Hey guys! Lots of new favourites and follows for the last chapter, thank you so much! Also thanks to AlisonAPD and Moriarty-assbutt for their wonderful reviews, which I immensely enjoyed reading. A little change in this chapter, it's all Loki's pov, which was interesting to write. So hope you enjoy, as always I don't own Marvel or any of its works. Please forgive any grammar/spelling mistakes, it's really late here and I'm Beta-less.
Chapter 7
She had amazing accuracy. Each blade sunk into the target in the very centre, every single time. Even he couldn't have done it. But that wasn't all, it was graceful, it was a dance. She pierced the bull's-eye with the same ease and grace as she had pierced his heart. Figuratively of course.
She flung the final knife with a little more force than necessary he thought. He watched as she let out a long sigh, leaning against the nearest wall, her brow furrowed, her face flushed.
"What's the matter, love? You seem a little… tense?" he asked trying to find the right word.
She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she gathered up her weapons.
"You could say that. We've eh… got some bad news. Bad and worrying."
"Do tell."
She shot him a withering look. "It's classified."
"Ms Widow, who in all the realms, am I going to tell?"
She contemplated that for a minute, and Loki relished in knowing he had won her over so easily.
"Fury got a call from Jane Forster. You know the scientist?"
Loki shrugged. They all seemed to be scientists here.
Natasha half smiled. "Thor's girlfriend."
Ah. That woman, who had changed him so much.
"What does she say?"
"It's about Eric Selvig, the guy who built your giant death ray."
Yet another scientist then.
"What's wrong with him?" Loki asked carefully, though he was already quite sure what had happened- he was wondering who it would happen to first. However, he wasn't as satisfied as he thought he would be. In actual fact, he felt rather uncomfortable, almost… guilty. He carefully masked his features so that Natasha wouldn't see his horrified expression.
"Well, she says that Dr Selvig has lost his sanity, to the point where SHIELD had to come collect him."
"In what way has he become insane?" Loki said, not bothering to hide his curiosity.
"Babbling nonsense, screaming at things that aren't there, trying to harm others… and himself I've heard. SHIELD has him under surveillance, we're doing everything we can…" she bit her lip, trailing off as she disappeared into her own thought.
Loki was surprised at his own discomfort, but hers was painful to endure.
"Natasha I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that you were close to him." He said slowly hoping to provide her some reassurance. She laughed quietly.
"It's not that, I mean I'm sorry for the guy and all, but worrying thing is that the doctors can't figure out what's wrong with him. It's not anything they've seen before. And that's not even the worst part." She finished, her breath quickening and her eyes, to Loki horror, blurring.
"What is?" he asked mentally kicking himself.
"Over the past few months he's had a few other symptoms. Depression, insomnia, nightmares… And the same… the same things are happening to-" she couldn't finish her breath coming out in angry tearless sobs. Loki was at a loss at what to do, He reached out to do something, pat her back stroke her face, her hair anything, but recoiled at the last second.
"Are happening to who, love?"
She looked up at him, fear and despair ablaze in her eyes.
"To Clint."
Loki nodded. Of course it came back to the hawk, it always did.
Natasha wiped her eyes, a cool, emotionless mask settling over her features.
"Sorry, I'm just a little messed up at the minute. Look, I need to ask you something."
"Yes?" Loki answered weakly, desperately hoping she was going to ask him his favourite sandwich filing or something similar.
"Maybe I'm over reacting, but I know for a fact that the only connection between Barton and Selvig was that they were both under your hypnosis spell thing." She said mechanically, not looking him in the eye. She didn't give him a chance to answer.
"Is this because of the spell, and do I need to worry about Clint?"
Loki took a deep breath then reached out to turn her face to his.
"No. I swear that I have nothing to do with Dr Selvig's illness, and you do not need to fear for Agent Barton's sanity." He answered slowly pouring all his skill into each word. And it worked, as visible relief flooded her beautiful face.
"Was hoping for that. Look, Thor's arriving later tonight I think, so meet up downstairs around seven, 'kay?"
Loki nodded with a smile. He took Natasha hand quickly. She turned around to return his grin.
"I'll help with Selvig's diagnoses. See if there's anything I can do." He said lowly, trying not to blush like a schoolboy.
Her grin spread even wider and before he could react she brushed her lips against his cheek.
"See you later." She said as she spun away out the door.
Sometimes Loki hated that he was the God of Lies.
"Brother!" Thor boomed, clapping a hand on Loki's shoulder. Loki grimaced at Thor's enthusiasm. Some things never change.
"Sir Tony has been telling me of your improvement, off the battles you have fought, the monsters you have slain…"
"I did say that they were virtual Thor." Tony butted in awkwardly as Loki threw him a murderous glance.
"It is no matter, I can see the change in him." Thor beamed as he placed his other arm around Tony.
"Ah it is good to be back on Midgard."
Loki sat from the corner as the good doctor informed Thor of the recent developments with Selvig. He didn't miss glances Thor shot at him, the lines in his forehead becoming more pronounced with every passing moment. He almost didn't notice Natasha sitting down beside him. Almost.
"He has the same line of thought as you did." He muttered darkly.
"He'll forget about it as soon as Tony gives him his invitation." She answered in the same tone.
"What invitation?" Loki asked, confused.
"For the Charity Black and White Ball next week." She answered primly, her voice mockingly posh.
"Bit of a mouthful," Loki quipped, "Would not "Autumn Ball" be easier?"
She shook her head. "It's not for Autumn."
"And where's my invitation?"
She laughed. "It's to raise funds for the children that became orphans after the battle of New York. Do you really think you'd be welcome?"
"Ah. I could always go in disguise. Is there any chance that Tony could make it a masque?"
"A slight chance, seeing as it's in October. I'll see if he'll push it back to Halloween."
"Please do. I love a good masque."
Natasha laughed. "I've got to go check on Clint. Have fun brother bonding." She said, turning his attention to an approaching Thor. He groaned loudly.
He started rehearsing the upcoming speech about how he was not responsible for the scientist's insanity, even though he was, and then offer his services to the raging beast, even though he was certain he was unwelcome. When did life become so complicated?