A/N: Sorry for the long wait, guys!

As far as Tony was concerned, walking down a busy sidewalk alongside Loki was the first... well, normal thing the two of them had done together since they met. It felt good, strolling along in happy anonymity, caught up in the little world the two of them had created. And yet, he was still a part of it, his town, the city that never sleeps. He loved it.

And Loki was laughing and talking easily, asking questions, pointing out interesting-looking sights, and Tony forgot to worry about being recognized, or about the past, or the future, or anything at all, really. He was just proud to be out with his gorgeous, brilliant boyfriend, who clearly was totally into him, giving him fond looks and occasional touches on his arm as they walked. And, he couldn't help feeling a little bit smug. It was kind of like how an old guy in the park would patiently hold out peanuts to a squirrel day after day, until the little creature would finally come close enough to eat out of his hand.

Not that he thought of Loki as a squirrel. But, it was something like that.

As for Loki, for the first time in ages, he felt free. Happy, even. To stroll down the street wearing his familiar skin, out in the daylight, not having to glance behind him every few seconds—that was a long-forgotten pleasure. It didn't matter that he was clad in stupid clothes or that his hair was annoyingly pulled back and topped by a hideous cap. It didn't matter that he was surrounded by buildings that blocked the sun, or that the crisp morning air was tainted by bus exhaust, or that a schizophrenic on the street corner was yelling obscenities at someone who wasn't there. He was with Tony, and they were themselves, no one special, just two people in love on their way to a nice morning meal.

It was glorious.

The deli was teeming with impatient morning customers, grabbing coffee and a Danish on their way to the office. Loki found it very interesting, as there really was nothing like this on Asgard. He looked up at the menu, but saw nothing familiar. "Order for me, will you, Stark?"

"Sure, babe. I think you'll like what I have in mind."

Loki gave him a sly grin. "I usually do." And, he winked.

He winked! For a moment, Tony was completely derailed. Such a little thing, but so unexpected, so mischievous-but-in-a-good-way. Tony found himself falling just a little bit deeper in love with his Aesir god. That kept happening somehow, and it made Tony's heart swell. He leaned in and whispered, "You're adorable, you know that?"

Loki raised an eyebrow and then gave him a haughty sneer. "I most certainly am not." Then, that sly smirk again. "I'm a formidable warrior, teeming with the power of pregnancy hormones. You should fear me." He broke into laughter. "But, if you're foolish enough to find me adorable, so be it." He slid an arm around Tony's waist and squeezed. "I shall try to be worthy of your idiotic fancy."

They looked into each other's eyes and Tony kind of forgot what they were there for until the man behind the counter shouted, "I said, next!" in an annoyed way. Tony hastily made two orders of lox and bagels, and coffee for him, milk for Loki. When their order was up, they carried their plates to a table and settled in to eat.

Loki hadn't bothered to take note of what he was being served until he was seated. The food looked familiar; he took a bite of the salty fish, the smooth cream, the tart red onion, and the soft bagel, and he closed his eyes, making a hum of delight. "Oh, Tony. This is amazing," he said around his food. He swallowed and Tony noticed he was looking at him with an expression that seemed almost close to tears.

"What's wrong, babe? I thought you liked it."

"I do. It... it reminds me of a meal we used to get back in Asgard. I've had nothing like it ever since I..." He looked down at his plate, and then back at Tony and now he was smiling. "It reminds me of long-ago times, of home. I never thought I'd have it again. Thank you. This is a real treat."

Tony put a hand on his. "It's just lox and bagels. But, I'm glad it's special to you."

Loki gave a self-conscious laugh and went back to eating. He looked around at the other patrons. Most were staring at phones or tablets, some were engaged in conversation, and a few were reading a newspaper. Loki had a sudden surge of curiosity. "Stark—give me some coins."

"Huh? What for?"

"I want to buy a newspaper."

Tony grimaced. "A newspaper? They still make those? That's sooo twentieth century, doll. Look, you can get all the news you can stomach on this—" Tony pulled out his smart phone, but Loki waved it away.

"I want a newspaper! Hand over the money, surely you can spare a few cents."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Those are pretty twentieth century, too. But, let's see..." He scrounged in his pockets and came up with a handful of quarters. "Here, knock yourself out. But, if there's anything left over, I want it back."

Loki muttered something, Tony thought he heard the words, "Cheap bastard," and he grinned as he watched Loki amble outside to where the newspaper vending machine stood. "As if there was anything he could buy with a couple of quarters," he thought to himself in amusement. He watched Loki stare at the coins in his hand, drop them in the box, and bend down to take his paper. Then,Tony noticed something that pulled his attention toward the door, and a chill went through his bones.

