"I wish to know more about you." Loki said suddenly. I had just started peeling an apple I stole from the kitchens, I hesitated slightly, a little thrown. We had been talking for a few hours now, about random things, just enjoying each other's company.
"What would you like to know?" I asked. I don't know why Loki would be interested in anything about me, I wasn't an avenger. Nothing extraordinary about me.
"What was your life like? Back on Midgard?" He asked, I looked up at him and he was sitting in his chair, facing me and leaning forward. His face so close to the barrier I could see his eyes, striking green that pictures in his file couldn't quite capture. I smiled, amused at how interested he seemed to be.
"I was an agent of shield." I said simply, hoping that was explanation enough.
"What were you before that? What was before shield?" That threw me a little and I accidently cut my thumb, dropping my apple in the process. No one had ever asked me about my past, don't ask don't tell.
"Shit." I muttered as I picked my apple back up off the floor and tried dusting it off, but it was no good it was brown from the dust on the floor. I sighed, letting it drop again and then looked back up at Loki. He was still sitting there, waiting patiently for an answer.
"I don't remember much." I admitted, looking away. "All I've ever really known is Shield."
"What about your family?" He asked and I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
"I don't know, I never had one." I pressed against the cut in my thumb, focusing on the sharp pain there, instead of the one beating in my chest.
"You must have had someone." He said sadly.
"Not until shield, I grew up in and out of a hospital. I was a really ill kid, they said it was due to my mum taking drugs when she was pregnant with me, she wanted to miscarry, so she didn't have to give birth to me. But she did and then promptly left me on the street in a cardboard box in a pile of trash." I shrugged, even though retelling my start in life was less than pleasant.
"As fate would have it the person who found me was an agent of shield, he heard me crying and took me to the hospital, paid my medical bills, let me live with him and his wife on the rare occasion I wasn't in the hospital. And when I was finally better he began training me to be an agent. He died before he could see me graduate the academy." I finished and sat in my chair, waiting for Loki to say something, anything.
"I'm sorry." He said, his voice thick with emotion.
"It's ok." I said, not knowing what else I could say. I felt silly for opening up so much, he didn't want to listen to all that.
I should have just kept my past to myself, why did I think he wanted to know that much, he probably regretted even asking.
"I know what it's like to feel unwanted." He said quietly, I was shocked he even spoke.
"I was also cast out at birth, left to die because I too, was unwanted."
"You have a family though." I said, I knew about Loki's past, Thor had been forthcoming when we were writing Loki's file.
"No, I was a stolen relic to Odin. Nothing more." I could hear it in his voice, the betrayal he felt.
"But not to Frigga, or Thor… You were a son, a brother. And you still are. Family doesn't always mean blood." I said looking up at him finally. He was smiling but I could see the pain in his eyes.
"Doesn't it?" He asked, leaning back putting up his walls back up.
"I hope not. If that's the case than all I have is an unmarked grave to call my family." There was a flicker in his eyes, only for a second.
I could hear footsteps coming down the hallway.
My hand instantly went for the gun at my hip, but as the footsteps came closer I could see it was only one of the maids with a tray of food. She set it down a little way down the hall and quickly ran off.
"For the love of god." I muttered walking to the tray and picking it up. I brought it back and Loki was watching me.
"Seems we have been talking nearly all day." I said slightly surprised. I slid the tray through and went back to my chair.
"It would seem so." Loki said, distracted. He didn't take the tray but watched me instead.
"It'll get cold." I warned him, giving him a small smile.
"It probably already is." He joked, giving me a small grin as he stood up and picked up his tray. He took the fruit and put the rest of the food off to the side.
"Nice of your mother to visit you." I mentioned, wanting to know how long that had been going on.
His eyes flicked back up to me as he picked at his food.
"Hmm." Was all he said, a small smirk on his lips. I should have known it wouldn't be that easy to get him to talk.
"Does she do that often?" I tried, scratching at my cuticles in my attempt to look uninterested.
"Why do you need to know?" He asked me, I looked up and his eyes were slightly narrowed, his smile gone.
"Maybe so you can tell Fury?" He asked, the suspicion obvious in his voice.
"No." I said simply, abandoning my cuticles.
"No need to inform Fury about a visitor." I gave him a smile. "Unless she was planning a break-out." I laughed and leaned back, hoping to get back into easy conversation.
"No such luck, I'm afraid." He smiled back at me.
"Anyway, I like your mother, she's one of the only Asgardians who is nice to me." Loki raised an eyebrow at my comment.
"One of the only?" He questioned. I waved a hand.
"It's normal, I'm a mortal on their planet. They have every right to be suspicious of me." I shrugged my shoulders. "Not like it's so much different from my life on Earth either."
"You're not liked anywhere?" He asked. That made me laugh.
"That's just mean." Loki laughed with me. Beginning to actually eat his meal.
"Anyone who I worked with was a spy, spies are always suspicious of other spies. Everyone else knew nothing about me. I was an outcast, but that's fine with me." I stretched my arms above me and looked at my watch.
