Author's Notes: More of the smexy. The rest of the chapter is important to the plot, so skip to the next set of '… …' when you encounter a section of it so that you don't miss anything vital. Thanks for all of the lovely reviews. Looks like Jötunn form Loki with Kara was a big hit! Hope you like this chapter almost as well!

… …

Loki watched anxiously as his lady's eyelids fluttered. She'd fainted, the energetic strain of maintaining her body heat while they made love with him in his Jötunn form had taken its toll. Kara had managed to retain consciousness until after he'd finished inside her and had assured him she was well, but he still felt guilty. He stroked her silky hair back with his now warm hand and marveled at the knowledge that such an amazing woman loved him. Her beautiful eyes finally opened, the kaleidoscope of blue, green, gray and gold seeming to swirl as she turned her head to look fully at him. "I'm fine," she said. "I told you not to worry."

He smiled and stroked a finger across her bottom lip. "I will always worry for you, love." His grin widened as she rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You need to have something to eat, rebuild your strength," he insisted. "I've brought the table in here."

Kara sighed and let him help her sit up. "If I eat something, will you stop worrying?" she asked.

"I will worry less. And you are eating, it is not optional."

"Humph. Fine. But only because I'm hungry, not because you said so."

Her stubborn pout was a sight to see. "Of course, my lady." He picked up and plate and selected a few items from the serving platters and then set it in her lap. "You will enjoy these best, I think."

She stared down at the plate for a moment and then frowned at him. "Loki, I'm not an invalid."

"No, but I enjoy spoiling you."

"Oh." Blinking, she stared at the food for a moment more, than looked up at him and smiled. "Sorry, I didn't even think about it that way. I guess I'm not used to having someone want to take care of me. So, what? Not going to feed it to me too?"

He laughed and settled himself back down on the bed, set the plate aside and pulled her into his lap before picking it up again. "Better?" he asked and nuzzled her jaw when she nodded. "Good." Choosing a morsel from the plate he held it to her lips. "Roast…venison, I think is the closest approximation to a Midgardian animal; though it is domesticated, so the taste of it is closer to your beef." She cooperatively accepted and chewed the bite of meat and he amused himself by pressing soft kisses along her shoulder until she swallowed.

"If you're going to keep on doing that, I'm not going to get much eaten," she informed him.

"Hmm. I shall have to restrain myself then." He selected another bite, a root vegetable from the plate and held it up for her. "This has the texture of your raw carrots, but the flavor of your sweet potatoes." She took it from him and crunched it with every evidence of enjoyment. Next he picked up a slice of fruit, the way the fruit had been cut horizontally, the individual slices resembled the device on Roger's shield.

"Is that starfruit?" she asked

"I do not know if you have it on Midgard, or if so, what it may be called. Try it, hmm? It's quite tasty, though a bit sweet."

Kara took the fruit slice in her mouth and closed her eyes. "Mm. Yep," she said after she'd swallowed. "Starfruit. I haven't had one of these since I visited Hawaii. They're awesome, do you have more?"

"I shall get you all you'd like, love." He made a mental note to order some for her morning meal. "Have some more of the meat." He fed her another piece and then popped one in his own mouth, chewing thoughtfully as he considered the evening's events. "Just how far do you think your friends are willing to go at the Tribunal?" he asked.

"Our friends. And it depends, I think, on what's decided. Will they be considering what happened to Jötunheim, or just what happened on Earth?"

"Midgard, Kara. And please remind the others, none of you will be taken seriously here if you continue to call it Earth even if it is what you've called it all your lives." He frowned as he encouraged her to take another bite of the meat, it was quite well seasoned, and again, took a few for himself. "They will be considering all of my actions, including those in your Galisteo area. Though that did lead to Thor proving he had learnt his lesson and allowed his power to be restored. Should Thor wish to see it that way, they will likely only censure me for how I went about it."

She shook her head. "Was that even your intent?" Her eyes narrowed at his silence. "Hmm, that's what I thought. You were lashing out because of how hurt you were. But it turned out well."

