I have returned! Bet you all thought I had died or something. :( Don't worry, I am still very much alive. Now that school has started, I have access to school computers again, and can update! Over the break, all I could get on FanFiction with was my tablet. And anyone who has ever worked with a tablet knows that it is a royal pain to try and type on those things. But now that I am back, I am hoping to update everything twice this week in an effort to make it up to you... I may not, as this chapter turned out really long. But you never know.

Previously...

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.

At that moment, Odin showed up. He ignored the Avengers, and strode straight to his son.

"Loki." He said softly, pulling the man into a bear hug. "This is your sister? Heimdall told me that she had come."

"Yes, Father." Loki replied. "This is Kloi."

"Pleased to meet you, sir." Kloi dropped a small curtsey.

"You need not bow to me, child." Odin told her gently, smiling. "Your brother is as my son, which makes you a daughter to me."

Kloi grinned suddenly, mischievously. "Not sure what Dad thinks of that."

Tony stepped forward slightly, protectively. Kloi waved him off, not wanting some sort of confrontation. "I guess I have a Dad and a Father, then… I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for Qillaq."

Loki grinned. "I knew it. I knew that would be the first thing you said. Honestly, Kloi – don't you think I can take care of myself?"

"No." She returned.

Her brother gasped and looked hurt. "Ouch."

Thor was watching with amazement. This was not the Loki he had known for the last few years. This was the Loki of his youth, the happy, mischievous, prankster that he knew and loved so well. The rest of the team was still just trying to make sense of the situation.

"Father, I believe that explanations are in order…" Loki trailed off, glancing at the group of heroes that was glaring at him so accusingly.

Odin turned to the Avengers and assessed them. "These are the mortal heroes that defeated the Chitauri with your help?"

"Yes." Loki replied simply. "Although they may argue that I didn't help them much."

Odin studied the group for a moment longer, and then nodded. "Then it is time that the full story be told." He paused, and then began. "Thor will have told you all of the war between Asgard and Jotunheim, when I supposedly found Loki as a babe and brought him back to Asgard. He told you lies, though he cannot be blamed for it – they were lies that I fed him. When I found Loki, he was about five years old. Though not of frost giant heritage, he was braving the frozen wasteland as though he were a native. I could not understand it – and I could not leave him there to die. When he saw me, he asked for my help. I brought him to Asgard, where he and I talked for a long while. He told me of his heritage, and his new-found purpose, and I agreed to help him."

"New-found purpose?" Thor interrupted.

"Doubtless Kloi has told you of how we were separated." Loki said quietly. "While in the portal that Jadis created to get rid of me, I saw many things. Visions, you might call them. I saw a being called Thanos, and what he would do to the system of worlds that I would find myself in. He reminded me of Jadis. I took it upon myself to put an end to him, and it was to that end that Father agreed to help me."

Odin nodded. "The powers that Qillaq – Loki, as he asked to be called – possessed were unlike anything I had ever seen. He laid out his plan for trapping Thanos, and before my eyes changed his form to that of a new-born frost-giant child. It was then that I took him to Frigga, my wife. She knows nothing of his true heritage and purpose. I told her the same things that I later told you, Thor. From that day forward, Loki was my son. He grew once more into a child, and then finally into a man. He has always played his part very carefully. Even as a child, his every move was calculated. He has spent his life forming the person that most believe him to be. He once told me that his background and apparent hate for everyone but himself must be above question. I have not always understood his reasoning, but I trust it. I believe that he was only ever himself in his relationships with Frigga and Thor – and in these later years, he has hidden himself even from them."

"Do not undermine that part that you played, Father." Loki added quietly. "Without your help, I should never have achieved the persona I present. You pretended to hate me and favor Thor above me, simply to make my part more believable."

