Thor ignored the maiden who stood at the door attempting to grab his attention in favor of arguing with Loki, nothing new to the other warriors. The brothers were always one another's first priority, even more so now, when they had been into battle together.

"I told you,Thor, I am fine!" Loki growled

"You were hit by a powerful spell, brother. You fell to the ground writhing in agony as the lightning over took you!" Thor bellowed

"Really now?" Loki sneered, "I was there, you know"

"Yes you were, but…" Thor's gaze was somber as it landed on the healing wounds on Loki's wrists where the lighting had met his skin, "Had I been faster in destroying the golems you would not have had to waste your energy dealing with them."

Loki gave the golden haired god of thunder a sideways glance.

"True enough, your slowness on getting finished with the golems did lead to my injury. Of course, had you not been delayed in your task by a certain warrior and her constant fawning, you might have been of a little more use." His green eyes glowed with mocking amusement, "But only a little."

Thor frowned and waved off the maiden again.

"You mean Sif? She does not fawn, brother. She simply worries for my safety."

"The safety of your loins, I am sure"

"Loki!"

"You think I am wrong?" Loki smirked, turning as the healer finished. "Does she not become more and more distressed and annoyed the more and more time you spend in my presence?"

It had not been so long ago for the people of Asguard that Loki went on a rampage. The people still remembered the great Bifrost being torn to nothing as the two sons of Odin fought like children over a new toy. Of course, much of the people's ire had been alleviated when, with the combined efforts of Loki and the Man of Iron, the Bifrost was rebuilt. It stood now as a symbol of Loki's apology and midguard's alliance. Even so, there were still some who believed it was ingrained into the Trickster's nature to destroy Asguard. That was unfair, in Thor's opinion. Loki was what he was. He was magic and trickery, yes, but he was also the brother of Thor, the son of Odin and still considered a young man. A young man who had been faced with the terrible news that he was what he feared most and was shocked and hurt and had a bit of a break down. All was well now and should be all that mattered.

"She has always been that way, Thor, even before you were banished. This is because you have always felt some strange need for us to stay by one another's side, even when I do not wish for you to be there. This threatens the attentions she has worked so hard to procure." He grinned at Thor suggestively, "What I am telling you dear brother, is that she seeks your affections and I am an obstacle for her."

"Why?"Thor looked thoroughly confused

"Because I dislike her as much as she dislikes me, and as I said, we are always together"

"Again, why?"

"Because I hate how she fawns over every move you make, regardless of the idiocy of whatever it is you are doing. It's truly disgusting Thor." Loki glared as they began walking down the halls.

Thor was chuckling and shaking his head.

"And she hates how you and I are close and spend so much time together. Jealousy, brother that is all it is. You hate how she vies for my attention and she hates how easily I give you my attention. You are both hysterical!" Thor laughed slapping Loki on the back.

Loki rolled his eyes.

"Just don't marry her, Thor, or I will move to another realm. I swear it."

Thor frowned

"I hadn't thought of her that way in quite some time"

The laugh Loki let out made Thor jump. Thor stared at Loki for a moment with a small smile. It was good that Loki could laugh again, really laugh.

"She did all that to get your attention and it just made you think of her as one of the boys, is that what you are telling me Thor?" His eyes were watery around the edges, more proof of his mirth and continued good mood.

Thor shrugged, still amused at Loki's outburst. Loki chuckled again shaking his head. That's when he noticed the same maid from the healer's room following after them. He straightened.

"Can we help you?" He offered, putting on his most disarming look. The maiden seemed to be put slightly at ease by it. Loki tried to pretend it had nothing to do with the fact that the girl had more than likely seen him laughing like a fool not but a moment ago.

The girl smiled prettily at him before nodding in Thor's direction.

"Heimdallr, wanted me to deliver a message to Thor." She explained softly

"Ah, I see." He took a step back and motioned to the blond price.

She took a timid step forward, but refused to look the god of thunder in the eye.

"Speak , dear girl. What is Heimdallr's message?" Thor boomed in a way that Loki knew he did to be impressive.

She shifted slightly.

