Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: When Loki doesn't want a certain device falling into Doom's hands, he does the only thing left possible: he joins the Avengers for this one time quest, but things get a bit out of hand.

AN: This will be a short story, just something to fill me time for a few days. I will update quickly and I hope it will be enjoyed. There are no pairings here. Oh! And the character of Adler is very loosely based on the 'Adler'-character from White Collar. Anyone watching that show?

Tides Change

Chapter 1

"We can't allow Doom to get his hands on that device," Fury said, "especially not as long as we don't know what it does exactly and the fact that Doom shows such an interest disturbs me. Tony, have you learned anything more?"

Tony Stark straightened his back and widened his eyes. He seemed to have been lost in thoughts for the last five minutes, but after clearing his throat, he managed to recollect himself. "I've done all the research, but nothing new. All I can say, is that the device requires a lot of energy. It's signature is very unique which is why I managed to track it to a certain Count Adler, but it has fallen off my radar ever since."

Fury frowned. "I have heard that name before."

"Everyone should have, though he is a difficult man to find. No one even knows what he looks like." Tony let his gaze slide across every present face. "He is active in the black market for magical devices. He is a known ally of Doom and Loki so we still have to consider the possibility that Loki might be interested in this device as well."

"I am."

Every pair of eyes turned to the new presence. Loki stood before a pair of closed doors, his hands folded behind his back and his face sporting a massive grin. "You have a terrible security problem."

Fury did not appear amused. "So it seems."

"I don't want Doom to get a hold of the device," Loki said, ignoring Fury, "and I'll do anything to help prevent that." He turned towards his brother and took a step forward. Natasha instantly reached for her gun while Clint conjured a knife out of nowhere. Loki diplomatically ignored them. "I am here to offer my assistance in acquiring the device from Count Adler."

Thor slowly stood up, his hands leaning on the smooth table surface while he maintained eye-contact with Loki. "If you do not want Doom to have the device, then why don't you buy it yourself? Or steal it yourself?"

Loki chuckled as if Thor's words were hilarious and foolish. "Count Adler and I have long been allies. I don't want to go against him that obviously. It would ruin any chance of future partnerships."

"This is all very..." Tony drew Loki's attention away from Thor, "interesting, but why do you assume that we want to accept your help? We are more than capable on our own."

"That is what you think," Loki merely stated, "but I know Adler and I know his weaknesses. He'll have the device under tight security. You'll need to get close to him to steal his key."

"Key?" Steve asked. "I don't think Adler would have a key to a safe or something along those lines."

"It's not a regular key," Loki explained while rolling his eyes, "it will unlock a safe, yes, but then you'll have to verify that you are in fact Adler. That's why you need to get close to him. You'll need his fingerprints and his eye-scan. Only then will you be able to access the vault and procure the location of the device."

"Why are you telling us this?" Fury demanded to know. "I can't imagine that you would just help us without a demand in return."

"Not this time," Loki smiled deviously, "I just want the device to stay out of Doom's hands."

"And in the mean time fall into yours?" Thor asked.

Loki shot him a dark glare. "I would give you my word, brother, but you no longer trust my words."

"You are the God of Lies," Steve stated.

"They should call you Captain Obvious," Loki mocked. He unlocked his hands and folded them again before his stomach. "Adler is having a party tonight and I happen to know that women are his weakness. Therefor I suggest that SHIELD buys Miss Romanoff a pretty dress and sends her undercover."

Natasha scoffed loudly. "I don't do dresses."

"Hold on," Fury said, "if your Intel proves to be correct, then this might just be our best shot."

"You can't be serious," Clint objected loudly, "we can't trust him!"

"Thank you," Loki grinned.

"I am not saying we are trusting him," Fury countered, his one eye focused dangerously on Clint. Then he turned to look at Loki. "If this is a trick, we will arrest you and throw you in our deepest dungeon without any way of escaping and you can be damn sure we have the means."

"Deal."

"All right," Fury said, turning to the Avengers, "Romanoff, I suggest you go shopping."

oOo

Thor kept his eyes constantly on his brother's face. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but all that he found was boredom. Loki looked like he could literally eat his own shirt as his bright green eyes were unfocused on the white fabric. Thor knew that Loki was constantly thinking about all sorts of subjects and he wished he knew his brother enough to know those subjects right now.

They weren't close anymore, however, and Thor regretted that. He still loved Loki, even after all the trouble they had been through. Family didn't end with blood and Thor wished Loki felt the same.

Now they were cooped up together in a small SHIELD van. It was parked down the street of Count Adler's mansion and Thor hoped they would remain unsuspicious. The last thing they wanted was one of Adler's security men to come knocking on their door., though Thor was sure Loki could solve that situation instantly.

"Is she inside?" Loki suddenly asked.

Thor had been deep in thought and he hadn't even noticed the shift in Loki's behavior. Loki leaned forward, but only slightly while his eyes were entirely focused on the small screen decorating the inside of the van.

"Yes."

Thor jumped at the sound of Coulson's voice. He had completely forgotten his presence and Thor tried his best to not growl at the man.

"Can you stay focused, Thor?" Loki's voice was drenched with mockery. "We have a task to fulfill here."

"I still don't understand why you are here," Thor said, ignoring his brother's comment, "you could have given us the information on Adler and left."

"But I didn't," Loki grinned, "I thought you might appreciate my company."