Odin nodded. "And it was not an easy part to play. I have always loved my sons equally, and it hurt me to favor one above the other, even in pretense. But enough of me. This is Loki's story, not mine." He added gruffly. "It was when he threw himself from the rainbow bridge – a carefully calculated and thoroughly researched move, I assure you – that things began to come to fruition. He fell into the realm in which Thanos was then residing, and allowed himself to be tortured until he appeared to give way to the darkness. You are aware of his attack on your Midgard – it was your fortune that my son was at the head of the Chitauri army. He ensured that you would win. Once captured and returned to Asgard, he has been awaiting the summons that will soon come from Thanos – though he knows that it will come with torture again. This time, he hopes to not only thwart the dark one's purpose, but utterly destroy him."

As Odin finished his explanation, silence fell. Kloi put her arms around her brother's waist, and buried her face in his chest. He stroked her hair gently. The Avengers simply stared in shock at Loki and Odin. Fury was glaring at everyone. He didn't believe this explanation for a moment.

The other Avengers, however... They knew that Thor was reliable, and knew from him that his father was incapable of cooking up such a vast and carefully calculated untruth as this. It followed that this must actually be true. This was difficult to believe, but it was the only option.

Thor was the first to respond. He broke into a beaming smile almost as dazzling as the lightning he controlled and thundered, "Then it is my brother who stands before me once more, and not the man I had feared him to be!"

He rushed forward and engulfed both Loki and Kloi in a huge bear hug. Loki looked almost shocked, but accepted the embrace. Kloi, on the other hand, squirmed and tried to get away.

"Thor! You're squishing me! I'm not nearly as strong as you! Can't breathe!"

Thor released them both with a sheepish smile and soft apology. He was still beaming, however, apparently unable to contain his joy at the news that his brother was actually not a deranged psychopath.

"Why did you take my mind?" Clint asked, suddenly. He was struggling to reconcile the ruthless sadistic man Loki's actions made him appear to be with the kind, self-sacrificing man that Odin's explanation presented.

Loki's expression was serious. "I did not want to control anyone. However, it was an aspect of the Tesseract's power that I was expected – and even commanded – to use. I chose Selvig because of his knowledge. I needed to know things that I did not. I needed to know how to build into the portal a way that you could shut it down. Selvig was able to do this, and so I controlled him. You, Barton, I used for several reasons. You are talented, and Thanos knew this. Controlling you was a small means of self-preservation, if I am honest. I needed to get Thanos off my back so that he wouldn't realize what I was up to. My controlling one of SHIELD's most powerful agents helped Thanos trust me. My second reason was your preservation. Had I not controlled you, I would have been forced to kill you to make my escape from the base. That I was unwilling to do, especially knowing that you would have to help the others if they were to defeat me."

Loki paused and cleared his throat slightly. "Third, you and Agent Romanov are friends. Fury prizes you. I knew that taking you would spur Fury into action much faster than they might have moved otherwise. Also, it guaranteed that Agent Romanov would join the fight against me, which I knew would be necessary. Finally, your 'escape' from my control provided SHIELD with some much needed information. It was the only way I could contrive to get that information to SHIELD. Thanos could hardly fault me for the loss of one fighter in a successful mission. He never suspected that I set you in Romanov's path and relinquished my hold on you deliberately."

They all stared at him in shock, except for Kloi. She was humming softly, thinking somehting through. "Good reasons, Qillaq. Still - you better apologize. Mind control is not something to be taken lightly. You know the sort of repurcussions it can have. I'd rather not have Clint go insane."

Loki huffed. "Do you really think that I would allow that? And when did you become an expert on mind control? For your information, I released my hold on him willingly. That ensures that he will not go mad."

Steve spoke up suddenly. "And what of Coulson? You killed him!"

Loki's face shadowed. "Coulson knew."

"What do you mean?" Steve spat. It was clear that he had still not healed from the loss of the man.

"He knew everything. Well, nearly - everything relevant to the situation. He knew of Kloi because I wanted someone other than Odin to know. But he knew nothing of where I really came from, or my birth mother. All he knew was that I was from a realm none here knew of, and that I received my powers from Jadis. Odin and I made contact with him immediately prior to Thor's banishment. He agreed to my plans. When I allowed myself to be taken aboard your helicarrier, he came to me. I had managed to create a telepathic link - Tesseract power. He told me he was coming, so I messed with the cameras and told him how to get there unseen. He was a smart man. A good man."

