It was a quiet day in Germany.

All people seemed to be minding their own business while walking on the streets during the sunny day. For once, there appeared to be no issues to solve, no arguments to cause heated discussions. The crowds were walking in different directions, the most popular being ice cream shops.

Stuttgart, a city in south-west Germany, was no different.

That was until the moment when a loud rumble roared through the skies. Maybe the sunny day lured a thunderstorm.

"Mamma, is it Thor coming?" A small boy asked his mother. The pistachio ice cream was melting and dripping onto his small hand while the boy was fascinated with the quickly changing clouds above him. He was searching for his hero.

"Stop talking about those superheroes all the time! Look! Your ice cream is melting." His mother scolded him.

The boy resumed licking his ice cream and so it wasn't him to first notice that this was not going to be an ordinary storm.

Suddenly, the clouds began to part, and a seemingly infinite hole appeared in the skies.

Those unlucky souls who diverted their gaze up were the first ones to notice the anomaly that was by now unforgettably printed in minds of all humans on Earth.

They knew what it meant. And they feared it.

Soon enough, one name was being whispered all around the streets of Stuttgart. A name they never wished to hear again.

"Loki. He's back."

They all recognised without a doubt that the hole that was now lurking above them was the same one Loki used those years ago to bring his army on Earth to cause havoc and slaughter countless innocent people. The hole was not created in their country then nor did they see it with their own eyes, but they would still recognise it with a dreadful certainty.

The crowds began to panic. People started running in different directions, many were stumbling over each other. Children were crying while being pulled away by their parents.

"It's him! The God of Mischief is back!" A middle-aged woman cried out when hideous creatures began emerging from the hole.

"Wrong. Guess again." A cold, calculated voice replied behind her. Before the woman had a chance to turn around, Thanos sliced her throat with a quick, casual flick of his hand. The woman fell onto the ground without making another sound.

Thanos smiled.

The Mad Titan closed his eyes and delightfully absorbed the fear that was emerging from everyone around him. The only thing that was bothering him at this moment of triumph was that the ignorant mortals did not yet understand who they had the honour of meeting. All around him, they were whispering the name of that Jotun filth.

If they were so afraid of that joke of a god, conquering them should be even easier than he thought.

And anyway, he is going to get his fun nevertheless. When this pathetic planet falls under his command, Thanos will enjoy destroying all the Avengers. One by one. Finger by finger. Thor will be the last.

Odin was dead. The old fool who dared to rob the Mad Titan of so much was gone, and the revenge was ripped away from Thanos' hands. He should have been the one to end the Allfather's life. He deserved it. He dreamed it. He planned it for so long.

It doesn't matter now. Hela made sure that Thor looked like his dear daddy when she cut out his eye. He will enjoy burning him until the God of Thunder cries for mercy. Mercy that will never come. Thanos will torture him until the whole planet is consumed by flood made out of the Allmother's tears coming down onto Midgard from Valhalla. Then, he will have his revenge.

And finally, he will destroy the Jotun filth that dared to disobey him. In a way, Thanos pitied the moment when he will have erased the God of Mischief from history. He was the best distraction. Finally, someone who could keep pace with his intellect. A challenge.

And Thanos smirked.

Maybe, he could torture Loki's dear brother right in front of him. To show him that he was right from the beginning. Love makes you weak.

Or, he could do it the other way around. He will torture Loki right in front of Thor to enjoy the guilt and suffering in the Odinson's eyes. What will Odin think from his safe place in Valhalla when he is going to see his only son crying like a little girl for a Jotun scum?

No need to make conclusions now. There is still some work to do before this planet is his. Until then, he can perfect his revenge plan.

…

"Truce." Bucky agreed and shook Tony's hand. He didn't smile. He didn't dare to; Bucky knew that this truce was thin as ice and a little misstep might destroy it once and for all.

"If we continue like this, we will be a supervillains' club rather than the Avengers within a year." Clint remarked.

"Shut up, Clint." Steve barked harsher than usual. His heartbeat was just beginning to get back to normal after what seemed would become another battle between his best friend and Tony when Clint decided to deliver his distasteful comment.

"We must work together. If Thor and Loki could make amends, I can let go of my grudge." Tony said seriously. He knew that Bucky was mind-controlled. And having just now emerged from Loki's memories and hence understanding the suffering behind such a fate, he could finally fully comprehend that Bucky was not to be blamed for his parents.

