Chapter 6

The sunlight streamed in from the windows to the left of Barton's bed. He could hear his rooster crowing in the morning sunlight. He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms tighter around the person who was sharing his bed. For once Barton didn't want to get up, he was comfortable and there wasn't this nagging feeling of danger just over his shoulder. That feeling had been there with his wife but the man in his arms, made him relax as no one else could. Maybe it was because Barton knew Loki could fight if pressed, maybe it was because Barton was confident that Loki wouldn't let anything near the farmhouse. In any case, Barton's mind hadn't been this settled in a very long while.

He leaned over and kissed Loki's neck, feeling the man stir and sigh happily. Barton loosened his grip and Loki rolled over to face him. They shared a languid kiss.

"Good morning," cooed Loki, "I dare say I much prefer waking up like this." He caressed Barton's cheek as they kissed again. "It's like a fairy tale… I never thought I could be this content."

Barton chuckled, "I know what you mean. I've never wanted to just stay in bed in the morning. But with you here… it feels like the world isn't out to get me anymore."

Loki caressed Barton's cheek gently giving him a sympathetic look. "Even if it is, we'll face it together. I won't abandon you again, I swear it."

"Loki… you didn't abandon me, I abandoned you." Barton was surprised when Loki shook his head. "But I was the one-"

Loki pressed his fingers to Barton's lips. "No, you were freed from its control, you didn't remember a thing, I was the one who gave in, I could have fought it, I could have stopped all that destruction, all those people…"

Barton pulled Loki's hand away from his mouth. "Don't do that to yourself. You were under its control just as much as I was. You fought it as much as you could. Don't blame yourself for what happened, you were merely a tool for someone else."

"Thanos… I may have been the one who found the stone… but he was the one who offered me an army, offered me a way to fulfill a glorious purpose. As if being King of a charred world of scared people is any sort of glory. Or maybe I didn't want to be king… maybe I just wanted to see the world that my brother loved so much destroyed," said Loki. He was unsure and riddled with guilt.

"Do you hate Thor that much?"

Loki shook his head. "No… even then I didn't hate him but envy… I was envious of him. He had friends who adored him and our father's pride. And when I discovered what I am, why I never felt like I belonged. It broke me, it felt like my whole life was a lie, just some story cooked up the control me and I wanted to break free. Odin must've slaughtered my family and yet he took me and raised me… he said it was because I was simply a baby and was innocent of my people's misdeeds, but for some reason, those words felt hollow like they were just more lies to keep me in line."

Barton gave Loki a sympathetic look. "When I was very young, my parents died in a car accident. I lived in an orphanage for six years. It was quite frankly awful, there was never enough food and the Nuns beat us whenever we stepped a toe out of line. My brother and I ran off to join the circus. They took us in. For a long time, we had a family, it's where I learned archery. Unfortunately, someone betrayed us and I had to leave. I traveled for a long while from circus to circus until I met Natasha. She wasn't exactly on the right side of the law at the time. She let me come with her when I wouldn't stop bothering her; we worked together for a long time for any buyer until Director Fury found us. He knew what we had done but he said that all of that could be forgiven if we joined SHIELD. I was tired of running so I did, eventually, Natasha did too. Through SHIELD I met Stark, Coulson, Steve, Banner, and Thor: the Avengers, we've grown close, like a family. None of us have had stellar relationships with our parents but we support each other. I've always believed that if you choose your family, you have no idea when people will come in and out of your life. Your family is the people who chose to stay with you for as long as they can, the people you want with you."

Loki blinked, feeling warm trails running down the side of his face. He felt Barton brush away the tears. "I've been foolish, just because we do not share blood . . . even then my brother was simply trying to get through to me. He wanted me to come home."

Barton held Loki close, "It isn't too late. I don't think Thor ever really lost faith in you. He can travel freely to earth now. Stark and Barnes saw to that. We just need to get a message to him. I believe he has been searching for you when he can. You disappeared off of everyone's radar for so long."

Loki gripped Barton tightly. "Yes, I know . . . I hadn't meant to get captured, I'm not even really sure how they managed it. I just sort of woke up there." Loki's voice caught and he shook his head. "Those are all just bad memories now, no reason for bringing them up. But yes, if I could, I would like to see my brother again."

"I'll make the call," assured Barton before he kissed Loki. He felt Loki's arms tighten around him and they kissed for a long while. He could feel Loki's need for intimacy and reassurance that he was somewhere safe, somewhere he could belong. "We can be a family too," murmured Barton before kissing Loki again. He looked into the man's eyes for a moment before kissing him heatedly. It didn't take long before they were making love once again.

Barton panted as he lay on top of Loki. He had never felt so frenzied during sex, not even last night when they had their first-time several times over. He sighed and kissed Loki's cheek. "You alright?"

"Mhm," hummed Loki, his whole body humming with the lingering pleasure of their act. He ran his fingers through Barton's hair. "You're quite amazing," he complimented.

"I'm glad you think so, maybe I'm lucky you have no one to compare me to," Barton teased as he pulled out and slipped from the bed.

Loki sat up and watched Barton grab a towel to wipe off. "Even if I did, I wouldn't do such a crass thing."

Barton chuckled. "You are more proper than most," he replied, tossing the towel in the hamper and heading into the ensuite bathroom.

