Author's Note: Hey! Welcome to Anima Complex. I don't own Loki (sad story) or any of the Avengers, and I'm not making any money off of this. This story is rated M for some sex and violence that happen later, but I'm trying to structure it so you can skip over those bits if you like. I'm putting the first three chapters up to begin with, so you won't hear from me again until the end of Chapter 3.

Chapter 1: The Trial

The throne room was full to capacity, but an uncomfortable hush lay over the crowds. Before Odin Allfather stood Thor, hero of Asgard and Earth alike. Beside him stood Loki, his once-brother, who now awaited his punishment for crimes against almost half the known realms. The silence made Loki anxious. He had expected a mob, roaring for his blood, would have relished it even. But this unease was harder to understand. They did not like punishing one of their own. Even as far as he had fallen, many citizens of Asgard still remembered him as a child, always running after his brother, always a little lost in the shadows of the conflicts between Thor and Odin.

He thought them foolish and sentimental, he was not theirs. He never had been. He was little better than a hostage, a tool for Odin's political machinations. And yet... and yet he had tried to do what he felt was best for them. Best for himself, certainly, but best for them as well. He had tried to be a good king, to give them what they wanted. And when he was thrown out for his efforts, he had tried to do the same for another people. That had turned out even worse. He refused to feel guilty for doing what he felt was right. But the pity and consternation he saw on the faces around him was making it difficult.

At long last, Odin stood. "Loki Odinson," he began.

Loki was shocked. After all this, he would still claim him as son, when by all rights he should have shouted "Laufeyson" for the whole crowd to hear. Would they be so sympathetic if they all knew the truth?

"You have been charged with crimes against Asgard, Midgard, Jotenheim, and Chitauri. These crimes more than warrant the punishment of death." He paused as a shocked murmur passed through the crowd. "However, we have information from reliable sources that your death would not bring an end to your mayhem."

Why that little bitch. Hela must have told Odin that his name was not written in the book of Hel. Well, there went his brilliant escape plan.

"For this reason, we have been forced to seek an alternative that is somewhat... unusual." Odin made a small gesture to one side, and a couple guards disappeared around a corner. As Odin began to speak again, the sound of something large being moved could be heard from their direction. "Thanks to the efforts of the SHEILD organization on Midgard, we have found a solution that may answer our dilemma."

A large machine was wheeled to the side of the throne. There was a chair in the middle, which was surrounded by a vertical metal circle and any number of strange tubes and wires that ran between the two. Loki began to sweat. Were they going to torture him? Here? In front of everyone? Not even he would sink to such a punishment.

"We are told that this is called the Interface of Morpheus. Once, long ago, it was used by an evil man in an attempt to corrupt the heroes of Midgard. The plan failed in its infancy due to an unseen complication."

"What does it do?" Thor interrupted. He was still a little headstrong, and Loki was a little confused to see the concern in Thor's eyes. Surely, after all he had done, his once-brother harbored no affection for him. Ah, but morals. They would stand in the way of cruel and unusual punishment for even the vilest of criminals.

Odin gestured to a middle-aged man standing next to the machine. He stepped forward and bobbed a quick bow. "First, let me thank you for allowing my presence in your home," he spoke. "I understand it is a rare thing for a Midgardian to be allowed to travel to Asgard, much less to come to the heart of your city. I am honored, and my ancestors are honored. My name is Erik Selvig, and I have been educated in the use of this machine, and authorized by SHIELD to implement it at Odin Allfather's command." He paused a moment, and glanced at Thor, who nodded reassuringly.

Of course Loki already knew Selvig. He probably knew him better than the old man knew himself. But he had to admire a man who managed to sabotage his own work while under the influence of Black Magic.

Erik cleared his throat nervously. "The Interface of Morpheus has also been nicknamed the 'opposite machine,' because that is essentially what it does. It takes a person and changes them, subtly but fundamentally, into the opposite of what they were before."

There was a moment while the idea sunk into the general public's minds. Loki felt strangely calm. Change was a good thing. Change was the basis of chaos, the only constant in the universe. He was not sure he would mourn the loss of his current self, but to become something completely new… that would be an interesting adventure.

"And what is the complication?" Thor asked kindly.

Erik cleared his throat again, and shuffled his feet. "It cannot be used on a person against their will."

There was a rumble of complaint throughout the room. What good was a punishment that the criminal must willingly submit to? It would never work. Arguments sprung up, and the noise level became almost deafening. As loud as it was, the resounding rap of Odin's staff rose above it all and quickly brought back silence. He stared hard at Loki with his one eye for a long, long, moment. Loki stared back, challenging him to ask.

"Will you submit to this?" He asked with that damnably quiet voice of his. It always made him feel as if he were a small boy again.

Loki pointed at the silencing mask he wore. He had questions and he wasn't about to give his answer until he got some of his own. Alas, his captors proved too smart once again.

"You cannot be allowed to speak, Loki," Thor said, almost apologetically. "It is too dangerous."

"Wait!" Erik called, and began a sort of jog over to them. "Here," he pulled a bound sheaf of paper and a writing utensil from his jacket pockets. "Just write what you want to say. Can't hurt that way, right?" He looked to Thor, who looked to Odin.

After a moment's consideration, he nodded. "You may ask three questions." He turned to sit on his throne.

Erik handed the pen to Loki, showing a remarkable lack of fear for the man who had once controlled his mind. He held out the paper so that he could write.

Once Loki was done, Thor took the paper and read it aloud, translating for Erik. "Will it make me stupid?"

There was a round of scoffs and chuckles from those nearby. Erik frowned for a moment. "I don't believe so, it's supposed to only change those aspects which are necessary to be a different person. Lots of other people are intelligent."

Loki held up the pen, and the paper was returned to him. Thor read as he wrote. "Will it take away my powers?"

The murmur this time was much more serious. If it did, it would be a better punishment. But would Loki consent to such a thing?

"No," Erik said simply, "But it may fundamentally change the way in which you are able to use them." He turned to Odin. "SHIELD has agreed—almost insisted really—to use their resources to monitor Loki after the change to ensure that he is safe. He will be under constant surveillance by one of their operatives at all times."

Odin nodded. "It will have to suffice."

Thor turned to Loki. "This is your last question."

Loki rolled his eyes as if to say "no really?" He paused a moment, as if considering the gravity of his question. The truth was he had asked all he meant to. He would like to ask if it would hurt, but did not want to show weakness. Instead, he would ask something flippant.

"Will it change the way I look?" Thor read aloud.

This time there were genuine laughs from the crowed. This was the old Loki they had once loved. Erik chuckled a little, too, but then frowned.

"You know, I'm not sure." He scratched his chin.

"What do you mean?" Thor asked.

"Well, ah…" Erik paused. "You see, we have no records of it ever being used, so…" he trailed off and shrugged.

Oh, so I'm to be the test subject, Loki thought. He wondered what purposes the machine would be put to once they were done with him. But what other option did he have? He gestured once more for the paper, and wrote
I, Loki Laufeyson, consent to my punishment.

Thor did not read it aloud. He paused a moment, frowning at Loki. "He consents."

"So be it. I, Odin Allfather, do charge you, Loki Odinson, to submit yourself to the Interface of Morpheus, and to any changes it may make." He rapped the staff on the floor, effectively ending the trial.