＊＊＊

Loki couldn't believe these were the people that had managed to stave off the chitauri invasion. Bumbling buffoons - it made sense in a twisted way however, if he thought about it. Who else would his brot- He violently cut off that thought, tearing it into nothing within his mindscape. When you've called a fool something for a few centuries, it became an unfortunate habit, unfortunately. He'd need to excise that foul habit post haste. He had no brother. Never had one!

So… To get back to it, since he had nothing better to do with his brilliant mind while these apes argued and nattered on. Who else would Thor manage to gain as allies, but another band of insipid hangers on - with no real useful abilities of their own. Some fools to revel with, where Thor could brag about his feats of strength without challenge. A band of fools who's only contribution to the universe was the ability to hit things hard. No cunning or guile amongst them, not really. Even the spies were painfully simple.

They were practically Aesir in their single-minded ability to charge straight ahead at a target with no overarching strategy behind it. Loki felt a certain smugness - even in such a temporary bind he'd found himself in. These avengers were not going to last, they'd do more damage then he, once they indubitably combusted.

Oh, Stark was clever enough, Loki supposed, perhaps he'd become something spectacular if he lived long enough, and didn't sink down to Thor's level, the man had the same glory and attention seeking ways of the golden son of Odin. Loki shook his head mentally, nothing good ever came to such attention seeking pests in the end, luckily Loki had avoided the same fate and made something extraordinary of himself without the need for constant simpering validation.

Loki recognized the spark of genius when he saw it, and Stark had a tiny smidgeon of it. After all, it was hard not to recognize it, with Loki having been a notable genius all of his life. Honestly, he shouldn't have been surprised he wasn't an aesir, in the end. He lacked the ingrown simple-mindedness, as well as their charming penchant for knocking their heads against hard surfaces as a solution to all of life's problems - something that ran rampant in that race. Its crown prince being the main example. And lauded for it, as well. Barbarians. No, perhaps he shouldn't have been so surprised he was not one of their kin.

Perhaps It was only a matter of his supreme intellect hiding the knowledge of his real heritage - even from himself. To protect himself from such news back when he was younger and less wise to the world. It's the only explanation that made any sense. Loki could not have missed his damnable Jotun heritage for so long, unless he, himself, was hiding it from him. He was the only one skilled enough, after all.

Illusion was his game, his art. And only a master of illusion could pull one over Loki. It's the only thing that made sense. Loki had pulled the wool over his own eyes, to explain away his heritage, the falsities in his relationships with Odin and Thor, out of some misguided youthful hope perhaps, that he'd still end up belonging with them in their gilded halls. Foolish sentiment. Hadn't he seen first hand how quickly Asgard turned on him. How easily Odin sacrificed him?

He idly noted that the mortals were finally done jabbering at each other. He rolled his eyes at the grandiose Captain America striding by, taking his visage for but a moment, mocking him, as was his due, for which the oaf, born of Odin, muzzled him.

He focused in on the Captain, ignoring the oaf. The self deluded man out of time would fit right in with Thor's band, really. The man would never last in such a mortal realm however - he'd shatter without a righteous war to fight, he could never exist in a world of gray - black and white was his worldview, Loki detested such inflexible viewpoints. Loki would have wiped the floor with the man without trying, if he hadn't had his own act to play.

And honestly, he'd barely been trying. The mortals had practically fallen over themselves in their rush to fall for it all. Like he wanted to rule this cesspool of a planet. The mortals were all deeply unpalatable - he'd murder them all within a month if he had to rule these ants and try to bring them into some semblance of intelligence. Even he could not bring this planet up to standards - it was doomed to mediocrity, truly ruled by apes.

This pitiful selection of mortals… They thought they had defeated him! He'd run circles around Thor for centuries. By the norns, Thor still fell for the snake and stab trick, the same as centuries ago! And these humans... Mortals… Thought they'd defeated him. Hah! Absolutely preposterous.

