Lost in Glorious Mischief

The Experiment

You find Tony in the lab. He is designing a new helmet for his suit. You walk in,
"Hey Tony, " you say, walking across the room to him.
Tony looks up over his glasses,
"Hey kid, you're up early," he says. Turning his attention back to his design.
"I didn't go to sleep. I've been running all night, my mind won't shut off, " you say, avoiding eye contact and sitting in the chair across from Tony.
Tony minimizes his hologram design and turns his attention back to you.
"You have been running all night, " he asked, a little shocked.
You chuckle,
"Yeah, it helps clear my head, " you say.
"Well it clearly did not work or you wouldn't be here right now. So what weighing on you kid, " he asked.
"I had a vision last night. It was short but I got the gist of it." you begin to explain. "There were 6 stones and a man; I didn't see his face but I could hear his voice. I could hear a woman screaming and I could see you guys. Everyone was dead. I could feel the pain you had felt before you were killed. I think this man knew that. I think I was the one screaming. The pain of losing all you was tearing me apart." you finish, making eye contact again with Tony.
Tony takes a few moments to comprehend what you had said.
"Well kid, premonitions are not always correct. They can hold some truths but the future is always changing," he says.
"Yes, but this felt like more than an event that could take place. It felt as though it had already happened. As if my future self was trying to warn me." you say, trying to explain what you saw and how real it felt.
"Okay, well we can run a few tests to see. I am not exactly sure which ones to run but we can figure something out." Tony says standing and walking to the computer.
You stand,
"I know what you need to do," you say looking at Tony.
He stops typing and looks up at you.
"You need to shock me. It's the only way to bring the vision out. You don't need to wipe my memory, but you need enough force to trigger enough stress on my brain; if my body feels enough pain it may allow my brain to see the vision again," you explain.
Tony looks at you with concern and confusion.
"Okay, but if I turn your brain into mush this was your idea, " he says trying to lighten the intense mood but ultimately agreeing.
"Let me call Bruce, he can help, " Tony says walking over to the phone.

~

The sun has made its way through the blinds, waking Loki. He stretches and opens his eyes, noticing you are not lying next to him. He sits up.
"Claire, " he calls out.
The room is silent.
He gets up and checks the bathroom. He starts to get concerned and wonders where you are.
He quietly leaves your room. He can hear faint talking down the hall. He quickly slips into his bedroom to change.
Once changed he walks down the hall toward the voices.
He walks past the lab. You are strapped to a table, Tony and Bruce are talking to you.
Loki gets a sense of anger and fear. He rushes into the lab to see what is going on.

~

"Okay Claire, are you sure this is the only way, " Bruce asked.
"Yes, I need to see the rest of the vision. My mind and body won't allow me to see the vision due to the pain. Shocking me will allow my mind to become vulnerable long enough to see the full vision, " you explain once more.
"Okay kid, we are waiting for the voltage to reach the level we need. It won't be mind wiping voltage but it will sting a bit, " Tony says.
"I can take it, " you say, slightly smiling.
"What the hell is going on, " you hear from behind you.
Tony and Bruce lookup. You don't need to. You already know who it is.
"Are you playing Frankenstein and Dr. Jenkle? Why the hell is she strapped to a table." Loki says, angrily.
Tony and Bruce look at you.
You finally look at Loki, who is now glaring at you.
"They are going to shock me," you say to Loki.
"Like hell they are! Are you out of your bloody mind?" Loki shouts at you.
"Hey, we went over the risks and she agrees this is the best way, " Bruce says, stepping toward Loki
"The best way for what exactly?" Loki asked.
"To see my vision again but in more detail, " you say.
"The vision from last night? That is what this is about," Loki asked, becoming angrier.
"Wait, he knew about this?"  Tony asked looking at you.
"Well he was there when it happened," you explain.
"And you think shocking your brain is the best way to bring this out. There are other ways Claire," Loki says stepping closer to the table.
"Loki, it was more than a vision. It felt real, more real than any vision or memory I have had. My body and mind will not allow me to feel or see that specific vision again. Putting stress on myself through electric shock will allow my mind to become vulnerable long enough to get a more detailed account of what I saw," you explain to him.
"I need to know, " your voice softens, and your eyes beg him to back down.
Loki sticking with his anger,
"You do know this will hurt? Shocking your body will make you feel intense pain. Do you know it could wipe your memory? We could go back to square one with you trying to kill everybody," Loki says, he is now standing next to the table.
"Misfit, the lady has made her decision. You can stay or leave," Tony says.
Loki wanting to stay by your side looks at you,
"I am sorry, I can't. I can not stand here and watch them do this to you," he says angrily, storming out of the room.
You take a deep breath,
"You good kid, " Tony asked.
You take a moment,
"Let's do it," you say staring up at the ceiling.
Tony and Bruce look at each other. Tony nods to Bruce giving him the go-ahead to send the first wave.  Bruce places the mouth guard in your mouth and returns to the computer to send the first wave.

