Chapter 13
"Please tell me you´re kidding…" Steve stared at the wall before him, as he had been doing for the past five minutes.
The tension in the room was almost visible, Tony scrunched up in a corner, arms crossed over his chest, while Thor sat next to Steve, his massive hands tangled in his blonde locks, his gaze held to the floor. Every basic explanation had been given, from Odin´s punishment, to the reason they needed the original scepter.
"Friend…"
"Let´s… Break it down." Steve didn´t even notice he had cut Thor´s words. "Why throwing a tantrum over a brother who wasn´t dead?"
"So we would actually believe he was." Tony intervened for Thor´s sake." And before you jump on that, it was necessary. Tell me you wouldn´t have gone and dragged Loki back here, had you known he was alive?"
"Of course I would! The man is an intergalactic terrorist!" He looked at the bigger blond. "Thor, I know he´s your brother, but this is too much… He´s a criminal, and he must be punished."
"He was punished, my friend."
"Being sent back here is most certainly not a punishment! It´s a time out!" At Steve´s words, Thor looked back up, his eyes grim.
"This is only the final part of his punishment, Steve. Trust me when I say he has paid greatly for what he´s done. And now he waits for his execution, for my Father has practically served him in a silver platter to the Chitauri."
Tony raised an eyebrow. None of the brothers had mentioned there had been other punishments. He cleared his throat.
"I know it´s… Morally ambiguous, Steve. But the guy´s your teammate´s brother."
The glare Steve sent him was so cold he had to look away.
"Since when do you care about "Moral ambiguity"? Or teammates, for that matter?"
"Are we going to start with that again?" Tony rolled his eyes, his hands balling into fists, when Thor intervened.
"Anthony has been a most admirable teammate, friend Steve. Even more, he has been a loyal friend, making me realize my mistakes and aiding my brother when he wouldn´t take my help."
Steve shook his head. "Thor, I´m sorry, but…"
"I am not one for begging, Steve, but I could make an exception in this case." The bigger blond sent the other a pleading glance, and Tony was surprised to see he didn´t budge. "My brother has received his penance, from hands skilled in breaking those of our species. His punishments were hard and unforgettable, just like his crime was. His banishment in Midgard mirrors mine, if I´m not mistaken, planned like a time of reflection, more than anything else. It is a shame that he was banned the use of his powers when he would really need them for self-defense."
"Then why not taking his powers in Asgard, where the Chitauri wouldn´t come for him?"
At this, Thor´s glance lowered again. "I am the first to admit we áesir weren´t as fair as we should have, in regard of my brother. While his pranks and tricks were many, and his reputation well earned, he was always treated harsher than anyone else, his royal status often being the only obstacle for the many people who held grudges against him. Disabling his powers and leaving him amongst them would have been… Too much. Even for my Father. Even dealing with my brother."
Silence followed his words, and Tony found himself fidgeting, again in presence of his nemesis; Uncomfortable Silence.
"I must say, Thor. Every time you speak of home, I find myself more and more tempted to never pay a visit." He tried, and Thor smiled back at him.
"Then I recommend not to ask Loki about it, or you will probably be convinced to destroy it." After a lighter silence, they both turned back to Steve, who was still pondering. Finally, he looked up.
"How sure are you that he won´t try anything?"
Thor jumped on the chance like a puppy would a bone.
"I give you my word, friend Steve!"
The blond, however, shook his head again.
"I need to be sure. I want his word." That let both Thor and Tony showing twin, disbelieving faces. "You heard right. Make it happen." And he leaned back into the couch, with an expression so near a smirk that it should never be allowed in Steve Rogers´ facial repertoire.
Tony clicked his tongue, looking at Thor. "You should go warn him, or he´ll think we´re ambushing him, and try to kill us with a spoon when we get there… Actually, maybe it´d be better if you weren´t there… You know, in case he gets riled up?"
Thor considered it for a moment. "We have nothing to hide. If we leave him weakened in purpose, Loki will suspect." He decided, finally.
