InsaneJournal

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Loki ran. Should anyone press him, he would term his action a “strategic retreat.” It was still running.The lack of a Bifrost or spaceship forced him to resort to plebeian human means. He thought about stealing a car, but Thor would only corral those ridiculous Avengers and have them track down the misappropriated goods. No, Loki charmed his way out of the county, and then out of the next, and the next.

Technically, one might call it hitchhiking.

No one in their right mind would show themselves to the Avengers and their allies when sentiment ran so strongly against them. Loki knew perfectly well that Thor’s associates had the means to put him in an exceedingly uncomfortable position. He’d barely been free a month. Pretending to be Odin, as he had been on Asgard, had seemed a safe enough ruse until it all began to unravel. He’d abandoned any thought of salvaging the performance shortly after his discussion with Thor, hoping instead to maintain it long enough to gather some information, perhaps gain some useful allies of his own.

Now, it seemed, he was entirely on his own, and charming what felt like half of the local populace in rapid succession was exhausting. He’d have to find somewhere to sleep.

Knowing his brother, Thor was able to find Loki after a few days of searching. He followed a trail of people in truck stops staying they gave a ride to a man matching Loki’s description. Or that they saw him getting a ride. Or that he stopped and ate there. Loki stuck out like a sore thumb, apparently.

Just over the Canadian border, Thor spotted his brother sitting at the bar of a diner, speaking animatedly to a trucker. He was spinning a tale, obviously, getting the man increasingly interested. Enough to give him a ride far into Canada, further than he’d take a hitchhiker.

Thor was clad in Midgardian garb and his hammer was disguised as an umbrella. He stomped into the diner and grabbed Loki by the scruff of his neck. “Loki, that’s enough.” He told Wanda he wouldn’t kill him-- but Asgardians can put up with plenty before dying.

The grey sky that threatened snow now grew darker, clouds forming just over the diner. Thunder shot down and roared loudly, as the storm wasn’t far away. The storm was now holding his brother by the back of his clothing, yanking him from his chair.

Loki had almost been enjoying himself. Humans were so easily won over with a brilliant smile and a story, just like stories Frigga had told him as a child. Their company might not be his first choice, but it was better than his brother’s. Thor never could forgive him, just as Odin never could, and with Frigga gone …

Well, what was the point of family anyway?

Loki raised his flagon of ale as he raised his eyebrows, just now getting to the good part of his story. “And then she- Gak!”

Thor’s grip choked the air from Loki’s lungs as the elder brother raised the younger off his stool in a contest with gravity. Loki immediately chastised himself for not paying better attention, even if he had gone days without sleep. Left without much choice, Loki reached for a knife.

Thor went to slap the knife away, already prepared for such an act. If successful, he would drag Loki to the door, all the while the skies cried out like roaring beasts. Thor held his umbrella up and it somehow sounded heavier than a simple umbrella. “Don’t make me use this, brother. You are coming with me. Pull another knife and I will be forced to actually put some force into this act.” Thor was pissed. Not only had Loki not died his honorable death saving both Thor and Jane, but he posed his their father. He lied the biggest lie yet-- it wasn’t the Odin thing that bothered him, but the fact that for a second time, Thor mourned his brother.

How else was he supposed to respond to being attacked, Loki thought, even as he cast an illusion and slipped out of his coat. He’d toned down his usual Midgardian clothing to something that fit better with the casual crowd, and Thor was left holding a leather jacket filled by a projection of Loki himself. Loki noted with no little self-loathing that he should have risked the thrice-damned airport security these humans so loved and talked his way onto a plane to Australia.

“I can explain!” pleaded the false Loki, as the true one made for the sanctuary of an unoccupied car. He could cast the illusion of a frightened woman leaving the scene, hardly more than a girl. Surely Thor wouldn't stop her.

Thor tossed the jacket at his real brother, jaw set and face blank. Thor should have expected an illusion, Loki’s signature ‘fuck you.’ “Put it on, it’s cold.” Still taking care of Loki despite the hatred that burned in his heart at this moment. “We’re going back to Texas and you’re going to apologize to those you tricked. And you owe Barton much more.”

Thor wasn’t sure if Barton would accept an apology, but Thor wanted to make it right. He wanted to live as a big happy family, with his brother at his side. Foolish as it was, he was on Earth for better or worse, and wanted his siblings near.

