Prolog
There were no signs of anything unnormal happening this morning that could make this day so different from every previous one. This is supposed to be a normal day like every other day.
Last night, whole Team was celebrating Bucky’s and Steve’s new relationship until dawn. Both were keeping their feelings to each other for ages. Until last night, when they finally decided to announce shocking news to their closest friends. Tony thought it is a grate opportunity to throw a massive party.
Wanda and Natasha were sitting at the kitchen island, drinking freshly made coffee. Nat was trying to get rid of a severe hangover, the young one, however, was keeping her company and updating her with every possible gossip that she read about this morning. Steve on the other hand was struggling with breakfast for James, who decided to take a shower, after waking up in the pool of alcohol, among the sleeping crewmates.
“Dam it!” Steve groaned “this stupid blender is not working again”
Natasha turned her head and looked at the blonde, who was struggling with starting the blender.
“Have you checked if it’s plugged?” Nat asked sleepily.
“Yes! And I swear to God I’ll blend Stark in it as soon as he wakes up and doesn’t fix it!” Steve shouted, banging on the lid.
The redhead shrugged, turned and lay on the countertop. On top of the kitchen island Tony was still sleeping surrounded by many empty cans.
Suddenly a pale merciless bright wave of white light spreaded across the living room, and a moment later, there was a knock on the terrace door. All three immediately turned that way. On the balcony where Quin-jet usually landed stand tall, inpatient men, dressed in suit like the one that Thor sometimes wore.
“Who is this?” Wanda asked.
“What the fuck is he doing here?!” Natasha asked.
“Isn’t he ashamed to coming here?” Steve asked.
While still holding a spatula for flipping pancakes, Cap walked to the glass door. When he opened them cold, morning wind entered the room along with tall man.
“Where’s Thor?” He asked hard
“What happened to good morning these days” Nat mutter under her breath, putting her head back on the countertop. Sleepiness was really hitting her and Steve, who gave up his fight with a blender and sat down at kitchen island with Wanda and Nat “Your brother? I guess he’s somewhere here. Find him if you want”
Loki grimaced with disgust, looking around the living room. He have seen many Asgardian balls, so he got used to seeing this type of things, but either way he still was disgusted. Wanda quietly watched conversation between half conscious friends and disgusted guest.
“Coffee?”
“Excuse me?” Loki turned and with confusion raised his eyebrow
“Do you want a cup of coffee?” Steve repeat, he gave God a tired look.
“I don’t drink coffee”
“So, what does a grate God of Mischief drink, Loki?” Nat giggled
“Not coffee, don’t you have any wine?” he asked
“As you can see my dear, we don’t. Everything was drank last night” The redhead answered
“Do you have any water perhaps?”
“Yes, we do have water” Steve answered with a smile on his mouth
Steve stood up and filled a glass halfway with water. When Loki sat next to Wanda, Steve pushed the glass towards him and sat down again.
“Why are you sitting here anyway? Shouldn’t you be on your way back to Asgard? You don’t even like us…” Nat asked, raising her head and straightening herself up.
“I’m tired of Odin. I’ve rather spend a while with you than with him” He sighed deeply. After a moment a streak of green light surrounded him, and the gold-green outfit changed to a black suit.
“So, mighty Loki is now doing as a squire?” the redheaded laughed
“Very funny” he responded hard, scolding the woman with his green eyes
“Don’t be so angry” She snorted
“Anger harms beauty” Wanda added after a moment, giggling over her cup of coffee
“I don’t think we’ve met before” Loki replied, glaring at the girl
“Wanda Maximoff, and you are…” she asked, extending a hand in greeting
“Loki Laufeyson” A gallant smile flashed on his face. The brunette grabbed her delicate hand and placed a short kiss on it’s back. A slight blush appeared on the girl’s face.
Natasha and Steve quietly watched a scene happening on the other side of the kitchen island with shock.
In the distance there was the sound of a door closing. Before Loki could raise his head, and look away from the young woman, a bullet pierced his forearm, ripping open his suit. Everyone’s look turned toward a place form where bullet was measured. In one of the door frames they saw James, standing with his gun pointed directly at the God’s face.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Asked Bucky, still pointing in Loki’s direction
“James!” three of them screamed
“I’ll ask again. What the fuck is he doing here?”
“I offered him a cup of coffee” Steve answered
“Have you lost your mind? Are you even conscious? Do you even thought who are you inviting for a cup of coffee?” James waved his hands up and headed to the kitchen “And you? Why are you still here? Get lost
“I’ve came here to get Thor” He hissed still tightly holding his bleeding forearm.
“So, take your Barbie and get the fuck out of here” James replied sharply, handing him legs of his not fully sober brother.
“Hey! Why are you asking our guest to leave?” Natasha was outraged “ He was really nice, not like you…”
“Not going to lie, it’s nicer here than in a cell” Loki shrugged
The atmosphere in the kitchen was getting thicker by the minute. Pissed James, still pointing at Loki, barely conscious Nat and Steve and shocked Wanda and Loki. James sighed deeply and put down his gun.
“Mabey you’d like to stay with us for a little longer?” Steve asked quickly
His boyfriend and Wanda gave him a dumbfounded look.
“I think you’ve had enough. Let’s go” James helped Steve withstanding up, but Cap refused his help and got up on his own. Then both headed to their room “And You” he pointed at Loki “Don’t move until I come back”
As soon as the two men disappeared behind the door of their room, Wanda grabbed the black-haired God by his heathy wrist. By using her powers, she took a few bandages and similar supplies from one of the kitchen cabins and pulled Loki. They stopped at the end of the corridor where her room was. She closed the door after him.
Her room was little. Smallest of all in Stark Tower. Most of the space was taken by a big, built-up mattress, what she considered a comfortable bed. Next to the entrance was a big wardrobe with sild doors and mirrors on them. There was a chest of drawers full of different accessories on the perpendicular wall. At the wall to which the back of the bed was attached, on both sides of it were two small nightstands. On the same wall there was also a door to the bathroom. The floor and bed were full of different clothes and weird stuff.
“Sit here” She said, pointing at the piece of free space on her bed “Now fold your sleave, and hold on because it will be burning as hell”
Loki politely did what the woman asked for. He calmly looked at her while she kneeled before him and with concentration on her face, cleaned his wound with spiritus. He didn’t felt any burning that she mention, only a little tickling. He looked at her attentively. She had a long, copper colour hair, green eyes, straight nose covered by little freckles, fair skin and subtle facial features. He felt her delicate hands sometimes touching his cold skin. The warmness of her hands lingers on his arm for a long time.
“Ready” She smiled, leaving his arm. She pushed a strand of hair away from her face behind her ear and, getting up from her knees, dusted of her flared skirt and knee-high socks.
“I should go now” Loki stood up and headed towards the doors.
“hey” The redhead extended her hand to stop him, but she quickly took it back to say, „Don’t you want to stay here for a while?” She asked, as he back to her, she looked at him with innocent look “At least until Thot will get fully sober…”
“You want me to stay here?” The same gallant smile started to appear on his face again
“You know, we could go on a walk or something. You could tell me about where you are from. Thor always said that the Asgard is the most beautiful place he ever seen.”
God’s smile has diminished a bit. Deep inside his soul he thought she wanted to stay in her bedroom for obvious reasons. However, the girl’s intention seemed rather trivial and childish to him. He didn’t even know how old she was. Mabey her intentions were adequate to her age?
“Alright, I’ll tell you” He nodded, driving away strange thoughts.