Alone with Loki in the safe room, Jak was suddenly confronted with the fact that they'd just been on a date. Sure, an assassin had ruined that date, but still. It had been a romantic outing. They'd held hands. They'd eaten dinner together. She'd worn a dress for the first time in years.

"Next time, maybe we should have a picnic on the grounds like you suggested," she laughed softly as she sat on the bed of the safe room, doing her best not to think about Bucky Barnes.

Loki, who was standing on a chair, inspecting the camera in the room, turned to look at her. The most sincere smile she'd ever seen from him lit up his face.

"Next time?"

"Well, considering the assassin and everything, I'm not sure tonight actually counted as a date," she told him with a shrug, "We'd better have a do-over."

"An excellent point!" He nodded, stepping down from the chair and sitting on the bed next to her. He took her hands in his and grinned at her. "When might I have the pleasure of taking you out again?"

"What about a casual lunch tomorrow?" She suggested, "We'll keep it simple. Sandwiches, crisps, maybe we can convince Vision to make us some cookies."

"An excellent plan," he nodded, "And perhaps we can have your first real magic lesson after? I want to show you how to completely destroy Sergeant Barnes the next time you see him."

She winced. "I don't want to hurt him… I mean, not permanently. He's probably not in control of what he's doing."

"And while we can both empathize with that unfortunate situation," Loki's hand left hers and he gently took her chin in his fingers, tilting her head to look at him, "He will take you away if we don't stop him. So, I will teach you to stop him by any means necessary and you will listen because I am such a marvelous instructor."

"You know, Wanda and I did some magical sparring while I was avoiding you. She thinks I've gotten pretty good all on my own," Jak taunted, pulling her face backward and feeling more aware than ever of the camera on the wall, "Maybe I don't need your lessons after all."

"Oh? Then why didn't you blast the Winter Soldier into oblivion at the bar tonight?"

"Too many witnesses," she shrugged, though in reality the tranquilizer the Winter Soldier had shot her with had made her mind so blurry that she'd barely been able to register what was going on, let alone think of using defensive magic.

"Then we will also work on discrete magic," Loki smirked and then suddenly he was on her other side and whispering in her ear, "Which is something of a specialty of mine."

"How did you…?" Jak looked back to the place where he had just been then to where he was now. "Can you teleport?"

"No."

"But I had my eyes on you the whole time!"

"Did you? Or did you look upward a moment ago, glancing at the camera?"

"I would have felt you stand up and switch spots!"

"Obviously not," he chuckled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She pointed at him and wagged her finger. "You're going to show me how to do that."

"Of course," his fingers trailed back along her hair, slowly weaving into her ponytail, "But first, do me a favor and use a bit of magic you already know, will you?"

"What's that?" She asked, closing her eyes and savoring the feeling of him playing with hair. She realized after a moment that she hadn't had a haircut since before she'd been put on probation. There were probably a million split ends, doing their best to embarrass her.

"You look lovely this evening, but the color of that dress does not suit you. Perhaps a shade of green would be better?" He chuckled, still fiddling with her ponytail.

She opened her eyes and looked down. Passing her hand over the fabric, she made it a rich teal color. Then she sighed and turned it back to red.

"It's Wanda's, I don't think she'd appreciate it if I changed it."

"Too bad," Loki's mouth was by her ear again and she could practically feel the smile against her skin as he said, "I suppose that only leaves the option of taking it off."

Jak felt a jolt of warmth rush down her spine followed by a chill as goosebumps sprung up on her arms. She swallowed nervously and did her best to seem nonchalant.

"Mr. Stark said no 'canoodling', remember?"

"Cameras are easily disabled."

"Loki," she laughed, "We've only just had our first date. You're being rather forward, aren't you?"

"I suppose you're right," he sighed, backing up a bit and nudging her lightly with his elbow, "I shall endeavor to remember my princely upbringing and find some manners."

"Thank you," she elbowed him back, "Otherwise I might spread rumors."

"Oh dear," he rolled his eyes, "How shall I ever handle people thinking I am a philanderer as well as a mass murderer?"

Jak laughed outright at this and then pressed her hand over her mouth to hide her grin.

"Sorry. That's not funny. I shouldn't laugh at that," she snorted, "You've killed people."

"Many, many people. The list looks more like a census record," he agreed, "And I'll add Sergeant Barnes to that record the moment Captain Rogers looks away."

Jak felt her smile fall away. "You already told Sam that you'd let him live."

"A murderer, a philanderer, and a liar as well? What shall people think of me?"

"Loki," Jak made herself scowl at him, though her nerves still made her want to laugh.

"Jaklyn," he countered.

"Remember, you are rehabilitated," she crossed her arms, "You don't want to go back to Asgardian prison, do you?"

"No, I do not," he drew a sharp breath and all mirth vanished from his face. Jak cringed, wishing she'd kept her mouth shut. She had no idea what Asgardian prison was like or what he might have experienced there. "Though, if I were to start another inter-realm incident, it would be more likely that I went to the chopping block."

Jak turned and stared wide eyed at him. "Thor wouldn't let that happen."

"There is only so much my brother can save me from, and the wrath of our father does not fall under that," Loki replied bitterly.

"Your father would kill you?" She asked in a whisper.

"My mother stayed his hand last time, but she is… no longer able to speak on my behalf."

Jak had heard that the Queen of Asgard had been killed not long ago. Thor had mentioned it and she hadn't paid much attention because she hadn't known him well then. Now she wished she at least knew Loki's mother's name.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she said, racking her brain for anything she might have learned about Norse mythology in her many years. It finally came to her that Odin's wife was named Frigg, but she wasn't sure if that was accurate. After all, Loki of mythology was not Thor's brother. Who could say what the relationships of the real Asgardians were? She silently vowed to ask Thor the next time she saw him.

"You've nothing to be sorry for," Loki shook his head and stood up, "It was my own fault, no one else's. Now. I am going to leave the room so that you might get some sleep. I'm sure you have much to do tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Sunday," she said, "I have the day off."

"Well," his smile returned, but it was several shades dimmer than it usually was, "In that case, we shall train in the mystic arts all day and break only for our lunch date. How does that sound?"

"If you are ready to teach me, then I'm ready to learn," she replied. "You still owe me a lesson after all the questions I've answered lately."

"I'd never leave a debt unpaid. Now go to sleep. I shall be just outside if you need me," he bowed, but before he left, she stopped him.

"You don't need to stay up all night guarding me, really," she told him, "It's called a safe room for a reason. I'll be perfectly fine in here and you need sleep too."

He smiled softly at her then as he backed out of the room. "Thank you, but I will stay."

"Loki -"

"The list of people I've killed may stretch for miles, but I'll be damned if I'm responsible for the death of another person I care about," his smile slipped and the look in his eyes was frighteningly serious as he closed the door, "Sleep well."

A note from the author: It's been a hot minute, hasn't it? Sorry about that. Work is craaaazy at the moment and I haven't had much energy to do much more than watch stupid videos and take naps. I'm hoping to get more chapters posted soon, but no promises.

Thanks so much for continuing to read this story, I hope you are enjoying it! :D