I Will Always Come Back for You

Chapter 1: Prologue

A deafening silence echoed throughout the throne room.

Thor and Loki's gaze shifted back and forth between each other and their feet, finding it increasingly difficult to make eye contact with their father.

"...Father, I-" Thor hesitantly started speaking, wanting more than anything to finally break the ever-growing tension in the room.

"Not only did you deliberately disobey my orders," Odin interrupted him, a scowl etched into his facial features, "But you fought against your own people in a direct attempt to do so, stole a ship, destroyed half of Asgard in your wake, and disrespected the wishes of your father and king."

"...It was not our intention to disrespect-" Thor replied as politely as possible, in an attempt to smooth things over with their father.

"And in doing so..." Odin once again interrupted. His expression had started off stern, as it had been since they'd first gotten there, but as he trailed off, it seemed to soften, "...You saved the nine realms."

Both brothers looked up at their father with raised brows. Had they heard him correctly? Was this a test of some sort?

"I was blinded by my grief, but it seems that you two were not. You were able to save not only our home, but the homes of countless others. And for that, I am grateful. Asgard is grateful." Odin admitted.

"So... you're not mad." Loki stated, almost as if he were asking a question.

Odin sighed. "As much as I would like to be angry at everyone involved in this treason... no, I am not mad. I should have listened to you and what you had to say, my son, and for that, I am sorry."

The corner of Thor's mouth lifted upward into a small smile, as if to tell his father that he forgave him.

"...Does this mean I don't have to return to the dungeons?" Loki asked, his brow raised in intrigue. It was a rhetorical question. He knew what his father's answer would be, but he couldn't help but push his luck - it's just who he was. It didn't matter that he would probably end up being scolded or maybe even punished more severely. One thousand years of disappointing his father meant he was used to it, at this point. It didn't faze him as much as it used to - in fact, he rather enjoyed getting a reaction out of his father.

Odin looked at Loki for a moment, neither of the brothers able to read their father's face.

"My son," He sighed, "The crimes you have committed, the destruction you've caused, and the lives you've taken over these past three years are beyond words, and they cannot go unpunished. However, that being said... your actions, today, have not gone unnoticed. They showed bravery, heroism... and even compassion; traits in which I have not seen in you for some time. Even so... change does not happen overnight, and I do not, yet, believe that you truly feel the gravity of your crimes. However, I do believe you are headed in the right direction, so... I will agree to not have you thrown back into the dungeons, but I have some conditions."

"Which are?" Loki asked. He honestly hadn't expected anything out of his father, much less an offer, so he was curious as to what he had to say, at the very least.

"You will continue your sentence on Midgard. There, you will live amongst the people you thought so lowly of and, in time, learn compassion for them. Lastly..." Odin paused, dramatically, "You will join Thor in defending it."

"What?" Loki asked.

"Do you mean as an Avenger?" Thor clarified with his father.

"I do." He answered his eldest son, and then continued talking to Loki. "And if after some time doing so, you can convince me that you have truly changed for the better, I will lift your sentence, and you may come home and reclaim your title as prince of Asgard. That is my only offer. You may take it, or you may go back to the dungeons and serve out your sentence there. So... what will it be?"

Loki took a moment to carefully weigh out his options.

"How long would I be on Midgard?" He asked.

"As long as it takes." Odin stated simply.

Again, Loki took a few moments to think about it. What was he supposed to do? Either he wasted his life away in a prison cell, or he had to live with people who he despised, and who most certainly felt the same about him, for a small chance at living a semi-normal life afterwards. He didn't like either choice, but one was obviously the lesser of two evils, in this case.

Sighing, he pursed his lips and curled up his fists at his sides.

"Fine, I accept." He agreed, then muttered, "Though it's not as though I have much of a choice."

"But you do have a choice." Odin insisted. "And it wasn't long ago that you probably would have picked the dungeons. I have faith in you, my son. Do not make me regret giving you this second chance."

Loki gave his father a single nod.

He wasn't exactly sure what the future held for him, but one thing Loki knew for certain: he was sure as Hel glad to be out of that cell.

~~~

A/N

Hello all! Just so you know, I will be posting the first full-length chapter on Friday for anyone that's interested in the continuation of this series! I hope you stick around!