I'm borrowing elements (hopefully in a unique way!) from other stories I've read, as well as minor tidbits of mythology. I apologize if anything is wrong or derivative. Read Finally Belonging by Yodeling Prospector or The Bargain by Lotus Fantasy and you'll see the elements I'm playing with.

oooooooooo

"Sir, you should see this."

Jarvis' voice stirred Tony from his uneasy rest. He'd fallen asleep in one of the chairs in his spacious living room. "Hmmm? Did Loki wake up?" He rubbed his face and stretched.

"Not exactly."

"What does that mean?" Tony was wide awake now, realizing the potential implications of an awakened trickster god. He pulled up the image of Loki's room on the tv screen. The time stamp read the current time - nearly four am - and Loki was still lying in bed, unmoved. What caught Tony's attention was the... "Is that what I think it is?" There was a second man in the room, sitting next to the unconscious one. Leather armor in black, green eyes, black hair, and a familiar face. The double seemed to be on guard, though Tony knew from experience that it would vanish if touched.

"Yes sir, the image appeared shortly after you left. What I wish to show you is other. Note the ambient temperature in the corner of the screen?"

The reading startled Tony. "That has to be a malfunction somewhere Jarvis. Have you run diagnostics and rechecked?"

"Everything is running perfectly. That is an accurate reading."

Leaning forward Tony stared. "It's fifteen degrees in there? What the hell does that mean?"

oooooooooo

It had been three days. Tony had kept constant watch on the video feed of Loki's room. Even in the lab he had a monitor dedicated, just in case. The temperature readings stayed well below freezing and the double never moved. Neither did Loki. He'd thought maybe the man had died, but Jarvis assured him that wasn't the case, so he left well enough alone. He didn't want to poke the bear so to speak.

He was tinkering with the suit in hopes of gaining a bit more mobility in some of the joints when he looked up and saw that there was movement on the screen. At that moment Jarvis spoke up. "Sir, he appears to be awake."

Tony watched as the double vanished and Loki bolted upright, panting, with the whites of his eyes showing. He looked panicked, head turning side to side. The notation in the corner flashed through numbers before settling back to the normal household temperature. There was no sound, but Tony saw that Loki was screaming. He dropped the metal and took off for the room.

oooooooooo

Incredible pain. Searing so intensely that he thought he might die. He sat up in unfamiliar surroundings, so scared he couldn't stand it. He screamed in panic, agony, and frustration. He had no idea where he was, but that wasn't the worst of it. He had no idea who he was. He couldn't remember. There was no past to draw on, no memory to pull up, nothing. The pain subsided, and he stopped screaming.

"You okay in here Reindeer Games?"

Loki whirled towards the voice and scrambled away, nearly falling backwards off the bed. He tried to speak but it came out a hoarse and broken croak.

The man in the doorway chuckled. Anger flared suddenly and died before Loki could figure out why he would be angry. He was left confused and scared. He slid backward off the bed, trying to stand to face the intruder. His legs had been disused for too long and he collapsed in a heap.

"Whoa there Loki." The other man walked around the bed and offered his hand. Loki stared at it, unmoving. "Come on, I'll help you up." He was grabbed by the forearm and tugged. He had to make an attempt. He pushed himself up, slowly, hissing through his teeth as his limbs protested. With a little guidance he felt himself settle on the edge of the bed again.

He felt humiliated. He didn't know why, but it felt wrong to be helped like this. He cleared his throat and tried again. It was still quiet but he managed. "Where am I?" He looked up. The other man was watching him, an intent and curious look on his face.

"You're in Stark Tower." He seemed to be waiting for a reaction but it meant nothing to Loki.

"Where is that?" His voice was getting stronger but he still felt weak.

"Quit messing with me Loki." There was a thread of anger.

"Who's Loki?" Running a hand over his head he felt the strange tickle of really really short hair. Another feeling of wrongness slid through him and he sighed. His body obviously remembered what his mind balked at. He would just have to wait and see if he ever caught up.