"It's late." I said standing and moving the chair. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." I smiled, and Loki nodded.
"See you tomorrow Anna." He returned my smile and I began my walk back outside. When I reached the doors, Amir gave me a concerned look.
"I'm glad to see you are unharmed." He looked me up and down seemingly concerned that I had injured myself.
"I'm fine." I laughed, as he gave me smile in return.
"It was just you were in there for a long time." He said carefully.
"Just asking him questions." I lied.
"Getting to know my target, his motivations for trying to enslave Earth, you know. Stuff..." I finished lamely, earning myself a 'HA' from the silent guard to the left. Wish he would just stick to silence and grunting.
But Amir smiled at me. "As long as you are unharmed." He assumed his position again and I saluted to him.
"See you tomorrow guys." I turned and began to walk back to the kitchens.
I needed to eat. Usually I would wait for my meal in my room, but I was seriously beginning to get hunger pains. Maybe I could grab something quick, run in and out before that chef chases me out again? As I made my way a familiar face caught my attention.
"Thor?" I called out and the blonde hair I had recognised turned around. He smiled as his eyes landed on me.
"Ah Anna." He left the group he had been talking to as he walked over.
"How are you?" He asked and as he got closer I could see the cuts and bruises all over his exposed skin.
"I'm fine." I said as I took in his injured form. "You look like Hell." I laughed, and his expression changed to confusion.
"Hel?" He asked, and I remembered the whole, different worlds.
"You look terrible. What's with all the injuries?" He looked a little insulted until I clarified I meant his injuries, not his general appearance.
"Ah, they are nothing. Peace has been restored to the nine realms." He puffed out his chest proudly and smiled.
"Until next time." I commented which made him deflate a little.
"I guess you are correct." But his smile returned easily. "Are you coming to the feast?" He asked looking to the large dining hall.
"I didn't know there was a feast." I wouldn't know, I had been with Loki all day. Wasn't exactly the hub of gossip down there.
"Of course, there shall be! To congratulate our victory and celebrate peace!" Thor laughed loudly and smacked me on the back. "You should come." I backed up not wanting another 'slap'.
"Oh no, I don't want to intrude, I was just going to get a quick snack." I pointed the way to the kitchen. But Thor began to steer me into the dining hall.
"Nonsense! Celebrate with us Anna." My excuses were drowned out by the cheers that erupted when Thor arrived in the hall. A few glances cast my way looked suspicious, but I kept my head held high as I walked with the older prince.
He walked to the table separated from the general gathering of people. Odin and Frigga were sitting there, with one chair on Odin's side and one of Frigga's.
"Ah Anna." Frigga stood and motioned to the chair next to her. "Come sit next to me."
Thor smiled and went to the seat next to Odin. I went to the Queen and sat in the seat, very aware of the eyes on me. I was facing the whole hall. Now I wasn't just the mortal walking around. I was the mortal at the royal table. This should make me soooo popular.
I then thought that this must be Loki's chair. Next to Frigga, on the royal table, whose else's would it be?
I wished I had just went to the damn kitchen now. Odin looked at me, curiously.
"And who is this?" He asked Frigga who smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"This is the Agent from Midgard, sent to monitor Loki." He nodded as he looked at me again.
"Welcome to Asgard. I hope Loki isn't being too much of a burden." Odin shook his head as he mentioned Loki, and Frigga looked like she wanted to say something but didn't.
"Of course not, your majesty." I smiled. "He is the most pleasant target I've been given."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Those weren't good words when describing your mission.
Odin nodded to me and seemed to ignore my comment, although Frigga gave me a small smile.
"Perhaps a toast darling?" Frigga suggested, and Odin nodded standing up. I sat back glad to not be in the line of questioning anymore.
"A toast!" Odin bellowed. The whole hall went quiet as people turned to their king.
"To my son, Thor. He has once again restored peace in the nine realms!" The whole hall began to stomp their feet and cheer. "And to the Warriors three also. You have our thanks for guarding the nine realms." Odin sat back down, and Thor had a huge smile on his face. Cheering along with everyone.
"Now we feast!" As Odin yelled, people in uniforms spilled out from the doorways carrying trays of food. They served the royal table first and then the rest of the hall.
People began to talk as the food was placed in front of them. I was surprised at some of the food presented. I didn't even know what some of the animals were. One looked like a pig, but it was green and had four giant black tusks that looked like they could impale someone.
I steered clear and picked food that I was more familiar with.
Not much of it was like the food on earth. Not a Twinkie or sausage roll in sight. But I had been served some of this in my room. I listened mostly to Thor as he described his time in the other realms.
What monsters he fought and defeated, difficulties they faced along the way. What had happened and why. He was very thorough. I felt like I had been given a history 101 of the realms current political climate.
"We are very proud of you." Frigga commented once Thor was done.
"Thank you, mother." He bowed his head to her and then his eyes went to me.
"What has happened in my absence?" He asked, and I was about to answer when Odin interrupted not seeing the question wasn't directed at him.
"Nothing of importance." Odin waved his hand.