Tony shrugged. "Your idea, not mine. I´ll meet you there in half an hour, give or take."
Thor raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Isn´t that too much time?"
Tony grinned. "I don´t know if it works for you, but I´ve found out how to break news to your brother. "he winked an eye. "Any suggestions about the cake?"
Shaking his head, and not worrying to hide his own grin, Thor stepped on the balcony, spinning Mjôlnir. "Stop fattening my brother, Anthony." And off he went.
-
"Where is he?" Tony whispered, Steve stepping soundlessly into the apartment behind him. Thor gestured to the bedroom door.
"Getting dressed. He should be out in a moment."
Tony cleared his throat. "Honey! I brought cake!" And he ducked behind Steve.
He took it as a good sign that he was still alive two seconds later, when Loki´s voice came through the door.
"Are you seriously trying to buy me with food, Stark?" He asked, disdainfully.
Tony offered his best smile. "Will it work?"
"It most certainly won´t." Loki finally emerged, looking unimpressed. "Where is it?" He stopped in his tracks, as soon as he noticed Steve. "Ah, yes. You."
"Good evening, Loki." All in all, this was… Kind of surreal. Standing in one of Tony´s spare flats, holding out a chocolate cake to the unstable alien he´d battled all over the city just some months ago. "I take it you know why I´m here?"
But the weirdest of all, he decided, was how, after a glance past him, to where he knew the kitchen stood, Loki went straight for him, taking the cake from his hands and placing it on the counter, stretching a hand to receive the cake knife Tony offered him.
Only after the first spoonful did the god deign to look at him.
"I do. I would love it if we were to end this as quickly as possible. What are your terms, mortal?"
Or maybe the weirdest of all was how Loki didn´t really seem to mind when Tony took a spoon of his own and swiped a bit off his slice.
Thor he could take. After all, they were family. It was only expected and normal to see the blond stealing part of his little brother´s cake, but Tony…
Since when was Tony this familiar with the Norse prince?
Granted, Tony Stark was not known for his self-preserving sense, but this was a bit too much.
Luckily for him, and probably for everyone else, Steve knew better than to bring the matter out right at that moment. Instead, he blinked rapidly a couple of times, and nodded towards Loki.
"I understand the delicacy of your situation, and the danger you´re in. I´m willing to let you stay here, undercover, if you give me your word that you will not try anything to harm us or humankind."
Loki smirked, the effect somewhat dimmed by the chocolate smudged over his pale lips. "My word? I assume you are not familiar with my Liesmith title."
"I am. The next of my conditions is that you accept to stay under Tony and Thor´s vigilance, and that you help them return the scepter after Tony has finished his research."
"Dear Captain. I am already under their vigilance. Honestly, I can´t seem to get them off me. What change will it bring?"
Steve´s eyes narrowed.
"I wouldn´t be that ungrateful if I were you, Loki. None of us owe you anything. Not even your brother, you tried to kill him just as much, if not even more, than any of us. And here they are, trying to save you from your imminent capture." He added. Loki´s eyes widened a fraction, before narrowing down to hard slits.
"I did not ask for their help."
"And I don´t get why they´re giving it, frankly." Steve countered. "But you have it. Don´t waste it. If I suspect you´re scheming something against us, I swear I´ll turn you in."
Loki sighed dramatically. "So fast to hop on to conclusions… And I thought you were the fair one. How is it that you´re so sure I haven´t reformed?"
"I´ll believe it when I see it. And if it happens, I´ll be glad to apologize and welcome you with open arms." Steve cleared his throat. "I have a responsibility to my country and my world as a whole, and, while I get you have already been judged and sentenced, I think we all know how… Resilient you can be."
He let the implication hanging, before continuing. "I support my colleagues in their intentions of protecting an innocent." He stared right into the god´s green, hard and cold eyes. "Only for as long as you stay innocent. Am I clear?"
