Lucifer landed with a flourish of his wings, almost losing his footing as the earth rocked underneath him. He peered into the distance over the crags and rocky bluffs trying to spot the mouth of the cave he knew held his next recruit. The glittering towers of Asgard could be seen on the horizon and he knew that, somewhere, Heimdall was standing guard. He had precious little time before Heimdall's all-seeing gaze turned on him; Lucifer's power only stretched so far, after all.
Another earthquake rippled through the valley, accompanied by a scream of pure agony. Lucifer's head snapped toward the sound, smiling as he located his target. With a whirl, he disappeared and reappeared at the entrance of a dark cavern. Another scream ripped through the air and Lucifer braced himself as the next quake rumbled the ground. Picking his way down into the cavern, he began to hear choked sobs in between each shout. Just before he emerged into the body of the cave, the next scream tore through and this time Lucifer could make out a word.
"PLEASE!"
Lucifer rounded the corner and was faced with a grisly spectacle. A man was bound to a rock in the middle of the cave, his hands tied above his head and wrists cut and bleeding from strain. His clothing, which Lucifer guessed was once magnificent to behold, was torn and ragged, hanging in shreds around the man's body. He was writhing and tugging against his bonds to no avail. The state of his body paled, though, in comparison to that of his face, if there was any left of it. What little skin remained was red and inflamed; the screams ripped from the bloody remnants of lips. Coiled around a stalactite, a gleaming black serpent hung low over the man's face, dripping venom steadily on to the prisoner. The man's body was desperately trying to heal itself, but the poison was too fast.
Lucifer stopped walking, taking in the sight before him. Then, holding his head high, Lucifer approached the tortured man and wrenched the snake off its perch. With a tight-lipped smile, the Devil whispered, "The serpent thing? That's mine." He tightened his grip and the snake disintegrated into dust.
With the drip of venom stopped, the man slumped forward, drawing in hitched breaths. Lucifer leaned forward and severed the ties around the man's body and then cut the bonds around his wrists, catching the prisoner as he toppled forward. Settling back against the rock, Lucifer cradled the man in his arms, watching in fascination as new skin slowly began to form. The man attempted to raise his arm but it was shaking too violently. Lucifer gently took the hand in his own and lifted it towards the man's face. He could feel the magic emanating, some of it briefly channeling through his body before reaching its destination. The man's face began to take definition, the nose, the lips, the skin, healing rapidly until finally a pair of bright green eyes opened to look at their rescuer.
"Hello, Loki," The Devil said, watching as the god lying limply in his grasp struggled to see past the pain that still lingered, blurring his vision.
"Wh-who…?" he rasped out before he stopped to squeeze his eyes shut as a wave of anguish wracked his body.
"My name is Lucifer. I've wanted to meet you for a long time."
Loki's eyes pried open. "S-Satan?"
Lucifer chuckled softly. "That's one of my names."
"What do you want with me?"
"I see a lot of things, Loki. I saw the Chitauri; I saw New York," Lucifer began and saw Loki wince at the mention of his disaster. "I admire your work and I can appreciate where you're coming from. I see the anger and betrayal in your heart and feel it resonating in me. We're a lot alike, you and I." He could see the question forming and continued before Loki had the chance to voice it. "I loved my father, above all else. I loved him too much, and for that, he betrayed me—punished me. He cast me out of my home and imprisoned me in a place of unspeakable torture." He glanced around him then returned his gaze to Loki. His hair was damp from sweat so Lucifer swept it away from his face, smoothing it down. Loki relaxed at the comforting gesture, closing his eyes and letting the peaceful sensation envelop him as the pain started to seep away.
"I had brothers, too. I trusted them and when I needed them, they let me down. I thought my father loved all of us, but in the end I was second best." He paused as a tear leaked onto Loki's cheek. "I've been in a cage much too long to let someone so much like me rot away in one just like it. I think it's time my family took responsibility for what they've done to me. Every moment I was locked away, I thought of nothing but revenge. The time for judgment is upon us now. Do you know what my name means, Loki? It means light-bringer. I can help you. I can bring you justice and give you peace but I need your help as well."
Loki extricated himself from the Devil's embrace and shuddered slightly as he stood on his own. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his limbs, testing out his newly reformed muscles and skin. A dim shaft of light shone in from the outside of the cave and Loki stared at it like it held all the promises of freedom and retribution Lucifer had just offered him.
"I'll be needing my helmet back."
And Satan smiled.