AN: Another wonderful chapter for my gorgeous readers :) Next one will be up in less than 36 hours then you will have to be quite patient cos I have sorta abandoned writing for a while & need to do the next chapter :/ Oopies! My own fault for getting caught up in drawing again but don't worry it will be here before christmas *touch wood* but could be a while as am moving house next week and am nearly 6 & a half months pregnant so that kinda taking up most of my time. XD Enjoy

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Avengers, Loki or anything that is recognizable to you wonderful readers. I only own Phoenix and the situations here within. One day I will own The Avengers to that I swear :P

Chapter Three

To Tell The Whole Truth

Loki and Phoenix had been hoping that Steve had forgotten the little incident before they had done battle with Amora. Sadly he had not forgotten and was currently watching them across the table.

"You gonna explain or not?" Steve asked, shifting on his chair as Phoenix glared at the floor. "Loki, why'd you kiss Phoenix?"

Loki cleared his throat and glanced at the beautiful blush on Phoenix's cheeks.

"I do not know"

"Sorry, but you don't know?" Steve asked shocked at the man's answer. Loki nodded and Steve turned his attention to Phoenix. "Phoenix?"

"I dunno. I mean, we were talking and laughing then I dunno. We just kissed." Phoenix explained in an electronic whisper.

"Hmm, why though? You just don't kiss someone for no reason."

"Maybe you don't Captain but other people do." Phoenix responded to the blond man, who had a slight tint of pink to his cheeks.

"If you don't mind Captain, I do not wish to discuss my motives with you." Loki said, raising to his feet to leave. Phoenix knitted her eyebrows in confusion as he left, not once looking back at the pair.

"Well. I'm gonna go watch TV." Phoenix said quietly, not looking at the super solider.

"Loki!"

Thor hammered on his brother's door and waited for it to open. His brother had been locked in his room all day after his talk with Steve.

"Loki! Open this door!"

"Go away Thor!"

Loki sighed and punched his pillow in frustration as his elder brother continued to pound on his door.

"You know that I will force this door open Loki! I would prefer if you invited me in."

Loki growled and walked to the door, throwing it open and crossing his arms.

"Thank you brother." Thor huffed as Loki stepped back into the room, Thor following slowly.

"What is it you want?"

"I've heard something I wish to discuss with you... and I would like to thank you." Thor explained to Loki's back.

"Thank me?"

"Yes. You and Tony took great care of myself and my other friends whilst under Amora's spell."

"Do you remember what happened during?"

"Partly, there are a lot of things I do not recall but I know it was you, who protected and cared for us. I can not thank you enough, and I am sorry if I caused you any trouble as a child."

"It was quite enjoyable to see you and the others as children. I do not wish for thanks, I did what I had to do as I'm sure you would."

"Yes but still, you could of left all the child-minding to Tony but you never. I thank you brother." Thor pulled Loki into a rib crushing embrace, Loki reluctantly returned the hug.

"There was another thing you wanted to talk about?"

"Aye, I hear that before we battled Amora, you and Lady Phoenix shared a kiss."

"Yes, we did."

"May I ask why?"

"It was... I believe the Midgardian phase is, the heat of the moment." Loki whispered as the brothers parted and he sat on the edge of his bed.

"Do you care for her?"

"I am... fond of her company, if that is what you are asking. I cannot deign I have had moments when I imagine more than friendship. But she is young and I... I am unworthy of such a thing."

"Everyone deserves love Loki. Even you. Truthfully I do not think that the girl would have allowed you to kiss her if she did not have the same feelings."

"Perhaps"

"Loki, even Amora could sense that she had feelings for you. Do you not remember what she said?" Thor said quietly as he knelt in front of his younger brother, who had his head on his hands. "She said that the girl had fallen for you."

"I remember... Amora, also, said that I would break her heart. I would rather have no other relationship other than friendship if it meant I did not break her heart."

"If you truly do care for her... then you must tell her, you may cause more harm than good if you deign yourselves this. I know you will face difficulty but if you stay by each other's sides then nothing will separate you." Thor said passionately to his silent sibling, who glanced at him with renewed hope in his eyes.

"Do you truly believe that?" Loki whispered quietly.

"Yes. I request that you talk to her before you do anything rash." Thor smiled and stood.

"Thank you for your advice Thor. I shall bare it in mind."

"I shall fetch you later, Lady Natasha and Lady Phoenix are taking us out."

"Oh? Where?"

"I do believe they said 'the zoo', I am unsure what 'the zoo' is but it shall be interesting to find out."

"Very well. I shall see you later Thor." Loki smiled weakly as Thor left.


"Good Morning Loki!"

"Good morn Lady Romanov. I believe that you and Lady Phoenix are taking Thor and myself out this afternoon?"

"Yup! And we're going shopping!" The assassin sang happily as she pulled out her jacket. "Phoenix is just getting Thor then we'll be off."

