Chapter 1
“Brother! Cheer up, we will arrive on Earth soon,” Thor says adjusting the eye patch around his head and smiling over at Valkyrie who has just beaten him in an arm wrestling match.
“I fear that they will not welcome me as kindly as you believe they will Thor. After all I did invade it,” Loki says from where he’s sitting beside his brother helping to navigate the way to Midgard. They had somehow managed to escape Thanos’ ship and had left what was left of their people on Vanaheim with his mother's people. He had wanted to stay but Thor had said he'd need Loki on Midgard helping him.
“When I explain what happened after you fell from the Bifrost they will welcome you with open arms like they did with Agent Barton,”Thor says.
“I don’t know Thor. The Avengers were doing a lot of fighting because of Ultron, they aren’t exactly in the best place for giving out forgiveness,” Bruce says and Loki makes a note to find out what or who that is. His stomach sinks a little when he sees the planet that he had tried to destroy only a few years earlier. He doesn’t believe that Thor is right about how his brothers in arms will react to him showing up, but he is prepared to do whatever necessary to stop Thanos.
“As soon as we’re in Earth’s atmosphere I’ll call Tony with my cellphone. He’ll be able to get everything that needs to be done ready for our arrival,” Bruce says and looks at Loki worried.
“Dr. Banner, you have a much more objective view of me than my brother does. How do you believe they will act?” Loki asks when Thor’s attention has been effectively diverted.
“I don’t know. I think with time you could earn their trust...but it’ll be difficult to get the chance to even start doing that, but I think that some of them may be sympathetic if you tell them what Thanos and Grandmaster did to you,” Bruce asks and Loki stares at him and then glances at Thor to make sure he’s properly distracted.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about Dr. Banner,” Loki says.
“Oh? So you didn’t purposely throw the invasion?” Bruce asks and Loki breathes a sigh of relief. That he can explain away.
“Would it make a difference if I did?” Loki asks.
“To some of them...Maybe,” Banner says and then adds, “and don’t think that I don’t know about the other stuff, but it’s not my place to say anything,” Bruce says.
“How do you know about those other things?” Loki asks stone faced but inside he’s panicking.
“When Val and I were waiting for you and Thor to get to the ship I heard one of the guards talking,” Bruce says and Loki looks away.
“Did she hear?” Loki asks not glancing at her.
“No, just me,” Bruce says and Loki breathes a sigh of relief.
“Are you going to tell Thor?” Loki asks.
“No, but I hope one day you will. It’s not healthy to bottle your emotions up...but I can see why you wouldn’t want to tell Thor or Val...If you need it I can always lend an ear,” Bruce says with a gentle smile.
“I don’t believe I will ever need to talk about it,” Loki says and Bruce shrugs.
“Alright then, but my offer still stands, and not just for discussions about that, if there’s anything troubling you, come talk to me or Tony,” Bruce says.
“You act as though Stark will welcome me with open arms,” Loki says staring at Bruce.
“He will. He loves a good redemption story and he and you have had similar experiences,” Bruce says.
“I will not have anyone’s pity Dr. Banner, I would rather have their scorn,” Loki says not wanting to dwell on what experiences they might share.
“I don’t think Tony would pity you, but he would understand and offer advice or just be someone to believe you,” Bruce says.
“And why would he offer such kindness to someone who threw him out of a window?” Loki asks as Earth begins to come closer.
“That’s just the kind of guy Tony is.”
“Again, I doubt Stark will greet me with open arms,” Loki says.
“Well not at first,” Bruce says and when they bump around Earth’s atmosphere he pulls out his phone and calls Tony.
“Brucie Bear? That you?” Loki hears Stark say on the other end.
“Hey Tony, yeah it’s me, sorry for going for so long without contacting you but the Other Guy and phones don’t mix. Not that there were phones where I was. Listen I’ll tell you everything soon. But, right now you are probably going to receive word that a large spaceship is in the atmosphere. Me and Thor are on it along with several people from Asgard. I have a lot to tell you. Most importantly Earth has a huge problem coming,” Bruce says and Loki hears silence on the other end.
“Okay... I'll call Rhodey and have him alert those in power. Listen, there's a lot of trouble down here so make sure to keep Thor calm. I'll explain things later and meet you upstate. I'll send you the coordinates,” Tony says and hangs up and Bruce looks up at Loki.
“I hate to say this but, maybe you should cast an illusion on yourself so you look different. At least until we have all the information. Tony didn't sound right,” Bruce says and Loki looks at Thor.
