Beads of sweat covered Loki's face as he tossed and turned in his sleep. Every so often a small moan would escape his lips, the forbearance of the panic and desperation that could be read on his face. His past haunted him in his sleep, and because of that, he would awaken feeling exhausted. Over and over again, the same nightmare would visit him. First weekly, then, sooner than Loki had liked, it started to visit him nightly. But this time it was to be the most burdensome for him. For as soon as it would come to it's finish, it would start again from it's beginning as though it were a song stuck on repeat.
Loki sat at his bedside, his feet touching the floor. The palm of his right hand pressed his forehead while the fingers on that same hand were buried in his hair. Some of his black locks stuck out as they were caught between his fingers. His eyes were closed and he made no sound whatsoever. Inside of himself, Loki felt almost entirely numb, while also incredibly tense. His anger taunted him, and the only thing that could keep him from becoming possessed by it was his desire for acceptance. Clenching his teeth, he dug his fingers deeper into his head. Loki's eyes flung open as a prelude to the scream that would have emanated from his throat if not for the click of the lock on the outside of his door. Loki moved his hand away from his head. His eyes darted toward the door. As the knob on the door turned, Loki went from feeling upsettedness to angst. When he realized that at the door was just one of his servants, his eyes dropped to the floor, and then back to the doorway as a sign of the faintest bit of relief. Thor had reminded their father Odin that even in consideration of his crimes, Loki was raised in Asgard and should be treated as any son of Odin would be, regardless of the fact that Loki is in truth the son of Laufey. Loki, cunning as he is, felt that having a servant after all he had done was undeserved. Though, he kept this to himself.
The head of his female servant became visible. Her eyes that had been fixed on the floor, as if they were climbing a staircase, made their way up to meet with those of Loki.
"Well, what is it?" Brooded Loki.
The servant came to realize her hesitation and hurriedly made her way into his room.
"I-I've come to deliver your breakfast."
Loki's eyes had been glued to the floor throughout the time of this little charade his servant was putting on. He was used to this routine and knew that nothing much would come of it.
"Oh! Pardon me, laughed the servant nervously.
She quickly went out the door and drew from just behind it a platter which held Loki's meal. He gave a heavy interior sigh each time this happened. He hated how it made him feel as though he were being kept as a pet. He did not accept Thor's pity. Nonetheless, he had to eat in order to sustain himself. The servant envisioned chains dangling from his body, and the life that was missing in his eyes told that were the chains really there, Loki would not have considered rising for food as any sort of release.
Loki halfheartedly walked over to where the platter was placed by his servant, on a table appearing a bit larger than a nightstand.
His back was to the servant now. His eyes stared blankly at the assortment of food on the platter.
"Th-There is also a message."
Loki's spiritless eyes rose slightly.
"Th-Thor... It's about Thor."
The further the servant hesitated to spill out the words of the message, the further Loki turned his head in her direction.
"Well, sort of... I mean, he wishes to... to speak with you!"
Loki grimaced at the mention of his brother. To hear his very name made Loki's shoulders tighten up and his back stiffen. A heavy sigh would start to build and he would clench his fists at his sides in an attempt to prevent it's release.
"What does he want?" Garbled Loki.
As he spoke those words his eyes had moved from the ceiling to the eyes of his servant.
Her forehead crinkled and her eyes shot to the floor.
"I don't know." She swallowed.
Several seconds passed where neither Loki nor his servant spoke a word. His servant opened her mouth to speak words of condolence for her lack of knowledge on the matter, but Loki's spoke first.
"Well then. Thank you." He said in an uptight way.
His eyes returned to the floor and stayed there until his servant exited the room. His servant left in silence. At first she regretted not being able to give Loki the information he desired, but she discerned not long afterward that if it were intended for him to know, Thor would have elaborated when passing on the message.
Loki stared lifelessly at the food before him for a half hour. Finally he had enough of this aridity, raised his chin, and allowed his usual mood to settle in. Mischief coursed through his veins. Even in his current state, he had the ability to compose himself. Loki half smiled, and turned to face the door through which his servant has previously exited. He walked swiftly towards it. He slowed only to let his fingers glide gently around the knob before they tightened around it along with his clenched palm to open the door. He made his way out and was about to pick up his pace and head straight to his destination when he noticed a figure not too far ahead in the narrow hallway which he was now present in. He walked slowly and cautiously as he drew closer to the figure, all while keeping a smirk on his face. He shook his head and picked up his pace. Simply a figure wouldn't throw him off, he thought. He willfully headed towards the end of the hallway.
"Loki."
Loki stopped in his path. His chest puffed out a little, and he turned his head to the right, where the figure was standing.
"I'm here to accompany you along the way."
Loki's eyes shifted from the figure to the door at the end of the hallway. He raised his head a bit and peered at the figure. He couldn't tell much about the figure except that it's voice was like water that runs through rocks in a stream. Hooded robes concealed it's identity. Due to the lack of decent lighting in the hallway, Loki couldn't tell whether the robes were a dark brown or a black color.
"It's not very far that we would have to travel together." He jibed.
Loki could have sworn that he saw a smile form on the figure's face.
"I'm here to... make sure you don't cause any trouble."
Loki let out a soft laugh and looked again towards the door at the end of the hallway.
"And I should care... why?" Loki shook his head.
His glistening eyes held stare in the direction of the figure. He turned his body to face it as well.
"You haven't eaten."
"Oh really?" Loki dropped his smile, but held his gaze. He cocked his head to the left.
"A cat could tell. You're almost white as a ghost. You're strength is low. The front you're putting on isn't convincing enough to cover your uneasiness about the obscurity of what is to come.
Loki made fists with his hands, shook them at his sides, and then released, letting his fingers hang from his palms as they should will. His left foot forward, he walked hurriedly toward the figure. Using his forearm, he shoved the figure to the wall. He turned his hand upward then and took control by gripping the figure by the neck. His grasp was tight. The figure started to gasp for air, more violently as the seconds went by. It wasn't until after the visible and audible signs of choking had occurred that Loki came to realize something about the mysterious figure before him. Loki's eyes grew large and he slowed his breathing. His hands shook slightly. He slowly released his grasp and allowed both of his hands to hang at his sides. In his close contact, Loki noticed the one area that was uncovered other than it's hand. Lips.
Loki took a few slow, unsteady steps back, distancing himself from the female that stood before him.
Loki's eyes moved above her lips, to where her eyes would have been were they uncovered. He didn't know why, but in that moment, Loki felt that more than almost anything he wished to see the face of the person before him.
She had one hand pressed against the wall for support, as she knelt to regain the strength Loki had just taken from her. She held her other hand to her chest.
"Let's go." She suddenly laughed.
Her gasping ceased and she stood to her feet.
She began to walk confidently towards the end of the hallway.
Loki's eyes that had retreated to the floor after the previous incident hesitantly met with the back of the woman's figure.
He caught his breath, turned, and began to follow the mysterious woman he had just encountered.