Chapter Text
Back on the Asgardian Refugee Vessel, the Statesman
...
After Valkyrie and Heimdall had found Sif far off in space, and briefed her on everything that had happened, she burst through the main doors of the ship, storming passed Asgardians and Sakaarans alike, glaring around furiously.
“Where is he?” She demanded of her brother, Heimdall, who, unlike the other Revengers present, did not seem even remotely frightened of her.
He looked up and raised his eyebrows sympathetically at Loki, who stood at the far end of the room. Loki quickly started looking for a route of escape in case it was needed. Sif followed Heimdall’s eyes and growled when she saw Loki.
“You!” She snarled, marching up to him. “You were Odin! You sent me away so I couldn’t help!”
Loki winced. “Would it help matters if I apologised?”
“No!” Sif said. “It would not!”
“I mean, at least you’re alive, right?”
Sif glared at him furiously. “You—“
“Lady Sif, it’s great to have you back at our side!” Thor interrupted, quickly entering the room. “We’ve searched for you for days.”
Sif slowly looked away from Loki as if just registering there were other people in the room. “Thor!” She said in greeting, and embraced him affectionately. Bruce glanced at Loki who rolled his eyes.
“Oh, are you alright?” Sif asked Thor, holding him at arms length to look at him properly.
“You’ve lost an eye...”
”I’m aware,”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine, apparently it makes me look more like a king. Have you been well?” Thor asked her worriedly.
“I’ve been fine. It was not I that had to fight that...witch. And our people?”
Thor hesitated. “They are very strong, but they have suffered great loss, as you know, and it will take time for them to recover.”
“Of course.” Sif sighed. “I wish I could have been there to fight her...”
“And what good would it have done?” Loki scoffed. “Hela slaughtered the entire Asgardian army in the space of thirty minutes, Sif. You could not have helped.”
“Don’t try and justify yourself!” Sif hissed, turning to Loki with an anger most people would run from. “And do not patronise me, you vile, snivelling, monster!”
“I was not patronising you.” Loki said defensively. “But if you can’t handle the truth...”
“The truth,” Sif answered. “Is that you should be dead, not our friends.”
“Sif.” Thor said quickly. “There’s no truth to that. I wish our friends had survived but Loki did help to save everyone else—“
“It is kind of true.” Loki interrupted, “but it does no good to bring it up. Death just keeps rejecting me. You think I would not choose to die if I had a choice?” Thor opened his mouth to say something and Loki spoke over him. “And anyway, Thor needs you here now, Shieldsmaiden. You could help rebuild Asgard, and then you could train the new Einherjar. You’d be no use to anyone dead, whether it be in ‘glorious battle’, or not.”
Sif hesitated, but her anger too over. “Do not try to reason with me! Norns help you, I will take your head from your neck, so if death rejects you again you will have to come back to a headless corpse!”
“He does have a point, though.” Bruce muttered, hoping to calm the situation.
Sif dangerous glare eased as she turned her attention to Bruce. “And who are you?”
Thor perked up at the opportunity to take the attention off decapitating Loki.
“This is Bruce Banner, Sif. He’s a good friend of mine, and he too is part of the Avengers that saved Midgard when Lo...well, that saved Midgard.”
“Of course.” Sif bowed her head to Bruce in respect. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I am the Lady Sif, goddess of war, and—“
“The only shieldsmaiden in all of Asgard, right?” Bruce shook her hand warmly. “I’ve heard so much about you, it feels as if I already know you.” He raised his eyebrows at Loki.
“And you have met Brunnhilde, right?” Thor asked.
“Of course.” Sif smiled at Valkyrie who sat holding a bottle of vodka. “It is good of you to aid us, Brun. But, we have strayed far from the point.” She glared back at Loki.
“I have a feeling I’m the point.” Loki muttered.
“Why did you banish me, anyway? You let the Three remain in Asgard under your rule, and yet you kept me far enough away that I couldn’t get back. Why?”
“To be fair,” Loki replied. “I banished Heimdall, also. Both of you would have figured out it was me, wouldn’t you?”
“I did.” Heimdall said.
“Exactly. And how long would it have taken you to figure it out, Sif? You had a keener eye then the others.”
Sif crossed her arms. “Are you calling my friends stupid?”
“Let’s head off to Midgard.” Thor interrupted them for the second time. “Sif, it truly is great to have you back. You were sorely missed. I’m going to fly.”
“No you’re not.” Loki said immediately. “You almost destroyed Asgard last time, remember?”
Thor sagged. “Fine.”
“You’re going to let him fly the ship?” Sif asked Thor incredulously.
“Well,...yes.”
”May I speak to you in private?”
Thor hesitated and nodded, walking with Sif to the other side of the room. “You trust him with the lives of our people? He wanted to burn Asgard to the ground!” Sif hissed.
”Yes, I guess that is true. But he has proven himself by helping us at Ragnarok.”
Sif sighed. ”Thor, I know you love him, but do try to see clearly. You have trusted him before and he has betrayed you. Who’s to say this isn’t any different?”
”Good point.” Thor said. “But...I think he is actually genuine this time. Or I think so. Anyway, he did help us nonetheless and I hope everyone will forgive him for past wrongdoings and—“
”We can hear you.” Valkyrie muttered. “You aren’t being very quiet, Thor.”
”I’m flattered, truly.” Loki murmured.
”Fine!” Sif scoffed, glaring at Loki. “But I will copilot. And I still loath the sight of you.”
”Of course, my lady.”
”This will be great!” Thor sat in one of the twelve seats behind the pilot’s chairs. “Sif, I’m sure we have a lot to catch up on.”
”Indeed.” Sif said, glancing at Loki darkly as she sat behind the controls.