"If everything you say is true, then WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?" Steve shouted.

Loki did not react to the anger. He spoke quietly. "He told me to."

The ensuing silence was shocked and tense.

"That night, when Phil came to me, he told me a number of things that I had only been able to guess at before. He told me exactly what SHIELD was speculating. I knew that I had to make my escape dramatic. Had to make you all hate me. Hence dropping Thor in the cage. I knew that he would break out in time - he's Thor, how could he not? And it would make him despair of me - despair enough to overcome his love for me and actually fight like he never would. I would release Barton that night. The things that SHIELD needed to know, they would learn through him. But the things that Phil told me... I began to wonder at a few of my previous actions."

Loki paused. "I knew that Barton was strong. What Phil told me, however, made me wonder if he was strong enough. Magical control - as you have doubtless guessed from what Kloi said - is no small matter. I began to be afraid that Barton would sink into a guilty depression. I feared that he would hold himself responsible for the things that I made him do. I feared that, perhaps, I had put too many cards in one place. So much depended on Barton. I couldn't afford for him to fail. I also feared that Fury would remove him from the Avengers initiative, as a precaution. Without Hawkeye, I doubted that the Black Widow would fight. And they were both necessary for my defeat."

"So you decided to kill your ally and friend in order to keep me on the team?" Clint asked bluntly, fury raging in his eyes and on his face.

Loki shook his head. "No. But I am not finished." He turned to Tony.

"Iron man. The genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist."

Tony started, obviously wondering how Loki knew he had said that, but Loki explained immediately. By his expression, they could tell that he was amused. "You forget how much Heimdall is able to see. I was regularly in communication with him. He told me what was happening in other places, so that I always knew what I was dealing with."

Tony nodded sharply, accepting the explanation, and gestured for Loki to continue what he had originally been going to say.

"You are cocky, independent. You play by your own rules. You are lazy, and prefer not to be involved unless you absolutely have to, or there is something in it for you. Dr. Banner was right. The group of you were a time-bomb - and you were the main explosive. I had to get you involved - personally involved. Otherwise you would never play by my rules. Stark Tower was convenient for my purposes - though I would have preferred that it not be in the very center of a densely populated area - as it provided both the energy Selvig needed for the portal and a measure of personal involvement for you. However, Phil told me that it would not be enough. I considered kidnapping Pepper, but did not want to make you positively suicidal."

"So you killed Agent Coulson." Tony was not impressed.

Loki ignored him, and turned to Bruce. "You, Dr. Banner, were not involved in my decision regarding Phil in any way. I believe that you need to know this. There was nothing that you did, or might have done, to prevent his death."

Finally, Loki looked at Fury. "As for you." There was derision in his voice. "The super-spy, who - as Stark noted - has secrets within secrets. Your plan to build weapons drew the attention of Thanos. It was through you that he learned the whereabouts of the Tesseract. You then proceeded to make gamble after gamble - telling the ones who could save the world only the things that you wished them to know, and not the things that they needed to know. Phil saw this. He saw what you were doing. He knew that you would never treat the threat with the respect it deserved - unless. You ought to know that you are the real reason for Phil's death. I hope that the guilt of that eats you up inside, and somehow changes you - makes you a better man. I doubt that it will, but I hope."

They all stared at him - except Fury, who only glared.

Loki sighed. "Phil came to me that night, while you were arguing in Banner and Stark's lab. He told me all this, and even more that I will not burden you with. Heimdall confirmed Phil's concerns. I saw that he was right, but most of my plans were too firmly set to change. We worked out a few changes together, but he was adamant that it would not be enough. What we decided on took care of the problems involving Barton and Stark. It was Fury that he was worried about. He told me that he could think of only one way to make Fury take us seriously. I could not believe my ears when he told me to kill him."

All of the Avengers burst out in violent protestations at that point, but Kloi quickly quieted them.

"Be quiet! All of you! SHUT UP!"

