A month later…

Two ravens appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the horizon, just after dawn. They appeared to be searching for something, weaving easily between Manhattan's numerous skyscrapers.

They flew towards the Stark Tower, recognizing a familiar thrum of power. The pair circled the building, from the top and working their way down, squawking occasionally to communicate with each other.

It didn't take long before they found their quarry. Without making any sound, they landed on the balcony. They spied their prince still in his bed, fast asleep. They settled on their perch, and waited patiently for him to wake up.

Loki's eyes snapped open when he felt a presence. He turned his head slowly, expecting to see the All-Father looming over him. Two pairs of beady eyes gazed back, clearly amused. The trickster heaved a sigh of relief.

"Hello Huginn and Muninn," Loki said, as he opened the sliding glass door. The ravens went in and plopped down on his desk. They bowed their heads in greeting.

The trickster waved a hand, and a large bowl of fresh berries and another bowl full of water, appeared. Huginn and Munnin started eating immediately. They had traveled far, and were famished.

Loki stroked their feathers as they ate. He liked these remarkable birds; they were the closest he had to actual pets when he was little. But since they were Odin's official messengers, they were out and about most of the time.

Muninn was the first to finish. He looked around Loki's room, appraising it. He turned to Loki, looking perplexed.

"You actually live here?"

Aside from having the ability to travel around different realms without the use of the Bifrost, Odin gave his ravens the ability to communicate telepathically.

They were also smarter and more sardonic than the average bird.

Loki gave a careless shrug. "It's home."

"This place is not fit for a prince."

"You should see the apartments around here. By Manhattan's standards, this is a palace already."

Muninn didn't appear convinced. Then Huginn spoke.

"We've been looking for you for ages. The All-Father and the All-Mother were distraught."

Loki stiffened. The guilt he had successfully ignored for years came clawing back out again.

"They want you to go back to Asgard now."

"Do they really expect me to drop everything and just leave? They don't have the right to tell me that," Loki bit out, his guilt quickly replaced by anger. The pain of their deception was still fresh; a measly decade was not going to cut it.

Muninn just gave him a put-upon look.

"You are a god. Why do you choose to mingle with mortals?"

Loki stayed silent. In his mind, he heard the ravens sigh. Huginn spoke again.

"Thor is coming."

Loki winced. Odin and Frigga he could deal with, but Thor was another matter. He wondered if the thunderer had found out the truth yet. It was highly unlikely, because why would he go through all this trouble for a lowly Jotun? Unless Thor wanted to beat him up or something.

"When?"

"Soon. The trial of Prince Suttung is nearing its end."

Loki smiled grimly. "Thank you for the warning then."

He let Huginn and Muninn rest, and gave them more food. Loki petted their heads absently, brows furrowed in deep thought.

Outside, the city slowly came to life.

The two birds nipped his fingers affectionately to get his attention.

"We should go back. Your parents are expecting us. Do you have a message for them?"

Loki weighed his words. He missed his family dearly, but he wasn't ready to face them yet.

"Send them my love," he murmured, "and my apologies."

Huginn and Muninn nodded in sympathy. The pair flew out Loki's room, and hovered in mid-air.

"Farewell, my prince."

And they were gone.

"Ew. Why are you putting orange juice in your tea?" Darcy said, wrinkling her nose.

Loki blinked, then stared at the carton in his hand dazedly. He couldn't even remember taking it out of the fridge. Huginn and Muninn's surprise visit had unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

"I got it," Darcy said, swiping his mug and dumping the contents in the sink. She started brewing a fresh batch. "Are you ok? You look a little out of it."

The trickster rubbed his face tiredly. It wasn't even noon yet and he was already feeling worn out. "It's one of those days."

"You've been on edge for weeks. Maybe you need a vacation or something," Darcy suggested, handing Loki his tea.

"No, I don't think that would help," the god muttered. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but he could feel Heimdall's gaze on him. It was futile to try hiding again.

