Change of Plans

Loki grinned as he was escorted down the halls of a SHIELD air carrier, armed guards surrounding him though he looked for all the world as though he were taking a stroll in the park.

Oh…a park would be a lovely place to take Kona. She had always loved flowers, even when she couldn't see them any longer, she could smell them and feel them and picture them in her mind. It had been a tradition of sorts for him when, on the day she'd lost her sight, to gift her with a flower, just…something small that could cheer her up. He'd tuck it behind her ear or hand it to her with a flourished bow or, one year, he'd even made a ring of flowers for her to wear on her head. She had always loved the flowers when she was younger, how something that started so small and that grew so naturally could bring so much happiness to another person.

And that was Kona to him. Their love…it had begun so small, as an acquaintance, her being the daughter of his nursemaid, then friends, then…more, so much more. It was astounding to him how the smallest gestures from her could affect him, a smile made him beam, a frown made him angry, it was so small, just like a flower, but so impactful.

He really needed to see that Kona was alright after this. He hadn't been lying when he'd told her he would be away longer than Barton would be. He had planned this, he needed to be taken in because he knew his presence would help distract the 'Avengers' as he'd heard whispers that they were called, from searching out the Tesseract and Selvig. He needed to be there, to keep them occupied until the moment came where he and the scepter would be needed to bring the Chitauri to Earth.

The only flaw in the plan…was that it was even more time away from Kona, time he was not looking forward to. He glanced over as he passed a lab to see a man he knew to be Dr. Banner standing there, working. His grin widened as the man looked up, watching him pass, seeing banner pull his glasses off and rub his temples. He let out a small laugh and turned back to walk, everything was going according to plan.

Even his captivity, oh Barton had told him about the cell he could see he was being led to. And it was just…perfect. He could work with this, he could make do with this quite well. He didn't even struggle as he was led into the cylindrical glass cage, the door shutting behind him as Director Fury entered the outer part of it, walking to the controls.

"In case it's unclear," Fury called, his voice a bit louder as he made sure Loki could hear him through the glass, "You try to escape, you so much as scratch that glass," he pushed a button and Loki looked down as the floor fell away to reveal nothing but clouds and wind screaming around them, "Thirty thousand feet straight down in a steel trap. You get how that works?" he pushed a button and the floor closed, "Ant," he called to Loki, before gesturing at the controls, "Boot."

Loki gave a mocking nod, "It's an impressive cage," before he smirked, "Not built, I think, for me."

"Built for something a lot stronger than you."

"Oh I've heard," he nodded, glancing at a camera in the corner of the room, knowing he was being watched, knowing WHO was watching him, quite a few members of SHIELD, among which was Dr. Banner, or the Hulk, himself, "A mindless beast makes play he's still a man..." he shook his head and turned to Fury, "How desperate are you, that you call on such lost creatures to defend you?"

Fury scoffed at that, "How desperate am I?" he stepped up to the cage, Loki standing right before the glass, smiling down at him, "You threaten my world with war, you steal a force you can't hope to control, you talk about peace and you kill cause it's fun," he shook his head at the 'god,' "You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did."

"Ooh," Loki gave him a mocking wounded expression, "It burns you to have come so close, to have the Tesseract, to have power, unlimited power, and for what?" he smiled and glanced at the camera again, "A...warm light for all mankind to share?" and turned back to Fury, "And then to be reminded what real power is."

Fury countered with a mocking-smile of his own, "Well, let me know if 'real power' wants a magazine or something," he called over his shoulder as he turned to leave, Loki watching him go.

Loki nodded to himself a moment, before turning to stand in the middle of the room, closing his eyes, thinking about something…perhaps a…change in the plans would be necessary…

He grinned, yes…something to…shake his 'brother' ought to do quite nicely…

~8~

In the Bridge of the ship, the 'Avengers' sat around the conference table, monitors set up in the wood of the table before each chair, the feed showing them Loki just…standing there, unmoving.

"He really grows on you, doesn't he?" Banner asked as he glanced from the feed to Captain America, or Steve Rogers as he now was sitting there without his cowl on.

"Loki's gonna drag this out," Steve remarked, "So, Thor," he looked over at the blonde man standing at the side of the table, his arms crossed as he stared, frowning, at the image of his brother, "What's his play?"

"He has an army called the Chitauri," Thor explained, reciting all that he and the others on Asgard had been able to gather about Loki's plans.

