Chapter 3: Sneaky Shadows

A/N

Hello again! WOO! I'm so thrilled and ecstatic at the response of all you people liking this story. It's officially hit over 1000 hits and I'm so happy! I can promise you, I ain't giving up on this story and I will try my best to update at least once a week or on other occasions, be generous but it all depends if I'm uber busy as I have discussed with my new friend: Nilrecurring. Either way, I am so appreciative of your interest and I don't want to let you guys down!

To the reviewers: thanks to IcanIwill, .MCMLX, HeavyDreamerDeme again and of course Nilrecurring (Hey buddy). I'm really captivated in happiness at how you guys love the story so thanks to all of you! Also to the new people who have added the story to their alerts/favourites list. WOO! Thanks dearly and enjoy the next chapter! Keep the reviews coming because I'm interested in your opinions! Much appreciated!

Natasha was still in her own world contemplating many things. This rest session for the night was allowing her to meditate over her current situation that was weirdly created by one single inducted variable that was none other than the team's enemy but her increasingly personal demon.

She paced the floor of her room back and forth. Loki had seemed to make her feel quite apprehensive and affected all because of one meeting. Her thoughts were infiltrated with a continuous mention of him popping up in her mind. She had also taken note of a physical reaction that was quite worrying and unusual. All of these results were initiated by a simple rendezvous but was a beginning of such complex things. Natasha had to recollect herself and become her sensible self again before the worst could happen.

The silence was disturbed as the door opened. "Agent Darcy?" Natasha was slightly startled. "Director Fury is requesting the files and information gathered from the search held earlier on the target" Natasha nodded at the robotic order and turned to a cabinet in the corner searching through various papers. She heard the door close behind her but was still focused enough on finding those documents. As soon as she found the correct files, they fell scattered to the floor as Natasha revolved back to see a familiar face of sophisticated subtle conceit: Loki.

She exhaled a shaky breath in shock as he exchanged a wicked leer. "Surprised to see me?" Loki broke the silence. Natasha paused "You're not supposed to be here" Loki inhaled through gritted teeth and shook his head in disapproval. "That's not how you welcome or specially greet someone Natasha. I thought you understood manners and elegance quite well. Especially as you are a lady but…I may have judged too soon considering your job"

She was still in utter astonishment at his presence being existent at this very moment and place. "You are quite the distinctive lady Natasha. Let alone mortal. Observing upon your history and past, I must say you are moderately the extraordinary being. I'm impressed by you. You have caught my attention and I note you fairly worthy" Natasha was finding it dangerous of him to be here. Dangerous of his implied interest on her, of his charming charisma and his capabilities. She couldn't help but cringe bitterly and boldly at Loki's advance towards her. "How many times do I have to say that I have no bad intentions towards you? I swear on my life that I mean nothing but simple hearted reason with you. Nothing evil as you would say" Loki continued.

Natasha kept her distance from him yet she was backing into a corner. He continued to slowly step towards her. "Look, if it makes you feel any better or safe-" He suddenly placed his scepter on the bed to his left and kept his arms behind his back. "I am willing of clear, altruistic interaction with you but only if you provide the same for me" She uncomfortably gulped but broke no eye contact with him as she kept her hand frozen behind her back as it was gripped on her hidden gun for defense.

Tension and silence filled the space they shared and it seemed to be making a gravitational impression weighing on Natasha. Loki kept the same smug expression "I know you can be a fair and reasonable lady Miss Romanoff. Summon that quality at once and everything will be okay. I don't enjoy seeing such maidens in distress"

It was infuriating Natasha at his charm repeatedly attacking and claiming for her to be weak. Or maybe it was more herself letting this be achieved by Loki. She would've acted so normal and return such clever wit if it was somebody else but this wasn't just any other ordinary male. It was time for her to take aggressive matters. She had remained too calm during their few interactions and her thoughts.

She snapped out her gun with a glare while Loki reacted in sly protest. "Whatever happened to being rational Natasha? It won't be fair if you have the upper hand of a weapon while I have no such thing. I hear you believe in a fair battle so…where is your integrity?"

Natasha gulped as she attempted to prove her strength against the god of mischief "It is fair. Come on, you're a demi-god and I'm a human. This is level enough"

"But don't you see? I don't come here on those terms. I just mean simple reason" It was true. He wasn't in his god-form armor or clothing and was just wearing dapper garments but of same colour of his associated uniform.

She kept the gun at steady hold and direction towards Loki. Her professional and negotiating spy attitude was finally coming through "It doesn't matter. You can flip-flop faster than a fish out of water. I can assume so after many analytical observations and views held on you"

"Really? Yet, it can be implied the same towards you and I must say…how flattering that you have thought about me. Actual more but I admit and return to you that I have been thinking about you as well. Ever since our first meeting"

He had to stop as it was now just boiling inside Natasha. Loki was now being too impudent and haughty that it was becoming completely obnoxious. Natasha's attention was suddenly caught by the opening of the door and panic filled her mind. It could be said to be either for herself or even for Loki. Yet, as she dropped her arm down and was wondering how to talk herself – no – for him to talk himself out of this situation, the real Agent Darcy entered with a neutral expression. "Director Fury is sending a message for an early meeting for all the Avengers tomorrow on urgent notice"

She was perplexed and was thinking that Agent Darcy must be blind to not see Loki but then she realized; she was being blind as he was no longer in presence or the position of their conversation being held beforehand. "Is something wrong Agent Romanoff?" Natasha looked at her gun and hastily placed it on the counter behind her and cleared her throat to act and sound normal again. She walked towards the side of her bed and noticed as well his scepter was no longer placed on her bed. "Nothing. I'll make sure to attend the meeting" Agent Darcy nodded then closed the door behind her.

