It was nearing midnight when Loki decided to do something about Nancy's request. He opened his door wide and scowled at the nearest guard. He would do, he supposed. With hardly a word, he sent him off to fetch the girl to him in his chambers. The guard agreed with no argument. At least that was a good sign.

Nancy sighed. The hours stretched on and on without end, leaving her ever alone with her thoughts. Loki had been gone for the rest of the evening and had never come for her. With his enduring habit of waiting days before he acted upon his shallow promises, she could be left pining near a week away before he decided to send for her.

She had no idea why she'd agreed to his terms. Or even offered herself as a pet. Well… yes she did. She did know why. She was tired of this cell. Tired of having to grovel for food and sleep. And quite frankly, she was tired of being alone. He could be so kind and loving when he wasn't attempting to nearly kill her. And it was that kind man that she hoped to appeal to.

Maybe she could finally become the friend and companion she'd longed to be from the very beginning. Maybe hope still remained. Perhaps, through being his pet, she could finally thaw his icy heart.

Hours passed. She had no idea what time it was, but she hoped Loki would come soon. Once again, she could feel sleep lapping at the corners of her mind, but she was unable to reach it. Once again, her vision swam before her as she tried to focus on the fuzzy outline of the flickering torch outside her cell. If only he would come for her. Soon.

"King Loki demands your presence."

Nancy looked up when she heard the guard's booming voice and the great thump of the end of his spear hitting the ground. She slowly stood to her feet and walked to the edge of the cell. As soon as she was within reach, the guard lowered the barrier and grabbed her arm, nearly yanking her down the steps. Nancy stumbled after him as he dragged her along, her blurry vision made all the worse by the drastic light change. Dim torches barely lit the darkened halls, sending long, wild shadows dancing across the walls. She could hardly see where she was going, led along only by the guard's constant pulling.

Hallway after dark hallway. Up and down stairs she couldn't see. Her feet betrayed her. The agent, once so strong, could only helplessly stumble after the massive guard. His hand clenched tightly around her forearm, his grip made all the worse with every misstep. Finally, when Nancy felt she could take the journey no longer, she heard the guard pound loudly on a set of great doors, and then she was shoved through, as if she was no more than cargo. She flailed as she tried to regain her footing and nearly fell into the back of a nearby chair.

Once she got her feet under her again, Nancy glanced around the room, trying to determine where she was. A few dim candles accompanied the soft glow of green-lit light-fixtures. She saw the familiar green and gold of the sheets on the bed. The sheer, golden curtains blowing softly in the midnight breeze. This was Loki's room.

With a deep breath to steady herself, Nancy slowly stepped out into the middle of the room. So far, all she could see were the sheets and curtains. Everything else was either dimly lit or blurry. Or both. She had no idea where Loki was, or if he was even in the room. But she didn't dare speak. Her silence was one of the terms she'd agreed upon. When he sent for her, she was to come silently. She distinctly remembered that term. Assuming her posture of obedience again, Nancy braced herself and waited for something to happen.

Loki waited for the guard to shut his door, and then stepped from his shadowed corner. He advanced on her silently, and circled her ever so slowly. Observing each inch of her. Weighing in his mind what needed to be done. Smirking when she couldn't see him. How long he had wished to see her outside her cage. Now, here she was, submissive and awaiting his command. For once, she was at his mercy. Loki couldn't describe the feeling of power that flowed through him.

As Loki circled around her, Nancy tried not to flinch. She kept her eyes downcast, not wanting to see the look on his face. She knew how he was looking at her. As if he was sizing up a piece of steak at the market. Or debating on purchasing a horse. Inspecting every inch of her to see if there were any flaws. She wasn't even a person to him. She was an animal. Only an animal. His new pet.

He stopped in front of her and weighed his next move carefully. She mustn't suspect what final outcome he wanted. He picked up a lock of her greasy hair. They would start the transformation with that. With one long finger, he pointed to the washroom door. "Bath."

Nancy nodded once and headed in the direction indicated. At least he was allowing her to bathe. She hadn't bathed in at least a month. Far long enough to gross herself out, much less an Asgardian king-god.

