ONE-SHOT (this is totally random, but I thought I should write something. i've still been having writer's block, so this might suck a bit. i hope you guys enjoy it anyways, though!)

"So," my brother says as he barges into my room. "Today is a special day."

I raise an eyebrow, setting aside a book I'm reading. "Oh? Why?"

"Today is the day you get to meet some of my friends," Thor says with a grin.

I scowl, picking the book up again. "No. The Avengers hate me. I'd much rather stay here and read, if you wouldn't mind."

"I do," Thor says in a mildly annoyed tone. He walks over and takes the book out of my hands, "You need to make friends, Loki. Staying up in your room all day long isn't healthy."

"I have friends," I reply defensively. "And I don't stay in my room all day. Sometimes I go down to Central Park."

Thor rolls his eyes at me. "You need to actually go out and do something... constructive for once, Brother. And where are all these friends you speak of, by the way. Because I don't think I've seen you ever hang out with anyone—"

I'm about to object, but then Thor adds, "besides me and Valkyrie."

I frown, sighing exasperatedly. "Well, it's not like very many people would like to spend their afternoon discussing politics over a cup of tea with a well-known super-villain."

Thor gives me a sympathetic look, "C'mon, Brother. People know you've changed. I'm sure they'll understand why you did what you did in the past if you just tell them."

"It took a long time for you to understand," I mutter bitterly. "How will strangers ever be able to understand?"

My brother frowns, "You have to try, at least." He shrugs, "Just be yourself."

I smirk, snickering. "That's a dangerous thing to say to someone like me, dear Brother. Most people prefer me to be less... mischievous."

"Can't disagree with that," Thor responds with a tired sigh. "But you haven't tried to pull any stupid pranks lately, so maybe you're improving!" He adds with a grin.

I roll my eyes at him, "You're really not going to let this go, are you?"

"Nope," he replies. "And you should be thanking me. I'm helping you have a better social life."

I reluctantly get off of my bed and go over to my closet to retrieve my jacket. Before I can put it on, though, Thor gives me a look and says, "Maybe you should try to wear something less... intimidating."

I furrow my eyebrows at him, "What do you mean? It's just a jacket; how is it intimidating?"

He takes it from me and puts it back in the closet. "It just... it makes you stand out a bit," Thor says a bit awkwardly. "You should wear something a bit more neutral. Something that will make you blend in more."

I frown, "But basically all of my clothing is black. I don't have 'neutral' clothing."

"Can't you just," Thor waves his hands around in the air, "conjure up some new clothing or something?"

I glare at him, offended. "You have no idea how my magic works, do you?" I stomp over to my dresser and rummage through it. "You've known me your entire life and you still haven't the slightest idea about how my abilities work, do you?" I give him a withering look, "All the times I've tried to explain that I can only create illusions of something that's not really there..." I shake my head. "I cannot 'conjure up clothing' as you put it so eloquently. My magic is very specific, I'm afraid, and I cannot create something that wasn't there already."

"So all the times you've changed clothing with your magic... it wasn't an illusion?" Thor asks, confused.

"No," I reply shortly. "My powers allow me to access an inter-dimensional pocket-verse that I can store materialistic items in. I can use those items whenever the need arises, and they can be of virtually any size"

My brother stares at me blankly.

I sigh, "You know how I'm able to store the tesseract and keep it in a secure place that no one else can access?" I say, trying a different approach.

Thor nods, "Yeah..."

"Well I can do the same with clothing, or anything else for that matter."

"Hmm..." Thor seems to think this over for a moment. "How come you've never explained this to me in the past?"

I give him a hard look, "Because I assumed you already knew." I frown, "Perhaps I've overestimated your intelligence level. You always have seemed more keen on using brute strength rather than strategy."

Thor narrows his eyes at me, crossing his arms indignantly. "What's that supposed to mean? If you're trying to imply that I'm stupid or something—"

"I'm not," I assure him. "You've just never been interested in... scholarly things." I pause. "I think you are what Midgardians refer to as a 'jock'."

Thor raises an eyebrow, "What's that?"

I shrug, "A stereotype that's particularly popular in American high schools for some reason."

Thor looks annoyed for some reason, but says, "You're just trying to stall for time so you don't have to meet my friends."

I groan. "I already told you, the Avengers hate me—"

"You're not meeting the Avengers," Thor interrupts. "You're going to meet some people that... aren't from Earth."

This makes me curious. "Oh, really? Who are they, then?"

"They call themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy," Thor replies. "Although I must admit that they don't seem to be guarding all that much nowadays."

Right. Ever since Thanos was stopped, things have been fairly peaceful on Earth... and most other places in the galaxy. It's a pleasant reprieve from the past six years, to say the least.

"How many of them are there?" I ask hesitantly.

"Originally, there were six of them, but a few months ago Gamora's sister joined the mix. Personally, I'm not all that fond of her, but they are siblings... so I guess if you have one, you also get stuck with the other."

"Hmm, that does sound familiar," I respond, smirking. "Maybe we will get along after all."

Thor rolls his eyes at me, "Just try to be civil, please."

"When aren't I?" I reply innocently.

He sighs and walks toward the door. "Just be ready in fifteen. I've told them to meet us in the cafe across the street."

"What am I supposed to wear, since I don't have any 'neutral' clothing?"

Thor gives me a look, "I'm sure you'll find something that will work." He's walking out of my room and is in the hallway when he turns back to add, "Oh, and there's one other person I want you to meet. He's from here, and he's been pestering me about meeting you all month."

I raise an eyebrow, "Why would someone want to meet me?"

Thor shrugs, "He's kind of a weird kid. He's only a teenager, and he's like, super obsessed with all the Avengers."

"Why?"

"I honestly don't know. Technically he is one himself, but he just seems so... young." Thor shakes his head, "Try not to scare him, Loki. He's really looking forward to this."

"I'll be on my best behavior," I say sarcastically.