Chapter Text
The site looked like the aftermath of a war zone. The smoldering wreckage of one SHIELD vehicle lies strewn about. The Destroyer stood stiffly amidst the "battle" between it and the mortals.
It was lost for words. Within a few minutes upon landing in Midgard, those mean mortals not only shot at it with pellets but also made it defy the orders of its king. How else was it going to explain to the regent of the car it had accidentally blown up?
The magical armor felt very wronged. It was not meant to be used this way.
"Son of Coul!"
The Avengers made their entrance in a dramatic fashion.
Thor was the first to jump out from the helicopter. The moment he spots the Destroyer, however, he froze.
The helicopter landed smoothly and out hopped Captain America, Black Widow, Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Bruce Banner.
Steve saw the Destroyer in all its metal glory. He eyes it warily.
"Avengers..."
Immediately, in one swift movement, the team of heroes readied themselves.
The Destroyer, in turn, gathered its bearings as it sees Thor.
"Assemble."
The moment Steve gave this order, a blast of energy flew toward the team. The Destroyer's eyes were locked strictly on the God of Thunder.
The Avengers charged.
~*~
In the shared chambers of the King and Queen, Odin lies asleep.
Besides the golden bed, a table and a couple of chairs had been moved there to provide a space to Host a tea party.
Fandral sat there stiffly, his hands stuffed with a decorative teacup and some cookies offered by the Allmother. He continued to accept them, as not to be rude but felt very uncomfortable. This was the woman who had raised Loki, after all.
Frigga was very kind to him and in her presence, Fandral all but threw the image of a strong and manly warrior into the wind. If only his friends could see him now, dressed in armor, eating cookies with the Queen. He didn't know if he should laugh or cry.
~*~
Townspeople filled the streets, staring at the fight from a safe distance.
Jane, Selvig, Darcy, and Hogun and Volstagg had been running down the street, arriving at the Bifrost site the moment the Asgardians sensed the Destroyer's presence.
"Thor!"
Jane called out to the golden prince.
Thor spotted her amidst the fight.
"Keep it distracted!" Thor called after grappling with the metal armor. He had already realized that the target of the weapon was him.
He gave a swift kick and escaped the Destroyer, rushing over to Jane and the others.
"Leave this town now. Get yourself and your friends to safety." Thor told the mortals of the group.
"What about you?"
Jane asked him with concern.
"I must stay and fight."
The Asgardians look to Thor.
Volstagg spoke with disbelief, "But Thor-"
"I'm still a warrior," The prince cut him off. "I will fight beside my shield brothers."
Volstagg continued to argue. "You're but a mortal now. You'll get yourself killed!
"Or one of us, trying to protect you," Hogun added.
Thor shakes his head. "No. The Destroyer wants me. Only a king has the privilege to control it and I know that Loki is somehow involved."
Another energy blast flew over their heads. Thor gritted his teeth. This was no time to converse.
He turns to Jane.
"You must take the other mortals to safety."
Jane still looked hesitant.
"Go, now!"
Without another word, she, Darcy, and Selvig ran off, herding the crowd of Townsfolk off the streets, as Thor and the warriors charged back into battle, towards the Destroyer.
The Destroyer is unable to react quickly enough, as Hulk smashed into the creature.
It looks like it might actually work for a moment, but the Destroyer stays on its feet. It tosses the green beast off to the side before meeting the blows delivered by Steve.
Tony flew through the air, finding openings to blast at. He spots Thor and his Asgardians friends rushing back into battle.
"Thor!" He called. "Any idea how to stop this thing?"
Before the thunderer could answer, the Destroyer savagely lifts Captain America by the scruff of his neck and flings the American Icon at Hogun and Volstagg, smashing into them with his patriotic weight.
Hogun and Volstagg had never felt more American than at that very moment.
Tony curses and flies over to help the three downed men while Thor goes on to avenge them by throwing himself back into the fray.
