Retrograde

Prologue

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Natasha Romanoff (Natalia Romanova)

Jonathan Pine

Loki Laufeyson

Natasha Romanoff was smirking watching Loki watch the Avengers squable about what movie to watch in Stark's theatre room. His face was sour and judgemental. She could imagine what ran in his mind. Probably reminding himself that they were beneath him, and how pathetic Midgard was. But when his attention averted from them and onto her, his face softened.

Then there was that look in his eyes.

That look he'd been giving her ever since their kiss on the recent Christmas.

She was outside on the balcony of the Tower, alone and away from the party event Tony had thrown. She watched the glowing cityscape and shivered slightly from the New York cold air. She smiled softly at the cold, dressed in a deep green cocktail dress. It was like Russia. Her home city, Moscow.

She sensed someone's presence behind her and guessed it was Steve, maybe to tell her news about his Bucky. She'd never hear the end of it.

"A magnificent view, isn't it?" She spoke.

"I couldn't even begin to describe."

Her heart jumped at the sound of Loki's smooth voice and she turned around, surprised. They didn't speak as much.

He was staring at her intently, not at the cityscape. He looked extremely dashing in a black tuxedo, it was intoxicating. She tried to not let it get to her.

She raised an eyebrow. Just what was he planning now and what did it have to do with her?

He chuckled. A smooth sultry sound. "You will never trust me, will you?"

"And why would I?" She narrowed her eyes, her voice cold.

He got close. "Everyone else does now."

She smiled coldly at him, ignoring his close proximity. "Of course they do, trickster." She snapped. "You're a great actor."

He chuckled. "And so are you." He was getting closer, trying to get her to step back. But she stood her ground.

"We're both lost in our own lies, I won't deny. But we are nothing alike. My talent is far better." She smirked.

"Is that what you believe?" He laughed.

"And you don't think so?"

"You have fed me my own medicine before, actually." He recalled.

"Uh. That colourful scene in the Helicarrier. Maybe next time I should just bite you." She snapped, face serious again.

"And I'd just love that, darling." He winked at her, infuriating her because she almost let herself blush.

"I'll kick your ass."

"A demigod?" His face twisted into a grimace.

"Maybe I can mentally fuck you. Since you have a fetish for mind games, you sick bastard."

He glared at her. "Your strings aren't so hard to pull as well, Agent Romanoff. Watch it."

She glared back. "Don't think that's going to stop me."

"Test me, go ahead."

They glared at each other for over a long moment, before she smiled coolly. "You were able to fool the Avengers but not me."

His eyes trailed down her body seductively. She wasn't sure, but she was scared if he may had known about her attraction to him. Maybe he was playing games with her, the bastard. "But you're the smart one." She stared back at him defiantly. He leaned his head close to hers. "Aren't you?"

"Go away." She whispered.

He frowned, before he grinned. "Is my presence affecting you, Agent Romanoff?"

"You're not worth my time, is why you should leave me alone."

"I'm not one to leave a beautiful woman alone. You look ravishing, Natasha." He stared at her seductively.

She stepped back.

"What?" He licked his lips. "Am I scaring you off, darling?"

She smirked, or tried to. She tried to remain calm and serene. But then when he looked up above them, and she followed his line of gaze, her mask fell only for a moment.

"That plant..." Loki began with a frown, before looking down at her. He started grinning slowly again. "The mistletoe plant, if I'm incorrect."

She scoffed. "You're right. The mistletoe."

"A kiss is what follows after...I believe." His eyes narrowed darkly.

"A kiss..." She didn't mean to sound out of breath. But she wasn't going to let him win.

He smirked. "Don't tell me. The spy and assassin has just been vertically challenged..."

She drove her fist into his gut, causing him to hunch over and a passionate kiss on the lips followed after. She pulled away before he could reciprocate the kiss and pushed him back. He stared at her with surprise, then with a soft expression which next transiotioned into a dark look.

She smirked deviously. "You're not a challenge at all."

"What?" She asked, pursing her lips to try and not smile like an idiot.

Loki grinned. "You were the one staring." He reminded.

"Was I?" She smoothly asked, walking over to him. She took his hand into hers and smiled. "Come."

"What?"

"I'm not interested in watching whatever the boys have to pick. I know for a fact you and I will both hate it."

"Shall we go for a walk?" He pulled her close and they headed for the elevator.

"I was just thinking that." She kissed his jaw.