Scratching the Surface

The hallway was coming to an abrupt halt. It had been the seventh one that Natasha had led me through and I was beginning to worry whether or not we were going the right way.

'Look I know I just hopped on board this ship and you supposedly know your way around here and all, but are we exactly going the right way?'

She walked a few steps ahead before pausing with her back to me. Her fists clenched at her sides. My mouth opened to ask her if she was alright before an arm slammed me into the wall. The force shocked me momentarily as I attempted to shake the wave of dizziness off. I tried to take a deep breath but the arm still held me against the wall.

'Why are you here?' Natasha demanded.

I grabbed her arms, trying to hold her as far away from me as possible. 'So I make an effort to help and this is the thanks I get.'

Her arms pressed tighter against my body as I smiled. 'That doesn't answer the question!'

'And your actions somehow do?' I snapped. My hands tightened around her grip, trying to loosen the chokehold somehow.

Her head lifted to meet my gaze. Something in her eyes flickered. She was upset.

'Look Natasha-'

'You're not allowed to call me that.' She growled.

'What?' I registered pain the moment my eyes contacted blue. It wasn't her pain from what she was doing to me as she seemed physically fine but - no it couldn't have been…

'I don't trust you.' Her eyes narrowed in strong dislike.

'I don't expect you to. Hell I don't even trust the Director!' A hollow laugh escaped my throat as I tilted my head further against the wall. I blinked slowly before fixing her with a stern glare. 'I put aside my trust issues in order to help a government organisation that's not my own.'

'That's why I want to know why you decide to help now.'

'Look, from my perspective the world is much more important than my hiding. I didn't even know anything was going on until the Director kidnapped my butt and asked for my help.' She appraised me suspiciously before releasing her grip. Whatever she was searching for in my answer she found it. Satisfied, she stepped away from me but not before I could say something else to her.

'I'm willing to try and work with you. All I ask is why can't you do the same?'

Her chest heaved up and down as she scowled at the floor. I licked my lips wondering if I should just leave and go try to ask somebody else for directions. Her fists clenched by her sides and flattened against her thighs as she exhaled. It felt like hours passed before she looked up at me. Her gaze pierced mine with bitterness before sliding past me to the wall behind my head.

'Budapest. That's why.'

…

Having spoken to three different S.H.I.E.L.D workers, walked down several corridors and actively tried to avoid any other confrontation with Natasha, I finally made my way to my intended destination.

Fury was generous in Loki's containment. He spared up to six armed guards outside his cell. One seemed to be receiving orders through his earpiece before speaking up to me, 'Fury wants to know what the hell took you so long.'

'Tell Fury that he has Miss Romanov to thank for that.'

With a nod, the man spoke up again, 'Fury has a visual on the area and an open comm. Link in case he tries anything funny.'

'Thanks.'

'Good luck Miss.'

I swallowed any thoughts of running and jumping off the ship before walking through the threshold. A ramp encircled a large glass cell that contained a homicidal leather-clad God. My body stayed motionless studying the back of my target.

The echoing thud of the door shutting brought the attention of a curious gaze. I rearranged my anxious features before striding calmly towards the person who inhabited the room. Each step brought me closer and closer to the edge of his cage.

Whilst his eyes absorbed my presence, I took to scanning the glass cell. It was impressive with its… features. One slight crack in the glass and it apparently would drop, allowing gravity to take whatever it held inside to the grave.

'It is an impressive cage.' A smooth voice taunted me, clearly reading my direction of thought.

Still keeping my eyes locked on the steel structure of its frame I replied, 'Somehow I get the feeling that it can't exactly hold you in there.'

'And you'd be correct to not place your absolute trust in such a feeble construction to hold me.'

'So you can leave anytime you want.' It was more a statement than a question. 'You're just biding your time – Why?' I turned to look into his eyes, preparing myself for the onslaught of aggression or insanity however I felt nothing. He raised an eyebrow at my blatant confusion.

'What's wrong Crawford?' Fury spoke into my ear. The crackle of static reminded me of my audience watching in another room.