Loki stood before the vending machine and studied the sign stating how much a newspaper cost. He then looked at the coins in his hand and carefully counted them out. He had made a point of acquainting himself with Midgardian currency when he first began traveling the universe after his banishment, but he'd had little use for small change then, and it took him a moment to determine the correct amount. He dropped the coins in the slot one by one, liking the satisfying little clinks they made when they hit bottom, and then he pulled on the door, opening it. Pleased, he bent down and reached in to select his paper. Just then, he heard a disturbingly familiar male voice.

"What makes you so sure he's here?"

An equally familiar and disturbing female voice answered. "Jarvis said he went for lox, and that he left on foot—this is the only deli within walking distance of Stark Tower. Come on, I'm dying for caffeine. Even if we're wrong, at least we can get a decent cup of coffee."

"Always looking on the bright side." The male voice had a decidedly grim tone to it.

Loki waited until the pair went into the deli before emerging from the newspaper machine, holding the newspaper in front of him. He cautiously peeked in the window; yes, it was just as he'd thought—Clint Barton and Natasha Romanov. His heart sank. It had been such a nice morning, of course something would happen to spoil it. He watched them stride over to his and Tony's table. He wasn't sure if they were seeking him or Tony, but regardless, they weren't going to greet him with glad tidings and a smile, he was certain of that.

What to do? He could take off and go... where? Back to Stark Tower? If they were on the hunt for him, they'd find him there soon enough. Just wander off into the streets of Manhattan? With no magic and fifty cents to his name? Not very appealing. Anyway, he wasn't a coward. He wouldn't run. In the old days, he'd have simply blasted them with a ball of seidr, sending them to the polar ice caps or somewhere, or maybe he'd have marched right up to them and taken whatever puny weapons they decided to attack him with and turn them on them in a trice, no magic needed.

But, those days were over. Even if he hadn't been on probation, he was still carrying Stark's child. He ran a hand over his belly and sighed. No, he couldn't risk harming the baby. He should just walk away. But, what would Tony do? Surely he'd know how to handle them, to send them quickly on their way. Loki would just stay where he was for the moment, perhaps Tony would give him a signal. But as he watched, he saw Tony rise with a welcoming grin on his face and give each of them a big hug. He gestured for them to pull up extra chairs and sit, and soon they were deep in conversation.

And just like that, Loki felt more alone than he'd ever felt in his life.

Two hours earlier...

Clint and Natasha entered the helicarrier, tired, dirty, and a little pissed off, well, Clint was, anyway. They were led to a conference room and told to take a seat, and Clint shot a disgusted look at Natasha. "You really think Fury's going to take this seriously?"

The redhead shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. Depends on how crazy you sound when you tell him."

Clint rolled his eyes and sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm not a great judge of that these days. Maybe you can give me a nudge if I go off in too weird a direction."

"My pleasure," Natasha said with a grin.

Nick Fury strode into the room. "Good morning. And, how are we this fine day?"

"We completed the mission, we're alive with no missing body parts, so we're great," Natasha answered.

"Very good. Let me get somebody in here to handle the recording and you can give me the low-down. Coffee?"

Clint leaned forward and caught the director's eye. "Nick. There's something I need to discuss with you before we get to the report. Something I don't want recorded. It's... personal, sort of. Nothing to do with the mission."

Fury stared at him a moment. "All right. Go ahead."

Clint drew in a long breath. "You're probably going to think I'm crazy, and maybe I am. But..." He seemed to lose his momentum, and Natasha watched the expression on his face turn guarded. She bit her lip, and then made the decision to speak.

"He's been having, for lack of a better term, visions."

"I beg your pardon?" Fury said evenly.

"I know, there are all kinds of explanations when someone sees and hears things that aren't there. But, this is different," Natasha continued. "I was with him when he went through a few of them. It wasn't his imagination, sir. He wasn't dreaming. There was something going on that he wasn't in control of. Tell him, Clint."

The archer took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah. It was... It was kind of like when Loki took control of my mind, but it was just flashes of thoughts, like memories except I've never experienced anything like it at all. And no one was compelling me to do anything, it was just... It was like catching a snatch of a movie, only I was in it. It keeps happening, Nick. I don't know what it means. I don't like it. But, I don't know what to do."

"What kind of images are you seeing?" Fury asked carefully.

Clint shook his head. "Crazy stuff. It's like I'm on another planet, there's a force talking to me. I can't see where it's coming from, I can't understand the words, but I'm filled with despair, with misery. It's like... falling. Falling into nothingness. And there's something evil behind it." He dropped his head. "I know this sounds wacko."

"How long has this been going on?"

"A few months."

"Why'd you wait until now to say something?"