"Cut the bullshit Reindeer Games. You know what you did. Or should I throw you out the window to remind you?" The man crouched in front of him, face to face from a foot away. Loki flinched - why throw him out the window?

"Reindeer Games? Loki? Who are you and why am I here?" His voice came out strong and he was proud. He almost felt ready to stand, though he wasn't sure he wanted to with the stranger so close. A tiny whisper told him to be wary of the person in front of him, and with no other input he thought it best to err on the side of caution. He remained sitting on the edge of the bed, staring unblinkingly at the confusing man in front of him.

oooooooooo

There was no trace of guile in the green eyes that locked into his. No flicker of remembrance, no heat of anger, nothing but confusion and a strange weariness that seemed to come from eons untold. He'd been watching very closely and there hadn't been a single hint that Loki had recognized anything. Not his name, not the odd nickname Tony had given him once, not even the mention of Stark Tower, which should have triggered at least something in regards to being in enemy territory.

"I'm Tony. You're in my house." He figured he'd play along until he figured out the end game. He felt relatively safe from attack after seeing Loki fall on his ass trying to stand up. "You were pretty beat up when you got here. You've been sleeping for over three days. You also stink." He smiled as Loki surreptitiously sniffed and grimaced. "You need a shower. Come on."

He stood and leaned to help Loki stand, but stepped back quickly when Loki rose awkwardly on his own. "Fast healer." There was open amazement in the words but the other man didn't acknowledge it. From so close Tony realized that Loki was several inches taller, and though he was still desperately thin he wasn't as skeletal as he had been days ago. It was another conundrum - it's not like he had eaten anything in the past days, so how was he looking so much better?

"Well, come on then." Leading the way towards the room's connected bathroom, he shook his head. It was getting more and more puzzling.

ooooooooooo

The hot water was a shock to his system and he nearly fell. Scrambling for the knobs, he whimpered. When the shower finally turned frigid he relaxed and stood straight, letting the stinging drops cleanse him. Tony had seemed wary of him somehow. It was flattering in a way. Did that make him someone dangerous? Someone important enough to be feared? He so wished he knew, but there was no hint in his mind of who he had been.

He used the soaps he found in the niche in the shower wall and found himself trying to wash his hair. He dropped his arms when he realized it was a foolish point; so why did muscle memory tell him to do it? He ached so badly... Every muscle shrieked when he moved, his skin protested where touched.

Knives slid lines and patterns through his flesh. Lightning flared in him an instant before he heard the whip crack. Thin silver chain bound his wrists, seemingly delicate but wreaking far more havoc on him than could be imagined. Cruel laughter, taunts, and pain, pain, pain. The reek of meat as they jeered "Burn Jotun, burn" and pressed red hot metal to his back.

He gasped and tumbled to the shower floor, sobbing. As he cried, the illusion of health slipped him and he became the desperate and wounded person he was. He quivered beneath the water, letting himself give substance to his turmoil. When tears finally ran dry he stood cautiously and turned the shower off. He climbed carefully from the stall and wrapped the massive red towel around his slim hips. Loki stood in front of the foggy mirror and looked intently at himself.

His eyes were hollow, from starvation as much as physical hurt and crying. His hair was shorn unevenly and he felt a pang of loss for something he didn't truly remember. Green eyes with no sparkle or tease, just a near total fatigue. Now that the... the what?.. was gone... he looked like he felt - just this side of death. What the hell had that been? An illusion surely, but how had Tony done it? It made no matter. Whatever it had been it was gone and Loki could see how scarred and bruised he was.

He stood for a long time, gazing at the mirror, trying to will himself to remember who he was. Why he'd been tortured - because he had been tortured, he was sure of that now. Had Tony done it? If he had, why? And what was going to come next? He shivered. He had threatened to throw him out the window... Was that the next torment? He just didn't know, and he just wasn't sure he even cared. Surely he'd die soon under this treatment. He hoped he'd die soon. He feared the was just the beginning.

oooooooooo

When Loki finally emerged Tony gasped aloud. "You look like hell," he spoke softly.

