The Man Behind The Lies - Loki x Reader

Chapter 6: You Again

You paused in front of the door that led to Loki's glass prison. Although your orders were very clear, you had doubts about your abilities to watch over the mischievous god. 

Taking a deep breath, you pushed open the door and walked into the room, taking your place next to the control panel. 

"Loki," you greeted the man in the cell. He was facing away from you, most likely deliberately. He didn't seem like the type to acknowledge a "lowly human's" existence.

"You again," he said, turning his head slightly. "We've met a couple of times now, I believe. Although I still don't know your full name, agent L/N."

"I suppose it's only fair that I tell you," you replied. "It's Y/N."

"Y/N," he hummed. "I've heard worse."

You shook your head slightly, a faint smile on your face. That was probably the nicest thing you'd get out of him.

"Well, I suppose I'm no 'Loki Odinson'," you retorted. "But it's good enough. I think it has a nice ring to it."

Loki turned to face you, scowling.

"Don't call me that," he spat. "I am not his son."

"Yikes, sorry," you said. "I hadn't realised that was such a weak spot for you."

"You don't know what you're talking about, mortal," he replied, raising his voice slightly. 

You approached his cell cautiously, an apologetic look on your face.

"Loki," you whispered, trying to sound as comforting as possible. "I didn't mean to upset you, nor was I trying to aggravate you. This arrangement will be a lot less painful for both of us if we at least try to get along, don't you think?"

An uncomfortable silence lingered between you. You watched the man carefully, waiting for any form of response. Finally, Loki released a deep breath that you hadn't realised he'd been holding.

"Very well," he answered. "If I am really to be kept here under your supervision, I need not attract any more scrutiny."

You smiled softly, satisfied with his answer.

"However," he continued, a small smirk on his face. "I would like to... make some inquiries."

You quirked your eyebrows, amused. He wasn't in a position to be making requests, let alone for information. Though if you did answer, he might be more likely to yield some information in return.

"I suppose it depends on the questions," you stated cautiously.

"I'll begin with something easy, then," said Loki. "When my oaf of a brother was sent here and separated from that hammer of his, I came to retrieve it."

"I know," you interrupted. "I saw you. We spoke."

"I know we did," he sighed. "That wasn't my question. In fact, it was merely a statement leading up to the following. How did you see me?"

You remembered your first conversation with the god. He'd asked you something similar back then, although he was a lot more hostile at the time.

"I'm still not a witch if that's what you're asking," you chuckled, but quickly stopped when you saw how serious Loki looked. "I honestly don't know, so I'll tell you the same thing I did then: I must not be as weak as you thought."

He seemed to ponder your answer for a moment, pacing around in his cell. After a while, he turned back to face you.

"Are you really just a mere mortal?" he asked. "Or is that just a façade?"

"Well," you said. "Again, not a witch, although I am what we "Midgardians" call a mutant."

He eyed you suspiciously, almost sceptically. Of course, mutants wouldn't necessarily be considered impossible by Asgardians, but they were a rare occurrence on Earth and almost non-existent in Asgard. Loki then raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for clarification.

"Okay, so," you continued, rolling your eyes. "Mutants are a very, very small percentage of the global population that have certain... abilities. In other words, they have a mutation that differentiates them from the general public."

"Intriguing indeed," he said. "And what would your mutation be?"

"I'm fast," you replied. "Unnaturally fast. What takes you minutes to run at a sprint would take me seconds with little effort. That, and I have... heightened senses? I'm not entirely sure how to describe it, but I have incredible hearing and an even better sense of smell."

"I see," he answered. The man paused for a second as if deciding on his final question. "Why did you tell me all of this? Surely it would've been in your best interests to keep me in the dark with no knowledge of your skills."

"I can whoop your ass anyway," you countered. "Although if you must know, it was purely in the interest of us getting along."

The two of you continued to talk, although the matters discussed were much more trivial. You told him about some of your previous missions while he told you about some of his. Throughout the conversation, you got closer to Loki and, by the end of it, you were sitting right in front of him, the glass wall between you. 

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A few days had passed and you had gotten (somewhat) closer to Loki. To any random observer, the two of you didn't seem like anything more than acquaintances. You both knew, however, that there was something more than that.

You had a bond, forged through (minimal) trust and a common background of not fitting in. People didn't always understand you, as you were a sole mutant amongst a sea of ordinary humans. Loki knew this feeling all too well, as the adopted prince from another realm.

Loki himself had never had a friend. Of course, he spent time with Thor and his friends, but they never liked him. Not really. Having someone to confide in and share experiences with was new to him. 

The two of you were barely friends, but that was enough. You couldn't be much more than that, especially since Loki was still trying to take over the Earth and you were simply his babysitter.

Occasionally, you'd see a look on his face or in his eyes like he wanted something more, to reach out to you, but he'd always cover it up and hide it behind a snarky remark or an insulting comment. It was difficult for you, but you understood. This, in turn, made things harder for him.

On this particular day, Loki had done it again.

"Ouch, tell me how you really feel," you retorted, sarcasm evident in your voice. He smiled.

"I would," he replied. "But then I wouldn't be a very good god of lies, would I?"

You laughed lightly at this, expecting such an answer.

"Agent L/N, do you copy?"

You frowned, disappointed at the interruption. You could see Loki hold back a chuckle at the look on your face, so you glared at him, hoping to shut him up. This had the opposite effect.

"Agent L/N?"

"Yes sir, I copy."

"Good," director Fury's voice rang through your comm, as imposing as always. "We need you on the bridge, ASAP."

"I'll be right there," you replied.

You told Loki you'd be back and then headed off to the bridge, hoping that you wouldn't be asked about your new friend.