Loki strode out of a swirling vortex of churning black magic. An all-too-familiar gleam in his gaze, and an unsettling smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

The pair of guards standing before the closed throne room doors brandished their weapons.

He cracked his neck.

Both of theirs snapped, bodies slumping.

It was true he could've dropped himself in the middle of the throne room. But where was the fun in that? Besides, it helped knowing how many foot soldiers waited outside of the space he would occupy. Two measly guards weren't many. Odin had grown even more prideful in his absence. This was excellent.

Let the old man build up his pedestal as high as he wanted. It only made his inevitable fall that much more satisfying.

Rolling his shoulders, he threw open the pair of gilded doors. Paraded himself into the center of the chamber with outstretched arms. "The prodigal son has returned."

A second set of guards, stationed on either side of the throne, moved.

"Remain at your positions," the king commanded.

They glanced between each other, hesitated, but they ultimately did as they were told.

Odin straightened in his seat of authority. His face betraying no emotion. "I wondered how long it would take before you disturbed our peace. I'm surprised you found the courage to walk among this Realm."

Loki's trademark grin surfaced. "Please. You know me better than that."

"I assume you've come for my throne once more?"

The smirk faded as his countenance darkened. "Oh, I've come for more than that." Arms still wide, he released shadow daggers made of vile energy into the soldiers. Not regarding the falling bodies. "You should've guarded yourself better."

The Allfather didn't flinch. "If you wage a battle against me, boy, you will not win."

"I think you forget I once wielded Gungnir. I know its powers."

"I think you forget you were gone for some time. There's much you must learn."

The veins stood out on Loki's neck as he moved forward a pace. He couldn't contain himself any longer. His raised voice echoed. "I have wielded two Infinity Gems simultaneously, and I can guarantee you there's more power in one of them than your precious spear."

Odin rose. "Impossible."

A low chuckle emanated from him. "Why? Because you have every citizen of Asgard believing you have a gauntlet with all six Gems? Oh, I've seen the real titan of the universe. As much as you puff your chest, you are not him."

The Allfather's eye twitched. "What is it that you want?"

"Your life."

He paused. Laughed as he sat back down. "This again? Pray tell, why do you desire my life this time?"

Loki's form emanated an ebony glow. He trembled, but his rage didn't cease. No longer needed the scepter to tap into the worst parts of him. "For what you did to my Aura."

He waved a hand. "Why do you insist on lamenting over a slave girl? Can you not see I did you a favor? You're better off without her. She meant nothing."

"She means everything!" With a roar, he materialized crude daggers in each hand, lunging for the throne's occupant.

Mjolnir flew into the throne room. Knocked Loki off his feet.

Thor trotted in shortly after. "Brother!"

The trickster rose. Blasted the new annoyance out with a sphere of agitated energy. "Stay out of this." His eyes shifted direction, and he altered his form.

Mjolnir phased through him harmlessly, on its way to its master's hand.

He faced Odin once more, who stood with Gungnir in his grip. "I see. As soon as I threaten your favorite with danger, you'll take me seriously." He threw the daggers.

The poisoned weapons bounced off an invisible field.

Loki called them back. "It'll take more than a force field to keep me from killing you."

Thor emanated a battle cry as he soared back into the chamber. He grabbed Loki. Pinned him down. "Please, Brother. Do not make me hurt you."

"You couldn't if you tried." He teleported out from underneath him. Appeared within Odin's field.

The Allfather snarled, moving quicker than most would give him credit for. He twirled the spear behind him. Swept Loki's feet from under him. Sunk the tip of the weapon into his chest.

That version of Loki faded into ash. The real Loki plunging his favored weapon at Odin's blindside.

Thor tackled him.

The brothers rolled down the dias.

Loki straddled the thunder god. Seized the front of his armor. "I will kill you if you stand in my way again."

"You are unwell, Brother. Please. Cease this madness."

"That line will not work on me a second time." He poised a striking arm.

Odin fired a bolt of pure energy from his spear, knocking the aggressor off his biological son.

Loki lifted his head, his once-straight hair an unruly mess about his face. His emerald gaze swirling with the fiendish magic lurking within him. He vanished. Emerged as a hundred copies of himself.

"Brother," Thor cried, searching the multitude of duplicates. "Show yourself."

Odin glanced around as moved next to his heir. He slammed the spear against the ground. A wave of electricity roiling across the floor.

All of the Lokis disappeared.

One revealed himself behind Thor. He held a jagged dagger at his throat. Using the thunder god's body as a shield, he backed them away from Odin. "What do you think, Allfather? Should I remove the one you love from your life? Should you taste what I've experienced?"

