"Let's start with a simple question," she said. A blonde Caucasian, early thirties, hair pulled back in a bun so tight it almost looked painful. Her grey-ish gaze was attentive and sharp. Her hands on the table, fingers twined, and features that ought to seem relaxed were rather obviously stiff in effort. Her voice was measured, as were her words. "What is your name?"

Loki smirked, tilted at her his head. "…Now I know you already know that." She raised thin brows asking 'really?', and her next question emphasized cynicism.

"God of Mischief? God of Lies? How about Chaos? Which is it, then?"

"None, really," Loki waved off. "Those are terms coined by your people. Just Loki's fine."

"Okay, Loki. How old are you?"

"Too old for you," he grinned wryly. Her smile was cold and forced.

Surely she had an opinion on him of her own.

"Amusing. I'd rather you took this a bit more seriously."

"And I'd rather you asked something of actual import. Next you'll ask if green's my favorite color," he teased relentless.

"Fine. Here's one. Why'd you come to our planet?"

And so it begins.

"Well, certainly not by choice," he said exasperatedly. "It's a dump, quite frankly."

"If not by choice, then why?" Loud protests in his mind he hushed harshly, spoke on satiric, was aware every word was accounted for.

"You could say I was working a job. Conquer Earth. Retrieve the Tesseract. Live to see another day."

"Who were you working for?" she asked blandly, waiting an answer he was weighing. His smile never wavers.

"…He calls himself the Mad Titan. For good reason. He has this vision," spoken sarcastic or of disdain one couldn't say. "Save the universe, by eradicating half of it," dropped ironic. And he had a quip in mind, but his mind was very crowded. And not to lose his way he sought brevity. Fixing himself in the chair like to get more comfortable he spoke as though this were casual discourse. "Amongst other things, he needed the Tesseract. He knew not where it was until your people got to prodding at it," pointed ridicule.

"The Tesseract, a portal-generating device?" like all of a sudden that needed confirmation.

Regardless they were wrong.

"It's an Infinity Stone," he explained with evident disinterest. "Long story short, there's six. Each unique, indestructible, and generally possess more than one quality. Scattered about the universe, and he's on a quest to reunite them," there returns that troublesome grin. "Has been for a good many centuries. Not that that's any of your business." Forth he edged both arms on the table. Hard as she tried to seem unfazed, she barely but visibly tensed, gaze slightly widened, agitated. She probably had a weapon on her she was a beat from for reaching, like the guards by the wall he needn't look to know. It'd be a second still too late, and their weapons against him were wholly worthless. "…There's nothing you can do to stop him if he fancies coming back. But he won't. Because you no longer have what he wants. And he's too weak to march headfirst into Asgard to retrieve the Tesseract."

Wearing there that smile still back he leaned in his seat again. "…You're welcome, by the way." She cocked a brow. "Had I not ensured that doctor Selvig were to install a failsafe in the portal, you never would've gotten it closed. The island of Manhattan would've been a scorched ruin," he said with too much mirth, "and Thanos would've had direct passage into your realm."

"Thanos? That's-"

"The Titan. Do try to keep up…He'd have come down himself to finish the job. And trust me," greens grew stern,

his tone was different,

"you don't want to meet him face-to-face."

…A minute passed as she and everyone watching, listening, digested every word. Then she asked him:

"…Why would he recruit you?"

It took him a beat to answer.

"…Because I made him believe I'd win, give him what he wanted."

"And what were your true intentions?"

"Well, certainly not to further empower the man." He tilted forward again, was quiet for a moment though his gaze from hers had not parted. He smiled at the fear that her eyes radiated, cocked his head to the side, spoke lowly in traceable satire that was cold and subtly sneering. "…You think I couldn't have won if I wanted to? I had the means, the time, and the resources. I knew exactly where to strike, who to incapacitate, and how. And yet every Avenger lived to fight that day, because I needed them to." That last part his tone more serious. Incredulous now she asked him:

"Then why all the theatricals? Why the assault on the Helicarrier?"

"Couldn't make it easy, now could I? I had to be convincing."

"Was he watching you?" of course she asked. Greens for a fraction fell. Faceless he said:

"…Something of the sort." Very abruptly and obviously worried she stressed:

"Is he watching you now?"

"No," asserted sternly.

"How are you sure?"

"I just am,"

that was practically hissed.

She retreated,

asked a different question.

"…What else can you tell us about Thanos?" But his voice remained audibly now impatient.

"Just that you needn't worry your pretty little heads. He's lightyears away and recuperating. So long as you keep to yourselves, it is not a war you'd be made part of. There are other, more superior realms that would take a stand should he truly come so close as to meeting his goals, which I doubt very much. He hasn't a clue where the other stones are, and right now he has none."

"How are you so sure?"

"Because I was there."

"Where?"

"It's not so much a place as it is a ship. He's not the settling type."

"What else do you know?"

"Not much else that would be of use to you. Are we quite done?"

"…Why do you want to join the team?"

"What else is there to do? Shall I try my hand at law? Perhaps I'll open up a pastry shop-"

"Alright-"

"Like it or not, I'm stuck here. And I'm very easily bored. Best make use of my many talents lest I find another outlet."

"Threats don't strengthen your case in this."

He smirked.

"Don't they?" Her eyes on him narrowed disdainful,

then the briefest upward tug of her painted lips.

"…What is the nature of your relationship with Anthony Edward Stark?" she asked,

what he should've heard coming.

"How is that relevant?"

"My superiors seem to think it is."

"Very well then.

Put simply:

harm a hair on his head,

I'll raise hellfire, with full intent to win.

…Savvy?"