I'm okay, guys! I'm just very busy. (I know, most used excuse ever. But it's true lol.) I'm preparing to die/study for finals. An anon reviewer (Millo) actually thought I died or something. That cracked me up. Another anon (x) sent me lots of great reviews. Thank you so much for the encouraging input!

Chelsea Grin (14)
Foolish Children

Clint walked down the hallway feeling dejected. If he was a dog, his ears would lie back and his tail would be tucked between his legs. But he was Hawkeye. And hawks could only brood in their nest, hunched over in silent anger.

His verbal fight with Natasha hurt even more than his physical fight with Loki. The pain still throbbing in his back and jaw was almost nothing compared to the sting of Natasha's declaration of love for Loki. He had swallowed his bitterness and didn't argue any further. But he still hated it.

'I told her that she could have loved me instead of him. What the hell was I thinking? I am such an idiot.'

A vibrating buzz from his phone snapped him from his thoughts. Fury was calling him.

"Agent Barton, are you busy?"

'Not with dodging bullets and staying alive. But I'm still busy trying to sort out shit in my head.'

Of course, that was not a response he said aloud to his superior. Clint said instead, "No, sir."

"Good. I'm afraid I have another assignment booked for you."

Clint held back a sigh. "What is it this time?"

"Nothing too strenuous, like your last mission. This time you'll be working closer to home. See me for further information and briefing."

"I'll be right there, Director Fury," he replied in a tight voice.

Clint pushed aside his tumultous thoughts as he veered away from the route to his nest. He walked resolutely through the facility, trying to steel his mind and suppress his emotions for the mission ahead of him. Whatever it was.

The complication of Loki and Natasha...he had to set it all aside. Otherwise it would cost him his life. But what was his life without loving Natasha? Love was the reason he let her live in the first place. In the face of S.H.I.E.L.D., Clint claimed she would be a valuable asset. Though he had disobeyed orders and therefore failed the mission, S.H.I.E.L.D. had shown no signs of regret over Natasha's new fate to this day.

'I loved her and let her live. But she lives to love someone else.'

A part of him wanted to scream that life wasn't fair. He had known it since he could remember. Since his rigorous training in the circus, he learned to accept the hard truth. But frankly, it never hit him this hard until now.

According to official records, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Clint Barton had only failed a mission twice. He let Natasha live, then he let her get hurt.

Clint thought otherwise. To him, he had failed a third mission. And it felt like the worst failure yet.

Natasha was eager to fully recover as soon as possible. She started making more trips to the gym, pushing herself to transitioning from the wheelchair to walking on her own two feet. It depended on who visited her at the time, but Loki was usually there for support as she made rounds in the gym. There were a few times when Tony and Pepper supported her from both sides. Natasha was touched by the fact they took time out of their busy lives to help her. Steve acted as liaison for everything going on at S.H.I.E.L.D. Recently he informed her of another mission Clint had to take.

Clint had to monitor suspicious activity in Texas, infamous for its vast and hidden underworld of human trafficking, sex slavery...and most of all, information exchange. A team of less experienced agents accompanied him. It was their first mission out of New York. Natasha assumed he didn't like it. She knew Clint never had much patience and softness for rookies.

Considering the fact her absence made him a busy man, Natasha understood. Still, a part of her wished that he could stick around more often. Day by day, she slowly but steadily regained her strength. She remembered the first time she tried to walk, and her legs had been weak as that of an infant's. The bolts of pain shooting from her ankles didn't help either. Tough as nails, Natasha had gritted her teeth and never gave in to the pain. She was done sitting around and feeling sorry for herself.

She would never forget what Joffrey did to her back in Scotland. But forgetting was different than merely setting it aside for the better things in life, like her friendship with the Avengers. And most of all, her relationship with Loki. She treasured their company and support. She wouldn't know what to do without them.

