Okay, so here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Robin

The next morning I walked stiffly into the prison room, my face occasionally squinting in pain. After a few minutes of slowly making my way across the room, I plopped painfully down into a chair, slowly stretching out my legs. Loki, no doubt noticing my discomfort, raised an eyebrow, looking at me, "What are you grumbling about, mortal?"

I looked up, my eyes meeting his. I blinked in confusion, for a moment there I thought I had spotted genuine concern flash across his eyes. I shook my head, clearing my mind, and looked back up at him, "I'm sore!"

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes never leaving mine, "Where?"

My confusion only continued to grow, "Everywhere. . ."

"How did this happen?"

I raised an eyebrow, completely and utterly puzzled, "Why do you care?"

He blinked, "I don't. I am just curious, that is all."

I stared blankly at him, not knowing how to react. I leaned back into my chair, rubbing my neck to try and at least somewhat ease the pain. "Why the sudden interest in mortal life, oh great and powerful God of Lies?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "According to you, we are 'dull creatures' who are 'made to be ruled'."

He chuckled, amused at my sarcasm, "If I am to rule you, I would like a brief idea of how your pitiful kind works. What caused you to be sore?"

I glared at him, "I don't have to tell you."

"Why not? Surely it isn't confidential."

I sighed, "You really wanna know?"

He nodded, "Yes."

I sighed yet again, this time trying to soothe my arm muscles. "Never spar with a master assassin if you haven't practiced hand-to-hand combat in years. I learned that the hard way last night."

"Really? Tell me."

I rolled my eyes, "I sparred with Agent Romanoff last night, you should've known that, considering you witnessed me ask Director Fury about it."

"True. . ."

"Anyway, when I was younger, I had trained in Mixed Martial Arts; I just haven't had the need to use my skills in a few years, so I had gotten a bit rusty."

"I see. . ."

I clapped my hands together, "So now I can't walk normally without feeling pain, so instead I have to do an awkward waddle!"

He laughed, "I am sure that's a sight to see!"

"Oh, stop laughing! I already got an earful from Stark about it; I don't need one from you!"

Loki chuckled, grinning at me, "Of course the Man of Iron would mock you for that!"

I nodded, "Yeah, but that's just how he is. . . I'd prank him for revenge, but I promised Fury that I'd stop causing trouble, so I can't. . ."

He gave me a mischievous smile, "Fury doesn't have to know, does he?"

"Well . . . no . . . but he's a spy, he'll find out eventually if I did that. . ."

"Then just keep it hidden from him long enough so that the punishment would no longer be in effect. . ."

"I would . . . but Stark would blab about it. . ."

He frowned, "True. . ."

I nodded, slightly wincing from my sore neck, "Yep. . ."

"Then find a way to shut him up."

I laughed, giving him a cheeky grin, "Is that even possible?"

He chuckled, "I don't know. . ."

I sighed, "I used to have a way to keep him quiet . . . but Fury confiscated my phone, and that had all of my blackmail in it!"

"Blackmail?"

"Mostly it's just really embarrassing things I've caught people doing . . . I don't have any blackmail on Thor though. . ."

Loki grinned at me, "I could provide you with that!"

I raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

He nodded, still smiling brightly at me, "Really!"

I giggled, "We'll have to trade blackmailing material sometime, then! Later, though, like, after this whole fiasco is over with."

He chuckled, "I look forward to it!"

This time, instead of sitting in uncomfortable silence, we talked more about things. Simple conversations about our greatest pranks and other things like that occasionally filled the room. It wasn't nearly as boring as yesterday, and it was kind of nice having someone to talk about my pranks with, well, who wouldn't yell at me for them, anyway. When I was dismissed by Fury, I slowly got up, painfully waddling my way to the door. I heard a faint chuckling from behind and turned around, pouting a bit, "Oh shut up! It's not even funny!"

"It's pretty funny from here!" Loki laughed, smiling at me.

I rolled my eyes, "It's the only way I can walk right now. I have to walk like a freaking penguin!" Loki continued to laugh, but said nothing else. That was perfectly fine, though, I had to leave for lunch anyway.