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"What on Earth is going on?" Gibbs snarled, staring at their latest crime scene.
Tony stood next to his boss and didn't know what to think. They weren't superheroes. They shouldn't be getting cases with supervillain culprits.
The thing was he had a suspicion that he knew who was behind it and that they were doing it because it amused them and to make Tony's life easier, but explaining such scenarios in writing did not make anyone's life easier. He knew better than to even bring it up with the God, however. That would only make it worse since it would give him the attention he was looking for.
Seriously, what was his life that this was the third criminal they'd found on ice not far from the crime scene that had their DNA all over it. Either someone was going to a lot of trouble to frame a bunch of different people or they had a vigilante on their hands. Really, he was not paid enough for this.
Was this how the cops in New York felt during and after the invasion? Having your city suffer significant damages due to aliens had to be quite the mess to report and document. He could imagine that anyone who hadn't lived through it would have scoffed at the so-called evidence and refused to believe it had actually happened like the director undoubtedly did with their reports.
He wondered what this man had done. By the time they got to them, the criminals were practically ready to confess just to get out of the ice block. Some of them had to be rushed to the hospital for hypothermia or other similarly icy conditions.
It took a lot of fun out of his job to be honest. He spent more time trying to figure out how to word things than actually collecting evidence or investigating these days. It sucked.
He wanted to confront his sometimes boyfriend or lover about it, but well the Battle of New York had done a number on his partner and the man's so-called family hadn't helped with that. Honestly, the entire lot of them were worse than Senior and that was saying a lot. Tony rarely wanted to torture someone, but Loki's family brought out the worst in everyone including him.
Tony knew that Loki was the one behind the invasion of New York. He also knew that there were more than a little extenuating circumstances behind that. Loki had discovered shortly before he disappeared for a couple of years that he had powers over ice that he'd never known about. Tony wouldn't have known this if not for his brother, Thor, showing up and babbling about Loki's lies. Of course, Tony had known immediately that it was the truth as a number of things he'd noticed about the God's behaviors had suddenly made a lot more sense, but he hadn't told Thor that. For all that Tony loved Loki, Loki's brother had not earned the same loyalty from him in any shape, fashion, or form.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Gibbs."
"I miss the days where we had to actually work to solve the cases," Bishop muttered.
"Maybe we should just start reporting things like this as acts of God," Tony suggested half-heartedly. Even though that was technically true, he knew it was a bad idea, but really he was getting tired of spending all of his time on paperwork and none of it on the fun parts of the job. He wondered if the MCRT was turning into the laughing stock of NCIS instead of its premiere team.
He should probably have a talk with Loki about what was going on in his head. Christmas was right around the corner and Tony had a suspicion that his lover was planning something. Though, he had no idea what exactly.
As the crime scenes continued to pile up with the bad guys that perpetrated them already captured, Gibbs grew more and more suspicious. Tony's boss wanted to know how this guy was getting information about the suspects. He wanted to know why it was only ones that would fall in the MCRT's lap that were being affected. Personally, Tony thought that the police had just decided to call them in for any ice related issues at this point in time.
He'd discussed it briefly with Loki and his lover had confirmed that he wanted Tony free for a surprise on Christmas and was determined to make sure no cases came up that would prevent that. Tony had rolled his eyes and informed the God of Mischief that there were other ways that could be accomplished. He'd just smirked at Tony and said, "I know, but none of them are as much fun."
Tony knew better than to argue with that. Trying to stop Loki from having fun was like trying to stop a train wreck that was already in motion. Still he was getting more and more stressed as Gibbs' temper got worse and worse over his lover's interference, though Gibbs of course had no knowledge that Tony had anything to do with what was happening with the crime scenes and that sounded so wrong even in his head.
Needless to say Loki was even more of an adrenaline junkie than anyone else Tony knew except possibly his brother or any one of the Avengers, though Tony didn't really know any of those people well. McGee and Bishop had managed to find what they thought was a pattern and so now they were all taking turns staking out a couple of possible locations for Loki's next target. Tony considered warning the man, but honestly if Loki didn't know what they were doing then the God simply wasn't paying attention.
