The God of Mischief on Midgard

Eleven

Instead of leaving with the rest, Odin lingers at the Lower Level, waiting until the others are out of sight and earshot before activating a secret button on the brick wall that deactivates the soundproofing of Loki's cell. "You've made such caring friends," he remarks.

Despite being muzzled, Loki's intense glare speaks louder than words. If Odin touches Loki's friends, he will pay with his life. The Avengers are respectable people who have done nothing to deserve Odin's wrath.

As if reading Loki's mind, Odin declares, "They seem like good people. Good heroes, too. Regrettably, they got involved with someone like you. Associating with a villain makes them villains themselves. Perhaps I should command Heimdall to hurl your precious Captain off the Rainbow Bridge, or maybe I should let the new guard recruits use the Man of Iron for target practice."

Loki stubbornly wipes her face clean of emotions, denying Odin the satisfaction of rattling her. She flips Odin off since vocally saying "fuck you" is off the table.

Odin ignores the childish behavior and continues his speech. "I hope the little one has a high pain tolerance because I have plans for him. It will be such a shame if he can't handle them and such a young life is snuffed out."

Driven by the threat posed to Peter, Loki charges forward, slamming her palms flat against the glass, desperately trying to harness her magic in an attack against Odin. It doesn't work - Odin smiles malevolently as Loki's body seizes from electricity rushing through her veins.

At long last, Odin has found what he's been seeking since Thor brought Loki back to Asgard after the failed attack on Midgard: Loki's weakness. Although she cares for the older Avengers, Loki is closest to the younger one. Good to know.

Guaranteeing that Loki will be mentally present for what lies ahead, Odin cuts off the electricity, allowing Loki to retreat and crumble to the ground, whimpering in agony as she rides out the lingering tremors.

While Loki recovers, Odin commands the nearest guard to follow Thor, instructing him to bring back the teenager in Thor's company. Loki pushes through the aftershocks, fighting through the pain as she rises to her knees. Eyeing the guard's retreat, Loki twists her shaking hands in the hem of her ripped shirt, doing her best to suppress her budding anxiety.

What plans does Odin have for Peter? And how can Loki save him?

Odin smirks. Never has Loki been this pliable - so easy to manipulate. The possibility of harm coming to her Midgardian friend scares Loki more than the threats toward himself do. Odin underestimated the depth of Loki's affection for the teenager, but he will do so no longer.

"I have your attention now, don't I? I could continue our little song-and-dance routine of torturing you endlessly until you change your ways, but it hasn't been effective so far. Perhaps an alternative approach will be more effective. The torture tolerance of Midgardians is inferior to that of Asgardians or Frost Giants. I wonder how long your friend will survive."

Loki, in the grip of pain, drops her head back in despair as tears fall onto her shirt and trickle into her oily hair. She is to blame for this. Moving her punishment from Asgard's dungeon to Midgard was a mistake she should have never made. She always fucks up everything. If Loki hadn't befriended them, Peter and the others wouldn't be on Odin's radar.

In the same way that Odin abuses Loki, he will now abuse Peter, and neither Loki nor the Avengers can offer any help. They lack the strength necessary to oppose Odin and his commanding forces.

...

Upon returning to the palace, the guard reports to Odin that Thor and his companions had returned to Midgard before he could catch them. That is for the best. Abducting an Avenger could lead to a war between Odin and the Midgardians. Odin doesn't need the actual Midgardian. Loki just needs to believe Odin has him.