Part 3

Puppet without the leader, Tony was now searching everywhere he could to try and find out where Loki had gone. He had left without a word and this confused and annoyed Tony. He was supposed to be at his side, keeping an eye on him. For what reasons? Part of his mind thought it was orders he had been given, while the other part of his mind that seemed to be growing smaller told him he needed to know where the God was.

Tony felt lost with the God no longer there and he hated that. He hated him for that and decided to give up on his search. He had left Jarvis to search, searching using the readings he had for the God's magic. It made Tony begin to wonder, when Jarvis informed him he was unable to sense Loki's life form anywhere close….just where WAS the God?

But no, he could not worry. He was a puppet, waiting for the pull of strings. He was waiting for his command, one he must obey without question. What other choice did he have? He'd only faintly seen and felt just what would come of him if he disobeyed…

In his mind, he flashed back to an image of his body on a table like the one Bruce had been upon on the Chitauri ship. The land around him was unknown, barren and dark. It unsettled him, but he barely had had time to consider that when some strangely dressed creature hovered by him, giving what looked like a blood-stained grin.

Tony would question just who and what that creature was, but when his grin grew, Tony sudden felt a rush of pain throughout his body, reminding him of being held hostage suddenly. Something he did not want or need to be reminded of. He twitched on the table, holding back complaints of pain. He nearly unbearable, he wanted to escape. In his mind, he was watching his torture and the sight sickened him.

"NOOO, gaaaah!" he had cried out in pain, the only response being a dark chuckle of amusement. When the pain finally lessened, another voice, darker and more menacing told him he had no choice but to follow orders from his new, but true master. There was a flash of blue from some glowing object and that is when his mind was freed from the pain.

That was all it could be free of, from that time on.


Without proper reason or thought, Loki was doing his best to reach The Other. Usually, it would have to be an effort on both parts, for them to even contact one another. So this would take a while. But he was not giving up, not stopping until he reached that scum…

For now, he stayed in the clearing he had found, trying to find the best distance from New York; from where the Chitauri were stationed. Finding peace and loneliness here, he was now meditating, his scepter in his lap.

Once he made contact, he would transport himself to The Other and demand to see Thanos. He would not leave until he got what he wanted. He was not going to give in until then. Did he ever give in, when he was determined for something?

Others' would say that was his downfall. Whether it was or wasn't, he was not hearing it. No, all he heard were the murmurs in his mind, the complaints and the whispers and the echoes, urging him to do what he must to break Tony from Thanos's grasp.

'I shall not be alone.'


The man of iron was focused on getting his work done. Nothing else mattered, and he would make sure it was done to the best of his abilities—no other that was in his mind.

He was scouting the city for any rebels, as well as moving wanderers around. They should be in their homes at this hour and nowhere else. There were times he used force to rush them along. And the rebels? Some were wounded, few got free and half had been taken down. They would have to learn to obey those above them. They would have to learn that their lives are changing for the better, for a more civilized way of life. If they would only obey, it WOULD be civilized…

Tony even found them fighting among themselves, over scraps of food or necessities they'd come across that they were not permitted to have in their possession. He would have taken them out himself if they hadn't done that job themselves. Such chaos, and it was all their fault.

His mind wandered over how it was before. It was chaotic as well, but it was all hidden, behind closed doors and drapes of security and lies. Now, it was all out in the open, slowly being changed for the better. This was far better than the life he and his race had lived before.

As he shot through the air in the city, observing still, he suddenly felt a pang in his chest that shot a shock to his brain. His flight faltered, but only slightly. He felt his mind feeling like some confusing fog was growing in it, before soon, it began to wither away and he felt fine again. But he worried…. Just what was that…?


Loki gripped the scepter tighter, trying his best to will it's influence on its main victim (Tony) to lessen as much as possible, but it was hard, knowing that the tessaract was the main source of the control. And without the tessaract, Loki had no power to over throw the main control of it all.

He still reached out his mind and magic and finally, FINALLY, he was reaching The Other. The creatures mind did not feel pleased but Loki barely had a care for that fact.

**I will have audience with you and your master, and I will not be turned away.** he sent the mental message, his stern tone obvious.

There was a hiss in his mind, one of denial.

