So badass Loki seemed to go over well. Thanks for the reviews, guys. As always, the support is awesome. About 150 people read this regularly, and even the 6 regs a chapter yields is nice to see.

-XXX-

"I like shrimp," I announce to the table as a whole. Neither fellow looks the least bit interested. I pop another in my mouth, chewing thoughtfully before saying, "The texture is hard to ignore, but aside from that-"

This is what I have been reduced to.

Bruce looks over the top of his quantum physics book. I get the message. Steve continues on his sandwich, staring at the surf. Over the last day both men have been distracted. Both have gotten increasingly tense. I don't pretend to know why, exactly, but I guess recently things with SHIELD have heated up - a lot. I never hear specific happenings any more, though.

We resume the meal in silence.

I'm picking at my fruit salad when a familiar noise breaks the sound of waves crashing against the shore and gulls. Like a torch flame starting up. We all look up instantly, recognizing the trademark noise of Iron Man. From across the perfectly blue skyline, the scarlet and yellow figure in bright armor appears to hover beside the patio. The gold mask slides back to reveal Tony, grim and fuming.

"He's coming," Stark says shortly. "Get her in lock down."

Steve rises. "When?"

"Does it look like I am the Loki D-Day countdown clock?" snaps the super hero, spreading his hands wide. "I don't know. I just know that he is - Fury called. It would appear someone inside SHIELD gave up the locale. He'll be here. How soon we have no idea, but better safe than sorry, huh? Get her on lock down!"

Banner turns to his partner. "You take her inside. I'll…the other guy will be waiting out here. Keep. Her. In. There."

My arm is suddenly in the steel grip of Steve Rogers, who is careful in hauling me to my feet. Leading me indoors, his face has turned to stone. As my mind has been in processing, I don't react right away. In fact, Tony is gone, a blip in the sky, when I finally tear myself from the Captain. I'm fairly certain he lets me do so, too. My back is to the wall, and his arms are iron bars on either side of me, caging me in quickly.

Eyes wide, I gape at him. "What will they do to him?"

"I don't know," Steve says quietly. "He's not exactly been kind to SHIELD lately."

Blindly, I duck to fling myself toward the nearest door. In a flash, Steve is there and I hit his very solid chest. Massive hands wrap around my wrists.

"Tati, you have got to stay in here. You heard what Bruce said. If he's about to blow any minute you don't want to be out there."

I strain uselessly against him, my entire body (which isn't tiny, by any means) pushing forward. "I can't let them - if he'll be hurt - he'll listen to me. Let me go, Steve!"

This was about the time Steve decided to lift me by the waist, hoisting me to his shoulder, and carry me from the door, heading toward the stairs. My fist pound into his back, meeting with solid muscle and an uncaring attitude. I sob aloud, hiccupping unattractively as I called for release. Blind, I frantically call out.

"No, Steve, I have to - they can't hurt him-damnit, he is just trying to…to…Steve, let me go, let me go…."

And so on. Once on the stairs, he stops in the middle to place me on the step above him, so we're eyelevel.

In a low voice, he says, "Whatever happens, whatever becomes of Loki, he will receive justice. If he seeks a truce, then no problem. But if he fights, Tatiana, no one can promise he'll make it out unscathed."

I'm no longer weeping, but blink tearily up at the Captain, comprehending his every word.

"This isn't fair," I whisper bitterly. Big, warm hands go to cup my face.

"He has killed, Tati," he tells me soberly. "Fairness is…a luxury now for Loki."

My eyes flicker over his. I don't want to believe this. Licking my lips, tasting salt, I stare into Steve Roger's pure gaze, and make a decision. Taking not a second more for consideration, I duck beneath his arms and fly for the door. The bigger man stumbles down the stairs in an attempt to retrieve me. But I am too fast. I make it to the door before I can be stopped.

Banner stands just below the deck, on the sands, staring at the horizon as if expecting a tsunami. I halt just behind him. He turns, surprised.

"You gave Steve the slip," he accuses.

At that precise moment, the Captain appears at the sliding glass door. Bruce waves him off. Then he turns back to me.

"You don't want to be around for the other guy," he warns. "Go in, Tati."

"No!" I cry passionately, surging forward. "He will listen to me. Now he'll listen! I'll make him listen, just…please, don't. He isn't here to cause trouble, only to - to -"

The doctor is sympathetic. "We're not about to hurt anyone without cause, Tati."

"Yes, but he'll give you cause. Don't let him. He is just here for me. Let me go to him, and you'll have your truce. SHIELD will have their truce."

