#cryogenic storage

As per every day before, the two guards came to question him, Loki turned and told them to get stuffed before he frowned, realising there was something different, one of the guards was shorter than usual. With a slight chuckle, the shorter one raised their helmet to reveal themselves.

‘Hello, Loki.’ Rebecca grinned.

‘You returned?’

‘I never left.’ she smirked. ‘They have that big arc reactor here, the energy signals from it scrambles other electronics, including stupid collars.’

‘How…?’

‘I knew everything about Stark from before, it only took a bit of scouring my memory to find everything I needed, including how to get the damn thing off, it took two weeks. I planned to do both in one fell swoop, but they had apparently readied my icy prison, the chamber takes about a month to ready, they had started mine before our return, I had to jimmy my times a bit.’

‘Why are you telling me this?’ Loki turned to look away again, his anger and hurt clear. ‘You were just….’

‘I did what I had to for us, Loki.’ He looked back to her again. ‘They would have done far worse to you if they knew we were partners, I had to protect you, people do that, for those they love.’ He swallowed. ‘I never controlled you, you know that, inside.’ She looked at him pleadingly. ‘I would not leave here without you, that is why I have not left yet, you. Even when you thought I betrayed you, you never told them anything.’

‘I am no snitch.’

‘I know.’ She smiled fondly. ‘I missed you.’

‘How do I know this is not a trick?’

‘I can only ask you to trust me.’

Loki scoffed. ‘I would be a fool to.’

‘Well, it is foolish to love, right?’ Loki frowned. ‘We can leave here, go back to Asgard. The people wanted you, you can just rule there, no issues.’

‘And you?’

‘I will need a disguise for when Brother Dearest comes calling.’

‘You are just using me for safe passage.’ He growled.

‘I don’t need you to get somewhere safely.’ She dismissed. ‘I can walk out the door here and into obscurity and never be seen again, but I want you Loki, and for you to have your kingdom.’ Loki eyed her carefully for a moment, thinking about what she said, it was true, she did not have to be there. ‘If you don’t want me, I understand, but I am breaking you out either way. We can stay together or not, that is your choice.’ She had the other guard open the door and step back. ‘I have a diversion in place for ten more minutes, come on.’

Loki paused for merely a moment before walking out. Rebecca had the guard unlock the shackles controlling Loki’s magic. ‘I will decide en route.’

‘Whatever you want.’ She grinned, knowing he would choose to go with her of his own accord. Loki watched as they walked through the building without any taking interest in them. When they got out, Rebecca was smirking. ‘I have a car waiting, do you want to come or make your own way?’

For another moment, Loki paused, ‘How do you know you can trust me? After everything, I could betray you.’ Before walking to the car with her.

‘You could, I hope not though.’ Rebecca admitted as she got into it.

‘Why not?’ Loki asked, sitting in and closing the door.

Rebecca straddled his hips as she smirked. ‘You’re far too much fun to be around. Almost as dark as me.’

‘Almost? I am the one to fill you with darkness.’

‘Care to fill me again?’ They grinned at one another as Loki raised a brow.

‘What about that lot?’

‘We wait, until they least expect it, a decade or so seems like a good idea.’ She leant down and kissed him.

‘Being in one place can give them a chance to surround us.’ She argued.

‘You would notice.’

‘Before, yes. Now, I am not sure.’ For the first time since she was thawed, Rebecca felt worried.

‘When you begin to doubt yourself, you are setting yourself up to fail.’ Loki growled.

‘Knowing your limits is integral too.’ Rebecca countered.

‘We are limitless, you controlled a dragon.’

‘A dragon is a living thing, robots are not.’ She pointed out. ‘I can’t…’ She looked fearfully at him. ‘I am not as durable as you are. If they come for me, I mean it, I will die before I will let them take me.’

Loki gave her a side glance, concerned with her attitude. ‘You do not need to worry about such things.’

‘We should move.’ She repeated.

‘No, it is safer to….’ The pair paused as the sound they had realised was the repulsors of Stark’s machines. ‘They…’

‘I knew it, I….’ A blast came through a wall and as Loki dealt with it, the suit shot something at Rebecca that clamped around her neck like a collar. ‘What?’ She tried to pull it off, but it held fast.

‘A gift.’ Rhodes voice played out of the suit, ‘From Tony.’ A moment later, a light came on and Rebecca felt nauseous and lightheaded. ‘Tony?’

‘About time.’ Stark’s voice came over the radio. ‘Get me a damn suit.’

As she began to feel worse, Rebecca realised just what was happening. ‘No!’

‘Yes,’ Tony’s voice rang out. ‘You pissed off the wrong people, Kid, and your stunt with Peter, that is going to cost you extra.’

‘Go to Hell.’ Rebecca spat.

‘Well, as they say, ladies first.’ The suit in front of her raised its arm and began to charge. A moment later, Loki used his daggers to attack it.

‘We need to go.’

‘I….’ Rebecca felt too dizzy from the collar. ‘I can’t.’

Loki pulled her to her feet. ‘What does it do?’

‘I don’t know, Stark is mobile again, I think it….’ She began to vomit violently. ‘I…’

Loki looked at her in bewilderment, wondering how they could engineer something so advanced. Before he could answer his own internal question, a being in an all black suit that was almost feline-like landed near them out of a suit that just arrived. ‘Do you like it?’ He asked, his accent was thick, not like one Loki had heard on Midgard before. ‘The best Wakandan technology.’ There was almost a smugness in the man’s voice. ‘Even you will find it hard to break it.’ Loki snarled and let Rebecca slip to the ground before going forward, daggers drawn and beginning to battle with the man, who was as agile as a feline also. They fought viciously, but in doing so, Loki was distracted as Rebecca tried to get to her feet once more, she was stopped, however, when she was violently grabbed by one of the suits and thrusted into it before being flown away. She could hear Loki roar over the sound of the suit.

It flew for several minutes before she was thrown from it again, this time into a room, surrounded by heavily armed and ready Avengers, including Stark in another one of his suits. Ill from the collar and the journey in the suit, Rebecca remained on the floor looking up at them. ‘Just do it, you know you want to.’ She did not speak to any in particular.

‘No, death is too easy, you welcome it.’ Thor growled. ‘The ice is a better option.’

She scoffed, much to their shock. ‘The ice is only asking for me to be thawed again in the future, can the world risk that? Think about it, one electrical fault and I am out again, I am a risk again.’ She warned.

‘She’s not wrong.’ Rogers looked at her.

‘Think about it Stark, think about what I did to you, to that boy…’

‘You’re not going to get me.’ Stark dismissed, thinking of the now injured Peter that Rogers had to render unconscious to protect them from.

