Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The rain is coming down hard, it has been ever since Loki had seemingly vanished minutes after his capture taking with him the tesseract. Leaving the rest of the Avengers and armed men scrambling, scouring the tower and the streets for the black haired villain. Only when Tony had requested JARVIS to do a full tower sweep and city scan does the group realize that Loki isn't even there. Hearing this sent Nick Fury into a rage.

Claiming 'How on earth do you lose someone chained up' he half blamed Tony for the Arc Reactor going out, saying 'Out of all the times for it to give up it had to be around Loki'. To which Stark states 'Well, excuse me for not planning heart failure in today's schedule.' He would later blame the failure on Loki's scepter. Claiming that the reactor blinked out twice after Loki touched it to the device. 

The first being him flying into space to release the missle as Natasha worked to help disable the alien weapon. Second being, well this moment just now.

Thor on the other was blaming himself, his jumbled emotions playing on his face and outside in the form of the raging storm.   

'I shouldn't have taken my eyes off of him. Loki's not a snake at times but also a weasel. He'll fight the fight but will escape at any given chance.'

This causes Tony to suggest that he would run another scan. This one covering all of New York City, and he claims that Bruce will be helping him once he stops Hulking out.

Both Natasha, Steve, and Clint offer to go undercover. Drive around looking for anything that appears out of place. Thor sighs but nods warning his friends that Loki is skilled in illusions. To not take what he says at face value. That he could be anyone or anything, he wouldn't shy away from playing a literal street rat or a roach. 

Fearing that Loki might've gone to Asgard, Thor announced he will check his home land and report back what he's learned. All this leads to Director Fury warning all those within earshot nor to breathe word of this.

Yet things always seem to have a way of always going not according to plan….

Somehow, someway, the newspaper found out that Loki had escaped. That the Avengers were scrambling to locate him. Soon all the news channels began reporting that the Avengers had let the war criminal escape.

People were rioting. Claiming that the so-called heroes did more harm than good. Many believed Thor had a hand in letting him get away, being unable to see a loved one charged so harshly.

While others believe SHIELD hired Loki, it became its own conspiracy theory. The phrases 'Why else would they let someone like him go' or 'it was all a plan, sure he was dangerous but at the same time a rather easy level ten boss battle'. All those so far from the actual truth.

And amidst it all Fury was forced to converse with the council, every single member verbally voiced their concerns. Each one speaking on the fear that the other nations feel regarding the failure of the Avengers Initiative.

Fury had fired back. His words 'the Avengers didn't fail. We stopped Loki. Everyone saw it. We stopped the invasion. It just so happened the criminal escaped using the tesseract.' 

His words are the truth, they are their truth. He does admit regret with letting Loki escape with all four limbs unbroken. Saying 'should've had them break all ten of his  fingers and both wrists had I known Loki was going to pick up the tesseract.' His tone no one knows if he was joking or serious. In the end he fights for the program, voicing that  the world needs the super powered heroes.

The council agreed finally after nearly two weeks of going back and forth. But on two conditions: the first being to add to the heroes because clearly six wasn't enough. The second- if Loki ever shows his face again he is to either be captured by SHIELD for questioning or killed on sight.

Fury agreed.

Heavy storm clouds lingered over the city yet the rain they threatened to release has yet to fall. The Avengers Tower is silent for the moment. Each one in their own room: Clint lazing in his room, Steve drawing whatever mostly just letting his pencil be the guide. Natasha cleaning and prepping her guns, Bruce is sitting at his desk with a book and classical music playing on shuffle from his phone at a comfortable level.

And Thor lays in bed, arms folded behind his head as he glares up at the ceiling. He couldn't quite figure out what was going on through his brother's head. The fact he forgot how to read Loki scares him. And now he has the tesseract back no telling what cruel things he'll unleash onto this planet. He dreaded the thought of yet another and he knows without a doubt this one would be way worse.

For all Thor knows this cruel nature is just part of who Loki is. No matter how hard he, Frigga, and Odin try to get him to change Loki won't change. He can't change. He's a Frost Giant afterall. A tiny one but still a Frost Giant. Maybe that's why his jokes and tricks always ended up not as funny or harmless. They always ended with blood, pain, and anger from those who were tricked and caught in the crossfire. And as much as Thor longs to have Loki at his side he knows its best to keep Loki at a distance. Afterall he can't hurt you or trick you when you distance yourself metaphorically of course. Thor hates it but it's just how it is. Loki can't change. If there is good in there somewhere inside his little brother, Thor will most likely never ever see it. Frustrated, the Thunderer climbs out of bed and grabs his sneakers. He figured a jog would pull him up and out of his darkening mood. Once he ties his shoes he exits the tower.

Meanwhile, up on the level of the building Tony is busy tinkering away at an unmarked piece of suit. In front of him is his holographic desktop screen which currently has the youngest and newest member of the Avenger's face on it. Peter Parker was beaming and pointing to the food that he had ordered. From the angle the young boy is holding his phone at Tony is able to make out that he's outside.

"Yeah, so like did you know the Black Panther's claws are like really sharp? Like really really sharp." Peter says, sounding breathless.

"Hmm, are they now?" Tony starts sounding distracted "Did he claw you?" 

"No, he actually slashed through my webs." Peter laughs, "Pretty scary actually." 

Tony glances up in time to see T'challa walk up and place a hand on Peter's shoulder affectionately "You should be proud Stark. Peter here looks up to you, and he admires you a lot. He's an amazing young man." He smiles causing Peter to smile back his eyes shining with awe and embarrassment "Not to mention an incredible hero for his age. I can only imagine how amazing he will be at our age." T'challa adds on.

Bucky can be heard laughing somewhere off screen "You were holding back against the kid." A small pause "You practically shredded my arm in our training."

"Your prosthetic was fine and still usable. I would never harm your actual body in a friendly sparring match." The king says smiling.

Tony opens his mouth to tease them both when JARVIS suddenly speaks up.

"Sir, I have been alerted that Mr. Odinson has brought the wanted war criminal, Loki Laufeyson, into the tower." JARVIS announces.

Tony halts his hands hovering unmoving over the holographic display screen "That can't be good." He starts to say before waving the light blue graphics away. "Where in the tower are they?" He asks as he begins to head for the door grabbing his cellphone from the entry table that stood under the lightswitch.

"They are in the Common Room, sir. Doctor Banner, Ms. Romanoff, Mr. Barton, and  Mr. Rogers are all present. Should I contact Director Fury?"

"No. Not yet, let's see what games Rudolph brought this time."

JARVIS pauses for a second before speaking, this time a bit of urgency is detectable in the voice "Do hurry sir, tension is high." 

"On it." Tony says as he crosses over to the elevator and steps inside, JARVIS picking up on this action overrides the lifts commands sending Tony straight to the level he is needed on.

The elevator dings and the doors open allowing Tony off, yet it's clear that no one heard him arrive. As he makes his way further into the space Tony can see that Natasha has her gun drawn and trained on Loki, who is sitting on the couch next to Thor. Bruce is standing and his ears and cheeks were green along with parts of his arms and legs. He is mad, anxious too probably and he was struggling to relax. Steve is on his feet and has his shield held and ready to strike. Clint has his bow and arrow. The arrow pulled back and ready to release into any soft part of Loki's body.

"What are you doing back here!?" Growls Clint "Haven't you done enough damage, caused enough pain and suffering. Or are you here to admire what you've done? Give me one good reason as to why I shouldn't drive my arrow through that skull of yours!" Demands Clint as he shoves the arrow in Loki's line of sight.

Despite the threat Loki didn't react. He just sat there. His gaze downcast, face expressionless. He looked drawn and his hands were shaking. 

"Uh, who said he could come in here?" Tony questions though everyone knows it's aimed at Thor "Last I checked this is the Avengers Tower- well Stark Tower turned Avengers Tower, anyway. What I'm saying is Loki needs to beat it up out of here, in fact I'm getting Fury on the line." Tony threatens.  

Yet Loki's expression remains unchanged. As if unfazed by the threat. Almost as if he knew it was an empty one.

Now Thor speaks up as he looks towards his friends and back to Loki "Friends, please I'm just as confused as you are." Thor tries to explain "I know not where Loki has gone nor do I know how he has returned all these months later." 

This prompts Loki to lift his gaze confused "It's been months?" He starts to say "No. That can't be right…" he starts to say "I've only been gone a few minutes…an hour or so….I know time is different in the TVA but…." He trails off feeling sick suddenly and he shuts up. His mind goes back to the moment Sylvie told him the truth about the TVA, their agents, and how Mobius called him a friend.

"He's lying." Clint snarls.

"I'm not so sure…look at how he's dressed. I don't know Loki very well but with that big head of his I doubt he'd willingly dress like some nine to five behind the desk office worker back in the nineties." Bruce says locking eyes with the mischievous god. 

"And what you believe this mumbo jumbo of a TVA ." Clint laughs "For all we know he was out there killing innocent people. We should've never let the tesseract out of our sight. Loki is too dangerous, we shouldn't be letting him wander around free. Heck I think we shouldn't be letting him live." 

Loki doesn't say anything.

"Or I say we turn him over right now, SHIELD would have a field day with him. Surely they'd love to cut him open and see what makes this psychopath tick." Clint adds hoping to get a reaction from the Silvertongue but Loki still doesn't respond.

"No." This time it's Steve who speaks up "I say we call Director Fury, let him know that Loki's back and have him deal the punishment. In the meantime we'll lock Loki up, somewhere away from us and anyone else that could be hurt. Barton's right. He can't be trusted and I'm not willing to endanger innocent people just to give shelter to a dangerous criminal." Steve intructs.

This gets a reaction from Loki. He closes his eyes and takes a shaky breath.

'You were born to help the Avengers, those heros, become a better version of themselves.'

Loki couldn't help but feel smaller as those words resurface and echo inside his head. 

"And where's that exactly Einstein?" Mocks Tony.

"Here. You have that big under space, we can keep him there until Director Fury gives us further instructions on what to do with him." Steve says, his eyes narrowing at the alternate Loki. 

"So it's settled then?" Tony asks.

"It is. I'll call Fury the first thing in the morning." Steve announces "This'll give us time to unwind and calm down. Not to mention give us a chance to make up his cell. And give Loki a chance to rest." He adds this time his voice is softer, a bit kinder but not by much. 

"Guess this means you're in the dog house for now." Tony says, glancing at the trickster. 

"He's beyond the dog house." Jokes Bruce lightly "I'd say more like a pound puppy."

"You're being nice about it." Natasha adds as she puts her gun away after putting the safety lock on. Clint mutters a more ideal yet rather dark dog comparison for their villain. He gestures for her to follow him and the two exit the room through the adjacent door.

With that Steve, Bruce, and Tony head down to underground level via the elevator to begin preparing it for Loki's temporary stay. Leaving the siblings alone.

Thor looks at Loki, his expression hard to pinpoint. 

"Be honest with me brother. No more lies. Where did you go? Why did you steal back the tesseract? To avoid punishment from our father?"

Loki takes in a shaky breath before he looks his brother in the eyes. What should he say? What does he answer first? How does he answer? What was his plan before this and how does he explain that this wondrous glowing blue cube is nothing more than a glorified nightlight? That Infinity Stones are mere playthings or pretty paperweights. That despite these being the most coveted items they are just useless items in the whole grand scheme of things.

And that was the scary part. 

Loki's hand went to his arm gripping the sleeve tightly. All the pain and suffering he had endured, the sleepless and restless nights where he would be interrogated. The abuse both mentally and physically. The nights where his belly would growl and those lovely children of the Mad Titan would show and offer food only to place it out of reach of the chain bound god.

The days of unimaginable torture leaving him to scream out for his mother and brother. The nights where he'd weep into his hands begging Heimdall to see him. To alert his loved ones about his whereabouts. Bargains falling onto deaf ears, pleadings for Munin and Hugin to find their way to his dark, damp, filthy cell. Even if he himself didn't know where he was in the vastness of space. 

What was it all for in the end?

He wished that he never let go of the Bifrost. He would've gladly accepted whatever punishment Odin would deal him. It was bound to be better than what the Mad Titan did.

Because when it was over in the end he would've been home. He could've been happy. 

But at the same time, he knows that he wouldn't have met Mobius. 

Mobius.

His first real friend.

Loki's breathing quickened.

His first real genuine friend.

Someone calls out to him but he can't make heads or tails of who it is. 

His heart is pounding loudly in his ears as his eyes widen.

'Who knows, maybe I could've had a jetski…. But that's where I want to be.'

'Prune him!'

"Loki!" 

Loki feels big strong hands grab his shoulders firmly, he slowly turns his gaze towards his brother. He can see the look of horror on his sibling's face and slowly he's becoming more and more aware of the hot burning feeling on his upper right arm.

"Voice! Voice please, get help! Get Doctor Banner, Loki's bleeding." 

"Of course, Doctor Banner has been alerted." JARVIS answers "If I may, I suggest that you lay Mr. Laufeyson down. I will play a song from Mr. Stark's therapeutic playlist." 

"Yes, please do anything to help him."  Thor pleads as he tries to get Loki to focus on him "Loki! Loki look at me." 

Loki struggles to take in a breath, he no longer can hear Thor's increasing worry, no longer register that he is being shaken and grabbed. The last thing Loki sees is Bruce rushing up to him with a white medical bag before everything goes black.

Chapter Text

The day before

Loki lets out a frustrated huff of air. He was in pain, his face stung along with lower parts but what hurt the most was the fact Mobius didn't believe him. Maybe he was being foolish. The thought of Mobius being the one other person who he could trust, be himself with, and accept him for who he was and saw him for him.

There was a part of him that could feel that Mobius believed him. That he wanted to believe the words from the Liesmith but couldn't. Or maybe he just didn't want to. 

And it hurts. Lying for as long as Loki has he never realized how hard it was going to be to get someone to believe his truths. Especially if they were beneficial in some way.

He gets up shakily, his legs trembling with the effort and on his tongue he repeats the harsh words he's heard Sif spit at him a hundred times already. He shakes his head as he steadies himself onto his feet and runs a hand through his hair. 

At that moment a shimmering orangish gold door materializes and out steps Mobius his eyes are full of wonderment and confusion "What are you doing?" He questions. 

"Passing the time." Snaps Loki bitterly. What kind of question was that!? Mobius's question was either just conversation or meant to get under his skin. Surely he knows what he is doing here. And as painful as the time loop punishment was, Loki couldn't be more grateful for it just being this and not one of his far more painful punishments.

"Tell me, do you trust this Variant?"

"Sylvie? Of course." 

"And are you sure she didn't plant those memories into C-20?"

"I am."

"How do I know I can trust you?" 

For what felt like the first time Loki knew what to say. He didn't hesitate or mull over his words. Deep down he knew with certainty that these words would be enough to have the other believe him.

"Trust the word of a friend."

With that Mobius smiles and begins to turn and walk away only to pause for a moment and look back at Loki. His eyes held an emotion that Loki can't exactly pinpoint but what he can tell is that Mobius cares. 

Cares about him. And Loki can't help but care about the older man too. 

"Listen Loki. You can be whatever it is that you want to be, even someone good." He pauses "Just thought you should know, in case someone told you anything different."

Loki couldn't stop the smile that spread on his face. It was nice to have someone else see him how his mother sees him. Or should he say saw him. To know that Mobius can see a light in him that so many others didn't, can't, or refuse to see. Even Thor lost sight of that light, if that film life file was to be believed.

And it hurts. He honestly thought that if anyone would still have faith in him at the end it would be Thor. He had hoped that despite everything that Thor would've known that Loki isn't anything like that cruel persona he had displayed. That the nastiness of his tricks and the not so harmless pranks are only for show.

That Loki acts out of fear of being alone.

That he longs for attention. 

Affection.

Pushing past the feeling and relishing in the bond that he now shares with Mobius, Loki follows him into and through the timedoor. The moment they step into the Time Theater is the same second Mobius's words die away in his throat. The energy is different, the air is heavy with that same fog of being caught red handed by your parents: the feeling of unease and shame is almost tangible. There standing at the doorway is Ravonna. At her side are four of the Minutemen.

