Here is what i have been mulling over for a bit. Please enjoy.
I was alone again. At least I had shoes now, I wouldn't have to worry about cutting my feet up when I made my escape. I picked myself up off of the cold floor and inspected the repaired dress. It seemed like nothing had ever happened to it. I didn't expect Loki to be back anytime soon. I decided to take this opportunity to explore this subterranean hideaway.
/
Thor couldn't sleep. Regret for his brash actions tugged at the edges of his thoughts. Giving up, he plodded out of his room at Stark Tower and headed to the kitchen. He rummaged through the cupboards and found a box of poptarts. He turned back toward the couch and finally noticed the tall figure folded stiffly in one of the armchairs. His angular frame seemed out of place in the curving lines that dominated the structure.
"Loki!" Thor's voice resounded with relief to see his brother. He stepped forward as the smaller demigod stood. "You are well." Thor caught a glare from Loki and his broad grin faded. "I am sorry brother. I could not control myself. I have wronged you." Thor's shoulders slumped and he seemed to shrink into himself.
Loki saw this and grinned. "You have wronged me many times over Odinson." At the formal address, Thor looked up from the floor and into his brother's eyes. "I now have a chance to repay you. You and the rest of your so called friends. You care for the mortals. You care for Elizabeth, yes?"
Loki watched as Thor's eyes flashed with deep seated concern and regret. "Please do not harm her." Loki was mildly surprised at Thor's quiet request. "I will not hurt her." Loki said, trying to hide the way Thor's plea had affected him. Pushing all of his feelings toward Thor to the back of his mind, he sneered. "I would never seek to harm my favorite plaything."
Thor spluttered for a moment half relieved, half angry at his brother's motives for keeping her well. Loki seemed satisfied with this reaction. "I will be going now," he said with a toothy grin. "I feel that I am unwelcome at this time." He disappeared into a cloud of magic just as the elevator dinged and the rush of the Iron Man suit roared outside the window.
...
Tony was sleeping happily next to Pepper when Jarvis alerted him to the unwelcome visitor. Pepper woke first and helped shake Stark from his drug aided slumber. Tony grumbled to be left alone for a while longer till Jarvis interrupted his protestations. "Sir, Loki has broken into he tower."
With that, Tony was fully awake and alert. "Where is he?" Tony was already activating the Iron Man suit by the time Jarvis answered. "He is speaking with Thor on the main lounge floor. I have already notified the others. They are on their way as well." Stark turned to Pepper. "Stay here." He said as the last pieces of the armor latched into place. Then he stepped to the window Jarvis had opened and leaped into the air. If the others were going to be using the elevator, he might as well try and block the only other way out of the tower. Not that it would do much good, he thought to himself.
...
By the time Bruce had trudged up the stairs to the others, he was panting and sweating. Despite knowing that the Hulk was a formidable opponent to Loki, he did not want to endanger anyone else. He lived on the lowest floor of the building and refused to take the elevator. When he reached the lounge, he knew he was to late to do anything. From the looks on everyone else's face, he figured that they had been too. He shuffled over to the couch and sat down wearily.
Stark was getting himself a drink while Natasha, Clint, and Steve were discussing something. Thor was the only one that looked out of place. He stood in a pair of red pajamas looking dazed. In his hand he clutched a mangled poptart box. Banner thought it a bit strange to see his fingers wrapped so tightly around something other than Mjolnir.
/
I had looked through all of the rooms in this underground building and was thoroughly unimpressed with each. Clearly, this was meant as a place to stay for only a short while. There were only a handful of rooms, most only had chairs or couches. There was a bedroom, a bathroom, a small pantry and kitchen, and one room containing a small number of books.
I flipped through each of these but found, again, that I was unable to read any of them. I did however, find a book that had beautiful pictures. I lingered over that one. Paging through it, I got the impression that it was some sort of magic textbook. Each few pages started a new topic. The illustrations showed various animals and objects. I was about to set the book down when I saw a familiar image. The necklace Loki had tried to get me to accept as a token of submission.
It was not an exact replica but the round, green stone surrounded by the swirling symbols was unmistakable. I had no idea what the book said about the particular piece of jewelry but I was almost certain it wasn't anything good for me. My stomach backflipped. I had to get out soon.
"Doing a bit of light reading are we?" I nearly jumped out of my skin. I spun around and stood up at the same time. The book slammed heavily to the floor. "I...I was just..." Loki raised an eyebrow at my stammering. "I couldn't read it." I managed to squeak out. Loki stepped closer and picked up the book.
/
Loki was almost pleased that Elizabeth had found the book. He knew she would not be able to understand it but the images within it would be easy enough to decipher. He opened the book to the necklace page. "Beautiful, is it not?" Her eyes were wide and she was stiff with fear. "I had almost forgotten about my gift to you. I improved upon the design." he glanced at her from under his brow. "You did ask for it to be more modest." With that, he pulled the necklace from his pocket and advanced toward her.
/
The necklace he withdrew from the folds of his coat was different now. It was a solid circle of gold with the stone and engraving centered on it. My back was pressed against the wall now. He advanced till he was practically pressing me up against the cold stone.
I couldn't pull my gaze from his cold eyes and my neck craned back as he towered over me. I felt no warmth from his body and his blue green eyes were piercing. I ducked and turned my head so that I could not see the sneer twisting his lips. He took my chin in his hand and turned my face back to his. "Are you afraid?" He asked. "You have no reason to fear me if you are loyal to your master. Great kings always reward their loyal subjects."
I swallowed. I wanted to say something. Anything to defend myself. But my fear made my heart race and my lungs cease working. He pulled my chin up harder and pressed something cold to my throat. He leaned his lips to my ear. "Will you accept my gracious gift or do you still resist my rule?" His hissed words sent chills down my spine to gather as a hard lump in my stomach. There was silence for a moment while his breath tickled my cheek. It felt so human that I found my voice enough to utter a shaky protest. "I am not a slave."
At these quiet words, he pressed the cold metal of the necklace harder to my throat. I felt it seem to melt and wrap itself around my neck. He released me and took a step back. "You are not a slave." He said reassuringly. "But you still belong to me. You have no choice in the matter. You can choose to accept, or I will force you to obey."
I stepped forward, trying to fool myself into thinking I could still maintain my dignity if I fought. "I will not." My voice sounded choked.
/
Loki had anticipated her resistance. He almost looked forward to it. He relished the idea of breaking such a strong will. She was quiet and frightened but she had never given up. He decided that she would make an excellent pet. The Avengers' attachment to her would serve him well. When they saw her broken and cowed, Loki would manipulate their sympathies and punish them through her.
/
Loki grinned at me. I felt my stomach clench around the cold mass of terror resting in it's pit. "As I have already told you, you have no choice." His tone told me that I would not enjoy whatever came next. "But since you seem to want a demonstration of my power, I will give you one." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Kneel."
I glared at him. Summoning as much defiance as I could. Suddenly, a burst of white hot pain racked my body. I tried to stay upright but the intensity increased till I finally collapsed to my knees. Then it vanished. As quick as it came, it was gone. I gasped air back into my lungs and looked at the ground. I heard Loki chuckle softly above me. "I warned you." He said as he crouched down. Lifting my chin softly, he said. "You have no choice."