"Oh yeah, there's your mail," Darcy said, pointing to a huge canvas bag overflowing with letters near his couch. "Want me to help you sort it out?"

Loki groaned into his cup. "I don't feel like answering the mail today," he said, failing to keep the whine out of his voice.

"You have to. Otherwise it's going to pile up," Darcy said firmly.

The elevator opened, and the trio came out.

"Hey, want to watch a couple of movies before the game?" Tony chirped, holding a stack of DVDs.

"You go ahead, I have to answer my mail," Loki said glumly.

"No sweat. We'll wait," Tony said, appearing eager all of a sudden.

Loki's eyes narrowed. "This is not going to be another source of hilarity for you Tony."

The billionaire just put on an innocent look.

"Have you considered hiring someone to answer your fan mail? It's like you're getting more each week," Bruce observed.

The trickster considered it, then shook his head. He wasn't comfortable sharing this kind of stuff with an employee. "Don't you guys receive letters too?"

"We do, but not as much as this," Steve answered, while sipping his morning coffee. In reality it was mostly kindergarteners or veterans who sent him letters. Bruce's mainly consisted of invitations to attend science conferences. As for Tony, majority of his mail were notices that he was getting sued (because of RANDY).

Without waiting for Loki, Darcy commenced dividing the letters into two stacks, the fan mail (they were easy to spot; the envelopes came in eye-catching colors or smelled of perfume), and the ordinary, less amorous, kind.

Loki gawked at the colorful pile, growing more embarrassed by the minute. His fan mail ran the gamut of people asking for his picture or autograph, to something more R-rated.

Midgardians were such a peculiar bunch.

He noticed Tony was slowly inching towards it. Judging from his expression, the billionaire was up to no good.

"Don't even think about it," the trickster growled, and immediately erected a force field around the pile. He was answering these later, in private.

"Aw man, you're no fun," Tony whined.

Loki ignored him and grabbed a couple of letters lying on top of the "safe" pile. An envelope from MIT caught his attention.

It was a letter of apology. "Oh, so now you believe me," he muttered.

"Who's it from?" Steve asked, curious.

"My former World Mythology professor," Loki replied.

"You mean the asshole prof who gave you a low grade? Was it a B minus?" Tony inquired.

"The same one. He's now giving me an A," Loki answered, reading the rest of the letter. "And he's asking if I could give a lecture in his class sometime," the god added. He turned to his co-CEO. "I didn't know MIT professors could give grades retroactively."

"They don't. You're the exception. He probably thinks you're going to hunt him down and go Old Testament on his ass," the billionaire said, snickering.

Tony wasn't far off the mark; Loki had thought about smiting his professor when he was still in college. He appreciated the old man's gesture though. He wrote a quick thank you note and sent it to directly to his teacher.

The trickster opened another letter. This one was from Random House, offering to publish his autobiography. He tossed it away, not interested. Considering he was thousands of years old, he doubted if he could cram his life story in a single book. And he neither had the time nor patience to sit and write it all down.

The next letter was more promising. "Says here Ben & Jerry's wants to create an ice cream flavor in my honor," Loki read, " and they also want me to list down the ingredients that best represent who I am." He nearly burst out laughing. If they only knew. How about a heaping amount of rage, cynicism, and self-loathing, with a nice helping of bitterness thrown in?

If he were an ice cream flavor, he wouldn't taste very good.

"If it's a new flavor, you have to name it." Tony thought for a moment. "How about 'Tall, Dark, and Horny?'" he proposed.

Bruce and Darcy started giggling.

Steve spat out his coffee. "Tony!"

"What? I'm talking about his helmet!"

Loki hastily wrote his reply, knowing if he dawdled Tony would continue coming up with more ridiculous titles. With a snap of his fingers, the letter went directly to the recipient.

He picked up another envelope, this time it was from Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool. The guy was begging Loki to let him join the Avengers. Tony grabbed it and immediately ripped the note to shreds. "Don't ever answer his letters. Same with Spider-Man. And Squirrel Girl too," Tony said grimly.

