A/N: So there's going to be a little changing around with the POVs from now on, just so you get an insight into what everyone is thinking. Other major characters are being introduced and the plot will start to pick up. Your responses to my story have been incredible, and I honestly don't know how to thank you enough.

Yes, there will be characters from both the Avengers and Agents of SHIELD in here. This story still revolves around Loki, but these characters are important in the overall plot. Without further ado, enjoy!

Tony Stark was fairly easygoing. He could laugh and joke about serious situations, but knew when to actually start taking things seriously. So when Fury called, telling him that Loki was back on Earth and that the Avengers needed to assemble and head for Norway- (Seriously? Reindeer Games could have at least tried to be a little original.)- Tony found himself in one of those rare situations where he couldn't laugh about it. He didn't like those situations.

"Look, Fury, I'm not an Avenger anymore. So, while I appreciate the offer to get back together with the others, I'm good," he said. He was just about to hang up when Fury's voice- stern and serious as always- stopped him.

"Don't fuck about, Stark, I know you've got Banner staying in your tower with you."

"I think I'd know if Green Giant was staying in my tower, don't you?"

"Stark."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Fine! But I'm not breaking the news to him. In case you've forgotten, the big guy isn't exactly a fan of gods. Neither am I, if I'm perfectly honest. Hey, did you know that Bruce has a girlfr-"

"Stark, just put Banner on the damn phone!"

"Fine, whatever," he sighed, and made his way to the labs a few floors down. He made a point of humming very loudly into the phone- much to his satisfaction, he heard a sound that sounded very much like a growl from the other side.

When he reached the lab, he found Bruce at one of the computers beside Betty Ross.

After the whole New York incident, Betty had found out that Bruce was in America again and hadn't stopped trying to contact him. She'd even gone so far as to call Stark Tower and SHIELD HQ. Tony was the one who told Bruce about Betty trying to find him, and- after weeks of pondering on whether or not to see her- the scientist relented and met up with her. And the rest, they say, is history. Or at least it would be of anyone every wrote a book about the timid scientist with an alter-ego and the beautiful-also-scientist with a temper to rival the Hulk's.

(Someone should so write a book about that.)

Putting on a British accent, he said, "Betty, darling, I'm afraid I must steal Bruce away from you. You see, his handler's calling and he simply cannot wait." Placing a hand over the speaker, he stage-whispered in his natural accent, "So help me out and don't make me talk to him any longer!"

Betty laughed and Bruce rolled his eyes, but the physicist rose from his seat and took the phone from Tony. The billionaire made his way over to Betty and sat in Bruce's vacated seat.

"So, why's Fury calling then?" Betty asked, frowning as she watched Bruce from across the lab.

Tony debated whether or not to tell her. He knew she could be trusted- and that was saying something, because despite his friendly, outgoing demeanor, Tony was paranoid by nature. (Not that it's completely uncalled for.) But he pushed those thoughts aside- but he was more worried about her reaction towards Bruce.

The physicist was in a good place in his life. He had supportive friends and a loving girlfriend- no family, but, hey, who needs family?- and he hadn't let the... uh, the Other Guy out since the Chitauri invasion. He was a lot more relaxed, too. It was easier for him to talk to people, and Tony could honestly say that he liked the new, more confident Bruce Banner. He still had his nervous moments, of course... Like now.

Tony didn't reply to Betty in the end- he was far too busy watching all emotion wipe clean off Bruce's face, listening to the sound of controlled, even breaths and Fury's distant voice on the other end of the line.

"Do- uh... Do the others know?" Bruce asked, running a hand through his disheveled hair. Judging by the dark circles under his friend's eyes, he realised that he hadn't been sleeping. After all, Tony wasn't the only one plagued by nightmares after the invasion.

More quiet chatter.

"You told me you weren't after the monster," Bruce said quietly- so quietly that Tony almost didn't catch it.