‘What I got your lovely BFF to do, does Banner still feel guilty, all those people….’

‘Enough!’ Thor yelled. ‘You and Loki….’

‘Ah yes, Loki, the gullible fool.’ She laughed. That caused Thor’s face to fall. ‘He was the most fun to control.’ She smiled. ‘You should have heard him beg and plead for me to leave you alone in his head. He even asked that I take him in your place, such a good little brother, wanting to protect you. But after a while, he thought he was in control of himself, that is what made him the most fun, he forgot himself.’

‘He….So this was not him?’ Thor half demanded.

‘No.’ She scoffed again. ‘He just wanted to go back to Asgard, mind his own business and be allowed mourn his precious mommy like any little mommy’s boy would.’ Her tone became scathing and ridiculing. ‘Poor Frigga, dying to protect her son’s beloved Jane only for her to toss off as soon as she got back here. So your poor mother died for an ungrateful cow who is now allowing another man screw her into next week; she doesn’t even think about you, or the sacrifice your beloved mother made for her.’ Thor’s hand balled into a fist as it began to shook, outside, thunder began to rumble. ‘Ooh, still a sore spot?’ Rebecca taunted. ‘I don’t need to be able to see into your head or to control you to know how much that hurts you. Which hurts more, the dismissal by Jane, or that it cost your mother’s life? Do you know, Odin hated you for that, for taking his lovely Frigga from him. That’s all he thought about as he died, getting back to her, he didn’t give a rats ass about you, it was your fault she was gone after all.’

‘No, Loki…’

‘Loki did not bring the Kursed to Asgard, or some pathetic woman carrying the Aether though, did he? You cannot blame Loki for that, that was you, all you.’

Thor swallowed as she voiced what that small voice in his mind had spat at him as he sat alone thinking of the past. ‘You have said enough.’

Rebecca laughed. ‘To you, I have, haven’t I?’ She turned to Stark. ‘You know, I regret not killing you, I didn’t want to, I mean, you are incredibly captivating, but in the end, I forgot under all the excessive drinking and public laughs, you are a genius, though I am curious, Rhodes said this thing was a gift from you, yet that guy in a catsuit said it was Wakandan, is that the word?’

‘A little teamwork, my knowledge, their technology, it seems to be doing well.’ Stark grinned.

‘Yeah, it is. I can’t do a damn thing with it on, is the nausea necessary?’

‘Unpredicted side effect, I hope you’re suffering.’ Stark spat.

‘Oh yeah, like a bitch.’ She nodded. ‘Not like you to team play, especially with the Soldier, I mean, your dad begged him to save your mother before he killed her.’

‘Shut up.’ Stark and Rogers growled together.

‘And he just shot her, point blank, in the head before walking around the car, Howard watching the blood drip onto that lovely dress, the one you knew made her feel great, and waited, knowing he was next, that there was nothing….’ To Rebecca’s surprise, it was not Stark that grabbed her by the throat but Rogers. ‘Why Captain, didn’t think you had it in you.’ She laughed.

‘Stop.’

‘Not a chance.’ She spat into his eyes. ‘So adamant to protect Bucky, if only it was reciprocated. Honestly, could you be any more pathetic, you are a great shield for him, you will do anything to protect him, that is why he is still here, not out of loyalty, especially against Stark.’

‘You talk a lot of shit.’ Stark growled.

‘I only speak the truth. I cannot read your minds now, but I have read them enough, I know what you all truly think. You all hate each other still, but right now, I am the concern, after me, you will go back to bickering. As I wait in the ice, making plans for my release again, you will destroy one another. With you gone, time will forget my sins, and when I do get out, I will come for you that are left, and then I will destroy your legacy.’

‘Seriously, let’s just sort this and call it an accident.’ Romanov snarled, her patience obliterated and her gun aimed.

‘Tempting, but we can’t.’ Rogers threw her over to Bucky, who sneered at her as he pulled her along; Rebecca unable to walk properly with how dizzy she felt, stumbled with him. They made it to a cell, that was made of some form of thick glass and threw her in before turning and walking away. Feeling even more nauseous but with her stomach empty, Rebecca just dragged herself to the small bed and curled up on it, angry that Loki did not do as she asked and left.

A few hours later, she heard a ruckus outside her cell, when she turned, she saw Loki, gagged with some sort of muzzle and heavily chained and Thor. She gave them a small look before turning back around. ‘I told you, Brother, she does not care.’

That caused her to turn again and look at Loki, who seemed hurt, she rose to her feet and groaned. ‘Really, are we doing this now, fine, I was trying to get some sleep.’ She walked over to the glass. ‘Happy to be free, Little Loki?’ She sneered. Loki frowned. ‘Oh come on, you hardly thought you were actually free, did you? How could I risk it, you were too close to me, you could have hurt me as I slept, so of course, you were under control, more so than anyone else I ever controlled.’ Loki looked at her, his hurt blatant, he shook his head. ‘What? Finally realising it, I was using you, Loki. You thought to unleash me and have someone that was your equal, someone to help look out for you, so selfish and yet so innocent, I am not your equal, I am more than you can ever be. You only wanted to be safe, to finally have a true ally, but what you revealed to me in your thoughts, I saw so much potential.’ She chuckled smarmily. ‘Not to mention, you’re pretty well endowed, so that was fun. A girl’s gotta get some satisfaction somewhere, right?’ She sneered. ‘Thanks for the good sex, the rest though…..you’re so pathetic, so needy for affection and praise. It’s laughable really.’ She turned and went back to the bed, not looking around again.

Loki looked to Thor, who seemed to look as though he felt some sympathy for his adopted brother, as well as a healthy amount of “I told you so” before he pushed him on to a cell further down the hallway.

*

For two weeks Rebecca said and did nothing only sit in a corner, the light on the collar on her neck glowing every few seconds to tell people it was functioning as she sat there. The nausea subsided after a time; she realised it only occurred when she tried to use her powers, so she did nothing regarding it, instead just eating and drinking as she needed and sat still, much to the concern of those watching her, including the Avengers, who felt she was too sedentary.

When a guard came in to collect her tray one evening, used to her not moving, he left his guard down and she was able to grab his baton and render him unconscious.

‘You got our message,’ Rogers sighed in relief.

‘You said it was urgent.’ Thor sat down, inwardly wondering what message this was that he had not received.

‘There has been sighting. We were wondering for a while if they were still on another world since we saw no sign of them, so we thought it was safe, but in the past few days, there have been, of her, not of Loki, in her hometown.’

Internally, Thor screamed that their intelligence was completely wrong, but no sound passed his lips. He wanted to tell them that Loki and Rebecca were a mere couple of hundred metres away. ‘We need to stop them before they cause any more damage.’ Thor stated. For once, he agreed with the words Rebecca left out of his mouth. ‘Where is everyone else?’

