Three Weeks Later

"Fury couldn't find anything for you to do, Thor?" you question as you enter the kitchen where Jane is teaching him how to cook a pizza. The rest of the team got assigned to an emergency group mission, besides Bruce who has locked himself in the lab.

"He said the other could handle it and he knows Jane was supposed to come here today," he replies until he notices Loki isn't with you. "Where is my brother?!"

"Relax." You laugh. "He's in the living room watching television."

"You are not supposed to leave him alone," Thor says, visibly irritable.

"He's fine, Thor. He hasn't broken any rules in these past couple of weeks and I think he can handle being alone for a minute."

Thor grins at your clear trust in the God of Mischief and goes back to putting pepperonis on top of the cheese pizza.

"Jane, how are you liking the tower?" you ask, peering around Thor's large form.

"It's incredible. Stark knows what he's doing," she says.

"That would be a first," Loki chimes in from the doorway in his usual clothing despite the rest of you wearing pajamas.

"Brother, are you going to change?" Thor questions as Jane takes the pizza and slides it in the oven.

"Of course not," Loki responds, ignoring the fact that Thor stills calls him 'brother' and sits on the stool next to you.

You notice how he could've sat at the one on the end, but he chose the one closest to yours. A smile tugs at your lips and your stomach does an involuntary flutter, then you stop yourself. There's no way you can be having feelings now.

Before you know it, the pizza is cooked and Thor and Jane head into the living room while you and Loki slowly follow after.

"You should change. That armor can't be comfortable," you say, stopping before you enter the living room.

"I think it is."

"Loki, Midgardians don't wear armor all day long. You're supposed to be getting into their customs, meaning sweatpants and t-shirts."

Loki groans and snaps his fingers to change into a pair of black sweatpants and a forest green t-shirt. He stomps off into the room muttering about 'stupid mewling quim' under his breath and you follow after him while snickering.

He sits at one end of the couch across from Thor and Jane and you sit with your back against one armrest and swing your feet up to sit in Loki's lap. You lock eyes and he narrows his, making you realize how much he wants to cut your feet off right now, but you ignore it and grab a slice of pizza.

"So, what's it like growing up in Asgard?" you ask, directing your question to Thor since you know Loki won't answer.

"It was very fun. We spent many hundreds of years learning new things of the different realms. But we have had our fair share of embarrassing experiences," he answers.

"Thor, do not even think about it," Loki growls.

Thor's booming laughter fills the area and he and Loki begin going back and forth sharing embarrassing stories from their lives. You and Jane are nearly hyperventilating from them trying to out-do each other until Jane has to leave because she has to get up early to leave for some type of lab testing on magnetic transmission.

"Please come back soon. Natasha and I need another girl with all the testosterone," you plead, giving her a quick hug.

"Will do. I know how hard it must be, especially with Loki around now," she replies as Thor and Loki exchange words in hushed voices.

"He's not that bad. Well, not anymore."

Thor and Loki then make their way over to the two of you and Thor leads Jane to the elevator, and as the doors close, you turn to Loki.

"I need to know, is it true you shapeshifted into a female horse and gave birth?"

Loki's eyes widen and he scoffs. "No, of course not. Where did you get that from?"

"A Norse Mythology book. That's what it says about you."

"Idiotic mortals always messing up our history," he comments.

"Mortals aren't that bad," you insist.

"Of course you would have a bias opinion."

"Why would you say that?"

"You're a mortal human," Loki points out in a 'duh' tone.

You chuckle and lean against the back of the couch. "Human, perhaps, but far from mortal."

"How so?" he asks while crossing his arms in a challenging stance.

"Magic up a knife for me," you say, putting your hand out.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

Loki sighs before waving a hand and making a sharp kitchen knife appear in your hand. You grip it before turning your arm with your palm facing the floor and gently slicing the skin across the top, creating a deep cut that immediately starts bleeding.

"What are you thinking?!" Loki asks with slight panic and rushes to help you but you stop him.

"Look." You motion to the skin as it quickly repairs itself without leaving a scar. You feel the ache of pain but you've experienced much worse before.

"You are..." Loki trails as the knife disappears and your remaining blood is absorbed in your skin.

"Immortal. It stills hurts like a normal injury, but on the outside, you see nothing. It's sort of like how a broken heart works. You can feel the emotions and pain, but no one can see it."

It's silent for a few moments before a question plagues Loki's mind. "Is this what you were talking about with the other a while ago? The way they treated you when you arrived at the tower, I mean."

"Oh, you heard that?" You chuckle, rubbing your neck. "After they rescued me, they treated me like a fragile piece of glass. I told them nothing can really hurt me, but they didn't listen because none of them know the extent that my mutation can go. It was infuriating."

"Was what you went through really that bad? I cannot see how something would make them act as such," he inquires.

"I'll tell you some other time," you promise.

"I understand." Loki then let's slip another question he's been wanting to ask. "Why is it that you have been so kind to me after all I have done?"

You smile and take a step toward him. "Before getting out of your cell, I only heard stories. I wanted to get to know you. The real you. I didn't want to start off your Avengers experience with thoughts of your evil history with Earth or Asgard. I wanted to understand your actions by your own mouth and I think you needed a fresh start more than anyone after what I heard. You needed a friend and that's what I wanted to be."

Loki's eyes soften and his mouth is slightly agape. Never in his life has he met someone so... incredible. One who does not judge others and waits to understand and to listen. When he had first seen you, he thought you were beautiful but doubted the beauty that was within. He sees now that there are no limits to how amazing you are and can become.

Before you can breathe another word, Loki tugs you toward him and connects your lips with his.