"You have something of mine." Ravonna says flatly. Loki looks towards Mobius and it's clear that he doesn't know what the judge meant. Mobius feigns surprise "Oh, you know what" he starts to say as he reaches into his jacket pocket "I had gotten all the way down here when I realized I grabbed yours by mistake." He lies as he holds out her tempad.

The Minutemen closest to him snatches it and passes it to Ravonna who continues to stare down Mobius. Mobius however realizes that he isn't able to talk himself out of this. That he knows he betrayed a friend, someone he knew longer than this Loki who he had grown attached to. He looks at Loki and then at Ravonna.

"Do you know where I'd go if I could go anywhere?" He starts this and gets Loki to look at him "I would go back to where I come from. Back to my timeline. Heck who knows maybe I had a jetski."

Ravonna glares and wastes no time to call out the order despite how much it hurts to do so.

"Prune him!" 

Mobius didn't have time to react nor did Loki who could only cry out in what was the feeling exactly?

Shock?

Surprise?

Dread?

Despair?

Maybe it was disbelief?

Perhaps there were too many he was feeling at once to pinpoint one. But what he does know is that the sight of his friend being dematerialized right in front of him not only tore at his heart but it also filled him with fear. He struggled to catch his breath as wide fearful green eyes flick from the space where Mobius once stood to Ravonna who narrows her eyes at him. Silently judging what to do with him. The Minutemen at her side move forward, the tips of their wands glowing as they ready to strike the Frost Giant.

"We'll prune him, my lady!" One says.

"No." Ravonna says finally as she reaches for her Tempad and smiles "I have a better idea for this Variant." She hisses as she hits a few buttons before a Timedoor appears.

Loki can only watch. He is magicless. Dagger-less. And he knows better than to try and fight, it'll be useless anyway with his time collar around his neck. He'd just be put back where he was moments before. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try.

The fear he had moments before melted into rage and he lunged forward only to have a third Minutemen near Ravonna use their Time Twister on him to plop him back to where he was mere seconds before and the Minutemen grab him. Their grip on his biceps are tight and unforgiving. 

"Throw him in there." Ravonna snaps yet the Minutemen just stand there looking between one another before looking at Ravonna as if looking for clarification. "Ma'am with all due respect wouldn't that go against the TimeKeepers wishes?" 

"This is for the TimeKeepers! This Variant has caused us trouble for the last time, let them deal with him." 

Confusion crossed Loki's face and he looked around "What's happening? What is going on?" Loki demands. With her words the Minutemen who were detaining Loki began to yank him back "Where are you sending me? Tell me!" 

Ravonna smiles but says nothing as her Minutemen throw Loki through the door. Loki staggers out on the other side nearly losing his footing as he struggles to keep upright in an effort to recover from the shove. His heart races as the sound of cars zip past him, their horns honking at one another as if to encourage the other to move forward. The clouds that hang overhead are gray and fat swollen with the pent up rain that threatens to fall any second. This alone tells him he's on Earth, but where?

Yet the towering buildings that surround him look vaguely familiar, and the massive screens that flick through various ads gave little away. That is until he happened to look up, seeing the massive tower where he had set up the tesseract. The words STARK that once ran across the top were now replaced with a lone A. Fear grips him and his breath sticks in his throat. 

He became painfully aware of where he was and that so many people were looking at him. 

Or were they looking in his general direction?

Someone mutters something to another and they point at him. 

Or were they pointing in his general direction?

'I shouldn't be here.'

Someone else pulls their phone out and aims it at him.

Or did it just happen to land on him? Maybe he is standing in the way?

'I shouldn't be here!'

Loki knew being sent back into his timeline wasn't good. That he couldn't return, yet here he is. Oh why are there so many eyes on him. Loki felt sick, his usual coldness ran warm slightly and suddenly all sound around him faded away. He could just feel the hostility that fills the air. It's painfully clear that these people did not forget his face.

Didn't forget the damage he has done.

The lives his destruction stole away.

He needed to get away.

"Is that?"

Are they whispering about him?

"Couldn't be…could it?"

They have to be whispering about him!

Loki couldn't take any more whispers and he took off running. He tried reaching deep within himself for his magic, if only he could shapeshift or summon something to hide his face. He would have a better chance at blending in, a higher chance of avoiding a run in with the Avengers. He could feel it, his magic, it's tappable not like how it is at the TVA but at the same time something was blocking its flow. 

He just couldn't figure out what it was. Even his childish magic refused to respond to his silent call. He knows it's not the collar, he had used his magic at the market and then again on Lemantis when he was with Sylvie. And his magic works…well worked fine on Midgard. So he wasn't sure what it is that's causing the issue now.

Loki ducks into an alleyway and stops long enough to catch his breath. He lifts his hands up to eye level and he can see that they are trembling slightly. Loki struggles to catch his breath, finding it near impossible to control his breathing. A small gasp escaped him which he quickly tried to play-off as a chuckle of disbelief. But that didn't quite go as he planned, his chuckle sounded more hurt prompting his hand to go up to his mouth stifling the broken sound. He could feel it in his throat, the hot prickling sensation which stung with every swallow. It creeps up his throat and settles behind his eyes making them water.

Each breath his chest grew tighter and tighter. And with each breath, the memory of Mobius flashed through his mind. Moments of their banter, their talks, their arguments, their friendship. 

'I'm so sorry Mobius! Had I known…I wouldn't have- I should've prepared better…'

Loki sniffles as a tear leaves his eye and he shakes his head. 

'Wherever you go it's just death, chaos, and destruction.' 

Mobius had said those words as a means to rile him up. He didn't mean any of it. And to be fair he did a good job getting under his skin. He always knew the right words to get Loki to react. But at the same time was he wrong? The chaos that followed him was causing the crazy branching and breaking of the timeline. The destruction was of Mobius' reality. He had his whole existence shattered..

And then there's death. He had gotten Mobius killed. The realization was sinking in way faster than he would've liked and it was choking him. He had done something, or at least he believed he had done something good. Something right for once, again if that film was to be believed. And what did that good deed get him?

Loki gasps as a soft sob leaves him. A hand goes to his hair, raking back the stray strands in a lame attempt to pacify himself. But it does little to nothing and he's left sniffling as he sinks into a squatting position with his face buried into his hands. Soft sobs leave him as he prays to whoever is willing to listen to him in all Nine Realms that Mobius is in a better place.

He lifts his head and wipes his eyes with his sleeve. As much as it pains him he knows he can't dwell on Mobius, but as soon as that thought leaves him another sprouts. 

'What about Sylvie!? Is she okay? Will she be okay? What will they do to her once they learn the truth of their origins?'

Honestly Loki wasn't sure what was hurting the most, the thought of losing Mobius and Sylvie or never seeing either one again. Mobius his first friend and Sylvie his first genuine love. He says that because many years ago when he was younger he had taken an interest in Sigyn, she was a fiery young warrior who had seemed to look at him affectionately. But nothing ever came of it thanks to Sif who had found a way to undo whatever romantic thoughts Sigyn had for him. An act of revenge for whatever prank it was at the time no doubt. And whatever it is that Sif said clearly worked because the time that followed Sigyn would look at Loki as if he was some grotesque monster.

Sylvie on the other hand tolerated him. Even when he was drunk and singing in Asgard's native tongue or what the Midgardians would call Norwegian. Or was it Sámi? Or when he was making fireworks appear from his palm as he fumbled to piece together a love analogy. Sylvie still looked at him with love and affection. Sure she didn't display her love verbally like he does or say pretty things back to him and that's okay. Because the way she took his hand into hers and just squeezed it, it screamed so much. 

And now that's gone.

Loki shook his head as he forced himself to his feet. Standing Loki takes a deep breath and marches forward keeping his head low hoping no one else recognizes his face. He huddles onto himself, hugging himself. He wasn't sure if it was imagination or if it was really happening but Loki swears he has eyes on him. Everything sounded louder. His own heartbeat sounded more like thunder in his ears.

Oh how he wishes he could use his magic. He wanted to get away, he wanted to hide. He wanted to be anywhere but here. His eyes flicking around the busy street when something catches his attention it's voice coming from somewhere above prompting Loki to look up only to see a massive television screen displaying a lady with a ponytail full of dreadlocks dressed in a gray suit as she address the viewers "Good afternoon with the six o'clock news."

Loki pauses as a few others had too.

"The war criminal Loki is still at large." The new reporter states as Loki's face is displayed beside hers. Loki stared at his own face causing him to tremble, his legs felt weak, and he suddenly felt sick to his stomach. He no longer could bear to look at himself grinning wildly, no longer able to withstand what was being said about him.

He tears himself away and barrels past a couple stumbling as his shoulder collides with the boyfriend. He continues to run blindly, allowing his feet to take him wherever they could. Leading him through a park and down an old hiking trail that seems to be forgotten. He continues to run before tripping over a large stone laying haphazardly in the middle of the pebbly path. Causing Loki to fall ungracefully landing hard on his belly scraping his knees and bruising not only his elbows but also his chin.

The impact caused him to scrunch up his eyes, wincing. He lays there for a heartbeat before pushing himself up shaking. His breath labored as he tried to swallow down the grief that was bubbling up. He bows his head, not daring to open his eyes.

"Loki!"

Loki stiffens and he opens his eyes and turns at the familiar voice. The one voice he didn't think he'd long to hear, the one voice he could tell was full of love for him. 

Thor slows down his steps coming to a full halt once he is beside his brother and offers him a hand. Loki hesitates just staring up at Thor in disbelief, part of him couldn't believe he was actually looking at his sibling. The other half is bracing for tongue lashing from Thunderer. Many doubt it but Thor has his own way with words. Words that cut deeper than any blade and hurt far worse than any of the punishments Odin has afflicted onto Loki. Thor, aside from Frigga and Mobius, is truly the only other who can use words to hurt Loki.

He couldn't shake the words from the film file 'You truly are the worst brother…'  

That hurt the worst. Loki couldn't recall ever calling Thor the worst brother. Sure he's used the word to annoy him but never in the way Thor had used it.

And even if that was technically the last time it wasn't the first. Loki couldn't forget the belittling put down Thor had conjured up for his friends. He had been reduced to tears and told Frigga who soothed him and even showed him a cool little magic trick to summon fireworks. 

Loki accepts his brother's hand and he's pulled to his feet. Thor stares him down searching his brother's face trying to read him. His icy blue eyes lock with Loki's own blue-green eyes, the pain in them make his irises appear much more green. 

He can see that he's struggling. Thor would be lying if he said seeing Loki's plight didn't move him. His first thought was to question but what won was the urge to hug him. Despite what he was thinking in his room actually seeing his brother here in the flesh, he couldn't stop himself. He knew Loki wasn't much of a hugger. He would take one if you were the one doing the hugging but he was never one to hug back. Never one to initiate the gesture.

So Thor was surprised to find that Loki's lean yet muscular arms snaked their way around his back, his hands clinging to his shirt. And in his arms Thor can feel just how badly his brother is shaking. 

"Loki?" Thor tries but Loki says nothing.

"Loki?" 

"...."

"Loki."

Thor grows worried. He can tell something is wrong with the trickster. And he can only think of one place to get him help.

Present Day 

Loki stirs, opening his eyes only to close them once more. How is it that he feels worse waking up than he did passing out? His head is killing him and there's low throbbing behind his eyes and his back hurt. Rolling over the mattress groans and the springs creak with the action as if protesting against the movement. Sitting on the edge of the old bed Loki could feel that it wasn't just his head and back that hurt but his entire body. His neck is sore and he can't really move his arms. Every breath he takes he can feel a wave of nausea that has settled itself in the pit of his belly growing with every inhale. 

Swallowing Loki closes his eyes doing his best to fight the urge to puke. His head is spinning and he can feel it as he sits here with the swaying sensation despite sitting still. Loki takes a deep breath swallowing thickly as he slowly opens his eyes. The space swirls violently and Loki groans as he places his head in his hands and he glares at the floor miserably through his slender fingers. 

The last time he felt this sick he was pregnant with Sleipnir. And as far as he knows he isn't pregnant. A stutter breath leaves him as he lowers his hands and slowly gazes around his…what should he call this? 

A room?

A cell?

The room is empty, save for the old worn mattress that he is sitting on and a dented bucket in the corner that was ever so kindly gifted to him in case he needed to relieve himself. To be honest the trickster wasn't sure what was more humiliating going in a corner of an already filthy cell or in a bucket in the corner. The floor is concrete along with the walls both of which have various sketches and symbols drawn on them. From the looks of it it looked to be floor plans of some sort. Like the Iron Man had planned on this room being used for something else but nothing came of it. There also was a camera pointed at the door but from here Loki couldn't tell if it was functional or not.

His guess is it's most likely working now that he's holed up here. Loki struggled to his feet only to have a violent wave of dizziness send him stumbling backwards where he plops back onto the mattress. Groaning, Loki barely registered that the door opens, only when the visitor is a few feet away from him does he bother to acknowledge them. 

"And what pleasure do I have to have you of all people to visit me?" He asks. His voice lacks the coldness and the hostility that was there when he first arrived on the planet. That tone that shook anyone who heard it. That sets you on edge.  

"Well for starters…I'm something of a doctor." 

It's Bruce. And his meek voice is enough to get Loki to lift his gaze slightly. "Well not really a doctor in that sense but I do know a lot about medicines." He starts and shrugs a bit "It does help that I treated the sick when I lived in Brazil." He adds. 

Loki doesn't say anything, leaving Bruce to look around a bit before sighing wearily "Okay." He mutters "Look, I was just alerted by JARVIS that you were sick. He said that he nearly fell over…I was already headed down to check on your arm." 

"I'm fine…" 

Bruce just nods "Yeah you see, I don't really like liars…being honest I wouldn't have really come down here if it wasn't for Thor. So I'm doing this because you're the brother of my friend." Bruce says. And Loki and tell that he's being brutally honest.

"Then I apologize for wasting your time." Loki grumbles "Tell Thor I don't need his sympathy." 

Bruce starts to say something but he's cut off by Loki "I don't need assistance nor do I want your meager earth medicines." He snaps yet he doesn't move for he is unable to trust himself not to fall forward or topple over from the vertigo. 

"Well in that case, I'm glad we're not wasting it on the likes of you." Clint says as he steps into the room his arms crossed.

Bruce looks at the archer who doesn't avert his gaze from Loki "Get up, you've got someplace to be."

Bruce doesn't need any clarification "Wait he's here already?" He frowns "I was kind of hoping to give Loki some medicine and let him rest a bit…."

"You heard him. He doesn't want our medicine. Apparently what we have to offer isn't good enough for him." 

Loki shakes his head "I didn't mean it like that." 

Clint pretends to ignore him "So let him suffer. We shouldn't be tending to criminals anyway." He snaps glaring at the black haired man "Get up. Fury hates to be kept waiting." He orders as he grabs Loki up and twists an arm behind his back. He shoves him forward, kicking at his legs to get him to march out of his underground cell.

Loki closes his eyes as he sways, his vision blurs as he fights to keep upright. It was all the same honestly, he's been in this situation so many times before. Chained. Bounded. Gagged. Muzzled. Force to march towards someone bigger and in charge. It was the same song and dance and he was getting sick of it. Why was it always him in this situation?

The urge to lash out not only verbally but physically was strong but he fought it. Punching it downward the best he can. All he could do was think about how Mobius said he could be good. And Loki wants that. He wants to show everyone that he isn't that same guy who attacked the city the other day- or years ago, or whatever. But the rough manhandling wasn't helping Loki in the slightest. The sharp pain mingled with the stiffness in his limbs it hurt. So much so he couldn't stop the hiss of pain that leaves him whenever Clint tightens his grip or wrangles him elsewhere. 

"Suck it up, this is nothing compared to what's coming." Clint snaps as he shoves Loki up to the elevator and hits the up arrow. 

Once the three men reach the common room level and step off they are greeted by the sight of Nick Fury. Standing facing the lifts doors as if he knew they were coming up with Loki.

"Long time no see Loki."

"So you remember me?" Loki jests, the words just slipping out.

"Hard to forget someone with a haircut as ridiculous as yours."

Loki narrows his eyes "At least I have hair." Loki fires back. He meant it playfully of course but for those who don't know the demi-god that well would easily take offense. Which is how Nick Fury took it. 

