Author's Notes: Clarification: Sorry, guys. When Thor said he'd insist on sharing Loki's punishment, it was with regards to Jötunheim, not what happened on Midgard. Thor is not taking responsibility for that. Loki is on his own there, though he's got half the Avengers to speak for him. Warning: Gratuitous implied sex at the end, including girl on girl. If you don't want to read it, stop reading after the section where Frigga talks to Eir. Otherwise, enjoy! Thanks: to Hope of the Darkness for catching an ongoing boo-boo. Looks like I confused my Janes starting with Chapter 24...I've gone back and corrected it all to Foster. I don't even read Tarzan, so I have no idea where the Porter came from!

… …

Kara tried to keep her expression composed as Fandral escorted her to the Avengers' rooms. He and Hogun had come to Loki's room as Hogun had been assigned to escort Loki to the War Council. They'd allowed them a few minutes alone to say their official goodbyes. The guards that had accompanied Hogun didn't have to know that they'd been warned by Thor and had already spent a good hour in each other's arms, trying to believe their mutual reassurances that everything would be okay. It was pretty pathetic when she thought about it. With Loki being the Norse god of Lies and her abilities as an empathic psychologist, neither one of them had any difficulty in recognizing a lie. A wry chuckle escaped and Fandral gave her a quizzical look. "Loki and I just spent our last moments together lying to each other about how we were fine and could handle this."

"I don't understand, my lady."

"We were both lying our backsides off to each other and we both knew it."

Fandral nodded. "Perhaps, Lady Kara, you were each lying to yourself rather than to each other."

She stared at him a minute as his suggestion sank in. He was right…and she really hadn't thought him deep enough to see that kind of thing. Who knew? "You know, Fandral; I think you're right." He nodded and held the door open for her. Tony was sprawled in a deep chair, Steve was pacing, and Hawkeye was nowhere to be seen.

One end of the sofa was occupied by a pensive Sif. "They've been called, then?" the dark-haired Æsir asked Fandral.

"Indeed, Sif. It was as we thought."

Kara walked through the suite to the balcony. The guys had nearly the same view as Loki, though they were on a lower floor. Not that it mattered considering this entire side of the Valhöll was set only a few yards off of the edge of a cliff. Every room on this face overlooked a spectacular vista. Looking up she noticed that Hawkeye had found a ledge just under the balcony above them upon which to perch. His moody expression was oddly reassuring. Despite his history with Loki, Clint didn't like what was happening any more than she did. "I don't think even you could hit anything from here," she said as she looked back out over the railing. "There's nothing within range but empty sky."

He shrugged. "I think better this way."

"Fair enough."

"We should have brought Banner. If this goes bad it would have made him angry. I'd like to see him pound a few of these self-righteous pricks into their goddamn golden floor."

She grinned. When she'd moved into the Tower the first time, workmen were just cutting out the section of the observation lounge floor that held two Loki-shaped holes. "Well, we don't have him here, so we'll just have to improvise."

"Stark's at full power and then some. Cap's leg has been pronounced fully healed. You're all better." He stopped and frowned. "Uh, recovered from your migraine, I mean," he said quickly. Clint held up his quiver. "And this thing refilled overnight. Looks like if you give it a day, the magic stuff resets itself."

"Loki said he tied it to the power of something he called Yggdrasill, the world tree, so as long as the nine realms exist, it should keep refilling every day."

"Handy. And generous."

She shrugged. "He figured he owed you…big time."

"Damn straight."

"Clint, I…"

"It's okay, doc…Kara. Most people have forgiven me for what I did under the influence. I guess I'm a big enough man to forgive him. Even if the bastard won't admit he was controlled."

"That's just it, he wasn't fully controlled, just under constant observation. He had to do what they expected, at least on the surface, so they wouldn't take over someone who couldn't try to outmaneuver them, or worse yet, someone who would happily cooperate with them."

"Did he send me after Nat on purpose?"

"Yes. He figured you'd hold back, at least subconsciously, and she'd be able to break you free."

