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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.

Comments

[sonofcoul]

"I just got home to find one of our best agents turned into a tiger cub. Forgive me if I need a little time to unwind first." He headed into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"It'd help you relax," he retorted. He refrained from pointing out it would help Coulson unwind, too. Even if Barton weren't here he doubted the offer would be accepted. He would simply have to wait.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

Clint snorted, idly watching his own tail. He wasn't trying to make it move, but it was, and it was really distracting. Grunting, he pinned it under a paw. :Sure, as long as you're not near any more chairs. And I have a witness now, Coulson, you just admitted I'm one of the best. I can officially put that on business cards now.:

[sonofcoul]

He re-entered the living room with his glass of ice water and sat on the other end of the couch. "Fairly sure that's implicit in the 'Avenger' part, actually. And what's this about chairs?"

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"I'm fairly sure the desk caused more trouble," Loki piped in, avoiding a direct answer to Coulson's question. He was having trouble deciding who to focus his attention on. The human in the room made more sense to the conversational part of the brain but the feline was both cuter and more amusing. It made for a tough choice.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:We call Stark an Avenger, it means nothing.: Tails officially sucked. A second paw joined the first to keep his tail from twitching free. :Trouble, internal bleeding, who's keeping track?:

[sonofcoul]

"Being a walking headache doesn't preclude being skilled," Coulson noted. The second statement, however, obviously had him concerned. "Internal-- what happened?"

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"He shot at me, I roughed him up. He's fine," he concluded quickly before Coulson could object. "The transformation took care of that."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:Yeah, that's what happened. We got into an argument about furniture arrangement and things got out of hand. For a god, he can't feng shui for shit.: Clint stuck his tongue out at Loki, awkward as the motion was in this body. No one ever accused him of being mature. :Just so I'm prepared, does the healing go away when the fur does?:

[sonofcoul]

"Barton, when you have opposable thumbs again, I'll need a report," he replied calmly, knowing that that's all he'd be getting at the moment anyway. And then he glanced at Loki. "Providing the healing outlasts the transformation."

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"Just so you know," Loki aimed at the cub with a smirk, "doing that only makes you look all the more adorable."

His attention flickered to Coulson and back. "The transformation provides completely new anatomy. How many times do you want me to tell you that you'll be fine?"

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

The cub bristled at being called adorable. It was less the word and more the speaker that annoyed him, but it still got a reaction. :Great, the one time I'm rooting for bleeding to death. Kill me now and you can probably get a lot for the corpse.:

[sonofcoul]

"Not on my watch. Ever." Coulson's voice was matter-of-fact. "As much as I hate to disappoint. You're not becoming black market taxidermy if I have anything to say about it."

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"You'd have to grow a little more to be worth anything, Barton. And it's quite clear that Coulson won't let me keep you that long unfortunately."

There was a brief pause and, looking away, Loki spoke directly to Clint again where Coulson couldn't hear. :I suggest you leave out certain...details about our encounter. Agreed?:

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:Damn, I was really looking forward to being contraband.: He cocked his head to the side, giving a shallow nod. There would be no report on any of this. Coulson could hound him all he wanted but Clint had no intention of writing anything down.

[sonofcoul]

"I'm sure it was on your bucket list," he replied dryly. Then he glanced down, as Raun had left the kitchen and was now nosing at his ankles. He picked the kitten up and settled him into his lap, petting him absently. "Thanks for putting up with the cat, by the way. Can't have been a walk in the park."

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

He saw the response out of the corner of his eye and instantly relaxed just a noticeable fraction. It wasn't really a big deal or anything, but there was something that he would have rather didn't affect a certain decision before it came. It felt odd caring for a change.

Loki shifted and kept his gaze aimed away from the other two on the couch, propping his elbow on the arm rest and placing his chin in his hand. He ignored their conversation for now.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

He glanced warily at Raun, well aware of how fast the thing moved when it wanted to. At least if Coulson kept petting him then Clint's ears probably wouldn't be on the list of things to play with. :Coulson, it's a cat. He wasn't even the most annoying thing in the room.:

[sonofcoul]

Coulson nodded slightly. "Fair point. He was probably a distant third. Still, it's the little things."

He finished his water and set the empty glass on the coffee table. "Anyway, so if leaving isn't happening tonight, will you be fine on the couch, Barton? I can bring out a pillow if you need it."

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Loki fidgeted in place, growing antsy with nothing to do. There used to be a time when being still and quiet was usual for him--that time had long since past and fled screaming into the night.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:Or, just a thought, you could have your professional cat-sitter let me out and I can crash on my own couch.: He hopped off the couch and stretched. :You can work a door, right Houdini?:

[sonofcoul]

"Fine by me, as long as you don't wander off and get picked up by animal control. Springing you from the pound would be a headache and a half."

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

"And in the morning when you're hungry or need to use the bathroom? What then?" It didn't really matter to him if Barton were here or there but...for whatever reason he seemed reluctant to send the tiger cub off.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

That wasn't the reaction Clint had been expecting. Loki already had his laugh about this and bragged to Coulson. Shouldn't he be happy enough to show Clint the door? :What do you care?:

[sonofcoul]

Coulson frowned slightly. "Or if there's an emergency and you can't contact anyone. It's actually a valid point. SHIELD would be the safest place for you."