Thanks to all who continue to read and follow this story. Also a thanks to LOKI IS KING and all the guests who reviewed last chapter, it keeps me motivated.

Co-author Fuchsia Grasshopper, I thank you for giving your time to help.

Disclaimer: I own OC and that's it as per usual.


The stretch of the day had felt long to Loki, and it was with much gratitude that he took in the sight of Stark's Tower. They had gone through a drive-thru for lunch earlier, and he had been quite hesitant to try Midgard's fast food. They had gone to-oh what in the Norns had they called it; White Castle, yes that was its name. It was quite a small Castle according to Thor, as he had observed it with curious criticism. He scrutinized the small turrets and the paper flags that didn't move when the wind blew. Steve was uncertain on how to order to a mechanical box (as was Loki, so he didn't judge), and he had been in the driver seat when they had pulled into line. It must have looked strange, for Natasha had to lean over him to place the order, while he and Thor stayed as the silent observers in the back. The pimply teenager at the window handed them a bag of sweltering food with his lean arm. A rather awkward fellow Loki thought he was, and it seemed he was well suited to such a slaves job. He tried to be mindful about harsh comments with his tongue, but he couldn't just turn it off like the flick of a switch.

When Steve first handed him his 'slider', he held it away in his palm with mistrust. Agent Romanoff had snorted at him and said, "It's not disease ridden. Try it, you might just be surprised at how good we make junk."

His brows pulled together and he was careful when pulling off the wrappings which were soaked in juice and grease. Everyone was eating their own meals quietly, but he felt the eyes shifting to him, waiting for that first bite to take place. He sighed in defeat and brought the small burger to his mouth. The bun was toasted and spongy in his mouth while the pungent taste of onion blended with the spiced and fried meat. He chewed light, his mouth moving up and down mechanically until he took the plunge and swallowed. Thor's eyes were alight with wonder, waiting for him to make a motion of approval. He rolled his green eyes and nodded once, much to the whole vehicles satisfaction. Everyone seemed positive when finishing their own food, like it was some sign that he would be okay now that he had liked their food. Silly really, but he ate with the rest of them without complaint until they backed out of the parking lot. A Bentley was considered a fashionable car among the common class, for Natasha had said it was stupid of them to stay in vicinity of the food joint, because it had picked up onlookers. Loki had been vaguely aware of them, but had not been sure of what they were looking at, at the time.

The food had settle deep in his stomach, but he had still been a bundle of nerves for the ride to the salon. He wanted to maintain his looks the way as he was now. Was he being vain; why yes, everything of the word. He was even told once or twice that he suffered from a small case of narcissism. It by no means could rival Stark's, but Loki liked the finer things, and was often fond of the way he looked in a mirror. Sufficed to say that if the groomer had messed with his appearance in any way, they may have ended up with a scissor in their eye.

It hadn't gone awful though, and he had been vulnerable to another surprise besides the food. He liked the salon. A small, middle-aged woman, with a robust figure and round features had politely took him back to a sink while the others waited. Natasha had to try and play off the "Professor Snape" name as a joke.

He was seated down in a leather stool that tilted back while the gentle spray of water cleansed his hair. Her chubby fingers had been nimble as she massaged his scalp. The scent of fruit oils wafted in his nose, until he was rather soothed by the experience. He hadn't been fond of the loud hair drier for it burnt and deafened his ears. She made short work of his hair with her scissors, clipping at his ends but being generous enough to make sure it wasn't too much. In the end, he was content with the length for it was similar to how it used to be on Asgard. He was finally free as she brushed away any left over hairs off his shoulders and took off the apron. Thor was first to comment when he returned, "You look well again bro-Loki." Loki had almost smirked at his quick cover up, but let it slide instead.

Natasha paid the tab and her voice had hitched in her throat as a strain when she said, "It looks good."

"What is this, Agent Romanoff paying me a compliment?" He jeered.

"Don't flatter yourself." She deadpanned as they exited.

And thus the car ride had been uneventful the rest of the way back. Loki had fitted his hands through his hair more than once, enjoying the new length and the smell of the shampoo. They didn't have shampoo on Asgard, just oils, and he highly thought they could have use of some. Romanoff hit a button on the dashboard and music played heavily around the inside of the car. He was unfamiliar with any of their songs, and it made his ears hurt in discomfort to be put through such agony.

