A/N: Takes place while the boys are trying to jumpstart the elf ship.
The spaceship looked like nothing that anyone drove on Asgard. How hard could it be, said Thor, and then proceeded to push buttons at random and act surprised when no results were achieved.
Loki stole a glance at the mortal. She was of Midgard, and a scientist besides. If this looked anything at all like Midgard technology, surely she would speak up and offer suggestions.
But when he caught her eye she shook her head, blank and terrified. She had no idea either.
Damn. He was now out of options. So, although it was an unpleasant thing to look back on, Loki closed his eyes and called to mind his brief crash-course (ha) in how to drive a Chitauri vehicle.
Now that he thought about it, the control panels actually did look a bit similar. The Chitauri flyers hadn't had power-on buttons either – they could be activated by just a sharp blow of a warrior's fist. It was supposed to make movement quicker and more efficient in battle; it required very little attention and you could even do it in your armor or with a weapon in your hand. Bang good and hard on the dashboard, and the ship would roar to life.
Of course, if he told Thor that, Thor would refuse to listen. Or, worse, would want to know where he got the idea. That conversation would not likely lead to Thor granting him any measure of trust, which he would need if he wanted to survive this day. So, he said something else.
"Gently," he purred. "Don't bang on it. Just press the buttons gently."
His tone was sweet and patronizing, exactly the tone most calculated to drive Thor into a rage, and sure enough Thor began banging on the ship while swearing that he was not.
The ship powered on.
Loki reminded himself not to look too smug.
The End.