As for Loki, his favorite things to do besides visiting Natasha were stopping by the temple or the library. He would stroll through the gardens feeling like the happiest man on Midgard. With the monks' permission, Loki picked flowers and left them in Natasha's room as a frequent little gift. He had some rented books handy whenever Natasha had to rest from her workouts. He read aloud some of her favorite Russian literature, including Anna Karenina and Crime and Punishment. There were many characters with names Loki couldn't pronounce. Much as he tried, his blunders and Natasha's corrections were something they laughed over. Loki liked War and Peace in particular, because one of the main characters was named Natasha.

He noticed that the day she would leave the hospital was quickly approaching with each day she grew stronger. Loki furiously wondered how he would take her out on a date. His past experience with JARVIS helped him know that one could look for knowledge by using a "search engine." He started out with computers from the New York public library. But they only looked up book titles. He inwardly prickled with embarrassment as he browsed the romance section. Not wanting to waste his time on unrealistic mush, he quickly gave up. Finally, Loki asked to borrow Thor's phone. He had a hard time typing. He couldn't even think of what to look for in the first place. The best thing he could come up with was typing "romantic customs in Midgard" on Google. Loki grew so frustrated he wanted to chuck the phone across the room. Options seemed to be spent until an unfavorable thought crossed his mind.

'Perhaps I should ask the Avengers for advice. Stark in particular, since he is in a relationship with Miss Potts.'

Thor noticed the scowl on Loki's face when he handed back the phone. "Could not find what you were looking for?"

Loki huffed an angry sigh. "Handling Midgardian technology is quite frustrating. Too many buttons and not enough answers."

"Fear not, brother. We shall consult the help of our friends."

"Your friends, Thor. I...I was thinking the same thing. But I doubt they would want to..."

"They will not mind," Thor assured him.

'Yes, but I must tell them the truth before asking for a solution.'

Loki's nervousness grew as he approached the Stark Tower. He used to stay there a while ago, but now it seemed foreign and ominous in its daunting height and contemporary Midgardian architecture.

Upon seeing Loki and Thor enter his premises, Tony called everyone together on the first floor. Steve, Bruce and Pepper joined him.

"What's up, Asgardian bros?" Tony asked as he poured a cup of scotch for himself.

"Loki has something very important to tell you." Thor declared.

All eyes were on Loki. Everyone was silently attentative and curious. Tony downed his drink while keeping his eye on Loki. Loki bit his lip. He took in a deep, quiet breath, though his heart hammered against his chest.

Then he stared back at the Avengers squarely in the eyes. "Natasha and I are lovers."

Tony sprayed scotch out of his mouth and doubled over in laughter. "Man, you know how to tell a good joke."

Loki glared as heat rose to his cheeks.

"He speaks the truth," Thor said.

Pepper's face lit up. "Oh, I'm so happy for you two! I knew it would happen sooner or later."

Tony wiped at the counter, where he had unceremoniously spilled his drink. There was a strange, triumphant grin on his face. "You're serious? You guys are actually together? I mean, I kind of guessed it, but I didn't think I'd be right. What did Cupid have to say about that?"

"Speaking of him, where is he?" Bruce asked. "We haven't seen him since we had coffee together."

"He knows," Loki replied. "I assume he went off sulking somewhere."

"Agent Barton is away on urgent business." Steve said.

Hearing that made Loki's heart lift.

The billionaire recovered and leaned forward in his seat. "So what are you gonna do about it, tiger? Got something in mind?"

Loki looked reluctant to reply. "Actually...I must admit I am at a loss. I plan to take Natasha on a date after she is discharged from the hospital. But Midgardian customs are still largely unfamiliar to me. I came here hoping you would offer some advice."

Bruce blushed a little. "Betty and I do a lot of research projects together, but we haven't found the time to go on a real romantic date." Then he looked ashamed. "Sorry, Loki...I can't help you there."

Tony turned around to face Bruce. "And you didn't tell me this? You could've come to me and I could suggest all sorts of fun stuff for you two-"

"Thanks but no thanks, Tony."

Steve spoke up this time. "Maybe I can help. I have a good idea for you two..."

