Two

I splashed the cold water on my face, revelling in the calm awakening it sent through me. I turned off the tap and glanced up to find myself staring straight back at me. My long red hair was damp at the roots and pushed back from my pale face. My hazel eyes were withdrawn and surrounded by newly acquired dark circles.

I wasn't ready for this much responsibility, so for Fury to spring his plan on me with no warning…it was a shock to say the least. There was a light knock on the door and Natasha entered cautiously and came to lean against the counter, her arms crossed in front of her.

"You okay?" She asked, genuine concern in her expression.

"I'm fine," I replied.

She let out a quiet laugh, "No you're not, you're angry and I don't blame you."

"What am I supposed to say, Nat? I consciously try not to use my ability day in, day out. Fury just expects me to go and climb inside Loki's head and dig around? He's crazy if he thinks that will work. I'm not an agent, never mind anything else." Natasha took a deep breath in and exhaled lowly.
"You're not giving yourself enough credit, Wren."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped, "You think I should do it?"

"Do you think S.H.I.E.L.D. kept you around all these years because they needed a librarian? They knew that if you found yourself in the wrong hands after your parents died that you would be a threat, a big one. There will be someone with you the whole time, you won't be alone with him, you can do this."

I paused, my hands fiddled at my sides and I let my head hang back as I tried to think clearly.

"You all seem to be forgetting he's a god, he almost destroyed the city. What makes you think I'll even make it into the room without him manipulating me somehow? Or manipulating my abilities for that matter?"

"It's in your blood, Wren," Natasha paused "You can do this," She repeated.

I couldn't argue with that, I was a born psionic – but that didn't mean I was a match for a god, especially not the god of mischief.

Tony remained by my side, Fury was stood behind me, arms folded and stone faced.

"I'll stay in the room, I'll be just a few feet behind you, Mr Director over here won't be sticking around but I'm sure you have his full support," Tony smiled sarcastically and I glanced back at Fury.

"If I end up dead because of this stupid idea, my blood is on your hands. I want you to keep that in mind," I was trying my best to stay calm but the ringing in my ears and the tremor in my hands were enough to knock me over the edge into hysteria.

"Duly noted," Was Fury's only response, he seemed almost bored by the entire situation. The elevator doors opened into a dark room, lit spontaneously with fluorescent lights. In the centre of the room, a glass cell was suspended on a short podium. My heart jumped up into my throat when the man inside turned and grinned.

"How interesting, you brought your god a gift," His low voice echoed off of the glass of his cell and I choked back the urge to throw up.

"Get me anything you can, take note of everything that bastard says," Fury said as Tony and I stepped out of the elevator. In a matter of just a few seconds, Fury was gone and I was standing, my eyes locked with Loki's.

"I'll be here…babysitting," Tony motioned towards a chair and sat himself down, "Play nice," He added and I scoffed towards him.

"How is this such a big joke to everyone? I'm over here panicking about who's going to feed my cat when I'm dead and you're making jokes?" I argued.

"I'm allergic to cats but I can pay someone to feed the thing."

"Wow, thanks," I replied, turning to walk closer to the glass cell. Loki's eyes never left me, his devilish grin never faltered – not for a second.

"They must be desperate," Loki began, pacing the cell like a caged lion as he spoke.
"To bring to me the most amateur of oracles, I wonder what they hope to accomplish." I closed my eyes and against my better judgement, I fought against the glass boundary and found myself pushing my way into his mind. The pain wormed its way into my ears and rattled my thoughts.

"Explore, child. Try and find what your director desires. Perhaps then you will finally get what you desire so deeply.," His voice was no longer echoing from the sides of the cell, but instead bounced off the inside of my skull, each word sending a new wave of pain to the forefront of my mind.

"And what is that?" I asked, hoping my words would reach him in the correct order.

"A family, a father, love. Another glorified mortal searching for acceptance, it's hideous…how predictable you all are." Loki's voice was crueller than I had imagined – his words were strong and unforgiving, there was no manipulation here, only a determination to inflict pain.

"You're wrong, I don't yearn for Fury's acceptance, or his love for that matter," It was difficult to keep my interior voice convincing, I could feel Loki rooting around in my deepest memories, taking advantage of every opportunity he had to find something to use against me.

"If you aren't searching for acceptance…then why are you here, little bird?" His voice was gentler this time, smooth and velvety – a welcome relief from the budding migraine.

"They don't want to let you go back to Asgard," I stated out loud, which seemed to catch him off guard. He lowered himself down so that he was almost on eye level with me.

"There's that quivering voice, that maiden's blush…" He tilted his head ever so slightly to one side as he spoke, examining each and every little thing I did. I tried my best to remain calm and collected, but I could still smell, taste and almost touch him inside my mind.

"What do you have against us? Mortals, that is?" I asked, surprised by the nature of the question.

"Do not be mistaken, I have nothing against mortals…" Loki replied "In fact, you are vapour to me, nothing but a passing breeze, a whisper to be forgotten. Mortals are nothing but pawns."

"Then why go to such lengths to destroy us?" I asked, my curiosity was genuine but then again, so was my fear. My sweating palms and hummingbird-esque heartbeat were proof of that.

"Is this what you wish to discuss? My thoughts on the human race?" Loki smirked, a cruel light shining in his almond shaped eyes.

"Not necessarily, what would you like to talk about?" I asked quietly, trying to forget that there was possibly ten to twenty people listening in on my conversation at this very moment and so far, I didn't have a clue what I was doing.

"Let's talk about you, little bird. I tire of silence, amuse me with your tales of mortal troubles." He turned to rest his back against the glass so that all I could see was a cascade of shoulder length, raven hair and broad shoulders.

Sorry it's taken so long to update! I've got lots more written so will be updating regularly from now on. I love reviews!