"Hel is a woman." Loki didn't know why he said that, or how he knew it. He just walked tiredly past Tony, half fearing what he would do and half indifferent. His movements were slow, stiff. When he finally reached the window he leaned his forehead against it, arm curled above his head, pressed against the glass. Dawn light was sneaking over the horizon but barely and Loki's pale face reflected against darkness. He spoke without turning. "Look, this is getting old. I'm too hurt to fight back. I can't remember anything beyond waking up so there's no information to be gotten from me. Just kill me and get it over with." He sighed, looking at the unfamiliar city, whole body tensed.

Studying Loki, Tony noticed all of the thin scars and bruises. Patterns of cuts, whip lashes, burns... Loki's back was a landscape of assault. He saw how truly Loki, once called Silver Tongue, meant it. It hurt him to see such a powerful foe reduced to a broken man. The would-be ruler of Earth, of Asgard, a Mage so strong and clever that even Thor had taken note, and he was practically begging to be killed. He wondered if Loki knew he'd been projecting his appearance, making himself seem better off than he was. If he knew, why did he stop? If he didn't know, how had he done it in the first place? Or what if this body is the illusion to throw Tony off guard? A headache was starting in his temples from the lunacy of the whole thing.

Tony groaned. "If this is an act, it's a good one. I'd nominate you for the Oscar myself." He moved closer. "I'm not gonna kill you, ok. No more attacks either. Whoever did this can't touch you anymore. Here." He held out a bundle of clothes and a red can. "Drink that. It's nasty but it's good for you. Well, it's good for a hangover... I don't know about starvation..." He trailed off. Loki hadn't moved. "Here." He popped the lid and stood nearer, holding it out.

"Thank you." He took it and drank, nearly gagging at the thick, overly sweet fluid. He swallowed half the container, incredibly thirsty.

"Slow down there Bambi. It's not going anywhere." Tony touched Loki's shoulder and turned him until they faced each other. He looked straight into those once vibrant eyes and asked in a deadly serious voice "So you're not here to kill me?" A small frown appeared between black eyebrows as he watched. "Promise me. You aren't here to kill anyone... Or try to take over the world. Again."

Loki laughed, but it was a thin imitation of the gleefully maniacal laughter Tony had heard before. "Why? How? Are you mad?" He gestured at himself, still wearing a towel and clutching a can of supplement. "I'm nearly dead and you think I'm here for some sinister plan? Just get on with whatever you're going to do to me and quit asking ridiculous questions."

Stepping back, Tony was slightly mollified. It seemed there really was no danger. He held out the bundle again. "Clothes." He turned his back as Loki set the drink on the small table next to the bed and took the clothing. Tony had rummaged more sweat pants and a t-shirt that he didn't remember as being his own. After a few minute he turned back, facing a fully clad Loki. The clothes were ill fitting, but at least he wasn't naked any more.

Tony motioned back to the side table where Loki had placed the empty can next to several unopened ones. "There's plenty there, but take it slow. You should get some rest. Later today we'll get you some real food. And some better clothes. Hand me downs ill suit gods." He chuckled to himself at the bewildered look he got. "Don't worry about it. Go to bed." He strode toward the door, visions of going back to sleep dancing in his head.

"What's my name?"

The soft inquiry made him pause and look back.

"You've called me Reindeer Games, Loki, and Bambi. What's my name?" Jotun? Loki wondered, remembering the taunts. He was sitting on the edge of the bed again, and Tony was grateful he'd thought to change the sheets.

"You're Loki. I just call you that other stuff cuz I call everyone by random names. Part of my charm." He smiled gently before making his exit. That simple question had almost broken his heart.

oooooooooo

"Bruce? Yeah, it's Tony. Look, I hate to do this, but I need a favor... No, shouldn't be too hard... Look. I need you to not tell the others about this. ... No you won't regret it. Probably won't. ... Ok, probably might. ...Yeah. Well, just come over. I'll explain when you get here. Thanks man."