Author's Note: So I must confess that I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I have no idea why, but I did. Maybe it is because it gives a little better insight into the mischievous, and almost dark, side of Sigyn's character? Anyway, there may be some of you out there that try to sexualize this scene...don't. It is not sexually charged in any nature. Awkward, yes. Sexual, no. I own nothing, review, comment, complain, etc. etc. etc. You guys are intelligent enough to know the drill.
After Thor and Loki left Sigyn's room she quickly jumped out of bed and decided to shower off. Her apparent night terror had left her sweaty and uncomfortable. She quickly slipped off the nightgown and her undergarments before wrapping herself in a fluffy white towel. Sigyn approached the strange shower that Tony showed her the first night she had stayed in the guest room. She had been too nervous to use it that first evening, but today Sigyn was ready to try something new. She walked into the shower and closed the glass door behind her.
"Which thing am I supposed to turn?" She mused out loud as she inspected the knobs.
In Asgard the bath was actually a hot spring so there was no need for such strange doorknob looking things.
"Would you like some assistance?" J.A.R.V.I.S. politely enquired.
"Yes, please." Sigyn finally relented.
"The knob on your right controls the hot water, while the knob on your left controls the cold." The A.I. explained.
"Oh, well this can't be too difficult." Sigyn mused.
She took her towel off and placed it over the door.
"Right is hot…" she reminded herself as she turned the knob.
The water began to trickle out, and Sigyn decided that she needed to turn the knob further if she wanted the pressure to increase. She quickly turned the handle as far as she could and the water pressure immediately intensified. Sigyn sat happily under the stream until she realized that the water was getting hotter and hotter.
"Ah Hot, hot, HOT!" She began to squeal while running around the shower unsuccessfully trying to dodge the water droplets that now felt like burning lava on her skin. She managed to reach the hot water knob and turn it all the way off. She then quickly turned the left knob that controlled the cold water. She gingerly stepped under the cool water, but it wasn't long before the cold water became too icy for her tastes.
"Eeek. Cold!" She squeaked before jumping out of the shower completely.
Sigyn darted her hand in and turned the left knob completely off and then stared at the showerhead with distrust as if it had somehow betrayed her. She decided to give the shower one last try before giving up. This time she set both knobs to their halfway point and waited. Once she felt that the water was probably done changing temperatures she timidly stepped in. To her utter relief the water that now cascaded down her body was a bearable temperature. She would have liked to stay in the refreshing shower forever, but knew that she would be expected at S.H.I.E.L.D at some point so she should hurry. She quickly washed her hair and rinsed her body off and allowed herself a few more peaceful moments before stepping out of the shower. She wrapped her fuzzy towel around her body and hummed mindlessly as she combed her hair out. After finishing this not so easy task, Sigyn came to the sinking realization that she hadn't brought any clothes with her into the bathroom. She shook her head at her stupidity, and opened the door that lead into her temporary bedroom to fetch the clothes she had worn the day before. The sight that greeted her when she opened the door however caused her to gasp and hold her towel tightly to her body.
"Loki!? What are you doing in here!?" She cried.
"I came to deliver you a new set of clothes, and to take a shower." Loki explained as if nothing was amiss.
"Why couldn't you use Stark's?" Sigyn interrogated.
"Because Thor is already using it." Loki replied, handing the large bundle of clothes in his arms to Sigyn.
Loki smirked as Sigyn tried to hold all of the clothing while still keeping a firm grip on her towel. Her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of pink in embarrassment, and her blue-grey eyes glimmered with annoyance. Sigyn's righteous indignation was rather cute. It always had been. Without a second thought Loki sauntered into the bathroom, and turned on the shower.
The room was far too hot in Loki's opinion so he was only too happy to get his clothes off and step into the cold water. Before his captivity Loki had always been very particular about his personal hygiene. Aside from the loss of his magic, his inability to bathe on a regular basis had been Loki's greatest annoyance. The shampoo and conditioner Sigyn had apparently used smelled slightly too feminine for Loki's tastes, but considering it was the only thing available he wasn't going to complain. After rinsing off thoroughly Loki stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He quickly ran the comb that was lying on the counter through his hair and sighed. He had missed the feeling of being clean. Once his hair had been thoroughly slicked back he laid the comb back down. His hair was still a bit long so there was nothing he could do about the ends that refused to do anything but curl out. Loki threw his dirty prison garb into a bin that looked like it was intended for soiled garments, and then turned to put on his new clothes. As his eyes landed on the bathroom counter he began to curse to himself. He had been so smug with disconcerting Sigyn that he had failed to realize that his clothes had also been in the pile that he had handed to her. That was a mistake that Loki knew Sigyn would make him pay for. He considered retrieving his old clothes and putting them on, but the thought of the dirty fabric against his clean skin caused him to decide against that plan. There was no choice but to face Sigyn and whatever punishment she had in store for him.
