Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: When Loki doesn't want a certain device to fall into Doom's hands, he does the only thing left possible: he joins the Avengers for this one time quest.

AN: Thank you for the reviews, alerts and faves. I'm glad you're enjoying this. I apologize for the mistakes. I'm trying my best to avoid them, but some always slip through... Enjoy!

Tides Change

Chapter 2

Loki laughed at the compliment that was thrown his way. He had met Adler four times in his life and each time, he had believed the man to be a gentleman. One of the kind you couldn't find anymore in this modern world, but as every second passed, Loki was proven more and more wrong. It seemed Adler was just like every other man on this earth.

He was handsome, having light grey eyes and a charming smile. He was cleanly shaven and his hair was slicked back graciously. His suit had a deep blue color that screamed 'expensive'. His cockiness ruined everything, however.

It was disappointing.

"This is an extraordinary collection you have," Loki mused, making sure his smile remained glued to his face. Though now it was her smile and her face. It had been a while since Loki had worn this female form, but he was already used to it. "I love paintings by Goya. He was an exquisite artist." Loki could know; he had met the man once in Rome.

"I could tell you have a fine sense for art," Adler said, casually draping an arm around Loki's waist. Loki had to restrain himself from slapping the hand away, but he managed to keep on smiling. Soon he would be alone with Adler in his bedroom and then the real mission could begin. Honestly, how had Natasha screwed this up? Adler was easier than Stark when it came to seduction.

"Do you have any other paintings?" Loki gazed into Adler's grey eyes. "I would love to see some more of your wonderful collection."

"Are you sure we haven't met before?" Adler asked, narrowing his eyes.

Loki chuckled. "I don't think so," he said softly, "I would remember you and I'm sure you would remember me."

"It's just...your eyes," Adler slid a finger across Loki's cheek until it landed on his lower lip, "they are stunning."

"Thank you." Loki knew it was now or never and so he leaned forward and kissed Adler passionately. He could feel Adler's desperation and Loki forced himself not to throw up in his mouth. There was nothing so off-setting as the taste of vomit.

Adler guided Loki towards his bedroom, never unlocking his lips from the woman in his arms and Loki chuckled and giggled and kissed him back. He knew he would have nightmares about this for centuries to come, but it had to be done. Otherwise Adler would sell the device to Doom and Loki didn't even want to think about those consequences.

Using his foot, Adler pushed open the door of his bedroom and Loki followed him inside. Falling down on the bed, Adler began to unbutton Loki's silk, green dress and now Loki had had enough. Having the man stick his tongue down his throat was one thing, but having his hands on his body?

In one smooth movement, Loki rolled over and pinned Adler down.

"Ooh," Adler grinned, "kinky."

One quick spell and a dagger appeared in Loki's hand. Adler's eyes widened instantly, but Loki already had his free hand covering Adler's mouth before he managed to call security. "No need to shout, Adler," Loki smiled, "if you cooperate, nothing bad will happen."

Adler's grey eyes darkened, but he didn't try to cry out or move away from Loki. "Good boy," Loki mocked, "now tell me where I can find the device you are going to sell to Doom."

"And then what?" Adler asked as soon as Loki removed his hand. "You're going to steal it from me? I'd rather deal with a crazy woman than with an angry villain."

"Are you sure about that?" Loki leaned in closer and pressed the cold, steal blade of the dagger underneath Adler's eye. "You know what they say: hell has no fury like a woman scorned. And you haven't been treating me very kindly, have you?"

"Have you seen the way you behave?"

One small cut and Adler squirmed beneath Loki in pain. "That was a bit uncalled for, wasn't it?"

"You're crazy!"

"I am," Loki cleaned the blood from the dagger by swiping it across Adler's vest, "I take pride in it. You should see my brother, though, he is so very disappointed in me, but he still has hope. I think he believes I can still be saved."

"Then he is an idiot."

"He is," Loki inhaled deeply, "but he's still my brother and you just insulted him." Another cut, but Adler managed to keep himself from squirming this time. "Now, where can I find the device? I do have other plans for this evening so don't keep me here all night."

Adler remained silent.

"Fine," Loki sighed, "have it your way." He raised his dagger and was about to slam it down when the door behind him flew open and a heavy voice called out.

"Stop!"

Loki halted mid-air and rolled his eyes. "Now is not the time, Tony," he said, "I'm about to torture this guy until he tells me everything I want to know."

"We don't do torture," Tony said, entering the room and taking the dagger from Loki's hands. "Get off of him. We'll handle it from here."

Loki threw Tony his darkest glare, but Tony only matched him evenly. A long second passed, but Loki grudgingly complied. After all, he still needed the Avengers' cooperation in his plan. "You should be grateful, Adler," he said while turning to look back at the man beneath him, "I would have had a lot of fun with you."

"That's enough," Natasha warned.

"Fine," Loki spat and then stormed from the room. He never was allowed to have any fun.

oOo

The room was bare with nothing more than a table and two chairs. Loki should have known that SHIELD would not have treated him kindly after the incident with Adler. Not that Loki cared. As soon as he no longer needed SHIELD's help, he was out of here. Right now, every muscle in his body screamed at him to leave, but he remained seated calmly.