"It was only happening once in a while at first, and it was kind of vague. Couldn't put my finger on anything. I shrugged it off, thought I was just tired or stressed. But lately, it's happening almost every day and the episodes are getting more vivid."

Natasha put a hand on Clint's shoulder. "I was thinking... What if this has something to do with Loki? I know he's in prison on Asgard, but what if he's still got some sort of connection to Clint? He probably doesn't have anything else to do while he's locked up, maybe he's entertaining himself by playing with Clint's mind."

"Loki's not in prison. He's here," Fury said.

Both agents looked up as if they'd been hit with a bolt of electricity. "Here?" they exclaimed in horrified unison.

"Yeah. The information is classified, but... I guess I can authorize you two, under the circumstances. He was released from prison after being rehabilitated on Asgard, but he was banished and has been traveling the universe ever since. He's sort of settled down here. With Stark, by the way."

"What?"

Fury nodded, an inscrutable look on his face. "He did the Earth a big favor, and we awarded him amnesty, so... Don't freak out if you run into him."

Both agents were staring in shock.

Then, Fury grinned. "Oh, and there's more. Apparently, Stark got him pregnant."

The shock deepened on Clint's face, but after a stunned moment, Natasha broke into laughter. "You have got to be kidding."

"Nope. I don't get it, but they're a couple, with a bun in the Asgardian oven."

"This is insane." Clint's voice was rough with repressed anger. "That bastard ought to be dead, and you're telling me he's Stark's, what, boyfriend?" Another wave of shock went through the archer and he slumped down in his chair.

Fury shrugged disinterestedly. "I'm over it, guys. What Stark does on his own time is his business, and Loki's no longer a threat, supposedly. So, I don't give a shit. But as far as what you're experiencing? Maybe you need to consult with the trickster. He might indeed be having a little fun at your expense."

"Can the report wait, sir?" Natasha asked. "I'd like to head over to Stark's right away."

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Thank you. Come on, Hawkeye. Let's see if we can shed some light on what's been happening to you."

Clint allowed Natasha to take his hand and pull him to his feet. He followed her to the door, but then turned and gave Fury a dire look. "So, you're saying I can't kill the bastard?"

"No. Feel free to tell him what you think of him, though." He let Clint walk a few paces before calling out, "I'd suggest waiting until after he fixes your problem, of course." He laughed grimly.

Clint heaved a defeated sigh and followed Natasha to the exit.

Loki tucked his paper under his arm, leaned against the brick wall and stared down at the pavement. How could Tony do this to him? Surely he remembered Loki's history with Barton, knew how the archer must crave revenge. And the woman... She'd kill him without a second thought if she got the chance. And yet, there was Tony, chatting companionably with them, leaving Loki out there on the sidewalk like a ragged alley cat. He wasn't sure how long he stood there, feeling dazed and betrayed, but he finally took a deep breath and started to walk, just walk. He'd only gotten a few yards along when he felt a hand on his arm. He looked back to see Tony frowning at him.

"Where're you going? Come on back in, we've got company for breakfast."

A little flare of anger ran through Loki. "So I observed. What, exactly, do you think they're going to do when they see you with me?"

"It's fine! They got the whole story from Fury, they know everything's cool."

"Then, what are they doing here?"

Tony shook his head. "I'm not exactly sure, but Hawkeye's got a problem and he seems to think you might be able to help."

Loki's eyes narrowed and he sneered, "He's coming to me for help? Oh, no. I don't trust that at all. I'm just going to disappear for a while, and—"

"Babe." Tony put his hand on Loki's arm. "You know I wouldn't let anyone endanger you or the baby. It's okay, I swear. Trust me."

Loki was breathing heavily, fighting down a fight-or-flight response. "All right," he said finally. "But keep this in mind—if there's the slightest threat to our child's wellbeing, I'll do whatever is necessary to protect it. And, if that means harming a mortal, my fath—Odin will put an end to me." He looked searchingly into Tony's eyes. "You do understand what's at stake here, yes?"

"I do. And, nothing bad is going to happen. I'll make sure of it." Tony held Loki's gaze until he felt him calm down. "Neither of them would harm an expectant... person. I promise, they're not going to do anything but drink coffee, split a Danish, and talk. Okay?"

Reluctantly, Loki walked back to the deli with Tony keeping a grip on his elbow. When they arrived, Loki stared in the window and saw the pair eyeing him. Barton had a malevolent look on his face, but Romanov looked almost cheerful. Loki let a breath out slowly. "You'd better be sure, Stark."

"I am. Although, it wouldn't hurt for you to, you know—be nice."

Loki grunted. "I'll be my usual charming self."

"Uh—yeah, maybe turn that up a notch."

Loki nodded, and they went inside to their table.