The king slowly stepped toward them. "There's no need for this."

"There was no need for you to banish Aura. Why did you really do it? You couldn't bear seeing your stolen relic happy for once, in his miserable life, could you?"

"Loki...son—"

"Spare me your sentiments, old man."

Thor searched the other two. "Please, Father. Let me handle this."

The chaos god's voice dropped low against Thor's ear. "There is nothing you can say that will change my mind."

"You are unwell, Brother. I have seen this from you before. We were but young gods at the time. You pushed yourself so hard, you nearly faded into darkness. If you continue on this path, you will become nothing. Think of her."

"I am thinking of her! This is for her." Loki grazed the blade of his unsophisticated weapon across Thor's skin. "Everything I've ever done is for her."

Thor grunted. "You must stop before there is nothing of you left."

"I will not stop until I have his head mounted on his spear in front of the palace."

"What will that accomplish?"

"Everything."

"Must we fight?"

"If you wish to continue standing in my way, yes."

"Very well." Thor unleashed the lightning powers of his hammer.

Loki cried out, staggering back as the electricity coursed through him. His chest heaved with quick breaths. Thor must've called Mjolnir to him while they conversed. He wiped away blood streaming out of his nose. Very clever, Brother. But not clever enough.

Tendrils of pure chaos magic snaked down his arms and onto the floor. Swelling and building as they lashed about him. A deranged grin plastered on his face. Everyone always asked just how much power he possessed. He would give them a sample. One never revealed the extent of their abilities.

Only once in his life did he fully unleash his true nature.

That planet no longer existed, and it took him a month to recover from it.

This was nothing. Thrusting his hands forward, he directed the various tendrils toward Asgard's king.

Odin parried what he could with his spear. Dodged and weaved in and around the swarm. He was once a powerful warlord, and his age hadn't decreased his skills.

The throne room doors opened. A group of soldiers rushed in with spears, swords, and shields.

Loki detached from his accumulation. Pivoted and slammed a palm against the floor. Much like New York, sheets of ice spread from his hand.

Even as the warriors fanned out, the ice caught them. Needle-sharp shards shooting up and piercing the weak points of their armor. All of them slain in a matter of seconds.

He smiled. Planted his second hand and sending more ice across the floor. Not rising until it filled the empty doorway.

Thor charged past the acidic, chaotic mass. Struck his brother in the side of the head with Mjolnir.

Loki flew into a pillar. Landing on hands and knees, he shook his head.

"Brother, please. You cannot kill him. Will you not heed my words?"

"No." With a flick of his wrist, he wrapped the thunder god in a tendril. Sent him sailing through one of the walls. Sidestepped the hammer faithfully following its master's call.

Odin released a primal yell as he continued fighting the coils. Pure light emanated from Gungnir. It started as a small ball before growing and consuming the entirety of the throne room, evaporating the dark magic.

Loki threw up a barrier. Braced himself as the shockwave impacted him. His feet slid backwards until his back pressed against the pillar. He barely kept the raw power at bay.

The Allfather emerged from the fading brightness.

Eyes slightly widening, he teleported. Except. He didn't go anywhere. The spear stuck continuously into his thigh and the pillar. He dug his head into the stone. Drilled the man before him with a curled lip.

Odin slightly panted. "I've learned about magic like yours. And I've learned how to null and void it."

The mischief god set and reset his jaw. Normalized his breathing. "You know nothing of my magic." Driving a fist at the king's chest, he discharged an offensive spell.

The Allfather crashed through his throne.

Loki looked down at the weapon in his leg. Ripped it out with gritted teeth. Dropped it when Gungnir seared the skin off his hand. He stared at his burning palm. Lifted his gaze and teleported before the throne.

Odin crawled out of the rubble. He wheezed and hung his head.

He scoffed. Pushed him over with a foot. "Look at how the mighty has fallen."

The Allfather coughed on the cloud of dust. "The same could be said," he grimaced, "about you." His eye flashed, and he summoned the spear to his hand. Plunged it into Loki's torso. He inhaled when that one faded into ash, as well. Desperately looked around.

Loki appeared, leaning against the throne. "For the wisest man in all the Realms, you're extremely predictable."

"Am I?"

He whirled around at the voice. Another Odin standing directly behind him. "You've never used illusions before."

The Odin who contacted with the throne smashed out the knee on Loki's injured leg. "It is as I stated. If you wage a battle against me, you will not win." He lifted Gungnir above his head. Brought it down with all his might.

Loki rolled out of the way.

