Huge Disclaimer for Marvel fans: I have never read any comics about Thor/Loki. What I know about them and their world is entirely based on what I can remember from The Avengers and Thor. There are probably things about this fic that are inconsistent with canon. If that bothers you, don't read it. I feel comfortable with the Fireflyverse, so there should be no errors on that score. Keep in mind this is a crossover fic, if you're not a fan of Firefly or River, please skip it. Thanks!
A warm feather brushing across his icy cheek and a voice like wind chimes quietly calling his name.
Loki of Asgard's eyes snapped open.
He felt a very rare moment of panic, for he was at a disadvantage. No amount of strength or cunning could make up for the elements of surprise and disorientation. Loki looked up into the dark brown eyes that hovered in the darkness above him. They were deep set and accompanied by delicately arching brows, a small, straight nose, and glistening, bright pink lips which were curved in a gentle smile. A curtain of gently curled brown hair fell around them. A woman, then. Dressed in white. What was this?
Loki took a half second to glance to his left. Everything in the bed chamber which had become his prison cell was as it should be. Asgard lay quietly outside of the reinforced window. He wasn't mad or dreaming. He doubted his former brother was feeling generous enough to provide him with a toy to play with while he awaited his sentence. That is, while the elders of Asgard argued with Thor over what to do with him. Spineless, fools! If they had any sense he'd already be dead. How had it come to pass that they were the jailers and he the inmate? The events of the past few days on Earth played back in his mind. Where had he gone wrong? The fates were cruel and unjust…always plotting to keep him from what was rightfully his.
No...Thor would never be so kind as to provide him with an outlet for the tension which continued to build in him every day he was held in this cage. The idiotic female must have lost her way and wandered into the wrong door. It would be the worst, and last, mistake of her life. He'd make sure of that. Thor would be angry when they discovered her corpse, but what difference did that make now?
"Hello, finally," the girl half whispered, as his eyes slid back to meet hers again.
"Stupid whore!" Loki spat as he sprang forward to grab her. He nearly fell off the bed when his arms met only air. The bed dipped ever so lightly on either side of his hips and he saw only a blur of white. She seemed to fly across the bed and over to the chaise on the other side. Yes, as prison cells went, this one was fairly luxurious. In his infuriating kindness, Thor had brought Loki to the palace and had a room outfitted to hold him. The girl perched on the edge of the furniture, her legs crossed and her toes pointed, her hands resting on either side of her.
She giggled. "No, silly snowball, I'm River," she chirped while giving him a lazy smile. She showed no signs of fear.
Loki felt his face burn with a rush of humiliation and rage. Bested by woman. A human woman, no less. At least that was what he supposed she was. Her language, English, from Earth, suggested as much. Her clothing…it was most definitely not Asgardian. It wasn't just that it was bright white, a color rarely worn in this world. She wore a loose fitting dress that came almost to her knees. It floated around her when she moved, a light fabric. The neckline was low and the bodice molded tightly to her small breasts before flowing out around her legs, which were, oddly, bright white, just like her dress. Some kind of very tight, very thin pants. Her shoes were flat, thin, and terribly impractical, as they too were made of shiny white fabric. She looked thin and weak and utterly breakable. It would be hard to keep her alive long enough to make her pay for laughing at him. But she would pay.
"A river's a thing, not a person," Loki answered smoothly. He was sitting in the bed now and he made no effort to move from underneath the sheets which still covered his lower half. He always slept nude and it had never before felt like an unwise decision. That had nothing to do with his present hesitation, he told himself. He simply needed a few moments to decide what to do with her. The plan of action which would cause the most pain.
"A Loki's a god, not a devil," she replied back gently. Her tone was sad and slightly pitying now. What? What was she? He couldn't understand her. There was nothing he hated more than feeling outwitted.
"A go—you're insane. How did you get in here?" Loki snapped, letting his curiosity get the better of him.
"I…I wanted to meet you as me the first time, Loki. You wouldn't help if you didn't see me. You won't like the other girl. She…she doesn't love you. But she'll get you out. You weren't hard to find. I heard you calling me. I followed your voice," her own voice was calm, her gaze steady. She made absolutely no sense. She truly was out of her mind. No point in talking any longer then.
"ENOUGH!" Loki growled and launched himself at her once again. The last thing he saw was her jumping up to stand on the chaise. The next thing he knew he felt her weight on his shoulders and felt her body slide down the back of his. He reached back for her, but he was too slow, his fingers just brushing the soft fabric of her dress. He spun around but she was already several feet away, smiling at him.
The breath escaped from between Loki's teeth on a hiss.
"You're no ordinary human." Her face fell at his accusation.
"No…broken. I'm broken," she brought a hand to her head as if in pain as she spoke. "No, please. It hurts. Let's not talk because it hurts. Dance. Will you dance with me some more, my Loki?"
Loki laughed, but there was an edge of uneasiness about the sound.
"Your words are so scattered, witch. It's amusing. But make no mistake, I belong to no one. And whatever your skills, they're no match for mine. You should have killed me in my sleep. It was your only chance, River," he spoke her name as a slur.
Loki took a few steps toward River and she simply backed away gracefully, balletically, at the same pace, keeping the space between them even. Finally, River came up against a wall. She simply stood there, and waited for him to catch up, rendering herself even more vulnerable by slipping her arms behind her back.
Loki laid one hand on her neck and the other on her hip, slamming her back against the wall.
"You haven't even the sense to run!" he taunted, beginning to choke her.
Suddenly, she fell back, as if melting into the wall. Loki felt himself begin to follow after her, but was pushed back into the room by a crushing blow. His head was pounding and his skin was tingling. How had such a tiny creature dealt a blow of such force?
It then became obvious that River had fallen through some kind of hidden door, as she stood in a hallway beyond, staring back at him. There must be some kind of force field holding him in, probably something sensing his Frost Giant blood.
Loki picked up an end table and hurled it across the room in frustration.
"Damn it, this isn't over! Thor can't keep me in here forever and when I get out my first act will be to find you and make you regret this night!" he ground out.
River said nothing. She only stared at him in the darkness for a few more seconds before turning and running away, her dress flowing and swirling like smoke in her wake. Seconds later, the doorway became wall again and Loki was left to wonder just what had come to visit him in the night. A ghost? An angel? A hallucination? The mystery was exciting, the challenge intoxicating.
For the first time since his return to Asgard, he felt alive.
Please let me know if you like this or want to read more. I want to continue it and I've got about half of the second chapter, but I won't continue it if no one is interested because I've got another story that people do read and I could be working on that. Thanks!