Clint drove them home through the night, the streets not quite so crowded in the early hour of the morning. The traffic would build again soon- New York never slept. Loki was tranquil and quiet, his eyes not even completely open as they rode to their home. He sighed and held onto Clint's waist with his fingers laced together. Clint didn't talk to LUCIA like he usually did, just listening to the road instead. When they pulled up to the apartment building and the god pulled off his helmet with a happy smile, Clint chuckled at him, taking off his own helmet. Loki leaned over him, laying his arms over the archers shoulders and pressing a kiss to his lips. The gentle and needy gesture made Clint chuckle some more but he didn't deny the god's kisses, no matter that they were on the sidewalk. There was nobody out at this time. He rubbed his hands over Loki's sides as he pulled away and he grinned up at his lover.

"Feeling all mushy inside after what I said?"

Loki hummed happily, his own hands trailing down the archers neck and chest. "You have no idea the texture of my insides."

"Sure about that? I think I know some of it."

"You are so very vulgar," Loki said, no malice in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm good at that."

They started into the building and up the stairs, counting off how close they were to making their escape. The bank account in Switzerland was being set up, though they still needed Loki's new identification papers and Clint hoped Rosario would have them ready soon. The villa Stark owned was already prepped for their arrival, and now they would only have to pack up the apartment and send it all away to the new house.

They started packing after they ate- Chinese delivery and Coronas at the tiny dining table while a movie played in the background. It was too early in the morning for jazz, Imelda wasn't awake yet. But lately there hadn't been much music shared between them. Her window stayed closed a lot. Clint thought that maybe she was away, visiting her daughter to collect herself after the ordeal with Prophet. He didn't blame her either. He supposed any person without the lifestyle and training he had would react the same way. Take a vacation and take it easy. After Clint rescued Natasha from the basement of a flour mill in Argentina, hours of waterboarding and boiling oil dripped slowly onto her belly, they escaped to Brazil and partied in Carnival until they passed out. Clint had danced with the women in their flashy bikinis and giant feathers down the streets while Natasha arm-wrestled bikers and ate a scorpion on a dare. As a souvenir she had a scorpion painted on its back to look like it wore a biker's jacket, with a skull and crossed pistols, and kept it preserved in a small mold that she hung off her keyring. Clint was pretty sure he got a few women pregnant, so he preferred not to remember that he was in Rio that particular year.

The movies were boxed up after 'dinner' and Clint was grateful that there was a 24-hour Chinese place. Extra clothes, bedsheets, trinkets were packed away, even the neat pile of rabbit furs that Clint cursed about because he hadn't been able to make into a blanket yet. He figured he'd have enough money to blow after they left though that he would either pay to have it sewn up or he'd buy a pre-made fur blanket. Clint took his time letting go of his bow, reluctant to stow it in a box with the quiver like it was some other unimportant possession like DVDs or socks.

Loki noticed Clint's slowed movements and watched him stare at the bow on the wall. He lifted it gently off the hooks, never having touched it since Clint had yelled at him not to, but he took the risk and held it out to the archer. Clint looked up at the god, not angry about the weapon in his grasp, he was almost sad.

"You will be reunited with it in time," Loki reminded him softly, bringing it closer. "We're almost gone from this place."

Clint stared hard at it in contemplation, pursing his lips and his brows knitting together. For a moment Loki thought he was going to say he didn't want to pack it up, but Clint finally nodded and took the bow from him, rubbing his thumb along the beads on the grip. He swiped the quiver up from the floor and set them both gently in their own box, cushioned on all sides by balled up newspaper. The box was sealed and Clint set it aside where it wouldn't be kicked or tripped on. None of the boxes would be opened, Tony already assured them of it. The hired maids that go through the villa every few weeks for cleaning would set their boxes inside and leave them for the owners- they had been informed that the house would be occupied again soon. This was basic protocol, the billionaire had said, in case there was any sensitive material inside that others shouldn't be privy to: confidential papers, secret science projects, age-old family heirlooms, sex toys. The last one Tony had said with a laugh, apparently having had a mishap concerning it.

