The Assignment

Tower Universe - One Shot

It is late evening in a bustling city park, the kind where street performers, food vendors, and wandering tourists fill the pathways. Gwen Barkridge sits on a bench under the glow of a streetlamp, her eyes fixed on the swirling patterns in her coffee. She had been sent to track down a mysterious figure causing minor disturbances—nothing world-ending, but enough to draw SHIELD’s attention.

A soft chuckle breaks through the background noise, and she looks up sharply. Sitting on the opposite end of the bench, seemingly out of nowhere, is Loki. He leans back casually, his long coat brushing the ground, a mischievous smile curling his lips.

"Staring at coffee as though it holds the secrets of the universe? How quaint," he said, his voice smooth and tinged with amusement. "Relax, mortal. If I intended chaos tonight, you would already know."

Gwen Barkridge, SHIELD agent and Avenger, thought she was assigned this task because no one else wanted it. No one else wanted to spend their evening monitoring Loki, and since she is the newest one on the team, a lot of the unwanted or boring missions fell to her.

A slow smile crosses Gwen's face.

"No chaos, then. So what do you intend to do tonight?"

Loki leans forward, resting his arm on the back of the bench, turning to face her fully.

"Why, my dear SHIELD agent, can a man not simply enjoy a walk under the stars and indulge in conversation?"

He smirked and raised an eyebrow, his gaze never leaving hers.

"You want me to believe that you are out here for nothing more than that? Come on, Loki, I'm not stupid. You don't spend time on this planet unless you are up to something. Just make it easy on me and tell me so I can at least say I tried to talk you out of it."

Gwen expected to follow him for a while. She didn't expect a conversation.

He chuckled at her words, amused by her straightforwardness. He shifted closer, the smirk on his lips growing slightly.

"Such suspicion," he drawled, tilting his head as he regarded her with his piercing gaze, "It's refreshing, really. But I suppose you have me there. Yes, I have a reason for being here."

He paused, a glimmer of mischief flashing in his eyes.

She opens her mouth to make a smart-ass comment but then thinks better of it. She doesn't need to give him any ideas.

"Are you going to share that reason, or are you going to keep me waiting? I can follow you all night if I have to."

Loki chuckles again, clearly enjoying her feistiness. He leans even closer, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Oh, so eager to know my every move, are we? Impressive, and a bit annoying."

He pauses for a moment, his smirk growing as he looks at her up and down in a rather obvious and admiring way.

"But I suppose I can let you in on a little secret. In exchange for something, of course."

Gwen rolls her eyes.

"Yes, terribly annoying, but even more annoying if I have to continue to keep an eye on you. Spill."

Loki's smirk broadens into a wicked grin at her exasperated response.

"Oh, come now, is that any way to address a god?" he purrs, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "No 'please?' No 'thank you?' I'm wounded."

He feigns a dramatic gasp, placing a hand on his chest as he pretends to be hurt by her lack of manners, though amusement dances in his eyes.

Gwen smirks and huffs out a laugh.

"You set a hot dog cart on fire last week and you are concerned about my manners?"

She keeps an eye on him as she sips her coffee. She puts on a fake but somehow still charming smile.

"Please, Mr. God of Mischief, tell me what you want in return for sharing your secret." Then sharper. "Thank you."

Loki's smirk turns into a full-fledged grin at her response. He's clearly enjoying this banter, finding her quick wit and sarcastic responses endearing in a way, though he'd never admit it. As she addresses him in a mock-polite voice, and even tacks on a thank you at the end, his eyes gleam with playful mischief.

"Ah, that's better. See how much nicer you can be when you try?"

He leans in closer still, his voice dropping to a mere whisper.

She leans in to match.

"Oh, I can be very nice when I want to be."

Wait, is she flirting with him? No, that's ridiculous.

Loki's smirk turns into a sly, knowing smile. He raises an eyebrow as he notices her leaning in closer, their faces now mere inches apart.

