Am I More Than You Bargained For Yet?
"J.A.R.V.I.S, I told you not to wake me up in the middle of the night yet again," Tony groaned.
"I do apologize, sir, but it is rather urgent," the AI said. "Someone has managed to hack into your laptop, something I never thought would be possible with all the security measures you have installed."
Tony jumped out of bed despite his grogginess and got his laptop out. When he opened it, he saw that a strange window on the screen. The message inside said simply, "Hello" in large green lettering. Tony sighed and tried to close the window, but it was impossible. "Alright, whoever you are, this isn't funny."
I didn't mean for it to be funny. I have something to ask of you.
"Wait, you can hear me?"
It was rather simple to gain access to your microphone and webcam. I can see you as well. Like I said, I have something to ask of you. Please hear me out.
Tony nodded, though he was feeling a sense of fear in his stomach. He didn't enjoy being watched.
There's someone coming after me and his right-hand man promised me that he would find me very easily. I hoped that with your ingenuity, you could possibly help hide me.
"I can't help you if I don't know who you are," Tony replied, wondering why he was even considering helping someone who hacked into his computer. "Who are you?"
Guess.
"Don't be like that," Tony said curtly. "Why are you coming to me anyway? Can't anyone else help you out?"
No, because many people hate me and wouldn't want to help me. And you were easy to find. Anyway, you should be able to guess who I am by the color of the text I am using.
"Anyone could like the color green. Stop being so cryptic."
Maybe you aren't such a genius after all. I threw you out a window.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Tony yelled. "Aren't you supposed to be rotting in a cell on Asgard? Why do you need my help anyway? You don't even deserve my help! Get out of my computer!"
You're funny when you're angry with how short you are. I need your help because the being who is threatening me is close to having all of the infinity gems in the infinity gauntlet. The infinity gems, when placed in the gauntlet, give one unlimited power over 6 important things that keep the universe together. With all that power, he may be able to destroy your world. If you help me, I will help you in return.
"Fine," Tony grit out. "Only because the Earth will probably be in trouble if whoever you're talking about gets a hold of that much power. Why are you on Earth?"
As punishment, my adoptive father made me mortal and banished me here. He did the same thing for Thor when he disturbed the peace between Asgard and Jotunheim. However, he withdrew Thor's punishment rather quickly. I doubt that he will do the same for me. He wants me to learn humility and grow to respect mortals. I will not be able to hurt you very much if I ever want to because I no longer have access to my magic and the rest of my powers. Basically, I am no more powerful than a regular human being.
Tony thought over that for a moment and then said, "Okay. Well, that makes me feel a bit better. The rest of the Avengers are on their own missions, so you can come over. Wait, am I going to be housing you?"
Yes. I am sure that your home is large enough to accommodate me yet keep me a good distance from you. Anyway, I shall arrive soon.
"Of course I don't have any choice in the matter," Tony grumbled to himself. In less than five minutes, J.A.R.V.I.S. announced, "Sir, I believe there is an intruder on the premises. Would you like me to run the protocol for this type of situation?"
"Let him in."
"Very strange of you to say that, sir. Nevertheless, I will allow him inside."
When Loki came in, Tony was shocked by how different he looked from the last time he had seen him. The Asgardian's hair was noticeably longer, falling a bit lower than his collarbones. He was sweaty and even paler than usual, so pale that he looked as if he were anemic. He was even thinner than he normally was, and instead of the intimidating leather and metal he usually wore, Loki was dressed in a dark green T-shirt and black jeans. Tony wondered for a second if he wore any colors besides green and black. Surprising himself, Tony caught Loki when he nearly fell to the ground. "Are you okay? I mean, I don't care if you're not, but I'm sure that I'll get a hammer blow to the head if I let you get injured or die."
"I'm fine," Loki said. Opposite to his words, he nearly fell down again and started shaking. His face had gone even paler than it had been when he came in, and his eyes seemed unfocused, as if he was about to faint.
