"Hey Bruce! I got a surprise for you!" Tony announced as he walked into the med-bay carrying Jan. Thor was behind him with Storm in his arms.

"First of all, it's not a surprise. Jarvis told me you were coming," Bruce said. "Second, can you not refer to your injured teammates like you're giving me a gift?"

"Don't be a downer, Brucie," Tony said with a pout. He laid Jan down on one of the beds and Thor did the same for Storm. Bruce had already taken out the necessary tools. "You know Tony, you really should get a real doctor for this place."

"That's what we have you for," Tony objected.

Bruce just sighed. "If one of us gets hurt in a battle the Hulk is involved in, I won't be able to help."

"If that happens, I'll get someone."

Bruce just sighed again. "Tony, you're impossible to deal with sometimes."

"Will Lady Storm be alright?" Thor spoke up, looking at the two of them.

Tony patted Bruce's arm. "I'll leave you to it." He said as he walked toward the elevator.


Tony was surprised to find an old man in a wheel chair in his penthouse. While he had known that Loki was going to see Charles Xavier about the girl, he hadn't exactly known that the man was going to appear in his tower. He was also mildly surprise to see a blue chick standing at his side, before he recognized it to be Mystique. Luna was standing before them, the girl still unconscious at their feet.

"Wow, you work fast," Tony said said as he approached.

Luna tossed him a sly look over her shoulder. "Unlike some people, I do not dawdle when I seek to get a task done. And explanations go much faster when the recipient takes the information straight from your mind."

"Without asking!" Mystique interjected, giving Xavier a pointed look.

"Are you still on that?" Xavier asked. "I thought we agreed to let go of the past."

"I would if you didn't do it every five minutes," Mystique said as she folded her arms over her chest.

"So, this is fun," Tony said as he took up position by Luna's side. "But not exactly what I wanted to talk about."

Mystique let out a put upon sigh as she answered. "The girl is Rogue. I met her while I was on the run from Magneto."

"Her name is Anna Marie," Xavier corrected.

"She's Rogue," Mystique repeated. "Why can't you just-"

"Also, not what I wanted to talk about," Tony interrupted. Luna gave him a look and Tony continued. "Not that that isn't important!" He said hurried. "But I wanted to talk to you about Science Club."

"Really, Anthony?" Luna rolled her eyes. "Your priorities are just atrocious. Two of your teammates are unconscious because of this girl."

"Bruce is taking care of that!" Tony exclaimed.

"I don't know whether to be appalled at your recklessness or amazed at the unwarranted faith you have in your teammates." Luna told him.

"It's totally warranted!"

Xavier chuckled at them. "Yes, I see what you mean Loki. The resemblance is notable indeed, though I like to think I've improved."

"Perhaps with your students, I couldn't speak on that, but with Raven at your side you positively digress." Luna told him.

"Are you talking about me right now?" Tony asked. "I feel like you're talking about me."

Xavier chuckled again before speaking. "From what I understand, her power is to take the memories and abilities of others via skin to skin contact. My guess is that she was unable to process the memories she was receiving from Thor. If he is, as you claim to be, a god, then her mind was likely incompatible with the way your minds work and the sheer amount of information she took in all at once overwhelmed her." He paused, then added, "And yes, I would enjoy partaking in your 'Science Club.' It's been brought to my attention that I have been a bit too reclusive in recent years and my students have followed suit. Perhaps if I had not allowed myself to become so jaded..." He trailed off and his eyes gained a far off look for a few moments before he pulled himself out of it. "Also, I'd like to bring one of my students, if that's okay with you."

"The more the merrier," Tony said.

"Raven, if you met this child earlier, how did she end up with Magneto?" Luna questioned.

"He must have found her while chasing me," Mystique answered. "I couldn't bring her with me, since I was on the run, and I was still too angry with Charles to suggest she seek him out. There was nothing that I could do and my memories were so confused back then, that probably didn't help."

"Ororo didn't seem to know her," Luna contemplated aloud. "She was found after you, so he either obtained the girl later or he chose to keep her a secret."

"Maybe it just took him longer to earn her trust," Mystique said bitterly.

Luna placed her hand on Mystique's head while Xavier reached out to take her hand. "The effects of the child's power, are they permanent?" Luna asked.

"Not from what I've been able to tell," Xavier answered.