Loki didn't ask why. He didn't want to know.

It took Loki another hour to finish replying to all his mail. He settled down on the couch, sighing in relief.

Meanwhile the group had decided to watch Sherlock Holmes. Tony wanted Transformers, but he was voted three against one. The billionaire grumbled as he inserted the disc inside the DVD player.

"You know Tony, this Robert Downey Jr. fella looks a lot like you," Steve commented, as they were twenty minutes into the movie.

"Naw. I'm better-looking. And taller," Tony said, winking at the national icon. Steve blushed in response.

Loki rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered which was bigger, Tony's bank account, or his ego.

All of a sudden his television started acting up. The images started getting blurry.

"Looks like your tv is on the fritz Tom," Bruce said.

Tony scowled. "That tv is Stark made. It doesn't just conk out."

"Try turning it off and on again," Steve advised.

"That's for computers, Steve," Darcy pointed out.

Loki was about to follow Steve's suggestion when Doctor Doom's face appeared. He was wearing his full battle regalia, including his infamous metal mask.

For a few moments, they just gaped at the screen.

Tony spoke first. "Did you just bust in my network?" he demanded, horrorstruck.

"Obviously. I penetrated your pathetic excuse of a firewall and slid right in," Doom replied disdainfully.

"So you just stick yourself wherever you damn please. Typical," the billionaire shot back.

"Is it me, or does this conversation sound vaguely dirty?" Steve whispered to Bruce, as Tony and Doom flung innuendo-laced insults at each other.

The scientist was trying not to laugh. "JARVIS, please tell me you are recording this."

"I'm sending a copy to your hard drive, sir," the AI replied.

Bruce gave a loud snort, unable to hold it in after JARVIS' accidental pun. That diverted Doom's attention.

"Enough. I'm not here to talk to you. I'm here for Loki," Doom said, infuriated. He wasn't counting on all the Avengers being present (plus the assistant), and that vexed him a great deal. No matter. These peasants were not worth his attention. He looked directly at Loki. "I'm Victor von Doom, ruler of Latveria."

The god appeared unimpressed, and Victor was a little taken aback. Usually his name inspired awe and fear, not the bland expression Loki was currently sporting.

"You forgot tyrant and psychotic super villain," Tony butted in.

Victor did what countless others had done before him; he pretended Tony didn't exist.

"Nice to meet you Victor. What can I do for you?" the god said politely.

Doom seemed to hesitate for a second, then pushed on. "I wish to meet you in person." A beat. "Would you like to have a few drinks with me?"

Beside him, Bruce choked on his popcorn. Steve started whacking the scientist on the back, trying to help him out. Darcy appeared like she was going to assault the tv.

"What?! Hell no!" Tony cried, his voice was a few octaves higher than usual.

"I didn't ask you, Stark," Victor snarled.

"Sure. Why not?" Loki said, unperturbed by all the commotion.

Tony stared at his best friend, speechless.

"Excellent. I'll send you my number. Just let me know when you are available," Victor said, sounding pleased. He was about to sign off, but Loki stopped him.

"May I see your face at least?" the god requested, peering at the monarch expectantly.

Victor seemed to ponder on it for a minute, then slowly took his mask off.

Tony had assumed that Doom wore his metal mask because he was ugly or horribly disfigured, like Darth Vader. Boy, was he wrong.

Before him was a guy who looked like a Calvin Klein model. Doom had light brown hair and deep-set gray eyes, a jawline you could carve rocks with, his mouth set in an arrogant smirk. But the most striking part of Doom's face was a thin, silver scar running vertically on his right cheek. No wonder the bastard was harder to put down compared to other super villains; rumors that his body was made out of organic metal alloy were true after all.

In Tony's opinion, Doom may be handsome but it did not make him less of a douche.

The only one who didn't look at all surprised by the tyrant's appearance was Bruce.

"Hello Bruce," the super villain said, nodding at the scientist.

