(A/N): Ideas, ideas, ideas—I'm drowning in ideas, I need to release some of them but there's no time. I should mention that being an adult is quite possibly the worst responsibility I have ever taken. I love every second of it though. Ignore the rant and enjoy the chapter, guys~

Thank you for reading, for reviewing and for generally being awesome. You guys rock!

"The Start of a New Chapter"

"People tend to see new life as a chance to take the happy wheel. They get so caught up with everything that they forget that accidents do tend to happen." –Noitavlas Cross

It didn't take them long before everything was set and they were already heading back to New York. Hadrian Anthony Lokison started showing signs of confidence on the third day of their interaction and much to Tony's disappointment, the kid was a bit of a prankster.

The week in London was very eventful for the trio; they went shopping, sight-seeing, they filed documents—well, Loki filed the documents. Tony was away most mornings, but he made sure to join the former god and said god's son by lunch time. Harry was a lovely child to be around with; just everything about him seemed light and happy. Harry could also make Loki laugh. Not the teasing, sarcastic laughter that Tony was used to—but a real laugh. It was refreshing.

The boy had taken a liking to Tony, but stuck close to the Asgardian. He avoided Happy at first, but became fast friends with the jolly man after an incident involving ice cream. He was a smart kid; curious but obedient. Loki, true to his word, told him no lie. Every question the child fired was answered directly; and should there be any follow-up questions, the former god showed patience by answering those, too.

Harry spent the flight back to New York sitting next to his new father by the window of the private jet. The billionaire had about past a hundred photos of them already but who was he to pass a photo opportunity when it presents itself?

Loki was reading to little Harry from a small, red battered book. If he remembered correctly, Harry had it in his pocket when they first found him. The child wouldn't part with it then, even in bath.

The green eyed boy was snuggled to the trickster's side while clutching a round chick plush toy while the man brushed his hair back as he read from the book. In Tony's opinion, they looked biologically related; same raven locks, bright green eyes that seemed to glow in the dark, pale complexion, aristocratic noses and high cheekbones.

"Again?" Harry's shy voice suggested.

"Let me guess, Tale of Three Brothers?" Tony asked with a grin, making the child reflect the expression. "Don't you get tired of that story?"

"I like it." The boy shrugged.

Loki poked the child's side resulting to adorable little giggles. "Maybe Tony can read it for you this time? I need to fix ussomething to snack-on while we listen to the story." They had a hard time making Harry eat most of the time, so they made sure to take any chance they get to feed the little human. They discovered that the child only eats when they eat, too.

"Okay." Harry nodded, standing up and launching his little body at Tony who was sitting on the couch opposite theirs. The billionaire caught him with no effort, hoisting him up to his lap and taking the book from the boy's hands.

"I will never understand why you prefer this story over Disney films." Tony muttered as he browsed the small book. "There's so much dying."

"I think it's a good story." Loki piped in from the kitchenette as he made tea, which Harry is obsessed with, and some cape cookies. "It rings true to some subjects."

"Like what?" the shorter man asked.

"Death is cunning and Death is fair." Harry chirped with a little grin.

"Listen to yourself, little man. You sound so morbid for your age." Tony snickered as he tickled the boy on his lap. Loki shook his head and rolled his eyes at the pair simultaneously; it was done so with fondness.

"Speaking of which, how old is he, Lokes?"

Loki blinked and turned to Harry. "I'm 10!" the little boy giggled.

"You look more like 7." Tony replied only slightly teasing.

"He is 10." Loki confirmed. "The doctor you hired affirmed it when we went for a general check-up."

"Huh." The cabin fell into an uneasy silence that was broken by Harry.

"Do I have to go to school?"

"Do you want to go to school?" Tony asked just as Loki asked: "Why would you want to go to school?"

The billionaire gave the former god an incredulous look, ignoring Harry's pouting. "You know he has to get education somehow."

"But I went to school before—"

"I can teach him what he needs to know, Stark." The Asgardian stated in a testy tone.

"Back to 'Stark', Mama Bear? We just had a 10-year-old baby; doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"I'm a baby?"

"Stop winking, Stark, or I will gouge your eyes out."

"Stop giving Harry more morbid thoughts, Lokes." Tony smirked as the other man brought the tray of tea and cookies to them. Instead of answering, the trickster merely gave him a look that promised an in-depth discussion at a later time.