Natasha leaps off a nearby rooftop with her special pistols. Heavy, titanium bullets, uncreatively dubbed the "Widow's Bite", shot out and plunged deep into the back of the enchanted armor.
The Destroyer stands there motionless, the fire dimming in its faceplate.
The heroes pause, watching with a brief moment of hope in their eyes.
However, the Destroyer stirs with life, its fire igniting once again as the bullets seemingly fall out one by one. As if by magic, it fixes itself from all the damage it had previously received, becoming good as new, once more.
Internally, it was in tears, sobbing at the pain that the mortal had inflicted on it.
Oblivious to this, everyone looks on with growing trepidation.
Suddenly, the Destroyer spins its torso around 180 degrees to face its attackers. It unleashes a blast at Natasha, though very gently, to the point that the energy merely singed her clothes. However, she still went flying, nearly crashing into a building if not for Clint, who had been perched on a rooftop, shooting a grappling hook to the building closest to her.
With some swift maneuvers which are too complicated to describe, Natasha caught onto the rope and safely ziplined her way down.
The Destroyer rises again to its full height.
The Avengers and the Asgardians try to regroup, when the Destroyer unleashes another blast, sending them all flying in all directions. Thor found himself being pushed to the side just as the blast was about to go off.
Amidst this chaos, Hogun's pouch of healing stones, courtesy of Loki (who had sent them all care packages), breaks free and goes flying into the middle of the battleground.
Struggling to stand, Thor sees his friends lying injured on the ground, but has no time to act, as the Destroyer fires in his direction.
"Look out!"
A SHIELD vehicle explodes, knocking him off his feet.
When he manages to stand back up again, he notices Coulson lying on his back, impaled by a twisted piece of iron. The agent had been caught in the explosion when he had pushed Thor away.
"Son of Coul!" The prince rushes over to the fallen agent. Coulson was losing blood and going into shock.
"Go! Leave me!" Coulson ordered, his voice, raspy and wet as he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
Thor yelled at him. "No! Don't you dare give up! Stay with me! Keep your eyes open!" This was followed by a tirade of swears in his native language.
He was in so much pain and could hardly catch the words Thor was saying.
Thor looks around frantically until a green cloth catches his eyes. He spots Hogun's pouch of healing stones lying not far off. He makes a break for it, dodging through the flaming wreckage. Grabbing the pouch, he quickly makes it back and kneels beside Coulson.
Thor opens the pouch to find the fragile stones crushed and useless. He pours the contents out into his hand.
"Come on... give me one!" Amidst the useless powder, he finally finds one stone still intact, but just barely. There were spider-web cracks all over the stone, but it still retains its use. Thor tosses the pouch aside and holds the stone over the end of the iron rod.
As the stone begins to glow a shimmering green, Thor crushes it in his hands. Coulson looks on, amazed, as the glowing powder falls upon the piece of iron, dissolving it, heading downwards, until it reaches his wound.
Coulson could feel a warm sensation around the gaping hole of his wound and an itch as his skin and muscle practically knitted itself together, in a very magical fashion. For the internal bleedings and the organs that were failing him not a moment ago, it was quite an experience when they mended themselves. The healing stone even recovered the blood he had lost.
The powder healed him completely.
Coulson sits up in utter astonishment. He reaches through the hole in his shirt to touch his healed flesh.
"Ever thought about becoming a permanent member of the Avengers?"
But Thor had already run off, rushing over to his wounded companions who were scattered about.
Thor reaches Hogun, who lies dazed, battered, and bloodied on the ground. He pulls him behind a burning vehicle.
"Go, while you can!"
"But the others..." Hogun protested.
Thor returns the retort with a fierce look. "You can't help them now. Your job is to survive."
Hogun was still unconvinced, looking hesitant and unsure.
"Don't worry, my friend," Thor assured. "Bring Volstagg and the other mortal warriors to a safe distance. I have a plan."
The warrior reluctantly nodded, finally leaving Thor to complete the task given to him.
