About gods and engineers

The spell worked. Stark had been reading his books alongside Loki almost whole night and after few hours of resting they´d started again in the morning. Another day had passed in the similar manner. It left Loki at least positively surprised that the man was really able to stay more or less silent and focused on the task. It was the information about him that Loki already possessed, but until now has never personally witnessed.
According to the files he got his hands on, Stark was the brain behind the Avenger´s operations as much as the dear Captain was the leader. It was his money, his ideas and his hands which made that little superhero group work. So few people seemed to know about the fact despite it was so obvious.

If there was still reason for Loki to attack them, he would never try to fight them all at once. No. It would be enough just to kill the man in front of him. He was the most fragile yet the most important member of their team. He could do that even now.

His eyes darted towards the human without raising any reaction in return.

The god didn´t feel so drained as it was after their arrival, he could fight but he had no place to stay. He didn´t know Earth in this time and there was still so much to learn if he ever wanted to return. And he had enemies. Enemies which were creatures old enough to know how to cross the time lines. He needed Stark. They had a deal. And he was also curious about him.

Loki didn´t doubt the fact that if he tried to kill him now it would be a great fight even when he wasn´t wearing his full armor. Although the god wasn´t sure if this end would make him happy.

He wasn´t even sure if Stark understood the still remaining danger. But he at least understood the words in the books. Translated or not, they were still the words, which Thor could not even read out loud without complaining it was a difficult task and not suitable for the warrior.

By now Loki could already sense when Stark came to some problematic passage and needed more explaining or examples, which he gladly gave. It was really strange how fascinated Stark was when it came to magic, although he claimed to hate it. Other times he came to some relevant information and Loki could sense this as well. His eyes sparkled with anticipation and were running more urgently over the pages just like they did now.

Loki took the book he was studying from him ignoring his angry shouting.

“It mentions some healing potions,” he tried to peek into the book again. “Right here.” Loki shook of his fingers.
“I see.”
“And?”
“It looks promising.” Yes, it could work. According to the notes he also had all ingredients it required.

Loki set immediately into work, materializing all kinds of stuff he needed and moving it to the kitchen to have a larger working place. Stark seemed in the good mood, clearly proud on himself. He sat down on the edge of the table taking everything Loki had brought in his hands exploring.
“At least do something useful.” He threw him a pocket with dry herbs. “Clean in and remove the green parts.”
Stark did it without too much fussing. It looked almost like he quite enjoyed assisting him.

Loki made three potions, one for him – weaker, and two for Stark.
“I ask for a gender equality here. Why do I have more?”
“Because you have injuries,” Loki replied expecting the question, “This one will heal them and this one is the same as mine.” Minus that it was much stronger. The human didn´t need to know that. He would be able to refuse it just because Loki saw him different in the biology, which was true.

The man took both drinks, his and Loki´s and switched them on the table with a hint of a smile on his face. Sure. It was almost amusing how he thought that Loki had nothing better to do than poisoning him.
“Skol,” Stark cheered and picked up his drink.
Loki didn´t answer, the northern languages were holding too much memories for him. Instead he picked up the drink in front of him.
“Just a sip. Then we will exchange them back.”
“Why?”
Here they were. It was impossible to avoid something with that man. “Yours is stronger. Midgardians differ from us.”

Loki didn´t really expect him to listen and do as he was told, but he did and it made Loki feel confused. Stark had the tendency to appear predictable in one moment and then do something out of his character in the next one.

They both finished their drinks.
“It tastes like the shit I´ve been drinking for palladium poisoning. I hoped to never experience it again.”
Ah, so he was poisoned after all. Loki glanced towards the blue light and their eyes met for a second. His own device?
“How did you survive?”
“I replaced palladium for a different element. My father let me hints, otherwise I would be probably…” By the time he wanted to finish the sentence, he had to be aware of how much information he let out and he didn´t end his thought. Loki smirked. Not so easy to manipulate as it seemed.

The god made all the mess disappear from the table with the move of his hand and enjoyed how Stark jumped at the sight. Then he went back to his reading spot and picked up one of the books from the pile. He gave the man a questioning look as soon as he sat down on the opposite side. Loki expected Stark to be more enthusiastic about meeting his dead parents, but so far he only avoided any confrontation.
“What are we trying to find now?”
“The way out,” Loki answered moving some of the books in his direction. He watched him make a miserable face before he opened the first. So he was right after all. Stark had his limits with reading and staying still for longer time. Next day he remained with Loki, but the day after that he finally arranged a meeting with his father and decided to repair his suit together with him. Loki could sense him restless and on the verge of annoying him while he was studying, that is why he gladly agreed. What he didn´t see coming was that Stark decided to do it in the very same room they were both occupying.

