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sunflowerseedsandscience · 6 years

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By the Dim and Flaring Lamps: Part Four, Chapter Five

JANUARY 1864 CULPEPER, VIRGINIA

Initially, Scully is nervous about being forced to spend any more time in Bill Mulder's company after his markedly chilly reception of her presence in his home, but as it turns out, she doesn't have to worry at all. By the time Samantha has finished altering her brother's clothing, Scully emerges from her new quarters to find that Bill is spending all of nearly every day out of the house.

"He has a good deal of important matters to see to, things that require his attention," explains Teena Mulder, the first morning that Scully is able to join them for breakfast downstairs. "Both here in town, and back in Fredericksburg."

"Plotting with Spender, most likely," Mulder mutters under his breath, and his mother frowns at him.

"Your father has a great many responsibilities to see to, Fox," she admonishes him. "Many of which will assure that this house, these fields, and this estate will all still be thriving when the time comes for you to inherit it all. You should be grateful to him, not snide." Mulder lapses into a brooding silence for the remainder of the meal, which, blessedly, concludes not very long after, leaving Mulder, Scully, and Samantha free to escape Teena's dour mood. At Mulder's suggestion, they go to the library, away from the noise and bustle of the rest of the house.

"What do you think that Father is really up to, spending so much time away from home?" asks Samantha, sinking into a plush armchair, as Scully gingerly seats herself on the sofa in front of the window. Mulder takes his place next to her. The temptation to lean up against him, to allow him to put his arm around her, is incredibly strong, nigh on irresistible, but the idea of Teena (or a slave other than James, who might lecture them on propriety but wouldn't tell Bill or Teena) walking in unannounced is enough of a deterrent to keep her sitting upright.

"Honestly, I have no idea," says Mulder. "You're the one who's been living in the same house as him for the past year while I've been gone. You've been living in the same house as him; I would imagine that you would probably have a far better handle on things than I do by now."

"Not really," says Sam. "He's not at home all that often, and when he is, he's shut up in the library or in the parlor with Mr. Spender, or with some of his other cronies." She makes a disgusted face. "There's this one strange man who's been coming around Mr. Spender's house in Fredericksburg an awful lot lately. More than any of the rest of them, he gives me the creeps."

"And Spender doesn't?" asks Mulder.

"Of course he does, but in a different way," says Samantha. "Mr. Spender is always just so... so cold. He looks at everything around him like the entire world could burn to the ground right in front of him, and he wouldn't care in the slightest. But this other man...." She shudders. "He looks at me like he might like to cook me up for his evening meal." Mulder frowns, instantly concerned.

"And Father doesn't say anything to him about it?" he asks, and Samantha shakes her head.

"I've only ever seen him at the house in Fredericksburg, at least so far. I think that since it's Mr. Spender's house, Father doesn't think that it's really his place to object to any of the guests that Mr. Spender invites. So I just try to keep myself upstairs, out of sight, or else I go out for a walk or a carriage ride whenever Alex happens to be part of the company." As Samantha names the man, Scully's head snaps up; next to her, Mulder starts in surprise.

"Alex?" he asks. Samantha nods.

"Yes, Alex Krycek. That's his name. I don't know whether he's the son of one of Father's or of Mr. Spender's other friends, but I think that probably he must be, because he's a great deal younger than the rest of their little group." Mulder looks over at Scully, frowning.

"That alleyway conversation that you overheard, when we were staying in Fredericksburg, last summer," he says. "The night when we went to the theater with Diana. Didn't you say that-"

"Yes, the man I overheard talking was named Alex," Scully agrees. "Do you think it could be the same person?"

"I think that it's a fairly remarkable coincidence if it's not," says Mulder. Samantha looks back and forth between them, frowning.

"What are you talking about? What conversation?" she asks. Scully bites her tongue; as strong as her hunch that Diana is involved in something nefarious is, she still doesn't know for certain, and while she might have felt the need to tell Mulder, to put him on his guard, she doesn't feel quite right sharing her suspicions with anyone else- especially not someone who, she thinks, might be even more prejudiced against Diana than she is.

Mulder, however, seems to have no such reservations.

"On the night that Scully and I arrived in Fredericksburg, last July," says Mulder, "when we went to see the performance of ‘Macbeth’ with Diana, Scully went outside to get some air at intermission and overheard Diana talking in the alleyway with a man named Alex." This information doesn't shock Samantha nearly as much as Scully had expected.

"Yes, Diana knows him," she says. "I've seen them talking together at the house plenty of times while we've been in Fredericksburg. I've always been under the impression that they're friends."

"When I asked her about it," Mulder says, frowning, "she told me that Alex is just a friend of Mr. Spender's, that he had been hoping that Spender would give his son a job at his offices here in Culpeper." Samantha scoffs at this notion disbelievingly. "I take it that wasn't the truth?"

