Author's Note: This story was inspired by another one here. The author is my inspiration and muse, so I'd like to thank them for writing their wonderful story in the first place. :)

On another note, I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. I really hope you guys like it just as much as I do, if not more.


Finally, a Friday he can have all to himself. Tony doesn't even remember the last time he didn't have to attend some party or social event, it's been too long. Come to think of it, he doesn't remember having any free time to himself ever since Pepper left. It's true that he had declined some invitations in the past, but the free time he should have had was taken up by paperwork and Start Industries matter.

Flopping onto the living room couch Tony instructs JARVIS to turn on the TV. Even though Tony never has been and never will be interested in watching TV, it serves as a good distraction to all the jumbled thoughts circling inside his head. It's been what, a mere 2 months since Pepper left, and he's already falling apart, his life crumbling to pieces around him. No, that won't do. Tony seriously has to get his life back in order, but first a night of relaxation spent to his content.

Sadly, things never work out in Tony's favor. Not a minute after Tony flopped down on his couch does Thor appear in his living room. But that's not what catches Tony's attention; in fact it's the figure behind everyone's favorite thunder god. There stands Loki, glaring at the back of Thor's head, hands bound by shackles, scowling as if someone just placed a rotten animal in front of him. Tony's mind can think of nothing than What the hell is that psychopath doing in my living room?

"I am sorry to interrupt your evening, Man of Iron. I am here to address a very important matter concerning Loki's punishment." Thor steps forward and Loki is suddenly jerked along, his jaw clenched even more tightly than before. With a sudden realization Tony registers the chain attached to Loki's shackles which Thor is holding in his hands.

"And why does that matter concern me?" Tony takes a step towards Thor, but no more: his body refuses to move any closer to the god who had attacked his city merely a year ago. Just thinking of that day makes his skin crawl with unwanted memories.

"Odin has decided on the punishment Loki is to receive," Thor says tensely. Tony's mind is already whirling at all the possibilities. Finally; this bastard deserves the worst kind of punishment for what he's done. Killing thousands of innocent citizens, all for what? An insane scheme to rule Earth? No, the only punishment that psychopathic asshole deserves is to receive the same treatment he gave others.

"…to you Man of Iron." Tony's mind snaps back to attention as Thor addresses him, and he stares at the god, confused, as he scrambles to recall what Thor said seconds ago. It wasn't his fault for spacing out at the first mention of Loki getting punished. After all, it was about time the god of mischief paid for his crimes.

"Sorry, what? I missed that last part you said." Along with whatever else you might have mentioned after bringing up Loki finally getting his punishment.

"Loki is to be a slave on Midgard as it is the only fair way he can pay for the crimes he's committed against this realm. And he belongs to you now, Man of Iron." At those last words Loki turns his head away from the back of Thor's head and glares at the wall.

Well isn't that just wonderful, and he can honestly say that without a trace of sarcasm. Now the roles are reversed and Loki gets to feel what it's like being enslaved by others, getting your freedom taken away. Not even his divine status was able to save his sorry ass this time. Good, maybe he can learn a thing or two and think twice next time before trying to dominate the world.

Suddenly the realization slams into Tony as he grasps the concept of him owning Loki. No, he surely must have heard that wrong.

"Uh…you're telling me that Loki's punishment consists of him being a slave. My slave? What the fuck! That is so wrong on so many levels! I didn't even agree to this shit, I don't want him." Tony spits out the last word as he jabs his finger in the general direction of the god. Sure his life hasn't been perfect the last year, even less so the past two months, but this is just insane. There is no way he's keeping a crazy, world-dominating psychopathic god of mischief in his house, and as his slave at way. In Hell.

"I am sorry you were not notified of this beforehand, but even if you had been, you would not have had a say in the matter. Odin's word is absolute and the punishment will be carried out. However, no matter how unhappy you may be with Odin's decision you may not go against it. Loki is to remain in your custody, and no one is to be notified of his presence here on Midgard."

"You're telling me I don't have the right to say I don't want him? What kind of fucked up logic is that?" Tony runs a hand through his hair and down his face, trying to regain his composure and sanity. "What the hell am I even supposed to do with him? With a…a…a freaking slave." Taking a few quick breaths Tony turns back towards Thor no longer caring about the expression he is wearing on his face. "And on top of that, what if he decides to kill me in my sleep? Have you even thought of that, huh?"

"He will do no such thing. Even though his powers still remain, he is unable to use his magic to cause any sort of mischief. And he knows better than to cause chaos in his current position." Thor reassures him, casting a stern look of warning at his brother. Tony dares a quick glance a Loki who is still staring intently at that same spot on the wall. His body looks tense, and his face is still as displeased as it was the last time Tony had looked at him.

How hard it must be to hear this for the second time, with his pride and everything, Tony mused. Loki, a god and a former prince of Asgard, reduced to nothing but a slave of a plain mortal: his pride and dignity must be shattered, if he even has any left after his attack on New York. Which he probably does, considering he was never one to back down and be broken easily. But as the saying goes, there's a first time for everything, right?

By the time Tony finishes yet another circle around his couch, fuming with anger and frustration as well as feeling a twinge of fear somewhere deep inside, Thor is almost finished taking the shackles off Loki. Neither of the gods looked too happy, for their own various reasons of course. After all, Thor is here to hand over his younger brother-whom he loves very much - to Tony Stark as a slave. And Loki's angst is self-explanatory under the circumstances.

