AN: Wow long time without an update! But here's the next chapter and thanks for sticking with me guys! Please review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Avengers.

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38 Special-Caught Up In You

Chapter 14 Loki's Day Out

The next morning Belle was in her room, her door open, when Loki knocked on the doorframe.

She hesitated. "Hey."

"Hello my dear," he smiled brilliantly.

She raised a brow at him.

"I was wondering if you would like to accompany me out on the town for a little while?" he asked, standing in her room with his hands behind his back.

"Umm sure I guess just let me get ready okay?"

Loki nodded, smiling. "I will wait for you in the living room."

~O.o~

First they went to a café to get coffee and bagels and sat outside in the fresh air.

"So Bellethiel what do you do for fun in the city?" Loki asked.

"Well I like to go to the movies and the bookstore. And the park is nice to hang out at too. I like to take a blanket and a book and just chill there. What about you?"

"Well I haven't explored too much."

"Thor likes to keep his eye on you," she said.

Loki nodded and she noted the barely noticeable change in his face. He wasn't quite as happy as he had been before.

"He looks at me as if I'm about to blow this place up. As if I would do that under the eyes of your ragtag team."

"Hey! We're not that ragtag," she laughed "I don't think you would do that at all," she said honestly.

Loki just stared at her, his face almost blank, smile gone. She watched him as he looked away, pretending to watch the people walking by.

She bit her lip, worried he might react like he did that night in her room. "Loki" she said softly, waiting for him to face her again. When he did she spoke "You know you wouldn't do that."

"But I have. You know this."

"Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean you'll do the same thing again. That's why they're called mistakes. We're supposed to learn from them."

After a moment of staring at each other Loki smiled. "Where shall we go next?" He got up from the table, taking their empty cups and trash and threw it away.

Belle rose from her chair and pushed it in and slung her purse over her head and arm as Loki walked up to her. He held out his arm and she took it, allowing him to steer her down the street.

"So shall we see what's playing at the theater?" Loki asked.

"Sure but we won't go to the main theater. There's an older theater that plays old movies."

Every now and then Loki would pull her closer to his side to keep someone who was rushing from bumping into her. She'd giggle every time.

"Loki if someone bumps into me I'll be alright."

"Nonsense," Loki smiled looking down at her.

They ended up watching Rebel Without a Cause starring James Dean.

"I quite like that movie," Loki admitted as they were walking down the sidewalk.

Belle was surprised. "Really?"

"Is it so hard to believe that I may enjoy something mortal? Besides you," he said.

Belle blushed and looked away, trying to ignore his comment. Perhaps he was trying to get back at her by getting under her skin.

Loki stopped in front of a bookstore. "Would you like to go in here?"

Belle nodded and he opened the door for her.

Inside the store Belle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The smell of books filled the air and she sighed. When she opened her eyes Loki was staring at her with an amused look on his face.

Belle just shrugged her shoulders and headed to the latest releases section at the front of the store.

A young store clerk came up to Loki, her eyes excited. "Can I help you sir?" she asked him, her voice a bit too cheery.

"Yes could you show me to the poetry section?" he asked, all charm, staring intently at the young girl. It really wasn't fair, although he wasn't doing it on purpose.

Belle noticed how the store clerk blushed and stuttered a bit. "Sure, ri-right this way sir."

Belle suppressed a laugh at the completely indifferent look on Loki's face. He had to know the effect he had on the female sex. She only let herself think about it for a minute but he was gorgeous. He was tall and lean and his dark hair slicked back, his pale skin and striking blue eyes were all rather perfect. Not to mention his confidence, his stride, that swagger he walked with and the unmistakable royal air about him. Add all that to his mysterious demeanor and any poor girl would be helpless to resist, putty in his hands. As she browsed Belle heard the girl trying to engage Loki in conversation but he paid her little attention as he ran his finger along the spines of the books. Belle picked up the book she wanted and wandered over to Loki. She could see where his jaw was clenched a bit, probably from the girls bantering.

"So, um, maybe we could get a coffee sometime?" the girl asked, hands in her pockets, watching him eagerly, hopefully.

"I'm afraid I'm unavailable," he answered still not looking at her.

The girl left, her face red from embarrassment and as she passed Belle she shot her an angry glare. Belle furrowed her brows.

"Find anything?" Belle asked Loki.

"Not really. Recommendations?" he asked looking to her.

"Nope. You pick."

