Don't Fall Asleep: Chapter 3

Natasha pulled up to Stark Tower and got out of the car.  She opened Renee's door and held her arm gently as she helped her out of the car and get her bags.  Renee looked up at the Tower with awe on her face.  Never had she seen it so close.  Her mouth fell open into a little 'o.'  Natasha just smiled at her.  The building was a little torn up from the chaos that had erupted, but it was quickly being fixed.

"You're putting me in the most obvious place?"

"Not only is it the most obvious," said Steve all of a sudden.  Renee had not heard him pull up behind them, "But it is impenetrable.  He can't teleport.  He can't do anything.  On top of that, one of us will be watching 24/7."

"Big brother, eh?"  Renee wasn't too sure about this plan.  She didn't need to be locked in a cell.  Why couldn't they just kill Loki?  Why couldn't someone watch her without locking her in.  Renee was claustrophobic as it was.  

"In a sense," said Dr. Banner.  

"But it's really not that bad," said a voice that Renee did not recognize.  She turned around and found a man who was wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie, red shirt, and torn blue jeans.  He looked a little older, maybe late 30s or so.  It certainly wasn't Thor, though.  

"Mr. Barton?"

"Clint.  Yeah."  He took off his glasses and shook the girl's hand.  "Pleasure to meet you."

"Same," she replied.  "How would you know what it's like?"

"Let's just say I've been...otherwise occupied for a while."

"That wasn't vague."

Clint smiled thinly at her.  "You have no idea.  You don't want to have one, either."

Renee settled with a questioning look, but then noticed that Natasha had begun to walk toward the tower.  Renee stepped forward to follow her.  Clint, Bruce, and Steve followed the girls into the building.  

Loki was chuckling with amusement.  He was acutally a guard, but he was laughing to himself.  This was too easy.  All he had to do was take out one man, become him, and then he could walk right in to where the girl was stashed.  Of course, there would be survielance within the entirety of her room, but Loki could become a gnat and fly in undetected and could be anywhere he wanted without causing suspicion.  The mortals used the term 'fly on the wall.'  Primitive, but for his sake their hindered minds were easy enough to manipulate.  

The only problem Loki found with his plan was that he would have to return to his original state in the evenings, for even with his larger pool of stamina, he could not withold a form that was not his own for a very extended period of time.  It mattered not.  The guards changed shifts, but that gave him enough time during the day to pass fleeting flirts with the girl to please her to engage him.

He chucked lowly.  "To honor and obey," he murmured.   

Renee could only describe it as a cell, as if she were a caged animal at a zoo.  She never even really liked the zoo, anyway.  

In her cage was a twin-sized bed, a couch, an ample supply of books, and a computer.  She was shown an adjoining room with a restroom and verious necessary tioletries, as if she were going to be there for a long while.  Renee shuddered.  The only person who had treated her like a human being as opposed to a hunted animal was the guard.  He had only given her a piteous smile, but it was more than the scornful looks from the Avengers, as if it were her fault that she was 'chosen' by this evil god.

There was a small knock on her door.  It opened with her approval and that guard was there again.  

"Hi," she said, offering him a small smile.  He was carrying a plate of food.  

"Hello, Renee.  I brought you some food, if you're hungry."  A hint of a smile flicked across his thin face.  His promient cheekbones reminded her of someone that she may have enountered years ago but had now moved away.  

"Thanks," she said quietly.  "I'm really not hungry, but you can put it on the night stand over there," she gestured to the table beside her bed.  The man took a few long, graceful strides and placed the tray on the smooth wood.  

He bowed smoothly and stepped toward the door.

"Wait," Renee said.  "You're the only person who's treated me nicely since I got here."  A beat passed as he stared at her blankly.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he smiled.  "You're very welcome."

"You're going to come back?"

"Yes.  I leave at nine this evening, which is in about three hours.  I can stay with  you, if  you'd like."

"No.  You should do your job.  Maybe tomorrow?"

He let out a chesty laugh.  "Maybe."  His eyes sparkled and Renee felt a tingle run down her spine.  

"OK," she murmured.  He stepped toward the door once more, his hand poised on the door knob.  He gripped it and turned to her once more.

"What's your name?"  She asked, her eyes scanning over his face and momentarily over his body.

"Edwin McDonough."

"I'll see you later, Edwin."

"I can't wait, Renee."