Chapter Ten
Loki knocked on Arianna's bedroom door at exactly six-thirty. Within seconds she opened the door. Loki stood there staring for a few seconds because he'd never seen Arianna in anything other than casual clothes, but now she was wearing a black dress with bell-shaped sleeves and a flowy skirt that ended just above her knees.
She had straightened her hair and it was hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her cheeks were pink and her lips were glossy, but her face was otherwise void of makeup.
He'd noticed that her breath had caught when she'd noticed his makeover. He was just glad that he wasn't the only one who had put in an effort to look nice.
"You, um . . . actually look like a prince tonight," she said, having found her voice.
"Is that . . . good?"
"Yes."
Something loosened in Loki's chest then and he could breathe easy all of a sudden.
"Well, you look lovely."
He offered her his hand and she took it. She didn't seem nervous about that at least.
"So . . . what are we doing?"
"Chinese food, talking, perhaps a movie." Loki glanced her way as they began walking down the hallway. "Tony set up the floor below this one. I hope that's okay."
"It's fine. I didn't know we would be alone-alone."
"Are we ever really alone while Jarvis is online?"
"True." She squeezed his hand. "Sorry I'm being silly."
"You are not being silly. You're just nervous."
"I really am."
"Maybe it would soothe you to know that I, too, suffer from nerves at the present time."
"Really? But you're a prince."
"I was a prince," he said. "I'm only mortal here."
"Being mortal is okay," Arianna said, "if you give it a chance."
"That's what I'm trying to do," he said, his tone most definitely flirty.
Arianna grinned and Loki noticed her blush before she turned her head away. Her reaction made Loki feel as if he had a chance after all.
When they got to the room Tony had picked out for them, Arianna was surprised to see that a table had been set up. A deep red tablecloth covered it, and a flaming candle was seated on top. Two plates – fresh and steaming – of chicken and broccoli with rice and brown sauce awaited them.
"Did you do this?" she asked.
"The candle was my idea. I would've gone with a green tablecloth."
Arianna shook her head but smiled anyway.
"I don't know if I like Chinese food, but Tony said this dish is your favorite, so that is what I ordered."
"Thank you. This is nice."
Ten minutes into their dinner Arianna finally settled down. She even felt safe in knowing that Loki meant her no harm. She had felt it when she'd taken his hand earlier.
They were eating together, as they had done many times before. They were talking about normal things. Most importantly, there was no pressure coming from Loki at all.
They were just spending time together, and that was okay.
"I was surprised you actually went to Tony."
"In order to get what I wanted I had to. For me to get what I wanted, you had to have what you wanted."
After a brief pause, during which Arianna took a bite of rice, Loki shrugged.
"Stark and I have an understanding." Then with a small, self-deprecating smile he continued, "Besides, I really don't understand this . . . dating."
"That makes two of us."
After dinner, Loki and Arianna moved to the living room to find something to watch. Loki, not knowing what was good and what wasn't, told Arianna to pick something.
She chose a series called Sherlock and they watched the first episode. Loki decided he liked the show and would continue watching it in his own time. He found Sherlock Holmes amusing. Loki sympathized with him; he normally felt as if he were surrounded by morons as well.
"So this is a date? By Midgardian standards?" Loki asked once the episode was over.
"It's considered one, yes. It depends on what one likes to do."
"Is there something you would like to do? That we can do together?"
"We always do stuff together."
"You know what I meant. Together, as a date." A thought occurred to him suddenly. "Unless you've not enjoyed yourself."
Her eyes widened then, and Loki knew that Arianna had been enjoying herself.
"I usually enjoy the time I spend with you. I just didn't know what to expect from this, or what you expected of me."
"For you to be you. You being you is what made me fancy you. Why would I want anything different just because we're on a date?"
Arianna's face brightened as she smiled.
"I think I've been thinking about this way too much. Worrying about you being different because it's a date. Most guys I've been with only wanted . . . you know."
"What's beneath your clothes."
"Yeah. That."
"Well, maybe you just need better taste in men."
She shrugged. "I did agree to go on a date with an ex-villain, criminal mastermind."
Loki grinned at her playful banter. He wasn't even hurt by her words because he knew she hadn't meant anything by them.