"I've never seen Alex Krycek in anywhere in Culpeper," she says. "And he looks to be about the same age as the two of you and Diana are, so unless Mr. Spender has recently taken to hiring five-year-old children for positions in his offices, I can't see any way that he'd have a child old enough for what Diana told you to be the truth." Mulder looks at Scully, his expression troubled.

"There's always a chance that it could have been a different Alex," she offers weakly, but Mulder shakes his head, his expression sad. Scully doesn't feel any of the sense of victory that she had imagined she would feel if she ever managed to successfully convince Mulder that Diana is not quite who he thinks she is; rather, she feels an immense sorrow at the betrayal he must be feeling right now.

"I might believe that, Scully, except that my last night at Spender's house, the night before I left to return to the regiment-" He stops speaking suddenly and glances hesitantly over at Samantha, who is listening to this exchange with rapt attention. "Well... you remember how we fought, when we came home from the theater that first evening, don't you?" Scully nods; how could she possibly forget? "You made... an accusation. You suggested that Diana might try to do something, and I got angry and offended and I shouted at you." Scully swallows hard at the memory of his fury, at the cold way that he had looked at her when she had stated her belief that Diana was duplicitous, that she might be planning on trying to seduce information out of him and pass it on to her father.

"I remember," she says. Mulder bites his lip and glances over at Samantha again, looking nervous.

"Well... I think that maybe she did try to do exactly what you warned me that she would," he says, and Scully's heart sinks, her stomach contracting sickeningly. She realizes, suddenly, that she had never asked Mulder, when he had returned to the regiment at the end of his furlough, what else had taken place between him and Diana. Afraid of making him angry again, she had decided to let it go, had chosen to trust in his judgement in the matter. He, in turn, had volunteered no further information... and after that night in the woods, after he had taught her to hit a baseball and had kissed her, Diana had been the furthest thing from both of their minds.

Scully thinks of how Mulder had told her, the morning that they had woken up in bed together, the morning they had made love, that he had never done that before, the same as her. The idea that he might have been lying about that- or that he might have been couching his declaration in some sort of technicality- is devastating.

Scully's expression must be betraying the worries that are coursing through her mind, because Mulder suddenly reaches out and takes her hand in his, squeezing it tightly before reluctantly letting go.

"She tried, Scully, she tried!" he promises her earnestly. "She didn't succeed, and that was mostly because your accusations had put me on my guard, that night when we fought." Scully only needs to look at his face to know that he's telling her the truth. Nodding, she relaxes, letting out a long breath as the painful clenching in her gut releases.

"You never told me any of that," she says, trying to keep the accusation out of her voice.

"I know," Mulder says. "And I'm sorry about that. I guess I still didn't want to believe that you could be right, that someone who had been close to me might try to use me that way." He smiles at her sheepishly. "That will teach me to not listen to you."

"So...." Samantha frowns deeply. "You're saying that I may have been perfectly justified in disliking Diana all along? That she really might not have had your best interests at heart after all?" Scully can't help it; she laughs. Mulder rolls his eyes.

"Don't pretend as though you disliked her because she's been trying to use me, Samantha," he admonishes. "Your problem with her has always been that she treats you more like a little sister than a friend or an equal." Samantha looks hurt at this.

"No, Fox, you treat me like a little sister," she says. "Diana has always treated me like a nuisance, like something she's forced to put up with. Like I'm just an unpleasant side effect of her being able to have you in her life. And that's more than enough reason for me to dislike her, even if you could never see it." Mulder looks as though he's ready to fire back an angry retort, but Scully reaches out and places a gentle hand on his arm.

"She has a point, Mulder," she says quietly. "There were always friends of my sister and of my brothers running around our house when we were growing up, and while they all teased me...." She glances at Samantha sympathetically. "It was all meant in good fun. None of them ever spoke to me the way that I heard Diana speaking to your sister last summer."

Mulder looks back and forth between Scully and Samantha. "I... I'm sorry, Sam," he says. "I guess I just never thought that Diana ever meant any of it to be harmful... I just always thought that that was just-"

"Just the way that Diana is," says Samantha, nodding. "I know. I'll bet that you gave Lieutenant Scully the same excuse for why she was so cold to her-"

"Him," hisses Mulder, glancing at the library door.

"To him," Samantha corrects herself. "Last summer in Fredericksburg."

"I did," says Mulder heavily. "And I'm sorry. To both of you. To you, Sam, for never telling Diana to be kinder to you. And to you, Scully, for not taking what you had to say more seriously. I've been incredibly blind."

"But you must have taken my warnings to heart at least a little bit," Scully consoles him. "Otherwise you would have-" She stops and glances over at Samantha. "Otherwise things might have turned out very differently."

"I suppose so," says Mulder, then lapses into silence again, gazing out of the window at the cold and empty grounds.

"So what do we do, then?" asks Samantha, and Mulder frowns.

"About what?" he asks.

"About Diana," says Samantha. "Now that we know that she and Mr. Spender are up to something. Father, too."

"We don't do anything, Sam," says Mulder with a sigh. "I'll stay on my guard and keep on making certain that any letters I send back home don't contain any information that could be considered valuable." Samantha is aghast.

