A/N: A collaboration for the Marvel Reverse Big Bang with Nonexistenz.

"You're pairing me with Loki on this op?" Tony whined, glaring at the smirking Asgardian across the table. "Why?"

Fury could talk all he wanted about how they needed Loki's power on the Avengers team and that Thor could prove Loki was a better man now, but Tony was pretty sure Fury was hoping Loki would snap and kill him at some point. Just because Loki hadn't killed a single person since the fall of Asgard didn't mean he was completely reformed.

"Obviously because we are the two most attractive Avengers," Loki said.

"No, because you assholes are the most goddamn reckless disasters I've ever known," Fury growled.

Loki's eyes narrowed. "I think I should be offended by that statement."

"You two are the distraction team. Do whatever the hell you idiots want as long as you keep the enemy occupied. Agent Romanov, Agent Barton, Barnes, and Rogers will be on the stealth team, infiltrating the base from the rear."

"Steve?!" Tony spluttered. "Steve is on the stealth team? Mr. Red, White, and Blue with the Bigass Shield?"

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Don't be jealous, Tony."

"I'm not jealous. I'm just deeply, deeply offended that you think Steve of all people is more stealthy than I am."

"Do you want to be on the stealth team, quietly sneaking into the base or do you want to be on the distraction team and blow things up?"

"Blowing things up team," Tony said. "No question."

"Then shut up and stop complaining."

Fury had a lot more to say. All boring blah blah blah about the mission. Tony wasn't really paying attention. Most of it didn't concern him anyway. He didn't need strategy to be a distraction. Instead, he spent the rest of the meeting watching Loki out of the corner of his eye. And Loki spent the whole time staring right back at him with shark-like intensity.

Yeah, Loki was planning on murdering him. He could feel it.

"You have your orders," Fury said. "Let's move, people."

As Tony headed for the door, Steve pulled him aside. He put a hand on Tony's shoulder, his expression way too earnest. "If Loki does anything suspicious, you let one of us know. We have a private comm line you can use to report in."

"You really think something's going to go wrong? I thought you were Mr. Optimist. You were all into the idea of Thor and Loki working together for the good of mankind and all that."

"I still am," Steve said. "I really do hope Loki's got his act together, and he's really going to be a good guy from here on out. But this is only his second time in the field. He hasn't proven himself yet. So I don't like the idea of the two of you going off all by yourselves. You're my friend, Tony. I just don't want to see anything happen to you."

Tony swallowed convulsively. There had been a time when he thought he'd never hear those words again. But it was a good thing Bruce had returned with the Asgardians and insisted on reconciliation. It had taken a lot of yelling, screaming, and many, many hours of therapy to work through all the emotions, but they had done it. After all, nobody wanted to stay angry under threat of the Hulk.

And if he had been willing to give Bucky and Steve the benefit of a second chance, maybe he ought to extend the same to Loki. Of course, neither of them had tried to take over the whole planet with an army of space lizards, but nobody was perfect.

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Tony said. "He won't do anything to me when he knows everyone's just waiting for him to go megalomaniac again."

"I hope you're right. Just be careful, Tony."

If Tony had been a careful man, he would have insisted on more backup. Instead, he stood on the landing strip, watched the rest of the team take off in the quinjet, and scooped Loki up to fly off in the opposite direction.

He set them down within sight of the Hydra base's main entrance and waited as Friday ran calculations on the guards' movements.

Loki brushed himself off. "So, what's the plan? I know you always have something up your sleeve."

"Honestly, no idea," Tony said. "It's kind of weird not to have any orders."

Not that Tony had ever really followed orders.

"I'm surprised," Loki said. "You seem like the type to improvise."

"If only I still had my Iron Legion," Tony said wistfully. "Or all my old prototype suits. That was an amazing distraction when Rhodey and I needed the help. Because what grabs the enemy's attention better than an army of Iron Men?"

"That can be arranged," Loki purred.

His form shifted and Tony found himself staring into his own face.

"Oh. That's….that's a little unsettling."

"Would you prefer I take the form of your Iron Patriot?"

Tony shuddered. "Hell no. An army of Rhodies is like my biggest nightmare. Don't get me wrong. I love the man to death. But he's such a buzzkill."

"I see." Loki flipped down the faceplate. "Is this tolerable?"

"Oh yeah, I can work with that."

It would be just like working with Jarvis controlling one of his suits, or Rhodey, before the upgrades. As long as Tony didn't have to see his own face staring back at him, he could pretend it was anyone else.

With a simple flick of his hand, Loki created a row of gleaming Iron Man suits and they all rose into the air in sync.

God, what a beautiful sight.

"I'll follow your lead," Loki said. "You know what these suits are capable of."

Well, if Loki wanted the full Iron Man experience, Tony would give it to him. He flew at the base at full speed, delighting in the guards' startled shouts as they swooped down on them. Together, they picked off all the guards along the top of the wall.

Loki was surprisingly good at keeping up with Tony. He and his clones perfectly mimicked almost every single move Tony made. They flew just as fast, aimed their repulsors just as well, and exploded things just as hard. Plus, Loki still had full access to his magic so a few solid stone walls just blinked out of existence and the Iron Man army went right through the base, blowing up anything that looked important and shooting down anyone who attempted to flee.

All too soon, the fun came to an end with Natasha's voice crackling over the comms. "Good work, boys. We got 'em."

Loki waved a hand and the army of clones disappeared. Tony was almost sad to see them go.

"Meet up back at Shield for debriefing in thirty," Steve said. Over the private comm line, he asked, "You okay, Tony?"

"Yup," Tony said as he swooped back down to retrieve Loki. "Everything's fine, Cap. Be there in twenty."

Thor was waiting for them on the landing strip when they returned. The team hadn't seen much of Thor recently because he was busy helping his people set up their new settlement off the coast of Norway.

"Thor!" Tony said delightedly. "Hey, buddy. How's New Asgard coming along?"

"Tensions remain high between my people and the locals," Thor said with a sad shake of his head. "There are still some who believe we are alien invaders come to steal their land."

"Seriously? Nobody had to move if they didn't want to leave. And Shield more than compensated anyone who did want to leave. So nobody stole anything."

"Alas, logic does not work well on people who seem entirely governed by emotion. They had made up their minds to be unhappy and nothing anyone can say will sway them."

"Damn," Tony said. "Well, if you need anything, the whole team is willing to help."

"It is much appreciated," Thor said. "I will call if I have need of you. But for now, we are managing. Come, brother, Valkyrie wants your input on the new training center."

"But I have to be here for the debriefing," Loki complained.

"It's okay," Tony said. "I'll take care of the report. You worry about your city."

"Thank you, my friend. We shall keep in touch."

"So undignified," Loki muttered. But he allowed Thor to wrap an arm around him and the two Asgardians took off into the sky.