With a big sigh Clint straightened up after moving the box, turning to see the god smiling at him. He snorted and went to him for a hug, feeling silly about his hesitation. Loki understood though, burying his nose in the blond hair and inhaling his scent. When the front door rattled in its frame, the knob jiggling and twisting back and forth, both of their guards rose in suspicion and they pulled apart. A glance at his watch told Clint it was four-fifteen in the morning and he knew it wasn't Natasha on the other side of the door. She had a key. But he didn't have much time to contemplate. He whipped the pistol out of the back of his pants and moved to stand beside the door, waiting while the door continued to jiggle. Loki stayed where he was, in full view of the doorway because he like flirting with danger. It became silent for a second as the person on the other side stopped and then the door was busted open, splinters of wood from the frame flying down to the floor and the door itself ripped off one of the hinges. Still holding onto the doorknob, Thor stepped into the apartment, fury apparent on his face as he zeroed in on Loki. He released the knob, crushed into the mold of his grip and he stomped up to the magic-less god, who looked just as confused as Clint. The archer huffed about the front door being broken, hanging limply on one bent hinge and the frame exploded from the bolt lock, and he complained how he'd have to fix it, and how rude not to fucking knock man. Thor lent him no ear though, bellowing at Loki, literally yelling in his face about apparent 'terrible decisions' he'd made since being on Earth.

"This is how you choose to redeem yourself? Father laid this judgement on you so you could learn a lesson just as I had, and you are spitting in his face by your actions! I have heard everything from Heimdall, Loki. You are squandering this opportunity-"

"Oh, listen to these big words," Loki hissed under his brother's shouts. "This is Odin's speech isn't it? You can't even come up with your own words to berate me."

The Thunder god lifted his hammer, heaving it between them up to Loki's chin. "You will not goad me this time, Brother, I've lost too much of my faith in you."

"Is that so? Then why bother coming to me now to scream in my face? It's the middle of the night, and you've broken into my home!" Loki gestured at the door Clint was trying to fit back into place. "Had you been bound to the laws of Earth as I am, you would be tossed into a cell. At least I have not been 'breaking and entering'."

This made the burly god puff up. "No, you have been murdering instead!"

Loki blinked stupidly at Thor, thrown by the accusation. "Murdering?" It took him only a second to realize, to remember the events that had transpired only some hours ago when he had indeed killed, and he suddenly knew why his brother had appeared to him now. He took a step back, eyes widening, but he knew he had nowhere to go, no way to resist.

"Father is in the Odin-Sleep, and I am King now." Thor shook his head in disappointment and looked at Loki with sad and steely eyes. "I won't let you hurt these people any longer- you are to come back to Asgard for punishment."

"What?" Loki whispered in looming fear, taking another step away as Thor reached to grab him by the wrist.

Clint was suddenly between the two gods, shoving Thor's hand away, angry and loud. "Whoa hey! He's not going anywhere, man."

"Hawkeye, you are hereby relieved of your burden," Thor told him sternly. "Loki will be brought home and another punishment laid upon him."

"He is home," Clint countered, standing tall as he could and leaning slightly against Loki's front in a protective stance. "He stays here. What the fuck is going on?"

"Are you not aware that he has killed again under your care- Where is your head?"

"I was standing right next to him when he killed those guys. Where the hell is your head? Where are you getting your fucking intel?"

Thor was dumbstruck, straightening his back and looking down as he thought. Loki knew this gesture as a sign of Thor questioning himself and he pounced on the opening.

"I'm working for SHIELD now. They ordered us to kill. Would you still have me thrown in the dungeons for following orders? What would Odin say?"

"You're working with SHIELD?" Thor asked hopefully. He looked to Clint for confirmation and got it, enthusiastically. "I had no idea that they would take you..." he stammered.

"Apparently the Guardian hasn't informed you of all the details," Loki snipped, becoming indignant and more confident as Thor calmed. "He rather despises me, you know. I'm sure he was withholding to see me suffer at your hand. He manipulated you."

"Yeah, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Clint snarked to keep Loki from getting too high on himself.

"You're not helping."

Thor's anger was abating, collecting his thoughts and the tension was broken, not to happy levels but a little more civilized. "I'm sure Heimdall couldn't know everything that has passed here- he has other duties." Thor would always trust Heimdall and it irked Loki.

Considering Clint and Loki's sordid relationship, the two were glad if the Watchman hadn't seen them together. And if he had, just as grateful he hadn't filled Thor in. Clint didn't want to try and explain to the judge why the guard had taken up with the prisoner.

"Well now that your conscience is clear," Loki sneered, "You may take your leave- Asgard could be under attack at this very moment and its King has abandoned his post."

Thor set his hammer down and waved away Loki's suggestion. "I needn't leave so soon, in the morning perhaps. You can regale me with your exploits in SHIELD."

