Chapter Text
“How is he?”
Frigga sighed as Thor’s thunderous footsteps approached from behind her.
“He’s angry,” She replied and turned to face her son.
Thor nodded tiredly, “At who?”
Frigga took some time to think about that, “I’m not quite sure. I assume everyone…..Including himself…..”
Thor nodded again, not quite meeting her eyes.
“He is not evil Thor,” Frigga insisted.
“He is my brother, do you think I do not know that?” Thor inquired quietly.
Frigga often found it ironic that while Loki believed he was rejected based on his race, Thor, who once hated Jotuns with a passion, did not see evil in his brother. Loki, instead, rejected Thor.
“I do not believe Loki has learned that,” Firgga merely responded, “He is so focused on what is now that he forgets the past. The good past. I remember when your father brought him to me. Such a quiet little one. I was quite worried about how you would react to him. You were so prone to being rough,” Frigga glanced at Thor who was listening intently.
She remembered the day as if it were yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Odin, are you sure? Wouldn’t he be happier being raised by a lower family? Less pressure on him. A happier life,” Firgga insisted.
“He needs to be watched closely, Frigga,” Odin insisted.
“Oh, why can’t he stay with his own kind?”
“They left him to die.”
Odin let the words hang in the air as Frigga looked back at the child in his arms, so small, so helpless. The mother….How could she?! Her own child! Frigga felt the rage and anguish well up inside her, but a small cry from the child snapped her back into reality, nearly breaking her heart.
She gently took the child from Odin’s arms, murmuring soft, caring words of comfort to him as he calmed down. The child slowly opened his wide scared eyes. It still shocked Frigga to see how red they were.
“He is Laufey’s son,” Odin explained, “I found him in a temple. Abandoned. Left to die.”
Frigga sighed, knowing where her husband’s line of thought was. The child had focused his sight on Odin. He made a small noise. Frigga smiled as she gently brushed his cheek with her thumb. Slowly, the child’s blue skin began to dissipate, including the runes that lined his skin. Instead, it warmed to a neutral skin tone, similar to her own. Even his ruby eyes melted down to a pale greenish blue. All that remained of his original appearance was the tufts of inky black hair on the top of his head. He cooed softly and turned to look at Odin once more.
Odin approached them calmly, and with a light tap of Gungnir and a soft glow of magic, he nodded and stepped back.
“What was that?” Frigga demanded, alarmed.
“Nothing harmful, my queen. This is just a precaution, to keep this new skin permanently.”
“Why?”
“How else is he supposed to blend in with our family?”
Frigga hadn’t thought of that. She guessed it was for the better if he didn’t go throughout his childhood having people run away screaming at him or openly scorning him.
“I suppose it is for the better,” Frigga consented, “Until he is old enough to decide for himself.”
“What?” Odin asked.
Frigga looked at him, startled, “We will tell him, won’t we?”
“No, it is best if he doesn’t know.”
“Odin-”
“How will he feel once we tell him? His own parents didn’t want him? The tales he’ll hear of his kind? It is best for him to not know.”
Frigga nodded begrudgingly.
It was only after Frigga had settled the young baby into his crib was she informed Thor would be introduced to him in a few minutes. Frigga had named him Loki, meaning fire, so that he would shine in the darkness, to represent how he’d warmed her heart.
The door burst open as Thor ran in, laughing loudly as he did. Frigga soon calmed him down with a long soft hush.
“Thor,” She said gently, “There is someone you must meet.”
“WHO?!” Thor yelled excitedly.
“Hush now dear, you must be quiet,” Frigga warned.
Young Thor shut his mouth and nodded enthusiastically, barely controlling himself as he bounced in one place repeatedly. Frigga took his hand and led him over to the crib. He stood on his tiptoes and peeked inside.
“This is Loki, he is your little brother,” Frigga announced calmly.
Loki wriggled a bit in his sleep before releasing a soft huff, as if he were already annoyed despite not knowing who the new person was yet. He yawned quietly.
Thor, on the other hand, brightened up immensely.
“I want to PLAY with him!” Thor shouted, flinging his hands up.
“SHHHhhhh!” Frigga hushed, “No, Thor. Not right now. He is sleeping. Besides, he’s too young to play the games you play.”
“I don’t care! I want to play with him. Even if it’s his way!”
“I’m afraid not right now, Thor.”
“But I want to play with him!” Thor shouted angrily and stomped.
Loki awoke, startled by the loud unwelcome noise, and began to wail.
“Thor,” Frigga gently reprimanded, “You scared him.”
Thor walked up to the crib, reached down, and held Loki’s tiny hand, “Don’t be afraid Loki. I’m your big brother.”
What surprised Frigga most was the next four words to leave Thor’s mouth.
“I will protect you.”
. . . . . . . Frigga looked at her son, now full grown, in amazement. She had no idea that he remembered. Surely he would have remembered that she’d not been pregnant during the nine months leading up to that encounter.
“I may not remember everything Mother, but I do know what I would have said to my little brother. I’ve repeated that same promise to myself every day,” Thor told her seriously, “It seems I have failed.”
Frigga shook her head, “No Thor. I did. I should have spoken up against your father centuries ago about Loki’s heritage.”
