Carol woke up with a yawn, wrapped up in Loki's warm embrace, the smell of sex still lingering in the air. She rubbed her face, still half asleep as memories of what they did the previous night came rushing back to her, remembering how Loki had quite literally fucked her into unconsciousness.
"Finally awake, I see," Loki teased, leaning in close as he wiggled the finger he still had buried in her ass.
Looking at his slave as she woke up, her hair tousled, a hint of lust in her eyes, her unguarded sensuality on full display, it was enough to make him hard in an instant.
Without thinking, Carol clamped down on Loki's finger, keeping it trapped inside her ass as she looked up at him, not sure what to say to him. He was right. Last night had been incredible, just as Loki said it would be.
She had let go, truly let go, for the first time in her life, following every one of Loki's commands without question, even calling him master unprompted.
She had felt cherished, protected, and cared for all at once, but the question still lingered in the back her mind. How much of it was because of her so-called need to be dominated, and how much of it was Loki's manipulations?
Her dreams were proof enough that. She knew Loki was behind them, but she still couldn't bring herself to confront him about it. She had told herself then it was to gain the upper hand, but now she even doubted that.
Regardless of what happened in the dream, it wouldn't change her situation in the real world. She was still be Loki's prisoner.
A part of her wondered if the reason she didn't confront him was that she didn't want to risk the dreams coming to an end.
She couldn't deny that a part of her reveled in those dreams, seeing different versions of herself getting captured and dominated by Loki, how it allowed her to explore the more submissive side of her personality, a side she only recently learned existed without fully committing to it.
Then she thought about when Loki kissed her. It felt so raw, so passionate. A blush coloring her cheeks as she remembered it vividly, feeling Loki's strong arms wrapped around her, the feel of his tongue inside her mouth, his hardened muscles pressed against her hot flesh.
She shook herself mentally, reminding herself that she had been playing a part the previous night. She did it to prove submitting to Loki would not lead to some sort of life-changing revelation about herself. She was still her own person, and didn't belong to anyone, least of all him.
Carol grunted, sitting up in the bed, not trusting herself to speak as she looked away.
Loki looked up at his slave, watching as the silk sheet fell away from her sultry form, his eyes darkening with lust.
She had been so prudish in the beginning, trying to hide her nakedness from him, but a beauty like hers was meant to be seen, not covered up under an ill fitting uniform.
He looked at her appreciatively, glad that she no longer held such silly notions of propriety, although, he thought with a wry smile; he hadn't given her much choice in the matter.
He glanced out the window, seeing it was whatever passed for morning on Nidavellir, and wondered if there was enough time to partake of his slave once more before meeting with Eitri.
'Decisions, decisions,' Loki thought idly, taking in the sight of his slave, her hair still tousled from their vigorous coupling the previous night. He was already hard, and eager to feel his slave's lips and tongue on his cock, but there were also other considerations.
Thor had destroyed the rainbow bridge, but it had also been some time since he left Asgard as well. The possibility existed that between Odin and Heimdall, they could have either repaired or rebuilt the bridge, meaning they could show up at any point after he and Eitri concluded their deal.
There was also Thanos to consider. This was the one place he knew he would have to visit eventually, and while he and Carol could easily escape with the space stone, it would mean leaving his ship behind, and he had grown attached to it over their travels.
It also held the computer core that housed Mimir, and leaving it behind for Thanos to find and interrogate would not be a wise decision. It would be almost as big a disaster as if Thanos found out about Carol.
There were also the Dwarves themselves to consider. When he got around to building his kingdom, he would need their expert craftsman to handle the construction, and with Thanos's penchant for death and destruction, they would be all but extinct if he didn't see to their evacuation.
With a disappointed sigh, he sat up as well, his decision made. He would pick up where he left off with his slave once they were safely away, but first things first, he needed to conclude his deal with Eitri.
"Carol," Loki said, patting his lap. "It's time to get ready."
Carol looked at Loki's lap, sighing. She knew this was coming. He was going to put her plug back inside her again, and there was nothing she could do to stop him.
Rather than draw it out, or worse, give Loki an opportunity to give her another mental suggestion, she lay across his lap, reluctantly accepting her fate.
Loki took Carol's plug and pressed the tip against her rosebud, remembering the fight she put up when he put it inside her the first time with a smile, and how each subsequent time she had put up less of a fight when he placed it back inside her again.
