Welcome Back

The Avengers got a head's up from SHIELD that there had been a "disturbance" in New Mexico again and that they might be getting a visit from an old friend. After the events in New York, SHIELD and Tony had worked together to construct a training facility in the New Mexico desert. It had been completed in record time, and the Avengers had been called there several months previously to begin training. Tony wasn't sure if Thor and his companion had been escorted to the new facility by SHIELD agents or if they had walked, but either way, there they were.

"Hi," said Tony.

"Hello," Thor said with a grin. He put a hand on Tony's shoulder. "It has been too long."

"I don't know about that," said Tony, eying the person standing next to Thor dubiously, but he returned the gesture and grinned at Thor briefly. He licked his lips and gestured at Loki. "Is he, uh . . . ?"

"Loki is here to join us," Thor said, and put an arm around Loki's shoulders. Loki smiled thinly but did not push him away.

"Right," said Tony, and let them inside.

They hadn't eaten in a while, so when the rest of the Avengers answered Tony's summons to the kitchen, they found the two gods decimating their food supplies. Thor had found the secret stash of Pop-Tarts, three bags of Doritos, and a watermelon, and he had eaten them all. He was currently working on the ice cream. Loki, meanwhile, was calmly eating a bowl of cereal.

"Thor and Loki got here this morning," Tony said by way of introduction. "Apparently Loki's traded Scar for Bambi, so play nice. Also, someone take them to the supermarket because we need food and they don't know how to buy things yet."

"Are you sure we can trust him?" Steve asked. To say that any of the Avengers looked pleased would be a vast overstatement.

"I vouch for my brother," Thor said as he slammed the ice cream carton emphatically on the counter. "I have promised to look after him and ensure he causes no trouble, here or on Asgard."

"No mind control, then?" Natasha asked sharply.

"No," said Thor, though he looked uncomfortable. "He is permitted to use magic, but not in any way that would be harmful." He gave Loki a side-long glance.

Loki had been watching the exchange quietly. Now he smiled slightly. "You are all perfectly safe. I am sure you are all simply too polite to ask, but time passes differently on Asgard." He inclined his head slightly. "I have been thoroughly punished for what I did."

"How, exactly?" asked Clint. Thor glared at him and settled his hand on Mjöllnir. Everyone suddenly decided they didn't want to know.

"He has seen the error of his ways," Thor said as though Clint had never said anything. Loki did not imply that he agreed or disagreed, and merely smiled tightly.

Tony clapped his hands together. "Now that that's settled, I'm sure we'll all be one big happy family. Jarvis, tell me if they destroy anything important."

"Yes sir," said Jarvis unhappily.

He paused and met the god's eyes for the first time since he had showed up. "Welcome to the Avengers Initiative, Loki."

Loki merely smiled in response. Tony left, and the rest followed him as quickly as they could. "You see?" said Thor. "With time, we will all be great friends."

"I am sure," Loki said dryly, and reached for the Goldfish.

Author's note: This story is also posted on my Tumblr.