“I am not going back to Texas,” Loki spat, snatching the jacket out of the air despite his irritation. He didn’t attempt to run again. Thor had seen through his trick, and Loki was tired, without resources, and fairly certain he was doomed. All hope of escaping on his own two feet had fled. Perhaps he could play the long game. Thor’s soft heart might work in Loki’s favor.

“Walk away brother,” Loki suggested. “Leave me here and go back to your friends.” The way he twisted the word left no doubt what he thought about that. Thor had always been more interested in his sycophants than his younger sibling. “They’ll be happier without me around. Your life will certainly be simpler.”

“Loki,” sincerity poured from his lips, “I need you, too. I mourned you. How could you--” The soft moment was ruined when he remembered what he did. “The other Loki tipped me off. I thought Odin was just upset about Frigga. So you’ve been in Asgard this whole time, parading around as Odin? Where does that leave our father?” Realizing the patrons of the diner were staring, Thor went to Loki and grabbed him by the elbow, hoping to usher him outside-- where the thunder was decorating the skies. It was temperamental, reacting to Thor’s own feelings.

“You’re going back to Texas. You’re going to live there and we are going to celebrate Midgardian holidays. It is nearly Yule. The least you can do is give your brother this. And we have a sister-- and another brother. Tell me that doesn’t interest you?” He paused. “I want you in my life, after all you’ve done to me. Tell me that’s stupid.”

“For once in your life, be realistic.” Loki jerked away from Thor’s hold as soon as they were outside, and huddled miserably under the overhang. He never cared for the way the storms would come rushing in as though they existed solely for Thor’s summons. What had Loki been granted? Nothing at all, save pity and a talent for tricks.

“Your friends do not want me there. They will insist that you toss me in the deepest, darkest hole they can find, and walk away. Certainly your Barton would enjoy as much.” Though he wasn’t cold, Loki put his coat back on. It looked good, and it fit him well. It would be a shame to waste it.

“Our father is perfectly safe. I left him on your precious Earth. He was ready for someone to take the throne, so I did. It isn’t as though you wanted it.”

“I am being realistic. We are family, we do not flee the country when in the same place.” Thor folded his bulky arms over his chest, the umbrella still in hand. “There’s a Loki from another universe there. He’s making a living there. People might not trust him, but they don’t treat him any different. He even has a Midgardian he loves.” Thor was excited for his Other Brother, as he was there with Jane. It was excited but also sad due to the lifespan of a Midgardian.

“We can protect you from Barton until he cools off. The quarantine rooms at the military base are safe. Natasha said she’d help me. The least you can do for your brother is come back with me.” The sky cracked with another bolt of lightning and then the rumbled ceased, as if the storm was passing. His anger was gone and now he was just begging his baby brother to be part of his life. He was stupidly sentimental, just like the other Loki called him.

But at the mention of the throne, Thor got into Loki’s face. “I am searching for the Infinity Stones, Loki, Odin was ruling just fine.”

“You’re asking me to surrender!” Loki glared at Thor and flung his hands into the air. “You say that Romanoff will ‘help’ you, that the quarantine rooms are safe. Do you know what they also are? Locked. You propose putting me in prison, again, but you couch it in different terms to soothe your guilt.” Thor was such a fool, and all the more dangerous for it.

“And don’t you dare pretend that you wanted anything to do with the throne. I was there. Or did you think it was Odin who so graciously granted you leave to go chasing after your mortal woman? You said not a word about Infinity Stones to him - to me. In fact, I believe your rationale was entirely driven by one Jane Foster. I freed you. I granted you the opportunity to lead the life that you wished.”

“I believe we are from different times, Loki. Much has happened since you …” his tone was strained, “faked your death. I had a vision. The Infinity Stones might be the only thing to save Midgard and Asgard alike.” He wanted to ignore the portion of locking him up.

“We can find you an apartment.” No way in hell was he staying at the Avengers compound. Too many people would hate Thor for that. And Thor couldn’t bear to be hated. “You will behave yourself. You will get to know your sister and counterpart. Or I put my hammer on your chest and leave you at this filthy truck stop.”