"How so? That led to my fall into the Void."

"Maybe, but it also led to Jane being able to figure out wormholes and her being able to send the guys here with us so we could help Asgard. So that really should be a wash."

"A what?"

Her head dropped back on his shoulder. "A wash. Um, it's a colloquial term meaning it should balance out." Loki smiled as she stretched up to press a soft kiss on his jaw. "I suppose it's amazing we don't have to explain more colloquialisms to you than we do. The few days I had to spend talking to Thor nearly drove me insane, and Steve isn't much better considering it's his planet and he only missed seventy years of language evolution. And don't get me started on how crazy it is trying to get either of them to use any modern technology correctly."

"I did have an advantage. Not only have I been working at keeping up with Midgard's science, when I controlled those agents I absorbed quite a bit of their knowledge; probably more than most would as I have practiced my memorization and retention skills for centuries. One never knows what will be needed for a powerful work of magic."

"Were any of them programming geniuses?"

He chuckled as he selected more fruit from the platter. "No, but most of them knew more than the average person, I expect. Programming isn't all that much different from using magic. Had he the ability to channel the power, Tony Stark would make a formidable sorcerer." Shrugging as he teased her by offering one of the star-shaped fruit pieces only to pull it away he continued, "Fortunately, he has no such ability."

Kara was frowning at him, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. "If you're going to pull food away, it must mean I don't need to eat anymore." He immediately tucked the slice between her lips. Once she swallowed she asked: "Why fortunately?"

"Because he is exceedingly reckless. The kind of power that can be harnessed if used carelessly could destroy more worlds than he can even imagine. Granted, it would take the practitioner with it, but his recklessness would cause him to ignore that pertinent fact and try it regardless."

"Maybe. I'm not so sure, though. He's matured a great deal recently." She sighed as he held up another bite of vegetable. "No, I've had enough. I could use some water, though."

"Hmm, I'll need to send for some. Meanwhile, have a bit of mead." He held the goblet up to her lips.

"Not a good idea for me to have anything alcoholic after draining myself so much. So what about Jötunheim? We can vouch for what happened on Midgard, but there's nothing we can say about that."

"I don't know. I suppose it depends on how much damage resulted, and on how much outrage there has been amongst the other realms to what I did to them. Though I think Thor will try to dissuade them from blaming me on that. He feels responsible as it was his idea in the first place…well, to subjugate Jötunheim, not to try and destroy it. That, I'm afraid, was all me."

Kara twisted in his lap and hugged him close. "I don't suppose they'll take testimony about psychological state and such?"

"No, my love. Best not to dwell on it, there's naught we can do until we know what the members of the Tribunal think of it all."

"I won't let them hurt you."

"Kara, don't. Promise me you will not mount some ill-advised rescue attempt. If you cannot dissuade them from sentencing me to something you consider unreasonable, you will need to go home and try to forget about me."

"Bullshit." Her arms tightened about him and hot tears dampened his neck. "I'll never be able to forget you, and I won't be able to let it go."

"If you don't, they may do something to you that I'll regret. Please, sweet love. Don't make this more difficult for me. I know the thought of me suffering in any way hurts you, but I will suffer it gladly to know that you are well and safe. Do not do anything that will jeopardize your chances of being fully healed. Even if you did manage to save me from punishment, if you died for lack of healing, it would destroy me."

"It's just not fair," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"I know." He combed his fingers through her hair as she sobbed, rubbing her back with his other hand. Once she settled, he kissed her forehead and used one of the hand linens to dry her face. "For more than a thousand years I have watched my brother tread over hundreds of hearts that were sincerely offered him, taking no real notice or care of any of them. I-I am offered one, and it is the heart of a glorious and miraculous woman, and I cannot even…no, it is not fair at all."

"I really am full, Loki," she said softly. "Can we just go back to sleep?"

He smiled and returned the plate to the table and settled her back down on the bed. "We can lay back down…sleep, well, that will come eventually."

