Wanda pressed the button in the elevator and the doors slid shut.
Clint, who was stood beside her, leant against the wall of the lift, narrowing his eyes at the floor as if he was thinking. Wanda knew better than to interrupt him when he had that face on. He fumbled around with an arrow, spinning the black stick skilfully in one hand.
They had just returned from training. Word from the doctor's on a higher floor had disrupted their progress and they had dropped the session to answer the call. Pietro had woken up.
After two whole weeks in an unresponsive coma, Pietro had decided to wake up at a rare moment when neither Wanda, nor Clint, was there with him. According to the doctors, he had panicked and they had thought it best to put him back to sleep.
The elevator made a soft 'dinging' noise and the doors opened again.
Wanda found herself face to face with a man. Thor stood beside him, his eyes set on the man as if he needing watching. His shoulder-length, jet-black hair was slicked back, so she could clearly see his entire face. He had pale, almost ghost-like skin, and his intelligent, green eyes locked with Wanda's. There was a metal muzzle covering his mouth and heavy-looking silver shackles around his wrists, connected with a short chain. His clothes looked regal and god-like, like Thor's, but his were coloured with black, gold and green.
Before anyone else could do anything, Clint had notched an arrow in his bow and had it pointed straight at the man's heart. The man didn't even flinch, simply flicking his gaze to the archer, which Wanda privately thought was extremely brave of him. And, even braver, she could swear he smiled- though she wasn't sure as his mouth was covered.
"Loki." Clint growled.
Wanda's eyes widened in shock. This was Loki? Thor's brother, Loki? The same Loki who had set an alien army on New York and basically tried to wipe out the entire city?
"Barton." Thor warned quietly, pulling Loki into the lift along with him. "Lower your weapon."
"What is he doing here?" Clint half-hissed the words through slightly gritted teeth, though he slung his bow back across his torso.
Loki couldn't speak but his eyes said everything. They seemed to be glittering with the words: Nice to see you too Barton. Maybe it was just Wanda's power picking up his thoughts, or maybe he was very good at talking with his eyes.
Thor pressed a number on the panel and the doors closed again. "He's being kept here until I decide what to do with him."
Green eyes flashed with anger and Wanda found herself hardly able to breathe at Loki's fury. Such rage coursed through his mind that she had to block out his thoughts.
"Take him back to Asgard." Clint murmured.
"They'll kill him."
"Good."
Thor sighed a little, shaking his head. "I know you don't like it Barton. Just give him a chance… Please?"
Clint glared at both Asgardians. "Keep him away from me… Or I will kill him."
"Understood."
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. It was the floor Pietro was being treated on. Clint briskly walked out of the lift and Wanda, flashing a last glance at Loki, followed him. Curiosity pulsed through her. Loki had an aura that she couldn't quite place. He radiated power and knowledge. His eyes… They were so sharp, so intelligent they took her breath away.
He was a mystery. And she was determined to solve him.
