The Soldier's Daughter

Little Patriot

I toss a cup into the air and catch it, lying on my back on a cot. The cot of my father's realm. The cot in the prison of my homeland. Yes here I lye in a box. The view is good. White walls and black dungeon and then you have the side view- white walls. And last but not least... Ah... MORE white walls. Really, my family dotes upon me. I toss the cup again. What diversity of entertainment! Ah well I suppose I ought to be glad to be bereft of their sickening companionship. My own is so much more inthralling. After all it might be entertaining for my brother to strut about the palace halls with all those suck-up civilians all those enamored girls he loves- I should be pleased to be separated from such foolery. There's no one I love- a face flashes in my mind and the cup clatters to the floor. What the- I half sit up, and take a look around the cell. There's no one here. Of course she's not here stupid Loki, I lay back down with my hands behind my head. I hope no one saw that... Her face flashes again in mind- so young- so full of innocent happiness and girlish laughter. I look at her, she sees me and her smile is gone and fire lights her eyes. Her inner strength sparks and I know she wants to kill me. Something catches in my throat and I nearly choke. My face is hot- that's-that's not right. You don't love anyone Loki- because no one loves you- no one does love me- my heart pricks at the memory of the girl- what rot! I can feel her fist smashing against my face and I roll on my side. What a woman with strength zapping through every vein yet her face so soft and fresh... and trapped in ice cold innocence. I choose to let my mind reach out to her. She cannot know how I feel. I told her... I slip onto the floor of my cell. But she cannot know... I could make her love me. I could make her understand. That would be new, trying to make someone understand... Her small body, alive with a pure lovely cord of honesty just waiting to be snapped. Her pure tears, I want to know what she knows- I want her to tell me those lovely lies she believes that love is real... Maybe, perchance she could make me believe them... if just for a while...

I hear the clanking of the key in the door, and grin. "What are you doing here brother? Come to gloat? Because frankly, I'm not in the mood," as I say this I turn and see director Fury standing beside him trying to look important. I laugh.

"Stooping to crawling to the humans for aid are we brother? REALY wasn't it you who said?..."

"There isn't much time brother."

"There never IS with you." I put my arms behind my back preparing to listen.

The black human speaks. "You were on earth a few months ago."

"Oh you noticed?" I pace the stretch if floor before them.

"I'd like to know what you did with a certain- medieval charm."

I smile and nod. "Oh the medallion. Well I passed that off I'm afraid sorry I couldn't be of more..."

"To a man," Fury interrupts. "Who plans to use its power to its fullest extent."

It's fullest extent? Does it reach here? "I don't understand."

"That's right-" he pulls a tattered weapon out of his coat and I approach the force field and peer at it as he talks on. "This is the first of many weapons he's constructing to desolate the earth." Fury raises his eyebrows at me. "And once that's done who KNOWS where he'll stop. He's proven himself to be nothing but a ruthless monster-" he leaves a pause. "You know the type."

I ignore his insult and try to figure out what move to make. "And you want me to do what?"

"Come back with us."

To this I grin. The irony! "Are you joking?"

"No, brother," Thor buts in. "You worked with Mydok surly you know his codes, his methods, his secret locations!"

I nod, leaning back and pondering this. "What's in it for me."

Thor gets red in the face. "Do you jest? Our universe could be destroyed if this man controlling a deadly a weapon because of YOUR folly carries through with his plans!"

I smile at him.

"Have you no heart?" he chokes. Oh how stupid IS he?

"It is fair that he ask for compensation," the director reasons. I gesture at him, smiling at Thor who rolls his eyes. "We shall grant you pardon from your previous crimes. Should you ever be released from this prison, though I understand the lord has no such plan, and you make it to earth and commit no further offense we shall not kill you though we make no promises not to detain or restrict as needed."

I smile placidly. "How generous."

"Honestly brother!" Thor fumes. "You gain nothing by refusal!"

"I gain nothing by accepting," I shrug.

"Your life!"

"Who says I want it?" I scoff. They remain silent for a moment and then I gesture to my scenic view. "Not that I don't find my daily routine stimulating."

"That's our offer," the director insists. "Take it and you'll be working along side our Jr members of Avengers to retrieve the medallion as the more mature heroes deal with Mydok himself. Either that or stay here and watch the universe be distroyed."

I grin.

He sighs, tucking the gun under his arm. "I might have known you'd pick that." Then he turns to leave.

Thor grunts. "I'm sorry you had to make the journey for nothing. I told you he would never except. However I'll be pleased to aid you in whatever ways i can."

The director puts his hand on my brother's shoulder. "In that case I would get down there as soon as you can. And bring a suit of armor. Earth is in an uproar."

I lean towards them. "Make that two suits..."

They turn slowly to face me and I shrug unable to stop my smile from concurring my expression. "Well I couldn't let you except all the glory now could I? Brother?"

Thor narrows his eyes at me and Fury nods. "Very well. I'll see the two of you very soon."

My brother nods. "You can count on it."

He glares at me and I smile innocently leaving him to ponder what I'm up to. No doubt my dicision seems unrooted to him. But he couldn't have known what kind of impact the words - Jr members of the Avengers would have on me. Emily's supple form dances in my mind and I shut it out. Then I ask myself why? Didn't I decide to let this love envelope me like my greatest lie yet? Yes but- dare I mention it? it does- frighten me. The thought that what if... perchance I'm such a good liar that I succeed and fall into love. That horrible hideous gap for fools and greedy devils... yet to taste it for one second... I give in and lean against my cell wall, closing my eyes... might just be... sublime.