A/n: okay, here is the first chapter. After you read this go on and vote on the poll posted on my profile which decides whether or not I will continue this. Important information pertaining to this story is in my Rays of Sunshine story in chapter twelve.

I also have no idea how years are measured in Asgard, bare with me here. I will use reference to 'midgardian time spans' (aka: earth years for those who do not know). If anyone has a chart on how to translate midgardian and asgardian times I will be more than happy to use it lol. But I doubt such a thing lies in wait somewhere, who knows? I want to try and keep Loki to his character in this story, so it will be filled with less fluffy stuff. I always perceived him as the type to show affection behind closed doors or if he does show affection in public it is to show whose woman is whose. So ergo, this is the type of Loki I want to try and portray.

It will be very much appreciated if anyone has some constructive criticism about Loki's character!

As always, thank you for reading, and to anyone that reviews thank you too!

Disclaimer!: I only own the plot line and Kari. Everything else belongs to Marvel or in Norse mythology books.

The Path of Destruction

Loki Odinson

Chapter One: Innocence

"To love is to destroy, and that to be loved is to be the one destroyed."
― Cassandra Clare, City of Bones

I felt consumed, tiny tendrils of icy cold breaths cascading down my arms was the only thing I could focus on. I stood frozen in place as I witnessed the catastrophe that lay in place for all of Asgard to witness. The fall of their prince, the loss of my husband; I wanted to stand idly by and pretend I didn't see his demise fall into place. I was weak; I sat in silence as I watched him fall to pieces over all the little things. But that's the thing about little things; they accumulate until they become one giant mass of unraveling lies that can drive even the most content to the brink of insanity.

Loki was a troubled man, but he was always talented in hiding what was really knocking on the forefront of this thoughts. In return I was always able to tell when he needed someone the most. But Loki is a crafty god, the god of mischief as most would call him. He learned how to hide his thoughts and eventually I lost sight of his troubles.

At first I took his suddenly new found take on life as a good thing. I was stupid not to realize how much he had really changed. I put my wants before what Loki needed, I wanted to see him as a the prince I fell in love with as a child so much I began to believe the illusion.

We all did.

But for someone to understand how all the little things began to deteriorate Loki's reason, it must be told like most stories are told, from the beginning where the end was created.

First, I will admit that when I had met the two princes of Asgard, I had taken a liking towards Thor.

My mother was lady Frigga's seamstress, and in result of an agreement between the two I was allowed to join my mother at the palace since my father was a warrior and more often than not was off to battle. I was an only child up until I reached about fourteen midgardian years. The first day I was allowed to accompany my mother to the palace was a memorable one.

I was a mere child then, the two princes were almost to the age of warriors. Thor had grown as expected, he was shorter than Loki, but more built and open to being friendly. Loki stood tall intimidating me when I first saw him, Thor let out a laugh as I hid behind my mother. When I saw him the first thing I did was let out a small peep and clutched my mother side hiding behind her cream colored dress. Loki scoffed and walked away as Thor knelt beside me and offered an apologetic smile.

"Sorry about him, he's just jealous that you're eyes are greener than his," I was surprised at first at what he said, Loki was known for his beautiful eye color.

"Really?" I asked quietly. Once again Thor chuckled and nodded before rising to his original height.

After my first meeting with the two princes, I stayed with my mother as she worked. I didn't want to accidentally run into Loki; he still frightened me with his height and solemn gaze. It didn't help my mother grimaced every time she heard his name. From what I saw and learned from the others in the house of Odin, Loki preferred to be alone.

It wasn't until I reached courting age that I began to wander around the palace, my mother wanted me to meet a young man and be married as soon as possible. Therefore she didn't allow me to sit with her while she worked any longer. Although, she wouldn't allow me to stay in our home alone, one would think that wandering around the palace was more dangerous than staying in the safety of my own home.

As stated before, Thor was the one I had originally taken a liking too. He had always greeted me with a smile, but what really won me over was when I was lost in the gardens.

I love flowers, the sweet scent of roses wafted to my senses and I naturally found myself in the middle of the palace garden with no idea where to go.

"Are you lost little one?" When I turned to gaze at the easily distinguishable voice of Thor, he immediately recognized me. "Ah, Kari, I haven't seen you in ages, you look so different," I held back a small laugh as I gazed into his light blue eyes.

