Entangled

Chapter 1: Prologue

Ten heavily-armed guards marched down the hallway in a uniform gait, five on either side of a man clad in deep emerald cloth. Silver shackles clung to his wrists as he walked in time with his captors.

The grand precession was only fitting for a prince of Asgard. To S.H.I.E.L.D., he was under their control. They couldn't be more wrong. In an instant, he could have conjured an inferno that would have instantly killed everyone in that hallway. But he couldn't afford to drop the ruse; for now, his capture merely served to distract the only eye in Fury's head from the plan.

The group rounded the corner as his viridian eyes were instinctively drawn to the glass on his right. Behind the gleaming surface, he could plainly make out several figures standing idly in the next room.

There stood several familiar and unfamiliar faces, all of them returning his glances.

He could make out one of figures as Banner, although he wasn't in that horrid form he heard so much about. Inside that disheveled scientist was a formidable monster of unbridled rage; one Loki contemplated enslaving once or twice. He could offer the beast an opportunity to destroy to it heart's content in his conquest of the mortals, but what would he do with the creature afterward? No, he would have to destroy the monster as soon as he could. It would be a shame to waste such a beast, but from what he saw of the Chitauri forces, he was not lacking in brute force.

Next was Tony Stark. Yes, how could he forget? Germany, the plane, even the impulsive fight against his hated brother. There was someone brimming with personal demons. His lip twitched at the parallels between the two. Beyond control, even from his closest friends. Or better judgment. But underneath the metallic luster, Loki could see what he really was: a mere child, bottle in hand, acting out against his father. No, that wouldn't do at all.

He doubted that the person he needed was aboard the vessel when his eyes met another of a similar hue. A mortal woman with a flattened expression, glaring in his direction. She wasn't looking at him with mild curiosity like the others. Her head turned to follow him, as if she was looking for something. Her jade eyes were locked in on his, which made the Trickster smirk. He couldn't help but turn his head, intent on not breaking away.

But how could he turn away? That Siberian stare of hers was particularly cold, but it was what he saw underneath the ice that garnered so much of his attention. Regret. Anger. Sorrow. Death. Torture. Misery. Deceit. Chaos. Utter chaos.

In those eyes…so much red.

As his entourage advanced beyond the glass wall's edge, he forced himself to break eye contact. No longer entranced, his head began to churn with a sinister notion. This might work.


Author's Note: Hello, all. I've finally grown a pair and decided to publish something. I have the whole story planned out, but I'm still working out the details. If you have any suggestions or comments, I'm always up for constructive criticism. Thanks! ~Madcap