"From here the caravans are kids toys
And I can hold them all in my palm
I watch the sea creep round the corner
It connects the dots from here to you"

"So did Frigga ever visit you?" Natasha wondered. She currently sat beside Loki on the bench within his old S.H.I.E.L.D. approved cell. Natasha felt bad that her dream had to be in a cage, of all places, but she had no control. Loki seemed satisfied enough in having her seated beside him, though.

"I'm afraid not," the god answered. He stared down at his hands which were neatly folded in his lap.

Natasha couldn't help but notice the way he repeatedly tapped his foot, a nervous gesture. "Hey," she said soothingly. Her hand reached out to touch his thigh. "You're gonna be okay. Asgard's full of warriors, right? This Thanos guy doesn't stand a chance."

Loki nodded and managed a weak smile. He was grateful for her moral support-he knew that he was becoming a nervous wreck. "I only hope that Heimdall will be able to foresee his coming. What if Thanos cloaks both he and his army?" He turned to Natasha, wild-eyed. "I've slipped past Heimdall before-he can't see everything! He-"

She pressed a finger to his lips in an effort to shush him. "It's gonna be okay. Don't worry," Natasha whispered, locking her gaze with his. His mouth opened as if to speak, but Natasha raised a brow and applied more force against his lips. "No," she stated. "You're going to lie down, and you're going to relax." This wasn't a request- it was an order.

Despite the worry building up inside of Loki, he knew that Natasha wouldn't deal with his doubts any further. She was a strong woman who was going to have things handled her way. The trickster frowned and heaved a sigh. "I'll oblige," he answered. "Only because I've grown tired." He took it upon himself to make himself comfortable by using her lap as his pillow.

"You should sleep if you're tired," Natasha reminded him. "Don't waste your time and magic by coming here…"

There was a brief pause as Loki closed his eyes. "I don't want to sleep. My dreams are haunted," he breathed. "Yet you put my mind at rest." There was the faintest trace of a smile across his lips. "If I am to fall asleep, then I thank you."

"Alright," Natasha agreed. "Just relax." She began to twirl a lock of his raven hair around her finger. Upon watching his face, she couldn't help but notice how innocent and child-like he looked. It was hard to believe that this was the same man killing hundreds of people on a quest for world domination. But that wasn't Loki-Natasha now knew that it was this 'Thanos' character pulling Loki's strings like a puppet. She noticed his breathing even out. His features seemed much more relaxed now. The back of her fingers began stroking the delicate curve of his cheekbone.

"That feels nice," he whispered, as if in a daze.

Natasha could have sworn that he was asleep, but he would've already vanished if that had happened. She continued brushing her soft fingers against his cheek in reply. Natasha began to hum a soothing melody. After that, it didn't take long for Loki to disappear. "Sweet dreams, Loki," she whispered to her now empty lap.

…...

Loki easily fell asleep to the sound of Natasha's soothing hums. He was surprised by just how relaxed she made him. For a deadly assassin, she had such a gentle and loving side-unless that was just the Natasha within her dreams… Nonetheless, Loki had fallen fast asleep in his musty cell. Although Natasha freed his mind of all frets, the nightmares managed to ruin his sweet thoughts.

"It won't be much longer now," a deep voice echoed.

Loki jerked his head from side to side, desperate to find the source of the familiar voice. A thick purple fog surrounded the god, rendering his vision useless. "Show yourself!" he demanded in the most condescending voice he could muster. Loki couldn't show any traces of fear-not with him lurking.

"Such confidence," the bodiless voice continued. "Are you willing to return what is rightfully mine?"

Loki turned around, watching as the fog took on the shape of a purple-faced alien clad in blue and gold. "I am afraid I don't have access to the gauntlet at the moment." He clasped his hands behind his back and stared up at Thanos, who was at least three heads taller than he was.

"My army is almost ready, Laufeyson," Thanos taunted. "And when it is, Asgard will be the first realm I destroy."

The trickster began to tightly squeeze his wrist. If Asgard fell, it would be all his fault… "Odin has hidden what you seek," he easily lied. "Even if you and your army do arrive, know that the people of Asgard have warriors of their own. Not to mention, they have the help of the Midgardians who destroyed your first army…" He managed a cocky smirk despite how anxious he felt on the inside. Natasha did say that she had his back, though, and he believed in her.

