Chapter 5

"How dare you?!" Odin hissed at his scrambling son.

"How dare you ruin tonight." He continued, but by now Loki had zoomed out. His hand tight against his side. The quiet hum of magic calming him in an attempt to heal his rib before Odin went for another round.

"It wasn't me, father.." Loki whispered through his tightly clamped teeth. "I didn't do it.. I swear."

Having had enough, the Doctor, now angry, slammed his hands against the table, rising from his position on the bench, grabbing his silver sonic staff from where he had wedged it between the bench and table so he could eat. His brown eyes flashing with barely concealed anger, his face locked into an expression of disgust. He slammed the butt of the staff against the stone floor, a whirring noise that was usually the sound the sonic screwdriver emitted came from its tip.

"ODIN ALL-FATHER!" he said, barely shouting, all his anger coming out through his voice, his hearts wrenching at the huddled form of Loki, "After all these years, this is what I come back to witness."

He strode over to the young god, crouching down to comfort the man, "I have seen my share of atrocities, but this…this takes the cake."

The Doctor was now visibly shaking with rage, a golden light shimmering in the whites of his eyes. He made sure that the god's magic was doing its job correctly before standing again, placing himself in such a way that, if Odin wanted to get to Loki, he would have to go through the Time Lord.

The Doctor shook his head, no longer concealing any disgust, instead directing right to the King of gods, "You do not ask if it was he that did this. Instead, you assume. Bad thing, that. Assuming. Well, to let you know, this young man was with me. Helping out an old man in a new place…well…newer. Some things are still the same and some things are different." His eyes, which looked so old on such a young face, bore deep into Odin's single eye, "I am the Doctor, you should do well to remember my name, Odin All-father," he spat, "for I have returned for that object which is mine. You know of what I speak. I have returned for the Tesseract." he sneered, "For I see that you are not worthy to keep it anymore. Now I see why I was brought back."

Loki tried to scramble to sit up. His sides screaming in pain to lay back down until the magic had done its job. Heavy labored breaths only becoming an ache in his side. Giving up, Loki laid his head back against the floor. Black curls pooling against his face. A broken sigh of defeat echoing in his mind as he shut his eyes tight, preparing for Odin's next strike. The small body clenched up as tight as a ball on the floor until a gentle hand touched just below the bruises on his arms.

"Doctor.. It's okay.. It's okay." Loki chanted to the man in hopes he'd leave it be. This kind of punishment was not strange in the realm of warriors, but unlike the other children Loki had magic to heal his wounds, but the man persisted, standing from where he stood to tower over the All-Father. Odin's gaze almost as dangerous as a knife.

"Do you purpose to tell ME how to discipline my own children!?" Odin snapped at the disrespectful man. His hands itching to slap him across his face, but the king knew better than to do such things to strangers. Eyes burning with anger as the two stood toe to toe.

Loki looked up at them wide eyed. No one ever told the king what to do. Under his words were law, and under his wrath was a line of never escaping. His prey helpless if he chose to strike, yet the Doctor stood tall.

"I know what my child has done. This is of his own hands." Odin growled as he motioned towards his food covered robes. Thick hands making the gesture look sloppy and unnatural, yet soon the king looked up, his eyes wide in shock. What the Doctor had said finally reaching deep into his mind.

"Doctor! My friend?" He stuttered reaching out to touch the man with a soft touch. A greeting of sorts. "I.. I do not have the Tesseract, Sir. I sent it off. I know not where."

He finished. The man in front of him much changed. His robes darker with dust and time. Sadly, Loki must have corrupted the man. No one in the nine realms would defend his youngest son. A liar and a thief was not to be trusted with even the lightest touch of companionship. Only Thor would stand ground with his brother. Bless Thor. The good child Odin had always wanted. He never let him down unlike Loki. The youngest son that was unaware of how badly he didn't belong in the palace. The misfit of Asgard. Always a disappointment.

The Doctor flinched back from Odin's probing hand, disgust still etched into his young face, "I trusted you with the artifact, yet I come to find that you know not where it is?"

He turned away from Odin, looking back at Loki, his eyes softening. His whole body softened as the Time Lord beheld the god.

"I had a friend, a brother. We did not always agree, he was brilliant, yet insane. I tried to help him. I tried. And in the end, I watched as he burned. I burned his body. I couldn't save him." The Doctor slumped, the staff the only thing holding up his body. "I watched as my own people burned. He was the only other of my race who had survived. And now I am the only one left. I am alone. Once more, I am alone." Tears slid down his cheeks, all of his years showing not only in his eyes, but in his posture and face. "And then I come here. I find someone who, just like myself, is alone. An outcast." His whole being seemed to inflate, his body standing tall once more. The Doctor's eyes grew steely as he looked up at Odin. His jaw setting and his fingers trailing the myriad of symbols on his staff. "I find a man, a father, performing such atrocities to his own son. Now, I am not the one to let such things slide. I am not the kind of man to give second chances. Not anymore." The Doctor jabbed at Odin's chest, much to the horror of the many still in the room, "You will find the Tesseract and you will bring it back to me." The Time Lord knelt beside Loki, a gentle hand on the god's shoulder, "Loki is under my care now, All-Father."

Guards rushed into the room, surprised at the sight before them. Spears, swords, and maces raised to attack the man standing above the All-father. Odin's gaze was heavy and dangerous. It appeared like with just his one eye the universe would spread to make his way, but the man in front of him stood tall. A death sentence for many except other royals. Even in the warm room shivers descending down each of the guards's backs as Odin raised his hand to halt their attack. The room falling silent when the men's steps were no longer.

"Let them go," the All-Father claimed. His eye never leaving the mess of a body scrunched up on the ground.

Loki's green cape pooling around him like a blanket. His body barely moving as the man directed him to his feet. All traces of color were absent from Loki's face. His head fumbling through why Odin allowed such easy leave. Was he not worth fighting for? Had his own father decided that Loki was nothing in the palace? Would he not fight for his own son? The young prince fell limp into the Doctor's arms. His face void of emotions.

Loudly, Odin's steps clang through the room. He didn't turn back until the guards were at his sides. Only then did he cast his gaze back to the Doctor. His eye flooded with what he knew the Doctor was very well noted of. Loki would never belong. The child was a monster, a demon among heroes. This wasn't his home. It never would be. He was simply a stolen relic locked up in his palace to maintain peace with the child's home realm. The prince of monsters among his greatest enemies. He. Would. Never. Belong. And the Doctor knew it. A small smile formed on Odin's face as he left the room. The monster laying weak in a Time Lord's arms. He was pathetic. A waste of Asgard's space. They would not miss him.

Tears fell from Loki's face as he heard his father's steps grow further and further away.

"Father..!" Loki yelled. His body desperately trying to push the Doctor off as he ran to the doors. The heavy gold frame shut tightly to the prince.

"Father! Please!" He begged. His fists banging against the door once.