Loki tapped his foot, twisting his familiar green cape in his hands. He was nervous, understandably so. He was boarded Tony's private jet, on his way to his first battle as an Avenger. His eyes darted from teammate to teammate. They all seemed relatively calm, chatting as if this was something they did every day, on the other hand they kind of did.
"Calm down, Loki." Tony smiled, taking the god's hand in his own "There is nothing to be nervous about. You are a warrior; we all know that all too well."
Loki looked at him, hating that tears welled in his eyes "Perhaps the earth shield does not permit me to assist. Perhaps the Midgardians still do not trust me."
"Then that's why it's important for you to fight, Lokster." Bruce soothed, reaching over and patting the god's shoulder "You show them they can trust you."
"You will do brilliant, brother." Thor grinned "I know better than anyone that you are a skilled fighter. You shall serve us well."
Loki nodded, grateful for the people he had found, grateful for the safety net he had been permitted. "Do we know who we are fighting?" He asked, suddenly realizing that he had no idea what to expect.
"Not a clue." Natasha said, looking over her shoulder from the pilot seat "Fury just said to come to the new S.H.I.E.L.D base as quickly as possible."
He nodded "Sounds vital."
"Oh my god." Natasha gasped, causing the team to shoot up and run to her side. Out of the window, in the heart of the New Mexican desert, were building covered in ice. Even from their current altitude, they saw the obvious blue figures marring the landscape.
"Frost giants." Loki breathed, suddenly light-headed and feeling very claustrophobic.
"This makes no sense." Thor said, staring down with wide eyes "The Jotun have no quarrel with Midgard."
"Loki, how hard is it to kill a frost giant?" Steve asked
"Let's put it this way, it takes one Loki to take down one hundred frost giants, but it takes one Hulk to take down a Loki." He allowed a shining grin to erupt on his face, which spread to the rest of the team.
"Let us hope your statistics are correct, brother." Thor said
"We're about to find out." Clint replied, snapping open his bow as Natasha landed the plane in the midst of battle.
"Are we ready, Avengers?" Steve shouted, captain mode on. "Tony, Bruce, Natasha, Clint, Thor… Loki?" His words were met with a battle cry befitting of soldiers and princes. He felt something close to nostalgia and pride in his chest as Natasha lowered the hatch and they charged out, Tony flicking his wrists and calling the armor, Bruce graciously waiting to fully exit the vehicle before getting angry.
"Do not let them touch you!" Loki cried as they charged into battle. The team nodded in his direction before engaging themselves in the fight.
The team learned quickly that, while frost giants are not all that difficult to kill, there are many of them. And there were many, many of them.
"It is as it was, those years ago, brother." Thor said, back to back with Loki, fighting off a circle of Frost giants.
"Yes," Loki paused as he ducked to allow Thor to smash a Giant that had been close to grabbing him "except, this time, we have a better reason to fight."
"This time, the outcome will be better." Thor grinned, dodging a frost giant and allowing Loki to spear it with his staff.
"It is good to fight with you once more, brother." Loki smiled, releasing a blast of green and disintegrating a line of blue terrors.
"It is good indeed!" Thor laughed as Loki patted his shoulder before rushing through the path he had made and disappearing into the masses "It is good indeed." He repeated, spinning his hammer until he had enough momentum to fly up and over the giants.

---

"How goes it?" Tony asked, taking a break from his thrusters and landing beside Loki, who was pulling his staff from a frost giant's neck.
"It's going well." Loki grinned, basting away a giant who was charging behind Tony. "And you?"
"Oh, you know." Tony chuckled as he shot at a few giants leaping towards Loki "same old, same old"
"Glad to hear it." Loki laughed, a sound Tony would never get used to hearing.
"They're persistent little bastards." Tony said
"They are stubborn, irrational, brutish and stupid." Loki huffed, plunging his staff into a blue stomach "Some days am I very grateful that Odin spared me from such an upbringing."
"Me too." Tony grinned, retracting his mask and pulling Loki in for a quick kiss, basting a giant away in the process. "Don't get yourself killed now, I expect you to be ready to move into my room tonight."
"Fear not, love." Loki purred, slicing off a giant's head "I will be ready."
Tony blushed at the sentimentality as Loki pounced on an impressively large frost giant. He let out a chuckle before activating his rested thrusters again.

