Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, folks. Work and family has to come first. This one's a bit long and a bit choppy, but I didn't want to make you wait any longer. Thanks for sticking with me!

… …

Loki sighed at the touch of soft fingers fondling his sex. He could easily get accustomed to waking up like this. "Did I wake you?" his Kara asked.

"You can wake me like that anytime, sweetness," he told her as he gathered her in his arms. "Did you sleep well?"

"Mmm. Yes." She looked up at him, a bit of pink coloring her cheeks. "I think you tired me out too much to think."

"Good. That means I pleased you well."

The minx snorted softly. "It means I was exhausted." She grinned as he pretended to glare at her. "Okay, I admit it. It was the lovemaking that wore me out. So when are you going to wear me out again?"

His glare at the inoffensive clock imbedded in the wall was not feigned. "Not until much later, unfortunately. Don't pout. We need to bathe before we go do your damned scans." He smiled as she sighed and patted his awakening staff.

"Fine. Spoil my fun by mentioning work. Humph."

"You are the one who insisted, Kara."

"I know, it really does need to get done. It's been two weeks and I don't seem to be improving. I've been doing healing protocols on myself daily, but I'm still getting the same severity of headaches." She frowned. "Would you let us scan you again after I've done a few days of healing on you?"

"I'm indulging you as it is."

"It really could tell me if the damage is healable at all. If it doesn't improve in you, it definitely won't in me and we'd need to look at other options." He raised an eyebrow at her use of 'we'. "Uh, I mean S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research staff, including me," she clarified.

"Hmm. I'll consider it, depending on what you find out from today's scans." He took her chin in one hand and frowned at her hopeful expression. "I said I'd consider it, leave it at that," he advised. "Now, let's get that bath, shall we?"

"Showers would be faster."

He sighed, shaking his head. "Showers are uncivilized. We're taking a bath." Loki slipped off of the bed and scooped her up in his arms. "No arguing, I'm not in the mood," he warned her. Kara wisely compressed her lips together, though she was still looking at him with that damned expression. She'd best not get used to him indulging her too much. It simply wasn't in his nature. He did what he wanted, not what some mortal female…he shuddered as he set her down on the vanity bench. "Wait here," he ordered her tersely.

"Loki?"

"Enough. Wait here," he told her again and returned to the bedroom, closing the bathing room's door behind him.

… …

Kara stared at the door in shock. Loki's mood had shifted suddenly, just before he'd set her down. Until that point, he'd been indulgent, affectionate, caring; then she'd felt a sudden flash of anger and distaste. What the hell? She waited patiently for a few minutes then stretched out her senses to try and read him deliberately. Loki's emotional aura was a tumultuous mix of disgust, annoyance and…pain? Who was he disgusted with? Why was he annoyed? Her staying, them being intimate had all been his idea, hadn't it? She felt a tear dripping down her cheek. Damn it. Turning on the chair to face the mirror she laid her head on her arms and tried to calm down. She'd finally managed to tamp her upset down when the bathroom door opened and Loki came back in. Kara badly wanted to ask him what was wrong, but his feel was still so turbulent, she was afraid to push. She sat silently, looking up at him in the mirror.

Loki stared at the mirror, meeting her eyes in it. He frowned, reached for a tissue and gently wiped her cheeks. "I…apologize. I have no wish for my issues to give you pain." His mouth twisted as he rested his hands on her shoulders. "Perhaps it would be best if you stayed with S.H.I.E.L.D. until I am gone. I can't be trusted to…to treat you as you wish to be treated."

"I'd rather stay with you," she told him as she stood and moved around the stool. "I know I'm not your ideal. I know I'm just a mortal, I'll grow old and…" she stopped talking as he pressed his fingers against her lips.

"And I remember that from time to time, and it…disturbs me. I may treat you unkindly when I do. You don't deserve that. I'm very aware that you can feel it, so no lie from my lips will make it tolerable for you. I will end up hurting you, badly, should you stay."

