Nancy sat motionless in the corner of her cell, staring blankly at the stonework just beyond her reach. Not that she could see it all too well. Loki still had her glasses. Anything beyond a few feet in front of her turned merely to colors and shadows. She sighed and leaned her head against the wall beside her, moving her eyes to gaze out the side-barrier.

Her vision swam before her, tossing the room to and fro. The dancing, flickering torch outside her cell waved and winked, mocking her captivity. It was free to move and live and breathe. Free to consume and thrive, while she sat fighting for every breath.

It had been days since she'd seen Loki. Days since he'd allowed her to sleep. The night after their kiss, she'd felt exhausted, already weakened from her inability to restfully sleep during the previous nights. In the long stretch of days that followed, she felt her strength begin to fade away. An hour or two of sleep had kept her strength and spirits before. Now… she was absolutely wilting away.

Her head throbbed repetitively, easily matching the beating of her heart. When she closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall, she could feel sleep waiting for her, calling her name. Like the torch outside her cell, it flickered and lapped at the corners of her mind, but remained entirely out of her reach. The most she could do was reach a semi-tranquil state, where her body could relax and her mind could wander. But even thinking was tiring.

She knew what he was doing. Slowly breaking her, one piece at a time. She remembered the training she'd gone through. The sleepless nights, the bright rooms, the interrogations, living off of little more than gruel. But that was for S.H.I.E.L.D. She had to fight to save the intel. She was on an op and nothing would stop her.

This time… she was entirely on her own. She didn't have a mission to encourage her and drive her endurance. She didn't have a reason for being, aside from the slight possibility that maybe one day she'd return home.

In the back of her mind, she clung to an image of her family from the last Christmas they'd spent together. Anita looking festive in her stylish pink Santa hat. Little Ariel tossing paper around the living room and leaving her new toys scattered like little mines, waiting for an unobservant adult to step down and receive a sore foot. Mark and the silly video camera on his new phone. He had to document everything, after all. Everything. Then there was mom and dad, sitting at the dinner table, drinking freshly brewed coffee and waiting for the Christmas cookies to bake. It was a scene out of a greeting card. And it had been hers.

With the situation as it was… she'd never have that experience again. She'd never see Anita grow into a wonderful mother, or have the opportunity to watch Ariel grow at all. Or to help her sister through marriage troubles with Mark, not that they had any. She'd never see mom or dad, or smell fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen as cookies baked. She'd never see James or her colleagues or get to work another mission. She'd never start a family of her own, or get to be a hero. Everything she'd ever wanted was snatched away from her. Everything… everything relied on him.

Gathering what little strength she had left, Nancy stumbled her way over to the edge of her cell.

"Excuse me!" she called to the nearest guard, "Sir! I need to speak to Loki. Please. I can't take this anymore."

"The king is sleeping. None may disturb him."

"Please." she begged, "Just go check. If he's awake, tell him I need him. I need my sleep or I'll die. I need the curse removed."

With a dramatic roll of his eyes, the guard turned to slowly make his way up to the palace. Winding halls stretched on before him, the trip taking a good fifteen minutes, if not more. Finally, the guard arrived at Loki's chambers and gently knocked on the large, golden doors.

Already in a bad mood from his own inability to sleep, Loki flung the doors open with a snarl. "What in Odin's name do you want?"

The guard bowed humbly to his king. "Your mortal wishes to sleep," he explained, "but says she requires your assistance to do so. My apologies, sire. I did not mean to wake you."

Loki growled. Of course she wished sleep. He had almost forgotten about that particular bit of mischief, but he wasn't in the mood for demands. There was only one thing for it. "Tell her 'a favor for a favor'. And I do not come at her beckoning. If she hopes to sleep, let her offer something enticing." He went to close the door, then stopped, "And if she answers you, bring me her answer immediately." Loki slammed the door in the guard's face.

The guard blinked at the slamming of the door, turned on his heel, and went back to Nancy's cell.

"He says 'a favor for a favor' and to offer something enticing."

