I turned to Loki before I started leading him towards Fury, "just stay quiet, and stay behind me. If anyone tries anything or says anything let me handle it, okay?"

He almost started on the 'I am a God. I do not require the protection of a mortal woman.', but he decided better of it, "okay."

I led him through the base towards the bridge, upon our entrance most agents stopped working for a moment to stare at us. Loki fidgeted slightly from his spot behind me as all the eyes in the room turned toward us. Including Nat's Clint's and Fury's. Fury was glaring at us, before he led my group out of the room and down several hallways to a conference room.

We stopped outside the door when Fury spoke up, "Agent Romanov, Agent Barton. You two will remain here and ensure that we are not disturbed. Unless the world is ending I do not want to be interrupted. Agent Lawrence, you and the hostile follow me."

We all nodded to his orders and he went into the room, Nat and Clint both sent me looks that said a thousand different things, the main one being concern. I smiled serenely at them before I entered the room next to Loki.

"Sit." Fury's voice left no room for arguments. "Romanov and Barton briefed me on the events of Asgard, but they didn't go into all the details I need to be any form of okay with this. Lawrence, Barton said that you were both given a choice: either bind Loki to one of you or let him be executed. Care to explain exactly why you brought a hostile force that was trying to bring about the end of the world as we know it back to Earth?"

"Well, sir, it is true that Agent Barton and I were given the choice by Odin on the fate of his son. The reason we choose this path is very simple." I spoke calmly and clearly. Loki seemed to relax a hint from the confidence in my voice.

"Simple? Well please enlighten me Agent." Fury's voice was filled with distain and sarcasm.

"Barton and I are trained spies and assassins. We both have so much blood on our hands, more then we'd care to admit. We justify it to ourselves that the lives we take save so many other lives, that they were a threat to humanity, to life its self. You justify it the same way when you send us to eliminate a target. We don't get a say on the outcome of our missions, Romanov was an exception for Barton, but this time, just this once, we got a choice. We got to choose if we wanted to try and help Loki to become a better man, or if we wanted to condemn him to death. When it comes to a choice like that, how could we not choose life?"

Fury still glared at me, but I could see the wheels turning in his mind, "you choose life for a man who killed more then 80 innocent people in two days? A man who brainwashed your mentor and partner to help him concur the world?"

"Yes, the way I see it, had he been killed then he wouldn't be able to pay his debt to humanity. This way he has a chance to help the human race, and maybe he'll learn a few things along the way. As far as the other point, Loki is bound to me, not to Barton. He is paying his debt to Barton through me. If you need more proof then I can put you in contact with the God behind this."

"The only God we have contact with is Thor. I doubt he was the one who made you choose."

"You're half right sir. Thor didn't make me choose, his father, Odin did." With that I reached into my pocket and pulled out the Whispering Stone that Frigga had gifted to me. "This is a Whispering Stone, it's a gift from Frigga that allows communication across realms."

"You had alien tech and you didn't inform me?" Fury demanded.

"Once again it was a gift to me. I'll see if I can contact Odin." I focus on Asgard, and on Odin. The stone warms in my hands and it begins emanating a soft light. I speak clearly to it, as Loki is imagining, "All-Father? It is Aura of Midgard."

Odin's voice spoke back to me, filling the now silent room, "is there a problem Lady Aura?"

"No, everything is well. I was just explaining the situation to my supervisor but he was confused by the bond. I had hoped that you could explain it to him better, if you have time of course."

"Is he there now?"

"Yes All-Father, he is."

"Midgardian, the bond between Lady Aura and Loki is one of pure magic. It allows Aura to read Loki's thoughts, and feelings at any time. Loki can look into Aura's mind only if she allows it, or if she is in immediate danger. It prevents Loki from doing any harm to the allies of Lady Aura, as well as keeping Loki on a boundary of 200 feet. Should the need arise She may allow Loki to access his magic to assist. My son is there to repent for his actions, and to learn respect for Mankind." The All-father's voice cut across the room, filled with power.

