Chapter 25: Escape From Asgard

After all they had suffered the last few months, Loki and Brigid were finally glad to have some fun as Thor agreed to free them from the dungeons. Despite their release, Brigid had her doubts about helping her future brother in law as she and Loki dressed in their tunics, he in leather, and she in cloth.

"We're not actually going to help him, are we?" she asked dubiously.

"Oh I don't think of it as helping him so much as ourselves," Loki replied. "Besides, why not?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you're fool of a brother snatched away our children so why ever would we help him?" Brigid asked.

"Don't think of it that way," Loki said. "We're not helping him. We're doing this for our Mother, not him. Besides, you didn't think I'd agree if I didn't have plan some way of getting our children back."

Brigid smiled brightly. "I love the way you think, my darling."

"Of course you do. I'm the God of Mischief, and you, my Goddess," Loki said smugly. "Now, let's not keep our dear brother waiting."

"This is going to be fun, isn't it?" Brigid asked, with a grin.

"Darling, I would never disappoint you," Loki said.

Loki and Brigid hurried out of their cells were they met Thor. Both of them wore cocky smiles. After months of being locked up in the dungeons, they were happy to have the chance to annoy Thor all they wanted, and they were going to advantage of every second as Thor secretly led them through the halls of Asgard.

"Ooh, so secretive, dear brother. So mysterious. I like it," Brigid teased.

"This is so unlike you, brother. So clandestine," Loki commented. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?"

"Yes, it would be so much easier for a bulky moron like yourself," Brigid added.

"If you both keep speaking I just might," Thor grumbled.

"Fine, as you wish. We're not even here," Loki said in surrender.

Loki and Brigid changed their appearance to that of Asgardian guards. "Is this better?" Loki asked.

"Better company, at least," Thor said.

"Still, could be less conspicuous," Loki said.

He then changed Thor's appearance to that of his companion, Lady Sif, while Brigid took on the appearance of Volstagg.

"Mm, brother, you look ravishing," Loki commented.

"I've never felt so hideous in all my life. What a abdominous buffoon!" Brigid said in disgust.

"Will hurt no less when I kill you both," Thor said, annoyed.

"Very well. Perhaps you prefer the company of your new companions given that you seem to like them so much," Loki said.

Loki and Brigid smiled as he took on the form of Captain America she that of Tony.

"Oh, this is much better," Loki said.

"Much better indeed. I didn't know Tony was so fit," Brigid commented. "Mm, darling, that costume is so tight on you. Are you sure you wouldn't rather take it off?"

"Costume's a bit much, but the confidence. I can feel the righteousness surging. Hey, wanna have a rousing discussion about truth, honor, patriotism? God Bless Ameri-!"

Before Loki could continue his teasing, Thor shoved him and Brigid against a wall and slapped his hand over his mouth.

"What?" Loki whispered.

Thor nodded wordlessly to the guards nearby.

"You could at least furnish us with weapons. A dagger, something," Loki said.

"I know you're not that stupid, brother," Brigid said.

Loki smiled, his eyebrows cocking.

Thor sighed and both of them felt something metal in their hands.

"At last. A little common sense," Loki said.

To their disappointment, Loki and Brigid felt only shackles wrapped around their wrists as Thor smiled, satisfied.

"And I thought you loved tricks," he laughed.

"Darling, say the word and I will stab him in the back now," Brigid grumbled.

"Now, now, my love," Loki said calmly.

He and Brigid were met by Lady Sif and another woman, whom they assumed to be Thor's Midgardian love, Jane Foster, whom stared at them wide-eyed.

"You're!" she gasped, pointed at Loki and Brigid.

"I'm Loki, this is my betrothed, Brigid Regan, you may have heard of me," Loki greeted.

Before Loki could say another word, Jane smacked him across the face. "That was for New York!"

Loki only smiled in approval. "I like her."

"Sorry about New York, but I thought you'd understand what it's like in a relationship," Brigid shrugged. "We're both women, aren't we?"

Jane only glared at her.

"Oooh, I see what you mean, my love. She is feisty," Brigid said in agreement.