Loki could have simply weaved his illusions and watched the mortals flounder. He'd purposely held back - he'd had no wish to truly let Thanos fleet through, after all. A win for Thanos while Loki was still present on the planet was not a win for Loki. The likes of him would not bow down to a master. And he certainly would not call another one father! He'd already made that mistake once. Family was a masterful illusion - only a weave of pain and betrayal lay beneath it.

No… He'd simply miscalculated, slightly. The ridiculous creature had been stronger than he'd anticipated. He'd be long gone already if it weren't for that miserable green monstrosity, leaving the mortals to scratch their heads as he located a waygate and sought out another part of Yggdrasil.

If anything, these mortals should be thanking him on bended knees. At least now they'd have a small warning of Thanos - not that it would do anything. And hopefully Loki would be long gone by the time the Mad Titan finally made his play. What they believed that a man with a bow, and a woman who's greatest ability lay in seduction and assassination - would protect this wretch of a world from, he couldn't understand. The least Aesir amongst them and yet still terribly transparent to the god of mischief. Skilled for mortals, but not worth anything against the likes of Thanos.

At least Stark might build enough of a defense to matter. For a few minutes. The green beast might even amuse Thanos long enough for everyone to escape - if he didn't bother to bring the Black Order with him. And the Captain… No, he was as useless as the archer and the widow in this scenario. It amused him the entire elevator ride down - to imagine these fools faces when Thanos real armada showed up. If he even bothered with that kind of force. Ebony Maw on his own could likely do most of the work. Certainly Loki could have done it all on his own if he'd wished for it.

These fools were all too much like Thor. Maw would have them wrapped up before they could even start fighting. Thor fell for Loki's tricks when he was playing around - what could he possibly do against the Black Order.

Loki briefly wondered if Odin would come to defend Midgard. Then again - likely Thanos would come for Asgard first… He felt a pang of unease at that thought - and quickly banished it. He was not of Asgard. Besides he'd soon be there - no doubt imprisoned for no real reason. It's not like a few dead mortals made a difference, and he'd done them a favor really - if someone like Maw or Proxima Midnight had been sent, Midgard would already be ashes. Besides, Odin had probably killed his fair share of mortals back in the day, he certainly hadn't been chastised for it. Loki wasn't blind to the fact Asgards golden halls had been built through conquest.

Of course only if Loki desires conquest is it wrong. Aesir hypocrisy. Odin, a greater liar even then he, sometimes called the god of lies.

No… Aesir could kill mortals all they liked. They were worthy. His mind flashed back to that ridiculous enchantment on Mjolnir - that had refused him. Of course, when Odin was the one choosing the meaning of the word worthy…No wonder stupidity and suicidal head on attacks were considered worthy while cleverness and subtlety were not. Bah!

Loki's mind darkened as he was escorted by these pathetic Avengers, a prisoner to this lesser race. He did not look forward to the smug look on that old hypocrite's face. Loki the betrayer. Loki the conqueror. Loki the failure - Odin would say. Loki snarled beneath his muzzle. If it weren't for that damnable beast he'd be gone already and he'd never see that smug old relic again.

Enjoying the rest of his life in some wretched hive of villainy - preferably as its ruler - until Thanos unmade reality. Perhaps if he was lucky, he'd survive even that. He was a survivor if nothing else. That, he'd proven, over and over again.

He briefly noticed the commotion, as the mortals were arguing about the Tesseract, SHIELD trying to get their grubby paws on it. Like they even understood its power - like they deserved it. They - another set of apes, would once again be trying to limit those of glorious purpose, like himself. Out of jealousy, and fear.

His interest piqued when he noticed that Tony Stark appeared to be in some distress - perhaps he'd get to see one of them get their comeuppance already. The mortals of SHIELD panicked around them, allowing Loki the freedom to stand alone in the midst of the chaos - without a sullen Thor holding him by the arm for the moment. As of course, the oaf jumped in to assist. Norns know why, not like he had any inkling of the healing arts.

