Loki was insane.  The entire time we were flying through the wormhole, he grinned.  His eyes danced between Peter and me with amused fascination.  Thor glared ahead, and Peter and I gripped each other as we felt like our insides were about to be ripped out of our bodies.  I worried about our unborn child.  Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

Our feet finally hit the ground, right back on Thor's balcony.  I brushed my hair out of my face with my fingers, which was a useless gesture, as my hair made me look homeless.  Thor and Loki, however, looked as flawless as usual.  Maybe it was just an Asgardian thing. 

"Earth, how nice," Loki exhaled.  "Last time I was here, it was in ruins.  Nice cleaning up you all did.  I approve."

"Shut up, brother."  Thor tested Loki's Asgardian handcuffs, then decided that they were still tight enough.

"How rude of you to cuff the king of Asgard.  Now, if I truly hated you enough, I could use my authority to have you locked up, brother."

"Authority means nothing to me."

"Very well, brother.  I see your bitterness has not improved.  You'd think the mortal would have loosened you up a bit.  How is she?  You know, she—" 

Thor's hand was clenched around Loki's mouth in the blink of an eye.  "Shut up."  Loki didn't flinch.  Once Thor lowered his hand, Loki chuckled. 

"I'm so frightened," Loki said sarcastically.  "So, who are these mortals?  I suspect there are more mortals inside.  The Avengers, perhaps?  The pissed-off ones?  You know, the 'the living legend that lives up to the legend, the master assassins'...don't tell me they're all gone."

"I will gag you," Thor said.

"We are, in fact, mortals," I answered, surprising them, including myself.  Peter gave me a side glance.  "But we aren't just—"

"You don't want to mess with us."  Peter cut me off.  I looked at him thankfully, as my rambling wasn't exactly going anywhere.  Then I nodded.

Loki chuckled again.  "How cute."

Thor rolled his eyes, opening the balcony door and leading Loki into his room.  I looked at Loki expectantly, waiting for another comment from him, but this time he was silent.  Perhaps he had bored himself. 

"Peter, could you retrieve Nick?  Loki cannot be trusted by a mortal's side."  Thor's grip on Loki's arms did not falter.  Peter nodded, then left.  I followed him out, hearing Loki make another comment as I left.

"'Peter'.  I finally get a name..."

"Shut up, brother."

I couldn't help but laugh.  Was that a bad thing?

After all, he launched an alien attack on New York City.  And who knows what else he did?  Why wasn't I more angry than I was?

-

Nick, after much persuasion and his denial, finally followed us back to Thor's room.  When we arrived, no one was there.  My heart dropped.

"He's—" I began.  Peter held up a hand.

"Someone's here.  I can sense it."

"Loki, give it up."  I heard Thor's voice.  "Stop your tricks now."

Next was a laugh.  Loki's.  "Very well, brother."  And then they appeared.  I released a breath that I didn't realize I was holding.  Then I looked at Nick.

"My god..."  He grabbed his gun from its holster, pointing it at Loki.  "Hands up!"  Loki burst into laughter.  He lifted his arms, revealing the cuffs.

"Shoot me.  See what happens.  It might bounce back and pierce your skull."  He said it amusingly, unlike his fierce approach he often used.  "Ant and boot, shall we?"  Nick lowered his gun.

"How many more times are you going to die?"

"Hmm...at least once, for sure.  For real, I guess.  Everyone dies, eventually, yes?" 

Nick rolled his eyes.  "Can we just lock him up with Bunlei?  That way they can exchange their friendly talk together."

"Lock me up?  How nice.  Sounds cozy.  And Bunlei?  He must be ravishing.  I've always wanted a cell mate."

"He just becomes more and more of an ass every time you see him, doesn't he?"  Nick scratched his head.  Thor raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement.

-

Loki was taken to Bunlei, and many bystanders appeared along the way.  I had a sick feeling in my stomach that it was going all too easily.  Loki, from all of the stories I've heard told about him, always has a plan.  Anytime he allows capture so easily, it's all part of the plan.

Peter's face was twisted.  I could tell that he was thinking the same thing.  Hopefully they would find out what it was before it was too late.