Natasha contemplates giving James a call after finishing some toast and jam. It's after nine, and she knows that his Loki appointment is at twelve. She assumes that the guy will want to sleep in after being on a monitored early morning wake-up schedule, so she decides to wait until ten to finally call him.
"I slept great," James tells her. "Woke up at seven, though, so I might take a nap after my appointment."
"So no nightmares?"
"None," James assures her. He can't help but sense an edge in her voice. "Did you have any?"
"No," she quickly responds. "I just couldn't sleep well."
"That's too bad," he sighs. "Maybe you should try getting some rest."
Knowing that James is at ease helps her mind relax a bit. "Yeah. I might do that," she decides.
She doesn't hear from James until the following afternoon when he calls to invite her for lunch. His invite is for one o'clock, and a gut feeling tells her that a certain colleague will be the one providing said lunch. James even mentioned not being able to cook. Regardless, Natasha agrees, only because James is the one making the offer.
The scents of smoked barbecue wafts from outside his apartment. Natasha knocks twice and James greets her at the door in a fitted sweatshirt and his hair tied back in a ponytail.
"Glad you made it," he grins.
Loki steps into the foyer, his pale blue dress shirt rolled up at the sleeves as he wipes his hands with a dish towel. "Good afternoon, Natasha."
"Are you mad?" James murmurs.
"I figured he'd be here," Natasha drawls as she allows herself in.
"How have you been, Natasha?" Loki wonders.
They haven't had a proper conversation in days. He must miss trying to get her as his patient… "Fine," she simply answers. "Aside from a murderer on the run."
"Do you guys have any leads on that?" James wonders. "Should I even know that?" he adds.
"I suggest we stay away from the subject," Loki advises. "For now, we should focus on lunch. Barbecue pork medallions, roasted potatoes, and a bean and olive salad."
"I can make ramen," James snorts under his breath.
"Every chef starts somewhere," Loki hints with a grin. "Shall we all sit?" Loki leads the way to the kitchen as if they're visiting his own home.
"Sessions going okay?" Natasha whispers as she stays close to James.
"Fine, Natasha." He feels like he's said that at least a million times to her.
"Just checking," she huffs, brushing past him.
"It's not like he's gonna kill me," he retorts.
Natasha ignores the comment as she sits at the table, big enough to comfortably sit four.
Loki prepares the plates before presenting them to his company and finally sits.
Natasha reaches for a glass of water to her right and takes a small sip.
"You don't mind water, right?" James asks. "I'll get you some soda, if you want."
"Water's fine." She begins to eat, occasionally stealing glances at James as he inhales his food, his nose inches from the plate.
"Have you decided on returning to your teaching position, Natasha?" Loki inquires as he slices a potato with his fork.
James swallows before piping up. "You teach?"
"I did," Natasha nods. "But I suppose I should think of retuning until more case details arise." Not that it's any of your business. She glowers in Loki's direction. He chuckles as if he just read her mind.
"I assume it is a good distraction."
"Now that James' innocence was proven, I'll be needing distractions. Barnes, you'll be sick of me if I stayed here 24/7," she warns James with a wink.
He shakes his head, mouth full of bean salad.
"What about you, Loki?" Natasha counters. "Any other patients?" That's a question she wants answered, but he begins to click his tongue and take a small bite of meat. "Is your brother home at all?" The ever mysterious Thor…
"He found a place of his own in Virginia.
Natasha watches as he blithely chews. "Good for him…"
Their lunch soon ends and Natasha makes her leave after offering to help with the dishes. Loki insisted on taking charge of clean-up. It makes her wonder if James feels sick of the guy. If he doesn't, he will soon. She drives home, contemplating whether or not she should return to her teaching job. The current case is lacking in the clues department. All she can do is wait for Monday to roll around and see who the murderer takes as prey. She needs leads. Ones that hopefully lead back to a particular man in Switzerland…
Her head hits her pillow and she's out for a good two hours. Natasha knows her body can use a longer rest, but an ache in the pit of her stomach is preventing her from any further sleep. As she lies in her bed, she knows it was lunch. Loki could've slipped something into her food. It's only a spur-of-the-moment hunch, but she's never been one to have any food aversions. She decides to get up and grab some water, but once her feet touch the floor, a wave of nausea hits, sending her running to the bathroom.
