"I know you. How do I know you?"

Loki's eyes flickered between the gun and the man holding it. Eyebrow raised, he couldn't help but be relieved that it was him that went out to do the grocery shopping and not Darcy - despite that fact he knew it was her turn to do it, chore wheel be damned.

"Well," he began, hands held up in surrender, "My face was plastered on every news channel on TV after New York for a few months. I don't suppose that's what you're referring to?"

"No..." Bucky's - for that was who this man was, the metal arm being a dead giveaway - eyebrows furrowed, trying to remember something. "You were on their list. Hydra wanted you dead."

"A lot of people want me dead," Loki replied drily. "Most of them much more dangerous than Hydra could ever hope to be."

Bucky continued to stare him down, and Loki wondered what he was supposed to do. He briefly contemplated simply knocking the other man out and then carrying him back to the tower, before pushing the thought aside. If he did that, he'd have to leave the groceries on the ground, and then come back for them.

He'd rather the man walk on his own to the tower.

Then again, he could just teleport them there...

"Rogers has been looking for you. Mr. Wilson, as well." Loki eyed the man as he tensed.

Bucky shook his head vigorously, eyebrows (impossibly) furrowing even more. "No. They're looking for Bucky Barnes. I'm not him anymore. Or not yet. I don't know."

Okay, now Loki really had no idea what to say. 'Not-Bucky' continued to stand there, trembling slightly. Loki sighed, then said as softly as he was able, "No matter. The Captain will still welcome you back with open arms."

And maybe an open bed, Loki mused, unless he was reading their relationship entirely wrong.

"I'm not... I can't..."

Sighing again - because, really, he was not qualified to help out lost and confused ex-Hydra assassins at all - Loki dug into one of the grocery bags, fishing something out. Walking closer to Barnes cautiously, he held out his hand. The assassin stared at him, before slowly taking the proffered item.

As Barnes stared blankly at the chocolate bar in his hand, Loki began to walk away. Pausing at the mouth of the alley they'd been conversing in, he spoke.

"Feel free to come and find me should you find yourself wanting more chocolate." It was a not-so-subtle offer to talk again, and Loki was sure the other man understood.

When he and Thor were younger, their mother warned them against feeding the many creatures in Asgard, lest they return for more and never leave. And while Barnes may not have been an animal, he hoped the principle still applied.

AN: No Darcy, but there is domestic!Loki, so... Whatever. Also, Bucky. Stucky is mentioned, but that's just Loki's take on their relationship. And my take. However, it will not be confirmed in this fic because there won't really be time. There's probably only about twenty or so chapters left, by my estimate.

And another thing, I mentioned that there would be no actual plot because I lost the outline and chapters, but I found the last one - as in, the very last chapter of this story. Fun fact: it was also the very first chapter I wrote. Anyway, so I found it, and now I'm just trying to find a way to fit the once fifteen-ish chapter plot into two or three. I mean, I could just take it out completely, but that last chapter explains the summary, and I really want it to be here. Eh, I'll make it work.