"You must think I'm pretty pathetic to be okay with that." Kara was trying not to cry, but her vision was starting to blur with the withheld tears. "Loki, it's already too late for me not to be hurt. If I leave now, I'll still hurt. If I stay, I'll hurt, but at least I'll have some memories of you once…" She swallowed as the tears spilled out. "Never mind, I get it. It's all about you. You don't need a crying mortal female dragging you down. Fine. Will you at least still get the scan so this pathetic human has a chance of finding out how to heal herself?"

"For once, just once, it is not about me," he insisted. "I told you, I'm selfish, I want nothing more than to have your touch, your caring. But…ah, hells. I suppose it is about me after all. I suppose, if I am honest with myself, I'm starting to feel guilty about the pain I know you are feeling." Loki laughed, but the sound was bitter. "That's another first, you know." His arms enfolded her and she wrapped hers around his waist. "Yes, sweet Kara. You'll get your scans. Not only do I owe you, I do want you well. And I do want you here with me."

… …

His poached egg was coming along nicely, Bruce decided as he hit the plunger on the toaster. Everything should be ready at the same time for a change. He pulled the butter from the fridge and pulled a plate from the cabinet. He glanced over at the table where an uncharacteristically subdued Kara was pushing her scrambled eggs around on her plate. Loki was putting food in his mouth and chewing methodically, but didn't seem to be noticing what he was eating. Apparently their night had not gone as well as he, Tony and Pepper had hoped.

Speaking of the devil, Tony strode into the kitchen whistling half under his breath. At least someone was in a good mood. "Good morning, everybody," he sang out. They all turned to stare at him. "What?"

"You're awake. At nine in the morning; why are you happy about it?" Bruce had to ask.

"Oh, well, you know. It's a brand new day, and all that kind of stuff."

Kara's jaw dropped. "Oh my God; you did it, didn't you? You finally got off of the fence and did it."

"Yep, should have done it ages ago. You were right."

Bruce snorted. "She's always right."

"No, not always, just about some things," Kara said quietly, darting a look at Loki.

Yeah, things hadn't gone well there at all, Bruce decided. "So, congratulations, Tony. Have you two discussed a date yet?"

"Uh, no. Pepper's going to look at our schedules and narrow down something, uh, appropriate, she said. Then we can decide." Tony shrugged looking sheepish. "Meaning she's going to let me know. I don't really care. I just want it to happen."

Loki was frowning, looking back and forth between the three of them. "Obviously I've missed something," he finally decided.

"Yes. Tony finally proposed to Pepper. They're going to get married," Kara told him. Loki didn't respond other than to stand and walk out of the room. "Shit," Kara muttered.

"What's going on, doc?" Tony asked.

"Jesus, Tony, I really wish I knew."

… …

Fandral dutifully strapped himself into the padded seat then turned to see if Hogun was having any problems. He'd made enough trips in the airborne vehicles by now that the fastenings were second nature. Hogun still struggled grimly with them. He grinned as the buckle snapped in place, glad he hadn't been forced to annoy his brooding friend by lending assistance. One of the two S.H.I.E.L.D. pilots looked back toward them. "Sir," the man asked. "Are the others on their way?"

"I wish I knew," Fandral told him. When they'd left their suite to head to the elevator, Loki had stormed past them, returning to his. The lady healer had followed a few minutes later, but they'd heard nothing from either since. He looked back down the ramp as he heard the door open. Dr. Banner was headed out to them, and he was alone.

"Loki and Kara aren't here?" he asked, unnecessarily, Fandral thought.

"No, doctor. I have not seen them since they returned to his suite."

"Okay, let's give it a few minutes," the human said after running a hand over his face and frowning thoughtfully. He leaned in and looked toward the front of the craft. "Gentlemen, sorry for the delay," he called out. "We should be good to go momentarily."

