The Fall of Loki Odinsson: The Rise of Loki Friggasson

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, or any companies affiliated with the before mentioned companies. All characters -except Crystal- are owned by Marvel and it's affiliate companies. This is a work of pure entertainment and no copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: Loki finds happiness on Midgard in the form of the Avengers and a quirky mortal that Darcy Lewis may or may not have set him up to meet. Loki learns how to accept himself and that joy can be found anywhere. : Loki finds happiness on Midgard in the form of the Avengers and a quirky mortal that Darcy Lewis may or may not have set him up to meet. Loki learns how to accept himself and that joy can be found anywhere.

Warnings: Time skip. Loki is frustrated and Thor isn't helping the building frustration. Loki struggles with finding his indepence but Thor is being a mother hen. Thor feels guilty because part of the blame for Loki's state lays at his feet.

######### Chapter 4: Breaking Before Fixing #########

********* Two Months on Midgard *********

Loki sighs and feels the pages again. Braillie is difficult to learn but it can give him a way to read unsupervised. Thor does read to him but sometimes a person needs to be alone.

Loki appreciates Thor, but Thor is a smothering force. Loki cannot take two steps from his bed without Thor watching his every move. He cannot sigh without Thor questioning his state of mind. Thor is everywhere! He sighs heavily and flexes his hands. He needs a break. He stands and extends his cane when he smells Thor.

Thor rushes over to Loki and takes his elbow. "Where do you wish to go brother?" He proceeds to lead Loki out of the room.

Loki suppresses the urge to say Helheim, care to join me? Thor is trying to help him through his weakened state; he doesn't mean to be a smothering idiot. "I am feeling hungry. I was heading to the kitchen." He smiles and allows himself to be lead like an invalid.

Thor pulls out a chair and urges Loki to sit. He quickly goes to the refrigerator and pulls out various food items. "What would you like brother?"

Loki listens to the noise of the tower and turns his head to Thor. "A sandwich. Pickles, cheese, and turkey please." He listens as Thor puts things back and rummages through the refrigerator again. Barton is listening from the ventilation system and the Widow is listening from the common room door way. Stark is either out or in his workshop. Banner is walking into the common room. The noise is comforting until Thor begins to snap his fingers.

Thor sees Loki's head bobbing about and worries about his blood sugar. "Brother are you well?" He slides Loki's sandwich over to him and sits next to him. "Are you faint?"

Bruce watches as Loki tenses and then relax. He sees and hears Thor fuss over Loki and understands what's happening. Loki needs space. "Hey Thor, Tony needs a power boost. Why don't you go help him? I can keep Loki company."

Thor looks at Bruce until he feels Loki touch his arm. "Go Thor, you could use the break." Loki smiles at Thor and motions for him to go. "Dr. Banner is here if I need anything."

Thor squeezes Loki's shoulder and walks away. Bruce takes the empty chair that Thor once occupied and sits quietly. "So, Loki, how close to telling Thor to go to hell are you?"

Loki smirks and sniffs his sandwich. "Very close. I understand his need to protect me but this is too much." He pushes the sandwich away. "He put mayonnaise on it."

Bruce chuckles but looks at Loki. "Loki why does Thor seem like he's trying help his guilt away?" He watches the fallen god stiffen.

Loki looks down despite seeing nothing. "I would rather not speak of this issue here." Loki points to the ceiling and common room. "Perhaps your laboratory is more private."

Bruce sees how Loki's posture has changed. He's worried about people getting hurt. Bruce nods. "Okay, follow me ."

Loki extends his cane and follows Bruce without assistance. He navigates quite well despite his lack of practice. He sits in the chair offered to him and sighs. He turns his head towards Bruce and waits until the other man is seated. "Are you ready for the truth Dr. Banner?"

Bruce was taken aback by the use of his title but quickly regains his composure. "Yeah. If you need to stop I will understand."

Loki chuckles bitterly. "And if you need me to pause. Do tell me." Loki folds his cane and breaths in deeply. "When Malekith tried to harness the energy of the Infinity Stone of Power I was severely wounded. My Juton physiology made it so that my wound wasn't fatal but I did go into a deep healing sleep. After being left for deadon Svartalfheim my body used the natural magic of the realm to quickly restore my body. I awoke to one of Odin's guards holding a sword to my throat. I killed him and took his appearance. I returned to Asgard to tell Odin I was dead, but the shock of Frigga's jewel being killed the same week she was killed sent him into Odinsleep." Loki pauses a moment and bows his head. "I wanted to leave then but Thor didn't return. I assumed the appearance of Odin and had the Gem of Power hidden. I was going to leave when Odin awoke but an old rival of mine saw through my glamour. When Odin awoke he had me imprisoned. Thor only returned to Asgard for my second trial." Loki clutches his folded cane tightly. "Odin ordered Thor to silence Loki Liesmith. After sewing my mouth shut Thor returned to Midgard. He wasn't aware of my other tortures until after he returned."

Bruce looks at Loki for a moment and wants to not believe Loki. He wants to shout at Loki but it explains Thor's behavior. Thor feels guilty because Thor is guilty. He knows that Thor is loyal to a fault but this is too much. "Loki, if I were to ask Thor who sewed your lips shut what would he say?"

Loki shrugs as if he has lost all energy. "I don't know. I try not to talk about it. Why don't you ask him yourself?"

Bruce turns and sees Thor standing in the door way. "Is it true? Did you really sew his lips shut after everything he did to save the universe?"

Thor looks down and nods. "Aye. Loki impersonated the King and sent a powerful weapon out of Asgard."

Loki bristles and turns his head towards Thor. "You do not know of the power of the Infinity Stones! I had it sent away because the power of the Stones corrupts. No creature should have that kind of power!" Loki is angry and has reached his breaking point. "When The Mad Titan comes he will have not only one Infinity Stone but the Infinity Gauntlet as well. I will let Asgard burn before I watch existence perish!"

Thor tries to get close to Loki but Bruce holds Thor back. Thor thinks Loki has finally gone mad but Bruce has heard Vision mention the name Thanos. "Let Loki finish talking."

Loki is shaking and is holding his cane so tight his knuckles are white. "You were so quick to believe that I was ill in mind. You believed me to be beyond repair and maybe you still believe it but I'm not ill and I'm not a shadow! I'm Loki! Son of Frigga! I will stumble and fall but I must pick myself up! Keep your guilt and help me learn to live in my own light- independent from you. I'm not your shadow and I'm not a Liesmith!"

Thor watched as Loki broke down in tears. Bruce finally allowed Thor to pass and watched as Thor held Loki. The giant blond whispered to his brother and held tightly to him while whispering apologies and promises to the raven haired prankster. Bruce quietly slipped out and ran to an empty field.

Thor is still over protective. He's Loki's big brother and that's what big brothers job entail: being an overprotective idiot, oaf, bilgesnipe ass, and jester. Thor has learned one important lesson from Loki's breakdown; sometimes you have to fall and break before you can be made a stronger person.