Loki nodded at her, and continued. "I refused. He persisted, and so did I. Finally, he begged me. He pleaded with me to take his life in exchange for the safety of his world. He told me that he had always known that someday he would give his life for Earth. It was only a matter of when. He said that if I failed, and Thanos succeeded, he would be a dead man anyway. If he was to die, he would chose a death that he deemed better." Loki's eyes took on a haunted look, and he looked at Kloi. "Have you ever seen a man beg, Kloi? He begged me. For the sake of... everything. Everything that he believed in, everything that he lived for. Everything that he had ever cared about. Everyone he had ever cared about. He begged for death. He begged for it with tears. How could I refuse him? And how could I grant his request?"

Nothing but silence greeted this question, and Odin put a comforting arm around his adopted son.

"At length I told him that I would consider it. Then, later that night, we made our move. Barton, acting under my control, breached the helicarrier. Agents died, both those under my control and those still working for SHIELD. I regret the loss of life, but it was necessary. I could not have stopped it without Thanos being alerted to my true purposes. Barton came to release me, and Thor and Phil came to stop me. Phil directed other agents away from my cell room, so that they would not be caught in the confrontation. It would be only the three of us. I tricked Thor. It was simple to do - I knew he would fall for it as he always has. I mean no insult to you, brother. It is no fault to you - you have always been protective of me, and tend to always think the best of me. You are a warrior, not a magician, and it is reasonable that you cannot see the difference between an illusion and reality. Few sorcerers can do as much."

Thor bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. He would never admit it, but his brother's words that night had hurt him. That hurt was now soothed significantly.

"With Thor trapped in my cell, I put up another illusion. I was still undecided regarding Phil's pleas, and wished to buy some time. Instead of fighting, we talked. He begged me once more, and I continued to refuse. Finally he said that he would do it himself, if I would not. I did not wish him to take his own life, so I finally capitulated. I dropped the illusion, and struck him. Then I replaced the illusion, unwilling to let my friend die alone. It was not I who dropped Thor from the helicarrier. It was a young agent I was controlling - under the illusion of myself. I sent him from the room, and released my hold. He was so young, that I also removed his memory of the whole event. Heimdall tells me that he was later found, recognized as one who had escaped me, and removed to a safe place. I am glad. He was the youngest under my control, and I never even learned his name. He was strong, that one."

Loki paused. "Phil never shot me with that gun. I doubt that even I would have survived such a blast. That was all illusion. I was at his side when he died, holding his hand. He thanked me for killing him. Thanked me for being willing to sacrifice him for the safety of his world. He asked me to swear that I would tell you all, one day - should I survive to do so. He did not wish you to think his blood on my hands." Loki's eyes were slightly misted. "Not a day goes by that I do not think of him with regret."

"Why didn't you simply create an illusion of his death?" Steve demanded.

Loki sighed. "There are limits to everything, Captain Rogers, even magic. I could have done what you suggest. But Fury would have seen right through it. The illusion would have dissipated at his touch, and he would have known that Phil was still alive. He would then have either declared Phil a traitor, thus defeating the purpose of his supposed death, or he would have figured out my secret. Not a likely possibility, but a possibility nonetheless. If that had happened, he would have felt himself secure. Rather than giving it his all, he would have pulled his agents and prevented you all from fighting. He would have left it to me to clean up Thanos's mess alone - which would have resulted in the destruction of your world."

Kloi laid a hand on his arm. "I cannot imagine the pain it has caused you, Qillaq. I had to stand by and watch as many of my friends were killed, but I always managed to avoid killing them myself. I was fortunate that mother believed me when I claimed such a "chore" to demeaning for one of my status." Kloi's face saddened. "There were so many, so many I couldn't save." She seemed to return from a memory and embraced her brother.

The Avengers all shuffled restlessly. Kloi stood beside her brother and stared them down. On Loki's other side, Odin did the same. Heimdall appeared from behind them all somewhere, and added his gaze to the mix. They simply stood there, waiting for the answer to the unspoken question.

Did the Avengers believe any of it?