Faces That You Meet, 5/8. NC-17
Title: Faces That You Meet
Author: Eustacia Vye
Author's e-mail: eustacia_vye28@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Loki/Natasha, Natasha/Winter Soldier, Loki/Natasha/Winter Soldier.
Disclaimer: Not mine! Not even by a little bit.
Spoilers/Warnings: MCU AU. Based off of futurerustfuture-dust's initial dark!blackwinterfrost idea. I didn't use the written material you sent me exactly, but here's hoping you like this one, too. :) Russian words have hovertext translation thanks to Google Translate, so please let me know if I goofed something and I'll fix it. Title, epigraph and chapter titles are all from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot.
Summary: A left turn instead of a right, and Loki tumbled down into the frozen tundra of Russia, right outside the Red Room. An honest mistake, but it soon changed everything. And he was never one to share his toys.
Prior chapters:
One - Disturb The Universe
Two - Spread Out Against The Sky
Three - The Corners of the Evening
Four - Descend The Stair
Five - The Moment Of My Greatness
Yelena Belova sat across from Loki in the heart of the Red Room, and she didn't look amused in the slightest. There was no obvious tell; she had been trained far too well for that. Loki knew there were five girls left in Natasha's class, and that she would likely have been the only survivor of the Black Widow program. Yelena was part of the class below her, and apparently had striven to reach Natasha's unparalleled marks on all tests placed on her. I've never failed, Natasha had told him without any false modesty. He understood why. The alternative was death, in some form or other, and she would have done anything to survive.
Loki interrupted the usual ways the Red Room had weeded out the weaker girls, so Yelena was one of twelve girls in her year. Only two girls had been killed so far in the class below hers, and none at all in the younger classes. The murderous ways of the Red Room were gone. There was no need to have a deadly competition leaving only a single survivor. Now he indicated that the girls could be trained in different areas and be used on different kinds of missions. The younger girls would also not be forcibly sterilized, but would have to consent to such a thing. Some would still wish to proceed, not interested in potential motherhood. But for those who were, he had instructed the girls to be given options that would allow that in their future. They would be involved in the lives of the children, and the Red Room would soon resemble something of a murderous family unit rather than the suspicious nest of vipers it had been. He was rather proud of this change, even if Yelena didn't quite trust it yet.
He didn't have to use seidr on her, but would if absolutely necessary.
"You are taking two of the best agents this facility has ever produced," Yelena repeated. Her voice could be rather melodious when she tried to be charming, but unfortunately for Loki, this was not one of those times. If anything, disapproval was more evident in her tone.
"I am leaving you in charge of the welfare of our students," Loki returned pleasantly, a slight smile twisting his lips. It was hardly comforting, and Yelena continued staring stonily at him. "You are gifted, Yelena," he continued when she didn't continue to speak. "Had we continued with the old method of training, I am sure you would have been the only survivor of your class. But I'm not interested in killing little girls. I'm interested in creating a place where these girls will learn how to be the deadliest spies in the world. We will command quite the price for their services."
"We no longer serve Russia or her interests," Yelena returned, each syllable spat out. "What is the purpose of such a goal?"
His amusement, really, and maybe a backup plan if Thor decided he didn't want Loki as his advisor after all. Yelena didn't need to know that, however.
"Have you ever wanted anything out of life, Yelena?" Loki asked instead. The question clearly threw her, as her expression was perfectly devoid of any emotion at all. When in doubt, the girls further along in their training defaulted to empty canvases. It was chilling to think about all those blank faces staring at him when he had called an assembly of all the girls to announce a change in the facility's leadership.
Reaching across the desk, he took Yelena's hand. There was power in her, and he could likely read exactly what kind if he was better at the spá. "You have, most likely, been instructed to never want, never need, never ask. You take what you're given, and you do as you're told. You are not a real girl according to the handlers that had been here. You were a thing. An object. A doll. Something they could break as they saw fit." He could feel a slight tremor in her hand at that, and knew he had her attention.
"I propose to serve our own interests. Gather the secrets of the world to keep ourselves safe from Russia and all the other countries. They willingly gave you girls up, willingly tortured all of you, killed you if you weren't useful enough. Don't you want to prove that you're more than a doll they can shatter on a whim?"
Yelena withdrew her hand. "And you would make me the new Madame B."
"The name fits, yes?" Loki replied flippantly, but that was exactly the wrong tactic to take.
She vaulted over the desk, slamming him into the wall behind him. His vision swam from the sheer power of her strike, and her hands around his throat would cut off his air soon enough. He still wasn't interest in killing her, but he couldn't underestimate her, either. She was brittle, too easily shattered. What had those handlers done to her? What was different about her, that Natasha was so resilient and Yelena was ready to charge headlong into destruction?
Loki knocked her backward and shoved her hard into the chair. "You're right, that was rather thoughtless of me," he said, voice husky from the attack.
Her eyes were bright with anger, but she held herself in check. "You don't deny it."
"I'm sorry if I made you angry," Loki continued, then sat back into his own chair, facing her. "I did not intend that at all. I do believe you would be the best at guiding the girls. You know what they used to do here, you know how hard they need to be pushed. But not with the killing."
"That wasn't all they did," Yelena said, disdain in her voice.
"Of course not. And I stopped the hysterectomies as well. Forced ones, anyway. If the girls are sure they don't want children, they can choose to have one. If they're not certain, other methods are used until they know what they want."
"Birth control isn't infallible. What are the instructions for pregnancies?"
"If they want to continue the pregnancy, the children will be raised here," Loki said evenly. He didn't even smile at Yelena's obvious shock. "If I'm not going to kill the girls in the program, I'm not going to kill their children. The children, regardless of gender, will be raised here, trained here, and have loyalty to those of us in the Red Room. We're to be a family of sorts now, and we will protect our own."
"How do you propose to do that?" Yelena asked, caution in her tone.
"Not with manipulating them into thinking they have no choices. I don't hold with forcing them to do those tawdry things to steal secrets."
"What else do you think they use girls for?" she sneered.
"Distraction. Illusion. Misdirection." He gave her a mirthless smile. "You are stronger than you look, Yelena. I think all the girls here are."
"We train daily for hours to be so."
"I think you'll protect them. That you will recognize if any teacher abuses them, and you will stop it." He met her gaze steadily. "Natalia Romanova and the Asset are needed to eliminate the opposition to this facility. I don't know how long we will be gone. But it's to cement the future of this place, for these girls. They must have a future."
"You think the FSB will let you have us? That the Vory will let you keep the girls they traded or sold? Once the world knows that the Red Room has changed, it will be an open market."
Loki assessed Yelena, who returned his gaze without flinching. "You're very knowledgeable about this. More so than those handlers that tried to convince me they were necessary."
"I listen. I learn. I am the best, and I would be the Black Widow."
"If we still used the same system, yes you would be."
That didn't mollify her, but at least she didn't look ready to kill him outright. "So?"
"You are uniquely qualified to run the facility in our absence. But you do bring up valid concerns about the location of this facility. I can do what I can to ensure its protection." Loki thought quickly as he spoke. He was known for being clever and full of tricks, and he could certainly use a few to these girls' advantage. There were any number of wards he could place around the facility, and it would serve as nasty warnings to those who would do harm to those he considered his. But another good solution might be to shift its location entirely, carving it out of Midgard and creating its own parallel dimension, rather like his little hideaway. Using Yggdrasil's power could keep it stable and safe, and there were any number of ways he could try to put it together. He might need Frigga's help, but he was planning to be in Asgard soon. A hypothetical situation to create a pocket dimension could get him on the right track. It was what started him creating his little hideaway, after all.
