Loki looked around the room; he would be lying if he did not say he was not terrified that Odin had called him to his private meeting rooms, in seidr binding heavy chains. When the old king entered the rooms, the Einherjar stepped against the walls but did not leave.
"I see all the required information has been acquired," Odin stated as he placed Gungnir against the chair and sat himself down. Loki just remained silent and waited for him to speak again. "Have you nothing to say?"
"To be honest, all I care is whether or not I am I permitted to use it to do this one task," Loki replied plainly.
Odin studied him for another minute. "Why Loki, why just some meaningless mortal? You stated not too long ago to Thor also, she will die in less than a century, and what then, will you return to the Loki that tried to kill the family that raised him?"
Loki swallowed hard. "I do not want to think to that time yet, I am not ready, but I am also no fool, I know the day will come," He admitted. "As to after her life is lived, I cannot even think of that, but the last thing I will want is destruction, for I know I will already have been dealt my own."
Odin's brow rose at that. "I am not sure I can even trust you with enough seidr for this." Loki glared at him hatefully. "She is able to live a life as she is, why alter it? I live quite adequately with lesser vision. "
Loki stared in disbelief. "She does not have 'lesser vision' she has none. There is a significant difference between having one good eye that can see and nothing but darkness."
"We cannot interfere too greatly with Midgard, their technologies are not ready for what we would be able to bestow on them, not that they would be deserving of such knowledge, they are not advanced enough. They fight aimlessly among themselves based on the most ridiculous things."
"You do not need to list the faults of the Midgardians to me; I have been forced to stay there. They fight over non-existent deities and imaginary borders." Loki rolled his eyes as he recalled the many news stories from around Midgard of the needless death that occurred on the realm.
"So why does this one matter? Why is she above the rest of them?"
"She is good."
"That is surely subjective." Odin challenged.
"The green one."
"What about it?" Odin asked.
"She was developing something that would keep it at bay."
"I do not follow."
Loki sighed in exasperation. "The man who becomes that creature, he cannot always control it, and has done great damage to the realm and caused the deaths of many people within it. Her formula, the one that was stolen and they blinded and tried to kill her for, would have subdued the beast until the man decided with a sound mind to unleash it. She was saving her realm."
Odin shrugged. "It matters little, others can continue where she left off."
Loki scoffed. "I knew you were going to do this, I knew she would suffer because of you. I can give her this, I can give her the ability to not have to depend on people and a hound to get her through the most simple of tasks, but you decline it because you state you think me incapable of caring for her, and get to watch perversely as I am forced to look at her knowing I could have done something to better her life. How am I supposed to go back now, and pretend as though I do not know this? Every time she cannot find something, and if I ask her what it is she seeks, only to realise it is not even out of her reach, how can I look at her and not endure heartache at her plight?" His voice started angry and low, but by the end of it, he was all but roaring.
"You really do care for her." Odin acknowledged.
"What do you think this whole thing has been about if not about that?" Loki asked in disbelief. "Why in all the realms would I concern myself with learning a particular spell of such specific results, and altering its strength for a Midgardian if not for to do this for her?"
"I had to be certain," Odin stated simply. Loki's eyes widened slightly and his brow rose. "I had to ensure that there was no malicious intent or using of this incredible creature before this could be allowed," He explained further.
"You knew about her already." Loki realised.
"She has done what I thought impossible; she has brought you back from the very precipice of self-destruction. Of course, I had to learn of her, and indeed of her outstanding work." He chuckled as Loki's face contorted more in shock. "Yes, while you have been proving yourself by silently enduring a cell, I have spoken at length with both Thor and Heimdall of this girl. She is highly intelligent, I can see as to why she would pique interest. She will be interesting to speak with, I have little doubt. We leave in the morn."
"We, as in, you are coming also? And what do you mean, speak with? You wish to speak with her? Why?" Loki eyed him suspiciously.
"Well, how else can you be given only enough power for one spell?" Odin questioned. "It is Gungnir that is curtailing your seidr, so it is she and only she that can give it back to you, and she is loyal to me, as Mjölnir is to Thor. As for speaking with the girl, I wish to see what it is she possesses that is so potent that it can burrow through even your hardened heart."
"I am not the only one here with a hardened heart." Loki growled, but Odin chose to ignore the comment. "So you will allow her to be helped?" He asked hopefully.
"I will speak with this mortal, should she be deemed worthy, I will permit this." Loki let out a breath he was not aware he was holding in. "But I swear on Frigga herself, should this be a ruse, I will make you suffer," Odin swore. "Now, back to your lodgings, I am tired."
"Do not fall into Odinsleep tonight of all nights," Loki warned as he turned to be surrounded by Einherjar so to be escorted back to the dungeon.
"I have little intention of it. I have not been on Midgard in a thousand years, I was somewhat overdue a visit." Odin stated as he rose from his seat. "Why is it you have not contested being forced to that cell at any time over your time here?"
"What does it matter?"
"Call it curiosity."
"Because I know, the sooner everything is done here, the sooner I am back there, with her. So a small cell is a small price to pay should it be required of me to remain there." He explained. "Besides, it is the only area of this confounded building I seem to be incapable of hearing your snoring." He added, and not waiting for any more questions, he walked out.
"And he wonders why I wish to meet this girl." Odin shook his head as he made his way to his sleeping chambers.
