Title: famous last words
Fandom: Marvel Comics
Characters: Kate Bishop, Loki
Rating: Teen
Warnings: None Apply
Length: 1,318 words
Summary: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Kate makes a deal with Loki.



Kate leaned on the open door of the fridge and stared forlornly at the epic emptiness within. She’d even finished the jar of pickles that had been in there for who knew how long. She really needed to go shopping. Of course, she needed to score another client so she could get paid first. Then she’d be able to pay her rent and eat. Such luxury! She sighed and closed the door.

She was beginning to think that heading back to New York and crashing on Clint’s couch might actually be her best option. Possibly her only option. Ever since Quentin and Gwen had moved to Krakoa and the West Coast Avengers slowly disbanded, Kate had been having the hardest time getting her shit together. She’d been doing the Private Eye thing, or she’d been trying to. Clients weren't exactly lining up these days. She was going to have to either get a job that actually offered a regular paycheck or head back East.

Despite being pretty much agnostic, once she'd crawled into bed that night she said a little prayer to whatever gods may or may not be listening. She just needed a little help, a nudge in the right direction, maybe something like a sign. Silly? Maybe, but what did she have to lose at this point? Famous last words, right?

She dreamed about running. So much running. There was a cave where the water came in and kept rising as she tried to find higher ground. Under the roar of rushing water, she heard a pounding sound. The heartbeat of the world. Then the water took her under and she gasped awake. The pounding sound continued and she realized that someone was knocking on her door. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was a few minutes past eight in the morning. She sat up. Who was at her door this early in the morning? She grabbed a robe on the way to the door. It wasn’t exactly a long trek from her bed to the door. Only a few steps. Her new place was a studio basement apartment that described itself as “extra cozy” in the ad.

She opened the door and gaped at the tall, dark, and way too handsome for his own good god-like person standing on her welcome mat. He smiled.

“No,” she said and shut the door.

Why in all the worlds was Loki here? This couldn’t be the sign, could it? Her thoughts spiraled. What was he doing here? Was it a coincidence? Was it the sign she'd asked for? That couldn't be it, could it? Loki may be a god of some sort but he was also trouble. So much trouble. He was a liar, a trickster, and he could not be trusted. Ever. She needed to send him on his way. Kate pulled herself together and opened the door. Loki smiled at her as if she hadn’t just slammed the door in his face.

“What are you doing here Loki?”

Loki tilted his head. “Katherine, Is that the proper way to greet a friend and former teammate?”

“Proper? Seriously? Like you've ever cared about proper.”

Loki shrugged and it was strangely elegant. Dressed casually in black jeans and a deep green t-shirt, he looked almost ordinary. Emphasis on the almost. “Can’t blame a god for trying,” he said.

Couldn’t she? “Why are you here, Loki?”

“Do you really wish to conduct this —“ He gestured around them. “here, out in the open?”

Kate shook her head. She didn't know what Loki was planning but the last thing she needed was for her neighbors to call the cops on her because of Loki's shenanigans. Of course, she didn’t really want him inside her apartment either but it seemed to be her best option at the moment. “Fine.” She stood aside and gestured for him to come in. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

Loki's smile faltered as he stepped over the threshold. He looked around and Kate could tell he was trying not to cringe. Things weren’t a mess, exactly. It was just cluttered. Very cluttered. And cramped. She stood aside to allow him to come further in and closed the door behind him.

“It’s um —“

She waved her hand as if she could wave away whatever lying praise he was about to spill all over her.
“It’s small and cramped and it’s all I could afford, so don’t bother,” she said. She felt self-conscious and the manners she’d learned in her old life began to kick in. “Would you like something to drink, or —“ She walked a few steps into the kitchen, opened the fridge door, and frowned. Still empty. Sadly it had not been magically filled with delicious food while she slept.

Loki made a humming noise behind her. “Between shopping trips?” He asked. She wondered if Loki ever had to go grocery shopping or pay rent. Did gods even pay rent? Probably not.

“Something like that.” She closed the door. “Are you going to tell me why you’re here or what?”

He boosted himself onto the counter with ease and smiled. “I have a proposition.”

That did not sound good. Kate ran a hand through her hair. It was way too early for her to be having any conversation, let alone one with a trickster. “A proposition?”

“A deal.”

Making deals with Loki rarely turned out well for anyone except maybe Loki and even that wasn't guaranteed. Sure, once upon a time he ran with her first team, the Young Avengers, but that was a long time ago and he’d been a kid. Sort of. He definitely wasn't at full power back then. She wasn’t even sure if that Loki and the Loki in her kitchen were the same person or if this was some other version with some of the same memories. Did it even matter? She’d asked the Powers That Be for help and now, here was Loki offering…something. “What kind of deal?” She asked.

“From what I understand, you are between teams at the moment, yes?”

Kate nodded.

“I propose that I employ you to teach me to be a better hero.”

She frowned. “You want me to teach you how to be a hero?”

“No. I am already a hero of the realms, I only wish to learn to do it better.”

“Uh, huh. Why me?” Kate had been wondering that since the moment she saw Loki standing in front of her door.

“Why not?" Loki held up a hand and proceeded to tick her qualities off on his fingers. "You are heroic. So much so that you gladly galavant about falling off rooftops. You defend those in need with archaic weaponry and zero magic. And as far as I am currently aware, you have yet to go evil. Besides, you need the help.”

He wasn’t wrong but she still wasn't convinced. “What makes you think I need your help?”

He crossed his legs and flashed her a smile. “Please, remember that I’m not an idiot.”

Kate crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I know you’re not an idiot, which is why I don’t get why you’ve come to me.”

“Would you believe that everyone else said no?”

Ah, there it was. He was as desperate as she was. “How much?”

“It’s negotiable, but I am not as they say -- short on funds.”

And she was. “Okay.” It would be fine. If it didn’t work out she could crash on Clint’s couch.

“Glorious!” He jumped down off the counter and grabbed the take-out menus she’d stashed on top of the refrigerator. “Now, we shall celebrate our new venture by ordering up a feast.” He winked at her and added, “my treat.”

She couldn’t say no to that, so she didn’t. She would eat a good meal, give Loki a few pointers, and get paid. What could possibly go wrong?