Spending time on Midgard in Stark's Tower drove Kitri crazy. Everyone from the Avengers were doing well by her, aside from the very owner of this tower.
After hearing some truth about her past, he stuck to her with a bit more interest than she would have preferred. Curious as always for any otherworldly being's ability to contribute to improving his creations.
She couldn't tell if this was just a recent development due to him freeing up more from his usual research, or if what she told him about her background had anything to do with his increased probing, but in the end it mattered little. She had spent long enough trapped under the strict supervision of S.H.I.E.L.D. when they first contained her, and she was not exactly looking forward to being observed or questioned like that again.
Although Tony with his brilliant engineering mind had to consider some factors. Thor had little time or mental capacity to carry on an intellectual conversation about tech from other realms, and Loki would obviously be against helping the Avengers in any way...
So this new seemingly clever fire-haired woman seemed like the perfect person to involve in his work.
"Kitri." He acknowledged her, blocking her path.
She was wearing some casual robes, dark and elegant, with elven looking silver symbols shimmering from the edges. She had just finished making some tea when he cornered her.
"Tony." She responded in acknowledgement as she tried to match his casual tone, turning around and away from him to make her way around the other side of the marble island.
Tony quickly made long strides to block her exit from that side as well. She sighed, and stepped back, looking at him expectantly.
He cleared his throat. "Do you think you have some time today to help me with the blueprints I've been working on? I still want to learn as much as possible about what you know regarding any energy sources from your people, or at least get some scans and readings on your powers. Could potentially help me improve the thermal protection in my designs."
Kitri let out a small sigh, instantly displeased by the idea of getting scanned again like some kind of animal. "I have told you what I know of the source of our powers... Which is close to nothing. I honestly would not like to be put back into any sort of observation container, Tony. Did that for long enough when you people found me while I recovered."
Tony crossed his arms, dissappointed at her response, his mind filling with more questions and research ideas to add to the list. He hated not having a project to keep him busy when there were not as many missions for him to help out with. "I wouldn't really call Fury's agents 'my people'... They didn't even give me access to the containment data they got on you."
Kitri raised an eyebrow. "This does not exactly sound like my problem. Speak with Fury."
Tony sighed. "How about this, then? You kind of owe me one after the little incident I had to cover costs for in my tower, you little flameball."
"Fine." Kitri thought in annoyance as a tight smile appeared on her face.
She stepped toward him and gently placed a hand on his hip as Tony gave her a strange look from her closing proximity and sudden touch. "You are quite right, Tony. You have my sincerest apologies..." She said sweetly, while gazing deep into his eyes. He noticed her dark orbs seemed to glow a bit, as if embers were burning behind them, and he then smelt smoke as he felt his hip begin to burn.
Tony threw her hand off of him violently, the sudden force making the back of her hand painfully hit the counter nearby.
He stepped away from her, patting down his smoking hip. "What's wrong with you??? These weren't exactly cheap, you know!"
She chuckled and playfully stuck her tongue out at him. While rubbing her slightly sore hand, she took her tea filled mug back into her room.
Thor joined the rest of the Avengers at the bar in Stark's tower in the late afternoon.
Kitri filled two glasses from the bar, and wandered over to Natasha, handing her a glass as she sat on the couch next to her.
They chatted for a while about the mission they had recently completed together, until Thor practically dropped down in an armchair next to them, raising a mead filled tankard in acknowledgement. "My two favorite redheads!" He called out, wearing his wide friendly grin. The man seemed to already be fairly drunk, as some of the mead spilled from this gesture.
Natasha gave him an acknowledging nod while Kitri showed a warm smile. "How long are you planning on staying in Midgard, Thor?" Kitri probed, trying to hide her anticipation for returning to Asgard.
"A bit longer this time, probably a few weeks." He answered happily.
Her heart sank, but then Thor continued. "I spoke with my father before I left. He mentioned that you, and any of the other Avengers are more than welcome to visit before then if you wish. You can inform me, and I will have Heimdall transfer you there."
Kitri was relieved and suddenly filled with excitement. "Thank you, Thor! I would be interested in going tomorrow morning, if that is no trouble."
Natasha looked at her with furrowed brows, but Thor nodded with a pleased grin. "What time should I be ready to be transferred?" She asked eagerly.
"Whenever you like, lady Kitri. Find me in the morning and I shall call out to Heimdall. You can find me either in front of the fireplace lounging around, or you are more than welcome to wake me in my chambers." Thor said with a hearty laugh.
Natasha rolled her eyes. "Cut it out Thor." She said sternly, and he chuckled while playfully raising his hands in a defensive gesture.
Thor came out the next morning while rubbing his head with a soft groan, and found Kitri already up and brewing in the kitchen.
