Chapter 1: A Gentleman's Gesture

Author note:

Hey guys! This is my first Avengers fanfic and I hope that you enjoy it. I'm excited! Anyway, I've grown to be really interested with Loki and Black Widow. Especially together. As mentioned, hope you like it and tell me how it is. Feedback is graciously awesome and appreciated. Thanks!

Prologue:

"Mr Stark, Mr Banner, Thor, Captain and Agent Romanoff: I declare you all united for the Avengers initiative"

Nick Fury's address towards them reverberated and lingered in the air as it was official that the war against the enemy: a proclaimed demi-god and brother of one of their own group members; was on.

The news started when the headquarters of SHIELD was completely destroyed due to the apparent cause that the enemy Loki had entered or teleported more to Earth via the tesseract portal. Chaos and violence was immediately created and SHIELD had lost two guards, Agent Barton and Professor Erik Selvig to an enchantment that possessed and took control of their minds through a scepter that Loki had been holding.

It was too late as Loki had escaped and with the power source of the tesseract. It all led to now as drastic matters had to be taken in response. The league of super heroes of the world gathered together to bring down the target.

But nobody said it would be easy.

With conflicts of pride and judgment between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, issues of dangerous self-prejudice from Bruce Banner and Thor's slightly entitled superiority along with his sentiment towards the enemy created havoc amongst the group which felt to Nick Fury like dealing with children. Natasha Romanoff was the only female of the team and was a private person. However, it didn't mean she didn't have any problems either. Just because she didn't inflict it or share it to the load of mayhem that was team didn't mean she wasn't with conflict.

Guilt and determination was her burden.

Once upon a time, it'd be told that during her lifetime as an agent, she wasn't always good. In Russia especially, she only lived and did what was ordered and fit for her: killing. She wanted to make her mark and stand that just because she was a woman didn't mean that she couldn't get the job done. Natasha had the mentality that she could do things as well as the next man could.

Yet, the very idea of respect and going against what was defined enemies and evil overshadowed the fact that she was losing herself and that elsewhere, she was being targeted by a particular agent who was ordered as well to take her down.

It was revealed to be none other than Agent Clint Barton but he wasn't a merciless killer as such like her. He spared her life and never went back. From then on, SHIELD had taken Natasha into their headquarters recruiting her rather than harshly punishing her. She changed for the better and here she was joining a highly classified and powerful team but feeling guilty and empty that the one agent she owed a debt to had fallen victim to the enemy's hands.

Not only was it her mission to help save the Earth with the others but to also return the favor of life to Agent Barton.

The team had scattered to various locations in partners to cover possible areas that Loki would be in. Many other agents joined in going to international destinations. Natasha along with another agent going by the name of Darcy decided to stay local and headed towards a secluded area 50 miles from the original headquarters of SHIELD.

They entered a plane along with other members who were going to be dropped off along the way. After half an hour of flying west and descending towards the ground, Natasha and Agent Darcy reached their destination. It was a seemingly quiet area with some basic infrastructures built along the side. "I'll cover the southern region of the place and ask around" Agent Darcy instantly went her own way leaving Natasha alone in the middle of the dusty road. She scanned the place revolving on the spot while placing her hand against her thigh which was the place that held her source weapon of defense and attack. She also had minor artillery such as blades and knives inside her jacket but the gun was always a weapon to turn to.

Natasha abruptly turned backwards as a noise disturbed the quiet atmosphere. She stared intently shifting her eyes to various objects and heard another noise towards her right. It was as if a lurking figure was watching her and following her. This called for her weapon to get into position. Natasha rapidly faced the left side. Her eyes may have been deceiving her as she could make out the dark colour of green darting from the shadows with a slight moment of light being casted over it.

Her attention was diverted to a civilian greeting her. "Is there anything wrong ma'am?" She turned to converse with an old man in his 60's and had made his way from a cabin that was assumed by Natasha to be a bar due to the uproar of people inside the house. "My name is Agent Romanoff and I've been sent here on behalf of SHIELD to collect information or knowledge of a target that we are currently searching for" The man nodded. "Would you like to come inside? It's much warmer there" She followed him upwards to the cabin and peered once more out to the darkness of the area. That mysterious figure was still out there.

The inside of the cabin was in huge contrast to the peaceful environment of outside. Many others were crowded around on stools paying attention to a television up in the corner. The older man led Natasha to a seating booth further away from the racket of the spectating men. "Is there any particular description of the person you're looking for?" The man continued.

Natasha took out three captured photos of the vehicle that transported the team of Agent Barton, Professor Selvig and Loki. "This is the man we're looking for and the driver is actually an agent of our company being held hostage and under his control" Natasha clarified. The man closely observed the photos through squinted eyes then looked back up. "I think they did pass by our area. I remember seeing a fancy black vehicle like that driving through but the last time I saw them was–" The man was interrupted by another curious person. An older woman this time. "Excuse me; is there any problem or particular business here?" Natasha lifted the picture again. "Have you seen any of these people lately?" The woman's eyes widened and she nodded vigorously. Natasha shifted in her seat due to noticing her reaction.

