I paced back and forth in my cell. Ugh. What had I been thinking kissing Thanos? Like I would have had a choice anyway. I ran a hand through my hair and tried to steady my breathing. Had I betrayed Loki? Not really. Loki was dead. But at the hand of Thanos. I rubbed my arms. Damn I wished they would hurry up with my new room. Now that knew that they were making this room colder on purpose, I was more than ready to move out of it. I replayed what had all had just happened again in my head. What was this place called Knowhere that that alien had been talking about? Had it had anything to do with the Infinity Stones? Gods, I hoped not. The bastard already had two of them. And I still didn't know what Thanos wanted with me. I covered my face with my hands. Why did I have a feeling I was about to become a pawn in the most epic battle of chess this universe would ever witness?

I heard a familiar crackling sound and turned, lowering my hands as I did so. Neri came inside.

"Boy am I glad to see you," I told her.

I could have hugged her, but I didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"Your chambers are ready, Lady Nova."

I quirked an eyebrow at her. Lady Nova? What was with the formalities all of a sudden?

"Thank you, Neri."

She gave me a weak smile. "So you know my name."

"Thanos told me. So you give him updates about me?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"He sends me to take care of you." She folded her hands in her lap. "I also am to tell you that he wishes you to dine with him."

My eyes grew wide. "Really? So soon?"

"Do you wish to? I know I had said for you not resist him. But I do not wish for your discomfort either."

Neri scowled. She idly rubbed her wrists. I had noticed her doing that before. It made me go back to my original assumption about her being a prisoner.

"I dunno." I shrugged. "I guess I kinda want to. I am very curious of as to what he wants from me. I know I shouldn't want to be anywhere around him considering what he just did not even hours ago."

Had it just been hours? And my anger and sense of loss was actually starting to die down. Damn. I must be more far gone than I thought. Being with Loki for so long must have really desensitized me.

"If you wish to decline, I can tell him you are too tired."

"No, I'll go," I responded dolefully. I glanced down at the floor and scuffed my boot against it. "I don't want you to get in trouble. Besides," I gave her a shy smile, "maybe we could be friends one day."

She smiled at me, a genuine smile. "I would be honored, my lady."

I cringed inwardly. The last people who had called me that were all dead. If there were any parts of them still left. I still didn't know what had happened to me and Thor's ship after Thanos had taken me.

And I never wanted to either.

I stared down at the outfit that was lying on my new bed. I don't know who picked this out, but whoever it was had a killer sense of fashion. There was just one problem.

"Is that the top?"

There were two pieces to my new outfit. I pointed to the much, much smaller one.

"Yes," Neri replied as if she meant to say 'of course, dumbass'.

"Hmph."

I picked up the shirt by its straps and held it up in front of me. It was a shimmering light green, perfect to match my eyes. The design was asymmetrical, with the right side coming down to just a little under my breast. The left side went down to my waist. The straps were as wide as those of a halter top.

"You know, I think Thanos wants us to be twins," I muttered sardonically.

When Neri didn't respond, I glanced over at her. She was standing next to me. She tilted her head sideways at me.

"Twins?"

"Oh. It's uh," I tilted my head side to side. "People who look exactly alike who are born at the same time. Brothers or sisters. Or in our case, it would be people who are dressed alike."

She smiled at me. Yeah I was gonna have to get this chick to open up more. I so badly wanted to hear her story. But first I had to get changed and get wined and dined by the big boss man. Neri left the room so that I would dress. The top fit me well. But the skirt was a bit snug. What can I say, when you get used to hanging out with Thor and his friends, you learn to develop an appetite. There was a slit in the skirt that came midway up my thigh too. There was no mirror to see myself in, but I glanced down at myself and smiled. Not because I thought I looked good, but because I was still wearing my grey boots. Yep that was me—part chic, part tough girl. As an afterthought, I decided to braid the left side of my hair to help add to my warrior goddess look. Finally I threw open my bedroom door. Neri was standing there.

I spread my arms wide. "Well? How do I look?"

She gave me a quick once-over. And then she smiled. "You look...lovely."

"You think Thanos will like it? I decided to put my hair up."

"Well we shall see."

She gave a nod, her hands folded in front of her again. I wanted to grab her arms and shake her and say 'loosen up'. Everyone had been so stiff on Asgard. So formal. Which was probably why me, Loki, and Thor had all gotten along together so easily. We all fit into that gray area. Formal but badass. Is that why Thanos was so interested in me? Had Loki told him about me and Thanos had thought, hey maybe me and this chick would get along?

My nerves could not have been any more on edge as Neri led me to the dining hall. I don't know why I was so nervous. I had already been up close and personal with Thanos. It's not like he was going to throw me on the table and start fucking me right there.

