When I wrote the first chapter I didn't think I would end up talking about smoothies so often. I love banana/kiwi.

I didn't think it was possible, but Clint's problem with food has gotten even worse.

Did you know? Your cat can get sick from a change in routine. In this article, you will learn how to accompany your cat and avoid any unnecessary stress for...

Loki ignored the article and continued his morning check-up of the social networks while enjoying his first cup of coffee of the day. He had only paid a brief attention to the article, but the title ran through his mind for a moment. Not for his cat though, the animal was doing his life in his corner without paying attention to the god so his routine could not influence him and that was fine. But if Thor had been a cat, he could have - easily and regularly - made him sick to have some free time. It would have been nice to have that option at hand, so Loki allowed himself a smile before sighing as he put his cup down. Unfortunately for him, his brother was more like a golden retriever with a lot of energy than a grumpy, stuck-up cat. Of course he could have turned him into a cat, but Thor was especially entertaining when he was turned into a frog. Loki was just finishing checking his news feed when the retriever appeared in front of him with an energetic step.

"We need to reconnect, brother," he said without warning.

Loki nodded without listening to him and tapped blindly on the counter until he found the Avengers' daily box of donuts. When you were saving the world every other day, you burned off enough calories to indulge in a few sugar binges, even daily.

"For weeks now, we've hardly seen each other."

Loki took an excessively slow sip of coffee. What was going on in his brother's head?

"Thor, we live in the same building, we eat together at almost every meal which by the way is not very nice and we literally went out in the city yesterday," he answered, looking with a noticeable incomprehension at the last message the teenage spider had sent him. "Besides, I've still paid everything so if you could get a real job and pay me back it would be much appreciated. It's all well and good being an Avenger, but Stark only pays you in room and board, so ask him for a real salary. And just because I make more money than you, doesn't mean you can afford to use me as a wallet. Do you even have a clue about Midgardian money?"

With a tear in his eye, Thor walked around the bar and hugged his brother, spilling his not-yet-empty coffee cup in the process. Loki immediately looked for air under the destructive embrace of the arms of the blond, some things did not change. It was necessary that it ceases with this mania to take him in his arms at all times, one day or the other, it would break him bones. To be exact, he would break his bones again, as in their distant youth.

"I knew that you too were suffering from this separation. It must be said that we grew up together, at the time we were inseparable."

"That's not what I said at all! Just let me go!"

It was going to turn a nice shade of ice blue if the hug went on forever, because the more the memories came up in Thor's mind, the tighter his grip became. Firmed up enough for Loki to have the unpleasant sensation that his ribs were cracking.

"You're deflecting my words and choking me..."

Finally releasing his brother and tapping his shoulder sympathetically, Thor nodded, still in his thoughts. Maybe he could suggest another game of bowling to Loki? Or a game of darts? Or pool? Or curling? Even if he had no idea how the sport worked. Sports really were ideal for a healthy sibling relationship.

Loki blew loudly as he caught his breath and, after a pat on the back of Thor's hand that was butchering his shoulder, straightened up, hands on hips and breathing heavily. After deep and painful inspirations and a discreet cough, he resumed the speech.

"Tell me, by any chance, do you have a toaster to martyr?"

"Stark took them all out of the Tower, for no reason," Thor then admitted to him while going to open some cupboards to find something to eat.

"Ah, so much for a surprise..."

Loki looked down at the disaster of his spilled coffee cup, tiny Stark robots were already beginning to clean up the stains and debris. This was the end of his breakfast. Besides, he didn't want to suffer Thor's insatiable appetite if he could get away with it. So he left the kitchen, pondering the benefits of turning his brother into some kind of animal. But which one? When the elevator doors opened on his floor, enlightenment struck him. A lizard! Except for a few details, it's a frog, and a lizard doesn't eat much. The image of a lizard wearing a small helmet and climbing a hammer accompanied him to his lab.

Thor continued his long breakfast until Clint Barton arrived; surprisingly quiet in the morning. As usual, the god greeted him warmly, but he received only a small nod in response. Something was wrong with the agent, he was staring at a sheet of paper in front of him and sighing continuously. Thor would have gladly helped him but his schedule was full for the day, he had to go spend some time with Mjölnir. Maybe fly a few hours around the planet or go smash giant skulls in another kingdom, the program was not yet defined. Wishing the mortal good luck, he disappeared into the sky, a warm-up flight would help his reflection.

Presently, Clint was getting his act together. No donuts for breakfast. No super sandwich for lunch. No... No smoothies all day.

The archer looked at his list of resolutions, then at the wall clock. His motivation was strained, yet it was only 9:30.

When Natasha picked up her after-workout drink, she found her teammate immersed in a tub of ice cream.

"Clint? Have you given up on your good resolutions yet?"

The respondent lifted an overwhelmed face behind a soup spoon.

"I tried, okay? I really tried but it was too hard. After twenty minutes I saw the doughnuts start dancing in their box."

