Loki woke within a few hours of falling asleep and stretched like a cat. Last night had been good for his need to be in control. Very good indeed. He checked the time and shook his head. He should probably take pity on her. So he pulled himself from his stupor and roamed the halls until he found the cells again. He stopped, silent, outside hers and studied every aspect of her. Every little thing she would never have shown him had she known he was there.

Inside her cell, Nancy sat with her head back and her eyes closed. Tears dried on her cheeks from the hours she'd spent sobbing. Softly, barely audible, she hummed a slow, melancholy tune. Anything to get her mind off her exhaustion. Anything to distract her from the humiliation. The woman in the cell across from her had spent the better part of the night simply staring at her, mocking her. At least the prince's pet had finally gotten what she deserved… silence. Bitter, cold silence. The one who prized and valued language so much had been stripped of her ability to speak. It would have been more merciful if Loki had simply ripped her heart out.

Loki smirked at the soft melody. This was almost as endearing as her kneeling before him. He had half expected to find her in tears. "Well, if you are so comfortable, perhaps I will return at a later time."

Nancy's eyes shot open when she heard him speak. She had no idea how long he'd been standing there. She quickly sat up and looked at him, shaking her head sadly, and beckoned him closer. She'd do anything to prove her loyalty to him. Anything to get him to remove the curse. The curse and the muzzle.

"Oh, are you giving the orders now?" He shoved his hands behind his back. Much more of that wide-eyed stare, and he just might obey. "How quaint."

Nancy quickly shook her head and dropped her hands into her lap. She bowed her head and looked to the floor, trying to show her obedience. She had to get him to believe her. To trust that she would do as he asked. She was so tired of trying to fight him. It wouldn't work anyway. And, at the moment, she was too weak from hunger and a lack of sleep to resist him.

Genuine obedience this time. Loki decided he liked it immensely. "Good. Because I think we both know who is in charge."

Nancy nodded slowly and stood, still not looking at him. She walked to the center of her cell and remained in her posture of obedience: head down with her hands folded in front of her. She had never felt so humiliated in her life. She was an agent. A strong, bold, witty agent. Reduced to begging, like a dog. Silently, she lifted a hand to motion to her muzzle, then folded her hands again.

Curious, Loki entered through the barrier. He stood over her, looking down at the woman before him and, just to spite her, he stated the obvious. "You wish something."

She nodded once, tugged at the muzzle to demonstrate that she wanted it off, then folded her hands again.

He chuckled. "You wish the muzzle removed more than you wish sleep?"

Well… that was a complicated question. She needed sleep, yes, and she was very tired, but she was also very hungry. With the muzzle on, she couldn't ask for another apple or kiss him in return for one. And she had, after all, gotten some sleep the night before. Nancy shrugged, then finally nodded in response to his question. Yes, she did want the muzzle removed more than she wanted sleep. Her sleep could wait.

"Then perhaps I have not left you alone long enough." He took a step back toward the barrier, expecting some sort of reaction. Some form of begging or pleading or submission.

Nancy let her eyes slide closed and took a slow, deep breath. Of course her choice hadn't mattered. He would've reacted the same either way, whether she'd chosen to have the muzzle removed or to sleep for an hour. He was only toying with her. He wouldn't let her have either. She stood motionless as he backed away from her. She was his plaything. He'd said so himself, years ago. She could beg, and grovel, and cry as loudly as she could, and it would never matter to him. He was heartless.

She should have recognized that from the first day she'd met him. How childish to think that everyone had some good in them. How naive to trust her life with a madman, on the hope that maybe some part of his soul was kind. One tear dripped down Nancy's cheek, yet she remained motionless.

Seeing as how she didn't seem to care, Loki removed himself from the cell and headed for the doors. Surely that would provoke some sort of response.

And then… he was gone. Her livelihood didn't matter to him. Whether she slept or ate, he cared not. Finally reaching her snapping point, Nancy let all of her anger and frustration pour out of her in one long, piercing scream. Did he want to break her? Well, this was the sound. The sound of individual pieces of her soul shattering. And she wanted the sound to haunt his waking hours and echo through his dreams. She wanted him to suffer the way he was forcing her to. She wanted him to feel something.

Even with the response, her actions thoroughly confused Loki. He ignored her, holding to what he had said, and kept walking. She obviously hadn't been alone long enough.

Physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, Nancy finally allowed herself to collapse to the ground. Sobs wracked her body as she curled into herself. This is what she'd asked for. This is what all her hard work had gotten her. She was the plaything of a psychopath. And, one day, she feared he'd eventually kill her. Slowly… by withering her down to nothing.

Loki fumed as he left the dungeons. Practically breathed smoke. He shook his head and swore to himself. "When will the girl make any sense?!"

/

About an hour later, Loki finally calmed down enough to take a nap. Two hours later, he sat bolt upright in his bed. He growled and tossed the covers off. Within moments, he was storming his way back down to the dungeons.

Nancy sat in the corner, humming again.

Loki reached Nancy's cell, strode in, and yanked her up by her hair. He quickly unclasped the muzzle. "A sane woman would not choose words over precious hours of sleep, so whatever you have to say, I suggest you spit it out now, before I change my mind."

