AN: Because crap titles are cool. This is part of one of like three headcanons I have [not including Lullabies the Screams - because that's just nonsense], so hopefully I'll get the beginning section written some time because I like it a lot more
"What do you have to say about Loki's involvement with the Avengers?" the reporter demanded again, "How can you trust the villain who nearly destroyed Manhattan?"
Tony froze. He never froze – not in front of the press, not when he was alone – never. But this time, he just didn't have an answer. Maybe it was because he didn't trust Loki – even though Thor claimed his brother was back to the world of the sane – and he didn't think any of them did. While he was pretty obviously not a psychopath trying to take over the world, he hadn't done much to remove those memories from the forefront of their minds. Sure, he helped them take down bad guys and hung out – reluctantly – in the tower, but Loki was still cool, calculating, condescending Loki. Thor still sent him kicked-puppy eyes and everyone else did their utmost to avoid him, for the most part.
In the end, it was Clint who stepped forward – which maybe shouldn't have surprised them as much as it did. Loki himself stood loosely beside Thor – his brother wouldn't let him stand anywhere else, Tony assumed, and anyway, the rest of them would probably try to kill him or snap some magic-sapping handcuffs on him – with an amused glint in his jade eyes.
"Look, Loki's not an Avenger or anything like that, but he's, well – " he started, "I can't explain trust to you – it's….it's – you trust us even though you don't know half our names, don't know anything about us – you trust us because we're doing the right thing, and Loki's helping us do that."
Everyone was a little startled by this speech, because while Clint was neither mute nor stupid, he was a pretty laconic speaker. Even when he was forced to answer questions at press conferences, he kept the replies as concise as possible. The press itself seems a little subdued, and it wasn't too long till the Avengers and Loki were able to return to the tower.
Tony wasn't overly surprised when the two Asgardians didn't come back with everyone; as soon as the crowd had started to disperse, Loki had shifted into a plain looking young man in casual clothes and magicked Thor's armor into street clothes as well. While he still wasn't really comfortable with the whole 'Loki could be anyone anywhere' aspect of Loki's shape shifting, Tony was just a little jealous that he could slip into any skin to avoid recognition. Not that he minded the pomp of being Tony Stark, but sometimes he, too, wanted a little privacy. Especially after that whole debacle with the Mandarin and the ensuing destruction of his home on international television. That had pretty effectively destroyed his one and only haven.
That said, he still didn't trust Loki not to at least try to taunt Thor, so it was with no hesitation that he ordered JARVIS to connect to any camera in the city that had seen incognito Thor and Loki. It was only a moment before he found them on a bench in a park, and he listened and watched through the perspective of a camera SHIELD had decided to tuck into a nearby tree. Tony reckoned that he should have been surprised – that a top secret government agency posting surveillance cameras in city parks should not be totally normal to him – but both Steve and Thor made frequent trips to this particular park, so there was little surprise.
"JARVIS, what are they saying?" Tony called, leaning back in his swivel chair.
The two gods were conferring casually between themselves as Loki fed a pigeon out of his hand – Tony didn't even want to know how the pigeon or the bird food got there – and Thor leaned back with his legs outstretched, but they were very definitely not speaking English.
"They are speaking in an Asgardian tongue, sir. Translating now," the AI responded mildly.
"-rtable with me around," Loki was saying.
"No one, save perhaps Mother and I, is comfortable with you around, brother," Thor yawned, "Even Odin."
A grin flickered across the other man's face – he was still the leggy, disjointed redhead he'd shifted into, but his expressions were identical to the normal Loki's – and he chucked the pigeon gently under its beak. Somewhere, Tony thought, there is a punch line to this joke: a god and a giant sit in a park…
"The enthrallment is lingering."
The way Thor said it was a mixture of question and statement, and Loki made no response for a moment save for his lips tightening. Back in the tower, Tony had leaned forward in surprise; Clint had only talked at length about being under Thanos' – and thus Loki's – control when he was explaining that Loki hadn't exactly been the grand maestro of the 'Tesseract Incident.' Then, Loki lightly flipped and flexed his hand and the pigeon took the hint to fly off. He didn't straighten but remained with his elbows on his thighs and forearms hanging limply.
"Your reputation does you wrong, brother; you are sharp as a tack," he snipped dryly.
Thor's face may have darkened slightly, but Tony was pretty sure it was because of his brother's evasion and not the dig; they'd all come to terms with the fact that Loki communicated through snarks and jabs. If he was being genuinely caring, Thor had warned them, then Loki was either drunk or lying.
"Loki…" the blonde god warned.
"Yes, the spell's effects are lingering despite…his death," Loki snapped, "So far as I can tell, neither of us are being influenced by anything; we are merely more aware of each other. When one of us experiences strong emotion, it is relayed to the other."
"I don't imagine that's enjoyable for either of you," Thor mused, his cornflower eyes distant.
Much as he hated to admit it, Loki's strongest feelings were inevitably those of rage and hurt; only if he showed one of those emotions could Thor know that he was not bluffing. Loki didn't bother replying; he was intensely focused on his own slim fingers as he slowly unclenched them.
"How close are you to unraveling it?" Thor finally asked.
"Within a week, I would think," his brother shrugged noncommittally.
Thor nodded and let it drop.
"How is Sigyn?" he asked.
Tony sighed and leaned back in his chair. He didn't recognize the name, but it sounded pretty definitely Asgardian and he wasn't in the mood for some otherworldly gossip or catch-up time. The thing about the mind control, however, had him a little concerned. He probably would have to tell Coulson about that at least, he mused as he pulled up specs of his latest suit.
