Chapter 6

Natasha answered the door in a fluffy bathrobe. Her hair was wrapped in a towel and some sort of green goo was smeared all over her face. It was definitely not what Loki was expecting.

"Loki?"

"I apologize," the god said hastily. "I should never have called on you at this late hour. It is entirely inappropriate …"

"No," Natasha replied as he turned to leave. "Come in … just give me a minute."

Loki sat down in her living room as she disappeared down the hall. The small space was cozy, but had very few artifacts he would consider personal. Those were probably all in the back rooms. A single bookshelf held a few volumes, some in English, some in what he recognized as Cyrilic script. The air was filled with a fragrance he couldn't quite identify, calm and meditative.

Loki relaxed his posture and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply of the scent. He seemed to lose track of time as the minutes ticked away until her gentle voice caused him to open his eyes.

"It's peppermint," Natasha said softly, returning to the room dressed in a loose pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. Gone was the green goo, leaving only her beautiful, unpainted face. She sat down on the sofa opposite him, drawing her legs up under her body.

"It's lovely," he replied nervously.

"JARVIS said you have been working on the artifact?" So, it was straight to business then. Loki felt his heart drop. Perhaps what happened in the training room had truly been a game and there was nothing to discuss.

"Yes, I plan to relay my findings to Director Fury in the morning …" in an equally formal tone.

"You left me to deal with Thor," Natasha blurted out, catching him off guard.

Loki paused mid sentence, cringing at what that must have been like. It had been so easy to teleport away and avoid his brother, and Loki knew that he had been rude to not answer the door when she had come to speak with him.

"Yes, my reason for coming here was to apologize for my behavior." Loki tried to offer a smile, though it felt forced. "I was embarrassed at being caught in such a compromising position by my brother and left without thinking about the cost to you."

Hurt briefly flickered in her eyes. Had he not spent centuries reading people, he would have missed it surfacing from underneath her perfect mask. "That's a bit childish, don't you think?"

"Considering I am centuries older than you, I could have acted much more maturely." He let out a flat, defeated chuckle. "I made quite a mess of this."

"Ever thought of just talking to Thor?" she asked pointedly.

"I did this evening … finally. To borrow a human turn of phrase … it's complicated."

The spy laughed softly, leaving him to hope he had not ruined whatever it was that seemed to be happening between them.

"I thought you were renowned for your ability with words," she chided.

"Oh yes. I am known as Silvertongue and Liesmith." Loki sighed, shaking his head. "In all honesty, though, I am actually quite awful at being truthful with anyone."

"I understand, more than you know." She smiled sadly. "It would be so much easier right now to convince you that I wanted nothing more to do with you and kick you out of my apartment than to admit I might feel something for you."

The words had come out in a rush, like she didn't want to stop and lose her nerve, so uncharacteristic of her based on all his interactions.

"We are both similar, broken creatures," he murmured. "I haven't had a completely honest relationship with anyone in centuries - maybe never in my adult life - not Thor, not Odin, not even my own mother."

"That seems more like fear of trusting someone," she observed. "Have you ever trusted someone?"

"Leaving myself vulnerable is not in my nature - it usually comes back to bite me," Loki said decisively. "I actually came to Midgard because I needed distance from Asgard for a time. My parents know too much about what happened during my time in the titan's care. I could no longer handle the pity … my mother hovering … their worry that perhaps I was losing my mind," he trailed off.

"Why is 'here' better?" Natasha asked.

"Here … I knew I would be treated with distance because I am a risk, considered dangerous. I would only be permitted to stay because of what SHIELD might be able to get from me, but at least I would know where I stand. In fact, I wish Fury would be more damned direct about what he wants from me."

Natasha smiled, a sly grin like a child who had been just waiting to give up a secret.

"SHIELD categorizes you as an asset. Worst case scenario, Asgard cleans up its mess and Thor takes you back home. Best case scenario, we get information, an ally, maybe even a team member," she rattled off matter-of-factly.

"So, there is an expectation for me to join 'the team'.