"... How long has it been since you've slept?"

Clint sniffed as he ate another spoonful of ice cream.

"Three days, why?"

"Go take a nap."

"But I'm waiting for Fury to get back on my mission. It's stressing me out. And when I get stressed I get hungry."

"Your recruitment mission, right?"

Clint nodded sadly as he looked at his slowly but surely melting ice cream.

"It's kind of like my life," he sighed with resignation.

"I'm sorry what?"

"Natasha," Clint continued in a tone of secrecy. "I believe that Loki does not like much."

"No?" the redhead said with a convincing look of surprise. "Really? What makes you say that?"

"He wasn't too happy about going to a magic show with me."

"He's a god. I don't think he has the same interest in magic as you do especially... especially since he can do magic."

"Yeah, I noticed that. I have rabbits now."

"That's great," smiled Natasha, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Now put that ice cream away and go to sleep or I'll tase you and handcuff you to a bed."

"You always knew how to find the right words. Will you help me name the rabbits?"

"Don't your kids have any ideas?"

"They do, but... Between you and me, I like them a lot, but when it comes to imagining names, they're pretty bad."

Clint sat up slowly.

"I refuse to have Bunny I, Bunny II, Bunny Rabbit and Rabbit Bunny in my garden."

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Loki thought very seriously that he would have no more contact with SHIELD.

The last time he had seen one of Fury's agents was during his outing at the zoo and he was only there as a spectator. Even before that, Tony had been the go-between for the Atlantean story - which hadn't been seen in a while, so let's hope they weren't up to something underwater.

Loki considered himself as a normal citizen, not a model, but he was aware of that, but all things considered, he was fitting in the human mold.

He had even taken public transport once. And he had also promised himself never to use it again, but the intention was there. Can you imagine taking the subway and coming face to face with a mortal dressed as a rat? Well, it's quite a shock when you don't live in New York.

What a surprise it was when agent Coulson arrived one day at the Tower with a summons from SHIELD for him. Sarcasm aside, he was truly surprised. Having forgotten his discussion with Clint, it was a perplexed Loki who faced Coulson. Follow-up appointment? Agent Barton what? What do you mean recruitment?

After a quick and concise clarification - Phil's professionalism was a real blessing - the god left with the agent, Thor at his side. It had been a long time since he had stuck with him, probably because of his sudden desire to "bond". Hopefully he doesn't suggest a family picnic next.

Thor hadn't thought about the picnic at all, but after some thought, helped by J.A.R.V.I.S., he thought that a game of basketball would probably be great.

When the S.H.I.E.L.D. jet landed on the heliport, Coulson, who had refused a Thor Express flight, guided them onto the tarmac between the S.H.I.E.L.D. members who waved to their superiors as they passed.

"Watch out for the penguins," said an agent who was strapping on his helmet as they exited the elevator.

"Penguins?" Thor repeated. "Is that a code? What does that mean, son of Coul?"

"It means watch out for penguins."

Thor nodded thoughtfully and gave his brother a questioning look. Too busy tweeting that "honestly, S.H.I.E.L.D. was better before," Loki didn't notice. The trio took the elevator down to the heart of the heliport. Humans passing each other and exchanging brief words greeted them as the doors opened. Phil easily led them through the busy corridors, everyone moving aside to clear the way.

Loki was beginning to find time slow. Every time he took his eyes off his mobile phone, their guide passed his badge in front of a reader, a light changed color, the door opened, they took a few steps and again: badge, reader, light, door, badge, reader, light, door... The security agents on board must have been pretty paranoid. Light, door...

"STOP!"

Loki and Thor stopped dead in front of the woman who had rushed toward them the moment they stepped out of the endless hallway and into a large room. Behind them, Coulson slipped his badge back on before coming up to their level, arms crossed behind his back.

"It's time for the walk."

"What's that?"

"The penguins," she specified before turning her back to them, arms tended to prevent them from passing her.

Thor was about to take offense at the continued use of the word without deigning to explain it to him when four penguins appeared waddling around. Each wore a gray jacket with a white S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on the back, reflective stripes and a badge with a picture and their name dangling from a strap around their necks. The agents working in the room stepped aside to let them pass, forming a guard of honor. When one of the penguins strayed from the line they were forming, an agent leaned over and grabbed it before swiveling it around to bring it back into line with a pat on the back. The animal flapped its wings and accelerated back to its place at the end of the line.

Loki watched the scene with a confused look, that was enough for him to stop for a moment spitting on the back of the intelligence agency on the Internet. He already thought that humans were doing a little too much for their pets... Certainly now that he found himself with a cat he began to find a side "cute" to the creature that loved to make its claws on his important papers but that, it was far beyond the cooing caused by a clumsy kitten. How had they found jackets with sleeves that fit the penguins' wings? Did the S.H.I.E.L.D. have its own paid tailors to meet this kind of demand? What were the permissions associated with their badges if they couldn't get them past the readers themselves?