And of course, the idiot somehow successfully saved Tony Stark - despite having the medical knowledge of a particularly slow rock. Loki despaired at the general unfairness of the universe. Using Mjolnir and a little bit of lightning, he had better odds of frying the mortal's organs than fixing anything, so of course it worked. The universe itself worked against Loki.

There was a loud slam suddenly behind them all - the beast appearing, roaring something, and Loki's eyes widened as he saw a second Tony Stark get thrown across the floor, a briefcase spinning towards Loki's general location. The Tesseract case! Ignoring, for now, the question of time travel or magic involved, (although noting it for later, because WHAT!? Do these fools have any idea how dangerous meddling with time was!? Ignorant inconsequential APES!) Loki immediately took advantage of the situation as the consummate survivor he was. Reaching for the Tesseract. Once again holding the powerful artifact in his hands. What did shackles matter when one held an infinity stone in one's hands?

In one timeline, Loki had immediately disappeared. Here, Loki smugly stood with the Tesseract in his hands for a moment. Reveling in the grand joke of the mortals handing him his own means of escape. Time travel or magic, the means didn't matter - the fools had managed to muck it up - as only mortals could.

Loki felt all powerful as he basked in the blue glow, knowing he had once again won. That his enemies had once again foolishly underestimated him and his glorious purpose.

"Loki! No!" Thor shouted, face wrought in anger and resentment, swinging Mjolnir, and whether due to his recent heart restoring actions, or by pure chance - forced a bolt of crackling lightning towards Loki - instead of sending the hammer flying towards him - as he was only a few feet away. At the same time, Tony Stark, laying on the ground, half out of it - fired a repulsor blast, trying a last gasp attempt at preventing his escape.

In that moment, Loki could not think of a destination - simply willed himself elsewhere, and he was enveloped in the blue glowing essence of the space stone. Just then, the power of Thor and that of an arc reactor - via the repulsor blast, struck the Tesseract in the moment of transportation, just as Loki was disappearing through time and space.

Loki screamed in excruciating pain, even through the muzzle feeling real harrowing fear as it felt as if his entire existence was being ripped apart. And he disappeared in a cloud of blue.

His haunting screams leaving the avengers reeling.

＊＊＊

Loki was screaming still the muzzle somehow gone, as he was jettisoned from the portal, his entire body in agony from being ripped out of his time and space. His trajectory coming to an ungraceful end as a pile of refuse slowed his travels - until he finally came to a stop, laying on-top of a pile of rotted garbage of some unidentifiable material, trying desperately to hold in any more screams, every nerve in his body protesting.

After what could have been minutes, or hours - Honestly Loki was a little preoccupied with the immense pain, so he couldn't really tell - Some sort of pig headed and half naked being, came close to his location, wearing only a helmet and some sort of leather loincloth. Loki winced as he tilted his neck, watching the creature, he was in no state to do anything, to his frustration. He had no idea on what planet he'd landed, either. At least AllSpeak would allow him to manipulate these primitive beings, until he had the strength to show them their place. Far far beneath him.

He'd also have to find the damn Tesseract. His hands had hardly been in a state to hold on to it when he arrived, spasming in pain as he had been, nor did he exactly have the time or focus to use seidr to place it in his personal subspace holding pocket, so it must be somewhere in this refuse pile. He'd get the pig beings to dig it up for him.

Surely rooting through waste was their lot in life either way, so they'd find it quickly for him.

The pig-being suddenly snorted, looking up at Loki's position above him on the refuse pile. Loki smirked down at him, "I have come - in glorious purpose." He began, speaking grandly, knowing such lesser creatures were easily impressed by grandstanding. And hopefully it would prevent it from asking such questions as - why can't you stand up?

