New Years Day was a day that most people had off.

Loki and I were not such people.

I had already packed my backpack for a three day trip to Hong Kong. I felt a little tired and that may have been due to the private after party the Avengers had as soon as everyone cleared out.

Now, several hours later, I was regretting that. Even aspirin couldn't help now.

Trix, despite me trying to release her decided to stay with me. Every time I tried to send her off, she'd fly right one back. Loki said I must have spoiled her so.

I had already given her over to Sam who said he would take care of Trix until I got back from my mission.

"Loki!" I knocked my knuckles on his door three times. "C'mon! We have to go!"

"Must we go on this mission?" Loki asked, throwing open his door.

He wore his usual civilian clothes, a button up shirt, slacks, a pair of leather loafers and an overcoat with a green and yellow patten on it. I needed to get Pepper in here to give this guy a makeover. Loki's style screamed more rockstar has been rather classy fallen god.

"Regrettably, yes. Everyone else is too hungover and we volunteered for it. Remember?"

"I regret that decision."

"Did you even pack?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe. "Our flight to China leaves in two hours and you're taking forever."

"I'm packing my weapons and supplies, pet." He said as he grabbed a knife and stuffed it into his backpack. "Of course, you think I need to pack anything more important."

"Unbelievable." I rolled my eyes. "I thought punctuality would be one of your so called good traits."

"Keep up that sarcasm and I'll start over again."

"You wouldn't dare," I hissed.

"Oh?"

"Loki....."

"Fine," he snapped, picking up his backpack. "I used to have so much fun getting underneath your skin."

"But you still do it anyway."

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A taxi ride and several security checks later, we were both on a place to Hong Kong. Well....actually more like on a plane to LA with an an hour layover and then onto a plane to Hong Kong.

I managed to sleep for a majority of the ride as Loki looked over our case file.

"Maya?" Loki shook me awake during our flight. "Wake up. It's important."

"Pick the black scarf," I said leaning against the pillow i propped against the window of the plane. "It matches your soul."

"Har. Har. Hilarious."

"What do you......" I yawned as I trailed off half way through. "....want, Loki?"

"This man." He pointed to the picture in the file. "He's a known as casino owner in Hong Kong. Why would he want to dabble in the black market? According to these reports, he makes a considerable sum off human greed."

"You already answered your question." I yawned again, checking the screen in front of me for how much time we had left. We still had ten more....great. "Let's just review this info when we get to the hotel, shall we?

"But---"

"Shhhhhh...." I leaned back against my pillow and closing my eyes.

"Maya, we-"

"Sleep first," I mumbled as I fell back to sleep. "Mission later."

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Loki rolled his eyes as Maya snored lightly next to him. He rolled his eyes as he continued reading. Irritated he shoved the files back into his carry on and tried to rest.

He hated these things. They were too loud and were extremely uncomfortable. If only Stark wasn't lazy, both of them would have been able to travel via Quinn Jet but unfortunately we're stuck with cheaper and uncomfortable seating.

'At least Maya isn't putting up a fuss.'

It evaded him how she was able to sleep. He decided that he hated these flying death traps.

Maya rolled over in her seat a little but no longer leaning against the planes window for support but on his arm. As much as he wanted to push her off, he didn't. Loki just scowled more and closed his eyes hoping to at least rest his eyes.

The smell of lilac registered in his mind as he tried to sleep. He looked down to see Maya clutching his arm with one hand.

Vaguely he remembered what Tony had talked about women (Most of the time he zoned out) and how they like physical contact. He never really understood that. For him he always liked his personal space and that's what made Maya tolerable, she understood the boundaries of it.

However, here they both were too close for comfort.

Debating whether or not he should push him off her, Maya curled up in her seat. Her head resting on his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his arm. Taking a deep breath Loki wished for this flight to end and for him arm back.

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A sudden jolt woke me up as the plane shook.

The fasten seat belt sign lighted up when I looked up to see where I was. My head was resting on Loki's lap as he crossed his arms, fast asleep.

I got up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. How long was I asleep for?

"Please fasten your seatbelts." The head flight attendant said over the PA. "We will begin out decent into Hong Kong in twenty minutes. Please stow........."

I stopped listening and got up. Sunlight streamed into the cabin as I opened the window blind. I shut it quickly so that I wouldn't wake up Loki. Unfortunately, the flight attendant did that for me.

Surprisingly he didn't say much as was rudely awoken. Instead he turned to me and just glared.

"What?" I asked.

"For someone who likes personal space you can get rather clingy when you sleep." Loki said grumpily.

"Oh." I said scooting away from him. "Sorry. Why didn't you just push me off?"

"You needed the sleep more than I." Loki said. "Afterall, you are a mortal."

