Everything Comes with a Price

Chapter 1

"Earth will be an upgrade from this hellhole," Loki joked.

Thor and him were at the bifrost, awaiting transportation to Earth where Loki had been exiled to. "I do not have time for your games now, brother. Do you even care that you've been exiled from your only home?"

"This is not my home. Death would've been a more suitable punishment. At least that way i won't have to be reminded of what i've done."

"You brought that upon yourself. Now you must pay the price." Thor looked at him with a disappointed look. "I am ashamed to even call you my brother."

Nothing was said between the two after that. Loki kept his head down staring at the shackles on his wrists and ankles. This wasn't what he expected. He expected them to lock him up and through him back into the cell he once had. Treating him like he was a monster of some kind. Then again.

Wasn't he?

.............................................................................

"Wanda you don't have to."

She was changing in her closet to get ready for Thor's arrival. Steve had asked her earlier that week if she could join to make sure the prisoner he was supposedly bringing didn't have any motives. Bucky has told her every day leading up to that point that she didn't have to being that she was still grieving the loss of her brother.

She hadn't been staying at the facility long only for a few months but during those months she mourned and grieved Pietro like he had just died yesterday. While she mourned she rarely left her room only ever letting Bucky, Nat, Clint, and occasionally Steve in. They felt like the right people to talk to knowing that they've lost people they love as well.

"I can take care of myself, Buck," she told him as she put on her red cardigan to go with her black dress. Her tone was soft yet stern making him worry.

The relationship between the two was unknown by everyone including them. The only thing the two were certain of was that they cared about each other. More than they've ever cared about others.

"I know you can." He stood straight as she came out. She grinned lightly at him as he walked to her. He cupped her face and ran his thumb along her cheek. "Do you want me to go with you?"

She put her forehead on his. "No. I can do this."

Wanda looked at him one last time before leaving the room. As she stepped into the elevator her mind began to wander. She didn't know how she was going to be able to do this. The problem wasn't meeting the prisoner. It was being there with Stark. Just thinking about him made her eyes turn scarlet. It's true that she fought beside him during the battle but she can never forgive him for what he's done to her and her country.

The ding of the elevator brings her out of her thoughts and makes her eyes turn back to their original color. Her walk from there to the outside was short having the exit be close. Once she was outside her eyes landed on Steve and Tony who were waiting with Thor and what appeared to be the prisoner.

"Maximoff. Glad you decided to join us. It's good to see you," Tony greeted.

Wanda's eyes quickly glazed over with red but soon went back to normal. "I wish i could say the same for you, Stark."

"Ouch, thats got to hurt." She turned her attention to Loki who made the comment. They engaged in some sort of stare off trying to scare the other without saying a word. Wanda let her eyes glaze scarlet as Loki let his glaze green. This made him chuckle. "I like her."

"You weren't sent here to be entertained," Thor stated.

"Then why did you bring her?" He turned his head to face her. "I don't believe we've met. Loki," He looked back at Thor. "Odinson-"

"No. You've lost that right. Laufeyson."

Wanda felt as Loki's emotions radiated off pain. As if a part of him just broke. The pain was more than she's ever felt from anyone. Even herself. "And you must be the child they call, The Scarlet Witch."

This shocked her. How did he know about her? "Loki, that's enough." Thor looked at the two men. "His cell."

They nodded and began to walk towards the facility. "I see you've had a change of scenery. Was the tower not enough for you, Stark? Or did you want more?"

"It's not about wanting more. It's really about expanding," Tony said.

"You hear that, brother? It's not about wanting more, rather than needing." Thor didn't respond. "Maybe your mind could do the same. Unless you want to keep it the same. Small minded. Dull. That's how all the kings before you were-"

"I said enough!" This made him laugh. "Does my anger entertain you, brother?"

"You forget that you're the king of Asgard. Not me. You can't just command me and except me to obey like the rest of your loyal subjects. Pathetic." Thor tried to grab his shoulder but his hand went right through him. "Oh, brother. I thought you would've learned my tricks by now."

Wanda heard as the alarm went off as she followed were Loki was going. They must've just noticed his and her disappearance. She came to a stop when he went into Tony's lab. Carefully, she crept to the door readying her hex. "Looking for something?"

He chuckled and slowly turned around. "It seems that my illusion didn't fool you, witch."

"Was it supposed to?"

"No. You're mind is...intriguing." His daggers appeared in his hands. "Unfortunately, it'll have to be more than that." He charged at her swinging his daggers. She kept her hex in her palms, using them to block his attacks. Suddenly he pulled her arm back causing her to freeze. "Let's take a look, shall we?" He pushed his hand onto her head, making her relive her traumatic memories as he watched them. She stumbled back as he released her, landing on the floor. "Well you sure have experienced a lot." Wanda didn't respond too busy trying to slow her breathing. His eyes landed on his staff. "This was fun but i must be off." As he turned Wanda shot her hex into his mind. Everything from when he found out he was a frost giant to when his mother was killed filled his head. Once it was over he went to her picked her up and slammed her into the wall. "What have you done?!"

She breathed heavily. "What's the matter? Don't like the taste of your own medicine." Wanda watched as his eyes glazed over with tears. His hands shook as he held her pinned to the wall. Everything including his demeanor changed. Instead of pain radiating off of him it was pure agony. That's when she realized she had made a huge mistake. Loki wasn't evil. He was suffering.

Suddenly, the others burst in ready to take him down but Loki just released her and backed away slowly. She could tell that he wasn't going to fight but still they took extra precautions and snapped an inhibitor collar around his neck.

"Wanda? You okay?" It was Bucky talking to her but she was too out of it to speak. When she was let go she slid down the wall to sit on the floor. "Wanda, can you hear me?"

"Loki, what have you done to her?" Thor asked.The two magic users looked one other trying to make sense of what they've seen from the other. His brother pulled on his arm leading him to his cell. As he walked away he put his head down staring at the ground. Her eyes turned red as his turned green when they entered each other's mind. There was one thing that rang through both of their heads at the exact same time.

I'm sorry.