"F-father," Jadis stammered. "You're... you're...."

"Here to take you home," he said grandly. "Yes. You're welcome, sweetheart. Topaz, be a dear and dispose of the trash beside my darling daughter." He waved a hand at Loki.

Loki vanished for a moment, then reappeared behind Topaz, who was advancing with the melt-stick. "Don't even think about it, wretch," he snarled. She started, clearly not expecting him to use magic. He easily wrestled the melt-stick away and made it disappear with a flick of his hand. They fought hand-to-hand for a minute, but Loki's abilities made it easy for him to win against the portly woman.

Grandmaster moved towards Jadis while his right-hand woman was fighting. "Oh, my dear treasure. I can't believe I lost you." He opened his arms wide, preparing for an embrace.

"Don't touch me!" Jadis screeched, stumbling backwards only to hit the closed front door.

Her father looked confused. "But I'm here to rescue you, sugar snack. Don't put on so many dramatics. Come on, Topaz and I will take you home." He turned and glanced at his general, who was on the floor straining against Loki's knife on her throat. He looked back at Jadis. "Okay, I'll take you home."

A knife flew past his face, burying itself in the wall. "Touch her and I swear I'll end your life," Loki growled.

"Topaz, why isn't he disposed of yet?" Grandmaster asked, irritated.

"Leave," said Loki, stabbing his knife through Topaz's shoulder before jumping over to place himself between Grandmaster and Jadis. "Or I'll kill you both."

Grandmaster frowned. "I'm here to take my daughter home. Get out of my way or I'll have Topaz melt you." His eyes shifted. "On second thought, I'll just have her do that anyway."

Loki dissipated again as Topaz barreled up to him with a sword, the melt-stick still wherever in the universe Loki had put it. She crashed through the front door, stumbling into the sunshine.

"Come on, treasure. Daddy's going to take you home." Grandmaster grabbed his daughter, who shrieked and wrestled her arm away. Loki reappeared, stabbing a dagger into Grandmaster's heart with a fierceness Jadis hadn't seen since Thanos. The blade sank deep into the Grandmaster's chest, darkening with blood as he stared at it.

Jadis whimpered, grabbing Loki's hand, and dragging him out the destroyed front door. The sun was shining with a brightness that didn't match the terror she felt. A few of their neighbors were outside, staring at their house in confusion.

Topaz was just getting up, swaying on her feet as she turned to face the duo. "Spoiled brat," she spat, pulling out her gun. Loki flicked his hand, and the weapon flew out of her grip, sailing into their neighbor's yard. He flung a dagger, striking Topaz in the neck, immediately bringing her to her knees. She tried to say something, but it was garbled and only made blood flow from her wound.

"Topaz?" Grandmaster appeared in the doorway, clutching his bloody chest. When his general fell over, devoid of all life, he only stared. "She was my best guard. Look at what you've done, Jadis. Topaz loved you like a daughter."

Jadis furrowed her brows. That was a blatant lie. Topaz hated her—she hated everyone except Grandmaster.

Grandmaster noticed Loki staring at his healed chest. "You should have gone for the head," he said darkly, then laughed. "Just kidding. Didn't I tell you? I can't die, not even by a so-called god like you. You haven't a chance. I'll always be able to find you, so there's no hiding; I'll always be able to defeat you, so there is no fighting. You understand I have to kill you to avenge Topaz and as justice for kidnapping my daughter, so I can't offer you any sort of a deal. Wish I was sorrier." He laughed again. In a motion that was faster than Jadis knew he could move, he pinned Loki to the ground with his own dagger. "Any final words?"

"No! Father, please!" Jadis fell to her knees beside him, grabbing his arm. "Don't kill him, please!" Much to her surprise, he looked at her, right into her tear-filled purple eyes. "Please... If you don't kill him, I'll go with you." Loki made a sound of protest, but she only glanced at him for a moment and shook her head slightly. "I'll stay with you and be just as good as I was on Sakaar. Better. Please..." she struggled to get the last word out, "Daddy."

