Chapter 2

Natasha froze and turned slowly to look at the intruder. Of course it was Loki. She gasped a little at seeing him again after such a long time and being reminded of how stunning he was. He sauntered out of the shadows of the room to stand opposite her well aware of why she audibly gasped, with his trademark smirk on his face. She noticed that it didn't quite reach his eyes though, and decided to save that question for after she had gained his trust. It was going to be difficult.

"Technically I hadn't started the search." She said dryly. "Is there a point of me asking how you know?"

"Not really." He laughed. "I'm a demigod, there's enough explanation for you."

"Mmm." She nodded and eyed him wearily. "What are you doing back here Loki?" she tried.

"That's for me to know and for you… to dot dot dot." He said with a mischievous grin. Man, he was hot. She looked away before a blush could rise to her cheeks.

"I tell you what Loki. I'm tired and irritable and need sleep. However, I would love to be able to find you again tomorrow?" she asked. He nodded and when she blinked, he had disappeared. She yawned and made her way into her bedroom, falling asleep before her head hit the pillow.

"Nice work Darcy." Loki said approvingly, his voice echoing in the huge deserted warehouse. He strolled casually down the hundreds of aisles of Iron Men costumes Pepper Potts had created for him. Well, she had only made one – after Colonel Rhodes had died wearing their only suit, they had taken it back after leaving his body in the street, made some adjustments and multiplied them. Now hundreds of Iron Men robots sat waiting for their first command to start up, all programmed with one aim – kill and destroy. All programmed with one prioritised aim – kill and destroy Tony Stark, for destroying the one thing Loki had and loved – Jenna. Darcy laughed in happiness.

"Jane could never have imagined my abilities. Now they're being used for a good cause. You're so inspirational Loki." She sighed, smiling at him.

"Why thank you. How many more will we have by tomorrow?" he asked shortly.

"Twenty five." She replied.

"Brilliant."

Natasha woke up to the sun streaming through her window hot and bright and blinked away sleep before rising and making her way to the kitchen. When she opened the bedroom door however, she was hit with the strong scent of bacon and stopped, instantly alert. She looked across the room to the kitchen and saw Loki leaning against the doorframe, plate in hand.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him suspiciously.

"I find you… intriguing." He replied, "and you need breakfast." He gestured to a plate on the table at the side of the room. She walked past him, watching him the whole journey and plopped down on the seat before eating the delicious food set out for her.

Loki cocked an eyebrow as he watched her. It was the truth, she did intrigue him. But he also wanted to know why she was looking for him, or had been about to start. He couldn't watch her all the time, only when he wasn't busy putting the plan into action with Darcy. Soon after the events with Jenna, he had made his way back to Stark Tower to tell Pepper to say nothing to Tony, or both of them would die. She had kept her word so far. So had Darcy, but he wasn't sure whether it was completely just to spite Jane. He watched her delicate frame as she chewed and wondered about her. He had noticed her of course when he was on Earth the first time, but seeing as they'd been attempting to kill each other, it hadn't left that much room for socialising. She was beautiful though – her pale flawless skin and full red lips, the way her red hair fell in soft curls down her back and her brilliant green eyes closed as she moaned at how good the food was. He suddenly realised he was staring with a soft smile and quickly shook himself before speaking.

"We have a busy day today Miss Romanoff." He said smoothly.

"We do?" she asked with her mouth full.

"Yes." He said, "I assume that due to the fact that you were looking for me, you are no longer so dedicated to Fury?" of course he did not believe this, but he was intending to show her his robots anyway. It wouldn't matter when she was being held captive while the plan was being executed either way really.

"You assume correct." She said. He nodded curtly and cleared his throat, and strode back into the kitchen while she finished her morning meal.

Soon they were speeding through town in a shiny black convertible, courtesy of Loki of course. Natasha was obviously enjoying the feel on the wind in her hair and Loki grinned when he realised this. This one of the few situations in life when a person could feel truly free. As they pulled into a parking lot his phone rang. He answered it quickly,

"Yes?"

"Sir?" came Darcy's voice. He inwardly sighed. Now that he himself had experienced love, he could identify someone who was infatuated with him and it unfortunately happened to be Darcy. You would much rather it was Natasha wouldn't you? His mind whispered traitorously. He ignored it and said,

"What?"

"The robots have been completed, another batch are being mobilised."

"Excellent thank you"

"Are you um… coming in any time to see me today?" she asked nervously. As if I come in to see you. I come to see the robots. His mind thought with a snort.

"I can't today, I'm out with a certain Miss Romanoff who I have promised a fun day of thrills and fun." And with that, he snapped the phone shut. Natasha was watching him with an amused expression.

"What?" he asked self consciously, surprising himself.

"Oh nothing, I just didn't think that a demigod had need for something so trivial and human as a mobile phone." She laughed, and climbed out of the car, whipping her bouncy red hair behind her. She really stood out in her black tank top and red skirt, gaining herself a lot of admirable looks from men passing by, all of which she ignored. Loki didn't know why he was gaining satisfaction from her blatant disregard of them. He followed suit and snaked an arm around her waist, before leading her into a café for a quick lunch.

Natasha tingled at his touch, the feel of his arm encircling her. It was strange, feeling so safe when wrapped in the arm of a man she was so sure was evil. When they had ordered their food and settled down, she met his gaze and said,

"So what happened?"

He frowned.

"What happened with what?" he asked.

"The vampire." She said it so boldly, so sure nothing could affect this man that she was surprised when he visibly flinched and winced, like she'd slapped him across the face. "What is it?" she asked genuinely concerned.

"What did Fury tell you of her?" he whispered.

Natasha looked at him with wide confused eyes.

"He just said that you had tried to rescue her when she was captured and that she had been captured because of all the lives she took. I just assumed that you had tried to rescue her because she was an asset to some plan or other of yours. But that's not the case is it…?"

"No." he said, avoiding her eyes, "that wasn't the case at all. I… I loved her. Very much. I didn't find out until an hour or so before she was murdered that she was a vampire, although I had obviously realised there was something strange about her personality…" he said, continuing to look down. "Stark captured her for SHIELD and she was staked by the agents at the base."

Natasha remained in stunned silence. No wonder Fury hadn't told her everything. The truth made her favour Loki's side of things much more than Fury's… and Stark? Why would he have done such a thing. Remorse flooded through her for finally realising why his smile didn't touch his eyes and what had really happened. She soon excused herself for the bathroom to give him a little bit of time.

When Natasha vacated the table, Loki stared out of the window. What he had gone through, living so alone for most of his life, not thinking he was capable of love and then to finally experience it for what felt like a second before having it cruelly ripped away from him had broken him. He had vowed never to love again, never to feel those kind of feelings for anyone again. Not just because he felt it would insult Jenna's memory, the woman who had told him she had loved him and promised to spend an eternity with him right before being murdered, but because he no longer believed he could. He was numb to those things now. But when he had seen Natasha this morning… every time he looked at her a shot of adrenaline would course through him but because of his past experiences, he pushed them away. She returned to the table and the mood lightened immediately, but with his mind still away, wondering if Natasha could possibly bring back the side of him that was dead.