The day finally came for Natasha to be officially released from the hospital.

She no longer wore a hospital gown, but civilian attire appropriate for the autumn weather. It just so happened that it was also Thanksgiving and her alleged birthday. The Avengers, Jane, Darcy, Pepper and Hogan threw a lavishing party to celebrate all of it. Loki was invited to join them at Tony's penthouse.

Once the food was brought out, and everyone was assembled and seated, Steve rapped on the table to get everyone's attention. "I'd like to open with a quick prayer. Tony, I hope you don't mind."

The billionaire waved it off. "No worries, Cap. Go for it."

Everyone sat silently while Steve folded his hands and said, "Lord, we thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you for the homemade food we're about to eat, and the friends at this table. We're thankful for Natasha, who just got out of the hospital in time for Thanksgiving, and a celebration of the day she was born."

Loki and Thor, who sat next to her, touched her shoulder. Everyone else smiled her way. Natasha smiled back, feeling moved by the sentiment.

Steve went on. "We're also thankful for Loki, for being here and having a good time with us. Amen."

Loki looked gratefully surprised. The group automatically replied "Amen" and started eating with enthusiasm. Natasha wished Clint was here for the party, but she didn't let that dampen her spirit. Everyone was buzzing with conversation, from commenting on the great food to discussing science, politics, common interests, and so on.

In a few hours, they finished the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing and pumpkin pie. Only the huge turkey was too much to finish, so Thor ate whatever was left of it.

After the Thanksgiving dinner, Pepper presented a chocolate cake for Natasha. She smiled, and couldn't help but blush a little, when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" with gusto. When the time came for presents, Natasha got one from everyone except for Loki.

He looked to her with remorse. "I'm terribly sorry...I do not have anything for you..."

With a wide impish smile, Tony clapped Loki on the back. "Since Cupid isn't here, how about you give her a big kiss? Come on, it'll count!"

Thor joined in. "Show us that you truly and passionately love her, brother!"

Everyone gathered around the pair, shouting encouragement to kiss. Loki pulled Natasha into a long, passionate kiss. Cheers erupted when she threw her arms around him. They broke apart with wide grins on their faces.

"Happy birthday, Natasha," he whispered in her ear.

"Thank you," she murmured back.

"You two would make pretty babies!" Tony hooted.

Loki and Natasha pulled apart from their hug and looked a little embarrassed, while everyone else laughed.

Pepper looked to him reprovingly. "I think you've been having one too many drinks, mister."

The gathering ended with a toast to Natasha's health and a happy Thanksgiving. That last drink was like a nail on the coffin for Tony. He passed out, leaving Pepper to run things. Once the party was over, Natasha asked Loki to accompany her as they discussed further matters with Director Fury. They met with him in a meeting room.

"I'm glad to see you well again, Agent Romanoff," Fury said sincerely. "Is there something you wanted to discuss?"

Natasha and Loki exchanged a glance before she replied.

"Director, may I ask that you assign me the task of monitoring Loki? I would like to resume active duty in S.H.I.E.L.D. as soon as possible. Not into the field so soon, perhaps, but I want to do something. I understand that Loki is still under our supervision, but there will be no need for heavy security. He can move to my apartment now."

After a few seconds, Fury nodded. "If that's what you wish, I have no objections."

"Thank you, sir."

"I trust that he is in good hands. But for the sake of protocol, I will have help available in case of an emergency."

"Of course, Director. Thank you for your consideration."

When they left, Loki raised his eyebrows in amusement. "No handcuffs this time?"

Natasha reached out to hold his hand. "I don't think we'll need them."

Her apartment in New York wasn't far from the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. Natasha insisted on walking, and Loki continued to hold her hand on the way. She would never walk the streets of New York alone. But with Loki close by her side, she had nothing to fear. Normally he carried himself in a swift, regal pace fit for a former prince of Asgard. But today he walked slow and gently so Natasha could match strides with him.

Once they reached the complex, Natasha found her door and unlocked it. She beckoned Loki to come inside.