"You need to do more than just eliminate some of the competition," Yelena told him evenly. "We need to make them fear us, as our prior incarnation had been feared."
"It was dismissed as a government conspiracy, was it not?"
"If Russia fears us, they will not attack. That eliminates one possible threat. The others would only attack if we seem weak."
"Plan it out."
"What?"
"If you are going to lead in my absence, I want to see how you handle it. Assess the girls, see who is ready to go on the offensive," Loki told her, meaning every word. "Pick the proper targets, see how best to get to them. I trust your judgment on this."
Yelena looked at him closely. "You barely know what I'm capable of."
"I think you are better skilled than the other girls in Natasha's class," Loki replied. "I passed over all of them to ask you to be Director. I don't think you're only a pretty face."
"Too many do."
"Your body is a tool," Loki acknowledged. "But I want your mind. I want you protecting these girls and establishing this facility as a force to be reckoned with."
Because if things went well, their skills could be used on more than one realm.
***
Taking a piece of gravel from one of the training yards, Loki felt certain he could pinpoint the exact place and time he should return to the Red Room facility. He had placed various wards around it and they extended for miles beyond the guarded walls. Yelena had picked the other four girls of Natasha's class to seduce or take down various officials within the FSB and Russian government, and she was certain it meant that they were sufficiently cowed by the current staff in place. Yelena had also extended a calling card to them, in the form of the dead officials, stating that they were ready for hire if needed. The new protocols in the facility were in place, and there was really nothing else for them to do there. Natasha had only requested to do a few Hydra killings herself. Bucky hadn't felt the need to track down any others personally, but she wanted to dissect some of the ones that had wiped him clean or worked on his body without care for whether or not he was in pain. In the meantime, Bucky had his arm checked and serviced, as they couldn't be sure that Loki could figure it out on his own in Asgard.
Asgard. He was truly taking them back to Asgard. He must have been insane. But he could possibly claim them as friends or personal guards, even though the Einherjar would likely see that as an insult. Loki could possibly simply claim royal prerogative. He certainly planned to try, anyway, and didn't think his parents would even notice.
"Are we ready?" Loki asked, looking at Natasha and Bucky. They each had a bag of belongings, mostly weaponry they felt they absolutely couldn't do without, even though he had reassured them that he would get them access to the armory.
When they indicated they were ready, Loki crafted a portal that would open out into his suite of rooms at the palace. He knew it intimiately well, and he knew he would be able to get to the correct time and place there. The pull of home was great, and Bucky and Natasha held onto his arms just in case his travel went off the path he planned. He found it a little amusing, to be honest, as he didn't find this mode of travel frightening at all. Then again, they'd never crossed into a different realm before. Soon enough they would be just as blasé about portals and travel between worlds as he was, he was sure.
It was pouring in Asgard when they arrived, making Loki glad that he had the portal open into his bedroom rather than a courtyard. It didn't often rain that heavily in Asgard, but it could during the winter season. Bucky and Natasha seemed to relax a little once the portal closed behind them, and they were all standing together in the suite. "We made it," he told them, slinging an arm around each of them. Impulsively, Loki dropped a kiss on both their cheeks, making them smile at him a little.
Putting down their bags, Natasha and Bucky fanned out from Loki's side to observe and look through the room. Natasha went to his balcony and looked out over the view. It was impressive, one he honestly stopped paying attention to long ago, but seeing it anew through Natasha's eyes brought home the pride he held in his land. "Welcome to Asgard," he said, coming up behind her. He slid his hands around her waist, and kept the smile on his face as Bucky approached to look at the view.
"Some place," he murmured.
Loki laughed. Having them both amazed at portal travel and then his simple suite relaxed him somehow. Thor sometimes called him arrogant and full of tricks, but these two would keep him from becoming truly arrogant. Thor's comrades generally didn't challenge his fits of temper, giving in when he demanded something. Loki didn't always, though his tricks sometimes were seen as mean spirited. And perhaps he didn't always challenge Thor in ways that could help him, though at the time Loki thought it might. Having someone impartial in the matter would give him a bit more perspective. They cared for him and his wellbeing, but didn't let that blind them to faults or means for improvement.
Natasha reached out to touch the rain after seeing some of the servants running through a courtyard to the side of the palace. "It's warm," she murmured, lips curling into a smile at the corners. She turned and then stepped backward into the open part of the balcony, face tipped up so that the rainfall came down over her closed eyes and face.
"You're such a girl sometimes," Bucky chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at her.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Natasha replied, dropping her head and looking at him with a grin on her face. "This is real, Bucky. We're actually someplace else that isn't the tundra, this is architecture that isn't human in origin, and this is real."
Bucky chuckled again, reaching out to touch the polished stone of the archway. "Feels real. And really similar to home. But yeah, I see why you're excited."
Looking at the simple delight in their faces, Loki was struck by the wonder in their eyes. After so much abuse and deprivation, being able to do something as simple as standing in the rain had to mean so much. That they trusted him enough not to take advantage of this display also meant quite a bit. The look of honest joy on Natasha's face was wonderful to see. Loki had only ever thought of the rain as an annoyance, or sometimes a chance to use the water in a spell. But he saw how Natasha's clothes were plastered to her body, how she laughed and sputtered as the rain got into her mouth.
He pulled Bucky's hand and jumped into the rain with her. Both assassins laughed like children, then held onto Loki tightly. Natasha kissed him on the mouth, then Bucky, who touched his chest as he pulled Natasha into a tight one-armed embrace.
"We're home," Loki said, feeling pride rush through him. The word sent a thrill through him, and he felt like a young boy proudly presenting the final product of a complex spell to his mother, or the completed swordcraft ritual to the Einherjar tutors.
This feeling was the headiest drug of all.
***
Of course it would be impossible to hide his actions from his family or Heimdall. So Loki made a preemptive move to introduce Natasha and Bucky to his personal tailor in the palace. A simple glamour covered the metal arm, and the tailor quickly fashioned appropriate clothing for the two of them. Bucky was expected to carry at least a dagger on his person at all times, which went a long way in easing the transition for his clothing. He was particularly pleased with the clever ways to hide additional blades in the ornamentation on the formal dress, which would place him at the rank of a jarl. It would be impossible to pass him off as a high jarl or even a royal, but a simple jarl was possible and would pass muster in court. None of the simpering noblewomen would ever think to doubt Loki's word if he declared them from a small but loyal house recently elevated to the level of jarl. It happened all the time, after all.
Natasha was less than pleased with the flowing drapes of the robes over the tunics and dress. It was more difficult to hide blades on her person, and the tailor appeared scandalized that she would even want one. "But your kin and the Einherjar would protect you, my lady," the tailor stammered as she glared at him. Loki managed not to laugh, and vowed to help her devise a few clever hiding places for her weaponry. She was a weapon in and of herself, but Loki understood that having extra tools would be helpful in relieving any anxiety about the strange place.
After the first measurements and clothes were prepared, Loki's tailor hurried off to his workroom in the bowels of the palace to create a suitable wardrobe. The man was quick with his needles and craftsmanship, as was the rest of his immediate family. They had served Loki since his boyhood, and never once revealed the hidden compartments and pockets he had ordered into his clothing. They would never talk to other karls about the strange new jarls that had arrived in the palace without a retinue or wardrobe, and would never remark on the way they were overly familiar with the prince and his suite.