"Is that so, my little SHIELD agent?" he purrs, his eyes darting down to her lips before returning to her gaze. "Careful now, you'd not want to get too close. I might start thinking you're growing fond of me."

She straightens up again and shakes her head.

"Just tell me what you want and what you are planning."

She takes another sip of her coffee, trying to hide the hint of pink in her cheeks.

Loki's smirk softens into a sly smile as he observes her reaction, noticing the hint of pink in her cheeks. He decides to push his luck a bit further, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Oh, so serious now, are we? But very well. I'll share my plan, on one condition."

"What's that?"

Loki's smile broadens, his eyes glimmering with mischief, as he lays out his condition.

"First, I want you to promise that you won't interfere. Let me have my little fun this evening. And second..."

He pauses for just a beat, his eyes locking with hers, his voice lower now.

"I want you to join me. No trying to capture me, no calling in reinforcements. Just you and me, for the night, and a bit of … adventure."

Gwen almost laughs.

"You know I can't promise that. I can't sit back or even join you if I have no clue what you are doing. You are just going to get me in trouble and then disappear."

Loki's smirk fades, replaced by a flicker of disappointment. He knew this would be her answer, but he'd hoped for a different response. He studies her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Ah, ever the responsible SHIELD agent, aren't you? Always following the rules, no exceptions. Can't you indulge in a bit of fun, just this once?"

"I've seen your idea of fun, Loki. The cart fire, the mystery of every traffic light in Manhattan suddenly flashing a message in Morse code? Or how about when you cast an illusion that there weren't any doors in the Avengers Tower? I was trapped in my greenhouse for hours. It was incredibly humid there." She shrugs ‌one shoulder. "At least I wasn't trapped in the bathroom like that poor security guard. And those were all just this past week. I suppose I should be glad that you are entertaining yourself with minor mayhem and not another full-scale invasion."

Loki listens to her list of his recent pranks, his smirk slowly returning as he takes in her words. He can't help but be slightly amused by her exasperation and the memory of the chaos he caused.

"Ah, those little escapades, yes. They were merely attempts at keeping things interesting, my dear. I get so bored sometimes, and the mortals make such excellent targets. And come on, the illusion of no doors was a clever trick, you must admit."

He pauses and leans in a little closer.

"But I will admit, the poor security guard in the bathroom was perhaps a bit too much. I did get a good laugh out of that one, though." He can't help but chuckle quietly at the memory.

He then looks her up and down again, his smirk widening.

"You know, for a SHIELD agent, you're awfully calm about all this. Most of your colleagues would have at least attempted to detain me by now."

"We both know that I am no match for you. It would be stupid of me to try to detain you. If SHIELD wanted you caught tonight, they would have sent one of the other Avengers. No, my assignment was simply babysitting duty."

Loki's smirk changes into a full-blown smile at her response. He can't help but appreciate her honest and practical attitude.

"Babysitting duty, you say? How flattering," he teases, his voice filled with amusement. "Is that how you view yourself? Watching over the wayward god of mischief like a glorified babysitter?"

"What else would you call this assignment? Sure, I have my own abilities, but they made it clear I was to observe and report. Stick the new girl on this mission; it's just busywork anyway."

Loki chuckles at her frank admission. He finds her candor and lack of fear both refreshing and amusing.

"I suppose you're right. Babysitting indeed. But tell me, my little SHIELD agent..."

He leans in closer again, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

"If this is just busywork, does that mean you'd rather be somewhere else? Maybe, oh, I don't know, sipping cocktails on a sunny beach somewhere instead of keeping an eye on me?"

She looks around the dark park. The crowds are thinning, heading home.

"Sunny beach? No, I'd prefer to be home, cozy with a book or movie."

His smile grows wider as he absorbs her answer. He is finding himself increasingly amused by her honesty and her lack of pretense.

"Ah, a homebody, are we? Books and movies in the comfort of your home. How mundane."

He chuckles softly. "I must admit, I expected you to say something a bit more daring, perhaps skydiving or bungee jumping, given your profession."

