How Loki Met Hawk
Chapter 1

It had not been the best day for Loki. After having a big fight with Thor because of having humiliated him in sparring with Sif and The Warriors Three, he definitely felt awfully pissed. Not even reading was working on controlling his anger. So he decided to travel up the realms to get distracted. Jotunheim was not an option, he thought. Neither Vanaheim or Alfheim. But what about Midgard? He decided that even though Midgard was quite scandalous sometimes, it was the best choice. But he could not risk anyone knowing where he was going if he asked to use the bifrost. That is how he ended muttering a recently learned spell in his room, teleporting himself to Earth.

~ O ~

After a full show, Clint went to sit outside the circus tent to look up at the night sky. Since he and his brother, Barney, had ran away from the children's home they we're sent to, they had became members of the Carson Carnival of Traveling Wonders. They we're always on the run, traveling all Europe giving performances. However, the shows we're always tiring, and he needed a break sometimes. That is how he ended sneaking out to the back of the tent and outside to stare at the stars for a while.

~ O ~

A thin, green and blue tornado left Loki on Earth. He began to walk aimlessly, his mind far away in it's own thoughts. He must've been walking for hours, for he didn't noticed when a voice spoke to him. "If you're here for the show… you missed it." His cloud of though disappeared and he looked down at the boy who had spoke. "What?… Which show is this you talk about mortal?"

Clint was looking at him with a raised eyebrow and a confused expression. Who did this guy thought he was? "The Circus… Mortal? Really? Well whatever you say, jolly green giant." He stood up and looked at the strange boy with mysterious green eyes. Loki crossed his arms, clearly not amused by the comment. "I am not a giant. And what is this 'Circus', as you so call it?"

"Never heard of a circus? You aren't from around here are you?"

"No, I come from…" He hesitated. "..well, far away."

"You've never heard of a circus? Like ever?" Clint's eyes where wide open now.

"Um, no… what is wrong with that?" Loki raised an eyebrow slightly confused. The excitement in Clint's voice was very obvious. "Circuses are the best thing ever! Stop by tomorrow at noon and you'll get to see the show." He smiled at Loki.

"Um… alright, I suppose." He slightly returned the smile to the boy. At this the boy hold out his hand. "I'm Clint." He hesitated a little, but finally decided to shake it. "Loki."

"Like the god? Awesome!.. Well what brings you here? If you have no idea what a circus is.."

"Uh… I actually.." He sighed, knowing the boy would not believe the truth of who he really was. "I had a fight with my brother. Needed to get away from him."

Clint gave a nod in Barney's direction. "I know how that feels. Older brothers. They can be a pain."

"True that. I need a break sometimes."

"I feel ya…" He glanced around to make sure Barney was not looking. "..wanna see something cool, with the animals?"

"Uh, sure." He smiled lightly. Clint grabbed Loki's hand and pulled him behind the tent to a tiger cage. "These are the tigers we use for the show." He opened the cage door and slipped inside before closing it again. Loki observed him curious but slightly nervous. "Aren't those dangerous?"

"Yup, they could rip me apart if they wanted. But they won't." He walked over to a tiger slowly and petted it's head. "I grew up around this guys. My brother hates when I come in here."

Loki watched with interest as the tiger liked Clint's touch and didn't harmed him. "And where is he now?"

"My brother? He's helping with the cleaning."

"Oh… and why doesn't he likes that you come in here?"

"He's scared I'll get murdered." He sat down beside the tiger and kept petting him. Loki sat down over a barrel on a side of the cage. "Well I understand his fear in a way, I mean, look at the teeth of those animals." He made a gesture to the tigers.

"Oh come on, their adorable!" Clint laughed as the tiger licked his face. Loki made a face of disgust, but chuckled lightly at the gesture of affection as Clint wiped his face off with the sleeve of his shirt.

"So do they have names?" Loki found himself asking.

"Nope. Can't name them. My mentor says we get too attached."

"I believe you already are attached."

Clint gave a knowing shrug and hugged the tiger, smiling at Loki. "I know."

"Then why not name him.." He smiled back, now more confidently. Suddenly a rather loud thunder was heard and Loki shifted a little where he was. "My brother must be wondering where I am, I believe I must go."

"So soon? You just got here!" Clint stood up too quickly scaring the tigers, and when the thunder boomed once again it startled and jumped onto him ripping into his arms with it's claws. "Shit!"

Loki got startled and alarmed, so he did the first thing that came to his mind. He muttered a spell out loud that made the tiger flinch, then step back and lay down obediently. Clint's eyes widened slightly for a moment. "What the…"

He winced at his arms and began to stubble quickly over to the cage door. Loki helped him out, still worried about his state. "Are you alright?"

"Ya they're just scratches, nothing stitches can't fix." He gave a small smile to Loki.

"But, won't your brother be mad?" Loki touched Clint's arm softly. He winced a little at the contact. "Ow… don't worry about my brother. If he's mad, he's mad… I don't care."

"But if he never knows it will be better." Loki reached over and put both his hands over one of Clint's arms. Muttering some words, his wounds started to heal slowly. Clint's eyes widened once more. "What the…"

Once the first arm was completely healed from any wounds, he did the same with the other one. "How'd you… what.."

When finished, Loki looked at Clint. "It's ancient magic."

"Magic?… Ancient magic?"

"Yes… ancient ma- would you stop looking at me like that?" Clint shook his head. "Sorry… just that sou- wait… Loki.. Lightning.. Ancient magi- no.. no way… no way in hell." Loki just stared at him and nodded slowly, knowing that words we're not the best option.

"No.. gods aren't real.. They're something Barney tells me stories about at night.. stories. Just stories nothing more.."

"We are very real. Now if you excuse me, I have to go before my brother comes here and breaks the whole place looking for me." He turned away from Clint and walked outside of the tent.

"Wait!" He ran after Loki. "will you come back?" Loki stopped and turned to Clint giving him a sincere smile. "I have a show to see, don't I?" Clint's mouth turned into a wide and bright smile. "See you tomorrow, Loki!"

"Until then, Clint." He walked away and when he was sure no one saw him, teleported back to Asgard.

From inside the tent, Barney called his brother. "Clinton, where are you?!"

"I'll be inside in a second." He went running into the tent, anxious for his performance the next day.

End of chapter 1...