"Food poisoning?" James asks over the phone. "Sorry, Natasha, but I feel fine."
"Must be just me," she groans, crawling back into her bed.
"Why not take it up with Loki?" he teases.
"I figured he got us both on purpose."
"Geez, Natasha," he breathlessly laughs. "You've really got a bone to pick with him. I highly doubt the guy wants us sick."
She rolls her eyes. "If you're fine, then I'll let you go."
"Feel better, Natasha. Damn, that really does suck. I haven't had anything that bad since my prescription got screwed over," he recalls.
Prescription… "I'll call you tomorrow, James." She hangs up, wondering if her last dose of Nyquil had something to do with it. The medicine never gave her problems before, but it's the only thing she's had aside from Loki's fancy barbecue. A small part of her wants to complain to Loki, but he's likely to play doctor and show up on her doorstep with homemade soup that may or may not leave her heaving in the bathroom.
Natasha decides to try sleeping the stomach bug off. She can always confront Loki at work. Unless she's been confirmed dead with traces of poison in her system…
"Return to teaching?" Fury manages a small smile in response to her request. "I can get you back in the classroom if you're so eager."
"I'm still on the murder case," Natasha reaffirms. "I can manage both."
"I trust you can," he answers. "I'll talk with the temp. You should be good to go by next week."
"I appreciate it, Nick." Natasha makes her leave right before her stomach begins to growl. After yesterday's food poisoning incident, she's afraid to ingest anything, aside from water.
"Romanoff! Long time no see," Tony waves upon seeing her.
"Stark," she nods.
"I hear you got that convict freed. You still seeing him?"
"I am, yes." She brushes past him and settles into her cubicle.
"Is the arm thing real?" he prods. "Cuz I've read that article, and I-"
Natasha pulls a bottle of water from her bag, frowning. "Can I have some space, Stark?" she gently requests. He surprisingly walks away without another word. Natasha boots up her computer and hears a gentler set of incoming footsteps approach. After a three-beat knock, she has a strong idea of who it is.
"Good morning, Natasha."
She spins around in her chair and lets the rage burning in her eyes speak for itself.
Loki frowns as he steps into her cubicle. "Is it not a good morning?"
"I had a bad reaction to your food," she announces in a hollow voice.
"My God!" he gasps, his eyes on the verge of bugging out of his head. "It wasn't anything serious, was it?"
She knew he would overreact. "It sure as hell felt like it was," she grumbles.
"Natasha, I'm so sorry!" he breathes. "I should call James."
"Don't," she quickly utters. "I called him. I was the only one lucky enough to hurl my lunch up."
"Odd," Loki comments under his breath. "Are you certain it was my cooking?"
"It's the only thing I'd eaten all morning."
He studies her face and can't help but feel that her complexion has paled. "Are there any spices you are allergic to?" he prods. "What about capers?" he adds, rubbing his chin.
Natasha takes note of his genuine concern and decides that for now, she'll pretend that she didn't suspect him of poisoning her. "Never mind."
"Have you been keeping all of your meals down?" Loki inquires.
She wishes that she had just kept quiet. "I've had water."
"How about I make you some coffee?" Loki offers. "I was just on my way to get some!"
Natasha grumbles as she sits up.
"Allow me!" he insists.
"I can get it," she scowls.
"Then I'll join you."
Natasha won't say no to the guy for wanting to get himself some coffee, but she chooses to ignore him on the way to the break room. She pours herself a cup, then begins rummaging through a drawer for the sugar packets.
"Two, correct?"
She turns her head to find that Loki's taken it upon himself to add sugar to her drink. "Where'd you find that?"