**You think I will give in? You think your hisses strike fear in me? I request audience, and I suggest you give me it.**

**Such tones, Asgardian… You grow more and more foolish with each new action…. We are growing very displeased.**

Loki was impatient now and he sent his anger, his energy to The Other's mind forcefully, earning a hiss. **Audience, you vile thing!**

Soon, he felt the space around him shuddering as he was brought to the barren planet he'd been witness to seeing a few times. He opened his eyes, standing and gripping his staff. He glanced around, in his armored uniform once more. The Other suddenly appeared before him, suddenly slapping the God across the face.

Loki glared at the ground, lips in a tight line before he looked back at the creature.

"How DARE you demand anything of those who gave you the chance you now have?!" he spat.

Loki raised the scepter to the creature neck menacingly. "You are taking something from me, and I will not allow such. It is mine and mine alone, and I will have no other own it."

The Other hissed, before giving a sick chuckle, slowly and sleekly moving his strange hand to wrap around the neck of the scepter, gripping it. "You are displeased that your puppet is not longer yours… But he was never yours, Asgardian, you must know this."

Loki nearly hissed himself, pushing the blade of the scepter against The Other's neck, making him wince only slightly. "He IS mine and no others!"

"You believe this?" The Other sounded so amused and it infuriated Loki, causing him to force the blade even more until it began piercing the creatures skin and he hissed, swatting the scepter off of himself.

"Of course he believes…" A deep voice spoke then, far more menacing than either of the two who were disputing at the moment. "He is growing to be a fool who shall believe such just to have what he believes is his."

Loki looked up the stairs that lead to floating ground. He swallowed the sudden bit of fear that gripped him and walked forward to the stairs. The Other put a hand on his chest and pushed him back forcefully. Loki glared, gripping his staff again.

"Let the God be… He wants his fate, he shall have it."

Loki stalked up the stairs, his walk with purpose, but not with too much urgency. Something prevented him from showing such, believing the emotions pushing for that urgency were weak, and yet also he did not wish to show just how much his emotions may be invested in his current mission.

Finally, he arrived at the top and saw the floating throne in which he knew the Master sat. He gritted his teeth, face blank.

The throne turned then, but the one sitting in it stood from it and towered high above the other two. Loki glared up at the dull, purple skinned being before him, dressed in gritty gold and darkened blue. His size was intimidating, as was his bulk and muscle. But that did not affect Loki. No, the grin that spread upon those rough lips did.

"You gave me a promise, Loki. One that, if broken, would seal your fate. And you are breaking it of your own will. Are you sure you want to continue down this path?" Thanos spoke to him slowly, calmly, as if it was such a normal discussion. But it was of the threat of danger Loki knew he was under. But he did not back down.

"You are taking something that belongs to me. Something I deserve. I've had such taken from me or washed away enough; I will not allow it once again." Loki said, fire growing in his eyes.

"Is that so…?" Thanos inquired, his arms moving to cross upon his chest as he seemed thoughtful for a moment. Before suddenly, with a quick and hard strike, he backhanded Loki into a boulder, the God crying out in surprise. "You think you deserve such, Laufeyson?"

Loki rose slowly from the ground, almost growling as he said, "Do not call me that…"

Thanos grinned. "That is your title; have the dignity to claim it. It's one of the few things you CAN claim." He rushed at Loki then, pushing him through the boulder, but gripping his body before it could fall and holding him in the air, scepter still with him in his grasp. But it was jabbing his side, even more so when Thanos gripped tighter and Loki gasped, struggling.

"You think that you deserve that tool?" Thanos asked simply. "You think he is yours, do you? He has never been, and will never be, Loki. Surely, you must realize or are you far to blinded by the sentiments that weaken you that you cannot and will not realize this."

"He IS mine!" Loki nearly roared, using his magic then to transport from Thanos's grasp. But it was nearly no use, he did not go far from his threat—here, in this world, his powers were far weaker than they'd ever been. He was out of his element and at a disadvantage. He gripped the scepter tighter in his hand, running a hand upon his side and casting the only bit of healing magic he could muster to seal the wound from the blade.

Thanos laughed, The Other giving his own hissing laughter.

"Loki…no matter what power and control you ever thought you had…using that scepter has always put them under MY service. All those puppets you create are mine to do as I will. You simply play their Master." Thanos was walking toward Loki, who suddenly lifted the scepter and shot the blue energy at him. Thanos block with the arm-brace he had upon his forearm and he chuckled at the attempt. "You do not control him…you do not own him."