… …

Hawkeye turned to stare at the entrance to their suite. No, he hadn't been mistaken, someone was knocking. He dropped back down from the ledge where he'd been watching the sunrise to the floor of the balcony, crossed the common area and opened the door. Fandral and Sif waited on the other side. "What?" he asked.

The tall woman frowned. "He's as talkative as Hogun," she groused.

"No, he speaks a good deal more, but not unnecessarily. Good morrow, Hawk. Is Thor here? We need to consult with him and he was not in his chambers," Fandral said.

"Yeah, he fell asleep over there," he told them as he stepped back and nodded toward the piece of furniture that resembled an overstuffed couch without arms on the end. Thor was sprawled across it, still snoring. "He dropped off mid-conversation."

"He'd likely not fully recovered before he joined you," Sif offered. "He's stubborn that way."

"He's stubborn most ways; almost as much a pain in the ass as his brother."

The woman grimaced but Fandral chuckled. "They are cut from the same cloth in that regard, surely."

Sif frowned and pushed past them. "Thor, wake up, there is trouble developing," she called out as she stopped a few yards away from the sleeping god of Thunder.

Clint almost laughed as Thor jumped up and took on a fighting stance, sweeping his arms out in several directions as though he needed to clear enemies away. The reason for Sif awakening him from a distance was obvious. "What, where?" he rumbled, as he blinked sleep from his eyes.

Sif shook her head. "Not here, be at ease; but there is much to discuss and soon. Delegations have arrived."

"What's going on," Clint asked.

"The All-Father has called a War Council with our allies. He is concerned that the Mad Titan will not give up his quest for a dangerous treasure that resides in Asgard's vaults."

Thor stretched and yawned, then turned to Sif with a frown. "Why did he not wait until after the Tribunal has met?"

Fandral stepped from behind Sif. "From what we understand, he wishes Loki to speak to what he knows of the enemy. I-I'm afraid that does not bode well as to Odin's confidence in the decision of the Tribunal."

"Crap." Clint turned and strode over to the occupied bedrooms. "Stark, Cap, wake up. You need to hear this." Rogers sat up almost immediately. Stark didn't so much as blink. "Shit." He stalked over to the bed and prodded the billionaire's shoulder. "Stark, wake up, we've got company."

"Not now, Pep, gimme another ten, 'kay?" the man mumbled.

"In what freaky universe do I sound like Pepper?" he asked. "Shit." After considering for a minute, he grabbed the still sleeping idiot under the arms, dragged him off of the bed and dumped him on the floor. "Wake up, or I'll get Thor in here to use a little lightning on your lazy ass."

One chocolate brown eye opened. "You wouldn't. He wouldn't."

"I would; he probably wouldn't except Loki may be in trouble."

"Christ, what did Bambi do this time," Stark muttered as he clambered to his feet.

"Bambi?"

"Yeah, blunders around getting his ass in trouble and then gives you the damn baby deer eyes to get out of it. Why the hell do I always have to explain these things?"

"Because we don't share your warped view of the world, Tony," Rogers said as he leaned into the room, balancing on his crutches. "Come on, Thor's friends are waiting."

… …

Christ, a hangover, in frigging Asgard, no less. Tony groaned as he pulled on the clothes that had been left for him by the servants he had yet see. Maybe they were invisible? Maybe there were no servants and it was all magic? "Shit, I hate magic," he muttered. After staring in the mirror at the outfit for a minute, he brightened. "Huh, very Pirates of the Caribbean, kind of." He shrugged. "Whatever it is, I rock it."

Thor, the Amazonian bitch and Fandral were going at it when he emerged, talking over each other, gesturing, and generally making no more sense than a cage full of monkeys at the zoo. Cap was staring at them with his trademark disgusted expression. "Okay, that's it, all of you shut up," he finally barked. Surprisingly they all responded to the authority in his tone and buttoned it. Would wonders never cease? "Now, Sif, explain it as though we have absolutely no idea of your political structure, treaties, or anything else, because three of us don't, okay?"