Strapping knives to her thighs, Natasha worked a slit into one of the seams of her dress and artfully draped a fold of robe over it. Loki found a few small but particularly sharp blades that she could possibly pass as jewelry, and she smiled warmly at him. That was enough to set his blood racing. She was every inch the picture of a highborn jarl, a knowing glint in her eye. "I'm sure you know of jewelers and craftsmen," she murmured, fingering the small blade that looked like a belt buckle. She planned to use it as a fastener for her overdress, which Loki thought was particularly clever of her. At his nod, the corner of her lips curled into a smirk. "Then I have a few ideas on how to hide more weapons. I have a feeling I know exactly how to manipulate the stupid men on this world."
Loki had to laugh. "Of course you do. I have every confidence in your skill." He crooked his arm out for her in a gallant gesture, then nodded at Bucky when she placed her fingers gingerly onto his arm. "Come. Let's meet with my mother. She is quite talented and skilled, and I think she will be pleased to meet my new companions."
Though she was regal and polite, Loki soon realized that Frigga was not as pleased to meet Bucky or Natasha as he thought she would be. The two obviously realized it as well, though none of their stiffness showed in their body language. A karl was summoned to guide the two back to Loki's suite for a light repast when Frigga claimed she had important matters of state to discuss with Loki. The two assassins bowed, their expressions impassive, and left with the karl without another word.
Once they were alone, Frigga looked at Loki in horror. "What have you done?"
He refused to be cowed by his mother's displeasure, though it still hurt him to see it. "I have brought my companions here. I can continue my studies-"
"Loki, you cannot alter the fate of other realms. That isn't right to their people, not fair to those here who would depend on you."
"How is this not fair?" he asked, frowning. "I still complete my studies here, I perform my duties, attend the required events, put on a good show. And I also travel back when possible to continue guiding my facility."
"To what purpose? Do you think you should rule Midgard?"
"It's a wild and backward place, to be sure," Loki replied somewhat flippantly, "and could certainly use guidance. But no, I've no interest in a throne on Midgard. I've never wanted the throne, Mother."
He wanted to be needed. He wanted to matter. How could she not see that?
Frigga sighed and turned away from him for a moment. "This will lead to ruin. You cannot balance the fate of an entire realm. You cannot lock away those people from their potential."
"They were being harmed, Mother. Was I to stand aside and let children die? Let those creatures pretending to be healers commit atrocities?"
She turned back to him, pain in her eyes. "Was that truly it? A compassionate gesture?"
Part of it. Part of his motivation was purely selfish. But he nodded and watched the tension in her shoulders fade a bit.
"We are meant to guide the Nine Realms, not rule them with an iron fist. We are not to be cruel, but to elevate." Frigga reached out and grasped Loki's hands. "It is not kindness to set them apart, Loki. They'll feel different and strange. I hate to think of the pain it will cause them."
"Their situation on Midgard already set them apart, Mother. I gave them purpose."
"What purpose?"
"To serve me. Our house, our needs. I had helped them escape a life of dreary servitude and pain, and in return they wish to aid us in our endeavors. How can this not be a benefit to both our realms?" Loki asked.
Frigga sighed again. "It's not so simple. It is a potentially dangerous thing, taking people from one realm to another."
"Hogun is of Vanaheim. He flourishes here."
"All who come here flourish. Asgard's golden halls are a shining beacon."
"So I would elevate them above their station. It's not cruelty, Mother. They have gifts and are quire skilled. It would be an asset to our house, I know it."
She looked uncertain, so Loki pulled her into a fierce hug. It startled her, as neither were usually so effusive with their affections. But he had learned how much touch had helped Bucky settle down after nightmares and flashbacks, how much the two of them craved touch when feeling lost and alone. Frigga eased into the embrace, hugging him back. "I haven't done this since you were a boy," she murmured, pulling back enough to brush his hair from his face. "Perhaps learning to care for others has helped you become the man you were always meant to be."
"An advisor?" he replied archly.
"Hardly," she laughed. "A true prince of Asgard. A gift to this realm, a son to me and Odin, a brother to Thor. You're growing up. Perhaps I thought of you too long as simply my student."
"And as your student, would you help me create a larger dimension?"
Frigga smiled, a familiar fond exasperation in her expression. "If I didn't, you could make very dangerous mistakes. That would do more harm than good to these children you mean to protect on Midgard. Hardly a good way to begin your protectorate."
She might not approve, really, but she would at least help him. Loki had been counting on that much, and was sure over time she would come to appreciate the two. Frigga was optimistic about Asgard's rule, but Loki was more aware of the whispers amongst the Einherjar and his father's advisors than Frigga knew. There was tension in some realms, rabble intent on causing trouble and dissent. They doubted Asgard's ability to lead the Nine Realms, doubted Odin's power and the strength of Thor's leadership. He was arrogant and boastful, though he truly was strong and fearless in battle. He had grown much in recent years, but still believed he could do no wrong and was braver than Odin.
It was seen as trickery and bordering on ergi, but sometimes being underhanded and cunning was a better way to keep someone like Thor on the throne. Thor didn't appreciate being part of devious plans, but he was more than willing to reap the benefits of Loki's plans when they were in his favor. Once Thor realized just how useful having his own guild of spies and assassins to help him keep the peace, Loki was sure that he would be able to keep his companions even after rule was handed down from Odin. He wouldn't have to lose his playthings or his continued chance at machinations.
***
"Not quite the reception you expected, was it?" Natasha asked Loki knowingly when he returned to his quarters. She was lying on his bed in nothing but the sheer kirtle that went beneath the layers of fabric of her dress. The scattering of pins, jewels, knives and makeshift weapons were on his dresser, and the dress in question was puddle on the floor.
"Where's Bucky?" Loki asked, lips turned in a frown.
"Enjoying the hot spring you call a bath," Natasha returned, lips quirked in amusement. She looked to the bathroom as she arched her back and stretched, making the sheer fabric of the kirtle press tightly against her body. "We were waiting for you."
"Making use of the time together?" Loki asked archly.
"Quite possibly," Natasha said in a sultry tone. "Care to join us?"
"Of course," Loki responded without really meaning to. He locked the door to the suite and came to her side as swiftly as possible. He stripped off his clothing, making her laugh. "What?"
"So eager. With how repressed this society seems to be, I can see why you like us so much."
Loki grabbed the kirtle and tugged sharply, ripping the fine fabric from her limbs. "You like having that kind of power."
"And you like the challenge. It's a safe challenge."
She was right on the mark, which Loki hated about her. She had a way of seeing into him that no one else did. It didn't even matter if he could see into her the same way; she was so used to not considering her own feelings or motivation that it almost didn't matter if he hurt her with his observations. That rather took the fun out of it, to be honest, and he also felt protective at the same time. She had been so cruelly used by the Red Room, and only seeing it up close had made him realize it. If he hadn't stumbled across the facility, he might not have cared at all.
"Natasha, there's nothing safe about you," he purred, hand on her stomach. She grinned, pleased with that statement, and let him spread her legs wide.