“So we’ve moved on from imprisonment to slow death by starvation and exposure. Good to know that I can count on my relatives to rehash the same themes over and over again.” The way Loki crossed his arms over his chest showed that he was more hurt by the situation than he cared to admit, even to himself. “Truly, your magnanimity astounds me.” Loki grimaced at the realization that he couldn’t talk himself out of this.

“Why must you be so fixated on our relationship? And could you please make up your mind if you want to cast me aside in the dungeons and never speak to me again, or are we meant to room together and braid flowers into each other’s hair?”

Thor’s arms were also folded, the umbrella tucked under his arm. The men stood across from each other, mirroring their stances. But they were so different. One dark, one fair. One slim, the other bulky. How could they have been fooled for so long to think they were brothers?

“I threaten you because it’s the only way I can get you to listen to me. You hurt me, Loki. You faked your death. I mourned, again, along with the loss of our mother. The only thing I could do was get away and search for the stones.” He sighed.

“Please, just come back with me. It’s our home now, and I’d rather have you close by. I promised Barton something. And I promise you I won’t let him put an arrow through your eye.”

“How comforting,” Loki grumbled. “Why don’t we make a deal? You don’t lock me up, and I will amuse myself in my own fashion, and avoid your precious Avengers. In gods-forsaken Texas.”

Then, after a moment’s thought, he added, “You aren’t the only one who mourned her. Who mourns her. At least you were permitted to attend her funeral.”

Thor ducked his head, ashamed. He wished his brother was there to see Frigga off. “I’m sorry, Loki.” The ‘deal’ portion of the conversation slipped past him for a moment. He took a cartoonish like moment to realize he had won Loki over. “I won’t lock you up, brother. But you have to try not to take over, can you promise that?” He was smiling when he said it.

“What would i want with this cursed planet? The appeal has worn off. Tell your Avengers to leave me alone, and they won’t have any trouble.” As much as it rankled, Loki would rather have the assurance that he could go about his business undisturbed than spend his entire tenure on this planet hunted. He leaned his back against the wall and tried to forget that he missed his mother, despite the way he’d used her memory to buy himself time earlier. She would have understood. She was the only one who had ever tried.

“There is no Tesseract here, so I believe you will be easy to keep in line.” Thor’s face softened and he put his arm around his brother. “I am happy to see you alive once again. And in Midgardian clothes! I wish I had a camera!” Thor dug into his pocket and pulled out the phone he was given upon arrival and tried for a selfie with Loki.

Once that moment was over, Thor didn’t know what to say. Speaking of Frigga would only hurt them both. “Be wary of Barton. I promised him safety, just as I have you. Keep away from him, do not goad him.” Thor looked to the skies. “Shall we fly home?” Home. Tumbleweed.

Thor was too quick, and Loki’s attempt to shrivel and die before anyone could capture the moment only made him look more foolish when the flash went off. He shrugged his brother’s arm off and took a cautious step away. “Must we?” He truly had no desire to allow Thor to carry him.

Loki made no remark on the Tesseract. He would never admit to anyone that the device might have controlled him more than he had controlled it.

“Fine, we’ll have someone drive us. I cannot drive, can you?” He held his arms out wide, as if confessing some sin. “Or should I go ahead and find you a home so you’re set when you come back? Do I have your word you’ll come back?” Thor just wanted his brother, really. He was happy one of his family members was still alive.

“Oh for … ” Loki rolled his eyes. His brother could be so horribly dense. “They have planes here. I do believe you have used them in the past.” Anything to keep Thor from becoming his realtor. “I would rather not be trapped in a car with you at the painfully slow rate these people travel across land. Neither do I wish to live anywhere that you have selected. You have about as much taste as a toad.”

“I’m going to ignore the remark about the toad,” Thor said pointedly, with one finger in the air. “Then let us go to the airport, where we will hopefully depart for Tumbleweed soon. You have to meet the other Loki. He is most interesting.” Was that a slight on this Loki? Maaaaybe.

“We’ve met.” Loki’s tone was dry as the mead stores in Asgard after a victory celebration. “I doubt he believed me to be Odin for even a moment, but is anyone breaking down his door to complain? I think not.” Still, he set out for the street, which he knew would take them to a local airport. Best to get this over with so he could crawl into a bed somewhere and pretend that he was an only child, if he could keep Thor out of the room.