"I get enough thrills at work. I don't need to do anything daring during my free time. Constantly chasing an adrenaline rush is not a sustainable lifestyle."

She looks at him curiously. "Don't you ever just relax?"

He tilts his head slightly, a hint of contemplation in his eyes as he considers her question.

"Relax? Me?"

He scoffs lightly, as if the very notion is absurd, but there's a brief flicker of something else in his gaze—a hint of loneliness, perhaps.

"I'm a god of chaos and mischief, my dear. Relaxation is not exactly in my repertoire."

He gives her a charming smile, attempting to cover up any sense of vulnerability that may have inadvertently slipped through.

"Hmm, if you say so." She studies him closely. "You're constantly moving, scheming, then? That sounds exhausting."

He notices her studying him intently, his own eyes meeting hers directly. He holds her gaze for a moment longer than necessary before replying.

"I prefer to think of it as... challenging."

He shrugs nonchalantly, trying to play it off, but he can't quite hide the hint of weariness beneath his smirk.

"And yes, I suppose it can get exhausting at times. But it's who I am, my nature. Mischief and chaos are my elements. To stop would be like asking a bird not to fly."

"Even birds rest, Loki." She says it with a hint of exasperation. "Find a balance. It might be good for you."

Gwen didn't intend to have an entire conversation with Loki tonight, but at least if they are talking, he's staying out of trouble. And it's not like it's a difficult conversation; she is actually enjoying it more than a little.

He chuckles softly, a mixture of amusement and mild irritation. The fact that she is giving him unsolicited advice, and the fact that he is actually listening, is a bit of a novelty for him.

"Oh, you're just full of advice tonight, aren't you, my little SHIELD agent?"

He leans back on the bench, tilting his head as he looks at her. There's a hint of curiosity in his eyes, mixed with a dash of defiance.

"And who are you to tell me about balance, hm?"

She softly huffs out an exhale and relaxes her shoulders a little. "No one."

She finishes her coffee and stands, taking a couple of steps to throw the empty cup away.

He watches as she stands and tosses her coffee away, his gaze following her movements. There's a hint of disappointment at the loss of her proximity, but he hides it well under a nonchalant expression. He leans back on the bench, his eyes never leaving her.

"No one indeed," he remarks, his voice low. "Even so, you have quite the opinion, don't you? Telling a god what he should and shouldn't do."

He can't help but tease her a little, a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I would normally say 'do what you'd like,' but saying that to you would be a terrible idea."

She remains standing by the bench, sticking her hands in her pockets.

"It was just an idea. Nothing to get offended about."

He arches an eyebrow, his smirk softening into a slight smile. He appreciates her straightforwardness, even if it's laced with a hint of defiance.

"Offended, me? Please." He shakes his head slightly, feigning disbelief. "I was merely pointing out the irony of your advice. A mere mortal, offering counsel to a god."

He leans forward, his gaze roaming over her form once again, taking in her relaxed stance as she stands by the bench.

"You're right. I won't say anything else."

She remains where she is and keeps watching him.

His smirk grows a fraction as she agrees to stop giving him unsolicited advice.

"Wise decision."

He regards her for a moment, his eyes never leaving her face. Despite her promise to keep quiet, it's clear that she's not planning on leaving anytime soon. The corners of his mouth tilt up in a slight smirk.

"Are you planning to stare at me all night, Little SHIELD agent?"

"I told you, this is my assignment. So if you don't want me to say anything, I won't, but I'm not going anywhere."

She sits back down on the bench. How can someone so clever and surprisingly attractive be so damn frustrating?

He chuckles, amused by her determination. It's endearing in an annoying sort of way.

"You're quite the stubborn one, aren't you?"

He studies her as she sits back down on the bench, their thighs just a breath apart. The close proximity isn't lost on him, but he does his best to ignore the subtle flutter of attraction he feels.