Grandmaster loved when she called him that. He thought it was affectionate, cute, and it meant she loved him. His brown eyes lit up, a smile slowly finding its way up his face. "Truly, treasure?"

She nodded. "I swear."

Loki appeared behind her, grabbing her shoulders, making her stand as he pulled her back to him. "I'll not allow you to go with this madman, Jadis!"

She turned and looked at him pleadingly. "Loki, he's right. We'll never be free of him. We can't restrain himforever." She raised her eyebrows meaningfully, studying his eyes for a moment before continuing. "I have to go with him." Stepping out of his grip, she walked over to her father to stand with him.

Grandmaster smirked. "I would love to invite you for dinner, but no visitors allowed." He put his arm around his daughter's shoulders and began leading her away.

Jadis glanced over her shoulder. Loki was staring at her, waiting. Her father's arm was relaxed around her, loose and casual. Good. She grabbed the hand that was over her shoulder and twisted the whole arm painfully. Grandmaster was caught off guard and shouted as she bent his arm around his back.

Loki dashed forward, a strong rope materializing in his hands. He grabbed Grandmaster's other arm and tied them both together, then wrapped the rope around his body as well as his legs. The immortal was trussed up and lying on the ground in moments.

He wiggled until he could meet Jadis's eyes. "You lied to me."

"I guess I have some of your genes after all," she said coldly.

Loki planted a foot on Grandmaster's chest, leaning down to sneer at him. "This time, I'll personally make sure Jadis never has to see you again."

A being with leathery wings and an official badge proclaiming him a peacekeeper swooped down beside them. "I was informed there was a fight occurring." His eyes cut to the dead body of Topaz in front of the door. "Troubles?"

Loki shoved away from Grandmaster. "This man and his accomplice tried to kill me and kidnap my—ahem, Jadis. I defended myself and her, which ended in the death of that woman." He nodded to Topaz. "I want to see this man in prison for the rest of his life for his crimes."

The male nodded slowly "There will have to be a trial to determine the outcome of the situation. Do you have any witnesses that would be willing to testify?"

Jadis glanced at their neighbors, who were still watching, and shook her head. "No—"

"I can vouch for them." Hawrt stepped into their yard. "I'm Hawrt Dagghin, law advocate. My name is in the records, you'll see my word is good." He shook hands with the peacekeeper. "I'll be willing to speak for them during the trial." He glanced at Loki and Jadis, lowering his head a little. "If they will have me as their advocate, of course."

Loki glanced at his wife, who nodded with a smile, then looked back at their neighbor. "We would be honored."

Hawrt smiled. "I'll make sure he gets what he deserves."

"Jadis, treasure, you're not really going to let Daddy be taken away, are you?" Grandmaster simpered as the peacekeeper picked him up. "Darling, sugar, sweetheart—hey!" The peacekeeper flew him away after taking an informational card from Hawrt.

Jadis leaned into Loki as she watched her father's form grown small. I hope he stays away forever this time. She lightly caressed her stomach. If I have anything to say about it, he'll never meet his grandchild.

"What about the body?" Loki asked, pointed at Topaz.

Hawrt waved a hand. "The peacekeepers will send someone to take care of it."

Kallin gingerly walked through their yard, stopping beside her boyfriend. "You two have had a... hard day to say the least. Would you..." she glanced at Hawrt for a moment, "like to have dinner with us?"

Jadis took Loki's hand a squeezed it, smiling up at him. He beamed in return, eyes flickering down to her belly for just a second before returning to her purple gaze with a look of pure happiness. He managed to tear himself away from her long enough to accept Kallin's offer, then turned to his wife when they left.

"Well, darling," he said softly. "I think we've found our perfect ending."

Jadis stood on her toes to kiss him. "I think you're right."