"Hey Victor," Bruce greeted back.

The Latverian put his mask back on. "Satisfied?"

Loki couldn't help but chuckle. My, the sass was strong in this one. "Thank you Victor. I'll be seeing you then."

Without further ado, Doom signed off.

"That was…odd," Steve commented, blinking at the now-empty screen.

Tony rounded on Bruce, looking betrayed. "Do you mind enlightening us why you're on first name basis with him?"

Bruce squirmed under Tony's scrutiny. "We used to be lab partners in Caltech. He only stayed for one semester, then transferred to Empire State University," the scientist explained. "Victor and Reed were roommates. He did some dangerous experiments and caused an explosion in his dorm. ESU kicked him out and that was about the time he snapped," he added pensively. "It might sound unbelievable, but Victor used to be a normal guy. A bit intense maybe, but harmless."

"Yeah, people said that about Ted Bundy too. Psychopaths are like that," Tony said irately. He tossed Loki a glare. "I can't believe you said yes."

The god didn't even bat an eye. "He seems interesting."

"You have to admit, Doom is hot. I'd say yes if he asked me out on a date," Darcy said glibly.

Now it was Bruce's turn to look upset. His lips started to quiver, indicating that he was about to cry any moment now.

Darcy panicked and hurried over to Bruce's side. "I didn't mean it! I'm sorry," she cooed, hugging the scientist. Bruce sniffled a bit.

"He only asked Tom out for a drink. That's not a date," Steve said, bewildered. "Bucky and I used to go to bars all the time, but we never considered it as dates. It was just two friends drinking."

Tony emitted a long-suffering sigh. "Cap, in the 21st century, asking someone out for a drink is considered a date."

"That is absurd," Loki said. "Is this one of your stupid Bromandments or Bro Code, or whatever the Hel you call it, again?"

"Ok, I'll pretend I didn't just hear those blasphemous words. And no, this is not part of the Bro Code. This is Dating 101. It applies to both bros and chicks." Tony stood up and started walking around in front of Loki and Steve, like a general before his platoon.

"Let me break it down for you two. Asking someone out for coffee is not a date. It's between friends. Totally platonic, neutral ground. Asking someone out for drinks, definitely not platonic. Still following me?"

Steve and Loki just gave him blank looks.

Tony continued. "Lunch is friend zone. Dinner is a whole different ballgame. You ask someone out to dinner if you want to have sexy times afterwards. Asking someone out for drinks is a prelude to dinner. That is Phase 1 of Doom's plan. Do not, under any circumstances, go out to dinner with Doom," the billionaire stated solemnly.

"Steve and I always go out for dinner. Does that mean we are dating now?" Loki said tartly.

"Cap doesn't count. He is already taken by yours truly," Tony declared, as if Steve wasn't present. "Besides, you're already madly in love with the blond of your dreams. It's Doom I don't trust. He's going mind whammy you and next thing you know you're down his dungeon getting boned or cloned. Whichever comes first."

The super soldier looked absolutely scandalized. Tony outright laid claim on him like he was a piece of virgin land or something. "We are not even a couple!" he fumed.

"That is easily remedied. Steve, will you go out to dinner with me?" Tony asked sweetly.

"No!"

"Goddamnit."

"Looks like that is your 497th rejection, Tony," Bruce announced.

"What the hell Bruce. Why are you keeping count?" the billionaire demanded, glaring daggers at his science bro.

Darcy cleared her throat. "I hate to interrupt the male bonding, but we need to go," she said, tapping her watch. "We have a game to attend. Remember?"

The trio, to her amusement, didn't even need to be told twice. Loki did the same and got dressed, but with a lot less enthusiasm. Fifteen minutes later, and they were off.

"So, when is your date with Victor going to be?" Bruce asked from the backseat.

Loki was driving, and with him were Steve and Bruce. They were on their way to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a half hour trip from Stark Tower. Tony and Darcy were in another car, way ahead of them. Loki could see his best friend's red Bugatti zigzagging along the road. For Tony, speed limits were merely suggestions.