After Hogun leaves, Thor turns to back to the Destroyer.
He strides into the battlefield towards the behemoth, completely defenseless.
"Brother... for whatever I have done to lead you to do this, I am sorry. But these people have done nothing to you. They are innocents."
The protagonist who says these lines so confidently, has made the greatest misunderstanding within the millennia!
Thor continues towards the Destroyer.
"Take my life, and know I will never return to Asgard."
The Misunderstandings!
Thor reaches the Destroyer, extends his arms.
The Destroyer: ｡ﾟ( ﾟஇ‸இﾟ)ﾟ｡ I just want to go home...
The Destroyer hesitates, sizing up the defenseless Thor.
The god of thunder awaited the finishing blow, however...
It never came.
Instead, the Destroyer now eyes the prince with uncertainty.
It was sent here to make Thor worthy, so what does it do now...?
Unless...
A stalemate emerged as both parties now stare at each other awkwardly...
A raven flies overhead, watching the scene.
~*~
While Loki explained the plan to the Jotuns, the scene of the battle played in his head. He made a note to give Muninn a treat when the raven comes back.
This should be enough for Thor to prove himself worthy. After all, the Thunderer was all-willing to sacrifice himself for the mortals, there was no need to kill him.
A small smile reaches Loki's face.
{Master Mot, the final outcomes have been calculated. Do you wish to proceed?}
Yes.
~*~
The Destroyer proceeds to backhand Thor with the strength of two gods combined.
Thor goes flying into the air, half-dead.
The pain was astonishing! There was a sicking crack! Of breaking bones!
The joyride was soon over for Thor as he lands in a crumpled, broken heap, several meters from the Destroyer.
In the distance, the Avengers and the Asgardians could only watch helplessly.
The arrival of Darcy, Jane, and Selvig followed just as this very moment ended.
A look of horror donned the faces of all those who were involved.
Jane tries to rush out to Thor's aid, but Selvig holds her back.
"Thor! Thor?!"
Thor's eyes close, his last breath leaving his lips.
The Destroyer stands over Thor's body, lowers its head towards him.
It prods the body of the Thunderer.
Thor did not move.
It might have used too much strength...
~*~
Inside a certain crater, the runes on the side of Mjolnir reappear, glowing bright and alive. Electricity starts to crackle on the hammer's surface. A rumble comes from overhead. Clouds form in the sky above. Something great was about to happen, was the message given when the wind picked up speed.
With a crack and a flash of lightning, Mjolnir flies straight into the sky like a bird.
~*~
A blinding bolt of lightning strikes down from above, hitting Thor's body with the intent to let the former-god absorb its powers.
The Destroyer is hurled backward, a cloud of dust enveloping the street. The smoke clears and shows-
Jane gasped.
"Oh. My. God."
Clad in his full battle armor, holding Mjolnir in his hand, the God of Thunder once more.
Thor's face was expressionless as he immerses in his old powers once more, the adrenaline and lightning pumping through his veins race through him. In a sense, he has never felt so free.
Mjolnir was held to the air.
Lightning strikes the Destroyer. It convulses.
Thor swings Mjolnir around in his habitual fashion, and then he is off, straight up into the sky as the Destroyer is back on its feet.
It was now moving like some newborn deer. It looks up at the reborn Thunder God.
Storm clouds gather around Thor as he summons gale force winds. Debris from the battle begins to rise up into the sky.
The Destroyer stays there, kept grounded by its massive weight.
Thor dives downwards, straight at the enchanted armor.
Mjolnir collides with the Destroyer, sending it flying.
The Destroyer:｡ﾟ( ﾟஇ‸இﾟ)ﾟ｡ I just really want to go home...
Thor follows after the flying armor, slamming another blow into its face plant before smashing the Destroyer to the ground in a tremendous heap, the fiery energy within it extinguishes.
Thor pulls Mjolnir from its faceplate and walks away from its lifeless carcass-
Or not.
