This Is Stella's Reality

September 17, 2015

"How is life, солнечный свет?"

I sighed, playing with Natsha's hair as she laid on my chest. It was soft and smooth as flower petals, and the gentle rustle of my mini garden on our Parisian balcony filled the air.

The double doors were open, letting the breeze drift into the apartment as we laid on the couch. Steve, Sam, and Bucky were out having a boys day. Nat, Loki, and I were at the apartment, but Loki was showering as us girls enjoyed the quiet living room.

"Peaceful," I lied, remembering the hellish vision I had only a few days prior. I reminded myself to speak with Loki about it later. "How about you, love?"

She sighed and lifted her head up, resting her weight on her forearms on either side of me. "Missing you," she teased with a grin on her face. "Hydra's been pretty quiet lately, but we have a few leads. Loki's actually been pretty useful," she mumbled, hoping he couldn't hear since the shower water had just shut off.

I grinned and stroked my thumbs across her face, watching the green of her eyes catch the evening light. "I'm glad you're here," I said softly, bringing her lips to mine.

"Me too," she whispered. Her hand fell to my hip, swiping her tongue across my lip and humming as I tilted her jaw.

"Oh, am I interrupting?" Loki laughed as he stepped from the bathroom and walked into the kitchen. "Feel free to continue."

Natasha pulled away and winked at me. "Loki," she called, still staring at me, "you and I haven't actually spoken much. Care to come sit with us?"

I made a face when she sat up and left me lying on the couch. She pulled me along with her, and we sat on either side of the velvet cushions as Loki brought teacups and took his seat in one of the side chairs next to the fireplace.

Reluctantly, he sighed and looked at Natasha with a bored expression. "What would you care to talk about Miss Romanoff?"

My eyes rolled and my head fell into my hands as Natasha laughed, bringing tea to her lips and grinning at Loki.

"I don't know," she mused, "like, what do you do for fun? What do you like? Why are you here?"

He scowled and made a face of annoyance, sucking his teeth and suddenly avoiding Nat's eyes. He stared down at his fingers as he fiddled with the handle of his cup. I felt his thoughts as they swam with building anxiety.

Tell me you need me because I need you.

"He likes to steal books from my library," I said without thinking. Loki's eyes flew up to me. "And drink wine straight from the bottle and sneak cheese to the wolves when he thinks I'm not looking."

The smallest hint of a smile pulled at his features.

No wonder Loki adores you so.

I grinned at him and continued. "He likes to train Wanda even though he says he hates it. He thinks Steve and Bucky are annoying yet funny and charming. He enjoys spending time with his brother and Bruce, and he'd do anything in the world for them no matter how often he says the opposite."

He was shaking his head now and laughing quietly. "All of those are blasphemy," he chuckled. "None of that is true."

"Oh?" Natasha asked. "I definitely can see all of them being absolutely true."

"Well, what of you?" He asked, sitting back in his chair with amusement spreading over him. His thoughts were relaxed now. No longer anxious and insecure.

She hummed and shifted her weight to sit on her knees and ankles, patting the couch and encouraging Sidus to come sit next to her. "I like to watch horror movies and discuss how I would survive them. I still do ballet to keep in shape."