Germany happened. And then New York. And when the dust settled, Adriana received visitors.
They weren't particularly nice. They threw a black bag over her head and took her to a windowless interrogation room, where they fortunately removed the bag, because she was sure she would either suffocate or die of a panic attack if they kept it on.
She found herself sitting on a chair at a desk, and opposite her sat a man in a suit. He looked stern, but his eyes had kindness in them.
"Adriana," he greeted her.
"That's Miss Hájková to you," she corrected him coldly.
"All right," he conceded. "We are sorry for the rough treatment earlier, but I'm sure you understand the need for secrecy."
"I might if you tell me who you are."
"We're S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Of course you are," she rolled her eyes.
"You didn't expect us to ignore the fact that you came to talk to Loki and got out unscathed, did you?" he smiled at her nicely.
"I was hoping you might," she shrugged.
"No such luck, I'm afraid," the man replied. "What you did is rather extraordinary. So either you found a way to manipulate Loki, or you're his follower."
"You really do have the wildest theories," she said as if the man had just confirmed one of hers.
"Enlighten me then," he offered.
"Loki came to start a war and take over Earth. I figured since I was likely going to die, I might as well find out why. So I went to ask him, that's all."
"And you found him how exactly?"
"He was stealing my wifi," she glowered at him nastily.
"Right."
"Look, it was by accident. What does it matter? I thought he would kill me anyway. Or turn me into one of his zombies. If you want to know the reason he let me go, you need to ask him."
"You know, certain parties present at the time seem to recall Loki calling you a fangirl," the man pointed out.
Adriana sighed. "Do the certain parties recall that I protested against that?"
"No, but they recall you calling Loki a beautiful person. You understand how that looks, don't you?"
She had to take a few moments to think of a reply. They were going to take everything she had said to Loki and use it to label her a threat to humanity. It was outrageous and frankly a bit scary.
"He did treat me better than you," she said eventually.
"Yes, I imagine he did," the man nodded.
"Oh, for god's sake," she burst out. "I haven't done anything wrong. And I wasn't some starry-eyed teenager who couldn't keep her hands off a gorgeous villain. Do you people know anything about me? About my history?"
"I believe we know quite a lot, yes," he admitted.
"Then you should know I would rather die than let him touch me."
He paused. They had studied her in great detail, and she was right, her history would suggest reluctance for physical contact.
"What did you talk about later that night, Miss Hájková?" he asked after a minute to shift the uncomfortable weight off the topic.
She shrugged. "I told him that trying to rule over this planet wasn't worth it. He said he would anyway. That was about it."
"Did you really think you could stop him?" the man wondered.
She decided to be honest with him. After all, that usually worked. "Look, I just think that he shouldn't let himself be defined by whatever betrayal he might have lived through. He's more than his rage or revenge. You people never think of that. Someone is driven by desperation, and you… cross them off immediately, and it never even occurs to you that you should try to help them first. I wanted to listen. I don't think I could have helped, but at least I wanted to be fair," she explained.
"Well, being fair is not always a luxury we can afford," said the man, albeit sympathetically. "Especially when it comes to protecting the people of this world."
"I understand your position, but I do believe it's a better approach in the long run."
"And that is your right. Although I would strongly suggest you refrain from any vigilante work in the future," he said.
"Am I free to go now, then?" she guessed.
"Certainly. If you wish," the man assured her.
She did, and since she asked nicely, they were decent enough not to put the bag back over her head but rather blindfolded her carefully.
This interview cost her her job, as she had failed to show up for work on time, but looking back, she was gracious enough to admit it was probably the best thing that could have happened to her.
She would occasionally think of Loki. The news said he was taken back to Asgard to be imprisoned there. She wondered whether he remembered their conversation, and what his view might be now that he lost.
He remembered. And given the result, he thought she was right.