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MELANIE looked over the dessert with a pout, tossing the knife in the sink with an angry grunt.

Stupid plum pudding.

Stupid multiple days to make.

Stupid recipes.

Stupid plums.

"What'd the sink do to you?"

Melanie looked up, face softening when Natasha took a seat at the barstool over the counter.

"It was there," Melanie pouted a bit, leaning over the counter and pushing the ruined dessert aside. "I can't do this stupid pudding. It was Lucy's favorite and I never mastered it."

Natasha's head tilted a fraction. "Lucy was the woman who took you in?"

Melanie nodded. "Sort of," she nodded. "My grandpa raised me, but he was working all the time growing up. He was paying my mom's medical bills even after her death, pretty much until I graduated."

Natasha shook her head, eyes sympathetic. "I'm sorry," she frowned. "That's terrible."

Melanie shrugged. "It's okay, it was hard on us but...we got through it. Lucy taught me that everything happens for a reason."

"You believe that?" Natasha asked gently, eyes searching Melanie's.

Melanie shrugged. "I have to," she grabbed a fork and took a bite of the plum pudding, then spat it into a napkin. "Oh, man, that is terrible!"

Natasha laughed at her expression, shaking her head. "I'll take it since your dessert failed — you might be hungry?"

Melanie's eyebrows furrowed together. "It's almost one in the morning," she remarked. "Where are we s'posed to go?"

Natasha stood and gestured for Melanie to come around the counter. Tentatively, Melanie walked out and took Natasha's outstretched hand.

Sparks pulsed up Melanie's hand, and she blushed at the impact. Spurred on by her blush, Natasha stopped her from walking, spinning her a bit to face her.

"Look at you," she moved her hand to Melanie's face, tilting her chin up a bit. "This blush for me?"

Melanie nodded breathlessly, heart thudding against her chest at Natasha's words and touch.

"Yes," she replied softly.

"Good," Natasha smirked a bit, squeezing her hand before dropping the one from Melanie's face. "There's a great dessert place five blocks down, you okay with a walk?"

Melanie nodded immediately. "Yes."

"Good girl," Natasha pulled Melanie from the dining room, leading her to the front door, grabbing Melanie's boots from the door. "On," she told the blonde, "do you need a coat?"

Melanie thought for a moment, and during her thought, Natasha slipped off her hoodie, handing it to her. "Here, wear mine."

Melanie nodded, zipping her boots on over her leggings and then zipping up the hoodie. "Where are we going?"

"Ever had an ice cream donut?"

Melanie's eyes lit up as Natasha closed the door, asking JARVIS to call her if anything happened.

(Melanie liked JARVIS, the artificial intelligence Tony Stark created to monitor daily activities and ensure securities. JARVIS had a great taste in music and laughed at Melanie's jokes when no one was home.)

Stuffing her hands in Natasha's pockets, the wind nipped at her hair and Melanie smiled into the hoodie, breathing in Natasha's scent. An overwhelming scent of smoke and gunpowder hit Melanie's senses, and she was briefly reminded of the fact that Natasha smoked cigarettes when she was stressed.

But faintly, there was something softer in the hoodie. Rose or cherry or strawberry; something sweet and tangible, but overwhelmingly pretty.

If that didn't sum up her soulmate, Melanie didn't really know what did. Smoky and strong with hints of soft sweetness.

"What's got you smiling over there, Mel?"

Melanie shrugged, looking to Natasha as they walked down the darkened streets of New York City.

"Nothing."

"Keep your secrets, милый," Natasha smirked over at her. "You're cute either way."

Melanie bit her lip to hide the smile tugging at her cheeks. "Sooooo," Melanie cleared her throat, attempting to change the subject. "Tell me about yourself."

Natasha's smirk fell a bit, gaze looking over Melanie's face.

"I'm a spy, sweetheart," she reminded Melanie. "I can't tell you everything."

"What can you tell me?" Melanie asked.

Natasha was quiet for a moment. "My favorite color is green," she offered softly. "I prefer cats to dogs, I don't like kissing men, my favorite band is Queen, vodka's my drink, and...I'm from Russia. I had a sister once."