Green and gold sand suddenly appears, wrapping the remains of the Destroyer in a warm, blanket-like embrace.
Thor freezes when he sees the colors.
A soft, gentle voice called out to it.
It was a voice that many who were involved in the battle could recognize.
"There, there, my dear thing..."
Thor looked on in disbelief. "Loki..."
The voice of the God of Mischief rings clear through the battlefield.
"You have done well, love. Come back home to rest. It is your due."
The Destroyer is lifted into the air. The energy that could be seen through its faceplate begins to reignite once more, this time a delicate glow that was pale green.
Slowly, it disappears into the magical sand, trickling away to somewhere else that was undoubtedly Asgard.
"Thor..."
Hogun and Volstagg approach the god.
Thor is expressionless, but his grip on Mjolnir tightens.
"Something is happening in Asgard," He tells the warriors, "We must return quickly."
Their new friends stand nearby and the Asgardians make their quick farewells.
Thor, Hogun, and Volstagg goes to stand under the bifrost point.
Thor calls to the sky. "Heimdall, open the bifrost!"
A beat. And then another.
Nothing happened.
"Heimdall?"
Nothing happened.
~*~
Currently, on Asgard, Heimdall was very much frozen in ice...
Heimdall: （−＿−；） Please help...
From inside the ice, Heimdall was able to hear Thor calling to him.
He had been trapped inside the ice for nearly an hour and had been worrying for the regent of Asgard. Somehow, the sorcerer prince had been able to evade his sight. Was it him, or was it the ice? The VERY magical ice? The ice that was cast upon him by the old, dangerous relic known as the Casket of Ancient Winters? The obvious answer was him, of course.
Heimdall should have been paying better attention, should have found ways to keep an eye on Loki, to better protect the prince so that he did not have to use resorts such as trapping him in ice.
Whatever Loki was up to was undoubtedly reckless and a danger to his health. Heimdall wanted to badly stop him and place him in his room, away from the court which demanded the Regent's attention more than ever, away from the stress that was caused by Thor's banishment, away-
Was it bad that within a few measly weeks, Loki had somehow managed to turn the gatekeeper of Asgard into his most loyal subject? The god had become increasingly worried about the trickster's well-being ever since Mot came along.
No offense to the original owner of Loki's body, but he was a real wicked villain in the true plotline. However, with Mot's interventions, white became black and black became white. He had managed to brainwash everyone to see him as some kind of holy-mother!
They were being played! What reckless actions? What stress? The mastermind behind this was the very victim himself!
~*~
The mastermind behind all this: Achoo!
The jotuns looked at Loki with concern.
"Are you ill, Odinson?" Helblindi asked, worriedly, "Is it perhaps our presence? Are you sensitive to the cool energy we emit from our skin-"
Loki cut him off with a wave. "No, nothing like that." He assures. "I just felt as if someone was talking about me."
The Jotun Prince looked nearly offended. "Who dares speak ill of you? In Jotunheim, such action counts as treason, with the penalty being death." Helblindi intones gravely.
Loki sighs. "There are more important matters than idle gossip and ill words, Prince Helblindi."
The Jotun grumbled.
Loki ignored him, switching to a different subject to appease the other prince.
"Are you all fine with the plan?" He asked. "I've only discussed it briefly. Will all of you be able to execute it precisely?"
He was met with cheerful 'ayes'.
Loki stood up from their meeting table and went to the door, placing a pale hand around the golden knob.
Turning around, a mischievous smile donned the face of the trickster prince.
"Well, gentlemen, I believe it is time."
~*~
Heimdall continued to struggle against his ice prison. He knew that the fate of Asgard, and its regent, depended on him.
The gatekeeper mustered up all his strength.
Soft, glowing gold energy begins to show through the ice. There was the sound of a crack. And then another. And another. Soon, the ice that encased Heimdall's body was covered in spider web markings. With tremendous effort, Heimdall pours all his power into the cracks and pushes with all his might.
