Chapter 45
Loki agreed to go explain his reason for staying back to Thor while Sylvie went to find Natasha. She gave Loki a brief kiss at the elevators before he took one down to the commissary and she boarded the next and headed up to the top floor.
In the commissary he approached the long table where Thor was animatedly describing a story to Steve and Scott, the latter listening intently with a delighted smile on his face.
“Brother…” he said with a firm yet gentle voice as he set a hand on Thor’s shoulder.
“Loki! I was just regaling our friends here with the tale of when I drove the marauding hordes from Vanaheim—”
“I see, would you mind if I conversed with you briefly? I wish to assuage any of your doubts and clarify my intentions in staying behind,” Loki said cautiously.
“Of course! No need to stand on ceremony, brother, we are all friends here, take a seat!” Thor beamed, a little glint behind his eye, perhaps thinking Loki would be too proud to refuse a challenge in front of them.
“We can go—” Steve started to get up.
“Stay,” Thor said firmly, choosing to force his brother to explain it to all three of them.
Loki sighed and took a seat beside him, glancing over and giving the two men a tight smile.
“Thor…” he started slowly.
“Yes,” Thor smiled warmly.
“I feel that I must meddle no further in this matter—my very presence here defies the predetermined timeline… I’m supposed to be dead…” he looked at his brother a little sadly.
“The timeline branches further with every change I make… and I do not wish for my presence on your mission to affect the trip’s success…”
“He’s got a point,” Steve interjected softly.
Thor looked at his friend a little petulantly. He knew he was being unreasonable to ask any more of his brother but desired his presence like a security blanket all the same.
“Your journey to collect the stones is ‘supposed’ to happen, my interference is not… I only hope that knowledge hasn’t comprised the order of events already…”
“I suppose that makes… some sense…” Thor grumbled.
“What that I could heal every wound I ever inflicted, but for the sake of the reality’s stability I feel I must refrain…” Loki said softly.
Scott leaned slightly toward Steve, “it’s like watching a Shakespeare play—I’m only getting about half the dialogue but I feel smarter just for being here,” he whispered to the other man.
Loki ignored as Steve shook slightly with silent laughter and nudged Scott to be quiet.
“Our days of battle may have passed, but my affection for you remains unchanged, brother,” Loki quirked a half smile, “tell me, is that not enough?”
Thor’s brow furrowed further and he looked a little chagrined, “of course it is enough, brother… you served me well in every battle, and I admit when you returned, a part of me hoped it meant those days were not entirely behind us…”
Loki looked pained but merely listened.
“But I realize now that your path has led you elsewhere… So I shall count myself lucky, to have had such a fierce and cunning warrior by my side,” Thor beamed at him.
“Thank you, Thor, I knew you would see reason,” Loki smirked, “even if I had to explain it a few times…”
Thor chuckled heartily, “I’ve missed your endless chiding and clucking, brother, strange as that may seem,” he smiled harder, “there was never one such as you who could make reason sound so much like fun.”
Loki smirked and gave him a wink of mischievous humor.
Scott suddenly started clapping as if it were the end of some great performance, beaming like an idiot—until Steve placed a hand on his arm to lower it with a chastising shake of his head.
Loki raised an incredulous eyebrow at the strange man but turned back to face his brother.
“I shall leave you to your story, I wished only to ease any concerns,” Loki stood up ready to leave before Thor pulled him into a tight hug.
“You are a good brother, Loki,” Thor murmured as he squeezed him tight and his younger brother hesitantly returned the hug.
“Thank you… you as… well,” Loki choked out with little ability to breathe properly.
When he released him Loki gasped and slumped slightly causing Thor to chuckle, “sorry Loki, I forget my own strength!”
“Even after all these years…” Loki grumbled but eventually straightened up and shook the hair back from his face with a flourish.
“I shall speak to you later, Thor, now if you’ll excuse me,” he nodded to his brother and the two men seated at the table before heading back to the hall.
Loki felt a rush of relief as he headed for the elevators until one opened and Tony stepped out.
“Ah! Just the man I was looking for,” Tony said as he walked briskly up to him.
Loki grimaced, “…how can I help you Stark?”
“Hey, no hard feelings, Downton Abbey—it’s more how I can help you! I know you’re hangin’ back with your gal so I figure you might as well take’r out,” he gestured as though it were the most logical thing he could think of.
“I had in fact thought of that, Stark,” Loki said, mildly annoyed by the man’s presumptuousness.
“Call me Tony,” he grinned confidently.
“Tony—”
“Nah, that’s weird, Stark is fine,” Tony shook his head looking freaked out causing Loki to roll his eyes dramatically.
“Anyway, I assume you haven’t got a reservation and it’s Saturday night—allow me to get you a table—to make up for the other night,” Tony smiled, looking surprisingly genuine for once.
