Mischief on Midgard

A place called eartn

It probably shouldn't be too big of a surprise that Loki had been placed in the back of Nebula's small spacecraft with an electronic collar locked around his neck. The damned thing would shock him if he moved around too much. Luckily enough, Loki was now an expert in the art of sitting absolutely still with his legs crossed. He had a devilish grin on his face, his bright green eyes almost glinting in the dim light like a wolf's.

While Loki had become skilled in patience, Nebula was still a specialist when it came to torture. Even now, she did not make things easy for him. He was not allowed to be comfortable. He was not allowed to lay down or stretch out so he could rest. He was not offered food or water unless it was absolutely necessary. She took great pleasure in the defiant yet longing look in his eyes whenever she held water out in front of him. The precious fluid was always held just outside his reach, and he knew it. If he had lunged for the water, his fingertip would just barely touch the container. Precious, life-giving fluid. So close, and yet so far.

Even had he tried for the container, he knew that he would be shocked. So, he didn't even bother trying.

"Come now," Loki said eventually, pointing at the collar carefully, "Surely you don't need this thing to satisfy your sadistic needs?"

"This attempt at winning your freedom is a rather pathetic one," she said, eyes cold as she tilted her head at him.

"Meh," Loki said with a very slight shrug. "It was worth a try. You might get lucky, though. I might not actually try to run away if you free me. Think of that?"

"No," Nebula said with a soft snort. "You are looking for your opportunity to betray me. I may be a sadist, but I am not a fool."

"What?! How insulting!" Loki said with a mocking gasp of ire. "Why would I ever do that? It's not like you're the person who loved torturing me the most in the past. It's not like you've stated repeatedly that you want to keep doing so until I break, before tossing me aside like refuse because your 'toy' broke. No, why would I ever want to leave behind such a delightful and august company like yourself?"

"You know," Nebula said with another, more amused snort, "You're not making your case any better by saying such things."

"Oddly enough, our relationship is one of honesty," Loki said with a small sigh. "I suppose that is the one healthy thing about it, wouldn't you say? You like seeing me in pain. It's your kink. And I? I am using you so that I may be kept alive and, hopefully, be free one day. So far, we have both benefitted from our relationship quite nicely, yes? However, I wonder if we could also share a common goal..."

"Oh?" Nebula tilted her head. "And what goal might that be?"

"I wonder," Loki leaned forward an inch. "How deep is that desire to defy Thanos? You've taken the first step. The hatred you feel is very real. Currently, it's aimed at your sister, but is it really her that you should feel such hatred for? Does not Thanos deserve to feel your rage as well?"

Nebula's head tilted the other way, her jaw clenched tight. Still, she said nothing and continued to look at him. He took it as a license to continue.

"I swore revenge, but you know that already," Loki said, meeting her eyes with his own cold-green, serious gaze. "I will stop Thanos' plans in their tracks. I know what he desires to do. I know he intends to collect all of the Infinity Stones and then... snap. Half of all life in the Universe will be gone. Not just all sapient life. But half of all living things. You realize that I could be one of the ones to disappear? You. Anyone. He intends to do it at random. A lottery if you will. Now, if there was a guarantee that I would make it, I wouldn't care all that much. And yet, to ensure that he looses, that he looses to me? Ah, but that is the sweetest revenge that I can think of. I will defy him to my last breath. What I am trying to figure out now, is this... would you be willing to do the same? Would you reclaim yourself, Nebula? Reclaim your life? Will you defy Thanos?"