Mischief on Midgard

The feast

The custom of having a celebratory feast after a battle was another thing Loki was familiar with after having lived so long on Asgard. As such, he could quickly note the peculiarity that some things remained the same no matter where he went. Parties such as this always had loads of food and plenty to drink. The people would recount their former, or most recent, adventures in loud, booming voices. There would be laughter and song. Jokes and good-humored jabs. All while being high both on adrenaline and drink.

Loki was pleased to find that, while there was laughter and a recounting of events, it was far more subdued than the massive parties held on Asgard. Mostly the Avengers could just be found relaxing on the couches in Tony's main lounge.

Tony, of course, had not missed a beat. He had claimed a seat next to Pepper and had happily put an arm around her shoulder and held her close. Clint was sitting on an armchair by himself, legs crossed, and a plate of his own pizza balanced on his knee as he talked. Natasha had situated herself right next to Bruce, much like Tony had with Pepper. She would try to scoot closer to the scientist whenever he wasn't looking. A small fact that was not lost to Loki. It made Loki wonder if Bruce held secret some kind of information she was trying to get out of him. He had a hard time figuring out what else she would be doing.

Loki was sharing a couch with Steve, each of them sitting at their own side and allowing the other space. They were surrounding a table that had numerous open pizza boxes, the multiple meat lovers, the one Hawaiian, and then one that Pepper had ordered. Something called 'Greek-style.' It was for her and Loki and had a rather lovely flavor to it.

"You know... I really could get used to being on a team like this," Tony admitted, nodding to everyone before smiling at Pepper. "It's... kind of nice when people have your back."

Pepper smiled back, a gentle thing that lit up her face as she looked back at him.

"Yes. It's nice to see that you aren't alone out there. And that you let them help you to," she said softly, a hand lifting to rest over his own where it lay on her shoulder.

"You did great too, love," Tony said, offering her a cocky smile and a small hug. "You're my favorite Avenger! No doubt about it."

"Tony, I'm not a..." Pepper began only for Tony to shake his head and cut her off by tapping a finger against her lips. She rolled her eyes at his antics.

"Of course you are, Pepper!" Steve said firmly, flashing her a smile and stopping her from saying anything. "It was through team effort that we brought down the Sandman, and you were part of that team! We all benefited from your help, and I hope you'll give us your aid again in the future."

Pepper blinked, then smiled gently even as she blushed.

"If you would like me to... Then I would love to," she admitted. "Being an actual part of it all, helping like that, makes it feel different. It feels good."

Her smiled widened, and she looked up at Tony, almost shyly. He smiled back at her. There was a look of equal parts pride, mischief, and, most of all, love in his eyes. The two almost melted against each other, and Loki rolled his eyes. Those two were getting a bit too sugar-sweet, lovey-dovey for his tastes. Too bad he couldn't make a bucket of ice water appear over their heads...

"I couldn't have done it without Robert, though," Pepper said, turning that happy smile on Loki and pulling him from his imaginings. "We make a great team, don't you think?"

Loki went still, surprised, and more than a little pleased to be included in the praise. Not that he would admit that.

"I suppose we did work well together," he admitted, looking away and taking a sip of his drink.