"Natasha!" Loki casually saunters over to her cubicle and knocks on the entry's frame. She turns in her chair, throwing him a sour glare. "You haven't responded to any of my invitations," he begins. "Dinner. Sunday night. I know we planned for Saturday, but there is a gallery I wish to visit that evening."
She's been deliberately avoiding him the past few days, and in the process, gaining an extra two pounds due to dining out for every meal. Her measures are a tad extreme, but it feels better than tasting her own stomach acid. "Okay," Natasha bitterly agrees. "But why not make it a party? Stark's been wanting to meet James."
"I see no harm there," he grins. "We might as well invite our other friends to join."
"That includes Nick?"
"He raved over the first meal I served him," Loki chuckles. "He will be thrilled."
The cards are now in Natasha's favour, and now Nick will be a firsthand witness to Loki's criminal acts. "Did you set a time?"
"I was thinking seven."
"How about I help you out?" she offers. "I'm free all day."
Loki shakes his head and smoothes the front of his jacket. "Leave the kitchen duties to me… However, James will need a ride."
"Perfect," she affirms. "I'll give him a call later."
Loki unbuttons his dark jacket before slipping his hands into his pockets. "He will be very happy to hear that. You know, Natasha," he hesitates. James has become quite fond of you."
"I pulled him out of jail," she replies. "He should be grateful."
"I mean," Loki hesitates. "Romantically."
Natasha sits in silence. She can't trust anything he says. For all she knows, he's lying through his teeth in hopes of getting James to slip her a necessary dose of medication. "I'll talk to him."
Loki notes the lack of enthusiasm in her voice. "Very well, then." He chooses to end the discussion there and bids his co-worker a farewell.
"You never showed me a picture of Tony," James mentions as he stares out the car window. They received snow the previous night and James had almost forgotten how much he admired seeing the jagged brown mountainsides capped with cloud-like pillows of white. "You keep telling me to avoid the guy."
"Trust me, you'll know him when you see him," Natasha playfully warns. She's forewarned him about who's who on her team, from Stark to Rogers. "Just mingle with Barton. He's an easygoing guy."
"You're sure no one's gonna shove me down and arrest me?"
"Steve might if you lash out," she hints. "I'm not even sure who's coming. I only mentioned Stark and my boss to him."
"He mentioned Steve."
Natasha briefly glances at him as she passes a green light. "Does he ever mention me?"
James rubs his hands over his black dress pants. "He does."
"That's it? He's not talking smack, is he?"
"Loki's not that kind of guy," he shrugs. "He thinks that you're a good influence on me."
Natasha flashes him a quick smirk. "Good to know."
"He also mentioned you've been sick."
The lying bastard, Natasha thinks to herself. "I've felt better the past few days. Must've been a stomach bug."
James is terrified to bring up her phone call from earlier in the week. Hearing Natasha so angry and shouting accusations about drugging and poisoning her made him wonder that something serious was wrong with her. She's fine. "At least you feel better… You'll eat tonight, right?" he carefully asks.
"Of course, James," she vows, a small smile across her lips. "I feel better than ever."
"I've got a fridge like this," Tony brags as Loki sets out appetizers on his kitchen's island. "Never use it as vigorously as you, but hey, I love the little touch screen on it!"
"Have you ever cooked a day in your life, Tony?" Steve quips.
"I have a cook for a reason, Rogers," he grins, patting his co-worker on the shoulder.
James and Natasha keep to themselves as they sit at the barstools overlooking the kitchen. "I kinda like that Tony guy. He's funny."
"Tell me again once the evening's over." She sips her wine from a glass she poured herself.
Once Loki summons for everyone to have a seat, Natasha texts Clint wondering where he is. He replies a minute later with "movies." Bruce is also absent from the dinner. Natasha envies them for that. She purposefully steals the chair next to Steve and Nick claims the next available seat to her right. James sits directly across from her, right next to Tony.
"Are you sure we can't help you, Doctor?" Nick offers.
"Not at all, Nicholas!" Loki promises. "Please relax while I get dinner plated!"
Natasha has no qualms against Loki's "plating." Her team has a strategy-one that James and Loki are completely blind to.
"Ladies first," Loki announces with a plate resting on his palm and another skillfully balanced on his forearm. He circles the table to present Natasha with her dish, followed by Nick.
The second Loki turns his back, Tony engages James in conversation. Natasha carefully lifts her plate and Nick does the same. They quietly swap plates and not once does James suspect anything. Steve is the next to be served, followed by Tony who is still chatting with James. Natasha does one final plate swap with Steve before Loki returns with the final two servings.
Loki takes his place at the head of his candlelit table and acknowledges each of his guests with a grin. "Thank you all for joining me this evening. Tonight's dish includes sautéed calves liver with caramelized onions, and a side of quinoa and asparagus."
