Just in case anyone forgot:
Ian Shuwmer: Secretary of State
Mariel Owens: U.N. Ambassador
Mark Carroll: Secretary of Defense

/

As far as Tony is concerned, Loki is a cheat. They had been tied when they went after the last criminal whose location SHIELD had provided them with, and just as Tony was about to bring him down, Loki had leaned in for a quick, searing kiss, and stolen his capture. Loki threw him a cheeky grin, teleporting the prisoner back to SHIELD's secure headquarters, that was currently acting as a prison, leaving Tony to shout at the sky, "I'm going to wipe that smirk off your pretty face, Princess! Just you watch!"

Of course, as soon as Tony walks back into the meeting room where the politicians are still waiting, he can see Loki isn't in the mood to play games. In fact, Loki looks more serious than Tony has ever seen the Jotun. (Granted, he hasn't seen all that much of him, but the point still stands.)

"Thor is a prisoner of SHIELD!" Fury is shouting. "We are not turning him over to you."

"And you think you can hold him now that he has his powers back?" Loki counters. "That did not work out for you very well, as you just saw."

The room descends into a scene from Lord of the Rings, with everyone yelling at everyone else. Well, except for Fárbauti, who just looks exasperated that she has to deal with everyone acting like children.

"Oh my, this does not look good." Tony looks over his shoulder to see Freya, and the reawakened Captain America beside her. "What, exactly, are they fighting over?"

"Who gets custody of Big and Blond," Tony answers, watching as Loki's eyes spark at something Coulson has just said. "As you can see, it's not going well."

"Nothing is going to be solved if they keep at it like this," Cap says, stepping forward.

Freya places a hand on his arm to hold him back. "Wait."

"But-"

Freya shakes her head. "Trust me, Captain."

The Captain looks torn, but as Fárbauti stands, the arguments drop off. Her very presence radiates authority. Tony has met royalty before, but this is something new. This is a woman who has been Queen for millennia. Power, and its uses, are written into her very blood. All she needs do is level that steady, disappointed gaze on the gathering to remind them of that.

"Thor cannot stay here. You have seen only the barest hint of what the Thunderer is capable of. Before you protest," Fárbauti says sharply, cutting off the objections of those stupid enough to open their mouths to cut her off, "there is a solution that should appease both our worlds. Jotunheim has the resources to hold Thor, so he shall come back with us. However, his hammer Mjolnir, as much a prize as Thor himself, cannot be moved from where it fell, and therefore must remain under your protection. I believe your organization was already running tests on it," she directs to Fury, "so you should already have some idea of its power. Jotunheim will swear off all claims to Mjolnir, and unless your interactions put our world or people at risk, we shall not interfere in whatever ways you wish to use it. This arrangement will also give us both the added safety of having Thor separated from Mjolnir."

No one says anything, but the room is loud as everyone process what Fárbauti has said. Shuwmer, Owens, and Carroll look between themselves, having a silent conversation so efficiently that one would almost think they discussed deals with alien royalty every day. Finally, Shuwmer answers for the group. "You present a compelling argument, Queen Fárbauti, but we will need time to discuss it."

"Of course," Fárbauti replies. "Until then, however, Thor will remain in our care."

Shuwmer's jaw gives a little twitch, but after a moment he nods sharply.

"Before we depart for the day," Loki's voice cuts through the room, his calculating demeanor back in place, "I must also bring up the issue of who will be coming back to Jotunheim. The treaty can be finalized here, but in order for it to be considered binding, it must be presented to my father. I would also remind you that this treaty is extended to more than just your country."

"We'll have to call an emergency session," Owens says. At least one politician is being reasonable, and not fussing over having to share right now, Tony thinks. "Are you limited to how many people you can take back?" the U.N. Ambassador asks Loki.

"I will need to take Tony Stark and Thor back, so not more than four," the Jotun Prince answers.

Owens' brow furrows. "That's putting us in a tight spot," she mumbles to herself. "All right, I'll organize the meeting. Shuwmer and Carroll will inform the President, and we should have answers for you in the morning."

"That is acceptable," Fárbauti answers, and with that the meeting begins to disperse.

Tony catches Loki's arm to get his attention. "So, uh, that thing about me going to Jotunheim…"

"I did say you would need to meet my father," Loki says, mock innocence in his voice. It doesn't fool Tony for a second.

"Ha ha ha. No, seriously, I can't-"

Loki sighs, effectively cutting Tony off by taking a step closer, pressing their chests together. "Yes, you can. Your CEO runs your company, and SHIELD has others to take care of any troubles."

Tony decides to play along, hands going to Loki's hips and pulling him even closer. "Are you saying I'm replaceable?"

Loki gasps, a look of shock crossing his face. "Mr. Stark! I would never!" Tony's fiancé, and oh that is the strangest thing he has ever called anyone, leans forward to place a kiss on the tip of his nose. "Do you really think I would settle for replaceable?"

"Definitely not. You'd only settle for the best."

Loki smirks at him. "I am glad we understand each other." The Prince spins gracefully out of Tony's embrace, winking, actually winking, at Tony before making his way over to his mother and Thrym, who are discussing methods on how to hold Thor.

"A word of warning-"

"Jesus shit!" Tony hisses when Freya's musical voice comes from right beside him. "What is it with the sneaking up on people?"

Freya smirks at him, while Captain America gives Tony a disapproving stare. He seems to be following the goddess like some sort of oversized puppy at the moment. "Most of you mortals simply aren't that perceptive."

She pats his shoulder sympathetically. "As I was saying, you should know that Jotun consider engagements as binding as marriage."

Tony feels his stomach drop. "So, what you're saying is that, as far as Loki is concerned, since I agreed to marry him, we're as good as actually married?"

"That is the basis of what I was saying," Freya supplies. "If I were you, I'd avoid doing anything that could be perceived as a…rejection."

Tony sighs, running a hand through his hair. "This just gets better and better."

/

Once Loki and Fárbauti have placed their spells on Thor, Thrym is the one set to guard the Asgardian Prince. It is a simple decision, but one that will change the course of the war.