"But I suppose if you insist on sticking around, we might as well have a more entertaining conversation that doesn't involve you trying to fix me."

That gets a reaction from her. She sits up straighter, and she scrunches up her face, getting defensive. "I am not trying to fix you. It was a simple idea."

He smirks, clearly enjoying the rise he's gotten out of her. There's something oddly endearing about her defensive response.

"Oh, come now," he replies with a hint of mockery. "You waltz in, give me unsolicited advice, and now you're all up in arms because I called you out on it. Sounds like a classic case of trying to 'fix' my behavior."

He leans back, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Don't deny it, Little SHIELD agent. I know your type."

"You think so, huh? Go ahead, tell me what type you think I am. I can guarantee you are going to be wrong."

He cocks an eyebrow, amused by her confidence. He likes a good challenge, especially when it comes to reading people.

"All right, if you insist. I'm going to take a wild guess. You're the type who's practical, straightforward, a touch... uptight."

He pauses, his eyes roaming over her form, taking in her demeanor, before continuing.

"You're also probably fiercely loyal, annoyingly stubborn, and determined to the core. How am I doing so far, my dear?"

She huffs and opens her mouth ready to refute his assumptions, but she quickly shuts it again. He's right so far.

He smiles wide at her reaction, clearly pleased with himself for having guessed correctly so far. He can tell he's struck a nerve.

"Ah, no witty retort this time? I'm going to take that as confirmation that I'm correct."

He leans closer, his voice dropping slightly as he continues.

"Let's see what else I can guess. You're a stickler for the rules, aren't you? You like things neat, organized. Chaotic individuals like myself must drive you absolutely insane."

She smiles a little.

"Right there. You're wrong. I'm a stickler for rules that make sense. Some rules are wrong or asinine. I'm actually kind of messy, and I don't mind a little chaos. And you are still wrong about me wanting to fix you. I don't. If you actually like someone, you wouldn't want to fix or change them and..."

She stops. Did she just say...? No, she just met him. One conversation with him, no matter how much she enjoyed it or how attractive he is, doesn't mean she likes him.

His smirk grows slightly wider as she corrects him on his earlier assumption. He's clearly intrigued by her answer, his eyes never leaving her face as she goes on. But when she stops mid-sentence, he notices a hint of something in her expression, something he can't quite decipher.

"But...?"

He prompts her, his voice soft, almost coaxing. He's enjoying this more than he'd care to admit. Her correction was unexpected, her candidness was endearing, and he was beginning to find her rather adorable.

"Go on, finish that thought."

She clears her throat. When she speaks, her voice is calmer, softer."I just mean in general. Changing someone, trying to fix them, I think that means you never really liked them in the first place, right? It doesn't mean... I wasn't saying ..."

He watches her closely as she speaks, his smirk fading into a slight smile. There's a flicker of something in his gaze, a hint of understanding. He seems to have sensed her unspoken words, the implication behind her unfinished sentence. He could push her further, tease her for stumbling over her words or force her to speak her thoughts, but instead...

"No, you're right. Trying to 'fix' someone does seem a bit... counterproductive, I suppose."

He leans a little closer, his voice a bit quieter. "So you're not trying to fix me, then?"

"No, I don't see the point in it. And it's not because I like you or anything like that. You are who you are. One suggestion to relax sometimes isn't trying to fix you."

He finds himself captivated by the change in her demeanor. Her defensiveness has given way to calm candor, and there's something about her sincerity and lack of pretense that's strangely appealing.

"No, of course not," he responds with a soft chuckle. His earlier smirk has completely faded now, replaced by a more thoughtful expression.

"No hidden agendas or secret desires to shape me into something more palatable, right?"

He's aware that he's still leaning closer, closer than is necessary or even appropriate, but he can't seem to bring himself to pull away.

She doesn't realize that she is moving slightly closer to him, though. She studies his face as she shakes her head "no."