"But Fox, they could be plotting to harm you!" she protests.

"They're not plotting to harm me, specifically, Sam," he says. "They're plotting against the Union. Which is to be expected; this is a war, after all, and Father has always been fiercely loyal to Virginia above all else." He looks thoughtful. "Spender, though... I think he's always been loyal to whoever can benefit him the most. He's not from Virginia; he's not even a Southerner." He shakes his head. "Either way, if I confront Father and accuse him of engaging in espionage to help the Confederates win the war, he's likely to laugh in my face and ask me what else I could possibly have expected him to do."

"But if he's plotting to defeat the Union, then he's plotting to harm you just by association," argues Samantha.

"He's not going to see it that way," says Mulder.

"I have to agree with your brother, Samantha," says Scully quietly. "If your father really is doing what we suspect, then I honestly think that the safest thing for you to do would be to pretend you have no idea what's going on."

"And stay as far away as you possibly can from this Alex Krycek, whoever he is," says Mulder darkly. "And not just him, either. Anyone who looks at you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, or unsafe, you just steer clear of them, all right?" Samantha is clearly troubled by this.

"I can't just sit by and let you get hurt, Fox," she protests, and Mulder laughs. He immediately sobers when Samantha looks hurt, though, leaning forward on the sofa and smiling kindly at her.

"Sam... I'm fighting in a war," he reminds her gently. "There are quite literally thousands of men out there trying to hurt me."

"But of course he's going to do everything that he can to keep that any of them from succeeding," interjects Scully quickly when Samantha's face crumples even further. "And I want you to know that I'm going to do all that I can, as well. I promise you that."

"The point is, Samantha," says Mulder, "that from Father's perspective, he's only doing his duty as a patriot, while I'm the one who's betrayed the family. I think...." He sighs, looking back out the window. "I think that if Father hadn't yet truly given up on me, hadn't written me out of the family, when I first ran away from home to join the Union army... he definitely did when I walked out of Spender's house last summer. In all honesty, I'm surprised that he hasn't yet called called a Confederate patrol to take Scully and me off to a prisoner of war camp."

"He would never do that, Fox," says Samantha, shocked. Mulder shrugs.

"Maybe he would, and maybe he wouldn't," he replies. "I don't really know. And the longer that Scully and I stay here, the more opportunity he has to decide that it could look bad for him to have two Union officers taking shelter in his family home. That's why I want Scully and me to return to our regiment the moment sh- he is healthy enough." Scully can tell that Samantha wants to keep arguing.

"He's right," she says gently. "The best thing you can do right now is to keep yourself safe." She grins at Mulder. "And in the meantime, I'll do my best to take care of this one for you."

"Can I at least tell you anything that I manage to overhear?" Samantha asks. "In my letters, when I write to you, I mean. I can word them so that anyone else reading them won't have any idea what I'm talking about, but you’ll be able to figure it out, because you'll know what to look for." Mulder glances over at Scully, his expression dubious.

"It's a big risk for you to take, Sam," he says. "And there's honestly not that much that I could do with the information, even if you could figure out what Father and Spender are up to. I don't want you to get caught listening at closed doors."

"I won't, Fox, I promise," Samantha pleads. "I just... I can't sit here and do needlepoint while you're out there risking your life for a cause that I believe in every bit as much as you do. If I had been born a boy, I would have run away from home to fight for the Union right by your side, you know that I would... but I can't. So please just let me do whatever I can, all right?" Mulder sighs.

"All right, Samantha," he relents. "Anything that might you happen to overhear- without going out of your way one single bit- or anything that you see that strikes you as being suspicious, you can write to me about it. But absolutely no sneaking around, no hiding in wardrobes or behind sofas or under tables, no holding an empty water glass to the library wall when Father and his friends are in here, talking." Scully can see Samantha carefully thinking all of this over, trying to find a possible loophole in her brother's list of forbidden activities. Mulder must be able to see it, too, because he continues on: "No doing anything at all that could possibly draw attention to yourself. Promise me, Samantha, all right?"

"All right, all right, I promise, Fox," Samantha agrees at last, but she's clearly not at all happy about it. "But only if you promise me to keep on being careful, to keep on not taking any unnecessary risks when you're out there on the battlefield with your regiment." Mulder smiles.

"I promise, Sam. Scully and I are both coming home safe from this war, when it's over." He grins over at Scully. "And wherever we are, you'll always be welcome, too."

#X-Files Fanfic #my fic #By the Dim and Flaring Lamps

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imagine-loki · 6 years

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Irked

Title: Irked

Author lokilover9

Chapter 2

Original Imagine: Imagine due to having highly effective telekinesis, Tony Stark seeks you out and hires you. Loki’s been forced to live there by Odin and help on missions when needed, making penance to Midgardians. Prior to moving into the Tower, you learn of his superior and arrogant attitude and upon being introduced, immediately dislike him. Particularly because he looks at you like your his next meal.

