Writer's note – Each chapter from hereon is a "flashback" following Alice's story becoming involved in Loki's life. I'd also love to hear some input! Let me know what you think.

2012

Handcuffed and chained to a support beam at Stark Tower, Loki was forced to stand there. His arms were suspended above his head. It was uncomfortable. It was meant to be. The worst part was how every part of his being ached. His army, defeated. The monster had done a number on him. He absently stared at where it happened. This level was trashed with the marble floor smashed to bits. If he could level his vision enough, he could see the outline his body made in the rock. He could almost thank him. He beat Thanos' mind control right out of him. He hissed, bearing his teeth looking up at his wrists. Tony put these restraints on too tight and too high. His heels barely rested on the ground. He couldn't help but chuckle. He deserved this. What more could he say other than how he wished it could've ended differently. He was so close to victory, and yet far from it.

"Tony?" Alice called out, bolting out of the elevator. Hair a mess, she had bloodied cuts on her arms and dust over her polyester tee. One of the wounds looked deeper than the rest, but adrenaline numbed the pain. She soon spotted him and dropped what she was holding: a tablet. The God of Mischief and human girl locked eyes for only a moment. She cursed under her breath, crouching down and checking to see if it broke. She cursed herself more. The entire screen was shattered.

"Where'd they go?" She demanded, tossing the tablet on the bar near him. His voice was ragged and strained. "Who specifically?" Loki smiled, immediately seeing a flash of light as Alice backslapped him.

"Your alien friends leveled my apartment, and I was in it, asshole!" Her lip quivered. His head turned, Loki's grin grew, liking this human's fire. She was full of spit and vinegar. It was nice. Centering his head, he looked down at her. He froze, retracting back with his lips slightly puffed out as he saw and felt the cold sting of the barrel of a handgun resting on his temple. Her hand was firm and unwavering. A single index finger caressing the curved trigger. Five pounds of pressure was all it would take.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't pull the trigger." She said standing inches away. This man killed so many people that day. One moment everything was fine. It was her first day off in weeks and she was enjoying it eating an entire container of sherbet and binge-watching Star Trek. Before she knew it she was grabbing an iron-hand she had on loan and was trying to not get killed by a Chitauri soldier. Their giant flying monster's fin skimmed her building and it was coming down quickly. She managed to kill the ugly alien. She managed to fall down to the damaged fire escape. By some miracle the building fell the other way and not on top of her.

Her pupils were dots and her cheeks red as she honed in on Loki's sudden change in mood. She didn't like being laughed at. "Ending my life would make sense, after all that I've done," He said, swallowing dryly. "Your friends had many opportunities, but they chose not to and likely for a reason. I trust you have faith in their judgement…" He winced and closed his eyes, feeling her press the barrel harder against his head. "I also trust you have a strong sense of morality and justice, like them as well." He looked down at her.

They stood there a moment. He could watch her thinking. He was right. He also had reputable skills of persuasion and trickery. Regardless, unfortunately, his logic was inarguably sound. She was more frightened than angry. Her shoulders went lax, moving the gun away from his head. Taking a step back, she set the gun down next to the damaged tablet. She moved behind the table and found a bottle of Crown Royal. She leaned against the bar with her side and opened it. She found a wash rag and dabbed the whiskey on the cloth, letting it soak thoroughly before setting the bottle down and treated a wound on her arm. It was a deep laceration from the edge of a steel ladder bar. She wasn't sure how much blood she had lost.

Loki tilted his head watching as she whimpered as the alcohol burned the inflicted flesh. Her adrenaline had worn off, and the pain was starting to set.

"You should really have someone look at that." He stated casually.

Alice frowned, giving him a look that had "shut up" written all over it.

"I have a cauterizing tool and a towel. I'm good." She said in confidence before she took a swig of the bottle. It was smooth as it was hot. She took three full gulps, the equivalent of three shots in a row. Her expression soured as she wasn't used to hard liquor. After all that happened, she deserved this. Setting it down, she took in a deep breath, feeling the alcohol warm her chest.

"May I offer a less painful solution? It's the least I can do for you sparing my life." He said, his eyebrows raised in a friendly manner. Her eyes rolled, wiping fresh blood off seeping out of the wound. "Or perhaps a small trade? If you could spare some water, I'd be more than happy to seal the wound."

Ignoring him, she walked past him and to the tall glass windows, cautiously moving forward as two of the glass sheets had been broken clean through. Loki watched, curious if she was going to move closer, hoping she didn't intend on moving any further. She had a pretty face. It'd be a shameful waste if she stumbled and fell all the way down to the ground floor.

"Man you guys made a mess of this place." She grumbled, able to look down just enough to see parts of a shiny golden horned helmet.

"I'm a God, you know. Repairing a wound would be of no consequence." Loki offered again.

She stopped, looking at him inquisitively. "Really?"

"Oh, yes, and more. I can turn any metal to gold, cotton to silk, anything you so desired." He said in a smooth, hypnotic voice, working like as a flame attracts a moth. She watched him as he gazed at her in intensity. "Wealth, beauty, power. With my help, you could surpass Stark." He offered.

Wordlessly she walked towards him, eyes trailing from his eyes to the chains above. His eyes lit up with anticipation. He had her. The way she was moving her hips, he thought about actually following through with his offer once he was free.

"Anything, really?" She smiled weakly, stopping directly in of him.

He leaned his head forward, shadowing his face, close enough to feel her breath on his neck as she reached one hand up, fingers trailing up his arm and then over and she held the metal bonds. She had to admit spite her hatred towards Loki, he smelt good. He was better looking than his brother, too. So many people had swooned over shots taken from when he crashed in New Mexico. Blondes just never caught her eye. Loki couldn't help himself but to grin, taking in her scent. It had been a very, very long time since he's been this close to the opposite sex of any world. He was 1,500 years old, after all. The familiar primal itch was… Present.

