Diplomacy In Action.

[teofse]

 

Title: Diplomacy In Action.
Author: Teofse
Fandom: MCU
Pairing: Loki/Tony
Characters: Loki, Tony Stark
Rating: G.
Word count: 733
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Marvel (both comics and movies). No money is being made out of this work.
A/N: Unbetaed. Post Avengers AU, disregards Iron Man 3 and Thor: TDW. This is the next installment of my adventdrabbles 2014 series No Time For Sentiment. Prompt 15: Christmas Duck.
Summary: “Let my brother deal with this, then. Diplomatic solutions are his specialty.”

Diplomacy In Action.

 

Loki teleported to the coordinates Coulson had given him and stared, wide-eyed, at the strange robotic contraption that was rampaging through Manhattan, creating havoc among the civilians as it waddled down the streets.

“Shoot the goddamned thing already, Stark. The cost estimates I'm getting for the damage its causing are making my eye twitch.” The director's voice was so loud across the communication system that Loki flinched in sympathetic reaction but, judging by Anthony's irreverent retort, he hadn't been similarly affected.

“Sorry. No can do, bad-ass Nick-dick. I can't shoot a bloody Christmas duck, no matter how badly behaved. Every kid who watches me do it on the news is going to have nightmares about the Avengers killing the cutest robot, ever. Their moms will stop buying the team's monogrammed T-shirts. It'll be a PR disaster, man.”

“I don't care about your stupid T-shirts, Stark. I want Duckzilla neutralized in the next five seconds, do you hear me?” Fury growled in response only to be answered by a cool-headed captain Rogers who, to Loki's utter shock, seconded Iron Man's refusal to fire directly at the 'duck'.

“I think Tony is right about this one, director. Doom's creation is incredibly appealing. If we destroy it so openly it'll turn public sympathy against us. The press will report the Avengers' cold-blooded 'murder' of the most adorable yellow duck in existence, just because it will sell more papers. Nobody will bother to remember the loss of property it caused.”

“I can deal with the bloody press, Rogers!”

“Can you, Sir?” Coulson pipped up, shocking everyone with his unusual intervention. “If Doom used this particularly... hugable... design, chances are he already has the press in his pocket. You'll be starting damage control from scratch while he's miles ahead of you. ”

“Oh, for fucks' sake! You're all a bunch of sentimental ninnies! What do you suggest we do, then? We can't let this aberration get away with trampling Manhattan just because it's cute and wears a Santa hat.”

“Let my brother deal with this, then. Diplomatic solutions are his specialty.” Thor pipped up, joining the conversation with eardrum-damaging eagerness.

“Doom refuses to negotiate. Diplomacy won't get that duck off the streets, Thor.”

"Let Loki shoot it, then.” Natasha proposed to a chorus of enthusiastic agreement that was abruptly interrupted by a thoroughly irritated Tony.

“No. Absolutely not. Bringing this thing down will ruin Loki's hard-won reputation. I'm not letting him take on the Avengers' dirty work all on his own. If a task is too shitty for us, then it's too shitty for him. He's one of us, people: One. Of. Us.”

Loki's throat constricted in reaction to Anthony's defense. He'd never had anyone questioning authority in his behalf before and the idea that his mortal would try to veto a sound plan of action to save him from public scorn, made him weak at the knees.

“My brother's reputation will be safe, Man of Iron. He can neutralize our foe without 'shooting' him. Loki is a brilliant illusionist.”

“Can you do that, snowflake?” The engineer's question, asked softly enough to make everyone realize that it was meant for Loki's ears alone made the sorcerer smile and whisper equally softly:

“Of course I can, Anthony. Watch this.”

He turned the duck into Iron Man in the next second and the Avengers' shocked gasps inspired him into shifting Doom's little creation into every other Avenger in quick succession. He even added a final rendition of Fury in all his glory, just to hear the team's badly suppressed giggling over the communication system. The 'duck' had come to an abrupt halt mid-way through the shape-shifting, so shrinking it before teleporting it directly to the Quinjet took not time at all. Loki masked the capture with a perfectly timed shower of multicolored confetti that fell over the enthralled crowd as the duck disappeared, earning the public's enthusiastic applause for his efforts.

“That was bloody awesome, snowflake.” Tony's awed whisper came loud and clear through his ear-piece. It was followed almost immediately by similar praise coming from the rest of the Avengers and even Fury, himself. Loki basked in their approval, feeling finally... accomplished. The team had trusted his skills to get them out of a sticky situation and hadn't turned on him as soon as their goal had been achieved. He was truly valued. Honored. Accepted, even. He had finally become one of the Avengers.

TBC

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