*clears throat and tries to sound Asgardian* Those individuals who consistently review have my utmost thanks and appreciation!
Previously...
Loki stared at the girl before him.
"Kloi?"
And then Kloi was running forward. She threw herself into Loki's arms, and buried her face in his chest. He crushed her against him, as though if he let her go she would vanish. After a long moment, they drew apart.
"What – how are you here? Why are you here?" Loki asked, studying her face.
"Aslan came back, and the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve came. I ousted myself to protect the younger son of Adam. Jadis was furious… In the battle, she hurt the boy I protected, and tried to kill his brother – I intervened, and she fought me. She took my crystal, and she tried to kill me – my magic lashed out to protect me and took me away. I've been living on earth for two years."
Loki's brow furrow, his gaze moving to her neck where her crystal rested. "Then how –"
"I'm working on it!" She told him, shutting him up while she continued. "Now she showed up – about half an hour ago. She wants revenge on me, and is set on ruling the world. You know it won't stop there either. She's too power hungry."
"That's when you got your crystal back?" Loki clarified.
"Yes. Qillaq, what are we going to do? We have to find her!" Kloi cried, jumping straight to the point.
Loki nodded. "Clearly. Unfortunately, helping you will jeopardize my own agenda." He told her. "I can't afford to blow my cover just now – not when I'm so close."
Kloi frowned. "Then what do we do?"
Loki sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. "I… Let me think." There was a long, pregnant silence while he pondered the options. "I think that you'd better get the Avengers involved." He said at length. "They deal with the unusual, so they would be more likely to believe you than most. Especially if you show them a little of what you can do. You'll have to play it right – they'll be suspicious of you. But if any of earth's inhabitants can handle Jadis, they can. And they have my brother, Thor, with them. I don't think Jadis has any power to counteract Mjolnir." He raised a hand as Kloi started to say something. "Of course I will help if you need me – but I shall try to finish with my enemy first."
Kloi finally got a word in edgewise. 'Um, Qillaq – are your eyes working properly?"
He looked confused. "Yes…"
"Then you have, of course, noticed that the Avengers are – in fact – right behind me?"
Loki glanced up and his eyes widened. "You brought them here?" He hissed.
"...They wanted to come along… Was that wrong of me?"
Loki closed his eyes and sighed, frustration evident. "You didn't know."
"Didn't know what?" She demanded.
"Doubtless they've mentioned the crazy psychopath who tried to take over the earth a few years ago?"
"Yes…" She stared at him for a moment. "And you were the crazy psychopath, weren't you."
He shrugged, and nodded.
"…And that was supposed to do what exactly?"
Loki groaned, and ran his hands through his hair. "Prevent the world from actually being taken over."
"How?"
"Because if I was the crazy psychopath, I could make sure that they won!"
Kloi studied him for a minute, before grinning. "So you're Loki. Very sweet of you, Qillaq. Rearranging my name, and taking it as your own."
Loki shrugged helplessly. "Well, I missed you. Dammit, Kloi – you're my twin!"
"I'm aware of the fact." She told him drily.
"Kid…" Tony ventured, hardly daring to speak.
That seemed to break some sort of barrier, and Thor rushed forward.
"Brother! You must explain yourself at once! How is it that you are the brother of Lady Kloi?"
Loki winced at the volume of Thor's voice, but faced him. "It's a very long story."
"We've got time." Natasha informed him, glaring. She had a gun in her hand, and was gripping it so tightly that her knuckles were white.
Loki raised an eyebrow at her, easily slipping into his façade. "Calm yourself, mortal." He said condescendingly. "I have no intent to harm you or your pathetic band of vagabonds."
Kloi said nothing, just watched.
Natasha's grip on her weapon tightened. "You're not winning yourself any points."
Loki scoffed. "Why should I desire to "win points"? I have no need for your approval."
The team looked murderous, and there was a faint green tint to Bruce's skin. Loki suddenly dropped his act. The ice disappeared from his eyes, and he smiled. Actually smiled – it was not a malicious smirk, it was a real smile, with actual warmth behind it.
"Not bad." Kloi murmured. "Not bad at all. Aslan's mane – that was almost good enough to make me think twice."
Loki smirked, falling back into his role. "I've been told I am a very convincing actor." He purred, then paused and added in a normal, un-evil, tone, "Actually, no such incident comes to mind." He shrugged. "Oh well."
The Avengers were beyond puzzled. Kloi glanced back at them, and then touched her brother's arm. "Qillaq, perhaps you'd better explain…"
Loki glanced at Bruce, and waved his hand. An ethereal green mist flew from his fingers, surrounding the good doctor. When it disappeared, the green tint was gone from his skin. Instead of relieving tension, however, this only seemed to put the Avengers on higher alert than before.
"Yes, brother. Perhaps you'd better." Thor's tone made it clear that this was not a suggestion. Loki bowed his head slightly.
"As you wish. But I believe it would be better if Father was here to assist me. It seems only fair. After all, he has had a hand in this since the beginning."
Kloi paled slightly. "Father…?"
"Odin. My adoptive father." Loki told her softly, putting an arm around her. "I hope this does not upset you, sister."
Kloi shook her head. "No. I understand. But I have a feeling that Dad does not really approve of my family connections."
Loki's brow furrowed. He glanced between her and each Avenger, before his eyes singled Tony out. "Ah, I see."
The Avengers clearly did not know what to make of the situation. For once in his life, Fury didn't start accusing and ordering people around. Even Tony was silent.
And the drama mounts. Good thing Banner's got a lid on it, eh? Wouldn't want Hulk to mess up Asgard...