Loki, Unraveled|| NovaVerse 2

8|| Fractured Bonds

Word count: 4,240

Loki paced back and forth in the dark room, his mind racing, and heart racing: Nova had not given a single useful piece of information to him, and time was running short. And soon, he would have to explain it to him, or lie about it. 

He chose the second option.

A buzzing sound followed by a voice so deep it felt like it could shake the whole room sounded behind Loki, as he turned around.

Loki kneeled to the holographic figure in front of him: the figure was almost twice as tall as him, and three times as wide. It was plated in armor which hid large parts of its violet skin, holding a double-edged sword in one hand, the other hand curled in a fist.

"Loki," Its voice boomed, startling Loki only the slightest bit, "I have trusted you with a simple task, a weapon to control minds, and an entire army- ready to do whatever you wish at any given moment-"

"Master, I-"

"-and yet you cannot get this young woman to utter a single word of information?"

Loki did not look up, instead staring at the floor where he kneeled.

"I assure you," he said in a quiet, yet confidant voice," that your generosity will not be taken for granted. This girl will talk, it is just a matter of time."

The holographic figure kneeled down low enough to take a good look at Loki's face- which is very low, considering what a large creature this figure was- and said, "You do realize what is at stake if you do not follow through on our agreement?"

Loki recalled the day he had made it. The promise that he would find out everything there was to know about any potential threats that could ruin the plan in exchange for a throne. And Nova seemed like the easiest target- the one to fight the weakest and break fastest. Loki expected she would break her first week or two there, and then they would both be on their separate ways- her, living back in her lonely little cabin in the woods, and him, eradicating her team before taking his place as the rightful ruler of Midgard.

"Yes," Loki said, mouth dry.

"Recite the consequences to me."

"I lose the throne, the chance to rule Asgard, and the lives of my brother, mother, and father." Loki only made bets he knew he would beat, but every passing day put his odds lower and lower.

The figure smiled wickedly, and got up, stepping back onto the very spot he appeared on, and motioned for Loki to stand as well. "Torture this Earthling if you must, because if you do not have an update for me by the end of the week, then perhaps your family's punishment will also extend to you." 

A jolt of fear stabbed at Loki's heart as the hologram disappeared.

Loki walked to the bed, conjured a dagger, and threw it with deadly precision at the dartboard hanging above his it with a yell, before flopping down on the bed and staring at the ceiling in the cold, dark room, alone.

"Hei," Nova said to the librarian, in her best Asgardian accent (which was still difficult for her, considering it was based off of the very few times she heard Loki speak it). 

"Hei, kan jeg hjelpe deg med noe?" The librarian responded, placing a stack of books onto the floor before returning to Nova, who understood very few words in that sentence.

They stood in an awkward silence, starting with Nova trying to figure out a way to string the sentence "Do you have anything to break these cuffs that block my powers" together in the least suspicious way possible, and ending with her trying to figure out how to leave in the least awkward way as possible, feeling embarrassed enough as it was.