked.

He opened his eyes and gave Thor what had to be a tortured look. It was how he felt. He wanted to be loved by the one who called himself Loki's father but could he believe it? Should he given the pain he had felt? Was Odin telling the truth? Loki had never suspected he was a frost giant so what else could Odin be hiding? Could he, if Odin was not lying, forgive Odin?

He realized Thor was looking at him worriedly and not approaching because Loki had not given Thor permission to come closer to him. Loki nodded and suddenly felt tired. Thor came and hugged him. Loki let himself rest in the love of his brother because Thor hadn't known. He couldn't discuss this with Frigga who he had forgiven but still felt a bit wary of especially in regards to this topic.

Thor didn't ask what had been said. He simply held Loki close and let Loki think at his own pace. Loki was thankful for his brother's patience and leaned on Thor as he thought.

"What should I do Thor," Loki asked tiredly.

"Does he seem like he is telling the truth," Thor mused.

"A king is...just another man. It is not easy for…one who thought themselves a son to see that the one they thought of as father is not an embodiment of perfection. He is Asgard, but Asgard is not perfect and he isn't either. I think I can allow him to call me son, that is his choice, but I can't call him father. Not yet…I still need time to think," Loki replied.

"Then take the time you need brother. I will support you no matter what," Thor promised.

"I know. I appreciate it," Loki said.

He let himself lean on that support and think for a long time.