"Ex-villain but not ex-criminal mastermind?"
"You still have the same brain. I just think you'll find better uses for it."
Loki hoped he wouldn't let her down.
Arianna soon found herself outside her bedroom door with Loki, much like the night before. He had walked her there, but unlike the night before, he hadn't tried to kiss her this time.
"You never did say what you would like to do," Loki said. "For our next date."
"Yes, I did. Just spend time with you. Besides, it's your turn to pick."
He must've been thinking about it already because he was quick to respond.
"I'd like to go outside. I have not been out since the last time with you."
Arianna realized he was right. He hadn't been outside since then. She hadn't really either aside from going out to visit hospitals. She hadn't been outside for fun in what felt like forever.
"You will have to pick the place, however, as I am unfamiliar with Midgard geography."
She grinned. She knew just the place to go.
"I'll get with Tony tomorrow to ask about transportation. We can go for coffee tomorrow and then take a walk. Night time is probably best. Less of a chance for you to be noticed and recognized."
"Great. Good night then, Arianna."
Arianna said good night too, confused when Loki just turned around and started walking towards his room. She also found herself disappointed. Wasn't he going to kiss her? Hadn't the whole point of the date been about him wanting to kiss her? And now he was just going to walk away?
"Loki, wait."
He turned back around. "Yes?"
"I . . ."
She moved forward, stopping when she was close enough to touch. Where had her fear gone? What had happened to the girl that had been so nervous about Loki trying to become intimate with her? Where had she gone and why wasn't she stopping her from doing this? She was only going to make a fool of herself doing this. She was no good at it. She was a horrible kisser. She could never get her mouth to move with someone else's. She knew that she would freeze if she actually let her lips touch his.
Only she didn't freeze. In fact, she came to life under Loki's attention. She had initiated contact, her hands pulling him down to her only to card her fingers through his silky black hair.
She hadn't planned on kissing him like that or for as long as it looked like they were going to, but she soon found herself requesting entrance to his mouth. He let her, and she scratched his scalp with her nails.
Loki was being so pliant, which wasn't like him, but she was glad he was letting her lead. Even when he placed his hands on her sides, he wasn't demanding anything. His fingers squeezed gently, but he seemed content with just this.
She pushed him against the wall, knowing the angle much have been hurting his neck, but she didn't want to pull away. She hadn't wanted to be trapped against the wall either.
Arianna was not used to this, the heat and the ache at her core. She was not used to wanting anyone. She'd never wanted anyone to ease the ache before. It had never been this intense.
She'd never been the one in control before either, and for it to be Loki that she was leading made it even better. He was always in control of himself and yet he'd let her come to him, had let her initiate whatever this was.
Loki moved his hands to her behind only to begin kneading the flesh there. Instead of freaking her out, it made her lean further into him.
"Loki." She gasped and pulled her mouth away. "Please, I –"
She what? Wanted to stop? No. Wanted to keep kissing him? Yes. Right then and there in the hallway? No. Did her body agree with her mind? Definitely not, but was she going to listen to her body? No . . . not even if she wanted to. Badly.
She pulled away fully then, slowly but deliberately. She wasn't rejecting Loki. She just couldn't do this here.
What had she been doing anyway? What was wrong with her? She didn't do things like that. Ever.
"I think . . . I think I'm gonna go now," she squeaked.
She refused to meek Loki's gaze until he lifted her chin. He pressed his lips to hers briefly before pulling back. He wasn't mad at her for stopping in the middle of things. Though his green eyes did appear glazed over.
There was a flush in his cheeks – a healthy one, not a fever flush – that went down his neck. It disappeared underneath his shirt, but Arianna knew his upper chest was probably pink too.
She had done that. With a sudden bout of giddiness, she quickly planted another kiss on Loki's lips. She nipped at him once before pulling away again.
"You want me," she said, happy yet terrified. Not in the normal way she felt terrified by intimacy, not in the way in which she thought she would be physically hurt, but terrified in the way that told her if she gave in and let Loki want her, care about her, it could emotionally damage her because she wanted him too, and she already cared about him.
"It was not my intention for this to happen," Loki admitted. "Though I am not at all sorry that it did."
She breathed in, held it for a few seconds, and then let it out.