"Car, what is the name of this music?" Thor had asked aloud.

'Title-Thunderstruck, Artist-AC/DC. You must forgive Mr. Stark, but he has all of their songs programmed for his travel.'

Upon hearing the word 'thunder', Thor grinned and suddenly changed his mind about the song. Loki hated it more.

His thoughts of the day broke when they pulled into the underground garage of the Tower again, and the car was parked precisely at the same spot, down to the very tire marks on the pavement. The doors popped open of their own accord and Natasha thanked Jarvis.

'Shall I inform the others of your arrival?'

"Yes please." She replied when they stepped into the elevator. It was such a long ride to carry up all of the flights of the Tower, and Loki found himself leaning against the wall, across from Rodger's who looked at him openly. He wasn't afraid and Loki supposed that was worth certain considerations. If they were forced to work together, they would at least cooperate.

After what seemed like ten minutes, they finally were back to the top floors of the Tower. They all tried to step out at once and that ended with everyone's shoulders bunched against the others. "Ladies first." Steve said and Thor agreed. Loki didn't answer, but he let her slip by.

Only Banner and Barton were present on the floor, and they both sat at the bar stools, eating food. Clint sniggered when he saw his partner, "Did you have fun?"

"Worse than that time at Guatemala, though still made Budapest look like Hell on earth." She sat along side him while Bruce and Clint peered around to have a look at his new clothes.

"You look like a human now." Bruce said friendly. Loki scowled and sent him a tight look, causing the doctor to back down immediately.

"Where is Iron Man?" Thor asked as he leaned against the refrigerator.

"Right here sweetheart, you looking for me?" He chided as he walked into the room, looking heated and covered in sweat. Natasha cuffed him in the back of the head as he walked by and he whined, "What was that for?"

"Professor Snape? Really, you know how many people were either expectantly Potter nerds or Alan Rickman himself to show up?"

He shrugged while fixing himself a drink, "Well it all turned out for the better. You don't look like a greasy rock star anymore." He said, turning to Loki.

"I suppose that's a compliment coming from you." Loki said blunt.

"As close as you'll ever get. Ah, would you look at the time. We should be having a guest over soon."

"What were you doing all day?" Steve said suspiciously.

"I happened to be finishing a sun proof bedroom for our vampire friend." His modesty practically had him glowing.

"You actually think she'll say yes?" Natasha sounded astonished as she said this.

"Umm-yes. She'll suit up; she's curious."

"Not enough to be an Avenger." Clint argued.

Tony rolled his brown eyes, "I think I know what I'm doing."

"Hardly. We have known her longer then you Tony. It will be a miracle if she actually shows up." Natasha said right before Jarvis interrupted.

'Sir, there is a guest at the lobby, requesting permission to come up. Her name is Arabella Chase. Shall I send her up?'

Tony spared a toothy grin, "Yes, she is more than welcome."

"Wise-ass." Natasha and Clint muttered to each other when Stark was out of earshot.

Loki made a move to stand behind the counter of the kitchen and pressed his back into the drawers as he leaned nonchalant, awaiting the arrival of the guest. He tried to think of what her answer would be, but he had little detail on her personality and history to really come up with a legitimate hypothesis. He wanted to know what went hand-in-hand with being vampire. Were there many of them, and how had they started? It sounded like a curse to be consumed in the night, never knowing the feel of the sun on ones skin. Loki suddenly felt as if his situation wasn't the worst sort of Hel.

The elevator doors split in two and she stepped out, looking fresh for a day of sailing he thought. She was wearing a sky blue blazer and tight white pants that generously displayed her lean legs. Her shirt that was visible from under the jacket was white and blue stripped (she evidently colour coordinated) and as per usual, she had tall tower shoes on her feet. He assumed it was an inferiority thing, wanting to feel taller and all that. He then noticed that she was holding a bottle in her hand, and she stuck her long leg out for her first step. Stark rushed to greet her.

"Welcome back." He said cheerful.

She hastily presented him with the bottle in her hand, "Here, I thought a gift would be appropriate."

"A peace offering?" Tony mocked while she glowered at him, "Oh ice wine. Canadian or German?"