Loki slowly opened the door to the bathroom and poked his head out. He had hoped that Sigyn might have decided to have mercy on him and had simply left his clothes sitting on the bed for him, but no such luck. On his first inspection of the room Loki couldn't see his clothes anywhere, just Sigyn sitting contentedly in a chair by the window with a book in her hand. At the sound of the bathroom door opening she looked up from her book and smiled.
"Nice towel." She commented.
Loki could tell that she was trying hard not to laugh at his expense, but that didn't keep her eyes from dancing at her latest victory.
"Thank you, but I would prefer clothes if you do not mind." Loki replied uncomfortably. He couldn't help but feel that his towel was shrinking under Sigyn's gaze.
"Oh you would like your clothes back?" Sigyn feigned surprise.
"Seeing as you have no use for them, yes."
Sigyn placed her book on the nightstand, and the clothes appeared in her hands.
"Well what do you say when you would like something that someone else has?"
"Give it to me now and I won't be forced to end your pathetic life." Loki retorted.
"Ooooh bad call." Sigyn replied before her markings began to glow golden.
Loki was about to ask Sigyn what she was doing, but the feeling of his towel actually shrinking a size caused him to stop.
"Sigyn I was merely jesting! What do you think you are doing!?" Loki panicked.
"Forgive me if I find it difficult to believe you. I am merely teaching you some manners."
"Fine, may I please have the clothing that I mistakenly left with you?" Loki asked none to happily.
"Yes, on one condition."
"And what is that condition?" Loki huffed.
"We make it a game." Sigyn replied unexpectedly.
"A game?" Loki answered slightly intrigued. "What kind of game do you have in mind?"
"The kind of game where I ask the questions and you answer them truthfully. You tell me the truth and you get a piece of clothing back."
"And if I lie?"
"I don't think you will do that." Sigyn stated.
"Sigyn I am the 'god of lies,' it would only be too natural for me to do so."
"If you lie then I shrink your towel till there is nothing left."
"Oh I see, at which point the game is over."
"Yes."
"Oddly enough it seems you have more to lose in this game than me. You would be more uncomfortable to see me in the nude than I would feel for you to see me in such a state." Loki pointed out.
"That may be true, but do not assume I have more to lose. If you lose this game I will be forced to kill you."
Loki was more than a bit taken aback by Sigyn's words. "You will kill me? That seems a bit drastic."
"Not really." Sigyn replied cooly. "Your indecision has gone on long enough. In the end you will either help me or you will help Thanos. You chose to answer my questions honestly, than you are on my side. Failure to do so will leave me no other choice but to assume that you are still working with Thanos, and therefore a threat. Adopted brother or not, the safety of the Nine Realms is not worth risking by sparing your life if you simply intend to betray us."
Loki looked deep into Sigyn's eyes hoping to see some hint that she was jesting, but all he found was how serious she was. He wouldn't have even thought Sigyn was capable of killing till he saw her do just that in the vault. To protect those she cared for she would do anything, and if that meant killing him she would go through with it. It would probably tear her apart, but Loki had no doubt that she would sacrifice him for the safety of the Nine Realms. Loki steeled himself for what was about to come.
"Ask away." He finally responded.
"Were you under the control of the Tesseract when you were sent to Midgard?"
Loki took in a deep breath. Any hopes he had of Sigyn's questions being easy ones were now dashed. "I think you already know the answer to that."
"Indulge me."
"Yes, I was under control of the Tesseract." He firmly replied.
Sigyn's eyes never left Loki's face as she reached down and grabbed a pair of strange short pants that Loki took to be some form of Midgardian undergarments. She threw them on the bed and Loki reached out to grab them.
"I wouldn't do that just yet." Sigyn warned.
"Why not?" Loki asked.
"Because you won't be able to touch them without burning yourself." Sigyn explained. "Once we finish our game you will be able to handle them safely." She assured him. "Now, am I correct to assume that it is impossible to be controlled by the Tesseract if you do not already have some natural inclination towards the actions that the controller would have you do?"