---

The battle was in full swing now, and though the floor was littered with giants, their enemies ranks never diminished. They would be lying if they said they had not been enjoying themselves, though. They always seemed to find a way to drop by and converse with a teammate, aiding them before rushing off into a fresh farce. It was refreshing, at least to Loki, to fight alongside teammates once more. He had thoroughly enjoyed the shocked looks S.H.I.E.L.D workers gave him whenever he dropped in to save them from certain death. He had especially enjoyed when he had rushed in to slice off the head of a particularly fierce frost giant that had nearly plowed into Directory Fury.
"Good evening, Nicholas Fury." Loki grinned, raising his arms and summoning five more Loki's which each took out several giants before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Good evening, Loki." Fury sighed, preferring niceties over thanks, even though he noticed the open mouthed gapes of several S.H.I.E.L.D workers. "What do you make of this?"
"Not sure yet," Loki sighed, getting back to back with the one-eyed man "they should have no reason to attack Midgard, unless there is something you have not been telling us."
"I can assure you, we are not stupid enough to instigate intergalactic war." Fury said, shooting several giants as he spoke.
"Then I have no idea." Loki said "I must say, those small weapons pack a punch." He mused as he watched Fury; once again, take out a few giants with his pistol.
"Affective against monsters," Fury said, shooting an oncoming giant behind Loki "not so much against gods."
Loki faltered, he felt like his chest had just burst. Fury, who had been so very adamant on ensuring Loki that he would never be wanted and was a monster, had just stated quite the opposite. Fury was fighting with Loki, defending Loki, joking with Loki, when before he wanted nothing more than to have Loki's head mounted on his wall.
"For god's sake, Loki." Fury barked, shooting another charging giant "Head in the game!"
"Right!" Loki said, basting away a crowd of enclosing giants. "Still want that shovel back?"
"I thought sentimentality was a weakness." Fury said, more of a statement than a question.
"I have been wrong before." Loki smiled, conjuring another few Loki's "I find this to be a very good thing to be wrong about."
"I'm just glad you're on our side." Fury said "Let's keep it that way."
"That's how I like it" Loki grinned, causing several more S.H.I.E.L.D workers to go slack-jawed
"You're going to have to wear a mask or something when you fight." Fury chuckled, something that surprised Loki as much as it surprised Fury to see Loki grinning. "Or else you might just distract my workers to death."
"Top of my to-do-list" Loki laughed, stabbing a charging giant.