Warnings: None

Until the Avengers returned, Shandi spent the rest of her time in her apartment unpacking and relaxing, purposely avoiding Loki. Obeying Tony’s orders, he quietly kept to himself and refrained from entertaining any company. When Tony asked if he’d bothered her at all, Shandi said no and he was pleased. By request of Odin, Thor then returned to Asgard for two weeks, Steve was busy setting up the new gym he recently bought and hanging with his new girlfriend and Tony and Pepper were tied up temporarily with small events in and out of town.

This left Clint and Natasha who willingly showed Shandi around. Although they were an item, she never felt like a third wheel and the dynamics between them often kept her laughing. One night while in Nats apartment watching movies, she went to make popcorn and Clint went to the washroom. Shortly after, Shandi heard a kerfuffle from behind and looked to see Clint on his ass with a large empty bowl landing on the floor and popcorn scattered around him.

“Nat, what the fuck?”

“Do not grope the titskies when we have company or yes, I will drop kick your sorry ass to the floor. Clean this up while I make more?”

Nat turned towards the kitchen as Clint stood and Shandi laughed when he contorted himself into the shape of the hunchback of Notre Dame, altered his voice and followed closely behind her.

“Yes master, is there anything else you desire master?”

She turned and gave him a look. “You know where the dustpan and broom are.”

Still holding the same demeanor, he turned in another direction. “Right away. Will I be waxing your back hair after master?”

“No, but keep it up and I’ll be waxing something you least expect in your sleep.”

Clint straightened and glanced at Shandi with widened eyes. “I guess I’d better get on it then.”

Shandi joined Nat in the kitchen.

“So how do you like living here so far?”

“It’s different. It’s like living in a massive apartment building with your co workers. Not that I mind, except one insists on being a dick sometimes.”

“You don’t have to take his shit Shandi. If he’s giving you that much of a problem, you can go to Tony.”

“He’s not outwardly and I do my best to avoid him. It’s just the way he looks at me all the time, like I’m a piece of meat. It gives me the creeps.”

“Loki looks at all attractive women that way and in general, gives most people the creeps. It’s why Tony makes him go in disguise on missions. Last time he made him wear a headpiece that had him appear bald and forced him to wear a fake beard and mustache with a baseball cap. Then he had him dress up like a pizza delivery guy and deliver 10 pizzas to 17 screaming six year olds at birthday party.”

“What was that mission for?” Asked Shandi.

“Tony told him once inside, to look around for signs of smuggled weapons in a suspected secret area of the basement. Once he arrived and brought in all the pizzas, Tony appeared and hugged the birthday girl who affectionately called him uncle Tony. Loki knew he’d been had then and although pissed, left quietly for the kids sakes.”

Shandi laughed. “What possessed Tony to do that?”

“Loki thinks us Midgardians are beneath him. He believes us primitive and uncivilized in comparison and Tony wanted to irritate the snob in him.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, I think the worst part of it though was the itchy and elevated rash he received from the fake beard and moustache. Nothing here cured it, so Thor had to return to Asgard for something. Loki was miserable as hell and let everyone know it too. Thor had a chat with Tony and asked him not to instigate him again and he hasn’t since. I think that’s why he ignored Tony’s orders of not bringing Escorts into the building, just to aggravate him back.”

Shandi was shocked. “He sleeps with hookers? That’s nasty!”

By this point, Clint had cleaned up the popcorn and went to sit in the living room upon hearing their conversation.

“Is it?” Nat asked, placing another bag in the microwave. “The agencies that supply them don’t hire women working for their next fix whom are just as, if not more, unfairly misjudged by society. Regardless, Tony had me investigate the one Loki deals with and they service only the highly elite. The women are in perfect health, come from all walks of life and are all stunningly beautiful. Tony is right though. They may have signed a discreteness agreement, but that could be ignored if one became disgruntled. Should word travel beyond its doors Loki was a client, you never know who a woman he requested may secretly be working for. He was thoughtlessly endangering us all.”

“Why do you assume thoughtlessly?” Shandi asked.

Nat looked her straight in the eyes. “Naivety on his part. He fails to think any Midgardian could be intelligent enough to outsmart him.”

“But Nat, he’s a God. It’s common knowledge they’re more intelligent than us.”

“In many ways yes, but he’s still male. I’ve been in my line of work since very young and witnessed many political leaders and other high ranking men outsmarted by beautiful women. On some occasions, after the women were thoroughly investigated and without the men getting laid.”

Shandi was dumbfounded and although curious, didn’t push the issue for fear of asking Nat some compromising questions that may offend her. Not only did she like her, but getting on her bad side would be highly unwise, especially if they needed to work together.

When the popcorn finished, they reentered the living room and Shandi burst into laughter causing the remote to fly from Clints hand. It landed on the floor and the batteries scattered.

“Oops, oh shit.”

Natasha rolled her eyes as he crawled about gathering them, shoved them back in and quickly returned the movie to the horror film they’d all been watching. “Seriously? I leave you alone for ten minutes while I chat with our company and you switch to porn?”