She chuckled as she laid her eyes on him. "I thought you Asgardians were also unable to get drunk off of Midgardian ales..." She addmitted as she added different strange looking herbs while stirring a dark purple liquid inside a cauldron.
Thor let out a quiet gruff chuckle while scratching the back of his head. "I maaay have brought with me more than enough proper Asgardian mead for that exact reason."
Kitri smiled while shaking her head as she took two vials and slowly began pouring the potion.
As the liquid cooled down in the glass it turned a blueish color, and she handed him one of the vials. "For the mead influenced morning illness. I am certain Tony will need one as well seeing how hard he was trying to keep up with you last night."
Thor took it with hesitation, opened and sniffed it. He winced and tried to hand the vial back to her. "I am not certain this will help."
Kitri turned away from him to wash out her cauldron, purposefully ignoring his outstretched arm holding the vial. "Oh believe me, it will."
Thor sighed in defeat before looking more closely at the vial. He figured any mortal strength elixir would have little effect on him, so he shrugged and then threw his head back as he downed the potion. He was pleased to find that it had a very pleasant taste that was not at all like the putridly sour smell.
Kitri crossed her arms and looked at him with a proud smile, her red wavy hair in a long messy ponytail with strands lose on each side of her face. She disliked having her hair up, but it was necessary to keep out of the way for brewing, since any fallen strands add to the risk of adverse side effects to whatever she was making.
Thor's eyes widened and he swiftly strode over to her, taking both of her hands into his. "How did you manage this, woman?! Completely gone. I feel fantastic!"
She grinned but gently pulled her hands away. "Told you."
He shook his head in disbelief. "I have not met many skilled women of elixirs on my realm, let alone around here. If your other brews are half as effective, you would make an incredibly useful addition to the sourceresses of Asgard. Do consider it!"
Kitri smiled and she nodded. "I definitely shall, you have my gratitude Thor."
Once transported into Asgard, Kitri took a few moments to collect herself before greeting the heavily armored gatekeeper.
He offered to accompany her to Odin's halls, but she shook her head. "I would not want to trouble you, or distract you from your duties. I think a walk would be much more preferable, if only so I could see more of the area."
"Very well. I will have one of the guards accompany you then." Heimdall nodded toward one of the men guarding the entrance to the rainbow bridge.
Meanwhile, another guard quietly reported to Loki as he sat in one of Odin's many meetings for the day, that Kitri has arrived and was spotted making her way towards Odin's halls.
"You should have told me earlier..." He hissed before turning to face Odin. "Father, that Kitri woman from the absurd team Thor is helping from Midgard is here and I offered to help host her. You will not need me for the rest of this discussion if I am not mistaken?"
Odin looked at Loki with some suspicion, concerned about why his usually uninterested son was taking initiative to involve himself with any of the Avengers, but nodded, deciding that surely if anything went wrong one of the guards or his ravens would see it. "You may go... Please treat her well. We do not need any more conflict with Midgard."
Loki smirked, but thanked him before quickly getting up from his seat and striding out of the room. "Oh I plan to treat her very well indeed..."
He found Kitri on the outskirts of the nearby market, buying some ingredients from a merchant with a guard standing patiently behind her. He walked up and lightly put his hand on her shoulder, his touch causing her to quickly turn around. She beamed when she saw him. "Loki, they have some incredible ingredients here!"
He smiled at her excitement. "Now what would you need those for? To make Midgardian wine not taste like goat piss perhaps?" He teased, pulling her into an embrace after she put the small brown bag containing the ingredients into her side pouch.
"No pressure of course, although I must admit the thought is very pleasing to me..." He murmured into her hair. "Should I assume we shall be sharing my chambers during your stay?"
Kitri's pale face was colored by a deep blush. "I suppose that is a safe assumption..." She responded quietly.
Loki looked pleased, and she put her forehead against his shoulder as he held her, enjoying the feeling of her warmth against him for a few long moments. "I would like to take you out to dinner tonight. The best place in Asgard." He whispered.
She looked up at him with a curious look. "That sounds like quite a bit of work... Are you certain you would not prefer to just have supper here?"
Loki grinned, shaking his head in response. "I would like to give you my full attention, and have all of yours as well for tonight." Kitri bit her lip, giving him a flirty smile.
After spending some time walking around, he kept his promise, taking her to a rooftop restaurant located in one of the highest towers around Odin's home. Kitri enjoyed the view of the castle shimmering slightly in its full glory, surrounded by the dark skies that fell above Asgard from the comfort of a half circle shaped booth next to Loki. He told tales of his past and she listened intently, laughing at some mishaps, occasionally stopping to refill their glasses from the bottle of wine they were sharing.
"Well, you have heard enough about my misfortunes... I would like to hear about some of your conquests instead, kitten." He let out with a wink.
