I fought with the dawn to stay asleep. Eyes clenched tight, I counted the seconds as they passed between snoozing my alarm and the obnoxious buzzing that shook my pillow. It was useless. I was wide awake and late for my session with Loki.
Lazily, I threw a white button-up shirt over a comfortable tank-top. I slipped on my trusty pair of black slacks and shiny black flats before rushing out the door. Agent Hanna was waiting for me at the end of the corridor. Her dark eyes were fixed on her watch. Tapping her foot impatiently, she glared up at me with a serious expression.
"Miss. Bright, I'm sorry to bother you. You look like you're in a hurry. Somewhere to be?" she hissed sarcastically.
I could only apologize so much, but her expression never changed. I had waltzed right onto her shit-list. Justifiably so. It didn't stop the guilt from ravaging my guts.
As we approached Loki's cell door, my stomach churned. It felt like I was being kicked over and over again. The door opened with an excruciatingly slow creek, revealing Loki sitting diligently at the white fold out table.
Agent Hanna stood next to me. Tap tap tap. Her fingers impatiently clattered against her tablet. "Don't keep our guest waiting," she mumbled. At that moment I didn't know who I was more afraid of, Loki or Agent Hanna.
I tripped over the lip of the door and stumbled inside the room. I stumbled into a dense invisible fog of heat and musk. I was immediately overwhelmed with desire. His desire. How did mask it so well? Loki's face remained calm and collected. His eyes a mystic shade of blue, reflecting nothing but thoughtful contemplation and regal form. He sat relaxed and composed, like a CEO with a business proposal.
I fought through the swell of heat and made my way over to my chair. His eyes followed my every move like a cat watching its prey from the tall grass. I shivered as I sat down. The folder trembling in my grasp.
"Rough night?" Loki quirked.
I mustered enough composure to peer up at him. How was he more beautiful than a dream?
"Rough morning," I replied.
He was amused. He didn't have to smirk or chuckle. I felt his enjoyment. It was feral and devious with a hint of pride.
"I understand. I found it hard to get out of bed this morning," he began. I perked an eyebrow at him. "My dreams lately have been rather lovely. Its been near impossible to pull myself away," he sighed with somber despair.
"Deep breaths," I reminded myself.
The air was so thick I thought I'd drown in it. My fingers tapped the table urgently. My anxiety mixed with Loki's sexual frustration caused a riot in my veins. An electric whirlwind that sent jolts through my muscles. I twitched and fidgeted, unable to veil my discomfort.
"Would you like some coffee?" I asked him. My lips trembled so I bit down hard to conceal the panic.
Loki's brows creased apprehensively. "No, thank you," he answered.
"Breakfast?"
"Thank you, but I'd rather eat my own arm than the garbage they serve," he grumbled. He cast a sharp glare at a camera and back to me.
Silence. Awkward, uncomfortable silence. Loki twiddled his thumbs while I pondered over notes, pictures, and dozens of documents regarding S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collective knowledge on Loki, his family, and events that took place on Earth revolving them. It was a feeble distraction, but it was all I could do to tune out the unbearable fever that was seeping into my skin.
I could feel Loki's eyes on me. I could practically hear the gears whirling in his head as he questioned by every movement. Why was I drumming my fingers like that? Why was I biting my lip? Why was I so quiet? Was this a power move? Did he fuck something up? It was almost refreshing to feel the impassive Prince stir with worry.
He sucked in an audible breath of air, as if he was about to speak. He held that breath for a second before sighing exasperatedly. He did this a few times.
"Please, say what you want to say," I told him. "Your nervousness is making me nervous. Literally."
"Right. My apologies." He shifted in his seat. "I had a question for you, but it feels inappropriate to ask now."
"Inappropriate?" I asked nervously. "Please don't let him spill our secret," I thought.
"You don't seem in the best mood and I fear that might be my fault. It seems inappropriate to ask a favor when I've unintentionally disrupted your morning," he admitted.
He was sincere. I could feel his concern. I sighed deeply and flipped the dossier closed.
"It's not your fault," I muttered, giving him a weak smile. "Please, ask away."
Relief washed over him and me. The sultry air became slightly thinner. Easier to breathe. Loki sat up straight and locked his fingers together, twirling his thumbs as if he was rehearsing lines in his head.
"Enrichment," he exclaimed. "I understand that prisoners on this world get to go outside for a limited time per day. Dogs get to go on walks. I would like the same courtesy."
"You're aware that you're a top level threat to this planet, right? You invaded and tried to enslave us with the help of an alien army," I reminded him.
He rolled his eyes, "Yes, yes, yes, but...I promise I won't do it again," he smiled confidently. I could almost hear Agent Hanna and her guards laugh beyond the cell. "Look, I gave you something that you wanted. Now, I'd like something in return."
