A/N: I'm feeling so sad today, so I sat down to write... Sorry if it affects my writing... *sadly listens to pop music* *changes into pajamas* *eats too many cookies*

Loki sat quietly by one of the tall glass windows in the lab, watching as everything happened outside. A Lego robot rested uselessly in his hands; he had built it earlier that day and refused to let go of it for fear that something would happen to it. Thor had pulled his steadily growing black hair back into a short ponytail, even if his bangs had fallen out because they were too short. The green eyed boy had considered asking Pepper for a headband because they kept getting in his eyes, but he let it be. He wore the green and white striped polo shirt today, with his pair of khaki shorts and light up sneakers. Something weighed heavily on his chest, as it had since JARVIS woke him up.

Nearby, Tony was working on some new gadget or something, rambling on about everything and anything and nothing, all at once. His shirt was stained with sweat and oil stains from last night. He had refused to change when he went to bed (for all of the half hour he actually slept) and again when he woke up. He knew something was bothering Loki, and it was starting to make him jittery. His hands twitched all of the worktable, and his eyes never stayed focused on anything for more than a second. Or, maybe he was just relapsing because Pepper had refused to let him drink of drop of alcohol since Loki appeared.

He was probably just relapsing...

The child at the window sighed deeply and kicked his dangling feet back and forth irritably. He was having a wonderful time the Avengers so far. More than a month into his stay, and he practically considered them family... Except Clint, who still didn't seem to like him. Thor would always be his big brother, but now he had other people he could love and be loved by. Natasha was like his second mother (or crazy aunt), Pepper was his big sister, Steve was like his friendly uncle, Bruce had filled the roll of cousin somehow, and Tony... Tony was the father he could have only asked for. Sure, their impromptu family was a little strange, and they still tiptoed around each other a bit, but they were growing closer every day.

Loki was perfectly fine now, or as close to fine as he could get. Odin seemed like a distant memory. The seven year old was happy with where he was and who he had been provided with. Thor considered what he had to say and didn't tease him now, even if it still felt like he was hiding something. Clint tried to be less hostile, at least. Steve openly talked with him and played with him whenever he asked. Bruce wasn't afraid of the Other Guy attacking him anymore, and Natasha wasn't worried about the boy trying to trick them. Pepper colored with him often, even if she did look disappointed when his pictures almost looked realistic compared to hers. Tony always tried to make sure he ate all his vegetables and got to bed on time; this had greatly surprised the others, who never thought he could be the fatherly type. But still, Loki knew what was missing.

"Tony," he called tentatively, still nervous to call him 'Papa' like he did in his head. His green eyes never left the world beyond the window. "Why... Why can't I go outside?"

That's what it was. Loki felt caged. Over a month, and he still hadn't left the tower besides to get new clothes. Even then, he was practically glued to Pepper's side, being rushed from one place to the next in a number of hours. He wanted to go outside, with the sun and the birds and the trees! He didn't like his life on Asgard, but back then he had at least been allowed to wander Mother's garden.

"Go... outside?" Tony suddenly stopped moving altogether. So that's what had been eating at his little buddy. "Well... I guess I never really considered that. Hmm." He thought for a long moment. "There are some people who... don't like you for... what older you did. We just don't want you to get attacked by those people. Or even seen really, because then they'd know you're here and they could come and try to get you, which would really suck and I just..." The brunette took a deep breath.

"I understand," the seven year old smiled sweetly and returned to staring out the window. "it's okay. It was just a thought." Now he just felt nervous... If he left the tower, he would just be attacked. Or people who hated him would come for him and take him from Tony and Thor and the others... It really was better for him to stay inside.

Tony watched the boy with a melancholy expression. Poor kid. All he wanted to do was go outside for a little bit, but no, instead he was told doing so might hurt him. The brown eyed many huffed gruffly and ran his hands through his hair. "JARVIS," he barked with more force than was probably necessary. "Tell Thor and Nat to meet Loki and I in the front room."

"Of course, sir. Anything else?" JARVIS responded smoothly.

"Nope... Wait, get Thor to grab one of Loki's jackets. Oh, and what's the weather like in Central Park right now?" Tony questioned.

"87 degrees, sir, and partly cloudy with a 30% chance of rain."

"Perfect!"

The brunette rounded on his wide eyed charge and scooped him up. The boy gasped and anxiously grabbed Tony's shirt in his tiny fingers. The man just grinned. Carrying Loki on his hip, Tony entered the elevator and went up a few floors to the Avengers living area. Sure enough, Thor and Natasha had gathered in the front room.

"Put on your sweatshirt," Tony told the green eyed boy and set him on the floor. Still a bit shocked, the child quickly pulled on his navy, zippered sweatshirt. His hand subconsciously drifted into Thor's. "Alright, gang! Loki's slowly suffocating in the tower, so we're hitting the park for ice cream." Thor grinned and squeezed his hand happily. Natasha sighed and shook her head.