Loki stared for a moment before reaching out and grabbing a copy of selected poetry by Lord Byron, he quirked a brow at her, silently asking for her opinion.

She nodded a small smile on her face.

"Ready?" he asked and she nodded.

At the counter he took her book from her hands and set it on the counter along with his. "You don't have to do that Loki, I can get it."

"I have an excess of Midgardian currency while I'm here. It's nothing."

After they left the bookstore Belle thanked him and when he held his arm out for her again she took it and they walked back to base.

"You know Loki," Belle started. "You can't just go around breaking girls' hearts."

"What?" Loki stopped and turned to face her. He looked thoroughly confused.

"That girl, the employee at the book store? She was definitely crushing on you."

"I highly doubt that young woman could crush the likes of me."

He said it so seriously that Belle went into a fit of laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Loki! You sound just like Thor! And that's not what crush means. A crush or crushing on someone simply means you like them."

"I see."

Belle laughed and looped her arm through his again.

"Do you have a crush on anyone?" he asked.

"Well I had a crush on Steve and now we're in a relationship."

"Interesting."

"Are you telling me you've never experienced a crush before? I'm sure you've dated plenty of Asgardian maidens."

Loki chuckled. "Of course many beautiful young ladies coveted my attention. I'm a prince. I'm meant to be king."

"Isn't Thor next in line?" she asked, unaware that she was hitting a very sore spot.

He jerked them to a stop on the sidewalk and pulled her into an alley. "I am meant to be king," he hissed in her ear. He pressed her further into the brick wall. "Not that oaf who calls himself my brother. He is arrogant, foolish. He will surely lead Asgard to ruin."

Belle wasn't sure what to do or say as she opened her mouth. "Loki," she said gently.

He moved backwards a step and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Loki," she said again as she moved closer to him. She reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder and he opened his eyes. They were no longer the hard, cold ones that she saw moments ago.

He took her hand from his shoulder but instead of dropping it he kept it in his. "Belle, you are too kind to me."

"No, you're just too hard on yourself. Quit worrying about being king and ruling. I understand that's what you want but maybe now just isn't your time."

Loki kissed her hand and she snatched it away in a second. It was alright to hold her hand when she was trying to calm him down but to kiss it was too much.

Loki changed the conversation completely. "I couldn't help but realize that you did not 'kick my ass' yesterday."

They stepped back onto the sidewalk. "Well not literally but my team won."

"That may be but I was quite looking forward to going one on one with you."

"Really?"

~O.o~

Loki stood with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. They were in the training room and standing across from each other on a mat.

Belle was kicking off her shoes and Loki did the same, also taking off his nice button-up to reveal a white tank underneath.

Belle did a double take. She hadn't expected him to be so muscular. He looked almost scrawny underneath the outfit he wore when they first met, all that black and green and gold and leather and metal. His pale arms were lean but as he flexed, preparing, his muscles were even more prominent.

"Okay. First one to pin the other down for ten seconds wins," Belle said.

Loki nodded.

They'd been sparring for twenty minutes now and sweat glistened on their faces and arms.

Belle twisted so that she moved over him, emulating a move Nat helped her master weeks ago. When her fit hit the ground she brought one of his arms behind his back with her. He slipped from her grasp, grabbing hold of the arm that held his and lifting her over his shoulder. Before she could land on her back she jerked from his grasp and landed on her knees. She spun on one foot and kicked out with another, bringing him down. She moved so she was on top of him, pinning his arms down and his legs pinned by her feet. Loki was stronger though and swiftly brought her down fully against him and rolled over. She tried to get out from under him but he pinned her down and counted.

"Ten. I win!" He beamed down at her. "Did you really think you could best a god?"

"Hey you're the one who wanted to go one on one. I was just obliging."

Loki smirked and instead of removing himself he did the last thing she expected him to. He kissed her.

Belle froze.

"Was that not to your liking?" Loki asked.

"Get off of me. Now."

Loki stood gracefully and reached a hand out to help her up. She slapped it away. When she was standing she smacked him hard across the cheek.

Loki stood touching his cheek and smirking as she grabbed her shoes and dashed out of the room.

As she headed back to her room she was hit with several foam darts. She looked up at the ceiling, watching as a tile slid back into place.

"Clint! I am not in the mood!" she yelled kicking at the foam darts on the ground.

AN: The idea for Clint hiding in the ceiling with a Nerf gun is from a post on Pinterest which I am sure originated on tumblr so credit to whoever came up with that and it was just too funny not to put in.