"I am afraid you will have to clarify your question." Loki requested.
"I simply mean that it would have been impossible for Thanos to force you through the power of the Tesseract to take over Midgard if you had not already had the desire for revenge on Thor in the first place."
"Yes, you are correct. In the cases of Barton and Selvig I was able to control them because each already had inclinations towards what I was asking them to do. Agent Barton's darker past made turning him on S.H.I.E.L.D simple, and Dr. Selvig wanted nothing more than to learn the secrets of the Tesseract regardless of how he came about that knowledge." Loki explained. "It is impossible to force someone with the power of the Tesseract to do something that they are completely against in their heart."
Sigyn took a second to process this information before throwing a pair of shoes on the bed.
"Was Thanos's intention for you to fail in your conquest of Midgard so you could be taken back to Asgard and be in a position to obtain the Infinity Gauntlet?"
Loki decided it was time to test Sigyn's resolve. "I don't know. You would have to ask him."
Sigyn rolled her eyes, and Loki could feel his towel shrink yet again. The diminishing towel, though slightly unsettling, did nothing to shock Loki. What really took Loki by surprise was the tightening feeling in his chest. It was as if a small weight was trying to compress his lungs and suffocate him. Sigyn was serious about her threat.
"Let us try that one again." Sigyn encouraged.
Loki struggled slightly to inhale, but managed to respond all the same. "No, that was not my intended goal."
Sigyn tossed Loki's socks onto the bed and continued to her next question.
"Had you discussed a contingency plan with Thanos should you fail in your conquest of Midgard?"
"Yes."
Loki's pants joined the other clothes on the bed.
"Was the contingency plan for you to use me to retrieve the Infinity Gauntlet?"
"If I was taken to Asgard, yes, but there was no way to be certain that I would be taken there. It was considered more likely that I would be incarcerated and executed by the Midgardians, in which case Thanos would have done nothing to intercede on my behalf."
A shirt flew across the room and onto the floor, overshooting its intended landing spot.
Sigyn paused before asking another question, causing Loki to fidget. The pressure on his lungs wasn't decreasing, and he was beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable with his lack of clothing.
"Why did you betray Thanos when I came to see you?"
"Who says that I did?"
Sigyn paused, and Loki fully expected the pressure on his lungs to worsen, but it didn't.
"When I went to see you in your prison you were trying to warn me of Thanos's plan, and when I finally figured it out you demanded that Thor get me out of there. Then when the explosions started you didn't attempt to drag me to the vault room, you shielded me with your own body." Sigyn decisively pointed out.
It was Loki's turn to pause before replying. He couldn't deny that his actions with Sigyn in his prison cell indicated his break from Thanos, but Loki wasn't sure what had driven those actions. There was only one honest answer he could give Sigyn, he simply hoped that she believed him.
"I do not know." He admitted.
Without hesitation Sigyn threw a coat onto the bed.
"Last one." Sigyn encouraged, while holding up a scarf for Loki to see. "If Thanos catches you will he kill you?"
Loki nodded. "Eventually."
Luckily Sigyn was smart enough to understand his hidden meaning, and nodded back. She approached Loki and placed the scarf around his bare neck.
"I knew you would pass my test." Sigyn said happily.
With those words her markings returned to their natural white state, and the pressure on Loki's chest was released.
"Would you have done it? Would you have gone all the way?" Loki managed to breath out in relief.
"I knew I wouldn't have to." Sigyn softly replied before heading towards the door. "You best hurry and get dressed, I imagine that the helicopter for S.H.I.E.L.D will be arriving soon." She added cheerfully before leaving Loki alone in the room.
Loki decided not to dwell on the fact that Sigyn had avoided answering his question, which meant yes, she had been willing to kill him. Instead of focusing on the implied "yes," he decided to ponder how she could have known that she wouldn't have to. She seemed confident enough about it. What did she know that he didn't? He debated asking her, but he was fairly certain that she probably wouldn't be willing to answer him just yet. Loki quickly put his clothes on and inspected himself. He had to admit Midgardian clothes didn't look half bad on him. J.A.R.V.I.S had done a nice job in selecting an outfit. The attire consisted of dark pants made of the same strange material Sigyn had been wearing yesterday, a deep grey shirt, black shoes, a black fitted leather coat, and a monochromatic scarf. Once finished, Loki threw the shrunken towel back into the bathroom and headed out to the living room.