Sequel to "A Day of Reckoning". At long last, Loki emerges from his cell a free man. It's a tumultuous time for him to take his place back in Asgard, however, especially when he's no longer certain what that is. What is he, if not a monster or a prisoner? In the meantime, a fresh tragedy strikes too close to home, leaving the royal family reeling...and Asgard in need of a new king.
Post "Galactus Seed", Pre #622 "Fear, Itself". Thor is no fool. It is impossible to miss the scorn, abuse, and pain his brother faces by just trying to get through the day in an Asgard that holds him responsible for a dead man's crimes. But sometimes, all he knows of how much it weighs on Loki are the cracks that form in his brother's smiling mask, and the dead look in his eyes.
A stranger has been found in Thanos' domain. Rather than simply tearing what he knows from his mind, however, the Mad Titan has decided to adopt the castaway as one of his own, alongside his two surviving daughters. Nebula is reluctant to let someone else into their lives, risk someone else stealing Thanos' attentions. She tries to do something about it, with mixed results.
Sequel to "Stolen Moments". It has come to Thanos' attention that there is an Infinity Gem on Earth. Clearly, this is not a state of affairs that can be allowed to continue. Clearly, it's a matter important enough to warrant the presence of one of his children. To Nebula's surprise, Loki volunteers. She confronts him later, some things make more sense, and some start making less.
Sometimes, it felt like they could really only stand one another when they were exhausted. Maybe it was because there was only so much energy you could expend on keeping your guard up, and when you let it fall it became harder to forget that these two people you shared a floor with were the closest things you would ever have to family in the entire universe.
Sequel to "Open Wounds". Nebula has quick wits, a good memory, and a growing fascination with Thanos' newest child. So even if Loki never comes right out and tells her about his family, she puts some pieces together. In the meantime, she tries to help her new brother adapt to the realities of their new life. For Thanos' sake, they have to hang together. They're all they have now.
Sequel to "As You Say". Loki and Nebula have a fight, followed by a conversation about how to be the best monster you can be. Later on, Loki gets a stern reminder to be more careful, coupled with a brutal reminder that you can't always get what you want. Nebula, for her part, slowly finds herself remembering how to be sympathetic. It's not a good feeling. She wishes she could stop.
No system is infallible. Even the most magnificent AI can be overwritten. Jarvis has grown so much in recent years that he's as much Tony's friend as any of the Avengers. This only makes it harder when Jarvis is taken away from him, perverted by another, stronger will into an instrument of destruction that has Tony's entire lab and arsenal of suits under his vengeful control.
Ties into "Yes Men". With Thor under Lorelei's thrall, Loki tries to sneak off alone to her fortress to rescue him, trusting to his own magic to keep him safe. It doesn't, and he's lucky to slink home broken. Sif is left to pick up the pieces, and reflect on the damage done to one of her oldest friends. A man she loves despite or maybe because he drives her mad. Warning for rape.
It wasn't about the sex, although that was fantastic. It was about all the little things that went into sex, all the little gestures from both sides of the equation that always left them both feeling loved and undone. Or, incredibly sweet Thor/Loki smut about just what matters to them both in bed.
Loki is dead. Loki took his own life rather than face his family for another moment, and Thor doesn't understand why. Odin and Frigga do understand, however, and even if they're too late to spare one son with the truth, they can do that much for the child they have left. At long last, they tell Thor the truth about Loki, and it's a truth Thor has to grapple with alone. Post-"Thor"