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Gilt and Green

Chapter 10: Chapter 9: Epilogue

Summary:

 

Fear the reckoning of those you have wronged. - Norse Proverb

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

For whatever reason, the readings Banner conducted indicated the most favorable place for Thor to launch himself, his brother and his sister-in-law back into space was in Central Park. It was definitely not the most remote place Banner’s calculations had identified, but Tony insisted he was not driving to all the way out to the second closest location - mainly because it happened to be in Jersey. Steve didn’t seem to like the idea of going to New Jersey either and even made a sour face when Bruce suggested it. Despite his degrees and advanced knowledge of science and mathematics, Bruce decided New Yorkers were still a mystery.

When the vacuum tube Banner and Stark had been waiting on arrived over, the pair took it and disappeared into the lab with the Tesseract. Thor then begrudgingly realized it was time to explain to Sigyn and Loki exactly how the Allfather had decreed Loki be brought back to Asgard. Sigyn had thought the chain and shackles she possessed would be enough, but the Allfather had sent down an additional chain, cuffs for Loki’s ankles and a muzzle for his mouth. Loki didn’t say anything and Thor grimly presented the restraints. Sigyn barely held back a sob until Thor produced the muzzle. It was then she went into a rage.

“You hid this until now?” Sigyn said, shoving at her brother-in-law and then beginning to beat on his chest. “You would keep this from us? Give us no time to prepare…”

“The Allfather…” Thor began, trying to stop Sigyn from attacking him without hurting her.

“Oh, yes,” Sigyn hissed “I’m sure he gave you very specific and secret instructions. After all, he isn’t the one who has to deal with things. It’s so much easier to make others do your dirty work for you, isn’t it?”

“He is in a delicate situation,” Thor argued. “He cannot show favoritism toward Loki. Not with the mood in Asgard the way it is…”

“Yes, because he has shown me so much favoritism before,” Loki snorted.

“I am sorry, Thor,” Sigyn agreed with her husband. “I know you respect the Allfather, but I cannot respect nor trust a man who not once came to offer many any comfort or solace or even acknowledgement when I had lost my husband - a husband who happened to be his own son.”

“I wouldn’t say his own son,” Loki rolled his eyes. “More like his ill-gotten property.”

“Please,” Thor begged both of them. “Quarreling amongst ourselves will only make this harder than it is.”

“Yes,” Loki said to his brother, “because this must be so difficult for you.”

“It is,” Thor said to Loki challengingly. “I never thought there would ever be a time when I would bring my brother back to Asgard in chains. And before you argue, you are my brother; the circumstances of your birth do not change that. It was never my desire to see you fallen in this way, but if you are to be returned home in such a manner, I feel as though I am the one who should see to it. I doubt anyone else would give you the compassion I can as your brother.” Loki was quiet after his brother spoke, as if contemplating Thor’s unusually insightful speech. Sigyn, however, didn’t seem to have calmed much.

“The Allfather’s small mercies do not excuse his past mistakes,” Sigyn insisted. “It is a poor man who expects others to seek redemption when he himself refuses to acknowledge how he could have done better in the past and apologize for those he has hurt. His position does not make him immune from basic courtesy and kindness to others. In fact, if anything he should be held to a higher standard.”

“I cannot account for my father,” Thor told her. “I just must do what I have been tasked with.”

“Well then,” Loki huffed, “shall you shackle first my legs or my arms?”

“Do not act as if I take pleasure in this,” Thor grimaced at his brother. Loki opened his mouth to speak, but Sigyn’s voice drew the attention of both brothers.

“I will do it,” Sigyn announced to them. “I will bind him. You may check to ensure my work is thorough, Thor, but given what my husband has been through in the past year, I think it would be best if he were to be bound by someone he trusted.” Loki attempted a lascivious wink at his wife, who was not amused, while Thor gaped at the suggestion. He turned to Loki, seemingly upset.

“You do not trust me, brother?” Thor asked, downtrodden.

“No further than I could throw your hammer,” Loki snorted. Never able to hide his emotions, Thor’s face scrunched up in despair that Loki felt so separated from him. Sigyn glowered at her husband slightly for at least not seeming somewhat contrite that he had been so brusque with Thor.

“What is it about me you do not trust?” Thor asked, concerned. “Have I not done all I could to protect you and Sigyn these past few days? I would certainly lay down my life for you both, even after what you have done, Loki. What is it about me that is untrustworthy?”

“Thor, do not dwell…” Sigyn began.