Even after he made few very murderous complaints about the noise and concentration, Stark didn´t get out, only moved everything on the other side of the room. They could still see each other and the noise was manageable, still the bloodthirst was there lingering above god´s head.

Stark´s father – Howard didn´t talk much, the only communication he had with his son was full of terms Loki didn´t fully understand and therefore were nothing interesting. But then after an hour or two, he finally started to give Stark some real questions and Loki stopped paying attention to what he was reading to see how it evolved.
“Yes, Stark Industries are still ours, but now the main focus of the company is defense and green energy. I shut down the weapon division. We don´t take any more military orders, only for Avengers team.”
Stark obviously wanted to look like he didn´t care what was his father opinion, but Loki knew better. His lips pressing into a thin line while he continued to work on his armor was as good indication as any.
“It was probably the time for a change anyway.” His father nodded absently. “Avengers team?”

Stark looked up and gazed at Loki possibly trying to find out if the god was listening even on this distance.
“Yes, it is a team of some special… eh, individuals, they protect Earth from possible threats.”
“Threats,” Howard repeated, “such as him?” he pointed to Loki. The god sighed.
“Yep. But he´s already had his maniac episode and tried to enslave us before. And he hasn´t been doing anything too evil for these last months, so he´s not on the top of the list right now.”

Loki didn´t move his eyes away from his book.
“I´m offended. Why your superhero group won´t leave me alone then?”
He heard Stark laugh bitterly. “I knew you were listening.”
“My question, Stark,” Loki demanded.
“We can´t leave you alone while you´re hiding on Earth. We don´t know what you´re up to at the moment, but we are no fools. You are dangerous with or without the army.” Stark let his work be. Loki had his full attention and his resentment as well. Suddenly it didn´t look like Stark was so calm and above things as he seemed.
“Fine compliment, but I´m done with your world. I have no intention to rule it anymore. You can repeat my words to your dear Captain.”

He knew the reaction had to come after his wise chosen words. Stark´s father looked at his son with emotions peeking from his face, but he stayed silent.
“Yes, he is alive,” Stark admitted after few long seconds of silence. He set his hands to work again. “He´s a leader of the team.”
Game on.
“Okay,” Howard started carefully, “I´m glad he´s home again. But I see that there is something about him what makes you upset. You don´t have to tell me anything you don´t want to. We were friends, but I understand that for you it was long time ago.”

It was obvious how much was the man trying to say the right things, still Stark didn´t answer, struggling with the piece of his helmet instead of returning to the conversation. Loki could imagine that Captain wasn´t always the cocky idol refusing to acknowledge anyone else´s work than his own. And it was probably hard to tell that to the man who´d admired him once.
“You are on the team too?” The change to the topic was something which brought Stark back.
“Yes. His brother – Thor is also with us.”
“Oh, indeed,” Loki joined in before he had the chance to control his sudden emotional outburst, “mighty Thor always on the good side.”

Stark looked straight at him smirking. “And mighty Loki still having a family drama.”
The god stood up throwing the chair away from him. Next second he was in Stark´s face and barely holding back. Snapping the man´s neck was never more appealing. Loki glanced towards Howard who stood up next to his son, like he could do anything in two seconds time Loki needed to commit the crime.
“Speaking about family, Stark. Why don´t you tell your father why you don´t wish to speak about our amazing Captain?
“That´s none of your business,” he spat out, not backing down.
“So your family drama isn´t interesting, but mine is? Why don´t you tell us why are you so angry on him? Is it because he didn´t save you when they ripped your heart out in that cave? Or because he let you take that weapon into the wormhole despite he knew you won´t likely come back? Or because your father loved him more than you?” Loki was exhaling poison with every word, but the look he noticed on Stark´s face after his last question made him swallow the next insult.

He tried to regain back his self-control, so he won´t fall into the endless circle when Stark would reply him back.
When he indeed did, his voice was cold and emotionless. “Are you trying to provoke me into attacking you so you can kill me without a regret?”
Loki just stared, unable to answer that. What was he trying to prove here?
“Because if you are, just go ahead and don´t play games with me.”

Loki stood there with a minimum living space in front of him while questioning Stark´s sanity. The man had to have a death wish. Still, Loki didn´t really want to hurt him. Not when his anger was slowly drifting away and all he saw was the one and only Avenger who dared to stood up to him with no weapon and defected suit on the floor between them.
He slowly unclenched his fists.
“I am in need of some fresh air, excuse me.”
As he made a step back, he took the whole scene in and found out they were once again surrounded with men pointing their guns – this time only at him. Stark´s father had acted fast. He gave them all a big smile bypassing them on his way out. He won´t be far and Stark knew it. He heard him admitting it to Howard.

Loki found the place in the garden, hidden from the spying eyes from the house. He sat down under the tree backplaying what has just happened.
“What a fool.”
All in all he had no idea how much of what he said to the man applied to him and how much to Loki himself.