Loki groaned and lowered his head to rest his face in his hands. Yes, this is what Thor wanted, for his little brother to be part of his large new group of friends and tag along just as he had in their youth. The location had changed, but the situation was still the same.

"No so much an expectation, but a hope to utilize your skill set."

"You have Thor," Loki bit back sharply.

"Yeah, we have Thor," Natasha deadpanned. "He is great when you need brawn and … a lot of attention."

Loki laughed out loud. "Speaking as the one who has by necessity cleaned up many of his messes over the centuries, I agree."

"Your skill set is nothing like his. Most of what SHIELD does is a bit more covert." Natasha shrugged. "Clint is retiring, and the truth is, I really could use a partner." Loki pulled his hands down far enough to look at her. "I don't trust people easily with my back, and there aren't many who can keep up with me."

"I am sure Captain Rogers …"

"There are no moral gray areas with Cap," she replied firmly. "He's a soldier, not a liar. I don't think he'd be able to play a part if his life depended on it."

"I see." Loki said softly. "I suppose this makes it all the more imperative that we figure out what's going on with us. We don't want to play games with each others' hearts if we need to have each others' backs, as you say."

"I told you my feelings." She shrugged, biting down on her lip slightly. "You tell me - what is happening between us?"

"In all honesty, I don't know." Having walked in lies and shadows for most of his life, there was something liberating and intoxicating about the truth. "You are an attractive woman - intelligent, charming, shrewd as a serpent - everything I would desire in a match. Ever since that moment we spoke in my cell on the flying fortress I have been drawn to you." He chuckled lightly. "I look forward to your company, and my pulse quickens when you walk into the room, simply from being in your presence."

"But …" Natasha prompted.

"Every instinct screams to me that you are dangerous … that I should flee … that you will ruin me." Loki looked down, unwilling to capture another glimpse of hurt in her eyes.

"Wow, you really know how to sweep a girl off her feet," Natasha bit out sarcastically.

Loki cringed. That had come out more harshly than expected. Sometimes the truth did that. "What I do know is that if we do not proceed cautiously … I will make wooing you a game … and I will sabotage this," he said softly. "I don't want to hurt you."

"So, cautiously. That is probably for the best."

"I am a bit uncertain of Midgard's courtship rituals," Loki admitted. "If this were Asgard, it would be highly improper for me even to be in your quarters alone with you at this time of night. The gossip mongers in Court would be delighted at the scandal of it all."

"Are you even allowed to date me?" Natasha asked. "You are a prince and I am a mortal. Thor has made it sound as though your father is not all too thrilled with Jane."

"Right now, Odin perceives his feelings for Jane as an immature infatuation, that's all. Thor is crown prince, has a greater obligation to the throne, and Odin does not see Jane as a future queen." Loki joined Natasha on the sofa. She looked up at him, offering that shy smile he was quickly growing to love. "I think, after the fiasco with Sigyn, Odin has given up on deciding anything for me."

Loki fingered the fiery curls at the side of Natasha's face. Gently lifting her chin, he leaned in and pressed his lips gently against hers. The kiss was much sweeter than that stolen in their little charade, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he felt her arms slide up around his neck. He pulled her closer, running his hands down her back as the kiss deepened.

The rational part of Loki's brain, the part that remembered he wanted to proceed with caution and not jump into this recklessly, intruded on the moment. It seemed that Natasha came to her senses at the same time. They both broke away, breathless.

"Maybe I should go," Loki said, finding his voice.

Natasha leaned her head against his chest in protest. Loki held her close again, this time much more in control of himself, content to just run fingers through her hair. Soon, her body grew heavy and her breathing patterns shifted. A smile crossed the god's features. Falling asleep in someone's arms left one incredibly vulnerable. He began to consider the possibility that he may have found the one being in the entire galaxy that he might actually trust and that trusted him in return.

Slowly, he stood and carried Natasha to her room, careful to not wake her as he settled her into bed. He gently kissed her one more time before teleporting back to his rooms.