"You're just asking for trouble," she commented, but didn't bother protesting. "Lead the way, Stark."

"It's a kinda far walk, and parking is terrible in New York, so this might take a while..."

-{[(-)]}-

Loki had practically sprinted the last fifty feet to the park. "Come on!" he screamed. His light-up sneakers were going haywire with the number of steps he was taking. He bounced excitedly on the balls of his feet at the entrance.

"Loki! Hold up, buddy! We need to establish some rules," Tony called. Natasha nodded with a pleasant smile. Loki was adorable when he was happy. "First of all, you can't just go running off like that. Secondly, you need to stay in one of our sights at all times. No disappearing or hiding. Third, do not talk to any strangers. At all. Come back when you're ready for ice cream. That should be it..." He glanced to Natasha to make sure before nodding firmly. "Alright, scamp. Go have f-" The seven year old had already sprinted towards the nearest tree. "Do you think he heard me?'

Thor just laughed.

-{[(-)]}-

An hour later, Loki had run to where the adults were seated among the pigeons. He demanded Thor play with him, and giggled maniacally as they battled all kinds of imaginary beasts. Soon, they had dragged Natasha into their game. Now they were fighting something a bit more modern (some kind of evil robots). Loki didn't appear to be getting tired anytime soon, so it wasn't long until they got Tony to play as well. The seven year old rode around on the brunette's back, pretending he was a mighty steed. The genius honestly wasn't bothered (Loki's grin was just too cute), and Natasha thought it was hilarious.

Well, she thought that until Loki suddenly leaped from his "ride's" back to tackle her. Every bone in her body was forced to resist her instinct to throw him off. Using her distraction, the boy managed to steal her stick "weapon" and forced her to surrender. The woman was shocked for a moment before she let out an almost girlish giggle and agreed. Moving up to the "prisoner's tower" (a nearby tree), Natasha played her part as the perfect damsel in distress. Thor valiantly tried to "reclaim the fair maiden." Unfortunately, it would seem that it was not his day.

When Thor moved to grab Loki and make him surrender, the seven year old let out a short cry of pain. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he backed away from his brother, looking wounded. The blonde panicked and immediately picked the boy up to check him over for injuries. Suddenly, Loki cackled and held out his "sword" to the bigger male's throat.

"Hah hah, I win," he teased.

"You- you tricked me!" Thor spluttered. "I can't believe you! I thought I had hurt you!" The little brat had the audacity to stick out his tongue!

"He's right. That's not very nice, Loki," Natasha scolded lightly.

"Don't be the boy who cried wolf. If you trick people like that, one day they won't believe you. Then you'll really be hurt, and no one will help you," Tony explained as he gently took the seven year old from his brother. "You should apologize."

"R-really? That can happen? I-I never thought..." Loki quickly turn to Thor. "I'm sorry, big brother. I-I won't do it again." The blonde frowned. How do you stay angry when someone calls you 'big brother' in such a little, miserable voice?

"I... I forgive you."

"Hey, why don't we get ice cream now?" Tony suggested. Natasha smirked and poked him lightly.

"Tired?"

"No."

-{[(-)]}-

Thor got strawberry ice cream, Natasha took mint chip, Tony went for chocolate, and Loki took vanilla. Once they had procured the delightful frozen treats, they found an empty bench to sit on. Watching old couples and excited children run by, the adults chatted quietly. Loki was kicking his tiny legs again, licking his ice cream so quickly it had to be unhealthy. Not to mention how messy... He already had ice cream all around his mouth and on the tip of his nose. Some of it had dribbled down his chin and onto his shirt. There were even some speckles of the creamy dessert on his shorts.

Sighing, Natasha forced herself to wait until he had finished the cone before pulling out a napkin and wiping him off as best she could. Tony stifled a laugh when she finally noticed the state of Thor.

-{[(-)]}-

After another hour in the park, Loki was too tired to continue. Thor gave him a piggy back ride for the journey home. Once they had finally arrived at the tower, the seven year old was laid down for a nap on the couch with his favorite blue blanket. Steve cooed at the sight of him, and even Bruce admitted he looked adorable when he slept. Clint just stared at him for a long moment; then he hissed something under his breath and left the tower for a while. Tony returned to the lab, telling JARVIS to inform him when the miniature trickster awakened. Thor decided to watch a movie in his room, and Natasha began to make a late lunch for everyone.

It seemed right how they all seemed to fill these almost family-like roles.

A/N: Was it good? Bad? Was Loki adorable? Is Tony being too fatherly? You get a virtual ice cream of your choice when you review!