Sigyn sat on Heven's throne, Sariah standing beside her, a bright smile on both women's faces as they listened to a choir of young angels assembled in the presentation area before her singing their version of Buddy Holly's song "It's Raining In My Heart." Sigyn had chosen the song for them, as she always did at least one for their monthly appearance before her. It wasn't the most uplifting song, the lyrics more than a bit melancholy, but Sigyn had always thought it a pretty one. Hearing it once again had brought to mind her island and the home she once had there that now sat in ruins, rendering it a fitting choice. As they finished, she rose, stepping down from the dais on which the throne sat.
"That was wonderful. Thank you so much." she said to the children and the adult angel choir master that accompanied them before they bowed their heads. The choir master led the choir out of the throne room. Sigyn looked towards the door of the throne room after it had closed behind them. Loki and Mariel were to have met her there before Loki escorted her to Earth to the Sanctum in New York, Dr. Strange taking her to Kamar-Taj from there by a more direct route than the one he had followed years before. Loki had taken the same trip with Steinn the week before.
Sigyn had been relieved to see him go, though she had felt guilty for her feelings at the same time. She was not nearly as pleased to see Mariel depart. She knew that Mariel had been stressed as of late, even before Hela's appearance and her attempt to help Steinn, and was happy that she was taking time for herself, however not knowing how long she would be gone was troubling as she depended on her senior lady of the court for so much.
"I have some time before my next audience. I'll return shortly." Sigyn said to Sariah, who was to replace Mariel for the time being. Sariah nodded in acknowledgement before Sigyn made her way to the doors of the throne room.
Mariel found herself returning Loki's kiss before reason overtook her once again.
"No...I can't...we musn't." Marial said, putting her hands to Loki's chest and moving him slowly away from her.
"Is this not what you wished for?" Loki asked.
"Not in this way." Mariel answered. The chime of the door sounded, Mariel literally saved by the bell as it gave her a reprieve from the situation and the confusion and battle taking place within her. Walking around Loki, Mariel made her way to the door, opening it to reveal Sigyn standing in the corridor outside it. Loki glanced at Sigyn before looking away.
"My Queen...I was just on my way to see you." Mariel said. Sigyn stepped inside, looking to Loki, noticing his averted eyes. He being with Mariel alone was not an issue for her. Since he had overcome, for the most part, his discomfort in her presence, he had often been alone with her for various legitimate reasons, but Sigyn couldn't help but sense that there was something different about this particular occasion due to the demeanor of both of them. Sigyn turned her attention back to Mariel, unable to help noticing the necklace she wore.
"I haven't seen you wearing that before. It's beautiful." Sigyn asked. Mariel followed Sigyn's gaze to the necklace.
"Loki gave it to me just now. I thought it was a gift from both of you."
"No...I knew nothing about it." Sigyn said, looking again to Loki.
"I wanted it to be a surprise. I was afraid if I mentioned it you might accidentally spoil it." Loki explained. His explanation made no sense to Sigyn. He knew well that she could keep such a secret.
"I should be going." Mariel said.
"I will await your return. Sariah is stepping into your shoes. You need not worry about anything here." Sigyn said.
"She is more than capable." Mariel assured her before the two women embraced. Mariel turned to walk back to grab her bag as Loki picked it up from the floor.
"Let's be on our way." Loki said. Mariel stood next to him, seeming reticent to be so near and to take his arm. Sigyn looked with concern to the two as Loki held a transport cylinder in his free hand, the two disappearing in its light.
Having delivered Mariel to the Sanctum and into the care of Dr. Strange, Loki disguised himself in the stylish dark clothing he usually wore during his sojourns to Midgard, though with the exception of New Asgard, they were infrequent, walking away from the Sanctum and down the streets of New York. As he progressed along the sidewalk among the crowds that seemed to all be in a rush as they made their way in both directions, Loki strolled more casually taking in the sights and observing the people. A police vehicle, its lights on and sirens blaring, went by, fighting its way through the traffic followed shortly after by an ambulance. Men and women, young and old, walked by and around Loki, some bumping into him as they did so without a glance or apology of any sort. Many appeared transfixed as they stared at the screens on their phones, Loki wondering how they even knew where they were going. Almost all of them seemed to be existing in their own bubble, detached and unconcerned with the world around them and the other people in it.
