A/N: Chapter 2 for those of us with no patience.


Maria POV

"Your name is Loki?" I said skeptically "That's unfortunate."

He laughed "My name isn't that bad. Loki Laufeyson is pretty elegant sounding."

"You're worried about your name sounding elegant? What are you, gay?"

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion "Happy?"

"No gay like-... You're not from around here are you?"

"No, do I put off that 'New Kid in Town' vibe?"

"Not too strongly. Where are you from?"

"Um… up north."

"Um? You had to think about it?"

"No, I had to think of something that answered your question but still left me sounding mysterious."

"Oh, is that what you were doing?" I laughed

Loki and I talked for hours, which is weird because I am not a big conversationalist. We talked about politics, philosophy, science, music, traveling. He had been all over the world. He told me about Spain and Portugal, we talked about his time in the Isles, he described different spice trades in the Far East. He had been everywhere, places I have never even seen.

"You have money, why don't you travel?" he inquired

"Well, I would but I don't have the time. I have a business to run and things to create. My entire life would fall apart if I wasn't holding it so tightly together." The conversation became suddenly solemn.

I looked around at the room. Almost all of the other guests had left and the staff had begun cleaning up. I looked over at Loki and smiled "You wanna take off?"

He smirked back at me "Sure."

He stood up and helped me off of my stool and we made our way toward the door. Once we were outside I took a deep breath of the crisp air and a shiver ran down my spine. I guess a strapless cocktail dress wasn't much protection from the cold.

"Here" He handed me his coat

"Thank you." I put the coat on and basked in its warmth. It smelled divine. Loki didn't know it yet… but he was so getting some action tonight. I chuckled at the thought and he looked at me curiously.

"What?"

"You are just so polite and gentleman-like."

"And that's funny?"

I looked up at him and changed the subject "You are really big. How tall are you?"

He shrugged "About 6'2" or 6'3"."

"Impressive… You wanna get coffee?"

"You are a strange human being."

"I try."

"Sure, I would love to get coffee with you."

"Good, because I wouldn't have taken 'no' for an answer."

"I figured as much."

We walked down to a little corner coffee shop and got a couple drinks to go. Loki, very graciously, offered to walk me home. We drank our coffee and started talking about our education. He was working on his teaching degree in Government and Economics and he wanted to teach High School. This was strange to me because I hadn't even had the nerve to finish school, much less teach it. I talked a little about my Ph.D. in Engineering and my various degrees in Genetics, Quantum Physics, Thermonuclear Astrophysics, and Liberal Arts.

"You have got quite a variety of knowledge there." He muttered

"I like to learn."

"But you dropped out of high school and got a G.E.D."

"I like to learn, I hate school."

We walked up to my building and Loki's eyes widened in awe. The Avengers tower had a tendency to do that to people.

"Oh, when you said Stark, I didn't think Stark Stark I just thought you were just... Stark."

"Yup, Tony Stark was my father."

"Your dad was Iron Man."

I couldn't help but smile like crazy "No one seems to remember him for that. They always remember that he was a playboy or that he created the most powerful weapon ever. They never remember that he put his life on the line everyday saving hundreds of people. Stopping villains in their tracks."

"Kinda hard to forget."

He walked me up to the door and was looking a little nervous. I wonder if the Stark thing freaked him out. I turned and faced him.

"Thank you for making this night the least miserable of my life."

He chuckled "I do my best."

He met my eyes and his large grin faded into a soft smile. He leaned down slightly and just barely brushed his lips against mine before he stood straight again. That little gesture made my lips feel all tingly.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked. The implication was clear.

He shook his head "No."

"Oh." I looked at the ground, confusion and disappointment flooded my face.

He leaned don't and whispered in my ear "Because Miss Stark, I want a little more than one night from you. Besides, I think you are worth the wait." His hot breath fanned across my cheek and he could probably hear my pulse racing. He told me goodnight and made his way home. I pushed through the doors and got into my elevator in a daze. It binged at my floor and I stumbled out.

Bruce as sitting on the couch reading over some blueprints.

"Hey Bruce, what are you still doing here?"

"Finishing up some work. What's wrong with you?"

"I think I'm in love."

"Oh God." He sighed

"Yes, some God was definitely involved."

"And you didn't bring him home yet?" he asked in slight shock

I would have been offended if I thought he didn't have a good point. "He didn't want to come in."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he told me 'I was worth the wait'"

"I'm starting to like this guy. What's his name?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because it will jinx it."

"You can't actually believe that-"

"Shhh! No jinxing."

"Fine, can I at least know what family he is from?"

"Laufeyson."

"Laufeyson? That sounds familiar. Have I met him before?"

"Doubt it," I glided through the living room "Goodnight Bruce."

"Goodnight Maria."


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