“Okay, in my defence, you were gone longer than ten minutes and it wasn’t like I did it right away. Shandi, I apologize and sincerely hope I haven’t offended you.”

Shandi struggled not to keep laughing. “Nope, it’s all good.”

Clint turned his attentions back to Nat. “Honestly woman, you’re like a fucking ninja. Can’t you walk like a normal person so I know when you’re coming?”

“Why? Then I’d miss all the ways you keep getting into trouble.”

The next time Shandi interacted with Loki, she entered the pool at night to find him swimming and hesitated to get in.

Loki raised his brows. “I was here first, so you cannot be offended that I am.”

“Who said I was? If you use one side of the pool while I use the other, we shouldn’t have a problem. As long as your eyes remain in your head.”

“I see. Now who’s flattering themselves?”

She stared at him unamused with a towel hanging around her shoulders so to appease her, Loki swam to the pools opposite side and turned away. “Does that help? I’m not even looking.” He smirked when she dropped it as little did she realize, he could see her reflection in the floor to ceiling windows at her end of the pool. Silently observing her, he waited until she was submerged before swimming again.

Back and forth the two did laps, passing each other without incident until Loki stepped out and headed for the diving board. Shandi reached the edge of the shallow end and had just kicked off when spotting him sauntering towards its end and took in a mouthful of water. She turned away coughing and Loki laughed.

“Maybe I’m not the only one that should keep their eyes in their head?” Diving in, he swam to the shallow end and hopped out near the furthest corner with a huge grin. “Goodnight Shandi.” Walking away, his grin widened while observing her in the window eyeing him from the ground up. “Nice swimming with you.” At the exit, he turned abruptly and slipped her a cheeky wink, smiling at the sudden flush in her cheeks as she quickly looked away. After the door closed, he turned invisible and watched her through a curved slit in it’s design. She expelled a flustered huff, knocking down a pile of floating devices and jumped out to put them back. One kept falling from the top and frustrated, she kicked it into the pool.

Loki whispered to himself. “My my, such temper Darling. I had no idea I affected you that much. Maybe I should up my game a little.”

The next afternoon Shandi was coming from the library after a friendly chat with Steve. She was carrying some books on yoga and exercise he’d recommended, when something caught the corner of her eye. Wearing dark sunglasses and a smirk, his hair not a lock out of place, black leather 501’s, black leather knee high boots and shirtless, Loki was heading towards her from down the hall on her left. The swag in his shoulders carried a masculine sensuality that was captivating enough, but his lean torso and how his pants sat just above his hips, lured her gaze lower and she smacked head on into Clint. Her books went flying and she landed on her ass, red faced and stunned.

“Whoa, Shandi! Are you alright?”

She glanced in Loki’s direction and he was gone. There were no doors he could have entered and her mouth hung ajar. ‘What the hell?’ She thought.

“Shandi?” Said Clint, offering a hand to her. She took it and once standing, he knelt down to gather her books. Then her breathing deepened and when looking up to see her frowning at something behind him, he turned to see Loki coming towards them. Wearing sneakers, gym shorts and a loose fitted t shirt, he looked sweaty and was carrying a water bottle and a small towel on one shoulder. When he reached a few feet away, Shandi narrowed her eyes more and raised a finger at him. “I..do not..like you.” She then stormed off, leaving her books with Clint.

Appearing perplexed, Loki stared at her as she walked away.

“Obviously you’ve offended her.” Said Clint. “What did you do?”

“You’re guess is as good as mine.”

“Right.”

Loki looked him in the eyes. “I’m serious man. I haven’t seen her since last night at the pool.”

“And nothing happened?” Clint asked.

“Nothing, we got along fine.”

“Maybe I should take these books to her and ask then?”

Loki gestured in Shandis direction. “Please do, I’m truly baffled.” Shrugging it off, he walked away and once around the corner, snickered to himself.

Clint, highly suspicious of the interaction, went to Nat and revealed what he’d observed. Shortly after, she delivered the books and lured from Shandi what prevailed.

“Didn’t Tony tell you he’s a master of illusions?”

“Yeah, but is he ‘that good?’”

“Heads up Shandi, it’s one of his specialties.”

“Then why did Tony force him to wear a disguise at that birthday party?”

“So he’d know it was him coming into the house. Tony did tell you he can clone himself too, yes?”

Shandis eyes widened. “Wh..what? No he didn’t and how the hell does anyone do that?”

Nat sighed. “Dick head, it’s another unique specialty of Loki’s.” She thought for a minute, then a sly little smile appeared on her face. “Are you doing anything tomorrow night?”

“It’s not like I have any friends here Nat, so no.”

“Yes you do beautiful and this one has a plan.”

