Disclaimer: Just as before, I own nothing that is owned by someone else!
A/N: Hello again! I have returned with another chapter, (I just can't help myself for some reason!) with the hopes of you kind people to enjoy!
The floor was hard. It was damp. Everything hauntingly silent except for the water dripping from the ceiling into a puddle mixed with blood; each drop an echo.
It was almost too dark to see, but through the light of a torch glazing in front of his cell, Loki could make out the shadows of the night.
The shadows will move without expectance and dance in the fire lit prison, lurking towards him with fire in their dead eyes and insults on their dirty tongues.
They will move forward, sneers strong and hateful, grins wide and crazed and seize of him his every thought and replace them with nothing but fear. So much fear! SO MUCH FEAR!
He wasn't sure when they'd come. He'd lie in the corner, in wait. He'd tremble violently, in fear. He could not stop this. It was inevitable and completely terrifying!
He never knew when he'd see their shadows stir, he never knew when they'd come. But he knew they would come. They will come. They will come and grab him and cut and burn and slash until he is absolutely nothing and then they will leave and he will wait until next time! He will wait and wait and wait, until next time!
It was such an overwhelming and helpless thought. He has NO CONTROL!
He squeezed his eyes shut. I AM. HOME! I AM. SAFE! THEY CAN'T FIND ME HERE! THEY CAN'T HAVE ME HERE!
At the sound of a scuttling rodent he would jump and turn his head in all directions, cowering more than ever in the menacing darkness of his own thoughts and of reality itself.
They could come at any time, and they would. They WILL! THEY WILL! THEY WILL COME! THEY WILL FIND HIM! AND THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING TO HIM. EVERYTHING! And then they will leave him in wait of next time!
They are coming! They are coming! THEY ARE COMING! THEY ARE COMING! OH GODS! OH, GODS! THEY ARE COMING! THEY ARE COMIN—
Loki awoke with a start.
Another nightmare. He should have gotten used to them by now, but he definitely was not.
Shaking terribly, for more reasons than one, he looked around him. It was at least ten O' clock and more cold than ever.
He felt something warm and soft lying on him. Looking down, he saw a large, furry, lump, lying precariously on his lap. He shifted a little and it moved, looking up at him with tired eyes. It was a dog; a mutt if he was to be exact and her face could be seen from the bright and colorful lights of the city.
The dog must have been at least six or five, though her tired eyes gave the impression that she had lived a hundred years and had seen much in that time. Her hair was ragged, shaggy, and slightly wired-haired, but soft. Her eyes were a brilliant black-rimmed brown, and her fur was brown with grey blotches here and there and a gold and grey stomach and chest.
Loki thought that, though she smelt of dirt and old recycled vegetables, she was a magnificent and gorgeous dog.
She looked up at his eyes and, after a few moments of staring as if asking for permission, she nuzzled his hand and crawled nearer to his side.
She licked his face and he chuckled lightly, as he petted her matted hair.
A ghost of a smile forming in his features.
He stood up, sighing.
As much as he wanted to, he could not stay with this dog. He had to move forward and fix what he had started.
As he walked on the sidewalk more determinedly then before, the dog followed suit, her shaggy hair glistening in the street lights of the city.
..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..
Bruce sat by the 'Starko Jet', as it was called, in wait of Natasha, who was on a SHIELD mission and was running late.
He decided he might as well see if he couldn't call her again, so he flipped open his handy phone, dialed her number and let the phone buzz in his ear.
"Yeah?" Came Natasha's less muffled then before, voice. "You need to stop calling me when I'm on missions. You might get me killed." He heard her say.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm behind you." He could almost feel the smile creep on her face as she said this.
Bruce turned around to see Natasha, at least ten feet away from him, smiling her radiant smile that she only gave to him. It was an endearing, genuine, and sweet kind of smile; a lot different than the one she gave mockingly or manipulatively to people; it was the kind of smile that said 'I love you, and it was the kind of smile that made you want to smile too and he did.
She strode over to him, grinning and looking into his eyes the whole way, stopping when they were nearly an inch away from each other.
She held the nape of his neck in her soft but firm hands and leaned forward, giving him a short, sweet, kiss and he followed the action instinctively; hands planted on her hips.
"Did you miss me?" she whispered in his ear, before pulling away and looking at him, contentedly. He gave his answer with another smile.
"Well…" Natasha said softly, pausing. And then, in her normal voice, "Let's see what Stark needs us for this time." Then she friskily went over to the jet and climbed inside, Bruce following suit.