He brought his mouth to her center, licking into her. Natasha gasped in pleasure and ran her fingers through his hair, holding him in place even though he grasped her hips tight enough to bruise. Loki loved the taste of her and the sound of her gasps and cries; she wasn't terribly loud, but the fact that he was making her control slip enough for her to make any kind of noise fed the flames of his desire. He thrust his tongue into her or licked at her clit with a rapid pace, making her mewl and jerk beneath his mouth. Natasha tried to say something, maybe begging him to continue right where he was, but the fractured syllables never coalesced into words. Instead, her breath shattered and he could feel the tension in her thighs against his cheeks and shoulders. She was hovering close to orgasm, and a little more attention had her shuddering with a moan.
Pushing a thread of magic into his body to keep him erect and ready for sex, Loki climbed on top of her. He kissed her hard as he slid into her slicked passage, his tongue sliding into her open mouth. She didn't seem to mind the taste of herself on his tongue, and he thrust into her hard and deep, his arms on either side of her to keep him propped above her. Natasha ran her hands down his back, nails lightly scratching him, then grasped his ass and pulled him in deeper. Loki chuckled against her mouth, then pulled back. A gleam in his eye, he pushed up to a kneeling position, thrusts stuttering. "Loki," she whined.
Loki grinned at her, then lifted her legs so that they were flush against his chest. Her breath caught, and he started thrusting into her hard and fast, just as she liked it. "Oh, yes," she moaned, arching her back and digging her nails into his thighs. Her eyes fell shut, and Loki lifted her hips a little, making his thrusts slide deeper into her. She came that way, muffling her shrieks with a fist against her mouth.
"There are silencing charms on the room," Loki told her, breath coming in short pants as he continued to thrust into her. His grin was a baring of teeth, possessive and proud of himself at once. No need to tell her it was because he didn't want to get caught practicing blood magic he had found in one of Frigga's books that she had forbidden him to read. It was still a quality of his suite that came in handy for this.
Natasha took her hand away from her mouth, letting out a lusty cry that made Loki groan. He shivered, the sight of her writhing beneath him adding to the sensory input. He let go and came, groaning and leaning into her. "I didn't even do all I wanted to you yet," he growled, reaching down to play with her breasts.
She grinned up at him. "You're still nice and hard. Cheating?"
"Absolutely," he laughed.
"Bucky's in the bath. Should we join him?" she asked.
Thinking about it, Loki withdrew from her and turned her to her hands and knees. "One more, just for me, then we will."
Loki slammed into her from behind, moving quickly. Natasha's hands scrabbled across the sheets, clutching them in her fists and pressing her cheek to the mattress. She panted and moaned deliciously loud, and yanked on the sheets hard enough to tear them when she came again. Her whole body sagged against the bed, loose limbed and exhausted already, but Loki wasn't kidding about wanting to do more with her.
He carried her into the bathroom, where Bucky was lounging in the bath. The sunken tub was more like a pool than a tub, and he leaned in Loki's favorite spot near the cascading waterfall on the far wall. The entire bath was heated by a hot spring, and water circulated continuously between the waterfall and a hidden pump. Between the hot springs and hypocaust, the palace was always comfortably warm. There were also many convenient hiding places and hidden modes of travel that Loki was sure the rest of the palace staff and his family were unaware of. He would let Natasha and Bucky know about them, and show them the markings he made on the hypocaust walls to indicate locations in the palace. His pet assassins would have to know all the ins and outs of the place, as good as any of the serving staff did, as well as hold a position of some power in social circles to be able to find any threats to him or his family.
"Good of you to join me," Bucky snarked.
"The two of you celebrated without me," Loki pointed out.
"Naw, more like got each other warmed up and ready," he replied easily. He opened his arms to hold Natasha as Loki stepped into the tub, walking down the steps until he was waist deep in the water. She had a lazy smile on her face, sexually satisfied but still up for more play if they wanted it. Insatiable minx. Loki loved it.
Natasha and Bucky kissed, slow and deep, tongues sliding into each other's mouths. Loki leaned in behind Natasha, nuzzling her neck and caressing her breasts from behind. She moaned, mouth falling open against Bucky's mouth. When Loki pinched her sensitive nipples, she let her head fall back onto his shoulder. Both men could hear her moans of pleasure, and Bucky leaned forward to take one nipple into his mouth to suck. Natasha groaned and wound her hand into the hair at the back of his head, and reached behind her to hold onto Loki with her other hand. That opened up her chest, giving the men better access to her generous breasts.
Bucky slid a hand down her stomach to play with her clit. He reached around her with his other hand, the metal one, to touch Loki's hip, holding him tightly against her. Loki had only left a visual glamour on his metal arm, and felt the flex of it against his skin. The metal was warm from the soak in the tub, and not entirely unpleasant. It actually made him wonder how he could use those fingers or arm in some kind of temperature play.
Slow down, Loki told himself firmly as he sucked at Natasha's neck. One thing at a time. Plenty of opportunity for that later.
Because of course there was going to be a later. He would make sure of it.
"I'm going to work you open," Loki growled against Natasha's ear. "Then you'll mount Bucky, and I'll enter you as well. We'll fuck you at the same time. And you are going to love every depraved moment of it."
Natasha groaned, obviously enjoying the idea of it. "Do it," she growled, tightening her hands on the two of them. "I want you to do it now."
Laughing a little, Loki shifted his position so that he could slide his fingers into her slit. She was slick from her own desire as well as the water of the bath, and he hoped it would be enough to moisten her rear entrance. If not, at least he knew soaps and lotions would ease the friction enough for this to work. He would have to pay attention to what was available on Asgard for such things, even if no one ever talked about it in polite company.
Starting with one finger inside of her ass, Loki moved slowly and methodically. Natasha groaned, a shiver working its way through her, and she shifted her hips to press back into Loki's hand. Hm. He tried sliding another finger into her, and that made her breath stutter beautifully and her fingers twitch against his scalp. Before long, he had to slide his cock into her, had to feel her body clutch at his flesh. Loki moved slowly in and out, feeling Bucky do the same inside of her slit. They worked her in an opposing rhythm, making her writhe and cry out in pleasure, nearly incoherent as she held onto them.
Overwhelmed by the sensation, Loki had to close his eyes in order to breathe. But it only made him focus more on the pleasure, and he was tumbling down toward orgasm. He murmured something in Allspeak, the utter perfection of her body fitted to his, how this moment surpassed even his most desperate of dreams, that it had to last forever.
"Fuck," Bucky ground out. "I dunno what you're saying, but it's hot as hell, and shit, I'm gonna come so hard..."
"Give it to me," Natasha growled, fingers tightening on them. "Come for me, I'm so close, too..."
Loki touched her with a twitch of magic, pressure like fingers against her clit while there were two cocks buried balls deep inside of her. She spasmed and cried out, a keening wail of pleasure that made Loki shudder with pleasure of his own. Impulsively, he reached forward and grasped Bucky's arm, the one of flesh and blood, pulling him closer. He'd only meant to reassure himself that Bucky was finding pleasure in this as well, but Bucky leaned in closer than Loki thought he would, finding his mouth and kissing him senseless.
When he pulled back, Bucky was grinning like a lovesick fool. "God, I love you both so much," he said, heartfelt emotion making him nearly tear up.
"Oh, мой дорогой," Natasha breathed. Then she pressed kisses to Bucky's and then Loki's mouth.
Instead of feeling disgusted or lost, Loki felt complete. The moment truly was perfect, and this was how it always should be.