They had found it…quite unsurprisingly…harder to guard themselves without Kona there to warn them of upcoming events. He knew that, despite Loki being a Frost Giant and her being unable to see them clearly, she certainly would have seen an event like this coming to pass. He closed his eyes a moment, if he hadn't banished Kona…these events would not have come to pass at all. Loki would never have let go of Gungnir, never let himself fall into the abyss if he had had Kona to live for.

He could still remember his brother's last words, how he hoped he might see Kona again. If Kona had been in Asgard, Loki would have held on for dear life, he would have fought, he would have clung to that staff to his last breath. But he'd let go, which puzzled him as to why Loki so firmly believed that HE had thrown him off the Bifrost Bridge and into the abyss of space. But it mattered not, all he could think was that…it was his fault.

He knew, looking back on it, that he had been rash to do what he had to Kona, well…not quite rash. He had had ample time to gather information from the reports of the Warriors Three and Sif, he had had time to process the consequences of what Loki was doing, the punishments necessary. He hadn't known though, that Kona had been involved the way she had. He had gone to Asgard, returned, to save his father from an invasion that the Warriors Three and Sif felt was imminent, he had gone back with every hope that there was a flaw in what the four had told him, that they were mistaken. But upon learning that, seeing her and Loki celebrating the success of their plans…he had realized that they truly HAD plotted against Asgard and allowed the Frost Giants in. And to hear Kona's attempts to defend it, actually admitting that they had willingly halted his coronation…he had completely and truly believed he had heard enough of the truth, and the punishment for the crimes they appeared to have committed, for Kona at least, was banishment.

The truly worst part of it all was…even now, even with his…doubts about the entire situation, he still could not return Kona to Asgard. He had no proof at all to the contrary of what he had punished her for. He had no concrete proof that what she had claimed and the reasons she said she had done what she did were true. He had ample evidence against her and Loki, their actions speaking louder than their words and now…Kona's words were missing and Loki refused to even look at him. He could no more find the truth of what happened than he could counter the banishment without it.

It was truly a no-win situation and, through his own actions, he had made the discovery of the truth near impossible. And without knowing the complete truth of what had happened on Asgard, he could not risk reversing the banishment, or requesting Odin reverse it. Until he could be sure that Kona and Loki were not just…biding their time to attack Asgard again…he could not risk returning them to the Realm.

"They're not of Asgard nor any world known," Thor continued, shaking his head, "He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth, in return, I suspect, for the Tesseract."

"An army, from outer space?" Steve frowned.

"So, he's building another portal," Banner nodded, "That's what he needs Erik Selvig for."

Thor looked up at that, "Selvig?"

"He's an astrophysicist."

"He's a friend."

"Loki has them under some kind of spell," the Black Widow, or Natasha as she had insisted they call her, spoke, "Along with one of ours."

"I wanna know why Loki let us take him," Steve murmured, "He's not leading an army from here."

"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki," Banner remarked, "That guy's brain is a bag full of cats, you can small crazy on him…"

"Have care how you speak," Thor glared at him, uncrossing his arms to rise to his full height, "Loki is beyond reason but he is of Asgard, and he is my brother."

Natasha blinked, "He killed eighty people in two days," she deadpanned.

Thor's expression turned uncomfortable, "He's adopted?" he offered.

"I think it's about the mechanics," Banner got them back on target, "Iridium, what do they need the Iridium for?"

"It's a stabil…" Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, began as he entered with Agent Coulson, only for Natasha to stiffen and cut him off.

"Guys…Loki's doing something," she called, staring at the screen before her.

They all looked down to see Loki had moved to hold his hands out before him, a soft mist of green drifting off of his hands and forming before him, creating a sort of…screen if it had to be described.

Natasha hit a button and the image zoomed in slightly when a soft glow came to the mist…and an image formed within it.

"It can't be…" Thor breathed, staring, wide eyed, as the image cleared.

"What?" Steve looked at him, "What is it?"

"WHO is it?" Natasha corrected.

"Kona…" Thor breathed, seeing her image appear in the mist…but that wasn't all…

~8~

Loki smiled as he stood in the cell, staring at the image of Kona, no…not an image, a portal, a viewing glass of sorts. He could see what she was doing, right then, at that very moment…sitting in her apartment, with 'Loki' on her lap, just…in thought.

He moved one of his hands up before him, his other hand below to maintain the mist, and snapped his fingers.

Kona looked over, hearing a ringing noise, and reached over to pick up her phone, "Hello?"

He smiled, hearing her voice echoing through the room, it was a small trick that he'd picked up when he'd been a child. He would use it to check on Kona at times, when he had been a bit too mischievous, caused too many problems, and Odin had forbidden him to leave his chambers or others to visit him. It worked best with the crystal he had given her to act as a communication back to him. His face would appear in the crystal and if Kona held it, she could hear and speak to him.