Just as he had told her, she was getting used to having her little friend inside her.
He had watched as she tossed and turned as she slept during the night, only settling down when he eased a finger into her back passage, and how she had curled into his arms, resting her head on his chest as she finally fell into a fitful sleep.
Carol grunted as Loki eased the plug back inside her, stretching her back passage open again. It felt tight again, after having spent the night without it, and she knew it would be at least a few hours before she got used to its presence again.
She clutched the bedsheets, forcing herself to stay relaxed as she felt the plug reach the midway point, stretching her wide before tapering inward again, letting out a relieved sigh as her asshole finally closed around it, wiggling her hips as she got used to its presence inside her again.
Loki got out of the bed reluctantly, looking down at his slave on her hands and knees as she wiggled her hips. The urge to take her again reared its head, but this time he gave into his desires, smirking as he moved behind her, gripping her hips firmly in his hands.
Carol looked over her shoulder just as Loki leaned forward, burying his cock inside her pussy in a single stroke. She let out a startled yelp as Loki set a brisk pace, her pussy quickly moistening as he slammed his hips forward.
She groaned, dropping to her elbows as Loki took her, pushing her hair out of her face as she arched her back, feeling his thick cock slam inside her again and again as his thighs slapped into her ass with loud claps.
It felt incredible, just like it always did with Loki, but what surprised her the most was how quickly she had grown to crave his touch, how easily her body molded to his, and the deep arousal she felt when he took her without warning.
"UGH! UGH! UGH! UGH!" she grunted, not even attempting to curb her urges as she pushed her hips back, meeting Loki's thrusts, easily falling into rhythm with him.
Loki let out a groan, loving the feel of his slave's tight pussy wrapped around his stiff cock.
He knew he should conclude his business with Eitri, and stopping now to indulge himself was not the wisest tactical decision, but feeling her tight pussy wrapped around his throbbing cock, he couldn't bring himself to regret his choice.
He reached down, grabbing Carol's hair in his fist, pulling her up off her elbows, and onto her knees, the change in positions allowing him to last that much longer as he slammed his cock into her quivering pussy.
Carol let out a long, keening moan as Loki lifted her into his lap, the feel of him tugging on her hair as he pumped his cock inside her at the same time turning her on even more.
She could feel his hand on her hip, guiding her up and down on his cock, lifting her up into the air until just the tip of his cock was inside her before bringing her back down again, loving the feel of his full length inside her as he took her with long hard strokes.
Her breath came out in short gasps as she leaned back against him, letting him have his way with her.
She could feel her orgasm coming fast as Loki seemed to read her mind, adjusting the angle of his thrusts to hit just the right spot, pushing her pleasure even higher. "UGH! UGH! UGH! UGH! UGH!"
She didn't know if this new submissive side of her had always been there just beneath the surface, as Loki kept telling her, or if it was another one of his manipulations, but at the moment it hardly mattered.
It was so intense, so raw, and yet so sensual at the same time, driving her to the absolute heights of pleasure.
She let out a whimper as she felt Loki's hand on her breast, her nipples already rock hard as he kneaded one, then the other. Without thinking, she arched her back, leaning into his touch, letting out a soft groan as he fondled her breasts.
In moments like this, with so much pleasure coursing through her body, it was so easy to forget she was his prisoner, that he had taken everything from her. It was enough to make her head spin. "UGH! UGH! UGH! UGH! UGH!"
Loki could tell his slave was close. In moments like this, it was as easy as reading a book to know what she was thinking. Her skin flushed, the moan and grunts escaping her lips as he took her. It never failed to arouse him.
He eased his pace, slowing down just enough to stave off her orgasm, but still keep her on the edge of release. Carol's reaction was immediate, letting out a disappointed moan as she ground her slick pussy against his cock, trying to eek out as much pleasure as she could.
He tightened his grip on her hips as he leaned in close, giving a slow lick to her ear as he slowed his pace a little more, feeling his slave shiver with desire as he denied her release again. "Tell me.." He whispered. "What is it you want, my slave?"
Carol groaned, screwing her eyes shut as she came down from her peak. She had been so close, something Loki was keenly aware of, and took full advantage of. She knew what he expected, what he wanted her to say. She was loathed to do it, but in this moment, she needed to cum even more.
"P-please l-let me cum," she groaned out in between gasps as Loki slowly fucked her, sawing his dick in and out of her eager pussy.