“I trust you with Sigyn,” Loki corrected, “because you have proven that you would protect her over yourself if need be. I do not necessarily believe you would do the same for me, especially given how I have treated your precious Midgard. I also cannot trust one who so blindly puts his trust in Odin. I have no trust for your so-called Allfather, not after he spent my entire life lying to me and then didn’t even have the courtesy to see why that might upset me. Until such a time as I believe your faith in him will not lead to your betrayal of me, I cannot trust you.” Thor was quiet for a moment.

“I suppose that is fair enough,” Thor sighed, still obviously not pleased with his brother’s pronouncement.

As the two brothers stood in stoic silence, not meeting each other’s eyes, Sigyn began the task of shackling her husband. She used her seiðr for those at her husband’s feet and the two large chains - one of which was her own - that were tied around his body to keep it secure. Odin had sent along his own shackles for Loki’s wrists in addition to the seiðr fettering ones Sigyn had in her possession. She placed those both on by hand, kissing her husband’s wrist just before sliding the cuffs on them.

By now, the other Avengers had come into the room to see what was taking so long, concerned that Loki was resisting his bindings. Instead, the found tears starting to gather in Sigyn’s eyes as she finished fettering his wrists. Instead of looking apologetic or remorseful that his wife had to perform such a task, Loki seemed to be looking back at her in a mischievous, almost flirtatious way. Wiping a stray tear from her face, Sigyn then presented the muzzle for his mouth. Leaning up as far as she could, she pressed a deep kiss to her husband’s mouth before pulling back and muzzling him. Sigyn looked as though she was trying not to cry as she secured this final restraint. Loki held his wife’s gaze and though his mouth was hidden, it was obvious to all in the room he was smirking underneath his muzzle. Tony was a hundred percent positive at this point the pair were super into bondage. Loki was definitely enjoying this too much.

Sigyn stepped back from her husband and gestured to him, silently asking Thor if he wanted to double check her handiwork. She didn’t want to be accused of trying to help free her husband, though she doubted very much Loki would try to escape. He almost seemed pleased they were returning to Asgard, a fact that made Sigyn’s stomach churn a little. She hoped that he would at least consider some attempt at redemption. She didn’t care if he was truly apologetic; doing his penance so the two of them could return to the lives and plans they had before would be enough for her. Thor seemed to momentarily consider ensuring Loki was fettered tight, but then changed his mind. Sigyn wondered idly if Thor thought this small gesture would be enough to gain back some of the trust Loki said he had lost.

“Ready to roll out?” Tony asked into the room, hoping to ease some of the tension.

Thor gave a nod and the Asgardians began to leave. Sigyn exited the room first, Loki following behind and Thor bringing up the rear. The three of them continued this small, stoic parade out of the building and into the car Tony had waiting for the three of them. They would head to the destination for the launch back to Asgard first. Natasha was driving both Banner and Barton in her SHIELD-issued vehicle, mainly because whatever possessions Banner, Barton and Rogers had left on the helicarrier had been deposited into her trunk when SHIELD dropped the car off at Stark Tower that morning. They had also dropped off Cap’s motorcycle, which he had insisted on driving to the drop site, ready to take his stuff back to his SHIELD-issued apartment as soon as everything was over. Stark opted to take his own car and bet he could beat Natasha to their destination easily. He took Selvig with him as the man was eager to ensure that the device actually worked and to say goodbye to Thor.

Thor and his group were already waiting when the rest arrived. Natasha had pulled up first with Cap slightly behind her on his motorcycle. New York had changed somewhat since his day, and he thought following someone who seemed to know the route was playing it better safe than sorry. Tony was surprised to be the last one to arrive, though he realized the fact he had been arrogant enough to stop and get a cup of coffee and a bagel was probably why he had lost his bet with Romanoff. He took the silver briefcase containing the means by which the Asgardians would travel home out of his car and over to where the three were standing. Thor had thought it best that someone else bring their means of conveyance, not putting it past Loki to use the contraption to teleport himself and Sigyn to some other world where they could hide.

Sigyn and Thor actually made farewells to their comrades in arms. Both of them seemed heartfelt in their thanks. The fact that Sigyn seemed to be thanking them for taking her husband into custody and the fact she was so nice about it made more than a few of the Avengers feel slightly guilty. Thor offered smiles all around, though they seemed traced with a fear of what was to come for his brother. Loki, for his part, just glared at everyone. Only Natasha and Clint noticed his eyes slightly soften when they met with Sigyn’s. Even when he was upset with her, it seemed, he couldn’t be too upset with her. Thor looked from Loki to Sigyn and then back again as Tony produced their conveyance home. Even though Thor didn’t need to know how to operate it, Tony and Bruce both gave him a quick run down. It was more to stall the awkwardness of the goodbye than anything else. Thor thanked them as he took the device and then turned to his brother. Loki seemed to look resigned.

