This chapter is dedicated to my Mom. More on that at the end. Theme song is "Too Close" by Alex Clare, which I think is perfect for the Loki-Natasha-Clint triangle.


Chapter 41: Showdown

When Clint arrived at the gym on Monday morning, Loki was already there, waiting for him.

Just not the Loki he wanted to see.

"I wanted to say something before I go," she explained.

He dropped his bag and sat on the other end of the bench, glaring at her.

"I've been thinking about this a lot. It's new for me too, you know. But I know him better than you do," she argued.

"Maybe," he interrupted. "I remember a lot of the nasty things he did that you don't."

She shook her head. "I know. But honestly, they don't seem real. I remember what I was like before, and those things just don't sound like something I would do."

Belatedly, Clint remembered what He had told him, about being controlled by the tesseract. It was clear from the way she spoke that Femme Loki had no idea. Perhaps that was what she had forgotten, the influence that had led him to do such terrible things. "Go on."

She sighed. "Lately it's like... I don't know. Like I can feel what he feels, sometimes. I think his intentions toward Natasha are genuine, for what it's worth."

He scowled. "Are you saying he loves her?"

Loki looked away. "It's not that simple."

"Sure it is," he crossed his arms. "It's a yes or no question: Does he love her?"

She frowned. "It's not that he doesn't love her..." she looked back at him, "It's that he thinks himself incapable of loving anyone."

"I'm inclined to agree."

She huffed. "What I'm trying to say is he's not out to hurt her-"

"Is the 'contingency plan' on the list of things you don't remember, now?" he interrupted again.

"Ugh! You know what I mean!" she shouted.

"No, I don't. I really don't," Clint said, suddenly serious.

Loki sighed. "As long as He seeks her...attentions, for lack of a better word, nothing will harm her. He wouldn't let it, His pride wouldn't allow it. You know how difficult an enemy he was. She'll have the best protection possible."

He stared down at the bench. "And if it's Him she needs protecting from?"

"I think she can handle that on her own. Natasha!" she said the last loudly, surprised.

He looked up to see the subject of their discussion walk into the room.

"I... I didn't know you were coming," Loki stuttered.

Clint didn't even notice the change until he heard Loki's dark chuckle.

"You fell for that?" he asked.

He glared at him, then looked back at Natasha. "I didn't know."

She shrugged. "Someone has to keep you two from killing each other," she said reasonably.

Loki stood, walking over to the padded sparring area. "Let's get this over with," he grumbled.

Clint stood as well, rubbing his hands together. Once Loki had reached the center, he turned, opening his arms, a sarcastic look on his face as if to say 'come and get me, if you can.' Clint knew Loki was doing it to make him angry. Unfortunately, it was working. He rushed at him, expecting to bowl him over. Instead it was like running into a lamppost. He backed off and took a couple swings, which Loki dodged effortlessly.

"Are you gonna fight, or are you just gonna impersonate the Matrix all day?" Clint demanded.

Loki smiled, moving out of the way of another punch. "I just want you to feel like you're doing well," he teased.

Clint feinted another punch and then kicked Loki above the knee, staggering him. He looked genuinely impressed. "Very good, Barton."

By this time Clint's training had kicked in, and he ignored Loki's taunting, launching a complex attack that Loki actually had to think to counter. It ended when Clint caught Loki's arm behind his back in a hammer lock.

"I really don't recommend holds against a stronger opponent," he said calmly.

"Why not?" Clint growled.

Loki sighed and straightened out his arm, which sent Clint flying across the room. He managed a tight shoulder roll, coming up on his feet and immediately launching into another attack.


Fury's phone rang, and he was surprised to see Tony Stark's name on the caller ID. Stark never called, which meant it was either a prank or an emergency. He sighed heavily and picked up the phone. "This better be good, Stark."

"Oh it is," Tony said gleefully. The large screen TV on the wall Fury was facing turned on, showing a live feed from the security camera in the gym. "I thought you'd like to see this."

He watched as Agent Barton went hell-for-leather at Loki while Natasha stood by, arms crossed. It could have been regular training, but Barton looked genuinely pissed, and that was not something Fury saw often. "Get down here," he said shortly, and hung up. He stood, making another phone call as he walked around his desk.

"Rowena Bryardie," she answered.

"Are you currently with a client?" Fury asked quickly.

