Glass Box
(An Avengers not-quite- Loki/reader insert Fanfic)
Chapter One: Breaking Glass
*Maria Pond is a character I made up as a sort of "audience surrogate" character. I tried to make her as relatable as possible.
*'Michael' can look like however you want
…
Maria was sweating as she walked her last dog for the day-a golden retriever named Brent; it was a hot summer Sunday volunteering at her local animal shelter. Finally, she asked Susan, the volunteer coordinator, if she could take over for her while she got an iced tea or something. Susan obliged with her usual rosy-cheeked smile and asked for a small cup when she came back.
Maria wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead as she set out to find the generically titled 'Taco Shoppe' that had the lemon sweet tea that Susan had fawned over. She and Maria had worked every weekend nurturing the dogs and kittens back to health and security for nearly a year now- she felt like she was a second mother to her. Maria had almost dismissed this notion, however, when she had met the distant, reserved nephew of hers, Michael Whitworth. In some ways, he had scared her with his distantness and disdain for speaking to anyone other than his aunt, and yet there was a spark of attraction between them that Susan had meddled with many times before. Much to Maria's dismay, she could not deny to Susan that this was accurate.
Sweeping her long, dark brown askew ponytail behind her, she took the Hello-Kitty lanyard of keys out of her denim shorts pocket and inserted them into her beige '97 Camry, starting the engine. She turned out of the parking lot onto the road, unsure of where the restaurant was. Finally, she gave up and turned into the lot of an unmarked brown, bricked building. Maria parked, locked her car, and stepped towards the white back door. The sun shined brightly and vengefully into Maria's brown eyes, turning her irises an auburn color and causing her to shield her face with her left hand, unaware of the door's warning; DO NOT ENTER: S.H.I.E.L.D. MEMBERS ONLY. She stepped into the dark building, savoring the feel of pure coldness against her pale skin.
"Hello? Does anybody know how to get to the Taco Shoppe?" Maria asked, looking around.
She stepped in closer, feeling an eerie sense of danger pulsating around the room's air. The air conditioner swung the golden chain of a ceiling fan just barely above her, giving a ghost-like sound. Then, it abruptly stopped, letting there be a moment of complete silence.
"This isn't the place you were looking for."
Startled, Maria jumped back, causing her driver's license to fall out of her paisley wallet. She paused to look at the man, who was trapped inside of a big glass box, with only a fluorescent lamp to illuminate the room. He had long, raven hair and eyes that shown like emeralds. His body was slender with just a hint of muscle that she found attractive. Her heart rate increased.
"Your name is Maria. Maria Pond."
Wide-eyed, she didn't respond.
"New Mexico? Is that where I am?" the man asked, eying your license.
"Yes. And you are?" Maria asked, trying to sound strong.
"Prince Loki of Asgard. At your service."
"Don't you know what state you're in?" Maria asked, looking around.
"I do now." He answered, annoyed.
"Why are you in a glass box? Can they not afford steel bars?" She mused.
He uttered a laugh.
"I mean…what are they doing to do? Windex you to death? What are you in here for, anyways?" She asked curiously.
"I was kidnapped." Loki said with sorrowful, deceitful eyes.
"My God! I've got to get you out of here!"
His eyes shown with glee. Maria pulled a nearby fire alarm, and took a chair, breaking the glass. Loki ran out.
"Your work will be repaid, Maria Pond."
She was surprised that he hadn't forgotten her name. Maria drove by the restaurant, asking for directions from a nearby gas station clerk, and took back the tea that was promised to Susan. She resolved to learn how to use her GPS app for the future. By now, the sun was almost down.
She opened the door, setting a mug down beside Susan, who was sleeping on her desk.
"Susan…wake up. We are about to close." Maria said, shaking her shoulder, which donned a Christmas-y sweater even in the summer heat.
"Oh, thank you, darlin'. What kept you? You seemed to be gone a loooong time."
"Oh…just got a little lost. And had to talk to…this guy…" Maria said reflectively.