Loki jumped at him, trying to stab him with the blade, bat Thanos swatted him down to the ground, Loki rolling before making impact with another boulder.

"And without that control, he would never be at your side." Thanos stalked, his deep voice ringing in Loki's ears. He stood above the God. "All you own is a lie. Nothing more."

He gripped Loki's forearm in his hand, tight, turning to the point of nearly break and Loki cried out from the pain, turning as to keep it from break. He released the scepter and Thanos kicked it away, it soon falling from the floating bit or rubble they were on. Thanos tossed Loki back to the ground, the God moving to sit up, only able to use one arm to try and lift himself—but a hard pressure made impact with his side and he yelped in pain once more, groaning and gasping, before struggling for break as the foot that had just kicked him, was now upon his torso, adding pressure as Thanos grinned down at him.

"You have chosen your fate… I know what you were attempting with that scepter, Loki and congratulations. You left him with a fogged mind and a flitter of hope, only for it to disappear. Still, such failure continues to become you." He said, putting even more pressure on the God's chest. Loki struggling trying to breath, trying to be free, but Thanos's strength was too much. He summoned upon his magic again.

He only transported before him. Loki mustered up half of the magic he had strength left to summon, causing green glowing energy almost like flames to surround his hand and he sent it straight for Thanos's back.

Thanos twitch at the impact, leaning back as if he felt pain…only to relax and begin to chuckle in amusement. "You and your power here is useless. And you have now completely sealed your fate…" he turned then, that menacing grin still upon his lips.

Loki watched him, huffing. What was he even fighting for? A human? A love that wasn't even true? Why should he even be fighting, when he had all he had been after?! Now, he was looking deaths' courter in the eye. He was looking his death straight in the eye, of his own willing choice….and Thanos had allowed him to make that choice… He'd given Loki freedom without him realizing. Just for now, right? He knew Loki would betray him, go against him…and he intended to punish him. Oh, but he had to make it enjoyable.

And Loki walked straight into. For what?

'You say you won't be alone, but you always shall be…' he thought to himself. 'Tony shall never love you, you must realize this. He would never willingly stay by your side, he'd rather kill you.' Loki's eyes fell to the ground as he swallowed hard and continued breathing heavily. 'So what did you even come here for…?'

Loki took a deep breath and slowly looked back to Thanos. "…Free him."

Thanos stopped his advance on Loki.

"You expect such of me?" he laughed. "Foolish…. So very foolish."

And with a raise of his large fist, Thanos struck again.

Tony paced his Tower, awaiting orders, awaiting to return of his previous Master. He was growing restless, unsure what to do. He also wondered what could have happened earlier…when his mind had fogged. He had felt confused, lost…yet in a perfect state of mind. A state of mind that he felt like he only knew from another life. It worried him.

And suddenly, he was feeling flickers; that fog kept threatening to return, before going away. He felt like he was getting a headache and held his head, leaning against his bar as he was just about to pour a drink. What…was this…?!

"Free. Him." Loki said in strangely weak yet strong voice. Weak from weariness, but strong from conviction….

Conviction…

Thanos chuckled, Loki leaned against a wall, scares and bruises already upon his skin, and he was sure a few bones had been broken by now.

And he struck again, Loki crying out in pain and doubling over. Pain…so much, but he'd felt it all before, experienced it as an illusion. Still, he shuddered, trying to stay strong. He tried to pick him back up.

Thanos gripped Loki in his fist again, chuckling and bringing him close. "He is mine, Loki. And you shall belong to lovely Death soon enough…." He punched Loki in the gut, Loki losing his breath as he coughed blood. He struggled harder to breath, gripped at Thanos's fist.

Thanos summoned forth the cube then, smirking at it. "Such power…did you truly not realize it was never meant to be yours?"

Loki glanced only once at the cube, before suddenly he flashed away, appearing before him and gripping the cube, transporting again, only to appear…without the cube.

Thanos looked at him with wide eyes, infuriated. "Your betrayal's go too far!"

Loki watched him, ready now. He had used the last of his own magic, the very last bit of strength he had with it, to cast the cube back down to earth in the hands of one of his strongest, most realistic clones while also willing the control on the cubes servants to release. Upon arriving on earth, landing perfectly in Stark's Tower, the clone would vanish.