"Since she knows you, Raven, would you like to look after the little leech?" Luna asked.

"She's not a leech," Mystique objected.

"Her power is to take from others, what would you call it?"

Mystique glared at Luna. "She is not a leech."

"I am not going to be nice to her simply because your mutant solidarity is flaring up again," Luna said. "I know nothing of this child except that she attacked us, I am in my rights to call her what I wish."

Mystique frowned, then looked to the girl on the ground. "You should take her back with you, Charles. You're good at teaching others to handle their powers. I'll go so that I can talk to her, calm her down maybe, but..."

"I understand, Raven," Xavier told her.

"So, what's the plan here?" Tony asked. "You three take the lost girl back to your secret mutant island and then what?"

"And then they deal with the girl," Luna finished. "We deal with Ororo."

"If you wanted..." Xavier began, but Luna cut him off.

"We'll deal with Ororo," She said firmly. "Though we may want you to deal with another mutant, when she comes around."

"Of course," Xavier nodded. "My doors are always open to other mutants."

"So, question," Tony said. "You read minds or whatever, right?"

"Yes," Xavier answered with a nod.

"So, can you read Luna's mind?"

"To an extent," Xavier explained. "As I said, her mind is not the same as that of a human. While surface thoughts come through well enough, it takes much more time and concentration to look deeper."

"And as he found out when we first met, such a thing is not at all pleasant," Luna smiled wryly. She grabbed Rogue again by her belt. "So, shall I return you both?"

"That would be best for now," Xavier said. "We don't want to frighten the girl too much when she wakes."

Luna leaned down to kiss Tony. "Anthony, check on your teammates. I may not be back immediately."

"I don't need you to babysit me," Tony snorted.

"Of course not," Luna answered with a smile. "That's what Virginia is for." With that, Luna rested a hand on the back of Xavier's wheelchair, then she and the mutants disappeared.


The mansion of Charles Xavier felt a lot like being back in Asgard. Loki was used to being an outcast, that didn't bother him. The fact that the avoidance and disdain was being directed at Raven was what irritated him. Loki quickly found that he was not very fond of Xavier's followers for just that reason.

Loki remained in Raven's true form for most of the time he was in the mutant institution while Raven, at his behest, took the form of Luna. It kept enough of their scorn off of her to satisfy him. Not that Raven chose to walk amongst the others often. She didn't have to, now that she had come to an understanding with her brother. They could spend time ensconced in one of the man's studies or bedroom. There were a few places in the mansion that were kept for Charles' private use and that his students stayed away from. Charles, at least, was reasonable enough and Loki didn't have to explain to the man that Loki's team would not be working closing with the mutants if it could be avoided.

Loki didn't have to tell the man much of anything, really. Not only because Charles was a mind reader, but he was fairly intuitive. Loki supposed that after having lost his sister once, he wasn't really willing to make the same mistake of inattentiveness again. That said, Loki did enjoy conversing with Charles Xavier, not that he let Raven know this. She wanted to keep both of them to herself, but without having figured out exactly what she wanted from them. It was a pattern of hers, this confused possessiveness, but Loki wasn't going to call her on it this time. Better to let her stumble through her relationship with Charles Xavier on her own until she knew what she wanted.

In the meantime, Loki found that the man was rather good at multitasking conversations. Living so long with his talents, multitasking was probably a must. Loki enjoyed a vast and deep array of conversation with Charles in his head, while out loud they allowed Raven to control the flow of conversation. To an extent, at least.

The rogue girl was taking an extraordinarily long time to wake up.

That, or Loki was being particularly impatient.

It was while Loki was being loudly impatient in his mind, and Charles was trying to counsel him on being more understanding and giving the girl a fair chance once she woke, that Raven received a call. She shifted into Lockley as she answered the phone.

"Agent," Lockley said in greeting.

"Lockley," Coulson greeted just as simply. "I'm putting together a team for mission. It's a little more dangerous than usual, though."

"Oh?"

"It involves Dr. Doom," Coulson explained. Raven froze for a moment and Loki was already shifting into Lockley's form, reaching to pull the phone out of the girl's hand.

"Go on," Loki said in Lockley's voice.

"I don't want to go over all the details over the phone, but there's a good chance that this team could end up facing him directly. If the risk is too much for you-"

"Not at all," Lockley answered calmly. "Am I to work with Black Widow once again?"