“I will not have a prince of Asgard cowering from mortals,” Thor says.
“Thor he's right. The most important thing we need is to warn them about Thanos. If they know right off that I'm myself we'll waste precious time trying to convince them that I'm not going to try and invade again. This is the best for the plan. Once everything is settled then we can deal with who I am and what they want to do with me,” Loki says and Thor sighs and nods.
“Alright, I will play along with the lie,” Thor says and Loki nods his head and alters his appearance, but only a little. He doesn't want to do anything too big in case he gets involved in a battle and can't hold a massive spell.
“You look different enough to pass,” Bruce says.
“Good, we can call me Thor's royal advisor to explain my being around him so much,” Loki says and Thor, Valkyrie and Bruce nod and they land the ship and exit out to the yard of the complex.
“What happened to Avengers Tower?” Bruce asks and then remembers Ultron damaging it.
“Brucie Bear!” Tony shouts hugging him tightly and then glaring at him.
“How dare you run off without a call!” Tony says playfully.
“Tony, I was stuck as the other guy on an alien gladiator style planet. Kinda short on cellphones,” Bruce says and Tony stares at him and begins checking him head to toe.
“Gladiator style? Oh man I'm sorry Brucie. I know you hate hurting people,” Tony says and Loki is aware that Tony is forcing the focus of the entire meeting onto Bruce and away from himself.
“Tony, talk to me. Something is wrong. You're acting too scattered and forcing focus,” Bruce says and Tony sighs.
“After Sokovia the government made a sort of contract for the Avengers to sign. Any way, Rogers some of the others didn't like it and they went rogue and a lot of stuff went down. Rhodey can't walk, the Rogues are off in Wakanda hiding, T’Challa’s been taking care of them for me. He's a good guy the two of you should meet. Anyway, we have a meeting inside in a few minutes, but you should introduce me to your new friends...oh man Goldilocks what happened to you?” Tony says and Thor quickly explains what happened on Sakaar and Asgard.
“Wow, so Loki has turned to good? I'd be shocked but considering everything that happened with the Rogues I should probably reevaluate my character judgement skills,” Tony says and then turns to Valkyrie and offers her his liquor collection as a welcome to Midgard gift and then turns to Loki.
“And who might you be?” Tony asks.
“Feyer Bjorson, I am the Royal Advisor to King Thor. You must be the man of iron that Thor used to tell Asgard about,” Loki says and Tony smiles at him.
“Well, welcome to earth Snowflake,” Tony says and Loki cocks his head to the side and then remembers that he gave himself nearly while hair like most older elves have.
“Tony, what did the others do to you? You look like you spent the night in a bowling alley, as the ball,” Bruce says.
“Thanks for the compliment Bruce. I don’t really want to talk too much about it but I found out Cap hid something that Bucky did from me and I didn’t handle it well,” Tony says and his eyes drop to the ground.
“It is hard isn’t it. To spend so much time trusting someone and believing one thing and then finding out that nothing you ever knew was real,” Loki says and Tony looks at him.
“I know that tone. It’s the same one I hear in my voice when I talk to Bruce about things. That’s the tone of understanding from experience,” Tony says and Loki nods.
“My father told me a great many lies. There are some that I’ve probably yet to discover,” Loki says and Bruce gives him a look and Loki remembers that Tony is one of the smartest of the Avengers, if he gives too much personal information away Tony could figure out his ruse.
“Will we have to sign these accords?” Bruce asks and Tony nods.
“If you want to be Avengers yeah. You too Snowflake we need all the help we can get with Rhodey out of commission,” Tony says.
“What exactly happened to this Rhodey person?” Loki asks curiously. If he can fix it that may serve to help him earn a little more respect.
“His spine is messed up. Princess Shuri offered to help him in Wakanda but the stubborn man refuses to step foot on the same continent as the Rogues. No matter how much I beg,” Tony says.
“My mother was a healer. Perhaps I could have a look at him and see if there is anything I can do,” Loki says and Tony looks at him.
“You’d do that for someone you don’t know?” Tony asks.
“This Rhodey sounds like a great warrior and we'll need everyone of those to fight off Thanks,” Loki says.
“Who?” Tony asks and quickly gives him a quick rundown of who Thanos is and what he wants.
“That doesn't sound awesome. Okay the meeting should be starting soon. Let's go,” Tony says and they head inside the compound and into a conference room.