Author's Note: I don't own Avengers or its characters. I only own Riley Stark and other OCs that appear in the story.
Take on the World
Chapter 6: A Conversation with Mr Loki
Riley left the lab to do a little bit of exploring around the Helicarrier.
Her iPod had powered down, so the brunette became a bit bored in staying in the lad with her father and Bruce.
She made her way to the part of the Helicarrier where Thor was and found him where Director Fury and Agent Coulson was along with a couple of agents that were doing various researches.
Riley quietly giggled when she caught sight on one agent playing galaga on the screen he used before making her way to where Thor was.
"Greetings, Lady Riley."Thor responded.
"Hello there, Mr Odinson."Riley greeted, playing along with Thor's eccentric speaking."How are you?"
"I am well, Lady Riley."Thor answered."But please call me, Thor."
"Alright, Thor."Riley answered and gave a curious smile while leaning against a barrier."So is it true that you and your brother are both princes and gods?"
"That is correct."Thor exclaimed with a smile."But that doesn't mean we are really immortals. We live and die as humans do."
"Okay."Riley replied, sounding intrigued since she wanted to know a bit about her new friend's home."So what's school like in Asgard?"
"School?"Thor said.
"You know a place where you are educated and have lessons."Riley commented.
"Yes, we do have that. That placed is known as the Hall of Learning."Thor stated firmly."Every day was war. People banded together and challenged their peers for superiority."
Riley chuckled lightly at Thor's declaration.
"It kind of sounds like the one here on Earth. Though we don't have magical weapons or anything like that. The only equipment we use are papers and pencils."Riley sneered and then changed the subject."Though I am more curious about the problem at hand. What exactly happened between you and your brother? Why does he want to take over Earth?"
Thor let out a sad sigh.
"Ever since he was a child, Loki always felt as if he was second best compared to me."Thor exclaimed."I was the popular good-looking brother who had all the women swooning before me while he always stuck to his books and seem to look on in my shadow. Though I didn't even have the sense to notice at the time."
Riley shrugged in respond.
"Well, nobody is perfect."Riley declared."We all make mistakes in life or feel jealous if someone seems better than us."
"I wouldn't take Loki's rage as something natural, Lady Riley."Thor commented."There's no mischief that my brother will not attempt to disgrace me, usurp my father's throne and seize control of Midgard and the rest of the Nine Realms."
"But he wasn't always crazy and power hungry, wasn't he?"Riley assumed.
"No."Thor replied with a small frown."Despite not having the same flesh and blood, I always saw Loki as my brother. I still do even after everything he has done. We were raised together, we played together and we fought together. We all thought he was dead after the Bifrost Bridge was destroyed."
Riley gives Thor a soft smile.
The brunette was an only child, but always felt lonely sometimes since she always wanted to have a younger sibling.
But after hearing Thor talk about Loki and their relationship, it made her realise having a sibling also means a big responsibility.
Not only does she have to set a good example academically, she had to be a good role model in a society of extreme body expectations and standards.
Irrespective of what she was dealing with in her own life, an elder sister never stopped showing concern for her younger siblings.
She loved them, nurtured them and stands with them in times of distress.
Though would she ever become an older sister?
If her father and Pepper get married, maybe she would.
Though her and her future possible sibling would only share the same father while their mothers were two different women.
So they would be half-siblings.
Then again, it didn't sound like a bad thing.
It would make the loneliness she had fade away having a sibling whether he/she was fully biological related to her or only just shared half her blood.
"Miss Stark."
Riley snapped out of her attention when she caught of Director Fury coming her way.
"Yes, Director Fury?"Riley said.
"I have an assignment for you."Director Fury stated.
Riley raised an eyebrow at the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sudden declaration.
"What sort of assignment?"Riley questioned.
"I would like you to speak to the prisoner."Director Fury admitted.
A surprised look appeared on Riley's face.
"You want me to speak to Loki? Thor's brother?"Riley asked, unsure what to say."Isn't Natasha your best option since she's a professional? I mean, Natasha knows how to deal with this stuff, she's trained for it, I'm not.''