Loki felt his cock swell, hearing the need in his slave's voice. If only she knew the effect she had on him when she was like this, her voice soft and breathless, pleading with him for what she knew he could only give her.
He pushed down the urge to pick up the pace, his own need growing as well, needing her to say the words even more.
Carol let out another groan as Loki slowed his pace even more, her need increasing with each passing second. She strained against him, but his grip on her hips was as strong as iron, unyielding, and impossible for her to escape from.
The only way to quench her lust was to give in, and they both knew it.
"Ugh!" she groaned as Loki worked her nipples, pinching and squeezing them as his pace slowed to a crawl. It amazed her sometimes just how good he was at this, how he could so seamlessly switch between teasing her and taking her with raw, hard passion.
He had thousands of years of experience, and she, in this moment, was the benefactor of all of it. "Please… Ugh!" she moaned, "ugh! I need it.. Can't take m-much more, UGH!" but her pleas fell on deaf ears as Loki kept up his slow, sensual pace.
Letting out a shuddering breath, she pushed down what remained of her pride. "Please Master," she whimpered. "Pl-please, let me c-um."
It was like a switch went off in that moment as Carol quickly found herself back on her hands and knees with Loki slamming his cock into her slick cunt. "UGH! UGH! UGH!" she grunted, gripping the bedsheets tightly in her fists as Loki took her.
She was so close now, she could practically taste it, moving in rhythm with Loki, pushing her hips back to meet his thrusts. She felt his hand on the back of her head, pushing down. She didn't fight him, soon finding her chin pressed firmly into the mattress with her ass in the air.
The change in position was enough for Loki to penetrate even deeper inside her as he took her with long, hard strokes. Her body felt alive with pleasure, with desire, an all-encompassing need that only Loki could fulfill.
She felt his hands on her back and ass, squeezing and fondling her as she rode the edge of release, but Loki had one more surprise left for her.
Her eyes went wide as she felt her plug rotating inside her, realizing a moment later that it was Loki's magic. She let out a loud, keening moan, feeling the raised edges on the shaft of her plug stimulating her nerve endings, and adding another dimension to her pleasure.
She let out a loud groan, one she was sure the Dwarves working down below clearly heard as she felt her orgasm crash over her. "MASTER!" She screamed out without thinking, too lost in the moment to even realize what she'd said.
Loki grunted, unable to hold back any longer as he finally erupted inside his eager slave's slick pussy, hearing her call him master as she came turning him on like nothing else.
Carol, still recovering from her orgasm let out another passion filled scream as she felt Loki's hot cum flood her pussy, a second orgasm washing over her just a moment later.
"GAWD!" she groaned, slumping forward as Loki finally released her hips, taking in deep breaths as she slowly came down from her multiple orgasms.
Loki looked down at his slave as he slowly rose from the bed, giving her some time to recover as he retrieved his armor.
Carol rolled onto her back, breathing heavily as she stared up at Loki getting dressed, envious of his stamina while she lay on the bed like a limp noodle.
His physique was incredible, hardly an ounce of fat on his body, and rippling with muscles, but not overly bulky.
His form built for speed and dexterity over sheer power. To her it was the perfect balance between the two, and seeing the way he fought, Loki clearly knew it as well, leaning into his strengths as he played his opponents for fools.
"Get dressed," Loki said, interrupting her lust filled thoughts as he tossed her dress on the bed before strapping on his armor. "I don't want to keep Eitri waiting any longer than we already have."
Carol blinked, knowing that Loki had caught her staring, a blush tinging her cheeks.
She slipped on her dress, curious why Loki was in such a rush. He had seemed far more relaxed when they arrived here than in any of the other places they'd visited.
She pulled on her boots, deciding to ask him about it later. She had gotten better and reading his moods, and could tell he was getting anxious, making it unlikely that he would answer her, anyway.
They went to the door, Loki's fingers trailing down her back until he reached her plug, gripping the base firmly in his hand.
She knew from experience that she wouldn't be able to break his grip, no matter how hard she tried. His strength far surpassing her own, but instead of being angry about it, she felt strangely calm, a feeling of safety enveloping her as they walked out of the guest room.
They followed the same path back to Eitri's throne room, walking past Dwarves hard at work on whatever they were crafting.
None of them looked up from their work, too engrossed with what they were doing. Nothing like the denizens of Knowhere gawking at her, but she couldn't help but feel intimidated by their towering presence, and pressed herself closer to Loki as they passed them.