"I thought we were going this afternoon?"

"Well, we were but then Steve mentioned that you and Thor didn't really have any other clothes so we changed plans to allow shopping time!"

"Good morn Lady Natasha! Phoenix has informed me of our new plans! Shall we leave soon?" Thor boomed excitedly as he and Phoenix entered the living room.

"Calm yo tits Thor!" Phoenix laughed quietly. "You gotta remember you're going out in public and can't be so loud. We don't want to attract too much attention."

"Of course, my apologies"

"No problem big guy."

"If I may point out a fault in your plans," Loki said as they entered the elevator. "Thor and I have no coins with which purchases may be made."

"That's why I'm paying Reindeer Games!" Tony sang as the doors opened to the garage.

"Oh, I do not know what to say Tony." Thor said quietly. "Loki and I shall find some way of repaying you."

"Don't bother Point Break. I have too much money, consider it a gift."

"Perhaps, we could arrange some of Asgard's strongest metal to be given to you in return. Our metal is surely stronger than your Midgardian steel. It would, perhaps, be a better substance to make your suits from?" Loki suggested as Natasha climbed into a sleek, black car.

"Really? I suppose it would make an interesting study..." Tony whispered to himself, handing Phoenix one of his numerous credit cards, Phoenix beamed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Don't let Thor buy anything embarrassing!"

"I will not Tony. I shall talk to the Allfather when I next go to Asgard about the metal. Thank you for your help." Thor smiled as he and Loki got into the car beside Phoenix and Natasha, Tony waved as they drove off.

"God help the poor zoo guide!"


The zoo was fairly quiet for the summer, only a few families and tourists milled about the exhibits. Thor had been taken back at the thought of animals being kept in cages for the public to look at. Loki, after being told many of the animals were facing extinction, accepted that it was a clever way to educate younger generations about the creatures of the planet.

"Where should we start?" Phoenix asked, looking at the map in her hands. "Oh we have to see the parrots! They are awesome!"

"Parrots? They are a type of bird, are they not?" Loki asked as the group headed towards the bird section.

"Yup and they're very clever too." Natasha smiled, her arm linked through Thor's (he insisted). Phoenix smiled at the childlike curiosity on Thor and Loki's faces as they took in the various animals. Phoenix glanced at Loki as they sat down for the parrot display.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen! Say hello guys," the zoo keeper said, turning to the parrots behind him.

"Hello!" The parrots cawed back, flapping their wings.

"They talk!?" Thor bellowed loudly, making the crowd laugh. He blushed as Natasha elbowed him in the ribs. "Sorry."

"It's alright, first time seeing a parrot?" The keeper asked kindly.

"Yes."

"Thought so. Well then, parrots live in tropical forests and are very intelligent; they have the estimated intelligence of a 5 year old human."

"They are truly remarkable." Loki whispered as he and Thor petted the parrots after the show.

"They are. There's a lot of animals that are smart, dogs are used for a lot of things."

"Really? What like?"

"Herding sheep, finding bombs, drugs, helping the blind and deaf." Phoenix smiled up at Loki. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why'd you run off earlier when we were talking to Steve?"

"I was... unwilling to discuss our situation with the Captain. I know he means well but I feel it would be better to talk with you about it first."

"Oh, well, that's fine then. So..."

"So..."

"I like you Loki."

"I like you too Phoenix" Loki replied smiling lightly as Phoenix beamed at him. "Perhaps we should start to get to know each other better before we take things further."

"I agree, there's a lot of things we don't know about each other."

"Like your dark past for instance?" Loki sighed as she looked away from him.

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you that... yet. One day I will but not now."

"I understand."

"AHHHHHH!"

Loki and Phoenix turned to Thor, who had a parrot perched in his hair. The pair laughed as he ran in a circle, the parrot gripping his head with its long talons.


"How'd you enjoy the zoo Loki?" Natasha asked as they walked back to the car, after being asked to leave; Thor's mishap with the parrot the cause.

"I enjoyed it very much. Perhaps, next time, we can see more?"

"Yea, next time we won't get told to go, will we Thor?"

"No. I shall try not to get attacked next time Lady Natasha." Thor grumbled from the back seat beside Loki, who laughed into his hand.

"Right then. Shopping, you guys know what you need right?"

"Tony said to get the works for them" Phoenix chirped from behind Loki.

"The works?"

"Yup. There's some black tie thing he's dragging us all to. So y'know, the works, perhaps we could get our dresses while we're there?"

"Hmm... maybe, let's get these two sorted first." Natasha said with a glint in her eyes, loath as she was to admit it but she loved dress shopping.

"They'll need custom suits."

"Custom suits?" Thor asked quietly to Loki, who had seen the black tie attire while in Germany during the invasion. "Suits like Tony's metal suit?"

