Life in a Gilded Cage

Chapter Two

Protected by the whirling storm cloud of his brothers making, Loki fell through the realms, lost in a sea of inky blackness. Stark, cold and unforgiving. He remembered the fall like this before, when his father had abandoned him. When Loki had let go of his brother's hand and Thor tried to pull him up, to save him. He had truly wanted to die then, his godly atoms spread across the realms. What else did he have when his own father (well the only father he had ever known) had condemned him. What he had done had never been out of spite. He'd just wanted to prove himself worthy of greatness, a warrior just like his brother.

Yes, he had attacked his own father. Put him deep into the Odin sleep, he'd needed him out of the way. Loki had been confused, tormented by the lies he had discovered had tarnished half of his life. He hadn't allowed the frost giants to kill Odin, he couldn't do that. For in his heart, the man was still his family. He so craved to be accepted, wanted, needed by someone!

Loki did not know where he had ended up from that first fall, just that it was a dark and cruel place. Full of torments, and tragedies. He had laid there sometime, his body and soul shattered. Just waiting and hoping for an end to it all. When the darkness had come to offer him a bargain, it was a balm to the hellish existence he had been suffering there. Deep down he knew that he was acting like a pentalent five year old acting out for the attention of his parents even if it was only negative attention. Just to get a few moments that were just about him, and no one else. The darkness had spoken of such wonderful things that his tainted soul had been lost completely.

Now falling for the second time, Loki had to wonder if he would be lucky enough, or was it unfortunate enough to survive again. The descent this time was slowed greatly by the storm, he had to thank his brother for that at least. Even so he landed heavily on a rocky outcrop which could be anywhere. He cried out in pain, his spine shattered by the impact. He rolled on his side coughing blood, moaning to himself. He lay there a while, allowing his immortal nature to repair his wounds.

When he could eventually drag himself wearily to his feet, and looked around he found himself in a desert. At least this world looked a little more alive then the last one he had experienced. He sniffed the air, sensing where he could be. "Earth!" he muttered, where else would his brother send him, but his pet little world. Although in a way it showed great trust that he sent him to the world he himself protected, that would gain him a little more time before he was hunted down.

Picking a direction, Loki scooped up his staff in its un-extended form, and locked it onto his belt. Starting to head in a direction towards what he hoped was a town or a form of life. As he trudged through the sand, it dawned on him that he was now truly homeless and helpless. He had no home left, no family, his magic's would not be looked at kindly in this realm either. What was he to do with himself? Gods lived forever, and he had an eternity to try and fill.

He'd promised his brother that he would be good, he'd lied of course. He was the Norse God of lies and mischief, what else did they expect him to do! Make him the God of Cupcakes or something if they wanted him to be all fluffy and happy! He was only doing his duty! Guilt lay heavy on his heart, Thor had put himself on a limb for him, and he'd finally been sorry for his past misdeeds. He was probably in Loki's own cell right now for his crimes. That thought actually made it hard to trick his brother again, he knew how horrible it was to be trapped now.

Finally he came towards a town, small by the looks of it. Well small to him at least, he was used to much grander places. He could hear screaming, and people running. Sounds that normally he would enjoy if it was him causing them. Talking an interest in what was going on in this 'new home' of his, Loki strode confidently towards the sounds. Ignoring the crowds of feeling mortals all around him. "Such sheep!" he exclaimed. He could hear explosions in the back ground, some metal robotic creature stomping through the town. 80 foot high, purple and blue in colour, someone in passing called it a sentinel.

For a moment he thought that Stark fellow had been making more upgrades until he saw that metal clad egomaniac flying past his head. "Oh look it's the metal midget finally getting what he deserves." Loki commented watching the sentinel crushing his suit, throwing him around like candy. He noticed a few other 'hero's' he remembered from before. Clearly the Avengers had kept active in his absence, and there were a few new faces as well.

There was Captain all stars and tights flinging around that little shield of his. The big green guy smashing down half a building trying to stop the machine. Arrows pelted down from the rooftops, which just had to be his favourite brainwashee. There was a new woman with flame red hair standing in front of the creature, using what appeared to be kinetic powers to hurl large rocks. He liked her, she would be a wonderful addition to his ranks. Full of fire and anger, easy to turn against her people.

