-Friday-

At first, he thought he was being mocked, but Agent Barten had reported that the eye patches had been started by Miss Pots as a solution to The Hulk getting too much attention so he ignored it. This on the other hand, Fury couldn't ignore. If it had just been Hawkeye's you have heart t-shirt with a heart and septer on it he could have written it off as his weird sense of humor but it waseverywhere he looked. There were gold helmets, green and gold scarves even a pair of headphones with blue cubes for ear buds. If he never saw the phrase I do what I want again it would be too soon. He had never seen so much propaganda, every other shirt was different but they all referenced Loki: a tuxedo t-shirt modeled after his uniform, a 'Lo kitty purse with green bow and gold scepter, Who needs the bi-frost? With a cartoon Loki riding Nyan Cat, Every villain is a hero in their own mind and, (he would never admit it but his two favorites) Loki embedded in concrete captioned Let me rephrase that and Loki leaning his forehead against a window with a speech bubble that read, True Power would like the latest issue of People.

Even The Avengers were not immune. He found Tony, (Loki applying eyeliner, Maybe he was born with it . . .) and Bruce, (chibi Loki shaking a fist, not a puny god) in the lab working on a project as though nothing was amiss. They were so engrossed with their work they didn't even look up but that was nothing unusual. He heard gun fire in the testing range and followed it with a good guess who he'd find there.

He was right; Agent Romanoff was firing down the range, but not at the standard paper target. Finally, the serious havoc he expected from Loki instead of the lower level mischief he'd seen. The Black Widow was shooting at Captain America who had nothing but a projector in front of him.

"Agent Romanoff, stand down", he ordered as he drew his own weapon. Surprisingly she put up no resistance only clicking the safety on her gun, setting it on the counter and removing her safety gear to address her boss.

"What can I do for you director?" the spy asked calmly. He'd flicked the safety off while she took off her gear but still held it at his side.

"You can tell me what you're doing shooting at your team member", he responded taking in her uniform and wondering why she alone had been lift out of the merchandise madness. "Oh I'm not really though sir, we're testing Stark and Banner's new project, tangible holographs, they think it'll make cap's shield less cumbersome. They know it works physically but they wanted to see if he'll use it. he even tested the stealth mode. It looks to the enemy like they've got a clear shot but the shield's still there. That's what we were doing just now. He's as brave as they say. "

Captain Rodgers chose that moment to march up to the other side of the counter, (in uniform as well but he had thrown a t-shirt on top that had Loki dressed as the statue of liberty with his scepter instead of the torch). "Thanks Natasha," he aimed a smile at her and then turned a salute at Fury. "If you want the specifics on light bending and all you'd have to ask them, but however it does, their do-dad works sir."

He had clicked his safety back on when the other man walked up so when Natasha turned to put her gun away he did the same after he saw a ring on her hand in the shape of Loki's helmet. It was understated and unremarkable unless you looked for it specifically just like her. "I just saw them actually. The egg heads are on a roll so I won't bother them but in the future make a report of any prospective gear tests ahead of time." Both operatives nodded and yes sir-ed. "Oh and sir?" Natasha made a questioning face until her boss turned toward her, "Just so you know I haven't lost my touch, if I was going to kill one of us I'd kill all of them. I believe the phrase is, AK-47, the very best there is. When you absolutely, positively, have to kill every single person in the room; accept no substitute." She smiled happily. She was right so he nodded back and made his exit deciding to find Thor next.

Accordingly, he found the nearest place with food available. The team might not be bound by vengeance like they were before agent Phil's recovery was announced, but they still kept relatively close when they were off duty but he was almost sure it was unconscious. Another theory confirmed, he picked the large Asgardian out of the crowd and waited until he wadded out of it with his arms full of food. The director waved him to a table where he unburdened himself and sat down.

Seeing the hero's shirt, fury couldn't help but point to it and ask, "Do you get that reference?" Opening a package of strawberry milkshake Poptarts the blond answered, "It is a combination of our names and that of these creatures. This one," he pointed to a short-legged dog, "is called a Corgi. I believe it to be cute." He spoke carefully, like some of the words were very new. He was sure using them correctly, his shirt featured Thorgi and Lokitty following the day's trend. "Have you heard from your brother lately?" Fury asked.

After opening a bottle of apple juice and a package of goldfish crackers, Thor answered, "Loki has been about the past few days yet you are the first to ask after him though Banner saw him just yesterday." Not wanting to alarm him, the director hid his shock. Had no one thought it a good idea to report an enemy on premises? He would have to have a word with Banner after tightening security. Realizing he had let the conversation lapse, he focused more fully on the demi god and probed, "What's he been up to, do you know?"

Finished with the crackers, Thor moved on to Rice Krispy Treats and reported, "I had not inquired specifically but nothing harmful I can assure you, he would not dare. Mother and Father both gave him a telling off and he has developed a healthy fear of the Troll as well. I believe we are too familiar for him to truly fear me but if nothing else I have our parent's ears and this he knows, so if you have need of his compliance in some venture it shall be arranged." He finished off his drink and assumed a serious look as he leaned closer, "This I tell in complete confidence," he paused with raised brows, waiting for some kind of acknowledgment that Fury would keep his secret. Fury chose his stand-by nod and Thor continued, "I believe Loki has lost the will to cause havoc and is lead to a more general chaos and in this case even playful mischief" he gave the last a grave significance through tone and expression like he was talking about lapsing health instead of reformation of criminal behavior. "I'll take that into consideration, but I'd like to talk to Loki, today if he's around", Furry wasn't sure how he felt about Thor's revelation backing up what he'd thought himself but he wouldn't need to decide at all if they were wrong. Pouring syrup on top doesn't make pancakes and Thor was still Loki's brother and inclined to try.

Movement past the director's shoulder caught the large blonde's attention and whatever he saw made him smile. Fury turned and immediately made the connection. Thor might be Loki's brother, but right now Loki was Thor's sister. The phrase speak of the devil crossed his mind (it was the horns) but she (he?) sauntered over and took a seat much like he imagined the cat on Thor's shirt would have. Her (his?) shirt read simply CUTER THAN YOU but instead of a y there was a war hammer. The room was empty of anyone else by then so at least Fury wouldn't have to fit an explanation of what happened next into an office memo. She-he, defiantly-was enveloped in glittery blue smoke and when it dissolved he was left in the form Fury was used to so luckily the shirt had been paired with pants or the encounter would have been even more awkward.

"What do you want", the trickster asked. The director tried for diplomatic and subtle responded, "I'd like everyone back to normal."

"I don't know what you mean" Loki replied with a see through grin

Giving up on diplomatic and subtle he yelled "The truth! Do you speak it?"

"No need to be fussy, use your lumbering mortal brain and ponder it. This would not be the amusement I craved if I'd magic-ed everyone into heralding me, there would be no point. This entire intrigue was only meant as a test for my army and what good is a test if you give away answers?" the mention of an army made Fury nervous and although his training assured it didn't show, Thor must have made the leap of logic because he gave Loki a stern look and crossed his arms as he said, "Of what army do you speak this time brother for I'm sure mother and father would show vehement disappointment if you had not learned your lesson last time."

To which Loki hurriedly responded "Why, my army of acolytes of course, especially the fangirls, mine are the best", by the end of the sentence Loki was cool and collected again like a cat that flops from the back of the couch but lands in the seat and plays it off like he meant to do it just so. And really he had, after this week he knew, he might not be accepted by his brother and his friends, or even liked, but he was adored more than any single one of them and he told himself that was better anyway.