“That still does not change-”
“Thor,” Frigga insisted, “You have done well, as well as anyone can in your boots, to protect your brother physically. Sadly, emotions are much more fragile and much easier to target. The best you can do in those cases is to help them heal.”
“He won’t let me. He won’t let us.”
Frigga sighed, knowing that to be true. And then she realized what she’d been missing this entire time. Even her, Frigga herself, was too close to the pain Loki felt. If anyone could heal and teach Loki, they needed to be an outside party.
“He may not let us but perhaps…..,” Frigga murmured quietly before turning to Thor with a wide smile, “I believe I may have thought up our solution. Loki must be banished to Midgard.”
“WHAT?!” Thor exclaimed, “Mother! I will acknowledge that he has committed many wrongs, but banishment?”
“Thor!” Frigga admonished, “I would have thought you of all people would have a better view of Midgard, what with all the friends you’ve made there. With how much you’ve grown because of that realm.”
“Mother, are you suggesting-?”
“Oh! But we must not speak a word of this to your father. You and I have done all we can in our area,” Frigga interrupted him,” We must get more support, even if we have to make this look like a punishment for Loki instead of a chance-”
“Mother!”
Frigga turned to look at Thor, confused by his outburst, “Yes?”
“You suggest that we banish Loki to Midgard, to learn to become a better man?”
“In a sense,” Frigga admitted.
“We must go about this very carefully. I will try to spread some of this news into the towns-”
“While I’ll have the nobles filter it through the gossip,” Frigga said.
Thor grinned excitedly. Then he stopped.
“Are you sure this will work?” Thor asked hesitantly.
“It will,” Frigga assured him sternly.
_________
Odin was finally persuaded by the call of the people to banish Loki. But then Thor swooped in, stating that Loki should have a chance at redemption. Thus, he could be monitored and prevented from harming Midgard and he could have a chance to be restored to the royal family. Odin opposed the idea at first. But then Frigga insisted and guilted until finally, he yielded on two conditions. That Loki’s power and magic would be bound, furthermore, Thor would have to find a government organization to take Loki in. A group that could be trusted with someone as dangerous as him. Their leader would be able to control how much or little magic Loki could use.
Frigga and Thor consented. So now all Thor had to do was find someone to take Loki in. Surely that would be easy.
_____________
Gibbs wouldn’t say he wasn’t surprised when he was called to meet with the director. He wouldn’t say anything at all on the matter. But it still confused him to a degree, though he elected not to dwell on it too much. He hadn’t had a huge case in a while, his team had been somewhat well-behaved. And he hadn’t told any head of other organizations to kiss his a- in a week.
He lazily knocked on the door and opened it swiftly once he got the okay.
“Director-,” Gibbs stopped at a familiar form, lounging on the couch nearby, “Fury.”
“Gibbs,” Fury greeted dryly.
“Shut the door please, Jethro,” Shepherd spoke from her desk, the one lamp illuminating her face.
Gibbs scoffed, “So spooky. What is this, a confrontation?”
“More like a job interview,” Fury replied.
“For what? I already turned you down-”
“I know,” Fury held up his hand, “I know. And the offer still stands. But this is different.”
“You might want to sit down Jethro,” Shepherd invited.
Gibbs let out a long weary sigh and slumped down into a chair across from Fury.
“So?” Gibbs asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.
“As you know, a few months ago, New York City was attacked by an alien species led by a man named Loki. Despite how he looks, he ain’t from around here,” Fury explained, “He’s actually part of a race that SHIELD has, fortunately, befriended. Their main man, Thor, is Loki’s brother…”
Gibbs quirked an eyebrow, inviting Fury to go on.
“He’s asked a favor,” Fury finished, then looked at Shepherd, silently asking her to continue.
“Odin, King of Asgard, Loki and Thor’s home world, has passed judgment on Loki as of now. He is, according to Asgardian law, to be banished to Earth. Thor believes this is a chance to rehabilitate Loki.”
“Rehabilitate?”
“Thor came to me about a week ago asking to find an organization to monitor Loki. Invite him into their ranks. Work on paying back what he owes, that kind of thing,” Fury explained.
“I don’t like where this is going, directors,” Gibbs warned.
“Fury believes you and your team would be qualified to monitor him. SHIELD, CIA, and FBI can’t risk being compromised and Thor believes the Avengers would only provoke Loki to act out, prompting the opposite of what is intended,” Shepherd clarified.
“I-Ah! What is this?!” Gibbs shouted, standing up, “This guy attempts to take over a planet and gets off with a grounding?! What about my team? You realize you’re putting their lives in danger, right?”
“Thor has already had precautions put in place. Loki will be informed this is his last chance and his magic will be bound. Only you will be able to decide how much of his magic Loki may use. As a further precaution, he’ll be staying at your place,” Fury elaborated.
“And if I turn this down?”
“I’m in charge of her,” Fury stated pointing at Shepherd, “And she’s in charge of you,” Fury pointed at Gibbs, “So….”
“I’ll need to brief my team,” Gibbs stated.
“There’ll be plenty of time for that when he gets here,” Fury waved off.
“What do you mean by that?”
Fury stood up, “Follow me.”