Loki sighed, why couldn't he stop thinking like that. His father would never respect him, no matter what he did, or how he acted it would never be enough. He found his thoughts turning to Thor, and how he wanted to make his brother proud of him once more.

The battle raged around him, Loki felt himself getting excited. Battle was always something he had enjoyed, trying to keep up with the others. Shamefully he had no skill at anything other then magic and staff fighting. Not swords and hammers like the rest of them. That had always vexed Odin, one of many things that had.

He saw this beautiful girl running towards him, she had long dark hair with a white stripe running through it, wearing a black leather cat suit, and along evening gloves. The giant chased after her, he others couldn't keep the enemy away from her as they pounded harder with their attacks. She stumbled and fell a few hundred yards from him. Her head snapped up noticing Loki stood there, "Run you idiot!"

A building next to them started to shake, it was about to come down, and crush them both. Loki started to move with his inhuman strength, but something made him stop and look back at that fallen girl. She was trying to drag herself upright, but her leg was caught under rubble trapping her. He did something then completely against his character, took his staff from his belt and extended it in one fluid movement. Turning slowly, he raised the staff and blew a chunk of the falling building material before it killed her. Dropping small shreds of rubble all around her.

Crossing the small space between them in seconds, Loki shoved her behind him and fired at the sentinel several times. Distracting it long enough for Ironman to sweep in and rip out the cluster of wires at the back of the things neck. The creature lurched and collapsed to the ground. Loki brought forth his armour, and covered the girl with his body as the wreckage fell to the ground, keeping her safe beneath him. He felt the blast of cool air as it fell mere inches from his back.

As the dust settled, the girl shoved him back off of her. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" she demanded, "I was bait, I was MEANT to fall there, and that massive building you so cleverly avoided from falling was meant to crush it!"

Loki stood and looked sheepishly around as the avengers collecting around him staring. Stark dropped out of the sky in front of him, and retracted his helmet. "Loki of Asgard, how nice of you to grace us with your presence and cause chaos once again!"

"Loki, that's him?" the girl asked, "Somehow I was expecting more, bigger muscles or something!"

"Excuse me, but I think I just saved your life little girl. Isn't there some sort of thank you behind something like that?" Loki snapped.

"Oh, like I needed saving by the guy who tried to destroy the whole Earth!" the girl snapped.

"Rogue, back off." The red head warned, "I think Loki has the right to be heard after what he did. He did help us just then."

The Captain pushed through the crowd, "I agreed, for all his past crimes, Loki did just help us destroy that sentinel. I for one would like to hear what he is doing here. After all he could have walked away just then and Rogue would be dead."

"Weren't you off to spent eternity as your brothers little bitch?" Stark commented.

Loki swung a punch at the ironclad, but was held back by the Cap. "Don't speak about my brother in that way, you know nothing about him or me!" Loki shouted.

"Oh and now you are your brothers best friend, now isn't that sweet!" Stark baited him, "Did he smile at you and you went all gooey inside and turned good!"

That made Loki snap, and he went for him again.

"I said enough!" Captain snapped, "Let's just go back to Fury and sort it all out there."

"And why should I come with you?" Loki demanded, "I have already spent lifetimes of your pitiful mortal existences paying for my actions at Asgard. I will not be put back in some plastic bubble for your amusement! I am a GOD, and I will not be bound!"

Hulk growled and took a step forward.

"Keep back you filthy beast!" Loki demanded pointing his staff. He remembered his last tussle with that creature and wasn't fond of having a second round with him.

"Is everyone missing the point that he did save Rogue!" Jean demanded.

"Yes why did you save her?" Captain asked, "It's not your usual thing to swoop in and save the girl."

Loki met his stare, "Honestly, I don't know." He brought out his magic and disappeared in a black puff of smoke. Reappearing exhausted a few hundred yards away out of site. Watching as they all eventually separated and milled away back to base camp. Seemed now he had two sets of people to avoid, his own and the warriors of here. The question was fixed in his mind, why had he saved her? A pathetic little mortal child that normally he wouldn't look twice at!