Darcy realized as soon as she went into the kitchen of The Avenger's Tower, that Loki was seriously not a morning person.

She came at eight, as she stipulated yesterday, but he wasn't even dressed. He was wearing black pajama pants with little white clouds on them and a white tank while pouring a Red Bull into his iced coffee.

She stood watching him for a few moments trying not to laugh at how utterly awful he looked. His black hair was a mess and he had small bags under his eyes. "Morning Lokes!" She finally said walking into the kitchen and throwing her purse on the table. "Are you ready for some superhero fun?"

"Shut up." Was his frosty reply. "I'm not talking to you."

She smiled brightly as he sipped his over caffeinated coffee. "Actually you are talking to me. Right now. As we speak."

He turned to her, green eyes narrowing with annoyance. "You tricked me."

"I did not!" She was insulted by the very words he spoke. She didn't trick him, not really. "I was very straight forward! It's not my fault you don't pay attention." It's true. It wasn't. Who knew all you had to do to get Loki to do something was tell him Thor did it better. "And you trick everyone!"

He sipped his coffee again, the anger that was once evident in his eyes diminished. "I'm sure there is a valid argument that I can throw at you but I cannot for the life of me think of one. Therefore, I must end this conversation the way I started it. Shut up!"

"Ok, come on we have to start prepping you to be a not so villainous villain!" She grabbed her bag off the table and started to the stairs. "Which way is your room?"

He groaned. "Can't I drink my Red Bull coffee first?"

"Nope, bring it with you. And grab me a coffee too."

He blinked. "Little mortal you are my assistant, I am not yours."

She stopped her journey to his room and spun around slowly. "Rule number one on being a not so villainous villain, you do nice things for people."

He didn't move from his spot, opting instead for staring at her like she was out of her mind.

"Loki, may I have a cup of coffee?"

"Of course you can." He smiled. "As soon as you make it."

She sighed. "Loki, how are you going to get The Avengers to let you into their club if you are a meanie beanie?"

A dark eyebrow rose in offense. "What did you just call me?"

Instead of answering, Darcy asked, "Loki, can I have a cup of coffee?"

Outrage covered his face making him look darker and more intimidating than he did before. "You insult me by calling me a mean bean and then expect me to make you a coffee? You're lucky I don't poison it."

"Loki can I have a cup of coffee?" She asked again refusing to be intimidated by someone who wore cloud pajama pants or held his coffee in a cup that read 'Villains Do It Better".

"Are you seriously just going to keep asking me for a cup of coffee?" He inquired with a voice flat."

"Loki, can I have a cup of coffee?"

He huffed. "Fine! You insufferable little twit!"

She faked an insulted face. "Wow, watch that temper meanie beanie. It's that kind of name calling that makes Natasha want to kill you."

She watched as he angrily made a cup of coffee and trying to hold back her laugh. He was slamming down a mug and actually made it look like the coffee was pouring from the coffee pot indignantly. He was steaming and for some reason, it entertained her.

He stomped over and handed her the coffee. "Are you happy now?"

She shook head refusing the cup of coffee. "Not at all! You didn't ask if I wanted creamer or sugar?" Her intent was to get under his skin, but instead a curious look came over his face.

"I can put sugar in coffee?"

"I wouldn't recommend it if you keep putting Red Bull in your coffee, but yeah. I like two sugars and a lot of creamer."

"This cup of coffee is about as it good as I'm going to get Little Mortal." There was something in his tone, something that said he was no longer fake annoyed, but actually annoyed. She wondered if his annoyance was really about making a cup of coffee for a mortal, or if it was because he had lived as a prince most his life and so he wasn't expected to serve anyone.

She sighed and took the cup. "We'll work on it tomorrow. No come show me where you are staying. We have a lot of work to do."

"What exactly do you have in mind?" His tone lightened, which was a good thing.

Darcy noted how easily his moods changed but said nothing about it. "First thing's first, we need to change your look?"

Loki opened the door to his bed room and closed it behind Darcy. This was not a conversation he wanted any of The Avengers hearing. "What's wrong with how I dress?"

"Nothing, if you want to still be a bad boy." Darcy looked around the room. He hadn't changed anything around the room. It was a sure sign that he had no intention of staying long. "But we're changing your image, so you need to look the part."

