Frame Up
Asgard
The cacophony of voices was the first thing Loki heard as he opened his eyes. The sun was streaming past the gold gossamer curtains, which were rippling in the breeze. The sun had just risen, but Loki was given no time to appreciate its beauty.
BAM.
"What have you done?"
Odin burst inside Loki's chambers, his expression livid. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
Loki slid out of bed, his armor slipping over his body as he faced the All-Father. "Found another unfounded accusation to throw at me?"
Odin raised his hand as if to hit Loki full across the face, but Frigga jumped in between them.
"No! Odin, please," she begged, placing restraining hands – a mean feat, considering Odin was practically frothing at the mouth in anger – on her husband's shoulders. "We have no proof. Loki couldn't…he wouldn't…"
"There is nothing he wouldn't do, Frigga!" Odin took a step back and glared at Loki, who stood his ground. "I would have thought you would keep her out of your schemes. It seems I was wrong. How could you stand seeing your wife sink into the same level of depravity as you do?"
"I don't understand what you are talking about." Loki blinked slowly, but his heart beat was racing.
Sigyn? Was she here? Why hasn't she visited him yet?
"And you even have the audacity to feign ignorance," Odin seethed. "Sigyn has been spotted in Midgard, continuing your work. She has caused the deaths of no less than a hundred Midgardians!"
"Odin, Loki wouldn't use Sigyn," Frigga insisted, tugging fiercely at Odin's arm. The All-Father glanced at his wife and then at his adopted son. "He wouldn't."
"Then how do you explain her actions? She is the new leader of the Chitauri and rides a massive Leviathan where she carries out her orders, Frigga! Why would she do this if not for her husband?" Odin turned to Loki, whose thoughts were buzzing.
Loki didn't care what accusations the All-Father planned to give him; all that mattered was that Sigyn had escaped Thanos.
"…send Thor to deal with her," Loki heard the All-Father say. "And she too, will face Asgardian justice."
"You would condemn Sigyn?" Loki said incredulously. "She has done nothing-"
"Except follow your orders. If it weren't for you, she would not have been corrupted!" Odin clenched his fists, as if controlling the urge to punch the Frost Giant.
"If you had shown me some form of approval, had you told me who I was from the very beginning, and had you been honest and fair, things would not have turned out this way!" Loki exclaimed, finally losing his temper.
"All I have ever done was to try and gain your approval; to gain your love. But I see now that I will never have it. What Sigyn has done was because she loves me, and because you told her to be loyal to me no matter what. I have experienced more love from her and my unborn child than I ever did with you. And now you want to punish us both? I expected more from a wise king," Loki spat.
It was obvious that Loki had been dying to say those words since learning of his true heritage. Odin looked stunned, as if he hadn't expected that. But he recovered quickly, and Odin had Loki bound and placed back in the dungeon.
Loki went with the guards, but managed to talk to Thor before he left for Midgard.
"Just bring her home safe," Loki said. "I ask nothing for myself, Thor. Just bring her home."
"And in your arms," Thor promised Loki, who felt a sudden surge of affection for his older 'brother'. Despite all that had passed between the two, it was obvious that they still regarded each other as family. "But is it true? Is she doing your work?"
Loki's face hardened. "No. I never told her to do so."
"But it is likely that she looked for Thanos and offered to work for him as some form of revenge," Thor pointed out.
"Whatever her cause, I assure you I had no part in it. Unlike what the All Father believes, I would not stoop that low."
Thor stilled, remembering Freya's vision of Sigyn being tortured by Thanos. Perhaps Loki was right. If there was one thing Thor was certain about Loki, it was that he truly loved Sigyn. He would never follow a course of action that would lead to her being tortured.
Loki looked at his older brother, waiting. Finally Thor nodded and patted Loki's shoulder reassuringly. "I'll bring her home, brother."
It was then when Loki allowed himself to be led away. Thor watched as Loki walked down the hallway, flanked by several guards.
His brother never looked back.
New York
Sigyn smiled slowly as she heard the first reports of the attacks in Italy and New Zealand. The Chitauri army was one step closer to bringing Midgard to its knees. Sigyn had been hearing reports of several leaders who expressed their desire to meet with her and discuss possible options.
Her only reply was to send in more of the Chitauri.
Sigyn didn't want to talk about options; she was here to destroy.
A Chitauri landed gracefully in front of her, and Sigyn raised her eyebrow. "What is it?"
The Chitauri gave off a series of shrill cries, gesturing furiously. A smile slowly formed on Sigyn's face.
Her brother-in-law had arrived.
"Where is he now?"
In the city.
Sigyn laughed, but her gaze remained cold. "Excellent. Call off your brethren; this is one fight I must do alone."
