Hey sorry for the late update. Apologies for the chapter. It's not a filler really... and it might be a little bit on the short side (I plan to make up for it in the next few chapters though)... anyway shoutouts!

Thanks to my wonderful Beta therozencherryblossom and also thanks to AlisonAPD who seems to be doing all my advertising for me on Tumblr. It's people like you who deserve all the best things in life :P

Chapter Six

"Nice to see you up and about." Natasha said, genuinely cheerful- It was nice not having to babysit him anymore. "Did they finally take the shackles off?"

"Not quite…" He said ruefully, lifting his trouser leg up slightly so that she could see the blinking metal band around his ankle.

"Apparently, it will send an 'electric shock' through my body if I try to leave the tower. I have had the experience of being 'tasered' described to me and I do not wish to test it out."

Natasha laughed remembering the, probably heavily exaggerated; story Thor had told them of his own multiple Taser experience.

"Well I've never been tasered myself so I can't confirm what you've been told."

Loki nodded and then the conversation drifted back to awkward silence and- dare she say it- tension of a sexual nature. She blushed at her own thought, and desperately looked for something to talk about.

"What book are you reading?" She asked quickly indicating towards the volume he was carrying.

"Ah, Lady Potts recommended it. She is kind to me, overly so, I think. It's called Wuthering Heights- It's by a lady as well, I believe. Unusual, it's what drew my attention."

"Do you like it?"

"It's dreary and sentimental, so far. As I think of it, most of literature is based on sentimentality in this realm. Why do so many books focus on the child's topic?" He said with a sly grin.

Natasha saw where the conversation was headed, and every ounce of her common sense told her to abort, but she couldn't bring herself to.

"Do explain." She said copying his smirk.

"Gladly. There's Romeo and his Juliet, Sydney and his Lucie, The Phantom and Christine, what do all these names have in common I ask you?"

Knowing he didn't really want her to answer, she just raised an eyebrow.

He leaned in closely, his hand resting lightly on her waist, so close that his breath moved her hair.

"They all die." He whispered gently, before pulling back. "They die and what for?"

Natasha struggled for an answer that was both witty and sensible, a comment that would throw him off guard but couldn't and in the end answered simply with:

"Love."

"Correct. They died for love. When you find me a book where the main character survives for love, I'll deem it a masterpiece." He said dryly opening the book again as he walked away.

Well. Natasha could never turn away from a challenge.

She dumped the large pile of books on the chest of drawers. Loki peered over the top of his book.

"What's this?"

"Some more books for you to read. All of them, and I can guarantee this, about love conquering all.

"Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Bride… what's this?" He asked curiously picking up the most battered copy in the pile.

"That's a rarity that one. Contains all the most popular fairy tales from this world. Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, they're all there."

"I'm not interested about the fair folk of this world Natasha."

"They're just called that, they're not necessarily all about fairies. They're um… legends, myths if you will. The stories we read to our children."

"I'll read that first then. Why are you doing this, might I ask, do you not agree with me?"

Natasha smirked. "Whether I agree with you or not I love proving people wrong."

"Is that why you try, despite yourself, to change me? To prove yourself wrong?" Loki said shrewdly as he read the introduction to the book.

"Maybe."

He sighed. "On Asgard, we tell our children the stories of the bravery of Odin, his son Thor and their gravest enemies, Jotuns."

Natasha sat back beside him, curious about Asgard.

"Aren't there any stories of Loki?"

"As I said, greatest enemies the Jotuns. I'm the monster parents tell their children about at night, Natasha. Never forget that." He said pointing the book at her for emphasis.

Suddenly, and loudly, Tony burst into the room. Natasha inwardly groaned. How the hell was she supposed to get through with Loki, if people didn't bloody knock!

"Tasha, Tasha, Tasha, guess what!" He squealed like a child.

"What?" answered Loki and herself in perfect union.

"Point Break's coming to check up on our residential Asgardian Mussolini! Just in time for the Charity Ball too!"

"Point Break?" Loki asked warily obviously knowing who Tony was referring to, and desperately hoping he was wrong.

"Yup." Natasha answered coolly. "He means Thor."