"Well, here we are. This is where I live, but I hardly stay here for long. My job calls for me to travel everywhere."

He followed her in and looked around. As he had expected, Natasha's apartment was simply and neatly furnished. The only decorations she had were a few Russian Orthodox icons hung in the living room and the kitchen. Loki knew she wasn't religious, but the artwork probably reminded her of home. He suspected that all her weapons and gadgets were cleverly stashed somewhere.

They situated themselves in her living room and shared a sofa.

"I have an extra bedroom where you can sleep." Natasha said. "You are free to use the kitchen and bathroom as you please. Sometime soon we'll go shopping to buy you civilian clothes."

"Thank you." Loki shifted uncomfortably. He wrung his hands as if he held an invisible cloth that needed to be dried. He needed to initiate the conversation somehow, but words failed him.

"Is something wrong, Loki?"

"Uh, no...I was going to ask you about tomorrow...about going out together."

He had planned to take her out tonight, but they had the Thanksgiving and birthday party instead. That meant tomorrow would be a whole day of just him and Natasha together, so Loki made no complaints about the change of plan.

He tried to remember what Steve had told him. "Captain Rogers had informed me of a fall festival at Manhattan Bay. It had been a tradition since the captain was a child. Are you interested?"

She nodded. "Sounds like fun. I...I've never been to a carnival."

"Me neither," Loki said with a smile.

They woke up early in the morning the next day. As promised, Natasha took Loki shopping at the New York mall. Knowing him, she picked out designer stores where he could find formal clothing. He preferred solid colors, mainly green and black, as he found the clothes with brands distasteful and gaudy. He didn't understand Midgardians' desire to wear clothes with someone else's name on it. He would not want to have "Abercrombie and Fitch" or "Hollister" emblazoned on his chest everywhere he went. On the other hand, Loki was very partial to scarves. Natasha told him it would look strange if he wore formal clothes all the time, so he picked out some simple yet decent polo shirts and jeans.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had supplied Natasha with enough money to buy everything Loki wanted. He was no careless spender, though. He had been choosy and was a gentleman to carry bags of his own purchases. Still, they were expensive. He returned to the apartment with Natasha, thinking of how much he had learned that day. Thor evidently had a lot of catching up to do when it came to Midgardian fashion.

During the evening, Loki and Natasha decided they would have dinner before heading to Manhattan Bay. They settled for a restaurant called the Flying Dutchman, known for serving the best shellfish dishes in Manhattan Bay. Because they were early, Loki and Natasha didn't have to deal with waiting for their seats.

It had been days since Natasha ate real food. Loki wanted to try something new and the best the restaurant had to offer, so he ordered a whole platter of boiled, seasoned crawfish. Natasha ordered stuffed crab, since she wasn't quite ready for hard food yet. As for drinks, Loki indulged himself with wine while Natasha had a glass of water.

His eyes twinkled when the food arrived. "I'm about to find out what makes these underwater insects so delicious to you Midgardians."

Natasha couldn't help but smile at his joke. "Here, I'll teach you how to peel off their shells. It's not that hard."

After one or two demonstrations, Loki learned quickly. Though Natasha told him to only eat the tails, Loki tried the head anyway. He took one crunchy bite, and with a grimace he didn't attempt to eat the rest.

"In Russia, crawfish would be eaten whole." Natasha said. "Except for the eyes and antennaes, that is."

He made a visible effort of swallowing before he replied, "I don't know how that's possible. It's like swallowing shards of glass!"

He removed the shells with quick, deft dexterity. As his fingers smoothly worked away, he continued making small talk with her.

"How does it feel to be out of the hospital?"

"Wonderful and refreshing. I feel like I've been finally set free."

"I'm very happy to see that you are getting better." Loki took a sip of cold wine to cool his burning mouth. "Your supervision over me is the only mission you have right now, I assume?"

"Yes. But if the Director wants me to do more, I'll be up for the job."

"I doubt it. About the Director asking you, I mean. I would think he wanted you to adjust before returning to your routine. He seems like a father figure to you."