"So that's how you're going to be…" he narrows his lone eye at Loki "And here I was trying to go easy on you, seeing how you show up out of the blue. Just as the council added to your bounty. So many people want that greasy little head of yours on their mantle." He says strolling up the Liesmith "Not to mention that the very same council wants you dead." He adds.

Loki doesn't flinch "And what of you? Do you wish the same?"  

Fury shrugs "Depends if you tell me and my men everything I want to know." 

"And what if I don't play along? What then?" Loki asks.

Fury just smirks and turns on his heels "Cuff him and get him onto one the trucks." Demands Fury. Clint nods and reaches into his pocket where he had the handcuffs ready to go. He snaps them down over Loki's wrists tightening them before shoving him to follow after Nick Fury who makes his way up to the ground level.

Once there Loki is met with the sight of a big black unmarked windowless van save for the windshield. Fury walks over to the back of the van and knocks once and pauses twice, another pause and finally five times. The back opens and several armed men clamber out of it with their guns trained on Loki. Bruce steps forward and offers Loki a hand while climbing up into the back of the van. As Loki slides into the metal bench that makes up the seats. The armed men climb back inside two of which sit besides Loki.

The doors slam shut and both Bruce and Clint make their way into a black vehicle that is parked beside the van. Fury, Clint, and Bruce climb into the car and Fury flashes his headlights twice prompting the van to power up and drive off, with them following closely behind.

Loki sits in a glass cell, similar to the one that he was put in when he first arrived on the Helicarrier, the one made for Hulk. He sits with his back against the glass wall, his eyes closed. Every so often his face would scrunch up with discomfort from the aching pain of the handcuffs biting into his wrists. He wasn't sure how long he was sitting here alone in the cold cell, he was worn out and tired but he didn't dare give in to his urge to sleep or even relax. SHIELD was still his enemy, the Avengers were still his enemy and it's clear that they both wanted him to pay.

It's clear to him that this planet won't forgive him, not until they made him suffer like he made them suffer. A near inaudible sound catches the Silvertongue's attention causing Loki to open his eyes and he sighs "Are you here to kill me?" 

"That would be too easy."  

It's Fury, he stands with a hand at his side and in the other he holds a tray with a lid.

"Then what do you want?" Loki mutters sounding enervated "Why delay your integrations? Is it the hopes that I'll crack under the press of being isolated? That I'll confess every nasty secret and reveal my evil plans of ruling this planet?"

Fury says nothing, not at first as he opens the cell and steps inside. He wasn't sure why or how but he could tell despite the venomous words Loki wasn't going to do anything. He wasn't going to fight back or run.

"Actually" The bald man starts "I was just here to give you something to eat. Figured a full belly would help you stay focused when we asked you questions. Maybe it'll even put you in a good mood. I know I'm not the nicest to be around when I haven't eaten." Fury adds as he offers the tray to the black haired man.

Loki looks hesitant. He wanted to reach for it but how can he trust SHIELD didn't do something to it? Didn't add an extra ingredient that would have him telling the truth by force or worse make him ill writhing in pain like Thanos had done.

Fury saw the internal battle playing out on Loki's face. "Trust me, where I come from, if someone did something to our food, that's a means to be hurt."

Loki takes the tray and sets it next to him on the bed that doubles as a bench. He carefully removes the lid only to find a butcher paper wrapped chicken salad sandwich with pecans and grapes mixed in, based off of the sticker holding it closed. There was also a bag of kettle chips, a chocolate chip cookie wrapped in a plastic seal, a small cup of grapes, and an unopened can of coke.

Loki looks up at Fury confused and Fury looks back equally confused "You don't get fed like this in Asgard?" He asks. 

"Not when I've been taken as a prisoner, no. When I'm rotting away in the dungeons, titles mean nothing. A prince is the same as a common thief when in the dungeons." Loki explains as he picks up the sandwich "We all are given water and rice porridge for breakfast. Lunch we're served rumbling bellies. And dinner, well it was a gamble." Loki says as he unwraps his food. Much to delight the sandwich had a thick golden bread filled with the chicken salad and lettuce.

He takes a bite of the sandwich and his eyes light up before holding a hand inches from his mouth as he chews his bite. His other hand held up one finger and only once he was one hundred percent certain that he would be able to speak without offending his captor he lowered his hands. 

"You liked it didn't you." 

Loki could feel his ears turning pink.

Fury just laughs before turning on his heels and begins to exit to space "I'll let you eat in peace." He announces and before Loki could respond, the Director is gone. 

Leaving Loki to finish his meal alone.

Outside Fury is joined by a few other agents, one of which glares at Loki through the pop up hologram screen "Why did you give our food to that heartless monster?" 

"I told you why." Fury says calmly "I need information out of him. You think I care if he eats or starves? I'm playing a game here, every right move gets us closer to our goal. Feeding Loki is part of the game. If I can get him to speak by throwing him scraps then we got our dog trained."

"Speaking of which, has the lie detector come in yet? Or those men?" Fury asks.

"Yes sir, we have it set up in the hall with the three rooms. Loki will be placed in the middle room, the lie detector and the men will be in the third room and we'll be in the first room. We'll be able to hear both." Another agent answers.

"Great. The second he finishes his food, bring him in." 

"Yes sir."

Back in the lookalike Hulk cell, Loki sits back and closes his eyes. He couldn't recall the last time he actually ate something of sustenance. Sure he enjoyed the figgy port topped tenderloin but that was just a snack. He may not look like it, but his own appetite rivals Thor's if not more. But that doesn't mean Loki would eat just anything like that big bear of a brother of his. It had to taste good, look appealing, and smell good. 

But it was nice to have his belly full. His dizzy spell even subsided. And being honest Loki just wanted to hunker down and sleep, but he didn't feel safe. He didn't trust the men and women agents that resided in this building. Loki had only fallen asleep at the Avengers Tower because he fainted. And oh how he can't reprimand himself enough for that small stunt he had done. For all he knew those so called heroes were waiting for him to pass out to do to him only Heimdall knows what.

Loki shook his head and sat up right rubbing at his eyes and then his temple. He was worn out, and not in the mood to be bothered but the universe just seemed to love to see him miserable. The doors that lead up to his cell open and in walks a few agents. Each holding guns as they line up in front of the massive glass cage that he is being held in.

"Loki Laufeyson, please follow us. Cooperate and we will not use force nor will we handcuff you." A big burly agent states. Two agents walk up to the cell and a fourth hits a few keys on the keypad opening the cell.

Loki didn't get a say as the agents forced him up onto his feet. One of the guard acting agents shoves Loki out of the cell, and the other has their weapon pressed in between his shoulder blades as they nudge him out.

'Won't use force they say….' 

Loki is led down a long winding corridor, the hall is dark and Loki can see that there are only three doors on one side of the hall. The opposite wall is blank. He doesn't comment on it, instead keeping the remark of a wasted space to himself.

Loki is standing in front of the second door as an agent goes to hit a few buttons on the keypad being careful not to reveal the code to Loki. The door opens and the agents leading the trickster walks him into the room and sits him down. Another agent walks in pushing a serving trolley, resting on top of it is a pitcher of water and a single glass. 

She rolls it over to the black haired man and pushes on the small step breaks to bring it to a secured halt.

She says nothing as she suddenly turns on her heels and exits the room. The door closes leaving Loki alone. He can hear the heavy door beep a few times signaling that it has fully sealed and locked. In that same second the lights flicker on washing the room in a sick bright white-blue light light that of a hospital room. Loki closes his eyes for a moment before blinking against the blinding light.  

"What's wrong? Light too bright for you?" teases Nick Fury.

Loki glares as he scans the room for the source of the disembodied voice. But he sees none, reminding him of the bodiless companion that Stark keeps around. In the room it was void of windows and all furniture save for the chair he's in and the trolley holding his drink. He noticed that he wasn't strapped down meaning he was free to walk around. But he didn't want to chance it. 

His hand going to the Time Displacement Collar still snug around his neck. Part of him missed the Time Theater, at least there it felt a bit more friendlier.

"Don't bother searching for me, you see, I can see and hear you." Fury starts "You can even hear me but you can't and won't see me."

Loki frowns.

"That room you're in is one of a kind. You see we're going to play a little game. It's called Ant. Boot."

Loki knew he wasn't going to live that phrase down any time soon. "And do pray tell of what that all means for me?" Loki snaps.

"Simple. You don't die, not yet at least." Fury threatens. 

"Begin the questions." Fury can be heard instructing. A brief silence settles over the speakers before a male voice speaks up.

"Laufeyson, why did you come to our planet? What was the real reason you invaded our home?" 

Loki doesn't say anything, not at first. He sits mulling through everything, all of the events leading up to his arrival through the portal. Part of him wanted to make smug remarks but at the same time he saw no real point in it. Mostly because he wanted to show that he has changed. That he can be good.

And if not for them. Then to honor the memory of Mobius. To live up to that small gesture of kind words. Loki was- is willing to give it a shot. He doesn't know if they will believe his words but they will be the truth.

Taking a deep breath Loki looks up staring straight at the solid gray door "The truth? I was sent here by a Titan, the Mad Titan…" Loki swallows, he could hear the tremble in his voice making his words start to shake as he tries to retell the events that led up to his arrival. He looks at his hands which begin to tremble "He-...he…." Loki struggles to keep his voice from breaking. Why out of all the questions did they have to start with that one?

The answer was obvious, but Loki had hoped to be eased into it. But then again, would he ease a question on someone who wronged him? Probably not.

"He-...." the words refused to leave Loki and in the other room the agents who were monitoring him noticed the spike in his heart rate. And the change in his breathing. 

"Sir, he's afraid." 

Fury just narrows his "Keep pressing him." 

Another agent looks at him "Sir, I think we should try asking a different question. He's clearly afraid-" she's cut off by Fury turning to face her "You all think I care about what Loki feels? This man has lost what little sympathy could be given when he attacked New York and brainwashed innocent people. And need I remind you of those who he killed?" 

"No sir, I only meant that if we want him to cooperate we should try giving him less aggressive questions." 

Fury seems to consider this before nodding "Fine, continue with the questioning. And throw in the type of questions that will force him to tell the truth. For all we know that little act in there is a lie. Can't be too safe with a known liar." He snaps.

In the other room Loki sniffled as he wiped at his eye trying to calm down. He could feel Thanos's hands on him. The way he would grip his limbs and squeeze at them with such force that Loki feared that his limbs would break.

Sometimes they did. And this would leave Loki screaming in agony. And when he'd scream Thanos would kick him to the ground, stomping him. Grinding his heel into any soft part of the mischievous god's body he could reach, any part that will inflict the most pain. 

His breathing evens out a bit and only when Loki deems it safe to look up, to lift his gaze free of tears and fear, he does so.

"We're changing things up." Fury's voice rings clear over the speaker "Tell us, if you hadn't been caught what was your whole plan?" 

"Originally" Loki takes a breath "I had planned on ruling this planet. Midgard was always an interesting place. Back then I had only seen you all as brainless beasts, needing to be ruled and commanded…." He frowns "I felt like your people needed a king." He answers honestly.

"You don't feel like that now? You don't look like the type to cave easily." Answers Fury.

"I-... I've been through some things. And in a way it has inspired me to have a chanfe of heart." Loki says "A friend once told me that I have so much potential, that I am capable of so much more than ruling all of the Nine Realms."

"And what's that exactly?"

Loki doesn't answer. He doesn't know what to say, mostly because he hadn't really thought about it. He had always dreamt of kinghood but now that dream seems so small minded in the grand scheme of things. He knows he wants to show the others that he has changed, but at the same time who would give him a chance?

"I.. I don't know." 

Fury shakes his head.

"So what you expect me to believe that someone like you suddenly has a change of heart? That you woke up today with a little Jimmeny Cricket on your shoulder telling you to be a good person?"

Loki sighs softly it's clear that he's growing frustrated.

"Sir" a female agent speaks up addressing Loki "Our records show that you have blue eyes, those whom you controlled had blue eyes under the tesseracts control. And once they came to their color changed. Were you being controlled and what color are your eyes?"

Loki swallows and he takes a deep breath. He knew this question was coming "Yes and no. Yes I was being controlled but at the same time I knew full well what it was that I was doing…I just couldn't stop. As for my eye color, I'd say in the middle of green and blue. I've been told that my eyes are more of one color depending on my clothes or my mood. You can even ask Thor. Intense emotions makes my eyes greener, when I'm in a lighter mood my eyes are bluer."

"Thor says you're adopted is that true?"

"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Just curious."

Loki frowns. 

"So why did you really come here? Because daddy didn't pick you to be king? So you figured you'd pull a Scar and off your brother with that big robot." Fury antagonizes.

Loki looks confused, mostly because he didn't understand the reference. But Fury took it as a sign that he had cracked Loki a bit.

"That's right, Thor told us that you were the one who sent that big robot." Fury informs the black haired man "So not only do you have New York on your plate but New Mexico too. I'm surprised you're not the most hated man in the world right now-..." Fury pauses "Oh wait you are."

Loki can feel his chest tighten "I never wanted the throne…I don't know how many times I have said that." He pauses "I told Thor that I only wanted to be his equal."

"And yet we have footage of you looking down on others. Speaking to them like they are mere stepping stones to your throne, to be honest you sound more like a tyrant than a king."

"I didn't mean any of it."

"Now how am I supposed to believe anything you say? When both your lies and your truths are all tracking the same way not only by experts…but by our machines as well?" Fury questions.

"Please listen." Loki starts to say hoping that he'll get him to believe his words. He hasn't lied at all.

"You expect me to endanger my planet by listening to a guy whose history is built on lies? Who is the king of lies?" Fury questions and Loki frowns, his eyes darken as he shakes his head slowly shrugging slightly feeling frustrated. He was being honest.

"God of lies…actually." Corrects an agent, their comment causing Fury to look at them clearly miffed.

"I don't care."

The agent looks down as Fury steps back pinching the bridge of his nose, he is about to call it off when an agent decides to get in a word or two.

"Why? Why'd you do it?"

Loki looks up, his gaze unreadable.

"All those innocent people. All those people who never done anything to you…people who were just living their lives. Innocent people who died because of your sick desire to be a king!" The agent shouts.

Loki looks down at his lap. He couldn't trust his face to not give away how he was feeling.

"Why do you like hurting people?"

'Do you enjoy hurting people?'

Loki felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"That day-...that day was the scariest day in my life! In our lives!"

'Making them feel scared?'

He started trembling as Mobius' words played in his head, in his mind he could see the images of people fleeing, the Avengers standing united together with their weapons at the ready and Hulk with his fist up and balled. Together against him, and his alien army. 

'You weren't born to be a king, you never were. You were born to help others, like the Avengers, to become bigger and better versions of themselves.' 

"I couldn't do anything! I lost my sister to your stupid invasion!"

'Enjoy making them feel little?'

Loki bites down hard onto the tip of his tongue hoping to overpower the urge to cry with pain. He could not and would not give these people the satisfaction of seeing him cry. It was bad enough that they witnessed his reaction when he himself mentioned Thanos. 

"Say something!" the agent hisses.

Loki squeezes his eyes shut but keeps quiet.

A laugh fills the space "Heartless monster. Bet you'd kill your own mother and wouldn't bat an eye. Bet you made her really proud." 

'Loki…'

'Hello mother, have I made you proud?"

'And am I not your mother?'

'You're not….'

'So prospective of everyone but yourself….'

The image of Frigga lying lifeless on the floor from the film file replays in Loki's head. The pain of knowing that he plays a role in his mothers death…

It breaks him.

Loki failed to swallow down the bubbling up grief and a sob like noise rips from his throat. Loki curls onto himself and he covers his face. A slightly louder sob escapes him.

The agent who is badgering him growls and Fury looks towards the monitor showing Loki.

"He's crying." Another agent says softly.

Hearing the harsher agent speaks up "So you are capable of tears! But where were those tears when you killed innocent people? For my sister?" 

"You deserve what's coming to you! You deserve the hatred that we and everyone harbors toward you!"

"I'm sorry." Loki whimpers.