Loki scoffed and rolled his eyes as he turned away, throwing himself onto the couch and turning on the TV. Clint cleared his throat and patted Thor on the arm on his way into the kitchen, asking if the gods wanted something to drink. Loki declined and Thor was happy with anything, so he was handed a beer and Clint had one for himself. He hunkered on the floor, leaning against the end-table by Loki's feet and sipping on his alcohol while Loki flipped channels angrily. Thor looked around the living room curiously from his spot on the couch next to Loki. Loki tried not to touch any part of the other god, squishing himself against the arm of the couch.

"Why are you stowing away your possessions?"

Loki sighed irritably and settled on a show, letting Clint answer. They were his things after all.

"We're moving to a new place- keep getting break-ins here."

Thor seemed to catch the hint and his face fell, sheepishly looking back at the door still lopsided in its frame, but closed. "Ah, I'm sorry my friend. I was quite angry, I thought-"

"Yeah, I know, don't worry about it. Like I said: we're moving anyway."

Thor hummed and nodded, downing his beer in large gulps. Loki remained silent and annoyed while he watched a documentary, letting Thor and Clint talk about him as if he weren't there. The blond god wanted to know how well Clint thought the rehabilitation was going and Clint answered as honestly as he could, but that in itself wasn't much. He couldn't tell him their plans, couldn't say that Loki would never be rehabilitated in the way Thor hoped. But he didn't make the trickster sound like an angel during the process either. He noted their fights, how Loki viewed humans in general, but also how humans treated him in turn. SHIELD agents were suspicious and wary, while civilians tended to be charmed and friendly. He went on to elaborate that he didn't think Loki was acting or manipulating the regular people for them to be so taken with him- it was his natural disposition to be curious and lost, and to outsiders it was adorable.

Clint remembered an instance in the library when Loki was accosted by a tiny girl, holding up a little red book and asking in a tiny voice if he would read it to her. Loki had looked around the vicinity for any other adults, finding only a couple old people and one library worker, and tried to nicely decline. It didn't work and he found himself sitting in a giant squishy beanbag chair in a corner with the girl in his lap while he read the book aloud. By the time Clint had found him, several other children had gathered around the god with other books, listening intently. Loki looked at him pleadingly, begging silently to get him out of the situation but Clint sat down outside the circle of kids and waited. When the book was finished and the kids started clamoring for another book, Clint finally spoke up, saying he was sorry to have to take Loki home. They were saddened but a mother came up to Loki and thanked him for keeping her daughter quiet and calm while she was elsewhere. She looked strung-out. When she actually rushed to hug him, Loki was shocked and squeamish but let her finish until she thanked him again and went to gather her little girl. Clint had just laughed at him and took him home while Loki made him promise to never leave him alone in the library again. Served him right for being in the children's section.

The temporary king seemed pleased by the report, gazing softly at Loki with a gentle smile on his face. Loki pointedly ignored him though he could feel the stare. When Clint yawned, his body finally giving him the sign that it was time for bed, Thor apologized for keeping them up so late. The sun would barely begin to rise. Clint gave his apologies no mind, too tired to care and just wanting to get some sleep, and he thoughtlessly asked if the god was going to bunk over. The scornful glare Loki leveled on the archer made him wince, realizing too late that of course Loki wouldn't want Thor to stay the night, and of course Thor would accept the offer. There would be no usual routine for the pair that night as they couldn't let Thor in on their relationship. In all honesty, apart from the initial shock and explanation, there really wasn't a reason why he shouldn't know- nearly all the Avengers knew, but it was something that Clint thought Loki would like kept private.

Awkwardly Clint said goodnight to the gods in his living room, Loki on the couch with a blanket for the first time in a long time, and Thor content with a pillow on the floor. He left them in the dark and climbed into bed, leaving his door open. He felt strange being alone in bed, not a single night went by without the wayward god sleeping beside him, and knowing he was out there on the couch seemed wrong. He tossed and turned, feeling tired and almost drifting off but Loki's absence was making it difficult. Half-asleep, he didn't know how long he'd been trying, he thought he heard a gentle click of the door shutting, and then the bed dipped at his feet. Blearily he blinked as he was turned onto his back, Loki suddenly looming over him and shoving the blankets down roughly.

"Wha- Loki, what are you doing?" Clint whispered.