The door opened again. Loki strode out, his expression closed, his hand covering the healer's where it was tucked in the crook of his arm. Fandral decided all must be well if Loki was bothering with social courtesies. The two followed a relieved looking Dr. Banner on board and took seats, buckling themselves in swiftly. "Good morrow, Loki," Fandral offered before turning to the lady. "I hope your head is feeling improved, my lady." Hogun remained annoying silent, despite their discussion after they'd returned to their chambers the night before.

Loki looked sharply at him. For once his expression and the surprise in it were readable. "Good morrow, Fandral," he said before turning back to his lady. "Is your headache gone today, Kara? I apologize, I neglected to ask."

She smiled. "It's fine, thank you both. I just needed to sleep it off, I guess."

"Sirs, Ma'am? Is Mr. Stark joining us?" one of the men up front asked.

"He'll be flying in himself. We're good to go," Banner told them.

"Thank you, doctor." The man checked that all of them we strapped in, signaled to his partner, and the vehicle leapt into the air.

… …

Nick Fury watched as the Quinjet coming in from Stark Tower landed. Agent Hill, shadowing him again, frowned at the Asgardians. "What is he doing back here," she hissed.

"I distinctly recall telling you that Loki has consented…"

"Not Loki. Fandral. I swear, if he so much as starts…" she stopped talking abruptly as the group approached. Nick tried not to smile as Hill edged behind him. He could well imagine she was setting her face into a ferocious scowl. Nodding politely at the group, he focused on Loki and Dr. Gunnarssen. "Doctor, how is your migraine this morning?" he asked.

"It's gone. I'm sorry if Bruce and Tony alarmed you. They were being a bit overcautious. It was only a drop of blood; I've had worse from sneezing."

"So long as you're well now, that's all that matters," he said smoothly. Loki frowned at him. The Asgardian Prince wasn't buying it.

"She is not truly well, so it still matters greatly. If your people had not used untested technology of a sort you have no hope of understanding, she would not have this issue," he snarled.

"Loki, I was the test. I told you, I volunteered," Dr. Gunnarssen told him.

"No, Kara. They tested it on me. You saw what that accomplished." He frowned down at her sigh. "Yes, I know. They had little choice. I…" Loki trailed off, shaking his head. "Let us get these scans of yours so that we may discover how to heal you."

Nick took a step back as the pair swept past him, heading towards Medical. "You don't want to know," Banner muttered to him as he followed them. Nick ruthlessly repressed a shudder as he watched three of the most dangerous people he'd ever met stroll deeper into his boat.

… …

Loki frowned as he watched Kara being moved into a scanning device. He'd been told the thing used a variety of methods to scan and map the various systems of the body, including their target, the nervous system. It would, Banner explained, take upwards of an hour. He gave her a last attempt at a reassuring smile before her face disappeared into the bowels of the device. Looking about, he realized that no one was paying him the least bit of attention. Loki smirked and decided to see what mischief he could ferment before someone noticed he was gone.

Oddly, the mortals scurrying about didn't even give him a second glance. He looked down at the black slacks and black button down shirt Kara had suggested he wear with new appreciation. It fit in quite well with the S.H.I.E.L.D uniform of black on black. Striding purposefully down the hall, Loki examined different signs and directional markings to compare against the map he'd memorized. Nick Fury's office should be right down this corridor.

And there it was. The conference room just before Fury's door was open and empty. He entered and found the door that connected to Fury's inner sanctum. As he suspected, the material conducted sound to his ears with no difficulty. Loki settled himself down on the floor, out of sight of the conference room's entrance and leaned back against the door to listen.

… …

"Despite Dr. Banner's odd comment, it seems to be going rather well, then," Raj commented as Fury paced behind his desk.

"Is it, Dr. Nassar?" the director asked. He paced some more.

"Loki broke off the beginnings of an angry tirade and behaved reasonably. I would call that successful. Did he seem to be in pain?"

"Not that I noticed, no."

"Hmm. Either his nervous system is healing well, or he did not suppress the use of his magic. We won't know which until the scans are complete. I don't think even he could heal that quickly, though. Not from two weeks of regular exposure to the expanded lockdown. I believe he simply wasn't that angry, and that, I believe, is due to Kara's influence."