She couldn't help but wonder if her reaction would have been the same before Loki captured her. She had been so sure of herself back then, bordering on arrogant, believing that her abilities would see her through regardless of any situation she found herself in.
She looked up at Loki, still feeling deeply conflicted by the man, both her jailer and protector. His actions had forced her to consider an uncomfortable truth, that her abilities notwithstanding, there were beings far stronger than she had have ever imagined.
The universe was a dangerous place, full of such beings, and it had only been a matter of time before she drew the attention of one of them. The Kree had seen it right away, so had the Collector, and if she wasn't mistaken, Eitri saw it as well.
Before she knew it, she found herself inside Eitri's throne room again, looking up at the King of the Dwarves sitting atop his throne. Near his foot, she could see a pedestal with an ornate metal box sitting atop it.
"That is it, I assume?" Loki asked, staring at the box.
"It is," Eitri replied. "Before I give it to you, I'll ask again. Are you certain this is the path you wish to take? Everyone that has ever gone after the stones has died far before their time. There's still time for you to make a different choice."
"No, there is not," Loki disagreed, shaking his head resolutely. "My path is set. I will be the man to defeat Thanos, and for that, the stones are a requirement."
Eitri nodded, sighing. "I thought as much," he said, gesturing for Loki and Carol to step forward.
Loki took the box in his hands almost reverently as he opened the lid, staring down at the Uru collar resting inside. It was intricate and finely crafted, just as he'd expected from the Dwarves, a work of art, and an object of immense power all at the same time.
Carol leaned in for a closer look, peering into the box as well. As she lay eyes on the collar, she felt a flash of anger, realizing what Loki intended to do with it, what he had intended from the very beginning.
It all fell into place. Why he had been so interesting in Ronan's weapon, spending days examining it, and painstakingly taking it apart. It was to study it, figure out how it worked, so he could construct his own, and he had, but it wouldn't be him that wore it. Loki intended to use her as a conduit to channel the power of the infinity stones.
She wanted to scream at him, but knew it would do no good. Before she even got a word out, he would silence her.
Loki waved his hand, producing the ember and handing it to Eitri, seemingly oblivious to Carol's simmering anger.
"There is one more thing I haven't told you," he added, now that their deal had concluded. "Thanos will come. It's only a matter of time. You need to evacuate to Asgard."
"We already are. The ships are being prepared to leave as we speak. We will be gone within the month," Eitri replied.
Loki sighed. "That won't be fast enough."
He couldn't risk Thanos getting to the Dwarves, and forcing them to craft him a gauntlet, knowing how convincing the mad titan could be. After he got what he wanted, he would exterminate their entire race to ensure no one constructed another one.
"It will have to be," Eitri replied. "Perhaps if you'd called ahead, we would have been ready sooner," he grumbled.
Loki chuckled, "and the first thing you would have done is call the all-father, and leave me with a contingent of Einherjar to deal with, but fortunately for you, I have a solution to your problem."
He pulled out the space stone, seeing the look of surprise on Eitri's face as he activated it, creating a portal within the throne room.
"You have been busy, haven't you?" Eitri said with a raised eyebrow, impressed by the prince's abilities. "But a single portal won't be enough. I have three hundred subjects on Nidavellir, their tools, and the raw materials to transport."
Loki felt a bead of sweat drip down his temple as he strained to keep the portals open. "There's five of them," he said through gritted teeth. "And you won't be taking anything else with you. Tell your subjects to leave now. I can only keep the portal open for a few more minutes."
Eitri looked like he wanted to argue, giving Loki a hard look before he grunted, knowing that he couldn't pass up an opportunity like this for his people. He could only hope there would be something left of Nidavellir for his people to return to after Thanos discovered they were gone.
"Kamorr, give the order," Eitri said to his guard. "We leave for Asgard at once."
Carol watched as Dwarves lumbered into the throne room, one by one, stepping through the portal with presumably the same thing happening all over the planet, until she, Loki, and Eitri were the last ones left.
"I won't bother asking you not to tell the all-father about me," Loki said as Eitri stepped up to the portal. "But tell him not to come searching for me. I will be long gone by before he arrives."
Eitri nodded to Loki. "Good luck then," he said, stepping through the portal.
Carol watched as Loki's shoulders visibly slumped as he closed the portal, the exhaustion showing on his face.