"Canadian; I just assumed you preferred thirteen percent over six."

"Wise choice. The stronger the better. Well, come see the rest of the family, they all missed you."

Her beetle black eyes narrowed as she followed him back to the rest. They all look anxiously at her except Loki. For one, he had nothing to be afraid of, and he also cared little of what her decision would be. Sure he was curious, but he had other means of finding out about her species anyhow.

Her eyes caught his appearance and she must have noticed the difference for her brows furrowed. Bored rather quick, she turned away and looked back at the room as a whole. "Do you all have nothing to say?" She accused.

Clint jumped rather startled, "Well, we just want to hear your answer."

Her nose twitched while she crossed her arms and looked to the window, as if her next words would be too difficult to admit at their faces, "I will help, but only because it benefits me."

"Great, I just finished your room." Tony said jovial.

"No!" She ground out while everyone blinked rapidly at her outburst, "I want to be able to stay at my own home. I'm not an Avenger nor do I plan on becoming one. I work as your ally, take it or leave it." She said, though behind her eyes she looked vulnerable.

"Of course we take it." Bruce held his arms in surrender before Stark could comment, though Loki did pick up a grumble that sounded something like "a whole afternoon wasted for nothing". Surely he meant the hard effort that had gone into the females room, who evidently had no plans on staying anywhere in the building.

She nodded, almost at ease before her face was a blank canvas again. Her skin truly was as pale as a canvas, and it looked like it was waiting on an easel to be turned into a beautiful masterpiece. Not that she wasn't attractive, but her looks were more wild and lied beyond the normal standard of beauty. Her hair was tawny brown with flicks of bronze and was quite the unruly mess. Curls and waves seemed to have a mind of their own as they sprayed across her shoulders. She stood perfectly straight, and she looked like a frozen statue with blood red lips.

"Do you require my assistance now?" She demanded.

"Yes. I've picked up a trail from SHIELD about a warehouse on the harbour." Natasha began, "I cannot say for sure if it is Skrull activity, but large numbers of people have been seen coming and going every night for the passed month."

"Alright, we'll divide into teams, and suit up." Steve commanded.

Loki had to suppress his tongue from flying off with all manner of sarcastic comments. He watched as the group left to change, with the exception of Banner, Thor and himself. He could already transform into his armor by magic if need be, so he made no rush to do so. Besides, he was feeling quite dashing in his new clothes provided by a Mr. Stark. He briefly wondered what had happened to the credit card, but then decided it was none of his concern.

The new guest had distanced herself from them, and was looking out at the night profile of New York. "Go and talk to her." The doctor cut in, and he had obviously caught him staring. "We need to know if she can be trusted."

"Then you go." Loki sneered.

The his faint surprise, the doctor chuckled, "No, I'm not good with making friends too often, especially with someone like that." Loki wondered if he meant the fact that she was vampire, or just her overall personality.

"So you want me to pry?" Loki continued, taking the bait.

"Pretty much. She's alone now, but vampires usually stay close to their own kind and I am thinking she has been given orders by another. Don't you find it bizarre that she has suddenly joined, when she was so reluctant not even twenty-four hours ago?"

Loki had to give him that, for he had thought the same thing. And why the mystery of not wanting to stay at the Tower? He sighed dramatically and stood up from his lean, making his way over to her slowly. Thor watched with unrest as did Bruce, but he did his best to ignore them. He stood beside her, making no noise and only watching the lights below until she broke silence.

"The Avenger's don't trust me, so they sent the outcast to spy." She said frostily.

"You have heightened senses." Loki concluded.

"Yes, I heard you, though I care little what they think. I have personal reasons to keep my distance, and it has nothing to do with other vampires I can assure you."

"So you tell me, but I doubt I see myself taking your word for it."

She finally looked at him with a magnificent frown, "That's rich coming from the liar."

"Touché darling." He clucked.

"Go away." She snarled before turning fully back around to the city. The lights reflected off her skin, and he was content for a moment to watch her bitter face, before he complied and left her to martyr over her own thoughts.


Well next chapter goes into the warehouse trip. Loki gets a first view at what Arabella can do, but how will he react? I hope I am doing good with making them a team, especially with Loki as an additive.

This is opticon217 signing off!