So, this is kind of an interesting idea that I had a little while ago. Things will go well, things will go badly. But that's how life usually is for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and that's how it usually is for Loki, so it's all really par for the course here.

I'm posting this right now as kind of a... testing the waters thing. I want to see how may people really enjoy it, and if a significant amount (or, hell, maybe just a few) like it, it'll go up on my writing priorities. I know Digimon Hacked! should be up there, but I'm still suffering severe writer's block. I am SO sorry for the long wait with that, but I haven't even finished the next episode yet. So if you're a Hacked! fan... please just bear with me here.

With that out of the way, here's the disclaimer you're all probably waiting for: Pretty much everything in this story (besides the plot. Or... aspects of the plot) belong to Marvel. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Avengers stuff, Loki... even much of the plot follows AoS, just with a Loki-included twist, but also some little instances of my own design. Now... on with the show~

Despite the fact that he healed at a much higher rate than the mortals that surrounded him, Loki was still sore as he stood next to Thor, waiting for the Bifrost to take them back to Asgard, where he would no doubt be given a life sentence, if not an outright execution. As the Avengers slowly dispersed, however, nothing happened. He and Thor remained where they were.

Loki glanced over at Thor with an expectant, raised brow. He may be muzzled, but that didn't mean he still couldn't communicate.

Thor, though an idiot he was, seemed to understand the meaning behind the expression. "Oh, we're not going to Asgard," he stated. He started walking, pulling the chains that bound Loki, forcing the God of Mischief to follow.

X

Loki leaned against the wall, a silent observer to the argument in front of him.

"And what in the hell makes you think we'll keep him?" Nick Fury, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., asked Thor heatedly. "Were you just not paying attention this whole time? Look outside!" He pointed through the window, where cleanup crews were slowly trying to get rid of all the dust and debris. Rescue teams were searching for trapped survivors... and the bodies of those who had perished. "All of this is because of him!" This time, his accusatory finger found Loki himself.

Thor shook his head, surprising both the accuser and the accused. "I know Loki," he insisted. "I was raised alongside him, I know him well. And this... this does not make any sense!" He looked at Loki. "You told me, up on the Bifrost, that you never wanted the throne. Why would that have changed?"

Loki paused for a moment. Thor was more observant than he gave him credit for. However, Loki wouldn't simply fall into line like he knew his brother wanted. So he wore a nonchalant mask and simply shrugged.

"I don't believe that for a second," the blonde argued. He turned to Fury. "I know what he did to your world was unforgivable. But I do not think his will was his own. It may have been his actions, but he was not the one behind this invasion."

This time, Loki couldn't help but stare. For as long as he'd known him, Thor had never been this observant.

Fury raised a brow. "What makes you so sure he wasn't just having a bad day?"

"Because this is not like him," Thor said. "Yes, Loki can be dramatic and a bit self-righteous. But he would never go so far as to attempt to enslave an entire world."

"Why not just take him back to Asgard then?" Fury asked, fingers steepled, leaning forward on his desk. "Why do you want us to keep him so badly? I'm sure you could just as easily explain all of this to them."

"Loki will not get a fair sentencing in Asgard," Thor stated plainly. "He has done terrible things there, and no one—not even the Allfather—would give him a chance. No one would believe him, and I do not know if my word would truly be enough to pardon him."

"Define 'terrible things'."

This time, Thor hesitated. "He... took the king's position when I was banished and sent the Destroyer after me to prevent me from returning."

"The incident in New Mexico."

"Yes," Thor confirmed. "He attempted to use the Bifrost to destroy Jötunheim."

"So, he tried to kill and entire world, but trying to enslave another, that doesn't sound like him at all?" Fury asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

"There were circumstances..." Thor began before realizing that he was getting nowhere. "Please," he said, resorting to begging. "If I bring him back to Asgard, they will sentence him to death for his crimes."

"And you think we won't?"

Thor seemed to have no answer for that, which didn't surprise Loki in the slightest. He was honestly surprised the big oaf was able to last this long into the conversation. "You could make use of him!" he finally said, as though he had come up with the perfect answer to all their problems.

"And how do you figure that?" Fury asked, echoing Loki's own thoughts.

"Your primary concern is the safety of your country, yes?" Thor asked, earning a nod. "Loki can help you! If nothing else, his past actions may allow him to provide an idea of what the enemy may wish to do next. He could help you prepare."

"And what makes you think he'd even want to?" Fury challenged. "Or even that he won't try to kill us all as soon as you go home?"

"There are ways of sealing his magic. He would be no different than any other Asgardian."

"Still able to bench-press a car, then," the human said. "He wouldn't need magic."

This time, Loki felt he needed to make him opinion known. He held up his shackled hand, jangling the chain a bit to get some attention. When both men were looking at him, his eyes drifted down to his muzzle before back to them. After a moment, Thor approached with the key, removing the metal contraption.

"Ah, much better." He took a brief moment to relish in the freedom before speaking. "If I were to remain here... what would my restrictions be? Magic bound, I'm well aware of that. But what else?"

"Cuffed at all times," Fury answered immediately.

"Already done," Loki countered, holding up his shackled wrists.

"Heavy guard, 24/7," Fury continued. "And you'll be locked away in some deep, dark hole you can't get out of until we need you. After you're done, you go straight back in."

"Do I have a say in my own fate?" Loki looked at Thor. When there was no answer from him or Fury, he said, "I'd prefer to stay here. In Asgard, I'd be lucky if I took two steps into the palace before someone killed me. And if I made it before the Allfather, he'd simply sentence me to execution."

