Part I

Plans For You

Loki woke at first slowly with the smell of his own blood and dirt on his face assaulting his nose, and then all at once by the scream of pain radiating from his wrists. When Loki opened his eyes, he found that he was bathed in a dim light from above which came from the open space between the rocks. It was dark around him, but not dark enough to see the cave like structure rising up like a claw around him. Looking up, he discovered his bare and battered arms were raised above his head with his wrists bound in shackles. His toes were barely able to brush the floor, and that was only when he stretched to attempt to do so.

He thought about calling out, but to whom? Who would come? Would those creatures return if he stirred?

Loki's mind flashed back to the robed figure he saw right before he passed out. How long ago was that, he wondered? That must have not been long ago; he could still taste his blood and the dust in his mouth.

Loki didn't know how long he had stayed there in that desolate cave, waiting for what? He didn't want to think about that. So there he stayed, stripped bare, even of his dignity, cold and alone with this burdened thoughts…just as it was always meant to be.

"Awaken," a harsh voice commanded, stirring Loki back into the world of the accursed living. He lifted his head, squinting against the light and into the cloak of darkness the figure was shrouded in.

"Who are you?" Loki asked, his voice nothing more than a hoarse whisper.

"We," the voice said, "are the Chitauri." The robed figure from before circled around Loki, hiding just at the edge of darkness. "Who," he hissed, "are you?"

Loki's brow scrunched in confusion as his mind worked to place the name of Chitauri. He was certain he had never heard, nor encountered the race before today.

"I am Loki, of Asgard." Loki said without thinking about it. It was reflexive and unconsciously done.

"Asgard!" the hooded figure stepped into the light, illuminating its grotesque face and sharp blood red teeth. "My Master will be most pleased to hear about this sudden luck."

Loki's head spun painfully. No, he was not of Asgard. He never was. But still, he felt his heart ache and worry blossom in his chest. "What luck does your master have to gain in Asgard?"

"What luck have you lost in Asgard, Loki, to have traveled so far outside of the light of the realm eternal?" another voice, deeper and more commanding than the first spoke. Loki shuttered, straining against his chains.

"Who are you and what interest do you have of Asgard?" Loki demanded, his voice tearing at his dry throat. The new voice revealed its master as he stepped into the light surrounding Loki.

His face was none for beauty. His luminous pale blue eyes shone against sickly purple skin stretching to cover his broad square face. When he smiled, his perfectly straight and white teeth flashed.

"I am Thanos," he informed Loki as he squared his shoulders and placed his hands behind his back. "And I am more interested as to what Odin's son and brother to Thor is doing here so far from where you hail from with its gates broken around your feet."

"I am no longer of Asgard," Loki spat. "I never was. So let me go or kill me. It matters not to me."

Thanos tilted his large head. "Loki of Asgard that is who you are, is it not? You are Odin's son, brother of Thor."

"NO!" Loki shouted through clenched teeth as tears welled in his eyes. "I NEVER WAS!"

Thanos squinted his blue-eyed glare, his smile amused as if he was just guessing at Loki's meaning, but not quite believing it. "It cannot be…Tell me," he ordered.

"No," Loki stated, the word drawn out like a threat full of malice as he glared at Thanos, his head bowed and eyes hinting at madness like a man that had taken too much pain for any one person to handle.

"You will tell me," Thanos sneered. "Even if I have to extract it from your head myself." With that, Thanos approached Loki, his large inhuman hand extended. Loki battled against his restrains in vain, his breath coming short and fast as Thanos came nearer.

As soon as his fingers brushed against Loki's temple, he screamed. It felt like a hot nail had been driven into his head and exploded. Tiny threads with tips like needles wormed their way through his memories. He saw Asgard as if he were standing outside of the hall to the throne room. He saw Thor, his golden hair and eyes like lightening. He began to relive memories he'd rather forget and have die with him.

Loki's screams were of agony, not only from the pain of Thanos' touch, but of his mistakes that he would never atone for, not even with death, which seemed to slip through his fingers like smoke.

Finally, Thanos released him laughing. Loki slumped forward, completely spent as sobs racked his broken body.

Thanos bend down and lifted Loki's face with a thick finger. "Never fear child. I have great plans for you…"