"Fancy work, Doc," Tony compliments as he raises his knife and fork.
"I hope you all enjoy," Loki replies. "Shall we toast? To friends," he suggests.
Each guest raises their glass. "To friends," they agree.
As she sips her wine, Natasha wants to laugh at the bittersweet irony. Loki will see how many friends he has after medication is found mixed into her dinner.
"Delicious as expected, Loki," Nick compliments after taking his first bite.
"You are quite welcome!"
"I was never big on liver, but good stuff, buddy!" Tony adds.
"Just be sure to save room for dessert," Loki hints with a wink.
Natasha looks forward to whatever sweet treat Loki has prepped. She knows she'll enjoy it all the more knowing that she won't be living in fear over being poisoned.
"I hate to be rude, Lokes, but do you have any doggy bags?" Tony requests once all plates sans his and Nick's are licked clean. "This'll be great for lunch tomorrow."
"One for me, as well," Nick adds.
"Of course. I'll bring containers out with dessert.
Tony nods in Natasha's direction and she mouths him a "thank you." Knowing that her dinner was safe, she gladly accepts an individual square of homemade tiramisu and black coffee (both things she swapped with Nick, then Steve).
James and Steve insist on helping with cleanup, but Loki denies their assistance.
"I promised to have you home before ten, James," Natasha reminds him. "8:51," she warns. Thanks to Loki, his handlers chose to be lenient with his curfew for the evening.
"Oh," he breathes. "Yeah. Sorry, Doctor, but thank you for dinner." He gives the host a friendly handshake before approaching Natasha's side.
They are first to leave, but the others are soon to follow.
"I hope you're feeling okay," James tells her as his seatbelt clicks into place.
"I think the whole stomach bug is over and done with," Natasha comments with an eye roll.
"That's good." He absently rubs his left hand. "Hey, Natasha…"
"Hmm?"
"You want some coffee when we're back at my place?" he offers.
Natasha laughs. "We just had some."
"Right," he nods. "Right."
"Something wrong?" she wonders, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
James keeps to himself and mentally counts the houses the car breezes past.
"James." Natasha will keep pushing until he gives her an answer. "Is it Loki?"
"It's always Loki with you," he drones.
"He's the number one pain in my ass," Natasha complains.
"You sure?"
"What exactly is he saying about me?"
"Nice things," James admits.
"That's vague, Barnes."
James licks his lips as he stares down at his folded hands. "I guess… He did say something you might not like. He claims he can read you like a book."
"Please!" Natasha scoffs, fingers tightening around the wheel.
"So." He stares at her profile and pauses. "You're not into me?"
Loki mentioned romance to her just the other day. She can't help but feel suspicious that he's pulling some strings. "You're a good man, Barnes," she states.
He blinks, searching for any signs of interest in her face. "I'm a criminal."
"Not anymore," Natasha warns, shooting him a quick glare.
"Then you'll consider me?"
"I'm not looking for a boyfriend, James."
"How about a date?" he hopefully asks. "Dinner, just us. One night only." Natasha's silence is deafening. Defeated, he turns to face the window for the remainder of the drive.
Natasha parks in the farthest available spot and removes the keys from the ignition. The air stills as the tension grows stronger. "One night," she reiterates. "But I'm warning you." She gives James a severe glare."I'm not looking for a boyfriend."
A small smile plays across his lips as a faint glow cascades across her face. "Can I change your mind?" he boldly wonders, unlocking his seatbelt.
"Push it, and I take back di-…"
He roughly presses his mouth against hers, but the attempt is short lived.
She bites down on his lower lip, forcing him to pull his face away. "Don't do that again!" she hisses.
James' brows furrow in dejection. "Sorry," he hollowly mumbles.
"I like you more when you're not being a jackass."
He tastes blood on his inner lip. "That was a dick move," he agrees.
"Go call your handler and thank him for the late night," Natasha orders.
James refuses to budge.
"James!" she snaps.
"Loki's not doing anything!" he erupts, smacking her car door with his right hand. "I'm acting on my own, Nat, Jesus!" he shouts.
"I never said this was about Loki."
"Everything's about Loki to you!" he retorts. "You get sick-must be Loki!"
"I have evidence, James!" she yells back.
"Well, fuck him! I'd like you even if the guy never existed!"
Natasha pauses, searching his dark eyes for any traces of a lie. "He hasn't told you to give me anything?"
James smacks the door again. "Fucking hell! No!"
"James." She continues to observe him, unblinking. "I'll trust you."
He takes a sharp breath, his blood boiling over her bizarre accusations.
"Now you can kiss me."
He heavily exhales through his nose.
Natasha draws her legs close to her body and leans forward, grabbing James by the shoulders so she can kiss him.
