A/N: So here we go, some quality time between Thor and Aleksandra; get excited!


Aleksandra let out a shriek as a large armor-clad man barreled through the doorway of the cell, his face the same bright red hue as his cape and twisted into an angry snarl. She'd returned to her chair after what had felt like hours of moping on the floor, and she now jerked back so far in her seat the front legs lifted off the ground. She honestly wasn't sure whether or not the large metal table before her would in any way deter the blond man from reaching for her throat, but she gripped onto it for dear life nonetheless.

It took Aleksandra a moment to realize that this furious creature was in fact Thor, the same man who'd radiated rage as he'd ripped off the metal door of an aircraft in order to steal away his younger brother.

"Why are you here?" he roared, and Aleksandra was able to swallow her frustration at being asked that same infuriating question once more, but she found it considerably more difficult to hide her fear. She'd been wary of the previous one-eyed man, knowing he could order any number of atrocities if she failed to cooperate; but this man looked as if he'd snap her spine clean in half without hesitation or regret, whether she provoked him or not.

"Loki," she answered simply, providing him with the same answer she'd given her previous interrogator. Thor's eyes darkened and he loomed over her, his grip so tight on the ends of the table she could hear the metal bending beneath his fingers.

"You stay away from him," he growled, and Aleksandra hesitated for a moment, trying her best to hold back a snarky comment and contain her fear at the sight of his incredibly strong hands. She could tell she'd hit a sensitive subject by bringing up Loki, despite Thor's roughness with his brother on the aircraft, and she hurriedly tried to assess how to proceed.

"He's the one who brought me here," she said with as much patience as she could manage, and he slammed his fist down on the table with such force the surface sank downward beneath his hand.

"Do not lie to me," he roared, spittle flying, and Aleksandra bit down hard on her bottom lip as she tried for what felt like the millionth time to hold back angry tears.

"I'm not lying," she shrieked as she flew from her chair, her voice bordering on hysterical, and he let out a mocking laugh.

"And I suppose I'm expected to believe a conniving, insidious harpy over my own eyes?" he asked, and almost without thinking Aleksandra slammed her fist into his nose. Thor cried out and stumbled backwards, covering his nose with his hands as shimmering liquid gushed from between his fingers.

"You hellion!" he shouted, lowering his hands from his suddenly miraculously clean face to clench his fists at his sides. "You will regret that," he said darkly as he approached, and Aleksandra desperately wished there was more between them than the metal table whose surface he'd easily impressed with a crater. She'd thoroughly enjoyed releasing her built up tension in the form of a blow to Thor's face, but now she feared the consequences of assaulting a god would be far more taxing than the action was rewarding.

Unfortunately, Aleksandra's fear had always been accompanied by an outspokenness she often later regretted.

"Perhaps instead of blaming me for your familial issues you should look a bit closer to home for a solution," Aleksandra said as she crossed her arms over her chest, discreetly taking a step back for Thor's every step forward.

"Do not speak to me in that way," he shouted, surging forward with such haste that Aleksandra stumbled backwards until her back hit the cell's metal wall. "I do not care what he's told you, it is you and your kind who have taken him away from us," he said with such passion Aleksandra felt as if she couldn't go on without some sort of explanation for his rage.

"My kind?" she asked incredulously. "What exactly is it you think I am? I have no power, no skills, no influence over him! I merely followed where he led me, and it is because of you that I'm now alone in this terrible place without a clue," she cried, her voice rising in pitch as she spoke. It was Thor's fault she was here in this cold barren room without Loki, without any idea of why everyone seemed to think she was some sort of evil mastermind with a plot to destroy mankind. Perhaps if Loki were here he could convince them of her innocence, explain why the two of them were here and what their intentions were.

Better yet, perhaps Loki would take the time to explain to Aleksandra exactly why he'd allowed them to be captured by these Americans in the first place. That was the question the one-eyed man had asked her over and over again, and while Aleksandra herself had no idea she was sure Loki's answer would get her out of this uncomfortable room.

"They told me you'd be sneaky, but they clearly underestimated your powers of trickery," Thor said, and Aleksandra frowned at the ripe disdain in his voice. "I suppose this is how you seduced my brother, no?" he snarled, and Aleksandra felt her face flush bright red as she discovered another bone to pick with Thor.

"I did not seduce him!" she cried, wishing she could ignore the intense embarrassment she felt at discussing the topic with a man she'd only known for a few minutes—Loki's brother, no less!

"More lies. But no matter," he said with a shrug, and she wondered if perhaps she'd finally managed to placate him. "You will release him from your influence this instant," he added with a sudden force, and she groaned.

"I have no influence," she cried, and Thor let out a huff of frustration.

"Can you not see that you're ruining him? That your actions not only endanger us all but are killing him as well?" Thor asked, and Aleksandra realized with a start that perhaps Thor wasn't the villain in this scenario. Thor's expression was surprisingly similar to that of Aleksandra's younger sister when she'd been convinced that Aleksandra had gotten too involved with a 'dangerous, dirty scum bag' in her sophomore year of high school. Perhaps Thor was merely doing the same, trying to protect the man he believed to be his troubled sibling.

Convincing Thor of her innocence and regretful ignorance now seemed imperative if Aleksandra had any hopes of gaining him as an ally. She hated the idea of being totally alone in such a foreign place, and despite his odd comment regarding her relationship with Loki, he seemed as if he'd be a valuable colleague if she could manage to win his favor. She took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Look I'm not sure what you're talking about, but swear I would help if I could. If you'd just explain all of this to me, I promise I'll do all that I can to set this all straight. I care about Loki just as much—" Aleksandra had watched as Thor's face had grown calmer as she'd spoken, but he now exploded with fury at her last few words.

"Do not try to pretend that you give a damn about my little brother! That you care about his safety! You are the one doing this," he roared suddenly, and Aleksandra jerked away from him as his eyes flashed with a terrifying new intensity. All thoughts of working together gone, Aleksandra embraced that all-too familiar frustration being shouted at always seemed to provoke.

"I'm just trying to help him," she cried, and his shoulders heaved as he took in heavy breaths and prepared to retaliate. "Let me talk," she shouted, and his glare intensified but he remained silent. "You're the one getting in the way," she said in a strained voice, and his face grew red. "I'm trying to help him, but I can't because you burst in without warning, without consideration for anyone else, and swept him away! You're the one ruining everything, not me!"

"I'm doing no such—" Thor began in a bellow, but Aleksandra cut him off.

"Stop shouting and just listen to—"

"I do not have time for your nonsense!" he thundered, slamming his fist into the wall just beside her head. Aleksandra shrieked in the most embarrassingly undignified manner and jerked away from him, covering her face with trembling hands. She found herself shaking and crouched on the floor, and although she was confident he wouldn't actually harm her she couldn't push away her terror.

"Why won't you just listen to me?" she cried, and Thor responded by ramming his foot into the wall.

"Do not speak!" he roared, and she clenched her fists to keep from screaming aloud in anger. "I am going to save my little brother, and if you do not cease your interference I cannot guarantee you'll survive the impending confrontation," he growled, then turned on his heels and swept from the room.


How'd you guys enjoy Thor? I really like writing him :) Next chapter: the POV changes and we get some new insight into (my version of) the world of the Avengers! :D