There was a knock on my door as I tied a ribbon around my head as a headband to keep my hair out of my face. "It's open," I called. Natasha opened the door and stuck her head through.
"They're here," she announced and I quickly followed her out of the palace to wait on the steps as the new group made their way along the rainbow bridge into the city. I smiled, waving at Steve as he approached and he waved back, a sack thrown across his broad shoulders. As they got closer, I picked out a couple of familiar figures and squealed excitedly, loping down the stair to meet them. I jumped and was caught by Phillips easily as he chuckled softly, swinging me from side to side before setting me down. Eric grabbed my arm and tugged me to him, kissing my scalp and slinging his arm over my shoulders.
"Everything okay, El?" Eric asked brightly. "Captain America told us you'd had a bit of a rough time lately."
"I got stabbed through the leg; no big deal," I responded casually.

"You got an infection and nearly died, Ellie; don't make light of it," Steve called over his shoulder and I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, Captain," I groaned.
"And this is why we should never go to war without our partners," Phillips sighed.
"Me partner or him partner?" I asked, pointing to Eric.
"Eric's not my partner; he's my husband," Phillips retorted, pushing my face playfully as I gasped.
"So you actually tied the knot?! Why wasn't I invited? I hooked you up in the first place!"
"Well, we would have invited you," Phillips drawled, "but there is no postal service to Asgard."

"Aww, I missed it!" I complained, stamping my foot. "That sucks! You have to tell me all about it, though. Where it was, what the ceremony was like, how sexy and stylish you both looked; everything!"
"When all this nonsense is over and we can all go home, we'll tell you every girly detail, alright, Missy?" Eric said and I nodded, beaming happily.
"'Kay," I agreed.
"Ellie?" I started at the familiar yet unexpected voice and looked around until I caught sight of a blonde woman looking at me in surprise.
"Sharon!" I exclaimed, freeing myself from Eric's grip and throwing my arms around her as she laughed, quickly hugging me back. "Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in forever! How are you, Cuz?"

"I'm fine; I had no idea you'd be here! When you weren't at the summoning, I figured you'd got out!"
"Nah; I've been playing with the Big Kids for years now. Thor came and got me when all this trouble started."
"Indeed I did!" Thor declared, smiling at me. "Is this a friend of yours?"
"This is my kinda-sorta cousin. She's also one of Peggy's great-nieces. Our grandmothers were sisters, so… yeah…" Sharon laughed softly and I shook my head, smiling.
"You never told me that," Steve mumbled, glancing at Sharon quickly.
"Couldn't find the right time to bring it up," she responded apologetically. Steve grunted, walking away, and Sharon and I exchanged a 'look' before she went after him.

"So, if Thor came and got you, are you the Ellie I've been hearing so much about?" I looked at the woman standing beside Thor with caramel eyes and nutty brown hair and a bag through which several scientific-looking devices were poking out and beamed.
"Oh my gosh; are you Jane?" I asked excitedly. Jane nodded, smiling back at me and I laughed happily. "Wow; it's so good to finally meet you! Thor's told me so much about you!"
"Aw, well, it's good to meet you, too," Jane responded, stepping forward to hug me. "Thor tells me that you and Loki are very close," she continued, pulling back again. I hummed uncertainly.
"It's complicated," I sighed. "Speaking of, though… Hi, Loki!" I called as the aforementioned trickster descended the stairs to meet us. He ignored me, focusing instead on Jane.
"Jane Foster; I did not know that you would be joining us," he drawled.

"Loki," she replied before laying a quick slap across his face. "That was for faking your death," she growled before stepping closer and wrapping her arms around his torso. "And this is for saving our lives." I stared in pleased shock as Loki stood stiffly with a resigned look on his face and Thor smiled affectionately at the two.
"Thor?"
"Mm?"
"I love your sweetheart. If you don't keep her; I will," I informed him. Loki flicked his gaze over to me with an unimpressed look and Thor laughed.
"I assure you, Little Warrior, I have every intention of keeping my beloved Jane."
"Awww!" I cooed, folding my hands over my chest. "That's so sweet! Loki; why don't you ever say adorable things like that about me?"

