Lies of Silver, Heart of Gold ~§~ Bucky Barnes

-015-

Carina's training session with Nat and Steve was quite possibly the most grueling two hours of her life. She hadn't been able to beat either of them in a fight once, and she was pretty sure Nat had dislocated one of Carina's ribs, but it had probably already healed by the time she went back upstairs to shower. She gets out of the shower and gets dressed by 11:39. She is in the process of brushing her hair when there is a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" she calls.

Loki's voice replies through the door. "Your fiancé."

Carina laughs and opens the door. "Hey love. What's up?"

"What did you just call me?" he asks and leans on the door frame."

Carina processes what just came out of her mouth and is suddenly unable to form words.

"Do you need a reboot, darling?" Loki asks. "You just called me 'love'. Was that intentional?"

Carina can feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. If her apparent feelings for him weren't obvious before, they definitely were now. "What? No, I just got confused when you called yourself my fiancé again." She starts to braid her hair to focus her thoughts.

"Is that so?" he asks. He leans down and lifts her chin with his hand and makes eye contact. "Or are you trying to lie to me?" His eyes flicker down to her lips and he starts to lean in.

"Brother!" Thor bellows from behind him. "Miss Lewis. We have a visitor."

Loki stops and straightens his posture. He reads Thor's mind and immediately learns that his brother knew what he was interrupting. Loki winks at Carina and mouths three words. 'Maybe later then.'

Carina scoffs and the three of them walk to the kitchen together, but Loki pulls his brother back for a second. "Before you say a word about that to anyone, just remember I know where you sleep and where your beloved Midgardian snacks are," he threatens.

Thor gasps at the thought. "Fine, I'll keep quiet. But don't be surprised if Heimdall asks about it when we get back."

"Shut up and walk away," Loki mutters.

When Loki walks into the living area, he doesn't notice Clint standing in the kitchen and eating an apple. He nearly chokes on it when he spots Loki. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"I leave in a week, old man," Loki informs him. "You could relax."

"Relax around the guy who scrambled my brain? No thanks." He looks at Carina. "How are you okay with this?"

She and Loki lock eyes for a second. "I forgave him. Talk to Thor about what happened, he can explain it better."

"Okay, I'll talk to Thor. Where is he?"

"Probably devouring yet another box of pop tarts in his room," Loki guesses.

Clint heads to Thor's room, not taking his eyes off Loki until he reaches the hallway.

"He's never going to let me live that down, is he?" Loki sighs. "Now where were we?"

He starts to lean in, but Tony walks in and gets a mug down from the cabinet. "Hey Rina. Want some coffee?"

"No, thanks," she says. There goes our moment.

We can't catch a break, can we? Loki jokes.

Carina smiles awkwardly at him. Guess not. A completely different thought enters her head. "By the way, Tony, could you help me figure out my Avenger name?"

"I don't see why not," he replies. "You know I'm the best at nicknames. But speaking of superhero things, I finished your suit if you want to come try it on after you eat something."