He would destroy anyone and anything that got in his way.
***
***
Author: Eustacia Vye
Author's e-mail: eustacia_vye28@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Loki/Natasha, Natasha/Winter Soldier, Loki/Natasha/Winter Soldier.
Disclaimer: Not mine! Not even by a little bit.
Spoilers/Warnings: MCU AU. Based off of futurerustfuture-dust's initial dark!blackwinterfrost idea. I didn't use the written material you sent me exactly, but here's hoping you like this one, too. :) Russian words have hovertext translation thanks to Google Translate, so please let me know if I goofed something and I'll fix it. Title, epigraph and chapter titles are all from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot.
Summary: A left turn instead of a right, and Loki tumbled down into the frozen tundra of Russia, right outside the Red Room. An honest mistake, but it soon changed everything. And he was never one to share his toys.
Prior chapters:
One - Disturb The Universe
Two - Spread Out Against The Sky
Three - The Corners of the Evening
Four - Descend The Stair
Five - The Moment Of My Greatness
Yelena Belova sat across from Loki in the heart of the Red Room, and she didn't look amused in the slightest. There was no obvious tell; she had been trained far too well for that. Loki knew there were five girls left in Natasha's class, and that she would likely have been the only survivor of the Black Widow program. Yelena was part of the class below her, and apparently had striven to reach Natasha's unparalleled marks on all tests placed on her. I've never failed, Natasha had told him without any false modesty. He understood why. The alternative was death, in some form or other, and she would have done anything to survive.
Loki interrupted the usual ways the Red Room had weeded out the weaker girls, so Yelena was one of twelve girls in her year. Only two girls had been killed so far in the class below hers, and none at all in the younger classes. The murderous ways of the Red Room were gone. There was no need to have a deadly competition leaving only a single survivor. Now he indicated that the girls could be trained in different areas and be used on different kinds of missions. The younger girls would also not be forcibly sterilized, but would have to consent to such a thing. Some would still wish to proceed, not interested in potential motherhood. But for those who were, he had instructed the girls to be given options that would allow that in their future. They would be involved in the lives of the children, and the Red Room would soon resemble something of a murderous family unit rather than the suspicious nest of vipers it had been. He was rather proud of this change, even if Yelena didn't quite trust it yet.
He didn't have to use seidr on her, but would if absolutely necessary.
"You are taking two of the best agents this facility has ever produced," Yelena repeated. Her voice could be rather melodious when she tried to be charming, but unfortunately for Loki, this was not one of those times. If anything, disapproval was more evident in her tone.
"I am leaving you in charge of the welfare of our students," Loki returned pleasantly, a slight smile twisting his lips. It was hardly comforting, and Yelena continued staring stonily at him. "You are gifted, Yelena," he continued when she didn't continue to speak. "Had we continued with the old method of training, I am sure you would have been the only survivor of your class. But I'm not interested in killing little girls. I'm interested in creating a place where these girls will learn how to be the deadliest spies in the world. We will command quite the price for their services."
"We no longer serve Russia or her interests," Yelena returned, each syllable spat out. "What is the purpose of such a goal?"
His amusement, really, and maybe a backup plan if Thor decided he didn't want Loki as his advisor after all. Yelena didn't need to know that, however.
"Have you ever wanted anything out of life, Yelena?" Loki asked instead. The question clearly threw her, as her expression was perfectly devoid of any emotion at all. When in doubt, the girls further along in their training defaulted to empty canvases. It was chilling to think about all those blank faces staring at him when he had called an assembly of all the girls to announce a change in the facility's leadership.
Reaching across the desk, he took Yelena's hand. There was power in her, and he could likely read exactly what kind if he was better at the spá. "You have, most likely, been instructed to never want, never need, never ask. You take what you're given, and you do as you're told. You are not a real girl according to the handlers that had been here. You were a thing. An object. A doll. Something they could break as they saw fit." He could feel a slight tremor in her hand at that, and knew he had her attention.
"I propose to serve our own interests. Gather the secrets of the world to keep ourselves safe from Russia and all the other countries. They willingly gave you girls up, willingly tortured all of you, killed you if you weren't useful enough. Don't you want to prove that you're more than a doll they can shatter on a whim?"
Yelena withdrew her hand. "And you would make me the new Madame B."
"The name fits, yes?" Loki replied flippantly, but that was exactly the wrong tactic to take.
She vaulted over the desk, slamming him into the wall behind him. His vision swam from the sheer power of her strike, and her hands around his throat would cut off his air soon enough. He still wasn't interest in killing her, but he couldn't underestimate her, either. She was brittle, too easily shattered. What had those handlers done to her? What was different about her, that Natasha was so resilient and Yelena was ready to charge headlong into destruction?
Loki knocked her backward and shoved her hard into the chair. "You're right, that was rather thoughtless of me," he said, voice husky from the attack.
Her eyes were bright with anger, but she held herself in check. "You don't deny it."
"I'm sorry if I made you angry," Loki continued, then sat back into his own chair, facing her. "I did not intend that at all. I do believe you would be the best at guiding the girls. You know what they used to do here, you know how hard they need to be pushed. But not with the killing."
"That wasn't all they did," Yelena said, disdain in her voice.
"Of course not. And I stopped the hysterectomies as well. Forced ones, anyway. If the girls are sure they don't want children, they can choose to have one. If they're not certain, other methods are used until they know what they want."
"Birth control isn't infallible. What are the instructions for pregnancies?"
"If they want to continue the pregnancy, the children will be raised here," Loki said evenly. He didn't even smile at Yelena's obvious shock. "If I'm not going to kill the girls in the program, I'm not going to kill their children. The children, regardless of gender, will be raised here, trained here, and have loyalty to those of us in the Red Room. We're to be a family of sorts now, and we will protect our own."
"How do you propose to do that?" Yelena asked, caution in her tone.
"Not with manipulating them into thinking they have no choices. I don't hold with forcing them to do those tawdry things to steal secrets."
"What else do you think they use girls for?" she sneered.
"Distraction. Illusion. Misdirection." He gave her a mirthless smile. "You are stronger than you look, Yelena. I think all the girls here are."
"We train daily for hours to be so."
"I think you'll protect them. That you will recognize if any teacher abuses them, and you will stop it." He met her gaze steadily. "Natalia Romanova and the Asset are needed to eliminate the opposition to this facility. I don't know how long we will be gone. But it's to cement the future of this place, for these girls. They must have a future."
"You think the FSB will let you have us? That the Vory will let you keep the girls they traded or sold? Once the world knows that the Red Room has changed, it will be an open market."
Loki assessed Yelena, who returned his gaze without flinching. "You're very knowledgeable about this. More so than those handlers that tried to convince me they were necessary."
"I listen. I learn. I am the best, and I would be the Black Widow."
"If we still used the same system, yes you would be."
That didn't mollify her, but at least she didn't look ready to kill him outright. "So?"
"You are uniquely qualified to run the facility in our absence. But you do bring up valid concerns about the location of this facility. I can do what I can to ensure its protection." Loki thought quickly as he spoke. He was known for being clever and full of tricks, and he could certainly use a few to these girls' advantage. There were any number of wards he could place around the facility, and it would serve as nasty warnings to those who would do harm to those he considered his. But another good solution might be to shift its location entirely, carving it out of Midgard and creating its own parallel dimension, rather like his little hideaway. Using Yggdrasil's power could keep it stable and safe, and there were any number of ways he could try to put it together. He might need Frigga's help, but he was planning to be in Asgard soon. A hypothetical situation to create a pocket dimension could get him on the right track. It was what started him creating his little hideaway, after all.