He stood up abruptly, Betty jumping from his sudden movement. He'd had a sneaking suspicion that the only reason Fury had wanted Bruce was for the Hulk- the green rage monster was a pretty effective way of handling gods- but he'd hoped that the bastard would at least break it to the guy gently. But Tony figured that just wasn't the one-eyed asshole's style.

Tony stomped over to Bruce and snatched the phone away. Bruce didn't even turn at the action.

"Hey, Fury, just letting you know that no one in this tower's interested in any Avenger business today. That includes dealing with psychotic gods. Toodles."

"Stark-"

Tony hung up before Fury could utter another syllable.

Sigyn paced back and forth in the room she and Loki had shared, trying- failing- to secure a location on her ex-husband over their telepathic link. She had lost nearly everything- losing Loki would send her so deeply into grieving and mourning that there would be no return for her. She did not think she could take another blow like that of Nari and Vali's deaths.

"Loki? Did you find them?" Sigyn asked hopefully, rising to meet her husband by the door as he entered their shared chambers in the palace of Asgard. He moved into the dim, orange light of the fire, and she felt dread creep its way into her heart when she saw his red eyes and tear-stained cheeks. "Loki, where are my sons?"

Loki said nothing. He simply shook his head ever so slightly.

Sigyn refused to believe what it insinuated.

"Wh-What happened?" She asked, voice shaking. She was beyond terrified. "Where are my boys?"

His face twisted in anguish and he shook his head again. "I'm sorry- I'm so sorry-"

"No..." Sigyn stumbled backwards, all the grace of her elvish movements having abandoned her. She leant against a golden pillar. "No- no- no-"

"I'm so, so sorry, Sigyn... I couldn't- I tried to... I failed..."

Nari and Vali, the innocent, bright-eyed sons of Loki and Sigyn, were dead.

(I will see you again, my sons. One day.)

For now, she set her mind on the task at hand. Using as much magic as she dared, she spent the next few minutes searching for Loki. Finally, she found him. And it was the one realm she had feared he would go to. Midgard.

"Thor! We must leave now!" she called the Thunder God- whom had insisted on accompanying her- frantically.

Thor burst into the room. "What's wrong? Have you found him?"

"Yes, but he is on Midgard. We have to find him before the mortals do, or Norns only know what will happen."

Agent Phil Coulson was a calm person. Years of training and experience had asserted that. But being told that the very being who had tried and succeeded in killing him was back on the planet- not only that, but that he and his team had to go after said being- was pushing Phil's limits to the max. Not that he let it show to those around him.

They were currently on the Bus, flying to Norway where they would apprehend the god- (Loki.)-, attempt to subdue him and take him back to HQ. Simple- (Ha).

"So, we're seriously going after a god? Like Dr. Randolph?" Skye asked excitedly- (Even after everything, she's still so naive and excitable).

"Not exactly. The subject we're trying to locate is... a criminal of a much higher profile than many of our planet's most dangerous villains," he said, wondering how exactly Skye and the rest of the team- all of which were stood around the table and watching him patiently- would think when they realised just who they were going after.

"An actual warrior then?" Ward asked.

"A magician?" Fitz exclaimed as though the very idea of magic was both fascinating and an insult to science. Phil inwardly smiled at that.

"Don't be stupid, Fitz. What would an Asgardian magician be doing on Earth?" Simmons said, frowning. Phil could tell she wasn't completely convinced though.

"Actually, you're both right. He is definitely a warrior and some kind of magic-user; and you're all very familiar with him," Phil said, an even smile on his face.

May leveled him a look that clearly said 'You'd better not be talking about who I think you're talking about'.

"Loki's back on Earth."

Phil patiently waited for the onslaught of questions to end.

Loki drifted in and out of consciousness for hours. At some point he must have rolled onto his back, because when he next awoke, he was staring up at the glittering stars and Aurora of the far-north of Midgard. He snorted quietly.

Midgard.

Of all the realms he could have ended up in.

He shut his eyes again, and pondered on who would be the first to find him.

And, when they did find him, what they would do with him.