46 hours and 12 minutes remaining

Something was wrong.

Loki had been pacing his cell for the last hour. She was due back from her mission two days ago and nobody had told him anything. Was she delayed, injured, captured?

Did she just not want to see him anymore? Which, he thought with a flash of bitterness, was quite possible. She could have the soldier or the billionaire if she pleased. Why would she want a villain when she could have the heroes?

  Loki glanced up with a start as the door opened. For a moment his heart dared to hope, and then was crushed as Stark and Rogers walked in.

  "Mortals. How good of you visit."

  "We need your help."

  "And why would I help you?"

  "Livvy's being held hostage and SHIELD wants to let her die."

  Loki's hand instinctively rose to brush against the glass. For a moment, a real Loki visible - a Loki with his guard down. Painful even for an enemy to see. "What? Don't be absurd."

Tony stepped up to the glass. Brown eyes serious, voice lowered. "If we get you out of here, swear you'll help us free her."

Loki didn't look away. His mind was still reeling with shock, but for once in his life he spoke the absolute truth. "There's nothing I wouldn't do to get her safe."

"Good." Tony took a step back.

"So how exactly are you planning your grand escape, mortal?"

"Ah... Well, we haven't exactly got that far."

Loki slammed his fist against the glass, making the control panel flash warningly, shock turned to anger at their incompetence. "Then hurry up, Stark." If any harm comes to her, nothing will be able to hold me captive. They shall all burn, Hydra, SHIELD or Avenger.

*

The chemicals coursed through her blood and she screamed. It was as if every inch of her body was on fire. It had barely been two hours, if she was judging time right, though it felt like eons.

So much for interrogation resilience training.

Then unconsciousness washed over her and Livvy welcomed it eagerly. She would have done so even if it were death.