"You need to do more than just eliminate some of the competition," Yelena told him evenly. "We need to make them fear us, as our prior incarnation had been feared."
"It was dismissed as a government conspiracy, was it not?"
"If Russia fears us, they will not attack. That eliminates one possible threat. The others would only attack if we seem weak."
"Plan it out."
"What?"
"If you are going to lead in my absence, I want to see how you handle it. Assess the girls, see who is ready to go on the offensive," Loki told her, meaning every word. "Pick the proper targets, see how best to get to them. I trust your judgment on this."
Yelena looked at him closely. "You barely know what I'm capable of."
"I think you are better skilled than the other girls in Natasha's class," Loki replied. "I passed over all of them to ask you to be Director. I don't think you're only a pretty face."
"Too many do."
"Your body is a tool," Loki acknowledged. "But I want your mind. I want you protecting these girls and establishing this facility as a force to be reckoned with."
Because if things went well, their skills could be used on more than one realm.
***
Taking a piece of gravel from one of the training yards, Loki felt certain he could pinpoint the exact place and time he should return to the Red Room facility. He had placed various wards around it and they extended for miles beyond the guarded walls. Yelena had picked the other four girls of Natasha's class to seduce or take down various officials within the FSB and Russian government, and she was certain it meant that they were sufficiently cowed by the current staff in place. Yelena had also extended a calling card to them, in the form of the dead officials, stating that they were ready for hire if needed. The new protocols in the facility were in place, and there was really nothing else for them to do there. Natasha had only requested to do a few Hydra killings herself. Bucky hadn't felt the need to track down any others personally, but she wanted to dissect some of the ones that had wiped him clean or worked on his body without care for whether or not he was in pain. In the meantime, Bucky had his arm checked and serviced, as they couldn't be sure that Loki could figure it out on his own in Asgard.
Asgard. He was truly taking them back to Asgard. He must have been insane. But he could possibly claim them as friends or personal guards, even though the Einherjar would likely see that as an insult. Loki could possibly simply claim royal prerogative. He certainly planned to try, anyway, and didn't think his parents would even notice.
"Are we ready?" Loki asked, looking at Natasha and Bucky. They each had a bag of belongings, mostly weaponry they felt they absolutely couldn't do without, even though he had reassured them that he would get them access to the armory.
When they indicated they were ready, Loki crafted a portal that would open out into his suite of rooms at the palace. He knew it intimiately well, and he knew he would be able to get to the correct time and place there. The pull of home was great, and Bucky and Natasha held onto his arms just in case his travel went off the path he planned. He found it a little amusing, to be honest, as he didn't find this mode of travel frightening at all. Then again, they'd never crossed into a different realm before. Soon enough they would be just as blasé about portals and travel between worlds as he was, he was sure.
It was pouring in Asgard when they arrived, making Loki glad that he had the portal open into his bedroom rather than a courtyard. It didn't often rain that heavily in Asgard, but it could during the winter season. Bucky and Natasha seemed to relax a little once the portal closed behind them, and they were all standing together in the suite. "We made it," he told them, slinging an arm around each of them. Impulsively, Loki dropped a kiss on both their cheeks, making them smile at him a little.
Putting down their bags, Natasha and Bucky fanned out from Loki's side to observe and look through the room. Natasha went to his balcony and looked out over the view. It was impressive, one he honestly stopped paying attention to long ago, but seeing it anew through Natasha's eyes brought home the pride he held in his land. "Welcome to Asgard," he said, coming up behind her. He slid his hands around her waist, and kept the smile on his face as Bucky approached to look at the view.
"Some place," he murmured.
Loki laughed. Having them both amazed at portal travel and then his simple suite relaxed him somehow. Thor sometimes called him arrogant and full of tricks, but these two would keep him from becoming truly arrogant. Thor's comrades generally didn't challenge his fits of temper, giving in when he demanded something. Loki didn't always, though his tricks sometimes were seen as mean spirited. And perhaps he didn't always challenge Thor in ways that could help him, though at the time Loki thought it might. Having someone impartial in the matter would give him a bit more perspective. They cared for him and his wellbeing, but didn't let that blind them to faults or means for improvement.
Natasha reached out to touch the rain after seeing some of the servants running through a courtyard to the side of the palace. "It's warm," she murmured, lips curling into a smile at the corners. She turned and then stepped backward into the open part of the balcony, face tipped up so that the rainfall came down over her closed eyes and face.
"You're such a girl sometimes," Bucky chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at her.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Natasha replied, dropping her head and looking at him with a grin on her face. "This is real, Bucky. We're actually someplace else that isn't the tundra, this is architecture that isn't human in origin, and this is real."
Bucky chuckled again, reaching out to touch the polished stone of the archway. "Feels real. And really similar to home. But yeah, I see why you're excited."
Looking at the simple delight in their faces, Loki was struck by the wonder in their eyes. After so much abuse and deprivation, being able to do something as simple as standing in the rain had to mean so much. That they trusted him enough not to take advantage of this display also meant quite a bit. The look of honest joy on Natasha's face was wonderful to see. Loki had only ever thought of the rain as an annoyance, or sometimes a chance to use the water in a spell. But he saw how Natasha's clothes were plastered to her body, how she laughed and sputtered as the rain got into her mouth.
He pulled Bucky's hand and jumped into the rain with her. Both assassins laughed like children, then held onto Loki tightly. Natasha kissed him on the mouth, then Bucky, who touched his chest as he pulled Natasha into a tight one-armed embrace.
"We're home," Loki said, feeling pride rush through him. The word sent a thrill through him, and he felt like a young boy proudly presenting the final product of a complex spell to his mother, or the completed swordcraft ritual to the Einherjar tutors.
This feeling was the headiest drug of all.
***
Of course it would be impossible to hide his actions from his family or Heimdall. So Loki made a preemptive move to introduce Natasha and Bucky to his personal tailor in the palace. A simple glamour covered the metal arm, and the tailor quickly fashioned appropriate clothing for the two of them. Bucky was expected to carry at least a dagger on his person at all times, which went a long way in easing the transition for his clothing. He was particularly pleased with the clever ways to hide additional blades in the ornamentation on the formal dress, which would place him at the rank of a jarl. It would be impossible to pass him off as a high jarl or even a royal, but a simple jarl was possible and would pass muster in court. None of the simpering noblewomen would ever think to doubt Loki's word if he declared them from a small but loyal house recently elevated to the level of jarl. It happened all the time, after all.
Natasha was less than pleased with the flowing drapes of the robes over the tunics and dress. It was more difficult to hide blades on her person, and the tailor appeared scandalized that she would even want one. "But your kin and the Einherjar would protect you, my lady," the tailor stammered as she glared at him. Loki managed not to laugh, and vowed to help her devise a few clever hiding places for her weaponry. She was a weapon in and of herself, but Loki understood that having extra tools would be helpful in relieving any anxiety about the strange place.
After the first measurements and clothes were prepared, Loki's tailor hurried off to his workroom in the bowels of the palace to create a suitable wardrobe. The man was quick with his needles and craftsmanship, as was the rest of his immediate family. They had served Loki since his boyhood, and never once revealed the hidden compartments and pockets he had ordered into his clothing. They would never talk to other karls about the strange new jarls that had arrived in the palace without a retinue or wardrobe, and would never remark on the way they were overly familiar with the prince and his suite.
