Loki really didn't like the heat. It was not an exaggeration or a lie. It's not that Natasha didn't believe them when they told her he made it snow simply because he was warm; it was that seemed that was too light of an excuse. She figured he had some other reason that he simply didn't want to share. But after only ten minutes of walking on the avenue, Loki was starting to get flushed and dizzy and Natasha could tell he was in the beginning stages of heat exhaustion.

She and Maria had managed to get him back in the car and turn on the AC while Maria went in search of water. After a few moments in the car he seemed to feel better but was apologetic. "I'm so sorry." He had said as he sat in the back seat, looking at her as she sat in the passenger seat. "I'll be fine in a few moments."

"Don't worry about it." She told him as she pushed her shades off her green eyes and to her forehead, pushing her red hair back. "I'm just happy we didn't get too far away from the car. Maria and I are strong women, but you are a tall man."

He gave a small smile. "I still want to go shopping though." He seemed genuinely bothered by his sudden illness. "I have this habit of ruining things." His smile turned sad. "Even things I really like."

There it was again. That look in his emerald eyes and that tone of voice that hinted that he wasn't the happy go lucky god he pretended to be. She wanted to address it, but she figured the direct approach may not get her far. Instead of trying to get to the underlining cause and work her way out, she would start on the surface and dig in. "I just don't understand your low tolerance of heat. Thor is fine in the summer."

He nodded, the sweat on his brow now cooling. She dug in the glove compartment and found a scrunchy so he could get his hair off his neck and face. "Well, I'm not exactly Asgardian." He said as he tied his dark hair into a love knot.

He looked beautiful, so much so that Natasha forgot how to speak for a moment. It was strange, he just wasn't her usual type, but as he ran a hand behind his neck to wipe off the sweat, she found herself following the movement of his broad shoulders. "Well then, what exactly are you?" She asked forcing her eyes away.

He looked away from then, as if ashamed. "I'm Jotun." He started whispering as if he was using foul language. She had to lean in closer to hear him now and she could smell his hair products and a smell that was his alone. "It's these big blue Frost Giants."

She had never heard of it but pulled out her phone and did a quick search. "Is this it?"

He took the device. "Yes!" He seemed genuinely impressed. "What kind of informational device is this?"

"A cell phone." She answered flippantly still trying to make out what he was saying, still trying to see what was underneath him.

He returned it to her. "I want one." He was trying to change the subject, she knew, but she was far too intrigued with this bit of information.

"We'll get you one, but go back to talking about being a Frost Giant." She looked at the creatures on her screen. They weren't ugly really, just very different looking with their blue skin and lines decorating their body. "You don't look like one." She said looking at him.

"Oh yeah, that's my father's doing." He explained. "Jotun are horrible beasts and they have done terrible things on Asgard so my father made this spell that helps me to maintain an Asgardian looks so that people don't treat me, you know, different."

Something told her despite his father's best efforts to protect him, he was still treated differently. "So when you were apologizing a few minutes ago, you were saying sorry for being a horrible beast not for not feeling well?"

Loki looked at her and took in a breath. She assumed he was surprised someone read him but really it didn't take a very deep look inside the book of Loki to figure him out. He plainly stated often how much of an outsider he felt. He traveled to whole different planet just to be around someone who treated him like family.

He opened his mouth, she knew to deflect or to make a joke so she didn't give him a chance to. She leaned into the back seat and captured his lips in a kiss.

They were cooler than humans but just as soft. His lips at first were unresponsive but as she deepened the kiss, he became active; never aggressive but certainly interested. He was a curious kisser, sure of skill but interested to see what she liked.

"Whoa!" Maria had come back with water and lemonade and slid into the driver's seat.

Loki pulled back, face red from embarrassment. "Oh, um, sorry."

Natasha was too through with that word. She would erase it from his vocabulary.

"Don't be." Maria said. "Alien's need love too."

"Ha!" Was Natasha's reply was Loki rolled his eyes. "Loki is a Frost Giant." She had only thought a moment about spreading that news, but she figured the best way to show Loki no one thought him a monster to put it out there.

"What's that?"

She handed Maria the phone noting Loki's apprehensive face.

"Huh," She started. "That explains that." She handed him and lemonade. "Here McFlurry drink is."

Natasha smiled proud for a moment to be a human. She knew Maria wouldn't respond negatively, especially considering they had a Hulk as part of their team.

Loki took the lemonade. "What is a McFlurry?"

Natasha shook her head. "There are so many things we have to show you."

Maria buckeled her seat belt as started the car. "Starting with the joys of an indoor mall! AC should be o full blast, so we don't have to worry about carrying you an ER ."

He nodded took a sip of his drink. "I love this lemon of ade. It's very sweet."

So are your lips Natasha said, but instead, she pushed her sunglasses back over her eyes. If sweet things were what he liked, sweet things were what he was going to get.