"In all likelihood," Coulson replied.

"I see. When do you need me there?"

"Soon as you can. We want to debrief and get going as soon as possible. Latveria isn't exactly a short stroll away."

"I'll be there as soon as I can, then." Loki hung up the phone and tossed it back to Raven, returning to his own form.

"Loki?" Raven asked. He could tell she was going to say more, but he cut her off.

"Skye had a contact in Shield, yes?" Loki asked.

Raven nodded. "Yes. Grant Ward."

"Good. Use him. Find out what Shield has been up to lately."

Raven clinched the phone tightly in her hand, her expression scrunched and worried. "You asked about Black Widow," She began hesitatingly. "You aren't going to..."

Loki laid a finger on her lips, silencing her. He had a calm and patient look on his face as he returned to his normal form, even as his emotions became more unkempt. His mind was moving quickly. There was a lot he needed to do in a presumably short amount of time. "Do not worry on the Widow. Regardless of what she has or has not done, the Hawk has requested a boon for her protection. I am going to keep her safe, for now. I need you to find out what Shield has planned. I think I have left this situation unchecked a little too long."

"Right..." Raven nodded. Indecision was written all over her face. Loki didn't have time for her to worry. Placing a finger under her chin, he lifted her face so that she was looking directly in his eyes.

"There are only two things I need from you right now, Raven. I need you to be Skye and I need you to take care of the rogue girl. Understand?"

Raven looked more determined at the firmness of his tone. "Right," she nodded.

"Anything I can help with?" Charles asked quietly, both aloud and inside Loki's mind.

"Yes. Look out for the girl," Loki said aloud, while his mind responded, 'Take care of Raven. Don't let her worry. Do not let her do anything foolish.'

"Of course," He responded.

With that, Loki teleported and Raven had calls to make.


Thor was the first thing that Storm saw when she woke. She tensed immediately, but nothing happened and after a moment she realized that nothing would. It was ridiculous, but she seemed not to suffer from any restrictions. She wasn't bound in any way, wasn't locked up somewhere, unless the room itself was her prison, but she somehow doubted it. The fact that Shield agents were not already all over was something to be suspicious of. She had not forgotten whose prisoner she was nor that working with the Avengers was a punishment, a parole, rather freedom. Her expression was wary and she eyed Thor as she pulled herself into a sitting position.

He didn't speak to her, which was odd and unsettling in itself. Thor was never still, never quiet, in all the time she had known him. His eyes were never as sad and serious as they were now. The air was nearly crackling with the tension that seemed so omnipresent between them. She could never discern what precisely it was, only that sent electricity sparking through her veins and threatened thunderstorms in the very air around them.

Perhaps she was wrong about her freedom. Perhaps he was her sentry to keep her from escape.

"Am I a prisoner now?" She asked.

"No more so than you were before, my lady." Thor told her.

"Then why are you..." She didn't know how to phrase her question. She wanted to know why he was still and silent, but asking outright made her uneasy.

"I do not like that you have attacked one of our teammates," Thor said. "I do not wish to have to harm you, so I would ask that you not do so again."

"I wasn't going to turn down a chance for escape!" Storm snapped.

Thor nodded. "I understand," He said. "That chance has passed now. I will not stand by and allow you to harm my Shieldmates."

"Is that all?" Storm asked. Her voice was low, but tinged with the anger of her impotence.

"No," Thor answered. "You may wish to know that Lady Janet is fine, as is the girl, though she is not here. A reader of minds came for her, the leader of your kind, I believe."

Storm was silent a moment. "Magneto sent someone for me once, he will do so again."

"Not if we make it clear that you do not wish to leave," Thor told her.

"I do wish to leave!" She growled at him.

Thor finally smiled at her as he answered. "Then that is the first thing that I will have to do! I will make it so that you want to stay."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"How indeed?" Thor repeated with a smile. He stood, lifting Mjolnir and placing it on his hip. "Is there anything that I may get you or would you like to rest here?"

"I want to return to my room," She answered, looking at him suspiciously.

Thor opened the door and held it for her. "After you, my lady."

She was still wary as she stood and walked to the door, but she also felt a bit more at ease. She didn't know what reception she would receive from the others, but Thor was at least straightforward. She knew where she stood with him.

"If you fear Shield," Thor said quietly as she passed him, "Know that I have no intention of letting them have you again. No matter your right or wrong, that will not be your fate."