"You're clearly not fine," Tony replied, lying Loki down on a conveniently nearby couch - he and Loki were in the Avengers' common room. "Is this happening because you don't have your magic anymore?"
"I believe so," Loki coughed. "C-could you get me a glass of water please?"
Tony quickly filled a cup up with water and brought it over to Loki. His guest took a few sips but started retching and threw up on the couch. It was mostly bile and water, but the sight still made Tony nauseous.
"Damn it, Loki!" Tony shouted. "You know, you could've run to the trashcan or something. Looks like I have to clean vomit up. What a great start to my day."
"I'm sorry," Loki apologized. "I can't control my body's reactions to not having magic. I'll clean it up myself."
"No, I don't want you getting up until you feel more stable on your feet. You look really skinny. When's the last time you had something to eat?"
"I don't remember. It's been a while since I've eaten. I've been living on the streets - well, I had a place to stay, but I had to leave because of... you know what, never mind. It's not important. Anyway, I stole what I'm wearing right now, and I found a tablet with a cracked screen in a dumpster. It still worked just fine, but as for food, I haven't had anything for a while. I'm so hungry... I don't really deserve food, though."
Tony stopped cleaning up the vomit for a second and looked at Loki. Why was he saying such a thing? The last time Tony saw Loki, he was arrogant and proud. Now, he was saying he didn't deserve to eat. He wondered what made him feel like that. He got him a bowl of cereal with milk, and to Tony's dismay, Loki started crying.
"Why are you crying?" Tony asked, slightly concerned that what he was getting into would be bad. If Loki was unstable like his sudden weeping made him seem, he would have trouble on his hands. "Did I do something that upset you?"
"No, no, you didn't do anything," Loki said, starting to eat the cereal slowly. "I'm crying because I'm happy. Like I said, I haven't had food in a while. Thank you."
Tony nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable. He couldn't take crying, especially from someone who had previously been so grandiose and self-assured. "Is there a certain reason you haven't had food?"
"You don't need to know," Loki replied cryptically, his eyes suddenly dark. "I'd get in trouble if I told you why."
"I guess I'll just leave you alone," Tony said, but to his surprise, Loki grabbed his arm.
"Please don't go. I don't want to be all by myself. I'd... I'd feel safer if you stayed here with me. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be saying this. You have more important things to do."
"Why are you acting so weird?" Tony asked. "You're acting nothing like the Loki I know. Are you putting on a front to make me feel sympathy for you so you can stab me in the back later?"
"No, I'm not!" Loki promised.
"Did someone... did someone hurt you?" Tony questioned hesitantly. "Someone else besides who's coming after you?"
Loki nodded, more tears filling his eyes, but Tony could tell they were now from pain, not happiness. Despite how he disliked him, Tony stayed with Loki. It was awkward, but eventually Loki stopped crying and fell asleep on the couch from exhaustion.
Tony went to his room and tried to fall asleep, but his unsaid questions kept him up. He usually couldn't sleep due to his PTSD, but this time, the insomnia was different. He wondered about who was coming after Loki, why his guest was acting so strangely, and why he had even agreed to help him in the first place. Hours flew by like fallen autumn leaves in a strong wind, and soon it was 6 AM. Tony groaned rather dramatically when he saw the time on his bedside digital clock. It was quiet, so he figured that Loki was still sleeping on the couch.
In spite of how he usually had good ideas, Tony had no idea how he was going to help Loki. The looming threat of some unknown powerful being who could potentially destroy the world made his heart beat faster with fear, but for some reason, the obvious changes in Loki's character were more concerning to him. He had no idea how to comfort anyone, especially an old enemy who he now had to house in his tower. Considering how much he probably knew about said being, Tony didn't doubt that Loki could provide some much-needed help if whoever was coming after him attacked the Earth, but he wondered if the Avengers would even let the Asgardian help in such a case.
Tony finally fell asleep at 7 AM, but his sleep was more restless than ever.