Strapping knives to her thighs, Natasha worked a slit into one of the seams of her dress and artfully draped a fold of robe over it. Loki found a few small but particularly sharp blades that she could possibly pass as jewelry, and she smiled warmly at him. That was enough to set his blood racing. She was every inch the picture of a highborn jarl, a knowing glint in her eye. "I'm sure you know of jewelers and craftsmen," she murmured, fingering the small blade that looked like a belt buckle. She planned to use it as a fastener for her overdress, which Loki thought was particularly clever of her. At his nod, the corner of her lips curled into a smirk. "Then I have a few ideas on how to hide more weapons. I have a feeling I know exactly how to manipulate the stupid men on this world."
Loki had to laugh. "Of course you do. I have every confidence in your skill." He crooked his arm out for her in a gallant gesture, then nodded at Bucky when she placed her fingers gingerly onto his arm. "Come. Let's meet with my mother. She is quite talented and skilled, and I think she will be pleased to meet my new companions."
Though she was regal and polite, Loki soon realized that Frigga was not as pleased to meet Bucky or Natasha as he thought she would be. The two obviously realized it as well, though none of their stiffness showed in their body language. A karl was summoned to guide the two back to Loki's suite for a light repast when Frigga claimed she had important matters of state to discuss with Loki. The two assassins bowed, their expressions impassive, and left with the karl without another word.
Once they were alone, Frigga looked at Loki in horror. "What have you done?"
He refused to be cowed by his mother's displeasure, though it still hurt him to see it. "I have brought my companions here. I can continue my studies-"
"Loki, you cannot alter the fate of other realms. That isn't right to their people, not fair to those here who would depend on you."
"How is this not fair?" he asked, frowning. "I still complete my studies here, I perform my duties, attend the required events, put on a good show. And I also travel back when possible to continue guiding my facility."
"To what purpose? Do you think you should rule Midgard?"
"It's a wild and backward place, to be sure," Loki replied somewhat flippantly, "and could certainly use guidance. But no, I've no interest in a throne on Midgard. I've never wanted the throne, Mother."
He wanted to be needed. He wanted to matter. How could she not see that?
Frigga sighed and turned away from him for a moment. "This will lead to ruin. You cannot balance the fate of an entire realm. You cannot lock away those people from their potential."
"They were being harmed, Mother. Was I to stand aside and let children die? Let those creatures pretending to be healers commit atrocities?"
She turned back to him, pain in her eyes. "Was that truly it? A compassionate gesture?"
Part of it. Part of his motivation was purely selfish. But he nodded and watched the tension in her shoulders fade a bit.
"We are meant to guide the Nine Realms, not rule them with an iron fist. We are not to be cruel, but to elevate." Frigga reached out and grasped Loki's hands. "It is not kindness to set them apart, Loki. They'll feel different and strange. I hate to think of the pain it will cause them."
"Their situation on Midgard already set them apart, Mother. I gave them purpose."
"What purpose?"
"To serve me. Our house, our needs. I had helped them escape a life of dreary servitude and pain, and in return they wish to aid us in our endeavors. How can this not be a benefit to both our realms?" Loki asked.
Frigga sighed again. "It's not so simple. It is a potentially dangerous thing, taking people from one realm to another."
"Hogun is of Vanaheim. He flourishes here."
"All who come here flourish. Asgard's golden halls are a shining beacon."
"So I would elevate them above their station. It's not cruelty, Mother. They have gifts and are quire skilled. It would be an asset to our house, I know it."
She looked uncertain, so Loki pulled her into a fierce hug. It startled her, as neither were usually so effusive with their affections. But he had learned how much touch had helped Bucky settle down after nightmares and flashbacks, how much the two of them craved touch when feeling lost and alone. Frigga eased into the embrace, hugging him back. "I haven't done this since you were a boy," she murmured, pulling back enough to brush his hair from his face. "Perhaps learning to care for others has helped you become the man you were always meant to be."
"An advisor?" he replied archly.
"Hardly," she laughed. "A true prince of Asgard. A gift to this realm, a son to me and Odin, a brother to Thor. You're growing up. Perhaps I thought of you too long as simply my student."
"And as your student, would you help me create a larger dimension?"
Frigga smiled, a familiar fond exasperation in her expression. "If I didn't, you could make very dangerous mistakes. That would do more harm than good to these children you mean to protect on Midgard. Hardly a good way to begin your protectorate."
She might not approve, really, but she would at least help him. Loki had been counting on that much, and was sure over time she would come to appreciate the two. Frigga was optimistic about Asgard's rule, but Loki was more aware of the whispers amongst the Einherjar and his father's advisors than Frigga knew. There was tension in some realms, rabble intent on causing trouble and dissent. They doubted Asgard's ability to lead the Nine Realms, doubted Odin's power and the strength of Thor's leadership. He was arrogant and boastful, though he truly was strong and fearless in battle. He had grown much in recent years, but still believed he could do no wrong and was braver than Odin.
It was seen as trickery and bordering on ergi, but sometimes being underhanded and cunning was a better way to keep someone like Thor on the throne. Thor didn't appreciate being part of devious plans, but he was more than willing to reap the benefits of Loki's plans when they were in his favor. Once Thor realized just how useful having his own guild of spies and assassins to help him keep the peace, Loki was sure that he would be able to keep his companions even after rule was handed down from Odin. He wouldn't have to lose his playthings or his continued chance at machinations.
***
"Not quite the reception you expected, was it?" Natasha asked Loki knowingly when he returned to his quarters. She was lying on his bed in nothing but the sheer kirtle that went beneath the layers of fabric of her dress. The scattering of pins, jewels, knives and makeshift weapons were on his dresser, and the dress in question was puddle on the floor.
"Where's Bucky?" Loki asked, lips turned in a frown.
"Enjoying the hot spring you call a bath," Natasha returned, lips quirked in amusement. She looked to the bathroom as she arched her back and stretched, making the sheer fabric of the kirtle press tightly against her body. "We were waiting for you."
"Making use of the time together?" Loki asked archly.
"Quite possibly," Natasha said in a sultry tone. "Care to join us?"
"Of course," Loki responded without really meaning to. He locked the door to the suite and came to her side as swiftly as possible. He stripped off his clothing, making her laugh. "What?"
"So eager. With how repressed this society seems to be, I can see why you like us so much."
Loki grabbed the kirtle and tugged sharply, ripping the fine fabric from her limbs. "You like having that kind of power."
"And you like the challenge. It's a safe challenge."
She was right on the mark, which Loki hated about her. She had a way of seeing into him that no one else did. It didn't even matter if he could see into her the same way; she was so used to not considering her own feelings or motivation that it almost didn't matter if he hurt her with his observations. That rather took the fun out of it, to be honest, and he also felt protective at the same time. She had been so cruelly used by the Red Room, and only seeing it up close had made him realize it. If he hadn't stumbled across the facility, he might not have cared at all.
"Natasha, there's nothing safe about you," he purred, hand on her stomach. She grinned, pleased with that statement, and let him spread her legs wide.