‘We had to get the intelligence somehow.’ Rogers grinned. Thor gave a pleased smile back as the Avengers readied themselves for what was to come.

Rebecca turned and looked around.

Loki looked at her curiously. ‘What?’

‘They think they can set a trap.’ She informed him.

‘What do we do?’

‘That is where you come in.’ She smiled. ‘I cannot…..really?’ she scoffed. She edged forward and a boy came into the room, no more than a teenager. ‘They sent a child.’ She snarled.

‘So?’ Loki took out a dagger.

‘I do not hurt children.’ She stated adamantly.

‘He is an enemy.’ Loki pointed out.

‘No.’ She reiterated, turning to look at the youth. ‘Did they even tell you what you are up against?’ He answered in his head. ‘They used you because they know you are the same age as my brother was when he was killed by the British Army.’ She explained. ‘They are appealing to my humanity. What they did not factor in was the loss of it as a result of those actions.’ She cocked her head slightly as she walked forward, looking at the boy in front of her. ‘We will not kill you, but you want to kill me, don’t you?’ She looked through his thoughts. ‘Little Peter, so desperate for a father figure that you chose Tony Stark, I suppose I can see the appeal, he’s charismatic, fun; hell, he even gave you this lovely cool suit.’ There was anger in his eyes. ‘I did not kill him, you can still speak with him, so no, I do not deserve to die for that, do I? I have not killed any of your friends, I…’ She paused and looked around, her eyes growing wide. ‘We need to go.’ She ordered, walking over to Loki, who looked at her worriedly. ‘They are learning.’

‘What?’ Loki asked, unsure what she meant.

‘They are all thinking differently.’ She growled in annoyance. ‘They all are scattering plans so I cannot read what is the real one.’ She glared at the boy. ‘He is their distraction, very well, if he is theirs, then he is also ours.’ Peter turned and made his way back outside, internally shouting. ‘Come on.’ She ordered, turning, as soon as she and Loki were about to leave the building, however, they were blasted backwards by something, Loki moving quickly last moment to protect her from the blast. When the light died down again, they turned to see not one, but several of Stark’s Iron suits aimed at them.

‘Get rid of them.’ Loki looked at her.

‘They’re unmanned, I cannot control a robot.’ She hissed back.

‘Who is controlling them?’

‘No one here. I cannot find them.’

Loki took matters into his hands, getting two daggers and swiftly throwing them before forcing them through the machines, somewhere on the way causing them to multiply. This only had limited success and the machines started to charge up for another attack, Loki again grabbed Rebecca and moved the pair out of harm's way, but their relief was short when more of the machines found them.

Rebecca scanned the minds of every human she could find in the nearby vicinity, yet her success was limited, there was no one who knew exactly what was going on. Stark, she realised had gotten a man by the name of “Rhodey” the mass control coding for his machines, but told his friend not to tell him his plan for them. It was Stark that had figured out the best way to deal with the issue of her knowing their thoughts. She snarled to herself, regretting not just killing him.

‘We need a new plan.’ Loki growled. ‘We should have just done it.’

‘There is no point to saying that now, it doesn’t help us.’ She snarled.

‘Give it up.’ A voice that Rebecca knew to be Rhodey’s from sieving through Stark’s mind called out over an intercom. ‘If you come quietly now, you will not have to be harmed.’

‘I just get frozen again, right?’ Rebecca scoffed. ‘You see Colonel Rhodes, there may not be a single strand of hair harmed on me, though freezing is terrible for your hair, I found out, but I am going to die before I allow myself be taken again. I was imprisoned for crimes I did not commit before, I know what awaits me.’ She concentrated on those she could sense nearby, one of whom being Dr Banner, she forced him into the Hulk, only a moment later, screams rang out over the intercom.

The machines charged, but the moment of silence between Rebecca and Loki was not as silent as they had thought as Rebecca communicated with Loki telepathically, instructing him to get ready to move them elsewhere. With the sound of the Hulk coming as an incentive for him to do as she asked, Loki grabbed her and brought her with him as the vanished into the air while the repulsors fired, hitting nothing but the wall behind where they had been standing.

When they arrived at their new destination, Rebecca gave a small shriek of anger. ‘Those filthy….’

‘That is not helping.’

‘And standing there saying nothing is?’ She retorted as she began to pace. ‘They are all making plans and not telling one another them so no one knows what is going on and what to expect so I cannot counter, they all only know dribs and drabs.’

‘You can counter them if you encounter them though, obviously.’

‘No, because those coming towards me do not know what they are about to be told so they cannot reveal to me what they are doing, the only one privy to the whole plan is Stark’s computer, which is a machine, something I cannot manipulate or read. That kid had no idea what was planned with the suits, they just told him to go and that I would be conflicted about harming him, that they had his back.’

‘Which was an accurate presumption, you should have dealt with him.’ Loki growled.

‘I do not harm kids, only those bastards do that.’ Rebecca shrieked.

‘He chose to get involved, he wanted to harm you, he is old enough to pay the price.’ Loki snarked back. ‘By this realms pathetic lifespan, he is old enough.’

‘I am from this Hell Hole, remember.’ Rebecca glared at him.

‘You are not like them.’ He reminded her. ‘We need to think.’

‘Their beloved Hulk is giving them cause for concern right now, that will give us time to think.’ She informed him.

‘Yes, have it actually do something with them.’ Loki sneered.

‘I can’t have him do anything, we are too far away, but he is on a rampage, so that will do a lot of damage in itself.’

‘So you are not controlling anyone right now?’

‘They are too far away.’ She repeated. ‘I am keeping an eye out for them all, but we are better off not having any attention that we are even close by right now.’

‘You said the Hulk is on a rampage, they won’t be looking for us.’ Loki reminded her.

‘They won’t all focus on him.’

‘What makes you think that? You cannot even think to know what they are thinking right now. You admitted you cannot.’

‘I heard your little comment to Thor regarding him requiring some…fun.’ Loki brow’s furrowed, his arm going around her waist, causing her to laugh as she read his mind. ‘No, not me. I showed you before my feelings on sharing, I am the same with myself on that matter as I was regarding you. I don’t share.’ She placed her hand over his. ‘I was thinking regards his little friend, the Lady Sif.’

‘She will be willing.’ Loki agreed. ‘But Thor will not be.’

‘Not internally.’

Loki realised what she was implying. ‘Surely that is not causing them any rift in the Warriors though?’

‘What is worse than never having something you have always dreamed of?’ she grinned. ‘Thinking you have it only for it to be taken from you. That will be her heartache, and of course, the blonde one.’ Loki thought of Fandral for a moment. ‘Yes, him. When Thor brags to him how he will never get her, yet Thor has just used her and cast her aside, he will crumble. The other two I have not decided on their drama yet, but I will.’