"I keep several in my pocket. Saves time," Loki winks, fishing out a white packet from his breast pocket.
She snatches her drink away without a "thank you."
"Aren't you forgetting the cream?"
"I'll manage." She takes a sip and feels that her drink isn't as sweet as usual. Before leaving the room, she steals a straw from a Styrofoam cup and gives the coffee a stir while she walks. It helps, but there's still more bitterness than she's accustomed to. She doesn't have any desire to go back, though, so she chooses to settle with no complaints.
An hour into lesson planning, the nausea returns. Coffee on an empty stomach isn't looking to be one of her smartest ideas. Natasha hurries to the nearest bathroom. She's alone, but she still tries to keep her coughing fit stifled as she kneels before a toilet in the locked stall. The vomiting is nowhere near as bad as yesterday and her stomach feels settled once it's over. Natasha cleans herself up and returns to her desk as if nothing happened. She rinses her mouth with a tiny sip of water and waits a few minutes before allowing herself a longer drink.
"Nat, you wanna have lunch together?" Clint offers when noon rolls around.
Despite her growling stomach, she doesn't want to risk it. But the hunger is starting to make her tired when her day isn't even half over. "Think there's any soup in the break room?" she asks.
"You're bound to find something," he shrugs. "I've got an extra Hot Pocket if you want that."
"I'm good with soup." She grabs her water bottle and accompanies her co-worker to the break room. Cans of tomato and clam chowder sit on a shelf beside a stack of bowls. Natasha goes with the tomato, heats it up, and takes cautious sips while Clint talks in between bites of his own lunch. She feels fine and manages to finish the bowl.
An hour after eating, she feels better than she has all day. Because Loki had nothing to do with it… The idea lingers on her mind as she types away at her computer.
'I haven't had anything that bad since my prescription got screwed over.'
James' words leave an even stronger impression on her. She recalls Loki's insistence to get her some coffee. He even took it upon himself to pour the sugar for her. Sugar he conveniently kept in his pocket. Was it really sugar? Natasha's fingers freeze mid-sentence.
The sugar…
'Have you taken your medicine, Natalia?' Ivchenko's phrase is now voiced by Loki.
And then it becomes clearer to Natasha.
He's drugging her food.
Natasha knows the risk she's taking, but she's willing to prove her insane-and possibly true-theory. She starts her morning with a bagel from a local deli and a cup of coffee from work. She works from nine to eleven feeling like her usual self.
Part two of her plan will prove if Loki has a greater plan in store for her. "Loki?" she asks as she casually drops by his cubicle. Her visit is timed to keep his afternoon appointment with James in mind.
"Natasha, good morning," he says with a pleasant smile.
"I'm getting coffee. You want some?"
"Thank you for the offer, but no," he politely replies.
There's no way he's on to her. She only just came up with this notion. "I was thinking about seeing James later. You're done at one, right? I don't want to bother you two…"
"We may run late," Loki notes as he reaches for his day planner. "I offered to take him shopping for a suit."
"A suit, huh? Did he land an interview somewhere?" She was hoping they had lunch planned….
"Come what may," Loki hums. "One should always be prepared, Natasha."
"I'll wait to see him this weekend, then," she decides.
Loki's eyes flicker with interest. "How about the three of us have dinner this Saturday?"
"Dinner." Natasha is equally pleased. "Can't say no to that."
He keeps a watchful eye on her as she turns and leaves his station. Once her light footsteps are out of earshot, he picks up his phone and begins searching through his contacts.
"Hello, Dr. Laufeyson," James greets.
"A quick favour, James." Loki licks his lower lip as he jots down a reminder for dinner this weekend. "Would you mind having Natasha over for a visit this evening?"
His voice is hesitant. "I don't…"
"I've noticed that she hasn't been well and I believe seeing you will brighten her mood."
There's a long pause before his answer. "Okay…"
"I also might be running a tad late for our appointment," Loki adds.
Another pause. "Okay."
