Chapter 12 – Mistletoe Challenge – Christmas Eve

'Alright everyone,' Tony says, clapping his hands together and grinning at the gathered group, 'the mistletoe challenge is about to start! Rules are: you have to catch as many people by surprise under the mistletoe as you can before this time tomorrow. The one who has managed to catch the most people wins.'

'And what's the prize?' Clint asks.

'First choice of partner in the snowball fight,' Steve responds.

'Nice. Alright we starting from now?' the archer asks.

'Yep. We're not telling you where all the mistletoe is though, that's part of the challenge. No one knows where every bit of mistletoe is,' Tony says, then looks pointedly at Wanda, 'and no one is allowed to try and find out where they were all put.'

The girl just blinks innocently up at him and Loki can't help but feel a little proud at her guileless mask. 'I don't know what you're implying Tony.'

'Course you don't,' the inventor scoffs.

As the group begins to break off into different groups, talking softly together or going to do last minute adjustments to gifts Loki settles back into his chair with a satisfied smirk on his face.

'What are you looking so smug about?' Sam asks, eyeing him suspiciously.

'My dear, Falcon,' he replies smoothly, 'this challenge couldn't be any simpler for one such as I.'

'One such as you?' the dark skinned man repeats back with a raised eyebrow.

Loki grins. 'I am a Trickster after all. This should be simple.'

'Whatever you say,' he shakes his head and then moves away to join Rhodes at the breakfast bar, where the other man is pouring drinks.

Simpler than getting Thor drunk at a feast, he chuckles to himself and begins to survey the surrounding group, already planning how he is going to catch each one.

He catches Wade first, as the mercenary is sneaking off to finish knitting the last of the Christmas sweaters, which Loki certainly hasn't worked out and is keeping the knowledge to himself after a bribe from Peter at all.

Loki's noticed the sprig of mistletoe above the exit to the common area and, when he sees the mercenary standing to leave, he makes his way around to meet him as he's leaving.

'A moment of your time, Wade?' he says, just in time for the merc to pause exactly where he needs him.

'What do you need?'

In answer Loki points upwards then, before the other man has chance to process what he's looking at, he darts in and places a quick kiss on the mercenary's lips. 'I believe that puts me in the lead,' he smirks before walking off.

'Damn you!' Wade laughs. 'Just you wait until tomorrow when I'm in full challenge mode and you'll regret this!'

'Does anyone ever feel we're far too competitive?' Bruce asks from his spot on the sofa.

'Yes,' Laura sighs, 'and unfortunately the kids are following your example.'

'There's nothing wrong with some friendly competition!' Clint protests.

'Some being the key word there, Clint,' Laura sighs, 'some, not constant.'

Nebula, Mantis and Drax are all caught in similar ways; though he makes a point to not always move when someone is looking to leave, as others have caught on to his strategy and have tried the same, or have looked to lie in wait for him. Besides he knows where a couple more of the sprigs have been hidden, and he has plans to catch some of the others there.

Rhodes and Sam he catches by the breakfast bar, where no one had realised one sprig had been hidden amongst the glasses rack above them.

He finishes his catches in the main room with Laura and the children as they leave for bed, even catching Cassie before he teleports away from the apple Clint launches at his head.

'Now, now, Barton it's only in the spirit of the challenge, I swear,' he cackles, dodging another apple and unfortunately missing catching Scott as he leaves with Cassie.

'If I'd known he was going to be this much of a menace I never would have suggested it,' Tony groans from where he's sat at the breakfast bar, purposefully not under the mistletoe but within reach of anyone who does find themselves underneath it.

'Loki has always enjoyed a challenge,' Thor chuckles, 'and is usually the winner.'

'Much to the chagrin of the Warriors Three,' he chuckles.

'I'd be willing to bet,' Sam says with a grin at Tony, 'that he manages to get everyone before the challenge is over.'

'I'm not stupid enough to take that bet,' Tony shakes his head.

