Silver Linings

The tower was even taller than the palace at home. There were lights and shiny things and noises everywhere. Midgard was nothing like how it had been the last visit that Loki truly remembered, although it did seem to match with the bits and pieces of his memory that he had recovered. The tower where they'd landed even gave him a funny feeling of deja vu. He must have been there before.

Thor squeezed his shoulder. "Nervous?"

"A little." That was an understatement. "They hate me, after all. Don't try to placate me, we both know that's the truth, I read between the lines when you were talking."

Thor sighed, looking defeated. "Yes. But they will come around when they get to know you and see that you are not who they think you are."

"Will you be staying too?" Loki fought to keep the pleading tone out of his voice, not that Thor was any good at picking up on emotions.

"My friends want me here to keep an eye on you, and I wish to make certain that they do not try to treat you roughly." Thor tweaked his little brother's ponytail lightly. "They may not trust you yet, but all of the precautions that I allowed them to take are ones that will help me ensure that you are safe."

"Thank you?" Loki nervously traced the carvings on the head of his cane, glancing at the giant windows behind which he could feel many eyes watching them.

"Tis better to wear a tracker than chains." Thor pointed out. Loki nodded stiffly. "And if anything happens, it means I can find you. And the additional tightening of the security system of this tower certainly keeps you safer."

"The lack of armor is an improvement." Steve wasn't pleased with this arrangement, but he was going to make the best of it. At least Thor claimed that Loki was helping with the repairs of his own volition.

Next to him at the windows, Tony snorted. "He's got a prissy little scepter or some shit. That's not much of an improvement even if it's nice to see him in clothes that won't protect him if we have to take him down."

"I'm pretty sure that's a cane." Bruce came up behind them, a mug of mint tea in his hand. "See how he's leaning on it and has all his weight shifted to one side? And Thor told us he'd broken his leg."

Tony fiddled with the tracker bracelet he was holding. "Hmph. Still can't believe Fury made us go along with this."

"Having magic at our disposal will get the repairs done and improve the quality of life for most of the inhabitants of the city." Steve pointed out. "Believe me I'm not keen on this idea either, but remember, if he tries anything SHIELD gets to keep him and do as they wish. I think Fury is hoping for an excuse."

"And why aren't we armed right now?"

"Setting a friendly precedent. Besides, I'm always armed." Bruce turned his attention back to their visitors and winced slightly as they approached. "Looks like he's still suffering from the last time I fought him. That limp is painful to watch."

"Friends!" Thor greeted them with bear hugs, spilling half of Bruce's tea in the process, "It is good to see you again. Where are the others?"

"Clint and Tasha are running late returning from a mission." The big blond guy answered, one eye still on Loki. They were all watching him, except for Thor. The short guy with the glowing shirt looked just plain hostile, the blond wary, and the one whose drink Thor had spilled some combination of wary and concerned. Loki shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, Thor's implication that his friends might be a danger to him drifting across his mind again.

"Anyhow." Glowing Shirt cut in, approaching with a metal bracelet in hand, "Don't try anything, Reindeer Games. This is a tracker. We will know exactly where you are at all times, and if you try to remove it without the key it will knock you out and sound an alarm."

Thor frowned, suddenly serious. "That was not what we agreed upon."

"Tough luck." He grabbed Loki and stuffed the bracelet on his arm so suddenly and roughly that Loki jumped, landed on his bad leg, and did a butt-plant on the floor.

The others were immediately at his side. "Tony!" The blond scolded, "His balance is impaired. You can't go making him jump like that."

"You okay? Leg alright?" The third guy had abandoned what was left of his drink on the counter and he and Thor knelt next to him.

"Yeah." Loki retrieved his cane and started the awkward process of trying to pick himself up. "Bit sorer than it was, but I don't think any real damage-oof!" Thor had picked him up like he weighed nothing and set him back on his feet before turning to glare at Glowing Shirt--Tony, they'd called him.

"Do not lunge at him like that. He startles easily and as Steve said, his balance is not good at present." He turned back to Loki, motioning to the third man. "If you are hurting, do not hesitate to tell Bruce. He is a skilled healer."

Bruce gave him an encouraging, if still wary, look. "Why don't we move into the living room? If your injury is aggravated you should prop it up and take some painkillers."