"I saw that strange man not long ago" She pointed at Loki. "Where and when did he enter these premises?" Natasha questioned. "I saw him enter this very place before but he did so very lowly. Nobody took notice of him except for me because the attire he was wearing was quite odd for an area here. He was obviously some type of visitor and I kept my eye on him wondering if he needed help. Last thing I remember is that he…" The woman drifted off in sentence. Natasha stood up knowing that this was leading to something crucial. The woman suddenly walked away and Natasha had to follow. They passed through the crowd and along a narrow corridor leading to the bathrooms and finally a private door that was intended only for staff of the bar.

The woman opened the door keeping her arm extended where Natasha saw a dark alleyway. "He went down this way. It leads elsewhere but I rarely go further past those dumpsters there" She pointed at dumpsters located just before the turn of a corner. "Thank you for cooperation" Natasha felt the need to explore. The woman nodded and closed the door behind Natasha. She grabbed her gun out before she advanced down the alleyway.

It was dangerous for her to be wondering in a dark alley by herself but she knew she had been in worst situations. With her gun in defense position, she cautiously walked along the stretching alley way on alert for Loki. It honestly was a thin chance for him to actually be here despite the claimed evidence of a witness seeing him. Yet, it could still be helpful in finding information for the trail. His description resonated in her head:

A young shady man with slick black hair and a uniform of dark green, white and black. Yet in his alternate demi-god form and appearance, he transforms with bronze and metallic gold armor but same green and black. Overall, he poses as a dangerous threat to all humans with his supernatural powers and reputation.

The whole image of him visualized in her head screamed evil all over. Natasha truly hated a bad guy as they were always arrogant, proclaimed tough and needed a good bash in the head. She was lost in her analysis and thoughts about an enemy she had never met but was sure he was to be taken down. It was how she learned and did her job no matter what. She wasn't an assassin for nothing.

She reached nearly halfway distance towards the dumpster and out of nowhere, a unique yet sinister voice echoed behind her. Natasha rapidly turned in position to suddenly see and prepare in moment of capture: Loki. The pole light glimmered faintly over his face but the shadows seemed to follow him. She stayed in her place keeping a stern look at him but he kept nearing towards her. "What is a beautiful maiden like you doing here?" His voice, face and attitude were sly. "Don't come any closer. I know who you are and I plan to take you down" Natasha threatened.

His eyebrows raised in slight surprise and reaction. "Not even a thank you at my compliment. Truly rude. Well, either way, I know you as well Madam Romanoff or should I even call you that?" Natasha flashed an expression of astonishment to the fact that he knew her name but recalling over his description, he seemed capable of anything. She impulsively clicked the gun to load it with a bullet and Loki reacted in apathetic defense. "Now now, I mean no harm. I don't want to cause any trouble especially for you" He commenced walking closer towards her as Natasha backed away slowly keeping the appropriate distance for her threatening position.

"I would not and could not hurt a beautiful lady like you. It would be utmost disgrace and degrade me of being a gentleman" Natasha stopped and lowered her gun finding it perplexing for a villain like Loki to be conscious of being fair or for him to be bothered to play such a charade. She kept her glare fixated on him and was preparing if she was to leap into combat any moment. The last thing she was expecting was for him to grab her hand and start elevating it close to his face. She flinched and Loki took notice. "Is something wrong with this…innocent gesture?" He kept gentle hold of her hand which opened an opportunity for Natasha to yank it away but she didn't. She was either lost in his personality and character being developed for identification or that for such an evil and menacing person and reputation, he was by far one of the most sophisticated men she had ever met. He was subtly flattering her and not jumping straight into action but…she had to snap out of this trance about him.

He was simply using this act for advantage and to trick her which she was falling for at the very moment. No wonder he was entitled the god of mischief. She finally broke the silence. "It's just that you're not exactly innocent. Aren't you?" Natasha was about to slip her hand away from him but his grasp tightened to keep it in place. "My dear, you should know by now that innocence is in fact overrated. And so it be the same with evil" That very statement added with his sinister tone sent shudders down her back. It even travelled upwards out her mouth in a shaky breath.

Loki haughtily smiled knowing that he was making effect on her. Though he knew she was part of the assembled team assigned to take him down from his mission, she was still an ordinary mortal. Or at the most: a woman. A woman that may have went through various experiences of love and sentiment. She seemed to be a bitter, private and angry female who wanted to stand by her principles of showing no weakness and exemplifying it to her super advantage but deep down to what can be considered her undisclosed desires, she wanted the right love and attention.

He knew time was running out and decided to execute the finishing touch. He commenced elevating her hand towards his face and brushed it lightly with a dainty connective touch of his lips. Loki returned her hand and let go of it. "Thank you for your cooperation Miss Romanoff" He brushed past her but she remained still drugged by the lingering sense of him in her mind and feel on her hand. She snapped back to reality as she saw Agent Darcy rushing towards her through the shadows. "What are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere for you. Director Fury wouldn't have appreciated it if we lost one of our best agents because you wondered elsewhere" Natasha's ability to speak was lost. She swiftly turned around facing the alleyway that Loki walked down and there was no sight or clue that he was there. It would've been a quick escape for him. "Did you find any sight of him?" Agent Darcy faced each direction of the alley with two guns in her hands. It was a delay before Natasha gulped down her stunned and distracted act to return to normal. She finally uttered "No"