"Sorry!? Your apology means nothing here! The only apology we want from you is-"

A scuffle breaks out and the speaker goes dead. A second or two passes and Fury walks in, he gestures for Loki to follow him. The trickster gets to his feet shaking.

"Let's call it a day…I'll have someone bring you dinner." Fury's words were softer and he held the door open for Loki. With the door open Loki could see Thor who gives him a sympathetic gaze as Loki joins them, his head bowed. Thor can see that his little brother's ears are red, and walking side by side he can see his lower lip and chin quivering as he huddles onto himself. He lifts a hand to his face, swiping at his nose and sniffles. 

Thor looks away for a bit before lifting a hand to lay on his sibling's back and begins to rub in small comforting circles.

Chapter Text

Thor was fuming. He knew that SHIELD had every right to question his little brother but he wasn't expecting this. He remembered Steve getting a call from Clint, telling him to come down with Thor, Tony, and Natasha.

Stepping into the compound Thor saw agents were rushing around. Several of them jotting information on paper, tablets, and others are making a phone call. As the three make their way down to the center of the room they hear a loud whistle. 

"Guys over here!" 

It's Clint.

"Fury wants us to watch from the conference room. We get to watch Loki getting interrogated." Clint says, and from what it sounds like to Thor is that his friend is looking forward to this. Looking forward to seeing his brother hurt.

Thor frowns and Steve gives Clint a look that means he should stop while ahead. The archer seems to catch on and clicks his tongue "This way they are just getting started. Apparently Fury wanted to give him food, if it were up to me I would've let him starve." 

"Clint!" Snaps Steve.

"What? I'm not wrong am I? That's like loving on a dog that just ripped your arm off." Clint snaps back "Giving that terrorist food is like praising him for attacking our home." 

"A dog and a person are two different species. Showing kindness to another human isn't a problem." Argues Steve.

"Loki isn't a human, remember." 

"That doesn't diminish the fact he shouldn't be treated fairly."

"Can you two stop arguing!" Snaps Natasha as she looks over to Thor who hasn't said a word. "You two squabble about Loki like he's just a random person. You forget that Loki's brother is here, I'm sure Thor is taking this just as hard."

"Wait, I need snacks if we're going to be watching drama." Tony says and quickly begins making his way to the lounge "Do me a favor and don't start without me." 

"Stark this isn't a joke." Steve says firmly.

"I said drama, didn't I?" Tony questions as turns around walking backs before twisting back around.

"Leave him."

As they; Clint, Natasha, Steve, and Thor step into the conference room they can see that Bruce is already there.

"Took you guys long enough." He gestures to the screen on it Loki sitting alone in a room soon they hear "Begin the questions." Fury can be heard instructing and Thor can't help but tense slightly. Unlike back home, Loki's punishments were a bit predictable and Thor would fight for a lesser charge though Odin listened less and less to him. Their mother even spoke on her son's behalf. Though his punishments would vary it would always end in being sent to the dungeons or locked in his room.

Here on Midgard, Thor felt powerless. If he tried to speak up for Loki the people of Earth would see him as siding with a murder, terrorist, and whatever else they could pin on his sibling. And on top of that he didn't know what this realms punishment system was like. For all he knew they'd kill Loki.

"Laufeyson, why did you come to our planet? What was the real reason you invaded our home?" 

From the screen they are looking at on the tabletop surface they can see Loki and he doesn't say anything. Clint glares at the sight, Steve just watches quietly, Natasha and Bruce are silent, and Thor can see that Loki has something cooking up in his head.

But if what will come out of his mouth is the truth or a lie is entirely up to him.

"What will it be Thor? A lie of the truth?" Bruce asks. 

"Knowing my brother he is weighing his cards. He's in a familiar spot in a new land with unknown methods. Loki knows not what your people do as punishment and the unknown is something that Loki is careful with. He may lie if he deems it the safest option." Thor crosses his arms "But he may tell the truth."

"Has he ever told the truth?" Grunts Clint.

 "The truth? I was sent here by a Titan, the Mad Titan…" Loki's voice comes through interrupting them. And the way he sounded broke Thor's heart. He can hear the fear in his voice. He could see Loki's hands trembling. And he wondered if the others noticed this. 

"He-...he…."

Thor can hear the struggle.

"He-...." 

'My brother's scared…'

"Sir, he's afraid." An agent's voice rings out.

The other Avenger's look to the Thunderer but Thor narrows his eyes.

Fury's is heard next "Keep pressing him." 

Another agent speaks up "Sir, I think we should try asking a different question. He's clearly afraid-" she's cut off by Fury "You all think I care about what Loki feels? This man has lost what little sympathy could be given when he attacked New York and brainwashed innocent people. And need I remind you of those who he killed?" 

Hearing that Thor decides that he needs a break. He steps out of the room and leans against the wall with his hands balled into fist. What were they getting at scaring Loki like that? Were they just trying to get him to feel what they felt? Thor wanted to go there and end the whole thing. But he knows Loki has done something cruel and the people of this planet deserve justice. Sighing he decides he should head back inside. 

Pushing himself off of the wall he returns to the room.

"-and what color are your eyes?"

Thor looks confused "What are they talking about?" He asks.

"They want to know what his eye color is."

Thor's brow furrows "A blue-green, his eye color has been known to change with his emotions. So much so I know what he's feeling just by looking at them. Our mother can tell as well."

"-I've been told that my eyes are more of one color depending on my clothes or my mood. You can even ask Thor. Intense emotions make my eyes greener, when I'm in a lighter mood my eyes are bluer." Is what they caught at the end of Loki's answering.

Steve gives Thor a thumbs up and he smiles.

"Thor says you're adopted, is that true?" An agent can be heard saying.

"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Just curious."

They can see Loki frowning. 

Right as Fury begins to speak the door to the conference room opens up and Tony walks in with a Burger King burger and a soda.

"You went out?' Steve asks, sounding surprised "You said snack not lunch."

"This is a snack, these aren't even filling. Anyway, what did I miss? Anything  juicy happened yet?" He asks as he sits down and looks at the screen as he begins to unwrap his burger.

"Not sure if I'd call it that." Bruce mutters.

"They had succeeded in shaking up Loki." Steve answers.

"Nice."

"He looked like he was having a panic attack." Natasha says, her expression is hard to read but in her voice was the tiniest hint of sympathy.

Tony opens his mouth to say something but decides against it. That's when a new voice speaks up.

"Why? Why'd you do it?"

Loki looks up into the camera, his gaze unreadable even to Thor.

"All those innocent people. All those people who never done anything to you…people who were just living their lives. Innocent people who died because of your sick desire to be a king!" The agent shouts.

Loki looks down at his lap. 

"Why do you like hurting people? That day-...that day was the scariest day in my life! In our lives!"

None of the Avengers speak. That day was scary, especially for them. Sure they've each faced their own share of bad guys. But what Loki brought them was nothing they never ever seen. The level of destruction, chaos, and death…it was upsetting. It was scary. Even for Thor who had faced similar monsters.

"I couldn't do anything! I lost my sister to your stupid invasion!"

Neither of the Avengers speak, the air around them tense. Their expressions dark, each one waiting to see what the black haired man is going to say.

"Say something!" the agent hisses.

Loki keeps quiet.

A laugh fills the space "Heartless monster. Bet you'd kill your own mother and wouldn't bat an eye. Bet you made her really proud." 

The sound that fills the air next is one that the other five Avengers would've never expected, would've bet money on and lost, and one Thor never thought he'd hear again, the soft sobs of his baby brother crying. It was enough to send Thor down to where Loki is. The others stared at one another, their expressions now of pure surprise.

"He's crying." Steve says softly, his voice wavers a bit. He didn't expect to be affected so much by Loki's cries.

"How do we know this isn't an act? Thor has told us that he is a liar." Clint glares not trusting the sight of the crying demi-god.

"I don't know, he sounds actually sorry…makes you kinda want to pity him." Bruce says taking in the sight of the miserable man.

"He's the god of lies! This is just a distraction." Clint fires at them.

"He's not lying." Tony starts as he looks at the screen "Thor who knows him best wouldn't have left if he was." 

Natasha nods "If anyone knows Loki is lying it would be his brother."

Clint shakes his head, clearly refusing to believe the mythological liar.

Meanwhile Thor had reached the part of the building where Loki is being interrogated. His mood is already dark and it's growing darker with each passing second. Outside, dark storm clouds are rolling in. He can hear the one goading Loki speak up again "So you are capable of tears! But where were those tears when you killed innocent people? For my sister? You deserve what's coming to you! You deserve the hatred that we and everyone harbors toward you!"

He reaches the hall with the line of three doors. Standing in between the first and second doors he can see Loki with head bowed. Thor can hear another sob leave his brother "I'm sorry." Weeps Loki. 

Thor growls softly as his skin begins to lightly prick with the sensation of static, the air is ripe with the feeling of electricity. Thor presses a button on the wall prompting the door to open and Thor walks in.

Several of the other agents take notice but say nothing, Fury even says nothing, only giving the Thunder demi-god a shrug.

Thor storms over the aggressive agent just as he says "Sorry!? Your apology means nothing here! The only apology we want from you is-"

Thor grabs him, Mjölnir held firmly in his grasp, raised and ready to strike "I granted you permission to speak to Loki, not upset him!" He wrangles him around moving him away from the microphone "Why are you defending him!?" Cries the agent "You saw what that son of a-" the agent stops talking. And Thor lowers his hammer, he understands his pain. But yelling never works with Loki. He only fires back, he gets defensive, he'll even shut down. Thor needed him to know that.

"My friend, know that I understand your pain. I have mourned those who have fallen at the hands of my brother. But I have told you that yelling at Loki doesn't work. He won't listen, he'll become argumentative…my friend please. I know your pain but you mustn't let your anger consume you."

The agent glares and looks away before shrugging away from the Thunderer. Fury, who is standing at the door, gestures for Thor to come over. Thor sighs and lowers his arm and reattaches his hammer to his hip.

And as he steps out of the room he hears Fury speaking to Loki "Let's call it a day…I'll have someone bring you dinner." His words were softer and he held the door open for Loki. 

Thor gives him a sympathetic gaze as Loki joins them, his head still bowed. It hurts to see his little brother's look so defeated. The way he lifts a hand to his face, swiping at his nose and sniffles. It's what he used to do when he was a little boy, after a round of teasing from the Warriors Three and Sif. Thor hates to admit it but he was right there teasing Loki.

Loki sniffles and a hand goes to his face in an attempt to stop himself from crying further.

Thor looks away for a bit before lifting a hand to lay on his sibling's back and begins to rub in small comforting circles. It seems to work some by making his cries soften to little huffs.

The promise of dinner wasn't a lie, and since Thor was already down here Fury had sent him to fetch the tray. Looking at what is being served Thor doubted Loki would eat it. A couple of turkey slices, a vegetable mix, mashed potatoes, and a bottle of water. He could only try to get him to eat.

Meanwhile Loki sits sullenly on the hard bench that doubles at a bed. His gaze is dark and eyes downcast as he stares blankly at the floor. The only response he gives as Thor walks into his cell is a slight twitch of his long nimble fingers. The sight of the browbeaten demi-god hurts Thor's heart. The last time he saw Loki this broken and upset he had been punished by their father, his lips sewn shut. 

Thor steps over to his sibling and places a hand on his shoulder "Brother, here eat something." He offers as he shows him the tray.

Loki only shakes his head. This causes Thor to set the tray down behind him on the bench and tries a different approach

"Come with me." 

Loki doesn't say anything.

"Brother…" Thor starts but how Loki closes his eyes and lets out a small shaky breath, it tells Thor that he has shut down and won't hear anything else. So Thor decides to exit the room. Not giving up on Loki yet he makes his way to his own dorm, gathers a bowl, a towel, and proceeds to head back to Loki's cell. Pausing along the way to purchase a cold bottle of water from the vending machine which he brings back to Loki's cell. 

In that short amount of time Loki seemed to look worse. His hair is disheveled and in his face and his features appear gaunt. Thor doesn't say anything as he goes to sit beside him and fills the bowl with the water before dipping the towel into the chilled liquid. He wrings it out and gives it a small shake before gently wiping down Loki's face pausing only to rest the chilled cloth over his brother's puffy eyes.

Loki didn't react to the cold touch instead he just allowed Thor to dab at his face. Being ever so gentle Thor made sure that he didn't scrub too hard or roughed his sibling up. When he finished he dropped the towel into the bowl and looked at his brother who still refused to lift his gaze.

"Brother, what is paining you?" Thor asks softly after a moment of long sad silence.

Loki presses his lips into a thin line because honestly what is he supposed to say? The truth? He knows Thor won't understand. Unless-....

Loki takes a deep breath "Those words. Brother, tell me…be honest." He starts, "Do you think I'm capable of murdering our own mother?" Loki's voice broke at the end, and the way he clenches his jaw and the pinkish hue settling in on his ears screams to Thor that his baby brother is hurting.

Thor would've never expected that to leave Loki's mouth. Especially something as morbid as that, Loki ever used the words 'murder' and 'mother'. Not even with their father. But out of everything he's seen Loki do, knowing everything he is capable of Thor wouldn't put it past him. But just because he's capable of it doesn't mean he'll act on it. He knows he himself is able to do such things as well but would never.

Loki on the other hand…

Loki looks away, why was Thor taking so long to answer? Surely he doesn't believe he would do something so horrible does he? But he does. He did. He will. Tears welled up in Loki's eyes again and he just wanted to go back to where he belonged. Wherever that may be. A small weak noise leaves the trickster and Thor takes it as he had upset his baby brother.

"I know you love our mother, and she loves you. You have her tricks and know this, you would never hurt her intentionally." He pauses trying to figure out the right words to use next and the pause is all that Loki needs to know that Thor thinks or at least believes he can and will hurt their mother. That pain and fear of what he had witnessed on his file, the memory of Frigga lying lifeless on the ground. All because he told that beast to go to the left. All because he had wanted to get at Thor…for some reason. Was it because of the events here? For thwarting his or should he say his plans? 

Because despite all that played out on the film file, he saw himself fighting alongside Thor and a young warrior. Thor had even said that he wasn't so bad afterall, so that means there is still good in him. Loki wants to be good, show that goodness that his brother sees in him. That's when a scary thought bubbled up. What if the only thing keeping them close was their mother? And her death was the cause of the rift?

Thor seemed distant in the file after her death. Did he blame him? Did he think that he played a part in this? In a way he did but did Thor know?

Loki's lower lip wobbles and he buries his face into his hands and another small noise escapes him.

"Loki." Thor tries again but Loki doesn't speak, shutting down further. It was here that Thor knew he had messed up. When Loki's upset he was incredibly sensitive, whoever spoke to him had to be careful with their words. Only Frigga knew what to say to soothe Loki, get him to a space where he'd talk. And at one point Thor just didn't know what to say.

So instead, Thor scoots closer to his brother and pulls him closer. They both sit in silence, Thor offering any comfort if Loki sought it. They together for a moment more before Thor speaks up "How about you try to get some sleep?" He suggests softly "I'll stay here with you, I know you can't sleep in a strange place, around strange people. But I'm here…you need rest." He urges luckily this time Loki seems to comply.

Thor collects the tray and sets it on the floor as Loki lays down, his eyes closing slightly. He was tired, and his body started aching again. He wanted to sleep, he really truly did but he just couldn't get comfortable. He just didn't feel safe, he felt naked, exposed to the elements, and despite having his sibling here he couldn't fall asleep. Maybe it had to do with the knowledge that he was in a glass cell, viewable from all around. The fact a camera was on him.  

Maybe he could cast an illusion? His magic is bound to be back right? Loki tried again, reaching and feeling for whatever was available to him but right as the flowing sensation reached his fingertips nothing happened.

Still different from the blank hollowness of the TVA seal on his magic. He can feel it, it's just not working. Something is still blocking his magic but what? Feeling defeated, Loki decides he'd just wait for unconsciousness to consume him. If he had his magic he would've cast an illusion making it appear that he was sleeping.

Loki closes his eyes, his ears stay sharp and his body alert. He could at least just play the part for now.

