When We Lie

Chapter 1

You get back to base after a mission. Exhausted, you make way to the kitchen to eat. You barely get two steps in before someone says in surprise, "You?"

You lift your head and lock eyes with Loki. Your mouth drops. "Wh—" You glare at him. "I have a name."

"I know," Loki said. His face has been masked with indifference. "How else would you differentiate between each other?"

Furious, you turn your glare on Thor. "What in the nine realms is he doing here?"

"Reintegration into society."

Loki snorts. "You learned a big word, brother. Congrats."

Thor turns angry eyes on him. You can't stop the laugh from escaping. They both look at you in surprise, and you shrug. "What? It's funny."

"I like her," Loki says to Thor.

You roll your eyes and return to the previous topic. "It's been nearly two years since Manhattan, do you really think he's fit for reintegration? And why the hell on Earth?"

Thor hesitates, leading to Loki taking the wheel. He sighs and roll his eyes. "Odin thought it a good test. If I manage to live through half a year here without the world ending, I'll be rewarded." He spits out the last word.

"So... We'll be your babysitters?" you ask. "Or will someone be especially assigned to take care of him?" You look at Thor.

"There are more dignified words than babysitter, my dear," Loki chuckles. "Don't look down on yourself."

You can't decide if you should shout at him or plain kick in him the balls.

Thor looks at you with worry creasing his forehead and move to stand between you and Loki.

Loki snickers. "You think they can hurt me?"

That's it. Fuck Asgard. You stomp over to the brothers, but Cap appears out of nowhere and grabs you. "Hold on, hold on," he tries to calm you, "We can't have you kill him."

"Kill me?" Loki laughs. "I would like to see you try."

"Don't challenge them, brother," Thor hiss and pushes Loki out the door.

Cap releases you. "You cool?"

"Hell no, how can I be—" His warning expression silences you. "Sorry. I'll be in the study."

You can feel Cap's eyes on your back all the way to the elevator. You order FRIDAY to take you to the study. When the doors close, you slump against the wall, your hands covering your face.

***

By the time the weekly meeting starts, you've gone through five potential upgrades for your gear and three new sketches for your suit.

The automated doors open for you and you look up from the floor. Everyone's attention turn to you when your sketchbook loudly hits the floor.

Mr. Stark immediately holds his hands up in surrender. "We can explain."

Loki arch an eyebrow. "We already did."

"Silence, brother. Please."

Without a word, you turn on your heels and run back to your quarters. Tears run down your cheek by the time the elevator doors open on your floor.

"The meeting has already—"

"I know, FRIDAY. Don't inform me about anything regarding it."

"Understood."

You slam the door shut and bury your face in your pillows. Finally, you can cry to your heart's content.

"Aw, how sweet. Is it me you are crying for?"

You throw the pillow and it soars through Loki's illusion. "How the— What the—" You give up and start cursing in Swedish.

"I can understand you," Loki says gleefully. "And that's not a very nice thing to say."

"What are you doing here?" you whisper-shout.

Loki looks around the room and walk over to the sofa. He slowly sits down and puts one leg over the other. "This is comfier than I would have thought."

"Don't ignore me!"

His playfulness gives way to icy irritation. "What can you do to stop me?"

"How about murdering you?"

"I'm a god and you're mortal. Last I checked, you were unable to kill us."

You slowly count to ten. Then twenty. After reaching forty, you give up and take a few deep breaths. "What. Are you. Doing here?"

"Ooh, now that's what I'd like to see!" He grins and stands up. "I am here because my brother's new friends all decided you were the perfect—what did you call it?—babysitter."

The world comes to a screeching halt and you try to say something, but nothing comes out. "Pardon?" you finally manage to squeeze through.

Loki gives you a disappointed look. "I don't make it a habit of repeating my words, mortal. Either get your ears checked or accept the truth."

You stare at him, mouth agape, and try to process what's happening. You, his babysitter? You, whose friends died because he wrecked Stark Tower, were supposed to hold back enough not only not to kill him, but to protect him should the need arise?

"Son of a half-troll!" you scream and storm out of the room.

Loki looks over his shoulder and whistles. "This will be funnier than I thought."