The god gripped Clint's limp cock through his shorts and leaned down to hiss in his face, "You had better be hard in less than two minutes or you will be the one taking it tonight!" He squeezed him warningly and Clint had to still his hand with a pained grunt.

"Okay, okay! Shit. Just- Jesus, let me do it." He pushed Loki's hand away and cradled his crotch for a second while the god shimmied off his silk pajama bottoms, reaching into the bedside table for the bottle of lubricant.

With the knowledge that Thor was on the other side of the door, hopefully asleep, Clint worked himself hard, thinking he could've done it faster had a gun been put to his head. Watching Loki lube his insides helped, but his rough and angry attitude threw him off. He could barely see him in the dark, only the screen of his phone throwing pale light along their sides, but it was enough to see the gods hard length jutting out next to his, sleep shirt being unbuttoned as he heated up. Loki slathered Clint's cock with the remnants of lube on his fingers, telling him in a condescending whisper,

"Good boy."

And then he moved to sit on the offered length, breathing a sigh as it filled him. Clint swallowed hard and grabbed the god's boney hips, taking deep breaths as Loki's ass met the tops of his thighs in one move. With his hands braced on the archer's chest, Loki began to move, taking Clint's cock in and out of himself, eyes closed in an expression of frustrated concentration. It wasn't a fast encounter, more forced and hard, and it left Clint feeling confused but damn if he was going to deny Loki a fuck.

The god quietly commanded him not to move, forcing Clint to lie back and let himself be ridden, and he wasn't going to complain, he had just never seen the god take control like this. Loki had never really wanted to, but with the appearance of Thor- the way he made Loki feel powerless in his presence, Loki had to assert his dominance over something- someone. He rode Clint slow and hard, shirt open and head hanging down over Clint's, his hair waving back and forth around them. He huffed small breaths over Clint's face, determined to take everything he could from his lover and know that it was his to take.

Clint could see how hard Loki was concentrating, mechanical rows of his hips not stuttering or quickening for the slightest pleasure, and while Clint was feeling good and maybe Loki was a little, he knew this wouldn't end well. His hands slipped onto the gods thighs and up to his hips, pulling him down to slow.

"Stop babe," he whispered, and Loki's eyes opened to glare down at him. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone- it's just us."

Loki's nostrils flared. "And what would you have me do? Give up? Admit that I can't do it?"

"What? No. No, I'm saying if we're gonna do it then fucking enjoy it!" Clint found that it was hard to keep his voice down when he wanted to shout but he made it work. "I don't know what the hell's going through your head right now but it ain't us fucking. Babe-" he smoothed his hands down Loki's thighs in an attempt to calm him down. "I don't want sex to be work, okay? I want you to ride my dick and fucking love it."

Clint's last words surprised a chuckle out of the god and he dropped his head onto Clint's collar, sighing hard.

"I'm sorry."

Clint threaded his fingers into Loki's hair, rubbing his scalp. "It's okay, I could just tell you weren't having fun. You're not gonna come acting like that and then you'd've just been pissed off."

Loki huffed again, knowing Clint was right but he didn't want to say so.

"So you wanna try that again? Gotta say though- I'm flagging a little; you'll have to work me up."

Loki chuckled lowly and hummed, "I think I can take care of that." He turned the archer's face towards his and closed their lips together, rocking his hips slowly to pull on his length.

Clint breathed hard through his nose as he kissed the god, running his hands down from Loki's hair and over his back to cup his ass and pull him further off his cock to let him fall on it again. The god was fidgeting with something in the bedside table, but Clint couldn't care enough to make himself look, too happy to nibble on Loki's lips and thrust into his ass. When something pointed suddenly dragged up his abdomen though, his eyes flew open, too shocked to do anything but stare into Loki's mischievous glinting eyes and feel the dagger trail up and over his chest. Loki put the point under Clint's jaw, pushing gently and smiling with his teeth.

"Hard enough yet?" he growled.

"Oh yeah."

"Good."

Loki flicked the knife away from Clint's throat, still gripping it tightly in one fist as he sat up tall, taking the archer into himself fully and smirking down at him. He began slowly, barely lifting himself off to tease the blond, letting the fingers of his free hand trail along his belly by the fingertips. The dagger he let skip over his thigh and onto Clint's abs, skating the point along his skin dangerously again. He knew how turned on it made the archer and it urged him to push up and meet Loki's ass on every fall, making him move faster and pull off longer on his cock. The pace soon tired the gods muscles- his thighs quaking from lifting himself. He curled over Clint's body, panting quietly in his ear but still gently being moved over the length as he rested.

