A/N: Thanks for reading let me know what you think. This is a slight AU with chronological events taking out of order to fit the story.
Loki heard a commotion in the cell next to him. He looked up irritated, it was late and he was trying to distract himself by losing himself in one of his favorite books. He could tell someone was fighting the guards. His interest was piqued none the less, not many people sentenced to the dungeons tried to fight. He heard the prisoner snarl and a sharp crack that he sure resulted in a broken bone. He saw the guards walk out of the cell.
"We got a surprise for you Loki." One of the guards said letting out a throaty chuckle. He entered a code next to his cell and the wall vanished, exposing the cell next to him. The wall was then replaced by gold bars, electric ones that would keep him from the other prisoner. He looked confused at the heap lying on the floor; their face was turned towards the opposite wall. Their body was small for an Asgardian. The guards left laughing. He pursed his lips as they passed his cell. His attention was brought back to the other prisoner when he heard...her cough? A female? Why would they open the wall so he would be sharing a cell with a female?
"Girl show your face." He ordered, standing to get a better view of her. The lights were always to be kept obnoxiously bright but he manipulates the lighting with his magic. The lights in his cell that were dimmed for relaxing were now fully lit shining into her darkened cell. He heard the girl growl.
"Don't tell me what to do!" She shouted hoarsely, turning to bare her teeth at him.
His heart skipped a beat for just a second.
"Anika" He whispered. She was his childhood friend; they had been friends until he decided to go down his current path of destruction. "What are you doing in here?" He asked angrily. She said nothing as he watched her crawl on the poor excuse of a bed. She laid there glaring at him. "Anika answer me." He bellowed, stalking up to the bars that separated them.
"Has that ever worked on me?" She sighed, rolling her eyes before closing them. She was in pain. She knew a few ribs were sure to be broken and knew she had internal bleeding. She had a high threshold for pain, but she felt like she could pass out at any moment.
Something was wrong with her. Anika's breaths where uneven, her voice was hoarse and she looked near death. What was happening in the palace? She was of royal blood, but was being treated worse than him. He seethed in frustration knowing if she didn't want to tell him she wouldn't. It had always been this way between them. Even though he was a prince she never did anything he said out sheer obedience. Sometimes it made him livid, but he knew that's what made him care so greatly for her. She wasn't another mindless drone. With her disobedience came other endearing attributes that he dare say were more important to him. Such as loyalty and kindness and unconditional trust, well that's the way he knew he used to feel.
"Anika." Loki whispered, staring at her, willing her to open her eyes.
She was angry with Loki after everything he has done, after abandoning her, but he was still her friend. Anika sighed and opened her eyes. She saw a pain in his eyes that he was trying desperately to hide, but he was never fully able to hide things from her, but that's what happens when you truly know someone for centuries. She sighed again and reached for the blanket behind her. Things were out of control in the palace. Ever since Loki had become consumed with power and betrayed the people of Asgard they started shunning her. Treating her as if she was just as unbalanced as Loki and it was all because Loki had been her best friend. This upset Thor, because she was a close friend of his as well. He tried to reason with people, but he was not able to sway their opinions. Though the Thunder God never turned his back on her they had remained close friends even after Loki's descend into darkness.
"You could say I'm guilty by association." Anika said bitterly, bringing herself back to the present, looking to Loki with dead eyes. Before she was thrown in here Thor had left to Midgard. He told me to come with him, but she had no interest traveling to the human world. Loki had just been locked up and she was hoping with some time she would be able to visit him. Without Thor to protect her the instant he left she was grabbed and thrown into the dungeons, but not before being tortured. They wanted information about Loki. Information that she did not have and some she wouldn't share.