Disclaimer: The rights belong to Marvel, not me...

Desired Reunion

Loki quickly projected an illusion of himself, and hid Sigyn and himself from prying eyes and ears. He took a step back, taking in the image of his wife fully.

"Loki." Sigyn said simply, and walked through the glass. Her eyes trailed up and down Loki's body, before resting on his face. "You grew out your hair."

Loki let out a gasp of air. "Yes. I didn't feel the need to cut it."

Sigyn swallowed. "You left without saying a word."

"It was a last minute decision Sigyn. What did you think that I would pop over to say goodbye and then fall off the bifrost?" Loki's facial expression twisted into something ugly as he remembered the ordeal.

Sigyn pressed her hand to her mouth, trying hard not to cry. "I thought you wouldn't leave me...or your children."

"I had no choice."

"You've always had a choice Loki." Sigyn's voice rose.

"No. You didn't hear what Odin said to me as I dangled off that spear!" Loki shouted angrily.

"I don't care what he said!" Sigyn shouted back, "Be a man and get over it!"

"I am a man! He took my throne, my dignity! I gave him all I could and it wasn't enough! I killed my father for him! I gave him the ultimate sacrifice of my love, and he tossed it away like it was nothing!"

"He didn't make you do that, Odin was asleep! That was all your choice! I thought you were dead. I have lived for the past year, every moment and action, with the fact that you were dead. How could you do that to me? How could you give up on me?!"

"I didn't give up on you! I gave up on myself!" Loki froze for a moment, before saying in a much quieter voice, "I didn't care if I died."

"Shut up just shut up!" Sigyn yelled, and raised her hand to smack Loki. He quickly grabbed her hand, and they froze staring at each other, chests heaving. Unanticipatedly Loki brought her hand to his face, tugging Sigyn closer, breathing in her scent.

"Have you got the yelling out your system?" Loki asked roughly, his face pressed against her hand.

"No. There's a little bit still there." Sigyn mumbled grumpily.

Loki looked up slyly, and raised an eyebrow "I've missed you too." He whispered softly.

"That's the understatement of the century." Sigyn sighed, compliantly led into Loki's arms. She gingerly pressed herself against him, as Loki wrapped his arms around Sigyn.

"Loki, son of Odin." A deep booming voice startled Loki out of his dark reveries. "You wish to make a deal with me."

"Ah. The great man himself, I didn't expect you to show." Loki smiled tightly, his mind raced, something was wrong. Thanos wouldn't agree to a deal in person unless he wanted something more, and why did he say son of Odin, was that a taunt or did he not know otherwise.

"When we deal with the tesseract, I will always show." Thanos said ominously. Loki glanced around the empty tavern. The bartender was gone, probably paid off. So much for a public place.

"That's good to know." Loki finally said.

"Though your ambition could have a larger perspective, young prince, I have decided that the Chitauri will support your cause."

"Really?" Loki didn't try to hide his surprise.

"In exchange for the tesseract. You have one day with the armies of the Chitauri. One day only, and then the tesseract must be in my hands by nightfall."

"I think we have a deal then."

"Not quite." Thanos smiled. "I don't think you have the capabilities to accomplish this mission yet." Thanos's eyes glinted maliciously.

"Then why assign me the task?"

"I can't resist an idle mind. They're so easy to play with." Thanos pressed his hand against Loki's forehead.

Loki screamed and thrashed against Thanos, his brain felt like it was being split in two. Bits and pieces felt like they were being sewn back together in all the wrong places. Black spots filled his vision as Loki struggled to stay conscience.

"Shhh. I am only stretching the mind. Nothing more." Thanos's whispered words were the last things Loki heard as he fell.

AAAAA

Loki blinked, he didn't remember sitting down. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was reminding you of the true power of the tesseract, and how important it is for you to succeed." Thanos said slowly, his dark eyes held Loki's. "You were born to rule."

Loki blinked again. "Right. Yes. The true power of the tesseract is magnificent."

"I am sure you will wield it brilliantly in your day of glory." Thanos said as he stood. He towered over Loki's seated body, hei didn't understand the mysterious smile Thanos possesed.

"I will."

"I shall send a messenger when I am ready to proceed further."

"I'll be waiting." Loki said confidently to Thanos's receding figure. When he was gone the tavern immediately began to fill with people.

"I was born to rule." Loki whispered repeatedly.