That reminded him of Odin, and Loki said nothing more on the subject. It made him somewhat sad, since he had heard of Odin many times but never had the chance to speak with him after his punishment.

Out of kindness, Loki offered her some crawfish he had already peeled. Despite his slender build, Loki possessed a surprisingly large appetite. Natasha noticed this with mild surprise. Eventually he finished his entire plate; only a neat mound of heads and claws were left. He even had room for a large bowl of chocolate pudding. He ate it with such enthusiasm that he looked like a child eating his Halloween candy. Of course, he remembered his manners and offered her some pudding. Natasha declined, since it was his to enjoy.

When it was time for the carnival, Loki watched Natasha pay for their tickets at the front. "We're not doing roller coasters tonight, so I just spent money for playing the carnival games." she explained.

"Fair enough. What shall we do first?"

"Let's explore for a bit. I'm sure there's quite a few things you're curious about."

Loki took in all the sights with amusement and curiosity. He saw a massive contraption with children riding on horses skewered on poles. They giggled and smiled as the "horses" bobbed up and down. He didn't understand why they would enjoy such a thing. It lacked the energy and excitement of riding real horses. At their age, he had already started riding Draugur. Natasha said the machine was called a carousel. Considering all the cars in the city, Loki concluded that horses did not hold as much cultural and practical significance as they had during earlier times.

He saw people walking around and eating boxes of small buttery puffs or sugary clouds. Some children had what looked like war paint all over their faces. A giant wheel, almost towering to the sky, carried passengers in its compartments so they could get a breathtaking view. Other machines were smaller and much faster. People lined up to be vaulted in the air, tossed upside down or spun around for good fun.

Loki watched a column-like machine take a ring of people straight up, then straight down. He felt his own stomach drop at the sight. Natasha was right not to pay for riding these "roller coasters." He would never let her ride in her current condition. Even if both of them could go, he wasn't sure if he wanted to ride.

But Loki was no coward. He had been through the Bifrost many times, of all things. These roller coasters were cheap imitations, nothing compared to the powerful and exhilirating surge of the Rainbow Bridge. Just because he had taken the Bifrost didn't necessarily mean he enjoyed it.

Loki and Natasha meandered through the boardwalk's area of carnival games. Children and adults alike were having fun trying their luck. What caught Loki's eye was a tall beacon that flashed lights of many colors. Underneath it was a large button. Loki and Natasha watched a thick, burly man step forward, hammer in hand. He swung it down with a confident grunt. The light dipped, then fell from the midway point. The man's shoulders slumped in disappointment. His young son patted him in consolation, then his eyes lit up with joy when the man gave him his prize: a small stuffed animal.

"Is this a game to gauge strength?" Loki asked with interest.

"More or less." Natasha replied. "The harder you hit that button, the higher the light will go."

"I will give it a try."

The line wasn't very long. After the big man, not many people were willing to go next. Eventually it was the couple's turn. The young employee took Loki's ticket and sized up the slender God of Mischief. "Good luck, man. You'll need it."

Loki exchanged a secret smile with Natasha. "Oh, I'm sure I will do just fine."

He took up the hammer and weighed it carefully in his hands. He tried to imagine the way Thor would bring down Mjolnir, the way its big, mighty swing would kill many upon impact. Loki reeled back and slammed down the hammer. Not enough to smash the button into smithereens, but enough to do the job.

Bam!

Everyone, including Natasha, watched in awe as the light instantly ascended to the top. An applause rang out. Quite a few people happened to witness Loki's achievement. He turned, and with a little smile he bowed. He was able to choose any prize he wanted. Of course, he sought for the biggest and the best. Not for himself, but for Natasha.

He chose a giant stuffed teddy bear, roughly the size of Natasha's torso. She accepted it from Loki and gave him a grateful kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you. This means a lot to me." To his surprise, he caught a glimpse of wetness in her eyes. "I think I'll name him Mr. Boris," she said.

