Not much after she announced her pregnancy, Pepper started to train Faustine to take her place when she would start her maternity leave. Between the intense workload and Peter, that clung to her even more, she had almost no time to herself.

All time alone available, Faustine used to work. She had eyes glued to a screen all day, everyday. Naturally, she would become stressed. Before leaving for the weekend, after staying to do some overtime, Loki slithered into the room she was working.

- how fortunate. - He said.

- Mr. Laufeyson. - she greeted, after releasing her temples she had been massaging for a few minutes before his entrance.

- have you thought?

- I have. - she confessed. - and yes. I am sure.

Loki grinned. He got closer to the table. He took a strand of her hair between his fingers, placing it behind her ear. On her right wrist he conjured a discreet but beautiful emerald bracelet.

Faustine smiled and looked into Loki's eyes. From this point forward she wasn't sure on what to do. She got her things, walked past the table and stood in front of him.

- good night, Mr. Laufeyson. - she said, voice smooth as silk.

The next couple of nights, Loki would come to her office to distract her from her work. They talked about themselves, she was still professional, keeping a polite distance from him. It bothered him, but he knew it was only a matter of time.

- why did you choose to work here? - he asked.

- the payment, of course. So I can pay my debt quickly. - she breathed out. - and you.

- me? - he got up from the couch he was lying.

- when you tried to destroy New York, I was watching the news. And there was you. The biggest crush since high school. - she said, laughing and hiding her face.

- then why are you still… so... professional?

- because of my debt. When I finally pay it. I will be free… free to do whatever I want.

- how much do you own the bank?

- 80,000. To my mother.

Faustine explained the nature of her debt. Told her about a failed marriage that she was left on the altar, how her groom fled with another, leaving all to her to pay, how she was jobless at the time and her mother paid for it all. She was well treated by her mother, but more than once the subject of the money was brought up. Working in low paying jobs didn't help, until her current position, who paid her generously, to keep secrecy of what she had to deal with.

Loki was sympathetic. Mortal reasons didn't interest him much. The one thing that he could relate to was the uncomfortable sensation of feeling like a burden. He was silent, very different from his usual self, making Faustine regret telling her story.

Silently, Faustine got up, grabbed her things and looked at Loki, he had his head down, fingers intertwined over his knees. With a low "good night", she left him to his thoughts, disappearing down the elevator before he could do anything.

The next week, Faustine worked at Peter Parker school, watching over the boy and scouting young talents from the science fair they were holding.

Faustine was relieved when she was back to the office, delivering her reports to Pepper, working for the Avengers and still talking to Loki.

One night that she had stayed late again, Loki was, once more, on her couch. She was just finishing some urgent reports while the god nibbled on some nuts and grapes.

- say… - Loki got up, to sit on the table. - how about we play a game?

- what kind of game? - she asked, mindlessly stretching her hand to get some grapes from the plate that Loki was eating from, without realizing that she touched his thigh. - I'm sorry!

- the game I was thinking of is for us to pretend nothing is happening, until someone realizes. - he held her hand on his leg. - Not that I want to hide. I just think that it would be entertaining to see their faces when they connect the dots.

Loki was right. It would be fun to see their look of surprise when they saw them together. It was a tempting proposition and he was still there, confident of their game.

- I agree. - she said and he shrugged, proud of himself. - let's play.

- I knew it. - he said excited. - that's why you are my favourite.

Their game started. At first it was so discreet that people thought that they were on bad terms. As days progressed they started to warm up to each other, not being as close as he would have expected, but at least now she talked to him without having a reason.