Their first attempts failed spectacularly, but as the pattern continued to prove true, they all noticed that the amount of time between the iceman, as the rest of NCIS had taken to calling the culprit, capturing the criminals and them arriving on scene grew less and less. They were down to only a few minutes difference now. It was only a matter of time before one of his coworkers caught sight of his boyfriend and his vigilante actions. Though, none of them even knew Tony was dating, so there would still be no fingers pointed at him even if Loki was discovered, for which Tony was grateful.
Well technically Gibbs and Loki had met once, but Loki had been disguised at the time. Though no less furious at the impertinent mortal who dared to interrupt his time with Tony. So, of course, when they arrived at the next scene Loki was using the same disguise he'd used then and Gibbs immediately glanced between the two of them. Tony held his hands up in a surrender position, trying to indicate that he knew nothing about this.
"You!" Gibbs snarled, advancing on Loki.
Tony buried his head in his hands. There was no way this would end other than badly.
"Me," Loki agreed, smirking.
Tony shook his head and wished he were anywhere else.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Gibbs demanded.
"Why I thought you would appreciate the help?" Loki's eyes were wide in fake innocence that Tony knew better than to believe and would only make Gibbs angrier.
"We do not need your help." Gibbs glanced at Tony again, but Tony was staying out of this fight. Loki could handle Gibbs and in this case, Tony kind of thought his lover deserved the tongue lashing.
"Are you sure? Your solve rate has gone up significantly since I started and you're getting justice for more families. Isn't that what matters the most?"
Gibbs growled and clenched his fist. Tony could tell that Gibbs wanted to punch his lover, but that he was holding back for some reason. It was probably out of a sense of propriety or an attempt to avoid ending up in another questionable video on the internet.
"We do not need your help," Gibbs gritted out between clenched teeth.
"Well I for one would like to enjoy my Christmas holiday and I can't do that if you keep my lover working all hours." Loki crossed his arms and glared back at Gibbs.
"So this is all a ruse to get DiNozzo some time off?"
"I was simply trying to make your lives easier, Gibbs. Is that a crime?"
"Yes, in fact. One I fully intend to make you pay for. How do you like the idea of spending the holidays in jail."
Loki smirked. "Your jails can't hold me. Plus, you'd have to catch me first."
Tony watched Loki disappear in a puff of green magic and just knew that he would be spending the rest of the day fending off questions from his curious teammates and that wasn't counting whatever interrogation Gibbs would throw at him. Sometimes he really hated his lover. The only saving grace this situation had was that Christmas was in fact, tomorrow, so Tony and the rest of the team were guaranteed a free holiday now.
Once they got back to headquarters, Tony tried to use reports as an excuse to put off everyone, but Gibbs was having none of it and dragged Tony into the elevator. Gibbs hit the emergency stop once they were between floors. Tony wasn't surprised, but he had no interest in volunteering information about his personal life.
"What the hell is going on, DiNozzo?"
"You'll have to be more specific, Boss."
"Why is your boyfriend icing criminals for us?"
"I genuinely have no idea, Boss. Though, I'm inclined to believe his monologuing from earlier."
"Are you not privy to whatever plans he has for Christmas?"
"Beyond a vague idea that we want to spend the day together, not really."
"Control your boyfriend."
"He's the God of Mischief, Gibbs. If you think I have any measure of control over him, you are sadly mistaken."
"Does he not care about your good opinion?"
"Of course, he does. I'm not that much of a masochist."
"Then surely there is something you can do."
"Trust me, he's been having fun. My telling him to stop would only make him do the opposite."
Gibbs snarled and slammed his fist into the wall. "Damn it, DiNozzo. We're the laughing stock of the entire agency because of this."
"If you want him to stop, I suggest you make a deal with him. That's generally what he responds best to. I've found it's better for my relationship with him if I refrain from deals. Keeps us on more equal footing."