"You're lucky we're on a plane or I would've stabbed you."

"I have a feeling that you don't actually mean that."

I wanted to call bullshit on that but I had just woken up and I had a mission that needed to be completed so I just let it go. At this moment, all I had to do was finish filling out the customs form.

"Fight me." Was I said.

We touched down in Hong Hong. After a few hours of getting off the plane, getting through customs and the getting taxi to take us to our hotel I was ready to kill somebody. Gods, I disliked traveling.

Loki and I had a joined double bedroom that had a nice view of the city. I was currently getting ready for our mission.

I strapped my thigh sheath on as Agent Richards went over the assignment.

"Mr. Zhou Li, an influential Casino owner that has ties to the Chinese Triads and has a hand in the illegal ivory trade." Agent Richards said over the phone.

"So we' re here to busy him for killing some elephants?" I asked. "Not that elephants don't matter but seriously, Richards? I know I'm suppose to take it easy and all but really?"

"Did you even read the files we gave you?"

"Yes. I think this guy isn't it. He seems like a middle man than the head of an important smuggling operation."

"Whatever information you and Mr. Laufyson collect tonight will determine what his status is with the Chinese Triads. Reports have been coming in that he's playing both sides, the Yakuza and the Triads."

"So he's a dead man walking." I stated as I I zipped the back on my black dress. "He probably won't know anything."

"That may be true but I your orders are clear." Agent Richards said in a form tone. " Evaluate the status of Mr. Zhou Li and report if he has any value to us."

"You got it, boss." I said. "Hey, Richards?"

"Yes? What is it this time?" He asked impatiently.

"What do I do if we find the head of the smuggling ring?" I asked.

The line was silent for a minute.

"Two options. One, bring him in. Two, his ass is grass."

Then the line went dead.

I sighed and put the phone away as I went over the blueprints of the casino that were kindly provided.

"So?" Loki stepped out of the bathroom in his three piece suit. "Is this passable?"

"Good enough." I said without looking up. "Let's go over the mission, shall we?"

"Of course." He rolled his eyes. "This man is a Casino Owner who has ties to two criminal organizations both of which who are most likely to kill him. So the question is how do we get to him?"

"It won't be easy. He has an entourage of body guards and if we want to get him alone, it'll be difficult."

"He's a womanizer, isn't he?" Loki asked. "You will just have to seduce him."

Just seduce him? I couldn't seduce Tony Stark even if he was drunk. Sure I've been told I'm pretty (I'll acknowledge that) but actually playing up my sexuality was not something I would do as in it really wasn't one of my strengths.

"No, thanks."

"What?" He titled his head to the side. "Why not? You're attractive. Just flutter your eye lashes at him and smile. Shouldn't be too hard."

"Why doesn't that feel like a compliment?" I asked sardonically. "Why don't you just turn into a girl? I've read once in Norse Mythology that you did that. Just do it again."

"That was different," Loki sniffed. "That brand of magic is very difficult and the only reason I could pull that off was because there was a body that I could possess to even become a women."

"I feel more sorry for the lady than you." I stifled my laughter and tried to imagine Loki in a dress acting like a princess. Oh gods! It was even more funnier if the dress was pink. "I should've asked Nat for seduction classes."

"I'm sure she could've taught you." I detected a hint of sarcasm in Loki's voice.

"I can't believe I'm asking this and I'm probably gonna regret this." I sighed, swollowing my pride and salvaging my dignity. "Can you teach me how to be seductive?"

"Me?" He asked caught off guard. "Teach you?"

"Look. I would've gladly asked Nat but since we're not allowed contact I'm gonna ask you because (for some reason that escapes me,) you have a fan club so that means you have some type of sex appeal or whatever." I have never spout this much bullshit in my entire life. "So? Can you just tell me already?"

"Um.....well." Loki said perplexed as he sat down on the bed. "I'm not really sure."

"Then we're screwed." I groaned.

"I wouldn't say that." He said. "Try improving your posture and smiling. Be charming but.....persuasive when you talk."

"Persuasive? Do I look like I'm running for Miss Universe here?" I asked crossing my arms. "Should I practice my wave next, your majesty?"

"Just smile." Loki rolled his eyes at me. "And it's your highness to you, peasant."

"Fine." I smiled forcefully. "Like this?"

"Now you look like you're going to kill someone." He said. "Smile like you've got a secret, something you won't reveal......yet."

Like I've got a secret, huh?

I smiled but this time its was a closed lip smile, I quirked up one corner of my mouth as narrowed my eyes at Loki.

"Like this?" I asked, my voice a bit strained.

"We have so much work to do," Loki sighed dramatically.

"Shut up."