A/N: Okay, I really should be revising for the exams that are coming up in like two weeks *mini panic attack* but here you go. I'm going to type up as much as possible within my breaks, but I can't make any promises for about a month or so now. Updates may remain frequent, but they might also be a little all over the place. Like the last two chapters. And possibly another one soon if I get the time. We'll see.

Oh, and apparently I've made some people cry? Um... Sorry, I guess... Maybe I should've put up a warning for feels...

And some people have expressed frustration at the prolonged build up, but... well, my writing style is a little erratic, so please be patient with me.

EDIT- PREVIOUS CHAPTER: Check the last section of the previous chapter. Someone pointed out that Loki's change in demeanour seemed rather abrupt, so I read the last few chapters and found that I agree. So, my apologies if any of you were disappointed, but I have gone back and changed it slightly. It still follows the same idea, but I hope you find it better than it was.

(Damn it.) The SHIELD agents were already here. Sigyn was about two hundred feet from Loki, and the mortals' aircrafts were fast approaching. She could sense Thor approaching, but he was still several hundred miles away.

Loki himself was standing at the epicenter of it all; he was surrounded on all sides. But there was something very wrong about his posture, about his expression. Whereas the last time Sigyn had seen him, Loki had been terrified, lost and hurting, now he was the complete opposite; there was a malevolent grin on his paler-than-usual face, his green eyes were burning bright in the sunlight, and his entire posture screamed danger, like an animal waiting to pounce. Like a predator waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike down its prey.

And suddenly, Sigyn was afraid. Not for herself, but for those approaching. For she knew that there was very little that could get in Loki's way once he set his mind on something, and now, over their minor telepathic link that tied their souls together, Sigyn knew that Loki was thinking of only one thing: freedom. If the mortals had come to take him... Sigyn feared they would not live to tell the tale, and those who did would do so regretting their actions.

But it was too late. The jets were here, their weapons trained on Loki. Thor would arrive at any second, torn between choosing to side with his brother or the mortals. And Sigyn felt another shift in the fabric of reality, and the presence of another, older magic became apparent.

Sigyn glared at the newcomer, for he had undoubtedly made the situation ten times worse.

But Odin barely spared her a glance. He only had eyes for Loki.

Phil looked at the live feed of the field, frowning when it flickered again and then reappeared, perfectly fine. Only, whereas before it had been showing a satellite image of Loki, the Quinjet holding the Avengers, and a white haired woman, there was now another person evident on the screen. Only this one was wearing gleaming golden robes. That was all the image could make out, but Phil had a bad feeling about this. Because both the white haired woman and the golden robed man were giving off extremely high energy readings that had similar frequencies to Loki.

No, this could not be good.

He pressed the button for the intercom for the lab and said, "Fitz, Simmons, are you seeing these images?"

"Yes, sir," Simmons replied.

"What do you make of them?"

There was a brief silence, but then Fitz said, "Sir... It doesn't look good. If these other two are giving off the same energy- albeit, they are slightly different in some aspects- then I think that means they're magic users too."

"Keep an eye on it."

"Yes, sir."

This was definitely not good.

Phil really hated magic.

Loki stiffened at the presence behind him, knowing who it was without even having to look. He would recognise that magic anywhere- it was the very same magic that had bound his own within his cell not long ago.

"Loki," Odin said.

The God of Mischief grit his teeth and clenched his hands into fists, slowly turning to face the Allfather. "Why are you here?" He hissed, green eyes narrowing.

"I know you do not want to hear this, but I truly do wish to make amends," Odin said.

Loki could detect no lie in his words, but that only served to infuriate him even more. (I have been lied to my entire life; there is nothing to prove that this, too, is not just another deception.) "Always what you want, isn't it, Allfather? 'Just listen to me', or 'I will say it whether you wish to hear it or not'. Sound familiar?"

"Loki-"

"Just don't. I am sick to death-" (-I wish I was sick to death-) "-of you demanding everything of me. My children, my home, my ambitions, my happiness- all gone because you took them from me."

