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Fidelitas
A Lily By Any Other Name
Chapter Two
Surrender was not part of the plan.
In his own defense, Loki had not expected to be ambushed by the Man Out of Time and his cohorts. The super soldier was easy to overpower but his rusty friend just had to join in on the carnage—not that there was any on their part, of course. His surrender was simply a wayward stepping stone; a change of course. In all their pride, these mortals were easy to manipulate. At the moment, he was being escorted to S.H.I.E.L.D in a jet, periodically receiving dirty looks from the good captain.
"I don't like it." he heard Captain Rogers mutter to Stark.
"What, Rock of Ages giving up so quickly?" the other man answered.
Loki blinked.
"I don't remember it being that easy," the soldier added with another glare in his direction. "This guy packs a wallop."
Loki suppressed a small smile. They were intimidated—or at least knew he was a threat. He immediately took favor to Captain America—at least he would admit something the others wouldn't out loud, even if he thought they were out of earshot. Loki tuned out their conversation as Stark began babbling about something called Pilates and called his teammate a 'capsicle'.
Does this man ever shut up?
Instead, Loki let his mind wander to the girl that took stood in the way of the old man in Stuttgart. At first, he had thought it was just a stupid mortal girl, trying to play hero. But as soon as she got up to face him; he couldn't help but stare at her in shock, all intentions of harming anyone left behind. She looked just like Sigyn; from the color of her eyes, to her blonde waves, to her slender curves underneath her Midgardian attire. She had laid her hand gently on his arm like Sigyn had done, didn't shy away from him…
If he closed his eyes, he could imagine her standing in Asgardian dress, looking regal and beautiful, smiling softly at him while tending to her gardens… Just the thought made his heart ache.
But this girl had run away .
Her eyes widened like a doe's and she turned heel and ran, not even looking back. She couldn't possibly be his Sigyn. Sigyn was dead. She wouldn't have run away, no matter what he did. He would be insulting her memory by comparing her to a mortal girl. He shoved the thought out of his mind, trying to forget the haunting blue eyes he thought he would never see again.
She is not Sigyn.
She can't possibly be-
Loki stiffened as lightning crackled outside, flashing a bright white outside the windows of the jet. Lightning is a bad sign that could only mean one thing-
"Where's this coming from?" The redheaded pilot muttered, pressing some buttons on the dashboard of the machine. The Captain caught Loki's response to the flash, and gave him a stern look.
"What's the matter, you scared of a little lightning?"
"I'm not overly fond of what follows." He said, looking up.
The jet shook as if something heavy had landed on its roof. Stark put his helmet back on while Rogers groped around for his shield. Loki gripped the straps of his restraining seatbelt, bracing himself. The door of the jet opened as Stark pushed a button and in marched Loki's dear not-brother, Mjolnir in hand. Thor flung his hammer at Stark, throwing him into Rogers in a tangle of limbs. He then proceeded to break Loki out of his seatbelt and grabbed him by the throat. Loki didn't even have time to try to break out of his grip as Thor swung Mjolnir, propelling them both out of the jet.
"Where is the Tesseract?" Thor boomed, towering over Loki who was lying on his back after skidding on the rocky surface of the bluff they had landed on.
"Oh, I've missed you too," Loki chuckled, groaning in pain at the force of the impact.
"Do I look to be in a gaming mood?"
Well, this looks to be the one thing you have taken seriously in a few centuries.
"Oh, you should thank me," Loki responded, propping himself up. "With the Bifrost gone, how much dark energy did the Allfather have to muster to conjure you here, your precious Earth?"
Thor threw his hammer down, clearly not pleased by the Trickster's jab and grabbed him roughly by the neck again, forcing him to stand.
"I thought you dead," he growled. Loki stared at him in silence for a few seconds before responding.
"Did you mourn?"
Did you throw a feast in my honor at which you got incredibly drunk at?
"We all did," the golden prince responded, his eyes softening a bit. "Our father—"
"Your father," Loki corrected, his tone low. Thunder rumbled above them. "He did tell you my true parentage, did he not?"
Did he tell you that I am the monster that parents tell their children about?
Thor let go of Loki's shoulders and watched as his raven-haired brother turned around and began to pace.
"We were raised together," he said, his voice wavering. " We played together, we fought together. Do you remember none of that? "
I remember you throwing me off a bridge.
"I remember a shadow," Loki paused, his voice laced with spite as he turned to face the other man. "Living in the shade of your greatness. I remember you tossing me into an abyss, I who was and should be king."
I still am a king.
"So you take the world I love as recompense for your imagined slights?" Thor continued. "No, the Earth is under my protection, Loki—"
"And you're doing a marvelous job with that, " Loki laughed mirthlessly. "The humans slaughter each other in masses while you idly fret. I mean to rule them. And why should I not—"
"So you think yourself above them?"
Loki paused at Thor's question. Humans slaved away their short lives in a scramble for unattainable power and identity. Their lives were far too short and too petty. Even Midgard's finest were no match for him, a god. The realm had nothing to offer than the nature of humanity that was easy to manipulate and bend to a greater being's will.
"Well, yes."
Thor shook his head, taking a step forward. "Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother. The throne would suit you ill—"
Loki scoffed and pushed past Thor to stand at the edge of the bluff, looking down at a forest of pine trees.
"I've seen worlds you've never known about," he said, raising his voice. "I have grown, Odinson, in my exile. I have seen the true power of the Tesseract, and when I wield—"
"Who showed you this power?" Thor asked, following his brother. "Who controls the would-be king?"
"I am a king!" Loki shouted, his voice ringing over the small valley. Ravens cawed as they flew out of the trees, startled by the sudden outburst.
"Not here!" Thor shouted back, once again gripping Loki's shoulders and shaking him. "You give up the Tesseract; you give up this poisonous dream!" He paused, his hand on the back of Loki's neck. "You come home." He added, his voice softer, more sincere.
I recalled being banished from my so-called home.
Loki shrugged, looking up at his elder brother.
"I don't have it."
Thor growled as Mjolnir flew back to his hand. Loki didn't even flinch as he raised it above his head in a threatening stance.
"You need the cube to bring me home, but I've sent it off, I know not where."
Thor took a step forward, pointing the hammer at Loki's chest. "Listen well, brother—"
In a flash of bright light, Thor was hit by a flying something and knocked off the bluff, leaving Loki staring in amusement at the spot where he had stood a few seconds ago.
"I'm listening."
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