"No sir," she answered, obviously recognizing his tone.

"Come to my office immediately," he ordered, and hung up again.

Both Tony and Rowena arrived at the same time. Tony gave her a dirty look, but was too gleeful at the mayhem on-screen to be truly disappointed.

"What is going on here?" Fury demanded, gesturing to the screen.

"Natasha and Loki did the nasty," Tony crowed. "Looks like the Hawk doesn't much like the idea."

"I am aware of that," Fury growled, "As Barton saw fit to inform me last week. Why are they at each other's throats now?"

Tony shrugged. "It's the beginning of His week. Clint seems like the type who doesn't like hitting girls."

Meanwhile, Rowena had been staring at the screen. "I'm not sure they're really fighting."

Tony rolled his eyes. "What, you see something in your crystal ball, Doctor?"

She ignored him. "Obviously Clint is emotionally involved, or he'd be doing better, but watch Loki carefully. There. See that move, that should have broken his arm. But Loki chose to merely demonstrate that he could have broken it. He's... he's teaching him how to fight an opponent that far outclasses him in strength."

Tony and Fury stared intently at the screen. "She's right," Fury gave Tony a look.

Tony looked to Rowena. "How did you know that?"

She grinned and crossed her arms. "I am a woman of many talents, Mr. Stark. I know Kung Fu."

Both he and Fury looked skeptical.

She frowned. "Tai Chi is a form of Kung Fu," she argued. "It just doesn't sound as cool."


Clint picked himself back up off the mats again. "This is stupid," he said.

"I'm glad you're getting the picture," Loki agreed. "Shall we try archery instead? We're far more likely to be matched in that."

Clint wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. "This isn't Robin Hood, asshole. We're not competing for a kiss from Maid Marian," he glanced over at Natasha. "No offense."

She smiled. "None taken."

"Then what is this about?" Loki sighed, exasperated.

"It was supposed to be about kicking your ass," Clint growled.

Loki thought about that a moment. "Then may I suggest you appoint a second?"

He frowned. "A second?"

"Someone to fight in your place. Preferably someone who is strong enough to properly 'kick my ass' as you put it," he explained.

Clint frowned. Ideally, he would like to do it himself, but obviously that wasn't going to happen. "Like who?"

"Thor?" Natasha suggested.

Loki laughed, "He's certainly capable, but I'm afraid he won't side with you."

"How about Steve?" Clint asked.

Natasha frowned. "No, he wouldn't support fighting in the ranks," she argued.

They all stood silent a moment, none of them even wanted to mention Bruce.

"Tony," Loki said finally. "With the suit."

Clint scowled. "Isn't he your friend?"

"He's Her friend. Me, I'm not so sure. And he does love playing with his toys. It might be cathartic for him as well," Loki suggested.

He thought about it. Clint wasn't really close with Tony... although to be honest, the only Avenger he would really describe himself as 'close' to was Natasha. And Tony had admitted to him once that he, too, had nightmares. "Ok." He went over to his gear bag and pulled out his phone.


"Who is he calling?" Rowena wondered out loud.

Suddenly the sound of an eagle's scream filled the office, and Tony pulled out his phone, grinning. "Hey Birdman," he answered.

On the screen, they could see Clint roll his eyes. "You're needed in the gym," he said shortly. "Bring the suit."

"Sure thing," Tony said cheerfully. "Be right there." He hung up the phone, grinning at Fury and Rowena. "The plot thickens," he tapped his fingertips together, and left.


Tony sauntered into the room casually. "Well what have we here?"

"I told you to bring the suit," Clint complained.

"It's on its way, actually, but I don't think I'll be using it."

Loki raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.

"For one thing, Mommy doesn't like it when I play ball indoors. Stuff gets broken," he said mock-seriously.

"Mommy?" Natasha drawled.

Tony pointed to one corner of the ceiling. "Smile, you're on candid camera. And for another thing," he came to a stop in front of Clint, "As much as I like you, buddy, I'm not gonna fight your battles for you. I get it. You're unhappy because Little Red Riding Hood is shacking up with the Big Bad Wolf. But I got news for you, Tasha's a big girl, she can handle herself. She doesn't need the Huntsman to come and save her."

Clint glared at him. "I know that."