It took her a moment to find the door, but once she did, it easily slid open. Inside, more candles were placed here and there and green lights hung from the walls. The gentle rays reflected back off the golden antiques, making the room seem all the brighter. A free-standing tub with delicately engraved feet stood in the middle of the room. To its right, near the corner of the room, a marble wash-basin stood atop a thin marble pillar. Over the sink hung a large, clear mirror with a thick, richly decorated, golden frame. A cushioned bench and golden shelf of towels occupied the opposite corner. On a table near the door, a golden tray sat laden with everything she could possibly need for her personal hygiene. A basket of soaps, a few little glass jars full of creams, lotions, and perfumes, a hairbrush, what looked to be a toothbrush, and a sponge. It was all far more than she'd expected or imagined. Her breath caught in the back of her throat as she tried to take in the beauty.

"Did I neglect to mention the splendor?"

Nancy nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving the scene in front of her. It all looked more like a spa getaway than a bath for a pet.

Suddenly, a new thought dawned on her. What if he planned to bathe her himself? Or wanted to watch her? She blushed intensely at the thought. She was his pet now. He could do as he wished. Oh… no. No, no.

She turned abruptly and looked at him, his figure illuminated by the light from the washroom. "May I close the door?" Her voice quavered as she asked, betraying her desperation. She absolutely, positively needed to close the door. She wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

He smirked again. Shy, wasn't she? "I have no qualms with looking upon your person, but as it seems you do, I will allow it." He held up a finger before she could even think he had finished. "This once only. In the future, if you wish to bathe privately, you best do it when I am away."

Nancy nodded again and quickly slipped into the bathroom. Best take advantage of his kindness before he decided to change his mind. She went to close the door, but stopped. He deserved at least some sort of explanation. "I'm just… not much to look at." Nancy mumbled, then finally closed the door.

Loki shook his head in disbelief. She really believed that? Who had told her she was nothing splendid? Who had broken her trust and betrayed her? If she believed she was nothing to look it, she was strangely misguided. He chuckled to himself and made sure she couldn't hear what he said next. "Oh, if only you knew."

Nancy glanced around nervously, trying to decide where to begin. It was probably best to start drawing the water, since it would take a while for the tub to fill. She cautiously turned the knob near the golden facet and let warm water pour into the tub.

Then, she turned for the tray of items. First she picked up one soap, then another, then another. Each had a different scent, depending on its color and shape. She moved to the jars next. One was full of a white cream. She cautiously touched her finger to the surface, then rubbed the cream between her fingers. It was a lotion. And rose-scented, too. Nancy smiled. Rose had always been her favorite scent.

The next jar smelled of mint and contained a clear gel. Again, she touched her finger to the surface and felt the texture. Slightly different than the one before it. She brought her hand to her lips and cautiously tasted the gel. It tasted of mint. Toothpaste, perhaps?

A third jar also contained a clear liquid. As soon as she uncapped the top of the jar, the smell of a strong perfume hit her nose. She scrunched her face and put the lid back on the jar. It was definitely a perfume.

With the tub now full and her curiosity quenched, Nancy began to disrobe. "You'd better not be in here," she whispered, glancing around frantically. The last thing she needed was her captor turning invisible to watch her. He'd already said he didn't mind looking at her. And she wouldn't put it past him. It would be the sort of nasty trick he'd play. "I'm warning you," she continued, carefully slipping into the hot bath, "If I find out you're watching me, we're going to have a long – and quite loud – conversation. And if you are, you're the lowest, crudest, rudest type of dog that ever walked the face of the earth."

But as she settled into the water, Nancy's fears began to subside. The bath felt wonderful. Beyond wonderful. Beyond anything she'd felt in a long, long time.

/

Finally, a full hour later, Nancy stepped from the tub, feeling like her old self again. She wrapped a towel around herself and headed for the wash-basin. Although it didn't have a faucet, it did have a drain, with a pitcher of water next to it. Carefully, she picked up the toothbrush from the tray near the door, dipped it in the toothpaste, and began brushing her teeth. How magnificent the little things seemed to her. Things she'd taken for granted before. After she was finished, she rinsed the basin out with the water from the pitcher and scooped her old clothes off the floor.

It was then that she realized she couldn't simply walk out. She didn't have any clean clothes. What was she going to wear? Surely he wouldn't make her wear her old, smelly clothes.

