The green smoke apparated inside a golden cage, revealing a confused Sigyn imprisoned in an anti magic cell, keeping her trapped with no magic to help. She was soon joined by Frigga, who tested the anti magic spell before giving up fruitless.

"I pray the king's alright."

"Both he and Thor will be fine. I trust Heimdall to protect them."

"What went wrong with Loki?" Sigyn mournfully asked, mainly to herself.

"Lorelei and Loki share a past. And I'm afraid my husband's upbringing of Loki has left him much to desire."

The women found themselves trapped for days on end, with only a servant coming twice a day to bring food. Loki visited a few times as well -with Odin and Thor gone, Loki was in charge- which was how they figured out their escape.

The plan was to put Sigyn in harm's way, in a daring attempt to draw Loki to her rescue, essentially breaking Lorelei's hold on him. The next day as usual, the servant came to bring them food on a platter containing fragiles and utensils, allowing Sigyn her weapons of destruction.

The server stepped close to unlock the door, and Frigga was in full support of Sigyn.

"You're up, love."

§§§§§§§§§

"You just don't stop, do you!" Steve teased and lifted Kiera in the air, who screamed in fright and delight.

"They used you!"

"Hey baby girl, you're my little paint bucket, aren't you?" Mom playfully asked as she rubbed the spilled paint off Kiera's face.

"They killed my MOM!"

"I promise, I won't let them hurt you. I love you, Care."

"Good bye, dear elska. We love you with all our heart, as constant as the stars."

"They. Deserve. To die!"

Kiera's eyes snapped open to a doctor flashing a torch in her eyes, and she quickly stepped back to give the girl some space.

"Hey, you're up." A woman's voice spoke and Kiera turned to the blonde woman sitting next to her.

"Wh-where's Steve?"

"Your brother's gone out to work. Sam got another deployment. It's been you and me for a while, though Steve calls at least once a day."

"Who are you again?"

"Oh, Sharon Carter. I'm here to watch over you and make sure you're okay."

"Carter, huh? You wouldn't happen to know a Peggy Carter, would you?"

"Funny you should ask."

§§§§§§§

"I mean, if it's not too much trouble." Coulson stuttered, fangirling over Captain America as they talked about his trading cards.

"No, no. It's fine." Steve brushed it off, a little amused by the attention.

"It's a vintage set. It took me a couple of years to collect them all. Near mint, slight foxing around the edges, but..."

"We got a hit. Sixty seven percent match." An agent interrupted, maybe having intercepted their target.

"Weight, cross match, seventy nine percent." Another agent confirmed.

"Location?" Fury asked from the deck.

"Stuttgart, Germany. 28, Canning Strasse."

"He's not exactly hiding."

Fury turned to an already attentive Steve.

"Captain, you're up."

Steve nodded and marched out to suit up.

The frantic crowd ran out of the building terrified as one among them calmly walked out with a glowing scepter in hand. A gold hue covered him as he still walked unbothered, transforming his suit into a golden armor with a horned helmet. The scepter changed form as well, becoming longer and pointier, and definitely more dangerous.

An emergency vehicle came blaring his way, but he simply directed his weapon at it and blasted a spell, making the car do a front wheelie before flipping over. As multiples of the intruder surrounded the crowd, the man finally spoke.

"Kneel before me." He announced in a calmer tone than the one that followed.

The crowd was much in shock to follow.

"I said...KNEEL!"

At last the human crowd went down to their knees, pleasing their captive.

"Is not this simpler?" He asked proudly. "Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, and identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."

It wasn't professional, but what's the harm in a little gloating.

"Not to men like you." A man who had seen war in his time, dared to stand.

"There are no men like me." Loki of Asgard was one of a kind, contrary to the situation present, of course, what with the clones and all.

"There are always men like you."

Why did they always need an example! Wasn't it just simpler to follow like sheep? Very well, they forced his hand.

"Look to your elder, people. Let him be an example." Loki shot a blast at the old man, but it was (thankfully) interjected by a shield.

"You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing."

"The soldier." Loki smirked, standing himself after having fallen from the blast returning. "The man out of time."

"I'm not the one who's out of time."

Behind him in the jet, Romanoff switched a flip, aiming a machine gun at Loki.

"Loki, drop the weapon and stand down."

His royal highness apparently didn't like to be ordered, and sent a blast at the jet, finally ebbing the captain into a fight.

"Kneel." Loki ordered when he had the opportunity to pin his pointed scepter to the captain's head.

"Not today!" Steve declined the request and round kicked his opponent in the head.

Meanwhile, the jet's weapons were having trouble pinning a target as a result of all those clones.

"The guy's all over the places." Romanoff announced in frustration, but was soon relieved of her duty by another red carpet entrance.

"Agent Romanoff, you miss me?" Ironman's voice came over the P.A system preluding the rock music.

The loud music was distraction enough to save the Captain and Ironman swooped in, blasting the intruder hurdling away before superhero landing himself.

Loki sat defeated on the steps while Ironman pointed all his guns and missiles at him.

"Make your move, reindeer games."

Steve joined them just as Loki's illusion withered!away, returning him into his old suit again.

"Mr. Stark."

"Captain."