"How are the experiments going so far, Dr. Banner?", Werner asked as he walked alongside the doctor.

"Recent tests have shown exceptional results, Mr. Strucker. These new batch of individuals have certainly accepted the Chitauri energies.", Bruce added, his tone sounding quite impressed. Strucker chuckled and patted him on the back. "I have good taste, what can I say?"

"Shut your trap.", a voice interrupted their small talk. Bruce's head whipped around to gaze at a strapped-down Fury, sitting on a chair with numerous gashes on his face. Werner merely rolled his eyes and faced the director. "Ah, Nick. You kiss your mother with that mouth?"

Nick greeted his teeth. "Do not talk about my mother."

Werner laughed. "Aw, did I hit a soft spot there? I'm sorry. I didn't know you were a momma's boy." Bruce stayed silent, looking as confused as ever. Fury stared into the doctor's eyes pleadingly, knowing he was still in there somewhere.

"What did you do to Dr. Banner?", Fury asked, glaring at the HYDRA agent. Werner shrugged, grinning wickedly towards Bruce's direction. "I must say, I've shown him what HYDRA can offer him." With that, he held up a vial of purple liquid. Strucker stared at it like it was some precious gem. "A cure to his... condition."

Nick blinked in disbelief, to which Werner snickered at. "Surprised? I'm sure SHIELD did their best, though." The one-eyed director looked straight into Bruce's eyes. "Dr. Banner, you've got to listen to me. Helping him won't cure you-"

The sound of skin hitting skin echoed through the walls of the confinement they were in. Nick was stunned at the slap, but couldn't rub his cheek due to being restrained by nylon ropes.

"Wow, that felt good!", Strucker remarked, cracking his knuckles. "One more word from you, it'll be my fist colliding with your jaw, Fury."

The director spat on Strucker's foot, a deadly expression on his face. "Try me, you piece of sh*t."

The HYDRA agent smirked at this, snapping his fingers. In a few seconds, a group of muscular thugs entered the room, some even armed with weapons. "All right then. Bruce, you're gonna love this."

-x-

"WHAT THE F**K IS GOING ON HERE!", Kara's shriek could be heard even from outside of the building. Her cheeks were fuming red, and her eyes practically bulged out of her head.

The sight that bothered her? Steve and Loki strangling each other on the floor, both with bruises threatening to form and small cuts on their handsome faces. The glass table nearby was shattered into a million pieces, the magazines were spread out and crumpled, the couch was turned over.

It was a mess.

At the sound of her voice, the two men froze in their position. Kara looked at Tony, Thor and Rhodey with incredulity. "SO YOU THREE WERE JUST WATCHING THEM THE ENTIRE TIME?"

Tony gulped. "In my defense, it's been a while since there's been any action around here-" He was cut off by a throw pillow hitting him smack on the face. "Ouch."

"And you?", she asked, pointing at the God of Thunder. "You're okay with your brother being strangled like this?" Thor shrugged. "It's nothing Loki can't handle, Kara."

"Yeah, they're just... play-fighting.", Rhodey added, causing Tony to face-palm. Kara scoffed, shaking her head vigorously. "YOU CALL THIS F**KING PLAYING?!"

"Darling...", Loki trailed off, brushing the shards of glass from his Asgardian clothes. Kara held up her index finger to prevent him from speaking. "Don't darling me, you idiot!"

'Oohs' were heard nearby, causing Kara to swiftly turn around and glare at the trio. They immediately shut up at her intimidating gaze.

Kara's eyes then flickered from Loki to Steve. The captain slowly rose from his position, clutching his arm in his other hand and wincing slightly. He wiped the blood that dripped from his nose.

Loki, on the other hand, looked much better than Steve. He had a small cut on his forehead and lips, though, and a bruise on his right cheek. Kara sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair.

"What happened? I heard someone shouting- oh.", Nat entered the room, frantic at first. As soon as her eyes landed on the chaotic living room and the two beat-up men, she, too let out a breath of frustration.

"I leave for a few minutes. A few damn minutes to get some snacks for all of us. AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS? F**K!", Kara stated, raising her hands in the air. The redhead approached her and put them down gently, shushing her. The God of Mischief and the super soldier didn't say a word, for they were too busy staring each other down with utmost hatred in their eyes.

"ARE YOU TWO EVEN LISTENING TO ME?", the brunette shrieked once again, her hands on her hips this time. "Come on. Enough of this. Cap, come with me. Loki, go with Kara.", Romanoff ordered, walking towards Steve and grasping his arm. Steve looked at Kara apologetically, but the woman was too pissed off to give a sh*t. He silently let Natasha lead him away from the scene.

Kara didn't bother holding or even touching the god beside her. She simply nodded her head in the direction of their room. Loki tried to speak numerous times, but would always be interrupted by a pinch on his arm.

As the couple passed by Vision's room, she could hear the faint sounds of arguing inside. Being the eavesdropper she is, she leaned against the door curiously, trying to make out their conversation. She stopped once she noticed Loki just standing there and eyeing her. "Get inside. I'll follow.", she said rather harshly. Without another word, the god complied with her demand.