"I cannot let you do that." My forearms are grasped ruthlessly. Uncharacteristic of Bruce. "Steve, take her in. Please."

I sink to the sand, taking Bruce with me. My eyes feel frozen. The spot where the dragon-snake ring sits on my finger flares with ice briefly. I look to the sky, feeling senseless and weak. Thin streams of wispy cloud line the blue. I feel myself fall fully into the sand, my bare skin brushing the soft white grains. There I lay until the dull steps of the Captain approach. Gentle hands scoop me up, and like a rag doll I flop against the wide chest of Steve Rogers.

In silence I am carried upstairs and laid on the bed. Steve kindly removes my shoes and pulls the duvet out from beneath me, so that I am covered. He tells me he will be in the hall, keeping guard. For a moment, he pauses, a though expecting a response. I simply shiver.

-XXX-

I dream. My settling swirls in a blaze of colour and noise before settling on an expansive plane of golden stone pillars. In the world outside, I see a gleaming city, and mountains in the distance, a sky the colour of lakewater. It is all very beautiful. I wander the vast space before my attention is caught by a light clearing of the throat. I spin, finding nothing. Another cough. Again, not a soul. When I turn back, I find myself nose-to-chest with a figure that looms over me. I scramble backwards.

Humor setting the line of his mouth, Loki Laufeyson observes me comfortably from the few feet separating us. He closes this distance with languid step, observing me at his leisure.

I breathe out slowly. "Loki."

His smile only grows. "My dear half-wit. I fear we've been parted too long."

I don't even think, just fall into him with relief on every inch of my skin. Strong arms, the wiry muscles I've long admired, tighten around me. I inhale pine and rain and something new, like sandalwood and smoke. His cheek skims my jaw, cold breath tickling, the barest hint of skin contact teasing. Silly of me, but I sigh –- a slight, airy sound. Too girly for my tastes, but I push back these thoughts. Loki. Loki….

"This cannot be real," I murmur against his cheek.

The god straightens slightly, pulling back. "Oh, but Tatiana…if it were…."

My face crumples. "Am I dreaming?"

"I am on my way," he says, gentle and serious. "And I cannot think but for thoughts of you. I had to see you once, before I issued my challenge."

"Don't -"

"You are a worthy enough prize," he assures me. "Do not be foolish. Stay under their care. I will return to you."

"No." I come closer. "I will return to you."

He smiles faintly. Thin pale lips press together of an unwilling accord, as if he is not yet ready to display any contentedness. "I look forward to it."

Chastely, he presses a kiss to my forehead. And then, all that was melts away.

-XXX-

Even outside, Bruce can hear the wet sniffles of his charge. With an open window, and his own tuned-in senses, she could be in the next room. Or next to him on the deck. He might wish as much, the doctor thinks wryly. "She would be too easy to fall in love with…."

But he wouldn't dare. Not with a madder-than-a-bag-of-cats Asgardian prince having long ago claimed dibs. And Bruce can understand why – with wide eyes, a curious nature, and curvaceous form that could rivals Nat's, Tatiana Deror is something of a intellectual beauty. Not one to turn Tony Stark's head, necessarily, but lovely in a more classic way. She is softer, sweeter than Natasha or Pepper; not a super hero, or a business woman, but someone far more comfortable in her own skin. It is truly no wonder the Trickster God might've fallen for – or at least, saw fit to claim – the passionate curator.

Especially if he'd suffered harsh words in his life. Tati's compassion was just another attractive feature. Or, as she put it herself, her "broken doll syndrome." Apparently, Loki was not the first emotionally skewed fellow to make an entrance into her good graces.

Banner knows she's not his for the keeping – hell, he would be surprised if she was still here by the time the sun rose. Loki's bloody path toward her will make sure of that, if nothing else will – but for a brief moment he imagines a time without the princeling god, without SHIELD. And he tries to see himself meeting her as a normal person would. On the street. In a coffee shop. On the subway. And maybe not even her, but someone else, someone right –

Whatever the morning brings, she'll be latched onto Loki either way. With that thought firmly cemented in his mind, Bruce focuses on the sniffles and sobs echoing throughout the beach, and begins the long journey into night.

-XXX-

Sunday I'll be leaving for camp. Hopefully I can update from there - I ought to have computer access. If not, then it'll be two dry weeks here...I am going to try to post 26 before then, probably Sunday morning. Anyway,s hope you guys have enjoyed this.

Oh, and I recently posted a Steve Rogers and Darcy Lewis piece. It's going to have a second chapter...sometime. It's not really slash, just sort of friendshippy. I like them both as people, but together is eh. Check it if you're interested.