---

"Fall back!" Fury yelled, blood gushing down his arm, panic filling his chest. "Gather together!" they were losing ground and losing fast, they had killed thousands upon thousands of those blue bastards, but they just kept coming.
"Sir, we've lost a lot of men." Agent Hill panted, holding her bleeding side.
"What are we supposed to do?" Steve asked, worry clouding his blue eyes.
"Hulk smash more?" Hulk grunted
"Wait, Hulk, wait for smash." Tony said, landing beside the group.
"How are you doing, Tony?" Clint asked, leaping from his perch beside them
"Twenty percent power remaining." Tony sighed, Thor had already shot him full of lightening to reboot him, but he didn't know how much more his suit could stand.
"Our ranks have fallen, yet they do not diminish." Thor panted; sweat gleaming on his brow, cape torn.
"It is as it was when we waged battle against them, brother." Loki panted, teleporting beside them "except, this time, there is no Heimdall for me to have pre-warned, there is no father to save us." Thor looked sadly at his brother; Loki was gleaming with sweat, his cape torn and his helmet askew. Loki was exhausted; he had only been up to par for a day and had over-exerted himself. "Perhaps, it is time to be diplomatic."
"We have been fighting for hours, Loki." Fury sighed "We cannot suddenly decide to be diplomatic."
"Or, perhaps we can." Thor said, looking at his brother with wide eyes "Loki, you do not think…"
"They will not be diplomatic with Midgardians, nor Asgardians for that matter." Loki sighed "But perhaps they will be diplomatic towards one of their own."
"Loki…" Tony said, relinquishing his mask and staring at his god.
"I am royalty, after all." Loki smiled, kissing Tony "I will be fine."
"I don't understand, sir." Hill said "Are we seriously going to allow Loki, a war criminal, to appease our enemies? He's Asgardian, just like he said, they won't listen."
"Ah, but my dear woman," Loki smiled, looking over his shoulder as he pulled off his helmet. "I am no Asgardian." He dropped his spear and pulled off his breastplate, welcoming the breath of air. He looked over to see Thor's nervous expression, he laughed and grabbed the larger god's neck, their sign off affection since childhood "I will be fine, brother, tonight, we shall celebrate as only princes of Asgard know how."
"You are a rightful king of Asgard, Loki." Thor choked
"I think Odinson is more befitting a name for our father's throne." Loki winked, smiling as he turned towards the hoard of awaiting frost giants. He was surprised as a feeling he had not had in many years washed over him, the blessing of Odin. He could've laughed, Odin was smiling down on him.
"You have always been my son." A deep, warm voice that sounded like childhood soothed Loki's mind as he took his first step towards the enemy "You were not a play thing for Thor, you were not a peace-offering for Laufey, you are my son." Loki could hear the tears in Odin's voice as he spoke to him "You are my son and I have loved you every second of it."
"Even when I defied you? Even when I sent you into the Odinsleep?" Loki asked aloud "Even when I did so much wrong?"
"I have loved you through all, Loki."
"As have I." Loki smiled, feeling the refreshing cool of his skin turning to the frosted blue. He blinked his eyes and knew they were as red as blood. He watched as silence fell over the frost giants, watched their eyes lock on him.
"Who are you?" One giant asked, his voice deep and rough. "You are too small to be Jotun."
"I am Loki, son of Laufey!" He said, voice clear and loud for all to hear. "Look upon me, see if any dare to question me!"
The frost giant glared at him, but his eyes soon opened wide "He speaks the truth." The words were met with a general uproar.
"Where is your king?" Loki asked "Allow me to speak with him."
"I am He." The frost giant said, kneeling and the others following suite. "My king, do you recall your throne?"
"No, no, fear not for your crown, it is yours to have." Loki smiled "What is your name?"
"I am known as Turin." The giant said
"Then, Turin, you have my blessings, I trust you to be a worthy king." Loki smiled "But I implore you, why have you waged war with Midgard? With my allies?"
"Forgive us, my lord." Turin pleaded "We knew not of your alliance, our actions are not our own."
Loki quirked a blue eyebrow, confusion churning his stomach "Not your own?" Loki asked "Do you mean to tell me that you were sent here? Who has the ability to distill fear in the Jotun? You all have never been able to be intimidated into alliances before."
"Not intimidated, my lord." Turin said "It was brought to our knowledge that Midgard had recently raised its defenses, used the power of the tesaract even. It was made obvious to us that Midgard was preparing for battle with other worlds as they never have before. We were implored to annihilate the problem before it grew, you of all people should understand that, or perhaps your 'brother'."
"I suggest you not speak ill of Thor, to speak ill of Thor is to speak ill of me." Loki frowned, realizing the boundaries that needed to be set
"Yes, I simply meant to answer your question."
"I understand," Loki nodded "now, tell me, who led you to believe such lies."
"They were obviously not lies!" Turin barked, causing Loki to conjure the green energy to his palms, ready for an attack "Forgive me, my lord." Turin said, returning his eyes to the ground "But look around you, my men lay in troves. The Midgardians have not only produced weapons capable of killing my men, but have acquired powerful allies as well."
"I understand your concern." Loki said, recalling his already depleting magic "But, understand that Midgard has no desire to wage war, this is a peaceful realm, whose weapons are purely defensive. Had you come under diplomatic reason many lives would have been spared on both sides. The Midgardians do not wish to wage pointless war. Now, tell me who planted these ridiculous thoughts in such a strong-willed people?"
"It was the one called Thanos, he has no realm, but he has many followers."
"I know of Thanos." Loki said, gritting his teeth "He is a liar and a barbaric fool, do not take his words as truth for they are only for his benefit."
"Say you speak the truth." Turin said, voice wary "How are we to be certain?"
"Leave, take your fallen and go, you will not be stopped." Loki said "If one shot is fired at you or any of your people, then by all means, return and wipe out Midgard in its entirety."
Slowly, very slowly, Turin nodded "Very well. May I be permitted to speak with the king of the Midgardians?"
Loki laughed, causing Turin and several other frost giants to look up "The Midgardians have no king. The Midgardians are a race of free people, the best I can offer you is to speak with the Midgardian shield defender."
"I suppose that will do." Turin nodded
"Director," Loki smiled over his shoulder at the baffled group "if you please."
"Right." Fury nodded, walking over towards Loki.
"Rise, Turin, King of the Jotun." Loki grinned as Fury walked up beside him. Turin rose, standing two head taller than Fury.
"Midgardian shield defender," Turin nodded, staring at Fury "What is your name?"
"I'm Director Fury." Fury said, unsure.
"Director of Fury," Turin said "it is not custom of Jotun to apologize."
"Yeah, we figure that out with your lord over here." Fury said, jutting a thumb towards a grinning Loki.
"But…" Turin said "I find it only fitting to apologize. We were quick to assume, something we had prided ourselves in not doing, for that I am sorry."
"Be that as it may," Fury said, unaccustomed to his enemies apologizing "Midgard has established an alliance with Asgard and Loki, I find it in our best interest to establish one with our realms."
Turin looked at him, the slow gears turning in his slow mind "Yes, I understand your point. Very well, Director of Fury, the Jotun shall not attack Midgard unless Midgard attacks Jötunheim. The Jotun will aid Midgard if Midgard is at war, in exchange for the same."
"We will do our best." Fury said, unsure as of how they would exactly aid Jötunheim in the chance of war, but was in no position to refuse.
"Very well." Turin smiled, an ugly display, but welcomed all the same. "In that case, I pray we will not see each other again." It was a joke, a surprisingly clever one at that. "And Lord Laufeyson, we wish you the best."
"I pray for your safety and wellbeing, Turin, King of Jötunheim."

