The walk through SHIELD's headquarters was humiliating for Loki, and he was reminded of when he was paraded through Asgard in chains after his failed attempt to rule Earth. The crowd had jeered at him and mocked him. He was forced to hold his head up high and cling desperately to the last remaining bit of dignity he had left.

It was like this now. SHIELD agents whispered amongst themselves as he walked as quickly as he could without getting ahead of Thor. He was so used to establishing dominance that acting small and defenseless was almost painful. Thor placed a protective hand on his brother and whispered pointers in his ear every few steps they took.

"Just don't make eye contact. Try and seem defeated. Keep silent. Try not to twitch so much."

But perhaps the most important thing he said was right before they entered the meeting room. Loki knew that a man who could sniff out a lie almost better than the lie smith himself was waiting behind that door. Thor had sensed his nervousness.

"No matter what he says to you, don't let it make you forget who you are and why you're here. This is for Asgard, Loki. Don't let us down."

They stepped into the meeting room, and instantly, the group's demeanor changed entirely. Brunnhilde put on an expression of complete control while Bruce tried his best to look relieved. Thor plastered on a look of minor concern for his brother mixed with sternness and authority.

"Thor Odinson."

Thor took a seat at the round table, roughly forcing Loki into one of the chairs next to him.

"In the flesh."

Fury purses his lips and gazed at him with an eye that showed his suspicions.

"I see you brought your brother back to Earth along with a new friend, our missing scientist, and an entire civilization."

The two engaged in a one-eyed staring contest.

"Yes. My home was destroyed in a battle between the goddess of death and my team."

Nick narrowed his eye.

"Who all is a part of this team of yours?"

Thor smiled confidently.

"Doctor Banner, a Valkyrie named Brunnhilde, myself, and L-....myself."

He had almost said his brother's name, but Loki had slammed his heel down on Thor's foot underneath the table. The king had hidden his grimace and corrected himself in a not so smooth way.

"Ah. So I see there's two of you now. Unless you had someone on your team named Myself."

Bruce rushed to his friends aid.

"I'm sure he was just stuttering. He hasn't been on Earth in a while, and...well...the things that the goddess of death did to some of his people....didn't exactly sit well with any of us."

Fury wasn't done grilling them yet.

"And does 'us' include Laufeyson?"

Brunnhilde smiled calmly.

"Of course not. Loki was in the dungeons during the fight. Prisoners of the throne don't participate in wars."

Still not satisfied, the director turned to look at Loki, who had done as Thor had instructed and remained silent throughout the ordeal.

"Tell me, Laufeyson. Are you enjoying your stay on Earth?"

Loki froze, not expecting Fury to address him directly. He sent what could pass for a weak glare in the man's direction.

"No." He said boldly, keeping his answer short and sweet.

Nick smiled, pleased.

"Good." He replied, playing along with the one word answer game.

"Anyways, will the stay be permanent?"

Brunnhilde leaned forward in her chair, prepared to defend Asgard at all costs.

"Director Fury, the people of Asgard have suffered a loss that I doubt you have experienced. Their homes, their possessions, even family members and friends....their entire world was taken from them when the goddess of death attacked. The least you can do for them is allow them to stay here on Earth with the comfort of knowing that they don't have to run anymore. They've suffered far too much to go into hiding again. It's highly possible that the settlement will be permanent, but until we know for sure, it would be wonderful if you had SHIELD lend a hand and offer guidance in a world that is strange and new to them."

Fury nodded slowly, almost methodically, as he took this in. He noticed how Loki kept stealing glances at the woman, and he knew that he could use that to his advantage.

"So, Thor. Is this...Brunnhilde...your girlfriend?"

This time, he could see Loki tense.

Thor shook his head, not even needing an actual response. Quite frankly, he was too afraid of Loki slamming his heel into his foot again.

Fury smirked, now having exactly what he needed in order to expose Loki. The truth was, he knew that something wasn't right from the moment that psychopath stepped into his base.

"Well, there's one last thing I need to do before I give you the clearance to have your people settle here. I'm sure you'll understand...in time."

Without warning, he pulled out a pistol and leveled it at Brunnhilde, who had shot up from her seat. Not half a second later, Loki had magicked his cuffs off and jumped directly in front of the line of fire, his own pistol aimed at Fury's skull.

His breathing was heavy as he glared at the man.

"Put the pistol down and leave her alone....or I will shoot you...."

Brunnhilde stared at Loki with something dangerously close to love.

"I can protect myself, Loki."

The director gave the trickster a smile.

"You heard her, Loki. Now why don't you drop the gun and tell me what exactly you plan on doing to my planet this time around."

His steely glare never faltered as he slowly lowered the pistol, letting it clatter to the floor. He realized that while he could barely operate a handgun, Fury knew the weapon inside and out. He didn't stand a chance.

"Hands in the air or this bullet goes through you and your girlfriend."

Loki shook his head.

"You leave her out of this."

Lightning crackled in the palms of Thor's hands and green was beginning to travel through Bruce's veins. Both of them were ready to jump to the defense of Brunnhilde and Loki, should it be necessary.

"Let me make one thing clear. I don't trust you one bit. As far as I'm concerned, you're secretly plotting another attempt at world domination, and I can't let that happen. Now I don't know what your brother was thinking when he pranced in here with you at his side thinking everything is all happy and sunny like this is some freaking My Little Pony episode, but I will not allow you to roam free on this planet. So step away from the girl, put your hands in the air, explain what you're doing here, and everyone walks out alive and unscathed. Capisce?"

The tension in the room was so thick, it could be cut through with a knife.

"Fine. No one here has to get hurt." Loki said calmly, stepping away from Brunnhilde and slowly raising his hands in the air.

It happened so quickly, not even the Valkyrie could see it coming. Loki's hand shot out, armed with a dagger, and drove the gleaming blade into Fury's side. A bullet was fired past his head by the injured director as he bolted from the room and out of the building.

Fury pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it quickly as he ripped the dagger out of his side.

"I need eyes on Laufeyson. I want every agent either stationed at a computer or out in the city hunting him down. Find him!"

He looked up to speak to Thor, but he'd already taken off with Bruce and Brunnhilde.

None of that mattered, however, because Fury would find that murderous psycho no matter how long it took.

The earth would be better off without Asgardians anyways.