Not what we had expected

20. Just shut up.

Chapter 20

Kat's POV

------------

"It's not that bad." Kat hung her head to hide her smirk as she trailed behind the heroes. Though Tony wasn't happy with the little pool incident, he was more annoyed after he watched Kat shove the last cookie in her mouth dramatically. But who could blame her? It was fun messing with him when he reacted so quickly and loudly -much like herself Bruce had reminded her. Shortly after her scolding she had been escorted back upstairs to the lounge where most of them ditched her.

"You know I could easily just unfreeze it for you." Kat smirked as Tony grumbled about something where as Kat didn't see why it was such a big deal.

"Kid, are you seriously kidding me? You are costing me more trouble than you are worth." He exclaimed pointing at her in an accusing manner as he walked from the room. Doesn't he have heated pools anyway?

"Says the billionaire, but okay, whatever you say tin man." She sighed slumping further into the couch, closing her eyes and smirking. She felt satisfied with herself. She had already annoyed one person today and it was only just beginning of it. And on another whole different note, why did she feel so tired? She had had plenty of sleep, even more than she usually allowed herself. It was her body that felt tired and she could still feel the slight twinge of pain in her chest, having to remind herself that it was usually like this after she got hurt. Sure, no visible damage but it still left a mark in her soul and mind.

How deep.

"Nat, you ready?" She heard Clint ask and Kat reopened her eyes to see him walking towards Natasha who was busy slipping multiple guns and small knives into invisible pockets of her skin tight cat suit.

"Where are you guys going?" She asked suddenly making them both turn to her slumped in one of the couches.

"We have a quick assignment here in New York that Fury wanted us to take care of." Clint replied checking the arrow heads before placing them back into the quiver on his back.

"Am I not that much of a problem anymore? Well, at least not enough to have seven constant babysitters?" Kat snorted closing her eyes and resting her head back into the couch armrest and spreading her legs out.

"No, you still are... you just don't need as many now that we have evaluated this certain 'problem.'" She could hear the smirk in Natasha's voice and listened as her and Clint's footsteps made their way to the elevator. Kat sneaked one eye open and watched as they both smirked as the doors shut and she could no longer continue the conversation. She grunted in response even though they were gone and closed her eyes again.

"Are you feeling trapped yet?" A cool slightly accented voice asked from above her. Kat re-opened her eyes - again - to see above her, leaning over the couch, was Loki. Kat realised, in that moment, just how damn handsome Asgardians were as Loki had that clean cut and chiselled look about him. Was it just part of the Asgardian contract to be pretty or was it a princely thing? Either way she would admit it any day. He rested his arms on the headrest and crossed them holding his elbows in each hand. She then also realised she had never had a real conversation with him either.

"I get free food so that answers that." She smirked and hesitated. "But the question really is, are you?" She added after a moment and folded her arms behind her head carelessly, her staff lying across her stomach but her leg protectively wrapped around it. Loki was studying her as she moved and talked making her feel like she was being tested. Loki glared in response and rose to go sit in a chair opposite her before replying.

"I am not trapped in that sense, unlike how you are." He replied coldly slightly irritated by her calm response. Kat scoffed softly eyeing the metallic bands strapped around his wrists.