Melanie met her gaze, spotting the hesitation there. She offered a soft smile at the bits of information she wouldn't normally offer anyone else.

"I had a brother," Melanie confessed quietly. "I don't know if I have a file because you're all Avengers and super paranoid, so you might have read it but...he was abducted by aliens when I was five."

Natasha nodded, taking a right and Melanie walked alongside her carefully. "I didn't look at your file," she told Melanie. "I...wanted to know you as you let me know you. I learn about everyone else through papers and files and opinions of others. I didn't want that with you."

Melanie smiled softly at her words.

"I don't know anything about anyone," she admitted, "unless they tell me otherwise."

"Doesn't that frighten you?" Natasha asked, opening the door to a small business for Melanie. A lone teenager sat behind the counter, scrolling on her phone. "To only know what a person offers rather than who they are."

Melanie thought for a moment, reading over the menu and examining the small restaurant filled with blues and pinks and patched tablecloths.

It's not a place she would have thought Natasha would enjoy.

And, yet, she'd taken her there.

"I find that if you seek the best in someone and believe they can reach it, they often strive to do just that."

Natasha moved a hand to Melanie's back and rubbed it up and down softly before nodding to the menu. "What're you thinking, sweetheart?"

"Ooh!" Melanie squealed, pointing to the picture drawn and captioned in pink and yellow chalk. "The strawberry shortcake donut. With strawberry ice cream."

Natasha smiled, relaying the order to the cashier. "And I'll have the raspberry lemon donut."

That's exactly what Melanie would have picked for Natasha. Sweet and tart, bitter and flavorful.

Natasha quickly paid and stood back, reaching her hand into Melanie's pocket and pulling her hand out. "What's this?" She asked curiously, finger trailing over a scar on her pointer finger.

"Oh," Melanie smiled in memory, "I was eleven. Cut myself on an onion, the bone was showing and everything. It was stitched up but left the scar."

Natasha smiled down at the scar, then interlocked their fingers. "This okay?" She asked quietly, standing a bit closer to the blonde. "Holding your hand in public?"

Melanie looked at her, startled. "Of course," she nodded. "I didn't expect you to be into PDA."

"I'm not," Natasha shook her head. "But I like touching you." A small smile toyed at her lips. "You're sweet. I like to be reminded that one day...you'll be more than just my soulmate."

Melanie looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I'm a very patient person, but I'm not very good at restraining myself from things I want," Natasha told her. "When you're ready, I'll give you everything."

Melanie's eyes flickered over Natasha's face. "Why?" She asked softly. "We've only known each other for two weeks."

Natasha was quiet for a long time, thanking the cashier when their desserts were ready, handing Melanie's to her. "Walk with me?" She asked, and at Melanie's nod, the pair left the restaurant to eat and talk.

Melanie didn't expect Natasha to answer her question, but halfway through the donut and a mile from Central Park, she did.

"I've never had someone to...hold onto," she spoke quietly, looking away from Melanie. "I lost my sister when I was very young. We were separated and I...was sent to this place, I...it's a lot to get into, and I'll need more than an ice cream donut to talk about it."

Melanie smiled half-heartedly at her joke.

"I like you, Melanie," she confessed softly. "You're innocent. Gentle. And you are...just cute. You're the cutest person I've ever met."

"Oh," Melanie blushed, taking another bite of her donut. "Thanks."

Natasha laughed softly. "Tell me if I'm too forward, okay? I know it's soon and I don't want to rush anything. You'll have forever with me, if you want it."

Melanie did want that.

Or — she thought she could want it.

"I should tell you, though," she spoke up hesitantly, green eyes flashing in her mind's eye. "I think Loki's another one of my soulmates. As far as I know, it's just you two, but...I thought you should know that."

Natasha nodded, face blank as she took the information in. Then she tossed the donut in a nearby trashcan and took Melanie's free hand.

"As long as I can be your first kiss."

Melanie looked at her in surprise. "How'd you know?"

Natasha pulled Melanie closer, grabbing her wrapper and tossing it in the bin, circling the hand in hers around her waist.

"Messy," she chastised, wiping icing from the corner of Melanie's lips. "And it's obvious."

"Is it?"