Clint dropped down from the ledge and stretched. "And baited the Hulk into pounding on him to break him free."

"Yes, and purposely gave Tony enough time to get the bracelets on to call the Mark VII before he threw him out the window."

"Crafty son of a bitch," Tony commented from behind them.

She had to smile. "Yes, he is. If S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn't muzzled him he might have been able to tell Odin the truth and then been armed and ready when the enemy pulled him back to punish him for failing."

"But would Odin have believed him?" Tony sounded skeptical and she couldn't blame him.

"That was a gamble. He figured Thor and Frigga would and if they couldn't convince Odin to trust him, they still would have tried to help him be prepared to fight back, and then once he was taken, convince Odin that they needed to follow through."

"So, why doesn't he just tell the Tribunal this?" Steve asked as he joined them on the balcony. "I don't get it."

"You saw how Sif treated him. She immediately thought he'd told the enemy how to kill Thor…or any other Æsir, for that matter. He believes that most of them will think the same way and he's too freaking proud to beg for them to understand, or even admit he couldn't handle the enemy on his own." She sighed. "He's such an idiot, sometimes."

"I hope they'll listen to us, at least," Steve said. "According to Sif, they've had one guy found guilty of treason in the dungeons for five-hundred years now, and another one was flayed to death."

Kara stared at him, horrified, as her breakfast forced its way up out of her stomach. She ran for the bathroom and fell to her knees in front of the commode, barely reaching it before vomiting until her stomach was empty and only bile came out. She stayed there, shaking, as tears cascaded down her cheeks, unable to get an image of Loki with his skin flayed from his body out of her head. "Here, drink this," she heard Tony say as he pulled back on her shoulder and held a mug to her lips. "It's a small ale, and it'll get that taste out of your mouth without too much alcohol hitting your system. Fandral went off to find you something to settle your stomach better."

"Do you think they'll do that to him, Tony?" she asked brokenly before rinsing her mouth out with the ale, spitting it out and then drinking a bit down to wash the bile out of her esophagus.

"Doubt it. Thor wouldn't stand for it, and I seriously doubt his mom would either. It would be a cold day in hell before Odin ever had any peace if he let any punishment Loki might be sentenced to go that far."

She shuddered, then nodded. "You're right, but still…God, I'm so scared for him."

"Yeah, I think we got that. Come on, let's go out to the main room so you can sit down and chill."

… …

Steve looked up as Tony led Kara out of the bathroom and settled her into a chair. He didn't get it. She'd seen lots of blood and guts, heck, from what Barton had said, Loki was in a pool of blood when they'd found him and she'd watched Banner reach in and hold the guy's organs, even. Why had talking about it made her sick. His eyes widened. Oh. Oh boy. "Uh, Kara?" he began, happy that he was able to remember not to call her 'doc' when he was this unsettled. "You-do you think maybe you might be in a family way?" He fought back a blush, he was that embarrassed to even be asking.

She stared at him for a minute, her expression totally blank. "Why in God's name would you think that?"

He shrugged. "Well, I don't know if you'd thought to use protection, and you just got sick and it's morning and all…" he trailed off as she rolled her eyes at him. "Uh, I take it that's a no?"

"That's a no. Steve, Loki had his magic back by the time we did anything. He made sure I wouldn't get pregnant and they don't have STDs. I got violently sick because you made me picture the man I love dead and covered with bloody scraps where his skin used to be, thank you oh so much."

Steve winced. "Oh, wow. I'm so sorry, I guess I didn't think. You know they won't really do that, right? I mean, not to Thor's brother."

"Forget it, Steve. The damage is done. That picture isn't going away anytime soon." Kara looked so miserable it made his heart hurt. She sat with her arms tightly wrapped around her abdomen and her knees drawn up against them.

"The captain is correct," Sif said from her seat on the couch. "While they will not simply slap his hands, they would not be that cruel to Thor's brother. The worst sentence he is likely to get is indefinite imprisonment."

"Well that makes me feel so much better," Kara snapped. Her frown deepened and she lifted her head to look at Sif. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way, it is better. It's just…I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself."