"I should have destroyed the Bifrost," Loki sighed heavily, running his hand over his hair and looking out into space wearily as I giggled. "Thor; make your woman release me."
"Jane; let go of Loki," I said with a laugh, putting my hand on her shoulder. She smiled, pulling away from him.
"Right; where can we set up? By the way, Ellie, these are Dr Eric Selvig, Darcy and Ian." I nodded to Jane's three companions and Thor whisked them all away to do whatever scientific things they were going to do.
"She seems brilliant," I remarked happily. Loki hummed noncommittally and I grinned. "You like her, don't you?" I questioned knowingly, nudging him with my shoulder. Loki looked down at me and smirked.
"I do find her quite amusing; yes," he admitted. "But she is Thor's woman. We are not friends." I hesitated before speaking again.

"You know I'm Thor's friend, right?" I asked, and Loki nodded. "And I'm your friend too, am I not?"
"I like to think so," Loki murmured, looking me over searchingly. I shook my head.
"No, Loki. I know where your thoughts lead you. Don't think; feel," I insisted, twining one arm with his and laying my hand against his chest. "I am your friend, aren't I?" I prodded, tilting my head and staring into Loki's eyes intently. Loki's expression softened and he lifted his hand to my face, scratching through the curls behind my ear.
"Yes, My Dear. I do believe you are."
"Good."
"Do you count me as your friend?" Loki wondered curiously and I grinned.
"Of course I do; you're one of my boys," I informed him cheerfully and he chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"You are so strange," he sighed, looking away again and sobering as he examined the troops Steve had enticed to our cause.

"Not as many as I would have wished for," he mumbled, his hand covering mine where it curled in the crook of his arm. "But anything to swell our numbers."
"Shield has fallen," I said softly. "There are few we can trust now."
"Trust is a luxury I cannot afford," Loki rumbled quietly, curling his lip slightly.
"Then you no longer trust me?" I inquired. Loki glanced down at me again and I met his gaze steadily. "It would explain a few things; you haven't been the same since I developed a friendship with Sif."
"Sif despises me," Loki snarled, crushing my hand and making me wince. "She never liked me. All our lives, from childhood, we were always competing; always vying for attention… for respect… for affection… And she always won. Anything I had, she took from me. My brother, my father, my so-called friends…" I looked at Loki nervously as his manner shifted to the aggressive, calculatingly enraged being I had known once before; when we had tried to kill each other… in another life… "She would poison you against me…" he growled lowly. I shook my head.

"Only you could do that," I replied softly. Loki blinked in surprise, releasing his hold on my hand as that dangerous energy fell away from him as suddenly as it had re-emerged. I slipped my arm from his and walked away without another glance, calling out, "Steve, Sharon! Wait for me!" as I followed the pair. They turned and I smiled as I caught up to them, falling into step with them happily. "So, I take it that the two of you have met afore now," I said.
"She was my neighbour," Steve huffed. "She told me she was a nurse."
"Shield assigned me to watch over him," Sharon explained. "Before everything fell apart." I frowned at that.
"I'm a little insulted that they didn't ask me," I grumbled, pouting slightly.
"You went home to Australia," Steve reminded me gently. I shrugged.
"You know I would have come back if you needed me, Steve. All you had to do was call."

"Yeah. To be honest; I wish I'd remembered that when we were out looking for Bucky… Things probably would have gone a lot smoother with you around." I looked Steve over contemplatively for a moment.
"Someday you're going to have to tell me what happened when I was away," I sighed.
"Someday I will," he promised. "Here; this is for you," Steve continued, taking the sack off his shoulder and holding it out to me. I took it and looked inside before grinning.
"Oh, yeah. These should last for a while," I cooed excitedly, taking a handgun from the bag and examining it. "Thanks, Cap."
"I told you I'd bring them to you myself," Steve said, patting me on the back.
"You're a sweetie," I told him, hugging his arm.

I retreated to my room with my iPod and decided to entertain myself by choosing theme songs for the Avengers and Loki. I was flicking through songs when Tony appeared in my doorway. "What are you doing, Kid?" he asked, amusement plain in his countenance.
"I'm choosing theme songs for you," I told him. "I've already got yours."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?" I grinned at Tony and shifted through my songs until 'I'm sexy and I Know It' started pulsing through the room. Tony laughed, nodding. "Sure; I can get behind this," he agreed, moving to the music. Before I knew it, he was giving me my own little private show, dancing and singing along to his new theme song while I laughed happily. Although, I did have to stop him when he started stripping. The song ended and Tony chuckled, tossing his shirt onto my bed and shoving his hands into his pockets. "What else you got?" he wondered.
"I've got Loki's."
"You've got Loki's what?" Loki asked, leaning on the doorframe casually and giving Tony a quizzical look when he noticed his lack of shirt.