Hesitantly, Nancy opened the door a crack and peeked out. Out in the main room, the lights had been brightened. The whole room was now visible to her. Well, as visible as it could be with her glasses still gone. Along the far wall, there seemed to be a large bookcase, packed wall to wall and floor to ceiling with books. Closer to her, a green chaise lounge was placed halfway between the washroom and Loki's bed. On the far side of the room, cushioned chairs sat facing a coffee table, with a larger dining table behind them. Along the wall by the door, a dresser stood. In the opposite corner, a large wardrobe reigned supreme, dominating the entire corner.

Nancy glanced slowly around, looking for Loki. Everything was green and gold and blended one into another. How was she supposed to find him amongst his things? "Um… master?" she began, "I don't have any clean clothes."

Loki smirked widely as he watched her wander out, in a bath towel no less. Perhaps he should have said something before she bathed, but this was far more fun. She had noticed. At least he couldn't rightly say she was unobservant. "Ah, yes," he said as nonchalantly as he possibly could. "I have taken the liberty of remedying that." He pointed to the chaise.

The floor-length silk gown was forest green, of course. His color. Because, like it or not, she was his. He had overseen the designing of the gown himself, and made the adjustment that allowed for a slit between each of the four panels in the skirt. The open spaces ran from the floor to her thighs, and he rather liked the thought of the peeks he would no doubt see of her bare legs. Aside from that, they also allowed for flexibility. Kneeling and sitting and possibly crawling, depending on his mood. The long sleeves would make her arms look long and slim, as they were.

Nancy timidly stepped out and moved closer to the chaise, holding the towel tightly around herself as she did so. Her hair hung in damp, red strings over her shoulders, dripping cold water down her arms. She cautiously picked up a corner of the dress and let the fabric slip between her fingers. "Will you look away while I dress?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at Loki.

He sighed heavily and held up a single finger. "This once I shall oblige your timidity." He made sure she saw the overdramatic way he turned his back on her. He wanted so desperately to turn and see. To devour the view. But, he wouldn't. Because she mustn't know how he felt.

Quickly, Nancy dropped the towel and pulled the dress over her head. It slid sown her figure and covered her completely. She blushed when she saw the matching silk and lace undergarments, knowing he'd had a hand in picking them out, too. But she needed them, and slipped into them as quickly as she could.

When Nancy turned to grab her towel, she felt one of the slits in the dress slip over her legs, revealing them as she moved. She took a step and felt another, this one on the opposite front side. A step back revealed the ones behind her. Nancy squeaked and tugged at the slits, willing them to close. They revealed so much of her legs! Too much! She could tell she was blushing bright red… but nothing could be done to fix the dress. So, gathering her courage, Nancy lifted her arms to dry her hair, letting the dress slide over her legs once again, revealing them.

"Alright. You can look."

More overdramatics were in order as he turned once more to face her. His breath almost left him at the sight of her in his color. He sufficed with a single nod. "Yes. I approve." And there was one more thing missing. Something he should have given her long ago. He reached into a drawer and rummaged around for it. He had put it there only the night before, where could it be? He spoke to cover the time it took. "There is one more... accessory."

An accessory? What sort of accessory would a pet have? A collar, of course. Nancy closed her eyes tightly in silent prayer. "Not a collar." she whispered to herself, "Please don't let it be a collar. The snake didn't have a collar."

"Snakes never wear collars, pet. It is impractical as it hinders their movement." Never let it be said that Loki the Trickster didn't have excellent hearing. If she thought she could mumble to herself and get away with it, she had another thing coming. Finally, he found the object and clamped his fingers around it.

"It isn't a shock collar, is it?" Nancy began to back away from him.

He pulled the collar from the drawer. The inside was slightly padded, so as not to hurt her sensitive neck, and the outside was golden. Emeralds were set at equal intervals around its circumference. "No. But it shall allow me to know where you are at all times. As my other pets." He proceeded toward her, ready to place it around her neck.

Nancy took another step back, eyeing the cold, thin metal. Her hair dripped down the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. "You don't have anything… cloth?"

He stopped mid-stride and flexed it to show her how the gold had been spun so finely that it floated like silk. "It is soft, I assure you." He finished his stride and stopped inches in front of her.

Nancy's breath caught in the back of her throat. There was nowhere for her to run or hide. She'd agreed to this, of her own free will. Then why did she feel like he was turning her into his slave? "Just… not too tight. Please."