"I'm not either, though I didn't expect to like it so much."
Loki grinned and looked smug, causing Arianna to shake her head.
"Don't let it go to your head, Loki. Good night."
Still warm and slightly out of breath, Arianna entered her room. She felt like a teenager, or what she thought a teenager should feel like after making out with someone they were obviously attracted to.
"Did you enjoy your date?"
At the sound of Natasha's voice Arianna quickly asked Jarvis to activate the lights in her room. Her friend was seated on the bed, right at the edge. She appeared to have been waiting there for a while.
"Hey, Tash. Been there long?"
"Maybe ten minutes. You didn't answer my question."
"Well, I – yes, I did. We ate and watched a show. Talked a bit, nothing too heavy."
Natasha nodded but also looked at her knowingly.
"I don't think you did much talking at all judging by the flush in your cheeks and your loss of breath."
"Tash!" This really wasn't Natasha's business. "We kissed. That's it."
"No. You went on a date without telling me." Tash stood then. "You always tell me in case you need a way out."
"We never left the building, Tash."
Arianna could see that Tash was kind of hurt that she hadn't been included in the list of people that had known about the date beforehand.
"If it makes you feel any better, you can be my potential way out tomorrow. Loki and I are going to get coffee and then go for a walk."
"No, you're not."
Natasha was in full agent mode now, so Arianna waited for an explanation.
"The building is being watched. Clint and I noticed recently. Tony has been made aware. It's not safe for you to leave."
"I've been stuck inside for weeks. You and Clint can be our security detail, but I need to get out."
Natasha frowned. "You mean Loki needs to get out."
"That too."
That wasn't the only reason there was, but now that Loki looked different and there was less of a chance of him being recognized, Arianna felt she could introduce him to the outside world. Something told her that he hadn't taken much in the last time he'd spent more than an hour outside.
"I just ask you to keep this in mind. He's forced people to do things they didn't want to. You don't –"
"I know what he did, and I know it wasn't fun for Clint, okay? What Loki did was wrong. I know that. But what Loki forced people to do is not the same thing as what David forced me to do. I don't appreciate the comparison."
Natasha's face remained blank aside from blinking once.
"I wasn't trying to compare. I was reminding you of what he's capable of."
"I've been in his head, Tash. I know what's in there." She sighed, suddenly exhausted. "Please leave."
She didn't want to dismiss Natasha like that. She knew Tash would be hurt even if she didn't let it show, but Arianna needed to be alone. Tash had gotten her to think about what Loki had done. He could be manipulative, she knew that. He could be cruel, though he hadn't been towards her since she'd gotten to know him better. He could also be funny and kind in his own way.
"I need to think," she told her friend. "I'll remember what you said. But you need to remember this, Tash. Loki wants what he wants and he's proven he'll do what he has to in order to get it. He wants me. He knows he can't be that way with me. He didn't even try anything tonight. He was on his best behavior. I kissed him."
"Hm." Tash opened the door. "Let me know before you leave tomorrow night."
Before she left, she turned and said, "Just be careful, okay? That's all I meant."
Loki lay in bed that night thinking about how well the night had gone. Arianna had been nervous at first, but she had settled quickly as she had begun to eat. He'd found the reason for her unease had been because of past experiences with men, but after she had realized he didn't want her to act any differently than normal she'd relaxed completely – enough to gain the confidence to kiss him.
She hadn't seemed too terribly experienced, but she'd more than made up for it with passion – until she'd realized they'd been in the hallway. Then she'd been embarrassed even if she had quickly regained control of herself.
Loki hadn't wanted to let her go, but he'd finally gotten a response from her and hadn't wanted her to go back in her shell.
He was just glad that he'd gotten her to agree to another date, this one outside. Loki didn't know if he liked coffee or not, but he would definitely enjoy the company.
The next day it rained and everything was soaked. That didn't stop Arianna from wanting to go get coffee, so she found herself in Tony's lab at four in the afternoon asking for transportation for later that night.
It was how she found a buzzed-on-something Tony Stark. It wasn't alcohol – it was probably some energy drink he had concocted himself.
"Uh . . . you okay?" she asked as she came in.
Tony had recently changed all the security codes and the door to the lab now opened only if your handprint was in the system.
