Chapter Text
I rolled my eyes as Nick Fury called my name.
"You called?" I asked sarcastically as I stepped out from behind the table.
Loki's eyes widened as he took me in. He looked me up and down, only stopping when he got to my eyes.
I coughed awkwardly and broke eye contact, looking at Fury. "What do you need?"
"I want you to guard Loki," he said. "Use your magic if necessary, but make sure he does not escape. Got it?"
"Sir, yes sir." I saluted and heard Maria Hill stifle a snort from the other side of the room.
I stepped into the cell as Fury turned to Loki, hands clasped behind his back. "A few rules, Mr. Odinson. This will be your guard, as you already know. She will be here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There will periodically be food delivered to this cell, and you will be expected to eat when she does. When you have to use the bathroom, you will ask her to take you. If she tells you to stop doing something, you will stop immediately. Got it?"
"Basically," I summed up, "you're at my beck and call. I'll be calling the shots here. Understood?"
Loki rolled his eyes but nodded nonetheless.
"Good." Fury exhaled, clearly relieved this was over with. "Anything else, Fletcher?”
I nodded. "One thing. Can we remove the camera in Loki's cell? I feel like he'll open up more if it's gone."
He sighed. "Fine." He said something into his earpiece and within seconds five guards showed up with tools and started to pry the thing out of the wall. They were done in the span of a minute and saluted Fury before handing the camera to him and leaving.
"It's done," Fury said.
"I can see that," I replied. "You gotta go now?"
He nodded. "Yes. Maria will be checking in occasionally, just to see how things are going, but feel free to radio me if you need anything."
I grinned. "Will do. This'll be fun."
Fury winced at my tone. "Well... try not to kill each other, yeah?" He walked off, mouthing "Good luck." To whom, me or Loki, I didn't know.
"Well!" I turned to Loki, examining him from head to toe. Not just his looks, but his aura too. I frowned as I sensed something unlike any aura I'd ever encountered. Something... cold, and definitely not human.
"You can't be human," I decided. "You're also not Greek. What in Hades are you?"
He blinked, seemingly shocked into silence. Then he took on an arrogant and haughty expression. "You have no right to speak to me in this manner, little mortal. Kneel before me."
I laughed, and he looked at me incredulously. "I don’t take orders from you, Loki. Who’s in the cell here? Oh that’s right, you. You take orders from me at the moment. Now answer my question before I make you."
He chuckled darkly. "Oh, but I do not think you have the ability to do so."
I reached out, into the Mist, and my eyebrows furrowed in concentration. My fingers closed around the hilt of my Stygian Iron knife and I pulled it out, thrusting the weapon against Loki's chin.
"Oh, I think you're wrong," I said coolly, in a deadly low voice. "Unless you want me to shove this knife down your throat?"
"Wha—how do you have a knife?" he asked, backing up slowly.
"Answer my question, and then I'll think about answering yours." My tone suggested that cooperating would be best for his health.
He must've gotten that, because he sighed in defeat. "I am Loki, of Asgard. I am a god. Happy?"
I kept my knife pointed at his throat. "That doesn't explain why I felt coldness in your aura. Now ANSWER ME!"
"You can sense auras?" Loki asked, wisely not moving. "Are you human?"
I glared at him.
"Why don't we make a deal," he suggested with a smile. "I answer one of your questions, you answer one of mine. A sort of... what do you humans call it?"
"Exchange system?" I suggested boredly.
He snapped his fingers. "Yes, that's it."
As I waited for him to speak again, I covered my knife with the Mist. When the Mist lifted, it was gone.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "How exactly did you do that?"
"Is that your one question?" I asked dryly.
"No." He thought about it for a second. "I have a question."
I leaned back on my hands. "Shoot." When he looked at me strangely, I said, "It means go ahead."
"Alright." He cleared his throat. "What are you? No normal Midgardian can do what you do."
"Midgard?" I asked. "Oh, that must be Asgardian lingo for Earth, yeah?"