'I'll take it,' Valkyrie says, 'he's not coming anywhere near me. What's the forfeit?'

'The last barrel of the Asgardian mead,' Thor suggests, 'to be consumed only by the victor.'

'Done,' both of them shake hands.

'Don't let me down, Loki,' Sam wags a finger at him.

'And should I choose to lose on purpose?' he asks.

'I'm trusting to your competitive nature.'

Loki grins at him. 'Wise man.' He teleports to catch Hope as she leaves the common area.

'Cheat!' she laughs as she walks off.

'No one said I couldn't,' he reminds them all.

Loki's has two last intended victims for Christmas Eve. He catches his brother in the corridors as they head to their rooms, having already noticed the sprig in the corridor outside their rooms. The last one he needs to go to the workshop for.

He'd heard Tony mentioning to Steve earlier he had to finish something for Natasha's present and knew the inventor would most likely be leaving the workshop now. The workshop where he knew for a fact that Steve had hung a sprig of mistletoe in order to catch the inventor under it numerous times over Christmas. Those two were so sickening. If Loki were soft he'd find it sweet. Which he most certainly does not.

He hears the hiss of the doors ahead of him and quickens his pace, hearing a yawn as Tony emerges from the workshop, blearily rubbing his eyes.

'Hey Lokes, you alright?' the inventor greets him; and Loki can't believe his luck that Tony is leaning against the wall right under the mistletoe. Though, really, it was probably an intended move from Steve; he'd be willing to bet this is where Tony often leans when he comes out of the workshop, hence the soldier's decision to hang it there.

'Just wanted to check you weren't going to work through the night and have an irate Captain to deal with tomorrow morning,' he chuckles.

Tony laughs. 'You're a true friend.'

He can't deny the warmth that blooms in his chest at those words. If he's honest he'd been looking forward to this challenge for a number of reasons, this being one of them. Despite what many would have said about him before, he would never have tried to undermine any of the team's romantic relationships once he arrived on Earth with the other Asgardians. Despite having found Tony attractive when they first faced each other in New York. And he'll admit to having felt a twinge of disappointment to discover the dark haired inventor and blond haired Captain had finally acted on what he'd noticed back then.

After all he wouldn't be a very good trickster if he couldn't read people.

'You sure you're alright, Lokes?'

Loki blinks away his thoughts and nods with a smile. Once he sees Tony's shoulders relax he darts forwards, gently cupping the inventor's face in one hand and presses his lips to Tony's as the inventor opens them on a gasp of surprise. He tries to hide the satisfied smile when he feels Tony's hands clutch the front of his shirt, and the small pleased noise he makes before he pulls away.

'Uh…please tell me there's mistletoe,' Tony's voice is a little breathless.

Loki laughs and nods, pointing above them. 'Sorry to disappoint you,' he says, voice soft.

Tony laughs. 'Well I'm glad you didn't decide to do it in front of Steve. I mean, shit, Lokes you can kiss. And it's not like I'm short of experience here.'

'Well,' he chuckles, taking a step back from the dark haired man, 'in another world, Tony, if Steve had been slower I would have made you mine.' Just as Tony's brain processes what he's said, Loki turns and walks back along the corridor. 'Goodnight, Tony, and Merry Christmas.'

'Yeah…Merry Christmas, Loki,' he hears as he disappears round the corner.

A/N: Hi everyone. I hope you enjoy this double update, although I do feel like I'm speed writing the chapters so I hope they're still enjoyable. I thought it'd be a better idea to do the mistletoe challenge from one point of view, rather than try and do everyone, let me know what you think of Loki as the choice. I must admit he's proving fun to write if nothing else. Although I was surprised at the disappointment that Loki and Bucky wouldn't be a pairing in this story. Would you prefer Bucky to be with Loki or Natasha? There is another option for Loki who you'll see in the next chapter.

Up next will be Christmas Day's mistletoe challenge, and then I'll skip to New Year's Eve.

Hope you all had a wonderful new year.

Love always,

L x