"I've got your theme song."
"Theme song?" Loki echoed, lifting a brow. I nodded.
"Yeah. The song that best describes you," I said, flicking through my songs. Fall Out Boy started playing and Loki listened closely as I started singing along clearly. "I am an arms dealer, fitting you with weapons in the form of words… This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race… I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress." The chorus came up and I started jumping around enthusiastically, waving my arms about and shaking my hair while Tony laughed at me and Loki smirked, brow furrowed in slight befuddlement. "I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intrica-a-ate, ye-eah! I'm a leading man and the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intrica-a-ate, ye-eah!" I stopped jumping around and grinned at Loki cheerfully. "You can't argue with that, Princeling," I told him.
"No, I suppose not," Loki agreed, inclining his head coolly.
"Who else have you got?" Tony asked. I looked at him and shook my head, pressing my hands against my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Tony. I can't concentrate with your nipples staring at me," I laughed.
"Well, I can't say that I blame you," Tony responded, flexing his pectoral muscles. I squealed, knocking my palm against my forehead and Loki rolled his eyes, waving his hand as green light rippled over his fingers. Tony's shirt reappeared on his torso.
"That's enough of that," Loki reprimanded. Tony snorted, crossing his arms.
"You're just jealous because I made Ellie go all girly." Loki lifted a brow again and smirked.
"Well, we'll see which one of us can stir Ellie most," he purred, stalking over to me slowly and cupping my cheek in his hand. I looked into his eyes, swallowing nervously, and he winked before his armour and undershirt vanished, leaving him with a bare torso.
"Aaah…" I breathed, starting to get a little overwhelmed while Tony watched on closely, scowling.

"I know, My Dear," Loki rumbled sympathetically, taking my hand and laying it against his abdomen as he stepped closer, bowing his head over mine and pressing his chest against my shoulder, tucking my hair behind my ear and trailing his fingers down my spine to my hips. "Once you've seen me in my undershorts, anything less is a little disappointing, but with your friend here as well…"
"Hey, keep your pants on and let the girl go," Tony growled. Loki chuckled, breath tickling my ear and raising the hairs on my neck as he backed away, clothes thankfully reappearing. I stood frozen, skin prickling as I shivered.
"Not to worry, Stark. I know how to treat a lady," Loki snickered, looking me over. I blinked rapidly and Tony tilted his head, frowning in concern.
"El, you okay?"
"Can you both just keep your clothes on, please?" I whispered.
"I think we broke her," Tony hissed, glancing back at Loki.

"Have you tried turning her off and back on again?" Loki drawled disinterestedly. Tony glared, taking a step towards Loki.
"Reindeer Games, I swear, if you've done something to her, the whole team will come down on you; your brother included."
"I have never touched Miss Carter in any way immodest, Stark. That's your specialty."
"Not with Ellie, it isn't," Tony denied.
"Then you don't find Miss Carter attractive?" Loki challenged mischievously.
"Of course I do; she's gorgeous! But she's not my type. Now, can we go back to discussing theme songs?"

"Oh, good grief; yes!" I sighed in relief, turning back to my iPod. "Well, Steve comes with his own theme song anyway," I giggled, playing the Captain America song. "Bruce gets an Imagine Dragons song," I added, finding the song and singing along with it. "When the days are cold and the cards all fold and the saints we see are all made of gold. When your dreams all fail and the ones we hail are the worst of all and the blood's run stale. I wanna hide the truth, I wanna shelter you. But with the beast inside, there's nowhere we can hide. No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed. This is my kingdom come; this is my kingdom come. When you feel my heat, look into my eyes. It's where my demons hide; it's where my demons hide. Don't get too close, it's dark inside. It's where my demons hide; it's where my demons hide. At the curtain's call, it's the last of all. When the lights fade out, all the sinners crawl. So they dug your grave and the masquerade will come calling out at the mess you made. Don't wanna let you down but I am hell bound. Though this is all for you, don't wanna hide the truth. No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed. This is my kingdom come; this is my kingdom come…"