He nodded. "Answer the question, if you please."
I raised my eyebrows at his politeness, but answered anyway. "A demigod. Why did I feel cold in your aura?"
"As well as being a god, I am also of Jotunheim descent."
I looked at him blankly. "In English?"
Loki sighed. "I am a Frost Giant. That is what my father was. The Allfather found me and brought me to Asgard, where I was raised. What is a demigod?"
"Usually a half human, half god, but I don't have a father. My mother created me. She can do that because she is a goddess, well, Titanness, technically. Hecate. What pantheon are you from?"
"Norse," he said. "What pantheon are you of?"
"Greek. Who is the Allfather?"
"Odin, god of the heavens. He brought me in as a baby. What is Hecate the goddess of?"
"Magic," I answered. "You?"
"Mischief, lies, and deceit. Your mother being the goddess of magic makes sense. Are you at all human?"
I smirked. "Nope. What are your powers?"
"I can cast illusions, shape shift, sense when others are lying, and use general magic. I can also go invisible, and heal others and myself. What about yourself?"
I breathed out. "I have a lot of powers. You ready for this?"
Loki nodded.
"Okay." I took a deep breath. "There's this force called the Mist, which is my mother's sphere of control. The Mist basically keeps mortals from seeing anything in the demigod world. I can teleport through the Mist, create illusions, hide people or objects, influence the minds of mortals and other demigods, and create fake memories. I can control shadows, though I'm not very skilled with that. I can shadow-travel, which is another form of teleportation that's only possible under a shadow, as the name may suggest. I can curse people, I can cast most spells, I can make potions, and finally I'm an aligist, which means I can speak any language known to man." (I'm making her be blessed by Hermes for no real reason other than I want it. Deal with it)
He whistled. "Wow, that was a lot."
"Any more questions?" I smiled sweetly.
Loki shook his head. "For now, no, but I am sure I will have more eventually."
"Wonderful," I muttered, pulling a S'mores Pop-Tart from my stash in the Mist. I tore it open and summoned a plate, because I didn't feel like sleeping in crumbs. Then I glanced at Loki, who was staring at the Pop-Tart.
"You want one?" I asked, gesturing to the plate.
He shrugged. "What is it?"
"It's called a Pop-Tart. Normally you're supposed to heat them up, but I think they taste better straight out of the package. (do not come for me i have never toasted a poptart in my life) Wanna try one?"
"I suppose I have nothing to lose. It will not be poisoned, yes?"
I laughed. "No." I took a bite before setting the plate down on the desk, summoning Loki his own plate and Pop-Tart.
He stared at it. "What am I to do with this?"
I rolled my eyes. "Damn, do I have to do everything for you?" I ripped it open and shook the two Pop-Tarts onto the plate, tossing the wrapper in the little trash can under the desk.
”There ya go," I told him. “Take a bite.”
He smiled and raised the Pop-Tart in cheers before biting off a huge chunk.
”This is…” he trailed off.
I smiled. ”Good, right?”
He nodded. “It is delicious. Thank you…”
”Faye,” I helped.
”Faye,” he repeated, tasting the name on his tongue. “Pretty name for a pretty girl.”
I blushed. “Thanks, Loki. Do you need anything?”
”Yes, actually. I must use the restroom.”
I sighed. “Fine. C’mon.”
I pushed the button to open the cell door and paused, turning to the god. “You won't run, right?”
”Of course not.” He gestured to the door courteously. “Ladies first.”
”And here I thought chivalry was dead,” I muttered, stepping out.
As I expected, he started to run immediately. I watched in amusement, wondering how far he’d get. When he got around ten feet away, the curse I’d put on him finally took effect, and he reappeared sprawled on the floor about five-ish feet away. I walked over to him.
”What in the nine realms just happened?” he asked.
I shrugged nonchalantly, helping him to his feet. “Guess I forgot to mention the curse I put on you. You can’t go farther than five feet away from me.”