Loki got way more than he was expecting. He couldn't decide on which phone to get so he got an Android, IPad and a Window's computer. He bought every green shirt that fit him and a beautiful silken blue robe for his mother. He ate two Subway sandwiches and three Oreo McFlurry's before they headed back to Stark's.

Still, despite everything he had seen and tasted, it was Natasha's lips that he wanted seconds of.

Loki was no virgin, but he didn't get around as much as his brother, with good reason. On Asgard, he just wasn't considered one of the attractive ones. But it seemed, Natasha liked his brand of attractiveness. The problem was, he wasn't sure what exactly this was. Most women didn't want a long lasting relationship with him and he didn't fancy himself a good partner but he thought he couldn't be if he tried really hard.

He wasn't sure how a long distance relationship was going to work but he would like to at least explore the idea. He could visit often and he could take her up to Asgard when Thor and The Warriors were out of the realm. He really didn't want her to hear what they thought o fhim.

The sound of a scream brought him out of his thoughts. Around the car, he could see people running passed, fear etched on their faces. "What's going on?" He questioned as bother Maria and Natasha's cell phones went off.

"Water main break." She explained.

Maria groaned. "The break is on 34th. We're too far away to run and traffic won't let us move any farther."

"I can help!" Loki didn't give them a chance to respond before placing a hand on both of their shoulders and teleporting them to where they need to be.

Teleportation was not a nice way for them to travel, both were woosy when they arrived but they had no time to be sick. Thor and Stark were already there as well as a green monster trying to use cars to keep the waters from traveling any further.

Loki stood back, grabbing the women he was with as if to protect them for the green monster not sure if he was trying to help or adding to the chaos. "No," Natasha stopped him. "It's Banner."

The women ran to help as Loki stood there, eyes wide, jaw slacked open at the giant. How did Bruce turn into a green giant? There was no way this could be normal. But then, who was he to judge normality.

It was Thor that grabbed his attention. "Loki! Loki! Stand back behind the barricades. There are three breaks in the pipes. The waters are rising too fast."

Loki was suddenly very aware of the cold water rushing around his ankles. "I can help." He told his brother. "Let me help."

Thor looked annoyed with him but Loki was not going to back down. "This is not Asgard Loki! You can do nothing here!"

If his brother told him one more time that he wasn't an Asgard he was going to turn him into a frog. "I know where I am brother, but whether on Asgard, Jotun or Midgard, it is our responsibility to help."

Thor looked ready to deny him again but Natasha screamed out. "Wait!" Natasha grabbed Loki. "As a Frost Giant! You can freeze it."

Thor glared at her. "How do you know about that?"

Neither Loki nor Natasha answered him as Stark came over. "You can freeze water? It will stop the water, give us time to evacuate the area."

"It is 90 degrees out here!" Maria said remembering Loki's intolerance to the heat. "Can you maintain those cold temperatures."

One thing Loki learned as a prince was never to look like you can't even if you really didn't think you could. These may not have been his people, but then he didn't really have people, so he maintain a look of calm. "I can hold it long enough to get the people out." I think; he added to himself.

"No!" Thor insisted. "You can't!"

"We have to try." That was Steve who arrived at some point during the conversation. "Cool the waters around your feet first, if your feet are cool your body shouldn't over heat."

He was right, it did help to keep him cool, but also to spread the ice faster. With the water no longer shooting out, people were able to evacuate in more organized manner. Loki just focused on the coolness on his feet as his Asgardian form left him. He was getting tired. He wasn't sure how much time had passed but he was ready to stop.

His eyes startled open as a hand clapped his back. It was Natasha hold a cup of lemonade. "Drink. Everyone is evacuated; they are setting up sand bags to stop the water from traveling when it unfreezes."

He nodded and drank the sixteen once lemonade in three gulps. It helped cool his insides, but it did nothing to ease his exhaustion.

"You look like the pictures now." She was trying to keep his mind busy he knew and so tried to focus on the conversation.

"Yeah. At least I don't destroy my clothes." He motioned to Banner who was walking over to them with the other Avengers.

Natasha smiled as Stark grabbed him by the shoulders. "Alright, you can let it go."

With a great sigh, Loki let the waters unfreeze and though he tried not to, he felt his legs give out. He expected his butt to hit the pavement hard but Tony was there to guide him down without injury.

He was out of breath and wanted to lie down but the sound of cheering caught his attention. Police and firemen were pointing at him, clapping and giving thanks as if he was an avenger. It wasn't everyday someone cheered him for his efforts on Asgard and it kind of felt… good.

His eyes went to Banner, still shocked at his green form. Hulk was looking at Loki, seemingly shocked at his blue form. Loki smiled. "Green is my favorite color."

Hulk shuffled. People rarely addressed him in this form; usually they were afraid to even look at him. "Hulk favorite color is blue."

That earned an even brighter smile from Loki.