Nine Days Of Loki

Startled awake by the sound of pounding on the hotel room door, the first thing Sif was immediately aware of was she was now alone in the bed. There was no warm, strong, loving arms around her.
Instantly confused, she tried to push aside the rising panic frothing in her throat at the unwanted thought that Loki had perhaps abandoned her.

She hurriedly stumbled out of bed and grabbed a bath robe from the bathroom, slipping it on before cautiously opening the door.

The face of agent Coulson, looking decidedly awkward, greeted her, causing her face to flush scarlet with embarrassment as memories of the previous nights shenanigans came flooding back.
How could she have allowed herself to get so carried away?
Did Loki still really have the ability to seduce and beguile her so easily?

Apparently it appeared so, even when her dignity and self respect was on the line, she'd still been unable to resist him.

And now in the cold, harsh light of day, she was feeling the sting of humiliation having to face the agents who had been able to listen in using the mobile cell phone they had bugged, and instructed her to leave out, in order for them to pick up the audio from within the room.

To her immense shame, it seemed they had got more than they'd bargained for.

Refusing to meet her eye, Coulson hastily described to her how Loki had willingly surrendered, much to Sif's astonishment.
Gasping at the enormity of this bombshell, her small brow furrowed in confusion.
She could scarcely believe it. That was the very last thing she ever expected Loki to do.

But when Phil went on to explain how Loki had needed his injured hand tending to, his actions at least made sense. Self preservation was one of the trickster's priorities, and he must've been driven by sheer desperation, which was worrying.
He obviously had to have been in grave danger.

Coulson informed her that one of the arteries in Loki's wrist had been lacerated, but attempted to reassure her that he'd received the necessary medical attention.
He was no longer in danger of slowly bleeding to death, so there was no cause for alarm or concern.
Regardless, the thought of her having inflicted the potentially fatal wound weighed heavy on her heart and conscience, and she was eager to set off in order to see him and ensure all was well.
Or as well as could be expected, given that he was now in S.H.I.E.L.D's custody.

After having dressed back into her warrior attire, which she'd had the forethought to collect from Loki's apartment, along with her sword which he'd been secretly storing in the hallway closet of all places, they were soon winging their way back towards South London, in pursuit of the S.H.E.I.L.D Globemaster; also commonly referred to by the agents as the 'bus'

The journey seemed to take an agonisingly long time, given that the bus was apparently traveling at a slow speed in order for them to catch up. But when they eventually arrived at the site of the new American Embassy in Wandsworth, South of the Thames, it was already stationed within the grounds, guarded heavily by military security due to the passengers it held on board.

"Where is Loki? I must speak with him."
The words came tumbling out of Sif's mouth the moment her feet touched the tarmac, as agent Romanoff came over to greet them.

Looking almost comically unamused, the petite redhead gestured for the warrior to follow her to the large S.H.I.E.L.D aircraft.
"I'll take you to him, but you'd better be prepared....he doesn't want to see you. So he might not be too impressed."

A deep frown began to forge on Sif's brow. She couldn't understand what she was hearing. How could that possibly be so? After the intimacies they had shared the night before, and the declarations of love.....it made no sense.

"What? Surely there must be some mistake. Why would he not wish to see me?"

Unwilling to divulge any further information, despite Sif pressing her, Natasha simply shrugged in an almost couldn't-care-less manner, and led her up the gangway into the aircraft.

Once inside, Sif barely paid any attention to the various agents mulling around. Her stomach was twisting into anxious, nervous knots and her feet suddenly felt like lead as she made her way through the maze of claustrophobic corridors to the designated cell where her wretched lover was being held.

As it happened though, agent Coulson suddenly joined them on board, cell phone clasped to his ear and speaking hurriedly in secretive, hushed tones. Judging by his body language and general demeanour, it became quite apparent he was being given strict instructions to keep Sif away from their prisoner.

"Um, perhaps it would be better if you were to just observe for a little while."
He muttered, looking sincerely apologetic now as he placed a gentle hand at Sif's elbow and hastily steered her into one of the many rooms.

"Observe? Why? Can I not just see him for myself?"

"You know what he looks like, right?"
Agent Romanoff quipped, much to Sif's irritation.

But as Coulson adjusted the sound on a nearby monitor and Loki's distinctly smooth voice suddenly filled the room, Sif fell silent and joined him so she could take a look at the screen.

He was in full leather armour, his inky mane of hair now neatly tucked behind his ears after her having sculpted it into a bed-tousled mess.
He was walking around his cell in slow, deliberate circles nonchalantly as he scoffed and mocked someone named Director Fury, who was speaking to him via a satellite link.

"So you expect me to believe you're surrendering and have willingly agreed to be incarcerated and stand trial here on earth for the crimes you've committed? Huh....I don't buy it!"
The imposing voice boomed.