Deputy Director was not a job to take lightly. Agent Hill had fought her way up to the top by doing things precisely and to the book, sacrificing her personal life in the process. Director Fury depended on her, and she took great pride in that fact.

So when one of her agents reported an odd sighting on the footage of the Loki's security feed she took it upon herself to clear it up.

"It happened right here, Ma'am." The young agent stammered under Hill's stern gaze. He stopped the rewind, and pressed play.

The screen showed Loki stop pacing, and walked toward the edge of the door.

"How is this relevant?" Hill asked, what did it matter if Loki approached the door, it was impenetrable.

"Just watch."

The Loki on the screen abruptly spoke, "It takes true skill to hide from me. Someone has trained you well."

Suddenly there rested a hand on the glass, the body of the mysterious figure hidden out of view. Loki looked absolutely shocked, it wasn't something Hill had ever expected to see on him. His mouth moved, but Hill didn't hear any words escape.

"Rewind" She demanded.

"But we haven't gotten to the good part yet."

"I want to hear what he said. Increase the volume."

The agent dutifully followed orders. Agent Hill strained her ears enough to hear the one word barely whispered, "Sigyn".

Who was Sigyn? Or what was Sigyn? Agent Hill continued to watch the tape, to her astonishment she saw another Loki appear for a millisecond before it too disappeared, along with the hand. Loki abruptly left the wall and began to pace the floor again.

"How long ago was this?"

"30 to 40 minutes ago."

"And why weren't you observing this live?"

"Uh...things came up Ma'am?"

"Not a good enough excuse. Bring me Thor." Hill sighed as the agent scurried away. Her job had just gotten harder.

AAAAA

"Come home with me." Sigyn whispered against Loki's chest.

"Alas, my love, it's not that simple."

"Why can't it be?" Sigyn took a step back, and grasped Loki's hand.

"I am not welcome there. Odin would have me imprisoned and I would kill him if I had the chance."

"Okay, then we don't go back to Asgard-"

"Sigyn"

"No. We can leave this place, and go wherever we want. Forget the past, and live in the present happily."

"I hate to destroy your fantasy, but I can't leave. I have to finish what I've started." Loki said tersely. He took a step closer to Sigyn, and placed a hand gently on her cheek. "As much as I would like to run away with you, I just can't."

"Why? I know you still love me- so that's not it. Why are you so intent on conquering Midgard? You used to love visiting this place and its people. What has changed?"

"I believe a lot of things have changed since our last visit to Earth."

Sigyn didn't take the bait, and chose to raise an eyebrow instead.

Loki sighed, he really didn't want to go into this at the moment. "I may have made a deal with the devil."

"The devil?" Sigyn asked slowly.

"Thanos specifically." Loki shrugged his shoulders.

"I've married a fool!" Sigyn exclaimed, turning away.

"Possibly. I have to uphold my end of the bargain or else you will truly be a widow."

Sigyn gagged.

"Now you understand my full predicament."

"No, I really don't. Why would you do that?"

"I didn't really have much to lose." Loki placed his hand on Sigyn's shoulder.

Sigyn turned around to face Loki. "You had everything to lose!"

"I see the yelling has reappeared." Loki said dryly.

Sigyn ran her hands through her hair roughly, breathing deeply. Loki had seen this technique before. Sigyn did this to calm down after someone had pissed her off. Usually that someone was him, not always, but most of the time.

"Is there anything else I should know?" Sigyn finally asked.

"Only that you have grown more beautiful in my absence."

"I am not playing around Loki. Thanos is dangerous, one hears stories about his powers over mind control. Tell me you are fine."

"I was born to rule." Loki said automatically.

"Huh?"

"Sorry, um, I'm fine." Loki smiled tightly.

"That doesn't sound fine."

"You told me to tell you that I was fine."

"Loki!"

"I believe Thanos may have done something to me. I am not positive, whenever I think about that I say, 'I was born to rule' automatically."

Sigyn closed her eyes, her fists balled to her side.

"Breath Sigyn." Loki whispered.

"I am." Sigyn snapped back. "You need to see the healers."

"Must I remind you, Asgard equals prison."

"Must I remind you that someone has played with your mind."

"I was born to rule."

"See!"

"I'd rather risk my mind versus my life. I have to get the tesseract to him before nightfall."

"You might be risking both. What if you fail?"

Loki looked past Sigyn in time to see Natasha slip into the room. "I guess I had better not fail. This matter needs my full concentration. Do not be surprised if another side of me appears, but please for the love of all gods, do not interrupt."

