Youth in Revolt, chapter two
Title: Youth in Revolt, chapter two
By: TheLoneGunWoman
Rating: PG-13 (for safety)
Summary: Loki turns the Avengers into Toddlers. Woe unto Loki.
A/N: Based ever-so-slightly on that adorable Target commercial with the kidvengers. :)
0o0o0o0
Loki sniffled and drew his massive cloak tightly around himself. That idiot Tony Stark had given him a black eye and bloodied his lip before the other Avengers had pulled him off. Now, they were debating on tying him up.
"You do not need to restrain me. I can match one of you physically, but all of you can best me together."
"Like usual." Tony grinned. One of his eyes was black from the fight, but he didn't seem to care.
"He still has magic." Bruce was wearing the tattered remains of the nondescript clothes Loki had provided for the Avengers after their transformation. Loki was wearing only his undershirt and his cloak; all his armor had fallen away after he shrank.
"Yes, and what exactly do you think a three year old Asgaurdian is capable of?" Loki got to his feet, but kept close to the wall. "I can't even heal my wounds, let alone cause any of you harm."
Thor was sitting next to mjolnir, one tiny hand wrapped around the handle. He babbled something in Norse, nodding and pointing at Loki.
"I guess that means you're telling the truth." Clint shoved past him, and approached the massive bar.
"What are you doing?" Natasha followed him.
"I'm thirsty. There's gotta be something a kid can drink back here."
"Not likely," Tony muttered under his breath. "JARVIS! A little help here?"
The program remained silent.
"Butler on a break?" Steve held the magical staff that Loki had used with one (comparatively) massive hand.
"He must not recognize my voice." Tony frowned. "But if JARVIS knows someone's up here that isn't me, there should be security-"
"FREEZE!" The doors to the stairwell burst open, eliciting screams from the children. Two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents entered the room, guns drawn.
Both agents stopped, expressions melting into confusion.
Clint and Natasha were clinging to each other. Bruce had turned a sickly green. Steve dropped the staff to the floor and held his hands out. Tony was standing still, but had his hands covering his arc reactor protectively. Thor clung to mjolnir with both hands. Loki stepped in front of his brother, holding his arms out so his cloak mostly hide the tiny demi-god.
"Um...what the hell is this?" One of the agents spoke up.
Tony sighed. "Long story."
0o0o0o0
The two agents summoned Fury almost as soon as Tony began his explanation of why seven tiny children were in the upper level of Stark tower; about the same time he showed them the reactor taking up 80% of his chest.
Nick paced in front of the group, stopping in front of Clint and Natasha. "Well. This explains why you two stopped responding to your S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts."
"Sorry sir." The two responded in unison.
Fury shook his head. "I think I can let it slide given the circumstances."
He turned to face Loki. "So, Loki: How do I get my team out of preschool?"
Loki turned his head, lips sealed tightly.
"I do not have time for this." Fury growled and snatched the tiny demi-god up by his over-sized shirt.
Loki let out a yelp, and began thrashing. "Let me go! I am a god, you cannot do this!"
"You're a naughty child, and unless you start talking, I'm going to put you over my knee and paddle you until you turn..."
Fury trailed off, at a rare loss for words. Loki was turning blue. Dark, cold blue with blazing orange eyes.
Fury set him back onto the floor.
"That looks so weird from the outside." Bruce commented as Loki scurried back to Thor's side. The thunder god was whimpering. He threw his arms around Loki's waist, locking the two of them into a hug.
"What the hell are you?" Steve gripped the staff of youth with both hands, wishing he were big enough to use his shield.
Loki returned his brother's hug, shivering as his skin returned to it's former color. "I...I am not..."
"He's a freak just like us." Tony said coolly. "Figures: all this taking over the world crap is just good old fashioned self hatred."
Loki turned a murderous glare on Tony, eyes gleaming with what might have been tears. "I hate no one but those who seek my destruction!"
"And what about baby bro there?" Tony crossed his arms. "I seem to remember you trying to kill him not that long ago."
"Only because my hand was forced!" Loki shouted. "It is not his fault our father lied and turned us against one another!"
"Ah, Daddy issues: the coup de gras of the hopeless loser!" Tony shouted.
Thor, upset by the yelling, began to wail loudly.
"I really do not have time for this bullshit." Fury growled. He reached down and picked Thor up. Everyone present watched with degrees of amazement as the director began patting and soothing the god. After a few moments, the wails subsided into hiccups and sniffles.
"This is way creepier than the blue skin." Clint said uncomfortably.
"Seconded." Natasha echoed.
"Unless you want yourself and your brother to remain this way, you'd better tell us how to fix this." Fury spoke softer than before.
Loki looked up at his brother, who was currently sucking one thumb, while the other hand clutched Fury's coat.
"I...I will tell you." Loki sat heavily on mjolnir. "But you will not like it. We must remain this way for a full day."
"Why that long?"
"I cannot recharge the staff in this condition: It must build up the energy by itself."
"So, that's not so bad." Steve tried to sound optimistic. "We should be okay for that long."
"It's...acceptable." Fury set Thor down and turned to the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. "Buy everything six children would need for a twenty-four hour stay in Stark tower. And get some more caretakers in here: ones I can trust."
"Six?" Echoed the children.
Fury turned his eye on Loki. "If you think I'm leaving you with them, you're crazier than our files indicate."
Loki shifted his gaze to Thor. "I am quite harmless in this state, I assure you."
He grabbed Loki's arm roughly. "I'm sure you do."
"No, no, please!" Loki cried out as Fury pulled him away from the group. "Please, I promise I won't do anything, I won't!"
"Loki!" Thor wailed and grabbed his cloak with one hand, the other clutching mjolnir.
Fury jerked to a sudden stop. He gazed down at the two children, amazed. "He's that strong as a baby?"
"Want Loki!" Thor glared up at Fury. "Mine!"
Sighing, Fury dropped the god's arm. "No arguing with that."
Tony's mouth dropped open in shock. "I own this tower, and I want him out!"
"Mr. Stark, with all due respect: shut up and be good." Fury snapped, and stormed out the door.
Tony looked back at the group of children. "I don't think he meant that about respect, do you?"
0o0o0o0
To be continued...