He brought his mouth to her center, licking into her. Natasha gasped in pleasure and ran her fingers through his hair, holding him in place even though he grasped her hips tight enough to bruise. Loki loved the taste of her and the sound of her gasps and cries; she wasn't terribly loud, but the fact that he was making her control slip enough for her to make any kind of noise fed the flames of his desire. He thrust his tongue into her or licked at her clit with a rapid pace, making her mewl and jerk beneath his mouth. Natasha tried to say something, maybe begging him to continue right where he was, but the fractured syllables never coalesced into words. Instead, her breath shattered and he could feel the tension in her thighs against his cheeks and shoulders. She was hovering close to orgasm, and a little more attention had her shuddering with a moan.
Pushing a thread of magic into his body to keep him erect and ready for sex, Loki climbed on top of her. He kissed her hard as he slid into her slicked passage, his tongue sliding into her open mouth. She didn't seem to mind the taste of herself on his tongue, and he thrust into her hard and deep, his arms on either side of her to keep him propped above her. Natasha ran her hands down his back, nails lightly scratching him, then grasped his ass and pulled him in deeper. Loki chuckled against her mouth, then pulled back. A gleam in his eye, he pushed up to a kneeling position, thrusts stuttering. "Loki," she whined.
Loki grinned at her, then lifted her legs so that they were flush against his chest. Her breath caught, and he started thrusting into her hard and fast, just as she liked it. "Oh, yes," she moaned, arching her back and digging her nails into his thighs. Her eyes fell shut, and Loki lifted her hips a little, making his thrusts slide deeper into her. She came that way, muffling her shrieks with a fist against her mouth.
"There are silencing charms on the room," Loki told her, breath coming in short pants as he continued to thrust into her. His grin was a baring of teeth, possessive and proud of himself at once. No need to tell her it was because he didn't want to get caught practicing blood magic he had found in one of Frigga's books that she had forbidden him to read. It was still a quality of his suite that came in handy for this.
Natasha took her hand away from her mouth, letting out a lusty cry that made Loki groan. He shivered, the sight of her writhing beneath him adding to the sensory input. He let go and came, groaning and leaning into her. "I didn't even do all I wanted to you yet," he growled, reaching down to play with her breasts.
She grinned up at him. "You're still nice and hard. Cheating?"
"Absolutely," he laughed.
"Bucky's in the bath. Should we join him?" she asked.
Thinking about it, Loki withdrew from her and turned her to her hands and knees. "One more, just for me, then we will."
Loki slammed into her from behind, moving quickly. Natasha's hands scrabbled across the sheets, clutching them in her fists and pressing her cheek to the mattress. She panted and moaned deliciously loud, and yanked on the sheets hard enough to tear them when she came again. Her whole body sagged against the bed, loose limbed and exhausted already, but Loki wasn't kidding about wanting to do more with her.
He carried her into the bathroom, where Bucky was lounging in the bath. The sunken tub was more like a pool than a tub, and he leaned in Loki's favorite spot near the cascading waterfall on the far wall. The entire bath was heated by a hot spring, and water circulated continuously between the waterfall and a hidden pump. Between the hot springs and hypocaust, the palace was always comfortably warm. There were also many convenient hiding places and hidden modes of travel that Loki was sure the rest of the palace staff and his family were unaware of. He would let Natasha and Bucky know about them, and show them the markings he made on the hypocaust walls to indicate locations in the palace. His pet assassins would have to know all the ins and outs of the place, as good as any of the serving staff did, as well as hold a position of some power in social circles to be able to find any threats to him or his family.
"Good of you to join me," Bucky snarked.
"The two of you celebrated without me," Loki pointed out.
"Naw, more like got each other warmed up and ready," he replied easily. He opened his arms to hold Natasha as Loki stepped into the tub, walking down the steps until he was waist deep in the water. She had a lazy smile on her face, sexually satisfied but still up for more play if they wanted it. Insatiable minx. Loki loved it.
Natasha and Bucky kissed, slow and deep, tongues sliding into each other's mouths. Loki leaned in behind Natasha, nuzzling her neck and caressing her breasts from behind. She moaned, mouth falling open against Bucky's mouth. When Loki pinched her sensitive nipples, she let her head fall back onto his shoulder. Both men could hear her moans of pleasure, and Bucky leaned forward to take one nipple into his mouth to suck. Natasha groaned and wound her hand into the hair at the back of his head, and reached behind her to hold onto Loki with her other hand. That opened up her chest, giving the men better access to her generous breasts.
Bucky slid a hand down her stomach to play with her clit. He reached around her with his other hand, the metal one, to touch Loki's hip, holding him tightly against her. Loki had only left a visual glamour on his metal arm, and felt the flex of it against his skin. The metal was warm from the soak in the tub, and not entirely unpleasant. It actually made him wonder how he could use those fingers or arm in some kind of temperature play.
Slow down, Loki told himself firmly as he sucked at Natasha's neck. One thing at a time. Plenty of opportunity for that later.
Because of course there was going to be a later. He would make sure of it.
"I'm going to work you open," Loki growled against Natasha's ear. "Then you'll mount Bucky, and I'll enter you as well. We'll fuck you at the same time. And you are going to love every depraved moment of it."
Natasha groaned, obviously enjoying the idea of it. "Do it," she growled, tightening her hands on the two of them. "I want you to do it now."
Laughing a little, Loki shifted his position so that he could slide his fingers into her slit. She was slick from her own desire as well as the water of the bath, and he hoped it would be enough to moisten her rear entrance. If not, at least he knew soaps and lotions would ease the friction enough for this to work. He would have to pay attention to what was available on Asgard for such things, even if no one ever talked about it in polite company.
Starting with one finger inside of her ass, Loki moved slowly and methodically. Natasha groaned, a shiver working its way through her, and she shifted her hips to press back into Loki's hand. Hm. He tried sliding another finger into her, and that made her breath stutter beautifully and her fingers twitch against his scalp. Before long, he had to slide his cock into her, had to feel her body clutch at his flesh. Loki moved slowly in and out, feeling Bucky do the same inside of her slit. They worked her in an opposing rhythm, making her writhe and cry out in pleasure, nearly incoherent as she held onto them.
Overwhelmed by the sensation, Loki had to close his eyes in order to breathe. But it only made him focus more on the pleasure, and he was tumbling down toward orgasm. He murmured something in Allspeak, the utter perfection of her body fitted to his, how this moment surpassed even his most desperate of dreams, that it had to last forever.
"Fuck," Bucky ground out. "I dunno what you're saying, but it's hot as hell, and shit, I'm gonna come so hard..."
"Give it to me," Natasha growled, fingers tightening on them. "Come for me, I'm so close, too..."
Loki touched her with a twitch of magic, pressure like fingers against her clit while there were two cocks buried balls deep inside of her. She spasmed and cried out, a keening wail of pleasure that made Loki shudder with pleasure of his own. Impulsively, he reached forward and grasped Bucky's arm, the one of flesh and blood, pulling him closer. He'd only meant to reassure himself that Bucky was finding pleasure in this as well, but Bucky leaned in closer than Loki thought he would, finding his mouth and kissing him senseless.
When he pulled back, Bucky was grinning like a lovesick fool. "God, I love you both so much," he said, heartfelt emotion making him nearly tear up.
"Oh, мой дорогой," Natasha breathed. Then she pressed kisses to Bucky's and then Loki's mouth.
Instead of feeling disgusted or lost, Loki felt complete. The moment truly was perfect, and this was how it always should be.
He would destroy anyone and anything that got in his way.
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