Defeated. But not broken.

Enraged. But in chains.

Asgard grew right in front of them, peeled out of the nothingness while Thor led Loki back home to be on trial and judged for his crimes.

But Thor didn't know what was to come. And so it hit him without warning when the Tesseract suddenly exploded in a blinding light, throwing him back and crushing him to the ground. The light was accompanied by a screeching sound that grew in intensity to the point of physical pain.

Then silence, darkness.

Along with two dozen grim Jötuns surrounding them.

Half of the Frost Giants instantly took care of the still stunned Thor, dragged him away from Mjölnir and held him down with combined forces.

While keeping a close eye on Thor, Loki held out his arms, impatiently waiting for the shackles to be removed. Finally freed, he allowed himself a moment to rub the pain out of his wrists, then took off the gag enclosing his jaw.

Thor's staring eyes were like fire. Rage, disbelief, humiliation and pain hit Loki. And slid off like oil.

Loki smiled.

'Don't you ever underestimate me, brother. You know I always have at least one ace up my sleeve.'

Thor's gaze went furious in realization and pointing blame at the Jötuns.

'How could you...?'

'How?'

Loki raised his hands and changed. The pale colour of his skin slowly turned into a deep blue, hardening on the surface and exhaling misty clouds of frost.

'I'm one of them after all.'

Anguish began to replace the rage on Thor's face, until he couldn't stand it any longer and had to lower his eyes.

Loki's heart grew as cold as his skin. Yes, you didn't know. And now you disdain me. Looking away suits you just right, hypocrite!

Hardly controlling his own hate, Loki turned away and stepped over to the dropped Tesseract on the ground.

'I'll have that, if you don't mind,' he declared without even looking back at Thor.

'Loki! Don't do that! You're just making it worse!'

But Loki deliberately ignored Thor's warning roar and nodded at one of the Frost Giants to take up the box with the Tesseract, before he ordered them all to leave.

Another held him back though, drawing his attention.

'What about that?'

Loki fixed Mjölnir with distant eyes.

A tempting thought, but Loki knew better.

'Leave it. It'll be of no use to us.'

Then he held out his hand, calling on the power of the Tesseract. Reality bent to his will, the shapes of their surroundings blurred and melted away and Loki and the Jötuns were swallowed by the crack in the fabric of space and time.

'Lokiii!'

Thor's shout was already merely a whisper and, with a last glance back, Loki saw his brother jumping to his feet and reaching out for Mjölnir, but he was too late. The door closed and Loki led the Frost Giants through the aether back to their home.

Jötunheim was cold. Everlasting cold and dark. Very unlike the warm and golden-illuminated Asgard where Loki had spent his whole life.

But he came to realize pretty soon that the freezing temperatures of Jötunheim were almost bearable when he sustained his Frost shape. So he did, though he really couldn't stand the sight of his own skin turned blue and crystalline, reminding him every moment he was not who he'd believed to be.

'My lord?' the bearer of the Tesseract disrupted his thoughts when the group finally reached the outer gates of the marred king's palace, awaiting new orders regarding the artifact.

'Yes,' Loki waved him off impatiently. 'Take it to the dungeons and guard it well. I'll take care of it later.'

The Frost Giant bowed respectfully before him and the group dissolved, leaving only five men to accompany Loki into the throne room ahead.

Deceiving the Jötuns had been such a simple act. After the death of their king Laufey and Loki's failed attempt to destroy this realm, Jötunheim had fallen into disorder and chaos. Ruined, leaderless and without direction the Frost Giants were close to the verge of extinction when Loki had returned from his exile.

They didn't know of his betrayal, had even welcomed him and fallen for his lies easily. They hadn't questioned Loki's claim for the throne nor had they doubted his stated heritage and so he was made king.

But what a poor kingdom it was.

Loki stepped across the large crumbling hall to his seat of royalty and dropped himself on it, gaining no pleasure from the act at all. This throne was broken. Like this whole rotten realm.

Victory was so damned close. He had almost brought Midgard to its knees, but those men - those Avengers - had ruined everything. Thor, the green giant, the hawk, the black widow, the soldier and the man in his iron armor; Anthony Stark.

Loki grit his teeth and a silent snarl echoed back from the distant walls.

Damn him! Damn his piercing eyes, which still seemed to mock Loki even from beyond his memory. Damn.

Loki knew he had but a few choices left. Thanos would soon get word of his failure and the following escape. And he'd send all of the Chitauri forces to search every corner of the Nine Realms for Loki and the Tesseract.

But there was still time to set everything right. And time for vengeance.

Loki shook his head and took a deep breath.

Why did he even bother? What was so special about this ugly planet called Earth? Long ago Odin had fought for its freedom, losing one of his eyes in the process. Thor was banished and had fallen in love with a mortal female. Midgard. Humans. Tony Stark.

Loki froze. Enough!

He knew what he had to do to restore his dignity. First, he needed the scepter back. Although he was able to draw the power from the Tesseract directly, it would cost him a lot more strength than channeling the energy through the staff.

Thor, the idiot, had allowed these Avengers to keep it. Whatever the reason. But this way Loki could at least tell its few possible locations. And among them was...

Loki stopped. He had a very bad feeling about this.

Nonetheless, this was the only option and his time was running out.

So he stood and beckoned two of his guards to follow him into the dungeons.

The Tesseract was locked away in a deadly cold room with walls of blue ice, embedded in a crystal pillar.

Loki stepped closer and hesitated for a second. Even though he knew he was able to, he had never done this before. Connecting directly with that alien power source.

He clenched his fingers, reached out and touched the smooth surface of the crystal with caution.

One moment later his eyes widened, in awe of the brimming energy beneath his hands. A triumphant smile rose to his lips and green light began to enclose him as he absorbed the incredible force of the Tesseract. Yes, this was it. This would suffice to ensure his victory.

Loki pulled back his hands, examining with deep fascination the glow of power beneath his skin. He felt like rejoicing and finally gave in to a joyful laughter. Nothing would restrain him now. Not even a heart made of steel.

Next he had to find the staff. Following his instincts Loki searched his place last. And of course he didn't err. The scepter really was with the Iron Man.

But this time Loki would be well prepared. He wouldn't allow these eyes to strip him to the bone again.

A fire of satisfaction began to blaze in Loki's eyes.

'I'm coming, Tony Stark. I'm coming for you.'