Thor looked to Fury. "Please, consider it."

"I'll consider it," the human replied.

X

Fury considered, and after discussing it with several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to make them aware, he agreed. Loki could stay, as a prisoner/consultant.

"Heimdall will be watching," Thor warned Loki. "And if you've violated any of their rules..."

"He'll open the Bifrost wherever I am and drag me to the Allfather to receive my sentence, I know," Loki finished. They'd had this conversation three times within the last hour, but now that he was about to leave, Thor seemed to want to cement it, once again, into his brother's brain.

Thor rested a hand on Loki's shoulder, making the latter stiffen. "Please don't let me down, brother," he said softly before turning and walking. When he was a decent distance away, Loki could feel the energy in the air crackle before the Bifrost opened, taking Thor home. He couldn't help but wonder what story he'd end up telling Odin to stop him from sending anyone after him. Heimdall was loyal primarily to the king, so even if Thor asked for his silence, if the Allfather asked, he would have to answer honestly.

Loki would be truly surprised if this didn't blow up in their faces.

X

"So that little thing prevents you from using magic?" one of the guards to his cell asked. The bars, he'd been informed, were made of vibranium. The same metal as the Captain's shield, which had, if he remembered correctly, withstood a direct strike from Mjolnir.

Loki's hand raised to touch the small metal ring that encircled his neck in a similar fashion to the human jewelry known as a choker. "Indeed," he responded. "From inside this cell, I am completely harmless."

"Don't trust him," the other guard said immediately. The guard who had asked him was new. This was her first shift guarding him. The man, however, had been here for several hours the past three days in which he'd been in custody of S.H.I.E.L.D.. "He's crafty."

"'Crafty'?" Loki asked with a smirk. "While I thank you for the compliment, you've seen nothing anywhere near 'crafty' from me since I've been inside this cell." He adopted a taunting tone of voice. "Perhaps if you let me out, I can show you."

"See what I mean?" the second guard asked. He looked over as the door to the holding area opened and stood at attention when Director Fury walked in, his eye on Loki.

"Can I help you, Director?" the god asked, tone dripping with false pleasantries.

"I think we found the perfect use for you," Fury replied. "As special team that could use your... experience."

"I'm listening."

X

Coulson frowned to himself as he headed for Director Fury's office. He'd just finished putting together his team—Grant Ward, Jemma Simmons, Leopold Fitz, and Melinda May, much to the latter's reluctance—which he had been granted permission to do by the Director himself. Was Fury taking back his permission? Did he change his mind about the Bus?

As soon as he entered, he saw Fury at the desk, a man in one of the chairs in front of it. The man seemed oddly familiar...

"Agent Coulson," Fury greeted, and the man turned around, causing Coulson to freeze in his tracks.

Loki sat in the chair, looking inexplicably comfortable, despite the cuffs linking his hands in front of him. "Well, well," the god began in an irritatingly conversational tone. "You're looking quite well for a dead man."

Coulson ignored him. "Director, what is this?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. "I thought he was rotting in prison on Asgard."

"That was the plan," Fury told him. "But we made a deal with Thor."

"So he's one of us now?" Coulson asked incredulously.

Fury actually laughed. "Not by a long shot," he reassured him. "Think of him as more of a tool to use when you need him. His... unique expertise could be useful to you."

"And what expertise is that, trying to take over the world and killing government agents?"

"Among other things," Loki commented, looking not at all affected by the other man's words.

"He's got a perspective none of us have," Fury informed Coulson. "We haven't been on the other side of the line, we can't really get in their heads. But Loki pretty much lived on that side. He knows these people better than we ever will."

"And, what, he's just going to cooperate with us?" Coulson argued.

"I don't have much choice, really," Loki stated. "If I cease to be useful, I'll be returned to Asgard and a near inevitable execution." He gave a smile that reassured neither of them. "So consider me at your disposal."

X

Coulson had called ahead to warn May that they'd have an extra passenger. By the looks on Fitz-Simmons' faces, she'd passed on the message.

"Is that really...?" Fitz asked quietly as the god followed Coulson dutifully past. Loki smirked to himself. Oh, this would be fun.

They reached a room with metal walls, a single table with a chair on either side. Loki stood on the other side of the table, but ignored the chair.

"I don't trust you," Coulson said plainly.

"I'm aware," Loki replied.

"If you do anything—anything—to make us even think you're working against us, I will find a way to contact Thor and get him to drag your ass back to Asgard. You will be monitored at all times, and whenever you're not of any use to anyone, you're going to be stuck right back in here, understood?"

There was a pause. "I do have one question."

"What?" Coulson practically growled.

"What will I do should I need to relieve myself?"

Coulson answered by stalking out the door, closing it behind him.

"That went better than expected," Loki muttered to himself, sitting in the chair and looking up at the camera fixed on him. He doubted he'd enjoy this arrangement. But at least he was alive.

Well, that's in here for chapter one. I'll probably be writing more chapters within the next few days (this idea hit me like a freight train, so...), but like I said above, posting this is more of a test. So, if you like it, drop a review and let me know if I should continue with this in the near future.

Also, big thanks to my beta, pokemon fan 98. She's got some great ideas, so I'm gonna try implementing some of them in the future (and she also helped me get over the whole 'you are your own worst critic' thing with this chapter)

Alright guys, that's that, so as always...

See ya on the flipside~ Elisa out~