A…telephone…would have to do in its place.

"Hello, my heart," he murmured, knowing that, right at that very moment, those watching him were probably staring in shock that he would call another that, that there would be a…woman involved.

There always was though, wasn't there?

"Logan," he saw her smile, "How's your assignment going?"

"Hit a bit of a…snag," he offered, knowing that if he said it was going exactly accordingly, the others would become suspicious.

Her expression fell at that and he almost took it back to reassure her it was actually fine, "Does…does that mean you'll be longer?"

He let out a sad breath, "It might," he agreed, glancing at the camera watching him.

"Oh…" Kona nodded.

His free hand lifted to gently trace her saddened face, stroking along her cheek, wishing he could truly touch her, "I miss you," he offered, smiling when he saw her start to smile too.

"I miss you as well," she laughed.

"But worry not," he added, "I shall see you…very soon."

She nodded, "I look forward to it then, I…I really do miss you," she spoke quietly.

And he could hear it in her voice, she really did. He did as well. It was like…having been apart for an entire year, having been so distant from each other…to have her back, and then force himself to leave her again…it was torture. He just wanted to be back beside her, but he had a mission, and he needed to see it through, for her. It was all for her, to get her back to Asgard, to get her memories back, and to do that…he needed the Chitauri's help. In order to gain their help he had needed to agree to their terms.

"I don't believe you miss me as much as I do you," he countered lightly.

He watched her blush lightly at that, hearing the tone in his voice just how much he truly did miss her. She reached out, petting Loki the Kitten and nodded, "Come back soon," she whispered, as though she could sense that he couldn't keep the line open very much longer, which he couldn't, not just because it did take considerable effort to maintain it given it was a telephone and not a crystal, which was naturally conductive of magic, but because he knew the others were watching, and he had to make sure that their interest was piqued just enough to see the next step in his altered-plan come to a head.

"I shall try with all my heart," he whispered, "Nothing will keep me from you for long Kona, nothing at all."

He watched her smile before she put the telephone down, and waved his hand through the mist. He closed his eyes and dropped his head, pressing his hands together as though in prayer and pressed the tips of his fingers to his lips…before casting the smallest of glances at the camera…a smirk appearing on his face.

That ought to do it.

~8~

Thor stood in the Bridge, Agent Coulson beside him as the man showed him an image of Jane Foster, the woman he had fallen in love with when last on Earth. There were…a few agents missing off the ship, Fury among them, preparing for a…very delicate mission at the moment, one that had nearly interrupted Tony Stark's explanation of Loki's plan. The man had gotten right back to it, explaining why Loki and Selvig needed the Iridium, what the plans were, and all of them breaking off to do different deeds, but…that was only after Fury had given the order for the latest mission.

One Thor himself was not comfortable with at all.

"As soon as Loki took the doctor we moved Jane Foster," Coulson was saying, though Thor had a difficult time paying attention, "We've got an excellent observatory in Tromso. She was asked to consult there very suddenly yesterday. Handsome fee, private plane, very remote. She'll be safe."

He nodded, "Thank you," he said vaguely, before sighing, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "It's no accident Loki taking Erik Selvig. It is recompense, I am sure of it."

Coulson nodded, "For the girl?"

Thor had explained to them exactly who Kona was when it was brought to Fury's attention that Loki had contacted her. The man had demanded that she be brought in, either as leverage or as an accomplice to Loki's plans. He…hadn't wanted her to get involved, clearly she was still without her memories if she was calling Loki 'Logan' but his pleas and arguments had fallen on deaf ears.

He had been forced to explain who Kona was, her role in what had happened on Earth a year ago. It had made Fury believe her an accomplice this time, until he had added that, upon her banishment, Kona's memories had been taken. They were of the impression now that she could still be used as leverage, Loki would not have contacted her if she wasn't THAT important to him.

It was clear in Loki's hatred for Thor that much of it stemmed from Kona and her banishment. THAT was why he hadn't been looking forward to Fury's order to have her located and seized. He…didn't want to confront her. Yes, him, the next King of Asgard…didn't want to face a small blonde woman who had no idea who he was. How did one face the person whose life…well, whose life they'd ended? He had essentially killed Kona in doing what he had, taking her memories was to take everything that made her HER. How did one explain it to someone else? DID he explain it? Did he keep silent? She wouldn't know who he was regardless of what he told her, he doubted very much that she'd believe him if he tried.