Loki opens his eyes feeling far worse than before. His back hurts more now than it did when Thor slammed him into the rocky ground up on that mountain hillside. His eyes hurt and his vision blurs. He places a hand on his head and struggles to sit up. He blinks against the harsh light, he could only imagine how he'd feel if he had actually slept. He didn't bother searching for Thor in this space, he had left about thirty minutes in after believing Loki had fallen asleep.

The sound of the door hissing open causes Loki to look up just in time to see Fury walking in "Sleep well?" He asks, his tone holding little care if he did or not.

Loki just shrugs "Being completely honest…" he sighs "I rather just get this done with…I know that you know that I have valuable information…you have questions that I have answers too. Please stop with this charade of false niceties….I know you all don't mean it." His voice softens as does his expression "You all can't bear the sight of me…you all want to avert your eyes and throw onto me whatever it is your imaginations can concoct."

Fury just watches him, his arms crossed listening to what he was saying before locking his eye on the ex-villain "Well…if that's what you are feeling then why don't we get right back into it?" He says flatly.

"Lets. It's much better than sitting here, wallowing away in a cell." Loki sighs. And Fury couldn't agree more so he steps back and whistles loudly, this simple call sends four guards into the cell. Two have guns trained on the trickster as the third handcuffs Loki and the fourth places chains around his ankles which has a belt chain attached to Loki's waist. It all felt like overkill and unnecessary. He didn't have his magic nor his daggers. 

He didn't even have the strength to fight nor the current flexibility to properly fight. Just breathing right now feels like he has Mjölnir on his chest. Not to mention he wasn't going to run or do anything to hurt them. He wasn't sure if they were paying attention or noticed the lack of green energy coming from him and were just playing their part. Or if they are truly stupid and have these big fancy toys for show. 

"Isn't this a bit much?" Loki asks "I could've sworn just by my actions alone I proved I wasn't a threat." 

"Is it wrong that I want my men to feel safe?" Fury retorts "Maybe you forgot, but weren't you the one who brought a fleet of aliens? And what about going on and on about real power? Toying with my Avengers? You're lucky we didn't cut out that tongue of yours." Fury hisses.

Loki pales at the idea but the words he says next gives nothing away about the fear of punishment "And why don't you?"

"Simple. We're not done questioning you. But depending on the answers you give me I might just rip your tongue out myself." Fury threatens.

"Take to room two." 

Loki is once again marched into that bright windowless furnitureless room. He is thrown inside with the door slamming shut behind him. He glares at the door before he goes to sit in the lone plastic chair with his head in his hands. The Time Collar digging into his throat being a painful reminder of the place where he was out of his element. A place where one particular person didn't judge him, didn't look at him like a menace or with judgment in his eyes. Who liked him for him. Who wasn't afraid to make him uncomfortable with facing parts of himself that Loki desperately tried to kick and hide.

He misses Mobius. He misses Sylvie. He even misses B-15, even if she wasn't the nicest to him and stole his daggers she was still a familiar face and a familiar energy. He enjoyed their tiny moment together even if they weren't exactly talking to one another, and Sylvie's body snatching doesn't count.

Loki takes a deep breath bracing for whatever the questions will be. He wasn't sure what they were going to be but a part of him could feel that they would be rough ones. They had gotten a reaction out of him earlier. They saw a raw side of him, a vulnerable side. And seeing that he knows that they will do all they can to open up that fragile Loki once more. And Loki hates that he had let that slip out. He hates that he gave them a taste of his weakness.

But he couldn't help it. Thanos scares him, really really scares him. He's done things to him that even the worst Odin's punishments would feel like a slap on the wrist to Loki.

The speaker crackles to life and Loki doesn't bother to raise his head. He can hear Fury speaking.

"Hope you're comfortable, you're gonna be here for a while." He quips "Tell us. Who is it that made you, big bad Loki quake like a scared little girl?" Questions Fury.

Loki knew it. They were jumping right in on the Mad Titan questions.

"I don't fear anybody!" He starts to say his voice holding steady, he knows that he needs to tell the truth. He isn't playing the villain role anymore, not that he ever truly was. He was more or less just riding the middle doing whatever it was that benefited him the most in the end. He closes his eyes, part of him fears that once he says this they wouldn't believe him. But another idea pops into his head. What if talking about Thanos, creates a branch in the timeline? These Avengers don't know about him, they aren't supposed to learn about him until much later? The TVA are bound to come snag him if he does this right?

It was worth a shot.

"Except…for him." Loki says his words come out strong. Steady as if he lacked the fear that he felt for this man.

"And who is him exactly?" Fury questions. Loki knew this question was coming but it still didn't change the fact that it was no less easier to talk about. He takes a deep breath and does his best to keep his voice steady "He's-...he's uh-...um…." Loki's heart begins to race and he licks his lips "He's called the…the Mad Titan." His voice wavers and his hands begin to tremble, goosebumps settle over his arms and Loki looks elsewhere. 

In the other room, an agent looks at Fury. The camera allowing them access to view the Frost Giant also gives them feedback of his body's responses to their questions. They can see that his heart rate is spiking, a clear sign of upset.

"He's afraid sir, whoever or whatever this 'Mad Titan' is…he has to have had a bad encounter with them."

"Then we'll poke around and see what we can get from him." 

"Yessir." 

Fury turns his attention back to the monitor "And how do you know is quote unquote Mad Titan? And why do you act like you can't talk about him?" 

"His name's Thanos…" Loki says hoping that by mentioning the purple Titan this will send the Minutemen and their hunters after himself, surely bring something or should he say someone up who will be a huge threat that none of them, including the correct timeline are ready for. This should be something that would create a branch right?

And yet nothing happened.

'Give it a bit. Perhaps if I mention the Infinity Stones…..'

"Oh. So you're on a first name basis with him. Nice to know that you're buddy buddies with the man who helped you destroy our city." 

The notion that he and Thanos were friends made Loki visibly pale. He looked like he was going to be sick and he shook his head "Never." He whispers.

"Excuse me?" Snaps Fury.

"I said never-!" Repeats Loki, his blue-green eyes flashing with rage "I could never be acquaintances with someone of the sort." He fires back.

"And why's that?" 

"Because believe it or not I don't fancy those who hurt others…" he pauses, taking a breath "Despite what I did in New York, and New Mexico…I don't-...I didn't enjoy it." He says softly as he lets out a small breath "I don't enjoy hurting people." Loki states his gaze hard as he looks up in the direction he believes the camera is.

"Funny, you didn't seem to have a problem with it when you were running buck wild through my city." Accuses Fury "You racked up quite the body count for someone who 'hates hurting people', where was that soft tenderness back then. For that man in Germany. For Phil Coulson." 

Loki lowers his gaze and his expression changes, his eyebrows furrow and he bites his tongue hoping to stave off any hint of what he is feeling to appear on his face. He told the truth. The faces of everyone he had ever hurt, they often flash in his mind, and can be seen in nightmares. He can hear their voices along with their screams. And the worst part is he didn't choose to hurt them. He had too.

"I had no choice!" Loki argues back.

"Everyone has a choice! You made yours, and as the saying goes 'you made your bed now you got to lie in it'." Fury spits.

"It wasn't my fault! Thanos gave me no choice!" Loki blurts out. 

"And what do you mean by that?" Fury asks and there was a shift in his voice that Loki could feel, he knew that Fury was interested in this answer. That he knew that he had struck gold with the mine of answers that was Loki. And there was a part of Loki that hated that he gave the answer a bit quicker than he liked. But he remembered that he was trying to get the Hunters and their Minutemen here. 

And if talking about Thanos would create a branch to get them in here to seize him and prune the timeline then he was all for it. He'd get to go back to Sylvie and-....

'That's right Mobius is- he won't be there when I get back.'

"Or is this 'Thanos' person just another big lie from history's infamous liar?" Fury's voice cuts into Loki's thoughts causing him to blink and his heart begins to beat faster. His body is already entering panic mode as he realizes that he'll need to recount the events of his imprisonment under Thanos.

"It's a long story…." Loki finally said clearly buying time.

"We ain't going nowhere. And neither are you until you tell us everything about how this" Fury gestures around despite Loki being unable to see it "isn't your fault, and who Thanos is."

Loki takes a deep breath as he leans forward in the chair, his arms resting on his knees and fingers intertwined as he lets go of his held breath. And when he speaks his words and voice are surprisingly strong and steady.

"Back after the attack of New Mexico and Thor returned, destroying the Bifrost…I let myself fall off of the bridge…I was angry. Disappointed. Hurt. I was so many things all at once. I thought that proving myself to Thor, Odin, to everyone that I was just as good if not better than Thor." Loki starts.

"A better what king? You were going on about ruling when we last saw you." Fury questions.

Loki shakes his head "I never wanted the throne…not back then." He says softly.

"What changed your mind?"

"Floating in the vastness of space, waiting to die…I was alone for a long time… it felt like a long time. I didn't know how much time had actually passed. But I did know that when I saw the massive ship arrive, part of me had hoped it was Thor or Asgardians on board." Loki pauses, allowing himself to swallow, giving himself a brief chance to build up the waning courage to discuss the Mad Titan. He runs a hand through his hair "Because I would've at least felt like they cared. That wasn't some insect in their lives. Some nuisance that they were happy to be rid of." Loki's eyes begin to water for he could easily call back that feeling. The excitement that had pulsed through him when he saw the ship. He had stupidly allowed himself to believe that Odin had invested in a big craft to search for the space drifted prince. He felt that they truly cared about him. Missed him enough. But he was wrong.

Oh how he couldn't be more wrong.

No one bothered to search for him.

No one bothered to think about retrieving his body even if he had really died.

"I allowed myself to believe someone cared." He says his voice wobbles slightly "But when they turned their guns onto me I couldn't fight back. I was too weak, too tired….I remember waking up in a cell on their ship." Loki sniffles "They offered me food and drink, and I accepted…a foolish mistake on my part…" he mutters as he wipes at his eyes. 

"Anyone in your position would've done the same." Fury says, his voice comes out soft over the intercom.

"Agreed…but everyone knows someone doesn't do something good for another unless there is a prize at the end of it." Loki growls "Even those who swear it's coming from the kindness of their mortal hearts hope to achieve or obtain something in the end. I should've seen the trap for what it was. Several of his children would look at me. Study me from afar. Until one day he appeared, he called himself Mad Titan at the time. And he told me that he wanted my help and that I didn't have a choice in the matter." He sniffles "He said to me…'I found you drifting in space, I fed you and watered you. That was our silent contract. You belong to me and you will do as I say Asgardian.' Those were his words." Loki says softly after doing his best attempt at a Thanos impression.

"I asked what he was offering and he told me a chance of a lifetime. To see all of the Nine Realms and beyond. A chance to see what Heimdall sees without the heavy lifting." He mutters "That I would get a chance to see worlds I couldn't even dream about." Loki says "He promised me a place at his side, a place amongst his children." 

Loki shakes his head "I refused. I told him that I had my fill of space. I told him that I was thankful for the food and water but before I could say anything he hit me…and I just remember waking up in a cell." Loki says softly. He doesn't say anything for a minute or two, silence falling over them and his station Fury can see an odd look cross over Loki's face "When I woke up I was on a table of sorts…my arms strapped down along with my legs. My clothes were gone, save for undergarments…" Loki licks his lips "I just remember Thanos walking in and in his hand was a large knife 'I told you that you belong to me and you will do as I say.'...those were the words that he told me. Before he used the knife on me." He mutters.

"He would proceed to inflict every possible bit of pain onto me. Be it burning me with objects, stabbing me with this, impaling me with that. It did not matter to him, he wanted whatever power I had to be his. And when I refused him he would-..." Loki trails off "let's just say that he would be sure to remind me that I was beneath him…" Loki mumbles. 

"He made me feel small. He made me feel afraid. And little." Loki starts "He locked me away deep underneath his ship and I would sit in there alone. Day after day…when someone would come they would not come with good intentions." Loki mutters as he runs a hand through his hair. He could feel the anxiety building up in his chest, the prickle of unease creeping up and down his spine making his belly feel light and slightly queasy. Taking a moment to breathe and steady himself Loki begins to speak.

"The children of the Mad Titan would take turns coming into my cell. At first it was just taunts, mere words about no one coming to find me. The usual typical good cop bad banter as they tried to persuade me into joining their ranks." He pauses "And when I refused they'd set about breaking my limbs." Loki swallows "Then they stopped feeding me…they waited until they knew I was starving, when I had begun to look thinner. Frailer. They would bring food, each appearing much more delectable than the last. Each promised me the meal if I bowed…if I sided with him. If I worked for him." Loki laughs dryly "They thought they could break me with food. I'm a god not a dog. I still refused them." He says, sounding slightly proud.

"Then they decided to leave the food just out of reach."

"Let me guess, still too proud to accept the food?" Fury answers.

"I refused! I know I may not look like it, or act- acted like it…but I don't-...." Loki stops talking. He didn't know what to say that would convince Fury that he would never take part in the horrid crimes that Thanos schemed. Willingly at least. 

"I could never…besides my kind can survive weeks without food and water…but it doesn't change the fact that we too still feel the pangs that come with empty bellies." Loki blinks and his throat begins to burn "Then came the isolation. I'm sure Thor spoke of me being alone…keeping away from others. I admit I did keep to myself, I'm not a fool I know when I'm not wanted. I know the looks I get from others, the look of 'why are you here' or 'great he's here'...I don't like to be alone. And when the choice is stolen from me…it makes it all the worst." Loki lowers his gaze "Then he arrived. Again with that same question. And yet I refused him. I told him there was nothing he could do to break me. That I was a god! I don't bend to the likes of him and that there was nothing he could do to me to make me kneel." 

"I feel like there is a 'but' coming…" Fury answers back.

"There is…however not in the sense that you are expecting." Loki continues his voice growing steady once more "I was dragged out of the cell by my hair and thrown into a room on the ship I had never seen. There they-..." Loki's voice began to quake "They…striped me down, leaving me exposed and advanced onto me, grabbing every inch of me. Their hands-..." his voice broke and he sounded like he wanted to cry "I tried to fight back, save any shred of my dignity that I could. But I was bound, my magic blocked…and they began to whip me, and when I fought back my screams they broke my legs and my arms. And if they thought that my cries weren't enough they began to burn me." Tears now gathered in Loki's eyes and one rolled down his cheek. 

"When they had their fun they threw me back into my cell. The pain was unbearable, and only then in the dark of my cell did I allow myself to cry." Loki sniffs "They found new bones to break, new ways to cause me pain…but even then I held on. I held on in front of them…when in reality, alone in my cell I begged for someone to save me. I prayed that Heimdall would see me. That Thor would bring the ship down with his lightning. That Odin loved me enough-..." Loki stops and he lowers his head into his hands and a small weak noise leaves him sounding painfully close to a sob.

Fury doesn't push him. Instead he waits patiently for the black haired Frost Giant to gather himself, he would be lying if he said that Loki's cries didn't bother him.

"I'm sorry…" sniffles Loki.

"You don't have to apologize." Fury reassures.

"But I broke…" the demi-god says finally.

His breathing quickens, the memory of that day playing out clear as day. He could still hear Thanos' voice. Feel the panic that rose up in his chest.

"He came into my cell, again with that same blasted question. That demand for me to join his side. But this time his threat changed. He threatened to kill my mother, he threatened to kill my brother…" he couldn't stop the tears that welled up in his eyes "my children, if I didn't comply." Loki wipes at his eyes only for new tears to take their place. "I didn't have a choice…" his voice broke further. "I didn't want my loved ones to suffer, I couldn't bear to see any of them hurting or in pain." Loki pauses long enough to gather his breath and to steady his voice "So..I finally agreed." He says finally, his voice sounds stuffy when he speaks again "But in doing so, he decided to not only hurt me but also brainwashed me." Loki could feel himself shaking violently as if a block of ice settled in his chest. His hands quake uncontrollably and he has to clasp them together just to get them to stop slightly.

"He used that scepter on me…the same one that I wielded and ultimately ended up using on Barton and everyone else-...." Loki stops talking, closing his eyes "The painful truth is…despite being brainwashed…I knew what I was doing. I had full control over my actions." he sniffles wiping at his running nose "But at the same time my mind wasn't my own. I couldn't stop, he wouldn't even let me rest." A tear rolls down his face.