Loki hesitated for a moment, not sure if the billionaire were playing some petty little prank on him.
“…Alright, sure—thank you, Tony,” he emphasized his name with a smirk just to annoy the other man.
“Ugh, no problem—I can get you in anywhere in the city…” he paused for a moment thinking, “I’ve got it, Temple on Ten—my treat—I’ll get you a suite as well,” Tony winked and patted Loki’s arm knowingly.
Loki furrowed his brow in confusion, “Beg pardon…?”
“No worries, you can thank me tomorrow—ya know, so long as Bruce doesn’t screw up and send me back to the ‘70’s,” Tony shrugged and walked off toward the commissary taking out his phone as he did.
“Friday, get me Colicchio—he owes me after that time in Marseille…”
Loki watched Tony talking to his AI and holding the phone to his ear, not quite understanding exactly what he had agreed to. He sighed wearily and went to find Sylvie and inform her of their new dinner plans.
He found Sylvie upstairs sitting with Natasha on one of the large couches sharing a bag of pistachios.
“Hey,” he quirked a smile as he walked over, “careful not to spoil your appetite—Stark has taken it upon himself to book us a table for dinner…”
“Has he now?” Natasha said amusement as she shelled another pistachio and popped it into her mouth, “somewhere ultra fancy I take it?”
“Not sure entirely, someplace called… ‘Temple or Ten’?” He shrugged and rested a hand on Sylvie’s shoulder fondly.
“Oh, Temple Court on Ten—yeah that’s where he takes Pepper when he screws up, very romantic,” Natasha smirked.
“Conflicting as that endorsement may be, I am rather pleased to have our reservation handled on such short notice.”
Sylvie placed a hand over his on her shoulder and rubbed his wrist with her thumb idly. She gazed up at him affectionately, “you know I have no expectations for this evening—I’d be just as happy with a takeaway.”
“Oh come on,” Natasha rolled her eyes, “don’t let him off that easy, besides—if it’s good enough for Pepper then it must be nice.”
Sylvie smirked at Natasha then looked back up at Loki, face softening, “sounds lovely.”
They all chatted for a while until eventually the elevators dinged and Tony sauntered over looking extremely pleased with himself.
“You’re favorite billionaire just got you an early res for six thirty—better get a move on, restaurant’s downtown and it’s already well after five,” he said checking his expensive watch.
“You’re incorrigible, Tony,” Natasha said with a smirk.
“Oh Nat, don’t be jealous, I promise we’ll all get takeout after the mission is a huge success,” Tony said with an overly placating tone and a little wink for good measure.
“Thank you, again,” Loki looked at Tony a little reluctantly, “though I must admit I’m not familiar enough with the city to know where exactly—”
“—Not a problem, Happy can take you, he just schlepped Lang here so he can manage a quick drive to the lower east side,” Tony shrugged.
“Is ‘Happy’ a person or another one of your robots…?” Sylvie asked incredulously.
“He’s very much a person, though an AI driven car isn’t a bad idea… I’ll have him bring the car around and you can meet him out front at say… six?” Tony said casually.
“Excellent, then we best take out leave of you. Thank you again, Stark—Natasha, a pleasure as always,” Loki inclined his head to her and held out a hand politely for Sylvie.
Natasha smiled at the two and held up a hand in the form of a goodbye, “have fun,” and winked at Sylvie when she caught her eye.
Sylvie smirked, “see you later, Tasha, be careful—make sure these guys all make it back in one piece.”
“Will do, oh, and I texted you the picture,” Natasha shelled and ate another pistachio.
“She has a phone?” Tony asked skeptically.
“I gave her one of your little standard issue phones in case she needs anything—or more likely in case something goes wrong and Bruce needs her help,” she said, holding the bag out for Tony who dug around and grabbed a handful.
“Smart. Plus we can track it.” He smirked before she swatted him.
They watched as Loki and Sylvie reached the elevator, Loki’s hand brushing the small of her back as he pressed the down button. Sylvie seemed to lean into the touch, looking up at him from beneath her lashes seductively.
“Good thing I got them a room too—let’s hope they even make it to dinner,” Tony murmured with amusement.
“Yeah they certainly seem overdue, glad to hear they’ll have a little privacy away from all your cameras,” she smirked at Tony who held up a hand in surrender.
“I completely agree, nobody needs to see that, least of all me,” he grinned back, “but if he’s lucky, we should be getting a whole new man back tomorrow.”
Natasha shook her head mildly and gave him a reproachful look, “Pepper tell you to make up for the other night?”
Tony feigned nonchalance, “she may have made certain threats…”
Natasha smiled warmly, “I suspected as much.”