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[justabitoffun]

Loki didn't leave the apartment all day in part fear that Barton would attempt to escape somehow. He already knew he was going to get into trouble for what he'd done, he certainly didn't need to loose the archer on top of the impromptu transformation spell he'd cast to turn the agent into a white tiger cub. He didn't mind being stuck inside all day on this particular eve though as the entertainment value provided by Barton's defiant attitude and Raun's eager attempts to get the cub to play with him were priceless.

By the end of the day Raun had begun to settle down and when Loki took a relaxed seat on the couch the kitten was almost instantly there to lie down in his lap. The Trickster god petted idly at the kitten's soft fur as he kept a deceptively lidded eye on the tiger cub.

Coulson would be home soon. Loki couldn't be more overjoyed by the prospect.

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[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

The cub made another distressed noise and started what had to be his millionth lap around the room. This day was quickly working its way up Clint's list of worst days. If things didn't improve drastically, it might settle in the top ten. He glanced at Loki, snorted, and changed direction.

There had to be windows he could reach. Or a door. Or a vent. Vents he could work with. Ears perking, Clint changed direction again and walked along the wall until he found one. With no better idea coming to him, he sat down on his haunches and frantically started clawing. It did a good job of making noise, but not much else.

[sonofcoul]

That's when the sound of the front door unlocking resonated throughout the room. There was never any such thing as 'just another day', but one made do, and in this case actually managed to get home at something somewhat approaching a reasonable hour.

Coulson stepped inside, carefully closing the door behind him. One never could be too careful with a swift kitten in the household, after all. He started to shrug off his suit coat and then stopped. "Oh, Loki." And then something else caught his eye. "Please tell me that's not a tiger."

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Even if Loki hadn't heard Coulson's distinctive gait approach the door Raun's tiny ears pricking the moment the key hit the hole would have told him that the agent was home. When the door opened the kitten's head perked up. A moment later and the white ball of fluff was racing to greet Coulson, rubbing happily against the agent's pristine pants.

Loki smiled faintly as he watched and a moment later he responded. "It's not a tiger."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

The clawing stopped abruptly as Clint recognized the new voice. Oh fuck. Abandoning his escape attempt, Clint bolted toward Coulson, and skid to a stop at the man's feet. The first noise out of his mouth was an embarrassing chirp, and none of the one's that followed were any better.

[sonofcoul]

Coulson had already begun to kneel down to scratch Raun behind the ears, and the kitten was purring quite happily. He calmly held his ground as the tiger cub approached and cautiously held a hand out towards him, fingers curled inward, just in case.

"Why is there a tiger in my apartment?"

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Loki scowled at the response but it was clear that it was the best he was going to get. He focused on the challenge it presented to behave and set out to do as promised.

He sat down next to the cub and (gently) forced the agent-turned-tiger to look him in the eyes. :You've heard me do this before,: he spoke telepathically to Clint and only Clint. :Now it's your turn. In this form, with my magic bound to you, it should be simple enough. Simply focus on projecting, thinking outward in a fashion you normally wouldn't. Then those thoughts, those words will be picked up by anyone willing to listen.:

Never mind the cheap tricks like forcing people to hear you or aiming the thoughtspeak to only one recipient. Loki didn't want to get that detailed nor did he really see the point or need. Clint wouldn't be like this long enough to learn it anyway.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

'Medical' was all that needed to be mentioned for the cub to glower. Death sounded better than willingly submitting himself to the doctors and nurses. His mood was not improved by Loki grabbing his face, but he didn't attempt to free himself.

Clint narrowed his eyes and flicked his tail impatiently. Magic was not something he enjoyed, but he did have an aptitude for it. :Let go of my face before I really end up making you Roy.:

[sonofcoul]

Coulson's eyebrows rose slightly, once he picked up that simple statement that was so very undeniably Clint Barton. He nodded a little. "Reference is just a bit dated there." He crossed his arms. "Other than the obvious, how are you feeling?"

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Loki smirked at the defiant cub, one part amused by the statement and one part impressed with the quickness and ease of which the archer picked up the ability. Perhaps he could teach him more.