X
You stretched awkwardly in the elevator. Having not heard from Loki, or indeed Thor in a week, you had become anxious, and had spent the majority of your night awake, tossing and turning in bed, meaning you had muscle aches in areas you were almost certain did not have muscles.
The door pinged open, but as it was far too soon for it to be your floor, you remained standing to the back of it. One smell of the aftershave that started to invade the metal box told you who was standing there. "Captain." You saluted.
Rogers looked at you for a moment, slightly startled you were able to tell it was him without him uttering a word. "Hello." His response was stiff as he stepped into the elevator. "Are you going up or down?"
"Down," You replied, not too bothered with small talk. "We were thinking of going down to the street." You shrugged.
"The…Are you sure that is a good idea?" He asked cautiously.
"Because I am the first blind person with a dog to ever walk outside." You rolled your eyes as you spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"That is not what I meant, I would just be concerned that this is downtown New York, it is not safe for most anyone. If you'd like, I could accompany you, not as a minder or anything, simply make sure no one knocks into you or anything. It's not like it used to be here now." he suggested.
"Yeah, capitalism and consumerism tend to make everyone cold jerks." You thought over his offer for a moment. "There is no need to put yourself out; I am just going to walk once around the building."
"I do not mind." He all but insisted.
Slightly annoyed, you said no more. You would have rathered Tony, but he was busy, and you knew it was a good idea to have someone there, just in case; so you nodded once. "Please don't tell me you are in the ridiculous spandex gear and that that is a leather jacket I smell."
"I am in civilian clothes yes." He replied.
"Do you get annoyed by people in the street?"
"Usually, no, that's normally Tony's sort of thing."
"Well, he is an egotistical ass." You could almost guarantee there was a concurring look on the soldiers face. "Just leave me to do whatever I want; I don't need my hand held." You instructed.
Rogers nodded for a moment before realising his error. "Sorry, yes of course."
You knew exactly what happened but did not bring it up. Beauty remained faithfully by your side while you got out of the elevator and went to the one across the hall that serviced the lower half of the building. "And I swear if you so much as mention Loki in a deprecating manner, super soldier or not, I am giving you a knee in the crotch." You stood in the elevator and waited for him to press the button.
"Understood." His tone was somewhat similar to a child being warned to behave in public. When the door pinged open, Beauty whined slightly and looked around, having not been to the lobby of the Tower since her arrival. "Right, so would you like me to tell you where to go?"
"It would make things a little easier I suppose." You ensured your tone was neutral, not wishing to sound rude.
"Straight ahead, twenty-five feet to the door of the building, then you have a left or right option."
"We'll go clockwise, so right." You decided.
"Okay." And with that, he led the way, just a step or two ahead of you, opening the door for you as you and Beauty went outside. The sounds of the city assaulted your senses, and you winced for a moment. Since you lost your sight, your other senses had amplified, including sound. You were going to have to commend Tony for the soundproof glass that the Tower had to offer. "Are you alright?" Rogers noted your slight distress.
"It's louder than I remember." You admitted.
"Yes, that was my first thoughts when I went back into society after seventy years." He concurred. "You sure you want to continue?"
"Of course." And with that, you turned right, using the side of the building and Beauty to guide you along. You could sense some people looking at you with minor interest, but overall, no one seemed too bothered by you and your dog; Rogers in tow.
When you had made it to the other side of the building, Rogers decided to ask you a question. "So why did you decide to come outside?"
"I wanted some fresh air, well not fresh air, this is New York City, but I wanted to get out."
"Is it anything to do with…?"
"Loki being away? No, well, perhaps a little. It is boring without him around; I am just trying to fill the time."
"So he did not force you to remain inside?" You hoped your glare was aimed at him. "I just think it is odd timing."
"Not that it is any of your concern, but Loki has never forced me to do anything I did not want to do. If anything, he is the only one to actually respect my decisions."
"We all…"
"If the rest of that sentence is not acknowledging how you all treated me like a small helpless child and never let me do anything, I do not want to hear it."
"But you cannot do everything you used to do." He argued.
"You think I do not know that no one knows that more than me, but I had to wait for him to come along before I was allowed even try and see what I could do." You snapped.
"We just wanted you safe."
"Safe meaning wrapped in cotton wool, I know you all meant well, but I am not that sort of person, I rather a more interesting life."
"Yes, which is obvious with your decision with regards Loki." You could hear the disapproval in his tone.
"Considering my options, I thought him the best candidate."
Rogers halted and looked at you. "Meaning?"
"I rather a man that acknowledges he is imperfect than one that is convinced he is without flaw."
"Imperfect implies he made some minor errors in judgement, not tried to destroy realms."
"We all make bad judgements, such as the scientists that chose you for that project, that serum seems to have amplified more than just your muscles and height, but also your ego. It kills you that I did not consider you, but him, well listen to me Stephen Rogers, you are not of interest to me because you think yourself so much better than everyone else, but you are just as imperfect as the rest of us." You held onto the harness tightly and made to walk off.
"And what are your imperfections, besides the obvious one of bad judgement of character?"
"Tolerating arrogant idiots apparently." You snapped before walking off. Angered by the audacity of the soldier to act as he had, you stormed forward, not paying too much heed to where you were going. You grunted in pain when a businessman hit your hip with his briefcase, causing you to be forced sideways and into another person, causing you to lose your grip on Beauty's harness and fall backwards. You heard the dog whining as you hit the ground. A moment later, there was a screeching of brakes, and the last thing you heard before everything went silent was Steve Rogers calling your name.