"Anything." He cooed in her ear as she put a hand over his green and gold chest-plate. For the slightest moment a chill ran down her spine. He was, truly, temptation in physical form. The alcohol she had earlier was making it harder for her to resist, but her will was strong. Alice bit her lip, praying she wasn't going to regret her actions.

She took a sharp breath, shooting her other arm up gripping both forearms slamming 130lbs of weight down on his aching wrists. Loki yelped in pain, the vein on his forehead stuck out and he began to sweat. Grinding his teeth, Alice gripped his jugular with one hand. He could barely feel it as all his focus was the stabbing pain radiating from his wrists. He could feel the bones in his wrist pop.

"Did you honestly think I was that stupid?" She scorned.

He began to laugh. Pain slowly turned into pleasure. It was all his body could do to cope with such primal torture, and the only way to not give her the reaction she so desired. "Oh, I like you!" He growled as her eyes widened, looking up to see he somehow held her wrists in place. She stood on the tips of her toes, her chest forcibly pressing against him.

"You really got me, there, darling, I love your angle," He hissed with a chuckle. "You still have much to learn before you could ever get close to inflicting real harm."

Shit. Her eyes darted to the gun six feet away from her reach. She tried pulling away, but he held a death grip. He was the snake and she was bitten. Why did she think she could pull off something like that with whom called themselves the "God" of "Mischief"? She began to panic, yanking and trying to pull away, all futile efforts. He began to whisper something in a strange language. It was so quiet she almost couldn't hear it. The chains began to freeze, ice crystals forming rapidly. Loki was able to escape these bonds the entire time. Thor failed to remember to seal his mouth, thus giving him the opportunity to free himself. It was just like being in the giant flying fortress, but of course, he chose to stay.

"Well, this has been fun. It really is a shame you turned me down." Loki chuckled.

"It's a shame I didn't blow your brains out when I had the chance." She threatened, still trying to yank free. Her fingers were turning blue. Loki's mind went a different direction in regards to her statement. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he teased, "I'm sorry, but we barely know each other."

Alice's face turned beet red. He loved it, taking a liking to see her so flustered. Loki then yanked down with all his strength, breaking the chains. His arms ached and rejoiced in the change of position. In the same moment, Thor flew through the broken window, making it just in time to see his brother break the brittle frozen chains. Loki spotted him and snatched Alice as his captive, turning her around with her back pressed against his chest, using the unbroken chain between cuffs pressing it against her neck. Heart pounding and clammy, her hands locked on his forearms. This is what she got thinking she was like her cousin. She thought she saw past his act, but she fell right into all the smoke and mirrors. He let her think she was winning and in control. It was another reminder of how she was not in control by any means.

"Loki, let her go or you will see no mercy." Thor said, gripping Mjolnir.

"Oh, she and I were having only a bit of fun, no harm done." Loki smiled, looking down at her. "I'm sorry, dear I'm afraid I never got your name." She dug her nails into his arm, hoping he could feel it. "Alison Elisabeth Stark." She said proudly. He took pleasure in hearing this. She's a Stark. This made this encounter more of a pleasure.

"Well this explains why you haven't gotten any of my calls." Tony made his entrance, wearing a single red iron glove pointed directly at Loki. Shreds of lettuce had lingered around on his shirt without his knowledge. Of course. They went out and had shawarma. The God of Mischief waited an extra moment to see if anyone else would be turning the corner. If he learned Bruce so happened to be in the building he would've laid on his back showing his belly in complete surrender. He wasn't sure his body could endure the abuse. He moved the chain away from her neck and she ducked down, quickly reaching out for her gun. Once again the barrel was aimed for his head. Her legs were noodles, her balance unsteady.

"Easy, hotshot. Thor's got this." Tony said to Alice, stepping over slowly to lower her weapon. She let him, watching the thunder god take something out from a hidden pouch. It was a muzzle fit for a man's face. Loki sighed, smacking his lips dryly. As Thor started placing the device over Loki's mouth, Alice spoke up.

"Wait!"

Tony blinked in surprise at his relative's protest. Didn't she just point a gun at him moments after he threatened her life? For all he knew, Loki was the one who injured her arm. Traces of smeared blood settled on his sleeve. It couldn't have, though. There'd be a puddle somewhere. What was the deal here? Thor paused, perplexed as his iron friend was. Holding his brother firmly in place, he watched her wearily, keeping the device hovered over his face. Alice took a glass and filled it with water. He could hear the liquid splattering in the glass, droplets trailing down the clear container. She carefully moved forward to offer the glass.

"Yep, okay, I get it. You take a thrill playing with fire, kid." Tony said sounding unamused, taking the glass from her, keeping her far from Loki as he could manage with his arm stretched out between them. They locked eyes for a moment, not saying a word to each other and saying everything. His eyes said 'thank you'. Hers said as she raised her chin, 'you're alright for a homicidal maniac.' The moment Thor took the glass, he reached out and took it, taking in the water hungrily. Careful to not drink too fast, he closed his eyes as the liquid eased his burning throat. It was gone as quickly as it came. The moment the water was gone, Thor sealed his mouth with the device.

Thor began swinging his hammer, turning to the window. Loki rolled his eyes. Why must they fly? With a firm grip on his brother, they flew off. Alice watched them turn the corner. "You should really have someone look at that," Tony suggested, pointing to her arm, oblivious to who had said the same exact thing. "How'd that happen by the way?"