A pair of dark boots came closer to the glass wall. I glanced up at the movement reminding myself of my task.

'Have we met somewhere?'

My eyes widened at the thought of him remembering our conversation in Germany though it was quickly smothered by his large smirk.

'Of course,' his eyes crinkled in humour, 'you still owe me a name.'

My jaw hardened in annoyance at the fact that I couldn't gather anything from his eyes. A cold rush ran up my spine at being closed off – blind. Knowing that I had to get the information the good old fashioned way I sighed, dropping into the complementary chair next to the railing.

'Heather Smith.' I made the mistake of looking into his eyes as soon as I muttered the last syllable.

'Don't lie to me Heather Smith. I asked for your name.'

'No,' I pushed up from the chair and crossed my arms facing him stoically, 'you asked for a name and I gave you a name. You never specified whether you wanted my name.'

I waited for his verbal anger or the slam of his fists on the glass cell; however what I heard made me wish he did get mad. Instead he laughed!

After a few chuckles he spoke again, 'Let me rephrase, you still owe me your name.'

I couldn't help but let the corner of my mouth twitch in amusement. 'My name is Amelia Crawford. There I don't owe you anything now.'

He looked up into the camera lens on his side. 'No, no you don't.'

'But what if I were to owe you?'

A raised eyebrow seemed to be his only response. He looked to be feigning interest but something about his posture seemed too rigid, expectant.

'What would you do for me?'

'Not end this war if that's what you are aiming for.'

I snorted at his direction of thought, earning a glare. 'How does that have anything to do with me? Now let me rephrase,' I smirked at the use of repeating his words, 'what would you be willing to do for me?'

I waited and searched his eyes for any response, any change that would allow me access but like before I met nothing. His mind was as if it was never there, like it did not exist. Yet that couldn't be plausible considering I was able to see his brother's so well.

He can use magic so am I really that surprised that his state of mind isn't open for me to inspect, I thought to myself.

'Free your mind.'

Incredulously I replied, 'That doesn't sound like anything too substantial.'

'Oh but I haven't gotten to the best part yet Amelia Crawford.'

I instinctively stilled at hearing my full name spoken with such malice. 'Oh yeah? Does it involve a drink because I could use one right now.'

Ignoring my statement he continued, 'Think of it as expanding your mind to the truth. After all, you would know better than anyone else about minds.'

My body froze all over. 'What are you talking about?'

'Do you really have to ask? Let's just say a little bird was more than willingly to tell me of your heightened sight.'

A vicious smile overrode his smug smirk at the growing horror on my face. My pulse raced and my breathing grew sterner as what he said dawned on me.

'What have you done to Barton?' I meant for my voice to sound strong but fear shook my body, loosening the little control I had begun with.

'I have expanded his mind.'

I felt hysterical inside. He swept his arms out wide like a ring leader and all I could think was: what has he done to Barton?!

This was not how I wanted the conversation to go. I had expected him to give me small details; clues, hints to where the tesseract could be located, but this was not what I had in mind.

'Did they not tell you?'

A look of twisted humour transpired across his features at my bewilderment. I looked up into his eyes, wishing more than anything that I could burn him with my stare.

'Tell. Me. What?' I spat.

Pure joy erupted over his features and another laugh broke free from his lips. It sounded hollow and cruel which scared me even more. Was there a chance that he was still alive?

He leaned forward, nose touching the glass, with a predatory gaze set on me. I lifted my chin at his intimidation and mentally swore at myself for thinking about how nice his cheekbones looked when I should be thinking of his demise.

'Your Barton is with me now.'

I stared past his shoulder as his words sunk into my head. My gaze narrowed at the open static coming through my earpiece, 'Crawford, get on the bridge now!' not bothering to respond to Fury, I stared at the steel floor, hoping it would give me answers.

'I see.' I said towards Loki but his back was already facing me which made me feel foolish. The entire conversation created a shame that overwhelmed me. I had entered this room with the intent to play him, where in the end it was I who had been played.

'Congratulations Loki, you've expanded my mind.'