Loki woke slowly and peered over at his new pet. He liked the sight of her in the morning, curled into a ball and sleeping soundly. He chuckled at her adorable sleeping habits. With no noise, he rose and dressed, preparing for the day. He had duties to attend to, and he had to ensure she wouldn't move from his chambers. He reached to the ground by the chaise and produced a chain, long enough to allow her to move about, but short enough she would not be able to leave the room. He quickly attached it to her collar. He petted her hair, feeling its softness, and smiled. He liked this arrangement. With that thought in the forefront of his mind, he headed out for the day.

Nancy slowly opened her eyes as she felt a hand gently stroking her hair. She looked up to see Loki smiling down at her. "Good morning." she mumbled, barely audible. But then he turned and headed for the door. He must not have heard her. "Wait! Where are you-?" But the door closed behind him.

She dashed for the door, the silken panels of her dress swishing over her legs. Just as her hand neared the doorknob, the sudden jolt of her collar reaching the end of its chain caused her to choke and stumble backwards. She gripped at her neck and soon found the chain. A look back revealed that the other end of the chain was attached to the chaise. No matter. She'd simply drag the chaise along behind her if she had to.

Nancy tugged at the chain, but it wouldn't budge. She tugged harder, but the chaise wouldn't move. "Loki!" she screamed as loudly as she could, half cursing him and half begging him to return.

Of course that was the one rule she forgot to obey. The one she had actually agreed to. He winced and shook his head. She would learn, he chided himself, and kept walking. He couldn't show too much lenience, else she would expect it always. He had to keep his mind focused. Not on her.

After a few moments, Nancy realized her mistake. She'd used his name. "Master!" she tried again, "Wait! Come back! Please! I have to talk to you!" Desperate, Nancy tugged wildly on the chain, but nothing moved.

His steps faltered at the word that fell from her lips. She had remedied her mistake. And he had no pressing matters. Shouldn't he reward good behavior? Positive affirmation produced good results. He knew that from his other pets. Besides, he couldn't ignore the pleading in her voice. With a sigh, Loki barged back through his door. "What is it, pet?"

Nancy gasped and froze at his tone. He'd yelled at her. She hadn't meant to bother him so greatly. She merely had questions was all. Why was he leaving? Why was she chained? What was she supposed to do while he was gone? When was he coming back? But the questions fell flat when he'd yelled at her.

She stared at him in stunned silence as she tried to grasp what she'd called him back for. But her words failed her. She'd really wanted nothing more than to know why he always left her. With this new arrangement, she'd hoped to have more time with him. To study him, with him studying her, if he so chose.

"You didn't give me my apple," she finally heard herself say. It was the only excuse she could give. How could she tell him she wanted him to stay? What would she do if he did stay? She blushed at her foolishness and looked away.

Loki rolled his eyes. He had been hoping for something better, but all he'd gotten was a request for food. Could that really be the only thing on her mind? He leveled his gaze at her. "Is that all?"

No. It wasn't. She wanted him to stay with her. To sit down with her and speak to her as if she was an actual person. She wanted to know so much more about him. And she could reveal so much more about herself. Whatever he wanted to know, she'd tell him.

But he didn't feel the same way about her as she did about him. She was only an animal to him. A pet. A plaything. "My papers." she replied quietly, her eyes still downcast. If she could have nothing else, she still wanted her papers. Her notes were her world. Her anchor in the insanity. "I traded my freedom for those papers."

"The papers will arrive shortly. As for the apple..."

Her eyes lifted to meet his again. And there was the light, shining more brightly than it ever had before. It gave him a look of childish innocence, yet the utmost regality. He looked so sweet and kind. So much like a prince. A true prince.

Nancy stepped closer and tilted her head in preparation for their kiss, but felt the pressure of the collar against her throat as she leaned in. With a sigh, she stepped back and looked down in defeat. "I'm sorry. I can't reach."

He stepped an inch or two closer to her. His eyes roved over the sight of her in the dress. Yes, just as lovely as he had imagined. And, oh, he had imagined. Every beautiful inch of her, and now she was his. Loki smiled at the hint of pale leg he saw through the slit in the dress. That had been a genius idea if he ever had one.

His eyes traveled back up to her face. "And now?"

Oh, how she longed to kiss him. Nancy returned to him and pressed her lips to his, feeling their warmth and softness. She lifted one hand and laid it lightly on his arm. How she wanted to give in. To pull him to her and kiss him as passionately as he'd kissed her. And how she wanted him to stay.

Stay with me. she pleaded in her mind, Stay with me.

But he wouldn't. She knew that. She was merely his pet. And he was a king. A king with a kingdom to run.

Slowly, Nancy pulled away and took a step back, refusing to make eye-contact again. She couldn't. If she saw that light again, or even thought of their kiss again, she feared she'd do something drastic. And she couldn't chance angering him. Not when the moment had been so sweet.

Loki smirked against her lips. He was the god of mischief, above all, and he could sense how badly she desired the kiss to continue. Conniving woman that she was, she ended it anyway. Didn't she know it only served to tease him? He took a step back and regained control by using her weakness against her. Words. "You should be aware, now that you are a cherished pet, your kiss buys more than an apple." He turned to leave.

"Cherished?" He'd called her cherished. She blinked in surprise. Cherished. Loved. Cared for. Desired. Cherished. It was a deliberate word choice. A word with heavy connotations. It wasn't a word one simply threw around or sprinkled on sentences like salt. He thought of her as cherished. He cherished her.

As Nancy stood mulling the heavy word over, Loki had already gone. She snapped out of her stunned stupor as he closed the door behind him. "Wait! When are you coming back? Can't you stay for a little longer? Master? Master…?!"

But it was too late. He had gone.