The Avengers have had a lot to keep them busy despite the brutal winter that New York has had this past year. It seemed many of their enemies loved the cold weather. The Winter Solider blew up a mall in December for no good reason, at least not one he'd share. Black Dwarf came around in January on behalf of Thanos who seemed to still be really ticked off that Loki, another winter loving villain, hadn't held up his end of the bargain in helping him take over the universe. Crossfire took to robbing banks which ended with Spiderman helping The Avengers lock him up. The Absorbing Man also made an appearance in January, thanks again to Loki, taking on the shape of each of the Avengers to gather intelligence. What Loki planned to do with this intelligence, however, had yet to be seen. Zeke Stane attacked again just two weeks ago, this time Loki helped to capture him but only because his lair was in the destruction path; much to no avail though because his lair was blown up anyway.

Loki, for all his psychotic tendencies, hadn't been as malicious as he'd been two years ago when he first attacked New York. His latest attack was on the salt trucks that were supposed to be dispersed after the storm that dropped a few feet of snow. Though kids all around the tristate area were happy with the week off school, the government wasn't nearly as forgiving as mass transit stopped and money was lost.

This first week of March, however, had been quiet. It is the first day, in a long time, that all the Avengers where in one place, not working, not seeking out the evil doer of the moment, but just relaxing in the Avenger Towers, formally known as Stark Towers.

Instead of sitting in a boardroom being lectured about the latest attack on the world, the Avengers, plus three sat around the dining table for a late brunch. It was nice to talk about things other than work and get to know what was happening in each other's lives. It was what made them friends and not just co-workers.

Darcy sat among them as one of the plus ones, Eric and Jane were the other two, listening to the conversations superheroes had in their off time. Without a villain around, they were actually boring. Thor was making kissy faces at Jane, Barton was trying to act like he wasn't totally into Natasha while Natasha tried to act like Barton wasn't staring opened mouthed at her low cut black top. Tony and Bruce argued about something so scientific it sounded like another language and Eric and Steve chatted about how much better baseball was back when they were kids.

They were so regular.

These extremely boring conversations were the reason why no one noticed when Loki arrived on the scene wearing green pajama pants and a black wife beater and scratching the outer part of his upper thigh. They didn't notice him until he pulled up a chair and started making himself a plate from the food spread out on the table.

They all looked at each other, trying to figure out what was going on while Loki started pouring an unhealthy amount of syrup over everything on his plate. He took a bite of his sausage and looked at the gaping superheroes that had focused all their attention on him.

He smacked his lips annoyingly while chewing surveying the people at the table. "Hello." He said then followed it up with. "Carry on."

No one actually carried on as they all tried to figure out why a villain was eating at the superhero table.

It was Steve who finally found his voice, but instead of saying something cool or even remotely authoritative, he asked a question. "Are we under attack?"

"Yes Steve." Loki answered sarcastically. "I'm attacking you with my bed hair and morning breath. Have I ever attacked anything before noon? No, no I have not, and I don't plan to start now."

"Then," That was Tony. "Why… are you… here?"

Loki took a swig of orange juice that Darcy noticed wasn't his, but his brother's. "My lair blew up remember. I needed a place to go until my next one is ready. Since you menacing heroes are the reasons why I am homeless, the least you could do is put me up for a while. And by the way Stark, you really need to update Jarvis for attacks of magic. I've been here for almost a week."

"Brother," Thor started. "You cannot expect us to…"

"Thor, I don't want listen to any ends of your sentences. I've had a life time of the ends of your sentences and they never make sense. I expect nothing but access to this tower and everything in it."

Tony snorted crossing his arms over his muscular chest. "That's everything Loki."

"Meager, meager, meager." Was Loki's response

Bruce cleared his throat. "Beggers can't be choosers."

Loki opened his mouth to speak but shut again before opening it again. "Bruce, I've told you before, I'll agree to anything you say as long as you don't toss me around again. It took me hours to heal!"

That earned a chuckle from Darcy which got his attention. "Who are you?" He pointed his fork at her. "You don't look like anyone I've ever tried to kill."

"Darcy." Was her quick answer. "And you inadvertently tried to kill me."

"And are you super?" He asked after swallowing a silver dollar pancake.

"Nope. Just an ordinary person." Came her response.

"You can't be just ordinary and sit at this table." Loki told her. "Are you a scientist?"

"Nope."

"Well are you interested in being a villain or a villain's assistant?"

"No she is not." Jane answered for her. "Not at all."

His green eyes squinted into little slits as his attention moved to the other mortal at the table. "When I speak to you Ether I will look at you."

"Brother, do not speak to…"

"Thor!" Loki screamed slapping the table shaking the plates on it. "I do not want to hear the ends of your sentences."

"The beginnings of his sentences are fine?" Tony questioned. "I mean, I know we aren't friends or anything but I'm curious as to why the endings of his sentences bother you."

"Thor has this habit of starting out sounding like he knows what he's talking about but he never pulls through. It's awful."

"Okay!" Darcy spoke above the males at the table trying to get the attention back on her. "Does this villain assistant position come with benefits?"

"Darcy!" Jane replied outraged at her friend's interest in Loki's proposition.

Loki turned his attention back to Darcy. "Benefits?" His eyebrows knit together. "What do you mean?"

"I mean insurance, 401K? I mean I'm sure, as a villain's assistant, I would be in some danger. I mean your lair blew up. Are you offering health insurance?"

"I have healing magic."

"And what do you pay?"

Jane threw her arms up in outrage. "You aren't seriously thinking about joining with him!"

"What?!" Darcy questioned. "I need to keep my options open." She turned to Loki. "So, I wouldn't take less than twenty five an hour, I mean I am a college graduate."

Loki nodded. "I see. And what is degree in? Is it something relevant to villainous pursuits?"

"Political science." Darcy said proudly.

"Okay," Steve interrupted. "That's enough. Loki, you can't stay here."

Loki snorted. "You, of all The Avengers, have the least power to stop me. Besides, it would be morally wrong to leave me homeless. After all I've done for you."

"Do you really think someone would feel sorry for you Loki?" Steve questioned. "You haven't been an angel."

"Tony feels sorry for me. Don't you Tony?" Everyone at the table looked at Tony.

Tony shrugged. "If he's here then he isn't doing villainous things."

Bruce cleared his throat. "Well he is trying to recruit someone, right here. In front of everyone."

Loki grabbed his plate and stood up. "You superheroes are so boring; I'm going back to my room."

Upon Loki's departure, Darcy looked back at the superheroes who sat looking just as dumfounded as they did when Loki first appeared. Is a villain really squatting in the Avenger's Tower? Did he really just invite himself to their brunch and hijacked what was supposed to be a peaceful day?

The silence was deafening until Thor cleared his throat and looked at Jane. "I end my sentences well. Don't I?"