"I do not understand what you see in him," Sif grumbled. "He causes much trouble, and not all of it benign."

"Hmm. Let's see. He's gorgeous, brilliant, clever, funny as all get out. Oh, and don't forget sexy." She frowned at the Æsir. "He's also vulnerable. Did any of you ever pay much attention of any kind to him before he earned his rep for mischief? When people are starved for attention, even negative attention makes them feel better, less…invisible."

"You understand him." It wasn't a question.

"Yes. And because I understand him, know how he feels…hell, I've felt as he feels, I love him. All your people have done is made him feel worthless, and more recently, like he's a monster. He's not." Kara stared at her hands and brought up a small ball of fire, smiling grimly when everyone stepped or leaned back. "For more than half my life I thought that being able to do this made me a monster. That I was too dangerous to be loved…well, in a physical sense. Loki taught me that I was more than I thought, that I was no monster."

"The fire giants of Mûspelheim are monsters, as are the Jötunn. While you have powers similar to the former, you obviously aren't one of them."

"You don't get it. It's the same lesson he taught you."

"Loki taught me no lesson, he stole something from me, you could not understand."

"No? Tell me, Sif. Would you rather be known and remembered as the greatest female warrior in all of Asgard, or as the useless girl with the prettiest hair?" Kara nodded at Sif's surprise. "Did you have any thoughts of learning to fight before that incident? No, I didn't think so. You would have lived your long life in relative safety, being made much of only because of the unusual color of your hair. Objectified, thought little of on the whole. But because of what Loki did, you had to find something else. Now you are respected, looked up to, honored for your accomplishments."

"I'd never considered that," she admitted.

"I know. By the way, it was an accident. You never let him explain. It was supposed to be an illusion, but he made a mistake, granted, a really bad one, but a mistake nonetheless. Let it go."

… …

Loki took a deep breath as they reached the entrance to the Council Chambers. One of the guards opened the doors and waited for them to enter. As he stepped forward, Hogun touched his arm. "Together," he said. Burying his surprise with a confident nod, Loki waited a beat and then stepped forward with Hogun the Grim at his side, a show of solidarity to which he was not accustomed, but for which he was grateful.

Some of those gathered rose respectfully as he entered, others did not. Odin All-Father, of course was one of those who remained seated, but that was his right. The Ljósálfar representative rose, albeit with a show of reluctance. Loki was certain the courtesy was only due to Thor striding forward to throw an arm around his shoulders in a brotherly embrace. Hela also rose and bowed to him. Though they had little contact as she preferred to remain in her own sovereign realm of Niflheim, she always gave him a daughters' respect. Damn…he hadn't told Kara that he was a father. Malekith, representing the Svartálfar, did not rise, however that meant nothing as two Æsir armed guards hovered over him. He had apparently not been able to convince Odin that he had nothing to do with his people bringing an artifact to Asgard. Odin was not as foolish as Malekith thought. The Dökkálfar in attendance remained seated as well, but as the dwarf was quite elderly there could be no insult taken. Frey, ruler of the Vanir, did not rise, but a king did outrank a mere prince. A full half of Odin's counselors rose. Those that did not were likely part of the Tribunal and could not lest they be thought to show partiality. Loki nodded carefully to all of those present and made a respectful bow to Odin, Frey and Hela, as was required by their rank. "Good morrow, All-Father," he said to Odin. "How may I serve Asgard this day?"

Odin nodded, in approval of his greeting. "Your knowledge of our common enemy is needed. Please be seated so that the Council may direct their questions to you in comfort."

Loki struggled to keep his expression bland as he took the indicated seat. Odin had not addressed him by name or as his son. That didn't augur well. He glanced around the table, trying to read expressions and was surprised into a frown. Where was Helblindi? None of the Jötnar were in the chambers. "Are we all here, my liege?" he asked.

"For now. I wished something settled before the others join us. There has been a concern as to where your loyalties might lie and as to whether you will deal fairly with all of our allies considering the events of the past cycle."