Sigyn huffed as she turned around to see the red headed woman make her way to the glass door. Sigyn sat down on the bench, "I've seen all your sides Loki."

Loki breathed deeply, and in a moment he melded with his clone.

"There's not many people who can sneak up on me."

AAAAA

In less than five minutes Thor was standing next to Agent Hill. It was an impressive time frame, she would have possibly given the agent a promotion for it, if he hadn't messed up so completely.

"You sent for me?"

"Yes. I have some footage of Loki's security feed I'd like you to review."

Hill played the clip, pausing right after the duplicate Loki disappeared.

"Well, what do you make of it?"

"My brother has always been proficient in the art of the magics. From what I know duplication is a fairly simple process for anyone above the beginner level." Thor said simply.

"Should we be worried about an escape?"

Thor gave Hill a stern look. "Loki would not be here if he didn't want to be. Until he accomplishes what he wants, he will not leave."

"Any idea of what that might be?"

"I believe Natasha has gone to find that out. I doubt she will be successful, my brother is a master of lies."

"I would put more faith in the agency Thor, especially in Natasha. She is the best of the best."

Thor nodded, probably to avoid argument rather than actually agreeing with Hill.

"What do you make of the mysterious Sigyn?"

"Oh, that's not a mystery, and I will deal with that later." Thor said darkly.

"If you're hiding something vital, I have to report that to Fury. You really don't want to see him angry." Hill warned.

"I am not sure how she is here, but I don't believe she is directly against our cause."

"She?"

"Sigyn is Loki's wife."

"Not against our cause, but he is, that sounds like an ... interesting marriage." Hill said dryly, which cracked a smile from Thor.

AAAAA

"Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab. I'm on my way, send Thor as well." Natasha paused at the door and gave Loki a smirk. "Thank you for your cooperation."

Loki stood silently as he watched Natasha go. He felt Sigyn come up behind him.

"I couldn't tell. Did that go the way you wanted it to?"

"Somewhat. We have yet to see if she does what I want her to."

"Oh. It looked like she beat you." Sigyn glanced up at Loki, who gave her a glare.

"She didn't."

"I don't want you to fail. I hope you know that." Sigyn said softly continuing their previous conversation.

"I know. Time is not on our side at the moment."

"I am well aware. Do you need me to retrieve the tesseract?"

"No, that's already in my possession."

"I really don't understand you, Loki. Why are you worried about giving it to Thanos, if you already have it?"

"I need it to open a portal for a day. I have an army of Chitauri waiting to wage war on Earth."

Sigyn blinked. "I'm sorry I think I misheard you. You intend to lead a Chitauri army and threaten your own life in order for them to come here. When you know full well that Thor has his soul set on retrieving the tesseract."

"Yes."

"You're an idiot Loki." Sigyn said calmly with straight face.

"Thank you for the support dear. I really appreciate it." Loki said sarcastically.

"This is pointless and a waste of innocent lives! Bring the tesseract to Thanos now and then come with me, so that you may be healed."

"No. Things are already set in motion which I cannot, nor do I want to stop. I could always use your help, Sigyn. I need a backup plan."

"I wish you would listen to me."

"I did listen."

"You know full well what I meant." Sigyn snapped.

"Will you help me?"

"Loki, you are on a path to self destruction. How can you ask me to help with that?"

"Think of it as preventing the destruction I would have done if I was alone."

"That is twisted logic."

"Time is running short, Sigyn. Make up your mind or be left in the dust without any knowledge."

"Fine. No innocent lives. I will help you but don't think for a second that I support the conquering of Midgard. I haven't sunk that low yet.

Loki took the jab in stride. "Thank you." A roar of rage shook the room. Loki smiled, "The Hulk's been unleashed."

"Quick, tell me what you need."

AAAAA

The air missiles were locked and loaded. Clint observed the airborne base from the plane. His men were ready, and so was he.

A tiny voice whispered that perhaps he wasn't ready to see her. Clint ignored it and focused on his next target. Loki had provided him clarity, that could not be forgotten.

"Release the missiles." He said curtly to his men.

His side was chosen and the battle had begun.

Thank you for all your support, it has been amazing! I love hearing your thoughts!

I am going on a planned hiatus for a week or two to finalize the next section (phase 2) of this fic, and to have a sane mind for my upcoming finals. We will meet again shortly.