#Loki #God of Mischief #Submitted fic #submission #irked #chapter 2 #lokilover9 #telekinesis #tony stark #hires #odin #mission #penance #tower #superior #arrogant #introduced #dislike

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loki-subterfuge · 6 years

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IRKED - CHAPTER 2 Until the Avengers returned, Shandi spent the rest of her time in her apartment unpacking and relaxing, purposely avoiding Loki. Obeying Tony's orders, he quietly kept to himself and refrained from entertaining any company. When Tony asked if he’d bothered her at all, Shandi said no and he was pleased. By request of Odin, Thor then returned to Asgard for two weeks, Steve was busy setting up the new gym he recently bought and hanging with his new girlfriend and Tony and Pepper were tied up temporarily with small events in and out of town. This left Clint and Natasha who willingly showed Shandi around. Although they were an item, she never felt like a third wheel and the dynamics between them often kept her laughing. One night while in Nats apartment watching movies, she went to make popcorn and Clint went to the washroom. Shortly after, Shandi heard a kerfuffle from behind and looked to see Clint on his ass with a large empty bowl landing on the floor and popcorn scattered around him. “Nat, what the fuck?” “Do not grope the titskies when we have company or yes, I will drop kick your sorry ass to the floor. Clean this up while I make more?” Nat turned towards the kitchen as Clint stood and Shandi laughed when he contorted himself into the shape of the hunchback of Notre Dame, altered his voice and followed closely behind her. “Yes master, is there anything else you desire master?” She turned and gave him a look. “You know where the dustpan and broom are.” Still holding the same demeanor, he turned in another direction. “Right away. Will I be waxing your back hair after master?” “No, but keep it up and I'll be waxing something you least expect in your sleep.” Clint straightened and glanced at Shandi with widened eyes. “I guess I'd better get on it then.” Shandi joined Nat in the kitchen. “So how do you like living here so far?” “It's different. It's like living in a massive apartment building with your co workers. Not that I mind, except one insists on being a dick sometimes.” “You don't have to take his shit Shandi. If he's giving you that much of a problem, you can go to Tony.” “He's not outwardly and I do my best to avoid him. It's just the way he looks at me all the time, like I'm a piece of meat. It gives me the creeps.” “Loki looks at all attractive women that way and in general, gives most people the creeps. It's why Tony makes him go in disguise on missions. Last time he made him wear a headpiece that had him appear bald and forced him to wear a fake beard and mustache with a baseball cap. Then he had him dress up like a pizza delivery guy and deliver 10 pizzas to 17 screaming six year olds at birthday party.” “What was that mission for?” Asked Shandi. “Tony told him once inside, to look around for signs of smuggled weapons in a suspected secret area of the basement. Once he arrived and brought in all the pizzas, Tony appeared and hugged the birthday girl who affectionately called him uncle Tony. Loki knew he'd been had then and although pissed, left quietly for the kids sakes.” Shandi laughed. “What possessed Tony to do that?” “Loki thinks us Midgardians are beneath him. He believes us primitive and uncivilized in comparison and Tony wanted to irritate the snob in him.” “Ouch.” “Yeah, I think the worst part of it though was the itchy and elevated rash he received from the fake beard and moustache. Nothing here cured it, so Thor had to return to Asgard for something. Loki was miserable as hell and let everyone know it too. Thor had a chat with Tony and asked him not to instigate him again and he hasn't since. I think that's why he ignored Tony's orders of not bringing escorts into the building, just to aggravate him back.” Shandi was shocked. “He sleeps with hookers? That's nasty!” By this point, Clint had cleaned up the popcorn and went to sit in the living room upon hearing their conversation. “Is it?” Nat asked, placing another bag in the microwave. “The agencies that supply them don't hire women working for their next fix whom are just as, if not more, unfairly misjudged by society. Regardless, Tony had me investigate the one Loki deals with and they service only the highly elite. The women are in perfect health, come from all walks of life and are all stunningly beautiful. Tony is right though. They may have signed a discreteness agreement, but that could be ignored if one became disgruntled. Should word travel beyond its doors Loki was a client, you never know who a woman he requested may secretly be working for. He was thoughtlessly endangering us all.” “Why do you assume thoughtlessly?” Shandi asked. Nat looked her straight in the eyes. “Naivety on his part. He fails to think any Midgardian could be intelligent enough to outsmart him.” “But Nat, he's a God. It's common knowledge they're more intelligent than us.” “In many ways yes, but he’s still male. I've been in my line of work since very young and witnessed many political leaders and other high ranking men outsmarted by beautiful women. On some occasions, after the women were thoroughly investigated and without the men getting laid.” Shandi was dumbfounded and although curious, didn't push the issue for fear of asking Nat some compromising questions that may offend her. Not only did she like her, but getting on her bad side would be highly unwise, especially if