Loki found himself standing at Toni's bedroom door, listening to her soft sobs coming from the other side. Clint quietly padded over behind him and reached out for his shoulder.

"Loki? Is she okay? Can I help somehow?"

He shoved Clint's hand away. "You've done enough," he muttered with an irrittated tone. "I don't believe she needs anymore of your help."

Clint backed away with tears starting to form. "I understand," he mumbled. He turned around and stalked back to the kitchen.

Loki stepped forward and sighed before tapping on her door. "Antoinette?" he asked quietly. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah," she said, voice cracking.

He opened the door slowly and peeked inside before actually stepping into the dimly lit room. As he walked farther into her room, he noticed how much the surroundings had changed.

For one, all the knick-knacks she had neatly set up on her dresser had been pushed to the ground in a bout of, most likely, frustration or desperation. Secondly, the only light in the room came from the single lamp light on her bedside table and the glow of the full moon through the partially drawn curtains.

Finally, and seemingly most importantly, her lovely yellow dress hung limply and desperately off her desk.

"Loki?" she asked after a second or two of sniffling. "What are you doing here?"

The god looked over at the bed to see Toni peeking at him from over a large, fluffy pillow. "Despite your father's protests, I wanted to speak to you and see how you were fairing," he replied quietly as he approached her slowly.

Toni sniffled once more and wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. "Really? You came to check up on me?" she asked sincerely.

"Well," he started. "Yes. Yes I did."

She gave him a small smile as he sat down on her bed. "That's really nice of you. But it doesn't seem like your...style."

Loki chuckled. "No, definitely not. I agree. I just," he paused and looked away for a second. "I thought you would enjoy the company of someone who has no real ties to you."

Toni hugged the pillow closer, but moved a little closer to him. She looked up at him while most of her face was pressed to the fabric, eyes wide.

"You remind me of a kitten when you look at me like that," he said with a genuine smile.

She giggled into the pillow and closed her eyes as she smiled.

"I can actually turn into a kitten, if you'd like," he added.

"Get out!" she exclaimed. "You can actually do that?"

"Of course!" he replied eagerly. "I can transform into anything I want. That's the beauty of magic."

"Magic?" she asked.

Loki grinned at his new found friend as he transformed himself into an all black cat with dazzling green eyes.

Toni gasped in joy and shock at the sudden change. "You...you're...you're adorable!" she finally said.

The cat looked up at her, clearly amused. Then, slowly and with a sparkle of white light, the cat transformed back into the god of mischief himself.

"Now do you believe me?" he asked with a grin.

Toni giggled and nodded. "I don't think I really doubted you in the first place," she admitted. "It just seemed a bit far fetched."

Loki smiled at her and placed his hand on hers. "But far fetched is perhaps the best way to be."

The two of them sat in silence for a little while, just enjoying each other's presence. "Loki?" Toni started after a moment. "What do you think I should do about my...situation with Clint?"

"The archer? I don't see why you're asking," he said sarcasitcally. "You two are a perfect match."

"Maybe we are," she replied bluntly. "But with the way things have been going, I don't think it's healthy for either of us."

"What's been going on?" he asked, suddenly serious.

"I...I don't really want to get into specifics. It's things that I haven't been able to tell anyone."

"Including all your friends outside your bedroom?"

Toni nodded and sniffled as tears welled up in her eyes. "Including them. I don't know, Loki. What should I even do?"

"Well," he began. "I'm not an expert in these things, but I've been around long enough to understand how it all works. You see, people don't like it when they have no one to trust. I know you and the archer both need someone to look out for them." Loki paused and sighed.

"But you don't need to be the one to do the looking after. It obvious that whatever is bothering you is enough to steer you away from the people you love. Now, I'm not telling you to leave him. That's not what I'm saying at all, actually."

"Then what are you saying?" she asked.

Loki looked at her and could feel something stirring deep inside him. "I'm telling you to give him another chance," he said finally. "He is a well enough man and I believe that the two of you are well suited. But you can only give him this second chance if you feel it would benefit you both."

Toni smiled at Loki. "Not an expert, you say?"

Loki chuckled. "No, not at all."

She smiled at him and felt butterflies in her stomach. She crawled over the pillow and onto his lap where she hugged him close and nuzzled into the crook of his neck. "Thank you," she mumbled.

He smiled lightly and warmly and wrapped his arms around her. "Anytime, Antoinette."

****

"How's she doing?" Tony asked once Loki entered the kitchen after spending nearly half an hour in his daughter's bedroom. "Is she okay? Am I going to have to kill somebody?"

"She'll be fine, Tony," he said quietly. "She fell asleep. And I don't believe the killing is necessary."

"You sure about that?" he asked. "Because I think it would help me feel better, for sure."

"Man of Iron," Thor said from the dining room table. "I don't think killing the archer would help anyone in this situation."

"Thor's right," CJ replied. "He's on your team for a reason. If anything, you need a sniper for when you go to battle."

"Since when do you give team advice?" Tony asked accusingly.

"Since now, I guess."

Tony sighed and sat down at the table. "What should I do? CJ is right. I can't just kick him off the team and forbid them from seeing each other again."

Loki sat down next to his brother. "Perhaps all of this would be better thought through in the morning once we've all gotten some sleep."

"My brother is right," Thor added. "We will have our wits about us in the morning."

Tony nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Tomorrow, then." And with that, he stood and shuffled off to his bedroom. He walked in and closed the door behind him, only to see Steve standing next to his bed.

"Tony," he said quietly.

He nodded once. "Hey, Cap."

"Is everything okay? I heard the shouting."

"Not yet, but in the morning, we're going to figure something out." Tony walked over to his bed and sat down heavily.

Steve sat down next to him and put an arm around his shoulders. "I'll be here to help, Tony. I promise. I mean, I don't know what I can do, but I can try in anyway I can."

Tony smiled lightly and nuzzled into Steve. "Just be here, okay?"

Steve nodded. "Of course," he said as he kissed the top of Tony's head. "I'll always be here."