Loki sniggered in response, brazenly and openly smirking.
"Believe what you like, director. But I'm here am I not? I have told you the truth about Lorelei and the infinity stone, explained the workings of the mind gem....I was merely Thanos' puppet when I launched my attack on your planet, I was not in full possession of my own will. Just as Lorelei has manipulated me with the same methods. I do not fear your court or legal system. I shall claim diminished responsibility, so I highly doubt I'll receive the maximum penalty."

"You can be damned sure you won't get off lightly!"
Fury snarled, his steely tone harsh and unforgiving.

"The death sentence carries no threat to me now. You seem to be forgetting that I am a God!"
Loki hurled at him, haughtily.
"We are a superior race. Asgardians are immortal here. And I am quite literally an illegal alien. No jury in your world can pass judgement on me."

"You weren't so immortal when you crawled to us for help with your injury, were you?"

There was a slight pause, and Sif found herself holding her breath as she stared at Loki's smug looking visage on the screen.

"That was before. Regrettably the gem makes us vulnerable to petty human illnesses and injuries, but Lorelei has since removed the ring she placed on my finger. That was part of the deal I struck with the lovely Miss Romanoff."

"And why didn't you just take it off yourself sooner? Or was it just an excuse so you could claim that you were under the sorceresses' control?"

Loki let out a mirthless laugh and shook his head.
"Not by any means. Whoever places the item containing the gem onto the person in question, must also be the one to remove it. I don't make the rules. That's just how it works."

"Is that how it works?"
Coulson asked suddenly, turning to Sif and shattering her concentration.
"If it is I'll inform director Fury. He doesn't believe a word Loki says. Though I can't say I blame him."

Sif chewed nervously on her bottom lip, a myriad of thoughts swimming in her head, making her feel quite lightheaded.
"It must be. I could not remove the pendant Loki put on me, and he was the one who removed it."

Coulson hastily spoke into the phone, and Sif realised then that he was also connected to director Fury, as he verified that for once Loki's claims were true.

It was then that Sif had a thought. Perhaps she could strike a bargain with the director which would enable her to return Loki to Asgard, as Odin had instructed.
It was a long shot, but if she chose her words carefully then perhaps there was a small chance she could pull it off.

"I have orders to bring Loki back. It is my duty."
She told Coulson, who covered the mouthpiece of the phone with his free hand.
"Loki must face Asgardian justice and his punishment will be suitably severe this time, I assure you. The Allfather has the ability to cast a spell which would strip Loki of his powers, which would put an end to his reign of terror. He would no longer be a threat to your world or any other. If he remains here he will escape confinement. He's a master of magic, and he's right.....you won't be able to kill him either."

Phil looked thoughtful for a moment, a certain nervousness in his eyes betrayed his apprehension. It felt like the longest moment of Sif's life but then to her relief and surprise, he handed the small mobile cell phone over to her, allowing her to plead her case directly to the head honcho.

"Loki managed to escape from Asgard before, why should I believe that it would be any different this time?"
He demanded gruffly from the other end of the line.

"The circumstances were entirely different, and....complicated."
Sif explained patiently.
"Loki was intentionally released from his cell, he did not, and would not, be able to escape. Asgardian technology is much more advanced than any holding place you have here....Loki would find a way out."

"With all due respect, we held him once before. We can do it again."

"You underestimate his abilities, Loki wanted to be captured and held. It was all part of his plan. Just like it is now."
She pointed out, growing desperate.
"He could have escaped anytime he wanted, but it served his purpose to remain captive aboard your vessel. If he so wished he could escape here right now and you would be powerless to stop his sorcery....but he's biding his time, using this situation to his advantage because he does not want to return to Asgard and face the consequences of his actions. And you're playing right into his hands."

********************

Loki perched elegantly on the impossibly tiny stool he had been provided with, attempting to remain poised and ever so cool, calm and collected.
But this was proving to be more of a challenge than usual because not only was he uncomfortable, he was also growing increasingly bored and impatient.
Unarguably, Loki was a slim guy in stature, but he was in no way small. His height and long limbs made him sort of sprawling, which meant he always seemed to take up more room than he naturally should.
This poor excuse for a stool was a far cry from his beloved wing-backed chair.
What was taking these imbeciles so long?
They ought to have been winging their way back to America by now. At least then he would, with any luck, be provided with a more comfortable holding cell.

Huffing, he turned to look at the camera that was monitoring him.
"If it's all the same to you, I'll have that magazine now. Real power is bored."

Just then the automatic steel door outside his cell slid open, immediately capturing his attention.
Expecting to see one of the many agents, Loki was temporarily stunned to see Sif striding into the room, her sword strapped to her back and wearing her warrior attire.