"Something… enticing?" Nancy thought aloud, her eyes widening, "Like what?" She turned and leaned against the edge of her cell. "A kiss gets me an apple… a passionate kiss gets me meat. What gets me sleep?!" But she already knew the answer. Each item cost more than the last and was more vital to her survival. Therefore, since she hadn't slept in days and was now desperate for sleep, the price she would pay for it would be dear. A soft kiss had won her an apple. A passionate kiss—a steeper price—bought her meat. If she wanted sleep, she'd have to give the only thing she had left. Herself.

With a deep breath to brace herself, Nancy returned to the barrier. "Tell him all I have left is… myself. But I will freely give myself to him if he will remove the curse."

The guard nodded once, acknowledging her answer, and turned for the door. Fifteen minutes later, he'd returned to Loki's chambers. Fearing his king's wrath, he knocked as softly as he could.

"WHAT?!" Loki roared, flinging the doors open again. These guards had no sense of personal privacy, did they? Why had he never noticed that before? By Odin, he needed sleep more than he had thought.

"She says all she has left is herself, sir." The guard rushed his words, "She offered you herself."

A smirk spread across Loki's face. Herself? So quickly? She couldn't possibly be that easy to break. She had more in her than that. More negotiation experience. Surely, in her sleep-deprived state, she had spoken without thought.

"Did she now?" Loki took a moment to think about it. "I did not think she would be so desperate for her slumber." He paused, then looked back at the guard. "Tell her nothing. Let her worry away another hour. I will come… in time."

The guard nodded in response and started on his trip back to the dungeon. When he arrived, he returned to his post, never once acknowledging Nancy's cell.

"What did he say?" Nancy called to him.

The guard remained silent.

"Please speak to me."

Nothing.

With a heavy sigh and a muffled curse, Nancy returned to her corner. This was hell. A bitter laugh escaped her lips at the irony of the situation. For centuries, Asgard was the Old Norse version of heaven. The realm where the fallen heroes would forever live with the gods. And yet, now that she was here, this 'heaven' was no more than a playground for a madman's whims. It wasn't heaven. At least, not for her. It was the deepest, darkest pit of hell that she could imagine. Being locked away in isolation, completely alone with her thoughts… her thoughts and these accursed bright lights.

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, wishing desperately for sleep.


/


Loki paced his chambers, thinking about what he would do. Accept or decline? Maybe neither. After all, he was in control here. He could make the game what he wanted. Maybe he shouldn't have said an hour. That seemed far too long when he wanted to know what she was really after.

When the hour had passed, Loki made his way to the dungeons. One determined step at a time. He threw the massive doors open and stormed in. "I've considered your offer." He called as he walked down the hall toward Nancy's cell.

Upon hearing his voice, Nancy opened her eyes and sat up. "I have a term." she called back, challenging him. She would give herself, yes, but only on her terms. She was not a piece of meat that he could play with. And he would respect her terms.

Loki stopped outside her cell. He knew there had been more to this than she let on. There always was. "I'd love to hear it." He said, deciding to wait to tell her that he refused her offer.

"Last time, all I had to do was ask nicely, and you let me nap. One plea gets one slumber. If I give myself to you, I want the curse removed completely."

"As I said, I've considered your offer and decided that I do not want it. …Not yet."

Nancy stood and moved toward the barrier, ready to confront him. "Then allow me my sleep tonight, Loki. Please. Just for tonight. I can't do this forever. My body craves rest. I'm already so weak." She paused, her next plea held back by the slivers and threads of what remained of her pride. She swallowed, biting back the hesitation, and continued. "May I please sleep tonight… master?"

That was indeed what he had become. Her master. He controlled every aspect of her life and being, and she was entirely slave to his whims. She'd once heard him say that humans crave subjugation. And now, he was forcing her to her knees. Taking her to her breaking point again and again, each time shattering more of her will and desire to fight. He was indeed her master.

Loki chuckled. She was intelligent, he would give her that. But, he wasn't quite ready to let her have peace. "I have come prepared with a counter-offer."

Nancy leaned sideways against a nearby wall for support and sighed. She was so tired. So tired of his rule and reign over her life. Exhausted by the game he was playing. "What is it?" Her voice was barely audible, laced with her exhaustion and frustration.

"As you have torn me from a peaceful rest," Loki said, stepping into her cell, "In order to gain peace for yourself you will beg."