'I still can't rest. Even in my dreams I see him. In my downtime I can hear his voice, I can still feel his hands on me.' 

He didn't dare speak those thoughts though. He didn't need SHIELD playing on his fears. He's only told two others about this and third having overheard the conversation but still showed him kindness nonetheless. 

"Before arriving here, he took me to many different worlds…testing me. He wanted to be sure I could carry out every command. I made sure to go above and beyond my orders. Eventually he had asked me where we should go next. I just remember suggesting Midgard, Earth." he licks his lips "I guess he liked the answer because, I cannot remember what it was that I said about this planet…but just recall being told that I was ready." He looks at his pale hands "At the same time they had learned about the tesseract and that it was on Earth. It made him all the more eager to send me down. He bestowed onto me the scepter and the next thing I knew I was on Earth." 

Loki blinks, falling silent for a bit. He spilled everything that happened between him and Thanos, all because he had that tiny glimmer of hope that the TVA would arrive. But they didn't. They didn't show up and now he's left here magicless and left at the mercy of those he had hurt.

"I can't apologize enough for that day. For my actions. I know that my words hold little solace towards those who have been afflicted by the invasion…" Loki's words fail him and he can't bring himself to saything more. So he just sits there wiping at his eyes with his head down.

Back in the other room where Fury and his agents are, Fury finds himself shaking his head "Put him back in his cell." He says.

"Are we just supposed to let him go free?" One of the agents asked.

"How does letting him go back to his cell imply me letting him go? I'm just giving the man a break." He replies before exiting the room and making his way over to Loki's room.

"I trust that you can find your way back to your cell without causing a problem." Fury questions as he opens the door and Loki just nods without a word, as he steps out a few agents step up with guns trained on him. Fury waves them off "Leave them." Fury demands and Loki meets his eye before returning to his cell. 

Fury is currently in his office, his eye ghosting over Loki's file for a bit before reaching for his computer when he hears a knock at his door.

"Enter."

A young SHIELD agent steps up, their hands behind their back. It's clear they had something incredibly urgent to share. "Sir, we have a problem…there's someone here for Loki." The agent nervously says, their eyes holding that same urgency, silently pleading for the man to follow.

"And who exactly is this someone ?" Fury asks, rising to his feet.

"The council sir."

Chapter Text

Fury storms down to the boardroom where his agent had told him the Council is waiting for him. He honestly never expected them to arrive so soon, part of him knew that they were going to show up but he had hoped they would've given a little more time. He had a plan but of course they had to bigfoot the situation like they did when they sent that missile, that goodness for Stark being out there.

One of the Councilman stands up upon seeing Fury approaching prompting the others to rise as well. With his lone eye narrowed Fury can't help but show his rage as he marches through the door "What right do you have showing up here unannounced!?" He barks.

"Excuse me?" The female member, Pamela Hawley, squawks, sounding offended "Director Fury, need I remind you who is in charge over this whole operation."

Fury glares at her "And do I need to remind you who is handling this situation?" He snaps back.

"Is that what you are calling this?" Councilman Alexander Pierce retorts, causing Fury to look at him.

"And what do you mean by that?"

"We received word from one of your agents that you aren't holding up your end of the bargain. You told us that you would handle this criminal." Councilman Gideon Malick chimes in "And what do we learn instead? That you're feeding him, giving him a chance to sleep, and going easy on him with the questioning."

"Well I suppose I could've tried it your way and not gotten a single answer out of em." Fury says sarcastically he knows exactly which agent it was that went crying to the higher ups. "And just so you know, that particular agent can't be considered a reliable source. He's too invested, it's too personal. So of course he would see these actions as something they are not." Fury starts "I don't do anything without a purpose in mind, and buttering up Loki is just needed steps for my endgame. Thor himself even said shouting and yelling only succeeds in making Loki hostile, that if he doesn't like the direction the argument is going he'll shut down. Especially when the verdict is dropped. So tell me Council how you propose I deal with a touchy god who may throw a tantrum?" Fury asks, holding out his arms at his side.

The Council is silent for a moment.

"And how do you know we can trust his brother?" Councilman Chao Yen asks "How can you trust that he isn't just trying to get Loki off with a slap on the wrist?"

"Because while you all were busy trying to nuke my city I saw Thor out there sticking his neck out for us. In case you forgot he not only handcuffed Loki but slapped a muzzle on him too."

"But wasn't it Thor's fault for letting the criminal escape?" 

"No, if you want to pin blame on anyone, stick it on Stark and Banner. According to Banner, Stark made Hulk take the stairs. And as much as I want to blame the stunt of the Arc Reactor blinking out, I don't really think that would be fair…now would it." 

No one says anything.

"Now if you all would excuse me, I have to make a deal with a god." Fury states as he starts to turn on his heels but halts when he hears Councilman Jakuna Singh speak up "We're not finished here Director Fury. We told you to handle this criminal. And here we are hearing that you wish to cut a deal with him. The people are demanding that something is done to him. They want to see him punished. And because you failed to deliver we will carry out what you failed to do."

Pamela reaches into her purse and pulls out a device that resembles a cellphone; she taps at the screen and hits the lower half which sends several armed and armored men spilling into the halls sweeping the building for Loki. The anger that was present on Fury's face doesn't let up if anything the expression deepens. He turns around facing the group "You are making a very big mistake. You don't know what you're getting yourself into messing with Loki let alone taking him." Fury warns.

"I'm sure we can handle Loki. He isn't the first criminal that we had the pleasure of taking on." Alexander Pierce scoffs.

"Sure, whatever you say." Fury starts his words nor his voice giving away anything of what he truly feels and means "But I warn you, you didn't witness any of the powers he has like I did." Lies Fury "I doubt that you all can handle him." He continues. Yet the Council before him matched his gaze.

"Oh I am more than certain we can handle him. He was easily taken down by the Avengers was he not?" Pamela says her question sounds much more like a rhetorical question than an actual one. Fury can only glare as the armored figure standing near the door lifts a hand to their ear and nods. Stepping inside he looks at the higher ups and then locks his eyes with Fury "We found the criminal." He is clearly pleased that they sniffed out Loki's cell.

"It's not like I was hiding him." Fury scoffs.

"I suppose not. But it just goes to show that allowing you and your team to be the ones that punished the criminal was a huge mistake on our part. We should've been the one taking care of this menace, ensuring that the people are safe. You and your Avengers clearly are ill-fitted for the task." Alexander snaps. As he says this, the armored figures can be seen marching past, in the middle of them is Loki. The Asgardian Frost Giant was bound, his hands cuffed behind his back. Leather straps wound around his chest as large buckles fasten it in place making it impossible for him to move his arms.

On his legs are heavy metal leg cuffs, a chain connects each cuff around his ankles as another trails up behind him attaching to the one on his wrists. And covering his mouth is a muzzle of sorts, resembling the one his brother would slap onto him. As he is pushed forward Fury couldn't help but watch with silent frustration and when he and Loki make eye contact when one of the armored brutes force him into the boardroom Fury gives him a look that he hopes the liar would understand.

'Hang in there. This wasn't part of my plan. I will make this right.'

But Loki only looks away. And Fury couldn't blame him. He looked worn out, had little to no down time, and here he was about to be thrown into another stressful and unforgiving place.

Fury wasn't one to easily sympathize with others let alone people like Loki who had ill intentions. But, be it his imagination or that skilled silvertongue or maybe it was the fact that this big bad had actually broken down in front of them. Whatever it was that this trickster had done it had this man feeling horrible like he had failed him in some odd way. And oddly enough maybe he has. He had pushed Loki a little too far and ended up just getting the same response as before. He knows he couldn't have gone easy on him no matter what Thor tried to say and fit in that would get Loki to talk. 

What he did was necessary even if others would deem it cruel. Loki's actions in reality were far worse than having someone getting in his face and screaming hurtful stuff until he cried.  

But at the same time the Council had leapt into the middle. Ruining the chances Fury was stuffing together, was piecing together and working out the kinks to ensure that no future trip ups would show up. 

"So you thought you could stow away here didn't you." Grunts Jakuna "Bet you enjoyed your down time, Fury was too soft on you, treating you with a gentle hand when in reality you need a good shaking. You need to be bent over a knee and given a few good swats to that backside of yours." 

Loki, unable to say anything, just stares at them, his blue-green eyes saying 'just get it over with'. The Council members gather around the ex-villain and each just smiles at him before Councilman Douglas Rockwell turns "Well we'll be taking our leave now, thank you for your cooperation Director Fury. We'll be taking our leave."

With that the Council, their men, and Loki leave the Avengers Compound. Stepping out of the building one of the armored men steps over to Loki and forces a black cloth sack over his head.

'Is this really necessary?' Wonders Loki. He didn't bother to fight back, he couldn't even if he truly wanted to. He figured it made them feel safe. So he just allowed himself to be marched into a large windowless aircraft and forced into a seat. He hears chatter about 'fox caught the rabbit' and that they are 'returning to the den' before everything falls silent.

If he wasn't muzzled he would've asked if the bag was truly necessary, he didn't think it was. He couldn't do anything anyway. Honestly he could care less where their base was, he had zero intention of going back to a place that will or may cause him pain and suffering.

Loki shifts uncomfortably, his wrists and ankles were starting to hurt and he just couldn't get comfortable with his arms behind his back and being sat bent at an awkward angle with his chest sticking out. Loki winces and a small noise of discomfort escapes him but it goes ignored.

He can hear more chatter but this time it's about him. 

"You're brave sitting right next to that lunatic." 

"Not like I got a choice. Honestly I'd take the Green Goblin over this nut job any day."

"Eh, I'd say the Hulk…even if he isn't a bad guy."

"Ever wonder what goes through the minds of people like that." 

Loki could feel the point directed at him.

"I don't know and frankly I could care less…"

"Ugh. To think he was a baby at one point." A moment of silence "Feel sorry for whoever or whatever raised him. Then again he got it from somewhere." 

Loki could feel anger welling up in his chest, he knows that they aren't the biggest fan of him. He knows that he had wronged them but why couldn't they leave Frigga out of it? She is a kind and gentle soul who didn't do anything wrong. 

"But perhaps, her only crime had been raising me…." Loki thought sadly. Maybe she'd been happier with him out of the picture. Who knows the great things she'd accomplish had she not spent her years teaching him magic, or worrying over him. Loki bites down hard on the piece in his mouth to overpower the sadness he is feeling. 

"So what do you think we're gonna do with him?" Loki hears someone else speak up in a lighter voice.

"Who knows, those old farts never tell us anything. For all we know we're just going to throw him in a cell and call it a day."

"Kinda hoping we get to rip him a new one, I mean SHIELD got dig at him. Why can't we?"

Loki listens wordlessly as they all begin to talk about what they want done to him. One even suggested that he'd be publicly paddled until his backside glowed red.

And as childish as the punishment was, he honestly felt sick at the idea of such treatment as a young adult demi-god. He hated it as a kid, Odin was particularly aggressive when he would take the trickster over his knee. He would be as brutish with Thor, just a few light smacks to a clothed bottom and sent on his way. Loki would suffer bare bottom swats each with a word attached to it and much more painful than the last.

He shook at the memory that was trying to bubble up. He wasn't sure what was in store but he knew he wasn't looking forward to it. 

When the bag finally comes off Loki finds that he is held in yet another cell, except this one is cold. He can see his breath bellowing inches from his lips. It was funny honestly to know that they placed him in a cell with the coldest setting, perhaps hoping to get him so cold that he'll spill whatever nasty truth to them with the promise of warmth. And now he wonders how long it will take for them to realize that he is immune to the cold. Like the lookalike Hulk cell he was in at the compound this one has windows all around. But it lacks any form of a bed. Any real furniture at all.

Leaving him to stand awkwardly at its center, unable to do much else of anything. No with the uncomfortable bindings in place. Loki sighs as he hobbles a bit trying to shake loose the biting of the cuffs in all four limbs. The muzzle still stuck on his face dug into his cheeks.

He doesn't have to wait long though, he picks up on the sound of footsteps approaching. The steady clicking of heels against the polished tile floor. Through the mounting pain of his restraints making his vision blur Loki is able to see a young woman approaching him. She hits something on a tablet that she has on her person and the cell door opens allowing her inside. 

She says nothing as she steps up to Loki and begins to unbuckle the straps and uncuff the handcuffs. She moves behind him and unlocks the leg cuffs as she works on freeing the god's legs, he goes to rub at his aching wrists before rubbing his upper arms. Loki could see deep pink twin rings marring his wrists. They will fade like the other scars and wounds he'd obtained but the memory will linger.

Loki goes to remove the muzzle and stretches his mouth open wide to help loosen it before rubbing at his jaw "A bit much, wouldn't you agree?" Loki asks. But he's only met with silence leaving him to frown. The young woman collects the bindings and without a second glance or a word to the trickster she leaves, the cell closing up behind her.

Leaving Loki alone once more.

The only upside being is that he no longer had his shackles leaving him to move much more freely now. He lowers himself to the ground to massage his ankles, despite having socks on the cuffs still managed to chew into his skin. He wondered how long it would take for these markings to fade away, even without his magic his wounds would heal quickly. Loki sighs as he leans against the glass and rubs at his face.

Loki looks around taking in the room fully; aside from the obvious glass wall he notices a drain in the center of the floor.

"I suppose that's making cleaning up after me much easier."

Loki sighs. 

He knows that they are purposely prolonging his punishment and interrogation. They are hoping to make him uncomfortable and squirm but it's not going to work. He's been in this spot far too many times to be shaken up by this method. For now he'll just let his mind wander though he hates that his first thought goes straight to Mobius.

His expression softens and his eyes shine his thoughts going back to a moment when he and the analyst were sharing lunch together.

"Wait so let me get this straight, you have never been in love?" 

Mobius sniffs as he chews a bit in thought before swallowing "Yeah. Kinda don't have time for that kind of stuff when you're in charge of not only the Sacred Timeline but monitoring a pain in butt variant."

Loki frowns before glaring at his food, a simple baked potato with a side of salad.

"Okay let me ask, have you ever been in love?" 

Loki blushes and coughs.

"Ah, who was she- or maybe he?"

Loki quickly shovels a bit of potato into to avoid the question but only succeeds in choking on it. Causing Mobius to laugh at his charge. Loki coughs doing his best to glare, and the older man shakes his head "Oh come on, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone falls in love sometimes it's on purpose or accidental. Sometimes people fall in love with characters or real people. Heck sometimes it's that love people have for pets."

Loki rolls his eyes, "Not me." He starts "I can't recall ever falling in love with someone. I don't need something as pathetic as-..."

Mobius was looking at him with a raised eyebrow causing Loki to falter and the older man smirks "You liar, you know you crave love just as much as everyone else. You bawled your eyes after you watched your file. I know the part with you pops had you in tears." 

Loki looks away, the blush deepening on his cheeks. 

"Hey, it's nothing to be embarrassed by. Just means you love them if their deaths pained you so much." Mobius says and takes a sip of his soda.

Loki nods and sighs "To be honest, I had two people I liked…one of whom I had planned on marrying." 

"Oh yeah, Sigyn, I remember her. She was the one who was influenced by Lady Sif. Man, well if it's any consolation you and her probably would've broken the timeline."  

"You know, usually when someone says consolation it's usually followed up with something comforting or positive." Loki says with a frown.

"What? That was comforting." Jokes Mobius. 

"No. I don't see what's comforting about being pruned." 

Mobius just laughs "Just finish your food." Sniffs Mobius.

Loki sniffles at the memory, he wonders what Mobius's type is. A female version of him? Would she like jet skis? And would that mean Sylvie was her Loki?

Sylvie. 

He missed her so much. He could only pray that she is alive and well, hoping ghar she's okay with the title of 'Superior Loki'. It's something he would've gladly given her as long as it meant that he could stay forever by her side.

Loki narrows his eyes suddenly, his gaze cold making his eyes blue. "What…" he says, turning his exhaustion into anger. He didn't need to turn around to know that it was a group of armored men standing armed and ready. If he was being honest, the sight of them didn't bother him, now that he had seen a team of real threatening soldiers. The TVA really shook him to his core. He didn't know what to expect, he had thought they would be a group of aimless gunmen. Easily tricked and easily overpowered.