Hard to get a word in edgeways with him. He began to talk to Thor about the other realms, names I didn't recognise and couldn't remember, so I tuned it out. I began to poke at a plate near me with some kind of fruit on it. I think.
"It is Grula berry." Frigga told me as I stopped poking the dark purple circles.
"Oh." I nodded, as if I knew that and she simply reminded me.
"It is rather sweet." She supplied, and I took one experimentally.
I picked one and chewed it. An explosion of what tasted like sugar went off in my mouth. It was like a really sweet strawberry. I hummed as I picked another.
"It's nice." I commented as I chewed more.
"That is Loki's favourite." Frigga added quietly. Odin didn't hear as he was deep in conversation with a bored looking Thor.
"Really?" I asked, and then I remembered seeing something similar on his supper tray before. Except they were smaller.
"Does he have them dried?" I asked, and Frigga smiled.
"He does." She chuckled as she picked one too.
"I remember seeing them now." I took one last one before returning to my plate.
It was a pleasant feast, my first on Asgard. They had something similar to this most nights, but I elected to have my dinner in my room. Or pick something up as I explored the palace.
I don't think I would be changing my dinner plans, it was nice to be around Thor and Frigga. But being in a hall full of people who didn't trust me just set me on edge. I could feel their eyes on me constantly, distrustful gazes and whispers.
It was like being back at the shield base.
After I had eaten I excused myself.
"It is has been a lovely meal." I bowed slightly as I got up from my chair. "But I have to get back to my room."
The dinner was finished, and everyone had begun drinking. It wasn't my scene.
"I shall go with you, I'm feeling quite tired myself." Frigga leant down and kissed her husband before leading the way out. I followed Frigga quietly, feeling more than a few pairs of eyes in the hall watch me.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Frigga asked, slowing down to walk beside me.
"I prefer to be alone if I'm honest." I mumbled embarrassed.
"I know someone like that." She chuckled, and I knew she meant Loki. It seemed he was never far from her thoughts.
"He never enjoyed the celebratory banquets either. Except when he was playing a trick on someone. Mostly Thor." She laughed, lost in a memory. "They were always butting heads together."
"Don't all siblings?" I asked.
"You have siblings?" She asked. We turned a corner as I shook my head.
"I don't think so."
She looked at me confused. "You don't know?"
"I don't know my biological family." I explained. "I wouldn't know if I was the only one." And it was true. I told Loki my mother was dead, but that was just an assumption. She could be alive and running around with 46 of my siblings for all I know.
I shrugged. "But I grew up alone, so I guess it wouldn't really matter now." You can't really build that sibling relationship in your adulthood. I had no intention to try either.
"That is saddening." Frigga's voice was quiet. "But again, reminds me of someone we both know."
Before I knew it, we were at my door.
"Oh, your highness, I could escort you to your room instead." I offered, not realising she was walking me to my room. I assumed I was walking her to hers.
"No, it is quite alright." She smiled and raised a hand. "Good night Anna."
"Good night your highness." I went into my room and collapsed in my bed.
Why was every Asgardian able to worm my life story out of me? No one on Earth knew, except Fury but he knows everything. I groaned and rolled over, intending to go straight to sleep. But I could hear a soft beeping. It was the sound of my phone. I jumped up and grabbed it from on top of my case.
"Agent Daniels." I answered, putting it to my ear.
It took a few seconds to establish the connection, until I hear a familiar voice.
"It's Fury." I would have been able to tell it was him without the confirmation. He had a very distinct voice. But it was odd for him to call me.
"How can I help you sir?"
"You've been reassigned Agent, we need you back on Earth." For a beat I didn't reply. Reassigned?
"Agent Daniels?" Fury asked, I cleared my throat and quickly replied.
"Yes sir, can I ask why?" I had begun to pace the room, why was I being called back?
"I have a mission for you, I need your skill set. We will be replacing you on Asgard with another agent for the time being." I wanted to argue with him, but I couldn't. I was being given an order. And even if I didn't want to follow it, I didn't have much choice.
"Yes sir." I replied quietly.
"You're to report to Heimdall on tomorrow evening." Fury told me, and I hesitated.
"Tomorrow evening sir?"
"Is that a problem agent?" He asked, his voice telling me there better not be.
"No sir." I lied, it was very much a problem.
"Glad to hear it Agent. As soon as you get back on Earth I want to know." The call was disconnected as Fury hung up. I let the phone fall onto the bed as I racked my hands through my hair.
"Fuck." I mumbled then a little louder. "Fuck!" I kicked my case which did little more then nudge it slightly.
I don't know why but I was mad. I didn't want to leave. Of course, it was always the end plan to go back to Earth, at some point I would have to. But this just seemed so soon. True it had been couple of weeks, but I was really starting to find my place here. And I was making so much progress with Loki. Even his mother had seen changes.
Were there no other agents at Shield? I sighed, I knew why Fury picked me. He trusted me, he knew I would follow my orders and finish the mission. I always had. And I had to remind myself, this is just another mission Anna.
But it had become more than that.
Which only spelled trouble for me.
Fuck.