Days have gone by since my last interaction with Loki. I was avoiding him due to the never-ending strange looks that I have been getting every time I leave my workspace. I couldn't handle the stares and whispers. It was like I was back in high school all over again. You'd think that they would be used to strange things happening at S.H.I.E.L.D. However, they all seem to be like every other person in this universe and need some sort of gossip.

"Loki is asking for you," Jason said as he entered the training room, I was in. I was currently working on basic kickboxing techniques on a punching bag S.H.I.E.L.D. had hanging up for agents to use. While focusing on what I was doing, I pretended not to hear what Jason was saying. "Ara, you told Fury you would work with Loki on top of doing your project and right now you aren't doing either."

"I needed a brain break. I will get back to working with Dr. Banner in a little bit," I said, not taking my focus off of the bag in front of me.

"And what about Loki?"

I paused, almost getting whacked by the punching bag swinging back at me. I knew where Jason was heading. Yes, I told Fury I'd work with Loki, but honestly, I was starting to believe I got in over my head. I haven't even spent that much time with him, so I haven't figured out why he was so interested in me and why I seemed more interested in him.

I let out a sigh, "I can't. Not right now. I lost control and could have hurt someone just because I needed to prove a point. He's going to use that against me at some point. He could use me to do more damage than what happened last time he was here."

"No, he won't," Jason said as we both sat on a bench.

"And how do you know that?" I asked before taking a sip out of my bottle. It's Loki. Of course, he would use my weakness to his advantage. "He's the god of mischief. He would do anything to get what he wants."

"And yet, here you are. He wants you and you have been nowhere near him for days. What does that tell you?"

"That he has figured out his game plan yet."

Jason rolled his eyes at me and said, "Come on. I'll show you what he has been doing the past couple of days while waiting for you to never show."

I groaned knowing that Jason wasn't going to give me a choice. I could either go willingly or get it over with. Or Jason would drag me and make a scene in front of everyone here at S.H.I.E.L.D., making it easier for my mother to figure out where I was and what I was doing.

As we walked through the halls, I noticed that there weren't as many people as there usually were. I knew agents came and went depending on cases, but it seemed extra empty compared to when I went to the training room earlier. No weird stares or whispers that cause me to want to crawl in a hole and disappear.

Entering into the prison area where Loki was held, something started to feel off. I wasn't sure how, but all I knew was that I was walking into a trap. The problem was I didn't know who set up the trap. Was it Loki? Or was it someone else? Because Jason next to me was more on edge than he normally would be. The closer we got; the more tense Jason's posture was.

"Miss Adara," Loki greeted looking up from the book he was reading. It was like he knew I was coming. Like he knew Jason wasn't going to let me say no.

"Loki," I said in acknowledgment. His eyes had a mischievous look in them, telling me that I was following his plan. This trap was set by him. "I don't know what you did to Jason or how you did it, but can you please let my best friend go back to normal?"

Loki thought about it for a second before answering, "I will. But only after we have our talk."

"You're not even supposed to be able to use your magic. How are you able to use it?"

"I'm a god."

"You're a pain in my ass. That is what you truly are," I said before sitting down on the floor. Loki lifted an eyebrow at me. I didn't know if he was surprised, I called him a pain in the ass or if he wasn't expecting his plan to go this smoothly. "Now, why am I here, Loki? I was in the middle of something before you summoned me."

"Aren't you supposed to be here? After all, Earth's precious Avengers and Nicholas Fury are having you figure out why I'm here. You can't do that if you don't ever come talk to me. Isn't that right, Miss Adara?" As I told him, he is a pain in my ass.

I felt my frustration with the royal pain starting. My body temperature was starting to rise, and an all-familiar burning started in my eyes. I bet if I looked in the mirror, they would look a little redder than my eyes normally were. I knew that's what he wanted too. He wanted to see me use my powers again and lose control. After all, it was fascinating to him the first time it happened, why wouldn't he want to see it over and over again?

"I think you seemed to have forgotten, Loki, that I am also working on another project. My focus can't always be on you. No matter how important you think you are. My life, my work, my free time, can't all be planned around you. You know why? Because you aren't my main concern. S.H.I.E.L.D. may be worried about you destroying Earth all over again, but I'm not."

"Why aren't you worried?" Loki asked, a little shock about what I just said. I should have been worried. He destroyed New York in 2012, but for whatever reason, I couldn't. Is this the weird bond Jason keeps mentioning? Is it like in all those cheesy werewolf stories and their mate bonds?

"Because I have other things to worry about," I shrugged. I was doing my best trying not to let my frustration take over. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to talk to Loki. Both times I've talked to him, he has managed to get into my head. I need a clear head to keep in control because I didn't want to destroy anyone or anything.

Loki smirked, "Ah yes. You have to worry about yourself because you are a monster as well. However, you try to hide it. You try to blend in with the rest of these mortals. Why do you do that Adara? You could be so much greater if you didn't try to hide who you are."

"I'm not hiding who I am," I denied. I knew who I was. I've never hidden my true personality away. "I just hide my powers because I don't need my powers defining who I am. I'm not one of the Avengers or any other hero who is out there saving the world. I hide my powers because all they bring is destruction and heartbreak. After all, you should know how it feels once you found out your true ancestry, Loki Laufeyson. So, tell me, why shouldn't I hide away my powers when all they would do is cause fear?

"What if I could help you learn to control your powers?" Loki suddenly asked.

I squinted my eyes at him before saying, "Why would you do that?"

"If you are able to get me out of this cell more than to see your workspace, I'll help you with your powers," Loki said. I glared at him, trying to find his endgame. "Deal?"