Melioration ~ James Buchanan Barnes

O16 ~ Loki

In the middle of the night, you and Bucky get through the big doors that lead towards Asgard's vault. You have to be careful not to get caught by guards. 

You both tip-toe off the huge stairs and look around in awe at all the treasures that are in here. You get drawn to a golden like fire pit that has fire burning in it without anything else in it. No wood, paper or other material to keep it burning. 

'I've read about it.. The eternal flame.' You say to Bucky as you stand before it, the fire dancing reflecting in your eyes. 'It can't be extinguished. Ever.' You keep talking, with a soft voice of course because the last thing you want is getting caught.  

'But that's not why we're here although it's very, very tempting.' You turn away from the dancing flames and seek for the golden weapon that you desire so much. It doesn't take long before Bucky finds it and takes it out of the golden stand it's in. 

'Here you go.' He hands you the Scepter and with content you let your fingers stroke the shaft. 'How magnificent.' You whisper but then focus on Bucky's mind. You need to fix it. If you don't, you can't ever use him again. 

Unfortunately for him, fixing his brain is also incredibly painful but it's a sign that it's working. He screams out while falling to his knees what draws the attention of several guards that all come barging in while you're busy using the Scepter on Bucky. The only logical thing comes to mind and that is that you are trying to murder the poor man so they try to get you to stop. How? Well, they try several things. Prying the things out of your hands, to get you to drop it by trying to trip you, etc. None are effective. 

Instead, you send blasts their way once you're done with Bucky, what send them flying through the beautiful Asgardian walls. 'My apologies.' You hum and take Bucky by his hand before getting the fuck out of the vault with the Scepter tightly clutched in your other hand.

'What do you think you're doing?!' A loud voice echoes through the hallway and it makes you freeze in your tracks, Bucky almost crashing into you. Odin comes over at you as fast as he can. 

'Caught in the act. Stealing from the palace. The punishment for that is a life sentence here on Asgard.' You're slightly nervous, causing you to bite the inside of your cheek softly. 'After all I've done for you? My hospitality, inviting you for dinner? You took advantage of it.. I'm going to give you one chance to hand the Scepter over. If not, I will let you and your accomplice rot in our prisons forever.' 

'Like Loki?' You immediately say, your eyes flying wide open. Every chance to make him feel guilty is a succesful one. 'Careful, Ms {y/l/n}. I might change my mind.' You smirk and take a few steps backwards. 

'I might, too.' You say and start running only to be stopped by guards that come running towards you. You send blasts their way but they have their shields that protect them. You mentally curse at yourself and drop to your knees, dropping the Scepter beside you. The guards immediately jump on top of you to chain your arms behind your back. 

Bucky watches it all happening, having ran after you and fought beside you but now he is also being chained. A loud sigh is leaving his lips as he is once again, imprisoned. 

~

You get a cell for your own while Bucky is tossed in the cell next to you that he has to share with two other guys. With a sigh you drop yourself to the floor, resting your back against the white wall. 

'Are you ok?' You ask, knowing full well that he can hear you through the wall. No answer. You get it it that he's ignoring you. Ever since you woke him up, his life has been full with trouble. When he was under your control but now also when he isn't. 

'I'm rather ok, thank you for asking.' A smooth and malicious voice says and when you look over to the cell across from you, you see Loki standing there. His hair perfectly combed backwards, a smug grin on his lips and with a confident posture, his arms behind his back. 

You smirk when your eyes meet his and you carefully stand up to then turn to him entirely. 'Well, well, well. If it isn't the lost son of Odin. How does it feel knowing you have failed?' He rolls his eyes but turns the question. 'You tell me. How does it feel?' A sigh leaves your lips.

'It stings if I have to be honest. I had it back on Earth! I held it in my hands and I was ready to make Shield and Hydra kneel to me. Eventually the entire country too like you wanted but I got interrupted by your disfunctional family.' He tilts his head and paces around his cell, which is fully furnished unlike yours. 

'You and I are a lot similar to each other, love. It only occurs to me now. I wonder why I didn't see it back on Midgard.' You snort a laughter and shake your head. 'You were too busy getting in my pants.' He glares at you with that signature mischievous smile. 'Oh yes. That's right. But in my opinion, you were trying to get in mine.' How incredibly right he is. You lick your lips seductively before shrugging innocently. 'I had to get what I wanted from you and I still can't believe I was able to trick you, the god of tricks.' 

'Who said you tricked me, darling? Maybe I was just letting you have your way with me to get what I wanted from you.' You push yourself back and grin at him. 'What could you have possibly wanted from me? You didn't even know me!' 

'True. While you wanted information and perhaps even the Scepter while you were at it, I had you at my mercy, ruling over you without you realizing it.' You raise your eyebrow and cross your arms in front of your chest. 'Enlighten me, Loki. No, amuse me. I was in control the whole time.'  

'I love how this is eating you up from the inside. But no, you weren't.' You follow his every step while he moves around his large cell. He still has luxury, even when incarcerated. It is eating you up from the inside, he's right about that but your certain about the whole control thing. How could he have tricked you? 

'Let it rest, {y/n}. You have more important problems now. Like, how are you getting out of here and back to your own planet?' He's right but you need to know. 'Oh, and don't forget your lap dog.' A loud bang is being heard when he says that and you know for a full hundred percent that it was Bucky ramming his metal fist against the barrier. 

'Don't speak about him like that, Loki. He could harm you.' You hum while looking at your nails, carefully cleaning some dirt from under it. 'I'm not afraid of such a pathetic being.' Another bang echoes through the royal prisons and it gives you an idea. 

'Bucky? Listen to me.' You cross your fingers in the hope you don't have to activate him in order for him to do this. You'll be back at zero when that happens. Loki looks at you with a raised eyebrow, curious of what you want to do. 

'This is going to take a lot of energy but it is going to set us free.'