[for kingofarchers and <user site="livejournal.c

[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

[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]

:I just wanted to know whether to set you up a little nest of blankets or not. Your choice, kitten.:

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

:First bird, now kitten. One day, I'll make it up the friggin' ladder to dog. And I'm fine on the floor.: Clint expected to be pacing most of the night anyway.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

:You are much better than a mere dog. So if you're lucky I'll call you wolf-pup one day.: He smiled in amusement but the expression dropped just as quickly as it appeared. :Very well, suite yourself.:

Despite this, Loki quickly set up a pillow and a blanket on the floor next to the couch so that the cub could curl up if he felt the need. He wouldn't be surprised if Barton avoided it completely just on principle but he couldn't help it. After that, he left without another word.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

Clint circled the room twice more once Loki left. The god didn't return, and there were no more voices in his head but his own, so Clint finally settled in a corner of the room, not intending to sleep long.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

As Loki suspected, the archer was no where near the makeshift nest the god left. He was surprised at how little time it took for the cub to go to sleep. He figured Barton would push it back for as long as possible but he didn't even seem to try. After waiting a while to ensure the cub was in a deeper sleep, Loki returned to the apartment. He didn't dare move once there for fear of waking the slumbering tiger. The cast a quick spell on the cub to ensure Barton would stay asleep for at least a few more hours before moving across the room to the cub.

He picked up Barton carefully in his arms and petted him lightly, assuringly. He debated for a moment what to do with the archer before making a decision. With a mischievous grin on his lips, the Trickster moved silently into Coulson's room. He was careful not to wake him either as he went about laying the cub next to the agent on the bed.

For a moment he lingered, memorizing the image. Then he was gone, intent on not disturbing the two before morning. By the time either one woke on their own, Barton would no longer be a tiger cub. Loki was going to enjoy the next morning. Oh, yes he was.

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

Waking up in strange beds wasn't that usual for Clint, but the lack of a hangover was a new twist. He scrubbed a hand over his face, slowly gathering the courage to look at where he ended up this time. At least he wasn't covered in fur, that was an improvement over last night.

Clint did a double-take at his bedmate, falling back with a sigh. "Coulson, I said I'd get lost in your eyes, not in your sheets."

[sonofcoul]

Over the years, Coulson had managed to calmly make his way through much stranger situations than this was turning out to be. Not terribly many that were more awkward, but beggars couldn't be choosers. "Nice to see you're two-legged and verbal again," he replied to Clint's quip, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Timing and circumstances leave a bit to be desired, but I don't suppose that was something either of us could have influenced."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"And not bleeding out. I call this a win." He shifted, looking down just enough to confirm he had boxers on. No pants, but boxers were a start. "Should I be insulted or giving you a how do you like your eggs line right now?"

[sonofcoul]

"I think you can skip both options, actually. Saves time. Besides, I think the only thing I have in the way of breakfast food at the moment is Pop Tarts, so the eggs would be a moot point." If he could start to inject something reasonably approaching normalcy into the situation by his demeanor, then there was no way he'd avoid the opportunity. "Am I going to have to be averting my eyes in the near future?"

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"Whichever you prefer, bossman. It's not like I'm charging you if you don't." He pushed himself up and out of bed, not bothering to cover himself. Shame long ago abandoned the Barton bloodline. "How nosy are your neighbors?"

[sonofcoul]

"You ask this as if I've ever actually given them reason to be nosy." He sat up and shrugged. "Not very, as far as I can tell. But again, it's not as if my highly scandalous lifestyle calls to any neighborhood busybodies."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"Well, this will fix that. I'd apologize for ruining your rep around the neighborhood, but it's kinda funny." Clint brushed a hand over his hair, shifting his weight. Finally, he gestured toward the bedroom door before heading toward it. "Right, don't get up. I'll figure out an escape route and let myself out."

[sonofcoul]

"You're aware I would actually be willing to loan you a pair of pants, right? After all, it is January and I don't need you getting hypothermia. Unless he was at least considerate enough to leave a change of clothing back in the living room."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"The odds aren't great. And you know the 'I got in Coulson's pants' jokes would never end, right? The interns might be scarred." The thought was enough to make Clint snicker. "Go back to bed." A pause. "Dear."

He gave a quick salute, heading out of the bedroom to go inspect the windows. The weather could be better, but he didn't think a chill would kill him if he went running in it.

[justabitoffun.livejournal.com]

Far away, viewing the scene in Coulson's apartment by magical means, Loki was practically rolling from amusement. One could always count on the little bird to be entertaining with his quips. He didn't remotely feel sorry for this final act. It was beautiful.

But he wasn't about to let Barton get the last say. And Coulson had to be getting a little peeved by Barton's refusal to be reasonable by now. He wasn't about to let the archer walk out of the apartment like that. He wasn't really planning on letting him leave at all just yet.

To his likely dismay, Barton would find that the windows wouldn't open no matter how hard he tried. Likewise, the door was once again an impossibility to get through. Given enough time on either and the archer would eventually get a warning shock--not that it was needed (Barton physically could not open the door or windows) but Loki liked the idea of watching the reaction.

[sonofcoul]

Not that Clint would get a chance to try the window for very long before Coulson emerged and lobbed a pair of sweatpants at his head.

"You know what? I've decided to risk the jokes."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"You know, that doesn't look much like--fuck!" Hopping back from the window, Clint looked over his hands. "Jesus, Coulson, did you improvise a security system?"

[sonofcoul]

Furrowing his brow in concern, Coulson crossed over to the window. "No, I didn't. What happened?"

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"Remind me never to wear socks in here or I might end up stealing Thor's lightning gig," he said, showing his hands front and back to prove there was no harm done. "Static shock or your window bit me."

Not one to give up, Clint checked to make sure the window wasn't locked and tried to open it again. It was cold out, but not that cold out. Even if the window was frozen shut, Clint thought he should have budged it by now. "Open sesame, you bastard."

[sonofcoul]

"Oh, honestly. New division of labor. You put on pants, I get the window open. Deal?" He crossed his arms, watching Clint's effort. "Either that or I have a strongly worded conversation with the superintendent."

[kingofarchers.livejournal.com]

"This counts as off-duty, you have no control over how much clothing I'm wearing." There was another shock and Clint bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything. He pulled his hands away from the window a little too quickly. "Okay, tough guy, if you can open the window then I'll let you have final say on all my pants related decisions."