James reaches for her knee and runs his fingers against her black slacks. "Come inside," he murmurs.
She breaks the kiss and gently pats his cheek. "I don't think so." What he's after doesn't appeal to her tastes.
"Please," he begs, kissing the corner of her mouth. "Just five minutes."
Natasha agrees, only to ensure that he checks in with his handlers.
"Thank you for letting me stay out." James' rehearsed thank you sounds like a teenager talking to his parents.
Natasha waits on his couch until he ends the call and plops down beside her. "I'll let you go now."
"One more kiss?" he smirks.
She indulges him with a kiss on the cheek.
"No." He gingerly grabs her wrist when she stands and pulls her back down to give her a proper kiss.
"James," she groans against his lips. His body pushes hers against the cushions and she knees him in the side. He ignores her, his tongue too busy fighting to get past her teeth.
"Please, Natalia…"
Her body freezes as James' voice takes on Loki's silky tone.
Their lips part and Loki is smiling at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Natasha's throat constricts. She's dreaming. She knows she is.
"Everything is about Loki," he chuckles, slipping a hand up her shirt.
All Natasha can do is shoot him a harmless glare.
"James deserves to know that truth…" His fingers dip into her bra so his middle finger can tease her nipple that stiffens beneath his touch. "I am always inside that pretty little head of yours." He brings his mouth to hers, a hand roughly squeezing her breast.
Natasha moans when he lowers his hips to teasingly grind against hers.
"Admit that I have consumed you." His lips trail across her cheek until they reach her ear. "Darling."
She grabs fistfuls of his long dark hair and yanks until he gives her a subtle whimper. "Fuck you!" she growls.
Loki clicks his tongue as he allows his hand to run down her side. "What a filthy mouth you have."
Natasha scowls as his fingers tug at her pants. She struggles to break away, but Loki isn't willing to let her escape. You're dreaming, Romanoff, she reminds herself. The thought isn't of any comfort. She'll be damned if Loki takes advantage of her in another dream. He yanks down her slacks, then unzips his own pants. Natasha turns her head sideways to avoid his smug grin. She discovers that she isn't in James' apartment in this dream. She's somewhere unknown with cream walls and a built-in fireplace.
"Natalia, look at me."
She refuses to indulge him.
"Natalia!" He grabs her throat and squeezes until her narrowed eyes meet him. "Where is James, Natalia?"
He loosens his grip as her mouth gapes open. James.
"Have you seen him? He must be lost…"
"He was just here," she whispers.
"And yet you didn't stop him," Loki taunts. "Where…" His fingertips trail down to the apex of her thighs. "Can he be?" The tip of his middle finger circles her clit.
Natasha squeezes her eyes shut.
"You are responsible."
She instinctively raises her hips to meet his touch.
"So concerned for me that you fail to notice him…" He slides a finger into her entrance and a cry breaks her silence. "Thank you," he murmurs, reveling in her heat. "You have played into my favour…"
Natasha throws her head back as he caresses her inner walls. It only takes seconds until she's seeing white. Then red, then blue, red, blue…
"Romanoff!"
Nick's blurred face hovers over hers. She starts to blink until her vision clears.
"She's conscious!" he shouts to someone out of Natasha's view. Nick carefully reaches out to touch her cheek. "Natasha, can you tell me the last thing you remember?"
She turns her head to find blue and red lights filtering through James' blinds.
"Have you seen him? He must be lost…"
Natasha bolts up, panting as she whips her head back and forth.
"Natasha, easy!" Nick urges.
"Where's James?!" she demands.
Fury snaps his fingers and an officer approaches. "The police received his call at nine forty-two," he explains. "Eight minutes later, this set off a warning signal." The officer presents a thick black ankle bracelet. "The signal stopped after three minutes," Nick continues. "Police called the house, no answer."
Natasha eyes the bracelet in disbelief. "He removed it…"
"And he put it on you," Fury warns.
Natasha's jaw drops.
"We knocked, but there was no answer, ma'am," the officer adds. "We forced the door open and found you passed out right here."
"I…I don't remember passing out," she stutters.
"There's bruising on the side of your head." Nick carefully reaches out and feels for a lump on the right side of her head. "You were knocked out. You've also got marks around your neck."
Natasha raises a hand to her throat and feels Loki's cool grip lingering. "This wasn't James."
Nick knows she's ready to say Loki, and he's in no mood to hear it. "I've got Banner and Stark testing the food as we speak. But right now, I'm taking you home."
Natasha quickly turns to the officer. "You have no clue where he is?"
"They're en route to Loki's," Nick promises. He removes his coat and offers it to Natasha.
She wants to think that James is holed up in one of Loki's many rooms, maybe even scrunched up in a cabinet.
But Loki's clever.
Loki will know what's coming…