"Vis, please! You have to let me!", the witch whined. "No, Wanda. I don't want you getting hurt."

"But I won't get hurt! I can control it-" "That's what you said the last time. Look what happened between you and Kara.", the android responded. Silence suddenly filled the room. A sigh was heard. "If you really want her to like you again, show her that you care." "But I do care, Vis!"

"It appears that you only care for yourself, Wanda." Though Kara hated Wanda's guts for what she did to her, she couldn't deny the slight pang in her chest at Vision's words. When she began to hear some shuffling on the other side, Kara panicked and quickly ran inside Loki's room.

Once she shut the door, she turned around to face her ex-lover. The raven-haired prince was currently sitting peacefully on the bed, occasionally touching the wounds on his face. Kara just stood there, tapping her foot on the floor and obviously annoyed.

Loki looked up at her and held his gaze. He appeared to be a lost puppy by the way he was gazing at her. "I'm only gonna ask you once. What was that all about?"

The god rubbed the back of his neck in awkwardness, not knowing where to start. Kara cocked an eyebrow, growing impatient by the second.

"My anger towards the captain morphed into hatred, darling. That's all.", he replied, bowing his head. "Why?"

Loki scoffed, earning an eyeroll from Kara. "Why? Well, it must be because that mortal is always around you, always trying to pry you away." The eyebrows on the brunette started to furrow together. "Away from whom?" The god sighed heavily, giving her a knowing glance.

"Who else in this building desires you?", he responded, tearing his focus away. "And what infuriates me more is that you tolerate his pathetic actions." Kara gritted her teeth, walking closer to the god.

"I do not 'tolerate' him, Loki. There's a line between flirty and being friendly." The prince stared at her yet again. "And where are you on that line, hmm?"

"What does it matter to you?", she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"MAYBE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE STRONG FEELINGS FOR YOU?", Loki exclaimed in exasperation, standing up. He towered over her, and this alone made Kara feel all sorts of fuzzy things.

"You? Feelings?", Kara mocked, scoffing. Loki gritted his teeth. "Of the people in this room, you seem to lack them."

The brunette balled her fists up at this, but then remembered the gashes on his face. "You better heal yourself up.", she said, her voice softening ever so slightly. Loki noticed this, of course. "I can only heal other people, pet. Not my own self."

"Then, sit down and wait here.", she ordered, grabbing his shoulders and shoving him down on the bed. She then headed to the bathroom to get the first-aid kit. Opening it, she took a few pieces of cotton and some topical antiseptic. "This won't sting. Just, don't move."

Kara dabbed the antiseptic-coated cotton ball on Loki's forehead wound. As promised, no pain was felt on the god's part. Loki took the opportunity to admire the concentrated look adorning her face. His lips twitched up at this.

"What are you smiling at?", she asked, not looking him in the eye. "You.", was his mere reply. Kara fought the blush spreading on her cheeks, to no avail. This only caused Loki to break out into an even wider grin. "I like how you can go from yelling at me to caring from me in a snap.", Loki continued, his face growing red. The woman caught a glimpse of the god, to which he responded with "Just saying."

Kara stopped what she was doing and set the cotton ball down, biting her lip. "Stop it."

"Stop what?", he asked her innocently, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her towards him. Their chests were now pressed together, and their faces were inches apart. "This. You're playing with me again."

"You are not a toy to be played with, darling.", Loki replied, tucking her hair behind her ear. Kara hummed at the gesture. "You were jealous, weren't you?", she inquired, her arms snaking their way around his neck. Loki scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Me, jealous of that... that... human? I am far superior in many ways." Kara slapped his chest. "Watch it, Laufeyson. I'm human, too."

"A very beautiful one." Kara laughed at this, turning away to hide her now scarlet face. With the us of his index finger, Loki made her face him again. "After all these years...", he began, gazing at her lovingly. "... I still do not know how you managed to bewitch me."

"Ha. A love potion is all it took.", she joked, grinning. Loki reciprocated her actions, his eyes twinkling as his bluish-green eyes bore into Kara's own. He slowly leaned in, eyes flickering from her orbs to her lips. Kara let out a shaky breath, but felt herself moving forward, too.

It felt like forever before their lips touched, but when they did, magical would be an understatement. Tingles shot down their spines, the hairs on their arms rose up, and their hearst beat faster and faster by the second. Loki tilted his head, deepening the already passionate kiss while embracing her tightly. Kara ran her hand through his hair, getting a handful of it and tugging at it slightly, causing a low growl to escape the god's lips.

She then proceeded to sit on his lap, her legs wrapping themselves around his torso. Kara was beginning to grow breathless at their makeout session, and so was the God of Mischief.

After a few minutes, the brunette pulled away. Loki rested his forehead on hers, panting with a smile gracing his lips. "Well, that was extraordinary."

Kara chuckled. "I agree." It was then that she noticed Loki's wounds were already completely healed, not a hint of being pummelled into view.

"Your wounds... YOU SH*TTY LIAR! I KNEW YOU COULD HEAL YOURSELF-" She was shushed by a finger on her lips.

"Maybe." The prince then smashed his lips back onto hers, before retracting them for a bit. "Now, where were we?" Kara grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. "I'll show you."