"Loki." Sigyn. She was here. She was watching him as he broke- (How many times has she seen me break? Too many pieces- some are lost- I'll never get put together again).

Slowly, she came into his peripheral vision. Loki realised how close he had stalked over to Odin and staggered backwards so that he had a clear view of both the King and Sigyn. The She-Elf was frowning, her deep blue eyes full of love and concern and what did he ever do to deserve so much compassion from her?

"Come back to Alfheim with me," she said softly, holding out her hand.

Loki was so tempted to take it. He was so, so tempted. But now Odin knew where he was, and he would never be rid of the old man.

He would never have peace.

Steve watched the scene unfold on the ground below with a frown. He felt guilty that he hadn't bought Sigyn and Thor- (Speaking of Thor, where is he?)- enough time, but he had done his part. Now he had to ensure the safety of the human race and keep Loki away from society. But, as he looked down at the man- (man or god or alien?)- in the field, he didn't see the villain that had tried to take over the world. No, bare chested and with nothing on his feet, Loki was just... just a man.

He was in a heated- (That's an understatement.)- argument with the old man, and, if this hadn't have been Loki, Steve would have sworn he'd seen tears. (Maybe Thor was right. Maybe he is different.) But Steve couldn't afford to think like that. Loki had tried to subjugate the human race. Loki was dangerous. Loki was his enemy.

Then Sigyn stepped in, and Loki actually seemed to hesitate when she said something to him and held out her hand. (Even he can care for someone then.) Steve could practically see the gears turning in his mind, and Loki actually looked like he was going to take her hand for a moment, but then his face twisted into a dark and fierce expression, and the very air seemed to crackle with energy.

Whatever was going on, it was bad. It was very, very bad.

"No. I will not. Not now that he knows," Loki hissed, glaring at Odin.

Odin met his gaze with a calm that would have unnerved lesser men, but Loki was not, by any means, 'lesser men'.

"Loki, come back to Asgard and we can discuss this without an audience-"

Loki laughed. Even to his own ears it sounded more than a little unhinged. He turned to the Quinjet, grinning up at the Avengers. (Hmm, no Stark. How curious.) He held out his arms and shrugged. "Oh, I don't think they mind. Unless, of course, that was an order?"

"I am asking you to return home with me," Odin said calmly- diplomatically.

All humour- twisted as it was- left Loki then. "No, you are not asking and Asgard is not my home."

Odin opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by the growing hum of metal and wind. Loki scowled in frustration- (Let's just invite the whole damn realm then, shall we?)- as he caught sight of Thor rapidly flying closer and closer and closer and now he was here and Loki was just sick of everyone- (Why can't they just leave me alone?).

Thor landed beside Loki, expression stern and blue eyes weary, but made no move towards him.

Loki scoffed lightly and shook his head, turning to look at everyone that surrounded him. He smiled grimly. "Honestly, you didn't have to go out of your way just to welcome me."

"Loki, you are trespassing on Earth and therefore violating the agreement between Earth and Asgard that you would not return. We must ask that you either leave peacefully or come with us and be placed in our custody," the voice of an unfamiliar SHIELD agent called out.

Loki raised an eyebrow. If the circumstances were different, he might have been amused by the audacity of the mortals. Speaking out against the Allfather, the Princes of Asgard- (One Prince of Asgard and one exiled Prince of Jotunheim.)- and an Elven noblewoman was unheard of. Then again, this was Midgard, and they were rather ignorant when it came to other realms and etiquette.

"That will not be necessary," Odin said, authority clear in his voice.

Loki scowled at the old man. "In case you have forgotten, Allfather, the mortals are no longer under your rule."

"That may be true, but I am still your father and the king of your home realm, therefore I have the right to take you back."

The cold blood in Loki's veins boiled, and he no longer cared who he hurt. He just wanted to hurt someone. Even better if it was the old fool, who just would not listen, in front of him.

With one thought on his mind- (Hurt him- Hurt him- Hurt him- Make him feel pain like I have felt-)- Loki unleashed his magic.

A/N: I promise we get to the good stuff next chapter.