Clint took the dagger from him and put it on the nightstand, turning the god's face towards his to kiss again, still rolling his hips into him. They kissed messily, tongues sliding by each other and smacking wet noises in the silent apartment. Clint ran his hands under the god's shirt, rubbing up his back again and then down to his butt to grip his cheeks and pull. Loki hummed into Clint's mouth at the movement and broke away, steadying his arms beside the blond's neck and touching their foreheads.

"Faster," he whispered and Clint wasted no time, spreading his cheeks to piston into him silently. He panted quietly as he could over the archer, reaching his peak in a few moments and dragging Clint's with him as they groaned into each others mouths. They let their heartbeats settle, listening for any sign of the god in the living room rustling around, but the place was quiet.

Loki pecked quick kisses along Clint's neck and sighed. "I suppose I should go back to my couch before he awakes."

"I'm sorry, Lo, I wasn't thinking when I asked if he was gonna stay. Should've known he'd say yes."

Loki got up and fumbled around in the dark for his discarded pants. "It's alright- I've had my fun with you, and maybe in the morning when Thor leaves I'll let you have me on the kitchen counter."

"Fucking insatiable," Clint griped playfully, wiggling his shorts back up and under the covers again. Loki just chuckled as he buttoned up his sleep shirt and slipped out of the room.

A couple hours later, Clint woke up to the powerful groans of Thor, happily praising how well he slept on the 'cushioned' floor. The archer wondered if the god honestly felt that way because maybe Asgard didn't have carpet, or if he was just being nice. Too nice. Clint was too tired for nice. He rolled onto his back and blinked at the ceiling, his eyelids not wanting to open after each close. In the living room while Thor was making merry, Loki's voice hissed.

"Can't you rise silently?! There are others sleeping in this house." Through the door came a muffled whump sound- Loki throwing his pillow at the other god. Thor chuckled playfully at the gesture.

Clint sighed and got up, getting dressed while still half-asleep, tripping himself in his own jeans. It was quiet out in the living room again when he started out, but when he heard Thor's voice in a low confidential tone he stopped at the end of the hall and listened. The burly, tanned god stood close to Loki, trying hard to not look menacing.

"-make you happy?"

Loki kept a straight face as he looked at his brother. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"He's not simply watching over you. You sleep with him."

"You saw me wake up on the couch just now, did you not?" Loki scoffed.

"And yet you sneak into his chambers in the dead of night. I was awake, Loki, I heard your whispers."

Even caught in his own lie, Loki wouldn't lose face, taking a breath and sniffing. "It is none of your concern."

"Brother," Thor implored, hands reaching out to hold Loki by the shoulders though Loki moved away from him. "If he makes you happy then I am pleased as well! He's a fine warrior to have as your own. He can help you."

"Help me? You still believe I can be changed! Exiling me to a planet of lesser beings cannot make me a light-hearted and contented sap-"

"But you are with Hawkeye."

Loki twitched his head to look down his nose, squinting at the god with simmering anger. "I cannot be changed; I cannot be- calmed. Mother said I was a storm in soul- a force of nature, and she is right. But a storm won't be controlled- only directed by the right winds."

Thor watched Loki curiously but silently and Loki sighed through his nose at him.

"Take your leave of us," he said calmly. "Your very presence tires me."

Still listening and watching at the end of the hall, Clint met Loki's eyes over Thor's shoulder but he made no expression. The Thunder god bowed out gracefully, asking his brother to give his thanks to Clint for his hospitality and then leaving through the busted front door.

"So I take it Thor knows. How are we so bad at keeping a secret?"

"He thinks he knows," Loki grunted, falling back onto the couch.

"Yeah, I noticed you did the 'neither confirm nor deny' thing."

"It's none of his business."

Clint hummed noncommittally at that and then turned when he heard his phone beep from his bedroom. He checked it and then sighed in exasperation, yelling through the apartment to the god, "Get dressed! Fury wants to see us." He chuckled at the similar sigh he heard from the god and moved to finish dressing.

"Must we? Would I be reprimanded if I went in my pajamas?"

"Would you give a shit even if you were?"

Loki scoffed and came into the bedroom. "No, of course not. But I suppose it would be uncomfortable to ride in my sleep clothes." He started picking out his clothes for the day slowly.

"You didn't have a problem riding in your pj's last night."

"Oh, you're naughty."