He had hidden it well enough for Eitri not to notice, but not her. She could see the toll it took on him to wield even one stone for as long as he had.
She looked around the empty throne room, on the now vacant planet of Nidavellir, no longer hearing the distant sounds of Dwarves at work, banging their hammers, not even the sounds of the forges churning out molten iron.
The silence was eeiry, and coupled with the knowledge they were the only two living souls on the entire planet, unnerving.
"It's time to go Carol," Loki said, leading her back to the ship.
***
"All-father," Eitri said with a bow of his head as he appeared in the throne room of Asgard as the portal Loki created closing behind him.
"What is the meaning of this?" Odin demanded, standing up from his throne as he sensed the arrival of the entire population of Nidavellir.
"Father," Thor said, arriving in the throne room, Mjölnir in hand.
"I am aware, my son," Odin replied before nodding to the guards to lower their weapons. "Eitri… I was not aware you were in possession of the space stone," he said, immediately recognizing the distinct magic of the infinity stone.
"I'm not," Eitri revealed, "but your son is."
"Loki," Odin breathed. He had ordered Heimdall to search for his wayward son, but it was as if he fell out of the universe itself, hidden even from Heimdall's sight.
"Where is he?!" Thor demanded, still remembering the defeated look in Loki's eyes as he fell from the rainbow bridge, still feeling a surprising amount of guilt over what happened, and what his actions had pushed Loki to do. "Where is my brother?"
"Gone," Eitri replied, "And before you ask, I know not where."
"How did he look?" Frigga asked, also worried about her youngest son.
"Strong," Eitri replied frankly, surprising all three of them. "Far stronger than a warrior of his years has any right to be."
Odin sat down on his throne with a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples as he felt a headache coming on. It seemed Loki was up to his old tricks, albeit on a grander scale this time.
"Perhaps you should start from the beginning."
"His arrival was a surprise," Eitri explained. "None of our sensors could detect his ship, not until he landed on our doorstep."
"A ship?" Thor asked, surprised, wondering how Loki could have got his hands on one after falling from the rainbow bridge, let alone one advanced enough to evade dwarven sensors.
Eitri nodded. "It's not a design I'm familiar with, but advanced none the less."
"He asked you to forge him a gauntlet," Odin surmised.
"Not exactly," Eitri replied. "It was a collar, but one capable of wielding all six infinity stones. His own design."
Frigga and Odin shared a look. While their youngest son was capable of many things, designing tools to wield infinity stones was well out of his skill set, leaving them both wondering what he had been up to since he disappeared.
"A collar?" Odin asked, his brows furrowed in confusion, wondering what Loki was up to. A collar was an odd choice, to say the least, and with the backlash of using the stones, it would put the strain on his head and neck.
"It wasn't for him," Eitri clarified, seeing the look on Odin's face. "He's taken on a slave. The collar is meant for her."
"A slave?" Frigga asked, now with even more questions.
"There was something about her too," Eitri continued. "I can't explain it, but I felt she had a connection to the stones."
"What is the meaning of this, father?" Thor questions. "What reason would Loki have to go in search of the infinity stones?"
"Heimdall found him on Midgard," Odin said, thinking aloud. "But when you arrived, he was already gone," he said, facing his son.
"Yes father," Thor replied. "He disappeared the moment I arrived. I searched for him for weeks on Midgard, but could find no trace of him."
"And at the same time the treasure vault was raided. You have been busy, my son," Odin muttered, putting the pieces together.
"Loki's appearance on Midgard was a ploy. He meant to get you out of Asgard, and to force me into the Odin sleep so that he may raid the treasure vault unimpeded."
"There's more," Eitri continued. "He's drawn the attention of Thanos, warning me that he would soon come to Nidavellir."
Odin, Frigga, and Thor shared an uneasy look, all of them wondering what Loki had got himself into this time.
"He intends to fight the mad titan," Eitri continued. "And is of the mind that he can only accomplish his task with the rest of the stones."
"Order the recall of the Einherjar," Odin said to his son. "We prepare for war."
"War?" Thor asked, looking at his father in surprise.
Before everything happened with Loki, battle was all he could think about, and only recently did he realize the folly in seeking it out.
"War," Odin replied. "Loki is right. When Thanos discovers Nidavellir has been evacuated, he will come here."
***
Carol looked at Loki sitting down across the table from her as he set down the collar in front of her.