"James." Loki's voice takes on a heavier tone. "You wish to help her, don't you?" Loki takes his silence as a "yes." "This will stay between us." He remains on the phone, listening to James' hitched breaths. "She will only get worse without our help," he finishes before ending the call.
"Dr. Pepper or water?" James offers once Natasha's seated comfortably on his couch.
"Water," she answers as she peels her coat off. "You sounded really worried over the phone," she mentions.
"Lie to her," Loki's voice urges James.
"I, uh." He reaches for her coat and lays it over an adjacent armchair. "Had some issues with Loki."
"She will grow suspicious if you are not convincing…"
The two o'clock phone call from him was a red flag that led her to assume he needs to talk Loki with her. "Are you okay telling me this?" she cautiously asks.
He nods and scratches the back of his neck. "I'll get the drinks. Just sit, okay?" James hastily shuffles off, swearing to himself to pull it together.
"Natasha is a clever one. Very keen…"
James reaches into the fridge for a jug of water and pours each of them a glass. He then finds himself at a standstill as he stares into the cups of clear liquid.
"This is when I need you, James." Loki reaches into his breast pocket for a tiny sugar packet. "Don't let her see. Don't let her know."
His hand digs into his jeans for the crinkled packet.
"She will suspect nothing so long as you are with her."
He rips the packet along its sealed edge and feels his fingers start to tremble as he holds it above one of the glasses.
"She trusts you, James."
His fingers form a fist around the tiny envelope as he lowers his hand.
"This will help her."
James unfurls his fist and tips the powdery contents into a glass. They dissolve upon contact and after a stir, only he knows the truth behind the tainted glass. "This will help her," he murmurs as he holds Natasha's drink in his left hand.
"Thank you," Natasha says as she accepts the water. James takes a seat beside her and she notes that he's white as a sheet.
He takes a long gulp of water and loudly exhales after swallowing.
"James…" Natasha sets her drink aside on the coffee table.
His eyes flicker to the glass, but he catches himself and quickly diverts his attention to Natasha's face. "My medication," he mutters. "Loki thinks it's making me paranoid…" Natasha warily extends her arm and lets her fingers lightly graze his back. He flinches beneath her touch, but relaxes as the back of her fingers trace gentle circles over his skin.
"Paranoid how?" she gently prods.
His brain goes into overdrive as he struggles to piece together a convincing lie. There's a building urge to warn her about her drink, but Loki promised that the medication will make her well. She doesn't deserve to live with the burden of being plagued with nightmares of her past. More importantly….
"You say you see things, James," Loki crisply states. "Does Natasha see things?"
The horned silhouette creeps into James' brain. Natasha doesn't deserve to see that, he tells himself.
"James," her soothing voice beckons. "Are you seeing him again?"
He frantically nods and hunches forward.
"He's not real, James," Natasha continues. "You know that. He isn't real…." She's lying through her teeth. It can't be a coincidence that they're both seeing the same vision. "It's only a nightmare," she affirms for both of their sake. "This is just a side effect that'll wear off…"
His eyes stare intensely at her glass. She won't need to see that thing anymore if she takes it… "You're right," he chokes out.
"How about you tell me about your hobbies, James?" she requests with a small smile. "Are you a sports guy, knitting guy-what?" She reaches for her glass and takes a small sip.
"I…" His mouth hangs open as he observes a lump in her throat descends down her trachea. 'The deed is done,' he hears Loki say. "I played baseball."
"Oh, yeah?" she asks with feigned interest. Her little knowledge of the sport won't carry this conversation far. "Little league, or…"
"Yes," he quickly answers. "I was always on the red team." She takes another sip of her drink and he can't bear to look at her face.
"What about movies?"
He sinks back into the couch and stares at his boxy television. "I used to like horror movies. Now I can't stand them…"
"I always like watching those crappy rom-coms," Natasha chides in. "They're a good laugh."
He can't recall the last rom-com he saw, so he nods in agreement.
"How about we get some ice cream?" Natasha finally suggests. The fresh air should help clear his head.
