Long And Lost (Book II)

Ch.19: I'm trying to find the meaning: Let loss reveal it

The hug Thor trapped Loki in was dripping with apologies. Apologies that Thor was too proud to say, but Loki knew verbal communication wasn't exactly their family's forte.

"Thor, my ribs are complaining." Loki choked out.

"I'm happy that you're here, brother." Thor said, stressing the last word to make its meaning clear. "Even if is not just for me." He added, if a bit heartbroken.

"I know we don't talk much, but there are things we need to discuss." Loki said somberly.

"My king." Heimdall interrupted. Thor gulped hard at the term. "Asgard is waiting."

Both brothers looked at Heimdall and nodded.

"That's quite the title." Loki said with a tiny smile.

"Sure you don't want it anymore?" Thor's voice quivered a bit. The title was overwhelming to say the least.

"Nah, I can live without it." Loki patted Thor's back, walking with him to the control room.

Whatever was left of Asgard was there. It was time for Thor to step up. He not only had to get some sort of order working, while trying to pick a destination. He also needed to convey a sense of security to these people. HIS people. Those who, like himself, watched their home planet be blasted into oblivion. Most of the asgardians were clutching whatever they had brought from home. Many of them were just holding on to their families and loved ones. No belongings, no riches, barely the clothes they were wearing. Thor felt the huge responsibility to be the strong one, no matter how terrified he actually was. He needed all the help he could get, and the only place he knew had friends who could help not only him, but his people too, was Earth. It wasn't a hard choice to make.

"Earth it is."

.-

After making sure everyone was settled as comfortable as they could in the cruiser ship, Thor met with Loki, the Valkyrie, Banner and Heimdall. They still had a few things to go over, not actually knowing how long the trip would take them. At least the ship had updated maps and data, and was also well supplied. They had enough healers, a few Einherjar and several volunteers for the most crucial tasks, like food and hygiene. It gave Thor a headache: they always had people to take care of everything, he couldn't help but feel useless.

The last part of the conversation was about if Midgard would welcome the Asgardian refugees. Thor was optimistic, Banner in the other hand, not so much. And being the one human, his opinion mattered.

"Humans can be mean and cruel to things they don't understand, Thor." Bruce said. "There's actually no way to know how they will react."

"Don't be so negative and give more credit to your people, Banner." Thor said, convinced people on Earth loved him enough.

Bruce shook his head. "There's only one of you, Thor. One of you is easy to accept. A whole planet..." He didn't finish the phrase. He had seen the way humans reacted to whatever was different. Even the color of their skin was a problem. Aliens? Immortal godlike aliens? Definitely a problem.

"We could offer something in exchange: knowledge, technology, protection." Valkyrie intervened. "Most of the Asgardians are well trained warriors, versed in magic and healing. We could use that to our advantage."

"Earth is much bigger than Asgard too, we don't need them all to agree." Heimdall added.

It was a start. Maybe not all of Earth would be so keen to have them, but the amount of land they needed wasn't big. Convincing some countries would be easier than to convince the whole world. There were some countries who would be more inclined to accept them. Those which had fed on their myths.