They had just left Nidavellir with a course laid in for another destination Loki refused to tell her anything about, but after everything she'd learned, there were only two possibilities.
They were either flying to the location of another stone, or to someone that could tell them where to find it.
Loki lifted the collar, examining to closely. The Dwarves had crafted it to his exact specifications, and with the knowledge he took from Odin and Malekith, along with his examination of Ronan's weapon, he was confident it would work.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out the three stones he had collected. The mind stone, the space stone, and the reality stone, placing them in front of the collar one by one.
Carol looked down at the infinity stones sitting innocently on the table in front of her. It was her first time seeing all of them together. It was incredible to think such innocuous baubles held so much power, but she had seen and experienced their effects first hand.
She watched with bated breath as Loki picked up the mind stone, pressing it to the center slot on the collar, gasping in surprise when the mind stone changed from a raw stone to a polished, and cut gem as it fused with the collar.
"How?" she asked, staring at it in confusion, remembering how Loki told her the stones were a fundamental aspect of reality. How could he just change them like that?
"With this," Loki said, picking up the reality stone next. "With it anything in the universe can be made, or unmade," he explained, setting the stone into the collar as well, it too, transforming into a cut gem, then finally the space stone.
"Now what?" Carol demanded, her eyes meeting Loki defiantly. "If you think I'm just going to let you lock that thing around my neck, you've got another thing coming."
Loki met her gaze, having already expected a response like that from his stubborn slave. He stared at her silently, contemplating the best way to handle her outburst.
He could easily force the issue, and they both knew there was nothing she could do to stop him. It had been an early version of his plan, but with his newfound knowledge also came wisdom.
He understood now that forcing this on Carol would be a mistake. It would foster a deep-seated resentment towards him that would eventually fester into outright hatred, and inevitably fear.
She would become little more than the tool he used to achieve his goals, a broken little thing, her inner fire quenched forever.
There was only one path forward. He would need to open her eyes to the truth of her existence, but to do that, he would have to do something he had very little experience with, telling the truth.
"And what would you have me do?" Loki asked, leaning back in his chair as he regarded his slave.
"Let me go!" Carol demanded instantly.
"And what then?" Loki pressed. "The Kree saw what you were. They may not have known how you gained your abilities, but they turned you into their soldier. The Collector knew what you were instantly. So did Eitri, and there are many, many more that will see that just as easily."
Carol glared silently at Loki. She had thought much the same thing on multiple occasions herself, but it was another thing to hear her thoughts spoken out loud, and unfortunately for her, she still didn't have an answer to his question.
"You'll run, and you'll hide, and it will work for a little while, but the universe isn't as big as you think it is," Loki explained. "Eitri may keep your secret, but the Collector certainly won't. I can promise you that. In exchange for an item that piques his interest, or simply to save his own skin, he will tell them about you, and then your secret will be out."
"Then I'll fight," Carol said, a determined look in her eyes.
"You will lose," Loki countered. "Or have you forgotten what happened when I found you?"
"No," Carol replied stubbornly, remembering how Loki defeated both her and her entire team before capturing her. "It was different then. The inhibitor stopped me from using my full powers. Now that it's gone, I'll be much stronger."
"Will you?" Loki challenged, both of them seeing she was clutching at straws. "You've met beings older than the universe itself, beings strong enough to turn neutron stars into forges, beings so powerful they are born of planets. Trust me when I tell you this. You are only scratching the surface of dangers that await you."
"They will take everything you have to throw at them, and more with a smile on their faces. They will grind you into dust, stripping away everything about you that makes you who you are until you are nothing more than their puppet, doing their bidding without a thought of your own in your head. Is that what you want for yourself, Carol?"
Carol felt a shiver go down her spine at Loki's words. He didn't shout or make threats, just calmly laid out exactly what would happen to her, making it all the more frightening.
She could see the truth in his eyes, hear it in every word he spoke, but she couldn't let this go. She couldn't just accept her place at his feet, living the rest of her life as his property.
"How is that any different from what you've done to me?" She demanded accusingly. "If it wasn't bad enough that you took me prisoner, you also messed with my head! I still don't even know half the things you've done to me!"
"Done for you," Loki corrected. "You're still too stubborn to see it, but you were on a path to ruin. One filled with nothing but pain, misery, and a profound loneliness that would have eventually consumed you."