"Speak you of Jötunheim or Midgard, All-Father?" Best to get it all out on the table, he decided. He was so damn tired of everyone dancing around both subjects.

"Let us speak of Jötunheim first. This Council has been apprised of your heritage. The first question they have asked is whether you will seek the Jötunn throne as you are Laufey's eldest son and therefore the legal heir."

"I much doubt the Jötnar would accept a half-breed king any more readily than the Æsir. So, no, I have no such intention." He shrugged. "Besides which, Laufey died in this hall, at my hands. That would also not endear me to his people."

Odin…smiled? "Indeed, you did strike down Laufey, while he attempted to kill me as I was trapped in the Odinsleep." Loki frowned as Odin exchanged a look with Frey. "Frey, how did Laufey ascend to his throne, do you recall?"

"Indeed. He killed his father during a disagreement over a female they both wanted. Laufey took the throne, but then changed his mind about the female, as I remember." The Vanir king shrugged. "It was a very long time ago."

Loki blinked in shock. That hadn't been part of the tales they were told as children. All the more reason the bastard deserved to die. "So," Odin said. "I ask you again, Loki, born Laufeyson. Will you seek the Jötunn throne?"

"I will not. Their people have good reason to hate me - for the harm I have done to them, if not for the death of their king. I will not subject them to the rule of one they must surely despise."

"Our people have wondered," began Nyvorlas, the younger of the Ljósálfar princes. "Why you sought to destroy the Jötnar. They were no real danger to Asgard."

"They have always been a danger to Asgard," Thor spoke up, his tone harsh.

"Brother, no." Thor frowned at him. "I had just learned the truth of my birth, abandonment and adoption. I was…distraught, to say the least and foolishly took out my anger and frustration on a people who had no defense against it. Thankfully Thor was able to stop the process before even more damage was done. I am grateful to him."

"Do you regret what has happened to Laufey and his realm?" Hela asked quietly.

"I do not regret killing Laufey. I am told by those I trust that he abandoned me to die and likely also killed the Æsir woman who gave birth to me as no trace of her was found. His crimes, not just to me, but to many throughout the Nine Realms, made him deserving of death. As he tried to bring about my demise, I had every right to take his life in recompense with no regrets and no apologies." He paused and took a calming breath. "My attack on Jötunheim, that I regret and deeply. I do not know if there is aught I can do to make amends, but if given the chance I will do what I can."

"Prettily spoken, brother," a voice snarled from a screened off section of the room. Three Jötnar walked around the screen and one took the final seat at the table. "But you have yet to convince me that you will not attempt to take my throne."

"I will say it one more time Prince Helblindi, that none may mistake me. I have no intention of seeking my birth-father's throne, and even were it to be freely offered me, I would hesitate to take it. I will not contest you or your younger brother's right to it unless you use it to attack any of the other Realms."

His brother's blood red eyes bore into him for a moment and then looked toward Odin. "I have yet to see proof that your adopted son is indeed my father's get. He looks Æsir or Vanir. Where is your proof, All-Father."

Loki stiffened as Odin looked his way. This was something he'd wanted to avoid. Being thought a monster by the Council and having it proved to them were two entirely different things. "This must be settled, Loki. You will show your other form to this gathering."

Odin's order left no room for disagreement. "As you command, my liege," he said quietly and stood so that all could see. He let the change flow through him, frowning down at the table as he felt his body temperature plummet. A collective gasp from the group made him grind his teeth in an effort to avoid a more noticeable reaction to their disgust.

Helblindi had also arisen and he could feel the weight of his half-brother's glare. "Remove your tunic," he demanded. "I cannot see your clan markings clearly." He assumed Helblindi was referring to the pattern of the ridges. Loki had noticed that his half-brother's ridges were laid out very much like his own while those of the Jötnar guards were vastly different. He pulled off the tunic without comment and laid it across his chair, then met the other's gaze. The Jötunn crown prince stared at him, his eyes tracing the pattern that ran from his forehead, down his torso, and disappeared into the waist of his trousers. Helblindi nodded. "I-apologize for doubting your word, Odin All-Father. Loki is indeed my brother by blood."