He then realized that it was the penguins that the crazed teenagers had wanted to "save". The poor things certainly hadn't had an easy life in that zoo and it was better to take them elsewhere, but why on earth keep them on board?

"I love these little creatures," smiled Thor. "Penguins are much smaller and cuter than what you find on Asgard."

Loki did not hear him. He had just seen a notification. A retweet that only said "lol"? By the nine kingdoms what was the point?

"You said Thor?" he mumbled by reflex.

"Penguins, they're great. What if we brought some home?"

"Huh huh. Great."

Concentrated on a careful analysis of the profile that had caused this irrelevant comment, Loki barely pretended to be interested in the conversation he had started.

"Gentlemen, we can leave now," Coulson announced soberly, now that the agents had returned to their posts and cleared the way.

With his nose buried in his phone, Loki mechanically followed Phil while his brother discussed with great enthusiasm and energetic arm movements the changes made in the heliport since his last visit.

"Loki! Do you remember this hallway? It's the one that led to your cell. It was fun back then!"

Coulson winced frankly. He didn't have a happy memory of this hallway.

With only five doors waiting to be unlocked from there, Nick Fury consulted his screens. There had been recent reports of UFOs all over the planet, but the blurry photos made it possible to make out a red cape; a clarification with Thor was necessary.

"Director Fury, Loki did arrive. There was a bit of a delay because of the penguins, but Coulson should be escorting him to the control room in less than a minute."

"Very good."

Indeed, Fury had just enough time to glance at an overview of their operations for the week before the door opened.

"Thor," he greeted, "Loki. We need to talk."

Coulson bowed to his superior before being asked to step to the other side of the room to sign numerous documents vital to the survival of the organization. Few personnel had the level of accreditation to review, let alone sign, the daily paperwork. Phil was one of the few who had it, and also the only one who did it assiduously, so a brief absence meant a significant delay and agents who were close to a nervous breakdown in front of their screens while waiting for validations. Of course, the higher levels could theoretically take care of it, but Nick Fury had other things to do with his days and Maria Hill was too busy assisting Fury. In short, it always fell on his shoulders.

After twenty or so clearances of all kinds and two checkups on undercover agents, Phil glanced at the gods. Thor was juggling his hammer, unfocused, and Loki remained wary, arms crossed over his chest, of the director's speech. Phil wasn't sure he wanted to be there when Loki found out what S.H.I.E.L.D. had planned. He seemed calmer than before, but the agent remained cautious.

"Sir! A call for you!"

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

In his confusion, Loki was escorted home while Fury spoke personally with his brother about an obscure story of violating foreign airspace. He remained silent the whole way. He was dropped off on the roof of the Tower and stood as if paralyzed, staring at New York. As the sun grazed the horizon, he looked down at his closed right hand. He gradually spread his fingers to reveal a piece of gray plastic. A S.H.I.E.L.D. badge, with his name on it.

"What the hell," he said, "did just happen?"

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Today, Tony wondered how his participation in the Avengers initiative had led him to stare at two rabbits running in circles on a blanket set up in the middle of the meeting room table. Why did he have to endure this absurd sight?

His meeting room was definitely not set up for rabbits. Nor dogs or cats. He had been accommodating and extremely patient with the Saint Bernard and Loki's cat (who, by the way, loved to chase each other around this very table) but rabbits? RABBITS?

"Is everything all right, Tony?" asked Steve, meeting the panicked gaze of the man concerned.

"I'm sick of all these animals... I built a tower to work, not to create a shelter. Why doesn't anyone understand that?"

Steve patted him on the shoulder with sympathy. A little voice in his head told him that he was far from calm. Then he looked down at Fury; the dog was sleeping under the table, its head resting on his feet. Cautiously, he opened a file that was lying on the glass table and spread out a few sheets to hide the dog from the billionaire.

"Today," Clint announced solemnly, "you will not see me with a smoothie. Nor will you tomorrow or in the days that follow. Because I've found the absolute parade! Behold, Smoothie I."

Clint raised one of the rabbits in the air to the dismayed (or definitely defeated) looks of his team.

"And in front of his little snout and adorable ears, I pledge to respect him and never again consume a product bearing his name."

The room erupted in small applause and Tony was the first to escape, he had more important things to do.

Twenty minutes later, at the foot of the Tower, Steve went for a run and came face to face with a Clint hiding behind a cap and sunglasses.

"They've come out with something new!" Clint exclaimed to justify the smoothie in his hands. "It's not my fault, it's the consumer society we live in that wants me dead!"

Under the impassive face of Captain America, Clint brandished a receipt.

"Look at this! They even have discounts, those monsters!"

Steve nodded with an "okay" and trotted off, leaving his colleague to justify himself to the sky.

Up in the Tower, a cat was playing with a plastic card on the floor. A hand took away the toy and put it on the desk. Loki crossed his hands under his chin. He had to be able to take advantage of this situation, now he just had to figure out how.

Loki entering a new stage in his chaotic life, and nothing goes right!