Either his AllSpeak was failing him, or the pig-being simply snorted at him. Loki didn't have time to do more than bristle at the rudeness. Because the pig took out some sort of projectile weapon and Loki was helpless to do anything but rage silently, as a blue bolt of energy impacted him.

As he succumbed to unconsciousness - he swore eternal vengeance on all pig creatures.

＊＊＊

Loki came to with a start, eyes immediately started searching his surroundings. He was in a simple cell, crude metal bars barring the exit out of the literal hovel he'd been shoved into. Him, a god! Shoved into an earthen hole with no amenities! He sat up abruptly, wincing as some of the soreness of his arrival still lingered in his muscles. Not helped by the stone bed he'd been put on. Not even a pillow, these barbarian pig-beings obviously had no concept of hospitality.

He raised his arms to look over the cuffs that kept his hands locked together at the wrist. Their metallic sheen and electronic lights were a far cry from the ambiance of his accommodations. "Not bad." He mused, moving them to and fro. Experimentally pulling away with his superior strength. Finding that even his strength only slightly pulled the cuffs apart, before they returned to each other with an electric whine. "Magnetic." Loki huffed, gaining an amused smile, as if that was enough to stymie a god. He'd escaped plenty of dungeons in his lifetime. At a rate more numerous than this hovel had ever held within its innards since its conception.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

He could feel just the tiniest flame of seidr within him. Whatever had happened during the Tesseract incident, was already healing. Both Jotun and Aesir had above average recovery rates, one of the reasons both races so enjoyed war - when one recovers within a day, one hardly worries about anything below death. Whichever race he counted as, nowadays.

Neither. He decided firmly, resolutely moving his mind away from that quagmire. Concentrating on his seidr. Fanning the flame, closing his eyes as he sat on the stone bench that passed for a bed in these parts. Slowly teasing it out, feeling the flicker of it. It was so weak. Rage almost overtook him, with how Thor had once again put him in a spot with his carelessness, throwing his power around like a toddler. He forced the thought away, however, brow twitching. He needed calm. Calm. He took a deep breath.

Slowly he began teasing his seidr out, breathing in and out slowly, falling into meditation. His eyes flew open in surprise, the recovery of his seidr was proceeding at an alarmingly fast pace. Which… While good… Spoke against all knowledge on seidr that Loki possessed. He'd had a few unlucky episodes in his life where he'd almost burned out his ability to use it - and in the worst case he suffered - it took years for his Seidr to return to him. He'd never experienced anything as excruciating as the Tesseract transporting him here, not even Thanos using an infinity stone to pry apart his mind could compare. The tortures of the Other and Maw were but a footnote in comparison.

So that begged the question. What was going on? He felt confident that his seidr would be fully restored within the month. Which simply was impossible. His entire being had been torn apart and put back together again - he should be facing a decade minimum of recovery, if even a recovery at all.

Loki was, with only perhaps Frigga as the sole exception - the greatest scholar on seidr in the cosmos. He'd studied, cajoled, blackmailed and bribed his way through every scrap of knowledge that existed on the subject. Although he'd only ever used a fraction of his knowledge, due to the pigheaded Aesir belief of the weakness of mages - that it was a womanly pursuit to study magic. He'd suffered enough ridicule for fighting with illusions and daggers - he didn't need to bring out even more magic and lose what respect he'd held.

Loki took a deep breath, pulling his mind away from that useless line of thought. He was no longer on Asgard. Those pigheaded fools did not matter anymore. Pigheaded…. Loki stood up and walked up to the bars of his cell, seeing nothing but a dark hallway with more of this sandy stone structure. "Pig-being, I am Loki, I demand you release me!" He thundered into the dark.

No answer came and Loki growled with annoyance and impatience. He turned around and studied his cell more closely. There was nothing, not even as much as a place to relieve yourself. Which told him these beings either cared not for the health and cleanliness of their prisoners - Or that prisoners did not remain here, or alive, long enough to worry about sickness from improper waste disposal.