Nancy glared at him, despite her fatigue, and was only kept standing by his fist in her hair. "I only wanted to ask you," she whispered, defiance lacing every word, "If I could sleep now." She really was growing quite tired from all her hours of sobbing. She could use a nap right about now. Having said her peace, she lifted her chin and braced herself for the muzzle again.

Loki glared at her, his curiosity not quite quenched. "Well, then I suppose we should continue a favor for a favor. Tell me, what will I receive this time?"

Nancy looked down, taking a moment to think. What could she possibly offer him that he would want? A kiss had sufficed last time, but she hardly felt like kissing him right now. She could beg and grovel, but her pride was still too great. Finally, she decided on her answer. She'd give him the one thing he'd always seemed to long for from her. "My silence."

"Oh? You think to wager with me for the relent of two things? For one meager one? Try again, my pet."

"No." He didn't seem to understand. She didn't want the muzzle off anymore. Well, she did, but she knew she couldn't have both the muzzle and the curse removed. She had to choose. Since she had chosen to have the muzzle removed last time, and her choice had failed his insane test, she'd choose the other option. "Allow me my sleep and I won't fight the muzzle." she explained, "Favor for favor. If I die from thirst or starvation, so be it." And, as the day stretched on, perhaps she could ask for the muzzle to be removed later.

"You shall have to ask nicely."

Nancy finally made eye-contact with him again. And there it was… that strange softness behind his cool, outward glare. The smallest flame of kindness buried deep within his soul. How could she still see it? Even now, when he stood over her, taunting her and gloating in his victory… there was the dying light. The remnant of the kindness of his youth. Perhaps, over time, he had grown cold. Had frozen himself over in an effort to protect himself. To protect himself from the wounds and hurts his heart received. And now, though his ice pierced her soul… the dying flame remained.

Acting on pure impulse, Nancy pressed her lips to his, every fiber within her dying to taste of that flame. That kindness that he'd buried so deep. "Please, Loki." she whispered, her lips hovering near his and her breath still playing upon his lips, "Allow me my sleep."

"I did not ask for a kiss." He shook his finger at her, amused. He would accept it, but he hadn't asked for it. "Are we so quick to give favors?"

"It was part of my plea." Nancy protested, straightening, as she came to her senses and remembered her position as an agent. He was her captor, nothing more. He'd kidnapped her from her home. She had to remember that. The flame was not there. She'd only imagined it. He was testing her, studying her, as he'd said. She scolded herself for having such a moment of weakness. "My sleep means a lot to me. I want it back."

"Then ask properly."

She clenched her jaw and studied his eyes again. And there was the flame, this time in the form of a mischievous glint. He was playing with her. And if she was to sleep, she had to play along. "May I please have my sleep back?"

"May you please have your sleep back… whom?"

Oh, for heaven's sake! Now he was just being mean. "May I please have my sleep, oh great king?" She nearly spat the words at him.

Loki chuckled. "Closer. I will accept it this time." He moved to put the muzzle back on her. "Be aware that the leniency lasts so long as you slumber. When you wake again, you will find yourself unable to slumber without my express spoken permission. Understood?" He finished tightening the muzzle.

Nancy nodded, knowing a little sleep was better than none at all. In as humble a show of gratitude as she could muster, she stood on the ends of her toes and leaned her forehead against his. She knew better than to try hugging him again, but she still wanted to show him closeness. Show him that she would play along, as well as she could, but that she'd retain her dignity, too. Well… what was left of it.

She closed her eyes and remained standing there with him, so close and yet so far away. If only they could stay like that, with both of them acting like civil human-beings. With her equal to him, and him to her. If only he could see her for who she really was, and not what he was trying to make her into. Finally, Nancy forced herself to turn away and returned to her corner of the cell. She laid down, folding her arms under her head, and waited for him to release her.

Loki sighed heavily and walked over to her. He leaned over her until his mouth was near her ear. Oh, so close. And yet so unable to get through to the heart of Nancy McAllister. He held back a great sigh. "I release you to sleep." He whispered, lightly placing his fingers on her hair.

Nancy gave a soft sigh of relief. She was finally free to sleep. But, this could be just another one of his tricks. He could only let her have five minutes of sleep before waking her again and leaving her like that. She remained with her eyes open, wanting to wait until he left to fall asleep.

Loki stood up straight and moved a few feet away, watching her from a nearby wall. He knew she didn't trust him, and she probably shouldn't. Yet, he longed to watch her peaceful face. A face he only ever saw when she slept. He would wait. She couldn't resist for long.

Nancy tried to fight sleep… but she was so tired. All of the physical and mental exhaustion of the past days suddenly seemed to hit her at once. Maybe, if she just closed her eyes for a moment, he would leave and leave her in peace. Against her better judgement, she thought she'd try it. Soon, she was fast asleep.

Loki smiled as he watched her eyes flutter closed. There it was. The resting expression of final peace. The loveliness of her face, untouched by the wrath he saw so often. Each curve of her cheek curving perfectly in the light. With a shake of his head, he strode out of the cell and returned to his room to prepare for the day.