Science and Magick (LokixOC)

Chapter Ten

"Bärchen! You need to wake before these boys eat your portion of breakfast!" Luvich's loud voice shook Zoë from her slumber.

The events of last night played again in her mind and she turned expecting to see Loki still laying beside her but the bed was empty. Had she really dreamt it after all? Disappointment filled her as she stood and made her way into her bathroom. She glanced in the mirror, ready to brush her teeth when a purple mark on her neck caught her eye.

A hickey!

Just where the base of her neck met her shoulder, exactly where Loki had been kissing. So last night really happened. She grinned, grazing her fingers over the bruise. He had marked her. A giddy laugh escaped her lips and she brushed her teeth then raced back into her room to get dressed, ready to face the day with all the fierceness she had.

She pulled on a pair of slim fitting black slacks and a white button up blouse, she wanted to make a decent impression on Stark since they needed him. She debated tying up her blonde hair, it had gotten a lot longer while she was being kept by Hydra. She desperately wanted it to be cut but for now she decided to leave it down in its natural loose waves. Satisfied that she was ready, Zoë walked out of her room and joined everyone in the living room.

"Guten Morgen!" She beamed cheerfully.

Steve and Sam both smiled while Luvich raised an eyebrow at her "Someone slept well" he observed.

Zoë smiled wider and nodded "Best night sleep I've had in years" she confirmed. "So, breakfast first but then we need to get to work" she insisted, pouring herself a cup of coffee from the pot resting on the dining table.

Steve nodded "I already sent Tony a message saying we needed to meet with him this morning, we'll leave whenever you're ready" he confirmed.

Zoë finished her cup in seconds and nodded "Mother in the kitchen?" She asked Luvich. The man nodded, yawning, despite being a military man he still wasn't fond of mornings. "I will go help her with breakfast" she told him, placing her empty mug back down on the table.

Zoë walked into the kitchen and pressed a kiss on her mother's cheek "Guten Morgen, Mama. What can I help with?" She offered. Claudia looked at her daughter in surprise, she remained silent as she examined her. Zoë's smile faltered a little and she shifted under her mother's scrutiny "Mother?" She asked.

"Who is he?" Claudia asked.

Zoë's jaw dropped and her cheeks flushed "W-what? I don't know what you're talking about" she insisted.

Her mother crossed her arms and shook her head "I know that look, you did not sleep with one of those boys out there, did you?" She asked before gasping "Please, for the love of all that is holy, tell me you didn't have sex with Captain America" she begged.

Zoë held her hands up and shook her head "Oh my god nien! Ew!" She exclaimed. The thought alone made her very uncomfortable, not because he was Captain America but because he was her friend and he reminded her of her dad. She shuddered at the thought again. Gross.

Claudia relaxed slightly and nodded "Then was it that Sam fellow?" She asked.

Zoë shook her head again "No, mama I did not sleep with either of them, they are my friends" she insisted.

Her mother frowned "Then who, was it someone while you were away?" She asked.

The embarrassment kept building, making Zoë's cheeks the brightest red they had ever been "Mama! Why are you even asking this?" She questioned.

"A mother always knows when their baby is in love" Claudia simply stated before poking Zoë's cheek. "You've never looked this happy" she added affectionately.