TWENTY

Graffiti decorations

Under a sky of dust

A constant wave of tension

On top of broken trust

The lessons that you taught me

I learn were never true

Now I find myself in question

(They point the finger at me again)

Guilty by association

(You point the finger at me again)

- "Runaway," Linkin Park

Alana was cuddled up next to Loki on the couch in the TV room. She was making him watch all the Star Wars movies. Being a fervent believer in order, she had made him watch A New Hope first, then the rest of the original movies. Currently, they were watching Attack of the Clones.

Her brother had always called this the "sappy love one," protesting "all they do is kiss!"

It was funny that Loki had said almost the same thing. "Enough with the kissing, Anakin!" he had yelled once. "Go kill Palpatine! He's evil!" She laughed so hard her sides hurt.

She loved him even more every day, learning the little things about him. He didn't like pepper on his meat. He liked Shakespeare. He got up early and made her breakfast. He would sometimes sneak into her bedroom at night and hold her in his arms. (The first time he had done this, she'd almost punched him in fright and surprise.) His eyes sparkled when he was amused, like that one time when she accidentally set a steak on fire.

But she loved his flaws, too. He was not perfect, but neither was she.

She studied his face in the dim light of the flickering screen, paying no attention to the movie anymore. He was still absorbed, watching Padmé and Anakin about to go into the arena.

When Anakin kissed Padmé again, Loki sighed in exasperation and muted the TV.

"Hey!" Alana said, startled out of her contemplation.

He smirked. "I know you weren't watching anymore."

She blushed a little, cheeks reddening.

"And," he said softly, his hand reaching for her face, "it bothers me that no one's kissing you."

"Anyone in mind?" she asked breathlessly. How could he still do this to her?

"Mm. Yes."

And then he was kissing her, thumbs brushing her cheeks, lips warm and fingers cold, and he tasted like ice and metal and something she couldn't name, and she kissed him too, her hands in his hair, while in the background Anakin was being charged by a giant monster.

It was very romantic. Until the phone rang.

Alana recognized the ringtone, and tried to get up, but Loki caught her wrist and pulled her back. "Loki, I have to get that."

"No, you don't. You need to come kiss me."

"Loki, that's Coulson. I can't not pick it up, he'll think something's up - "

He wrapped his arms around her more tightly. "No."

"God, you're stubborn." She used her telekinesis and pulled the phone to her ear. "Hello, Agent Coulson."

"Agent Cooper." He sounded even more uncomfortable than usual. "We need you to come in."

"Hmm," she said, not hearing. Loki was planting little kisses down her neck and she was a bit distracted. "Wait, what?"

"Agent Cooper, is this a bad time?"

Yes, Loki mouthed. She pushed him playfully and said, "No, sorry, I was in the middle of watching a movie and got a bit distracted."

Coulson sighed a little and said, "We need you to come in. It's a top-priority thing that Fury wants you on."

That made her sit up straight. "I am on a top-priority assignment. Or is the prisoner supposed to be released now?"

Loki made a mock-pouty face. Not nice, he mouthed.

"No, but… Cooper, this is more important."

"More important than the safety of the world?"

That's rude, Loki mouthed.

"It is about the safety of the world."

"And I'm supposed to just leave him here and hope he doesn't escape and attack New York?"

"No. Bring him with you. We'll watch him while you're busy."

Loki overheard this bit and glared at the phone.

Alana didn't like it either, but what could she do? Hey boss, well, I'm really in love with the prisoner, so, you know, we just want to spend time together. That okay with you?

She sighed. "When do you want me there?"

"Both of you. Tomorrow. As early as possible."

"Fine. Goodbye, Coulson."

"Goodbye, Cooper."

She hung up and pushed the phone through the air, dropping it onto a plush chair. "Well," she said, trying to make light of it, "you up for a road trip tomorrow?"

Loki got up and switched off the TV. "I don't like it. At all. They're splitting us up. We could be in danger."

Alana tucked her legs under her. "It's Coulson. And it's S.H.I.E.L.D. They wouldn't hurt me, I work for them. And you're a prisoner, they can't legally hurt you either. They don't even know that there is an us."

"Still." He turned to her, green eyes filled with worry. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

She smiled and stretched out her arms. "I'll be fine. I promise. Now, I think we were in the middle of something?"

"Temptress," Loki muttered under his breath, but he kissed her all the same.

The next morning, Alana dressed in her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform and Loki in his plainest clothes (he was a prisoner), meeting downstairs to a light breakfast. Conversation was light as well, full of banter.

She locked up the house, and turned to Loki standing close to her. "I'll miss you," he murmured. "Save the world quickly so I can see you again."

"It won't be too long. I promise." She hugged him. "And I'll miss you too."

"Kiss for the road?" Loki asked.

"If you insist," she smiled, hands still around his neck, pulling him in for one last sweet kiss before their journey.

A small camera in the fence, planted by Coulson, saw it all. And Coulson, miles away, saw it too, and sighed. It was undeniable. They had formed a romantic relationship. Alana couldn't be trusted to guard him anymore. And she was using her powers. It was a dangerous combination. If he could manage to turn her, nothing would stop her.

He had to stop it before it got that far.

A/N: Uh oh. Bad times ahead...

Thanks for 5,000+ views! You guys are fantastic.

Please, please, please drop a review! They really make my day.

Love, masterofthefall