The Scientist 2: The Blue Princess (Loki x OC)

Pt. 5: A Casual Morning

A/N: yo, sorry this took so long and it's shorter than usual. I hit a writer's block and then my self-esteem dropped and my responsibilities got weird and crazy. I know where I want this story to go but planning the little details can take forever, you know? And you all know by now how much I love those details <3

The Blue Princess Soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7t5e9bhN9c25YEj1UCzwGk

You Look So Good In Blue: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Q0fUqZM9G5XcefGCh30uo?si=KFOt-B1GT7SPCNEp6Zz9yQ

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Tony's remote guest house was truly a godsend. The forest and distant mountain sceneries did wonders for the nerves. After a stressful phone call or a quick read of a breaking news article, a small glimpse of the lush greenery easily dispelled any doom-and-gloom from the atmosphere.

To make relaxation go faster, Natasha and Steve decided to do gentle laps outside in the early morning. Boisterous birdsong replaced their need for music in their ears, and the fresh air gave their lungs a boost. After a few roundabouts around the house, Sam and Bucky joined them and the quartet settled into a steady jaunt.

Steve and Bucky stayed in step with Natasha and Sam, but Natasha was quickly tiring, so she tapped out for a rest and water break under some shade. She watched the trio run by in regular intervals, sometimes throwing out a flirty catcall to see if Sam would laugh and playfully flip her off. Sometimes he did, and other times, Steve cracked back a response. Bucky remained nonchalant through it all, but he couldn't help smiling to himself. He missed his goats, lakeside hut, and the neighbor kids, but he was grateful for the company here.

After some time passed and the sun shone high in the sky, Luna emerged to join Natasha. She was clad in light workout gear and holding two glasses of freshly-squeezed lemonade.

"Lemonade, for me?" Natasha asked as she reached for a glass.

"Yup," Luna responded as she handed it off and sat beside her. "Fresh fruit juice like this helps with hydration much better than plain water." She sipped hers and took in the fresh air. "I set some out for the boys so they can have it when they're ready."

"That's very nice of you. Thank you." Natasha took a large swig and hummed in satisfaction.

"You're very welcome. So, I take it you were out here doing laps too?"

"Yeah, then I got tired and sat down and didn't get back up." She shifted her position and groaned. "I'm getting too old for this."

Luna waved her off. "Ah, no one's too old for anything." She sipped her lemonade and gazed up at the leaves. "I suppose I should ask you what I came out here to ask you."

"Aw, so you're not here to have lemonade with me and delight in my company?"

"Haha, no, I am." She tilted her head to look at Natasha. "I was going to ask if you wanted to do some yoga with me."

"Ah, I knew you liked me, Lu!" Natasha teased. "Sure, yeah, I'll join you." She moved to get up but stopped short. "Uh, just as soon as my knees are in working order."

Luna leaned against the tree. "That's ok. We got time to rest. Besides, the day is nice." She closed her eyes and breathed in the air. They could stay out for a little while longer.

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Sam huffed and puffed on the way to his glass of lemonade. By the time he took his first sip, the ice was almost completely melted, but it was still cold and refreshing as can be. Dabbing the sweat off his brow, he watched out the window and drank some more. Exercising with friends made the task much more enjoyable, but it also provided an incredible distraction from how exhausted he felt, at least until he found himself tripping over his feet. Steve and Bucky could finish their supersoldier laps by themselves. The regular people in the house needed breaks.