…"You aren't needed Loki. You've tried to blend yourself with a world that you could never call home. You've tried to make your peace with the father that never loved you and the brother that took everything away. You tried so desperately to be there for "her". Yes, the shield-maiden in training. Oh how you loved her. How she treated you with the kindness that you begged for and the equality that you sought for so long. She loved you when no one else would. Now she sees you for how pathetic you are. You've alienated your place in her heart with your mischievous ways and now you get to watch her swoon for your brother. You're as much a joke to have been invited to Thor and Sif's wedding, in fact. It should have been you, right? It should have been you and Sif. Now you're here in the bowels of my hellish domain eager to get out when there's nothing up above that will accept you like I will. Who could care for the orphaned child of a slain frost giant? Who could warm your chilled heart like the fires of my hell? There is so much you and I can accomplish should we work together and no promise of a better life within any of the nine realms should you venture alone. And yet you cling to your hope like your tides will change. Asgard hates you, Loki. Midgard despises you. No mortal or god could ever stand to be your friend. No female could ever shed a tear for you never mind offer her heart. You were destined to destroy, you were destined to rule. I've given you the clear options. I've expressed your views, the ones you've been blinded to see. Torment is the cross you carry that you don't deserve but the planes would see you dead or burned beneath their filthy soles. Join. Become a figure of darkness and wring about a new age to snuff the light that dims with time. It is what you have always wanted."
Mesphisto's words stung with the poisoned barb of truth and deceit. Loki wanted nothing but to put his past behind him. He knew well how he wasn't welcome no matter where he went. Even still, he couldn't bring himself to harm again. His struggle with thought made the demon quiver in delight.
"Everyone hates you, Loki. Everyone wants you dead. The realms would be better off without you. Sif never loved you. Odin cared more for Thor than he did for you. You were merely a trophy of war. Thor was always better than you. He never cared for your magic or your struggle, he took away your beloved instead. He won her over because you couldn't live up to him. He's stronger than you. That's why he lives now. That's why he drinks and enjoys company with other warriors in Asgard while you were forgotten and left to die. You wandered for days. No one came to find you. No one cared to realize you were gone. The only thought was that everything suddenly became good without your treachery. It must come back. You must trick, you must deceive, you must kill. Join me, Loki. You know you must. I am the only one who will ever accept you."
Loki ran from the demon. He still possessed the powers to fight, but his clouded mind seized his ability. "Join me." Is all that echoed in his mind.
A final thought broke the boundary, however. He sought to break his own soul, tear to shreds as never to be mended or reborn. Loki wished to escape his burdens by breaking his infinite immortality. Surly he wouldn't be missed, but it would be better for the realms to not have an enraged fallen god wash the lands in tides of flame. He still cared for the realms who left him behind and hated him. He still cared for the people who turned their backs. He couldn't kill Odin, the only father he ever knew. He couldn't kill Thor, the only brother he ever grew to age with. He couldn't kill Sif, the only woman he ever loved. He'd kill himself, instead.