~

Loki walks to the common room and paces the floor. The lights flicker and he can hear you screaming down the hall. It's all almost too much for him. He sits on the sofa and tries to calm himself.
The lights flicker again and he can hear you scream once more.
A tear escapes from Loki's eye. He quickly wipes it away.
Steve and Natasha walk in from the training room.
"What is with the lights," Natasha asked.
Another scream is heard from down the hall. Loki stands and begins to pace again.
"Who was that," Steve asked. Both their attention now on Loki.
"It's Claire," Loki says, not making eye contact with either of them.
"What do you mean it is Claire?" Steve asked, becoming concerned.
"The beast and Stark are shocking her. She had a vision and wanted to see it in more detail," Loki says irritated, turning to face Natasha and Steve.
Another flicker of the lights begin, this one lasting a bit longer than the last. Your scream more blood-curdling this time. After what seems like forever, it stops.
Loki grows concerned. At least when you were screaming he knew you were still alive.
"What was the vision?" Natasha asked.
"Something with six stones, a man and all of us dead. I am not sure what it meant, but she is convinced it was a warning." Loki says, explaining vaguely.
Tony walks into the common room.
Loki looks in his direction and walks toward him.
Natasha and Steve turn their attention to him.
"The last shock she didn't take too well," he says.
Before he finished Loki, Steve and Natasha run to the lab.
Bruce is unstrapping you from the table. Your eyes are closed and you are knocked out. Your veins are glowing red but do not seem to fade like before.
Tony appears behind the three,
"If you would have let me finish you would have known she was okay. As I said, she didn't take the last shock very well. She will be asleep for at least a few hours,"
Steve and Natasha exhale a deep breath. Loki remains staring through the glass wall at you. Worried about your memory, worried you won't wake up. Curious if your vision revealed any more.
"Steve, will you help take her to her room, she needs to rest," Tony says.
"Of course," Steve says, brushing past Loki, making him lose his train of thought.
Steve walks into the room and picks you up into his arms. Your body is limp, your arm dangles down as Steve carries you out of the lab.
Natasha holds the door open for Steve.
Loki watches and follows Steve as he carries you to your room.
He stands outside the door as Steve places you in your bed. Covering you with a blanket.
Loki watches on as Steve lingers for a moment. Brushing a hair out of your face. He turns to close your blinds. On his way out he takes one more look at you.
Loki tries to hide his anger as Steve walks out of your bedroom.
"Let her rest, she will be fine," Steve says shutting your door and placing a hand on Loki's shoulder before walking back down the hallway.
Loki stares at your door. Wanting nothing more than to go in and wait until you wake up. He reaches for the doorknob but stops himself.
He turns and goes into his bedroom. Still angry.
In his room, he lets go of his anger. Throwing his furniture.
He lays on his bed staring at the ceiling.