Loki Imagines

Russian Roulette

Loki is staring at the woman sitting across the room. Black booted heels crossed matter-of-factly, she's eyeing the door to the interrogation cell with a resolute gaze. According to S.H.I.E.L.D. principles, interrogations don't happen within the agency's halls, only cleanly cut interviews. The truth is that agents do whatever they damn please, and Y/N L/N is no exception. There are no rules, not for her, not as long as she keeps getting the information that all of them need.

The Avengers were supposed to be handling this case. The Gallants make up a well-known crime ring; one of the toughest mobs in this side of the country, or this side of the globe, for that matter. Loki and his partners managed to bring in the youngest one, Tom, for questioning, but they haven't been able to crack him.

That leaves only Y/N. Loki knows that the rest have been reluctant to involve Y/N, too afraid of what she'll do to get the answers they require, but they have no more options. Y/N is a L/N after all, the only natural counterpart to the Gallants. This city is split by a gang war between the two families, as much as the Avengers hate to admit it, and they've got the best of the L/Ns running amongst their numbers. If you've got that good a tool under your belt, why not use it?

Steve Rogers has been pacing back and forth for a while in the adjourning room. He's still not sure about this, too used to the '40s codes of conduct that are now just as obsolete as the friends' phone numbers he keeps tucked away in his cracked wallet. Loki is used to the changing of the times; no matter what, violence always stays the same. Y/N speaks his language, and that's why he's here, the same as the rest: to see what she does.

At last, Y/N receives the sign she's been waiting for. A burner phone by her side buzzes with a new text from Nick Fury, and judging by the pleased lock of her jaw, it's the all clear. Y/N stands, briskly folding her dark coat back around her, and heads towards the door.

Steve, Natasha, and Tony move to intercept her before she can head inside. They may be handing over the role of investigator, but they won't do it without feeling like they can maintain some semblance of control.

Steve holds up a warning finger. "Remember the rules, Agent. You can't lay a finger on him."

Y/N smirks. "I don't need to."

Natasha arches a brow. "Even as a mafia gang leader who's notorious for her torture methods?"

Y/N flashes her a particularly rakish smile. "Come on, Romanoff. You of all people should know that there are ways to make people crack without resorting to the usual ways of inflicting pain."

Natasha shrugs. "Do your worst. We'd like to see it happen."

Tony chortles. "Damn right we would. We'll be watching the monitors outside. Technically, I have to tell you that if we see anything suspicious, we'll come bursting in guns blazing, but mainly I just want to see what you do."

Y/N shrugs, reaching for the door. "I hope you enjoy the show."

She glances at Loki over her shoulder, a dagger-sharp glint in her eye the only sign that she's been onto him since she first arrived at the Avengers complex, then disappears inside the interrogation room. The cell door clicks shut behind her, and just like that, they've got a performance to see.

Tony hurries over to the bank of monitors. "Oh, I'm excited for this one. I mean, the Godfather can only teach you so much, right? This is sure to be much more modern."

Natasha laughs dryly. "Try not to seem too excited, Tony. We're supposed to be unhappy about this."

Loki drifts closer so he can see over their huddled shoulders. Tony messes with a few of the controls, and the sound starts to flicker in through glitchy waves of interference.