When Thor entered, however, Loki felt himself tense, but he did nothing to avoid his brother's glare. He only returned it with a grin since he knew exactly what was coming. At least he was back to his male form which was more comfortable.

"What the hell was that back there?" Thor placed both hands on the smooth table surface and refused to look away from Loki's green eyes. His voice was surprisingly soft.

"What was what?"

"Don't play dumb, brother, Tony told me everything. You were about to stab Adler with a knife!"

"Oh, please," Loki leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, "I wasn't going to stab him."

"Then what were you going to do with the knife?"

Loki shrugged. "Just...poke him."

"You were going to poke him...with a knife. Isn't that the definition of stabbing?"

"If you think that's the definition, then I suggest you pick up a dictionary."

Thor slammed down a hand on the table, but Loki did not even flinch. He was used to his brother's temper and he knew when to expect an outburst like this. "You were going to torture the man, Loki," Thor said angrily, "can you not see how wrong this is?"

"If I'd had my way with Adler," Loki defended himself, "I would have found the location of the device in a matter of minutes. How long did Steve and Tony have to interrogate him before he revealed the location?" Thor said nothing. "Right, fourteen hours."

"Well, we couldn't stay there to carry out our plan, could we? It would have only been a matter of minutes before security was all over us and we can miss that kind of attention. Steve and Tony are retrieving it as we speak and no harm was done."

"All right then," Loki grinned, leaning back in his chair again, " then let's forget about this."

"I don't understand you, brother," Thor sighed, "you were never like this before."

"A lot has changed."

"So it seems."

oOo

The reading were unnatural and Tony couldn't figure out what they meant. Half a mile north lay Adler's secret facility where they would find the device that had attracted so much attention. Tony didn't trust any of it. For Doom and Loki to be interested, it had to be powerful. For Loki to aid the Avengers in retrieving the device, it had to be really powerful.

"According to the Intel," Steve said, calling back Tony's attention, "there are forty men down there, all heavily armed. The device we seek is hidden in one of the basements. Adler told us they have been running tests, but that nothing interesting came up."

"I don't trust a word Adler told us," Tony said, "he is an ally with both Doom and Loki. Let's not forget that."

"Are you saying this could be a trap?"

"Yes."

Tony stepped out of the vehicle, Steve following him. From the outside, the building looked abandoned, but on the inside, there was a small army waiting for them. This could get tricky and bloody and Tony wasn't in the mood for that. He wanted this over with because the very idea of working with Loki send shivers down his back.

When they reached the front doors of the building, Tony and Steve didn't hesitate. There were about fifty SHIELD-agents covering their backs, but when it came to it, they relied on each other. As soon as they broke through the heavy doors (they looked fragile, but they had been heavily fortified), they were overrun by opponents.

The battle was a short one, however, and Tony and Steve quickly managed to get to the lower grounds. The device had to be around somewhere, but as soon as they reached to final basement, their eyes widened when they spotted the surprise presence.

"It took you long enough."

Tony made sure his weapons were ready to be fired and Steve held up his shield.

"Doom," Tony growled, "aren't you early for your appointment?"

"Did Adler tell you I was meeting him tomorrow?" Doom's face was hidden behind a metal mask, but Tony could hear him smiling from a mile away. "He is a good ally, but not a perfect one. How long did you have to interrogate him before he revealed all his secrets?"

"Only hours," Tony said, feeling pleased about that.

"Weak," Doom sighed, "he's like a little boy trying to keep up with the big ones in the playground."

"And I suppose you are the biggest one," Steve said.

"Me, Magneto, Amora, Loki-" Doom inhaled deeply, "tell me. How is my deer friend Loki?" None responded and Doom merely chuckled. "So he is with you? Has he offered his assistance? Knowledge? Magic?"

Steve took a step forward while tension rose higher. "Why would you care?"

"Let's just say that I'm not surprised he isn't here," Doom informed them, "please tell me you are aware that he is playing you like puppets? Apparently not. I am concerned for all of you. Loki comes knocking on your door and you welcome him with open arms?"

Silence.

"Well," Doom continued, "I've done my duty. I warned you so if you can excuse me, I have a weapon to collect."

Tony and Steve both charged forward and quickly began fighting with Doom. The battle was fierce and Tony was glad that he could occupy his mind for a while. He was tired of thinking about Loki and his schemes. Punching Doom's metal face helped him blow of some steam. When ten other SHIELD-agents came to help them, Doom grew frustrated.

There was something more going on, however, and Tony was slowly piecing it all together.

"Come on, Doom," Tony yelled, irritating the villain even more, "it's like your heart isn't it this fight!"

"I will kill you, Stark!" Doom send a blast his way, but Tony easily avoided getting hit.

"Is that all you've got?" Tony fired a round of bullets, but they merely left dents in Doom's armor. "No mystical blasts or force-fields? No spells?"

The villain growled and paused for a moment. "Enjoy the device. I'm sure you can think of good uses for it. Perhaps you should ask Loki for advice." After those words, Doom quickly vanished from the hallway and Tony considered going after him, but Steve already had a hand on his arm.

"We're not here for Doom, Tony," he said, "let's get the device and leave."

Grudgingly, Tony agreed.