Loki continued until he reached his destination, looking up at at Stark Tower.
Sariah entered the royal chambers escorting Xenia inside.
"Xenia, come in. Please, sit down." Sigyn said to Heven's seer and gatekeeper she had summoned to her presence. Sariah turned and exited. Xenia took note of the worried expression on Sigyn's face as she made her way to the chaise and sat down across from Sigyn sitting in the armchair.
"My Queen. You look troubled."
"I am. It's Loki. Ever since his return...I don't know...something's not right. I'm not sure how to explain it. He's just not been himself. Have you seen anything strange? Anything at all?" Sigyn asked.
"No I have not, but I am not in the habit of violating the privacy of others unless it's necessary, especially that of my King and Queen."
"I think it's become necessary." Sigyn said.
"It may merely be a reaction to all that's happened. Many are still dealing with the trauma of what took place. He likely feels himself responsible. Perhaps with time he will become more like himself again."
"I hope you're right." Sigyn said, rising from the chair, Xenia following suit.
"I will report back to you if I discover anything." Xenia said before turning and walking to the door, Sigyn following.
Tony Stark's apartment in Stark Tower stood dark but for the sunlight streaming in through the glass along the outside wall, the same glass Loki had once thrown Stark through. Stark nor Pepper had spent much time there after Thanos' snap, instead retreating to their peaceful hideaway far from the bustle of the big city and the memories of those who had been rendered dust. Pepper now only made infrequent visits since Stark's death though a cleaning crew regularly kept the dwelling ready for her if she were to decide to utilize it even for just a night.
Loki made his way to the bar, the same one Stark had stood behind that day long ago as he poured himself a drink, offering one to Loki as well. Loki had wondered since then if Stark really would have given him one had he accepted. Knowing Stark, he would have, thought Loki. Bottles and decanters of liquor still sat untouched. Perusing the selection, Loki chose one and putting a glass on the bar, poured himself the drink he had denied himself that day. Carrying it to the wall of glass, Loki looked out over the city once more as he sipped his drink. Stark had been right, he had stocked only the best...or at least the best Midgard had to offer.
Having finished his drink, Loki walked out onto the long unused platform extending from the building over the city. He peered down at the mass of humanity and what struck him as best described as "organized chaos" below. Lifting his gaze he took in the expanse of the city stretching out as far as he could see. All the cacophony of a major urban area reached his ears from below...the honking of car horns, the sounds of thousands of vehicle engines and construction equipment, the sirens of police and others responding to crimes and emergency situations. It all mixed together in a strange auditory soup.
Standing on the platform just as he had done that day as he had watched his army of Chitauri attack and lay waste to the metropolis below him, he held out his hand as a new scepter materialized in his grip, the illusion of Midgardian clothing transforming into a long black and green tunic. The scepter was almost identical to the one he once possessed with only a few slight cosmetic alterations he had himself added to the design that he had sketched and passed onto the artisans. The blue crystal housing held within the scepter glowed with the power of the stone that rested within it.
Sigyn entered the royal chambers, baby Frigga in one arm, holding Leiffrid by the hand. Once within the great room, Leiffrid released his mother's hand beginning to run towards the entrance to the bedchambers and his bedroom where his toys were kept.
"Leiffie...wait a minute." Sigyn said to him. Leiffrid turned, looking questioningly to his mother. "I want to ask you something."
"Alright." Leffrid said, walking back towards Sigyn.
"When you were in...that place...the place Hela sent you, did you or your father bring anything from there back with you?"
"No." Leiffrid answered.
"Do you know why your father might be acting strange?" Sigyn asked.
"Maybe it's the new rock. Maybe there's someone in it too." Leiffrid said.
"What new rock?" Sigyn asked, attempting to sound calm though dread coursed through her hearing Leiffrid's answer.
