Chapter Text
Tony clicked on Instagram, wanting to see how his latest post was doing.
After an hour the post was definitely making traction with a few million likes. Loki was going to kill him when he found out.
“FRIDAY order some salmon.” He called out, chuckling at the screen in his hand as his AI baby affirmed it had been done.
Taking any pictures of Loki had become a bit of a game within the tower. Win and you get a reward. Lose and you definitely need a trip to the medbay because damn were those little claws Loki refused to call anything but nails were sharp. Using FRIDAY counted as cheating so the group had gotten creative. Although it was not just for fun. Despite the year long trial of explaining that Loki had been mind controlled and that Odin refused to even entertain the idea along with the fact that Loki refused to speak of who did it, the public was still wary. Surprisingly, posting pictures and videos where Loki looked relatively harmless had worked out pretty well.
Loki on Christmas eagerly running around playing with wrapping paper? Hey, maybe he's innocent! Sure, we've seen the proof but THIS is the nail in the coffin!
Natasha had taken the most so far being a spy and all but Tony was the one primarily posting them, being a spy and all.
Loki had no idea his pictures were plastered over the internet since he had been temporarily banned from social media and the news after the Instagram Live incident, which led to this all. It had been a while since then and honestly it seemed good for him. Eventually they'd let him back on but they really needed the world to be completely okay with him. The whole tower had been in chaos after Loki decided to interact with the world, not realising EVERYBODY could see what he was doing. Thor had of course been bouncing back between Asgard and Earth but apparently Asgards Daddy or whatever had a way to see what was going on and decided to have Loki not have Thor's support for the whole trial era.
The most recent image of Loki was him eagerly sitting down on the couch, legs splayed out as he held one of those toy fishes for cats that moved upon contact. There was a proud glint in his eye as if he had just found treasure and it was frankly very adorable. His fluffy ears were perked up and his tail showed just how happy he was as he showed off his toy to Bruce, who was sitting opposite him.
The angle was a bit awkward but hey the world would take what he could get. He wasn't risking any more scratches for a damn photo.
Of course there were many people who refused to believe Loki, especially since he refused to actually say who had done this but they could go fuck themselves. The evidence was there and unless Loki could ‘break the rules of seidr’ or whatever than Loki was innocent.
It had been a real mess after learning of this and the Avengers had severely struggled with their guilt and Loki was extremely hostile.
Thankfully, Jane Foster had helped Loki become less fearful of them especially when she practically ran the tower when ever she came over. Loki would even often stay over in New Mexico for sleepovers until he grew restless in her modest home, not allowed out on his own for safety. It was pretty awkward sometimes since Thor still definitely loved her but they all knew Jane could be only amicable at best towards Thor after learning what Loki's life at the tower was once like. Hell, sometimes she looked like she could barely tolerate any of them but nothing convinced Thor that she was just being civil.
“So are we sticking to the plan?” Tony yelped in a very masculine, super super deep voice when Natasha appeared behind him.
He scowled. “I guess Loki isn't the only one who needs a bell, Christ Nat. But yeah. Thor and Clint are tiring Loki out now so that when T'challa arrives he'll be too wiped to be a bitch.”
Natasha nodded, checking the time. Their dear friend T'challa was popping in for a friendly visit although it was an open secret it was just so T'challa could confirm to his people Loki was a threat to nobody (unless angry or hungry or tired but who needed to know that?) and they really wanted Loki to get along well. Unfortunately, when speaking to Loki all the cat hybrid cared about was T'challa's jewelry and harassing them all for information on T'challa’s diplomacy skills purely so he could judge them.
“He'll be here any minute you'll wanna get a move on.” Natasha reminded him, prodding his shoulder until he got to his feet.
“This is going to be a disaster. Twenty bucks on it.”
“I'm not losing twenty bucks.”
“You're literally an Avenger you can afford to lose twenty bucks.” Tony countered, putting on a smile as he got into the living room and saw a very not tired Loki having fun pummeling Thor with a pillow. “Ah shit.”
‘King T'challa is here, Boss.’ FRIDAY's voice rang out.
Just then, the elevator opened and in walked T'challa.
As King T'Challa entered the room, he glanced over at Loki, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. He addressed the rest of the Avengers, but his gaze kept darting back to Loki, half cat and half villain, now staring at him with pointed ears twitching.
T'Challa, maintaining his regal demeanour, says, "Greetings, friends. I see you have an...interesting new addition to your team today.”
The other Avengers greeted King T'Challa with nods and smiles, each of them trying to seem at ease.
Tony, trying to keep a straight face, replied, "Ah, yes, Loki. He's going through a... unique transformation right now, as you can see. Although obviously you know all of this.”
The King approached the God much to the worry of the others, looking down at his cat ears and swishing tail. He spoke in a gentle, yet authoritative tone.
T'Challa, addressing Loki, smiled, "It appears you've experienced quite a remarkable metamorphosis, Loki. You are...certainly unique in this form.”
Loki turned his nose up, removing the pillow from his grasp and gently placing it down on the couch. Thor looked around the room for a sign that he should intervene but Tony shook his head, figuring that Loki wouldn't appreciate Thor’s interruption. He didn't offer a reply first, just an unimpressed look as he looked the other man up and down once before uttering a few words. “ You are one of Midgards…Kings.”
T'Challa, replying to his statement, nodded, "Indeed, I am king of Wakanda. And you, Loki, are a former god of mischief, now with a touch of feline in you.”
Loki scrunched his nose before flopping to lie down, head on Thor's chest and letting out a little mumble. “I was better.”
Thor attempted to disguise his sudden burst of laughter as a cough but fooled nobody, least of all Loki, who was more than happy to nip the man's left arm.
T'Challa's eyes flicked to Tony, who sent him an awkward shrug and smile.
“ Right well we really don't need to debate-” Bruce was interrupted by Loki scoffing like a moody teenager.
“It is not a debate. I was better.” He murmured quietly, his tail flickering.
He casually batted at it, entertained by the way it evaded his grasp as Tony led the group to sit down on the couch, purposefully ensuring T'challa was far away enough for Loki to not randomly sniff him or something. That had been a bit of a problem when Nick Fury visited and Loki decided his bald shiny head was very sniffable.
“Well I need to check up on something in the lab.” Bruce practically ran out before anyone could stop him.
“I also need to do that!” Thor attempted to borrow the lame excuse only for Loki to push him back down before he could fully sit up, unhappy with his current pillow daring to shift away.
“So how is Wakanda?” Steve tried to ease the tension with a friendly smile at the man.
Loki's ears perked up and Tony decided to immediately change the topic from any type of Kingdom. “Or the weather? How about this weather huh? Saw a cloud that looked like a pancake earlier. Made me hungry.”
Thor sighed, already imagining how he would be complaining to Jane about the sheer awkwardness in the room. Usually he'd turn to Mjolnir and share his secrets with her but Loki had long since found out and decided it was his Princely duty to ensure everyone in Asgard knew.
Eventually a few hours had passed with each member of the Avengers attempting to abandon the rest with Loki and T'challa, Thor using the excuse that he was suffering from severe, extreme diarrhea which he attempted to sell by occasionally screeching and groaning in the bathroom. They had all discussed that the two would not be left alone a few days ago, which had worked out well until Bruce had fallen asleep on the couch with Loki and T'challa the only ones left.