‘This is what you thought of as we had fun?’ Loki felt somewhat insulted.

‘No, after, when I was after realising his thoughts through the walls, he is angry and frustrated at you being given satisfaction, your words to him regarding said satisfaction, and the fact that as much as it sickens him, he is envious,’ Loki’s eyes widened. ‘Yes, he cannot stand how you are happy, like this, with me.’ She whispered those words into his ear before nipping and tugging at the lobe, a small giggle of glee on her lips.

Loki smirked at her plan. ‘It is diabolical.’

‘Why else would I be smirking so much?’ Rebecca lay down on the bed, stretching like a cat. ‘If you are staying, get off the sheets. If you’re not staying, get off the sheets.’ Loki waved his hand and a warm feathered duvet covered her. ‘Do what you want so.’ She curled up in it.

Loki chuckled, changing his clothes. ‘Is he stuck in his rooms?’

‘Yes.’

‘Permit him to talk.’ Rebecca looked at him curiously but then shrugged and nodded.

Loki walked out of the room and to his adoptive brothers. When he entered, Thor glared at him. ‘What?’ he feigned ignorance.

‘Stop forcing me to be part of your plans.’

‘As stated Thor, that was treason and the peasant paid the price accordingly. I did nothing your beloved father would not do.’

Thor inhaled deeply and angrily. It was true, Odin had beheaded a man for treason before. ‘Where is she?’

‘Rebecca? Resting, she’s a little worn out.’ Loki winked at him slyly.

‘Loki, see sense, she is using you.’

Loki rolled his eyes. ‘Okay, I will indulge this for a few moments, what is it she is using me for exactly?’ Thor did not answer straight away. ‘If I was nothing but a pawn to her, she would treat me as she does the rest of you, but as you can see,’ he held out both his hands as he spoke. ‘I have my free will at all times and I can confirm anything I have done is of my choosing to do so, so please, enlighten me as to what it is you think she is gaining from this that she would not get otherwise?’

‘Loki…’

‘Your attempts to divide us is not going to work Thor, so cease. You have so little time to speak freely, surely you would try and use it as efficiently as it possible?’

‘She has been withholding secrets from you.’ Thor tried again.

‘We all have secrets Thor, even you. After all, you hid your secrets, poorly I might add, from your friends regarding your feeling of them. Stringing along poor Sif, when all she wanted to know was where she stood, and your glee in her not giving attention to Fandral instead, you get it all when you did not even particularly want it but you will not surrender it. I have secrets, everyone does.’

‘Not from her.’ Thor pointed out.

‘She seems uninterested in those recesses of my mind, she has never made mention of them, I need not worry.’ There was a knock on the door. ‘Your beloved friends, their comments regarding me have not gone unnoticed.’ Loki slowly made his way to the door, ‘she has decided on their just deserts for said comments.’

‘NO!’ Thor became fearful.

‘I am not the one to plea to.’ Loki grinned, enjoying his torment. ‘Enjoy.’ He opened the door, ‘Sif, my brother has been expecting you.’ He moved to the side slightly as the worried woman entered the room, a friendly smile on his face as she did so, ‘I will speak to you later regarding the security issues with Muspelheim.’ Loki turned and addressed Thor for a moment, taking the time to grin at him and watch as Thor was helpless again due to whatever Rebecca was doing to him. Behind the façade, he knew Thor was filled with hatred for Rebecca and Loki was elated. He knew that with continued empathy, there was some risk of Rebecca being reasoned with, to quell the darkness in her. But after this, there would be no reprieve. Thor would loathe her as the rest of the Avengers did, and there would be no concern that Rebecca would feel merciful for him as she used him in their plans, something Loki needed to ensure; though her actions suggested that Rebecca too was ensuring her remaining in the darkness, by his side. He thought to himself about her calling him ‘her king’, such a term could only have been a spur of the moment, yet its implications, she was claiming loyalty to him with her words. That caused him to rubbish Thor’s claims, though that was not even overly required anyway, Thor could not think of a reason for her to use him, as he had stated, if she wanted to, Rebecca could force him to do her bidding as she did with others, but she did not, she chose not to. She chose to allow him the ability to be free, that, in itself, proved her caring for him.

*

Rebecca stood, beaming as Thor’s hate-filled words were spat internally in a litany at her from across the throne room. Not far from his side, Sif smiled, elated at how things had altered between her and the subject of her desire.

‘You’d think you’d be in better form, considering you have had someone bother with you since you touched that scientist. Do you know that most Asgardian women see you as tainted now?’

‘I am going to make you suffer for all you have done.’

‘I’m quivering, on the inside of course.’

‘You have crossed too many lines. There is no saving one such as you.’

‘I told you already, I do not want to be saved. I am happy as I am, so cease babbling on about it.’ Rebecca was bored of him speaking. ‘You know, in all your ranting at me, you are not evening listening to what is being said.’

Thor paused and listened as the realm seemed to paying attention to what Loki was stating from the throne. He turned to look at the man he once called brother to hear what he was saying.

‘We will be gone all of a day, and with the Warriors ensuring that peace is upheld, I trust Asgard to be in good hands.’ Loki declared before looking to Thor and indicating for him to follow. With no control over himself, Thor did as he was forced to, noticing Rebecca moving alongside them, no one seemed to notice small Midgardian.

‘What is happening?’ Thor asked worriedly.

’Why would I tell you? You should have listened rather than just threaten me.’

Neither Rebecca or Loki spoke as they walked through the palace and to the main entrance, their focuses on other things. Thor was forced to continue after them unwillingly, wishing he had paid attention to what was being said when he was in the throne room. They reached the boats to bring them to the Bifrost, the guards did not pay any heed to Rebecca as she sat next to Loki, who was grinning proudly, his head high like a cockatoo. ‘Loki?’ Thor tried his voice, relieved when it worked. ‘What is happening?’

‘It is time to return to Midgard, it is time to make your little friends pay.’

Thor’s breaths were short and shallow. ‘Please, do not do this Loki, there is no need to harm them; you have the throne, the people are happy.’

‘The people are, here. But one thing I have learned of Midgard, they refuse to mind their own business, they interfere in matters not concerning them for self-gain, no, they will suffer.’

‘Loki, please, I beseech you, end this madness, we can stay here, rebuild Asgard, I will not dispute the wants of Asgard, you can keep the throne.’

‘It was never about a throne. And Rebecca, you will leave her unscathed?’ Thor gave Rebecca a momentary glare and the woman scoffed. ‘I thought as much, you cannot be allowed be free if there is a risk of you harming her.’

