Loki on the Throne

Darcy, who had been feeling a little down because her iPad had been taken away, saw the two men below and excitedly shouted.

"Look, it's Leo and Thor." But when Darcy saw the other two looking miserable, she lowered her head again.

"Well, it won't help even if they're here."

Leo walked up first and happened to hear Dr. Erik speaking.

"I know a scientist, a pioneer in Gamma Radiation research. After S.H.I.E.L.D. found him, I never heard anything about him again."

"Dr. Bruce Banner? I've seen him before. Uh, I guess you could say I've seen him."

Leo came over from behind and sat beside Dr. Erik. "Looks like you're in a bad situation."

Darcy looked at Leo and said, "Yeah. A guy named Coulson took all our things, including my iPad. I'd just downloaded thirty..."

"Can you stop talking about your iPad?" Jane shot Darcy a look.

She was furious at what S.H.I.E.L.D. had done.

"They can't treat us like this. I'm getting everything back."

"If it's Coulson, I think I might be able to help a little," Leo said.

Thor stood behind them and said loudly, "Can we go find Mjolnir now? If I get my hammer back, I can help you get your things back too."

Asgard.

Because of Odin Sleep, Loki took up the Spear of Eternity, Gungnir, and sat upon the throne he had long dreamed of.

Meanwhile, the others who had impulsively gone to Jotunheim with Thor—

The Warriors Three and Sif had come looking.

The four of them hoped to meet the All-Father Odin and end Thor's exile.

But they had not expected Loki to be sitting on the throne.

"Where is Odin?"

"Father King has entered Odin Sleep. Mother fears he may never wake again and refuses to leave Father King's side."

Loki's voice choked slightly, as though he were grieving over Odin's slumber.

Seeing the four approaching, Loki rose to his feet.

"You may tell me what urgent matter you have."

Wearing a golden Horned Helmet and green cloak, with the Spear of Eternity in hand, Loki's expression shifted from sorrow to arrogance. "Your king!"

Sif and the Warriors Three looked at Loki above them and hesitated for a moment, but they were still worried about Thor's safety.

They dropped to one knee, placed their right fists over their left chests, and said, "Your Majesty, we ask that you end Thor's exile."

Loki gave a soft laugh and slowly walked down.

"Our war with Jotunheim could break out at any moment. Our people need the kingdom's policies to remain consistent so that they may feel safe in difficult times. We must all unite and defend Asgard."

Hearing those official platitudes, Sif abruptly rose to her feet, only to be held back by Hogun, one of the Warriors Three.

The more level-headed Hogun said to Loki, "Yes, that is correct."

"Good. Then wait for my orders."

Loki stood on the steps and looked down at the four of them.

Volstagg said, "Forgive my presumption, but I ask that Your Majesty show mercy and reconsider..."

"Say no more!"

Loki barked.

The three left angrily. Sif stared at Loki for a while before leaving in anger as well.

It had been Loki who had incited them to attack Jotunheim together on the day of Thor's coronation, which had caused Thor, who should have become king, to be exiled to Earth.

Now Loki had the power to end the exile, yet he refused to do so. It truly disgusted Sif and the others.

Loki watched them leave, then sat back down upon the throne.

Was this Loki's plan?

The three Frost Giants at the coronation had indeed been let in by him.

But that was only because he believed Thor was arrogant, reckless, and dangerous, and not yet fit to be king.

He had then secretly egged Thor on.

He had only wanted Thor to confront Odin again and leave a worse impression in Odin's mind.

Who knew that thick-headed Thor would directly prepare to attack Jotunheim—with only the six of them.

Before Loki left, he tattled, left himself a backup plan, and only then saved his companions, all while leaving Thor with an embarrassing stain on his record.

But when they retreated from the battlefield, Loki was the one who stayed behind, still calling out for Thor.

When Thor was exiled, Loki ran to the portal with tears in his eyes.

He had never intended for things to end this badly.

But when he saw Odin throw Mjolnir down as well, Loki understood everything in an instant.

They had once agreed to compete fairly for the throne, but Thor had been chosen from the start.

Especially after he learned that he was not Odin's biological son.

He was the son of Laufey, King of the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, and his determination to become king grew even stronger.

When he confronted Odin in a furious roar, he shouted, "I'm not your son! You're not my father!"

Yet when Odin fell into his sleep, Loki, despite learning his true identity, still worriedly and hurriedly called for the guards.

Loki had been taught since childhood that Frost Giants were bastards, only to discover that he himself was the son of the King of the Frost Giants.

Naturally sensitive and suspicious, he wondered whether Odin had adopted him for some other purpose.

But his worship and love for his father tormented him.

Loki was proud of his identity, yet ashamed of his bloodline.

So now, his plan was to let Laufey in to assassinate Odin, then seize the chance to kill Laufey with Gungnir.

Then he would use the immense power of the Bifrost to destroy all of Jotunheim.

Loki only wanted his father's approval.

Dr. Erik stood up and stared at Leo in shock. "You know Dr. Banner? You also know people from S.H.I.E.L.D.? Coulson?"

Leo looked at the others and nodded. "You could say we know each other. I should be able to get a word in, so getting your things back shouldn't be difficult."

"Great, then let's get going!"

Jane said impatiently. Right now, all she wanted was to get her beloved research back.

Darcy said happily as well.

"Yeah, awesome! My iPa... research can be recovered too. Meeting Leo was seriously so lucky."

Seeing the look Jane gave her, she hurriedly changed her words.

Thor was a little confused. "Who is Coulson? Do you have to find his son? I only want my Mjolnir!"

The five of them got into the jeep and drove fifty miles west.

Thor, being the largest, naturally sat in the co-pilot seat, while Jane drove.

Leo, Darcy, and Dr. Erik sat in the back.

Perhaps because Leo was there, the atmosphere along the way was much more relaxed.

Dr. Erik wanted to talk to Leo about Dr. Banner.

Jane also started chatting with Thor.

"...They stole my life's work. I have nothing left to lose."

Jane said as she drove.

"Yes, but you're very smart. Much smarter than everyone else in this kingdom," Thor said.

"Kingdom? Who exactly are you? Seriously."

"You'll find out soon enough."

Thor smiled. He seemed eager to see Jane's expression when she learned he was a god.

"You promised you'd give me answers."

Thor turned to Jane. "What you're looking for is a bridge."

"Like an Einstein-Rosen bridge?"

"More like the Bifrost."

Jane froze for a moment, glanced at Leo in the back seat, then looked at Thor.

She gently shook her head. "Oh God, I hope you're not crazy."