She looked Steve up and down and nodded. "Odin's magic and that of Asgard itself protects a vault of powerful artifacts and other treasures. It seems the enemy that held Loki," and here she sounded like she was spitting, "is a powerful being whose name we will not mention lest he gain the ability to hear our conversation. We call him the Mad Titan. He wants one of the treasures and will wreak destruction upon the entire universe should he obtain it."

"Okay, so this Titan…is that like the Titans of Earth mythology?" Tony had to ask.

"No, those creatures had not the power of this one." Tony's stomach rolled at her calm assertion. "This is a grave danger to all of the nine realms, including your Midgard. The treaties the All-Father has undertaken with those empowered to treat with us require mutual defense against outside enemies, therefore Odin was forced to call in delegations from the other realms so that they may be aware of the enemy and take steps in their own defense."

"And maybe make sure no more of them help the bastard attack Asgard again?" he guessed.

"Exactly," Sif agreed. "The Svartálfar representative is here with the others, but he is under guard from what we can see and seems much subdued. Hogun and Volstagg are attempting to find out more."

"Okay, I understand Hogun; the man's a wraith when he wants to be, but Volstagg?"

Thor chuckled. "Do not underestimate him, friend Tony. Volstagg may act the buffoon, but his mind and ears are very sharp and he is often ignored as not worthy of notice. Our large friend often hears much that is intended to be confidential."

Sif nodded. "He was the one who heard the council being called when he was visiting the kitchens early."

Steve was rubbing his forehead and Clint looked bored but neither of them asked the obvious question, so Tony guessed it was up to him…in the middle of his frigging hangover. Shit. "Okay, so big war council meeting. Why is this a problem for Bam…uh, Loki?"

The woman gave him a 'what are you, an idiot?' glare. "Emissaries are here from Jötunheim as well."

"Oh, shit; you're talking about his birth dad's realm that Loki trashed. That can't be good."

"Hence our disquiet."

"You're no fan of Loki's, why 'our'?"

She audibly ground her teeth. "He is loved by Thor and by Lady Frigga. I would do anything for either of them."

"Gotcha. Fandral, buddy, what's with the sad eyes?"

"They are holding the council before the Tribunal, Tony Stark. I do not think that speaks well of Loki's chances with that august body." The dandified Æsir shrugged. "Also, I am saddened that Lady Sif did not have the opportunity afforded Hogun and I, to truly come to know Loki as more than Thor's brother."

Tony smirked as Sif rolled her eyes. "Yep, that's truly sad," he agreed. "Okay, so now what?"

Thor turned toward the windows and heaved a sigh. "I shall go warn my brother so that he is not pulled into the council unprepared. He will not even have these few last hours with his lady." When the big lug turned around again, his eyes were wet.

"Damn. They can't catch a break."

… …

Kara sighed as she lightly traced along the lean muscles of Loki's chest and abdomen. He was still asleep, which meant that he'd lain awake well into the night again, worrying. Not that he would ever admit to it, no, of course not; that would be a sign of weakness. She sighed again and turned her face to kiss the smooth cool skin of his neck. His arms tightened around her, but otherwise he didn't stir. Sunlight was flooding the room beyond the bed's draperies and had been for some time. Playing idly with one of his almost flat nipples she debated waking him. He shifted and one hand slid down her back to cup her ass and then squeezed. She grinned. "You're awake," she said.

"How can I sleep through your arousing touch, my love?" he asked as he pulled her on top of him. He wasn't kidding about being aroused, though the thought crossed her mind that maybe it was just one of those guy things. While she hadn't slept with anyone before Loki, she'd read journals and listened to gossip and understood about morning 'wood' as it was called. His eyes narrowed slightly. "It is all because of you," he told her as though he read her mind.

"Do you read thoughts?" she asked.

"No, I read expressions and body language. And you, sweet Kara, have an extraordinarily expressive face."

She shrugged. "I don't usually have anything to hide."

"I know, love. Your honesty is one of your strengths." Loki tugged at her hips until she settled directly on top of his rigid staff. "Hmm, and you, dear lady, are already wet for me."