Fury spoke up in his usual condescending tone, "I get that, I just don't understand why I was not informed of the possibility of Loki coming back to my planet."

Odin's now sharp voice seemingly came from the room behind Loki and I, "You were not informed because, though I protect your planet and am allied with it, I do not answer to you. You have had dealings with both my Sons, but their powers are nothing compared to mine."

Loki had turned to look and I saw him flinch slightly, I turned as well and saw that Odin was in fact standing mere feet behind me. He was staring at Fury, his usually wise, passive face now filled with an ounce of rage.

Odin continued, "Thor speaks for our planet and it's people here on Midgard, Lady Aura speaks for your planet on Asgard. She has been given the authority to look after my son while he resides here, as he will continue to do until She deems him ready to come home. The matter is settled."

Fury looked pissed, and very slightly frightened at the power that radiated off Odin. He didn't get a chance to reply before Odin had turned to look at Loki and I, "Lady Aura, if all else is well then I shall bid you farewell. I have matters that need attending to back on Asgard."

"Of course, thank you All Father. I am sorry to disturb you." I apologize sincerely.

He nodded and after casting Loki a look he vanished. Fury stood there for a moment before calling to the door, "Barton, Romanov. Enter."

The door to the room opened and my friends, mentors and partners walked in and took their places standing behind my shoulders.

"Though I don't like it, the hostile is bound to Lawrence. I want him to remain under your observation as well, and be sure that there are at least two Avengers with him at all times. One incident, Agent Lawrence, and you and I will be discussing your future." Fury said before storming out of the room.

Nat spoke up first, "what did you say that made him okay with all of this?"

"Oh you know, I just called up a certain God, who lended a hand." I reply easily before turning to Loki, "are you okay?"

"I do not need the concern of a puny Human." Loki snapped back, but his emotional state had calmed, and turned slightly grateful.

"Okay, reindeer games. Lets go home huh?"

They all nodded and we headed out to the quin-jet that Stark had commandeered. Clint climbed in the pilots chair and closed the ramp before flying us back to the tower that had become our home.

Walking back into the tower we were told by Jarvis that Tony wanted us to meet the team in the 10th floor conference room. We all glanced at each other before riding up to the conference room. We were greeted by the team upon our entrance. They all looked mildly concerned.

Tony spoke first, "What happened. What did Fury want?"

"Well once he was done bitching about Loki being back on earth, he asked me why he wasn't informed about the possibility of him coming back. So I decided to let him deal with a higher power. I called Odin and let him explain everything to Fury." I told the group.

"Wait, you're telling me that Fury pissed you off so you called the God of all things to yell at him?" Tony asks amazed.

"Yeah, basically." I laugh.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side."

Everyone laughed at that and I saw Nat and Clint smirk. "So why're we meeting in here?"

Sierra spoke up, "the construction crew is finally doing work in the penthouse. We were trying to decide what to do while we were waiting for you guys."

Clint grinned childishly, "hide and seek!"

Nat and Pepper quirked their eyebrows, Bruce and Jane looked like they were dealing with a bunch of children, Thor and Loki looked confused, and Darcy was just as giddy as Clint. Sierra tilted her head at me pleadingly.

"Not it." I sigh causing everyone else to repeat after me. Clint was last to say it, making him it. He pouted at us, "hey, don't look at me like that, this was your idea. Some specifications though: keep it restrained to the public areas of the Avenger's housing, no superpowers, no air vents," I looked pointedly at Clint who again pouted, "and no using Jarvis." At that Tony pouted.

"Lets go!" Darcy exclaimed and we all moved away from Clint who had started counting.

Once Loki and I had made it away from the group and into the movie theater he spoke up, "what are we doing?"

"It's a game called hide and seek, basically everyone but one person hides and the other person has to try and find the others. Whoever is found first has to count and seek the next round." I tell him quietly as footsteps approach the room.

It was one pair of feet, trying to be quiet but with my training I could hear them easily. The door opened and Darcy walked in, looking for a spot to hide.