"The blue one. I saw father holding it. He said I'm not supposed to talk about it."
Loki stood at the edge of a large open field where angelic and some Tartaran warriors that had joined their ranks sparred with each other. Another angelic warrior wearing an insignia of rank on his uniform stood beside him. Loki noticed Aegeus, the young Tartaran, among the others, sparring with a sword.
"Our losses were significant but we have been only slightly weakened by it, though had we not withdrawn when we did..." the angel standing beside Loki told him.
"Aegeus, how is he?" Loki asked.
"He's an able fighter. He's good with a spear. He will do well."
"If I had need of an army, how soon could they be ready?" Loki asked.
Having left the training field, Loki now stood in Heven's vault in front of the pedestal where he had placed the Aether. Placing his hand upon the container in which it rested, he sensed the power within it. He had mused long ago what he could do with such power flowing through his veins only to be told by his brother that it would consume him. If he could only learn to harness it, to control it, as Malekith had done...or if he could learn the secret to converting it to its solid form, he could add its power to what he already possessed within the scepter. But no, for the time being he was wise enough to know that what he didn't know could spell his doom. If only it could speak to him, tell him its secrets. Perhaps in time it would do so. For now however, it would remain where it was. Loki turned from it, walking back past the other relics to the vault's doors.
Sigyn appeared in the Sanctum in New York before the wide stairway and looked around the apparently empty room of relics whose uses she did not know nor had time to contemplate.
"He left some time ago. Strangely enough, he used the door." Dr. Strange's voice came from behind her. She turned to face him.
"I need your help."
"Heven seems to have become a recruitment center for Kamar-Taj."
"No...it's Loki. He's brought something back from the past." Sigyn explained.
"Please tell me it's not Disco...or plaid pants."
"What's wrong with Disco?"
"You're serious?" Strange replied.
"This isn't a joke! I think he's in trouble...the rest of us may be too."
"What is it?" Strange asked, obviously nervous about the answer.
"A stone of some kind."
"Surely he wouldn't have been that foolish...wait, I forgot who we were talking about for a moment, never mind."
Loki had returned to the apartment in Stark Tower once again standing behind the bar. He had since his arrival familiarized himself with the layout and accouterments of the space. Having discovered Stark's audio files, Loki had randomly chosen a play list, music now filling the room just as it often did in his home on Heven, (watch?v=XXx6RDzR6eM) the song "Let's Stay Together" now playing as he stood facing the bottles and decanters on the shelf as he removed one from it, an empty glass sitting on the bar behind him along with the scepter.
"Loki. What are you doing here?" Sigyn's voice said from across the room. Loki turned, momentarily startled, but quickly recovering, pouring himself another drink from a crystal decanter.
"At the moment, I'm having a drink. Would you like one?" Loki asked as if nothing were amiss. "Seeing as the former tenant won't be returning, it seems a shame for it to go to waste."
"I've just spoken with Mariel." Sigyn informed him. Loki's expression became stony as he sat the decanter on the bar.
"I suppose in that case I should make yours a double." Loki said. He obtained another glass from under the bar and poured a second drink, sliding it across the bar towards Sigyn as she approached. "What stories has that lascivious strumpet been filling your head with?"
"Interesting ones to say the least. What is that?" Sigyn asked looking at the scepter. Loki, taking a drink from his own glass, sat it down and picked up the scepter.
"It's my own design. I've made a few improvements over the original." Loki said, looking at the scepter, admiring it. Sigyn also examined it and the round blue crystal as he held it in his hand. "Are you going to drink that?" Loki asked, looking to the drink he had poured Sigyn. Sigyn grabbed the glass, raising it to her lips and tipping her head back, downed it all in one swallow before sitting the glass back on the bar. Loki stared at her in shocked silence for a moment.
"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" Sigyn asked again. Loki eyed the expansive room.
"Setting things right. Stepping out of the shadows I have lived under for too long, first Thor's, now yours. On Heven I am king in name only. I rule by your leave. The people of Midgard think themselves free. I will put paid to the lie they tell themselves. Fitting that in this room was where it all ended and where it will now begin anew."