With a shattering burst, the gatekeeper falls free from the ice.
-But he was very weak.
Heimdall drags himself into the observatory...
~*~
Stranded. It is a great possibility that they were stranded.
Thor, Volstagg, and Hogun stood awkwardly in the Bifrost point. It had been over fifteen minutes. They have begun to lose hope. Heimdall would only open the Bifrost if he could. They feared the worst for the golden gatekeeper.
Volstagg sighs. He was the first to leave the circle of runes. Following him was Thor and Hogun.
The ginger-haired warrior turns to Thor. "Look at the bright side, at the very least, you can marry Lady Jane without any problem."
Thor and Jane stared at each other for a moment, and then looked away.
"About that," Jane started, "Thor and I have actually thought about sticking together as friends, not-"
Suddenly, the Bifrost explodes down from the sky, hitting the Bifrost in a very dramatic fashion.
Immediately, a large grin grew on Thor's face.
The Asgardians stood before it, prepared to take off. Thor turns to Coulson and the rest of the Avengers.
He speaks to Coulson first. "Know this, son of Coul. You and I, we fight for the same cause- the protection of this world. From this day forward, count me as your ally."
"And friends," Steve added, speaking on behalf of his fellow Avengers. "You will always be a fellow Avenger and friend."
Suddenly feeling very emotional, Thor immediately walks over to his Avenger teammates and shook each of their hands.
"Come visit sometimes. There's a shawarma joint about two blocks from the tower. I don't know what it is, but I wanna try it. Next time you stop by, we can all go together."
Thor laughs.
"That we should, Stark. That we should."
Jane, Selvig, and Darcy were the last group of friends Thor bid farewell with.
Thor takes Jane's hand and kisses it delicately with the manners that he was brought up with, thanks to Frigga.
The Astrophysicist smiles crookedly, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"You take care."
"You as well, my lady."
Selvig received a handshake with some very manly hugs.
Darcy also got a crushing hug... and a limited-edition Key lime flavored pop tart from the Stark Tower. ("Oh wow, souvenir!")
With goodbyes made and done with, Thor and the Asgardians leaped into the Bifrost.
~*~
The Asgardians emerged from the Bifrost to find Heimdall slumped over his control panel. He was breathing normally, but his skin felt slightly cool.
"Get him to the healing room!" Thor ordered Volstagg and Hogun. "Leave my brother to me."
It took a moment for Thor to realize that his words sounded slightly threatening. By the concern looks that Volstagg shot him, it was very much so.
"-Because he might be in mortal peril." Thor reiterated.
The warriors nodded in understanding and went to haul Heimdall to the healing chamber with haste.
In contrast, Thor was flying out the door.
~*~
The toilet.
Where is the Odin-damned toilet?!
It has been nearly an hour and Fandral needed to pee, desperately. The neverending tea that Frigga seemingly managed to provide for him continues to be poured with every cup he finishes and Fandral feels that he can no longer take another sip.
-But he couldn't deny his queen! This was Loki's (and Thor's, he forgot about him...) mother. Fandral wanted to give a good impression, despite knowing that the woman may have already formed an opinion on him.
"-You look quite uncomfortable, Fandral. What is the matter?"
Frigga asked him kindly. She smiled at him gently and refilled his teacup.
Fandral returned her smile with a dashing one of his own.
Your Majesty, where in the Nine-Realms of this universe is your toilet? I desperately need it...
"It is nothing, your majesty." Fandral lied through his teeth. "I am just not used to sitting for so long. You know us warriors. We liken to running about with a sword."
Frigga laughs. "Oh, yes." She says cheerily. "But you look quite discomforted. Is it perhaps the tea?"
Was it him, or did the room feel chillier than before?
"Uh, no." Fandral denied. He raised his cup to his lips. "Not. At. All."
~*~
-Timeline: Winter Day Pasts-
"My prince, are you sure you don't need any assistance?"
