Life in a Gilded Cage

Chapter 8

The first thing that Loki thought as he stood there watching was, trust Thor to be the one with a long lost sister. Like he didn't have enough family already. Loki had killed Laufey, his real father to save Odin, and had no idea if he was alone or not in the worlds. He certainly felt like he was. he felt the bitter hand of jealousy deep in his heart once more, thinking of Thor's reaction to a new sister. He wanted so badly to have some family, someone he could trust and rely on. Someone to love him unconditionally and to love in return.

He blinked away tears of misery as he watched this new woman fight. She was amazing, a true warrior woman, worth of being a daughter of Asgard. The back of his mind working through all of the intelligence he had recovered over the years. All the dark books sealed with dark magic he had stolen from his fathers private collection. All the hidden knowledge that he wasn't meant to know. He remembered something about the three lost daughters of Asgard. Born from Odin's infidelity when he visited Midgard.

This girl had to be one of these children. Now if only Loki could find all three of them, and could bring them home, then surely Odin would forgive him? Or would he just be bringing pain to his loving mother? The last thing in the world he wanted to do was hurt his kind and loving mother. Unlike Odin, Frigga had never treated him any differently to Thor. Perhaps even given him more freedom and allowance then his brother had over the years.

It was Frigga and Heimdall who had caught him in the with stricted section when he had been a teenager, hiding from his brother. Charming a dark seal off of a book on arcane powers. She'd been angry at first, but then when she ahd realised just how talented Loki was. Had told him to keep it to himself, so Odin didn't punish him. Then had left him hard at his studies, understanding that he would never be a warrior. His skill had hiding had been developed from this hiding from Thor and Odin.

He thought about how his mother would react at the presence of gaining three daughters. Would she be hurt? No, she would be ecstatic at the new found family. Some girls to dress all pretty for a change. There were so few lady warriors on Asgard, it would do her and Sif good to meet some more.

Loki melted into the shadows waiting until the battle was over. Storm flew away carrying a wounded man, Captain headed his way towards his car. The God snuck into the passenger seat and waited while Steven stripped off the suit to reveal his jeans underneath, and changed his shirt to a tee shirt. He man looked exhausted, and like he could do with a few stiff drinks. He rubbed his stiff neck and climbed into the car.

Loki appeared beside him out of the shadows, "Did you mean what you said about me starting again?"

Steve started, but he'd secretly hoped that he would come. "I think everyone deserves a second chance, even you. How's the head?"

"Pounding!" Loki admitted, "Perhaps your Midgardian drinks do have their merits."

"How much did you drink?" Steve asked.

"There was this long wooden table with bottles on it?" he asked.

"Yes, a bar."

"Everything there."

"You drank everything on the bar?" Steve exclaimed.

"Was I not meant to?" Loki asked.

"Okay, drinks on Asgard must be powerful, most humans wouldn't be able to drink a single bottle."

"One bottle?" Loki asked bemused, "Perhaps one day I will take you drinking in Asgard when I am allowed home. I'm sure there would be something to take your fancy."

"I would like that very much," Steve said, this guy wasn't all that bad when you got to know him really. He could see why Thor kept on trying to win him back to the right side of the fence. "Somehow I don't think you came here to talk about wine, what do you need?" he asked.

Loki sighed and slipped back into business mode. "It burns me to ask this, but I need your help," he answered, "That girl, the one who can call storms. I need to know everything about her."

"She's one of the Xmen, Ororro Munroe codename Storm because of her powers. Doesn't talk much about herself or at all really. She's joined the Avengers with Rogue and Jean to help out now that the Professor is gone and the Xmen are scattered. We are hoping to recruit a few more of them. That's about all I know, why the sudden interest? I thought you would be more interested in Rogue." Steve answered.

"She is of Asgard." Loki answered.

"Are you sure?" Steve asked, "She's lived around here all of her life."

"There are three missing children of Asgard, I plan to find all of them, and return them home to father in exchange for returning home." he said.

Steven shook his head at the logic, "I don't think returning home with three people in tow is going to win you back your place and your family. What if they don't want to go?"

Loki looked dumbfounded, "Why ever not?"

The Captain sighed, how on earth to explain this to an alien! "Well Thor sent you here to learn a lesson right? Well I think that doing some good and helping someone other then yourself would show him how your character has changed and that you can be trusted again."

Loki raised one eye brow, "Really? I need to taint myself helping these mortals? Why would I want to do something like that?"

"These mortals will get really angry with you if you keep up with the attitude of being above us." He commented.

"But I am above you, I am a God! Am I meant to lie about it and pretend to be weak?" Loki demanded, "That would be useless to all of us!"

"Not lie, just not shove it in peoples faces. Its called being humble" Steve suggested, "In fact we have a case tomorrow from SHIELD to investigate something that you might be able to help us with. A young mutant girl who can shoot ice bolts from her fingertips."

"Really, how interesting?" he commented, that was a Jotun trick.

"So perhaps you should meet us at Stark tower tomorrow morning?" He asked.

"Very well mortal." Loki answered vanishing.

Steven shook his head, "How am I going to explain this to Stark!"