Dinner commenced, and the members of the team either threw jokes and harmless insults at each other, expressed how much they liked their new headquarters, or narrated some funny experiences.

Everyone was enjoying themselves, even Nick Fury was laughing. Well, Loki wasn't that hyped like the rest of them, but still. There was progress in his behavior.

Kara, of course, was the odd woman out. She hardly touched her food, too.

The God of Mischief took notice of this, and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Was the food not delicious? Is she mad about something? Something he'd done? Did she not like the room?

He poked her thigh, immediately earning a glare from her.

"What?", she asked. Loki pointed to her plate.

"Eat.", he commanded. She shook her head. "Why?"

"I'm not in the mood, alright?", she replied irritably.

Sighing, Loki grabbed her utensils and proceeded to feed her. The spoon was now inches away from her mouth.

"Open."

"I am not a baby," she said through gritted teeth, swatting his hand away. As a result, some of the viscous liquid spilled on Loki's armor, causing him to narrow his eyes at her.

He muttered something under his breath, and Kara cocked an eyebrow. "What was that?", she asked, crossing her arms.

After wiping his armor, Loki met her gaze and his lips curved upwards, a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

"No, you're my baby," he said, and Kara contorted her face in disgust. "Shut up, Laufeyson."

Little did they know, their playful banter (well, playful in Loki's point of view) was being thoroughly enjoyed by the others joining them at the table.

Thor had nudged Sam and Clint, who were on either side of the God of Thunder. It created some sort of domino effect, and soon, everyone was watching Loki and Kara.

"Ahem.", Rhodey fake-coughed, catching the pair's attention.

"Mind telling us how long you plan on keeping this up?", Rhodey continued.

"Keeping what up?" Kara asked in a clearly annoyed tone. Loki merely raised his eyebrows.

Rhodey pointed his index finger at both of them. "That. That silly argument of yours."

"Last time I've checked, ever since you arrived..." Tony began, looking straight at the brunette. "... you've always been at each others' throats."

"Well, last time I checked, I don't care what any of you think," Kara retorted, staring defiantly at the Avengers. Her yes lingered a bit longer on Loki, and she mustered an even menacing look at him.

What got on her nerves even more was that the god beside her was snickering. "The audacity of this a**hole to laugh at me?", she thought.

"What the f**k are you laughing at?!", she yelled, slamming her fists on the table. By now, Loki was full-on snorting with laughter.

"Language!", Steve hollered across the table, but Kara ignored his reprimanding stare. Her eyes looked deadly; she badly wanted to strangle the Asgardian right there and then in front of everyone.

Kara harshly grabbed the utensils from her plate and proceeded eating her soup, an occasional huff escaping her lips.

She was fuming.

No one else decided to speak to Kara for the rest of the dinner, noticing how smoke was practically being emitted from her ears at how tense and angry she looked. They proceeded to make small talk amongst themselves, but Kara's mind was still revolving on thoughts about basically plotting Loki's murder.

Her grip on her spoon tightened whenever her mind was flooded with memories of him and the poetic words he had once uttered to her before.

She didn't realize she had finished her soup due to being so preoccupied. Kara rolled her eyes and set the utensils on her plate harshly, making a few eyes look in her direction.

"Good girl.", she heard someone say. She didn't need to turn her head to see who had spoken. She'd recognize that sickening voice anywhere, and she felt both ashamed and enraged about it.

Kara responded by kicking him with all the force she could muster.

"Tease me again, I'll murder you in your sleep."

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

It was now 10 PM. Everyone retreated to their rooms, possibly tired after the day's events.

Loki and Kara stayed behind, though. Well, more like he forced her to stay behind with him.

"Why aren't we heading to the room? I'm exhausted, Laufeyson.", she whined, sitting on one of the couches in the common room.

"I simply desire to speak with you.", he replied, clamping his hands together. Kara sighed.

"Well, I don't," she interjected, and was satisfied upon seeing Loki squint his eyes at her. She decided to swivel around, about to head to their shared quarters, when a hand had gripped her arm, stopping her from walking any further.

"Kara", Loki breathed out, his voice sounding quite desperate. "Please..."

The woman shut her eyes and breathed deeply. "What the f**k did I do to deserve this torture?"