"The army misguided by the bastard son!" Thanos mockingly cackled. His crystal blue eyes glared down at Loki and he could see that his words had upset him. "Once I defeat Odin and take back the Infinity Gauntlet, I will move on to destroying Midgard, seeing as how you failed to conquer it before. Pathetic!"

His blood began to boil upon hearing Thanos' taunts. Loki lowered his eyes, glaring daggers into the mud at his feet. "You're a fool if you think you can defeat the All-Father, let alone his son, the god of thunder…"

"Do you intend to help them?" Thanos wondered curiously. "Or do you intend on hiding like the little coward you are?" He heard the god scowl and smiled. "Just how long do you intend on hiding for? Face your death like the man you are!"

The trickster shot Thanos a menacing glare. He wasn't about to admit to the enemy that he was under lockdown. "If you dare to come near me, I will be helping Odin destroy you."

"So you hide on Asgard?"

"Yes," Loki firmly stated. Thanos didn't need to know where he was on Asgard. "And our army is ready." He had faith in the help of Natasha and her friends, along with the strength of Thor and Asgard's best warriors… All he needed was a word with his Mother, which wouldn't be hard for him to manage.

Thanos chuckled in reply. "Lie to me again and see what happens." Clouds of thick smog formed around the titan's body.

Shortly after Thanos' disappearance, Loki abruptly awoke, his body trembling slightly. He slapped his hand against his face, regretting everything he had said to the enemy. Loki promised an army, yet in reality, he had nothing. Not only that, but the god of lies stated that he would fight alongside the All-Father, the very man who was responsible for his captivity. After a deep breath, Loki shut his eyes and put his magic to work. "Oh, Mother, please help me," he breathed.

Loki found himself walking through a garden of blue roses. He recognised this place-he had been here many times before. Treading past rows of flowers, Loki spotted the back of his Mother's head of golden braids. Sitting amongst the grass full of lush flowers was most definitely Frigga. But she wasn't alone. Accompanying her was a child with short, black hair. "Mo-" Loki was too shocked to finish. His eyes met with those far-too familiar emerald orbs of the child. Loki knew this child, for years ago, he was this child.

"Loki?" Frigga turned around, smiling in surprise. "My Loki."

Loki tore his gaze away from that of his younger self. "Mother, I need you to listen to me carefully," he began in a grave tone.

The goddess rose to her feet as she hurried to her son's side. "What is wrong, Loki?"

"Tell Odin to hide the Infinity Gauntlet. And to prepare for war." The trickster's eyes narrowed.

"What is this about?" she asked, growing worried.

He firmly grabbed his Mother's shoulders. "You must believe me-Mother, you must tell Odin that you sense a great danger!"

"How do you know this? Loki?" Frigga rarely saw her son in such a state of desperation.

Loki lowered his eyes. "Thanos," he began. The god then proceeded to tell his Mother exactly what he had told Natasha, followed by what had occurred in his earlier dream. "Don't tell Odin I gave you this information. He'll believe you, not me" he sadly added.

"Loki." Frigga's hand reached up to cup her son's cheek. "I will let your Father know. Whoever this Thanos is, your Father will handle things. There will be no wars while he reigns."

He heaved a sigh. "I certainly hope so…"

"Trust him, Loki." Her words were reminiscent of what Natasha had told him.

Loki couldn't hide a small smile at the thought of Natasha Romanoff. "I do. I trust him…" He doesn't trust me, though, Loki said to himself. His eyes wandered over to young Loki, who had busied himself with picking flowers. "You're dreaming about me…" His voice was hardly a whisper.

Frigga smiled warmly at the young Loki, then turned to the grown man before her. "I love you, Loki. My beloved son."

Her words touched his heart that so few people believed he had. Hearing his Mother say that she loved him and being called her son made him feel truly happy. He loved her dearly. She was, after all, one of two people who truly cared about him. A choked sob escaped him as he threw his arms around his Mother. "I love you, Mother," he whispered against her hair.

"Worry not everything is sound
This is the safest place you've found
The only noise beating out is ours
Lacing our tea from honey jars

Why don't you rest your fragile bones
A minute ago you looked alone
Stop waving your arms you're safe and dry
Breathe in and drink up the winter sky"

The Sunlight Through the Flags ~Snow Patrol