Loki Alone

Barton

5 months earlier:

"Alright Loki, for today's training you're gonna do what you do best. Picking fights." Agent Romanoff's voice was a weird mixture of commanding, and playful. "Alright I wasn't going to say anything, but with your red hair and green eyes you're like a walking christmas. So why don't you go on ho-ho-home and maybe try on some of that christmas cheer, because this constant scowl... it doesn't suit you." I straightened out smirking once I had finished. Romanoff's upper lip twitched to a smile but she kept her cool tone "Amusing. But no. Today you're gonna be fighting Agent Barton for some combat training." Agent Barton walked up on cue "Hey, shapeshifter. Long time no see." I nodded my hello to Barton and as we walked off to begin I turned back over my shoulder and shouted "I will get you to smile one of these days Romanoff!" To which she replied "That's Agent Romanoff to you." I smiled and yelled back "Okay Natasha." And once again I saw a small twitch of amusement curve her lips.

"Let's see what you've got, old man." Barton taunted, and I smirked as we started circling each other on the mat. I was waiting for him to throw the first punch but after he mocked "You gonna hit me, or you too scared?" I went in. I started with a right hook, which he dodged. Circling again, I decided to fake right, punch left and this time I hit. Once again I went in for another punch but instead of dodging or deflecting Barton grabbed me and pulled me into a knee in the gut. He used my momentum to flip me onto my back. It knocked the breath out of me, and my skin was dancing with pain. I could see Barton rearing up for another hit so I let out a slight whimper and begged him to stop. Coughing and spitting up blood I lectured him "What are you crazy? I'm 17!! A MINOR. That is CHILD ABUSE." Barton relaxed a bit, rolling his eyes. "This is what you signed up for kid." he said, using his foot to nudge my side. I rolled over to look him in the face, shrugged and said "I guess you're right." Without hesitation I grabbed his legs, yanked them from under him, and by the time he hit the floor I had already stood up, materialized my dagger, and had it to his throat. "What did I say about calling me kid?" I threatened with the knife pressing into his skin. With a smile I stood up, leaving him to his shock on the floor. "Oh, and next time. I'm taking it to the authorities." I smiled and walked away. I heard Natasha laugh and tease Barton "You just got beat by a child."

*Loki's POV*

The aftermath of the attack left everything and everyone in chaos. Banner was god knows where, Coulson was panicking about a knick he got defending the cage, and Thor was still sulking over me calling him out. Romanoff sat beside Barton while I stood by the door, as he was slowly waking up. He started groaning and shaking his head like he was trying to make sense of everything going on around him. "You're going to be ok," Natasha said softly. Barton finally managed to collect his thoughts enough to doubtfully ask "Am I?" Before Romanoff even got the chance to reply I jumped in "Yep, you've officially made your way onto the I survived traumatic events list, right below Natasha and I." Clint threw his head back chuckling quietly "You wanna talk trauma with me kid? Have you ever had someone take your brain, shove you out and stuff something else in?" "How about, being stolen by your thought to be father, lied to and shunned your entire life, until he bores of you and sends your brother to kill you. Only for to escape, meet and then lose the love of your-" I cut myself off not wanting to relive that painful memory of Peter. Unable to bear the thought of losing him again, even if it was only in my head. Barton must have read the pain on my face because he too seemed more solem, so I decided to lighten the mood. "Whelp I guess that makes us the trauma trio." I said putting on a smile. Natasha asked "Loki are you okay?" Half sincere half joking, to which I replied "Of course because of my life motto. Why cry when you can kill?" A poor choice of words because it brought Barton back to his own cycle of worries, "How many people did I kill?" Romanoff took her threatening glance away from me to turn back to Clint with a much more sympathetic one taking its place. "Don't think like that." She said in a strangely soothing way. Desperate to take us off the subject I added in "Yeah who cares about that, you tried to slit my throat!" Despite Natasha's death stare Barton seemed cheered up by this, he let out a little laugh and asked, "What? Your childish tricks didn't work this time Mr. God O' Trickery?" I smiled, and replied "Laugh all you want, the jokes on you I'm taking you to court this time."