"You sure that we women don't just wake up that way?"

His eyebrows rose. "I'm fairly certain that is not the case. Do you mean to tell me you do not want me?"

There was a bit of hurt in his expression, but the sparkle in his green eyes gave him away. "Nope, I don't want you," she claimed breezily as she shifted and lifted herself above him. "Not at all," she insisted as she took a firm hold of his erection and began to lower herself onto it. "Just…" she gasped as he filled her to overflowing. "Don't…" she moaned as her body began to adjust. "Want this to go to waste," she finally managed to finish.

Loki's smug grin made her laugh. "Yes, laugh at me, you wicked wench," he said. "But don't you dare stop what you're doing."

Kara pressed her hands flat on his taut abdomen for balance as she raised herself up and tucked her heels under her. "Never," she promised as she began to ride.

… …

Odin stared down at the elder of Laufey's two full-blooded sons. Helblindi had come personally to represent Jötunheim, leaving his younger brother Býleistr in charge of the realm. Two bodyguards had accompanied the Jötnar heir, and considering Laufey's death in this palace, Odin had not refused them entrance. "I will have your word that you and yours will not do harm to Loki during this visit, and that you will abide by the final decision of our Tribunal," he told Loki's younger brother.

Helblindi glared back at him, eye to eye though Odin stood on a dais. "If the final decision does not address the wrong done to my realm, I will not abide by it." The Jötnar flanking him stood silently, but their hands were held in a fighting stance. One couldn't completely disarm a frost giant. They could make weapons of ice at will, though such an act here, in Asgard, would cost them a great deal in energy.

"And what wrong was done your realm, Prince Helblindi," Odin asked, well aware that the heir presumptive of Jötunheim had not yet been crowned king.

The boy's cheeks flushed purple at the implied insult. "We had numerous deaths, and our climate has suffered unspeakable damage. The sudden influx of cold…"

"And how has cold ever harmed your people?" Haakun, one of Odin's High Councilors asked.

Helblindi's glare would have melted a glacier. "The sudden influx of cold upset the realm's balance. Now the ice fields are melting, temperatures are rising, and our resources are projected to be irrevocably destroyed within five cycles."

"Would restoration of the ice fields prevent this?" Odin asked the seething prince.

"We believe so. You must give us the Casket of Ancient Winters to restore the balance. It is our birthright, our artifact, and we should have its custody."

"The last time a Jötnar King had custody of the Casket, he attempted to use it to bring about another Ice Age on Midgard. Nearly a hundred Æsir died to save that realm. No, you will not have it back," Haakun vowed.

"That's a lie, it did not happen that way!"

Glaring down at the irate boy, Odin slammed Gungnir's base down on the floor. The impact shook the room and the three Jötnar staggered as they attempted to regain their balance. "It happened long before you were even born you insolent pup!" he bellowed. "Do not tell us what did and did not happen, I. Was. There." He took a deep breath to quiet his temper as the Jötnar stared at him, seemingly chastened. "You will not be given the Casket," he reiterated Haakun's words calmly. "However, I will guarantee you that before any other sentence is carried out, Loki will be bound to use it to restore your ice fields so that your realm's balance may be regained."

"And what of his other crime? He is a patricide."

Odin smiled at the prince's sullen tone. "Did you know, Prince Helblindi, that should you be crowned king you will be the first King of Jötunheim in over ten millennia who will have taken the crown without first taking the life of their father? By all rights and traditions of Jötunheim, the crown should go to Loki."

… …

Loki moaned as Kara's walls clenched hard around him. Her joy in their lovemaking was evident in this position, he could watch her changing expressions and enjoy the view of her head thrown back wantonly, her full breasts swaying with her motions as she continued to ride his throbbing erection. He wasn't going to last too much longer, but judging by the trembling waves running through her muscles, neither was she. Kara whimpered as she shifted. Both hands were now pressed against his sides, her small fingers gripping hard as she drove her sex down and back in an effort to wring even more sensation from their coupling. "Gods, Kara…if I didn't know better, I'd swear you were experienced."