"I'll have to reluctantly approve her remaining there once her team comes in to argue the point. Knowing Stark, the reasons they come up with should be entertaining. God knows I could use some damn entertainment after dealing with the council. They've asked for a more comprehensive report on 'the Hellbringer potential' as they call it. I cannot believe how eager the damned chicken-hawks are to make her into a super weapon. The disturbing thing is, once they had proof she could be such a weapon, they'd shit themselves and order her destroyed. That is not going to happen on my watch."

"Kara needs to be made aware of their interest. Otherwise she's likely to share more about her abilities with her team members as she comes to trust them. We don't know that…"

"I do know. I'm not concerned with the Avengers. They'll close ranks and protect her; we're seeing that already with Banner and Stark. Rogers will stand for her as well; he wouldn't take kindly to anyone being targeted without cause, and Thor pretty much thinks she walks on water since she saved his brother's life."

"Hmm, I agree. Barton wouldn't turn on her either. He's in a much better place after working with her. I'm not so certain about Romanov. Though they seem to have a developing friendship, the Black Widow's loyalties are to S.H.I.E.L.D. rather than to the Avengers."

"And to Barton, don't forget she owes him. No, I'm not worried about any of them. However, my agents here could be problematic. Some of them are blindly loyal and a few are…ambitious. All future testing she does here must be limited to what she's already displayed." Fury smiled. "In exchange for allowing Kara to return to Stark's tower, I'll insist he build her a secure testing facility there."

"He would do that anyway, so he'll count it an easy victory," Raj mused. "Have the Asgardians heard anything from Thor?"

"Nothing and that worries me. He knows how volatile Loki is. We don't how long Dr. Gunnarssen can continue to keep him distracted from wreaking havoc here; it's nerve-wracking, like sitting on an explosive and not being able to see the countdown on the timer."

Raj froze; his heart was in his throat as a familiar voice snarled at them. "I can keep myself distracted."

… …

Nick hated days like these. He hated them with a passion. Clenching his jaw, he forced himself to casually turn toward the figure that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "Loki, here on Earth, we consider it polite to knock before entering someone's private office."

The apparently no longer broken god sneered. "It ceased to be private when you chose to discuss me and what is mine." Nick blinked in an effort to suppress his surprise at that statement. "Tell me, director," Loki spat. "Does. She. Know."

Loki's 'lie to me and you die' glare would have reduced a lesser man to a quivering mass of fear. Nick Fury was made of sterner stuff, but he still admitted to a distinct unease. "I don't know what…"

The god slammed the heels of his hands down on Nick's sole personal possession in the office: a custom built desk with a marble desktop. The marble cracked. "Do not dissemble, Fury. I am the god of lies and you cannot deceive or distract me with your prattle. Does Kara know that you are whoring her out in a feeble effort to control me?"

Dr. Nassar spoke up. "No, Loki. She would never willingly be a part of such a thing, you know that."

Nick let out the breath he hadn't been aware he was holding as the tension left Loki's shoulders. "The only reason I do not kill the both of you for this is your willingness to protect her from your own kind," he informed them as he sat down in one of the visitor chairs. The still scowling prince glanced sharply at the door behind Nassar an instant before it began to open. Of course. The fucking icing on today's fucking cake.

… …

"Hey Nick, old buddy, I was in the neighborhood…" Tony trailed off as he saw his houseguest sitting in a side chair, looking like he was fit to kill. This wasn't good. The fancy blue pearl marble desktop, the sole source of color in Fury's office, had two deep cracks on the edge closest to their borderline psychopath. "So, Lokes, what's got your panties in an uproar?"

"Kara tells me you consider her an honorary little sister, Stark. Is that true?" Loki snapped in a voice as pissy as his expression.

Hmm, well, answering that shouldn't get him in too much hot water. "Yeah, so?"

"So, your director has deemed it appropriate to whore out your little sister to appease a dangerous enemy, what think you of that?"

