A/N: Back again. Told you there might be times where I updated fast. Yay! Hope this chapter meets standards, cause there's no beta, but me.

Warnings: Same as chapter 1. PG13 (if that).

He wakes to someone's face inches from his own, their smelly, wet breath filling his nose. He flinches back, but there's no wall behind him, only air. No, no, no. Not again.

The face above him disappears in a flash of color and then there's only silence and screeching and flashing lights and darkness and…and…

…Hello, little runt.

…Take it away.

…You will soon learn, runt.

…I said kneel!

His bare arm is grabbed and yanked hard. He flies forward and hears them grunt as he hits into their chest. His nose crunches into something hard, pain flares, and the grip on his arm squeezes. His minds white out in panic.

He's hit one of Them! He's resisted. He's not allowed to do that. He…he…he's done a Bad Thing. Bad, bad, bad. Master will hurt him now. Hit him. Beat him. Take food away. Master will put him in There.

I didn't mean to!

"S-sor-ry…This one didn't…p-pleas-se…this one…" he whispers, trembling. They tug on his arm, shouting unknown words at him, and he screams. "Sorry!"

He presses into as tight a ball as he can, hoping…No! He's not allowed to do that. It's…it's…he struggles for the right word, scared what might happen if he doesn't.

I asked you a question, runt! Answer it!

It's…Yes! He finds it. It's a Bad Thing. Bad, bad, bad. Master said, bad. He lays flat on the lumpy table, warm tears falling down his cheeks and into his ears. The…man?...beside him glares at something he can't see, shaking his arm. Someone else roars and he ignores his instincts to get away (Run, run, run!). He's not allowed to go. They said so. They speak for the Master. They're always right.

But it wasn't always that way.

He jolts at the bad thought and stuffs it into a small hole. If Master finds out he still thinks these things he'll...it won't…It's then that he notices that the hand around his arm is gone and that there's silence everywhere. He looks around and finds himself alone in a white, white room, lying on a…bed?

Why's he on a bed?

He's never been allowed on a bed before. It's not right. It's against the Rules. It's…really, really nice. He burrows deeper into it, despite the pain that causes. Maybe he did something right and Master is pleased with him. He thinks hard, but can't remember doing anything good. But Master is always right, so he must have done something.

He sniffs the air and smells something wet. Water. His eyes jerk to the small table by him. On its edge, close to him, is a tall glass of water. His throat squeezes and a whine escapes him. He wants it so badly, but Master hasn't said he could, so he doesn't' touch it. He knows better.

The door to his room opens and a female walks in, red hair and black clothes, and he stiffens. She looks nice and soft, but he's been around Them too much to be fooled. She's dangerous. He watches cautiously as she glides closer to his bed. Her eyes flick over to the untouched water glass and his body relaxes.

He did a Good Thing.

The female pulls a chair over and sits in to, elbows in her knees. "I hear Doctor Morgan scared you a little."

He blinks. He doesn't know a 'Doctor Morgan'….does he?

She smiles and it's fake. "Why don't you take a drink of water, huh?"

He shakes his head. He won't fall for that trick again. He's learned.

She frowns a little. "Can you tell me why not?"

He clutches the blanket in his fists and starts to breathe fast.

She stops frowning and leans back a bit. "Hey, it's okay. Calm down. I'm not mad. Can you tell me? Is that okay?"

She's new, but she's one of Them, so he nods. He takes a small breath, braces himself, and says: "Haven't done anything yet."

She blinks. Tilts her head. And then nods. "Okay."

She moves the glass to the other side of the small table and his heart…does something funny. Flappity. Hurty. The female folds her arms across her chest. "I'll make you a deal. You answer a question, I'll give you this water. Is that in conflict with the rules?"

He shakes his head. This makes sense now. She's a new test for him. He licks his lips and tastes blood. If he does the right things Master will be happy with him. Master will not let Them hurt him today.

The female nods. "Right. My names Natasha. What's yours?"

Natasha. He puts the name into his bucket of Important. They never tell him anything if it's not…not…he forgets the words, but puts her name into the bucket anyway. He rubs the blanket between his fingers. "Runt."

She stiffens. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

He cringes. Maybe he didn't say the right word again. He does that sometimes. Master hates it. He searches him mind and finds the right name. He looks into her eyes. "This one's name is Runt."

She unfolds her arms. "I thought it was Loki."

He smiles then. So this is the test. He was confused, but now he knows the right answers. "Loki is dead."

"Ah," she says. Her face turns sad and she looks like she's going to say something, but then she pushes the glass towards him. "Here. You did well."

He sages in relief. He's never done so well before. He always gets a question wrong. But not today. Master will be happy. His hands shake as he grabs the glass and some of the water spills out. The female…Natasha reaches out slowly and helps him keep it steady. She gives him another fake smile. "Drink."

I did a cameo in this chapter and the last. They were pretty obscure, so I'll not tease you with guessing. Chapter 1 = Fury (he's the one who ordered Loki sedated). Chapter 2 = Bruce (he "roared"...or growled really...when the other doctor scared Loki). If I do anymore cameos I'll be sure to add more hints.

Please, please review. Even if it's just a few lines. It really makes my day when you do. Let's me know what you like (or, on the rare occasions, what you wish to see in future chapters).