"Are you fighting?" Harry cocked his head to the side as he watched both adults from his seat.

"Oh—" Loki blinked before picking up the child and sitting down next to Tony. "No, baby, this is how we usually talk. I told you before, we're good friends—"

"Yeah, kid. Very good friends. I even let your Dad throw me out of my own window—"

"SHUT IT, STARK."

"But you're always angry with him." Harry pointed out.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I hate him."

"Aw, really?" Tony mockingly batted his lashes while the boy giggled.

"He's silly." Harry whispered loudly to Loki.

"That he is. Now, eat. Tony will read for us." The former god smirked when the shorter man verbally floundered for a response.

"BRUCIE!"

Bruce cringed at the high wail that the mechanic let out as soon as he was inside the laboratory. "Hello to you, too, Tony. How was the trip?" he smiled as he watched the other scientist make a beeline towards… him?

Tony launched himself to Bruce's legs and promptly hugged them tightly. "SAVE ME FROM THEM!"

"T-them?" The astrophysicist looked closely at his friend and noticed a few things. "Tony, why do you have glitters on your face? And is that blood—no, ketchup… Why do you have ketchup everywhere? Tony? Tony, look at me—is that eyeliner?"

"He's a vegetarian vampire." A small child piped from the doorway. "It's alright. He won't eat you. He likes animals." The boy giggled as he watched the clinging adult whimper.

"He… is?" Bruce turned back to Tony who took to rubbing his entire face on his pants.

"Oh, stop being a baby, Stark. Hadrian was merely playing a game with you—oh, hello Dr. Banner." Loki showed up by the door next to the kid carrying a backpack and a small case.

"Loki—wow, you really are staying here, aren't you?" Bruce offered a small strained smile. He was briefed by Pepper about whoever comes and goes in the tower. He just didn't believe her when she said Thor's little brother was staying over.

"I don't want to but I was given no choice." The green-eyed man chuckled and hoisted the slipping pack back up. "Tony, I'm going to fix something for Hadrian in the kitchen; feel free to join us Doctor, I would like to introduce you to each other properly."

Bruce frowned in confusion, his eyes darting back to where the child was only to find him gone. When he looked back up at Loki, he found him gone, too.

"So…"

"Don't let the little adorable angel face confuse you, Bruce. That child is a monster!" Tony growled moodily as he stood from his place and scrubbed his face with his hands. "He dunked a dead lizard in my scotch!" he whined as he hugged the scientist.

Bruce merely smiled fondly at his friend before patting him on the back. "There, there. Want to tell me all about your week?"

"Okay, so, that wasn't you?" Bruce asked for the 5th time in 3 hours as they were feasting on the pizza that Pepper brought back with her. She and Hadrian got along incredibly well. Tony theorized that Harry may have a thing for gingers.

"No, it wasn't. It was my body though." Loki stated guiltily as he nibbled at his food.

"How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't your fault, brother?" Thor, who arrived an hour after they did, had already devoured 5 boxes of pizza and was still going at it.

"As many times as you can, Thor. I haven't exactly forgiven myself for it—" the trickster sighed.

"Well, we should warn the rest of the team. They might… uh… do something rash when they find out." Bruce suggested, sipping on his cola.

"I've already done that." Pepper called out as she and Harry walked over to their huddled forms around the coffee table. "They were all surprisingly understanding about it. Steve will be coming over tomorrow. Agent Romanov and Agent Barton won't be able to because they're somewhere in Europe for a mission, which I have no idea about, by the way—" the men nodded their heads in confirmation.

Harry stared in awe at Thor as he ate, making Loki shake his head in exasperation. The boy seemed to be scared of people large people in general, which was normal considering his size—but the former god kept in mind of a possible bullied past. The child bolted out of the room and stayed clear away from the blond Asgardian as soon as the god landed on the docking pad just outside the balcony. Harry kept his distance and stayed with Pepper no matter how obvious it was that he wanted to be with Loki. Tony tried calling him, but the child refused to go near the big man. Bruce did the same thing, but went to the child for a brief conversation when his attempt was met with the same result.

"For some reason, he's scared of you." Bruce shrugged. The god pouted, obviously wanting to meet his 'new' nephew. "Just give him time, Thor. You'll be here for a few weeks right?"