"Son of a bitch. You know, the big guy and I were thinking Fury rolled over just a little too easy last night. But we put it down to exhaustion and paranoia." He turned to glare at Fury. "So, why's his marble cracked instead of his skull?"

"He's protecting Kara from his council, I assume by understating her abilities."

"Uh huh. Cool beans, then." He turned back to Fury. "She'll be staying at my tower permanently. If any of your people need therapy, they come there. Unarmed."

"Agreed. We'll have to keep the fiction of you convincing me she needs to be there."

"Yeah, we'll do that. Shit." He frowned at Loki. "I should have kept the suit on."

The god's left eyebrow rose. "Why is that?"

"That marble needs to be in pieces. Don't suppose you'd like to take another shot at it?"

Loki snorted. "How many pieces did you have in mind?"

Tony found himself grinning at the mischievous expression that had Loki's mouth twitching. He glanced at Fury whose façade of calm was finally cracking. Good. Served the bastard right. "Oh, about a hundred should do it. You up for that?"

Shrugging, Loki stood. "You might as well see this now. I know there have been questions, and I'd rather not endure the gossip and speculation once the scans have been completed should they have an, shall we say, adverse effect on my control."

Tony tried to remain nonchalant, but it was a struggle as he watched the tall, pale, Norse god turn a bright shade of blue. His mouth dropped open when the green eyes, not just the irises but the whites, turned blood red. He could feel the cold radiating off of him. "Wow, cool. Uh, no pun intended," he added hastily as the half-Frost Giant frowned at him. "Seriously, 'cool' was the word to use to describe something awesome when I was growing up." He snuck a look at Fury and Nassar. Both of them looked like they were carrying loads in their pants. Nice.

Frosty put his hands down on the marble surface, it glazed over immediately. He held on, the red eyes brightening hellishly, until the desktop resembled a large slab of ice. "It might be more than a hundred," he said with an outright smirk.

"That's co…uh, that would be okay," Tony managed.

"I'd advise you all to step back and cover your faces." Loki let go of the frozen surface, moved to where he could reach the middle, fisted his blue hands together, and brought them down sharply.

The shattering of the frozen marble sounded a bit like the glass shattering when Loki had thrown him through his window. But this was a hell of a lot louder and a hell of a lot more fun. Tony turned and nodded appreciatively. The base of the desk and the floor around it were covered with small shards of still frozen marble. "Nice." He gave Fury a nasty grin. "Don't mess with my honorary sister."

"I'm billing you for that desk, Stark," Fury grated.

"Good luck with that." He looked at Loki whose blue tint was fading to his usual death-warmed over tone. "You ready to head back to Medical? They're ready for you." Loki shrugged and moved toward the door. "Oh, Raj. Kara said she'll meet you in your office, she needs to chat. I'd suggest you not mention this, any of it. She might get a bit testier than either of us. I'll clue her in on the council when we get home."

… …

Loki contained his laughter until they were well clear of Fury's office. He hadn't had this much fun in quite some time. Stark shot him a conspiratorial grin. "That was…uh, awesome. Did you see the looks on their faces?"

"I did. Though I'd have preferred it not be necessary, it was…enjoyable."

"I'll bet. So, uh, has Kara seen that?"

"She did not say?" Odd, he'd thought she would be certain to share the information. Of course, she was wildly unpredictable. That particular quality was both enjoyable and frustrating. He smiled. Mostly enjoyable.

"Well, she's pretty good at keeping secrets. Has to be in her line of work." Stark paused, looking thoughtful. "She's also protective of you, don't abuse it."

"I shan't. I have sworn to her that I shall never knowingly harm her. You can ask Fandral the value of my word should you doubt it."

"That's okay. I get the feeling you don't give it much. Too easy for you to talk your way around it and give people the impression you've promised something when you haven't. Am I right?"

"Very perceptive of you. Yes." Loki frowned. He'd thought the man's intellect lay solely in his technological pursuits. He'd underestimated Stark...again.