"Did he ask you yet?" Susan asked eagerly.
"Who?"
"Aw, nevermind. Listen, you take care, honey. I'll see you the day after to-morrow." She said in a Southern accent, pulling on another sweater.
"Bye."
Yawning, Maria wiped her eyes and was about to open her car door. A man leant against her car hood.
"Michael?"
"Hey, Maria. How you doin'?"
"Not so bad. And you?" She said, fixing a stray hair and smiling.
"Hey, listen, do you wanna go to the University Masquerade with me tonight? If you don't want to I totally understand it's just that…"
"I'd love to." She answered without hesitation.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Here's my number." Maria said as she jotted it down on a spare sticky note.
"I'll pick you up at 8!"
"Okay!" She said giggling.
The University Masquerade was the tradition of the local college that she was going to go to in the fall; every freshman was invited to go. Feeling a rush of adrenalin and happiness, Maria drove around the corner to her and her mother's apartment.
…
"Hello, sweetheart. How was work?"Asked her mother, who was sitting on the sofa, watching the Lifetime movie network.
"Fine, mom." Maria said.
"I made you dinner. It's in the fridge." She yelled.
"Thanks. Michael is going to pick me up soon."
"Be back by midnight, you hear?"
She snickered-she was eighteen now. Maria headed to her bedroom- she needed to get ready for her date. The girl dug around her closet until she found her long, black gown and heels with some gold bangles, and finally, a feminine gold mask with feathers. She was ready within half an hour.
For the first part of the night, there had been so much glitter, dancing and music from the nineties until now on the ballroom dance floor that seeing Loki had almost vanished from her mind completely- until a mysterious man in an emerald mask stole her away to dance with her. A song that was familiar to her started to play as they danced.
There's such a sad love, deep in your eyes,
A kind of pale jewel, open and close within your eyes,
I'll place the sky within your eyes.
Maria danced with him, trying to figure out the identity of the man. He looked so handsome and cunning and dazzling in green and gold. His smile was enigmatic.
There's such a fooled heart beating so fast
In search of new dreams, a love that will last
Within your heart
I'll place the moon within your heart.
Her brown eyes glistened as she felt as if the ground was not below her. It was only he and her in her own mind.
As the pain sweeps through makes no sense for you,
Every thrill has gone, wasn't too much fun at all.
But I'll be there for you
As the world falls down
Maria felt the icy glare of the man that she had originally came here with. Michael stood in the corner by a snack table, drinking punch in a pessimistic way. She then felt the man's hand scoop up her chin to look into his green eyes. Slowly and gently, he kissed her. Maria's eyes closed in bliss.
Falling in love…
Falling in love…
"Who are you?" She whispered lovingly.
"Prince Loki of Asgard." he said gently.
The sound of broken glass gave a loud CRACK! on the floor. Maria turned to look at the source. Michael's hands were crimson from the punch that spilled when the glass broke beneath his jealous grip.
"ALL RIGHT! THAT'S ENOUGH! I SAID YOU COULD DANCE WITH HER, NOT THAT YOU COULD TOUCH HER WITH YOUR FILTHY MOUTH! NOW GET OUTTA HERE!" Said Michael.
The college kids all paused to look at the commotion. Maria was astonished; that was the most she had ever heard out of Michael before. And he was such a Southern gentleman, or so, she thought.
"Ah. A suitor. You are a fair maiden…I should have prepared."He whispered to Maria.
"Not to worry, my boy, I will escort Miss Pond to her homestead."
"Loki…"
"How dare you steal my girlfriend?" He demanded.
"I am not your…" Maria started.
"Well, my date, nonetheless." Michael said, blushing.
Loki tilted his head mockingly.
"Clearly, you underestimate my powers. Go home, mortal boy. Don't enter a battle that can't be won."
This set Michael off. He took the entire punch bowl and aimed to break it over his head. Loki simply took his staff and used magic to put him asleep.
The crowd cheered.
"Are you ready, my fair maiden?" He said, extending a hand nonchalantly.
