🖤EMERGE🖤

Chapter 3

I pushed open the door and walked back in, brushing the last droplets of cold water off my jacket, the rest of the team moving in behind me. The weight of the mission, the fight, the damn near losing Dad-it all sat heavy on my shoulders. Thor stood off to the side, Mjolnir hanging loosely in his hand, his posture carved from guilt and ancient pride.

"What does your brother eat?" I asked him, tossing my bag onto the couch. My voice was lighter than I felt, trying to bridge the fragile air between us. "And... sorry. For earlier. You understand, right? When it comes to family... I thought you killed my dad."

Thor's eyebrows furrowed, the corners of his mouth pulling into a frown. He almost looked boyish in that moment-uncertain. "I am... unsure what he prefers. I've never seen him eat anything but Asgardian food," he admitted stiffly. "Why do you ask?"

I hugged, trying to shake off the growing tightness in my chest. "Lost a bet. And if I hadn't stopped you earlier, Loki would be on your watch now... not ours." Pulling out my phone, I scrolled quickly, ordering everything-Chinese, Italian, steaks, wings, burgers. I didn't know what he would want. I just wanted to do something. Anything. "He's not in the cell yet?" I asked, glancing up. The others shifted uncomfortably. Thor's hand tightened on Mjolnir. Dad crossed his arms with a sigh, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling as if asking the heavens for patience.  "I tried talking to him," I said  defensively. "On the plane... and when Mr. Roboto here threw down with Goldie Locks."

"We know you tried on the plane," Steve muttered dryly. "I wanted to vomit."

I shrugged without apology. "Sue me for trying." 

Thor's deep voice broke the tension. "Did he tell you anything?"

I hesitated, biting my lip. "Nothing useful. We mostly talked about Asgard... Your home sounds beautiful." At that, Thor's head tilted slightly, curiosity piercing his sternness. "And then... I asked what would happen to him once he went back. He told me," I swallowed, "that he'd be locked in a cramped cell, shackled so tight he could even summon a spark of magic. He said he'd starve, forgotten until your father deems him worthy of a crumb."

Thor's face tightened-a subtle, painful crack in the armor. His eyes flickered to the hallway where heavy footsteps echoed. "My brother spoke to you of Asgard?" he murmured. "He never speaks of it. Not in all our years has he shared memories of our home with strangers."

"He doesn't trust me," I said quietly, feeling the weight of it in my bones. "No matter what I say or do, he sees the threat before the help. And honestly... it's not hard to guess why."I turned and met Thor's gaze head on. "I don't need words to see pain. It's carved into people, whether they know it or not. You know that old saying? 'Actions speak louder than words.' Loki's a shattered soul pretending he's whole. Someone broke him, Thor. And deep down... he doesn't know if he wants to be fixed."

The hallway darkened as a line of SHIELD agents marched in, escorting Loki. Shackled in thick, heavy cuff, the God of Mischief wore a smile so chillingly clam it raised goosebumps across my skin. His ice blue eyes gleamed as he passed, gaze briefly snagging mine-a spark of something unreadable flickering there.

Dr.Banner looked up from where he was working on the alien scepter, his hands momentarily frozen. Loki caught his eye too, nodding slightly, as if they shared some dark inside joke.

Within moments, Loki was sealed inside the containment cell - a towering structure of glass and hydraulic steel, humming faintly with energy. A cage built for gods. A cage built for monsters.

Fury approached the control panel, pressing a few keys. Dad leaned against the table beside me, his stance casual, but his eyes sharp.

"What do you know about Asgardians?" he asked, keeping his voice low.