Another day that Thor was gone, another day since Odin fell asleep, another day since Loki spent another sleepless night, working.
Another day since Fandral had taken to following his prince, like an overprotective hound.
Hel, the dashing warrior had even bested Tyre in that department. The puppy-like guard did not have Fandral's resilience.
It was now Fandral who woke Loki in the morning, prepared his schedule for the day, stood behind him during the council meetings, fought off Lord Hermod's attempts at flirting with the prince, made sure the prince was fed and watered throughout the day, dutifully stood beside the prince when he worked in his office, and bring the Loki back to his bedroom each night so that the prince would not pull more all-nighters.
Fandral was becoming more and more like a secretary/royal servant with each passing day.
Because of his newfound hobby for pampering Loki like this, Mot has been starting to show through behind the mask of the God of Mischief.
Loki was beginning to revert to the way he was in his previous life, a lazy mechanic who knew nothing but work. In the past, when Mot was not working on his machines, he slept. He did not eat or take care of himself. Like a machine himself, Mot would shut down, sleep, wake, repeat.
He had frightened many of his friends when they found out about his habits. A baby-sitting system was then formed. Every day, morning, noon, afternoon, and evening, a friend would come to his workshop and make sure he was eating and sleeping times.
Despite their overprotective tendencies, he had great friends.
--
"You are not him, are you?"
One day, Fandral asked him after a long day's work.
Loki paused. He was silent for a long moment, but Fandral was patient.
He waited.
"... No."
~*~
-Timeline: Present Day-
The shouts of guards filtered into their ears, along with the noise of battle.
When the Frost Giants burst into the room with the grace of an elephant, Fandral took great pleasure in tossing his delicate teacup (with lukewarm tea that was filled to the brim) at the first one he saw, watching as it crashed against the Frost Giant's chest and did ABSOLUTELY nothing to stop them in any way.
"Oh, seems like we need something bigger!"
Fandral declared cheerfully as he nabbed the Odin-damned TEAPOT and proceeded to chuck that as well.
As previously stated earlier, the 'weapon' was of no use, nor did it show any practical usage whatsoever.
Frigga huffed lightly to herself, knowing Fandral had done that on purpose. And here she was, enjoying his discomfort greatly.
That shall be for another day. She told herself, before hurrying over to Odin's bedside.
Funny. It seems both she and Fandral had forgotten that he was sleeping merely a few meters from their tea party.
A sword formed in the queen's hand. As the frost giants approached, she swung it gracefully.
In fact, she was so graceful, that her attack was evidently ineffective. The frost giant, who just so happened to Helblindi, did not quite know what to do about the situation.
He remembered Loki's suggestion.
"-If my mother is harmed in any way, and that includes manhandling," Pointed stare, "see to it that you shall find me quite... displeased..."
So Helblindi just stepped out of Frigga's attack range and allowed her to be 'entrapped' by a wall of two other Jotuns.
Fandral watched it all go down. He would try to protect Odin, but he really needed to pee...
Helblindi looks at Odin, who is lying helpless (and useless) on the bed.
So much for the great and undefeatable king of Asgard...
~*~
Thor was riding the wind and speeding toward Asgard with unbelievable speed...
~*~
The Jotun prince stands over the unconscious Odin, a constipated expression on his face.
Loki (who is watching Helblindi by the doorway): You are supposed to look like you are relishing this moment. What the fuck are you doing?!
~*~
Thor races through the entrance to the palace, faster than the wind..
~*~
Helblindi forms an 'ice blade' (that looked to be the Jotun equivalent of a bad fruit knife, to be honest).
In a monotone voice, Helblindi delivered his lines. Very, very slowly.
"It is said... you can still see... and hear what transpires... around you... even in this... state."
From the doorway, Loki facepalms.
Helblindi was reading off his lines from his hand!
"I hope it is true... so that you may know your... death came by the hand of Laufey... Wait, Laufey?"
Helblindi squinted. The line was wrong.