And Loki was left to stand his ground against his master. He jumped out of the way as Thanos attempted to pound him with both fist, pounding the ground instead and he practically roared with anger and he swiped, catching Loki in the side and knocking him to the ground hard.

Loki winced, rolling on his back. He was sure bones had been broken by now; he just could not narrow down which ones just yet… Loki saw his hand coming again and hurried to get to his feet but was too late as Thanos gripped his torso tight, Loki crying out… A broken rib, he was sure of it. Thanos raised him higher before tossing him far off, down and falling just above the stairs before hitting the last few, rolling across the ground when he reached it.

Loki gasped, hearing the hissing laughter of The Other. Laying here on his side, raised by his forearms, Loki huffed. He was thinking to himself, what was he to do now? He had little to no magic to use now… His only allies are those he just betrayed and the ones wishing for his death now. All he strived for and thought he'd finally succeeding in achieving…he tossed it away.

With a deep and pained breath, Loki looked up to Thanos who had been taking his time coming towards him. The more this went on, the more Loki would fall closer to death. He would finally loose his life. But what else did he have? What was there to live for? Loki dropped his gaze, swallowing. And slowly, within his mind as memories of Asgard, his brother, his father, the throne; they all passed through his mind and the Midgard as well, even Tony…

All gone… Nothing tying him to his life of failure anymore, so why not die now?

Thanos reached him finally, standing over him as Loki's bright but blank eyes looked to him. He saw the fight vanish from his eyes and he laughed. "So weak…and disappointing. So very disappointing."

"No different…than I've e-ever been…" Loki spat in a low, slightly pained voice.

"You just give in…" Thanos shook his head, laughing and kicking Loki but not heard enough to send him flying. Simply enough to send him pain.

Loki gasped, bringing in ragged breaths, groaning a bit. "…Nothing…more..to fight for. Why…should it…aagh…m-matter?!"

"Because, if you give in… Killing you will give you what you want and I'm not so fond of giving you anything now, little puppet." He grinned.

Loki spat blood at his feet, glaring.

Thanos took him in his grasp once more, gripping, crushing Loki slowly as he smirked, thinking. Loki made yelps and moans of pain but could not struggle, even if he wanted to. He was unable to move.

"Your fate will be what you deserve, Laufeyson. Death will not become you, no, not just yet. Instead…" he brought Loki to the edge of the cliff they were upon. Down below, at the bottom of the downhill drop, lay the scepter, still glowing with the power it possessed. "…Instead, I believe your fate is better served upon Midgard…"

With that, he tossed Loki. So much of the God's dignity and pride had been wounded with each hit, but he was caring less and less. He rolling down hill, trying to stop himself but failing until he finally reached flat ground, gasping and moaning, even hissing as he winced in pain. Something felt as if he stabbed an inch or so deep in his side. He looked down to see the scepter had stabbed him. Wincing, he gripped it. He hissed and pulled it free, groaning more angrily than in pain.

Thanos simply jumped, landing with a crash that shook Loki, but he was perfectly on his feet, standing over Loki once more. The Other followed after them, a bit slower.

"You wish for death, but you will not have it. No, your fate will be decided by those you wronged. All of them…even your dear puppet." Thanos smirked. "You know by now his mind is free, and you should be able to guess what his first step would be with his freedom returned. He would free his allies. And his next step.."

"Would be to find you…." hissed The Other.

Loki huffed, so much pain, but his heart racing as well, even more with these words. Tony after him for his head. He'd be left to wallow in his failure… He shut his eyes tight. He'd damned himself, and for what, a love that wasn't real? A love he never had? Since when did he give anything for love? It was never given to him….and yet he gave his everything for such a loving lie as he had with Tony.

Loki couldn't…he couldn't have that fate. His spirit had been broken once, he could not allow it again and he was sure it would happen if he went with his fate on Midgard. He tried crawling backwards, shaking his head. "…I'm not returning…I'm…n-not…"

"Oh yes…" Thanos said in a deep, soft, sickening voice. "You are."

The Other zoomed straight at Loki, lifting the pain God to stand, putting the staff in his hands. Loki winced, making a noise of complaint and attempting to struggle but not only did The Other have him in too tight a hold in his arms, his strength to struggle was far too weak. The Other's multi-fingered hands gripped Loki's tightly around the scepter under his, forcing him to hold it, the feel it's power, it's connection to the tessaract.

