"Anna, it is too dangerous. He is a criminal!" Steve protested.
"He is also my friend. It is my life to bargain Cap," I retorted.
"Anastasia, I'm afraid Steve is right. My brother-"
I interrupted Thor immediately.
"Exactly! Your brother. He is your brother yet you cannot tell that he is not himself? His eyes are no longer the color they were before and his personality has changed completely. You cannot tell me that there is no resemblance between his eyes and those of Eric Selvig,"
The room fell silent, which was shocking seeing as Tony was present. Natasha and Bruce looked at me disapprovingly while Fury seemed slightly intrigued as he watched the camera feed of Loki's cell. The deafening silence was interrupted by the director himself.
"You were close to Loki in the past?" he questioned.
A hard lump formed in my throat as an inundation of memories came flooding into my mind. Fury groaned in pain and I stopped the flow of thought from reaching his mind. I was gifted with telepathy and telekinesis by the gods of another world long ago. My powers allowed me to enter the minds of others and see their memories, bend them to my will, and share memories as well as thoughts. My emotion had allowed some of the memories to slip through the cracks of my mind and begin to flow into those around me. Unfortunately, my telepathic powers were painful to the receiver unless it was expected and they opened their minds for me.
"I am sorry," I muttered, looking down at the floor.
He simply nodded his head in response.
"So, how do you expect to be able to find out whether or not he is being controlled?" Fury asked.
"I break down his mental barriers. If there is a presence that is not his own, then he is being controlled, or at least forced into doing the bidding of another."
"Well I for one, hope that there is no big bad alien controlling a god. The god himself is already enough trouble as it is," Tony quipped.
"You are not going down there," Steve stated finally.
"Oh really?" I smiled, looking at him devilishly.
Tony gulped dramatically and Steve took a step back.
"I recommend you keep an eye on the camera, Director," I huffed, pulling the knife from the sheath on my hip and teleporting into Loki's cage.
The plan was simple. Or, so it had been before I impulsively entered a confined area with a dangerous god. Loki's green eyes snapped up to meet mine and his mouth began to open, but he was only able to let out a choked sound before his pupils dilated and his eyes were pale blue.
"Loki," I murmured, standing calmly as the god approached.
He glared harshly, his eyes cutting through me like knives.
"Not Loki.." I reminded myself, using telekinesis to lock and hold the doors to the room shut.
No one was going to stop me from helping him. I would not watch him become the monster he so despised. When Loki was only a step away, I extended the knife towards him.
"If you wish me dead, so be it," I sighed, handing him the knife.
He greedily snatched it from my hands and was behind me, knife to my throat in an instant. I forced myself to remain calm and relaxed, showing no signs of retaliation.
"-But, I know this isn't you Loki."
I felt him go rigid behind me and the knife was removed from my neck with shaky hands.
"Ana-" he choked out, shoving me away.
I stumbled and hit the ground, forcing the air out of my lungs from my ungraceful act. Without standing, I turned to face the god I had met so long ago. His eyes were flickering between green and blue and for the first time since Asgard, I saw the man who was simply mischievous, not evil. He was the man who took me on romantic rides through Asgard's forests and would help me prank those foolish enough to anger me.
"Loki. I can help you fight it," I whispered.
"Please.. Get out," he hissed, throwing the knife to the opposite side of the cage.
I shook my head and held a hand out to him pleadingly. Despite his previous protest, Loki's hand met mine almost instantly.
"I'm sorry," he said, his breathing labored.
"It's ok. I am going to help you," I reassured.
Then, I reached out to meet his mind with my own. As I did so, his eyes returned to a pale, sickly color and his hand tightened around mine. Forcefully, I fought my way through his formidable mental barriers, rendering both of us unable to move as we focused on our mental war.
As I forced myself into his mind, Loki let out a guttural scream and fell to the ground in agony. Finally, I reached the last barrier with tears streaming down my cheeks. I was the one causing my friend, and the object of my affection, such immense pain.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly, entering his mind fully and sorting through it as gently but quickly as I could.
Loki was not the only resident in his own mind, and the other was not as kind as I was. A dark, malicious force had wrapped itself around Loki's already tainted conscience. Fearing that I would not have much time, I frantically went through his recent memories. The only one I was able to see before being forced out of his mind, was of him trying to back out of some kind of deal with a large, dark figure atop a throne.
"You will do as I command," the figure ordered.
The voice was painfully familiar.
As past-Loki began to protest, I felt pain rip through his body as the figure clapped his hands. Loki had been so keen on gaining a throne, that he managed to get himself caught up in a deal with Thanos himself. True terror coursed throughout my mind, allowing the malicious presence to send my consciousness packing.
"Loki what have you done?" I asked, now having returned to my own body.
"I was supposed to be dead," he choked, releasing my hand as his now-green eyes began to water.
"You made a deal with Thanos. Of all people to get involved with, you chose that purple freak!" I shouted angrily, picking up my knife.
Loki merely inspected his shoes, unable to meet my fiery gaze. Letting out a sigh, I returned my blade to its sheath and embraced the god before me.
"I will help you Loki," I decided as his arms wrapped around me.
"Why would you aid a monster?" he asked shakily, tremors running down his spine as I held him gently.
"I wouldn't. But you know I would do anything for you."
With that, I grabbed his chin softly and tilted his head so that his eyes met my own. A small smile crept onto my face as I placed a gentle kiss on his pale lips. His arms tightened around me before he relaxed and returned the kiss with a small smirk. I pulled away to see that he had a huge, smug smile plastered on his face.
"There's my Loki," I grinned.
His eyes began to flicker once more, so I planted a light kiss on his cheek before teleporting back to the meeting room where I was sure to be lectured by Steve.
"As I said, he's being controlled," I stated, leaning against the table.
The Avengers looked at me with wide eyes, and of course Tony was the first to speak.
"Who knew that Loki the psychopath would be able to have a crush!"
"He was always quite fond of Anna," Thor mused.
"Who is it?" Fury interrupted.
"More gods?" Bruce questioned.
"I wish. This is much worse. He seeks to control everything, not just Earth. We are merely a small part of his plan. Loki made a deal with a man named Thanos, but when he tried to back out, Thanos forced him into submission. I can barely fight against Loki's mind, let alone his. I may be able to give Loki control, but as you saw, it would not last long. We must find a way to force that big purple brute out and break his hold."
"What happens then? Still not hearing a way to kill the purple alien," Tony said snarkily.
"I have no idea. Perhaps his daughters could help if we could find them."