He glared slightly at me.
“Thought you wanted to go to the bathroom?” I asked, unaffected by his glare.
”I do,” he responded.
I snickered. "Save that for your wedding, dude. Follow me.” I led him to the bathroom. “You have five minutes.”
He nodded and went inside. I waited outside, summoning a watch to check the time. I had all sorts of random things stored within the Mist, most of them being weapons of some kind or something to defend myself with. Like this watch. It looked normal enough, but when I hit the face, a shield spiraled out.
Five minutes passed quickly enough, and I shouted for Loki. He came out obediently and we walked back to his cell.
Five more minutes were spent just chatting when Stark came down to the cell. "Uh, Faye? There is what seems to be a cheerleader outside the tower. She's asking for you."
I cursed in Greek and pulled my knife out, quickly undoing the curse on Loki. "I knew she would come sooner or later. Tony, watch Loki."
"Uh, sure. But why are you holding a lacrosse stick?" he asked.
I sighed in relief. Thank the gods that's what he saw, and not, like, a gun or something. "I had borrowed it a while back and forgot to give it back. I'll be right back."
I put a finger to my lips, silently willing Loki not to tell Tony I was lying. He nodded subtly in affirmation, and I slipped upstairs, going outside without interruptions.
"Really?" I asked when I saw her. "Tartarus couldn't send anyone better?"
Kelli smirked. "I want revenge. And I will start by killing you!" She charged.
I simply sidestepped, letting her run headfirst into the metal wall of the tower. She hissed at me and started to charge again, but I ran my knife clean through her body. She dissolved into yellow powder, most of it getting all over me.
I spat in the general direction that she was standing. "There. Now you won't be bothering anyone ever again."
I put my knife away and looked down at the yellow powder covering me. I cast a quick wind spell using my elemental magic, the wind being strong enough to get any remnants of powder off. I'd have to take a shower later, but this was good enough. I covered myself in a layer of Mist just to be safe, then slipped back downstairs to the cell.
"Welcome back," Stark said. "Did you give your friend what she needed?"
I smiled. "Mhm."
"Okay, well, I'll be going back to the lab now."
"You do that. Loki and I will be just fine here."
"Where did you go?" the god asked as soon as Tony had left. "And don't bother lying, it wouldn't be wise. You do recall what I am the god of, correct?"
I nodded. "You remember I said I was a demigod?"
He responded in the affirmative.
"Okay, well that cheerleader was a monster. From Ancient Greece. She was an empousa, which are basically vampire thingies that my mom created when she was in one of her moods. Monsters hunt demigods relentlessly."
"Why?" Loki asked.
"A monstrous daughter of Hecate, Lamia, created a powerful spell out of anger that enables monsters to 'smell' demigods."
He frowned. "I... I am sorry. That must be horrible. Do you have to run from these monsters?"
I smiled, touched by his concern. "Thankfully, no. I used to, when I was younger, but I found a safe place. Camp Half-Blood."
"That is good," he said. "Were you on the run by yourself?"
"No. I was only six, I couldn't have gotten that far. And plus I didn't know who my godly parent was at the time, so I didn't have my magic. I found some friends who helped me get to my camp."
He nodded, looking me up and down with a smirk on his face.
I rolled my eyes. "Look, I know I'm hot but you don't have to look at me like that."
He rolled his blue-green eyes. I furrowed my eyebrows, because I vaguely remembered Annabeth showing me a book on the Norse gods when we were around nine, and Loki's eyes...
I frowned as I thought. Something occurred to me and I gasped, shooting up and running over to the desk in the cell. I grabbed the earbuds that were lying on the desk and popped one in my ear, leaving the other out in order to hear Loki if anything happened. I typed into the computer quickly, pulling up some files. I noticed a video link attached to one of the files, and I clicked it, paying no attention to Loki, who I knew was watching me curiously.
