Chapter 10: In Which some unexpected stuff happens and who doesn't like kitties?

Disclaimer: Why am I still writing these?

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BANG.

The sound of a gun rang through the air, and it stopped Tony's heart like it itself had been shot.

An arc like a rainbow, only composed of crimson red, glittered for a second, frozen in time.

And the man holding the gun to the girl's head fell down dead.

(Briefly and apropos of nothing, Tony wondered why thoughts always seemed so poetic when things got tense.)

Nina's eyes were huge, obviously shocked, yet there wasn't a single drop of blood on her anywhere – nor a gun in her hand.

Then who…

"Nina!" Tony yelled, intensely worried, unable to do anything more whilst staring at a screen. She fumbled for a second, then brought her hands out from her back, the nail in her hand having cut through the tape. One rip had her mouth free, though it made her wince as a few wounds around her lips began to bleed again.

"'M fine, 'm fine," she assured, and then slowly put her hands up. "Please don't shoot me too, I'm really sorry about the whole rock thing, I mean it-"

Tony's mind went blank with confusion for a second, then… "Oh fuck."

"Such language, Stark," a smooth, familiar voice drawled easily. "And in front of a lady, too."

He appeared on the edge of the screen, a smirk plastered on his face and (though modern weapons had been Tony's specialty, not two-hundred-year-old-pistols) what he was fairly sure was an antique European flintlock in absolute pristine condition lounging loosely in his left hand.

"Oh, I'm used to it, don't worry," Nina said, and Tony was proud of how her voice hardly wavered. "I'm a little confused on one point, though. I'm hoping you can clarify?"

Loki nodded regally, and just then Tony noticed the bodies of the dead guards bleeding out on the floor.

Well then.

"Why'd you shoot him?" she asked, crossing her arms, regaining her confidence with every second that passed without a gun barrel pressed to her head.

Loki shrugged. "His presence violated my sense of propriety. He disgusted me."

Nina blinked, then suddenly laughed cheerfully. For a quick second Loki appeared surprised, but his smirk soon morphed into a full-out grin. It was a little unnerving. Tony opened his mouth to speak, but Nina barreled on.

"Yeah, me too. But I suppose what I'm asking is why didn't you just let him shoot me first? Y'know, because of the fact that it's my fault you got caught. Rock and all." She bit her lip, obviously on a roll. "Actually, how'd you escape? Thor hasn't said anything – oh shit, sorry, you don't want to talk about Thor, I kinda figure it's a sore spot, I'll change the subject… er, hey, why are you here? Also I think I'm gonna sit down now," she said in a rush, the last second coming out rather abrupt as she began to sway.

"Honestly, you mortals..." Loki sighed as he easily waved his hand, an extremely comfortable chair appearing out of nowhere directly underneath the rapidly descending Nina.

"oh thank you" she said faintly, eyelids wavering.

"Nina!" Tony all but growled, eyes narrowing. "Wh-"

"Silence," Loki ordered. "Your prattling bores me."

"How dare you!" Tony hissed. "I-"

"Sir, the Captain and Agent Barton are arriving at the Tower this second. The others are fast approaching," JARVIS informed.

"I see you have company," declared the Norse god from the screen, lazily folding his arms and looking the very picture of a satisfied cat. "I shall not interrupt. Rest assured, I shall take good care of your Janina. Farewell, Tony Stark."

Before Tony could get out a single threat, the screen winked out.

"AAUHHRRRGGHHH!" he shouted, smashing his fist against the wall.

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"Idiotic, ignorant Midgardian…" Loki sighed as he observed the fainted girl in his apartment, still curled in the cozy chair. A half second later she was completely healed, all blood and dirt vanished.

Another half second and a miniscule jolt of energy zapped her awake.

She opened her eyes slowly and leisurely, adding a stretch for good measure.

"Good morning, Loki," she got in between yawns. "Lovely day, isn't it? Care to tell me what the hell is going on?"

Loki flopped onto a plush leather couch, managing to give the appearance of a stately noble every inch of the way down. "Of course. This is my apartment."

He held up his left hand, long fingers curled around nothing – then a plain grey rock, rough and completely ordinary looking.

And he threw it at her.

Her reflexes weren't quite fast enough, and it ended up hitting her in the side of the temple. "Ah!" she exclaimed, surprised, then picked it up off the white-carpeted floor.

"And that was my revenge."

"I suppose I deserved that," she commented dryly, then threw it up a little in the air with the intent on catching it again. Unfortunately, it disappeared halfway back to her hand.

She wrinkled her nose at him and he raised an eyebrow back in reply.

"You really are a strange little thing, aren't you?" he observed with a slight frown.

She stood up and bowed. "Batshit crazy, I assure you."

Loki got up as well, with a rather more graceful bow. "I as well, or so I'm told, at least. It's a pleasure to finally meet you formally."

Nina grinned up at him with a wicked grin. "Oh, I think I like you."

"Even though I'm a psychopathic murderer at the top of the SHIELD's main enemy list?"

"Pfah, whatever. Let it go, the past is in the past," she said, a little singsong, then winced. "Oh god, I'm sorry, I'm so sick of it too, it just slips in sometimes-" she stopped at his blank stare. "Er, never mind. The point is I'm a bit strange when it comes to… some things."

Loki's eyebrow went even higher. "Also, apparently fairly vague."

"Um, yeah. Can I ask you a really important question, though?" she inquired, glancing around the gorgeously furnished apartment.

"I cannot promise I will answer, but go ahead."

She gave him a very serious look. "What the hell is with all these cats?"

Loki hesitated, eyes widening at the completely unexpected question as (by Nina's count) a sixth cat slunk into the room, this one a glossy calico tabby.

"Why not?"

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A/N:

Okay,I have no idea what the hell just happened, but it did. I think I was suffering from a Loki deprivation. I deeply apologize. Also, I was thinking that Loki seemed way too weak in that first chapter, and I wanted to rectify some things. Also, I don't know how many of you noticed, but Nina is a little… well… anyway. PLOT ADVANCEMENT

…yes, there is a plot. It's just resisting me every step of the way, because fluffiness wants to win.

- 25th reviewer gets a free one-shot with a prompt of their choice – (mostly because I've always wanted to do that)

(and also I like reviews and this gets me some)

(hopefully)