The deal struck between Odin and Nick Fury was simple on paper: Loki serves a year alongside the Avengers as penance — no prison, no throne, no escape clause. In practice, it's chaos. Thor keeps clapping him on the shoulder like the last decade never happened. Stark and Loki are two superior intellects sharing one compound, which means war by Thursday. Rogers disapproves of everything Loki says, which Loki considers its own reward. And then there's you. He noticed you on the first day — told himself it was threat assessment, basic surveillance. He's told himself a great many things that have turned out to be lies. You're the only person in this building who doesn't manage him. He hasn't decided if that's dangerous yet.