"You must pay for your crimes. This time you will not be taking pleasure in the comforts provided. You will be treated as any other dangerous criminal."

A criminal that had saved the lives of hundreds of Light Elves, a criminal that was willing to risk his life for nothing in return... Odin was always merciless. His voice and his words echoed in Loki's tired mind. Nothing would change. There would be no drop of understanding. The well of love had run dry. He could only remain in the dark, buried beneath the floors of the palace, locked away and forgotten in the cell of his doom.

Why had he returned? Because there was nothing left in all the Nine Realms after Jennica had run off, breaking every promise and his already fractured heart... and like a lost sheep, Loki followed Thor back to Asgard, clinging to a foolish whim that Odin would welcome him back as a son.

Bold to assume that I would be forgiven...

The moons made their cycle, about thirteen of them, according to the trails of his magic. He could only release little bursts of it, but not enough to get him out of bondage. Curse Odin... Loki was able to see through the eyes of a few commoners and tell the cycle of time. Maybe cast a few illusions inside of the cell, but nothing more. A year would have passed on Earth. How long did it take for Light Elves to forget those they had cared about? If Jennica ever cared. Maybe it was best if he never knew the answer to that.

"Forgive me, Jennica..." Loki muttered through his dry lips. He felt strangely guilty for thinking negative thoughts about the person he still yearned for.

He thought about her day and night. Her memory haunted him, asleep or awake. If only he could see her, explain to her, let her know that he still cared. Alas, that could not be so. The shackles on his wrists were enough confirmation of that outcome. In the meantime, he explored the depths of his magic, pondered the possibility of impossible escape to capture more of the Infinity Fractals, unleash the buried legacy... but his life had become a meaningless search for ways to waste his energy.

He still hungered for the promise of power unimaginable. Just enough to shut out the pain and end his self-loathing. Enough for every eye to look upon him with endearment, fear him for what he could do in their lives... his full motives were still unclear, even to him. They were now led by habitual drives. Loki didn't know what he would do if he became powerful enough to control the universe. It was an exciting thought, but frightening all at once. There was nothing left to do but wish... wish for the impossible in this lonely cell, dirty and unkempt, his clothes smelling of mold and his hair in a grimy, knotted mess–

"Brother." Low and urgent, Thor's voice boomed as if he had been standing there, bringing Loki out of his daydream.

"Thor." Loki's voice cracked and he swallowed, trying to dampen his throat with what saliva he had in his mouth. "Forgive me... I did not see you standing there."

"You were quite unaware. I was beginning to worry."

"Worrying about me will gain you nothing. I have only my thoughts, so please leave me to them if you have nothing important to say."

"Jennica has returned."

Those words were like thorns in Loki's heart. He froze, unable to breathe for a moment. "What?"

News on her whereabouts had spread between them in the past, as they had been unknown for a wealthy amount of time. And now she had been found?

"The humans did not take kindly to her. Because of her power, they locked her away, like a criminal. I... rescued her, and she lives somewhat comfortably with the Avengers in New York. It was the only way to keep her safe. The Fractals are growing beyond our control."

Loki's eyes were wide and misty with emotion. To imagine Jennica in shackles, behind glass and bars, misunderstood and arrested like a... monster. He shivered, cold running up his spine as goosebumps rose on his skin. No, not Jennica. She could not experience those tortures, those forms of abuse.

"Sh-She is safe?" He asked, to which Thor nodded.

"Yes. I have been mentoring her so that she may control the Fractals. They were causing her great distress."

"She needs a mentor skilled in the arts of magic. No offense to you, but you were never raised in the mystic arts. You know so little. If these Fractals continue to grow stronger, as they no doubt will, she will be destroyed. They are constantly evolving, and her using them so much in the past year resurrected their abilities."

"So they are..."

"Restless. However long she was caged, the Fractals were discontent with being locked up as well." Loki stood. "If she is to be safe, these are things you need to know."

"I am trying my best. None of the others know what to do."

Loki was still worried, but he was indifferent to showing his emotion. He stood with his shoulders back and spine straight, stiff as ever. "I know what you know. And I know it is not enough."

"I would love for you to come and help, but I cannot break you out again. Father will banish me and it does not concern the matter of the Nine Realms."

Loki clenched his jaw. "If I could see Father, maybe I would be able to persuade him to banishing me."

It was Thor's turn to stiffen. "What? And lose all of your magic? How is that a help?"

"I will still have the knowledge. Brother, l cannot waste away like this. Bring me to Father."

"Unannounced?!"

"I may know how to persuade him."

There was a hurting silence shared, a plea to take the risks that would come with this appeal. No one could foresee the outcome, but they could dread a possible one. Loki was willing to take those risks, just to leave this fowl place... just to see her again.

"There's no guarantee. It might take some convincing him."

The burst of enthusiasm Loki felt disappeared immediately when he heard this. After all that had happened, it still stung to remember the very little affection Odin seemed to feel for him.