"Know, Loki…that your fate will be decided by them, and their fate with the cube shall come in the future. And there is nothing you can do…" he smirked wider. "Now go…lest I decide to seal their fate—your puppets fate now."

Loki huffed, in and out, glaring with all the hate he possessed. Before his eyes fell shut. He could deny Thanos more, die now, leave all the others to die. He could cut the ties, toss them away. He'd been alone before, he could be alone again. He could die alone…
Loki gripped the scepter with his on strength then and when The Other felt it, he released him slowly. Loki wavered in his stance, but he stood.

"Still going to protect him while you can, hmm?" Thanos chuckled. "And here I thought you to take the cowards way out and turn from him, failing once more."

That struck Loki. He would succeed…at least in protecting Tony Stark for the time being… He did not know his future fate, but he could do his best for now. "Failure is not always my only fate…" he muttered darkly. The blue orb on the scepter began to glow.

"Or so you think. But go on, play your fate in which you believe you will not fail. Enjoy that lie while it lasts. But I will find you, and the tessaract, once more."

Loki simply glared, breathing deeply in and out as he had finally received enough of the scepters power and he willed it to return him, feeling it pull him away and toward the tessaract's location. It yanked him to the other world and he crashed upon the floor of main room, Loki lying on the ground wincing.

He took deep breaths, eyes shut tight before he suddenly heard them. The breaths, at first. And he opened his eyes, looking towards the familiar window to see the all. The Avengers standing together, freed obviously by Tony, all looking pissed and impatient.

Thor's was the first he saw, full of hurt and betrayal, as well as sadness and anger. He pushed such notions from his mind just as Tony came in to view, wearing a scratched up suit and a glare that was unshakable.

"Come back for your masters' toy, ass hole?" he asked in a low tone. Thor held the cube within a cylinder container.

Loki stared at them, but his eyes kept falling to Tony. He said nothing, too busy trying to control his breathing.

"What happened to you..?" The Captain inquired, looking surprised at Loki's state.
He sighed. "Why should it matter?"

"It doesn't. Thor…you said you wanted a big hand in his punishment." Tony turned to Thor, now speaking with him as if the dark-haired God was not there. "What do you have in mind? Because I feel he deserves our hand in his punishment as well."

"With how many and how much he fucked over, I think Tony's right." Clint agreed. Natasha was silent, just watching Loki with cold eyes. Banner was silent as well, thought he seemed a bit worn out, his clothes torn or missing as he sat in the corner.

Thor took a deep breath, glancing at his brother, before sighing. "…I believe he can be allowed to stay in one of your Midgardian dungeons—"

"Jail cell, Thor." Natasha corrected. Thor sighed, but when on.

"He can stay here, restricted by some of the objects I summoned—your restraints could not hold him. He shall stay, as I confer with my father of how he is to be punished." Thor decided.

"He can stay in a shield cell, where some of his favorite victims can pay him visits, what do you guys think?" Tony turned to the others with a sarcastic smirk.

The others took a moment, but eventually nodded, all in agreement. Loki fidgeted on the ground only a bit, the scepter still in his hand. Tony noticed from the corner of his eyes and aimed the palm blaster at him. "Put it down."

Loki watched him, looking him directly in the eyes, almost making Tony shiver. Loki tossed the scepter aside.

Tony narrowed his eyes, seeming surprised that Loki did so, so easily. But he assumed there was a reason. A reason why he'd act so obedient so easily. "Better restrict him now, then, so we can get him in a cell as soon as possible."

Thor nodded, handing the cylinder to the Captain as he retrieved what seemed to be chains as well as a collar from the bar table and he walked to Loki. With an expressionless look on his face, Thor put the chains upon Loki's wrists and ankles, only glancing at him in a short moment of surprise when he noticed he did not fight them. But he continued, securing them and then he began putting the choker on him.

"…What is that for..?" Loki questioned.

"To restrict your powers completely." Thor told him as he snapped it on. Any strength Loki felt before was now gone, his pain registering more and he winced, sighing and taking a deep breath.

They all watched him, unsure how they felt about how Loki was giving no fight. Then again, he looked like he'd been through hell and back. But even so, they did not put that into much consideration. Instead, they kept watch on him as they waited for agents to pick them up and take them to the hellicarier, where Fury had informed them he could stay until Thor returned.

But he was not leaving just yet. He, as well as others, sought audience with Loki. And they would all have it, in time. All of them.