"Darcy?" I speak as I stand from my place behind one of the beds.

"Ah," she cried out before I covered her mouth with my hand. Once I was sure she'd be quiet I moved it away, "jesus, Brittney, you scared the crap outta me."

"Sorry, we thought you were Clint, what're you doing here?"

"Looking for a place to hide. Thor and Jane are already taking up the kitchen and living room, Steve is in the gym and I think Bruce is in his lab."

"You can join us, Lady Darcy. Quickly, before the seeker comes." Loki says, shocking both of us.

She nods and lays down on the floor near us before we all hear footsteps. I grin and roll under a bed motioning for the others to do the same. Soon after I see Clint's boots enter the room, and he walks to stand at the foot of the bed Darcy was hiding under. I made a face at her, making her giggle.

Clint heard it and he bent down, and spotted her, "found you. You're it once I find the others. Any clue where they are?"

"Oh, Bird Boy, that'd be cheating. Come on, I'm sure the super spy can find them by himself."

I knew he'd be glaring but she just walked away. He followed after a moment and the elevator dinged their exit. "What now?" Loki asked me.

"Now we wait."

Sure enough about 10 minutes later the entire team walked through the door, following Clint, "I'm telling you I already checked in here."

Darcy smirked, "it's where he found me."

"I saw you walking past after I had hidden, I assumed everyone else had already hidden too. There's no way that this would've been empty after everyone hid." Nat said.

I smirked and rolled out from under my bed, Loki following my movements, "very good Nat, Clint you need to remember to check your surroundings."

He glared at me as the the team laughed. After a moment Darcy started laughing and the game was back on. I grinned at Loki and Clint, "follow me boys."

I led them to the laundry floor, knowing that two closets were filled with linens and easy to hide things in. I opened one and moved blankets off the top shelf, revealing enough room for a person to curl up, "Loki, after you. I'll be in the next closet." Loki nodded and climbed up before I hid him with the blankets. I did the same with Clint before hitting a spot on the wall in between that opened up a panel just enough so that I could squeeze in. I pushed the wall back into place and grinned, no one knew about this hiding spot but me.

A few minutes later I heard footsteps walking past. It sounded like 3 pairs of feet. I'd guess Darcy, Thor and Jane. They trekked back by minutes after they passed us, this time opening the closet doors. I didn't hear any added footsteps so I knew Loki and Clint were safe.

After another 10 or so minutes the footfalls returned, and I heard Tony talking, "well, did you check in the closets?"

Darcy returned with sarcasm, "no, in the time I spent looking in this hallway it never occurred to me to check the closets!"

"Perhaps it would be wise to check them then Lady Darcy." Thor spoke up.

I restrained myself from giggling, and I heard the doors to the closets open. Sierra spoke up, "Oh! I know this trick, I used to do it all the time as a kid."

"What trick?" Jane asked.

"Well you have to find a closet big enough for it, but you pull out the blankets and rearrange them so there is enough room on the shelf for a person to curl up, then you get someone else to cover you with a blanket and make sure you're hidden before closing the door."

Everyone went silent at that, and I heard the blankets in Clint's closet being dropped to the floor, much to Tony's annoyance. Sure enough Darcy spoke next, "found you. Finally."

I heard her move from Clint's closet to Loki's and soon I heard his feet fall on the floor as well. Steve spoke up, "now we just need to find Brittney."

Darcy spoke, "well, she couldn't have gone far from Loki. Split up, this is taking forever."

I smirked at that. It would take forever, especially since Loki was now leaning against the part of the wall that opened up.

"I'll just wait here then, shall I?" Loki said.

Clint spoke quietly to him, "where is Brittney anyway? I didn't see her hide after me, but I didn't hear her footsteps move away either."

"Can I tell him?" Loki thought at me.

"Might as well, but let the others stew for a bit." I thought back, and while I was wondering if it worked Loki spoke quietly to Clint explaining the secret compartment.

When the group reassembled about 5 minutes later they were all groaning, and wondering why they couldn't find me. "Move away from the wall, and watch their faces. This is gonna be good." I think to Loki.