"Not quite Thor. You'll see soon enough."

"Okay but I still do not understand."


The tailor was having a difficult time measuring Thor, who was very ticklish, where as Loki had been very straight forward and was already finished.

"Sir, if you would please stay still a moment longer."

"I am sorry. I am quite ticklish." Thor giggled as the tailor measured his sides. The man quickly finished his work and wrote down the measurements.

"Sir if you could just flex your arm muscles."

"Why?"

"You have very defined muscles, I would like to measure them while they are tense so the jacket does not split whilst upon your person."

"Oh right"

Loki rolled his eyes and continued to look through the catalogue of suits available.

"All done. Have you made your selections?"

"Yes." Natasha said, pointing several out within the catalogue, which the tailor wrote down.

"For both gentlemen?"

"Yes. If we could have duplicates of them too please?"

"Of course. If I could take your credit card?"

"Here ya go!" Phoenix piped up from behind him. The man took the card and raised an eyebrow at the name upon it.

"Is there a problem?"

"If I am able to speak with the card holder then no." The man walked to his phone and dialled. "Hello? May I speak with Mr Stark please? Oh, very well. Hello Miss Potts? Yes, I have a group of two ladies and two gentlemen who have -" The man glanced at the group. "Yes, oh, yes of course. I will." The man held out the phone to Natasha, who took it with a smile.

"Hey Pepper. Yea, Phoenix, Loki and Thor. Yup. No problem." She handed the phone back.

"Yes of course Miss Potts. I will. Goodbye." The tailor looked sheepish for a moment as he placed his phone back into its holder. "I am sorry about that, I had to check."

"No problem, we understand." Natasha said as Thor began to twitch in boredom.

"The items will be ready in a few days, would you like them delivered to Stark Tower?"

"Yup. Thank you." Phoenix sang as she dragged Loki and Thor from the shop, leaving Natasha to finish the order. "Lets get some pizza!"

"Oh fab idea!" Natasha smiled, catching up with the trio.


"Are you sure this is edible?" Loki asked, eyeing the meat feast pizza in front of the group.

"Of course! I'd never give you something that'd kill you!" Natasha laughed at the man as Thor and Phoenix stuffed a whole slice each into their mouths.

"Very well. I shall try this pizza. What are these meats?"

"Chicken, ham, pepperoni and chilli sausage."

"Chilli sausage? Isn't that the same as pepperoni?" Phoenix asked quietly.

"No, don't think so anyway."

"And there's beef too! Oh yum yum yum!" Phoenix giggled as Loki took his first bite of pizza ever. "How is it Loki?"

"Interesting."

"How so?"

"There is a hotness I am trying to identify and I cannot seem to locate." He raised an eyebrow at the item of food in his hand.

"It's the chilli sausage or the pepperoni." Natasha said smoothly as Thor nearly choked on his third helping.

"Which are those?" He asked eyeing the meat on his slice closely.

"The circular ones."

"Ah yes, I see."

The rest of the meal passed with little conversation and ended with Thor being dragged out after declaring the pizza was worthy of the gods and should only be eaten by them. Safe to say, Natasha was not impressed.


"Oh come on Loki! It can't be that bad!?" Natasha yelled as the two women waited for the men to try on their swimsuits. Thor blushed and came out of the dressing room in blue swim shorts. Phoenix's jaw dropped, her eyes taking in the thunderer's broad muscular chest.

"Damn! Jane is one lucky SOB!" Phoenix stuttered after Natasha closed her mouth for her. "Erm... I mean, they look very nice Thor. GO try your other clothes on."

"Are you certain it is appropriate for me to be seen in public like this?" Thor asked as he blushed a deeper red.

"Yup."

"Loki! Come on!" Natasha growled in frustration. "We do not have all day!"

"Fine!"

The dark haired god poked his head around the curtain before stepping out. Phoenix gasped at the lean but well defined body of the trickster.

"Wow!"

"I second that! Who would of thought under all that leather and metal was that body?" Natasha whispered to the younger woman, who stared as Loki disappeared back into the dressing room.

"Do all Asgardians look like that?"

"Dunno, maybe. Why?"

"I'm thinking we trade Tony for a Asgardian booty-call!" Phoenix laughed loudly.

"Do you really wanna send Tony to a place full of strong, beautiful goddesses?"

"Oh god no!"

"Then that's your answer"

"Shame... not even for an hour?"

"Not even for an hour."


Thor hummed loudly as the elevator opened up, carrying half a dozen shopping bags (he refused to let Phoenix or Natasha carry any).

"Good afternoon friends!"

"Oh hey Thor!" Pepper smiled as she waved a pile of forms over a pale Tony.

"What is wrong with Stark?"

"He saw the bill from the tailor's." Pepper explained as Tony's face gained a bit more colour.

"And that's bad?" Phoenix asked, handing Pepper the credit card.