A loud clang reverberated as the weapon met the dias.

His breaths escaped quickly. He scrambled out of the way of another strike, stumbling when his shattered knee wouldn't hold his weight. His façade stiffened. He would not lose because of physical injuries. A nebulous sword appeared in his hand, and he parried the spear. Stepped into Odin's personal space and headbutted him.

Odin swung Gungnir off the floor. Struck down at his adversary.

Loki caught the spear with his sword. Planted his good leg. He applied his free hand against the sword's blade. Holding off the longer weapon as the floor fractured beneath him.

The Allfather pushed harder.

Sweat and fatigue showed on both of their faces.

Loki's form trembled. He couldn't continue this test of strength for much longer. A loud crack made him glance down. Although, the floor might give out before he did.

Thor landed beside the dueling pair with a thunder wave that knocked them off their feet. Anger creased his face. Mjolnir flashed in his grip. "Both of you will cease this at once!"

Odin righted himself first. "Finish him, my son."

"I will not."

"Loki will continue being a menace unless you destroy him."

The trickster winced when he pushed himself to a sitting position. This didn't go as he originally envisioned. But neither of them would have the pleasure of killing him. All he had to do was—the spear stuck out of his leg once more. He sucked air in through his teeth, biting his tongue so he couldn't make an exclamation. His glare never left Odin.

Asgard's king didn't acknowledge him. He stared at Thor. "Kill him."

The thunder god remained steadfast. "I will not kill my brother."

"He is not your brother. He never was, nor will he ever be. Rid the universe of him."

His gaze hardened. "No one will die today."

Odin grabbed onto Gungnir and pulled himself up.

Loki clamped his jaw shut harder. Wrapped a hand around the spear. A snarl forming as the incantation burned his hand. But he pushed past it, his skin pigmenting blue. Serrated ice flowed from his fingers, up the spear, and into Odin's flesh.

The Allfather staggered away. Grasped his bleeding appendage.

Thor removed Gungnir from his brother's leg. Placed Mjolnir on top of him for safekeeping. He faced his father. Not letting the spear out of his clutches. "No one will die today."

"Look at him," Odin roared. "Look at what he's become, what he's done. He will pay for the crimes he's committed unto Asgard, the Nine Realms, and the galaxy."

Thor matched his volume. "Crimes he committed because you banished his kjaerlighet."

"That servant has nothing to do with his atrocities. He made his choices without her. He was evil before she was even involved with him."

"Loki is not evil."

"Look at what he did to your precious Midgard, Thor."

The thunder god's knuckles turned white around the spear. "He was under the control of Thanos when he invaded Midgard."

Odin allowed a short laugh. "So, you believe the lies he tells you? You are even more naive than I anticipated."

"I was there, Father. Ask Heimdall. I was in the city during the attack. Loki had a scepter that let Thanos control people. I saw it with my own eyes. Do you claim me a liar?"

"Then his claims of the Infinity Gems were correct?"

He hesitated. "I do not appreciate your change in tone..."

The Allfather mused. "If I keep him alive, he could provide useful information."

"Loki will never tell you anything."

"You wish him dead, then?"

"Nay!"

"Loki will be a prisoner of the palace, and I will do with him what I see fit."

"For how long?"

"As long as I deem it necessary."

Thor turned toward his brother. "It would be a better fate than death."

Loki searched Odin's favored son. Mjolnir a crushing weight on his chest. He would prefer being a prisoner, if it came down to it. How many times had he escaped the cells before? This could be good. Now that he knew of the old man's latest abilities, he could tear them down. Let the fool build up his pedestal, yes? Just so he could have a greater fall.

A second wave of heavily armed soldiers broke down the ice wall. Entered the throne room with shouts.

Asgard's king regarded them. "Just in time." He held out his uninjured hand. "Gungnir, please."

Thor handed it over, but he didn't let go right away. "Swear you will not kill my brother."

"I swear I will not kill Loki." He slammed the spear on the floor once it was released. "You should know you will be punished, too, Thor. You've aided the enemy. And that's not something I can look away from."

"If I must be punished for aiding my brother, then I will gladly bear it."

Odin called Mjolnir into his free hand, which made Thor look concerned. He tapped the floor with his spear.

A myriad of chains and cuffs bound around Loki's neck, wrists, waist, and ankles.

"Hold him," the king commanded.

Several soldiers came over and hauled the prisoner onto his feet.

Loki mustered past the pain. There was a certain glint in the old man's eye he recognized. Recognized because he wore the same mischievousness when he first entered the throne room. The old man had a plan. And it most likely had to do with the runes etched in his bindings. Runes he had never seen before. Runes that kept his magic restrained. His magic.