Director Fury let out a sigh.
''I know it seems like Agent Romanoff would be better for this task and in all honesty, she would be."Director Fury declared."But Loki's playing games, he's not going to answer to anyone else. I believe you're the best option."
Riley glanced at Thor.
"Should I try talking to him, Thor?"Riley asked.
"You might as well, Lady Riley."Thor suggested.
Riley looked back at Director Fury and nodded at him, showing she accepted the assignment he gave to her.
"Alright."Riley answered."I'll do it."
Soon after, Riley was following Natasha, who led her to the part of the Helicarrier where Loki was held in.
"I hope I'll be helpful, Nat."Riley commented.
"Don't worry, Riley. You'll be fine."Natasha assured."I won't let anything happen to you. And if anything happens, I'll be there in a heartbeat."
When they walked to the door, the guards walking over to prepare her to open the entrance that she was going to head inside.
Riley looked at Natasha with a nod of confidence and the older woman gave her a reassuring pat.
They didn't speak, they just parted their ways and soon the door to the holding cell was opened and she walked inside.
The cell was a lot bigger than it seemed on camera footage and where Loki stood, he was surrounded by a thick glass that wasn't going to give way anytime soon.
Riley walked forward, making her way up to the door to stand in front and she saw Loki.
The man trying to take over the world.
Riley watched as the God of Mischief turned around with a smirk on his face, but it instantly dropped at the sight of her.
"Hello."Riley greeted with a wave."Were you expecting someone else? No offence, but I don't think you're the type of guy she would go for."
"Who are you?"Loki questioned.
Riley lightly smirked at Loki's question.
"Since you're from another dimension, I guess it's fair that you don't know who I am."Riley chuckled."I'm Riley, whose home planet happens to be Earth and you're kind of destroying it which a lot of people on this ship don't like."
"What is a mere child like you going to do?"Loki asked.
Riley shrugged and the calm manner she had was enough to throw Loki off.
"You look like someone that needs a hug."Riley admitted.
The God of Mischief smiled slightly at that before his icy gaze fell upon the brunette.
"Go ahead, I know you have some questions to ask me."Loki insisted.
"Okay, what did you do to Agent Barton?"Riley questioned."I don't exactly know who this guy is. But he happens to be a friend of some of the people on this ship and they want to know what you did to make him go against them."
"I'd say I've expanded his mind."Loki responded.
"If you win."Riley stated as she began to step towards the cage."If you're king of Earth or Midgard as your home folks call it. Key word: if. What happens to his mind then?"
Loki ignored the question and asked Riley one.
"What will you do if I vow to spare him?"Loki questioned.
"We aren't letting you out if that's what you think."Riley commented.
Riley takes out an orange juice box and puts its straw inside it.
Loki watched Riley in amusement before shaking his head.
"I like this."Loki remarked in slight satisfaction."Your world in the balance and you bargain for one man?"
Riley looked at Loki with a confused look on her face.
"Bargain? What do you mean bargain?"Riley scoffed, finding Loki's respond strange."The definition of bargaining is when two people agree to give the other something in return for something else. But so far, I don't think I've mentioned a single thing about giving you something. Unless you're up to Director Fury's offer on a magazine?"
Loki gives Riley a deep frown while his icy blue eyes narrowed at her.
"Be careful how you speak to me, child."Loki snarled, his voice sounding vile and dangerous."Otherwise, they'll be deadly consequences."
Riley simply took a few more sips from her orange juice box before speaking again.
"Do you have candy on Asgard?"Riley asked.
"What?"Loki retorted.
"You know candy."Riley clarified."Something sweet to eat to cheer you up when you feel down."
"Yeah."Loki replied, hiding his confusion on the brunette's sudden question."Grapes and nuts."
"Ouch. No wonder you're so bitter."Riley said with an unimpressed look as she sat on a chair."Maybe I should present you with pop tarts since Thor like them so much. Which would you prefer? The ones with cinnamon, raspberry or chocolate chips?"
