a/n: many of you may remember this story. I took it down a few months ago because it didn't feel right so after some editing and new inspiration I feel like I have something worth posting and finishing so, here ya go!
This takes place after the Avengers
Gods Among Men
ONE
The crowd that gathered in the Golden Hall was massive. Bodies were squeezed in as they awaited the arrival of the war criminal. They were waiting to see him be punished for what he had done and not only to Midgard, but to Asgard as well. His actions were atrocious and not one person dared to believe otherwise. The anger was tangible in the crowd as they continued to wait. Odin sat in his throne chair, signaling that the trial would begin at any moment. As if on cue, a mumble went through the crowd, starting with those that were closest to the exit. The Rainbow Bridge had been activated; the prince and the prisoner had returned.
The crowd parted as Thor pulled Loki to the throne. Thor pushed Loki to his knees and looked to his father at the throne. "Those of Midgard wish your punishment to be swift and just," he said as he removed the silencer around Loki's mouth.
"You have done well, my son," Odin said and after Thor inclined his head, he stepped back. His eyes moved to Loki, his other son and he nodded at him. "Rise," he demanded.
Loki got to his feet and inclined his head. "What shall my punishment be? Banishment? Death? I fear none of that."
"Silence," Odin demanded, his powerful voice shaking the Golden Hall. "First you use your brother's banishment as means to get rid of me and claim the throne for yourself. You invite the people of the Bifrost here in an attempt to completely control all of Asgard." He took a deep breath as his voice began to fill with fatherly disappointment. "You then take our weapons to Earth in the hopes of taking Thor out once and for all. You have disgraced your title as prince and your family in more ways than one, Loki and you have done so yet again by bringing destruction to Midgard."
"They are nothing but simple minded humans."
"Humans that were able to take you out and stop you from dominating them," Thor said with a certain amount of smugness.
"Those were not simple minded humans," Loki argued.
"Silence!" Odin boomed, the Golden Hall trembling from his might. "You must pay for what you have done. There is blood on your hands, Loki and plenty of it." He looked to Thor and nodded. "You will wait in captivity while I ponder a punishment suitable for your crimes."
Thor, along with many other Asgardian warriors, surrounded Loki as they began to escort him down to the holding cells. Many of them new to the Golden Hall, having traveled there for the first time to see the punishment of the war criminal Loki. They followed at the back of the crowd watching and listening out for those that would try to aid in his escape.
Thor was the one to lock the door, standing just outside as he stared at his brother. "Why?" he asked.
"Why what?"
"We are your family. You were always one of us."
"No, no I wasn't," Loki argued and turned away from Thor, not wanting to hear anymore. "I was never of Asgard until Odin took me from my home and lied to me all these years."
"Odin saved you-"
"From a world he was destroying!" Loki fired, whirling back around. He shook his head and laughed. "It doesn't matter now, what's done is done."
Thor said nothing as he stared at Loki for a long moment before returning to the Golden Hall to wait for his father's decision with the others.
Loki paced in his cell as he waited for what seemed like an eternity. He went over all the things that had gone wrong with his plan and cursed himself each and every time. He hadn't thought the doctor would create a fail safe for the portal while under his control. It was one aspect of human nature that he despised; free will.
The moment he heard footsteps headed towards him, he moved to the back of his cell and waited with his hands behind his back. The time for his punishment had come. He smirked as Thor opened the cell door. "Don't enjoy yourself too much, brother."
"You think I enjoy this?"
"Why wouldn't you? I am your competition and I am about to be taken out of the equation."
"I did not want this. I do not want you as my enemy Loki. You are my brother whether or not we are related by blood."
Loki's smirk diminished and a scowl took place. "I suggest you hurry, Father doesn't like to wait."
Thor shook his head before grabbing Loki's upper arm. Once again he led his brother through the crowded Golden Hall and stepped back once they had stopped in front of the throne. "It saddens me that just after banishing one son who would be king, I have to punish another," Odin said with a slight shake of his head. "What I did to Thor was to teach him some humanity and humility. I do not think that would work in your case, Loki, but-"
Odin was interrupted by a giant blast in the center of the Golden Hall. The blast parted the crowd and caused chaos. Screams pierced the air as survivors looked upon both strangers and loved ones that had been killed. Loki turned to smirk at Thor before running into the chaos. His followers had arrived to help him escape just as he thought they would. As he mixed in with the other Asgardians trying to get out of the Golden Hall, the sorceress Amora and the Jotunheimian Warrior Skurge came to his side, flanking him in a protective position. They said nothing to each other, just exchanged looks and fought off the warriors that tried to get their hands on Loki. As they made their way out of the Golden Hall, Loki turned to see Thor trying to make his way through the crowd.
Amora moved to be between Loki and Skurge. She grabbed their hands and used her power to propel them to the opening of the Rainbow Bridge faster than Thor could throw his hammer. As they reappeared just outside the transport room, Amora stopped and began chanting. Loki stared back at the Golden Hall of Asgard, watching as his brother and father came closer and closer. Just as they reached the edge of the Bridge, Amora's spell began to work and the trio disappeared without activating the Bridge.
"Where did they go?" Thor demanded of the gate keeper.
"They did not use the Bridge," he informed them. "I do not know."
Thor stood there, staring at the spot Loki had vanished from. "We have to find him," he said as he began walking back to the Golden Hall.
Loki inhaled as he, Amora, and Skurge dropped onto the surface of a planet he was not familiar with. "Where are we?" Skurge demanded, his voice rough.
"It does not matter," Loki informed him.
"What happens now?" Amora asked, her voice silky as ever.
"We go our separate ways. The two of you will remain in this realm. I need you to round up any and all who would fight behind me as their leader as I take down Asgard."
"And what will you do?" she asked.
"I'm going back to Midgard."
"My lord, surely they would look for you there first."
Loki shook his head. "I believe it is the last place they would search for me. I only just left one day ago leaving a path of destruction behind me. No one would expect me to return to hide there." Amora and Skurge exchanged looks. "When you have an army, contact me. Until then, I will lay low."
"Be careful, my lord," Amora said as she and Skurge bowed down to him.
"You as well," he returned and extended his hand for her to take. She repeated the same chant she had used earlier and before he knew it, he was standing back on Earth, but nowhere near New York. He used his power to change his clothes to normal human attire, signaling the start of his time in hiding on the very planet he had just tried to destroy.