Odin manifested a shallow black case out of thin air. Tossed it at Thor. He approached his throne and cleared the seat of debris. Whispered an incantation into Mjolnir, setting it as his feet. "Go on, my son. Accept your part of the punishment."

Thor swallowed. "You swore you would not kill him."

Loki's eyes fluttered with irritation. "Technically, he can make you kill me. You didn't make him swear against that."

"I will not do it."

Gungnir hit the floor again. Odin's tone regaining its chilling calmness. "Silence. Open the box."

Thor inhaled a deep breath. Did as he was told. He stepped back several paces, shaking his head. "Why would you make me do this?"

"I've already explained. You aided one of Asgard's greatest enemies. You're the upcoming king. If you want the peoples' support, you will accept your punishment and repent of your erroneous ways."

"Please, Father. Do not make me do this."

Loki's eyebrows rose a bit. One of Asgard's greatest enemies was a fine title; he'd accept it. He glanced between the two members of the royal family. Wondering what was so horrific that the mighty Thor trembled with newfound sorrow. His head cocked at the ebony box. Lethal injections? Poisons? Potions? What made the old fool not want to dirty his own hands?

The Allfather leaned forward. "This a command, not a suggestion. You dare defy your king?"

Thor turned his head away. His eyes met his brother's. He choked, attempted speaking with no words forming.

With a simple wave of his hand, Odin set his guards in motion.

The ones holding the chaos god removed all slack from the chains. A free warrior centered on Thor, took the case away from him, and removed its contents.

Loki straightened with flared nostrils. He didn't know Odin had the courage, had the cunning. His emerald eyes flickered over the guard threading the thick black needle. This was not something he expected. His quick-calculating mind left him, his exhaustion and pain fully devouring him. What had he done? He came here to defend Aura's honor by taking the old man's life. Instead...instead, he failed her with his own hubris.

Thor refused the instrument. "Father, please. Do not—"

"Continue disobeying me, and you will never see that mortal named Jane Foster again."

His bright blue eyes widened. "What?"

Odin remained matter-of-fact. "Continue disobeying me, and you will never leave Asgard. Heimdall will never open the Bifrost to Midgard for you."

The men holding Loki shoved him onto his knees.

Loki released a strained cry, despite himself, his shattered knee hitting the floor harder than he would've liked. He fought his bindings the best could. Summoned the magic within him. Yet, his powers refused surfacing, thanks to his continuous overuse of them. And the glowing runes burning into his flesh. One of the soldiers grabbed a handful of raven hair and yanked his head back. His chest rose and feel hard as Thor approached, needle in hand. "Do this, and I will no longer consider you my brother."

Tears streaked the thunder god's face. He glanced at his father on the throne. "Loki, I have no choice. It is this or death for you. I cannot take your life."

He wanted to defend himself. Wanted to plead on Aura's behalf. She was already so distraught. He grimaced as the guard pulled his head back farther. Movement taken from him as the numerous chains were kept taught. He finally found a situation he couldn't get himself out of. Odin never recalled an order. Aura wouldn't come running in to save him. Not even his mother could, at this point. The only thing he could do was accept this fate. "So be it."

Utter agony contorted Thor's face. With a final glance at Odin, he bent over his younger brother. "Loki, I am so sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me."

His eyes flashed. Thor could fight this, if he truly wanted. Thor did have a choice. Thor could stand up to Odin without being thrown in a cell. But the daddy's boy never disobeyed his father for long. "Never."

"One thing before you begin," Odin interjected. "Did you find what you were looking for on Midgard, Loki?"

The trickster's eyes welled. On one hand, yes, he rescued his Aura. On the other hand, no, he didn't rescue her. She was still so lost. She wanted nothing to do with him at the moment. Given time with his mother, Aura might have a chance at regaining her mind. Until then, maybe this fate was for the best. He swallowed back the hitch in his throat. "No."

The Allfather laughed. "I thought not. She was too weak to survive on her own. I doubt she lasted long at all. Proceed, my son."

Thor's tears only increased as he stuck the needle into the lower right corner of Loki's mouth. His sobbing audible with the next stitch. Intense lightning flashed across the sky outside, thunder peeling afterwards. The storm's commander so filled with sorrow.

Loki squeezed his eyes shut. His immediate reaction was attempting freedom. Which only caused more pain. Warm blood trickled down his face. He felt every centimeter of the needle piercing his flesh. Felt the cursed thread sliding through the resulting holes. It made him writhe. Made his chest heave with staggered breaths.