I sighed at the somewhat mournful lyrics and shrugged. "One of my ambitions is to help Bruce find a happier theme song. But for now, it fits."
"Who else?" Tony asked.
"I think Bucky's is Phoenix, from Fall Out Boy again." I put on the song and sang along again. "Put on your war paint. You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down. Strike a match and I'll burn you to the ground. We are the jack-o'-lanterns in July setting fire to the sky. He-ere comes, this rising tide. So, come on! Put on your war paint. Cross walks and crossed hearts and hope-to-dies. Silver clouds with grey linings. So we can take the world back from a heart attack. One maniac at a time, we will take it back. You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start, so dance alone to the beat of your heart. Hey, Young Blood! Doesn't it feel like our time is running out? I'm gonna change you like a remix, then I'll raise you like a phoenix! Wearing our vintage misery. No, I think it looked a little better on me. I'm gonna change you like a remix, then I'll raise you like a phoenix! Bring home the boys and scrap scrap metal the tanks. Get hitched; make a career out of robbing banks because the world is just a teller and we are wearing black masks. You broke our spirit is the note we pass… The war is won before it's begun. Release the doves; surrender love! Wave the white flag… Hey, Young Blood! Doesn't it feel like our time is running out? I'm gonna change you like a remix, then I'll raise you like a phoenix! Wearing our vintage misery. No, I think it looked a little better on me. I'm gonna change you like a remix, then I'll raise you like a phoenix! Put on your war paint!"

"You're right; that sounds like Bucky," Tony agreed.
"I think Natasha's is 'Become the Beast' by Karliene," I hummed thoughtfully, finding the song and playing it. "I've always been the hunter; nothing on my tail, but there was something in you, I knew, can make that change. To capture a predator, you can't remain the prey. You have to become an equal in every way. So look in the mirror; tell me, who do you see? Is it still you or is it me? Become the beast; we don't have to hide. Do I terrify you? Do you feel alive? Do you feel the hunger? Does it howl inside? Does it terrify you? Do you feel alive? Splinters of my soul cut through your skin and burrow within, burrow within. Splinters of my soul cut through your skin and burrow within, burrow within…"
"Sinister," Tony remarked, nodding thoughtfully.

"Clint would be 'I'm Alive' off the Black Butler anime," I continued, finding the song. "Nothing I say comes out right. I can't love without a fight. No-one ever knows my name. When I pray for sun, it rains. I'm so sick of wasting time but nothing's moving in my mind. Inspiration can't be found. I get up and fall but I'm alive, I'm alive! Oh yeah. Between the good and bad, that's where you'll find me; reaching for heaven. I will fight and I'll sleep when I die. I'll live my life; I'm alive!"
"Yeah, I get that for Legolas," Tony agreed.
"Thor can have 'Coming Home,'" I decided, flicking through to Skylar Grey and waiting until the chorus to sing along. "And the blood will dry underneath my nails. And the wind will rise up to fill my sails. So you can doubt and you can hate, but I know no matter what it takes I'm coming home, I'm coming home. Tell the world I'm coming. Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday. I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes. I'm coming home, I'm coming home. Tell the world I'm coming home…"

"Seriously? For Thor?" Tony asked sceptically. I smiled at him sagely.
"You don't know Thor the way I do any more than he knows you the way I do," I told him.
"Alright," Tony conceded, inclining his head. "Alright, I get it. You're the group confidante."
"I don't remember signing up for that gig, but okay," I drawled, scrolling through my music list. "I still haven't decided on one for Sam yet, and I've been considering Sif and the Three, too. I mean, Sif has got to be 'Fight Like a Girl,' but I'm not sure about the others. I'll find something eventually, though."
"And your song?" Loki wondered quietly. I smiled wistfully, scrolling down my list and clicking 'The Call.'

"It started out as a feeling which then grew into a hope which then turned into a quiet thought which then turned into a quiet word. And then that word grew louder and louder 'til it was a battle cry. I'll come back when you call me. No need to say goodbye. Just because everything's changing doesn't mean it's never been this way before. All you can do is try to know who your friend are as you head off to the war. Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light. You'll come back when it's over. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back when it's over. No need to say goodbye. Now we're back to the beginning, it's just a feeling and no one knows yet. But just because they can't feel it too doesn't mean that you have to forget. Let your memories grow stronger and stronger 'til they're before your eyes. You'll come back when they call you. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back when they call you. No need to say goodbye…"

"Well," Tony huffed after a moment. "I'm glad you came back, El. Get some rest; things are just heating up." I nodded.
"I know." Tony smiled, clapping me on the shoulder and heading for the door. He looked at Loki sternly and Loki narrowed his eyes at Tony, walking over to me and putting his hand on my shoulder, facing his back to Tony.
"You know I was only teasing you, don't you, Mouse?" he checked quietly. I nodded again and Loki smiled, sliding his hand down my arm as he turned away and left with Tony, closing the door behind himself.