"He said that something terrible has happened to one of your friends on earth. Tony Stark to be exact."

Thor was standing in an instant. Loki's eyes narrowed.

"What? How!" Thor thundered anger cracking in his eyes.

"He didn't- I don't" The maiden looked nervously between the brothers. Luckily for her, Loki jumped in.

"I would imagine that he did not elaborate to a mere messenger, brother. Perhaps you had better take her matter up with the guardian himself, yes?" Loki offered softly.

"Of course, thank you," He nodded to the girl before rushing off down the hall only stopping to look over his shoulder to make certain that Loki was following. Like always.

Steve was pacing around the room. The others sat in a pensive silence, Bruce with his elbows on his knees and one hand at the bridge of his nose.

Tony Stark had been kidnapped. In a house full of superheroes. By some idiot with a lightshow fit to outdo most of Las Vegas. Ironman had been kidnapped.

Saying that Steve Rogers was angry was an understatement. He was positively livid. How could he have slept through that? How could he sleep through red lightning breaking the sky like plates on a stone floor? How could he sleep through Pepper screaming helplessly as one of his oldest friends was yanked from his bed without his oxygen and taken away? How could he sleep through that? Bruce had been quick to point out that they had all slept through it and no one should blame themselves, but his eyes were wide and shot with flecks of green. It was harder to tell with the others, but Steve knew they were just as angry, seething with a need to… well, avenge. All their anger and power needed to be directed at something, because that was and is what the Avengers do.

But they had nowhere to start looking.

Other than Pepper's suggestion that the intruder had an Asguardian look about him they had no leads.

"If we could get a hold of Thor," Natasha began slowly, "we might be able to get some information. Maybe there is a legend or something that might explain this."

"Well," Pepper whispered slowly, "He did say something about a legend. Something about Tony being the Wind of Change." She frowned, clearly trying to remember past the shock. "He said something about the greatest mind in the realms being born into a weak body or something along those lines."

"The Wind of Change? I've never heard of it." Bruce said

"Me either." Natasha sighed, "Jarvis?"

"I am currently running a search for legends even slightly mentioning a Wind of Change"

"Thank you Jarvis."

"It is my pleasure, as always"

"So," The Hawk was leaning against the bar pouring himself a scotch, "from what Pepper told us we can pretty safely say that this guy is some kind of magic wielder like a sorcerer or something."

The others nodded in agreement.

"In which case, it would be best to have an expert on the matter giving us a hand. I think we, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I think we need to call in Loki."

"What?" Steve gaped.

"Look I am the last person who wants that guy here, but he is a magician sorcerer type and he will know what we are dealing with here." He glared into his scotch, "But it's for Tony."

The air was thick with emotion. Everyone was talking about Tony like he was still alive even though, without his oxygen, he might every well not be. And they all knew it.

"I already tried to contact Thor. I don't think he really understood Tony when he explained to him how to use the interdimentional receiver." Steve sighed

"Loki probably would have, but he was mad at Tony for dying the pages in all his books bright pink. He was having a hard time turning them back without damaging the pages." Bruce chuckled

They all smirked.

Tony and Loki, much to Thor's delight and Fury's annoyance, had found themselves to be something of kindred spirits. They both teased everyone at every opportunity, though Loki had a better sense of time and place than Tony. They were both incredibly smart, though Tony never failed to point out that he was just as smart and several hundreds of years younger. And they both liked playing tricks. This meant, of course, that they needed to see who was better. The primary targets? Each other. The Trickster Battle, as many had come to call it, carried on throughout Tony Stark's stay at Asguard, causing a great deal of ruckus and amusement. Odin had approved of the silliness as it served well at getting Loki out of the rut he had been in since his return to Asguard.

Good times.

Just then thunder sounded much too close to the Avenger Tower for comfort and Pepper screamed.

Natasha flew from the sofa to her side in a matter of seconds, weapon drawn and at the ready. Steve was at the window his eyes scanning the sky for the red light that had been on the security videos.

He sighed with relief and turned back to Banner and Hawkeye who were standing at the ready, the first of which already turning an alarming shade of green.