Blood and saliva pooled in the back of his throat. His body naturally coughed. But with his mouth already half sewn shut, it suffocated him. His lungs entered a state of panic. He tried shaking his head. He needed air. He couldn't get air. Claustrophobia set in. He couldn't move, couldn't free himself. His stomach churned as his cells screamed for oxygen.

Thor violently cried now. Completely distraught at what his father made him do.

The needle flashed cruelly with each pass. The once white thread stained dark red.

The freak lightning storm darkened all of Asgard.

Loki swallowed what fluid he could. He stared at the ceiling, desperately searching for a way out. He was a wild animal caught in a cage. Despite Thanos's torture, he knew he could free himself. He knew he would one day escape. But Odin had done it. The fool actually managed trapping him, found a way of subjugating his magic.

His body convulsed as he still couldn't get enough air. He had no control over himself anymore. How many times had he promised himself he wouldn't lose control? He needed to be in control of himself. Another hard breath sent him into a choking fit. An ongoing choking fit he couldn't fix.

He tried calling for Aura. All that emerged from him was muffled cries. He tried screaming, tried yelling. Tried everything. He remained unintelligible. He wanted her. He needed her. She didn't know what they were doing to him. Yet, she didn't need to know what they were doing to him. His lungs worked erratically. What had he done?

Tightening the thread for a knot, Thor gave a cry of desperation at his baby brother jerking with pain. He stared at his blood-covered hands. Sunk to his knees. He reached out, but the guards dragged Loki onto his feet. His head hung.

Odin rose. Took each step of the dias deliberately. He grabbed hold of Loki's face, turning it from side to side. "Let's see your silver tongue work now. Take him away."

The soldiers guided the prisoner toward the door.

His voice rang out loud and clear. "I have won."

Loki's body sagged. Even as he caught a glimpse of his mother out of the corner of his eyes. He had no fight left. No remaining energy. He couldn't fake being strong or in control of what transpired. Nor could he act like he would twist this situation for his favor. He honestly didn't know if he could or not.

Frigga sprinted for her youngest, but she was blocked by guards and their weapons. "Loki!" She faced Odin. "What is the meaning of this? Our son we thought was dead has returned, and you treat him like a criminal?"

Odin sat back in his throne. "That's because he is a criminal. He attempted taking my life. I believe this is fair punishment. True justice would have his life instead."

The queen strode across the throne room. Fire brewing in her gaze. "He is our son—"

"No!" He pushed himself out of his seat. "He is Laufey's son. And his malicious deeds are no more. He can longer bring harm unto any of the Realms."

"How can you be okay with this? How can you enjoy this?"

"Because I've done nothing I regret."

"All this time, you've called him a monster. I think you should take a long, hard look at yourself."

This was the last thing Loki heard before he was marched out of earshot. His gaze trained on the ground as he limped along with the soldiers. He knew everyone they passed by stopped and stared at him. It wasn't often they witnessed a broken trickster. Normally, he would meet their gazes. Normally, he would challenge them. They feared him, and he liked keeping it that way. Only...he no longer had the energy for it.

That's what he honestly felt like—broken. He was shattered into a million pieces, His heart, body, and soul, all a million pieces. What went wrong? How did the fight take such a turn against him? It wasn't supposed to end like this. Odin should be dead. Aura should be in his arms. They should be living happily. What went wrong? How did he fail so miserably?

He paused to catch his already thin breath, but he was kicked forward. So, he hobbled along. His determination left him long ago. As did his sanity. The black expanse in his mind grew larger by the moment. He wished he could lie down in it. Be drowned by it. Was that too much to ask? He ruined everything when he only wanted to fix everything. His vision hazed. Why didn't he maintain control?

The soldiers planted him before an empty cell marked with familiar runes and opened the field. They removed the bindings. Tossed the prisoner inside, leaving him alone.

Loki immediately collapsed. He was done. Tears slipped out of his closed eyes, dripping onto the cold floor. He failed her. He failed his Aura. He didn't find her soon enough, and now, he paid the price. She paid the price.

He deserved this. Deserved all of this. That was how the fight turned in Odin's favor. The universe punished him for not saving his love sooner. How long had he been off Asgard? Thanos wasn't an excuse. Not to mention, he only found her out of dumb luck. He curled into a fetal position. No wonder why she couldn't face him, wanted nothing to do with him. No wonder why she rejected him. She was just as disappointed with him as he was with himself.

For the first time in his life, he had been truly beaten. Truly defeated. And he could only blame himself for his mistakes.