"What conquests would you like to hear of?"
Loki showed a devious grin. "I have been curious about how you got yourself in trouble with seducing the wives of some of those aristocrats."
Kitri blushed, but looked up at him through her fire red hair with a seductive expression. "Very well... I shall tell you the story of what got me banished." She said thoughtfully. "I have never had issues with seducing women."
Loki chuckled. "I may need to take some pointers from you then."
She scoffed. "I find that doubtful due to your status and charm, but am always happy to help." His soft chuckle in response made her grow a small delighted smile. "It was never anything serious... Just attraction and spontaneous messing around. Something I am sure you have had your fair share of..." She said as she nudged him lightly before she coninued.
"I was mostly interested in staying preoccupied with magic, and never really had any serious experiences with men, aside from an arranged marriage. It did not end well, although that was far before any of this. I was barely of age and my parents wanted to marry me off to help secure peace between realms and avoid a potential war."
Loki nodded, and was not at all surprised. This was a common way to try to mend relations between those two opposing realms.
"There was one main incident in particular that..." She paused deep in thought, carefully choosing her words. "Caused my fall."
Loki studied her with interest, eager to hear her continue.
"I was attending a fairly elite gathering, and attempted to find a seat at main table. I saw two, one noticeably taken by some woman's belongings, the other unoccupied. So I questioned the man to the right to see if I could take that empty spot. He rudely brushed me off, saying something along the lines of all spots being reserved for the elites. I was so enraged by his presumptuous remark that I waved the invitation in front of his face, asking if he understood the consequences of turning away someone who had been invited from the last available spot."
Loki laughed, and she smiled at his reaction as she continued. "He chased after me, apologizing for turning me away, making up excuses for the earlier lack of hospitality. He said the fiance of the man to the left of the belongings was taking up two spots. Asked me to take one of the two and let him deal with the explanation." They paused to allow the servant to set down their plates, colorful vegetables, not all of which Kitri could recognize, and well cooked meats filling them. The large block of a perfectly cooked roast that was served on a slated stone in the center. Loki instantly reached out to cut some off for her plate, before adding some to his.
They began eating and Kitri groaned in pleasure from the taste of the well prepared food. Loki grinned. "It is a fine place, indeed. I am pleased to see you are enjoying yourself. Please continue when you are able."
Kitri smiled, covering her mouth with one hand while finishing chewing. "The woman returned and moved her belongings to sit. Beautiful, yet awfully snobby, obviously displeased that I was there intruding into her group of men."
Loki scoffed.
"The man did try to nervously explain the situation to her, but she ignored him, while her fiance joked about her being forced to sit with him... I guess they must have been fighting." Loki continued listening, lightly putting a hand on her thigh under the table.
"I ignored all the men, fully focusing all of my attention on conversing with her politely while pretending to be completely oblivious to how rude she was acting towards me. After a little while, she relaxed and became more social, gossiping about the event. She warned me about that man to my right, and his tendency to be quite forward when he was inebriated. I told her she must not concern herself with my safety, and if there was anyone around that I would be interested in flirting with, it very well would be her."
Loki let out a low "Mmm" while lightly squeezing her thigh. "Quite a tease you are..."
She grinned up at him proudly. "The drunk man starts attempting to flirt as the woman had expected. I rejected him, half jokingly replying that I would be much more interested in the lady in their group. His eyes widen and the woman giggled, making a comment about how that would be for the best, due to her not minding the idea of causing some jealousy to her fiance. So I turn to her with a flirty look..."
Loki's hand moved up her thigh and he moves himself closer, looking down at her. "Oh is that so? Now what is it that you say to her with your romantic expression?"
Kitri looked at him, biting her lip while taking in all of his sharp features. "I say..." Her eyes were suddenly filled with lust as she lowered her voice seductively and moved a bit closer to his face, their lips inches apart. "Well, I just so happen to find you absolutely stunning. May I kiss you?" She whispered.
Loki couldn't help himself, crushing his lips against hers, his hand on her thigh tightening it's grip, while the other snaked around her waist pulling her even closer. She kissed him back, and when they broke apart breathless, he looked at her face and lightly shook his head in disbelief.
She smiled playfully, moving closer to whisper into his ear. "It seems like you successfully guessed her reaction. Although I must admit, hers was not nearly as enjoyable as yours was just now." She admitted quietly, before moving back.
"What I somehow failed to notice, was that the man who was her fiance was actually the Aesir man I was briefly married to previously..." She said with a bit of noticible distress. "He just so happened to have a lot of leverage with the king, and took revenge by convincing him I used dark magic to seduce his woman. He said that keeping me around was a threat between his and our people."
"You are quite something else..." Loki said as he shook his head in disbelief. "Seems that keeping you around shall provide quite the entertainment."