Warily, I watch Gilly get taken from her cell from my bed. She doesn't kick or scream or put up a fight, she just resigns herself to going to the guards that come to her cell, flashing me a wink before she leaves. I figure it must be some form of interrogation or something.
Once they're out of my line of sight I get up and pace. I had no plan at all. Even if I did break out of this cell, then what? Where would I go? How would I get back home? It's not like I could rely on Thor for help either, he was probably still on earth. If I did break out, would I even get as far as to need to wonder how I would get home? That fight with the red woman hadn't exactly given me a confidence boost. If I ran across any of the guards I doubt I'd be able to hold my own even with my memories back. Not keeping up the training for so long had left me weakened and out of practice. Training with Barton for Steve had helped but it wasn't enough. I drop to the floor and begin press-ups.
"Interesting." Cooed a cool and crisp voice behind me. I kept doing my press-ups, feeling his gaze run up and down my back. "I would have thought you'd have been begging for my forgiveness by now."
"Forgiveness for what?" I grunt between press-ups. "I did nothing wrong."
Getting up I start stretching out, still avoiding facing Loki. "Nothing wrong and yet you're in prison?"
"You put me here. Wrongfully, I might add." I lift my arms and bend down starting a sun salutation sequence.
He doesn't answer for a moment, watching me move through a couple of poses. "What is that?" He asked suddenly. I paused and looked back over my shoulder to him. He was pointing to my hip where my shirt had ridden up. Standing, I checked.
"A bruise."
"Where did you get it?" He asked, stepping forward. I turned to face him, moving it out of his grasp. A grimace settled on his face. "What happened?"
"I fell." I lie as I start jogging on the spot.
He grabbed my arm tightly. "What happened?" He growled.
I pulled my arm roughly from him. "A fight."
"A fight?" He scowled. "With who? How?"
"You should know, Odin." I hiss. His expression is confused though, concerned. I sigh. "Your guards let open some of the cells occasionally for fights apparently."
Loki's eyes widened. "And you were injured in one of these fights."
"Barely." I lie. My throat had hurt like a bitch for days after that woman tossed me about like a rag doll. "I can handle myself."
"I know," He nods softly. He moves to stroke my hair. I stiffen, uncomfortable with his touch, but I let him do it. "Tell me the name of the person who did this to you."
"No."
His eyes narrow, softness fading as his hand slips from my hair. "Please." His jaw tightens at saying the word.
"I'm not a snitch." I reply firmly.
"If they hurt you before then they will aim to do it again." He tells me.
"Oh, believe me, I know, and I'm counting on it." I tell him, meeting his gaze sharply.
He knows I'm not talking about my assailant anymore and I watch as his scowl deepens.
"Do you still miss him?" He sneered, changing tact. "Your boyfriend?"
"Yes." I swallow hard, a little worried about where this was going.
There was no flash or snap of his fingers to show he had used magic, we were just suddenly there, back in Steve's apartment as if nothing had happened. I glance around at the clothes strewn around us and the rumpled sheets on the bed.
"Ten minutes after you left, after I took you." Loki tells me, interrupting my thoughts.
I reach forward to touch one of the shirts hanging half off the bed, but my hand goes straight through like I was a ghost. "Why?" I ask quietly.
"Aren't you even a little curious to see what your beloved Captain America did when he discovered you missing?" He said through a forced smile, hands behind his back.
As if on cue, the door was flung open. "Jess?" Steve looked around, checking the ensuite. My heart was wrenched at the sight of him. He turned around, wandering towards the living room and I practically ran after him, my heart in my throat.
"Steve," I try, but it's obvious he can't hear me.
"Jess?" He calls. He hesitates, frowning at the elevator momentarily, a little crease forming between his brow.
Without a word he headed back to the bedroom, walking straight past me and Loki, I hurried after him like a lost puppy. "JARVIS, do you know where Jessica went?"
"Miss Taylor is not in the building." The computer informed him.
"Then where did she go?" He asked.
The television flickered into life, security footage playing. I watched our final moments together, our little kiss and a quick discussion before he gathered the bags and disappeared off screen. I turn to look at him, trying to slip my hand into his, but it goes straight through. I turn back to the screen and watch myself double over in pain, clutching my head. Steve moves forward slightly at this, as if he could somehow comfort the image of me. There's a flash and then the room is empty on the screen before us.
"Could you rewind that?" Steve asks. "To the beginning of the flash and then pause." When JARVIS obliges I can see why, Steve had excellent eyesight. Within the bright white light expanding on the screen before me was a shadowed figure reaching towards me. "Loki." Steve hissed between gritted teeth, before bolting out of the room.
Instinctively I chased after him, suddenly finding myself about to run into a golden wall. I manage to stop just in time, before I collided with it, my hands out in front of me. I turn to Loki with tears brewing.
"Wasn't that fun?" He asked with a smirk.
"Take me back." I pleaded; my voice cracking. "Please."
His smile fell and he shook his head, avoiding my eyes. "No." He told me quietly. And then he was gone.
I slumped down onto the floor, feeling defeated. I had been right; Loki wanted to make me suffer as much as he could while I was here.