Was he?

Neri led me to a room with large double doors that were almost as wide as the hallway. Two burly guards were standing right outside. As we neared, they grabbed the handles and pulled them open. As soon as I caught a glimpse beyond, my jaw dropped. The room was long and not near as big as I had imagined it would be. It was mostly filled by a long table with chairs to sit several people on each side. Thanos was sitting to my right. He was holding a goblet that looked to be made of gold and was just lifting it to his lips as we walked in. But it was what lay straight ahead of me that really caught my attention.

A large oval window adorned the wall. I could see the stars beyond. The frame was a dark metal, with metal arms extending towards a smaller circular window in the middle. It reminded me of a dark, celestial egg. Thanos's head turned towards us.

"Ah. Neri. I see you got my guest to take up my offer."

Always the epitome of calm. Bastard.

"My lord." Neri stopped and bowed her head. "I have brought you the lady Nova as requested."

I raised an eyebrow as my head swiveled back and forth between the two. What the frick, you guys? I wanted to holler.

Thanos smiled at her. "Thank you, Neri. You have always been so…accommodating."

Aha. Master and servant with a sexual twist. And then a thought occurred to me that made my stomach drop like a stone. Had he ever forced himself on her? Surely when they were together, it wasn't because she wanted to be. Would he try to force himself on me next if I decided I didn't want to have sex with him? Would he split me in half trying to ram his giant-

"So, Thanos, this looks like a pretty slick room."

My voice was chipper, but my stomach felt like it had rabid chipmunks trapped inside it.

Thanos regarded me with a curious expression. "Slick?"

"Uh…" I felt my face flame up. "Cool. Nice. Sorry you must not know much Earth lingo, you probably don't visit there very much."

I was rambling. Thanos raised an eyebrow at me and I could see the corner of his mouth lift as he lifted the goblet to his lips again and drank. I wanted to run back to my room and hide. Not out of fear, but because I was clearly making a total fool of myself in front of this powerful warlord.

"Do you miss your home, little one?" He set his goblet down.

"Earth?"

I was guessing he meant Earth and not Asgard.

"Yes. Earth." He started caressing his goblet with his thick fingers.

I took a really deep breath and let it out. "Sometimes. I miss my friends. The Avengers. I don't even know where they are or if they would even still speak to me. Not after what Loki tried to do to…"

And then it hit me. Thanos had known about New York. And he had said earlier that he and Loki had a history together.

I glanced up at Thanos from under my lashes. My voice was flat as I spoke my suspicions. "You were the one who sent Loki after New York, weren't you? He was working for you. So were the Chitari."

Another grin. Part of me wanted to smack that smug ass smirk right off his face.

"So you've figured it out. I was hoping you would eventually."

"Why?" I drew the word out. I was so confused now.

"Because I figured you wouldn't want the details from the man who killed your…boyfriend."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "More of a partner, really. I think we'd been together long enough. And unfortunately, yes, I am very curious about what all transpired between you and Loki. But I'm sure that's not why you invited me to dinner, is it?"

Thanos nodded. "A woman who likes to get down to business. I like that." He gestured to the chair right in front of me. "Please sit."

I cocked an eyebrow at him. Thanos was telling me please? I pulled out the chair and sat. It felt strange doing something so basic, like sitting at a table, with someone so much larger than normal people. It reminded me of being around the Hulk, except Thanos was a purple and a lot more suave and collected.

He gestured with his goblet to Neri. "Refill our cups. And bring our meal. Now that my guest is here." He shot me a suggestive glance. I couldn't help but blush. Neri went around to a small cart against the wall that I hadn't noticed earlier. A pitcher lay on it. She filled both of our goblets and then returned them to us.

"Thank you," I said when she set mine in front of me. Thanos said nothing.

I picked up my cup and glanced down at the dark red contents. I lifted it to my lips and took a small sip. Then another.

"This tastes just like…" I narrowed my eyes at Thanos, "pomegranate."

"Are you shocked, little one?"

"Yeah. A little. I didn't know what to expect. Maybe wine. Or something else entirely."

"Pomegranates aren't native to just your world. Maybe one day, when all is said and done, I can take you to where these came from. You can drink your fill. And partake in…whatever else you like."

Thanos placed his gauntleted hand on the table and moved it towards mine. The man was a relentless flirt. A wave of fatigue hit me.

"I have been through a lot this night."

It wasn't an accusation, just a reminder that I would need to sleep at some point, and not the kind of unconscious sleep that I had partaken in earlier.

"I know." His voice was gentle. "And is that not the story of your life?"

My eyes grew wide. "And what exactly do you know of my life?" I asked calmly.

