How could anyone live this way? Loki looked around the crappy apartment while his host tried to tidy up a bit. Dante offered to let him stay at his place for a bit as Candy was the only one who knew where he lived and there was no way in hell she was telling anyone. Of course he could always just go to one of his other residences, but he wanted to know how the man knew what was going on and he refused to say over the phone. He still refused to say. His only answer to that question being, "I have my ways."
"Then how am I to know she is not truly in need of my help?" He was so tempted to just go anyway. He could always teleport away if it was in fact a trap. "You don't. Just trust me. Please?" He sighed as he tossed a pile of cloths into a basket before running a hand through his white hair, "She really likes you and I don't want to see her upset. She's already been through so much." His heart wanted to break at the look in those clear blue eyes that pleaded with him. "She sent me a message as soon as she found out that Fury knew about you and her. She's kind of paranoid of losing people so.. yea."
So she was worried for him? He watched as Dante flopped down onto an old, worn leather couch. This was the first time he'd seen the man without a smile on his face. He truly seemed worried about the girl. "Surely she does not truly believe those mortals could harm me?" His smile dropped at the other man's response, "They did it before, they can do it again. Also they have some new technology workin' that they're pretty sure can block out your magic. Keep you from escaping again." He smiled, "Really?" Sounded like a challenge to Loki.
Candy sat in the living room of Stark Tower, waiting for Loki to show up. She tried to ignore the disappointed look Steve was giving her from across the room while Fury tapped his foot impatiently. What the hell was taking him so long? "Help! I'm stuck in your pocket!" Fury grabbed the phone from her before she could see the message. 'Sorry.' He was about to ask who Dante was when Loki teleported in, sitting right next to the girl. "You should have listened to him." Was all she managed to say before a dull ringing noise permeated the building. Yes. Yes he should have listened.
Fury smiled, trying not to laugh at the look of horror on the Trickster's face as he tried to cast a spell. Nothing. There was nothing but a few green sparks that left his fingertips. The girl beside him held a firm mask of boredom while sorrow and regret pooled in her hazel eyes. Thor and Steve quickly hauled the god off to a holding cell while Fury did a little victory dance in his mind. Steve offered to take the first shift watching the prisoner and waited patently for Thor to leave before making his way into the cell and to the bound man. "How'd you do it? How did you get that angel to fall for you?"
Loki smiled, "Why, Captain, is that jealousy I hear?" Next thing Loki knew, he was on the ground, his face stinging before the other man picked him up and set him back in the uncomfortable chair. "What did you do to her?" Another smile from the Liesmith, blood dripping from his busted lip, "Nothing." He met with the cold floor again, this time the soldier's foot pressing his head into the unforgiving metal. "Don't lie to me! What did you do?!"
Finally. Over an hour had passed before the soldier finally gave up and left the god a bloody mess on the floor of his cell. Clint took his place as guard, but stayed outside the cell. No one had ever seen Steve so angry before. He tore through Candy's room before finding what he was looking for and threw the rose Loki had given her into the fire. He thought maybe the god had put some kind of spell on it to manipulate her. He was honestly expecting some kind of weird green smoke to come from it once it caught fire, but there was nothing. He convinced himself that had destroyed whatever spell was on it anyway. It eased the guilt he felt when he saw the heartbroken look on the girl's face. She'll get over it as soon as she realizes it was just a trick. That she was being used.
Bruce held her tight as she watched the flower burn. She was sentimental. How could she not be? That was the first thing ever given to her by anyone who was interested in her as more than a friend. She was nearing thirty five years old and had never had anyone show any serious interest in her until now. And now he was trapped in a cell, likely being tortured because of her. Tony didn't understand why she was upset. It was just a flower.
A/N: Hope y'all like it! Next chapter is longer and introduces a character I know some of you have been waiting for!