She laughed between her moans. "Inexperienced doesn't mean ignorant," she gasped. "Women talk…lots." Groaning, she twisted her hips as she settled almost flush against him and then began to pull up again. "And I'm a really good listener."

He shuddered as the urge to thrust up and release began to overtake him. "And a very quick study, my love," he gasped before he gave up on any attempt to prolong the pleasure and grabbed her hips. Kara shrieked as he pulled her down hard and then began to thrust frantically from beneath her. She sobbed and held on as they pounded together and finally found her own release with a muffled scream as she pressed her face into his chest. Loki bit back his own triumphant shout as he heard movement in the outer rooms of his chambers. Using a tendril of power he identified the intruder as Thor.

"Loki?" Kara asked as he scowled and settled her limp form back down on the bed and gave her a distracted kiss. "What's wrong?"

"My brother's timing still leaves much to be desired," he groused. Her puzzled frown drew a smirk from him. "Thor arrived while we enjoyed ourselves, Kara. At least this time he had the good sense to wait in my receiving room."

"Oh." She stared out towards their open bedroom door. "Isn't it early yet?"

"It is, I'd best go see what is the problem." He frowned at her worried look. "Relax, my darling. It will be fine." She nodded and allowed him to scoop her off of the bed and carry her into the bathroom. "Enjoy a nice hot bath; I'll join you as soon as I deal with our interruption."

"Tell him it had better be important, or the next thing he's going to feel is how frustrated I was the last time he interrupted us."

Loki laughed as he headed out to talk to his brother. He just might do that just to see Thor's reaction. His smile faded as he saw Thor's troubled expression. "What's happened?"

"I apologize for interrupting your time with Lady Kara," he rumbled. "I-I would not have done so had it not been important."

"I know that, Thor. You are forgiven. So, what is the emergency?"

"A War Council is being convened. You will be summoned shortly to speak of the enemy so that our allies might be fully prepared."

"I can see the need for it, then what…oh. Who has Helblindi sent to represent him?"

"Hogun has just confirmed that the crown prince has come himself."

That was not good. His half-brother, who he'd not even officially met, though he'd seen him on their ill-fated journey to Jötunheim, coming to a War Council on Asgard, the realm where his father had been killed, well, assassinated, if truth be told. "His visit is twofold, no doubt. Preparations for a future incursion by the Mad Titan's forces and payback for my actions." His jaw clenched as the possible outcomes of this visit raced through his mind. "With the Jötunn heir presumptive present, my actions with regard to them will be held to full account."

"Our actions. I am the one who directed your attention there. I am equally to blame."

"You saved their miserable realm from certain destruction at my hands. I believe they will forgive you."

"Nevertheless, I will insist on bearing my part of any punishment."

His eyes closed as he fought back his exasperation. "Brother, Asgard needs you whole. You have learned much in the past few cycles. You will be a decent king. I am superfluous," he said with a glance over his shoulder to his bathing chamber. "Well, superfluous to Asgard. You cannot risk yourself to defend me for in doing so you risk the Realm Eternal."

"And the Tribunal will know that, Loki. That will temper their decisions and make the sentence one that can be borne without undue hardship. I am not such a fool that I believe you will receive a slap on the wrist for this. But I also understand enough to know that they will not risk me."

Loki stared at Thor. "You've also become quite the manipulator, though you do it for the benefit of others." He smiled sadly and held out an arm and let Thor pull him into an embrace.

"From you, that is quite the compliment, brother. Thank you."

"It was meant as such. You will be a fine king. I hope that I will see the day that you sit Asgard's throne."

"If I have any say in the matter at all, you will not only see it, you will stand beside me as the most valued of my advisors. I need you, Loki. I am not so vain, at least, not anymore, that I do not see that your intelligence far surpasses mine. Your advice will keep me from rash acts now that I have learned to listen first and ask questions rather than just bulling my way forward. I need you and Asgard needs you, and if the Tribunal cannot be made to see that, we are all lost."

… …