Tony raised his eyebrows. "I'm not sure you do. I think that's what scares you. Which is why I propose," he turned around, "that Natasha do the fighting."

Everyone turned to face her. "Me?" she asked, unfazed.

"Yup. I think we will all sleep easier knowing that you can hand his ass to him. Possibly Loki included." Tony gave Loki an inquisitive glance.

Surprisingly, Loki agreed. "Seems fitting, especially as we are not, as you pointed out, competing for her." He looked to Natasha.

She nodded her head to the side. "Fine, but no pulling punches this time."

Loki sighed heavily. "If you like."

Clint looked between them. He could see Tony's point, but there was a flaw in this plan: if Natasha didn't win, the end result was Loki hurting her, which was precisely what he didn't want to see happen. But before he could say anything, Natasha turned in a vicious roundhouse kick, which Loki barely jumped back from.

As they fought, Loki realized that Natasha had been pulling her punches in the past, or at least she had been reserving her more deadly attacks. She got inside his guard and landed several knuckle punches, which could have broken his small ribs and pierced a lung if he had been human. Out of sheer reflex he backhanded her, but she moved with the strike, bending over and executing a perfect scorpion kick which hit him in the side of the head. She flipped away, and Loki went on the offensive.

He pressed her backwards with a series of kicks and strikes, until she caught his foot. She lifted it in an attempt to flip him, but Loki continued with the momentum and landed on his feet again.

"No holds, remember?" he said breathlessly.

"Right," she moved forward, lashing out with kicks, since they were her longest-ranging attacks. He jumped a swipe at his ankles, and accurately predicted she would kick high next. He ducked low and knocked her supporting leg out from under her. She fell badly, wincing.

Loki sighed and held out a hand to help her up. Natasha huffed, defeated, and reached up to take his offered hand. But as soon as she had ahold of it, she planted a foot in his stomach and pulled him over, using his momentum to flip over him and land in a crouch between his feet. She grabbed both ankles and then planted her foot at his weakest point, stopping at the last possible second.

"Natasha, I'm all for dirty fighting," he said quickly, "but please don't."

She narrowed her eyes. "Then yield."

He balked, and she pressed her foot down just a fraction more.

"I yield!" he said rather louder than necessary.

She let go, backing off, and he collapsed against the mat. Upside down, he could see a very amused Clint and Tony.

"She would, you know," Clint said. "I've seen her do it."

"I believe you," Loki said darkly. He stood, brushing himself off. "Satisfied?"

Clint shook his head. "It'll do."

He turned to Natasha and bowed deeply. "My apologies for any injury I may have caused you, my Lady," he said formally.

She seemed to bristle at that, still gasping for breath. "I'll see you later," she said shortly, and stormed off.


Up in his office, Fury sighed in relief and sat back in his chair. "Do I need to make a new company policy against office romances?" he asked Rowena.

She shrugged. "They're adults. They have a right to mess up their own lives if they like." She turned back to the screen, thinking. "They're broken, but there might be enough pieces to make a whole somewhere. I think it could work very well, once Barton gets over it. She knows them both intimately, and if Clint takes the time to remember, he worked very closely with Loki. Loki, at least in this form, has literally been inside his head. They each specialize in a different sort of fighting, Clint at long range, Loki at midrange, and Natasha in close. They would make one hell of a strike team. Anyone they went after together would be screwed."

He thought about it. It made a lot of sense.

"Just don't ever put Natasha in a position where she has to choose between SHIELD and Loki," she suggested.

Fury frowned. "You don't think she'd pick Loki-"

"No, she will choose her duty without a second thought. But I'm not sure how Loki would react to that," she warned.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Right."


A/N: Yes, I dedicated a chapter of an M-rated BlackFrost Fanfic to my mother. Why? Because she helped me write it. This was originally supposed to turn into a three-way fight between Loki, Natasha, and Clint, but despite the badassery of that image, I couldn't make it work. I talked to my mom, who reads this story (awesome but at times weird lol), and she suggested that someone else get involved in the conversation. We proceeded to have almost exactly the same conversation here about seconds, finally settling on Tony as the most likely candidate. Plus, Tony says all the fun things. My mom is awesome.

I want to know what you guys thought of the fight, since action writing is not my forte, so review away! Constructive criticism is my favorite thing.

Next Saturday, Loki thinks about what he's done in Chapter 42: Reflections.