Loki gulped his coffee and placed his cup on the table next to the bed. "I'm not wearing tights."

She laughed at the thought. "I wouldn't ask you to. How to you feel about capes?"

Loki threw himself on the bed and groaned. "Darcy, I don't think anyone cares what I have on. Besides, Barton wears all black."

Without thinking she answered. "Barton wasn't always a good guy."

That seemed to catch his interest. "Well, that explains a lot."

"Really? Like what?"

"Like why it was so easy to turn him against SHEILD. Trust me my dear Little Mortal, once a villain, always a villain."

"You will eat those words one day Meanie Beanie. Ok, so you aren't open to putting creamer and sugar in coffee or new clothes. How do you feel about a change in the hair department?"

He rubbed his hands over his eyes making him look like a bratty child. Well, maybe he was. She wasn't exactly sure how Asgardian aging went. "I've always had long hair."

"That's awesome, but you'd look less menacing if you cut it. Maybe chin length. Oh and put it in a ponytail. You'd look hot." Did she say hot?

Loki didn't seem to notice her slip up. "Is this about me looking hot or is this about me being nice?"

She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Have you ever seen an ugly superhero?"

He actually took a moment to think about it. "Fine. Get out so I can get dressed."

"Alright. I'll be in the kitchen adding sugar and cream to this black coffee."

Darcy went back to the kitchen to find Tony and Pepper sitting at the table eating breakfast. "Hey there!" She said. "Just fixing this cup of coffee."

"What are you doing here so early?" Tony asked around a mouthful of French toast. "Besides stealing the coffee."

After adding the cream and sugar she took a gulp of coffee which, thanks to Loki, was now lukewarm. "I'm taking Loki to get a haircut."

Tony and Pepper exchanged glances. "Are you seriously going to be his assistant? I thought that was a joke." Tony started. "I mean, why do villains need assistants?"

"Because, we are awfully busy Stark." Loki joined the conversation. "And stay out of my business. I do what I want." He looked at Darcy. "Come Little Mortal, I cannot stand to be in the presence of these two together. They are so disgustingly in love."

Darcy put down her cup to follow Loki out. There was some truth to his observation, though it was very bluntly put. Pepper and Tony were very much in love and not afraid to show it. It was sweet, in a way that actually made Darcy a little jealous.

"Hey, Harry Potter, wait up." Tony called out.

Loki huffed and turned. "You know I read Harry Potter and I don't need a wand to do magic nor have I ever been to a school of magic. And if I had, I'm pretty sure I would have burned it down for being so ridiculous. Please find something else to call me."

"Now that I know you like it so much, I'll call you that all the time." Tony teased. "But before you go, I want to know what you put in Pepper's soup yesterday."

Darcy looked at Loki. A small twitch took over his left eye. "It was out of a can. Why would I know what's in it? You think I have nothing better to do with my time then read cans of soup?"

"Actually, I don't think you have anything better to do, but that's not the point. She was really sick and the doctor said it would be a few days before she'd be any better. Then she eats some Soup A La Loki and she's suddenly cured."

The twitch was growing., moving down the left side of his face. "What exactly are you accusing me of?"

Tony crossed his arms over his chest. "We're accusing you of putting some magic mojo in the soup."

"Magic mojo? Where do you mortals get these strange sayings from. Are they in a book? Stupid Things for Mortals Say to Immortals That Can Turn You Into an Eight Legged Horse? And besides, do you really think I'd care that much for a mortal? I would never waste any of my healing magic on a mortal. Especially a blond one. I detest blondes."

Stark looked at Pepper, then at Darcy, back to Pepper and then to Loki. "OMG, you totally cured Pepper."

The twitch was in full affect now. His lips were curving up making him look like he was in physical pain. "I will not stand here and have letters thrown at me. If you are going to speak to me Metal Mortal the least you can do is make words. OMG is not a word! And you cannot prove that I cured your minion."

Darcy laughed hard at his twisted, pained expression and the utter offense that he took from Tony's words "You cured Pepper? Without any gain to yourself? Wait, are you already as superhero?"

Loki reddened horribly. "I am not now nor will I ever be a superhero. I. am. A. villain."

Pepper, who had remained passive during this conversation, hid her smile behind her cup of juice while she added. "Except on Tuesdays."