Once Thor is finished with the shackles he steps slightly behind his brother and places a hand on his shoulder. Tony can't help but notice the little squeeze Thor gives Loki, as both a reassurance and a warning.

"Be good brother."

Looking up, Thor booms across the room, "Heimdall!" and with a last glance at Tony, the god of thunder vanishes from sight. Tony opens his mouth to ask Thor the million questions that are on his mind but closes it when there is nothing but empty air where the god of thunder had stood moments ago.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? What if Loki decides to run away or to break every single thing in my house in a fit of rage? There's no way I can stop him if he still has his powers, he's obviously stronger than me. And it's not like I can just tell him to go away…god knows what he'll start planning next. And what if he does try to kill me in my sleep? Or even not in my sleep…Thor said he wouldn't try anything like that, but how does he know? If Loki didn't' hesitate to plan world domination, there is nothing stopping him from thinking up more fucked up stuff or revenge on me or plans of my death-

Abruptly Tony's train of thought comes to a stop and he looks up at the god of mischief standing a few meters away from him. He realizes there's no point in thinking of all these things; none of his questions will be answered and he won't find out the consequences unless he lets things get that way. So his best bet at survival now is to separate himself from the god as much as possible while making sure nothing is destroyed in the process or afterwards.

With a sigh Tony starts walking towards Loki, but stops in his tracks as the god sharply turns to face him. Loki's jaws are clenched tight, his eyes narrowed, and his hands balled up into fists. He shoots Tony a deadly glare and just as suddenly looks away again, his eyes focusing on that same spot on the wall he has been staring at for the whole time.

"Well then. Since you're going to be staying here a while I suppose I should get you a room." Of course Tony had many more things on his mind he would have liked to voice, but thinking back to the glare he received from Loki the inventor decided against it. Even if Loki was now his slave – as unbelievable that idea still was – Tony isn't willing to risk getting hurt or killed for a couple snarky remarks. After all, he has his whole life ahead of him to make fun of the god and degrade him into nothingness, just like he deserves to be.

In Tony's opinion, Loki deserves every kind of punishment he can get, be it verbal or physical. Not that Tony is actually going to inflict pain on the god – that would go against all of his morals – but if someone else was to Tony wouldn't even have second thoughts about the punishment. After everything the god did on Earth and what he put the innocent citizens through… hell, what he put Tony through, there is no room for even the slenderest feeling of mercy.

Running his hand through his hair once more, Tony turns around and heads for the hallway, hoping Loki will follow suit. Luckily the inventor always has a number of guest bedrooms available and ready for use, so it doesn't take him long to pick one for Loki. Maybe it isn't the wisest idea to give the god a bedroom on the same floor as Tony's, but at the same time it seems like the safer option. This way Tony will be able to keep an eye on the god at all times through JARVIS, but also the close distance between them. And if Loki ever does try to destroy anything or plot some scheme Tony will be able to prevent it much easily than if the god had a whole floor to himself. Not that Tony will ever let him wander around anyway, that gives the good way too much opportunity for…well whatever he might have in his head.

Opening the door to the smallest guest room available on this floor, Tony turns towards the god, hoping the silent gesture will come across quite clear: this is your room. After a few seconds of silence the god walks into the room and stops in the middle. The tension in Loki's shoulders is still very noticeable and his hands are still clenched into tight fists. Clearly the god is no more happy with the situation than he was 20 minutes ago, maybe even more displeased.

The room Tony decided to provide Loki with is still quite big in size compared to most. This is Stark Tower after all. It's not very heavily furnished: a bed in one corner opposite the window, a nightstand right beside it. An average sized dresser stands on the opposite side of the room with a desk not too far away. The other wall is left blank, except for a big window displaying the full view of the city. Thank god the glass is unbreakable; otherwise Tony would just have one extra thing to worry about, like Loki jumping out in an attempt to escape.

After a few moments of staring at Loki Tony clears his throat. Clearly the god isn't intending to move anywhere so Tony decides to wrap this whole thing up. It's getting late, and he's completely an utterly drained. There goes his perfect fantasy of a Friday night spent alone doing whatever he pleases. The unwanted visit from the god of thunder now leaves the inventor with a rather unhappy god of mischief, who only a year ago tried to conquer this very planet.

"Don't leave until I say you can. I don't want you roaming around my house spreading germs. Or getting any more world-dominating ideas." With a last glance Tony closes the door behind him and heads for his own room.

"JARVIS. Make sure the door and window are locked and keep a watch on him. And if he tries anything, let me know right away."

"Yes sir." JARVIS' automatic, yet always friendly and helpful voice sounds from somewhere above Tony's head. At least he always has his AI to rely on; that's one thing that will never change. The thought brings a sense of comfort to Tony, no matter how small. Maybe his whole life isn't completely in ruins and shattered like he thought. Sure, things aren't at their best right now - Hell, they're probably at their worst with Loki's arrival and all – but that small reassurance of JARVIS lightens Tony's mood just a tad.

Not bothering taking off his clothes, Tony collapses onto the bed. His mind is already drifting into sleep, his eyes closing. Finally he can relax. Maybe if he sleeps long enough the whole Loki-turned-slave incident will disappear and it will all just be a bad dream Tony had, a fading fragment of his imagination.

Suddenly there is a loud bang followed by quieter ones, and Tony's eyes shoot open. JARVIS is already informing Tony of what's happening and the inventor is up on his feet, running towards Loki's room.

Fuck.

There goes his last hope - a peaceful night's sleep.


Author's Note: Cliffhanger :D