Prompt from @MrsBarnesSalvatoreMikaelsonStJohn (ao3 user): I knew there was something off about Henry, it's in all the tiny details. Like, who asks out their boss right after they've been hired? (Crazy people, that's who) Also, the fact that he's got all of these nice features, like, *voila* a perfect dude. That's super suspicious, mainly bc no one is perfect. Oh, I almost forgot, it's mentioned that Henry's super uptight when it comes to their relationship. That's a major red flag and I suspect that he might be using her to gain access to Shield secrets maybe. I totally bet that he's either a Hydra spy or a spy from that mystery organization that her parents work with.

A/N: the first episode of Loki absolutely broke me today :)) (spoiler alert-ish?) i might have to write some heavy, heavy fluff later on to counter the image of loki sobbing over his mother's corpse and watching his death which has been in my head all day (thanks for that marvel<3) anyways, here's the next chapter, i hope you enjoy <3

...

"Hey... can we talk?"

Henry looks up from the other side of your office.

"Of course. What's wrong?" he replies, setting down the files he'd been looking through and giving you his full attention immediately. He's almost too perfect.

Loki's words from yesterday have been bugging you. "There's something not right about him."

Since he's said it, and told you that Fury has him under investigation, you've been noticing tiny details which you hadn't noticed before.

The way Henry's smile drops the minute he thinks you're not looking anymore. The way said smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. The way he hasn't talked about his past to you... at all.

"I just wanted to ask about your past. You've never really talked about it."

Is that panic that flashes behind his eyes, or are you just being paranoid?

"What do you want to know?" he asks, leaning against your desk.

"Well... why do you never bring it up? I don't want this to be like an interview," you say, smiling slightly. Nervously. "You just never seem to talk about anything before us meeting."

"Should I have to?" he asks, his tone slightly clipped. You're slightly taken aback; he hardly ever talks to you like this. It only heightens your suspicion that something isn't right.

"No. If you don't want to discuss it that's fine." you tell him curtly.

"Good, because I have a meeting with Maya and Ffion. I'll see you later." he says, kissing the air next to your cheek before leaving the room swiftly. You sit very still after he leaves, thinking. Your gaze falls on the now empty coffee cup which had been on your desk again this morning.

Loki's office is as empty as it had been yesterday when you look around the doorframe. He's sat behind the desk again, but this time he's wearing a suit and his legs are propped up on his desk as he reads a file.

Something happens in the pit of your stomach when you see him, and you almost have to reach for the doorframe to steady yourself.

"Come to apologise?" he asks without looking up.

Had you? You hadn't really decided yet. You tell him so.

"Shame, because I found more information last night which you might be interested to hear about." Loki tells you, still not looking at you as he drops the file, takes his feet from the desk and leans forward to tap some keys on the keyboard in front of him.

A confused smile creeps across your face.

"Is... that even turned on?" you ask, looking at the computer. He finally looks up at you.

"No. I don't know what it is. And I don't know what any of that means either." he says after a pause, gesturing to the files on the desk next to him. You exhale with a smile, shaking your head in disbelief.

"Did Fury not explain anything to you?" you ask, moving to sit in the chair opposite him.

"He tried. I might have told him I didn't need any help. So he left." Loki tells you.

"Right," you reply, rolling your eyes. "What's this new information you've found?"

He just looks at you. You frown, and then sigh.

"Sorry."

"That wasn't very sincere."

"Don't push your luck. I think you might be right about Henry." you tell him. He's trying not to smile.

"You could try and look a little bit less pleased with yourself." you scowl.

"No, I don't think I could." Loki says nonchalantly. You glare at him. He looks back at you challengingly, smirking, before he caves and hands you a piece of paper which he conjures from thin air. You take it.

"He lied on his application form. About almost everything. Those are his real-"

"What in god's name do you think you're playing at." Fury says loudly, entering the room and slamming the door behind him, making you jump. Loki just smiles at him pleasantly.

"Good afternoon." he says.

You're staring at the piece of paper in front of you. The piece of paper which is telling you that your current boyfriend works for the organisation which had given you your powers. Which also tells you that said organisation is a branch of HYDRA.

Your powers are from HYDRA.