In the best rendition of improv that has ever happened in all of Jotun history, Helblindi finished his lines with-
"-son. Your death by the hand of a Laufeyson."
There were claps all around the room.
- A blast of green energy hits Helblindi from behind.
"... Ahh..."
With a half-hearted scream, the Jotun prince fell like a rock.
Behind the 'fallen' giant stood Loki, holding Gungnir.
"And your death came by the son of Odin."
With much better acting, Loki intoned this with a cool expression.
Helblindi proceeds to faints as the other two Frost Giants move for Loki.
The prince fires Gungnir at one of them, blasting him against a wall. It was an instant knock out.
The second, however, was swifter than the first, and nearly came upon the raven-haired prince when the Jotun suddenly stops, eyes going wide.
The Jotun then falls to the ground in a dead faint- revealing the culprit who had knocked him out.
Standing behind the frost giant was Frigga, the butt of her sword raised in her hand.
She looks to Loki, and then promptly take him in her arms.
Loki dropped Gungnir without any regards and leaned into the hug without any embarrassment.
"My son..."
"My prince!"
A glaring competition began.
"LOKI!"
-In came Thor.
~*~
Thor was thrown by the scene before him- Odin safe, Laufey and two jotuns 'dead', Frigga embracing Loki in her arms with Gungir tossed aside (the golden staff was currently rolling around on the carpet), and Fandral, who sat on a chair by the tea table, looking deeply uncomfortable, although, it was definitely not the result of witnessing the mother-son pair who were currently hugging one another. It was... something else.
Frigga was both stunned at the appearance of his eldest son. Today was full of surprises, wasn't it? Although, she was delighted.
"Thor!"
Beaming sunnily at Thor, she moves to hug him.
Thor's eyes remain fixed on his brother.
Loki's eyes move to the hammer in his brother's hand. He stares at it for a moment, and then his gaze falls on his brother once more.
"Found its way back to you, did she?" He asked.
Thor hesitated. Paused.
The slight anger he felt toward his younger brother dissipated slowly.
He had thought the Destroyer was sent to off him, he had thought Loki had betrayed...
"Thanks to you."
-And warmth revealed itself in those emerald eyes.
Loki approached his brother.
"It is good to see you back, brother."
A tug, and then Thor fell into his brother's embrace.
"Welcome home."
His brother's words were muffled by his should, but Thor could still hear him.
Thor's returned the hug in kind.
Those words, he never felt so protective of those words until he realized how close he was to losing them. Being banished, he had no home. The home he took for granted, the glories of war was nothing compared to the safety of Asgard.
"I'm home."
-And he means it.
~*~
Fandral was there for the explanation.
Loki had explained everything.
"-It was a bit of a surprise..." He told them. "All that pent up stress had fogged up my mind. I hope none of you are upset by my little prank."
The three frost giants greeted them politely. Relations with Jotun had never been better.
Thor had looked perplexed.
"What of the Destroyer-"
Loki laughed. "It is fine. I currently have it resting back in the vault. Poor thing has had a long day."
"But brother-"
"Thor," Loki interrupted sternly, "Did it, or did it not help prove you worthy?"
"It has. Thank you, Loki."
Loki excused himself from the little tea party they held. There was still work to be done, after all.
Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?
{You mean the part where you basically trashed the entire plotline into some half-assed story and spat on the original copy? Of course Master Mot. Your plan went perfect.}
009 was incensed.
What do you mean?
{Master Mot! You basically parodied the entire plot! You have taken the plot, spat on it, and razed it to the ground! This is trash at its finest!}
009-
{Don't '009' me! Helblindi's acting was terrible! You were supposed to be a villain, not some comedic quartet!}
Mot sighed as he listened to the system rant. A smile tugged on his lips.
But aren't you happy that I won't have to die?
{I...}
Let's talk about this later, alright? You and me, after all of this, is sorted out.
There was a pause, but Mot patiently waited.
{Take your time, Master Mot.}