He returned to the cell entrance, banging his cuffed hands on the metal, the loud clank echoing down the hallway. "I demand to speak to whoever is in charge! I am Loki… " He grit his teeth with a wroth look, "Of Asgard…" unfortunately such things mattered and he was if nothing else - resourceful enough to use anything to his benefit, as distasteful as it was.

Slowly a metal being came into view, walking oddly disjointedly, the being carrying a tray, Loki waited impatiently as the being slowly moved his way, the metal well worn and dented, the being’s eyes glowing, as a contrast from its dull and well worn appearance.

“I am Loki -” He began, only to be interrupted immediately.

“The great Jabba has decided you have worth in the gladiator ring tonight, stay worthy in the name of the great Jabba and you shall prosper.” All of it was said in a mechanical monotone voice, before the tray was thrust towards him through a gap in the cell door just large enough for the tray, a simple clay bowl with some brown sludge inside.

Loki took one look at the sludge and laughed, ignoring the tray sliding through its slot in the cell, the slot sliding shut behind it. As well, he ignored the being’s continued jammering, choosing to speak up reiterating just what an important personage they mistakenly held. “You can tell this… Jabba, that he has a prince of Asgard in his cell, and if he has any kind of survival instinct, he'll prostrate himself before me post haste.”

The mechanical being did not reply, simply continuing his droning spiel of which Loki had missed much to his annoyance, it was likely not important anyway, lesser beings did drone on about the most pointless things at times... “ - Your slave collar will be fitted within the hour, then you will be taken to the arena, die gloriously in the name of the great Jabba.”

With his piece said, the mechanical being started to walk away. Loki slammed his hands against the cell bars with futility, only managing to gather dust in his bowl of slop, “Slave collar!? Get back here you simpleton! I am LOKI!”

＊＊＊

Even knowing sustenance would be important, Loki did not entertain eating that… Slop… That was provided for him. He had standards, and he had certainly gone further than a day without eating before, he was made of sturdier stuff than these primitive beings.

Instead, he waited and plotted. He wouldn't allow some pig creature to get the idea that Loki was its prisoner, he certainly would not entertain its delusion that he would be a slave.

Soon enough, came the sound of approaching primitives, the clanking of one of the metallic beings being followed by the shuffling gait of the pig beings. Behind them all was someone new. A being of a sickly color, with twin tails trailing from his bald alien head. How he was related with the pig beings, Loki was unsure, but he had the look of a supervisor of some sort. He certainly was dressed better than the loincloth sporting pig creatures.

Even if the robe and assorted leathers he appeared to be wearing under them seemed basic and cheaply made at best. What primitive world had he arrived in? And how could they afford manacles capable of inconveniencing him for a moment - yet not afford to dress better than paupers?

This is why Loki hated going outside Yggdrasil, the standards were just so low. There was no joy in a cunning plot when one was deceiving beings that just barely discovered bathing.

“You! Do not try anything off-worlder, the great Jabba is very interested in testing your mettle, it would be a shame to bring you to him with broken legs.” The twin tailed one hissed at him, showing crooked teeth and a cruel gaze that made Loki feel like he'd returned to the Black order - was dental care truly so hard to achieve with the technology across the cosmos?

“I am Loki, prince of Asgard. This… Jabba, would be foolish to continue to treat me as one of you primitives, I hold a much greater value than you could ever imagine.” Loki said, not at all bothered by the threats, that was just how people spoke to each other outside the golden halls of Asgard.

Loki had always found it both cute and endlessly irritating, like a small creature yapping at your feet for attention. It's not like they could ever actually do any of these pathetic threats, Loki was too clever and too powerful to fall to some primitives ploy.

The twin tailed one snorted, chortling out an ugly laugh, the pig creatures snuffling along in guttural laughter, likely too simple to understand anything but following along in their superiors actions, Loki thought. It amusedly reminded him of the Warriors three and their behavior around Thor. That one on the right could pass for the fat one, he was only missing a leg of meat in his hand.

