________________________________

"Tony, calm down." Bruce tried.

"I can't calm down. He's got Alex, and what he wants we can't even give him,"

"Why can't we?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. currently has the scepter," Steve chimed in. "It's not ours to give,"

"I'll simply go and fetch her," Thor says triumphantly, a smile painting his lips.

He walked outside, pointing his hammer to the sky. A confused expression fell upon his face when a portal didn't open for him. He thrust it toward the sky harder, grunting.

"Heimdall?" He calls nervously.

Then, he swings the hammer in a circle, picking up speed. He hovers for a moment, but falls back down.

Tony sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Why isn't this working!" Thor said angrily. "Heimdall!"

"Alright, buddy, the portal ain't working," Tony said, losing patience. "Now, we can't even get to her because your hammer is broken."

"Mjölnir is not broken. Heimdall must have been compromised,"

"We're wasting time," Nat said. "Thor, is there any other way to get to Asgard?"

"No, the Bifrost is the only safe way,"

"Then we need a plan to trap Loki," Steve said.

"I may have an idea," Tony said.

<>

Alex sat in the cage, alone. It had been hours since Loki left her sitting there. She couldn't tell if night had fallen, but she was growing tired. She was too worried to fall asleep, though. Who knows what he would do to her if she was off her guard.

She sat up when Loki came stalking in.

"Are you going to kill me,"

He chuckled. "No, no, you're too important,"

"Again, I'm not important. Honestly, I don't think any of the Avengers know my name. In fact, they all hate me. Yeah."

"You talk too much," Loki rubbed his forehead.

"You kill too much. Do you have any regard for life? I bet you'd kill a puppy if you were given the chance."

"I despise puppies,"

"Of course you do. Who hates puppies? Honestly," She breathed.

"I'm assuming you're going to need sustenance." He changed the subject.

"I'm starving,"

"I will fetch food for you, and once I do, you'll be quiet." He ordered, ignoring her mocking him.

"Will I?"

He turned and walked away. She groaned, pressing her palms against the glass. Where was Tony? Where were the Avengers? Did they even notice she was gone? They had to, right?

He returned with a bowl. Of pudding.

"I don't want pudding."

"Eat the pudding." He commanded.

"I don't want to."

"Well, why not?"

"I don't like pudding."

"Who doesn't like pudding,"

"Who doesn't like puppies?"

"Just eat it—"

"Why does your life depend on me eating the pudding?" She countered.

"IT DOESN'T!" He roared, and she flinched. In an instance, the pudding was gone. "Starve for all I care,"

"But I'm hungry,"

Loki's eyes darkened. He charged toward the glass, banging his fists on it. "I'm hungry--for power. Do you have any idea how it is to live with a kingdom that is rightfully yours, but your imbecile of a father gives it to your oaf of a brother?"

She blinked twice. "No, I can't say I do."

"To live in his shadow, when you're clearly superior,"

"I'm an only child...so...not important,"

"It's infuriating," Loki snapped.

"Have you ever tried telling him you feel this way?"

"Why would I do that," He snarled.

"So that maybe, he can fix the problem?"

"Why do that when I can take what I want, forcing him to surrender to my dominance, and spend the rest of his life groveling for forgiveness." Loki looked off into the distance, his fist in the air.

Alex whistled, witnessing his mental breakdown.

"So, I can see that Thor troubles you," She starts inching toward the glass.

He turned only his head from his position, squinting his eyes at her.

"And I'm here to help. If you take me back to Earth,"

"Wha--no. You're staying in that cell,"

"It was worth a shot,"

"And a lousy shot it was." He replied.

"I'm sorry, my negotiating tactics aren't what they used to be," She scoffed. "Listen, how are you even going to be notified that they're ready to talk? Y'all got phones up here?"

"Thor knows how to reach me." Though, he looked unsure.

"I'm going to die in here," She whined.

"Quit whining."

She sulked, crossing her arms. She fucked up. She was now stuck in this cell, and was losing hope of escaping.

Escaping!

She could escape the cell, and at least find someone in the castle who could help her. The way Loki snuck her in told her that no one knew she was here. More importantly, that she was a prisoner.

"Does anyone know I'm down here by any chance,"

"No."

"Interesting," She spoke under her breath.

"I will be back to feed you later," He turned to walk away.

"Wait, but I'm hungry now!"

He waved, and he was gone. Now, she had to simply wait.

And she did.

For hours.

Until finally, a guard came in.

She banged on the glass, making as much noise as humanly possible. She screamed, kicked, yelled, until she caught his attention.

"Please, sir, I'm a villager, I don't belong here!" She cried. "Loki put me here!"

"I am so sorry, milady," The guard let down the wall. He looked at her clothing questionably. "What are you wearing?"

"They were having a sale, on, um, Midgard clothing," She remembered what Loki called Earth.

"Well, the God of Mischief can't hurt ya no more. Go," He spoke.

The God of Mischief. Of course that was Loki's name. Thor was named the God of freaking Thunder. No wonder he felt like Thor always won, she thought, laughing to herself.

She ran up a staircase, looking around to make sure no one was coming. When it was clear, she entered the long corridor. She walked fast, her head whipping back to make sure no one was following her.

"Giving yourself a tour?" She heard as she ran into a hard figure. She fell backward, not wanting to look up. She could tell by the green armor that she had been caught. Alex slowly looked up, meeting Loki's angry expression.

"Get up," He pulled her to her feet by her forearm. He dragged her down the corridor, but not in the direction of where she came.

"Where are we going,"

He said nothing, but waved his hand over her. She looked down at her hands, confused.

"What did you do to me?" Her clothes mimicked a Renaissance festival costume.

He continued to ignore her as he dragged her toward a big door. It had a guard outside of it, who looked confused.

"King Loki and...Lady Sif?"

"Tell no one of this," Loki commanded, shoving Alex into the room.

"Who the hell is Lady Sif? Is that who you turned me into?" Alex asked. He rolled his eyes, lifting the spell from her.

He spoke under his breath, holding his palm toward the walls.

"What are you--"

"I've placed a seal charm on the room, so you cannot leave. Since your stunt proved you cannot be trusted, I'll have to watch you more closely."

"Would you trust you?"

"Not in the slightest." He smirked.

"Then quit whining," She spoke bravely, instantly regretting it.

"You've got fire," He spoke. "Which will make you a difficult prisoner,"

"Might as well just let me go," She feigned sadness. "I know it'll be hard, but you can do it, Loki. You're strong."

"Oh, no," He chuckled darkly, walking toward his chamber door. He opened it to leave, and sent a chilling look to her.

"I've got other plans for you."

________________________________