A small shiver of relief went through her and her shoulders sagged with the lifted weight. She didn't thank him, though. She didn't even turn to look at him. She wasn't certain that she could look at him in that moment, not with the tension in the air and the close proximity they were still in.

Resolutely, she continued past him to the elevator. She wasn't certain whether she was relieved or disappointed when he didn't follow her.


"Where is Amora?" Loki asked as he teleported into Victor's lab. Jane badly startled, knocking papers and spare parts off the workbench. She backed up, staring at Loki with wide eyes.

Victor turned to face the god. "I do not know. I am not her keeper."

"You do not know," Loki repeated. "You have surveillance in every inch of this place, yet you do not know? The singular person that you were tasked to protect on this team and you've lost her!"

"Is there a reason that you have come barging into my lab?" Victor questioned, a hint of irritation in the man's voice.

"Amora is missing!" Loki hissed.

"What?" Jane gasped. She looked between the two, but remained soundly ignored.

"I cannot sense her!" Loki continued. "I checked her apartment and she is not there. She is missing, Victor! Odin has probably sent guards down to seize her by her now!"

"I will find her, as I always do," Victor said confidently.

"And yet you do not have the time to search," Loki continued angrily. "Shield is planning a raid on your castle."

"They will not succeed," Victor told him.

"Your arrogance is entirely misplaced," Loki said in exasperation. "We are fractured! Amora is missing. You've hardly had enough time to complete your replica Bifrost!"

"Wait! You're part of this?" Jane asked, pitching her voice slightly higher to be heard.

Loki finally turned to her, looking as if he just noticed that she was there. "Perhaps you should go and speak with your friend. You shall be departing from here soon enough, one way or another."

"Wait, no!" Jane replied. "I can't just stop this partway through! This is my life's work! If Shield gets a hold of it, I'll never make anymore progress! The whole reason i'm here is to finish this!"

Loki nodded. "Then you'd best pack up all that you've done, your notes and whatever components you've put together, and you'd best think of what you intend to tell Shield about your being here. I'll find a way for you continue your work elsewhere."

Jane nodded, turning immediately to try and gather all her notes. She looked flustered, but determined as she shuffled around the lab. Loki watched her a moment before turning back toward Victor.

"I doubt that this raid was entirely Shield's idea," Loki said to Victor. The god was pacing now as he spoke, agitation rolling off of him in waves. "The fact that they are doing this now, after so long, points to outside forces. Lorelei must be with them. I should have considered this! I thought she would make some grand gesture when she arrived, Lorelei was never one for subtlety, but I didn't consider who would be with her."

"You are getting worked up over nothing." Victor told him.

Loki glared venomously at Victor before taking a deep breath and calming. "You are right. I... After what happened with... Svadilfari..." Loki whispered the name, looking as if it pained him to do so, before he was able to continue. "I do not want to fail her again. I do not know how the All-father will punish her for her treason. She aided my escape and is actively helping me avoid Asgardian law, she was already banished once."

"Doom will not allow that to happen," Victor said. "Her pet is still here, he can be used to free her, if needed. If this Lorelei is after you, then her goal will be to use us as leverage. You will not let her. I will allow them to take me into custody. I will find The Enchantress and return her to where she belongs." He turned to face Jane. "I shall leave you to gather our work. I must prepare my defenses. I will not have them rummaging through my castle once I am no longer in it."

"You could leave Skurge here to defend it," Loki suggested.

"I doubt he will wish to do such a thing once he learns of his mistress' predicament." Victor replied.

"Is that concern I hear, Victor?" Loki questioned.

"Doubtful."

Loki smiled, but it fell away quickly. "I must depart. Lockley was called for this mission and I must play her part."

"What of Mystique?" Victor asked.

"She is busy elsewhere and I did not want her involved," Loki answered. "I did not think she would sit quietly by watching her home be invaded and I did not want to strain her involvement with the Widow."

Victor tilted his head in way that indicated curiosity.

"We will speak on it later," Loki assured him. "Though if you could refrain from breaking her when she enters your castle, that would be appreciated."

"If she is to be a suit for Mystique, she should be able to handle herself," Victor grumbled.

"Now is not the time, Victor," Loki scolded with a smile. He looked between the two mortals as they busied themselves before teleporting away.