Once Again Chapter 7

Usually, when Clint and Natasha stayed over, they slept in the living room on the couches. There were only so many bedrooms in the Tower – most were laboratories or empty rooms.

Of course, with Tony's resources he could probably buy another bed; hell, he could get one custom made and at his doorstep in half an hour, but with him being Tony Stark, the very definition of laxity and negligence and all, Clint and Natasha continued sleeping on the couch for all their visits. Tony, Thor, Bruce and Steve all had their own rooms, since they stayed over frequently.

Until the night Loki slept over. That was when all the usual sleeping plans went out the window.

Steve and Tony didn't fancy the idea of Loki sleeping in their room. Bruce had long since gone to sleep, and no one had the guts to wake him up. Besides, the Avengers were all willing to bet money that the next day they'd find an angry Hulk and a squished Loki if they roomed them together.

Thor volunteered his room, but Tony knew, sadly, from experience, that Thor's snoring was just remarkable. He wouldn't be surprised if the whole city could hear it. And if Loki blew up Nick just because he glared at him, Tony shuddered to think what Loki would do to shut Thor up.

Clint and Natasha adamantly refused having Loki sleep in the living room with them. Tony almost pulled out the "my house, I make the rules" card, but he remembered that if those three shared a room, there probably wouldn't be much of Loki left in the morning.

In the end, they decided that they would all sleep in the living room.

OOO

"God, I hate this." Clint whined.

"Father, I hate this too." Loki sighed. "If you take me back, I promise I'll tell you where I hid your favourite undergarments."

There were snickers from the room. Loki could feel Clint's glare on him.

"Oh shut up and sleep, brat." Clint rolled over.

There was silence for a moment, then Loki heard a loud ripping sound.

"Oh GOD!" Tony screamed. "Who the hell was that!?"

"What happened?" Thor's voice was fierce, as if aliens were attacking.

"Clint, so help me, if you fart again I'll cut off your ass and make you eat it."

"Oh Nat, I know you won't do that."

"The last guy who said that woke up naked in a burning building."

There was more silence after that. Loki was confused, until the smell hit him.

"Did-" Loki was flabbergasted. "Did Mister Barton just…just-"

More chuckles from around the room.

"But-" Loki was at a loss of words for once. Back at the palace, if someone did that as loudly as Clint just did, his name would be tarnished forever. If Loki did that he'd dig a hole and hide there forever. And yet everyone was laughing like it was perfectly normal, even funny.

"Relax, I don't know what kind of punishable offence farting is back at Asgard, but here it's just a joke, especially among friends." Tony explained. Thor had been just as confused at first at the casualness of it all, but he'd grown used to it.

"I see." Loki frowned into his covers. He took back his previous thoughts; to call Midardians strange would be an understatement
.
"Oh God, Clint, what the hell did you eat?" Tony screeched again. Loki quietly agreed – the smell was horrifying. He wouldn't be able to sleep for a long time now. Loki sighed in frustration. He hated being denied sleep. In fact, he had to stopped sharing a room with Thor because he'd slapped a snoring Thor so hard he'd left a bruise that lasted for weeks.

So, you Midgardians enjoy this, huh? Loki snarled internally. Let's see how you do with this. Loki tried to remember the spell he'd learnt a few days ago. He had very little magic left, but he could manage it. His fingers glowed green for a few moments.

"I have to use the bathroom." Loki announced and took off.

"See, you scared him away." Tony grumbled at Clint.

"That's just wonderful."

"The future has become very strange," Steve sighed. "In my day-"

"Jesus CHRIST! Did you do it again?"

"Do what- OH MY GOD WHAT IS THIS!"

"CLINT, I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER EXPERIENCE TO JOYS OF BEING A FATHER."

"Nat! It really wasn't me! Holy-! That doesn't bend that way!"

"You know what, fuck this shit. I'm going back to my room."

OOO

Loki, with his ears pressed to the bathroom door, chuckled softly to himself.

To intensify odours sevenfold. To think a spell like that could actually be of such
delightful use.

Loki couldn't wait to get back to Asgard and try it on Heimdall.