But…he was concerned. Loki…he understood the pain his brother was enduring the last year. To be separated from the woman you loved? It had been one thing for HIM to decide to be separated from Jane, to have had a choice in it. In doing what he had to the Bifrost…he had condemned Loki to be unable to be with Kona, he had taken the choice away from his brother. HE had condemned Loki to the suffering he'd endured.

He did not want to involve Kona and risk her being harmed or tortured or killed by SHIELD. He did not know how the organization worked, what they would do to her to get answers out of Loki. But…he knew he had to try to keep it at a minimum. He…he DID have doubts about Kona's involvement in Asgard, not doubts that she was a part of it but…doubts that what she had been shouting at him when the betrayal had still been so raw…was the truth. In order to find out the truth, one day, should her memories be restored, he would need her alive to tell her tale.

"I dread what he plans for him once he's done," Thor murmured, only able to imagine what Loki would do to the man as a way of hurting HIM for what he'd done to Kona, "Erik is a good man."

"He talks about you a lot," Coulson remarked, "You changed his life. You changed everything around here."

"They were better as they were," Thor sighed, "We pretend on Asgard that we're more advanced, but we…we come here battling like Bildschneip."

"Like what?"

"Bildschneip. You know, huge, scaly, big antlers. You don't have those?"

"No."

Thor nodded, "Huh! Well they are repulsive, and they trample everything in their path," he looked over at the window, looking out, watching as the shuttle that would take Fury and his men to Kona was prepared, "When I first came to earth, what I thought was Loki's rage followed me here and your people paid the price," he swallowed, was it rage? Or had it been love? He didn't know anymore, he had had so much time to think on it but…the events of the past were nothing to consider given the events Loki had committed now, "And now again. In my youth I courted war."

"War hasn't started yet," Fury walked in, "Now, I need to know before I send my men into a potential trap…you think the girl can make Loki tell us where the Tesseract is?"

"Kona is…the only one Loki ever told the truth to no matter what," Thor stated, "But…this man…" he glanced at a security feed of Loki sitting in the cell, "I do not know. It is like it isn't him. Loki's mind is far afield, it's not just power he craves, it's vengeance upon me for what I did to her. Bringing her here…may drive him further away," he frowned, thinking of the wincing his brother had done, a…very particular wincing he had seen among certain prisoners in Asgard a very, VERY long time ago, "There's no pain would pry his need from him."

"A lot of guys think that, until the pain starts."

Thor looked at Fury, seeing a certain…understanding in the man's eye, realizing that he had gathered exactly what he had.

Loki…at some point in the year that had passed…had been tortured.

He was not sure whether to feel relieved or concerned about it. Torment of that magnitude…of the kind he saw in Loki, in his flinching, in the paleness of his skin, in the look in his eyes, and the bags under them…it could have a lasting effect. It addled the mind, he had seen it. And…he couldn't be sure just how much it was affecting his brother.

He didn't display the normal tendencies of someone who had been tortured to believe or do something. Normally they became so complacent in the lies they were told that they recited it over and over, making it true, they didn't…think outside the box, they didn't make plans the way Loki did, they didn't…react as rationally as Loki was. He was drawing up intricate plans and creating arguments and twisting words, his mind was truly as sharp as ever which made him fear that Loki was, in fact, in his right mind.

It alarmed him to think of his little brother tortured, but, if he had been…it would (well, it wouldn't excuse or justify what Loki was doing, but it would) explain his actions, his drive for revenge, the reason why the events he remembered were playing out so differently than what had actually happened.

But he doubted it, Loki, especially from what he'd seen of him acting around Kona, was still as strong and clever and himself as ever. It was like…only a few things had been altered in his memories and…it wasn't enough for Loki to react like he was.

"Kona might…ease the pain," Thor offered.

Fury nodded, "Which is what everyone always wants in the end."

And with that, Fury turned and strode out of the room, Thor watching him go, wondering if he'd made a terrible, terrible mistake.

~8~

Kona was lying on her couch, Loki the Kitten curled up on her lap as she dozed off, a soft smile on her face as she took a nap. She…had been anxious all day, wondering if Logan was alright, if he was ok, how the assignment was going, when he'd be back, if anything had happened to him…it had really gotten to her, how much she worried. She'd paced, she'd tried to eat but ended up giving her meager portions to Loki, she'd tried to clean but ended up actually polishing a small dip into the flimsy wood of her small table she was so distracted.

But then he'd called and to hear he was alright, even if he would be a day or so longer, she had been so relieved. She felt like all the anxiety and concern that had built up had disappeared and she could focus and relax. She'd actually laid down right after he'd called and found herself drifting off…

When there was a loud crash as her door was literally kicked open.