"Bad? You could of spent more than that! I expected the bill to be twice that amount! You're women! I thought women knew how to shop!" Tony yelled as he waved Pepper away. "I thought you would of maxed it out!"

"You're pissed cos we didn't spend all your money?" Loki asked, puzzled by the man's behaviour.

"Well yea! You gotta spend money if you want the best!"

"Shut up Tony!" Pepper sighed as she handed him the thick wad of paperwork. "Shut up and sign these!"

"Fine but don't blame me if Loki and Thor don't have the best suit for that charity thingy next month!"

"Shut up and sign!"


"So what was shopping with the gods and a hormonal teenager like?" Clint asked as he and Natasha carried the roast vegetables to the dinning table.

"Okay. Loki and Thor are pretty hot under all that leather and armour."

"WHAT!?"

"Clint chill. We got swimsuits for them and we saw them in them." Phoenix laughed quietly as she and Tony set the table.

"So Loki's packing a hot bod too?" Tony scoffed. "Doubt it! I can't see it. Tall, scrawny, pale as death. Don't see what would be hot about that, nah, not at all."

"And being short, tubby and with a silly beard is your idea of a perfect man?" Clint asked sarcastically as the women giggled.

"I've had no complaints!"

"If you met a women, who didn't know who you were, you'd get no where! They only go for you so they can say they've bedded Tony Stark!"

"Bullshit! I can get anyone I want! Without my name!" Tony exclaimed in annoyance.

"I feel a bet coming on." Natasha whispered to Phoenix.

"Care to bet on it?" Clint challenged.

"You're on! I bet you my new car I can!"

"Alright! If I win then you have to admit your beard is stupid and you have to be the girl's slave for the whole day!"

"Deal!" The two men shook hands as the other team members, each carrying various food, joined them in the dinning room.

"Tomorrow night, it is on!"

"What did we miss?" Steve asked as he sat down.

"Another of Clint and Tony's childish bets."

"Ah. Okay. Don't do anything stupid guys please?"

"We will."

"Oh come on Clint, its not that bad!" Phoenix giggled at the archer.


Clint had lost his bet (even though he had called for 4 rematches, which he lost) and now nearly a week after it was placed, he stood in the Quinjet in a bright pink tutu, fairy wings and a child's cupid bow as the team flew to the Hellicarrier for a debriefing.

"This is so hilarious!" Tony laughed as Thor, Loki and Phoenix tried to stop their own laughter.

Needless to say, Nick Fury was not at all amused by one of his top operatives new choice of attire and had put the said man n desk-work for a month. Everyone, baring Clint himself, thought the entire event was highly amusing.


"Night guys." Steve said quietly, with a yawn as he (like the other Avengers) headed to bed.

"Night Steve." Phoenix whispered, looking up from her laptop.

"Goodnight Captain." Loki said quietly from in front of the TV (he was watching a period drama). Steve yawned loudly as he left.

"Loki?"

"Yes?" Loki replied, turning to face the fire starter.

"Can we talk? I wanna tell you... I'd like to try to tell you about -"

"Your dark secret?" Loki finished for her. She nodded and joined him on the sofa. "Just take your time."

"When I was a child, my Mom used to tell me about a prophecy. In it there was a girl who could control fire."

"Like you?"

Yea like me. And the girl was destined to give birth to a boy. A boy, who if born outta hatred would destroy the world."

"What do you mean by out of hate?" Loki asked despite having a fair idea what it meant.

"If the girl was raped and the child conceived then the child would be evil." She sighed as tears began to form in her eyes. "I never gave it much thought, just a silly story to get me to sleep. Then the men came... and Dad, and my brother and Mom were killed. To protect me."

"Who were these men?"

"A religious cult, they wanted to bring the prophecy to life. They believe I'm the girl mentioned in it."

"They wish for the end of the world by this child's hand?" He asked as his mind struggled to see the reasoning behind such an idea.

"Yea."

"Did they hurt you?"

"Yea... they got Mom when I was 13... I'm on the run from them right now. I dunno what I'd do if they found me, I'm pretty sure they know where I am though. Can't live in Stark Tower without it being on the internet."

"Have they tried to... force themselves on you?"

"Yea. They caught me, took me to this big underground network of caves... I put up a fight though, when they caught me. I got on SHIELD's radar cos of what I did in my escape. They tried to rape me, it's why I don't use my own voice. I screamed so loudly, I set my own throat on fire. I'd be just about 7 months pregnant if Tony and Bruce hadn't gotten there in time. It still haunts me... I can still feel his hands on me, the liquid nitrogen freezing me... it scares me so much..."

Loki pulled Phoenix into his arms as she silently cried.

"I swear to you, I will NEVER allow any of them touch you again! I will kill anyone who dares try!"

"Thank you Loki," she whispered into his chest through her tears.