Loki and Leah sat next to one another on the couch. They were in the living room on the penthouse level of the Avengers Tower that evening. Loki was trying to explain to Leah the mechanics of the television they were watching. "… So the monitor, that glass screen, displays what these mortals have acted out in a sort of play from far away using electricity—"
"But what magic does this 'electricity' operate by?" asked Leah.
Loki was quickly becoming board of the conversation. "Electricity," he explained, "operates by science. Science is the only type of magic the mortals are ever interested in."
"That seems very limiting then," concluded Leah. They both watched in silence for a few minuets more. It was not like the show was particularly interesting or anything. Leah began to feel her hair rising wildly as if there were no gravity confining it. She gave a sharp look to Loki, who sat at the other end of the couch looking the other way. "Stop it," she said sternly.
"Who, me?" asked Loki, faking innocence.
"Yes you." She shot back. Then all of the sudden Leah's hair turned a bright pink. "Quit it!" she shouted at Loki.
Loki simply laughed his head off. "Why Leah," he said with a smile, "That is a wonderful color on you. You should keep it that way."
Leah looked as if she might explode. However, she quickly contained her rage and gazed at Loki disapprovingly. "You're magic is so juvenile," she quickly dismissed, hoping to be the mature one. That's when her whole dress turned pink. Loki laughed. "That's it," Leah said, getting serious. "Do you want to see what real magic is?" Leah held up her hands and burst into green flames.
She was about to hurl a fireball at Loki when both Steve and Tony shot into the room. "I swear, if you kids set my building on fire you are so out of here," Tony shouted at the two.
"Everyone, lets just calm down. Leah put the fire out," said Steve in his Captain America tone, trying to avoid a confrontation.
The flames in Leah's hands quenched and Loki changed Leah's hair and dress back to their original colors. "Loki started it," Leah said bitterly.
"Did not," lied Loki.
"I don't care who started it. I'm ending it," said Captain America.
"Damn, Cap, you'd make a good den mother," commented Tony.
Steve ignored Tony's remark. "Now it's getting late you two. Time for bed," Steve said with finality.
"Aw," groaned Loki.
"Leah," Tony addressed her, turning off the TV. "I'll let you stay in the empty room next to Natasha…"
"Your hospitality is unnecessary," Leah cut him off. "The dead sleep. Their keepers are not so lucky." She sat back down and simply stared at the far wall.
"So you're just gonna sit there doing nothing until dawn?" Loki asked her.
"That is correct," confirmed Leah, not bothering to look up at him when she answered.
"Well Goodnight," Loki said cheerily and walked off towards his bedroom. Cap and Tony both stared at each other, nonverbally asking one another if this was for real.
Thursday is game night for the Avengers. According to Steve, it helped with team building. However, team game night almost always turned into team argument night. Various quarrels arose such as 'did Natasha cheat and if so how can you prove it' or 'how many do-overs does Clint get before he finally has to settle on a move' and sometimes 'don't make Bruce lose a turn or he will Hulk-out'. This week, it was Tony's turn to pick the game.
"Anyone up for some trivial pursuit?" he asked rhetorically, pulling out the box.
"Awe, I hate that game," complained Clint.
"Indeed Hawkeye," agreed Thor. "I am not familiar with these facts that are strictly Midgardian. The cards should include questions of life on Asgard."
"Shut it, you babies. We're playing," declared Tony.
"I am unfamiliar with these 'games' you play. Would it not be more entertaining to combat one another until a victor stands triumphant?" asked Leah.
"I felt the same when at first I was asked to play these Midgardiarn games as a form of sport, young Leah. These mortals favor games played out upon a table with small pieces."
"Don't worry Leah, you don't have to play if you don't want to," said Steve.
"Why does she have that option," whined Thor.
"Because she is not part of the team," quipped Steve. "You are."
Thor looked pouty for a moment then came to grips with what Steve said. Loki, on the other hand, was all to eager to participate in this game of wits. After several rounds, Loki was winning by a wide margin. Tony did not look all to pleased with being second, Natasha hot on his trail.
"Next question," said Bruce. It was his turn to read the card while Hawkeye answered. "Who first introduced sarcasm into the English language? Was it A: The Germanic tribes, B: The Vikings, or C: The French invaders."
"Well it couldn't have been the Germans," reasoned Clint. "They are way to serious. It's gotta be the French. Those people seem kinda sassy."
"Wong," said Bruce. "It was the Vikings."
"What?" exclaimed Hawkeye in disbelief. "No way that's right. Thor can't even recognize sarcasm," complained Clint.
"How many time must I tell you, son of Barton. I am not a Viking. Those people were merely mortals who recognized us as both gods and their betters."
"Well the Vikings had to have learned it from someone," said Clint. In almost perfect unison, everyone in the room all turned their heads towards Loki, as if accusing.
Loki put on an all to innocent expression. "Why, me?" He said, overemphasizing the sarcasm in his voice. "Why would a god of lies and tricks say something that he may not truly mean?" A mischievous smile spread across Loki's lips.
"Damn it Loki! You've ruined sarcasm for me," complained Tony.
"Oh I'm sure you'll find more ways to abuse it," said Loki, his smile widening. "But after all, imitation is the highest form of flattery," he said with all false earnest.
"Oh, real mature," quipped Tony.
"Stark, I do believe you just used sarcasm," pointed out Natasha.
"Damn it," Tony cursed to himself. Loki had practically busted a gut laughing.