Suddenly, nearly one hundred guards began to storm the hall. Sif assured Thor that she would hold them off as he took Jane. Before they left, Sif held her spear to Brigid and Loki's throats.

"Betray him, and I'll kill you both," she said menacingly.

Loki chuckled. "It's good to see you, too, Sif."

"Best of luck to you," Brigid said.

She and Loki then followed Thor and Jane where they met Volstagg who wished his companion good fortune before stopping them again.

"If you even think about betraying them-" he threatened.

"You'll kill us? Evidently, there'll be a line," Loki said nonchalantly.

"If you're going to threaten, try to be more creative," Brigid said.

She and Loki followed Thor and Jane into a Dark Elf ship in middle of the throne room where Thor struggled to activate the power as the guards swarmed the hall.

"I thought you said you knew how to fly this thing," Loki said.

"I said 'how hard could it be?'" Thor replied, annoyed.

"Well, that's a big surprise," Brigid said.

"Well, whatever, you're doing brother, I suggest you do it faster," Loki said.

"Shut up, Loki," Thor said, desperately, as he frantically hit every button on the controls.

"That means with more speed," Brigid said snidely.

"Shut up, Brigid!" Thor said.

Thor continued to hit buttons, frantically looking for the power button.

"Is this your way of an escape? Looks to me like just hitting things until something works," Brigid commented.

"Shut up, Brigid!" Thor snapped.

"Must have missed something," Loki said.

"No, I didn't. I'm pressing every button on this thing it's not working!" Thor said frantically.

"No, don't hit it. Just press it gently," Loki said.

"I am pressing it gently. It's not working," Thor said, slamming on the control panel.

Suddenly, the lights on the Dark Elf ship came to life and the ship blasted off, crashing into columns as it made its way out of the palace.

"I think you missed a column," Loki laughed.

"Shut up!" Thor said.

"Are you aiming for them, or are you truly a terrible pilot?" Brigid cackled. "My sons, being only one, could pilot better than-mmmph!"

Brigid let out a muffled cry as Thor tore off a piece of his cape and fastened it around her mouth.

Loki looked at him with disapproval. "That was just terrible manners, brother."

"Shut up!" Thor said.

Thor continued crashing into buildings and leading the ship sideways as they fled the city.

"Look, why don't you let me take over, I'm clearly the better pilot," Loki said.

"That right?" Thor laughed. "Well, out of the two of us, which one of us can actually fly?"

Suddenly, Jane Foster fell unconscious.

Loki smirked. "Oh dear, is she dead?"

"Jane?" Thor said, concerned.

"I'm okay," Jane replied weakly.

Suddenly, Asgardian ships began following and shooting and them.

"Mmmph!" Brigid shouted through her gag.

"Now they're following us. Now they're firing at us!" Loki said.

"Yes, thank you for the commentary, Loki. It's not at all distracting," Thor groaned.

"Mmmph! Mmmph!" Brigid shouted.

"Sorry, I can't understand you!" Thor said.

Thor's ship slammed into the statue of Bor, taking of its head.

"Well done, you've just decapitated your grandfather," Loki jested. "You know this is wonderful. This is a tremendous idea. Let's steal the biggest, most obvious ship in the universe and escape in that. Flying around the city, smashing into everything so everyone can see us. It's brilliant, Thor! It's truly brilliant!"

Without warning, Thor shoved Loki and Brigid out of the ship, where they landed on a skiff piloted by Fandral, who laughed as Thor met them. Fandral laughed as Loki and the bound and gagged Brigid landed face-first on the ship.

"I see your time in the dungeons has made you both no less graceful," he commented.

Brigid flashed her eyes at him and Loki glared.

"You lied to me," Loki said in surprise. "I'm impressed."

"Glad your pleased. Now do as you promised. Take us to your secret pathway," Thor commanded.

Loki, with a wicked grin took command of the skiff.

"Mmmmph!" Brigid cried.

Suddenly, Asgardian ships began to follow them and blast at them.

"Fandral!" Thor cried.

"Right," Fandral said knowingly. "For Asgard!"

Fandral fought off the Asgardian ship and gave a wave to Thor. Loki smiled with joy as he piloted the boat to a narrow mountain path.