Odin nodded. "Your apology is not necessary. You were not yet born when I took Loki from Jötunheim. You had no reason to know of his birth."

"Might I get…comfortable again, my liege?" Loki asked.

"Of course." Odin looked around the table and frowned. "Loki is the same as he has always been. Asgard will take it as a direct insult should any of you treat him differently." The All-Father turned to Helblindi, who nodded.

"Jötunheim would take it as an insult as well."

"If that is settled," Haakun, first among Odin's advisors, said. "We should turn our attention to the attack on Asgard by the Mad Titan."

Loki smiled as Hogun stepped forward to help him with his tunic once he had returned to his Æsir form. "I am quite ready to address all of your questions regarding our enemies."

… …

Frigga swept through the corridors to the Healers' Hall. Eir was waiting for her, as requested. "Well, can it be done?" she asked their goddess of Healing.

Eir smiled. "It can, and easily. She's not a normal human, her nervous system is, for want of a better term , wide open. From what your son tells me it is a combination of a natural mutation and the result of being experimented upon with what the healers of Midgard call psychotropic drugs when she was just past puberty. There will be little of the normal risks involved. She may grow faint as her body adjusts to the re-patterning of her nerves, but with some rest, all will be well."

"Good. My Loki has enough to vex him without worrying about his lady's health." She smiled at the thought that one of her stepsons had finally found a true and mutual love. Her mirth spilled over into a delighted laugh as it occurred to her that her youngest had finally and legitimately beaten the elder at something, and it was such a thing that was vitally important to his happiness.

"He will have no more to worry about in that regard, my lady. Should she avoid further injuries, the Lady Kara will live a long and healthy life once she has partaken of the elixir. Subject of course, to the limitations that face every living being."

"Of course, my friend. I thank you. I hope, that when the time comes, Thor will have a much easier time of it when it comes to love."

Eir looked troubled. "Ah, my queen? I hear tell that Thor is himself enamored of a mortal. And that his Midgardian is strictly a normal human. I do not think that his path, should the rumor be true, will be an easy one."

"I know, Eir. I have spoken to Thor, I am not so certain that this Jane Foster he cares for is truly his one love. He does not have the fire in either his heart or his expression that Loki bears for his Kara. Or for that matter, that Odin bears for me. But, we shall see if she is naught but a childish love or much more in due time. I shall not give much concern to it until such time as we must."

… …

Bruce groaned as the late morning sun nearly blinded him. He groaned again when he realized that he'd fallen asleep on the sofa in the game room watching movies. A warm weight shifted across his legs and he looked down, almost afraid of what he'd see. Oh. Crap. Yes, he was afraid, very afraid. His shirt was gone, as was his belt. The fly on his trousers was undone, and an underwear clad Darcy Lewis was sprawled across him, half in his lap, half snuggled into his side. Swallowing, he tried to remember what had happened in a glögg induced haze. "Oh my God."

"Humph, that's goddess, buster," Darcy informed him as she looked up at him with a smirk. The events of the previous evening passed by his staring eyes in a veritable flood of images. The movie viewing, that was clear, as was the snacking, the laughing, and the trip made by Darcy and Natasha to the kitchen to retrieve the stash of glögg that Kara had made before the Asgardians' departure. No one had had the heart to drink any of it since. Jane, Darcy and Natasha had loved the stuff, and Jane, of all people, had coerced them into a drinking game. He'd never been very good at those. Bruce's mind snapped back to the present as Darcy shifted more fully in his lap. "We never did manage to get to your room," she whispered as she nibbled on his ear.

"Oh. My. God." The rest of the evening came into crystal clear focus. Jane had snuck out at some point, looking distinctly queasy. Darcy had laughed, called the older woman a lightweight and had explained to the others that Jane ended up every serious session of drinking by running off, vomiting, and then falling into bed. At that point things had gone downhill. Well, depending on your point of view, he supposed. Pepper and Natasha had been all over each other, it was like watching a girl on girl soft porn flick. While Pepper was totally and obviously sloshed, he suspected Nat was still very much in control of herself. Her one comment when Pepper had protested that she couldn't be unfaithful to Tony was that Tony 'won't mind, so long as we let him join in'. That was not something Bruce really needed to hear.

