-ASGARD-

Thor broke his bedding, and threw his hammer at the wall. It smashed through and hit one of his guards. He let out a deafening cry, one of anguish, and anger.

Sif was dead.

A woman came crying to a guard outside the gates and told them the news. She had been in her home when she heard rustling outside. She had gone to see what it was, thinking it was her children at play, but then saw the horrendous sight of the woman warrior's body, bludgeoned and bloody. Her hair was ripped off, and her torso was open, stabbed thoroughly. Her eyes were still open, so she had closed them out of respect. Crying, she had run to the guard, and told him all of this, sobbing through her explanation.

Thor had gone to see the body, and his suspicions were confirmed. Sif's face did not look peaceful. She looked like she had fought a war, and had lost. Thor was pleased that she did not leave without a fight for her life. It would have taken great power to overtake someone as strong as she.

Thor thought back to Brokk. He couldn't have done this. Not alone. Brokk had the strength, and the knowledge, but not enough to handle such a warrior as she. He remembered his assistant: surely he couldn't have helped. He was weak, and helpless. He had jumped and almost had fainted at Thor expressed his disbelief as the news was told of Loki. As he should have.

Now, he was fuming, throwing things and yelling out in bursts of rage. He found himself walking to the Vault, where all of the sacred items are stored. He paused at the doors, looking around. He remembered the aftermath of the Frost Giants, trying to steal back the Casket. Everything wrapped back around to his punishment to be banished to Asgard.

He remembered Loki trying to coax him out of the idea, him ignoring his advice and going off of his own reasoning. It did not matter if Loki was leading him into a trap. He tried to stop him, and he did not realize his foolishness.

He stood in front of the artifacts, and kneeled, resting one of his hands on Mjolnir.

"Those were easier times," Thor commented. His grip tightened.

"I thought I would find you here."

Thor turned around. The Allfather stood at the head of the stairs. "This has been troubling times for Asgard."

Thor did not respond.

"Loki is gone, and now the warrior Sif. I am starting to wonder if these incidents were just coincidence."

"They are not coincidence. Have you seen the condition Sif was in? Torn to pieces, ripped apart! There were signs of a struggle. A resistance!"

"Yes, I have seen."

"Then how could you say that this could have been an accident?"

Odin was quiet for a moment before he responded. "You twist my words. I said coincidence, not accident."

Thor looked at his father in disbelief. "You have known?"

"I have had my suspicions, but this incident has made them clear."

"So you know that Brokk has done it?"

There was a pause. Then: "There is no proof against this one. We cannot arrest without proper reasoning and attestation."

"The reasoning is murder, that is enough!"

"But we do not know if it is him that has done this. There have been no witnesses to the crime, and no evidence to support our suspicions. We will have to wait."

Thor was about to respond, but when he saw the Allfather's face fall, he understood. The King cannot be unjust. What would it show to the rest of Asgard? He could not just act on impulse. There needed to be enough so that everyone can see the fault. Accusing one for a thing that he seems innocent of to all people might make the people question the king's incentive.

A thought made itself known. There were no witnesses recorded. Except for the one that sees all.

-CURRENT-

Loki was having trouble getting to Asgard. He tried moving his wings, but he could not fly well enough to get anywhere. He had tried, and had failed miserably.

He fought with himself on the subject of contacting Coulson. He did not want to have his life depend on the one to whom he had killed. That in itself was murder. But, he did not have a choice.

"I am in need of assistance," Loki said out loud. "Are you intended to aid me or not?" He felt something in his back tingle and his head started to pulsate.

"Actually, I was expecting you to contact me sooner."

He turned around to see Coulson, standing with his hands clasped in front of him. "Trouble?"

He held back his annoyance and chastised himself for admitting his set back.

Coulson smirked. "Where are you trying to go?"

"I have a feeling you already know the answer to your own question."

Coulson nodded. "It's not that hard to travel. All you have to do is remember the place where you want to go. A specific place, a certain tree. You transport yourself there."

"If I can transport myself there, then what do I have these for?" He motioned to his wings.

"They're mostly for short distances and contact."

"Contact?"

"It's how we communicate with each other. Sort of like an antennae to intercept speech."

"Hmm."

Silence.

"Aren't you supposed to be going somewhere?"

The corner of Loki's mouth twitched as Coulson disappeared.

Loki tried remembering something from Asgard, but all of his memories were slightly blurred. He thought hard, but all that came up was memories of the Bifrost. Returning from Jötunheim, intended to destroy the frozen wasteland, when he fell into the stars…

Loki growled. I am being played for a fool. He opened his eyes, and held back his irritation.

The stars were bright, and the bridge was still in need of repair. Asgard looked different from what he had remembered. How long has he been away?

Loki jumped as the Bifrost guard, Heimdall, looked straight at him. He raised an eyebrow and walked past him slowly. The guard's eyes stayed at their position.

Even the one who can see all cannot see the dead.

"Your family misses you greatly."

Loki whipped his head around.

"I never would have expected you to come back." Heimdall turned around and faced Loki. "No one would have ever expected it."

"How is it that you can see me?"

Heimdall's hands tightened around his weapon. "I see everything. I cannot hear what you are saying."

"Right..."

Heimdall frowned. "This is a time of great peril. Ever since you have died, there has been a murder in the same manner you were murdered. The warrior Sif has perished."

Loki was taken aback. "That is impossible."

"I have seen the murderers disperse from somewhere I cannot see them, but there is nothing I can do."

"Well why not?" Loki asked, but Heimdall was already speaking.

"My service is to guard the Bifrost. If I move, it will become exposed." Heimdall then turned his back. "I am telling you this so that you can fulfill your task laid before you. It is true that I was never fond of the king's adopted, but I do not think you deserve the death of the undignified."

Loki said nothing, and turned to walk away only to be greeted by the sight of a horse galloping down the bridge. Loki clenched his hand as he saw the rider. Always on time, isn't he?

The rider got off and stood beside Heimdall. Loki stepped aside so that he would not be walked through by the rider's tall person.

"Thor."

EDITED: 27 July 2014