"Loki?" Thor said warily.

"If it were easy, everyone would do it," Loki said.

"Are you mad?" Thor questioned.

"Possibly," Loki replied.

Thor braced himself as the ship scraped through the pass, trailing sparks along the way and then, as if by magic, entered the Dark World.

"Ta da!" Loki sang out in triumph.

Thor nodded in approval. "It seems I doubted you, brother."

"People do that all the time. It's no surprise to me these days," Loki commented. "If you wouldn't mind, would you please remove that gag from my betrothed's mouth?"

Thor sighed and removed Brigid's gag.

Brigid promptly slapped him. "Your manners need improving!"

"Now, now, my darling," Loki said calmly.

Brigid sighed. "You're lucky he's here to quell my temper."

"I am thankful for that," Thor said.

Thor took a blanket and draped it over an unconscious Jane. Loki and Brigid smiled as Thor simpered over his Midgardian love.

His simpering over this little woman is making me sick, Brigid thought. Meanwhile, I get tortured for even being here.

"So, I'm told she as a power in her. Sounds interesting," Brigid said, impressed.

"What I, what we could do with the power that flows through those veins," Loki said, winking at Brigid.

"I can only imagine," Brigid agreed.

"It would consume you," Thor said.

"She's holding up all right," Loki commented. "For now."

"She's strong in ways you'd never imagine," Thor said.

Brigid laughed. "Oh, but we all have our breaking points. I was mortal once. I know."

"Say goodbye," Loki whispered.

"Not this day," Thor said.

"This day, the next. A hundred years. It's nothing, a heartbeat," Loki said. "You'll never be ready. The only woman who's love you prized will be snatched from you."

"And will that satisfy you?" Thor asked angrily.

"Satisfaction is not in my nature," Loki replied.

"Surrender is not in mine," Thor said.

"You see, we gave up on satisfaction after you took ours. Do you remember that?" Brigid said. "Tell me, Thor, what did it feel like when you destroyed the Bifrost and destroyed your happiness? I wanna know, did it satisfy you like when you stole our babies?"

"What part of this am I supposed to weep for you?" Thor growled. "You were in a cell, and they were only children. Do you think they'd delight in knowing their mother and father are criminals?"

"Well, if they knew us, but thanks to you, they never will, will they?" Brigid snapped. "You know, you are just like your father. Odin did the same thing, did he not?"

"Snatching a baby, locking them away," Loki added. "Everything will always be snatched from you, just like it was from us, the son of Odin."

"No, not just of Odin!" Thor argued, seeing through Loki's anger. "You think you alone were loved of Mother? You had her tricks, but I had her trust."

Loki snorted. "Trust? Was that her last expression? Trust? When you let her die?"

"Where was that trust when she died, Thor? I'm certain that trust was worth it!" Brigid added.

"What help were you both in your cell? Bearing two illegitimate children even Father had sent away?" Thor demanded.

"And who took them away?" Brigid questioned. "Who stole them?"

"Who put us there? Who put us there?" Loki screamed, his rage bubbling over.

Thor slammed his brother against the edge of the ship, ready to throw a punch. "You damn well! You know damn well, who!"

Before he could strike, Thor lowered his fist. "She wouldn't want us to fight."

Loki smiled. "Well, she wouldn't exactly be shocked."

"That is an understatement, my love," Brigid commented.

Thor smiled, understanding. "I wish I could trust you both."

"Trust my rage," Loki replied.

"And trust the power of revenge," Brigid added. "You might not know it, but revenge is your best ally, brother, and it will serve you well."

"It hasn't served you," Thor commented.

"On the contrary, our need for revenge got us out of our cell for the first time in years thanks to you," Brigid countered. "So, I believe revenge is your best ally."

"My betrothed has never spoken truer wisdom," Loki said proudly.

"I only hope you are right," Thor said. "but at the first sign of deception, I will kill you."

"Oh, but deception is our game," Loki said, a smile going across his lips as he winked at Brigid.

A/N: Uh-oh. What are Loki and Brigid planning? Good to see them having fun again annoying Thor. This is for my readers, reviewers, followers, etc. This is for you and would be nothing without you. Enjoy!