"Everyone relax. Speak of the devil and here he is."

"Oh hell, its only Thor?"Hawkeye yelled while Bruce let out what might have been a curse before dropping back to the couch his head back and a finger to the pulse on his wrist.

"It is interesting to me that he refers to the devil and you immediately think Thor." Loki, completely surprising the group, sneered from behind the bar, which was right behind Hawkeye, which might explain why he turned and socked the god in the jaw before anyone else could move. The look Loki leveled him with was not kind.

"Now, what did you expect that to accomplish?" He ground out, "I am a god and you are a mortal seeking godly aid and you believe that they best way to acquire such aid from me is to punch me in the face?" Loki ran a thumb over his lip and glanced at it bemusedly. "Not that your pathetic human strength would have been harmful to me even in your prime, which you clearly are not. It is the principle of the matter really."

Hawkeye gave him a withering glare as he rubbed his fist.

"Still enjoyed it though"

"Hard feelings still drifting around then" Loki surmised

"Come now, Hawkeye, that all happened many years ago! Loki has apologized and made amends" Thor smiled from the balcony doorway. He tossed his arms out as if to hug the entire room, "friends!"

As he clearly couldn't hung the whole room, he pulled Steve into what would have been a bone crushing hug had the recipient of said hug been anyone else. The captain took it in stride chuckling and patting the god on the back.

"Its good to see you again, Thor. You've been away quite awhile." Bruce called from the sofa.

Thor and Loki shared a look. Steve glanced between them.

"What is it?"

"They know something."Natasha cut in from the kitchen, "What is it?" She demanded anxiously.

The brothers shared another look.

"There has been a bit of a war going on in Asguard. It wasn't of too much consequence, just relatively small battles here and there. No one even knew what it was all about until Loki figured it out." Thor explained pointing to his brother who had poured himself and Thor a drink.

"All the spells and golems and what not seemed erratic at first, as if they were testing borders and perhaps they were." Loki began, "But they were not to test the borders for weakness. No, they were looking to see where the borders ended; they wanted to know how far they could get."

"Why?" Steve asked his voice grave. He didn't like where this was going.

"They, the golems, wanted to make way into Midguard. They wanted to get to earth. We knew not what for until…" Loki looked at Thor

"Until Heimdallr called for me. A message he had received from Stark just before a red clad sorcerer dragged him through a portal taking him Heimdallr knows not where. He could not see where the man had taken our comrade." Thor's voice was slightly distressed as looked at Pepper her face ashen. "I swear, none in Asguard shall rest until he is rescued. He is a never to be forgotten, much loved ally to Asguard as are you all. We will find him."

Natasha laid a comforting hand on Pepper shoulder and she nodded, her watery eyes locked on Thors so that he knew she understood and appreciated his help.

"Okay then, tell us what you know about this guy. Obviously he knows magic." Clint asked handing Thor the drink Loki had poured him.

"Loki." Thor nodded to his brother and the room turned to him.

"He is called Utlagi, what his name was before he was given that one I know not. He is a sorcerer of great power that he has accumulated over the years by some rather unsavory methods. It is imperative that we find Stark and remove him from wherever he is being held as soon as possible. I think we might be able to track his movements here on earth with the help of Banner. Once I know where he made his jump and how strong of a spell he used and so forth, I can attempt to reopen that door." Loki explained quickly.

"How will I be able to track him? I don't know anything about magic." Banner cut in.

"We have many bits and pieces of things he has enchanted to d o his bidding." Thor spoke up. "Once they are retrieved from Asguard and brought here you should be able to scan it and get a sample of his magic, yes?"

"And you will have me." Loki added

"I don't know if this will work, but it's definitely worth a try." Bruce replied standing

"Good now-"

"Wait a minute." Steve cut Loki off before the science nerds went off on a tangent. "You said that this guy has gotten his power through 'unsavory means'? What exactly does that mean for Tony?"

Pepper's eyes grew wide just then and she looked about the group with a sudden sense of urgency.

"I almost forgot what he said, but…"She paused, trying to remember how to breathe. "When I told him that he was hurting Tony that guy said that once they were one Tony's condition wouldn't be an issue."