"It's not a date," Steve insisted, quickly coming to Loki's defense. "It's just two guys drinking," he repeated.

Loki gazed at Bruce from the rearview mirror. "You don't actually believe that whole Dating 101 drivel, do you?"

Bruce looked sheepish. "Ok, you have a point. But super villains just don't contact super heroes and be chummy with them all of a sudden. Aren't you a little bit suspicious about the whole thing? Tony was not kidding about the whole mind control and cloning by the way. Victor is known for doing it to his own allies."

"I'm moved that you and Tony are concerned with my well-being, but I think I can handle Victor," the god responded offhandedly.

Bruce didn't have a rebuttal for that. In fact, he was positive Loki could take on all the world's super villains without even breaking a sweat. Ever since the trickster had revealed himself, no one had dared attack New York. Maybe that was why Doom wanted to meet Loki in the first place, so he could scope the god out.

The scientist gave a small sigh. It looked like Loki was adamant to meet the Latverian, no matter how much he and Tony objected to the idea. "Fine. Just be always on your guard around the guy. Aside from being a scientist, he's also a sorcerer. That makes him a double threat. He's also completely amoral. There is no telling what he would do."

Loki picked up his friend's worried tone. "I'll be fine Bruce. Don't worry," he said gently.

Bruce gave the trickster a pained smile return.

"Who knows? Maybe Tom could convince Doom to switch to the good side," Steve said, ever the optimist.

Bruce seriously doubted that, but said nothing.

They arrived in MetLife Stadium just minutes before the game. It was New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings. Tony had rented a luxury suite, so they had a private room all to themselves. It was like a small apartment; it had a kitchen, a wet bar, a private bathroom, comfortable sofas, and four HD televisions. Food such as canapés, shrimp cocktail, sushi, and bottles of champagne were already laid out. It must've cost Tony a fortune.

Despite the lavish accommodation, Loki wanted to go back home. He wanted to be somewhere quiet and familiar, and this place was the exact opposite. He felt claustrophobic.

"I don't know why we have to come here Tony. We could've just watched this game back home for free," the god said, looking at the TVs mounted on the wall pointedly. He thought it was senseless these devices were even installed inside the room in the first place, when you could just turn your head and see all the action outside.

"Quit being a tightwad. Look at how thrilled they are," Tony said, gesturing at Steve, Bruce, and Darcy. Their friends were by the window, taking in the spectacular view of the whole football field. They were grinning widely, giddy with excitement. "Plus we need to take the princesses out of the tower once in a while."

Steve and Bruce glowered at the billionaire. They had donned on those ridiculous Viking helmets with bright yellow pigtails on them, so the dirty looks they were sending Tony didn't have much of an effect.

"What? You two hardly go out unless Tom and I ask you to," Tony said, popping a California roll into his mouth. "You do know the Vikings never won a Super Bowl right? The Giants are going to win," he said, smirking.

Steve shrugged. "We always root for the underdogs."

Sure enough, the fans of the Giants vastly outnumbered the Vikings'. Their faces were painted blue, matching the color of their football jerseys. Loki could only see minute specks of yellow in a sea of blue.

For a moment he imagined he was back in Jotunheim again, the frost giants surrounding him, and he was fighting for his life. The trickster felt light-headed. He leaned on the bar counter, and took deep breaths. Fortunately everyone was preoccupied with the game to witness his mini panic attack.

When Loki felt like himself again, he walked over and joined the others.

The Vikings put up a valiant fight, but by the end of the first half the Giants had two field goals and one touchdown, leading by twelve points.

"This is horrible," Bruce wailed, as the two teams left the field to rest for a couple of minutes. "They are getting killed out there."

Loki winced at the scientist's choice of words.

"They still have time to catch up. Don't lose hope Bruce," Steve said firmly.

Then a deafening crash of thunder startled all of them.