Loki glared at Riley in annoyance, having no idea what type of game the young brunette was trying to play with him.
"What are you here for exactly?"Loki demanded with an irritated tone.
"Just wanna have a deeper understanding of the fearsome God of Mischief."Riley answered with a bright smile."In other words, I'm just here to simply talk and know more about you. Consider me as a friend to you."
This caused Loki to scowl in respond.
He was a Master of Lies and the fact that he could not detect any falsity in the brunette's statement was disturbing.
She was either bypassing his lie-detecting faculties or telling the truth.
Both of those possibilities were disquieting, but he settled for the first, the slightly less so of the two.
"Don't treat me like a fool, child."Loki hissed, determined to uncover the brunette's true goal."That man, Fury, had claimed that your world has been plunged into a dire state of risk. And I'm just to believe that you approach me just to discuss something as pointless as my hunger? What are your true intentions?"
Instead of responding straight away, Riley simply took a few more sips from her orange juice box before removing the straw from her mouth.
"Just like I said. I'm here to simply talk to you."Riley replied honestly."I don't know the whole story. But I know you're completely angry with your father and older brother for what they did to you. You seem bitter and misguided."
Loki glared at Riley, his anger rising as she was giving him pity and he didn't take well to that.
"I'd watch your tongue, you naïve twit."Loki scowled coldly."I can give you a violent and painful death. That goes to every person close to you."
Instead of looking shocked or horrified, Riley simply smiled at Loki.
"Or you can teach me some magic spells?"Riley requested, earning a weird look from Loki."But then again, you're more of a Slytherin type and I'm more of a Hufflepuff. Then again, I could belong in Ravenclaw since I adore seeking new knowledge and being creative."
Loki rolled his eyes, having no clue what the brunette was bickering on about.
"Magic is knowledge, child. Not a mere thing for you to play with."Loki retorted."You wouldn't understand the proper way to use it."
"Maybe you could teach me if you quit trying to be the bad guy and planning to take over the world?"Riley suggested.
Loki frowned at Riley's request.
"You're a Midgardian with no powers."Loki complemented slightly."I highly doubt that I can teach you skills beyond knowledge you and other mortals know."
Riley shook her head as she got off from the seat she was in and began to walk away from Loki's cage.
"So you're not interested in having an apprentice, drama queen?"Riley assumed sadly, making Loki get more annoyed."You rather see yourself as a monster by people?"
Loki sneered slightly at Riley's question.
"Oh trust, my dear."Loki stated with an evil smile."The people that you're with brought the monster."
Instead of looking disturbed, Riley turned around and simply smirked at Loki.
"I get it now."Riley responded with a smug look."Your little plan is to secretly use Uncle Bruce to unleash the Hulk."
Loki blinked in shock.
"What?"Loki said.
Riley simply began to walk away from Loki's cage as she held the earpiece that she had been secretly wearing and have been given to her by Natasha.
"Loki is going after Uncle Bruce."Riley warned."Keep him in the lab, I'm leaving now."
Riley then brought her attention back to Loki, who stared at her in disbelief.
"This has been fun. Thanks for your cooperation."Riley remarked brightly, ignoring Loki's glare and began heading out."Bye, Mr. Loki. It was nice talking to you."
Loki's stare softened in surprise at those words, but Riley was already walking away.
However, just as the brunette was walking out the door, she yelled back.
"By the way, I'll make sure Director Fury brings you some shampoo on his second time visiting you!"Riley requested."I don't know if you've noticed or not, but your hair is really greasy! Maybe with some shampoo it can look cool as Thor's!"
And with that, Riley was gone and Loki had returned to glaring after the girl, who had tricked him and made fun of his hair.
Though he was trying to discern what was in the brunette's head, he knew that she wouldn't have left empty-handed from talking to him.
The Midgardian child had a bright and enthusiastic personality, but she seemed smarter than she appeared.
She just tricked him after all.