Natasha was still wondering how he had disappeared. There was no trace of him as emptiness and muteness remained in the air and the room. She thought too soon as she felt a cold touch stroke across her neck pushing her hair to the side along with the action. "That was rather close but I was and am able to surpass such a difficult situation and you know what? I am curious…" Loki muttered lowly towards her ear and he was deliberately emphasizing on the letter 's' sounds. Quite much like a hissing snake. "I will come clear that I'm not a mind reader but…I do not need to know how to read minds in order to figure out that it is only me that shrouds yours" He directed his vision and whispers towards her bare neck which she could feel piercing and radiating heat from.

"As I said, you don't just occasionally think about me. I'm…just always there in your mind. Aren't I? I have a definite spot in there. I have some command over it. It squeezes, frustrates and follows you deep to the core. Very much like a snake coiling its way around or a shadow effortlessly and silently following its bearer" He combined a scoff and exhaled breath together which Natasha sensed on her skin and created shudders and goose bumps. "I have…a very significant place and effect on you. Don't I?" He applied more pressure on the grip of his hand that had found grasp on the area of her arm just below her shoulder. It wasn't hurtful to her but it was a sense of reality keeping her from entering complete toxic euphoria. Natasha had been biting her bottom lip to try and conceal any sound of effect in relation to Loki but it didn't matter as he could feel her tremors.

Her nervous reactive breathes had become evident as they escaped her mouth. Natasha could feel such conflicting senses on particular spots of which Loki had made contact with. It started with a chilly pervaded touch that made its way through the material of her shirt and yet, it felt like her arm and neck had an after effect of heat singeing on her skin. Loki was moving closer and applying much more force and touch on Natasha. "I think the effect is taking place this very moment Miss Romanoff" Her hands were clenched and remained still while the heat radiating from Loki's torso right behind Natasha's was making its way through the fabric of her clothes.

"Come on. Just stop. Get yourself together" Natasha's sanity had broken its way through the fog of Loki's spell and was finally calling to stop being so weak and under control. It was agitating at how invading Loki was to make close and private contact with Natasha. For him to touch her neck and grab her arm was breaching her personal space yet it came drugged with an elation sense that made Natasha refrain from any particular complaint towards Loki.

His head was virtually perched over Natasha's shoulder and was beside her face. His mutters could be heard directly due to the overwhelming amount of nearness between the two of them. Loki had to tease once more yet his next address towards her was something he was passionate of. "There is no judgment and instead freedom to succumb to a distinct sense Natasha. You choose to do what you wish regardless of incompatible differences that bombard and divert you to make a simple choice. After all as I said at our first encounter; it is overrated. Especially with reasons, purposes or contrasts which contribute in hindering time to select a proper option"

With all her might and before Loki could move any closer and further imprint his touch and burning heat on her skin, she moved forward and away from him as she attempted to fearlessly turn to face him. He had raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. "You have to leave" Natasha uttered. She noticed Loki glancing at her mouth then back up. As if he was trying to imply distractive desire towards her but he took it an extra step further. "My dear, you should be mindful of what your body does and acts because it could create some nasty results which cannot be afforded due to your utmost beauty"

He had extended his arm towards her and his hand had made contact with her face. It was particularly his thumb that had lightly caressed across her bottom lip to wipe away blood from a small cut created from her irritated response of lip biting. The places that his hand had made contact with before ignited with heat again in unison as her body reacted violently from the demi-god's touch.

Loki motioned his thumb in a circular motion on his first two fingers feeling the silky liquid texture of Natasha's blood. "There…much better" Natasha wiped her bottom lip with the back of her hand to check if it were still bleeding and to act as if removing his lingering feel.

"I guess you're correct. I truly must be leaving now especially if I don't get as lucky next time a difficult situation like the one earlier happens again but…it was gratifying to see you again" Natasha watched as he walked to a dark corner of the room and snatched up his scepter. "Do not fret Miss Romanoff, I will return and not keep you waiting" With a final grin and in a snap yet again, he vanished in a rapid blue light that she didn't notice the first time he disappeared. The trace of his poisonous smile was still visible in the dark or maybe it was that the image of his smirk was burned into her retina. So were many other things: his caressing touch was still a ghost remaining on her body and his taunting voice echoed inside her head.

She fell to the floor trying to bring her mind and body together but everything was spinning out of control from the enduring, guilty pleasurable sensation of Loki. This was too much to handle. For only a second visit and encounter, he had declared a delicate outcome or perhaps, a weakness on her. The worst may have been achieved.