Sliding out of bed, Loki followed the archer. "Have you had many others?" he asked curiously. "Do I pale in comparison to them?"

Barton looked up from laying out a towel on the bathroom floor. He saw Loki's pout and shook his head. He crossed the room and pulled Loki into his arms. "Before you, I had only been with women and there is no comparison needed there. Loki, you're the only male I've ever been interested in. You're special, you needn't be jealous or worried about anyone else."

"Not even the redhead?"

"Natasha? No, there's nothing there romantically between us. Besides, I would have one angry green monster on my heels if I tried that," explained Barton.

"But if Banner was not into-"

Barton silenced Loki with a kiss. "No, Loki. It's just you, you're the only one I want. I can say that with confidence because I almost lost you. I didn't know what I was going to do if you never woke up from that coma. You're it, I don't want anyone else." He kissed Loki again, "I care for you very deeply and I will never betray you. Trust me." He caressed Loki's cheek.

Loki put his hand over Barton's and leaned into the caress. "Okay, no more jealousy. I trust you."

"Good, now take a shower with me." Barton tugged Loki into the shower, getting a little dirtier before getting clean.

Loki set the second plate of red lentils, rice, and salmon on the table as Barton walked into the house, he was drenched in sweat and dirt. Loki looked at him very confused and Barton grinned at him and washed his hands.

"Why did you shower if you were just going to go out there and get all dirty again?" he asked.

"Because I wasn't ready to leave you for my chores," said Barton drying his hands with a towel. "Something smells good. I didn't know you could cook."

Loki flushed, "It's not like it's hard . . . and we haven't eaten anything and you were out there for nearly three hours. I had to do something with myself. One can only drink so much tea."

"Sorry, I would have let you come help but Fury said that you should stay inside for at least a week, so we can make sure that no one is looking for you or at least caught wind that you are here. Not that I think anyone has, I wasn't pursued from the island and you were in SHIELD medical for nearly a month. Personally, I think Fury is being overly cautious but he is the boss, I suppose it's his prerogative to be that way." Barton sat down at the table in the kitchen. He took a deep breath of the aroma of the fish. "Smells divine," he complimented before digging in.

Loki sat down in the chair across from him. "I hope you like it, though I don't know if you are even tasting it, eating that fast. Should I have made more than this?"

Barton swallowed and shook his head. "No, this is good. Just starving after skipping breakfast and doing all that work."

Loki smirked and said, "Well, you weren't hungry for food this morning."

"Careful or I might put you up on the counter with a cheeky look like that," teased Barton.

Loki rolled his eyes and dug into meal. When the plates were clear, Barton did the dishes quickly before going upstairs to have another shower. Loki poked around downstairs and soon found a record player. He fiddled with it and was a bit surprised to see that it still worked. It some more searching but soon he found a crate of records. He looked through them before finding one that looked interesting.

He set the record in place and moved the needle. Soft music filled the room. Loki smiled and turned up the sound. The dulcet tones of Bing Crosby filled the room as the man sang about new love. Loki stepped away from the record player and squeaked as he bumped into someone. He whipped around, his heart leaping into his throat but he calmed when he saw that it was Barton.

"You startled me," scolded Loki.

"Sorry, occupational hazard," Barton replied. "Did know you liked the classics."

Loki shrugged, "I just picked something that looked good, I don't know any music from Midgard. And it's not like you have music from my realm."

"Do you know how to dance?"

"Only traditional dances of my people," explained Loki.

Barton pulled Loki into his arms. "It's not too hard. I'll teach you."

He started to sway with Loki before teaching him a basic step. Soon they were moving around the living room together. Loki lay his head on Barton's chest. "This is quite lovely… I keep worrying that I'm going to wake up."

"Do I need to pinch you again?"

Loki laughed and shook his head. "No, I'll put those thoughts out of my mind. Thank you."

They danced until the record was finished. Barton retreated to the kitchen for a moment to open a bottle of wine and Loki searched for another record to put on. He found one and sweet jazz filled the house. He wandered into the kitchen and accepted the glass of white wine from Barton. He took a sip and squeaked as Barton pulled him in for a kiss.

"You're quite the romantic, I think," murmured Loki.

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I like it."

There was an insistent knock at the door and Barton sighed. He set his glass down on the island and went to the door. He opened it and leered at the man on the other side of the door.

"What do you want?" He growled at the SHIELD agent that stood at his door. Loki curiously joined him at the door, wrapping his arms around his middle.

"Sir, there is a man who is requesting access to the farm. He says that he wishes to speak with Loki," the agent reported.

"How did he know that Loki was here?" Demanded Barton. Loki tried to peer out of the door to the main gate but Barton pushed him back.

"I don't know, sir. I told the man that he was mistaken and that there is no one by that name here. He asked to speak with the owner so I came to get you," replied the Agent.

Barton sighed. He turned to Loki. "Stay here… please."

"Be careful, if I feel something is off. I'm coming to help," replied Loki.

"Agreed," said Barton leaning in and kissing Loki. "I'll be back."

He followed the agent out of the house and to the man gate. A man was standing there, older and bearded with an eye patch. He was wearing a long brown trench coat and held a sleek black cane with a large Sapphire on top.

"I'm the owner of this property, how can I help you?" Asked Barton as he approached.

The man looked up at Barton. The archer's eyes widened and he knew this was Odin.

"I would like to see my son," the god demanded.