The Black Knight

A Step Ahead

*****Spoiler warning*****

Loki walks into the suite and over to the fireplace. He puts an arm on the mantle and rests his forehead against his arm, staring at the smoldering embers. The door shuts with a faint click and Saga walks up behind him wraps her arms around his waist and lays her head on his back. "You know I'm here for you if you ever want to talk about it."

He twists around in her arms to face her, "You've always been there when I needed you. Whether I knew I needed help or not." He kisses her lightly on the forehead. She smiles and lays her head on his shoulder; he lays his head on hers and wraps his arms around her. She closes her eyes and listens to his heart beating in sync with hers. She smiles and sighs contentedly, letting herself melt in his arms.

"Can I ask you something?"

She laughs, "Anything."

"Why did you always defend us? Why were you protecting us?"

She looks into his deep green eyes and smiles affectionately at him. "You and Thor were always looking after me keeping me safe. Yours was the only family I had and I would do anything to protect my family. Besides, you've always been there when I needed you most so it seemed fitting that I be there for you."

He tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear and shakes his head. "Not always."

She puts a hand on his cheek and touches her forehead to his. "Yes, always." She kisses him softly on the lips before pulling herself away from him. "Get dressed and meet me down stairs." She walks into the bathroom and closes the door behind her; Loki glances over at the bed to find that Midgardian clothes had been laid out for him.

He quickly changes into the black jeans and green t-shirt, and runs his hand through his hair smoothing it out. He knocks on the bathroom door. "Are you going to tell me what you have planned?"

"No. Go downstairs and behave yourself. I'll be down in a few minutes."

Loki sighs resignedly and walks out the door. Thor walks up beside him, "You blame yourself for what is happening."

Loki shoves his hands in his pockets and looks at the floor, "If I hadn't been such a fool none if this would have happened."

Thor stops at the top of the stairs. "Loki though I don't agree with your actions, I understand why you did it. You were right; I was not ready to rule. My time on earth showed me that, Jane showed me that. For that you have my thanks, brother." Thor puts a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Together there is no battle we cannot win." He extends his free hand to Loki.

Loki looks down at the five Avengers standing below, watching them. Loki takes his hands from his pockets and clasps his brother's forearm. "Together."

"I hate to break up this touching display of brotherly love, but we have to find the glow stick, remember?"

Loki springs over the railing and lands on his feet beside Tony. "Any ideas where it is?"

Thor chuckles and walks down the stairs to join them.

"SHIELD has been kind of a mess ever since Hydra attempted their take-over." Steve holds a hand out to Loki. "Glad you're on our side this time."

Loki shakes his hand and nods. "We're in agreement on that." He turns to Tony. "So where was it?"

"Everyone is afraid to talk, but I have managed to narrow the possible location down to: a storage unit, a warehouse, and two research laboratories."

"Great. We'll split up and check them all. Nat, you and Barton check the storage unit, Thor you check the warehouse, Loki and I will take one of the labs."