‘I will let bygones pass, I will not dispute it.’ Thor had to force those words out through gritted teeth.

‘He actually means that.’ Rebecca informed Loki, laughing slightly at Thor’s dilemma.

‘I cannot risk it.’ Loki insisted.

‘Loki, I beg you, I do so on bended knee, do not harm them, please.’ Thor pleaded again.

To his other side, the Warriors and Sif stood, awaiting instruction of whatever manner, in fact, the entire room was in silence, awaiting his words. He wanted to inform them all of what was afoot, that though they thought Odin had begrudgingly allowed Loki ‘home’ it was not, in fact, true, and that they and indeed all the realms were in danger, but he could say nothing, he could only sit there on the throne and wait for whatever she wanted him to say. Finally, he was forced to rise, and a silence filled the crowded room. ‘Good citizens of Asgard, and our friends from other realms, I thank you for your joining us in this time of mourning. Odin Allfather, my father, was not only a strong warrior, virtuous leader, a just king, but also a good husband and father. He loved our mother wholeheartedly, her death took a great deal from him, it gives me comfort to know they are together again.’ There was a murmur of agreement from around the room at that.

‘Really?’ Loki looked to where he knew Rebecca was standing out of sight. ‘You are making him almost seem Aesir.’

‘To them, he was. Thor was Daddy’s Little Prince, he needs to say this, we have to sell it.’

‘How much is it turning your stomach?’

‘I am gagging, I can taste my breakfast again.’

Loki chuckled at her response. All the time they had spoken silently to one another, Thor had continued to waffle on. ‘After the convergence, I am glad to see my brother has returned also.’ He looked over to Thor and gave a curt nod, a small smile twitching on his lips as he knew that behind the calm exterior, Thor was seething. ‘I have, as many know, abdicated from the throne,’ there was a murmur at that. ‘This shall remain so now. I have discussed it with my brother and we have come to an arrangement that works not just for us, but first and foremost is what we believe, to be best for Asgard.’ Silence met his words as people yearned to know what the future would hold. ‘Loki is to remain here as King, ruling Asgard as we were taught to as youths; while I shall continue as I have done in recent times and protect the realms, all of them.’ There was a momentary pause before the room erupted in elated cheers.

‘That is unnecessary,’ Thor growled in his head, despising what Rebecca had just forced him to say. He loathed the idea of leaving Loki in charge of Asgard, no one could imagine the damage he could unleash. ‘You are going to make them suspicious.’

‘I have to agree with him, my Darkness.’ Thor was slightly surprised to hear Loki’s thoughts in his mind. Nothing answered either of them. ‘Becky?’

‘I am not making them do that.’ Her voice seemed almost unsure. ‘They are actually happy with it.’

‘Really?’ Loki seemed as uncertain as she was.

‘Yes, they want this.’ She confirmed. ‘They always have.’

“What?” Thor seemed as shocked as they were.

‘Your beloved public, they are all thinking it. Loki is the diplomat, you are the warrior, so him being King and you going off and swinging your hammer around like the man you are, while Loki does the realm work is something they actually want. Speaking of such things, I’m curious, are you so attached to that thing because it makes you feel better about other…inadequacies? Does the hammer make you feel like you are compensating for something?’ Rebecca laughed as Loki forced himself to remain stoic faced, though he was laughing internally.

Thor, however, was forced to stand still and say or do nothing. ‘This is what you resort to, infantile comments regarding my manhood?’ he scoffed. ‘It does not bother me, I am not so insecure to concern myself with your comments.’

‘No, your insecurity lies elsewhere, your need for approval, for people to like you, all because of that one dismissal when you were a boy. Are you not embarrassed, your whole character defined with not being able to deal with rejection? What if your friends were to reject you? What would you do then? Cry?’

‘Are you going to try and find out?’ Thor challenged.

‘No, that is too easy,’ Rebecca grinned. ‘How is that a punishment when you will know it is not real, it would have to be real to hurt you, you’re not stupid.’

‘Loki would differ.’

‘He has his own prejudices.’

‘Why are you doing this?’ Thor again tried to reach out to her. ‘Why hurt others when you can flee?’

‘Flee? And live in hiding for the rest of my life? No, there is no hiding, I am sick of hiding who I truly am. Why should I hide? Because they feared me, I had to hide. No more.’

She ceased all communication with him then, leaving Thor to watch as people reacted to what Rebecca had him say, they were thrilled, and that worried him. Loki could act however he wished and people were not going to question, they wanted it. That cut him deeply, he felt somewhat deflated to think his brother was deemed a better fit for a king that he was.

* ‘My Darkness?’ Rebecca grinned as she turned towards Loki. ‘What are you thinking?’

‘Does it bother you that I can see into your head, but you cannot see into mine?’ she pondered.

‘I do wish it was a shared ability, yes.’ Loki confessed.

Rebecca searched into his mind for a moment, seeing the niggling thought that itched at him. ‘You believe them?’

Loki took a moment to answer. ‘I do not, I know you are not using me.’

‘Then why are you thinking like that?’ Rebecca’s face showed her hurt. ‘You believe them, they are trying to separate us, they know that together we are too strong, but if they divide us, we can be defeated, or worse, will harm each other, can’t you see it?’ Loki looked at her, his uncertainty blatant. ‘You are the God of Lies, right, you can see lies, can’t you?’ she stood toe-to-toe with him, looking him directly in the eye. ‘I am not now, nor have I ever used my abilities to get you to do anything, I am with you because I want to be because you are the only one to see me for me and not fear me.’ She stated. ‘Am I lying?’

Loki looked into her eyes, trying to find any form of lie in her words, he knew she was in his mind trying to see if he could find anything, but he could still feel his thoughts as his own. ‘No, I cannot see any falsities.’ He admitted.

‘I am not lying to you Loki, they are trying to hurt us, they want you away from me, Odin, Thor, even the Avengers, you forget, I have seen every conversation Thor had with them, they know together, we are unstoppable, they are trying to use Thor to do it, they think he will change your mind, he will break through your resolve.’

‘I am not weak,’ Loki snarled, his voice hardly above a hiss.

‘I know that, and you know that.’

‘They will see.’ Loki sneered.

 Thor looked around to see Loki eyeing him from across the room, he had not realised he had entered and wondered how long he was there. For a moment, he thought his answer, but he attempted to speak anyway, in hopes he would be able to, to his relief, his mouth worked. “You know well I did not.” Loki smirked. “I gathered as much, I am here to tell you, your father is dead.”  “You said that before and he was in Odinsleep, why should I believe you now?” “Believe me or not, I do not particularly care, but you were brought back to attend his funeral, you will do so. Rebecca never got to attend her mother’s one and recalls the anger of it, she is showing some modicum of caring to you for your apparent decency to at least try and comprehend her reasoning by ensuring you attend his. Personally, I think she is being too generous, but then again, I was not even informed of mother’s passing until after she ascended Valhalla so I am somewhat biased.” “You do not get to call my mother yours if you do this to her family.” Thor hissed.