Nancy took a deep breath and let it out slowly, contemplating his demand. He was smart, cunning... and brutal. Of course he'd refused her offer. He knew full well what she'd wanted from him. How he'd haunted her thoughts and dreams ever since the first day she'd met him. Taking her body wouldn't have been a punishment for her. Nor would it have cost as much. Because, in the back of her mind, it was what she'd always wanted. And, somehow, he'd known that. So of course he'd refused. Making her beg was far more humiliating. It called for more than her bending her body to his will. It added in the price of her soul.

As she stood there, leaning against the wall, she lifted her eyes to meet his. And there was the slightest flicker of kindness, hidden behind a mask of anger and contempt. If only she could reach the kind light within him… if only he'd allow her to see who he truly was. The kind man behind the tyrant. The lover behind the vengeful god.

Timidly, Nancy stepped toward him. She stopped in front of him, looking over his appearance. His regality. Despite the flicker of softness in his eyes, they were still fierce and severe. His chin was raised, showing his superiority. Even in his night clothes, he was far more powerful than she was. He was a king in every way, and all she was… was his dog. His 'pet'. He was strong, immortal, powerful. And she… she was so very, very mortal.

Nancy dropped to her knees before him and hesitantly reached out to take his hand. She softly passed her lips over the backs of his fingers, then looked up at him again. "Please let me sleep." she begged, "Please. Please.

"I sense no sincerity. Beg, Nancy. Do you know the meaning of the word? Grovel. Beg."

Nancy fell on her face as tears formed in her eyes, eventually spilling over from her embarrassment and desperation. What more did he want from her? She'd been days without sleep. How long did he expect her to last? "Please let me sleep, Loki!" she cried, "I'm sorry I woke you. Please!"

"Closer." He said, studying her earnestness. He had thought this would be rather more enjoyable than it was turning out. What was wrong with him? This was all he had ever wanted. A mortal, bent at his feet. Begging. Why did he feel so hollow?

"What more do you want me to do?" She looked up at him, her tears dripping from her cheeks and staining the floor near his boots. What else could he possibly want? "I need to sleep. I'm begging you, my master," she sobbed, nearing hysterics, "let me sleep."

Loki snatched a fistful of her hair in his hand, causing her to cry out. He squatted down to her level, his face perilously close to her ear. "I am satisfied. I release you to sleep."

As soon as he released her hair, Nancy scrambled into the nearest corner, her eyes wide with fear. "Thank you." Her words were automatic, nearly inaudible, as her body trembled from the shock of the ordeal. Still fearing what he might do to her, she slowly and timidly reached to rub at where he'd grabbed her hair. Like a frightened animal, she cowered away from him, watching him for any sign that he was coming after her.

Loki turned on his heel and strode out of the cell, heading back to his chambers. He needed sleep more than she did, it appeared. Once upon a time, that would have thrilled him. Instead, he found himself regretting what he had made her do. And that wouldn't do at all. He could have no regrets.

Once she realized that he wasn't coming back to harm her, Nancy collapsed in a pool of tears, her body wracked with sobs. How could he be so cruel to her? One moment, he was kind and loving, the next he was all but trying to kill her. What had she ever done to deserve this torture? Was he taking out all his anger at S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers on her? Was she his scapegoat?

About half an hour later, she'd finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. She lay with her back to the barriers and her face buried in the corner, still trying to block out the brightness of the lights. As she calmed, she tried to still her sporadic breathing, but an occasional hiccup or two still made their way to the surface. Within fifteen minutes more, she finally drifted to sleep.

But her sleep was anything but restful. She found herself in the helicarrier again, only this time she was the one in the cage. Loki stood before her, grinning, ready to push the button to release the trap into the sea. She pleaded for her life, got down on her knees and begged, but to no avail. When the trap dropped through the steel doors and went hurtling into the sea below, Nancy woke with a terrible jolt. She sat up, panting, as she tried to regain her bearings.

A falling dream. She'd had a falling dream. Most falling dreams happen within the first half an hour of falling asleep. She'd hardly slept more than a few minutes. A few minutes in comparison to the days she'd gone without sleep.

Almost involuntarily, a loud, mournful wail escaped Nancy's lips. After she'd fought so hard for her little window of sleep, it was snatched away from her by her own subconscious. She curled as tightly into herself as she could and waited for either death or Loki to come for her.