they needed to work together. When the popcorn finished, they re entered the living room and Shandi burst into laughter causing the remote to fly from Clints hand. It landed on the floor and the batteries scattered. “Oops, oh shit.” Natasha rolled her eyes as he crawled about gathering them, shoved them back in and quickly returned the movie to the horror film they'd all been watching. “Seriously? I leave you alone for ten minutes while I chat with our company and you switch to porn?” “Okay, in my defence, you were gone longer than ten minutes and it wasn't like I did it right away. Shandi, I apologize and sincerely hope I haven't offended you.” Shandi struggled not to keep laughing. “Nope, it's all good.” Clint turned his attentions back to Nat. “Honestly woman, you're like a fucking ninja. Can't you walk like a normal person so I know when you're coming?” “Why? Then I'd miss all the ways you keep getting into trouble.” The next time Shandi interacted with Loki, she entered the pool at night to find him swimming and hesitated to get in. Loki raised his brows. “I was here first, so you cannot be offended that I am.” “Who said I was? If you use one side of the pool while I use the other, we shouldn't have a problem. As long as your eyes remain in your head.” “I see. Now who's flattering themselves?” She stared at him unamused with a towel hanging around her shoulders so to appease her, Loki swam to the pools opposite side and turned away. “Does that help? I'm not even looking.” He smirked when she dropped it as little did she realize, he could see her reflection in the floor to ceiling windows at her end of the pool. Silently observing her, he waited until she was submerged before swimming again. Back and forth the two did laps, passing each other without incident until Loki stepped out and headed for the diving board. Shandi reached the edge of the shallow end and had just kicked off when spotting him sauntering towards its end and took in a mouthful of water. She turned away coughing and Loki laughed. “Maybe I'm not the only one that should keep their eyes in their head?” Diving in, he swam to the shallow end and hopped out near the furthest corner with a huge grin. “Goodnight Shandi.” Walking away, his grin widened while observing her in the window eyeing him from the ground up. “Nice swimming with you.” At the exit, he turned abruptly and slipped her a cheeky wink, smiling at the sudden flush in her cheeks as she quickly looked away. After the door closed, he turned invisible and watched her through a curved slit in it's design. She expelled a flustered huff, knocking down a pile of floating devices and jumped out to put them back. One kept falling from the top and frustrated she kicked it into the pool. Loki whispered to himself. “My my, such temper Darling. I had no idea I affected you that much. Maybe I should up my game a little.” The next afternoon Shandi was coming from the library after a friendly chat with Steve. She was carrying some books on yoga and exercise he'd recommended, when something caught the corner of her eye. Wearing dark sunglasses and a sly smirk, his hair not a lock out of place, black leather 501’s, black leather knee high boots and shirtless, Loki was heading towards her from down the hall on her left. The swag in his shoulders carried a masculine sensuality that was captivating enough, but his lean torso and how his pants sat just above his hips, lured her gaze lower and she smacked head on into Clint. Her books went flying and she landed on her ass, red faced and stunned. “Whoa, Shandi! Are you alright?” She glanced in Loki's direction and he was gone. There were no doors he could have entered and her mouth hung ajar. ‘What the hell?’ She thought. “Shandi?” Said Clint, offering a hand to her. She took it and once standing, he knelt down to gather her books. Then her breathing deepened and when looking up to see her frowning at something behind him, he turned to see Loki coming towards them. Wearing sneakers, gym shorts and a loose fitted t shirt, he looked sweaty and was carrying a water bottle and a small towel on one shoulder. When he reached a few feet away, Shandi narrowed her eyes more and raised a finger at him. “I..do not..like you.” She then stormed off, leaving her books with Clint. Appearing perplexed, Loki watched her walked away. “Obviously you've offended her.” Said Clint. “What did you do?” “You're guess is as good as mine.” “Right.” Loki looked him in the eyes. “I'm serious man. I haven't seen her since last night at the pool.” “And nothing happened?” Clint asked. “Nothing, we got along fine.” “Maybe I should take these books to her and ask then?” Loki gestured in Shandis direction. “Please do, I'm truly baffled.” Shrugging it off, he walked away and once around the corner, snickered to himself. Clint, highly suspicious of the interaction, went to Nat and revealed what he'd observed. Shortly after, she delivered the books and lured from Shandi what prevailed. “Didn't Tony tell you he's a master of illusions?” “Yeah, but is he ‘that good?’” “Heads up Shandi, it's one of his specialties.” “Then why did Tony force him to wear a disguise at that birthday party?” “So he'd know it was him coming into the house. Tony did tell you he can clone himself too, yes?” Shandis eyes widened. “Wh..what? No he didn't and how the hell does anyone do that?” Nat sighed. “Dick head, it's another unique specialty of Loki's.” She thought for a minute, then a sly little smile appeared on her face. “Are you doing anything tomorrow night?” “It's not like I have any friends here Nat, so no.” “Yes you do beautiful and this one has a plan.”