Loki held his gaze. The soldier had exposed his terms and his views on the matter. For the first time in centuries, Loki was in presence of someone who not only dared to show open disdain towards him, but presented him with reasons, like it was a matter he could change.
He also felt Thor and Stark tensing at his back, and he knew Steve Rogers would make his promise valid, whether or not his teammates agreed with him.
Perhaps he´d been too fast to judge mortals… Some of them certainly had a spine.
He smirked. "Crystal clear, Captain."
"Then I guess I´m done here. Good evening. Tony, Thor, I´ll see you later." Steve waved them goodbye, hesitating a moment when crossing glances with Loki again, just to answer in kind when the god sent a respectful nod his way.
He waited until the crystal doors of the building closed behind him, to let out a deep breath.
Tony was playing with fire, and he´d get burned, for sure. It couldn´t be his first time. The thing here was that he´d just dragged Steve into it.
-
"I must admit, Stark, your performance was quite satisfactory. Even when you managed to get caught at the end of it." Loki helped himself another slice of cake. The thing was delicious.
"Excuse me! The man saw through my lies! No one else did!"
"And that is why I´m the God of Lies, and not you, mortal."
Tony smirked. "Well, I´m the God of quite a few things myself, I don´t care if you keep that one."
Thor observed the exchange, a pleased smile on his face.
"I was surprised that you managed to get past the Son of Co…" He interrupted himself, when his front pocket emitted a loud ringing noise. He reached in, extracting a cell phone that looked like a toy in his massive hands, and punched a couple of buttons, his brow furrowed.
"Everything all right, big guy?" Tony inquired, stealing another bit of Loki´s cake while he looked at the blond. Really, nothing was as tasty as stolen cake.
Thor nodded. "It turns out I must be on my way to meet with my lady Jane." He looked back up, apologetic. "I´m sorry, my friend, brother."
"Go with your chick, man, we´ll be fine. I´ll be leaving soon too, anyways."Tony dismissed him with a gesture.
Loki looked away pointedly, only acknowledging his brother´s leave with a nod. He cleared his throat, and looked back at Tony.
"Leaving soon too, Stark? I figure that, with your reputation, you must have multiple ladies to meet with" He started, disdainfully.
Tony grinned. "I don´t go meet with ladies, Loks, ladies come and meet with me. " He stretched, his back and shoulders cracking audibly, and Loki fought back a wince. "They can wait."
"I feel honored."
"Your charm never ceases to amaze me."
"I figured as much."
Tony swiped the last piece of Loki´s slice, tempting his luck once again. The god stared at some point behind him, his lips curled around the head of his spoon. One didn´t need to be a genius to notice he was having some kind of mental debate.
"Well, I guess I´ll be going now. I have a feeling Steve will get me for a personalized lecture about this." He stood up, and picked up the scepter´s case, heading for the door. "I´ll be back tomorrow, if I have the time."
"Stark." Loki´s voice got to him when he was just taking a hold of the doorknob. He turned, and sent the god a questioning glance. "I… Recognize you went through a great risk today. Your Captain was right. I don´t know why you´re offering your help either, but…"
Tony held up his free hand, in a stopping motion. "Hey, you don´t have to…" He stopped himself, when Loki looked straight into his eyes. Really, he had to find out how something could be so green.
"Thank you."
The billionaire tightened his grip around the case´s handle, clearing his throat.
"It´s ok." He blurted out. "It´s ok."
-
"Why?"
Tony spun to face Steve, standing in the kitchen´s threshold. "Why what?"
"Why are you doing it?"
Obviously, none would name the matter out loud. Steve, because he cared about keeping it a secret. Tony, because he didn´t want to think about it.
"Thor needed help. I figured it couldn´t hurt."
"Is that all?"
He could feel Steve´s eyes searching his, and he kept them purposely unfocused.
"What else could it be?"
Steve shook his head, turning to leave.
"This is going to blow up in your face, Tony."
And Tony stayed there, alone in the semi-darkness of the kitchen, still as a statue.
"I know."
And really…
Did he even care?