"So, ah, what's the allfather paying these days?" Loki smirked at the guard on his right holding his chains.

His teasing was met with a silence broken only by the clanking of metal as he and his four escorts made their way slowly down the bi-frost. He'd not even been trusted with a mount.

"Are the benefits good?" He pressed. "A decent amount of vacation time? The on the job hazards are hardly ideal, but-"

"Shut your mouth, Etin," the guard spat back. Loki felt his face flush at the slur.

"You dare address a prince of your realm in such a way?"

The guard laughed. "No son of Laufey was ever a prince of mine."

"Someday you will beg me to forgive those words…And I'll show no mercy." The chill of a thousand ancestors was in Loki's voice.

The guard gave no response as they were now nearing the group gathered before the large golden globe that marked the entrance to Asgard. Loki could see a small spacecraft perched in the air beside it, a loading ramp lowered down from it onto the bi-frost.

He was surprised to see his mother, yes Frigga would always be his mother in his mind, standing at the edge of the ramp beside the young stranger, River. Their heads were bent together and Frigga was speaking quietly to River, handing her a leather bag. Frigga's eyes snapped up, as if she'd sensed her son's arrival (She probably did). She gave him a small smile and then returned her attention to the petite brunette beside her.

Odin approached.

Loki jangled the chains attached to his appendages. "Do you intend to send me away in these?"

"They'll be removed once you're onboard the vessel," Odin responded. A moment of silence passed and Odin tried to meet his gaze. Loki looked away.

"I wish things could have been different," Odin sighed. The shorter man clapped Loki awkwardly on the arm. "I pray you will return to us safely, my son."

"Spare me your lies," Loki ground out.

Odin only nodded, and Thor came to take his place.

"I think this will be good for you, brother." Loki didn't miss the way Thor's eyes slid over to River.

Loki laughed out loud.

Thor stared back in confusion.

"You're nothing if not amusing, Thor," Loki responded.

"You have to grow up some day, little brother." Thor moved to make way for Frigga. She embraced him tightly. Loki allowed himself the indulgence of sucking in as much of her comforting scent as he could.

Frigga pulled away with a hand on his cheek. "Oh my Loki…You've not let your skills with the sword and dagger languish over all these years, I hope."

Loki's brows furrowed. "Of course not-"

"Good," Frigga cut him off. "I've always been so proud of your talents with illusion, but I fear my magic will be of little use to you on this journey. Remember all the lessons I've taught you." She lowered her voice. "You've no idea how hard Thor and I had to fight to give you this opportunity. I beg you, don't waste it."

"Mother-"

"Shh—" Frigga leaned up to press a kiss against his forehead. "I love you with all my heart. Come back to me safely, my beautiful little tyrant." And with that she stepped away. Odin nodded to the guards and Loki was dragged forward, onto the ship. River was nowhere in sight.

Once he was onboard, Loki began to understand. He looked around the room as the guards unlocked the cuffs around his wrists and ankles. While its shape hinted at a typical cargo bay, the walls were a thick dark metal and he could feel a sort of energy vibrating off them. Much like his prison in the palace, the room was equipped with some sort of force field specifically to restrain him. He saw no controls or buttons, the cell was separated from the rest of the craft by a heavy, windowless metal door. So the little witch was wise enough to try to keep him out of the cock pit. It wouldn't work, but he admired her foresight.

As soon as the guards backed away, the ramp quickly raised back up. Loki made an obscene gesture in parting salute to his family. Daylight faded out and Loki's world became a dim metal box.


He waited what felt like a reasonable amount of time before he started in with the groaning.

"Ahhh, ahhhh," Loki clutched his stomach and writhed on the ground. There'd be a camera feed of the cargo bay to the cock pit, so he was going all in.

"Waterr…please…please…" he moaned. He added some retching. A little desperate scratching on the metal walls.

When that didn't work he started screaming. "Ahhh please! Please help me! Water! Anything to dull the pain!"

Finally her voice rang out over the intercom.

"I'm not stupid, Loki. We're nowhere near the black hole yet. It's impossible that you could be feeling any ill effects." And then she giggled. Giggled. "And besides I can tell when you're faking."

Loki growled with frustration from his position beside the door and the writhing projection of himself on the floor flickered out.


It hit him like a ten ton boulder in his gut. Loki sucked in a few deep breaths as he sunk to his knees and then curled over into himself, clutching his torso. This was bad. Much worse than he expected. Agony. But he wouldn't scream…he wouldn't cry out and let her hear his weakness. The world was spinning. He was nauseous. Dry heaving. His head was throbbing. It was like being hit with mjolnir all over his body over and over again. But the worst part was the heat. It was so hot…so, so hot.

And that was when he broke, screaming as the fire engulfed him.

"Ahhhhhh! Ahhh, no…this…I'm dying!" Loki felt tears start to run down his cheeks as he yelled, but he just didn't care anymore. He was covered in pain. Drowning in pain. And white, hot heat.

He felt his cheeks cool off slightly and then vaguely, far away, someone calling his name. He couldn't see anything. It was all darkness.

"Loki…Loki, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Tell me…how it hurts…where?" She asked

"Burns! It's burning everywhere!" He sobbed.

"No…no you're freezing," the voice murmured, and he felt the coolness slither up one of his arms.

"Mmm…" He pressed his arm against the delicious chill.

"Does that feel better?" The ice cube moved down his neck, brushed across his temples, ran down his other arm.

"Yes. More…" It was a struggle to get those simple words out. To think clearly enough to say them. The heat was a haze, a cloud filling his mind.

"Ok…ok…" He felt himself being pulled and prodded. The coolness brushing him here and there. And then instant relief as he felt his entire upper body cool off dramatically. He sighed with pleasure. The ice pressed up against his chest and he wrapped his arms around it, determined that it should never leave him.

"Better?" An icy puff against his throat at the words.

"Yes…mm...yes. Please….more…."

"I can't…w-we're…as close as…" The ice squirmed against him.

"No…no…" he demanded, sure it was going to leave him.

"I won't leave…I just…you're so cold."

"No…fire…so hot…"

"N-no…you're not."

Loki felt another harsh ripple of pain run through his body.

"Ahh!" he squeezed the ice tighter and now he wasn't the only one screaming.

"Ahh! Oww! Loki! St-stop! STOP!"

The last thing he could remember was the screaming.