(A/N: So having seen the movie and loved it, here is my requisite bit of fangirling. I do not own The Avengers nor will I ever. But a girl can dream, and pretend for one instant that Thor/Loki is actually possible. Okay, a lot of instants, but you know what I mean. Obviously this is a Thor/Loki fic so that means slash and kinda sorta incest. This will also include Steve/Tony or Captain America/Iron Man if you will, but it's still there. Anyway, on with the show!)

Heart of a Fallen God

Thor's mouth was set in a grim line, his blue eyes icy with some twisted combination of rage and sorrow. He could taste blood in his mouth from where he had bitten his cheeks to keep from screaming in frustration. The lesson that he had been taught by his first trip to Midgard would not leave him, he was a better person than to forget it, but at that moment he wanted to stand against his father. He kept his fists balled to prevent them from straying to Mjolnir and spun away, stalking back through the halls that he and Loki had roamed freely as children. Now Loki was imprisoned, and no matter the crime, Thor was not okay with that.

Before he knew it he was in Loki's cell, staring into his brother's defeated green eyes, the metal contraption ruining his face. Having sent the guards away Thor knew that he was free to kneel before his brother, to clasp icy cool hands in his own. Loki's eyes drifted away and Thor's heart stalled as a few crystalline tears silently slipped down those snow pale cheeks.

"I would see you unbound brother, and I would hear you speak," Thor's voice was uncharacteristically quiet. More tears sparkled on Loki's skin as the God of Mischief shook his head and clasped his brother's hands more tightly. At this, frustration made Thor choke and he levered himself up enough to wrap Loki in his arms, kissing his brother's forehead and hair and fighting away tears himself. Even after everything that he had been put through because of his brother, Thor knew that chained and muzzled was not where Loki should be.

"Brother," the word was faint and mostly muffled and seemed to have taken a toll on Loki to have spoken and it went right to Thor's heart. The God of Thunder held tighter to Loki and lifted that too slender frame in his arms. He knew that his brother's mind had been tainted by the Chitauri when he landed on their world and that the staff had been a sickness unto itself. Perhaps he wouldn't have believed it, but he had seen the effect that it had had on Banner and had been told by the Black Widow just how much it had attempted to fight her when she went to destroy the Tesseract. Odin had been the only one to believe Thor. But Odin alone could not dole out justice.

"I am taking you away from here brother. This is no home, not right now, maybe not ever again," Thor whispered bitterly and carefully supported Loki who lie tucked against his chest. Loki's beautiful green eyes were filled with shock and confusion and his shaking hands touched Thor's cheek.

"Where," again it was only a single word and Thor smiled a little sadly, pressing his lips to Loki's temple, reminding himself of so many nights, the centuries they had spent as children. Loki had always been teased, mocked for not looking like a proper son of Odin. That had never mattered to Thor, even when his brother began to lash out with pranks of increasing risk and danger. Loki had always found his way to Thor's bed and his brother's arms when things got too bad for him. Now would be no different.

"To Midgard, to New York. Tony Stark has invited us; yes both of us, to move into Avengers tower. Until the Council can prove to me that they have come to their senses, both you and I shall stay there," Thor whispered and did not pause when guards began to flow after him. They had been alerted to the Council's decision of course, but few dared to approach the God of Thunder.

"Stop!" Odin's voice was sharp and Thor turned to face his father, eyes cold and unforgiving.

"I will not and I cannot," came his reply and he pressed the first of three buttons on a device given to him by Tony Stark, it would open a portal to Midgard, to the helipad at Avengers tower.

"You brought him home for Justice Thor. And though I do not agree with the decision, he must pay for what he has done," Odin said darkly.

"No Allfather. I brought him home to stand trial, to understand the seriousness of what he had done. I brought him home because I thought it would be the best thing for him, to help him begin to heal. I brought him to your mercy Father and you have done your second son a great disservice. Now I will take him to our proper home, where he will have tolerance, compassion and there will be friends to help him," Thor stated, pressing the second button, the portal phasing into life behind him, not yet open.

"Thor…Do not do this…the Midgardian realm is not where you belong, it is not where Loki belongs," Odin insisted and Thor shook his head, pressing the third button and turning slightly away from his Father.

"Forgive me Allfather, but I fail to see the truth of that statement any longer. You may contact me when you can see my brother for the good man that he has always tried to be for you," Thor said with cold finality and with both arms around Loki's slender frame, he stepped through the portal which snapped shut behind him.

They landed on the helipad and Thor sighed in relief, taking a moment to sit on the concrete and cradle his brother close. He ignored the sight of Tony Stark holding the helicopter above their heads, having had just enough time to get to the roof and move it before they landed. With one shaking hand Thor removed the muzzle that had trapped his brother's jaw and stuck his tongue, the harsh lines of the mask were bright red on pale skin. Loki sobbed once and Thor's lips descended upon his brother-not-brother's, trying to kiss away the sorrow that he saw on that bony face.

"I love you brother," Thor whispered, dragging his knuckles across that beautifully pale cheek and knowing suddenly that those words did not have the same meaning that they once had. He carefully broke the bonds on Loki's wrists and two slender arms wrapped gently around his back. Above them Tony Stark decided that a nearby hospital really needed a free helicopter and flew away, trying to think too hard on how human the Gods had looked in that moment.

"I love you as well, brother mine, I always have," Loki's voice was hoarse and both were crying softly when Loki leaned up and sealed their lips in another kiss, somehow softer than the first and conveying so much more. And they were still locked together when Tony landed twenty minutes later and stepped out of the suit. He sighed and dropped his hand onto Thor's shoulder; it seemed that he needn't have gone to the trouble of allocating two rooms for his Asgardian friends.

"Come on. I'll show you to your room. Cap will never forgive me if I let you stay out here, and no forgiveness means sleeping alone. I hate sleeping alone," Tony said and turned away without checking to see if they were following. And they did follow, Loki walking under his own power, hand clasped with Thor's, their fingers threaded together. They were coming to a home that they both knew would always welcome them and there wasn't anything quite so satisfying as that knowledge.

(A/N: So that's the end of my first Avengers fic. I hope to write more. But how's about you guys tell me how I did?)