"It's nice to see you too, and yes, I am horribly lost," Thor let out a deep laugh as he approached me as I stood next to a bush of roses that matched the color of his armor. "Shall I show you the way back then?" he asked offering his arm. I blushed and but hesitantly obliged to his offer.

My mother was thrilled when she had seen Thor escorting me back with my hand on his arm. She seemed dead set on me marrying him. But I of course remained 'level headed'. There was no way Odin would marry off his eldest son to the daughter of a seamstress. Although, there was a good chance that he would marry off his son to the daughter of a great warrior. My father was recognized for his battle victories, sure he wasn't as successful as The Warriors Three, but he was still strong.

Thus, my ill fated hope grew; before I knew it I was chasing after this false reality of mine, yet never realizing that I would marry a prince one day.

Now that I look back to the days I chased after Thor I realize just how naïve I truly was. It used to upset me when Loki accused me of being as such, but now I know he was only speaking the truth.

Not once did I take into consideration that I wasn't the only one chasing after Thor.

Being an incredibly sheltered child I never imagined the horrible things people would say about another person.

I experienced their cruelty firsthand when my family was finally invited to one of the many palace events. My mother had made the most gorgeous dress for me to wear to the event. It was a creamy white halter with a swooping neck line and around the waist a wide teal strip of fabric was tied lying loosely around my hips. My hair was pulled back in a low loose bun, a few blonde curls falling down my back.

I hadn't left my father's side since the party started. My mother was off socializing with her friends telling them of her pregnancy.

"Kari, why don't you go and dance?" I scrunched my nose and looked at my father, Alviss, causing him to let out a laugh. "You act as if it's a bad, thing," Kari raised an eyebrow at this, indeed she wasn't fond of dancing, her father knew of this.

"Isn't the man supposed to ask me?" she stated and her father only continued to smile.

"If you would look up away from the floor you would have noticed by now that a certain prince has been gazing at you all night," my eyes widened and I immediately looked up past he party goers to where the royalty of Asgard stood in hopes that the prince he was speaking of was Thor. However, I was shocked when I met the gaze of a familiar pair of green eyes. Loki reacted quickly; with a curt glare he turned his gaze back to his mother as she spoke to Thor avidly.

I still remember how my hopes fell and the thought of Loki looking at me so intently caused my curiosity about him to only increase.

I didn't want to disappoint my father by clinging to his side all night so I excused myself and headed off to the garden. It was the place I liked to be when I was alone, it was peaceful and I found that I could focus best there. However, that night I didn't draw the many plants I saw as the usual. Instead I found the small bench hidden behind the rose bushes and cried quietly.

I hated how much of a cry baby I was. I was always good a hiding my weakness, but unfortunately the goddess of love and fertility had to find me in my pathetic state. Freya was beautiful when I first saw her in her red dress. It took longer than I would have liked to realize how ugly she was on the inside.

As I pathetically cried I failed to notice her sitting beside me twisting her hair between her fingers.

"Why so glum little one?" she asked in her high pitched voice. I jumped when I heard her and quickly wiped my tears away. I kept quite hoping she would leave, but I had no such luck.

"Sad that no one will ask you to dance?" I gazed towards her and sat up, after a few moments longer I gave in and nodded. "Let me guess, you want the handsome Thor to ask you," she stated. I didn't want to talk to her anymore, she was starting to inch closer making me more nervous.

"Well, don't count on it. Why would Thor ask someone like you? You're so plain." She didn't say much, but it worked just the way she wanted it to. A few tears escaped past my eyes and slid down my cheeks; of course she smirked in victory and opened her mouth to say something else but was interrupted.

"Freya, go back to the party and stop trying to make yourself feel better than someone you're not," Those were the first words I heard Loki speak in such a close proximity to me, frankly, I was speechless. Freya stood obediently and headed back to the party but not before casting me one last glare. I mustered the courage to look towards Loki, he was standing talk in the dark, his black hair blending in with the night sky, yet his green eyes still shined brightly.

"You should head back too," his voice still held hostility, but not the same as when he was speaking to Freya.

The first time in a long time, I realized that Loki's kindness in that moment was needed more than I could ever imagine.

Thor was a distant memory now.

Bah! Not as god as I imagined it to be, but I have plenty inspiration to write more! Hope you enjoyed, please review and I will reply to you in the next chapter if the votes are in favor for this story. So go vote please