Part 2
"Now if you would be so kind," He said, looking down as he brushed dust off his cloak. "I have further need of your assistance."
Anna slowly managed to find her voice again. "I know you." She whispered.
His face split in a beaming smile, flashing white teeth. "I doubt that very much. There are very few who could claim to know me."
"You're Loki." Her voice trembled as she spoke the name. "Loki Laufeyson."
His eyes flashed at the mention of his full name – eyebrows narrowing, lips pursed in a frown – but it was gone in an instant, replaced by calm composure once more. Anna wondered if she'd just imagined it. He nodded once, and gave a small, but formal bow. "You are correct. The God of Mischief, at your service. Though, my first name alone shall suffice."
Anna pushed herself away from the tree, standing up straight. If she was going to go toe-to-toe with the god of lies and deception, she wanted to do it standing on her own two feet. "What do you want with me?" She demanded, trying to sound more confident than she felt. It didn't work.
He turned away from her, clasping his hands behind his back. "My brother and his bellicose friends are no doubt searching for me at this moment. They will arrive shortly, to take me away once more." He glanced back over his shoulder, meeting her eyes again. The gaze sent a shock of ice down her spine. "You and I will need to convince them, otherwise."
"What am I supposed to do?" Anna asked. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know the answer. Loki smiled as if she'd said something amusing, then he shimmered and disappeared. Anna turned frantically, trying to find him but he was nowhere to be seen.
Then his hand fell on her shoulder as his other placed something cold against her neck. She jumped and gasped, trying to step backwards, but only serving to bump into him.
"Nothing, my dear." That silken voice whispered in her ear. "You are simply to be my insurance. Something to keep my would-be-captors from doing as they wish with me. They have such sentiment for the bystander, the innocent. And Mr. Stark in particular seems to have a soft spot whenever prisoners are involved.
"So I'm to be a hostage, then?" Anna barely breathed the words, afraid that the knife at her throat would cut her.
"A deterrent. A small bit of protection against their combined hot-headedness. If I were to meet them alone, I fear things would immediately turn to fighting." He tapped her shoulder lightly, moving his fingers in a wave. The motion made her shiver. "With you here to keep the peace, there is hope yet that we might solve our differences diplomatically."
"Or that with your silver tongue you might be able to trick and deceive your way out of it."
He laughed, and there was genuine mirth in the sound. He let the knife drop and pulled away, walking around to face her in front. "Perhaps you do know me. What is your name, midgardian?"
She lightly touched the spot on her neck where the knife had been. Then she placed her hands on her hips, looking up and meeting his eyes. The chain on her handcuffs was just long enough to allow it. If she was going to face a god, she might as well act like she knew what she was doing. "Anna. Anna Mitchell. And your plan isn't going to work."
He raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Don't tell me – I lack conviction?"
"No," she said, shrugging. "It's just a dumb plan. A hostage against the Avengers? I doubt they'd negotiate, especially with you. There's no way that would ever work. I'm pretty sure JARVIS could lock on and let Tony put a bullet through your head without so much as touching me. That is, if Hawkeye doesn't just go all 'Katniss' on you and shoot you in the hand. Or, knowing Barton, in the face."
He grabbed the chain on the cuffs, yanking her arms forward and pulling her in close. He stared deep into her eyes, their noses almost touching. She tried to ignore the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears. "And what would you suggest instead?" She could feel his strangely-cool breath on her face as he whispered the words.
"Well," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "If you want to stay out of their custody, you're going to need more than hostages." She hesitated, closing her eyes and frowning to herself for a moment. I can't believe I'm suggesting this. "You're going to need an army. And I know just the girls for the job."