The kitten jumped into the hair with a hiss, flying off the couch and onto the floor, as Kona herself leapt to her feet, backing up with a gasp as she heard people storm into her apartment, "What's going on?!" she gasped, listening, hearing two men standing there, hearing a click and realizing they had guns. She lifted her hands in surrender, terrified.

"Are you Kona?" a third man asked as he stepped in, his steps calm and quiet, but heavy.

"Yes?" she shook her head, "What's that got to do with anything? What have I done?"

"I am Director Fury…" he began.

She blinked, slowly lowering her hands, "Did…did Agent Barton send you?"

She heard the men stiffen and realized that was probably NOT the right thing to say, "As a matter of fact…" the man stepped closer to her, "Agent Barton works for us, we need you to come with us."

"Why?" she shook her head, "I don't understand…"

"There's someone you need to see," was all Fury said as he took her arm and pulled her to her door and out it.

She glanced back, hearing the door shut, hearing a muffled hiss and clawing at it, realizing Loki had been locked inside.

~8~

Thor turned around, hearing the doors to the Bridge open, hearing a voice he didn't think he'd ever hear again speaking. He watched, concerned as Kona was led in by the arm, Fury gripping her elbow as he half-dragged her in. The girl looked confused and frightened…which he expected was normal given what she didn't remember.

"Sit down," Fury ordered as he half-shoved, half-sat her down on a chair by the conference table.

"Please," Kona shook her head as Thor stepped over, quiet, watching her, "Just…tell me what is happening. I don't understand…"

"We have here a…" Fury hesitated, not sure what to say, clearly the girl's amnesia was a delicate thing, he…didn't want to risk triggering her memories and having another mad killer on the loose.

"Rogue agent," Hill stepped up beside him, "Code name…Logan?" she offered, glancing at Fury, thinking of the name they'd heard her call him.

"But his real name is Loki," the man nodded, going along with it.

Kona laughed, "That's the name of my cat, and why would Logan lie about his name?" she shook her head, clearly not believing them.

"Because he is not a rogue agent," Thor stepped up, unwilling to lie to her, he knew, better than most, that Kona would be able to see through it, even without her 'sight' she'd always known when people were lying to her.

Kona stiffened at the sound of his voice, something that didn't go unnoticed by Fury or Hill as they watched her, seeing her pale, seeing her eyes widen at the sound of it…or that she started shaking.

"W…who are you?" she asked, her voice quiet, a trace of fear in it.

It…it couldn't be…it just…couldn't. That voice, she knew that voice. It was the voice from her nightmares. It was a voice she constantly heard shouting at her, followed by pain, pain in her head especially. She always felt like the world was bright and then the voice sounded and it went dark again. And there were snippets, snippets of voices, of her voice pleading with him, begging him to listen, and of his voice, the words he said, the things he accused her of…made no sense at all but the anger in his voice was enough to terrify her into not being able to fall back asleep.

She closed her eyes, wincing as she heard that voice in her head, snippets of it from her dreams racing back to her...

'To what? More lies?!'

'You thought my birthright a mistake!?'

'I banish you Kona. I strip you of your title, of your position in the House of Odin. I strip you of your immortality. And I strip you of your memories!'

She started to shake her head, panting, please...it...it couldn't be him. They were nightmares. They were JUST nightmares. They HAD to be because...the man...the man that voice belonged to...he'd hurt her, over and over again he did things that hurt her and she knew...he'd hurt Logan (or Loki or whatever his name was, she didn't care) as well.

And that scared her more than anything.

Thor straightened, "I am Thor."

Kona let out a shaking breath, and turned her hazy, yet utterly terrified, gaze towards him, "No…"

A/N: Uh oh...seems like Kona's starting to pick up on more than any of the Asgardians realized }:) I wonder what will happen next and what Kona will learn about everything...hmm...we'll find out soon. But I can't believe the story's already halfway over! O.O Time certainly flies lol :)

I can say...Koki (or would it be Lona? Hmm...not sure which one it should be lol) fluff will be very evident tomorrow ;)

Some notes on reviews...

Loki will definitely bring up how Thor only spoke of him and not Kona ;) And thanks I try to be as consistent as I can :)

We'll have to wait and see just what Barton retains of his memories of this event when he 'wakes up' ;)

You might be surprised what Barton does when his mind is restored };) Though at least we know it won't be him that 'gives her up' to SHIELD, they've worked out she'll be an asset as leverage here ;)

I can't say if she'll get her memories back just yet, we'll have to wait and see }:)

Lol, of course you can hug them :) But you never know, there's still a chance for a happy ending ;)