Loki's eyes were locked on hers when she looked up from the cup of coffee she was holding.

"Those are his exact words, you are sure of it?" Loki pressed.

Pepper closed her eyes and thought hard.

"Yes. He said that Tony's physical short comings would no longer be an issue once they had become one. He said it right after he said that bit about the Wind of Change in physical form." She opened her eyes to see Loki and Thor with their mouths hanging open.

"What?"

"He thinks Stark is the Wind of Change in physical form?" Thor asked looking completely shocked.

"I hadn't thought of that." Loki said rubbing the bottom half of his face, mind hard at work. "Though it would make sense, I suppose."

"What is the wind of change or whatever?" Natasha asked annoyance clear in her voice. "And what does it have to do with Tony?"

"The Wind of Change is said to be the very fuel of innovation. Every step forward, everything inventive, is said to be brought about by the Wind of Change." Thor spoke as he was telling a night time story to a child. Perhaps that was how he had heard it.

"Like a god?" Steve asked

The brothers nodded

"It is said that the Wind of Change, being that it is the very essence of forward thinking, one day took up a physical form. In this form it did not have to rely upon the abilities or understanding of others. The Wind of Change could set fire to its own ideas and blow the flames throughout the realms itself." Loki said softly, "But there was a price to be paid for a physical form."

"The Wind of Change died." Thor finished.

The others held still and quite, waiting.

"But the Wind of Change is much too clever to be out done by death." Loki smirked. "All things die, of course, but once a cycle is completed in a universe the souls inside are once again reborn."

"What does that mean?" Bruce asked in a whisper. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like this was all very important.

"That means that once in the life span of a universe the Wind of Change is born and with him he will bring a wave of invention and innovation and forward thinking the likes of which have never been seen before." Thor announced in a booming voice. "It will burn like a great fire in the night, spreading itself throughout whatever realm it resides in bringing light to the darkness. Unstoppable."

"And though the original flame may gutter out, the Wind will continue to blow the sparks and embers of its fire to others who might be inspired and keep that light shining. Thus the how the Wind of Change works its way through our universe." Loki explained a faraway look in his eye. Thor looked similarly reminiscent.

No one said anything, but they were all thinking it. The arc reactor. It was the greatest invention the world had ever seen; even on Asguard nothing man made could hold a candle against it. A work of art that was still being used in new ways every day.

"So, this wind being born into a comparatively fragile and short life panned body of a human would be shocking." Natasha ventured.

"It would not be my first choice if I were choosing where to use my vast knowledge and influence." Loki replied dryly.

"This guy, this Utagy-" Clint started

"Utlagi" Loki sighed.

"Yeah whatever. He is mad because he thinks that Tony is the Wind of Change and he has a cruddy body?" Clint asked. "Why does he care?"

"He cares because it will make assimilation difficult and cut the time he has to prepare for it short." Loki growled disgust clear on his face.

"He will have to move more quickly than he has been accustomed to in order to finish it before Stark dies of natural causes. This will hopefully make him careless." Thor said

"Assimilation, I don't like the sound of that." Bruce piped up. "You can't mean…"

"The unsavory means I spoke of before." Loki explained softly as he poured himself another drink, "They involve him using his magic and natural gifts to allow him to take another body into himself so to speak. He absorbs them into his body, which according to his natural form, should only allow him to take on desired physical attributes to aid in survival. With the disgustingly twisted bit of magic he somehow managed to concoct he has learned to keep them within himself. He keeps their powers and even their minds for a short while before it all blends together into the greater evil that is Utlagi."

Thor made a sound of disgust from across the room, but the others didn't really hear him. They were all staring at Loki with horror struck faces.

"Now you understand when I say time is of the essence."

A/N:Fun Old Norse Fact of the update! Utlagi roughly translates to outlaw, which is why Loki says what he does. Now go about the world feeling all edumicated my children!*waves arms impressively*

This is a long chapter for me. *gives self pat on the back* Love me for it! Writing Loki and Thor is so much fun. I had a total field day! Hope you did too!

I love reviews like fat kids love cake! ;)