 Loki looked at him for a moment, shocked he would allow his anger to get the better of him, youthful Thor would do so on many an occasion and it always cost him dearly, Jotunheim and the aftermath of such was a prime example. “After Midgard, after I effectively tried to kill you, more than once, she still called me son, so to her, my blood clearly meant nothing and neither did yours.” He sneered.

 “Loki, this will not be able to work. How can she think to control so many?” “Rebecca? She does not have to control many, simply the important few; you, Heimdall and well, that is all, if you say jump, your minions and the guards will not even question how high and that is all that is required. Heimdall is weakening, soon he will be too weak to be of use any longer and then the Bifrost is locked to all I decided to keep out and you will bear witness to everything your lovely friends allowed happen.” “You turned her into this.”  “It did not require much work, I can assure you, as much as it irks me, I cannot take more credit, they did most it themselves, well, one Nick Fury did.”

 “She could have been redeemed.”

 Loki scoffed. “Redeemed? You bumbling oaf, what part of her appears like it wishes to be? You think any could force her to do what she has done, she had five years to think about it. According to her, she was awake, locked in her body for it and thinking, day after day of what they did to her, for simply being different. You have been stuck like this for one night and you have reverted back to bratty juvenile Thor, not this diplomat that you have become of late.”

“She does not care for you Loki, you are her pawn.” “I am no one’s pawn.” Loki’s tone was vicious. “I answer to no one, she does not manipulate my mind.” “Would you even know if she did?” Thor pondered aloud. “She may not control you via your mind, but other methods.” “Really, you honestly think I would not realise if someone was trying to influence my decisions via sex. I am actually insulted.”

 “Loki please, this has gone far enough, end this madness.”  “Yes, it is time that it ended.” Loki turned to leave again. “The funeral will take place tonight, until then, your father will lay in state for his people and other realm dignitaries to say their farewells.” Thor felt himself rising from the bed. “You shall be forced to remain silent for now again, though none will think anything of it, you are, of course, in mourning. As his heir, you will have to be front and centre of or all these affairs, so get ready.”

 Thor realised then that though she was not present, Rebecca had heard and presided over everything that had taken place in his rooms, she heard his thoughts and even allowed him to vocalise them, meaning she knew that Loki would rubbish them and that terrified Thor. She was like the Queen on the chessboard, able to go anywhere and do anything she chose to do, it was a terrifying prospect.

 * It was true, Odin, Allfather, King of Asgard and Protector of the Realms was dead. His people mourned as they walked passed his body. Thor could only stand and watch, part of him was in denial, this could very easily be a game that Rebecca and Loki were playing, but the joy on Loki’s face for a moment when he saw the king laying still told him that no, genuinely, he had lost his father. Both of his parents were gone and his brother, his last link to his family was being manipulated skillfully by a woman with no qualms about doing so, he felt alone.

 You know, you should be grateful. Rebecca’s voice stated boredly in his mind.

 Grateful? You are destroying my realm, my family. Thor scoffed angrily.

 I did not destroy anything, that old ass did it himself. Loki came back from Midgard, he had not even said one word and your father thought back to the innocent little blue ridged baby that cried, terrified and alone in the freezing cold and thought how he should have left him there. Thor swallowed at that. Do you want to see it for yourself, here… straight away, he was there, as his father had been on Jotunheim that fateful day, when he had taken the Casket of Ancient Winters and next to it, as Rebecca had said, was Loki, or what he assumed to be baby Loki, in his original form, blue, with little marking on his skin, his ruby red eyes filled with tears, his limbs flailing, yet clearly showing signs of shivering too, it was any wonder his father took pity on the defenceless creature, he felt like protecting it himself. When Odin lifted him up, immediately the infant ceased crying and his blue skin turned alabaster white, his little tufts of hair, apparently unheard of in Jotunheim, contrasted strongly against his now pale skin. For a moment, Thor wondered was that why he had been abandoned, he was small and peculiar. His mother was not a Frost Giant, merely the prisoner of one. She was a sister of your mothers, she was sent to Jotunheim before the war with them, their King, as part of his startings of his war decided to start on a special note, he killed all the dignitaries and brutally raped her until she became pregnant and Loki is the result. Thor felt nauseous. That is why your mother loved him so much, he was her last link to her sister, her twin sister. I did not make this up, I got it all from his mind, apparently, if you search his rooms, there is a picture he took from hers after she died, it is of her and her sister, alike in every way except one.

 Their hair?

 Yes. I…Please. Fine, everyone should have one last wish I suppose.She showed him the picture. Thor inhaled deeply. He never realised until that moment that Loki looked so alike to their mother because he looked like almost a male version of his own. That was why none dismissed his appearance, they thought it was because he took after his aunt, or really his mother.

 Have you told Loki this?

 No, not yet.

 Yet?

 Such information has its time and place.

 What are you planning?

 Do you really think I would tell you?  Rebecca scoffed, honestly, I feel like I should be insulted you think me so stupid.

 What is your plan for me?

 There was no noise in his mind for a moment, he thought she had decided to ignore his question. You see me as a Queen, surveying the chess board, only moving when I must deal with matters myself? If I am a Queen, Loki is my Bishop and you…you are my Knight, you have very limited moves, but they are close range. Your little friends are my Rooks and the guards, my pawns.

 Where is the king in this? Thor asked.

 I am sort of feminist by nature, I feel like a King is not really required. But if we were to say there was a king, that would be my objective or perhaps my freedom, I will protect it at all costs.

 A Queen falling is not required to take the King. Thor pointed out.

 True, but in a good game, she falls before it occurs.

 Loki was in the middle of some droll complaint by some Lord when Rebecca’s voice came into his head. “Can it not wait?” “Not really, the old fart is starting to die.” She sounded bored, but she gave him the ability to see what she was seeing, and indeed, it appeared that Odin was starting to choke to death on something invisible.

 “Are you doing that?” “No, it’s called a heart attack.” She snapped. “His heart is dying or a part of it is, and since I could not be less inclined to call a healer, plus it works to our advantage, I am not going to.” “What do you mean?” “This will get that idiot Thor back here, from there I can get the guardian to lock the gate and not let him back to my planet when we start our fun and games.” She explained, “But that includes you looking ill and leaving immediately.”