They continued their stroll through the boardwalk, with Natasha's arm wrapped around the bear and her other hand entwined with Loki's. They spent time at the plaza for a few minutes, watching a juggling performance involving fire and knives. Loki had seen his share of extravagant demonstrations in Asgard. But he was surprised to see such dexterity and skill coming from ordinary mortals. As he watched the flame-wreathed blades twirl and dance in the night, he was reminded of how often he tended to underestimate humanity. Of course, Loki had paid for that mistake with his defeat against the Avengers.

After the show ended, Natasha turned to him with a playful smile on her face. "Now it's time I owe you something. Let's head back to the games."

They stumbled upon a rifle shooting game in an indoor arcade. Even after weeks of being hospitalized, Natasha's precision was astounding. She handled the toy gun as if it were a sniper rifle.

Loki stared in awe at all the points she accumulated with every successful shot. "Wow...that was amazing."

She winked at him. "I didn't go to the hospital for my eyes."

Natasha returned the favor by letting him choose his prize. Of all the selections available, Loki liked the large, plush toy of a peculiar blue creature. He turned it over in his hands, noting the large ears and four arms.

"It's unlike anything I have seen among Midgardian wildlife. Is it a fictional animal, from one of those books or television shows?"

"Yes, he's called Stitch. He's a lot like you."

It had been a very fun night, but he could see that Natasha was getting tired. They left the amusement park to a quieter part of the carnival area.

There was just enough lamplight to illuminate the beauty of fall foliage. They rested on a gently sloping hill, facing the waters of Manhattan Bay. Beyond that, the lights of New York City gleamed faintly from a distance. It was the perfect view.

Natasha broke the silence. "This is probably what you haven't expected."

"What do you mean?" Loki asked softly.

"Well...you were a prince of Asgard. You must've grown up thinking that if you took romantic interest in a woman, there would be grand dinners, horse rides around the palace, gazing at the stars...that sort of thing. But here we are, going to a carnival, playing games, winning stuffed animals for each other-"

"And I've enjoyed every minute of it...every minute with you." Despite the darkness, Natasha could see the sincerity bright in his eyes. He squeezed her hand. "Someone once said to me...material things needed to be left behind to achieve a higher state of living. I understand now. I shouldn't care about what I have...it's who I have, the one I love, that truly matters. I could be dirt poor for all I know, but I would not care when I have you."

Loki moved down to plant a kiss on her lips. He loved kissing her. It was just the two of them, wrapped in the dark quietness of night and the embrace of each other's arms. A soft moan escaped her as his tongue lapped over hers in slow, gentle strokes. Her fingers worked over the buttons of his shirt. She unfastened two or three of them. Not enough to completely rob him of his shirt, but enough to let her hands slip through and touch his bare chest.

Loki's skin felt as cool as the autumn air. She felt the strength in his hands as he firmly yet gently straddled her hips.

Natasha's breath hitched when he gently pinned her down to the grass. His lips nipped at her neck, making a soft, cool trail that sent a pleasurable shiver down her spine. Her fingers in his black hair, her head filled with his scent and her eyes to the stars bright in the night sky...it all felt so good.

She lowered her gaze to watch his lips hover over her collarbone. He crept closer and lower. And just when she thought he would go farther, Loki flashed her a teasing glance before reaching up to kiss her on the lips. A cool autumn breeze blew. With her scarf and collar partially removed, Natasha shivered from the cold. Loki sensed this and hugged her closer to him. She expected his skin to be just as cold, or colder. But to her surprise, he felt soothingly warm.

'Did his body temperature just change?' she asked herself.

As if he had read her mind, Loki smiled down at her. "One of the many magic tricks up my sleeve. Feeling better now?"

"Yes, thank you."

He nuzzled against the crook of her neck and sighed in content. "I am so in love with you, Natasha."

"Love is for children," she replied teasingly.

"Then I am a very foolish child."

"...So am I."

The romance will continue next chapter! Yay! Comments, questions, concerns...feels? You know what to do. ;)