AN: So, this is my first attempt at writing anything this size for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it's only been a few odd drabbles before this. I hop I've done the characters justice. Let me also say that this was originally supposed to be just a one-shot but as my one-shots tend to do, it took on a life of its own. There will at least be one more chapter to this story though I give no promise as to the time frame when it will be posted. Please, let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: All characters and references made to events of the movies belong to Marvel and not me.

His head hurt, and not from the thought of Thor being King either. No, the headache, which had started out as a dull ache, had been present ever since Korg had turned off the control disc back on Sakaar. Given what had transpired since, that seemed like such a long time ago though in reality it was only hours. How many, Loki hadn't bothered figuring out, but they had been wearisome hours - both emotionally and physically. It was no wonder that dull ache had now turned into a pulsating throbbing within his skull.

Loki refused to give into it though, just like he refused to give into the pain in the rest of his body or the sheer weariness that he felt. As much as he wanted to find a place to lie down and rest, he would not allow himself that luxury until Thor did so himself. His actions in the recent battle against Hela had regained him some favor in the eyes of the people he had grown up among, and he did not intend to lose it. He didn't intend to appear weaker than Thor.

"Earth it is then."

Thor's statement brought Loki's inward attention back to what was happening around him. With Asgard completely destroyed, of course they had to head somewhere. Living indefinitely upon this ship, no matter it's size, was impractical. Even if it wasn't, he didn't relish being trapped inside the metal can for the rest of his existence, which was probably one of the few things he and the rest of the survivors of Asgard had in common. There was only one fate less appealing - Earth.

While the humans on Earth might welcome the rest of the group he traveled with, especially his brother, Loki hadn't exactly endeared himself to the beings of that realm. And while his recent actions may have helped change the tide of feelings toward him among those he grew up among, he doubted it would have any sway with the humans Thor was so fond of.

For once in his life though, Loki bit his tongue and remained silent. He had chosen to return to this ship after doing his part to bring Ragnarok about because the truth was he was weary of being alone. Maybe he wasn't Asgardian by blood but it had been the only home he had ever known. A home that was gone now, his only link to it, Thor, and the people they had manage to save. It was a decision he had made before leaving Sakaar, because despite Thor's trickery and choice to leave him behind, Loki had known then that like Thor, he had to go back and try to save Asgard from Hela. It was his destiny, one that had been forced upon him when Odin had saved him from that battlefield as an infant, because the truth was, no matter how much he fought it, these were his people now.

And Thor was now their King, and surprisingly that didn't rile him like it once had. Thor had grown since his first failed coronation. He had learned the lessons life, and Loki, had thrown at him. Loki had recognized that change as he had lay on the hangar deck on Sakaar, electricity flowing through his body. That act of leaving him there had shown Loki just how much his older brother had learned. Thor wasn't trusting enough of him to take him all the way, just far enough to secure his ride off Sakaar. After that, he had been willing to cut all ties with his little brother, and let Loki make the choice on his own of where his rightful place was.

And his rightful place, for now at least, was here, alongside his brother. Alongside his King, wherever that might take him. In public, as they were now, Loki planned on showing a united front. It was what their people needed from the only two surviving members of the royal family. There would be time to express his concerns with Thor's decision in private later.

As the ship adjusted course to start the long journey toward Earth, Loki felt a wave of dizziness overcome him. Glancing about, he looked for something to steady himself upon as the darkness started creeping in on him.

"Loki!"

He recognized his brother's shout of concern even as he felt his knees give out underneath him.

~So much for staying strong in front of everybody, ~ was Loki's last thought as the blackness overtook him before he even hit the metal deck of the ship.

The first thing Loki became aware of was the pulsating throbbing of his head, the headache having not subsided. The pain made him unwilling to open his eyes right away, afraid that even that action would make the throbbing worse.

As conscious thought started to return to him, there was another reason Loki was reluctant to open his eyes. There was a real fear in him that he would open his eyes and find himself a prisoner once again. Not that he would blame any of them really. Perhaps that was truly where he belonged, but it wasn't where he wanted to be. He would rather be dead then a prisoner of anyone - whether that captivity be mental or physical.

Lifting first one arm, then another, he felt for the telltale weight of chains or shackles. Feeling nothing, he tested his legs as well. Satisfied that he at least wasn't restrained in any way, Loki chanced opening his eyes, still fully expecting to find himself in whatever passed as this ship's brig.

What greeted him was four walls, but they didn't seem to belong to any kind of cell. In fact, given the lavish decor that surrounded him, if he had to wager a guess, Loki would say that he was in the quarters meant for the captain of this vessel. He appeared to be alone, though that didn't rule out guards standing outside the one door of the room.