---

"I am so hot for you right now." Tony growled in Loki's ear, sitting on his lap despite the fact that they were sitting at the meeting table in the S.H.I.E.L.D base. "I swear to Odin you are the sexiest man I've ever seen."
"Stark, do you have to do this right now?" Fury grumbled, with little genuine annoyance in his voice as he sat at the glass table, the rest of the team and several agents following close behind.
"You're just jealous because you can't have him." Tony smirked as he watched Fury roll his one eye. "Besides, we're out of seats." Technically it was true, no empty seats remained once everyone was seated "So unless you want me on your lap, I suggest you don't complain."
"Fine." Fury rubbed his temples "So, besides Tony still being an idiot and a whole lot of blood to pressure wash off the outside, today went amazing." He looked up and shot Loki a real smile "And it's all thanks to our favorite war criminal." Loki laughed as his team cheered, agents smiled and Tony wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Thank you." Loki smiled, a blush on his cheeks
"I think we can all agree that Loki is now an Avenger, right?" Steve asked the group.
"What other choice to we have?" Fury asked, a smirk on his lips "If I say no, I think Tony might piss himself."
"Hey now, Cyclops, give me a little respect." Tony said, quieted when Fury shot him a look that he had only seen a few times as a child, it was a look Fury had given him when his father had chastised him and Fury would silently tell him to wait until Stark was gone. Then Fury would pat him on the back and wipe the burning tears away and tell him that he had done a fine job.

---

"Meeting dismissed," Fury said after several minutes of debriefing "Stark you stay." Fury had a believable chill to his voice that would've convinced anyone.
"Is this about how you thought I was sucking Loki's neck?" Tony whined just as convincingly "Because I wasn't, I was sleeping, I swear it!"
The team laughed as they exited, Loki lifted Tony off of him and set him back in the chair. "We'll be waiting in the flying machine." Loki smiled, kissing Tony's nose, not caring that Fury remained "I love you, my Man of Iron."
Tony blushed, wanting for all the world to wrap Loki in his arms and never let go "I love you too." Tony smiled, watching as Loki walked from the room, his tattered cape flowing behind him. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Tony asked after he was sure Loki and the others were out of hearing range.
"God dammit, Stark." Fury laughed, rubbing his temples "You are a piece of work, you know that?"
Tony laughed, he loved it when Fury smiled at him, it happened so rarely now.
"I'm happy for you." Fury nodded towards the door Loki had just exited "Honest to god, I was worried there at the beginning… but… you were right, he's really something."
"Yeah." Tony smiled, wanting so desperately to run to the jet and tackle Loki. "Who would've thought, huh?" Fury shook his head and slumped in a seat "That now, Loki would be fighting with us, being diplomatic for us? He ended a war for us today, what is the world coming to?" Fury laughed "War criminals fighting for us, I can't keep it all straight in my head."
"Yeah," Tony nodded "you just have no idea, Nick." Tony shook his head "You didn't see the way they had beat him down. I've never seen anyone so broken, so alone, besides maybe in a mirror. It's scary, it really is, just how much of me I see in him."
"I'm happy for you, Tony, I really am. I haven't seen you so happy in long time, maybe ever." Fury patted his shoulder "That's the first time I've heard you say that…"
"Say what?" Tony asked, his eyebrows furrowed
"That's the first time I've ever heard you say 'I love you'." Fury said "Not to your old man, not to Ms. Potts, which by the way, call her, she needs it."
Tony stood and smiled at Fury "Don't worry, I've got a good thing here, a really good thing." He patted Fury's shoulder "I'll fix things with Pep, I'll fix it." He chuckled as he walked towards the exit "I expect the same old Cyclops next time we see each other, right?"
"Don't expect anything different, Stark." Fury said
Tony laughed "Good" he smiled before rushing out, to the jet, to his team, to Loki.

Notes