At that moment, the door opened. Neri came in carrying a tray of food. And there was another woman. They set our food in front of us and left. The smell hit me and my stomach grumbled. Even though I had just eaten not too long ago, the stress that I had been going through must have really hit me hard.

The girls left. I looked to Thanos, who had already started tearing off a piece of meat with his hands. I grabbed my fork. It was the same kind of meat and pasta looking stuff from earlier, but this time I could tell someone had spruced it up some.

"You were saying?" Thanos said.

"Oh. My life. How do you know about it? Did Loki tell you anything?"

"Perhaps. But then, you were one of the Avengers, were you not?" He took a bite of his meat.

I chewed thoughtfully. "So you were spying on us? Through Loki or someone else?"

"You'd be surprised how far my eyes and ears have reached…And for how long."

I started to remember my past. Had he been watching me in particular? Did he know about the School? About my parents?

"Let me ask you this…"

Uh oh. Thanos had raised his voice. Time to get down to business. I squirmed in my seat and tightened my grip on my fork.

"If you could get revenge on all of those who have wronged you…would you?"

I scowled at him. "It's not that simple."

"It is."

I raised my eyes to the ceiling. "No…it isn't. You know how many people I would have to wipe out? How many people have been afraid of me? Have hurt me? Have you ever been tortured? That wasn't exactly a picnic. But you know what? I've moved on. You know why? Because people are people. They hate and fear what they can't understand. Nothing is going to change that."

"Then they haven't met me."

I slowly lowered my fork, my gaze falling to meet Thanos's. What exactly was he implying?

"You want to destroy Earth?"

"I want to bring balance it. The whole universe in fact."

I slowly shook my head. Crazy. Thanos was crazy. There was no other explanation.

"That isn't possible," I whispered.

But I knew it was. That was the purpose of the Infinity Stones. Of the gauntlet. I had to stop him. I had to warn the Avengers. But how? Even if I could escape and get back to Earth, I didn't even know where they were. And Thor was more than likely dead, maybe even the Hulk too.

"Let us play a game, my dove. I believe you humans call it True or False."

I wanted to flee. Everything in my body was telling me to flee. But I couldn't.

I shook my head hard, my eyes on my plate. "Crazy. You're fucking crazy."

"True or false. You despise your parents for giving you to that institute."

"I'm not playing this game."

"True or false."

"Go fuck yourself. I am NOT playing this game!" I stood abruptly.

Thanos reached out and grabbed my arm. I let out a yelp.

"You will do exactly as I tell you to."

Thanos's voice was quiet. Lethal. I tried to pull away, but his hand was like a steel trap.

"Answer me, Nova."

"Alright. I hate my goddamn parents. Is that what you want to hear? True. I hate my parents!"

I leaned towards him as I spoke.

"True or false. You hate those who tortured you. Those who experimented on you. Who turned you into what you are."

"I fucking HATE THEM!" I screamed.

"Do you want them to die?"

"Yes!"

I was shaking, I was so angry.

"Do you want them to go away, Nova? To cease to exist?"

I sank back into my chair. "Why are you doing this to me?" I asked in a quavering voice.

"Because Earth is a place for humans. And for those who like to play at being gods. But they do not know the power of a true god."

Thanos stood, still grasping my right arm. I was almost seeing red. How dare Thanos try to compromise me like this. He knelt next to me and held up my arm.

"They do not know this kind of power."

I felt a strong jolt go straight through my arm and cried out. The metal clasp on my right wrist came open and fell with a clatter. My mouth fell open as my gaze shot from my wrist to Thanos's face which was looming dangerously close to mine.

"True or false. You hate not having your powers."

I nodded. What a question. "True," I breathed.

"True or false. You like the idea of the kind of power I can show you."

It was then that I noticed the power stone was lit up. I glanced up at Thanos. I tried to access my own powers and almost cried in relief as my hand lit up silver. Thanos looked at my hand and smiled.

His gaze met mine. "Fate led you to me, Nova."

I didn't say anything. Had it? Loki had never been a big fan of fate. He just believed in wanting something and then taking it upon yourself to retrieve it.

No matter what the cost.

Thanos's face came closer to mine. "True or false."

"True."

Thanos's face was now inches from mine. "True or false. You swear fealty to me."

My powers bubbled inside me like a volcano. My powers. The only thing I had ever been able to trust. Thanos was offering to give them back to me. In exchange for my fealty to him. What else can I say.

I've always been a survivor.

I grinned at my new master. "True."

I heard the clatter of metal on the floor as my second cuff fell off. Thanos leaned forward and kissed me.

And I kissed him back.

***Rating may go up. I'm going to see how smutty the next chapter gets.