A/N: This'll be the first of my mcubingo fills. Because I'm ambitious (read: stupid) I'm going to attempt a full blackout. So here we go with number one!

01: Dancing (Loki/Jane)

Jane wasn't looking for a dance partner. Then one found her.

"May I have this dance?"

There were a lot of ways Jane could've imagined seeing Loki again. This wasn't one of them.

That he'd faked his death (again) was not news to her. Thor had messaged her from his hijacked spaceship full of displaced refugees that Asgard was gone and Loki was back. A nice sentiment considering they'd only just broken up.

That he'd then died for real, only to come back to life along with half the universe thanks to some vaguely explained timey wimey BS (Darcy's words not hers), was a bit more of a shock. But even knowing Loki was alive and freely roaming the earth, she never thought their paths would cross again. Surely, he'd have better things to do than seek out one of his brother's exes, of which she assumed there were many (not a crack against Thor just an observation given his age).

Yet here they were, at Tony Stark's wedding of all places. Jane had donned a respectable green dress for the occasion- which coincidentally matched the accents of Loki's suit perfectly- and a marginally comfortable pair of pumps. Somewhere on the dance floor was Darcy, leading Ian in their fifth dance of the night, because that girl was incorrigible and poor Ian didn't have a proper 'no' threshold. They weren't likely to be back any time soon. Jane would have to face the music alone.

"Seriously?"

Loki's smile, which definitely did not make her toes curl, widened. "You haven't had a partner all night. It's wrong for such a beautiful woman to be ignored."

"Maybe I just don't want to dance," Jane countered, which was kind of true. She hadn't come here looking for a date, but watching Tony and Pepper have their first dance as man and wife, followed by twenty more couples joining in for the next song, she was increasingly aware of the cold, empty spot at the table next to her.

"If that's the case," he intoned, "tell me you don't want me, and perhaps I'll leave."

"Okay, I don't want you," she said, which was definitely true. "Now leave."

"I don't feel like it."

"You said you would."

"I said perhaps I would." Then he sat down. Right in that cold, empty spot, which was now full of his presence. "I've decided I'd rather not."

It wouldn't occur to Jane until sometime later that she could've just gotten up and sat somewhere else. By then, she'd be glad she didn't, but for now, Loki was about as welcome in her life as a swarm of mosquitos. In an attempt to dissuade him from further conversation, she turned her attention to the dance floor. There was Darcy, spinning a green-faced Ian. Vision and Wanda, wrapped in each other's arms, floated an inch off the ground and seemed to be hugging more than dancing. Contrastly, Peter Quill and Gamora had decided a disco routine was perfect for an adult contemporary love song. Bruce was leading a slightly unsteady Valkryie, and after five straight minutes of Peter Parker stammering compliments at her, Shuri finally realized he was asking her to dance and they were now on their second number.

"Are you not jealous of their happiness?" Loki asked.

Jane feigned a look of boredom. "Oh, you're still here? Thought you left ages ago."

"Only if you'll go with me." Damn that grin.

"Why would you want to dance with me in the first place? You know I dated your brother, right?"

"Indeed you did, and are no longer. Unless you were hoping for a reconciliation."

Jane glanced at the mile-long refreshment table, where Thor had spent the last twenty minutes trading stories with Steve Rogers and King T'Challa. He hadn't spoken to her all night and might not even know she was there. Once upon a time, she would've ached with a need for his acknowledgment. Now, she just eyed a tray of shrimp cocktails and reminded herself to grab one later.

"Tonight, I'm just hoping for something to eat," she said. His eyes sparkled mischievously as she pointed at him. "Do not make an innuendo."

"I wasn't going to."

"Yes, you were."

Loki hummed, one long finger stroking his chin. "You know me too well, my dear. Shall we have that dance now?"

Jane closed her eyes and wondered what the hell ever happened in her life to lead her to this. "I'm not getting rid of you until I give in, am I?"

"You said it, not me."

He offered her a hand. Common sense dictated that she should not even think about thinking about letting Loki lead her anywhere, even if it was just a dance. Fortunately, Jane was never known for being sensible. That was how she won the Nobel prize.

"I hope you know all the steps," she said as they arrived on the dance floor in time for a smooth R&B song to start up. "Because… I honestly don't."

Loki quirked an eyebrow. "Not much a dancer I presume?"

"I think the last time might have been my senior prom."

"And here I thought you were just being coy." He pulled her close, much closer than necessary. Jane would've pulled away except his arms were like metal cords, and God he smelled good… "No matter. I'm always happy to take the lead."

"Okay, that was definitely an innuendo."

"Only if you want it to be," he whispered huskily in her ear.

And Jane couldn't say she didn't.