The room tuned to a light blue as Clint let go. The sheer curtains rustled in the impossible wind. The door to the bedroom slammed shut on its own. An icy chill ran up his spine. He cried out in agony. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Loki lounging on the ceiling staring back at him.

"Barton. Lovely seeing you again."

"Loki, you fucker." He reappeared at his side.

"Oh, don't be so harsh." Clint glared at him. "Besides. I'm not real. Well, I am. But this is just my mind talking to your mind. This-" Loki patted his face playfully, "may feel real, but I assure you, its not." He apparated to one of the lounge chairs in the corner of the room. "Right now, I am sitting in an Asgardian prison cell concentrating on a red dot on the wall. Sometimes I get bored and visit you." He smiled evilly. "Now this," he motioned to Clint's restrained limbs, "was a pleasant surprise. You were always fun." Clint fought against the all too powerful handcuffs in regret. This seemed to amuse Loki.

"How is this-?" He couldn't even finish his sentence. Loki got up and began pacing the room. "How did you-?" Loki eyed him carefully.

"Did you really think you could get rid of me?" Clint didn't move. He couldn't move. "What made you all think that once I'm out, I'm out for good? No. I'm always there. In you. In your friend Selvig. I see all your memories. The bad. The good." Budapest. Clint struggled against the chains once more."But I digress. Besides, I know you liked not being in control." He reappeared on the bed next to Clint. "I know you liked being powerless." Loki's fingers ran down the length of his torso. His breathing and heart rate rose steadily. Clint looked away in shame. Loki chuckled. "Oh human." When he looked back at Loki, he had turned into a woman. A very beautiful woman. "Is this better? I always forget that humans are so stubborn when it comes to silly morals and values. Repulsed by loving another man."

"I'm not repulsed by loving another man. I'm repulsed by you." Loki gave a false pout.

"Aww, I'm so hurt." The pout turned into a devilish grin. "Babe, it's going to take more than that to hurt me." Loki crawled on top of him and straddled him like a horse. She pulled in close to his face. "You like that, baby?" He spat on her face. She wiped saliva from her cheek.

"Feisty." Loki said as he snapped back to his male form. "You're a keeper." His hands migrated down to Clint's strong abdomen. He flinched at his touch. "You know," Loki whispered as he began unbuttoning Clint's shirt, "I can be very persuasive." He looked away again feeling hot from shame, or perhaps arousal. "And, I have been locked up for months without any..." he ripped the rest of his shirt open, "company." His hands slid up Clint's chiseled chest. "I can make it all worth your while."

"You're a freak!" Clint yelled. This stopped Loki in his tracks. "Oh is that it? Thats what keeps you awake in the dead of night? You're afraid of people calling you a freak?" Loki smiled.

"That's silly." He leaned in close to his ear. "I love it when men who are between my legs call me a freak." Loki sensed every muscle in Clint's body tense up. Every. Single. Muscle. Loki chuckled victoriously.

"What about you Loki?" Clint asked. Loki stopped in puzzlement. "I'll bet that even when you're a sub that you still have complete control over the situation."

"I'm listening." he purred.

"Don't you ever get tired of manipulating people? Haven't you ever gotten board of being able to predict everyone's every move?" He thought carefully.

"No. Not really. Its too much fun." Loki kissed his neck softly. Clint's labored breathing generated an unspeakable amount of giddiness.

"You know, I have a friend like you." Loki perked up, interested. "She can manipulate anyone into giving her what she wants. No one is safe. Especially not the ones closest to her. And she's beautiful, charming, and a damn good shot. But she's one of unhappiest people I've ever known. She gets bored easily and no one can satisfy her. So don't bullshit me, Loki. Don't tell me you're not unhappy. Don't lie to me."

"And why should I tell you the truth? What makes Clint Barton so special? Why should I 'open my heart,' so to speak, to some mortal human?" Clint chuckled.

"Because I am mortal. Because you're probably going to end up killing me too." Loki face became emotionless.

"I could kill you, but you'll never die." Clint's eyes questioned his dominant. "You see, every man, woman, child, any creature I kill is still here." He pointed to his chest. "And here." His temple. "Even after you're long gone, I'll still hear your voice. I'll relive this conversation over and over again in my mind. I'll see your face in my dreams. Every little detail will still be here. But you? You'll die. You will die and you will forget it all and start over again." They sat quietly searching each other's faces. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Depends. Was it the truth?" Loki laughed.

"Oh humans. When will you all realize that truth is relative? Yes, there are some things that are black and white but generally truth is a concept that is harder to find than perfection. Everyone lies, dear Barton. I'm just open about it. And everyone thanks me for it." He kissed Clint's clavicle. "The question is: will you?" Clint faced the window in disgrace.

"Do I have a choice?" Loki continued to travel south.

"You always have a choice. It's your dream." Clint shook his head.

"Then why am I not waking up?"

"Because you want to be here. You want to know why. And you like being my sub." With that he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small dagger. "Ah, Barton, kinky man aren't you?" He laughed evilly. "You see, there was nothing in my pocket. Nothing in my hand until it came out. You decided what it was. It could have been anything. A bouquet of flowers. A white rabbit. But no. You chose a dagger." He sliced a rather large cut underneath one of his ribs. He cried out in pain.

"How can you tell me this isn't real? This pain is real. That blood is real!" Loki smeared the blood around happily. A small chuckle escaped his lungs.

"Fascinating really. You have a vivid imagination. I could have so much fun with your mind. And since you are so dead set on being tied up, I suppose you'll let me." Clint tried the handcuffs once more. They were as strong as ever. "Oh, Barton."

"This is a dream." He repeated to himself multiple times, attempting to believe it. He searched the room for any other inconsistencies. Anything that will make him believe that it was all a dream. The window? The view. The skyline! It was clearly of Budapest. They were definitely in Stark Tower. In New York. The handcuffs broke free. Loki hadn't realized it yet.

"Let's play, shall we?" Loki said as he stood over Clint, dagger in hand prepared to strike.

"How about no?" Clint yelled as he kicked Loki to the opposite wall. He fell to the floor chuckling. His evil laughter grew increasingly.

"Clint?" Came a voice at the door.

"Stark?" Clint asked from the bed.

"Kinky boy." Loki purred from behind him.