The distance between them continues to shrink, their proximity becoming increasingly intimate. Their thighs are touching now, and neither of them seems to move away. He can't take his eyes off ‌her, his gaze roaming over her features, studying her as she studies him. He chuckles quietly, his voice low.

"You know, Little SHIELD agent, I don't think I've caught your name yet."

That seems to break the spell she's under. She draws back a little with a soft chuckle.

"Of course. An entire conversation and I never even introduced myself, but my job was to watch you, not talk to you... My name is Gwen. Gwen Barkridge."

"Gwen Barkridge," he repeats her name softly, as if testing out the taste of it. It rolls off his tongue rather nicely, and he finds himself smiling at the sound.

"It's a pretty name. Suits you," he says, his smirk returning. "Much better than being called 'Little SHIELD agent' all night, at any rate."

"Thank you. Although I didn't mind that much." .She likes the way he says her name, and she smiles.

"Didn't mind it, eh?"

He chuckles at that, his smirk growing a little wider. He can't help but notice the smile on her face. It's sweet and captivating, and he finds himself wanting to see it again.

"So, not too annoyed at being saddled with babysitting duty tonight?"

He moves a fraction closer again, closing the distance that she had created.

"No, I suppose this assignment hasn't been too bad."

Damn it. She's definitely feeling something. A thought flickers in her mind. Is he getting close and being pleasant right now because he has ‌something up his sleeve? Will she be embarrassed in a few minutes when he reveals the trick?

His smile softens as he moves even closer, their knees almost touching now. He can see the doubt, the uncertainty in her eyes, the suspicion that he has a trick up his sleeve. It's endearing, and it only makes him want to get even closer, to see what she'll do next.

"Only 'not too bad'? Just how low is your bar for entertainment, Little SHIELD agent?"

His hand moves of its own accord, coming to rest lightly on her knee.

Her heart starts beating a little faster, and a small shiver goes through her at his light touch. She still isn't certain that this isn't a cruel game, but she can't help but be drawn in.

"Considering I find staying in with a book or a movie ideal, the bar is low. I'm easy to please."

Her response draws a quiet chuckle from him. He can feel the slight shiver that his touch elicits from her. It fuels his own growing desire, and he gently squeezes her knee, almost teasingly.

"Easy to please, hmm? Well, I think I could do better than a book and a movie."

He's fully invading her personal space now, his body angled towards hers, his hand still on her knee. He's close enough that he can smell ‌her perfume, and it only intensifies the strange pull he feels towards her.

She can feel his breath on her skin, their faces only inches apart now. He moves his hand slightly, his hand trailing up her leg, a feather-like touch that leaves goosebumps in its wake.

Her mind is telling her to move away, to stop this before it goes any further. This is a man she just met, a man she's supposed to be watching, not getting involved with. But his closeness, the way he's looking at her... It makes it incredibly hard to think straight.

She lifts her arm hesitantly and lightly rests it on his forearm. She's taking a chance. He's so close. All she has to do is lean in a little more...

His breath catches, his gaze flicking to her hand on his forearm before returning to her face. The small touch seems to spark something in him, a desire to be closer still. He can see the slight hesitancy in her expression, the uncertainty mixed with a hint of daring.

Without breaking eye contact, his other hand moves to her hip, his fingers gently pressing into her flesh. He leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a low whisper.

"This is probably a terrible idea..."

She whispers back. "It definitely is..."

Then, before either of them can overthink it again, their lips meet. It's impossible to say who made the move.

The moment their lips meet, all thoughts of responsibility and reason fly out the window. His arms wrap around her waist, pulling her even closer, his body now flush against hers.

He kisses her eagerly, almost desperately. There's a hunger there, an intensity that surprises him, and he deepens the kiss, his fingers trailing up the back of her neck, through her hair. He can feel her gasp against his mouth, can taste the sweetness of her tongue, and gods, it's maddening.

Her arms wrap around him in return. She forgets about the assignment. She forgets they are sitting on a bench in a now empty park. The whole world falls away. There are no thoughts, no more hesitation, only each other.

The End