"Okay," he quietly agrees. "Do you mind driving?"
"No," she announces, setting her empty glass down on the table.
She'll get better, Loki's voice promises.
She'll never see that thing, James thinks to himself.
She'll get better.
She'll get better… He repeats the phrase over and over in a private mantra. She'll get be—
"You coming out?" Natasha asks.
He's barely aware that he was even in a car. His mind is still back at the apartment where he hovers over her untainted glass of water. "Yes," he croaks.
Natasha observes as he steps out of the car, nearly stumbling as he slams the door. She locks her car as James shuffles close to her in the dimly lit parking lot. "Get whatever you want. It's on me."
James forces a nod despite the guilt gnawing away at his stomach.
"One chocolate cone," Natasha tells a man working the stand. She turns her head to James and their eyes lock.
His mouth gapes open and he stutters a series of vowels before he can spit out a "same."
They take their desserts over to an empty table and sit under a rainbow umbrella. Natasha begins licking away at her treat, only to stop and laugh when an icy breeze tousles her curls. "This probably wasn't the best idea," she comments.
James emptily stares at his cone.
"At least it won't melt, right?" No answer. "How about we eat in the car?" she suggests. "I'll keep the heat on."
His eyes flicker to meet her face. She's smiling, even laughing.
She is alright, Loki promises.
"Frozen solid, Barnes?" she teases with a smirk.
His own smile returns and he gives his cone a quick lick before heading to the car with her.
"So tell me more about James Barnes." The car's heater hums, surrounding the two with a comforting warmth.
"I just got outta jail, what's there to know?" He bites off the ice cream's perfectly swirled tip.
"How about music?" Natasha arches a brow. "You look like a rock band kinda guy."
He holds his breath as her lips pucker around her frozen treat. "I did drums. You?"
"Piano as a kid," she tiredly drawls.
"You must've loved it," he sarcastically retorts.
She smiles, relieved that his tension is ebbing away. "Dog or cat person?"
"Dogs, maybe?"
"That's too bad. I have a cat you might like."
"I can be a cat person, then," he decides.
Natasha indulges his happy mood while they finish their ice cream. They exchange tastes in music, books, and Natasha even got him to rant about how he always had to play the bad guy at recess when he was in grade school. Even after finishing dessert, they stay in the car talking until James' phone begins to ring.
"Shit," he swears before accepting the call. "Hello, officer… Yes, I'm so sorry-I'm with Ms. Romanoff. Yes, S.H.I.E.L.D." He uneasily hands her the phone.
"Officer," she begins in a confident tone. "We've stopped to talk, yes. The fresh air really helps him." She flashes James a secretive smile. "I'll take him home right now," she promises.
"I'm so sorry," he breathes once she hangs up. "I completely forgot the curfew."
"I did, too," she laughs.
He shoves the phone back into his pocket and fastens his seatbelt. "I really do feel a lot better now. And… you look better, too."
"Well," she hums, "now that we're both peachy, let's get going."
"Maybe we can do this tomorrow," he suggests, watching her face as she starts the car. "Except the breaking curfew part."
"I can buy us ice cream and we can stay at your place," she offers. "We'll find something on TV."
James nods, his eyes constantly stealing glances at her serene profile as she drives. She's okay.
Natasha finds a vacant parking spot in the front row of James' building. "Do you need me to walk you to the door?" she teases.
"I think I'll pass," he chuckles. "But I'll see you tomorrow, right?" he hopefully asks.
"You've got a deal." Natasha watches as he walks off and keeps a smile plastered to her face as he occasionally glances back at her. Once he's out of view, she drives off, her speedometer going five to ten miles above the speed limit. Her stomach is cramping up as bile threatens its way up her throat.
Natasha barely makes it out of the car and ends up hurling into the nearest set of hedges. She doesn't care if any residents are passing by with judging glares. Her only concern is whatever is causing these episodes.
Because clearly, her Loki theory is all in her head.
