Your fear turned to horror. "What do you mean, they're stuck?" You demanded, panic returning to your voice. You tugged on the manacle on your wrist, but it clearly wasn't going anywhere.

"Tugging on it isn't helping," Loki told you gently, though let you pull his arm around as you tugged on the cuff. When you only looked up at him, he pulled you back into his arms. "Breathe, love. Breathe,"

"But what are we going to do?" You asked him, looking up at him like he would solve everything. It was up to him to solve things, especially when he'd fucked them up in the first place.

"We'll have to get Stark to get them off," Loki replied, clearly thinking as he spoke. "They are impervious to magic and too thick to cut through." It wasn't like Loki to think and talk at the same time. He was usually more careful with his words, which indicated two things: 1) he was as frazzled as you were and just didn't want to admit it and 2) he trusted you enough to do so in front of you. He was so used to keeping up his perfect princely persona that he didn't let people in easily.

"Jarvis, when will Tony be back?" You asked the AI. Jarvis liked you better than Loki, so it was better if you asked. Yes, the AI had a personality and it was wise to stay on the AI's good side.

Jarvis was quiet for a long time. While you waited, admittedly impatiently, you searched again for a key. Loki let you, and let you drag his chained wrist (and the rest of him) around as you searched the whole lab from top to bottom. There was no sign of a key.

There were, however, plenty of inappropriate thoughts about the Loki chained to you and his enjoyment level of the chains. Those thoughts weren't helping anything and you tried to shove them out of your mind while you searched. Loki helped you and you kept catching sidelong glances at you as you worked together.

Those glances weren't helping anything either.

This wasn't the time for any of this. You had to get free. You couldn't stay handcuffed to Loki.

Jarvis finally spoke again. "Mr. Stark's engagement will last at least a few more days, Miss," he told you. He didn't sound sorry about that. Stupid AI.

"Call him, Jarvis," you were losing patience and you heard that clipped tone in your voice. "Please. We need to get these cuffs off,"

"Yes, Miss," Jarvis was sounding annoyed. You would have to apologize to him later. He really could make your life in the tower a living hell if he was upset with you. Once, he was upset with Barton and refused to give him hot water for his showers for a month. You didn't want to end up in the same position.

Fuck.

How were you going to shower handcuffed to Loki?

Or pee?

You were going to have to do both of those things eventually...

Unless you could get Tony's ass on the phone to tell you how to get the cuffs off.

"Connecting," Jarvis said and you could hear a phone ringing. It was strange to get used to always being on speaker in any rooms that Jarvis was allowed in, but it was something you had gotten used to, living in the tower. You could tell from Loki's bored court face that he was still getting used to the AI. You had learned to read Loki well in your time together. You spent a lot of time babysitting him as he tolerated your company.

Your mind was reeling and getting easily distracted taking in Loki's appearance and how close the pair of you were forced to be. Your hands kept brushing as you had searched the room for keys or clues, or anything. There weren't many links of chain between the two cuffs, so you had to keep touching him. Or so you kept telling yourself.

Something told you he was making just as many excuses.

"My apologies, Miss, I cannot get through to Mr. Stark. I have told him to call you when he is available," Jarvis told you. He didn't sound sorry at all. You'd definitely annoyed him too far.

You groaned and looked up at Loki. "What are we going to do?" You asked him plaintively.

You saw a glint in his eyes, an expression you couldn't quite identify. It went along with a mischievous smirk. "Well, I know something I have been dying to try and this seems the perfect opportunity, darling," his voice was a purr, deep and sensuous, and far too sexual for the situation. But Loki was always far too sexual for any given situation.

And this was Loki in casual clothes.

When you'd seen him in the black suit of sexiness... well, you were pretty sure your chin had been on the floor and your panties had wanted to join it...

"And what's that?" You asked in a breathless voice. You realized just how close you were to Loki then, as he had turned to face you and there was next to no distance between you. You had to look up to see his eyes and could practically feel him breathing, feel his pulse, feel the differences in your temperature.

Too close.

Loki stabbed those who got too close.

Except this time.

This time, his free arm snaked around your waist and pulled you flush to him. "This, my dear," he purred and leaned down.

Your mind went blank, filled with static and some kind of error message as you couldn't comprehend, could dare to hope that this was finally happening.

His lips were a hair's breadth away from yours when he paused. "Yes?" He asked in a whisper. He wouldn't move forward without consent, without knowing that you really did want this too.

"Yes," the word came out without thought. As did the reaction that followed. You didn't know which of you moved, but in the next moment, the distance between you was closed, the distance that was a thousand miles and nonexistent at the same time. His lips were on yours, soft and gentle, but there was skill and emotion behind that kiss as well. He tasted of a crisp winter's day, magic, and the tea he'd been drinking.

There was no power in the universe that would make you forget that perfect moment, the spark of magic and emotion that passed between you at that first, perfect kiss.