 Loki thought for a moment, knowing that she was paying attention to him as he did so. “Fine, but he will not pass, not yet.” Seeing his plan, Rebecca sighed but did what she needed to keep Odin alive until Loki could get there.

 When he arrived at her location, he realised she had not been with Odin but had been tracking his mind as she made her way there from her own location in the palace, somewhere she did not seem to feel the need to share with him.

 “We need to inform Thor,” Loki informed her vocally.

 Rebecca walked to the nearest window and looked at the Bifrost bridge. In it, Heimdall, who was weakening because of his permanent statue like state since their arriving in Asgard near a month before, made his way gingerly to the centre of the Bifrost and placed his sword within it, turning it toward Alfheim to inform the Thunder God of his need to return home. “He is coming through.” “Let us prepare ourselves.” Loki grinned.

 “The whole realm know that you are here.” She reminded him, “What will you do with that? As soon as he hears that he will be on the alert.” Loki’s nostrils flared for a moment, but as his thoughts flooded her mind, Rebecca merely nodded, readying herself for her next chore.

 Thor flew through the skies to the palace at speed, Heimdall’s message causing him to fly all the faster. When he arrived at the training grounds, no one said anything to him, not that he had expected them too, according to Heimdall, none knew of the true severity of state of the Allfather, the healers did not think it a good idea to alert the realm with him off it, ergo, he knew no one knew anything about the situation at hand and thought nothing of seeing the prince return. When he made his way to the healing rooms, there were none inside; concerned, he walked towards his father’s chambers next, again, there was no sign of life. Confused, he pondered what to do, until he turned to go to speak with Eir and found himself frozen in place. Immediately fear filled him. He had felt like that before, realising where from, he realised just how in trouble he and indeed Asgard was in. He was forced to move forward, out of his father’s rooms and to his own. He had to give it to Rebecca, she made it that he did not raise any suspicion, as much as he tried to. On entering, he was met by Loki sitting on a chair in front of his desk that he used to have to study the different laws and wars at. 

“Hello, Thor.” “Loki!” he hissed the word out, for a moment he thought it was his own doing, but as he tried to force out another word, he could not. His eyes darted around for Rebecca, angered to see her going through his belongings as he stood there helpless. When she came to an old boat on the table, she looked at him, smirking wickedly as she read his mind, seeing the meaning of that small item to him. She lifted it up and inspected it intently. Don’t!

 “I won’t break it, I promise.” Her grin and tone did nothing to ease his concerns. “My father used to make something similar with my brother.” Both Loki and Thor were surprised to hear her refer to something so personal. “They used to spend every Saturday doing it, so long as the hurling or football wasn't on,” Neither God knew what hurling was, and in Thor’s time on earth, he realised that more than one game called itself football. “When the RUC came, they would break them on purpose. They knew my father had nothing to do with the fighting, but that never stopped them, it was a message, only thing is, the ‘message’ did the cause more good than anything, people rather be tormented for what they did do than for not doing anything.”

 I said already, you never deserved what happened you. Thor thought again, knowing she would be able to read his mind.

 “That goes without saying, I did nothing wrong, I never took from those who could not afford it, I only wanted to live.” She hissed angrily.

Loki rose from his chair and walked over to her, gently caressing her cheek. “What is he saying, my darkness?”

 Thor watched as his adoptive brother looked at the girl, realising the sheer depth that his brother was infatuated with the woman beside him. He also noted the small grin on Rebecca’s face, it was akin to a smirk but more devious and it scared him. It was not for Loki to see from the manner she looked at Thor as Loki’s line of vision on Thor also. When he wondered over the words asked with the Avenger’s as to it being a relationship of equals or one simply of opportunity, the smile only widened on her face. “Nothing of relevance, come, let us deal with that old fart’s issues.” Where is my father? Thor demanded in his mind.

 “In the healing rooms.” He thought of how he searched there. “You think you did, but you did not. You were to your mother’s rooms, I made it seem in your mind that you went to the healers.”

 How dare you desecrate my mother’s memory by using her like that! Thor was incandescent with rage for her actions.

 “Oh, boo-hoo.” She scoffed, turning to leave. “By the way, your friends, the warriors…” Thor’s mind went to his friends as dread filled him as to why she was referencing them. “What are their weaknesses?” He violently shook his head and tried to think of anything but the allies he had with over half a millennium. “Come now, other than your little tagalong that hopes she can get into your bed.” Thor’s mind went to Sif. “Oh, you knew, and yet you tagged that poor simpleton along.” Thor looked at her guiltily. “Wow, and you deem Loki cruel…” “What is going on in that imbecile’s head?” Loki asked curiously.

 “He does not want her, but has yet to tell her to seek happiness elsewhere.”

“I never played any woman’s emotions in such a manner,” Loki admitted, he pressed his lips to her neck again. “What is the plan for the evening?” “Your good brother is going to wait until we deal with something, then I am going to have a little fun.”

 “He is not my brother,” Loki growled.

 Thor swallowed. He knew he had lost Loki, but hearing those words still smarted to hear him say such words. We were raised as such.

 “What does that matter? A cat can be raised alongside a horse, it does not mean it can be taught to pull a cart.” Rebecca scoffed.

 “What is this action that requires dealing with before dealing with him?” Loki queried, not wanting to allow Thor take too much of Rebecca’s attention.

 As Thor was forced to watch on, Rebecca gave a vicious grin as she leant up and whispered into Loki’s ear. He watched as Loki’s eyes widened slightly and an elated smile came to his face. Without even waiting a moment, Loki used his seidr to magic Thor onto the balcony of his rooms, still unable to move or speak in any way, but more than capable of hearing. What he heard took little translation, it was clear what they were doing, anger surging through him as he thought of the pair choosing to tarnish his personal space in such a manner, making obnoxiously loud and lewd noises to ensure he knew exactly what they were doing. On more than one occasion he heard them crash into furnishings only to sound almost aggressive after said noises. Finally, after what felt like a century, the noises came to a crescendo. Thor grimaced as he heard the groan of release from the same person that he had watched learn to crawl, learn to babble then talk, who he had seen once as so defenceless, now a hate filled creature, bent on chaos and destruction, as he had assumed was what others had expected of him to be. He felt himself being forced back into the room, each forced footstep he fought, but to no avail, it was happening, whether he sought to re-join his brother and his equally sadistic lover or not.

 Loki was still panting, his hair dishevelled and his face one of pride and release induced elation. Beside him, Rebecca was breathing calmly, though much to Thor’s chagrin, he had heard her release also, yet her collected, though newly unkempt appearance, caused him some confusion. He noted too the desk that he had used to study that had housed his boat was now the ground zero of a zone of destruction, papers strewed around it, some objects on it either on the floor or toppled on the desk. His line of sight made it difficult for him, but Thor still attempted to look for the small model ship Rebecca had stated she would not harm. “You had best deal with the Odin situation, the healer wants to talk to you,” Rebecca stated randomly.