"She is well," Loki replied with a faint smile.
"And Vali?" Thor prompted.
Loki leaned back now so that his shoulder just brushed against Thor's. Even slight as Loki was, the two gods together took up the entire bench.
"Demanding a brother," the trickster chuckled, "I am certainly glad to be missing that."
Only half paying attention to the conversation now, Tony caught the faint hint of hurt that fluttered across Thor's open face and suppressed his own wince. Loki may have dropped the whole killing Thor business, but he still wasn't overly convinced of the greatness of brothers.
"When was the last time you saw them?" he inquired cautiously before adding as Loki's lips quirked, "Actually saw them."
And wasn't that a weird condition. Please say he doesn't make illusions like imaginary fuck buddies, Tony found himself begging. He, as well as a few other teammates – read: Steve and Natasha – had noticed that Loki occasionally appeared in the mornings with a hint of shadow under his eyes and a half-contented grin on his lips. They'd all theorized, but…no. Just please, no.
This time, Tony did see the tightness that appeared on Loki's face. The god abruptly shifted back to his usual, raven-haired form though he still wore the grey t-shirt and dark jeans. Tony couldn't help himself from being relieved that this form kept its glamour at all times; he had strong stomach, but the one time Loki's glamour had briefly fallen and revealed all his scars, the billionaire – as well as two other members of the team – had promptly been ill. He wasn't eager to get a repeat viewing.
"His first name day," Loki answered tersely.
Thor blew air out in a surprised breath and ran his hand through his blonde locks. Tony was still confused, but the strange reactions had distracted him from his armor, and he now simply sat watching.
"Norns, Loki – why do you not allow them to visit?" he demanded, "You know they are under my protection and none would dare harm them."
"For once, I think my protection more secure than yours," Loki replied, "So long as they are home, they are saved from the trouble I bring."
"And yet they pine for their husband and father!" Thor rumbled.
'Husband and father'? Waait. No. Tony had been too distracted by the gods' conversation to even notice as Bruce shuffled in, and it was only when Bruce inhaled sharply at this last revelation that Tony glanced up.
"My other children have…done well enough without my presence," Loki replied, faltering slightly.
It didn't take the God of Lies to call that one. Bruce tilted his head slightly with a curious frown furrowing his brow.
"Loki, please, let them come see you if you will not go to them," Thor pleaded, "or I will intercede."
Loki's green eyes sharpened as they jerked to Thor.
"You would not," he growled.
"For the sake of you and yours, then I would be hard pressed to find anything I wouldnot do," Thor retorted, "The Avengers are unlikely to pose any resistance to your family visiting, and if it comforts you, lie. Say she is our sister or cousin or some nonsense."
"And there will be no questions posed when Vali inevitably calls me 'father'," Loki pointed out dryly.
"Hey, Stark can – wait, are you spying on Thor and Loki?" Clint demanded, and if there was a bit more resignation than surprise in his voice, well maybe this wasn't the first time.
"Did you know Loki was married? And had kids – as in plural?" Tony asked in reply.
Clint flinched slightly at this abrupt question and scowled. He hadn't, but... While under thrall, he'd been quite cognizant of a part of Loki that was seemingly just…gone. It was as if someone had waltzed into his mind and either stripped away that section or – more likely, from what Clint had gathered – neatly stitched a perfect camouflage over it so that Loki – and anyone who got into his head – couldn't see what was underneath.
"Clint?" Bruce prompted softly.
"Huh? No," the archer retorted, jerked out of his thoughts.
"Uh huh," Tony snorted doubtfully.
"Fuck you, Stark," Clint muttered, moving to watch over Tony's shoulder.
Loki was rubbing his cheek and sending a baleful glare in Thor's direction, and the thunder god looked as if he was about to summon Mjolnir to knock some sense into his brother. Tony found himself extremely thankful that there were only the birds as witnesses to this exchange; he could handle a few fried feathers if one of the gods got out of hand, but fried people? Not so good for PR.
"Very well. Bring them to Jane's home, and you will be able to avoid the Avengers," Thor grumbled, his voice echoed by distant thunder.
"Huh. That doesn't sound good," Bruce remarked, oh-so-helpfully.
"She's not like some crazy con lady is she? Or a giant – what if she's like thirty feet tall? Fuck, that would be awkward; Loki's s'posed to be a fucking giant and he'd come to her ankle," Clint murmured, eyes slightly too wide as he picture this behemoth.
"From Thor and Loki's comments about giants, I'd be a little surprised if he was married to one," Bruce answered wryly.
"Why the hell are they avoiding us? If they're not planning something… Fuck, I told Fury not to trust the little shit," Tony hissed.
"I don't think Thor would go along with one of Loki's plots..."Bruce glanced worriedly at his fellow Avenger, "Jane's place is probably a lot less overwhelming for Loki's family, and there's a way lower chance of the press catching wind."
Knowing he was right, Tony glowered at the now empty bench on screen and willed it to either burst into flames or give him answers. JARVIS cut his wishing short, though, by announcing 'the Odinssons' return, and Clint's gaze flicked up; Loki had made it clear that he was not Odin's son – nor was he Laufey's, of course, which left them with a serious lack of last name. It was a little awkward.
"Got it," Tony muttered, snapping closed the surveillance window before frowning slightly and glancing up at the other two men, "Why are you guys down here anyway?"