Feeling no immediate threat, Loki let himself relax, his body still aching and a general feeling of exhaustion still prevailing. However much time had passed, it hadn't been enough for his body to recuperate, which made him assume that he hadn't been unconscious long.

~Perhaps I should just close my eyes and go to sleep until I feel more like myself, ~ Loki pondered, allowing his eyes to begin to drift shut. Before they could close all the way though, his ears picked up the murmur of voices beyond the closed door.

Letting his consciousness focus on the voices, Loki tried to determine who they belonged to and what they were saying. Although he could distinguish one of the voices as Thor's, the identity of the second voice and the words being spoken, eluded him.

Calling upon what strength he did have left, Loki pushed back the blanket covering him and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Sitting up, a wave of dizziness washed over him at the sudden movement. Gripping the edge of the mattress in a white knuckled grip, Loki closed his eyes willing the feeling to pass quickly. He had no intention of fainting again, with or without an audience.

When it was only the persistent pain of his headache left, Loki opened his eyes once again. Getting to his feet, moving slower this time, the trickster walked slowly toward the closed door, his footsteps silent on the deckplates beneath him. The door sliding open as he neared it surprised him, and Loki realized that he had fully expected to find himself locked in. Pushing the surprise aside, he stepped into the doorway, now able to hear what was being said in the room outside the one he had woke up in.

"- that say he can't be trusted. They want him behind bars or at the very least, banished from the group for our safety," Heimdall was saying as he faced Thor. So involved in the conversation were the duo talking that neither had noticed the sound of the door opening or realized that they now had an audience.

"Banish him from the ship that he provided us?" Thor countered as he stood with his back to where Loki stood. The short, disbelieving laugh that followed the question left no doubt how ridiculous the new King of Asgard found that prospect. "No, I won't do it. Nor will I entertain any arguments that he should still be held accountable for his past actions, not in the light of the way things are now. We all must start anew, Loki included."

Though Thor's words surprised him, Loki maintained his silence, curious as to where the conversation would go.

"So you would just forget the betrayals that Loki has perpetrated upon this kingdom? Upon you, My Lord?" Heimdall asked.

"Forget, no," Thor answered honestly. "I cannot even truly say that I forgive him of all he has done in the past but that is in the past. What matters to me now, is what he has done for us of late. He helped me to defeat the Dark Elves. Protected Jane from their wrath. Put himself in danger to save me from Kurse and defeat him."

"And faked his death to take control of the Kingdom for the past two years."

"Granted," Thor said with a sigh. "But in the end he chose to return to Asgard to fight Hela despite knowing just how powerful she was. No one forced him to make that choice."

"No. In fact, you did just about everything in your power to make me want to turn my back on it all, Brother," Loki interjected, choosing that moment to make his presence known.

Heimdall let his gaze move in the direction of Loki's voice, even as he took a step back from the last two members of the royal family he had sworn an oath to long ago.

Turning, Thor's next words were directed to Loki and not Heimdall. "I'm sorry, but I had to truly know where you stood, brother. Pushing you away and seeing what choice you made was the only way I knew to determine just that."

"And did I disappoint you, Brother?" Loki asked, a bitter vehemence about his tone.

"No, Loki, you didn't," Thor replied, unfazed by the tone of Loki's voice. It was a tone he had become accustomed to in years of late. The newly crown king had learned that he must tread carefully at times like these to avoid fueling the tone, for though he did not understand it, he knew the pain that fueled that bitterness was real enough. He took one tentative step toward his brother before speaking again. "You've made me proud this day and showed me that there is still some good in you. None of us would be here now if you hadn't chosen to follow me."

Like on the elevator on Sakaar, when Thor had told him that he had "thought the world of him," Loki was surprised by Thor's words. Despite all he had done, his naive brother still had some feeling for him. Despite the countless betrayals, and Thor's claims to be done with him, his words and actions still claimed Loki as a brother. It was a concept that Loki found hard to understand and found that he didn't have the energy to do so at this time. Instead, he pushed the idea away, with a promise to examine it at some later date, even as Thor turned to address Heimdall again.

"And you would do well to remember that," Thor continued, as he glared at the former guardian of the Bifrost. "The battle with Hela would have had a different outcome if Loki hadn't arrived when he did. He brought the ship that turned out to be our salvation. He risked his life for us to summon Surtur in order to defeat Hela or she would have destroyed us all. Those actions deserve our gratitude not our condemnation. As I said, I do not forget the past but neither will I ignore the present. Loki fought for Asgard the same as you and I did. Unless future events give me reason to decide otherwise, I welcome his council during my rule as one of my Advisors if he so chooses. He was raised a Prince of Asgard and as long as I am King, he will be regarded as a Prince of Asgard. You owe him your allegiance as you do me or I do not want your council. Do I make myself clear?"