"You are not helping."
Tony shrugged, not really sorry. "Sorry, Boss."
Gibbs glared and hit the button to make the elevator move again. "Get out of here, DiNozzo," Gibbs ordered when the doors opened again.
Tony did as he was told, taking the stairs back to the bullpen to finish his reports. The sooner he got done the sooner he could escape the interrogations. Of course, just because Gibbs had given up didn't mean that McGee would stop trying. Bishop, at least, respected that Tony didn't want to talk about it, but McGee couldn't seem to stop asking questions.
"Who was that Tony? Your booty-call?"
"Pretty sure he announced himself to be Tony's boyfriend, Tim," Bishop offered.
Tony shot Bishop a wan smile, appreciating her support, but really he just wanted to be done and home, so that he could spend time being part of Loki's schemes instead of the one blamed for them. With tomorrow guaranteed to be a holiday for them, Tony left as soon as he finished his paperwork.
Loki shimmered into view as soon as Tony entered his apartment. "Finally," the God greeted.
"I would have been here sooner if you hadn't pissed off Gibbs, you know?"
"I guess we'll never know." Loki smirked.
Tony shook his head, walking up to his lover and pulling him in for a kiss. "I missed you. What plans have you made for us this Yule?"
"A little field trip. We'll be uncontactable for all of tomorrow."
Tony nodded. "Gibbs is likely going to blow a gasket when he finds my apartment empty."
"I'm counting on it," Loki murmured.
"He's really not that bad."
"He's hurt you more than is allowed."
Tony couldn't help melting at that statement. "I love that I'm yours."
"And I'm yours," Loki agreed.
"Let's go then."
Loki wrapped his arms around Tony and they teleported in a flourish of green light and a whooshing sensation. Tony glanced around when the sensation stopped and saw ice and snow as far as he could see in all directions. "Where are we?"
"My real home world."
Tony blinked in surprise. He wasn't sure what to think about that response. "Why?"
"My Jotun family wants to get to know me."
"Ah." Tony nodded, understanding. "Well let's go meet them then. I'm sure they'll love me. Who doesn't?"
Loki chuckled. "Thank you, Anthony."
Tony pressed a small chaste kiss to the corner of Loki's mouth. "Anytime, lover."
Tony had no idea what to expect, but if Loki wanted someone on his side when he met the family he'd been stolen from, Tony would support him as best he could. He just hoped that no one tried to kill either of them. He wasn't exactly a superhero.
Loki's prior behavior made more sense too. He'd been trying to work out his nervous energy without going insane with worry. Tony knew only too well how poorly a bored Loki behaved. A bored and nervous one a million times worse.
Tony immediately forgave his boyfriend for all the extra trouble he'd caused this season. He only hoped that Loki had gotten what he needed from it. Loki led the way and Tony followed, looking around the clearing which gradually gave way to ice structures. He'd never seen anything like it.
"Wow," Tony whispered. "This is beautiful."
Loki scoffed. "If you like this kind of thing."
"You don't have to be defensive. Aren't you here to find out about them?"
"It's hard."
"I know, but just remind yourself that they care about you."
Loki snorted. "As if that means anything when it comes to me, excepting you of course."
Tony smiled wryly. "It will be ok and if it's not we can return and have our own Yule celebration somewhere on Earth."
"I will not let you come to harm."
"I know." Tony smiled before letting out a gasp as an enormous ice creature appeared before them.
"Greetings, Mortal. I am Helbindi."
"Nice to meet you." Tony stared at him wide eyed as Loki and Helbindi exchanged greetings.
The frost giants or Jotun had interesting traditions around Yule. They didn't give gifts exactly, but it was still a time they preferred to spend with family. Tony watched Loki gradually loosen up the longer they were there and couldn't help feeling happy for him. He knew how badly things had gone with his adoptive family. He really hoped Loki would have a better relationship with his birth family. Only time would tell on that. It was Christmas, however, there was no time to be sad. They were together and that was all that mattered.