california 02 // loki's romanoff prelude

2012 - Loki has been arrested by the Avengers for his part in the attack on New York, the murder of hundreds worldwide, and attempted invasion of Earth. He's a villain, heartless and cruel, but even villains were younger once - and Loki has met Natasha before.

2002 - There's a younger Loki, bitter with the world but not so bitter as he is now, a younger Loki who believes in freedom and equality as much as the older Loki believes in fascism and subjugation. Take them back to that younger Loki, whose eyes are kind and whose heart is kinder, a younger Loki that somebody like Natasha could fall in love with ... all the way back in 2002.

But Natasha is an assassin, a pawn under the Soviet government, and her exploits against the kingpin Frisk and her master Dreykov will bring her and Loki to dangers they have never dreamt of. In a mad chase of murder, theft and addiction, Loki finds himself being drawn to the darkness, as Natasha meets Agent Barton, who teaches her how to prove herself ... to be good ...

They'll eventually fall apart, Natasha and Loki. Maybe it was inevitable from the start. And 2012 will happen. But in spite of it all, in spite of the darkness and hatred and twisted thoughts that live in Loki now, a part of him will live forever on the summer-soaked Californian highways ... with her ...

Even villains were younger once.

ROMANZ AWARD 2020 #1 IN FANFICTION