"Clearly, my Lord," Heimdall replied even as a gasp and a shuffling sound behind Thor drew both men's attention to the third person in the room.

His continued surprise at his older brother's defense of him had once again pushed Loki past his endurance. In an effort to remain on his feet, Loki had taken a step forward, pressing his palm on the small table just outside the door, upsetting the few ornaments that had sat there. Closing his eyes, Loki willed the room to stop spinning around him.

"Brother?" Thor inquired quietly as he stepped to Loki's side, a supporting grip on his younger's left arm.

Summoning what strength he had left, Loki straightened to his full height, still reluctant to show any kind of weakness. Still, he didn't attempt to pull his arm from his brother's grasp. Though he wasn't about to admit to it, there was something comforting about the feel of Thor's grasp on his arm, just as his brother's embrace had been comforting when a nightmare had awaken him in the middle of the night when they had been kids.

"I'm fine. It's just the headache causing a moment of lightheadedness," Loki replied, the half-truth coming easily.

"Perhaps you shouldn't be back on your feet quite so soon," Thor said, his voice still low as he was careful not to make the statement sound like an order.

"Perhaps you're right," Loki agreed, needing the escape as much as he did the rest. His brother's support of him, despite everything, had taken as much a toll on him emotionally as the battles of the day had taken on him physically. It was something he wasn't use to. The only one he had felt such unconditional love from before had been Frigga, his adoptive mother, and that hadn't turned out well for her. Despite her faith in him, he had failed her.

~Perhaps I chose wrong returning to your side, brother, ~ Loki thought. ~ I'll only fail you as well.~

Heimdall broke the silence that had fallen on the room after the brother's exchange by saying, "I will take my leave now, my Lord," the old guardian stated. "And I will do what I can to quell the unrest," he added.

Thor spared Heimdall on a glance and a quick nod, as the older Asgardian bowed and turned from the quarters, leaving the brothers alone.

Loki barely noticed Heimdall's retreat, as another figure appeared in front of him. This figure didn't appear solid but clearly had the appearance of Frigga herself. Her appearance didn't alarm the sorcerer much, as it wasn't the first time the apparition had appeared to him since Frigga's death. After getting over the fright of her appearance the first time, Loki thought of the apparition as a sort of manifestation of his conscience. That one good part of himself that he had buried so deep that at times it seemed like the only one that truly believed in its existence had been his adoptive mother.

And perhaps Thor.

"I'm sorry," Loki told her, uttering the two words he always spoke when she appeared.

As always, Frigga only smiled, giving no other indication that she had even heard the words, before she spoke.

"You have another chance, Loki. Don't shut yourself of from others as you did before. Perhaps we were wrong for not telling you who your real parents were. It was Odin's choice but I went along with it because I truly didn't think it mattered. I loved you no less than if you were my own blood."

"I believe you."

"Then believe also in the love your brother continually holds out to you like a branch that you push aside. He shared no part in the deception. He was not aware of your true parentage until after you had learned the truth. He thought you his brother then, just as he does now. All you need to do is accept that, and you will no longer be alone."

"What if I'm better off alone?" Loki found himself asking, afraid of the answer.

"You've been alone ever since you let yourself fall at the Bifrost Bridge. Have things truly been better for you? Were you truly happy, even when pretending to be King? Maybe instead of continuing to shut everyone one out in your pain, you need to find the courage to let someone in again, my son. Only then will you be truly happy."

"Loki!"

Thor's concerned call to him broke through to him, disturbing the vision before him. As the apparition of Frigga melted before him, Loki once again became aware of his true surroundings. Thor's grip was now tighter on his arm, though not so tight as to be painful. Glancing to his left, there was no mistaking the concern that was in his brother's eye.

"Are you alright?" Thor asked, seeing that he now had Loki's attention.

"I'm fine. Just lost in some thoughts," Loki replied, forcing a smile to his face.

"Let's get you lying back down then," Thor said, guiding Loki back into the room he had come from.

Loki didn't resist his brother's lead, lying back down being a welcomed idea to him. He thought again of the words the image of his mother had said to him. He believed that they were true. Everything Frigga had ever told him had always been true. He didn't believe she could lie to him, not even in her death. What he wasn't sure was if he had the courage to act upon the words - or the strength.