Once I hear his footsteps move, I push against the wall just right so it opens. "Missing someone?" I ask with a smirk as I step out.

"Thats cheating!" Darcy exclaimed.

"You broke my tower!" Tony pouted.

Natasha, Clint and Loki were all smirking.

"Darcy, hiding in the walls is not against the rules, so its not cheating. Tony, I did not break your tower. I simply found a flaw in the design and construction and I used it to my advantage. I found this spot like the first week here." I tell them.

"I think it is cheating, You have to be 'it' next for cheating." Darcy informs me, sounding like a five year old.

"Fine." I turn and cover my eyes before I begin counting. I hear footsteps scrambling away from me, except for one pair. Loki remained by my side.

Once I hit 100 I shouted, "ready or not, here I come!"

Loki glanced at me, "why did you do that?"

"It's part of the game, you make your opponent aware that you are coming, so they have one last chance to hide. Now, let's do this logically. What do we know about our opponents?"

"Why?" Loki asks me tilting his head like a confused puppy.

"Know thy enemy. Lets start at the most obvious, Jane. What do you know about her?"

"She seems to like science, and reading."

"Right, so someone who likes reading spends a vast majority of their time where?"

"The library."

"Yep." I smile at him before bounding to the library. Sure enough, we found Jane under one of the desks. "Okay, next, Thor."

"He enjoys the battle. Enjoys fighting." Loki tells me.

"Yes, but he also enjoys food. Especially pancakes."

Loki catches on quickly, "the kitchen?"

"Mhmm." After we tracked down Thor, we found Pepper in her office, Bruce in the science labs, Steve was in the gym, Sierra was in the pool, and Tony was in one of his Iron Man suits.

"Okay, Loki. Down to three, who's next?"

"Agent Romanov. She's a spy, secretive, cunning."

"Okay, so where would she hide?"

"Weapons room?"

"Let's check, shall we?"

Loki nodded eagerly and we all waked down to find Tash in the weapons area.

She looked amazed, "how'd you find me Cetctpa?"

"Loki did. Logic always wins. Let's go bird hunting."

Everyone laughs as I lead the way to the garage.

Tony looks confused, "why would Bird boy be down here. He likes having the bird's eye view."

"Yeah, but there's something he likes more then that." Tash smirks over at me, and the rest of the team catch on as I move to my car.

I set off the alarm on the key fob, causing a very startled Clint to bolt upright from his spot in the backseat. We all laugh and he glares at me as I click it off.

"That was mean." Clint grumbles at me as he climbs out of the car.

"Yeah, but you're not mad at me."

"Yes I am." He says stubbornly.

I snuggle into his chest and his arms wrap around me. I lean on my tiptoes to place a kiss to his lips. After a moment I pull away, "no you're not."

"You fight dirty."

"Is that a complaint?" I tilt my head at him.

"Nope, merely a comment." He said before he leans down and crashes his lips with mine.

After a few cleared throats from around us we both pulled back with smirks, "come on, lets go catch us a Darcy."

"From where?" Loki asks me.

"I'm sure that while looking for a place to hide she found the game room." I say.

"Oh? How do you know that Lady Brittney?" Thor asks me.

"Well, it could have been the fact that she loves video games, or it could've been the loud music blasting from there the past 3 times we've passed it."

"Oh." Thor looks sheepish, and I laugh a bit.

"Come now, I believe it's time I kick all your asses in Call of Duty." I tell them as I walk out of the room.

Clint scoffs, "as if. I have way more skills then you in COD."

We argue back and forth until we reach the game room. Sure enough, Darcy was playing Grand Theft Auto.

A/N:

Well, here it is. The next Chapter, I added some fluff so please don't hate me. Next time we'll get some more fluff and some action. We will also get more background on why Brittney's parents split up. I'll try to update soon. I would like to have more opinions on if I bring Coulson back into the story or not. Please let me know what you think. Sorry it took so long!

love ya, -Aura