"Loki."

"I don't want you to screw this up, Thor," Loki instantly said, only truth in his voice, "this is important and no matter how much the world relies on you and your buddies, I don't. I don't trust anyone and I certainly don't trust you."

Thor could only look into Loki's eyes. He felt hurt by those words, but of course he couldn't show it. Weakness was something he had to avoid from now on. It would only aid Loki in his quest to fight him.

"They are in the ball room," Coulson announced, drawing back the brothers' attention, "now which one is Adler?"

Loki's gaze traveled across the screen, but it was difficult to get a full picture of the room, let alone of all the faces present. Natasha was wearing a small camera in her necklace while Tony accompanied her with a camera and wire in the pocket of his vest. They honestly looked like a decent couple and Thor was still amazed that both of them had agreed to the mission.

Thor remembered Tony mentioning a certain James Bond, but that name did not sound familiar to the God of Thunder. He made a mental note to himself to search that name on the internet, though he had grown afraid of that virtual place. He had once – how had Tony called it? - googled himself and the results had been terrifying.

"Wait!" Loki straightened his back and leaned closer to one of the small screens. "Tell her to turn left. I think I saw him."

Coulson spoke into a microphone while Thor forced himself to stay focused. He could already feel Loki's accusing eyes on his back and he was not in the mood for one of his speeches about incompetence.

"There." Loki pressed a finger on the screen, a small head floating just above his nail. Thor leaned in closer as well and saw a decent looking man wearing a very expensive suit. "That's Adler," Loki informed them, "tell Natasha to turn on her most charming smile. He isn't easy to seduce, but she should manage to get him alone in some dark room. She is pretty after all and Adler loves pretty women."

"I better not tell Natasha this," Coulson half joked, but he turned back to the microphone and gave orders to his agent.

It was then that Thor's eyes met Loki's. "See," the youngest brother said, "this isn't too difficult, is it? I don't know why we don't work more often together. We are a good team."

"Right until the moment you stab me in the back." Thor had said the words without much thought and he regretted them immediately. He watched Loki's eyes darken dangerously, but a thin smile spread across his pale lips.

"Only makes it more exiting," he said, "will I, won't I? I suppose you are going to have to wait and see."

"So you admit there is more to this?" Thor knew Coulson was listening intently to their every word, but he didn't care.

"I never said that," Loki easily waved off Thor's question, "let's focus on Natasha and Adler, shall we? It seems her charms are a bit rusty."

Thor knew what Loki was talking about when he witnessed Natasha smiling awkwardly on one of the screens. It seemed she and Tony had split up so that she could focus entirely on Adler, but the Count didn't appear impressed.

"She is handling him all wrong," Loki said, his voice filled with irritation, "she is boring him!"

"She's trying her best," Coulson defended her.

"She's pushing him away," Loki snapped, "she is dull. I thought she was one of your best agents so I'm deeply disappointed."

Thor had to admit that flirting was not Natasha's strong suit. Then again, she was the kind of woman that had other things on her mind than dresses and make-up. "Adler isn't the easiest man on this earth, Loki, you just said it yourself so give her a chance."

Loki bit down on his lower lip and painfully watched how Adler yawned. "That's it," he said, throwing both his hands into the air, "I can't bear to watch this any more. It's torture for both me and Adler."

Loki stood up and Coulson was up on his feet in no time. "Where do you think you are going? You're not allowed to leave this van. I am allowed to shoot you."

"I'm going to save the situation," Loki merely said, "please inform Natasha and Tony that they have to back off. You should be thankful that I'm here to help you out."

Thor didn't understand. "What exactly are you going to do?"

Loki only smiled deviously. "What I do best."

oOo

Tony had been holding a glass of 10 year old scotch when he first set eyes on the new appearance. She was tall and slender with a thin face and sharp cheekbones. Her lips were ruby red and her eyes radiantly green. The color matched her dress perfectly and Tony found himself unable to look away from her.

She was beautiful.

So thought every other man in the ballroom and Tony only managed to look away from her when Natasha poked him painfully with her elbow.

"You're drooling," she muttered in embarrassment. Had he not been on a mission, Tony would already be talking to her, but tonight was no night for such pleasantries. "Tony, we have to get out of here," Natasha continued, "this isn't working and I'm done smiling for today."

It was then that Tony heard Coulson's voice in his ear and he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Natasha," Tony said, his eyes still intent on the woman, "if Coulson isn't planning a massive episode of Punk'd with Ashton, then that woman...is Loki."

Natasha's mouth dropped open and Tony swore he saw contempt in her eyes. "Impossible," she concluded, "Loki is..."

"Tall, skinny, green eyes?" Tony draped an arm around Natasha's shoulders and gently lead her away from Loki who was already talking to Adler. "It's him and I can't believe I was turned on just a second ago. Talk about embarrassment. Coulson ordered us to keep an eye on him...her... What should we call Loki now?"

"How about 'tramp'?" Natasha smirked.

"Well, someone is jealous," Tony countered, smirking himself, "let's just keep close in case Loki is trying to pull something here."

"All right," Natasha nodded, "we better find them first."

"Find them? They are right there..."

"They were, yes," Natasha inhaled sharply, "you have to be a tramp if you manage to have a man follow you that quickly."

"Or Loki has some serious skills," Tony said, deep in thought.

"Ugh."

AN: interested in more?