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This is the second last chapter :(

Hopefully its good

CHAPTER 7

Natasha did come back later, without Bruce. She was on her own and while i was still drunk and still drinking, she didn't care. She just sat down on the work top where Loki had been all those weeks before and just watched me. She didn't laugh when I completely screwed up the coffee machines wiring, she didn't stop me when I got yet another bottle of scotch, and she didn't comment on the obvious fact that I looked like trash. She just sat there and watched me. Just watched.

"You want food?". I looked up at the sudden question. This was the first time Nat had spoken in about three hours. "No" I replied, going back to my work. "You need food" she said and I looked up again, "doesn't mean I have to have it". "Technically, it does. I'm getting food" she continued. "Then go get your food" I replied, confused by the random topic. She stood up and left, returning amazingly fast a few minutes later with a plate of toast. "You want some?" she asked again and I looked up at her, "what?" "Toast. I've got two slices. You want one?" She asked again. Why was she being so nice? "No" I said again and she shrugged, hoping up on the counter again as she bit into the toast. Strange.

"You want food?" "Again? Honestly? You're asking me again?" I asked looking up at her and she nodded, "you could have changed your mind". "Well I didn't. And i won't... Why are you being so Pepper-like all of a sudden?" I asked. "...Someone has to make sure you don't blow up the lab. And she'll be back in two days so you don't have to put up with me for long". "It's freaky. I'd prefer you were glaring and forcing me to eat than this" I replied and she sighed, "you sure you want me to go all Russians-spy on you?" "...ok yea. Guess not. Just don't... Be so caring and stuff. It's weird" I replied. "I don't make promises I can't keep Stark".

A loud knock made us both look up to the door. Rogers was standing there, looking very... Awkward. "He'll be looking for you" I said, turning back to my coffee machine. I was almost finished it. "It can wait" Natasha replied as Steve knocked again. "Seriously. Capcicle will keep knocking till kingdom come" I said and she sighed, hopping off the counter and walking over to the door, Jarvis sliding it open for her. "Cap?" She asked expectantly. "Fury's called a meeting. Terrorists related" he said in his official I'm-Captain-America voice. She turned back to me, as if asking my permission. Wow things were fucked up. "I'll be here" in said simply and she gave me an apologetic smile before following him out into the corridor, Jarvis sliding shut the door after them. And once again, I was alone. So very alone.

"Hello Stark". I didn't jump at his voice, I didn't flinch as he brushed past me, and I didn't argue when he sat in the same place Nat had been. "Hey Reindeer Games" I replied calmly and he frowned, "you'll do well not to call me that Stark". "Oh? And what would you like me to call you? Rock of Ages? Rudolf? Most wanted criminal on SHIELD's list?" I asked, not bothering to look up. "How about... My Liege? Or even just Loki is fine" he replied. "Nah, I think Rudolf's better". "Watch your mouth mortal" he hissed and I sighed, "You really got to control that temper of yours. Thor hasn't got one at all". That hit a nerve. "Don't. You. Dare. Bri-". "Bring your brother into this. I know, I know, you've said it a million times already" I said cutting him off, "you really got to get new lines you know. It's beginning to get boring listening to you speak". His hand inched towards his waist where I presumed a knife was hidden, but he stopped himself at the last minute. "Quiet" he agreed and I looked up at him sceptically, "that's all you can say? You're not going to try and kill me again?". "No" he replied smirking, "I'm here to make a deal".

"A deal? With me?" I asked, "how come I can't picture this working out?". "Oh it's quiet simple indeed Stark" he replied, smirking one of those I-know-something-you-don't grins. And it was creeping me out. Big time. "What kind of deal?". "I knew you'd be interested" he said happily, "the deal, , is quiet easy. I'll give you what you want in return for what I want". "Yea. That's a deal. I got that. But what do you want?" I asked. "You want freedom. Just freedom. From all of this. For me to disappear, for all of this to go away, for your name to be cleaned". I stared at him, "...it can't be that easy". "That's your part of the deal. Then there's my side" he replied, grinning evilly at me. "You want to take over the world again? Cause I can't help you there". "No Stark. What i want is much simpler than that. I want you DEAD".

"Doesn't that kind if defeat the point?" I asked, "I mean, I'd die before everyone thinks I'm innocent". "Perhaps you didn't hear me. I want you DEAD" he said again and I nodded, "ok. Yea. I see where you're coming from there. The whole daddy-issue thing, and the fact I didn't die when you were so sure I did, but it has nothing in it for me". "No. You don't understand. I want yo-". "Dead" I finished, "no. I got that. You want me dead. I want you dead. Both in collision here". He stared at me confused, "you're not scared that I'm going to kill you?". Sighing, I put down my tools, "we've already been through this Reindeer Games. I don't care if I die. Thanks to you, I have nothing to live for. So yes, I did hear you the first time, and I do understand... But it has no effect on me". "Then let's make this more interesting then. How about in disappear forever more, and when Nick Fury finally drops charges, I'll come back and kill you" he said and I weighed out the possibilities in my head. It might work... But the odds were pointing the other way... Not in my favour then... "Do we have a deal ?" Loki asked, walking over and holding out his hand. Feverishly, I reached out and took it, surprised by how cold his skin was. Grinning up at him, I shook the Gods hand, "Deal".

I had to run. I had to go. I had to leave. For good. Two hours later when Natasha returned, I was still staring at the blank wall in front of me, as I'd been doing since Loki left. I had to get away from here. "Stark". I had to disappear. "Stark?". I had to go somewhere else. "STARK". Oh right, real life. I forgot about that.

Turning to Natasha, who was currently outside the lab door she stared at me suspiciously, "I've been calling you for 20 minutes. So you better have a good explication for ignoring me" she said crossing her arms. "J? Is there any way you could get rid of her?" I asked quietly. "I'm afraid not sir, really is quiet persistent" Jarvis replied. "...you know any good excuses I could use?". "Sir, perhaps you should tell her about -". "DON'T say his name Jarv" I warned before sighing and rubbing my eyes tiredly, "let her in". "As you wish sir". A second later the door slid open and Natasha stormed in, "do you KNOW how much Pepper will kill me if I let you die?". I didn't reply, I just turned back to the blank wall ahead of me. "... What are you looking at?" Nat asked, walking over to me. I remained silent. "Seriously will you stop? Don't stare mysteriously off into the distance like that" she said. "I don't know what you're talking about" I replied. "Then what are you staring at?" "It's just... Just a bit of wall..." I said shrugging and she sighed, "Food. Now. Then bed. I am banning you from getting up anything earlier than 8am tomorrow morning. Go". I got up and left without any reluctance and I could feel her confused gaze follow me until I disappeared up the stairs. Normally it took FOREVER to leave the lab and even then I might not go. Usually it ended with Pepper literally grabbing me by the ear and dragging me up the stairs, yelling at me and threatening that she would get Jarvis to never let me in the lab again. So me going easily without an arguing word like this was strange. Very strange. And things were just about the get stranger.

Sorry bout the lenght but i had to write it really quickly

And thank you oncw again for all the views!

Much appreciated!

Rachel