“Will you be alright here?” Loki asked, cupping her face with his hand for a moment, looking at her lovingly.

 “I can handle the oaf.” Loki leant down and kissed her passionately. “Call on me if you require me.” “I will.” She grinned as Loki left the room. “It is on the bed.” She informed Thor, reading the concern in his mind for the boat. “I may be a vicious monster, but I am one of my word.”

 “You are only as much of a monster as you allow yourself to be.” Thor was shocked she had given him his voice again. “I am only being what they accused me of being.” She corrected. “I was not this before.”

 “You could return to that, to who you truly are.” Thor was desperate, he reached out to her, trying to get her to see the madness of her actions.

 “I am who I truly am, back then I was naïve and pathetic, now…now I am to be feared, I prefer myself now.” “This is not you, you are a survivor, not a killer.” “You were raised a warrior, I saw it, through Loki and your father, and here you stand now, trying to bargain with me, weak and soft.” “I am not soft, I merely am trying to speak with you.” “You are not like the others, their first thoughts were to annihilate me, but you, you actually think there is something inside me worth saving. But that is the issue, Thor, I do not want to be saved.” “This will end in catastrophe.” “I never planned on dying old.” She dismissed.

 “And Loki?” “Loki is incredibly useful, isn’t he?” she turned to leave. “I think you should get some sleep, I have plans for you in an hour or so. I like to take a bath after I feed Loki’s depravity, it is incredible what a guy will do for you if you let him screw you.” She smirked.

Rebecca watched them from a balcony as they discussed what was happening. She saw their dislike for Loki clearly, especially the woman, she hated the younger prince with a passion; it caused Rebecca to sneer when she saw how upset she was that it was Loki back on the realm and not Thor, who she had feelings for, apparently. That was a handy little tidbit to be aware of. She scoured all of their minds, they had so many little secrets, she realised all those who lived longer than a few years usually did. Their secrets could and would be used against them, when the time was right. Until then, she would have some fun.

"If we question him, we do not know how the Allfather will react, after everything with the Allmother and Thor leaving, we cannot say what he will be thinking," Sif commented.

"You are right, we can hardly call foul on this, after all, Loki does not seem overly pleased being here either," Fandral seemed to note as they made their way down the hallway.

Nothing more was said on the matter, just as Rebecca knew would happen if two of the grouping stated such words. Turning, she went back to Odin's rooms, where she knew Loki and the controlled King would both end up very soon.

*

"It is too quiet." Romanoff commented as she sat in the Tower, staring out a window, "There is no sign of them."

"Thor said they were somewhere else," Rogers argued. "A different world, so we're okay."

"They got to that world without being noticed, so what's to say they can't get back here without being noticed too?" Bucky added.

"They were seen though." Barton's voice came over the intercom as he spoke to them from a different location.

"For a moment, apparently she did something that was so terrifying that Thor would not mention it at first and it caused a momentary lapse, if she is doing something small or nothing at all, then we will never see them coming," Bucky added. "We cannot win against one that can get into our heads, she can stop our thoughts, not just read them."

"She is the truest form of evil, and she loves it," the others turned to Wanda. "She loves that she is worse than any thought she could be. She was accused of being dangerous, uncontrollable, she made it so she was that and far far more."

"Thor was right, we create this." Rogers sighed. "Did you see anything to stop her?"

"No, that's the terrifying part," Wanda admitted. "She fears nothing because she will die willingly before she will allow herself be captured again; and if that happens, she will relish in taking anyone she can with her."

"No wonder Loki went for her. It's like the ultimate crazy couple." Barton stated.

"So they are each other's weak link?"

"There's no way to tell, I mean, do they actually even like on another, or is this a marriage of convenience?" Romanoff shrugged.

"She shielded Loki's mind from me when they were last here, so I could not tell."

"She has to have a weakness," Bucky growled. "Something that makes her mind penetrable, even something that we can occupy her with to get close enough to put a bullet in her."

"She controlled a dragon, can you actually comprehend that, a fucking dragon!" Barton half shrieked. "First, I could have done without knowing they ever existed, that was something I would have lived happily without knowing, but second, Thor said they are worse than any depictions we have of them. I mean, she controlled the Hulk and others at the same time, that is what we are dealing with here!"

The others remained silent; it was terrifying to admit, but it seemed true, Rebecca seemed too powerful. "We need to find a weakness, or get Loki away from her long enough to destroy him," Romanoff declared.

"Will that work?" Rogers asked. "I mean, we don't know if she even cares about him."

"She would not have kept him this long if she did not," Wanda pointed out. "She needs no one, so to keep him means she feels something." The others silently agreed and decided to try and figure out how to use Loki to get to Rebecca.

*

"Well?" Loki asked as he and Odin watched Rebecca enter the room.

"They questioned it, of course; but it's dealt with." She responded boredly, grabbing some food to eat.

"How so?"

"I had the irritating Lady Sif rubbish the idea of it being something sinister."

"What of their weaknesses?" At that question, Rebecca smirked in elation. "That good?"

"I expected some of it, they have families, loved ones, but her, she is in love with your brother to the point of stupidity, while the other blonde idiot is in love with her, and follows her around to the point of actually being pathetic. I mean, she could tell him to strip naked and dance and he would. But it has its advantages too, she is so blinded by her envy of Thor's relationship with the scientist, and the other idiot is so devoted it will help us when the time comes." Loki cocked his head slightly. "I am planning." She smirked.

"Sounds delightful." His grinned matched hers.

"Oh, I guarantee it." her smirk fell as she read Odin's mind. "Really? You want to get judgmental of me? You are aware that of the three of us, you have killed the most people, innocent or otherwise and all in the one day, you have no right to get sanctimonious with me." she silenced for another minute before her smile returned. "You saw yourself they believed it. Even putting in your distaste at his return added to it, I'd like to think. And without Thor's beloved loyal minions having the free will to run to tattle to your darling boy we will not have to concern ourselves with him. No, I have far bigger plans for them."

Loki walked over to her, snaking his long arms around her hips, "Daring, you are positively diabolical." He placed his lips along her neck, his joy at her plans radiating off him, causing Rebecca to grin wider, ensuring Odin could see the hold she had on Loki without ever having to manipulate him. Knowing it would anger him more.

"It is time for Daddy dear to get a nice little Odinsleep for himself. I want an evening of fun, and him being conscious, as good as it is to annoy him, does nothing to entice me, after all, no one wants a saggy old man staring at them as they have fun."

I agree wholeheartedly," Loki smirked. "Come so, let us go to bed."