"Something I wanted?" I asked with surprise.
"Information," he shrugged. He shot me a quick wink.
I contemplated for a moment. As far as we know, Loki had little to no resourced here. So long as Banner's technology worked, he had no powers either. Research dictated that outdoor activities were beneficial to prisoners, but of course that research wasn't done on alien god-king-dictators. I recounted this to Loki verbally, eyeing the cameras as I did. Loki nodded in agreement as I spoke.
"What do you think?" I asked the camera. Within a second, Agent Hanna had swung the door open and stomped inside.
Her face was unreadable. Her emotions were muted, like she exuded nothing but contempt, or she had no feelings to begin with. "What do I think?" she questioned sternly. "You're suggesting we let a narcissistic psychopath loose on the streets of the very city he tried to pillage just a few years ago? Do you think a street pretzel is going to cure him of; what did you call it? 'Baggage'?"
"I'm right here," Loki interjected.
"Shut up," she snapped. She looked down at me with cold bleak eyes, "I think you're out of your damn mind, Miss. Bright."
"We could bring guards along with him," I suggested.
"That wouldn't bring attention at all," Agent Hanna said mockingly.
"All else fails, I can put him down with a simple touch. You saw what happened the last time we did and I wasn't even trying," I lifted myself from my seat and leaned in closer to her, "I think this could be good for him. We want him on our side, right? You catch more flies with honey and all that," I whispered into her ear.
Hanna stood there motionless for a moment. Her stone-like face unflinching. She tapped her tablet twice and began typing something quickly. "Excuse me," she announced before leaving the room.
Thirty long minutes passed. I tried to press Loki on topics regarding Thor, Asgard, and potential threats, but he didn't bother. He sat and glanced through the pictures provided in his dossier. Occasionally, he'd comment on how the photographer messed up the angle and made him look ugly. I scribbled down notes about his hidden fears, the inky blackness that laid dormant in his subconscious, and overlaying depression he refused to acknowledge. Something meaningful that S.H.I.E.L.D. would want. I at least wanted to pretend I was doing my job correctly.
The silence was interrupted by the clanging of locks. The cell door opened with a creek. A complex and anxious prescience entered the room along with the stale bitter energy that emanated from Agent Hanna. Loki's face lit up brightly, though his expression didn't change. It was all in his eyes. Mischief.
"Dr. Banner," he cooed devilishly. His low husky voice struck a chord in our guest.
I turned to find truth in his words. I gasped audibly. I never thought I'd have the pleasure of meeting one of the actual Avengers, but there he was.
"Loki," Banner muttered nervously. He turned his blueish-green eyes to me and smiled politely. "Miss. Bright, I presume," he extended a hand to me.
"That might be a good idea. My empathy has been a little intense lately."
The last thing I needed was Bruce Banner accidently finding out that I was having a metaphysical tryst with Loki. Perhaps worse, feeling all the rage he hides as the Hulk.
"Good call," he replied with a friendly smile. "Regardless, it's nice to meet you." He retracted his hand and slid them into his pockets.
Loki eyed him like a toy he intended to break. An old friend he loved to pick on. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" he spoke in a monotone villainous voice.
Dr. Banner restlessly fidgeted with something in his pocket. "I've been talking to Agent Hanna about your proposal, Miss. Bright," he kept his attention on me. "Despite my better judgement, I think you could be right, and I promised to help pacify this...er...beast."
He brandished a thin silver chord from his pocket. A shining bracelet with green shimmering through the center. A thinner version of the handcuffs shackled around Loki's wrists. Banner cautiously made his way over to Loki. The man reeked of fear.
"This is going to negate your abilities just as well as your current accessories, without the bulk. So, you won't be much of a threat to civilians," Dr. Banner explained.
"You think I need magic to be a threat?" Loki hissed in a raspy growl.
"You're not helping yourself," I snapped.
"Apologies, it's just so easy,"
Banner quickly clasped the bracelet around Loki's pale wrist and backed away.
Agent Hanna huffed disapprovingly. "Miss. Bright, please follow Dr. Banner. He'll equip you for what you'll need on your excursion. I'll stay here and prepare our guest." She tapped her tablet twice and Loki's handcuffs opened with a loud clang. Another tap and his collar fell onto the table.
Dr. Banner lead me out of the room and down the hall.
"I can't believe something so small can render him powerless," I said to the anxious scientist.
He chuckled nervously, "Yeah, in theory."
"In theory?"
"It's a very good, but untested theory."
I looked back at the closed door. Three guards and Agent Hanna were now alone with a-hopefully-powerless Loki.