Loki blinked, then broke into a grin. "I have no objections."
"Rather than risk being discovered by Hela and then getting stabbed to death by her sword, I'd rather stay on this ship.
I guarantee I'll protect the Asgardians aboard and make sure you have no worries behind you."
Thor and the other two looked at each other, equally speechless.
If they let Loki join them, there was the risk of being stabbed in the back. But if they left him behind... that somehow felt even more wrong.
"Your Highness, bringing him out of Sakaar was a mistake," Valkyrie said with a helpless laugh.
"But we can't exactly send him back!"
"If you don't mind the trouble, I wouldn't object," Loki said lightly. They would not kill him anyway, so no matter what they chose, he would not lose out.
"Let him come with us," Thor said after a moment's thought. "He may help us, or he may run away, but he won't betray us."
"Thor, that doesn't sound very credible.
Loki, your brother—do you not know what kind of god he is?"
"I'm willing to trust him one more time." Thor looked at Loki, hesitating before he said, "You've disappointed me countless times. One more won't make a difference.
But Odin and Frigga—if you betray their trust, then you'll truly have nothing left in this universe but loneliness."
The smile faded from Loki's face. "Are you lecturing me?"
"I'm reminding you."
"How about we leave him on the ship after all?" Valkyrie said. "With the 'Creator' here, he can't stir up much trouble."
"I accept your lecture," Loki immediately said. "We'll proceed as we discussed. I'll help you, but unless I've got water in my brain, I won't fight our sister."
"Fine."
The four of them took a ship,