"Please... just try."

There was a pause. Uncomfortable. Heart wrenching. Hopeful.

"Guards!" The shout left Thor's mouth, and Loki almost twitched.

Two Einherjar, armed with spears, came marching from the entrance to the dungeon. Fists clasping to their chests, they bowed.

"Bring this prisoner to my father. He will have words with him." Thor commanded, deepening his voice to convey the power he held.

"Yes, my Lord." The captain of the two soldiers replied.

Laughing bitterly, Loki felt them bind his wrists behind his back. "You still have the need to treat me like a prisoner."

"Please comply, brother." Thor frowned at the pain this position brought him. He knew Loki was expecting no shackles. "For now, that is what you are."

...

His bare feet hit the stone floor and his exhaustion from lack of movement filled his head all at once.

To be shamed as a prisoner once more will be glorious... I would rather kneel as a prince.

Upon seeing Thor standing beside Odin at the throne, Loki regained his bearings the best he could.

Looking beside the throne, in habit, his heart expected to see his mother standing there, speaking in his favor, but emptiness took her place.

"Hello, Father." Loki spoke with a facade of self-confidence. It did nothing but leave a gap of silence and an echoing clang of chains.

Odin's expression was unreadable as he said, "State the matter of which you have come to speak to me about. You have been brought unannounced and must speak quickly."

"Thank you... for the honor." Loki swallowed any more of his sarcastic comments once Thor gave him a warning look. What would he say? How would he convince him? Would he let himself be humiliated? It seemed to be the only way to Odin's heart. "I have come to beg."

Slowly lowering himself onto his knees, Loki showed his humility. Never before had Odin seen such sincerity in his eyes, and it softened his heart. Loki spoke.

"I am unworthy of the life I have lived after the crimes I committed. I am unworthy of having the privilege of knowing my captor. I am unworthy of having a brother who will defend me after everything I have done against him. And... I am unworthy of love. I know so very well what I have done. Forever I will live with that shame and guilt and regret. I am unworthy of my powers and my home here in Asgard, although it is within a small, empty cell. And yet, I still, with little hope, am begging you..." Loki paused, his gaze wavering from the surprised and sympathetic look on Odin's face, "please strip me of my powers and send me to Midgard as you once did to Thor. I don't care if my powers never return, or if I could ever return here. All I ask for is a chance to truly live."

No one spoke for a time. Loki's words were unexpected and unusual. Never was he one to share his emotions out in the open with complete honesty. If it was honesty. The sweetness of his words were so convincing, everyone believed them to be true. They hurt so much to speak that Loki could not decide.

Odin stood and stepped slowly towards Loki. His aging frame was very evident the closer he came, and Loki nearly frowned. And was there pain in his eyes? Had he truly broken through?

"You are unworthy of these realms," Odin's usual firm voice broke with emotion as he quietly spoke, "You are unworthy of your title... y-you are unworthy." Gugnir's tip hung above his head, draining the energy in painful whisps. Loki swallowed to will away the urge to cry out. "I take away from you your power," Loki could feel the rest of his power dissipate, the strength that carried him, but it was a welcome release. "And... I cast you out." Odin lifted his staff, whispering, "I wish you happiness."

With tears in his eye, he called on the Bifrost to take Loki away. In a flash of light and colors that crashed through the throne room, Loki was gone.

...

The lights and motion through space faster than the speed of light made Loki sick to his stomach. Instantly, he found himself lying face down on wet grass. The smell of fresh air and plants shocked him, as he had nearly forgotten its sweet scent.

Lifting himself off of the ground, he began to feel the raindrops falling on him. The gray clouds were heavy and dark, threatening to strike the ground with its electricity. Thunder roared from a distance. The rain obscured everything around him, making it hard to know which direction to take.

Straining his eyes to try and find some form of shelter, Loki caught sight of a light and the dim shape of a large building in the distance. He began his trek toward the oasis. His bare feet sunk into the spongy earth, the mud overtaking the grass. The air pushed him backwards, almost as if to tempt him to go back. But he kept walking. For once, he was grateful for his Jötun blood keeping him safe from the cold, which would have only hindered him more.

As time crawled slowly by, the rain did too. It moved to the North as Loki moved sluggishly behind. It became a drizzle by the time he had reached a door. It was a small, hidden door, but he hoped someone would come. His strength was waning. Lifting his heavy arm, he tried to push the door open. Would Heimdall have been so graceful as to bring him to a place where someone would answer? It was locked.

He knocked as loudly as he could manage. No one answered. A sense of defeat filled his heart as he sunk to the ground, a weakness overcame him that he had never felt before. A weakness of his body and mind that kept him from pushing forward. He started to wonder if he had made a mistake. If he could even survive the night, he had no idea how to find Jennica without any money or help.

He remained unmoving, trying to regain some energy, and only turned when he heard the door opening behind him. Instantly he stood up and saw a sight that rekindled his heart.

Jennica.