The theme song for this chapter is "Madness" by Muse, although another Muse song is featured in it.

Chapter 35: Apologies and Good Music

Exactly ten minutes later, after Tony had lent him a set of riding leathers that were only slightly too small, Loki made his way to the roof of Stark Tower. Jarvis had gladly told him of her location, and he had waited only at Fury's suggestion. Of course, she had chosen the corner of the roof where she had stood, with his scepter, and ruined all his beautiful plans. He didn't think it was a coincidence.

He tried to steal upon her quietly, but apparently she still beat him at that. "Unless you told another lie, I don't want to talk, Loki."

"Natasha…" He said softly, pouring all of his charm into one word.

She sighed, but then laughed. "Nice, very nice. That would probably melt the panties off of any other girl, but I'm afraid you're going to have to do better with me."

Loki stopped, and put his hands behind his back. "Why do you prefer the company of my female form?"

Natasha failed to be derailed by the sudden change in tack. "Well for one thing, she's not trying to get in my pants. Or playing at Peeping Tom."

Loki did an awful job trying to hide a smile, but said nothing.

"Also, she is my friend. I trust her. Or I did." Natasha said darkly.

"If I remember correctly, your lack of trust in me is actually a point in my favor," he grinned cheekily.

Natasha threw her hands up in the air with a sound of disgust. "This is why, Loki! I can have a straight conversation with her! With you it's always jokes and tricks. I'm sick of it." She walked off a few steps, and sat down on the edge of a platform, staring off towards the Chrysler building.

Loki frowned. Perhaps she was right. He walked over and sat next to her. She glared at him, but didn't move away when she saw his serious expression. He sighed heavily. "I came up here to apologize to you. And I botched that up too." He looked over at the silver skyscraper which reminded him so much of home.

"You see, I'm very good at ruining things. It's my particular gift, I suppose. I'm not so good at making things work. But I'm trying." He looked to her, his heart in his throat. He'd never risked revealing himself so except when he was trapped in his human, female form. But it seemed to work for Her….

Natasha looked him in the eye for a long, tense moment, and then looked away. "Ok. I accept your apology, because I get that's a big deal for you. But I'm still angry."

Loki shifted, leaning back on his palms. "It wasn't supposed to turn out like that," he said.

"Your apology?" She regarded him with one eyebrow lifted.

He chuckled. "No, the prank. I just… I wanted your phone to… remind you of me all day. Drive you crazy the way you do to me. I never considered the repercussions of others hearing those songs. They were for your ears only."

Natasha frowned a little. "Well even if you were going for some kind of mix-tape, some of those songs are pretty fucked up, Loki."

He shrugged. "Comes with the territory, I'm afraid."

She shook her head. At least he was honest about it.

"Look, you're still angry at me, right?"

"Yes," she said sullenly.

"And you probably came here on your bike?"

"Yes."

"You shouldn't drive that when you're angry," he warned.

"I'll take one of the cars, pick it up tomorrow."

"Let me drive you home instead. As my apology." He slid a hand over hers very cautiously, allowing her to pull away if she liked. She didn't.

"You want me to climb on a bike and wrap myself around you while I'm still pissed?" She said sarcastically.

"What can I say? I like living dangerously."

She thought about it a moment. "And then what? When you've taken me home, what happens then?"

His smile turned devious. "Well, perhaps I could find some other ways to apologize."

She sighed heavily and leaned her head against the crossbar of the railing. "This is all just another ploy to get me, isn't it?"

"No. That's just a fringe benefit. I really do want to make it up to you." He frowned a moment. "Maybe… maybe this is all less than we're making of it. Maybe we should just… get it out of our systems?" He asked hopefully.

She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Do you really believe that?"

Loki said nothing, shrugging.

"You can't bluff this, Loki. You have to answer." She found herself halfway wishing he would lie to her.

He let out a long breath. "No. I'm just arrogant enough to think that if I can just get inside your head, you won't want me out." He smiled a little, and she returned it.

"Well at least you're trying to get into my head now. That's a step up. Alright, I'll take you up on the bike ride. Nothing more." She stood up, brushing gravel off her hands.

He stood as well. "May I borrow your iPod?" he asked.

She frowned at him, suspicious.

"Please, let me try to do this the right way." He held out his hand.

Natasha was tired of fighting. She fished it out of her jacket pocket and handed it over. While they rode the awkward elevator down, he quickly queued up a playlist just long enough for the ride home. He initiated the synchronization app and kept one of the pairs of earpieces for himself before handing the rest back to her.

She grabbed her helmet on the way out the door. "I don't have one for you with me…."

"No need." Loki rapped a fist against the side of his head. "If Bruce hasn't given me brain damage by now I doubt that a little crash will."

She laughed a little, and put the helmet on. He climbed onto the bike, and waited as she got on behind him, trying not to relish the feeling too much. It wouldn't do for him to be driving distracted either.

She started the iPod and then slipped it back in her zippered jacket pocket, sliding her arms around him to signal she was ready. She had to admit, she could think of worse figures to cozy up to. He started the bike, merging into traffic and making his way back to the SHIELD housing. As they sped along the streets of New York, the electronic stylings of Muse filled her mind. Mathew Bellamy crooned, begging her to tell her if he was mad. It fit, too, too well. There were a few other instrumental pieces, some jazz, some classical, and then as they were coming close to their destination, Muse returned. It wasn't a song she was familiar with; she didn't even know it was on her iPod. She listened carefully to the lyrics.

I know you've suffered, but I don't want you to hide,
It's cold and loveless; I won't let you be denied

Soothing, I'll make you feel pure,
Trust me, you can be sure

I want to reconcile the violence in your heart
I want to recognize your beauty is not just a mask,
I want to exorcise the demons from your past,
I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart

You trick your lovers, that you're wicked and divine,
You may be a sinner, but your innocence is mine

Please me, show me how it's done,
Tease me, you are the one

I want to reconcile the violence in your heart,
I want to recognize your beauty is not just a mask,
I want to exorcise the demons from your past,
I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart

It was a beautiful song. She should never have let him play it to her.

Loki showed no signs that he was listening to the same music, except for at one stoplight, where he let his hand rest gently on her knee, tracing a small circle on the inside with his thumb. It was done so casually, Natasha wondered if he was even aware of it.

Once they reached the apartment, they said nothing as they dismounted the bike and made their way to Natasha's rooms. After she opened the door, he paused and took her hand, kissing it quickly, courteously, the image of a polite gentleman.

"I hope you have a good night, my lady."

She blinked at his choice of words. He sounded more like his brother than himself. When he began to walk away, she stopped him. "What? You're not even going to try?"

He smiled a little. "You said no. I have been lectured at length by several members of the team as to what that means here."

There was a moment as they stood staring at each other in silence. It seemed to last an age, an eternity, as many things changed between them. Loki could almost feel Morpheus as a palpable presence in the hallway.

At last Natasha broke it, grabbing the front of his shirt. "Get in here," she said tersely.

A/N: *cackles maniacally* I don't really need to tell you what's going to happen on Saturday, do I? Tee hee hee.

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story—I try to respond to every one, but many of them are made by guests, so I can't. I deeply appreciate it, each one brings me a little gem of happiness. I looked at the rated M BlackFrost fics on here the other day and was surprised to find that this story ranked #9 in reviews. (It also ranks #18 in follows!) I am so tickled that so many people have such nice things to say about this story. Hopefully you like this chapter—I know you'll love Saturday's!