"Oh, here we go again," Carol said, rolling her eyes. "You trying to convince me I'm confused, that I'd be happier living as your little pet than thinking for myself!" she yelled. "How do you know so much, huh? What makes you such an expert on it?"
"Because I was on a very similar path to ruin," Loki revealed. "The false second son of a kingdom that had no place for me. No matter what I did, no matter how clever I was, none of it mattered, because my destiny was set in stone, and it was only after I accepted that reality that I could become more than I was."
Carol looked at Loki incredulously. "And you think that if I become your slave, I'll somehow become more? Explain that to me," she demanded sarcastically.
"You're not becoming my slave. You are my slave," Loki explained. "That is the reality you need to accept. You will never have the freedom you seek. You will always belong to another. If not me, then Thanos, or the Collector, or any number of other beings that covet the stones."
Carol glared silently at Loki, acknowledging his point, but still not willing to give up.
"You're unique, Carol," Loki said softly. "You are the one being in the universe that resonates with the infinity stones, and I know why. I saw how you got your abilities. The explosion," he said, tapping the space stone. "The power generated by it changed you more than you realize. It turned you into a living conduit for the stones. They will always be a part of you, and you a part of them."
"Then give them to me," Carol said, latching on to the idea. "I can protect myself with them better than you can. No one will be able to lay a hand on me."
"You think it's that easy?" Loki asked, taking Carol's hand as he shared not just his memories, but the physical pain, as well as the mental strain of using the stones, showing her what it felt like when he took Odin, and Malekith's memories, even the strain required to create Mimir.
Carol gasped, pulling her hand back sharply as she felt it all. "That… that won't happen to me," she said, shaking her head. "You said so yourself. The stones won't harm me."
"Not physically," Loki agreed. "But the mental strain will be far worse for you."
"Why?" Carol demanded.
"It's a limitation of your biology," Loki explained. "Your mind can only process so much information at a time, can only account for so many variables."
"There are being whose minds have snapped after only a few seconds of exposure to an infinity stone, let alone all of them at once."
"What happened to them?" Carol questioned.
"Most of them died outright," Loki replied. "The few that survived were in a vegetative state for what remained of their lives. Together, I believe we can overcome those limitations, my mind, and your body, working together."
"If we're working together, then why are you in charge? Shouldn't it be an equal partnership?" Carol demanded.
"There is no such thing as equal," Loki retorted. "The strong will always take what they please."
"You're only stronger because you blocked my abilities," Carol denied.
"You think so?" Loki replied with a smirk, hearing the challenge in Carol's tone.
"I know so," Carol replied resolutely.
"Alright," Loki drawled, leaning back in his chair. "A challenge then. State your terms."
Carol narrowed her eyes, remembering how their last 'challenge' had gone, but she wouldn't allow something as important as her freedom to be decided on a contest like that.
"I want a real fight," Carol challenged. "You unlock my abilities, not just the energy blasts, all of them, my hand to hand skills too. When I win, you give me the stones, and you take me back to earth, and let me go."
Loki rubbed his chin, thinking carefully. He knew how Carol's abilities worked far better than she did. He understood her limitations, and how much energy she could use before she ran out, and while she was stronger without the inhibitor, her powers were not without limit, and with his own improved skills and abilities he was confident the fight wouldn't end the way she thought it would.
"You ask for much," Loki drawled. "What are you willing to risk?"
Carol faltered, looking back at Loki. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "I…"
"You will wear my collar, and call me master," Loki replied, seeing her falter. It was the only thing she could offer, and they both knew it.
"Fine," Carol snapped. "Where and when?"
"The cargo bay," Loki replied. "We can't afford to stop anywhere this close to Nidavellir," he said, remembering how Thanos's soldiers found them after they departed Svartalfheim.
Carol paused, looking back at Loki. She couldn't use the full range of her abilities in the cargo bay, not without destroying the ship, too.
"You have nothing to fear," Loki dismissed. "The reality stone will prevent the ship from being destroyed," he said, standing up from the table.
"What?" Carol asked, looking at Loki in surprise. "You mean now?"
"Yes, now. Unless you had something more pressing, you would like to do instead?" Loki asked with a teasing smirk.
Carol glowered, staring back at Loki, eager to wipe the smug look off his face when she finally beat him and took back her freedom.
***
Hi! Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. Loki has what he needs from the dwarves, but its only a matter of time before Thanos catches up with them. Any predictions on which stone Loki will go after next, and what Thanos plans to do about it?
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Jumpin