"That's weird. It's not supposed to rain today," Tony said, glancing outside. Bolts of lightning started flickering across the sky. "Woah, the weather is going nuts."

Loki swallowed thickly, as the thunder became more insistent. All of a sudden he remembered his first day in college, arguing with the professor in his World Mythology class.

"…he'll do it with flashes of lightning preceded by booming thunder…"

Even if he were in a coma, he'd recognize this sound. He had heard it a million times; it was familiar as his own heartbeat.

Fear, mixed with relief, flooded his body. The past few weeks had been agonizing, waiting for this moment to come. He'd rather just get this over and done with.

One thing was for sure, he was not returning to Asgard. If he had to grovel just to stay here, so be it.

"He's here," Loki breathed, gazing at the sky.

"Who?" Darcy asked. She noticed her boss had gone deathly pale, and he was trembling slightly. "What's wrong?"

As soon as she said it, a final clap of thunder resonated throughout the whole stadium, and a man with a red cape landed in the middle of the field.

Loki smiled humorlessly at Thor's grand entrance. The thunderer always had a penchant for the theatrics.

"LOKI! Where are you?" Thor bellowed.

The trickster stood up and turned to his friends. "Whatever happens, don't intervene," he said quietly.

"Hey, hold on…aw shit. He's gone."

A second later Loki appeared right in front of Thor.

Steve and Darcy were already out of the suite and sprinting down the bleachers, while Bruce was taking off his shirt and shoes, just in case the Hulk was needed.

Tony's suit was still in his Bugatti. Swearing up a storm, he ran out to get it.

Thor scanned the stadium, looking for his brother. He had never seen so many people gathered in one place; the younger god could be anywhere. He was about to call out Loki's name again when the trickster appeared before him.

Thor dropped Mjolnir in shock, not daring to believe it.

When Loki had vanished, his world had been knocked askew and he had been reeling from the loss ever since. He couldn't get his bearings and his sadness went beyond grief. He was not alive; he merely existed. Thor had thought being king would make him happy, but nothing brought him any joy ever since he became ruler of Asgard. Nothing mattered since his brother was not by his side.

Loki was the first thing on his mind when he woke up, and the last in his thoughts when he went to sleep.

Now that his brother was standing right there, and Thor was at a loss on what to do. He wanted to cry and scream, wanted to hold on to Loki so tight that he wouldn't disappear or wander off again. Thor wanted to hurt him, make him feel at least a fraction of the pain he had inflicted on their family. Frigga had wept every night for her missing son, and Odin had mourned with her.

The younger god stared back at him with calm eyes, fully aware of the promise of violence. Yet Loki came without any armor for protection nor a weapon to defend himself. He'd willingly let himself get hurt, as he had done countless of times before.

As if reading his thoughts, Loki spread his hands in invitation. "Go ahead," he said softly. "I deserve it."

It felt like Thor had been doused with cold water. His fury was gone in an instant, leaving him weak and disoriented. "Brother," he whispered, reaching out to Loki.

The trickster flinched. "I'm not your brother," he said, shaking his head miserably. "I never was."

He sounded so unhappy and lost, and it broke Thor's heart. "I don't care. You're still Loki. You're always going to be my brother," he said, with all the conviction he could muster.

The trickster couldn't speak, devastated by the older god's words. He'd rather Thor beat him senseless and reject him; it would've hurt less. He'd be rid of Thor once and for all. He would finally be free.

This was not supposed to happen.

Loki wept.

Darcy ran towards her boss, Steve right behind her. The two gods were just staring at each other, neither one of them moving.

When she got closer, her chest clenched at the sight. Normally Loki didn't show any emotion, his face had always been an impenetrable mask. But now that façade had crumbled, and it was raw and painful to behold.

Loki was crying, gazing at the newcomer with so much longing and sadness. The other's expression wasn't any different; need and want were spilling out of him in waves. Darcy noticed the massive hammer on the ground, forgotten by its owner. Her stomach gave a nauseating lurch as realization dawned. She suddenly found it hard to breathe.