But thanks to Hunter B-15 he was proven wrong. Watching that guy get pruned for simply not having a ticket proved him wrong. And the fact the Minutemen don't even have names just shows how expendable they are and could be replaced.

"War Criminal Loki, it is time to serve your punishment for what you have done. You have evaded retribution long enough. Our people have waited long enough to see you punished." The one speaking draws their weapon and cocks it before aiming the muzzle of the long black pistol at Loki "Come quietly or we won't hesitate to use force." 

Loki frowns and shakes his head. Why did they always have to say that? Shaking his head he pushes himself up to his feet and holds up his hands "There is no need to get violent. Brute force doesn't equal power or strength…" Loki says, earning him a groan from another guard "Rich coming from the guy who sent aliens after us. Yeah real nugget of  wisdom right there."

Loki's frown deepens, but he had expected it. Especially when had only shown that brutish persona when he first arrived. Part of him wonders how things would've turned out if he had gone about claiming the tesseract differently. Would they just have given it to him if he had asked?

Maybe they could have found a middle ground if they perhaps talked? If he had the chance to use his skills in lying maybe he could've crafted a clever lie. Something that even Fury would have to believe as the truth. And yet that moment had come and gone.

All Loki could hope to do now was either delay the inevitable or talk his way out of it completely. But how to go about it he wasn't sure of just yet. 

'Just play along for as long as you can…'

Loki doesn't say anything more as he allows himself to be led out of his cell and down the long twisting hallway which seems to spiral deep down into nothingness. Every so often a section of the hall would branch off lead who knows where. Loki noticed that there seemed to be many windows, many different layers to this group calling themselves the 'Council' and for all he knew they could be Midgards own version of the Time Variant Authority.

And with each level they passed he failed to gather an idea of who and what they are. So far he only managed to gather that they want him to pretty much suffer. They want him to hurt like how he made them hurt. They want to break him and Loki can feel that they might succeed if he isn't careful. If what he says isn't the truth, if he treats this interrogation like a silly game.

Like he has done so many times before with Odin.

Like he would have done before Mobius stept into his life. 

He wants to show them that he has changed for the better, that he is no longer a threat to Midgard. That he wants to be good and help any way he can, maybe he'll find where he belongs. Or maybe find his way back to the TVA.

Being honest Loki wasn't sure which would be better for him. He just knows that he wants to be passed this day, passed this however long with the questoning. 

So for now he shuffles idly along with a gun pressed in between his shoulder blades as the gunmen murmur about him literally behind his back and it takes everything in his power not to fire back. Soon they happen upon a guard who is standing near a smooth wall and just behind them is a selection of buttons. With a nod from one of the gunmen the one guarding the buttons steps aside and allows for the one who nodded to make their way over.

"Basement level is where we're working." They say and push on a button causing the doors to open.

Seconds later a ding fills the space and the middle of the wall slides open revealing it to be an elevator. Stepping inside, with the gunmen on all sides, Loki watches as the doors close and they begin the ride down. 

"So where are you taking me, undoubtedly somewhere to kill me?" Loki asks.

Yet no one answers him.

"Just for the record not telling me where you are taking me doesn't change the outcome. In fact it doesn't surprise me if you are taking me somewhere to kill me. Honestly it would surprise me more if you were taking me somewhere to talk." Loki says, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Several of the gunmen look at one another each silently asking the other 'why is he talking'.

"I might add that if you are hoping to intimate me in some way, it won't work. Prying and getting under my skin won't get you anywhere either, my mind's too strong." He continues and opens his mouth to say something else only to be cut off by an annoyed gunman. 

"Just shut up! Your voice is so irritating!" 

Loki huffs before looking over to the short tempered other and speaks directly to them "You know you're not the first person to tell me that my voice is annoying." He says before turning around some to glance at the people riding the lift. 

The one Loki addressed just sighs clearly annoyed with the trickster. And he couldn't be more grateful for the elevator coming to a complete stop letting them off with a ding and its doors opening.

The one Loki had been talking to dragged the silvertongue down a hall and into a room with white walls and white tile floor that was stationed at the very end with two doors on opposite sides. At the center is a wooden chair with straps and wires attached to it, the wires leading from the chair spill out behind it and lay in a tangled heap in front of a massive machine with a lever. The men work together to drag Loki inside and dump him into the chair.

Another sets to work strapping him in and attaching the wires to him as someone dressed in a white lab coat makes their way over to the machine. 

"We're all ready." Lab Coat calls out through an earpiece.

"Excellent, let's begin shall we." Calls a female voice prompting Loki to look around. That's when he spots a large window and six people standing on the other side. He didn't recognize any of them, but they all seemed to be around the same age.

"Loki from Asgard, and brother of Thor. This is day one of your punishment." One of the Councilmen announces. Consider it a practice for what's to come." 

"Now listen here, we're going to be discussing that stunt of yours." This time a woman's voice can be heard "And we're going to be giving you a chance to answer truthfully. Every lie you spin, every tall tale you tell, and every answer we aren't happy with we'll be administering onto you…" a snap of the woman's fingers and the Lab Coat proceeds to pull the level. Causing the machine to spark and buzz send strong bolts of electricity through the trickster. 

Loki's body jerks and spasms, as he's electrocuted. He struggles to take a breath and veins begin to show on his neck and face. A wave from one of the Council members causes the Lab Coat to cut the power and Loki sags forward slightly panting. 

"Understood?"

Loki coughs and he nods. He didn't see any point in arguing with these humans. Nor did he look forward to being shocked again. But how does he answer in a way that they would like? What answers are they going to be happy with? 

"And what answers are ones that will please you?" Loki questions.

"The truth." Jakuna snaps.

"Of course that would be impossible for you, wouldn't it? Being someone who has built his entire life on lies." Mocks Douglass.

Loki narrows his eyes, he wanted to snap back but his life had been built on lies. But not his own. But his fathers. Loki wondered if they knew of his true parentage but dismissed it. Figuring that they are more or less familiar with the folklore books that fill Midgardian shelves. 

"I promise to tell you nothing but the truth." Loki promises, and as much truth as he can that'll paint a picture of him being on their side. He needs them to believe him. He needs them to know that he isn't a threat. That he has changed. 

"Good. First question: where is the cube?"

Loki bites his tongue holding back the urge to make a smart comment mostly because he thought of Sylvie and her threat to slice him open to snatch back her stolen Tempad. It made him tempted to say something witty.

"I lost it." He states looking away. It wasn't entirely a lie, he did lose it when the TVA took it from him.

"You lost the cube." 

Loki hesitates testing the waters, it's clear they want an explanation "After I escaped I encountered a group calling themselves the TVA or Time Variant Authority." Loki starts part of him hoping that this would summon them but like last time no one shows up "Think of them as Time wizards, policing and controlling the proper flow of time." he shakes "I know sounds absurd I didn't believe it until I witnessed it." Loki speaking of the TVA fills his voice with an indescribable amount of awe.

It sounded like he was bringing up an old friend. "The things they showed me, the places I've been to" Loki pauses his voice tight as he remembers Thanos choking him and the files documenting Ragnörok "The files I read about a future I can't hope to stop or avoid…because it's meant to be." Loki explains "I ha-aaaargh!"

Loki's words are cut off by a pain cry escaping his throat. Electricity courses through him and Loki finds it hard to breathe, the shock lasts for a minute or two longer before ending leaving him to huff heavily. 

'What did I say wrong?'

As if reading his thoughts Loki can hear one of the Councilmen speak but who exactly he has yet to match faces to voices. 

"As adorable as your story is, we want the truth. Not a fairy tale."

Loki swallows and he shakes his head "And what I have shared is the truth. As outlandish as it seems and sounds it is the truth." Loki says "Not even I could think up something so bizzare."

"Let's say that for the sake of arguing your story is true. I want to know what you gained from attacking our planet, surely you promised something." 

He was. He was promised the chance to rule the planet as their king. And he would've too if it weren't for the Avengers big-footing their way in the middle of his- well his plans. He had wanted a throne, a means to have people celebrate him the same way they did his father and brother. To look upon him in awe. And the Mad Titan wanted the tesseract. Fair enough trade. Maybe if he had succeeded the first time he would've gotten a different ending.

If he had succeeded in delivering that stupid cube Thanos would never end up hurting Thor. Asgard's people would be alive. He could've gotten that hug. But his future is that. His future is painful.

But he has a chance to right that wrong. He can make his own path, and some ancient space lizards won't get a say in it.  

Loki nods "If I had accomplished my goal, I would've been given the chance to rule earth." He admits softly "It's what I had always wanted."

There was something in the way he speaks that gives way that he has something else to say. Loki closes his eyes "But that's not what I want. Not anymore." 

"And what do you want?" Growls Alexander.

"To be good. I have been told by someone dear…that I had-...have the chance to do good. To be good." He explains "I turned over a new leaf, a fresh start." 

Silence follows and Loki searches each of their faces for a sign that they believe him. Instead one of them scoffs.

"Nice try." Chao says crossing his arms "You're a very good liar, you should go into politics 'President Loki' sounds catchy." 

Loki looks away shaking his head "I'm not lying." He says, sounding close to being desperate. 

"That's what liars say." 

Loki frowns, shaking his head slightly.

"Let me ask you this." Jakuna and Loki continues to keep his gaze down "Let's just say that you are telling the truth, what do you gain from joining the heroes? What is your plan at the end? Worm your way to the top and take over SHIELD?"

Loki sighs "No. I just want to-..." he shakes his head. How is he supposed to convince them when they clearly refuse to believe his words? When already assume the absolute worst of him.

"And once at the top are you going to bring another invasion?" A pause "Speaking of which, what was your purpose for the invasion?"

Loki looks between them. What could he say that will make them see his side? He honestly was just going with the motions. He was moving on autopilot. He only really remembers bits and pieces of the whole ordeal. Mainly the battles and fights. What exactly he said is fuzzy. 

Suddenly without warning Loki cries out in agony as he is electrocuted, the Council watches as the ex-villain arches and deep blue veins appear on his skin. When the switch is pulled Loki is left panting and shaking, he never liked thunder or lightning, ironic given that his brother is the god of Thunder. But even before his sibling gained the title thunder spooked Loki but it wasn't until Thor had used his lightning on him did it actually become a fear. Back then he had never imagined Thor actually hurting him. Enter this mess, the invasion he was puppeteered in, the awful things he has done, followed by the vicious beating to the face Thor inflicted onto him before slamming him to the ground. Despite the pain that exploded through his face his brother had jogged a moment of clarity.

Though he still had the residual haze off Thanos commanding him, his actions were still not fully his own. Only when Hulk had slammed him into the ground did he fully snap out of the control of the Titan. 

"We're not going to ask you again, what was the purpose of your invasion!" Douglas snaps. Loki pants as he looks up at the massive window separating him and the goading Council people "I've told you and SHIELD…" he licks his lips "I was tasked with clearing a way for the Mad Titan, he wanted not only the tesseract but Midgard as well. He was hoping that by making a martyr of New York, and later the Avengers you all would come to see reason. His way of thinking." Loki says for about the third time "I know not what else to tell you but it's the truth."  

The one in charge looks towards the elders awaiting a signal Loki dreaded. A moment passes before one of the Councilmen raises a hand and the machine begins to roar to life and Loki's eyes widen in fear "No! Nonono, please d-aaargh!" Loki's pleas were cut off by the sound of the machine sparking, the one in charge of dishing out the punishment is instructed to increase the voltage and they do so causing Loki's cries to increase. 

His body jerks and his hands and feet spasm as the blue veins reappear this time a deeper shade of blue as parts of his skin begin to return to their true Jötunn appearance. The war of the electricity coursing through him made the glamor that Odin had put upon him to waver. The process lasts longer, much longer than before and when it's finally over Loki's Jötunn form made a brief appearance, blood red eyes and deep blue skin before fading back to his Aesir form. His hair is frizzy and standing on end, sticking up here and there. His face is flushed and Loki is unable to catch his breath.

The doors open to the chamber and the Council surrounds him and Loki braces for what comes next. For all he knows they plan on hurting him further.

 "What are you?" 

Loki looks slightly confused, clearly trying to figure out the right way to answer the question.

"Are all Asgardians blue?"

He wanted to make a smart remark but shoved the urge down, knowing that it was in its own right a real genuine question for Midgardians to ask. Even if it was a dumb one.

"Why are you posing as us?"

Not being given the chance to answer the last two Loki attempts to get a word in. Hearing that they think that he's pretending to be like them is another outrageous question that he somewhat respects. 

"Does Thor have the same grotesque form as you?"

This one hurt. He prayed that the wounded feelings didn't play out on his face, that his eyes didn't give anything away either. Because he was still struggling with the truth of what he is. He knows how he feels about the Jötunns and what he was taught. But he's struggling to love who he is. 

What he is. He can't stand the sight of his true form, from the way his skin is etched down to the blood red eyes. He wonders if the fact he is a Frost Giant is why he can never be Asgard's shining example of a prince. Why is it that he only ends up hurting people and those who he loves.

"What abilities do you have that you aren't telling us about?"

This question snaps him out of his darkening thoughts and he frowns. What does he tell them? Should he be vague? He doesn't want them to know everything about him, they could use something against him if he isn't careful.

"Is that why you attacked Earth?"

There are too many questions coming at him at once causing Loki to shake his head. He couldn't think straight and his brain was playing a tug-o-war within itself between lies and truth. He knew he was in a losing battle with these Midgardians. It's clear as crystal that this Council doesn't care about his truth. They want some sick twisted version. A version that paints the trickster as some dement madman. And Loki wasn't going to give it to them just because they wanted it.

He made a promise to Mobius and he was going to keep it.

Taking a deep breath he tries to buy some time. He just needed a moment alone, a moment to calm down and work on straightening out the important questions from the obvious bait. But what could be said to give him a moment alone? 

After a moment he realizes one that is bound to give him time.

"Please, I will answer your questions. Honest..I just need a moment. If you would be so kind, may I use your facilities?" Loki asks, adding a hint of urgency to his voice to make it sound far more important and real. Though if he was being honest he also had to go he had to since the first interrogation with Fury.

"What, you can destroy our home, our world, but you can't hold your bladder." Jakuna scoffs.

Loki looks offended but says nothing else of the matter instead focusing on delaying the inevitable punishments "My other appearance is my true appearance. I am the only Jötunn to live in Asgard…as far as I know."

"As far as you know, what does that mean?"

"I myself didn't know I was Jötunn. My father…" Loki's throat burns at the mention of Odin. He never thought mentioning the Allfather would make him so sorrowful, then again he never imagined his father dying. He knows death was a part of life but he had that childish thought that his parents would always be there.

"My father used magic to alter my appearance." He takes a deep breath "I didn't know I was different." He swallows "I didn't know I was adopted either." He sighs in a defeated way "As for my powers…." he starts knowing that he couldn't reveal too much about himself. He didn't trust them, he wasn't going to let them get the advantage over or exploit a weakness with what he told them. So he played the safe option, he'd mention his magic. They couldn't tamper with his already busted magic, they would probably believe his magic ability is a lie. 

"I am able to do everything that my brother can do, minus controlling and manipulating thunder." Loki holds his head up high "I specialize in magic. For me I am able to do a numerous amount of different abilities with magic. Including illusion projection and duplication casting." 

"Aren't they the same?" Pamela questions. 

Loki mentally rolls his eyes how is it that no one seems to get that these are two seperate powers "Oh no, they are completely different powers. You see, illusion projection allows me to generate extremely detailed images from outside oneself, which are perceptible in the external world." The liar explains "As where duplication casting is where I can recreate an exact facsimile of my own body, which acts as a true holographic mirror of its molecular structure in its present circumstance." He explains.

"Show us." 

Loki pales. How was he supposed to show them he currently can't access it "Well, how unfortunate. You see, my magic is currently disrupted. I would've been able to show you had you not electrocuted me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

"It's exactly as it sounds. Consider it a weakness." Loki says hoping his lie would get them to move away from the topic of his magic. He doesn't know when it will return but once it does they'll be sorry they ever laid a hand on-....