"Always. What d'you need?"
"A car or a driver. For tonight."
"Why?"
"Coffee and Central Park, if it stops raining. I wanna go for a walk and I wanna take Loki with me."
Why did she feel as though she were talking to her dad? Tony Stark was not her dad. He was more of a cool uncle, and she did enjoy the fact that he cared about her enough to ask questions.
"Why are you hyper?" She cared enough to ask questions too.
She could tell he hadn't been sleeping well. There were dark circles around his eyes and his skin had lost some of its normal color.
"Caffeine. Lots of it."
"Maybe you should try sleep. Lots of it."
"Can't. Working."
"O . . . kay. Probably not healthy to live off of caffeine, but it's your life, I guess. You'll crash eventually and you'll sleep the sleep of the unconscious."
"'Til then, I'll work."
She assumed he was working on his suits because one of them was on display, chest plate opened up.
"So . . . the car?"
"Happy will take you. Pepper can spare him for the night."
"Okay. Thanks."
She'd only met Happy a few times, but she knew enough to know Tony trusted him more than he trusted most people. She would trust Tony's judgment.
"Tash will wanna tag along."
"Sure."
Tony went back to fiddling with the suit in front of him, not that he'd ever really stopped, and Arianna stood there in silence for a few seconds before saying something she felt needed to be said.
"All joking aside, you really should try to get some sleep. Don't wanna lose our genius, or you know, you in general, whether you're a genius or not."
Tony glanced her way before turning more fully towards her, stopping his tinkering for the moment.
"All joking aside? If I could sleep, I would."
"What d'you mean?"
"I mean, I can't sleep. I haven't been able to since the attack here."
"Oh. I . . . Is there anything I can do?"
"I don't think so. It's all up here," Tony said, gesturing to his head. "What I saw."
"With the . . . When you –"
"When I went into the giant hole in the sky to keep the nuke from going off here?"
"Yeah, that."
"Yeah, that," Tony repeated.
"You've never talked about it . . ."
"No one's ever really asked." Tony shrugged. "Working helps a little. It's the only thing that really does."
"Does Pepper know?"
"Not so much. She's getting a place in Malibu set up. We're moving in together."
"Oh." More excitedly, Arianna said, "You never told us that either."
"Not happening any time soon, but yeah, in the future. It's why she hasn't been around."
Arianna had only met Pepper a few times, but she seemed to have things together pretty well. To be able to handle Tony, she had to have things together.
Arianna wanted to reach out and offer some type of comfort, but she knew Tony wasn't always open to touching, so she refrained.
"For real, though, you're not alone here. I mean, you can talk about it if you want to – or need to. But we can't help if you don't let us know you need it. Okay?"
Tony nodded once but didn't say anything.
"I'll let you get back to work now, but thanks again."
Not even two hours later Loki and Arianna were on their way to a nearby coffee shop. It wasn't completely dark because Tony had basically told them he didn't want them out at night time. Arianna understood, remembering Natasha's words about people watching the tower.
The rain from earlier had become even heavier and there was even thunder in the distance. Loki did not seem thrilled. Their connotations, she assumed.
"We may not get that walk, but we can fill up on sugar at the café."
"I like sugar."
"I know." She smiled.
Loki looked out the car window – he and Arianna were in the backset. Natasha and Happy were in the front – and sighed.
"Everything is being rebuilt, or being removed if it can't be rebuilt. It will almost be as if nothing ever happened."
"People try to move on when they can, ignore it when they can't. There are a few who hang onto things."
They arrived at the café, a small white and brown building in a row of many others. Loki and Arianna got out of the car, while Natasha and Happy stayed behind.
When Loki and Arianna went inside the café they quickly took in the place. There were maybe ten tables on the floor, only two of which were actually occupied. To the right, against the wall, was the counter where customers ordered. Beneath the counter, in a display case, Arianna saw all the baked goods.
"Blueberry muffins! Fresh blueberry muffins."
She grabbed Loki's arm and tugged him to the counter, where a small blond woman greeted them with a smile.
"How can I help you?"
"Two blueberry muffins and two French Vanilla cappuccinos, please."
The café door opened as Happy came in and took a seat in the back corner. Arianna rolled her eyes without any real frustration.
