"O, Reason Not the Need!"

[atrickygod]

Who: Loki Laufeyson and Natalya Romanova
When: After School
Where: School Library
What: In which Loki and Natalya are paired together for a school project, and Loki tries and fails to get the girl to gossip.

Comments

[red_in_ledger]

Natalya froze slightly at the mention of Clint, and she shot Laufeyson a sideways glance. The question seemed genuine in its ignorance; it seemed as if this kid didn't know nearly as much as he wanted people to think.

She forced herself to give a casual shrug. "We've spoken on occasion," she replied.

[atrickygod]

Glad to have received an answer, albeit still a cryptic one, Loki leaned a little closer. He cast his eyes around their spot in the library as if fearing eavesdroppers.

"I have heard tell that Barton was seen in the cafeteria with the Morse girl," Loki whispered. He mocked concern and innocence. "I had thought he spared his affections only for you, Miss Natalya, but it appeared he has found another. Or did my source for this bit of information deceive me?"

[red_in_ledger]

Natalya stiffened at that remark, and she knew there was no way to disguise that a hit had landed. Still, there was no need to make clear which statement cut. She forced a smile.

"I do not keep Barton on a leash," she replied coolly. "He and Bobbi are good friends. So it's quite likely they ate together. However," she added, giving Loki a steady glare, "your source is wrong. Barton spares no affections for me; not, at least, affections of the kind you're implying."

Pushing back from the table slightly, Natalya looked Loki full in the face for the first time since starting their project. "But if you suspected such a thing, why bother ask if I knew Barton? Clearly, you knew I did."

[atrickygod]

Loki laughed. He flipped his pencil, twirling it into the air and catching it on the tips of his fingers. He did this a few times before continuing.

"If you do not have him on a leash, am I to presume that this Bobbi does?"