The god of thunder nodded sullenly, but kept an eye of the little boy that looked so much like his brother. Loki smiled secretly as he watched Hadrian shuffle closer, but still a good distance away, towards Thor. His brother squirmed in his seat, not oblivious to the fact that he was being watched.

"Bror, hvorfor stirrer han på meg?" (Brother, why is he staring at me?) Thor asked as not to spook the boy away. He made sure to moderate his tone and volume as well, as it seemed to affect the boy.

"Han er nysgjerrig på deg, Thor. Du kan se på han hvis du vil. Beveg deg sakte, slik at han ikke kommer til å løpe." (He is curious about you, Thor. You can *see/look at him if you want. Move slowly so that he will not run.) Loki explained as he pretended to not pay attention to them.

The elder god contained a smile as he slowly turned to the boy. Sure enough, the boy didn't run away.

"Hello."

"Lo."

"You must be Hadrian." Thor smiled at the little boy. It was hesitantly returned.

"You're glowing."

The room was immediately filled with snickers and giggling. Thor glared at his brother playfully. "I didn't teach him to say that, you oaf." Loki chuckled before turning to the child. "Do not ever repeat that word until you're 15." Harry nodded seriously.

"Are you my new uncle?" The little boy asked, slightly edging closer to his adoptive parent.

"Yes, I am. My name is Thor, son of Odin. It is a pleasure to meet you, dear nephew."

"Do I have to go and live with you?" There was a slight fear in the child's voice that made everyone in the room look closely. Hadrian was trembling slightly, but his little face was determined and focused.

"If you wish—"

"NO!"

"Hadrian." Loki's stern voice snapped the child to attention. "Hadrian, what's going on?"

"I don't want to live with him." Harry answered in a small voice.

"Honey, you don't have to. I'm afraid you have to suffer through Tony's loud snores and deplorable eating habits, but we're staying here in the tower. You can visit Asgard when the time comes, but right now—you stay here… with me." The trickster opened his arms and soon enough the little boy was clinging to him with his little head buried at the crook of his neck.

Loki paid no attention to everyone's inquiring gaze and stood up, announcing that he's retiring for the night. "I'll be right back." They nodded and he left the living room in a somber mood.

"What was that about?" Loki asked gently as he tucked Hadrian in his bed. It wasn't far from Loki's, they were in the same room after all. If the previous week was any proof, Harry would probably join the former god in his own bed after midnight anyway.

"He'll take me away—"

"No, he won't." Loki patiently soothed the child.

"You promise?"

"Harry, my brother can be an idiot; but he's a loveable idiot. He would never hurt you—even if you hurt him by accident. He has a short temper, but he knows how to hold it in around Midgardian children. I trust him."

"So you won't leave me with him?" Harry asked, taking his adoptive father's hand in both his.

"Never. I'd rather leave you with Tony."

"Okay… Can I meet him?"

"Thor?"

"Yes…?"

"If you want to."

Loki came back with an unreadable expression, but they were surprised when he was being followed by a little figure crouching low in a sneaking stance. "Han ønsker å be om unnskyldning." (He wants to apologize.) Loki spoke to his brother with an amused look. "Han vil møte sin unkel nå." (He wants to meet his uncle now.) Thor nodded with a smile.

"Hello, again." Thor greeted as Harry stood a short distance from him. "I am Thor, son of Odin. I am your uncle." He grinned as the child's eyes widened.

Harry straightened up and spoke slowly and audibly. "I am Harry, son of… um… Daddy. I am your nephy."

"Nephew, Harry." Bruce corrected in a stage whisper, making everyone smile.

"I mean, nephew. I am your nephew." The child proudly corrected before slightly turning to Bruce to stage whisper a heartfelt 'thank you.'

Loki chuckled as he picked the child up and sat next to his brother. Thor wasted no time in embracing the two with his own laughter building. "Son of Daddy, huh?" Tony piped with his own amused laugh.

Thor turned to Loki with a confused look. "Does he not know your own name, brother?"

"He dare not call me anything else. Jeg liker det." (I like that.) Loki grinned at the other god and settled in his seat with his son half on his lap and half on Thor's. He did like how this was all proceeding so well. He just hoped it lasts.

To be continued...