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Summary:

As usual, it started because Loki was bored.
Is there really any more else to say?

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Loki: Part 1

As usual, it started because Loki was bored.

He'd come with Thor and the other refugee Asgardians back to Midgard since he didn't really have much of another choice. He'd been surprised when Thor, and even Banner, defended him against the Avengers until it was agreed that he wouldn't be arrested as long as he behaved and stayed within the Compound.

Hence, why he was bored.

It was so... dull here, as everyone prepared for the battle against Thanos. Thor was caught up in actually being a decent king to Loki's surprise and Banner was tentatively stepping into a relationship with the Valkyrie, Brunnhilde.

That was a couple even Loki didn't see coming.

It was very entertaining to see the little Spider react every time she saw them together though.

And hadn't that been a surprise to see when they arrived. The Avengers team shattered and formed two distinct sides. Some siding with the Captain who seemed to constantly be reaching out to Stark who radiated hostility around the group of pardoned heroes. His side closed ranks around the genius anytime that the others tried to approach.

Thor didn't know what to do with the fractured nature of the team but Banner immediately chose Stark, understanding the need for the documents the team had shattered over and also infuriated by the way the Captain had included the little red witch into the team.

There was almost an appearance from the Hulk when he saw her for the first time.

That was about the most interesting thing happening though. Besides the little Hawk's outbursts every time he saw the trickster.

So Loki was bored.

Which led to all the new drama naturally.

To be fair, it also started with Stark. However the man was less to blame since he was oblivious to the fact that the Captain was attracted to him and seemed to believe himself in love with the inventor.

Everyone else in the Compound could tell except the genius himself.

The Rogues, as they were dubbed, had taken to trying to give the Captain chances to speak with Stark, to act on these feelings. The rest of the building had taken it upon themselves to prevent this from happening.

Especially Colonel Rhodes. He was the most vicious when it came to protecting his friend.

Loki was impressed with some of the tricks he pulled to keep his friend out of their grasp.

But unfortunately, he couldn't always be around so Loki wasn't surprised to walk into the kitchen to find Stark alone and practically cornered by the Rogues.

Now, that wouldn't do. Stark was one of the more entertaining people to talk to in this building. He was full of spirit and sarcasm and was all too willing to turn around and bite back if Loki started an argument with him.

The Captain, on the other hand, was positively boring and he seemed to infect all those on his side with the same self-righteousness that he carried like a shield.

"Oh what have I walked in on?" he allowed a smirk to stretch his lips, noting with some surprise that Stark lost a minute amount of tension when he spotted Loki.

What did that say about the Captain that Stark felt more at ease in the presence of the alien who had attacked their planet than with the so-called heroes?