It was time to go home.

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While plenty of higher level SHIELD agents would have considered a routine surveillance mission below their paygrade, Phil Coulson was never one to protest when Director Fury handed him an assignment. Sitting in one of SHIELD’s outfitted black SUVs with a barely legal window tint, Coulson was in the prime position to ensure that Earth’s Asgardian guests returned home like they promised. Though SHIELD had plenty of new technology, Coulson still prefered his binoculars to watch the goings-on in the park. Sometimes, old-fashioned things just got the job done right. Pulling them out of his pocket, Coulson shuffled his Captain America trading cards, grinning at the signature and then putting them back into his suit pocket.

Hearing a car engine, he picked up the binoculars he had left on the dash to see who had arrived. One by one, the members of the Avengers appeared, seemingly out of the woodwork, and gathered around the large medallion carved into the sidewalk. Loki stood between his brother and wife, chains on his arms, legs, wrapped around his body and a metal muzzle across his mouth. Coulson was a bit shocked when the trickster god looked up and straight at him, a slight smirk visible at the edge of his muzzle. This wasn’t a smirk laced with threat, however. It was almost as if Loki thought the two of them shared an inside joke. Coulson thought back to the “blessing” Loki had placed on him for saving Sigyn’s life.

Suddenly, a few things started to make sense.

SHIELD had tested him to see if the magic from Loki had helped Coulson gain any inhuman powers, but the results came back just like every other SHIELD physical. Some thought that Loki had just done a small magic trick to make it look like he had bestowed something upon Coulson, to throw them all off his scent or as a distraction. However, Phil had felt something deep in his bones when Loki had made the gesture. He just wasn’t sure what. Thinking back, Phil realized there had been more than enough coincidence in the past 48 hours to prove that Loki had done something.

On his drive back to his New York SHIELD apartment after debrief, Phil hadn’t encountered a single red light. Sure, that was weird in a city like New York, but sometimes a guy just got lucky, right? Since his meeting with Loki, Phil realized he had also never had to look for a parking spot. One had materialized for him outside his SHIELD-issued New York apartment, right outside the bakery where he had gotten breakfast that morning and now right outside exactly where the Avengers were launching Thor, Loki and Sigyn back into space. There was no way being able to find this many parking spaces in New York City in such a short amount of time was mere coincidence. However, Asgardians probably didn’t know about the issues with parking and traffic mere mortals faced. If this was the result of whatever Loki had done, perhaps it hadn’t been intentional?

He had initially chocked the vending machine thing up to coincidence as well. He had used a vending machine three times since his encounter with Loki. Once was in the helicarrier break room that afternoon to get a candy bar. Two candy bars had fallen out for his money. Then, he had gotten a soda after his physical. Two bottles had fallen out when he put in his money. Finally, he had gone to get some chips for his stakeout that day and two bags of Doritos had plummeted out, despite the fact he was sure only one bag had been left in the machine. Messing with snack foods seemed like the type of mischief Loki would take credit for.

Of course, the biggest piece of evidence that Loki had actually given him some kind of blessing made itself evident earlier. That morning, he had gotten a call from Audrey. The Portland Symphony was having to downsize due to budget cuts. She had been heartbroken until the National Philharmonic at the Strathmore had given her a call, asking if she would be interested in a fellowship. Their first chair cellist was leaving because she was pregnant and their second chair had won a once-in-a-lifetime all-expenses-paid round-the-world fishing trip. She would be moving back near SHIELD HQ and was wondering if she could stay at his place until finding one of her own.

Apparently, Loki’s blessing had been one of mild convenience wherever Coulson went.

Coulson arbitrarily thought that maybe Loki could be convinced to use his mischief for good, perhaps to prank unsuspecting terrorists and humiliate them or reunite lovers forced apart by circumstance. He pulled up his binoculars again and watched as Thor guided his brother and sister-in-law to the dial from which they would launch themselves back into space. After saying farewell to his friends, Thor looked at his brother who seemed to roll his eyes. Sigyn wrapped her arms around her husband from behind him, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. Loki and Thor then did something with the Tesseract in the vacuum tube. It shimmered and then the three Asgardians were surrounded in a blue light. They then disappeared as if Scotty had just beamed them back up.

Slowly, the rest of the Avengers began saying their farewells and driving off. Coulson got ready to depart as well. It was the last any of them would see of the three outer space interlopers.

Well, at least for a good week and a half.

Notes:

Thank you so much for following along! The sequel will begin posting chapters next Saturday!

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