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dianapana · 7 years

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Tea-Day9

Books -Part II

Itachi did change what was going on at the ‘Library’ which was now named ‘Raven’. Even so the back shelf the one furthest away was still intact and had books on it. The others were disposed of and replaced by chairs and tables even a few couches.

Itachi turned it into a café of some sorts…they even have board games, such as chess, scrabble and who knows what else. They served both coffee and tea, sometimes even lemonade and freshes. Itachi talked to the bakery down the street so they also have countless types of sweets to do with your drink.

Despite it being in a quiet place far away from the busyness of the central town the café always has at least a few customers inside. Of course from 7 when she gets out of work to 9 when she goes home Hinata is there, doing her homework, reading even playing scrabble with Itachi when he is free.

“Why is she always here?”

Sasuke asked. He started working there as well, he had another short chat with Hinata after the café opened and they finally introduced themselves.

“She always came here before it was a café, she’d just sit around and talk to me, now I guess it’s a hang out place”

Half listening to Itachi Sasuke was watching Hinata learn to play chess from an older man. She’d frown when something didn’t make sense and nod when she understood a part. Near the board was her tea, she never ordered coffee and so far she had made her way through the collection of tea they had on the menu.

The following day Hinata arrived at 3 rather than 7. The place had a few customers around. A group of teenage girls eating cake and laughing at whatever story and gossip they were telling. 2 old men playing chess and a mother with a little girl, somewhere in the back was a collage guy looking through the books.

“You’re early.”

Sasuke said as he placed a cup of tea in front of her, she didn’t even order, he just brought her the next tea on the menu. She smiled at him when he sat down. Everyone seemed to have everything they needed so he was free. Itachi was nowhere to be seen. That was how it was most of the time. He probably worked out in front when Sasuke was at school.

“Yea…I got fired. I wanted to look for another job but I was too tired”

Hinata said with a sad smile. She liked working at the Pet Store but the business wasn’t going well lately and they had to let people go, so they decided they didn’t need part time jobbers anymore.

Sasuke felt bad, she looked genuinely upset, he didn’t know if it was because she liked working there so much or just because she needed to work, but he could only help with one of those so he offered.

“You can work here”

“Really?”

Her reply was instant, her eyes were sparking and Sasuke was taken aback by how beautiful she looked in that moment.

“Yea…you spend most of your time here anyway at least do something productive”

She nodded and giggled.

Later that night when it was already closing time Itachi finally walked downstairs. He was living in the apartment over the café. Sasuke just finished cleaning everything up.

“I hired Hinata today.” He said.

“What, why? The 2 of us are more than enough”

Itachi’s respond was just as he expected, and it was, well, true. But there was surely something Hinata could do to help around.

“She was sad. She got fired. I don’t know. I felt bad”

After saying that he looked at Itachi and his older brother was grinning at him like an idiot. Sasuke rose a brow and Itachi started laughing.

“Fine she can work here. Just find something useful for her to do. She has all the shifts you do, from noon to closing time since you both go to school”

Sasuke nodded. Sadly after talkig some more with Hinata he found out they were going to different schools, he would have liked to spend time with here at school too. Her company was nice.

Since the shop was rarely crowded they had quite a bit of free time. Hinata took the orders and took the drinks and sweets to the tables. Sasuke was preparing the drinks and placing the sweets on the plates. It really wasn’t a 2 men work, he knew that and he was thankful that Itachi didn’t make a big fuss about it. At the closing hour it always took less time to clean up since they were 2. Hinata was cleaning the tables and Sasuke was taking care of everything behind the counter, such as placing the remaining patisseries in the fridge, counting the money and everything else. Before that they loaded the dish washer and when they were both done they unloaded it and put everything in its place.

Usually from 6 to 7 it was the ‘dead hour’ so during that time they were doing their homework together helping each other and if they finished faster they’d just talk.

“Starting today for a few days after the closing I’ll be staying behind if that’s all right.”

Sasuke looked at her puzzled.

“It’s fine, but why?”

“My dad’s house is close by so I can walk home but I’ll be staying at my mom’s for some time so she needs to pick me up and her work ends after the closing hour”

After they finished cleaning Sasuke sat with her and they started playing scrabble.

“I didn’t know you parents were divorced”

“Yea…are your parents together?”

“Yes they are. But I live with Itachi. When he moved here they let me choose who I wanted to stay with. I decided to move here too”

For a moment it was silence. Hinata was trying to form a word with the letters she had, but nothing came to her mind. So she groaned and let her head fall back. Sasuke chuckled.

“Don’t make fun of me. I’m good at this game. I just can’t concentrate now”

“Sure, sure”

After a few more failed attempts to form a word Hinata gave up.

“Itachi said you were always here before it was a café, so I’m guessing it wasn’t the tea that brought you in. Why did you enjoy coming here?”

“I walked in the first day and I found this place strange, than I met your brother and he was so…weird, I guess he caught my interest”

Hearing her talk like that about Itachi made him hurt a little.

“But now I’m here for the tea, and well…when we met for the first time I also thought you were strange, I still do. I like spending time here it’s relaxing and I enjoy your company a lot. Even if we’re not talking. Just being in the same room is nice. “

Sasuke had to look another way, he couldn’t meet her gaze after hearing that, plus the chances of him blushing were very high.

Part I

#sasuhina #sasuhina month #sasuke #hinata #books

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