Glass Box

(An Avengers not-quite- Loki/reader insert Fanfic)

Chapter Two:

…

Crimson and clover

Over and o-over….

Maria woke up sideways on her soft red bed, still donning the silky ball gown from the night before, rubbing her eyes, smudging a bit of blue eye shadow over her right eye. She sat up, confetti and glitter falling off of her chest and shoulders. She glimpsed into her dresser mirror, imagining that she looked like a Moulin Rouge character. Skeeter looked up at Maria, confused at the sudden happiness of his master. He licked her palm, as if asking if she was okay. She patted his head reassuringly. Taking notice of her iPod alarm clock that had went off, she laughed at her mother, Jackie's music being on her iPod.

She had remembered the vivid, high-spirited night; Loki had walked her to her door like a perfect gentleman, but vanished when she turned to thank him. Maria was groggy from all of the dancing and drama that insured. Her reaction was a frown of disappointment- she had enjoyed the kiss, and had longed for another at the door. She had shrugged, went to her room, and lay down to think and rest her eyes- a trap designed by the human body.

An audible knock was heard on the bedroom window. Glancing around to check for her mother, she opened the window with a finger over her mouth. Loki climbed through, slightly stumbling over her bean bag chair.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a whisper.

"I've come to apologize."

"Apologize? For what? " Maria asked, taken aback.

"My actions." He stated.

"Here, sit down." She said, patting the bed.

He sauntered over and sat, which caused Skeeter to growl a bit.

"You were with…that boy" He said bitterly.

"Yeah."

"And I shouldn't have interrupted your…social gathering."

"…Okay."

"…Or knocked out your companion with my sorcery."

"What say you?" He asked hopefully.

"Well…just…try not to do it again." She said.

Loki hugged her.

"Good! Now for the real reason I came over…" He said, snapping his fingers.

She licked her lips, raising her eyebrows and leaning back a little bit.

Well, that's forward… Loki could hear telepathically. He suppressed a giggle.

"I came to keep my promise."

"What promise?" She tilted her head.

"I told you that you would be rewarded for releasing me."

She recalled having freed him and him uttering something.

"I guess I didn't believe you."

"Believe me, you haven't been the first to not trust the God of Lies and Mischief." He chuckled.

Maria paused to think.

"Loki…like the god Loki?" She asked.

"The Norse god of mischief…chained to a wall and freed…" She recalled having read it in middle school mythology class. Maria had grown infatuated with magic and stories ever since childhood, when her father had read her the stories every night. When he was alive, he had shown her the artifacts from western Norway he had uncovered. He went on a trip with his team to uncover a priestess' crystal necklace. That was when he had disappeared off of the face of the earth.

"Don't worry, sweetie. I will be back in time for your birthday. Take care of your mother for me. I love you!" He had promised. That was eight years ago. Maria snapped out of her flashback.

"That's right." He paused.

"I can give you wealth, power, love, fame…you name it. It's yours."

Maria looked up.

"Take me to Asgard then."

He raised an eyebrow.

"If it is your wish, my Midguardian friend."

"Wait a second…I have to get dressed." She said, opening her closet door.

"No need" He said, waving his hand up and down. Maria was instantly dressed in a scarlet dress. She looked astonished.

"Just a little something from my days of being a woman… I'm never doing that again." He resolved.

"It's beautiful!" Maria spun, looking in her vanity mirror at her clothing and now clean hair held back by a braid.

Loki stepped towards the window, which was blowing the gold curtains all around.

"Well…are you coming?" He extended a hand.

Much to her surprise, a gryphon awaited her.

"Shut up! You brought a gryphon over here? A gryphon! Ha!" She smiled.

Maria sat on the gryphon, after Loki did. He tapped it with a riding crop.

"Kyah!"

The gryphon took off instantaneously, making Maria grab onto Loki tightly. He smiled, slowing her down.

"Wow…look at the view…!"

"Hold on…this next part is kind of fast…"

They entered into a kaleidoscope- looking vortex that zoomed past. The gryphon slowed her wings, the descended little by little. Maria looked around her- it was another planet. The sky was purple and it had two moons.

"Whoa…"

The gryphon landed in a meadow overlooking a sea with purple waters and a tall grey castle. Maria's eyes widened.

"Is this yours?"

"Yes, Miss Pond. It is."

Loki took Maria off of the gryphon and led her to the back of the castle to a garden.

"This is my home. Come with me."

Some of the flowers were the size of trees. The plants sang a melodic song as Maria and Prince Loki walked through the path until they found a bench to sit on.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

"Famished."

Loki pulled a large, red apple off of a tree.

"Thank you." He told the tree.

Maria shined the apple against her skirt. It tasted soft and sugary. All of a sudden, the color faded to a bright, shining gold.

…

"The Golden Apples…" Her father had told her.

"They are a divine food, young lady." He said, holding one up in his hand. The young Maria giggled as he held it away from her.

"The ones on Asgard grant immortality. Always have an apple a day." He had said with a storyteller's voice.

"Now the ones on earth don't grant immortality, but it may just keep the doctor away for good!" He handed her the yellow apple from the supermarket.

"Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome, sweetheart. Now, don't get anymore colds now, you hear?"

She sniffled.

"Okay!" She ate the Golden Delicious apple eagerly.

…

"What have you done, Loki?" She asked in a straight tone, avoiding eye contact.

"I am sorry. I am so, so sorry."

Maria grabbed her temples, and leant forward in sudden pain. Gold, sparkling mist came out from her eyes and fingertips.

"Maria!"