She harshly pulled away from his grasp, crossed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows.

"What?!", she pushed in a noticeably furious manner.

"I want to talk about us.", he finally said, bowing his head. Kara rolled her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Not this again."

"I'm not having this conversation with you, Laufeyson.", she responded blankly.

She quickly walked away from him, afraid that looking into his pleading eyes any longer she might consider actually talking to him about it. "No f**king way I'm going to give him that satisfaction."

Her hand was about to grab the handle when she was forcefully spun around and pinned against the door, causing a loud thump.

"What was that?", Wanda called from inside her room.

"It is just I, Wanda.", Loki responded. He heard some shuffling in her room, and expected her to come out, but she never did.

She must've gone back to bed.

The god turned his attention on the woman before him, his green orbs boring into her own.

"Do not ever walk away from me again.", he whispered, his breath fanning her face. Loki's eyes were wide open, and his jaw clenched at every word he spoke.

Kara remained unfazed.

"Then don't force me to talk about things I don't want to remember.", she retorted, shaking him off harshly. But Loki wasn't having it.

He lifted her up and slung her on his shoulder, then opened his bedroom door. Kara repeatedly hit his back.

"Put me down! Loki! Stop it-", she never finished her statement due to being thrown on the bed. With a wave of his hand, the god shut the door and locked it.

She would be lying if she said that that simple action didn't stir something in her stomach, or that Loki's seething expression wasn't attractive at all.

"Dammit, Kara. Get a grip on yourself."

He stared into her eyes, a hint of irritation still evident in his eyes, but as she held his gaze, Kara noticed Loki's expression soften. He blinked a few times, and he could swear he felt his heart skip a beat.

Loki began to advance towards her slowly, and Kara sat back up, resting her back against the headboard and anticipating his every move.

Words remained unspoken between the two, and they stayed in that awkward position for a while; Kara sitting on the bed, and Loki standing in front of her at the foot of the bed.

"What, do you plan on staring at me the whole evening? Because just so you know, I would really like to sleep," Kara finally said, breaking the awkward silence that filled the room. The prince seemed to have broken out of the trance he was in, and put on his annoyed expression back on.

"Well, I was planning on kissing you, actually."

Kara's breath hitched in her throat; she obviously had not expected such a blunt comment.

But then again, it was Loki. She never knew what to expect, and what was going on in that insignificant brain of his.

Loki, knowing he had managed to make her flustered, plastered his signature smirk on his face. He tilted his head slighly to the side, finding her downright amusing.

"It's surreal how one of H.Y.D.R.A.'s notorious agents melts like butter at the words of the God of Mischief. Surreal, indeed," he mused, walking to his side of the bed.

Kara refused to meet his gaze, but grabbed some pillows and threw them on the ground. She stood up abruptly and plopped down on the floor, resting her head on the emerald silk cushions on the ground and shifting in her place.

"What in Valhalla are you doing?", Loki inquired quizzically at her actions. The woman turned her back on him and tried to shut her eyes.

"Get back on the bed, Kara. Don't be ridiculous," he continued. But Kara remained fixed in her spot.

"Oh, I'm ridiculous?", she scoffed, huffing obnoxiously. Loki rolled his eyes and stood up, making long strides towards her.

Without difficulty, he lifted her from the ground and, despite her protests, laid her down on the bed.

"Stop being so stubborn, woman!", Loki shrieked, his hands on his waist. Kara got out of bed multiple times, trying to sleep on her own on the floor, and the Asgardian returned her to the bed numerous times, as well.

Eventually, Kara grew tired of the childish game they were having. This time, when Loki set her down on the bed, she didn't bother getting up or pushing past him. She lay there, visible anger on her features.

"FINALLY. Go to sleep.," Loki groaned. When he was sure she wouldn't get out of bed anymore, he lay down on his back beside her, staring straight at the ceiling.

"The patience I have with this woman is insulting to my very nature.", he mentally noted. He sighed heavily and shook his head.

The sound of the brunette beside him snoring took him off his thoughts. His eyes unconsciously fluttered towards her, and he could see her shoulders moving up and down. Of course, she had her back turned on him.

Loki didn't realize that the corners of his mouth have curled upward at the sight of the woman dozing off into a peaceful slumber.