Disclaimer: Still not mine!

Thor is uneasy.

Tony's description of the encounter with Puck was a little unnerving; of all Loki's friends, Puck has always seemed the calmest, the most reasonable. He described himself as the least of their problems.

He's right.

Thor finds himself wishing he had paid more attention to Loki's other friends. He has no idea who else might be here, and he does not like the uncertainty. He is not accustomed to it.

He has been wandering around the city for a long time now, with no real purpose, essentially hoping to spot Loki so that he can simply seize him and leave.

Instead he sees something else.

He is across the street from a round building that rises about thirteen stories from the ground. Resting on a sixth story ledge are two black specks, specks that fill him with a sense of familiarity.

"Huginn? Munnin?"

Something flies past his head, straight toward his father's servants. He sees that it is another raven, and it appears to be scolding Huginn and Munnin. Before long it starts pecking at them.

"I told your father his spies were not welcome in my territory." The smooth voice is coming from behind his right shoulder. "Did he think I was joking?"

Thor turns to face the man. He has to look down at him.

"When I said spies," Raven turns from the birds to look at Thor. "I also meant sons."

Thor has always found those piercing black eyes unnerving.

"I am not here to spy on you."

"I know that."

"Do you know why I am here, then?"

Raven shrugs. "You wanted a Pink's hot dog?"

Thor blinks. He knows what hot dogs are, but… "Pink?"

"Not Pink. Pink's." Raven shakes his head. "It's food, you'll figure it out. As I recall, food is one of your major motivations."

"I am looking for-"

"I know." Raven looks back at the birds. Huginn and Munnin are flying away, sending indignant calls back at the third bird. Raven frowns. "Now that was rude. They had no right to insult his mother."

"Raven –"

"Do you think I'm a softer touch than Puck?" He glares at Thor.

Thor tries a different tack. "He is a threat to humanity –"

"He did not threaten my people."

"He threatened them all!"

"My people are safe and Loki is no longer a threat to yours." His voice is harsher now, reminiscent of his bird's screech. "Leave him be."

Thor straightens. "I cannot. I have to take my brother home to face our father."

Raven laughs. "Your brother."

"He is my brother!"

"Then why does he refuse to claim you as one?" Thor has no answer. "You don't understand, do you." Raven shakes his head. "But then you never did."

"Understand what?"

"Does it bother you, Thor? That yet again he's come to us with his problem? He's never gone to you. What does that say about who his real family is?"

Thor does not want to admit that he has had the same thoughts. He wonders if it is possible that Loki thinks these people love him more than he does.

The idea makes his heart ache.

"Will you at least let me see him?"

Raven gives him a considering look. "Maybe. Someday. But not anytime soon." He shakes himself and stretches. The bird on the ledge takes this as a signal to return and flies to perch on his shoulder. "Tell Odin to keep his birds away from me. My birds don't like them any more than I do, I won't be responsible for what happens next time."

"Heimdall can't see this city."

"Of course not. You do realize who lives here, right? If we don't want to be seen, we won't be." Raven turns and starts walking away. "Oh, and try Pink's." He calls back over his shoulder. "You'll like it."

AN: Not as funny as last time, I know. Just a couple of notes: the building the ravens are on is the Capitol Records Tower. Also, Raven is a creator god as well as a trickster in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. He's described as protective of humans, but I figured if there are other gods around, he'd just be protective of his own people - and none of them were in Stuttgart or New York. Raven turned out a little more mellow than Puck, but then, he realizes that this is hard for Thor. He's being nice. But he really hates Huginn and Munnin.