Footage from the compound where the tesseract was being held began to play, and I watched closely as Loki slaughtered a few agents before catching Clint Barton. I waited until the god's spear touched Clint's heart to stop the video. I slowed the playback down and zoomed in. I was grateful for the fact that SHIELD has such high-tech cameras, because it gave me a really clear picture. I had to check if my suspicions were true.
I played the video super slowly, and I watched as Clint's eyes changed from his normal pale blue to black to an electric blue. I paused it there, studying the color.
I stood, taking out the earbud and walking towards Loki. He looked startled as I moved toward him, and I stopped when I was on his side of the cell. He stood up as well, narrowing his eyes.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
I didn't answer, studying the blue in his eyes. I let a curse slip from my mouth as I strode quickly toward the door, punching in the code to open it, shielding the pad from his view. He didn't look anyway, too confused as to what I was doing to try.
I placed a binding spell on Loki so he wouldn’t go anywhere and took off running upstairs towards the main deck of the Helicarrier and bumped into Fury when I got on the deck.
"Whoa, Fletcher." He steadied me. "What are you doing up here? You're meant to be watching the prisoner."
"Where's Thor?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. "I am unsure of Thor's whereabouts at the moment. Why are you—"
"Hey!" I exclaimed loudly, making everyone on deck look up. "Anyone know where Thor is?"
There was an awkward silence, and I sighed. "Oh c'mon ladies, the guy's arm is bigger than my head. You're not gonna forget those muscles that easily, so where did you last see him?"
One of the technicians slowly raised her hand, and I smiled at her.
"Where did you see him?" I asked.
"Uh, I saw him in the lab," she told me.
"Thank you!" I exclaimed. "Fury, give this lady a bonus. I'll be back."
I took off again, taking the stairs two at a time, and raced over to the lab.
"Thor!" The god turned at the sound of his name. "Thor, I need to talk to you."
Stark, who was at his computer, paused his work and looked over. "Faye, what's going on? You're supposed to be with Loki. Should we be concerned?"
I held up a finger, looking at Thor. "What color are your brother's eyes?"
He looked at me weirdly and glanced at Tony. I didn't bother, knowing he was probably just as confused.
"Thor, humor me here. I have an idea."
He nodded after a long moment. "Our mother used to say that Loki's eyes were the deepest green she'd ever seen. She used to say that there had never been a color like that on a person before."
"Green," I repeated slowly. "Not blue green."
Thor frowned. "No..."
"Not green and tesseract blue?" I asked, emphasizing tesseract.
Thor's eyes widened, and realization crossed his face. I smiled, and so did he. Tony just stared at us blankly.
"We must tell Director Fury!" he exclaimed.
I nodded. "Let's go." I began to run out of the lab with Thor hot on my heels. I bumped into Fury yet again as I came back onto the main deck, and he glared at me.
"Fletcher, what do you think you're—?"
"I think I know why Loki's doing what he's doing," I said.
Fury frowned at me. "Go on..."
"Loki's eyes," I continued. "I rewatched the security footage from the compound. When Loki brainwashed Clint, his eyes changed color to the blue of the tesseract."
"And?" he asked, sounding more impatient by the second.
"And Loki's eyes are green and tesseract blue," I told Fury. "Thor just confirmed that his brother's eyes are naturally green, not a hint of blue in them."
"You think he's being influenced?" our director asked skeptically.
I nodded.
"Thor? Do you think this is true?"
The god nodded. "It makes sense. The Loki I know would never do something like this. He would never act this way. No one knew he was alive for over a year. We have no way of knowing what happened to him during the time he was missing."
"Is that even possible?" Maria piped up from the other side of the room where she was clearly eavesdropping.
Thor shrugged. "Even I do not know the extent of his scepter's power. It may be."
Fury let out a long breath, absorbing this information. "Alright. Thor, inform Coulson of this new information. Faye, go back to the cell."
"What? C'mon—"
"Now Faye."
I glared at him for a long moment before turning on my heel and stalking off.
It was time to see about getting some information out of Loki.