The sight of her made him bristle with anger.
Anger was too mild a word, he was blisteringly furious at her for betraying him, and exploiting him so cruelly.
He had opened his heart to her, and declared his innermost feelings - something he was not in the habit of doing - and she had thrown it back in his face.
When he had made love to her he felt a deep, emotional connection which made the experience so pure, beautiful and innocent as well as pleasurable.
He was certain his soul had bonded with hers. They had taken their relationship to yet another level, sharing the type of intimacies one only shares with a true love.

Or so he had thought...

But she had been playing a part, stringing him along. Merely placating him, perhaps stalling for time or something. The sordid details mattered little to him, her reasons for going along with their lovemaking was irrelevant. He didn't wish to know. He wasn't sure he could handle it.
The point was, she had set him up. She had intended to hand him over to S.H.I.E.L.D all along. She'd willingly permitted her phone to be bugged, allowing their most private moment to be overheard.
All in all, she'd made a fool of him. And this was a bitter pill for Loki to swallow.
He was frustrated with himself for ending up in such a vulnerable position. She had used him.
Well, nobody made a fool out of Loki of Asgard, the God of Mischief, and got away with it.
She would suffer his wrath one way or another.

"Loki...."
She spoke at last, shattering the silence in the room that was so loud it almost deafened her.
"...I am glad to see you have recovered from your injury. I am sorry, I did not intentionally-"

"You're repeating yourself, Sif."
He cut her off sharply, his voice now sounding more like barbed wire than soft velvet.
"You didn't intend to harm me. You've already said. Now was that all you wanted to say?"

Her small brow furrowed. She couldn't understand why he was behaving so cold and unresponsive towards her.
"Is it true that you are no longer willing to return to Asgard?"

"Correct. I have reviewed the situation and reached the conclusion that remaining here is by far the better option."

"But how can that be? You have told me that you were not willing to be their prisoner again, and you agreed to accompany me back to Asgard."

"Well I lied."
He snarled, edging his way closer to the glass that divided them.
"Just like I said I love you, and I lied!"

Sif felt herself sway slightly, as his last sentence cleaved through her like a blade, drawing blood.
If he had actually stabbed her, it would have hurt less.
Tears pricked the back of her eyes but she blinked them away, not allowing herself to fall apart pathetically in front of all the prying eyes that were observing this exchange via the cameras.

"I don't believe you!"
She challenged, after swallowing down the lump that had formed in her throat.
"You are lying."

He tilted his head to one side whilst surveying her closely.
"Am I? Is that what you really believe? Has it not occurred to you that perhaps you're simply in denial, and just clinging to the vain hope that it isn't true?"

"Do not try to play mind games with me, Loki. You wouldn't have said it if you did not truly mean it."
She looked into his eyes as she spoke, but like the sea in winter they had turned stormy and cold.

"I'm beginning to suspect that I alone know, as I think I do know, your love beside Thor....and that was the wicked Loki."
His eyes darted back and forth across her face, searching for any sign that may give validity to his assumption.
"You never said so but.....is this love, Sif?"

"My heart has no place in this!"

Dissatisfied with her reluctance to utter those three words which he was still yet to hear her speak, Loki tuned away with a dramatic flounce.
"Then why should mine? I grow tired of this childish sentimentality. Leave me be, woman. We're done!"

"We are far from done! You know how this ends Loki, so come back."

"And how exactly does this end, Sif? Tell me."

"I have orders to bring you back-"

"And I have never given a damn about your orders, you know that. I am now in the custody of S.H.I.E.L.D, which makes your mission irrelevant to me. You'll just have to return to Asgard alone-"

"S.H.I.E.L.D have granted my request to return with you to Asgard!"
She declared, her tone steely.
"We are to be escorted back to the bifrost site henceforth."

This revelation visibly shook Loki, and his arrogance quickly gave way to disbelief.
"You can't! Director Fury would never allow me to be released, he gave me his word-"

"Well you're not the only one who has reviewed the situation."
Fury's voice suddenly filled the room, rendering Loki silent.
"You will face Asgardian justice. We are not your get outta jail free card. It's about time you faced the music. I highly doubt that Odin will let you off so easily this time around. Sucks to be you right about now, doesn't it? You're in some deep, deep shit."

Incensed, Loki turned and unleashed his fury on his traitorous lover. Slamming his fist against the glass, his eyes burned right though her and his voice dropped to a menacing whisper.
"I'll kill you!"

Sif flinched, her first reaction to shift backwards away from the glass.
She couldn't ever recall having seen Loki look at her with such contempt before, the sheer hatred in his eyes alone made a cold shiver rush down her spine, and his violent threat chilled her to the bone.
The fact that he had looked upon her with such love and tenderness the night before, made it all the more painful and frightening.

"Loki, it is for the best. We agreed so before-"

"That was before you betrayed me you heartless quim!"
He spat, his face becoming a mask of contorted rage.
"So you'd better hope that Odin punishes me by death because if I ever find myself free, Sif.....I will kill you!"