Natasha nodded, her hand moving to cup Melanie's face. "I can fix that," she offered, her words hanging in the thin line of rope pulling Melanie's face closer to hers. "If you'd like."

Melanie wished she could respond in some equally flirty, witty fashion.

But all she could do was nod.

The smile on Natasha's face made Mel's heart stop.

And then she was breathing in smoke, smelling cherries and roses and tasting raspberries. Her hand was soft, three cold rings brushing against Melanie's cheek, and Natasha's red fingernails lightly grazed Mel's hairline.

Her breath left her mouth and entered Natasha's, the nerves stopping her for a moment, halting her movements, before the tenderness of Natasha's lips on hers pulled her closer.

Melanie's hand found the back of Natasha's head, curling into her red locks, pulling her closer. Their lips moved together in tandem, soft, breathless, sweet, tender, effortless.

Because that's what it was with Natasha.

The quick pacing in their connection, the soft smiles and gentle touches.

Being with Natasha was effortless.

Kissing her was, too.

Sensual and beautiful and romantic.

Like the rest of her, Natasha's hands were holding Melanie tight, a rough grip, but her lips were soft. Her heart was soft. Her love was soft.

Melanie hoped Natasha would kiss her like this forever.

—

The next morning found Melanie grinning into her pillow, an ever-present blush from the night before.

She and Natasha hadn't done anything more than kiss. Hand in hand, they walked around Central Park for an hour, before making their way back to the tower, and Natasha kissed Melanie so gently at her bedroom door that her knees buckled.

Toothbrush hanging out of her mouth, Melanie left her bedroom in search of Bruce, who promised to return her copy of Dune, and upon opening her door stopped.

Eyes wide and offering a small, shy wave, Melanie spotted Loki across from her, standing outside his bedroom. His eyes narrowed on her appearance, and he grimaced, before walking back into his room and closing the door.

Great.

Melanie sighed, retreating to her bathroom and finishing getting ready, feeling significantly smaller than she had before.

Thoughts of Bruce drifted from her mind as she left her room again, braiding her hair and slowing to a stop outside of Loki's room. Nibbling her lip, Melanie hesitated, unsure if she should approach him.

She knew he was her soulmate, and he knew she was his soulmate, but they hadn't exchanged a single word. Only two looks that made her simultaneously terrified and excited.

The door opened as she tied her braid, and her breath hitched at his face.

A quirked eyebrow, cold look in his eyes, Asgardian leather. He wasn't wearing anything formal, but his clothes were not from Earth. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

"Hi," Melanie smiled nervously. "I'm — I'm Melanie. People call me Mel. I just — I mean, we both know what I am and what you are and— "

"—You are a pathetic, weak little human. I'm a god. We have nothing further to discuss."

Melanie liked his voice. He had an accent and a smirk toyed at his lips whenever he spoke. But his words were harsh, and she frowned.

"I'm also your soulmate," she pointed out. "And there's no reason for you to be rude."

"Soulmates are a pathetic notion," he snapped, taking a step forward. He towered over her small frame. "A weakness. A cruel bias created by the fates to mock those with power and diminish their true destinies."

Melanie blinked. "That's a lot of words dismissing something that's a part of you."

"You'll never be a part of me," he scowled down at her. "You're small and insignificant. I don't want anything to do with you—"

"—Right, because you're so productive holed up in your room doing nothing—"

"—How dare you—"

"—Listen, I've dealt with a lot worse than you," Melanie snapped. "When I was nine, three eighth graders held my head down in the pond outside of my elementary school and I lost consciousness and had to go to the hospital. And that wasn't even the worst thing. So, you and your big mean eyes are not scary to me."

Loki blinked. "I don't have time for this." He scoffed and moved back, closing the door.

Melanie stared at the door for a moment, before shaking her head in disbelief.

"Because you're so busy in your room doing nothing," Melanie remarked to the door sarcastically. Scoffing, she turned down the hallway and walked downstairs.

Feeling significantly worse than before.

—

TRANSLATIONS:
милый - cutie

short and sweet describes this story i think. how's everyone like nat and mel?? they're so cute and ofc loki has to be loki smh. this is so 2012 avengers fanficton and it makes me so happy.
anyways thank you guys smmmm for all the love on it!