The next few days past without much interest, the storm ended later that night and the next day New York's streets were crowded as people went about their way. I got up the nerve to actually go out, accompanied Steve, Tony saying that I needed someone to go out with me who could defend me if Loki showed up. Bruce was immediately taken out of the choice, Clint next as he wouldn't be able to take his bow and Tony wouldn't be able to do much until his suit arrived at the scene.

It was fairly uneventful though; picking up some new clothes for and a few other essentials (like a phone!). We stopped for lunch at McDonald's, something which I was determined that he should try and he did seem to like it. After the shopping was done we decided we would look around the city, the super soldier having the pleasure of pointing out places to me as I had no clue about what was in New York.

Afterwards we headed back and the rest of the day was spent with me reorganising the room- repeatedly, and the next was spent trying to figure out what to do with my time. If I were in my own world I would either me at work, updating my fanfiction or playing on Avengers Alliance- even going out with my friends to all the great pubs and having 'tournaments' which involved playing best two out of three on games such as pool, skittles, darts and table football.

It was the next night, long after the sky had gone dark that Loki showed up for the first time.

I was lying on the double bed that was provided in the room, sitting back and watching The Guardian with some ramen and a bottle of coke. Being me I didn't notice Loki's arrival until the god actually spoke up and scared the living daylights out of me.

"He should have let the man drown."

I let out a stream of curses under my breath as some of the hot liquid spilled on my lap and put the bowl aside as I turned to face Loki- who was sitting on the bed next to me.

"Why are you here?" I asked somewhat grumpily, forgetting momentarily the whole plan. Jarvis would have no doubt alerted everyone to his presence and was keeping a close watch in case he tried to attack me.

"To apologise," said the god.

I just stared in disbelief, looking carefully at him to see if he was joking- but he seemed so serious.

"Did you hit your head?" I asked, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"No," he replied stiffly. "I've been thinking over about what it means for me, that I am a fictional character in your world."

I didn't say anything, waiting to see where he was going with this.

"I am quite aware that you mortals are fond of your so-called 'happy endings' and it made me realise something," he continued. "That I can never win- because as you believe good triumphs over evil then I am just caught in an endless cycle of failure."

Wow. That was not what I was expecting. I looked him over carefully, pretty sure that this was some kind of trick- I mean he knew this from the start and he chooses now, the very moment we decide to (somewhat reluctantly) make him an ally as we take on the Chitauri? If this wasn't some kind of trick then I was a Pop Tart.

"So you expect me to believe that you've just hopped from the Dark Side to join us?" I asked, wondering if somewhere in this tower, Tony and the others were watching this on a giant TV, with popcorn and yelling at me not to blow this.

Well mainly Tony, I don't see the others as yellers.

"Of course not," replied the Trickster with a patronising smile. "But you must if you want your plan to go through."

So he did know about the plan- I knew it!

"Prove it, Twinkle-toes," I replied coolly, knowing I was pushing my luck as Loki's face darkened (I swear I could hear Tony's laughter from here. "Prove that you're not here just to use us like your own personal puppets."

"I don't think it really matters- I want the Chitauri to stop chasing me and you want them not to invade Earth," he said, watching me carefully. "Would it not be simpler if we accepted that we cannot trust each other and just set about our task?"

"Why don't you just kill the group chasing you?" I asked.

"I do, but there is one who holds the device which allows them to travel and he always leaves before I can kill him." He looked slightly peeved at my questioning his brains.

I hope Tony heard that. So there was a device they were using to get about- just one from the sounds of it so if we could just find that one blasted Chitauri then we could put an end to this. It sounded easy enough- there couldn't be that many Chitauri following him and there was more than one Avenger.

"So what you're saying is that the almighty Loki needs our help?"

I was seriously pushing it, but I couldn't help but ask. It had only been days since we'd agreed to this plan and I was supposed to believe that Loki actually wanted to be a part of it.

"Did I not say that I was wanted to leave my current path? I wish now only to help you defend Earth against the Chitauri threat," he replied calmly, but his eyes flashed dangerously.

That wasn't an answer to the question, and no matter how great a liar it was easy to see through them. Or maybe this was a double bluff? Either way, I knew we had to be cautious about this.

"Well then I guess I can't deny you if you really want to do it," I replied, somewhat sarcastically. "Although I'm not the one in charge, so…"

I shrugged, the god smirking and leaning over to whisper.

"Whether this was part of a plan or not you would not refuse me."

"Why's that?"

He looked me in the eye, raising his eyebrow and looking at me with a mixture of hate and superiority.

"Because like that stupid oaf who calls himself my brother you believe I can be brought back from this path- you care about me," he explained, loading as much hatred as he could into the sentence. "Because no matter how many times I hurt you- whether with words or weapons you still continue to believe in me, even if you don't know it."

Wow, since when was Loki a shrink? To my credit I didn't show any response to this statement.

"Well it's lucky that I'm not in charge of the plan then, isn't it?" I asked absentmindedly.

"You don't have to be," he replied with a chuckle, and I felt shivers go down my spine.

He was definitely up to something.