"My friends!" Thor's voice boomed through the room as the God of Thunder marched into the living room. Thor being Thor, he completely ignored the tense atmosphere that the room was drowning in. Instead, he was repeatedly throwing Mjolnir up in the air only to catch it again.

"Idiot." Loki mumbled to himself a few metres behind Thor. Sometimes he envied his brother his simple mind.

"I thought your hammer was broken." Steve raised his eyebrows.

"Loki repaired it!" Thor beamed like a crescent moon. In unison, the Avengers rolled their eyes.

"Loki." Fury addressed the lean figure behind Thor.

Loki, not letting any fear to creep onto his face, got ahead of Thor and eyed the Director.

Fury opened his mouth when he, for the first time, noticed the t-shirt that Loki was wearing. The God of Mischief caught his gaze and instantly changed his clothes into his usual, formal attire. The t-shirt disappeared and was instantly replaced with a stunning Asgardian attire made of green and black fabrics of the highest quality. Loki smiled; having been healed by Frigga, all the spells seemed so easy to him now.

"A joke. Ask your Ironman." Loki told Fury. The Director looked at Tony.

"He's right. It was my t-shirt." Tony said, still feeling a bit like a fish out of water after the whole incident with Bucky.

"Hm. Funny." Fury commented. "Anyway, the SHIELD has no more business with you. Unless you step out of line, you're not on our radars."

Loki nodded. The Director beckoned to his agents and all of them began exiting the room.

Thor made a step forward. "Wait. This is…" But Loki interrupted him. He knew what his brother was going to say. He was going to make Fury apologise for what he had done to him. Yet Loki knew that such a conversation would lead nowhere now and at this moment, he just wanted the Director and his agents out of his sight.

Thor gave him a long, scrutinising look before he sighed and stopped in his tracks. He understood what Loki wanted.

Let him go. My revenge can wait.

Thor only hoped that his brother, his true brother, was really back and that his revenge would not be anything stupid.

When the last SHIELD agent closed the door, Loki observed his surroundings.

All the Avengers were inside the spacious living room. Steve was standing next to Bucky, looking surprised but happy about the development of the sudden events. Bucky was cautious as if expecting to be attacked at any moment. Yet Loki in his perceptive self could also sense a hint of satisfaction from Bucky; satisfaction coming from being finally accepted into something and having his best friend by his side again.

Stark was standing good two metres away from Bucky. He was trying to keep his face blank, but it was obvious that he was battling with many emotions inside him. Loki knew of his history and so he was aware that the trip down his memory lane would be particularly demanding for him. Meeting his parents' assassin immediately afterwards surely didn't help him.

Barton and Romanoff were standing together on the other side of the room. Their faces were devoid of any expression, but Loki could sense that there was no immediate threat from them for now. They would follow their Director's instructions. Plus, Loki could feel that Romanoff's attitude towards him has somehow shifted.

Bruce was sitting in one of the armchairs, his face contemplative. Loki didn't dwell on him for too long; strangely enough, he has developed a kind of trust in the man since he came with Thor to the SHIELD headquarters to save him.

Lastly, Loki set his gaze onto his brother. The God of Mischief had to smile, Thor was so happy to have Mjolnir back. Loki was glad that he was the one to put the smile onto his brother's face. He missed the feeling that came along with making the people you love happy. For so long, Loki had no such option, believing that there was no one he could call family.

"Maybe we should all sit down and discuss the new circumstances." Bruce was the first one to interrupt the awkward silence that was spreading around the room.

Surprisingly enough, the Avengers and their new two unwilling-supervillain allies obeyed and seated themselves in an uneven circle onto sofas. Loki sat next to his brother. He didn't expect anyone to sit next to him, and so he was surprised when the place was taken. He looked up and saw Bucky's brown eyes staring into his. Now when his injuries caused by Fury were gone, he could feel his instincts kicking back in. Loki could read Bucky like a book: if Steve trusts you, so do I. Anyway, we might have more than a few things in common.

The Captain seated himself next to Bucky and the Winter Soldier cast his eyes down.

Loki smiled to himself mischievously. No one could ever beat him at holding the eye contact.

Bruce was going to start talking, having some kind of let's-all-love-each-other-monologue Loki was sure, when the doors burst open and Fury ran back in.

"Switch on your TV. He's here."

I am sorry for not updating for ages; it seems that summers might be even busier than school time. Anyway, thank you so much for reaching more than 300 followers! And, as always, I love to read your reviews ;)