He released the tiger's head from his hold but in an act of mischief the god petted Clint the full length of his little tiger body, even daring to scritch the base of his tail before lifting his hand away. It was well worth any reaction.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

His body reacted without Clint's input, arching up into the touch. Thank God tigers didn't blush or he would have been bright red as he darted to the other side of the couch and growled, thoroughly embarrassed. :If Houdini would stop being handsy, I'd feel like a thousand bucks worth of property damage.:

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

For a moment it looked as though Loki were going to reach out and ruffle Clint's fur. The moment was shattered when Coulson spoke up, causing the god to look away from the adorable ball of fur once again and keep his hands to himself. But Yggdrasil it was so tempting to give in to the cute.

"...Coulson's say is final," the god finally conceded. If nothing else the agent had just given them both an easy way out of the report Barton was supposedly going to write.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:That report is only happening in your dreams.:

Clint's ears perked just a little. He saw that look Loki gave him and it was like blood in the water. Turning away from Coulson, Clint made himself look as pitiful as possible. :Just a quick run outside?:

[sonofcoul]

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Coulson muttered once he actually saw Clint attempting to take advantage of Loki with baby animal cuteness. He just shook his head slowly. Just when he thought the entire situation couldn't get more ludicrous...

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

He did a good job of keeping his face directed away from the cub but despite this his eyes kept drifting back to look. Finally he swallowed and replied softly, "You won't even let me touch you..."

After managing to get his voice under control he added, "I'm not letting you out just so you can run away and get lost."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

The cub's whiskers twitched. Now the real question was, did Clint want to sink lower than this? Manipulating a god would be a pretty impressive trick, even if did require letting said god touch him. :Everybody always wants me for my body.:


Biting back a sigh, he walked over to Loki, rubbing his head against the god's leg before he stood on his hind legs. One paw settled on Loki's knee for balance. :Door?: He gave a pathetic squeak for good measure.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"Of course." But Loki lingered until finally he glanced down at the cub. He let his arm drop though he didn't move away from Coulson. "I can take care of Barton for the night. Go."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:I'll be fine. And you better actually sleep or I'll shed on all your suits and claw up the couch.: He wasn't put at ease, but Clint sat down and didn't comment.

[sonofcoul]

"Well I certainly want to avoid the property damage." He nodded and paused briefly before just settling with a quick, "Good night," before he headed down the hall to stubbornly attempt to sleep despite a large handful of reasons his brain may not allow him.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Loki watched the agent go. He only shifted back to Barton when the bedroom door was closed and sound drifted away. He stood there awkwardly and gazed down at the tiger silently.

A moment passed and finally he said something. :Do you want to sleep on the couch or do you just want me to leave?:

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

The tiger cocked his head to the side. :Do I actually get a choice, or are we back to the power play games?:

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

:But what if the fun is just beginning?: However, on the back of the couch appeared a shirt that looked like it had come straight out of Barton's closet. Probably because it had. :And for the love of Yggdrasil, go out the door, Barton. You're not a stray anymore.:

[sonofcoul]

It was only through extreme force of will that Coulson managed to keep himself from sighing. "Window's fine if you'd prefer it. I don't mind either way. Either way, I'm sure the both of us want to put this fiasco of a morning behind us."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"News to me," Clint muttered under his breath, not entirely sure which one he was responding to. "Fine, fine, I'm going." He pulled on the shirt and walked to the door. Somehow, he refrained from stomping like a disgruntled teenager.

"Maybe you should ask Goldilocks about making your place hex-proof," he threw over his shoulder, experimentally touching the doorknob. When it didn't shock him, Clint opened the door. After shooting one more glare at the ceiling, Clint was out the door and on his way to the nearest shooting range.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Loki appeared next to Coulson well after Barton had left the apartment. He was silent for a moment, staring at the door as if still watching the archer. Then he turned to Coulson and calmly added his own two cents. "I don't actually use hexes. They're not as potent and are really only good for certain aspects. Although it is tempting to hex Barton into a were-tiger now. It could be amusing."

[sonofcoul]

"Please don't," he said calmly. "Dealing with him as a tiger once was probably more than enough for a lifetime."