That would be what she asked of him. He smirked at her audacity. It was simple enough to reach his hands around her throat and seal the clasp with a whisper of magic. She would not be able to take it off at all, not unless he allowed her. And he wouldn't. He liked the sight far too much. He folded his hands behind his back again and took a single step back.

Nancy stood with her eyes downcast, feeling very alone. All Loki had ever wanted her to be was an experiment and a pet. All she would ever be to him was a plaything. "How many pets do you have?" she asked, feeling like she would only be one of many.

He inhaled at the beauty of the emeralds bobbing over her skin. Then exhaled again, thinking on her question. "Quite a few snakes. A bird. A cat or two. And a few horses." He nodded. Yes, that summed it up quite well.

Nancy snapped her head up when she heard him mention cats. "Cats? Do they obey you?

"Of course." A genuine smile lit his face. One last instruction had come to mind. "You will, of course, not be allowed to roam until you have proven your obedience."

Nancy's eyes widened slightly. What could he possibly ask her to do? She took a step back, fearing his motives. If he even tried to touch her, she'd flip him right over her. …If she'd had the strength for it. Maybe she could punch him again… and incur his wrath. With a sigh, Nancy whispered, "What do you want me to do?"

"Everything we agreed upon." He motioned to the chaise behind her. "You will sleep here."

Nancy gave a sigh of relief and turned to glance at the chaise, then looked back at Loki. "Will you allow me to sleep? Entirely through the night? I've been… having nightmares lately. If I wake, will you allow me to go back to sleep?"

He dropped his hand out of the motion and looked down at her. Did she doubt him so much? All she had to do was mention the nightmares. Much as he hated to admit it, he was probably the subject. He owed her at least the night's peace, since he would no doubt interrupt it in her dreams. "You will sleep," he promised. He nodded to the chaise again. She really needed to learn the meaning of 'obedience', didn't she?

When he nodded to the chaise, Nancy acknowledged the order and immediately did as instructed. She went and sat down on the long chair, then stretched out on it. The sigh that escaped her lips was entirely involuntary. The chaise was so soft and reclined back at just the right angle. "Oh, this is so much better than the floor."

Loki smiled at the sigh, enjoying its innocence. He ignored her comment about the floor and turned for his own bed, which sounded better with each passing moment. He discarded his armor and tunic on the way, opting to sleep in only his trousers. He would have disrobed entirely, but he didn't want to frighten his new pet to death. "I release you to sleep, pet," he announced as he fell into his enormous bed.

At hearing his words, Nancy glanced over at him. She was close enough to his bed to see his figure clearly. She blushed slightly as her eyes roved over his form, acting in their own accord. She took in the view. The soft color of his skin. The muscles that rippled beneath the surface. He was more handsome than she'd imagined. After staring at him for a full minute-and-a-half, Nancy finally snapped out of it and glanced away. "Um… master?" she stammered, "May I have a blanket? Or would that be asking too much?" The chill of the room was beginning to get to her bare legs. That, and she wanted to hide from her own embarrassment.

"Look closer, pet." He yawned and stretched like one of his cats. For such an observant woman, she overlooked the plainest things.

Nancy's breath caught in her throat as she watched him, her eyes never leaving his form. She couldn't help herself. This was all she'd ever wanted. To be so close to him. To see him as a man, not a god. Oh, but he had the body of a god.

She coughed to snap herself out of it again and turned away from him, making it so she couldn't see him, even if she tried. When she did, she found a green velvet blanket folded over the back of the chaise. It hadn't been there a moment ago. She quickly covered herself with it, a small smile finding its way to her face.

Maybe being his pet wasn't so bad after all. He pampered her with all the best soaps and perfumes Asgard had to offer. He'd allowed her to bathe in the most beautiful bathroom she'd ever seen and then sleep on a comfy chaise. He gave her a silk dress – complete with silk underthings – a collar made out of real gold and emeralds, and even a soft, velvet blanket. Yes, she should have agreed to this arrangement a long time ago.

Soon, Nancy fell fast asleep and slept through the night, her nightmares gone for the evening. She slept deeply and soundly, soothed to sleep by the gentle rustle of the curtains blowing in the breeze and the soft silk and velvet nestled against her skin.

As was usual, having little to no remorse about his life, Loki slept soundly the entire night and well into the morning. Life was good, the girl had come to him, and he had plans for her.