Fury snatches the piece of paper from your hands. You look at Loki. He doesn't look pleased with himself anymore, just slightly sympathetic. That's almost worse. How could you have been such an idiot?

"Agent Y/L/N, we were planning on telling you today. We only found out last night."

Fury at least has the good grace to sound slightly ashamed.

"How has this been allowed to happen?" you ask, your voice low, turning to look at Fury.

"You're the one who chose him as a recruit."

You stand up so abruptly that you almost knock the chair you'd been sat on over. Loki's hand descends on your arm, and electric shoots up your arm where his fingers touch your skin.

"That's out of order." Loki tells Fury.

"I want you both in my office at five o' clock sharp. We'll discuss this further then." Fury tells you, and then he leaves the room.

Loki removes his hand from your arm. You wish he would keep it there. You feel as though you're about to pass out, or throw up. Or both.

"Sit down." Loki says, pushing you gently back into the chair behind you. The feel of something solid beneath you grounds you again.

"I don't want to sit down. I want to go and kill Henry. Or Fury. Or both."

Loki gives you an odd look, and then smiles.

"Really?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." you say, annoyed.

"You know what Fury's going to say to you later, don't you?" Loki asks you, after a pause.

You frown, shaking your head.

"Henry doesn't know we're on to him, and SHIELD will want more information before they apprehend him."

Realisation hits.

"Oh." you say. Loki almost grimaces.

"You could say no."

"I couldn't though, could I?" you reply, smiling humourlessly.

"You shouldn't have to pretend to be in love with him."

"I'm not in love with him." you say dismissively. You say it so quickly and with such conviction that neither one of you doubts the sincerity of the statement.

"Good." Loki says. Your heart stops, and heat surges in your chest. You pray it doesn't rise to your face. You can't look at him. He only said it because he doesn't want you to get hurt. Like a friend would want.

"I don't want to see him again today."

"Stay in here then. You can show me how this blasted thing works." Loki says, hitting his computer with a look of distaste. It makes you smile.

"Okay. Thank you."

"Of course."

...

Loki checks that Henry has left the floor before you walk to Fury's office at five o' clock. You make the joint decision to be ten minutes late.

"How nice of you to turn up." Fury says when you finally let yourselves into his office without knocking.

"How nice of you to tell me that one of our new recruits was a HYDRA agent." you reply pleasantly. It's been two and a half hours since he came into Loki's office, and you're not upset anymore. Just angry.

Fury chooses not to deign your comment with a reply.

"Sit down." he says instead. You and Loki both stay standing. Fury looks like he would quite like to throw something at one of you.

"I've had some meetings today, and we've decided that we would like you to keep up a false pretence of your relationship with Henry for the time being. Any information you can get from him before we apprehend him will be highly valuable." Fury tells you. You practically feel Loki tense next to you.

"What if I don't want to do that?" you ask Fury. Of course you'll have to do it, but you're not going to go down without a fight. If a fake one. Fury massages his temples.

"Please don't make this difficult, Agent. My associates and I have all agreed-"

"Oh, so just because you and your friends have decided I should do something, that means I have to do it? I see."

"In case you had forgotten, I am your boss. And I am advising that you stop-"

"What are you going to do? Lock me in a room for almost a week?" you ask aggressively, gesturing at Loki.

"I could." Fury says, looking as though he's seriously considering it.

"You could try." Loki scoffs. Your heart does a sort of weak bellyflop.

"So is that a no?" Fury asks you. You glare at him.

"I'll do it. But only because I want to see him brought to proper justice." you say eventually.

"That he will be," Fury nods. "I want you in here every evening at ten o'clock for updates."

You stare at him. Not even a thank you? Loki takes hold of your arm and leads you from the office, apparently having read your mind and seen the sudden urge you'd just had to attack Fury.

You shrug his arm off as you leave, your jaw and fists clenched as you walk away down the corridor.

"Are you okay?"

"No," you snap. Then, "Sorry."

"It's okay. You have every right to be angry."

You don't speak again until you get up to your rooms.

"I'm going to talk to Tony." you say, gesturing towards the kitchen.

"Okay. Let me know how it goes." Loki says.

"Why don't you come in?" you ask, referring to the common room. All of the others will be in there; you hate thinking of Loki in his room by himself.

He looks at you for a few seconds before replying, turning away from his door.

"Okay."