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of Stark Tower. Nick had grown impatient with the success of retrieving Alex from Loki, and the Avengers had grown weary. 

"Just explain your plan." Nick sighed. 

"Alright. Loki wants the scepter back, right? Let's give it to him." Tony clasps his hands together. 

"I'm sorry, what?" Nat gaped. 

"Run that back." Clint said. 

"Stark, have you gone insane?" Nick exclaimed. 

"You all have no faith in me, I swear. We'll fake it. I'll create a holographic, life-like scepter, and lure him down here. Once he's here, we'll trap him."

"How are we going to do that?" Steve chimed in. 

"We've done it once, we can do it again. We just need all hands on deck."

"I don't know about this, Tony." Steve said. 

"Trust me guys. We're going to need to trick the trickster." Tony smirked. 

"If we can pull this off, we'll have Loki in our clutches again. But, how are you going to retrieve the girl? There's no chance he'll bring her with him." Thor asked. 

"Thor, are you sure there's no other way to get into Asgard besides the Bifrost?" Nat asked. 

"I know no alternative route. My brother, however, does."

"That does us no good." Nick sighed. 

"If I could figure out how he managed to compromise Heimdall, I could get us up there. But there truly is no way to contact him if he isn't stationed at Bifrost." 

"There is no doubt he is watching. He has been for a while, to know that Alex is important enough to us to be used as ransom. So, if he sees us with a supposed scepter, he'll contact you." Steve said to Thor. 

"We can only hope he will."

<>

Meanwhile in Asgard, Alex could barely sleep the entire night. All she could think about were her conflicting feelings toward Loki. On one hand, he was a mass murderer. Some would say a monster. 

On the other hand, he was dealt a difficult hand. She could already see that in him. But, does that excuse his actions? She was dealt a bad hand too, but she took that and used it to make herself into a good person. 

But, she thought, everyone is different. 

She sat up when she heard the door open. She expected a guard to walk in with her breakfast, as they normally did. She despised that she was beginning to establish a routine, which meant permanence. Permanence here in Asgard, trapped by the God of Mischief, with no hopes of freedom. 

To her surprise, in walked Loki. 

With her breakfast. 

"Have you come to kill me?" She sat up. 

"No. Maybe tomorrow." He said, setting the tray down on a table. 

She eyed it carefully, looking back at him. 

"Is it poisoned?" 

"Valhalla, do you want the food or not?" 

"I don't trust you." 

"Fine by me. But, you must eat." 

"Why?"

"You're no use to me dead." He said, a dark tone in his voice. "Eat."

"Why did the guards not bring this to me?" She stood up, walking toward the table. 

"Why must you ask so many questions? Am I not allowed to visit you?"

"I'd rather you not." 

"I've brought books." He changed the subject. 

She gave him a questioning glance. "No you haven't."

He rose an eyebrow, tilting his hand toward the window. She followed his glance, looking over to the corner of the room. 

Sure enough, there was a stack of books. 

"What are they about?" 

"Lots of different things. Some hold history, some fiction. I've brought you my favorites, so it will offend me if you dislike them."

She chuckled, eating the porridge he brought. Days ago, she had asked the guard if she could have cinnamon, and he obliged. Today, since it was brought by Loki, it did not have any. 

"The guard usually gives me cinnamon with this," She said passively. 

Loki rolled his eyes, waving his hand. Cinnamon appeared on top of her food, and she blinked. 

"Just how magical are you?" 

"How much time do you have?" He jabbed. 

"How'd you get those powers?" 

"Read a book and find out." 

She rolled her eyes. 

"You know, you remind me of my fiancé."

"Oh?" Loki looked over at her. 

"He's crazy." 

Loki chuckled. "Oh."

"He hurt me. Because he was hurt. But he didn't have to." 

"If this is some sort of attempt to get me to free you, it isn't going to work." 

"I'm past that. I know I'm not going anywhere. But, maybe, for your sake, there's something deep down in you that wishes to do the right thing," She tried. 

Loki nodded, pursing his lips. He could do one of two things: ignore such a ludicrous idea, or make her regret suggesting it. 

"My father was a Frost Giant. King Laufey, is what he was called." He began. 

"Since I know a mortal such as yourself has never heard of these creatures, allow me to introduce you. The Frost Giants are humanoid giants that inhibit the land of Jotunheim. They're brutish, and murderous. They've torn through cities, and devoured anyone in their way."

He paid no attention to her grim expression. 

"My kind left me for dead once they discovered I was a runt, and I was rescued by King Odin of Asgard. I grew up alongside my supposed brother, with the promise of a kingdom. Only to discover I was not who I believed I was, and that I never deserved a thing. Yet, I watched my war-hungry brother ascend with no difficulty." 

"I always felt out of place, that something wasn't quite right. My suspicions were confirmed when I did not recoil at the touch of a Frost Giant, rather, began to resemble one." He stated, awaiting her reaction. 

Loki's skin began to be consumed by a shade of deep blue, lines drawn up and down his skin. The markings shadowed his veins, and painted a picture of the secrets his people held. His eyes turned a vibrant shade of red, glaring into hers. 

Alex's breath hitched in her throat as she took in the sight in front of her. His features remained the same, yet his skin was painted a foreign color. She was unsure how to feel about this appearance, feeling both intrigued and frightened.

"Once I discovered that my life has been an illusion, I saw nothing but red. I pledged my alliance to an opposing force, and attempted his bidding. I came to your city, and killed hundreds. I left a path of destruction, and had every intention to do so." As he went on, he took steps toward her. She slowly backed up, until she reached the table. 

He was so close to her face, she could feel his breath. 

 "So, you may think that something inside me yearns to be like Thor. A calling to save the innocent, and be a hero. Well, Alexandra, it's time you learned one thing: no one is innocent. Not entirely. You may believe I could be something else than this, but look at me." 

She looked anywhere but his eyes, growing uncomfortable. 

"Look at what I am, and let go of such a fantasy." 

Loki's skin was drained of the blue as he stepped back. He turned on his heel, walking out of the room, leaving Alex breathless. 

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