"Geez, regrets already?" Darcy asked.

He stared down into her bright moss-green eyes. "Um, well…I-uh." Crap, he was so articulate this morning. "No, it's just that…hmm." Her full mouth was set in a mutinous pout. God, he could still feel those soft lips on his skin. "Wow. I'm kind of just remembering everything. I guess I drank so much that I didn't really know where I was or what had happened when I first woke up." He remembered now. God. In. Heaven. After Nat and Pepper had left, Darcy had literally jumped up and straddled him. Her glasses were missing and her lips…those lush, soft, oh-so-talented lips. "Oh. My. God."

Darcy rolled her eyes. "Great. Fine. I get it, you wish it hadn't happened. No problem. I'll get lost."

She pushed away and started to climb to her feet. Oh, no. Hell no. Bruce grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back down on his lap, then flushed when she twisted to glare at him. "No," he managed. "That's not it at all. I was, um, remembering how incredibly great it was."

Those fascinating lips curled up in a smile worthy of a cat that had enjoyed a dish of cream. "Oh, well, that's different."

"And that I never returned the, ah, favor," he managed to say without stammering…too much.

Those lips caressed his in blissful promise. "Well, then maybe we should head to your room so that little oversight can be corrected."

"You're sure?"

She grinned. "I really think we proved that the Other Guy doesn't react to extreme sexual stimulus last night. I'm sure." Darcy pulled back and once on her feet tugged at his hands until he joined her.

He smiled ruefully as they headed for the elevator with Darcy glued to his side. Oh boy.

… …

Pepper groaned. Her head was pounding and her mouth was dry. Just how much did she drink last night? The glögg was so sweet and yummy, she'd lost track. She smiled in spite of the jackhammer pounding the inside of her skull. It really did the trick of loosening her up, though. She didn't think she'd ever enjoyed foreplay so much before. Who knew she could come so hard from oral sex? Turning over Pepper wondered how to tell Tony that he had to do that more often. Wait. Tony was in Asgard. What. The. Fuck. Lifting her head slowly so that it wouldn't crack open, she opened her eyes to see the owner of the hand that was cupping her breast so possessively. Head forgotten she sat up. "Holy crap!"

The cap of burgundy hair lifted and Natasha Romanov stared up at her. "Mind not yelling? My head is splitting."

"What, how, oh crap," Pepper babbled as she tried to remember what had happened. She wasn't sure what exactly they'd done, but damn, her thighs and labia and backside were marathon sex-worthy sticky.

One sculpted red eyebrow rose. "What is sex, lots of it. How is oral…and toys. Your toy box gets an honorable mention, though you could use a bit more diversity." Nat frowned at her. "You didn't have a problem with it last night, you were begging for seconds and thirds, so I don't understand why you're saying oh crap now."

"I-I've never done anything like this before. I mean, not with another woman."

Nat snickered. "I gathered that. But you took instruction on cunnilingus very well. It didn't take too long for you to bring me to an intense orgasm. If you do half that well with fellatio, Stark doesn't deserve you."

Pepper sat back against the headboard. This was really too much to take in with a headache this bad. Still… "Was I really pretty good at it?"

"I never lie about sex. Well, not when I'm off duty. How about I put together my famous hangover remedy for us, then I can remind you just how good you are? Oh, but keep in mind…I'm better."

"Oh my God. Tony is going to blow a gasket."

"If we tell him." Nat looked thoughtful. "Of course, he'd just want a replay, with him in the bed with us."

"Oh. My. God."

"Of course, if he so much as mentioned that desire, Clint would turn him into a pincushion. No, we'd better keep this to ourselves." Nat slipped off of the bed and grabbed Tony's robe. "One hangover remedy for two, coming up. Then back to bed?"

Pepper stared at the other redhead for a minute, then wriggled a bit as she remembered just how good it had felt. "Sounds like a plan."

… …