Loki silently reprimands himself. He wasn't going to do that. He can't lash back, good guys don't attack civilians. Even if they get under their skin.

Instead he focuses on their questions "Like I told Fury…my coming here wasn't by mere happenstance. I was forced here because a much bigger threat had manipulated me into doing so. Yes I agreed to help but he had toyed with my mind, a mere puppet in Thano's circus." Loki explains.

"And how do we find this Thanos?" Chen asks "If he does exist."

"Find? Why do you want to find him? Thanos is a relentless unagreeable brute who does not and cannot see reason no matter how you explain a situation. No one stands a chance against him."

'I didn't…' Mutters Loki softly.

"We aren't afraid of some brute." Pamela grunts as she crosses over to Loki, who struggles against his restraints "And you are all fools for thinking he isn't a threat. And I mean that with no disrespect." Loki looks at the council before him, his blue-green eyes flashing with a hint of fear.

"You haven't seen the horrors of what he is capable of that I have." Loki pleads his words tremble through the sentence.

"What did he do exactly?" Gideon asks as he narrows his eyes at Loki. The silvertongue frowns, just the mention of Thanos sends shivers through the trickster now he needs to retell the endeavors he suffered through alongside wrinkled chin purple brute. After having just calmed down from SHIELD's badgering of the same topic. And talking about it again and again doesn't make it any easier. He closes his eyes trying to mentally prepare himself for this nightmarish retailing. 

'At least it's just his actions and not my own.' 

"To make an uncomfortably long story short, he dabbled in population control." He said feeling slightly relieved that his voice held strong "He had gone to world after world slaughtering as many as he can. He's threatened so many innocent lives…he slain them right in front of me…" Loki's voice quivered.

'I had to hurt innocent people.'

"You seem like the type to enjoy watching people suffer." Chao states and Loki narrows his eyes "Mock if you want but know that you know nothing about me." Snaps Loki "What you saw that day was a mere illusion. A lie! I was simply playing a role." Loki found that he was just rambling. Stalling for what precious time he could salvage before they unleash their next attack onto him.

"And that vicious attack on that-"

"All an elaborate hoax to draw out your precious Avengers." Lies Loki. He feared what they would do to him if he said that he knew what he was doing, he just couldn't stop. Even when he was worn out he had to push forward.

"And that invasion?"

"The grand finale to the great glorious purpose." He found it weird saying those words again but he needed to get these humans to believe him even if it was a lie, he needed them to know that he was no longer their enemy.

"And as it may be I had no control over that, all that I had done was oversee the construction of the portal." 

"Reports on that day say otherwise, we read that you were aiding those aliens. And you claim you only were in charge of that portal of yours. You seem to forget those eighty people you murdered in two days. Along with those innocent lives you snuffed out with the help of those aliens." Douglas snaps. 

Loki looks away. 

"But we're here to remind you. Here to make you pay for those crimes. For we the Council find you, Loki, guilty on all charges. And you shall not only be punished here but punished publicly as well." Jakuna announces.

Loki couldn't help but look horrified. This wasn't the punishment? This barbaric form of torture was just for what? Just to see him squirm and howl. To see if he'd break and spill everything he knew. 

And what was this public punishment? Were they going to pelt him with food or string him up and everyone beats him with the first thing they can grab. Or maybe they'll have their way with him in any way they can think, much like the Chitauri did.

And that fear for not knowing what they are planning to do to him scares him. 

With his heart pounding, Loki is brought into a room resembling the Time Theater back in the TVA. At the center is a metal bed much like the one a coroner would use to examine a body. Loki is lifted onto it and forced onto his back where he is strapped down. The bed is swiveled and lifted, a bit too fast for Loki's liking making him feel slightly nauseous.  

The door opens somewhere behind Loki followed by the sound of footsteps. Until the figure stops beside Loki staring down at him "Do you have any last words?" 

"Why? Are you going to kill me? I-...haven't I answered your questions? I-...." The words failed him. He wasn't sure what he was trying to say; he just wanted to delay what was coming. The council looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Why? You have the nerve to ask us why? Have you forgotten that you attacked our city? Killed innocent people! You have the nerve to ask why we have the right to punish you!? You! A heartless murderer." The councilwoman scolds. A tear rolls down Loki's cheek and he closes his eyes.

'That's not who I am anymore…'

The words cut deep and Loki looks away. He hears someone scoff "Are you actually crying? It's too late for your tears. You lost every ounce of our sympathy." 

A masked figure approaches and holds up a large metal syringe. Loki feels hands on his head and he's held down, he can feel the sharp pinch of the needle going into his neck, and a surge of coldness flows through him. 

But that was it.

Loki blinks in surprise before looking at the figures around him before trying to figure out what it was that they did to him. Before Loki could ask what happened a large screen comes down and flicks on. And Loki is positioned to face it, symbols flash and words fill the space. 

"Green. Goat. Magic. New York. Criminal. Evil."

The words repeat over and over. And with each word a light ding follows which is accompanied by a painful shock. 

"Green. Goat. Magic. New York. Criminal. Evil."

More shocks with each word.

"Green. Goat. Magic. New York. Criminal. Evil."

Soon Loki is screaming in pain. His breathing is coming out in short rugged pants and his eyes are watering. The Council continues this, ignoring the trickster's pleas and cries. Instead they begin to throw in names into the mix. Names of the victims of the invasion he, Loki, had brought onto this state. Each name matched with a face that flashes on the big screen in front of him.

Soon screams fill the space as the torture continues. Loki screams in agony as tears stream down his face. The god's cries fell on deaf ears as pleased smiles crossed the Council's face. 

"What's wrong? Can't handle a little pain?" 

And just when Loki thought he could bear the pain any longer it stops and he's left breathing heavily.

"I think he's ready." Douglas says looking over to the rest of his councilmen.

"Get the news to join us in a call. Any and every station." Pamela instructs one of the suited employees standing near the door prompting them to nod and walk out. Loki is left quaking his eyes glazed over as he struggles to catch his breath.

His mind is already racing with the fear of what will come next. Of what will happen when his face is broadcasted to millions. Millions of people who hate him. Who wants him dead. Who wants nothing to do with him. Who just wants to see him pay.

Soon the large screen flickers on and displayed on its face is many different news stations all tuned in onto their location. Loki isn't sure how they are watching them and in his current state he can't bring himself to care. He can only hope that whatever they are going to do gets over with quickly.

The council watches as the screen fills with the faces of news reporters. 

"Is it true that you, the Council, have apprehended the war criminal?" One reporter asks.

"It is." Jakuna says proudly "We want everyone to know that we are not going to let him get away with the atrocious crimes he has committed, unlike SHIELD, who deemed him fit to be an asset."

"Have you all thought of the death penalty?" Asks one reporter, this makes Loki stiffen. He looks at the Council before him. Would they kill him? Would they not give him a chance to prove that he is not the same Loki that attacked New York? 

Douglas smiles "We have deemed the criminal not worthy of something so kind such as death. Instead we want him to suffer, to live with the crimes plaguing him. And we want you, the world, to witness justice! This vile beast will know pain." 

Loki is suddenly released from his bindings and dropped to the ground. Loki struggles to push himself up into a sitting position, he's shaking and he looks up towards the massive screen displaying many many faces. Each watching him with hate in their eyes, and scowls on their faces.

Loki sniffles as he looks away. His eyes shimmering with unshed tears, he hangs his head closing his eyes, sending the tears down his face silently.

Loki doesn't see the gesture from one of the Council members to bring out their desired tool for punishment. He hears footsteps approaching, a brief pause, and the sound of footsteps retreating. He hears the all too familiar clicks of a lock being unlocked, and based on the soft click Loki knows the case is no bigger than a jewelry box. A similar box size Odin used on him when he had his lips sewn shut.

The box size was all for show, when the contents were a thred, a needle, and scissors.

"War Criminal! Do you regret your actions here?" A reporter asks. 

Loki nods weakly as he doesn't dare look up "I do…I can't express…just how sorry I am." Loki takes a breath before shaking his head "But I know that my words mean very little given the level of destruction and chaos that I have left in my wake."

"What do you have to say to the families whose lives you've ruined?" Another reporter asks.

Loki takes in a shaky breath and he swallows. What can he say? What should he say? The evil persona he paraded around as pretending to relish in the suffering of so many, he never liked it. 

Did he like having eyes on him? Of course! He adored the attention. The chaos and tricks he loved. Even the destruction is fun, but the deaths of innocent people? No. Sure he's killed people, but that doesn't mean it didn't bother him. 

That it doesn't bother him. Every life Loki snuffed out haunts him. It hurts him.

So that question hurts him. It tears at his heart so much. But the words stick in his throat.

"Did you really expect a murderer to care? This beast has no heart. Has no love. No sympathy for those he deems beneath him. This abomination is going to get a taste of what it's like to hurt and suffer."

Loki bites his tongue. He knows what it is like to suffer. To hurt. He has cried so many countless nights. He's screamed in agony so many times only for his voice to go hoarse. He's clawed at dungeon walls and floors until his fingers bled just to remind himself he's alive. He has stood time and time again before Odin with a mask of indifference in place just to shield his heart as it and he took verbal damage. Refusing to allow Odin to see his tears.

To see that he has been wounded. 

So much so that he found himself shielding his heart from his brother and eventually his mother.

Loki doesn't say anything. He knows it won't make a difference in his case. The jurors all baised. Not a single soul set on siding with the man on his knees. For the man they have already marked as a villain. The one who despite being manipulated as well, forced into acting and playing a role. Doesn't get a single soul on his side.

No sympathy for this devil.

"And now ladies and gentlemen of our beloved Earth. Let us thank our heroes who fought so bravely to take down this wretched creature. Let us play the role of judge and punish the wrongdoer." Gideon says.

A spotlight turns on illuminating Loki, his bare upper half exposed to everyone watching. In the bright light they can see scars littering his back. 

"Clearly the criminal is a fool, unable to learn a lesson." Jakuna says gesturing to the scars "Let's see if this one sticks!" He roars and brings down on Loki's back the cat-o-nine tails. The many tailed whip snaps against Loki's skin and he cries out in pain.

He's pierced in the side. 

And then electrocuted. 

The cat-o-nine tails tears into Loki's back once more and he howls in agony. He's whipped again and again. The assault doesn't lessen, not even when the marking turns his back pink then red, not even when his flesh is split open and he begins to bleed.

Loki's cries go ignored or are answered with more pain. Another stab here or there as he's electrocuted.

And all the while the reporters watch in delight. Twisted smiles playing on their lips as the cries and pleads from a demi-god go ignored.

Loki, as much as he believes he is being treated unfairly, at least part of him believes he deserves this. And he will take it, shoulder it to the best of his ability without complaint of defiance

Hoping that by doing this he'll show everyone he has changed. 

And maybe…just maybe he will get the chance to disturb the timeline and be sent back to the TVA.

He just needs to hang in there.

Meanwhile back in New York Fury has gathered his original six Avengers into the meeting room. Each of them looked at him. Not wanting to keep them waiting any longer than he needed, Fury begins to say "As you all may know Loki was taken by the Council." 

This causes a wave of mixed emotions to ripple through the room "Why?" Was all Steve could think to ask.

"Agreed. Why would they take Loki?" Thor adds worry clear on his face.

"According to them, we were busy giving Loki back massages and tending to him hand and foot." Fury says sarcastically.

"But is that a lie?" Argues Clint "We should've been holding him in a prison and pressing him." 

"Is that not what I did?" Challenges Fury.

"I remember seeing you feeding him. I remember seeing you sending him to his room because he started to snivel like a child! I saw you doing everything in your power to make him comfortable." Clint snarls back.

"And what would you have done?" 

"Pressed him. And if he didn't answer I'd fire an arrow into him and I'd keep firing until he talked. Until he bled. Until he was begging me for mercy. And then- and only then would I consider if he was worth keeping alive." 

Fury narrows his eye at Clint "And that's where you and I differ Agent Barton. You're playing on revenge. You're mad that you let yourself get brainwashed and I understand that." He starts "But I'm playing a different game here." He turns around. 

"I'm sure you're aware of that popular kids game Pokémon, right?" Fury says.

"Pokémon?" Thor echoes, sounding confused.

"Yeah that one game with the yellow rabbit?" Steve guesses. Sounding so sure of his answer.

"Pikachu, and it's a mouse not a rabbit. Pokémon is a game and you go catch all these monster animals and fight them." Clint explains "My kids love the cartoons and play the games." He waves his hand "But what does that have to do with us?" He asks frowning.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, which I know I'm not, but don't you build a team of the best Pokémon? You take the strongest, the fastest, and fill your team of different types. One for each possible battle." Fury states.

"Yeah I guess…at least from what I've seen and what my kids tell me."

"And what have I done? Gathered people of every type and brought them in to fight battles that their types would supposedly do well against." Fury states.

"I think I get what you're hinting at…but I'm still lost." Bruce admits. 

"What I'm basically saying is we don't have someone like Loki on the team." Fury says, putting his hands on his hips.

"You can't be serious!" Clint chokes out sounding baffled "There is no way! Besides we have Strange!"

"Dr. Strange isn't a full time Avenger, besides he can't always be here. Loki can. Look I know how it sounds, but what difference does it make between Bucky and Loki?" Fury reasons "Bucky has done pretty much the same thing that Loki has but you all forgave him, especially you Stark." 

"I didn't say anything!" Tony frowns, throwing his hands up.

"You didn't have to, that look on your face tells me you are against the idea too." 

Tony frowns as he shifts in his seat glaring before sighing.

"I mean" Steve starts "We gave Bucky a chance. He had a hard time adjusting but he's come a long way. We all trust him." He looks at Thor "And Loki has someone here who can keep him in check." Steve looks back at Fury "And to be honest seeing him cry…and hearing him struggle to say what is hurting him, he reminded me of Bucky. So I'm all for giving him a chance." 

Thor smiles "Thank you friend Rogers. Know that I will watch my brother's actions. And if he should act up I will do what I can to correct his behavior." 

"What could go wrong?" Bruce starts to say "I could be wrong but something tells me that Loki isn't the same power crazy lunatic that he was that day."

"I can't believe I'm agreeing with them but I'll give him a chance." Natasha adds "But he does anything to betray us I won't hesitate to shoot him."

"So am I hearing that he's part of the team?" Fury asks, looking at the original six.

Thor smiles "Aye Director Fury. Loki is an Avenger." 

"Uh Avenger in training…let's not just rank him up just yet." Tony chimes in, holding up a finger.

"Then, let's get our Loki." Fury comments as he turns and exits the room already planning on putting together official SHIELD papers that'll make the liesmith an Avenger.

"You all are making a big mistake." Clint snaps "Just know Loki will betray us. And when he does, know that I will not hesitate to end him. And I will say that I told you so."

Loki staggers over to the center of the cell and sinks to the ground. He was missing the bench he had been provided back with SHIELD, at least it made a decent bed. He's tired but the hostility is practically tangible. His body aches and he's drained emotionally and physically, he can't even count on his hands how many times he's cried. And frankly he was done. He wanted to be anywhere but here. He'd take a dungeon in Asgard over this nightmare. 

Asgard. 

He does want to go home. He misses Frigga, he wants nothing more than to have her gather him into her arms and just hold him. To tell him that everything will be alright, to listen to him get this miserable weight off of his chest. To listen to his words and believe him. To just let him be in her arms listening to her heartbeat listening to her voice and breathing. To smell her scent one last time. 

Loki lowers his head into his hands and just sits there. He wants his mother. Oh he wanted her more than ever right now, and it left him feeling so small and vulnerable. Loki sniffs and he curls further into himself, his breath coming out shaky.

"Heimdall, if you can hear me…if you are willing to hear me. Please…please know that I am truly deeply sorry for what I've done to you on the bifrost…and if I may…please let my mother know that I love her. And that I miss her."

Loki sighs and shakes his head. He doubted that Heimdall heard him, cared to listen to him especially after what he did to him while he was on watch. He had already tricked and toyed with the guardian before in the past. To the point Heimdall no longer addressed him by name. They're exchanges were hostile. Heimdall was only ever doing his job, and thinking back on his actions he had only ever made the already stressful job much worse…and much harder.

"I'm sorry Heimdall."