“I'm sorry, did I perchance say something amusing?” Loki asked, a cold smile on his face, his fingers twitching slightly with the desire to wring their necks as their incessant laughter continued.

“The only value you hold, off-worlder, lies in how much of your valuable blood you can hold inside your body and for how long. The great Jabba will grow angry if you don't last at least ten minutes.” Twin tails sneered at him, waving the pig creatures and the metallic being inside his cell, “Get that collar on him!” He snarled, kicking one of the pig creatures, drawing out a squeal.

Loki couldn't fathom how they thought he was defenseless just because his hands were manacled. As the metallic being approached with a collar, likely some crude explosive device - Loki slugged its head with a two handed strike, using the manacles themselves for extra heft in his striking power, the head of the metallic being crumpling in a metallic shriek without too much effort on Loki's part.

Definitely not Aesir graded constitution, that had been pitifully easy, Loki thought, sneering down at the dead metallic one.

“Put him down now and get that collar on! That droid was worth more than all your lives!” Twin tails shouted, bringing out a handle from his belt, thumbing a button that brought out some sort of energy discharge that took the form of a whip.

That looked entirely inefficient and wasteful, it would have been far simpler to have it take the shape of a baton or perhaps a sword, a spear for example would be much nicer and so much more useful, he thought. Loki imagined the fool had burnt himself severely learning how to utilize the ridiculous contraption.

Loki had already leaped ahead by this point, his powerful legs giving him enough power to easily traverse the small distance in the cell in the time it took the supervisor to activate his little toy, the first pig creature not even able to lift it's club in defense of its pitiful life before Loki was upon it, clubbing it over its head, the primitive creature showing no more constitution than the metallic being, falling dead to the floor, it's skull caved in.

None of these were comparable to the Aesir, they were ridiculously fragile. Loki wouldn't have someone left to interrogate if he didn't watch his strength. What a bother. He was greatly interested in hearing all about this Jabba… So that he could pay a visit and explain the reality of existence to him. How Loki was above him, and that was all that mattered to his pitiful existence.

The Twin tailed one struck out with his energy whip, shouting expletives at the same time, it was no matter for Loki to kick the remaining pig creature ahead of him to take the brunt of the whip, it's squeal bringing a smile to his face, even as the sizzling sound and the smell of cooking pork made him famished. With a twist if his hands, the pig creature was put out of its misery, Loki smirking at the Twin tailed one as he stalked forward, not concerned in the slightest for the energy whip, he'd seen the speed which the fool swung it at - it was nothing to Loki.

“Get back in your cell, the mighty Jabba can not be denied, you will die screaming and begging on your knees like a worm if you do not obey!” The twin tailed one screeched, the hesitance in the way he held the whip, the smell of fear in the air, the sweat dripping off him - Loki had nothing to fear from this coward. One so used to wielding the whip, he no longer understood how to react when it did not work. When he faced something… Superior.

“I have a better proposal, uncuff me. And I won't have to discover how you differ from other primitives by taking you apart piece by piece - I promise, it's quite excruciating.” Loki said genially, strolling forward, his eyes shining with cruel glee at the abject fear he was inspiring.

“Fool! Activate the turrets!” A bellow came over a screeching communication system, Loki winced, spying the rusted speaker at the end of the hallway, how quaint.

Obviously he had nothing to worry about when it came to these creatures' technology.

The twin tailed one pressed a button on his arm, Loki almost upon him, when several turrets popped out of the wall and ceiling, unlike the rusty communication device - these were in much better condition, and all zeroed in on Loki.

“Ah, I might have been… Hasty.” Loki said with a commiserating smile at the twin tailed one, raising his hands in the universal gesture for let's just all calm down, “I'm sure we can come to an equitable agreement, my friend, there is a lot I could teach you.”