"Black coffee for the guy who just came in, and a couple of chocolate chip cookies. I got it."
After Arianna paid the woman, she told Loki to find a seat. The barista would bring their order to their table, and after about two minutes of waiting, she did. Happy nodded her way when he received his own coffee and cookies. She sent him a small smile before focusing on Loki, who was looking suspiciously at his drink
"It's sweet," she said. "I think you'll like it. And I know you like muffins, and these are fresh so they're even better."
Loki lifted the cup and took a small sip. His nose wrinkled in distaste at first – probably the first bitter taste before the vanilla hit his tongue – but his expression cleared within seconds and he hm'd his approval.
"See? It's good."
Although she was suddenly wondering if he should have caffeine. It could make some people hyper.
Loki's eyes scanned the room and Arianna wondered if he felt okay, felt safe, being out in the real world.
"Loki, we can leave if you want to." She leaned forward, closer to him. "If you feel overwhelmed."
"I don't. I . . . it is a habit to look for threats wherever I go."
"Oh. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why are you afraid of storms? I mean, I get that Thor is the god of thunder and all that, but is there more to it? I mean, he didn't cause you to get struck by lightning or anything, right?"
Loki blinked, shocked, before letting out a genuine laugh. Arianna would have been offended by him laughing at her question, but she was distracted by the beauty that was a happy Loki. No manic smile, no craziness in his eyes, just pure enjoyment, pure amusement.
"What? No. He probably could have, and I probably deserved it many times over, but he would have considered that unfair. I am, however, used to storms meaning that he is in a bad mood. I don't feel any real fear, just a sort of apprehension."
Loki was still grinning. "Have you always had such a low opinion of my brother?"
Until then Loki had refused to call Thor his brother. She didn't mention the slip up, though.
"Well, I didn't know." She laughed herself now, knowing that there was no trauma that caused Loki's 'apprehension' about storms.
The front door slammed open suddenly. Both Arianna and Loki jerked their heads in that direction. Happy was probably at full attention at the moment, but Arianna hadn't been paying attention to him. She was, however, paying attention to the men that had just walked in. There were two of them and they both had guns.
Great.
"Everybody out!" they said. "Nice and easy."
They let everybody out – everybody that wasn't Arianna or Loki. Happy refused to go anywhere, so one of the men shot him in the leg. He went down and Arianna was shocked to find that there was no blood.
Were the men using tranquilizer darts? Happy wasn't moving and his eyes were slowly closing.
The two men, who were wearing all black, turned to her and Loki then.
"You'll come with us." They were speaking only to Arianna. "If you don't, I will kill both of them and we will get you anyway."
Why had they left Stark Tower? Even after she'd discovered they were being watched she'd wanted to go out. She'd been stupid. And where was Natasha? Was she okay? If she'd been able to come inside, she would have by now.
"Do you promise not to hurt them? If I come with you, do you promise not to hurt them?"
"Arianna, no."
"I can't let them hurt you or Happy."
Arianna took a deep breath, moved forward, and then, even as she was moving, she let a burst of power through. A table lifted from the ground and flew towards the two men. Surprised, they ducked, and Arianna grabbed Loki's hand. They ran toward Happy. What were they to do with him? They couldn't just leave him.
Something struck her back and then she was screaming, and Loki was grabbing her. Pain tore its way through every nerve in her body, or so it seemed. It was red hot and almost unbearable.
Had she been shot?
"Arianna!"
Loki didn't know what to do. She knew that. He couldn't fight guns. He wasn't bulletproof, not anymore.
Loki saw the dart sticking out of Arianna's back and quickly pulled it out. She was still screaming and had begun to convulse. Had the dart been full of poison? Was she going to die?
No. These men wanted her for something. That gave Arianna an advantage. She needed to stay alive – they needed her alive. He, however, had no such luck. They would kill him, or sedate him – or torture him.
Who cared? Who cared about a little pain? They couldn't have Arianna. He would fight for her. His chest twisted uncomfortably at the thought of her dying or being taken from him.
He lunged, knowing he couldn't take both the men at once. They both reacted, and Loki felt a sting in his neck. He was aware enough to know he hadn't been dosed with the same thing Arianna had been. He wasn't in pain.
He was just going to pass out.