..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..
Tony was sitting on his couch, listening to Metallica, nose deep in a book.
He didn't want anyone to know this, but he was actually really, really NOT looking forward to the trip to Asgard they were taking. Who would be? He didn't like to think of himself as xenophobic, but really? Asgard? The first magic Viking he met through him out a window and brought an army of aliens, along with giant flying, armored, wails, for Christ's sake! Thor expected him to just… Just go to an entirely different world!?
And what would they do there, anyways? Why did Thor even need the Avengers? Did he expect Tony and Bruce to do their human science and figure this out for him? They didn't know a thing about magic and Tony was pretty sure magic had more to do with this than science, so he didn't know what Thor expected them to do about the whole ordeal.
They might be earth's mightiest freaking heroes, but Asgard? Asgard was different which was a humongous understatement.
Are the soldiers and agents of Asgard really SO liable to cause an uproar of panic… they wouldn't be able to keep their mouths shut? Are they super gossipers or something?—
"Tony?" Steve said, behind him, still wearing his suit.
Tony sighed, annoyed and turn to face Steve on the couch, putting his book down as he did, "What?" he grumbled, annoyed at Steve for exterminating his thought process. "Why are you wearing your PJs still? 'Haven't gotten the gist that we're leaving in at least tomorrow?"
"These aren't PJs, Tony, but if they were I don't see any wrong from wearing them at this hour."
"Yup. Because this is the time you go to bed, isn't it."
Steve furrowed his brows a little, "Actually I would have usually gone to bed at least three hours ago."
"I'm not surprised." Tony said, before turning and picking up the book he was reading.
Steve shifted ever so slightly and asked "Tony, are you okay?"
"Dandy."
"You good with Pepper?"
Tony turned to face Steve again. "What makes you think any of that is your business?"
"Well, you're my friend Tony, Pepper too. I just noticed that you guys weren't really talking as much at all and wondered if anything was wrong." Steve said, in an honest voice.
Tony sighed. Steve was right; he and Pepper hadn't been on good terms, but he really didn't want to talk about it at that moment and it wasn't any of Steve's business anyways. "Like I said,' Tony said, "Dandy."
"But you guys seem so—"
"Dandy. As dandy as a dandelion."
..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..
Loki walked on, almost strutting, with a sense of inspired confidence.
'Avengers Tower' loomed among the tallest buildings, magnificent and regal.
He would tell Thor the information he needed to know and he would do it without thinking of himself! He was going to tell him regardless of what fear or shame he had. This was bigger than him. MUCH bigger. He could do this. Yes he could…
There was Avengers Tower, looming over him, so that he could no longer see half of it, but he didn't feel small in the ginormous presence of the skyscraper; on the contrary, it made him feel big and brave.
There were the doors. Mighty and powerful, just like the… Avengers. He could definitely do this. This was easy and simple and he could do this.
Pushing the clear glass door, he stepped inside. There he saw a tight-bun-wearing receptionist, something or other, sitting at a desk.
She glanced at him, unimpressed and went back to whatever she was doing on the information-box that Selvig had once referred to as a 'computer'.
"Excuse me?" Loki said, approaching the women.
"The Avengers won't be seeing anyone at the moment. Sorry for the inconvenience."
"I can wait."
"I'm afraid you'll have to. We lock up at 10:30. It's exactly 10:26, at the moment." The women got up, grabbing her bag. "You'll have to come back later."
She walked off, clearly indifferent to the entire situation.
"I'm a SHIELD agent!" Loki called over to her. She turned around and looked at him suspiciously. "I have important and extremely classified information for the Avengers initiative that needs to be informed in person for security reasons."
She made her unimpressed face again and crossed her arms, "And if I call SHIELD up and ask them about that?"
Loki sighed, "Fair enough." He said. He was going to sleep in a gutter that night, wasn't he?!
He walked out the doors looking at the giant tower, with a lot less enthusiasm and fearlessness than before.
The cold crept on his shoulders, like a familiar enemy and he sighed again.
The dog had been waiting for him, apparently. She stood up as she saw him and wiggled her tale jollily.
He walked over to the side of the building, a familiar feeling, except this time he had a companion in the dog who crept over to him and snuggled next to him.
That night, he fell asleep quicker than usual.
Thanks you all so much for reading and be sure to tell me what you think and if it's any good, until next time! I can't wait for the next chapter where Loki finally gets his confrontation with Thor and the Avengers!
-P.H.