If only I had my seidr…. Loki thought, as the whip swung towards him, Loki stoically allowing it, his gaze burning with promised rewards to come for the indignity. The turrets were all the motivation he needed to stand still. Without his Seidr to weave illusions or shield himself, a simple primitive projectile or energy turret like what he saw before him, could actually be fatal.

This one will die in a way that songs will be written about his fate across the galaxies… He thought angrily, as he felt the sizzle against his skin, refusing on principle to make a noise - this was nothing compared to Thanos.

As the slave collar clicked on around his neck minutes later, he gritted his teeth, having to suppress a knee jerk reaction to rip the despicable beings head off, a vein pulsing in his forehead as he once again resisted his nature. That said …. Torture might be preferable then this humiliation… He thought, seeing the twin tailed one mocking him.

Loki was going to kill every single being that saw him wear this. And then every single being that was involved with creating the situation that saw this happen to him.

Then their neighbors if he found himself flush with time. Revenge wasn't a dish best served cold as some were fond of saying.

For all his cold calculation, Loki burned hot most of the time, and he had a different view on revenge.

Revenge was best served indiscriminately, making enough people suffer that no one would dare to ever again perform the action which led to him seeking vengeance.

Ideally…

Starting with whoever this Jabba was, that dared to presume someone like Loki would serve at his pleasure.

It was only a matter of time… Either his seidr would return, or he'd use his wit and cunning beforehand to find himself at the top.

These primitives' fate was sealed the moment they decided to irritate him.

That's all it was.

Irritation.

Another slash of the whip burned against his back, as the twin tailed one pushed him forward down the hallway.

… Irritation and perhaps a small iota of homicidal rage, Loki amended.

＊＊＊

The thrum of energy above him disturbed Loki's meditations, one eyebrow twitched as dust and shards of rock fell into his hair.

“They can't even maintain their arena, if one should engage in bloodsport, the least they could do is ensure it is satisfactorily held together.” He muttered, the burns from the whip already beginning to heal, the tiny flicker of Seidr within him not able to do much more.

The thumping of feet on rock, roars of the bloodthirsty crowd, the cry of some sort of wild beast in pain, Loki cared not one whit for any of it.

It reminded him far too much of sojourns with Thor. Forced to spend time with barbarians who's only use to the universe was to die amusingly.

Loki looked around the small sandstone warren they'd shut him in, meditation obviously a subpar activity with this much noise from up above.

They'd freed his hands at least, no doubt feeling secure due to the infernal collar they'd placed around his neck, the mere thought of it choking him, even if it wasn't that tight. It was what it represented that so irked him.

He was to be entertainment for lower lifeforms, he, the great Loki, was to be displayed for the unwashed masses, to duel in a battle to the death.

His long fingers stroked the single blade they'd allowed him, longer than his usual fare, made of some material he'd never encountered before. It was the length of a short sword, plain and unadorned, hardly fitting for his status, but he supposed he'd have to make due.

The crescendo of the crowds cries and groans indicated some sort of resolution had come upon the fight outside of his warren. The fools screaming their joy or their anger, likely betting their meager savings on such, as beings did across the cosmos for bloodsport.

Sometimes Loki wondered if he was alone in the universe, truly alone - because surely they couldn't all be like this?

He knew the Vanir were not, but they on the other hand went too far in the other direction. Was there truly no one that balanced on the knife's edge such as he?

Keeping a balance.

As a being of magic and physical combat, of learning and wit as well as brutality, of deceit and brilliance - never content with what is. Always looking for more.

Loki lamented his place as the only clever one in an existence of lower beings attuned only to their next drink, fornication or chance to bash heads.

The slab of stone blocking his warren at the edge of the circuitous arena rumbled.

They wanted a show? He thought…

He'd give them a show!