The person her boss had been pining for this whole time? It was the god of thunder himself.

She wanted so badly to comfort the trickster, but the blond got to him first. He cradled Loki's face so tenderly, brushing away his tears.

"I missed you so much," he murmured, pressing his forehead to Loki's. "Please don't leave me again."

Beside Darcy, Steve was looking everywhere but the two gods in front of him. He felt like a voyeur, after witnessing something so intimate. The people in the stadium were not as courteous as Steve though. Thousands of camera phones were going off, the incessant clicking grating on his nerves. The super solider hated this aspect of the 21st century; privacy was such a rare commodity nowadays.

Yet Thor and Loki didn't seem to notice what was going on around them, completely riveted with one another. Earth could've blown up and sucked into a black hole for all they care.

A few minutes later Bruce joined them, half-naked and barefoot, holding a stitch in his side. He was wheezing a little; hours being cooped up in his laboratory without any physical exercise didn't do much for his stamina.

"Where's Tony?"

Before Bruce could answer, the billionaire showed up right behind them.

"Hey guys, what did I mi- OHMYGOD," Tony exclaimed, his brain stuttering at the sight of Thor embracing his co-CEO.

Tom was tall, but this guy was taller. And bigger. Like damn, his muscles had muscles. Cap looked small standing next to him; the dude could probably bench press a herd of elephants. But the most important part was his hair.

The puzzle that had stumped him for a decade had finally been solved. This was a momentous event.

"It's him! The mystery blond!" the billionaire hollered, pointing at Thor while snubbing his friends' exasperated looks. They knew they were never going to hear the end of this from Tony.

"I was right. Y'all thought I was crazy. In yo' face Bruce! You owe me twenty bucks," he said smugly, shit-eating grin in place.

Bruce grudgingly took out his wallet and handed his science bro the money. "We made this stupid bet five years ago. I thought Tom liked brunettes," he explained to Steve, while giving a sideways glance at Darcy. Said brunette was still staring at the two gods, looking dejected. Bruce and Steve tried to console her as best as they could.

Meanwhile Tony was doing a victory jig, as if he had won the Super Bowl himself.

He stopped dancing when he heard the faint roar of news helicopters in the distance. "Crap, the vultures are coming. We have to go." Sure enough a handful of reporters had already arrived, eager for a scoop. "Cap, start swingin' that shield."

"Those are civilians!" Steve protested.

"They aren't people, they're journalists. You can hit them," Tony insisted.

"Are they your friends?" Thor asked, watching Steve and Tony argue.

The god of thunder was eyeing them strangely, and Loki couldn't blame him. Steve was still wearing his silly Viking hat, Bruce was shirtless and shivering, Darcy was just standing there like a statue, and for anyone not familiar with the Iron Man suit, it appeared like Tony was a talking robot.

Loki let out a watery laugh. "Yes," the trickster replied, smiling at his brother. "Let's go home."

And he teleported everyone back to the Tower.

Two spectators, fans of rival teams, looked at one another.

"Best. Halftime show. Ever," they said in unison.

In the end, the Vikings rallied and beat the Giants. It was the biggest upset in football history.

Somewhere in Latveria, Victor watched Thor and Loki's tearful reunion in the news. He didn't like it. Luring the god of mischief to join him was going to be more difficult than he had anticipated.

Then again, he always loved a challenge.

Author's Notes:

Ted Bundy was an infamous American serial killer. He was smart, good-looking, and he appeared to be perfectly normal, just like Victor von Doom.

Fun fact:

Lightning comes before thunder. For Thor's case, it's the other way around. At first I wrote it as a running gag that the god of thunder doesn't know the correct order of things. Months later as I read the comic (Thor, Vol. 1 by J. Michael Straczynski if anyone is interested), I found out that Thor unleashes thunder first before lightning. It's actually canon. So I was like wow. Haha. Just thought I'd share this tidbit.