Even as the stone slowly rumbled to the side, Loki stepped forward, and pushed, his superior strength enough to overcome the simple mechanism that moved the stone, sending it rolling away, the crowd erupting in racocous cheer at the sight.

Loki stepped through, a superior sneer on his face, twirling his sword expertly in his right hand.

The circular arena was a simple pit of sand, there were hundreds of beings raised up beyond the stone walls of the arena, sitting on nothing but slabs of rock. Loki felt a sting of unease as he looked around, even if he showed not one sign of it.

He must be far from home indeed, to see dozens of species he'd never heard of or seen before.

A tower rose above the mere stone slabs that seated the common rabble, Loki faced it, his face going into a rictus of hatred.

That giant blob of a being… That worm! Must be the Jabba that dared to inflict this indignity on his person.

And he didn't even show up in person! Some low tech hologram instead showed the large being up on a viewing gallery on the tower.

… Did this… Insignificant worm, this filthy, unevolved lifeform… Start Loki in the minor leagues of death matches!

How dare he show such insult!

Sending another critical look around the arena, he noted the attire of those present, the lack of proper seats, lack of concessions… These were… Worker drones, they probably barely paid admittance to watch Loki fight.

This was intolerable!

People should not pay a pittance to see the magnificence of Loki! They should be spending their life savings for a simple glimpse! Did they truly not see him for what he was? What kind of backwater planet had he ended up on?

He raised his sword towards Jabba, “Filthy worm! I demand you do better! This hole is no match for I, Loki!” He did a flourish with his sword, raising his arms to the crowd, “Rejoice, you all have had the pleasure of being in my presence, you court only death if this insult continues however…”

He sunk the sword into the sand, staring up defiantly at the worm that had brought him here, “I refuse to accede to this pitiful arena and this lackluster show, If I must do this, I, of all beings, should be your prize fighter.” He declared haughtily.

If nothing else, it would get him closer to that worm, so that he could get out of this collar and showcase his displeasure.

The crowd who had been quiet, seemingly lost for words at his grand declaration, suddenly erupted in noise. Loki only had eyes for Jabba, who appeared to be chuckling, his stubby arms pressing something.

Loki felt the beginnings of an electric shock just as some sort of rotten fist sized fruit smacked into the side of his face, thrown from the crowd, the juices and pulp staining his armor, even as the reek almost made him gag - the fact he was falling to the sand, convulsing, likely hindering his ability to vomit in the moment.

“He believes he is strong, let him fight them!” Jabba laughed as he continued to stab the button, Loki glaring up at him even as he convulsed.

The worm would rue making Loki his enemy. Rue!

Another twin tail being, one actually up there in person, asked the hologram something his head bowed in supplication. Jabba roared in laughter, waving his stubby arms. Finally releasing Loki.

“Which ones you ask? Hohoho, let this champion face them all!” Jabba crooned, an obscenely large tongue flicking out to lick his large lips.

Loki twitched as several warrens began opening at the same time. He slowly climbed to his feet, a still twitching hand grabbing the hilt of the sword.

The crowd was still throwing things at him, Loki would ensure he found out the name of this hovel of a town, so he could return and show them his displeasure at a later date.

Right now… He had other things to worry about.

“I may have miscalculated.” Loki said slowly to himself, as a dozen creatures took the field, as well as a trio of humanoid beings covered head to toe with funny looking masks on and wielding staffs.

The three humanoids let out some sort of primitive battle cry or mating call, (he was hardly an expert on these simple creatures) before raising their weapons, which gave Loki a slight reprieve as most of the creatures growled and focused on them instead of Loki.

Loki smirked, as always the cunning silent snake benefitted, while the loud boar (Thor) would find himself swarmed.

His smirk fell as the beasts fell upon the humanoids and promptly tore them apart to great cheers of the onlooking crowd, all of the beasts turning his way, two of them who'd homed in on him at first already getting within striking distance.

Yes… He thought, raising his sword. I might have miscalculated slightly.

＊＊＊