I tried to change the game
I tried to infiltrate
"What the hell, Rogers?"
Was the first thing he heard when Steve entered the room were the rest of his team mates were. They were in their right to be angry with him, of course, he had imposed someone on them without even asking. Someone they'd had trouble defeating, someone who had affected everyone in different ways. Steve had single-handedly decided to keep Loki on earth when possibly all of them were against it. It hadn't been right – and yet, it had been the only thing he could have possibly done. The only thing.
It wasn't just the broken look on Loki's pale eyes, the blood on the floor, the way his hads and arms shook while he tried to support his weight. It wasn't the dried blood in his hair and hands, the way that even badly injured as he was he'd kept trying to escape until his legs gave out, and even then he'd tried again and again until he couldn't stand anymore. It wasn't the almost inaudible whimpers as he tried to stand, the ragged loud breathing, so strangely irregular and shallow, that hitched and stopped unexpectedly. No.
Steve was smarter than that, and he hadn't forgotten who he was facing – the god of lies, a consumated actor, a trickster, somehow who had survived through tricks and deceit. Of course he would try to gain the pity of the people who could save him from a fate worse than death. It was in his nature to try and do it, to exagerate his pain and misery. It wasn't that which Steve believed – after all, Loki couldn't be trusted, not even weakened like he was. Steve didn't believe him, but he could believe what he saw in the other Asgardians.
The despair in Thor's eyes was real as was the hatred on those guard's eyes. They had hated Loki for a very long time (not without reason, probably) and now they were getting their chance to express those felings. To get some justice, they would think. Because sometimes the crimes are too great for regular justice, the criminal too dangerous for simple cells. Loki qualified as such, Steve had no doubt. There was also anticipation, a kind of twisted veiled happiness when they saw Loki in the situation he was, bloody and helpless on the floor. And there was something so utterly worng about that.
"I know, I should have spoken with you before making a decision, and I'm sorry, but there was only a shot for this – a limited time-frame. And we needed the unity, and the element of surprise. If they saw us arguing and trying to reach a decision the chance would be gone."
"And why exactly did we want to take that chance, huh?" Stark added, pissed. They were minutes away from getting rid of Loki once and for all and they had taken it back. They had taken back that monster, who had caused them so much – and not just them, but the whole city of New York, and Sttutgart, the world. They didn't need more problems, they needed less. And no amount of complaining in Thor's part would convince him otherwise. Because of Steve's decision he would be worried about his safety for the next who-knew-how-long, looking behind his shoulder, worried everytime Pepper went away. It was not right. And if it wasn't right for them much less for the rest of the population.
"It's not a matter of want. It's a matter of using an available asset for something constructive instead of letting it go."
"That's not how things work, Cap, and you know it. This is not justice – he needs to pay for what he's done, not be given some sort of second chance because you felt bad about what they were going to do with him. He was only getting what he deserved."
Steve went a couple of steps forward and towered over Stark.
"Look at me in the eye, Tony, and tell me that torture is fair. Come on, tell me."
There was silence in the room and a lot of tension. Too much.
Clint spoke, breaking the silence.
"Whatever, we cannot be the police of the universe. But I agree with Stark, this is too good for the guy. Most criminals have done much worse than him and yet they don't get a second chance."
"Well, most criminals aren't one of my team mates little brother." Steve countered.
"Oh, don't you play the Thor card" Tony said."We all know this isn't about him, this is about you feeling bad for an intergalactic mass murderer and tyrant wannabe. It has nothing to do with Thor."
As if on cue, Thor appeared on the door of the room, his unconscious brother still in his arms, lifeless, almost strangely peaceful.
"Stark's personnel is denying Loki the medical attention he needs. They claim they feel unsafe and fear for their lives should he wake." Thor said, a melancholic tinge to his words. Loki had done many wrongs, but he wasn't just a mindless killer, although everyone had been treating him as such for the last years." They even refuse us the access to their equipment."
"And they have every right to do so." Tony added, looking at the thunderer in the eye.
Steve sighed. He knew that his decision would entail many problems, but he hadn't thought they would start so soon.
"We'll take him to my place." He said. At least no one would complain there, although there was still the topic of the medical attention... "Doctor Banner? I know you've done some medical work before, would you mind...?"
"Not at all. I'll go with you."
"I can go with you too, you'll need more people to make turns keeping an eye on him."
"Thanks, Natasha. Much appreciated."
There was a clear rift in the Avengers: Tony looked hurt at Bruce's willingness to help and Clint at the fact that Natasha had volunteered herself. She didn't like going against Clint like that, but she wasn't going to leave Steve to deal with all the hatred of not just this world, but several of them. And she had hope for the plan, too. If they got Loki in their good graces great things could be done – end fights much sooner. And, if she was being honest, she would rather see him take a bullet and get hurt instead of any of others. It was worth a shot.
The ride to Steve's place was silent, but the air wasn't as tense as it had been on the tower. Thor looked as if an eneormous weight had been lifted off his shoulders, now that he knew Loki wasn't being handed over to Odin – at least, not imediately. Loki was still unconscious, but still looked much more peaceful than he had when he arrived, as he jumped on the road, his weight on his brother. Bruce looked through the window while Natasha and Steve talked about what were the next steps to plan in the situation, so when they arrived they knew how to deal.
When Loki woke up, he felt someone touching him, and something wet, and panicked. He tried to use his magic, but couldn't, so he simply tried to run. Only to find that his legs weren't responding like they should. When he managed to get properly open he found himself on an unfamiliar floor, and there was a vaguely familiar voice calling his name. He crawled, best as he could, away from the voice, until he had his back to a wall.
"Loki, calm down."
He wouldn't. Yes, they wanted him calm and manageable, but they weren't going to get him so easily...right? Loki looked at his surroundings with red-rimmed eyes, and realised that Odin and the others seemed to be gone, even though this was definitely still Midgard, and not Asgard. He tried to think, tried to remember what had happened. He remembered being shot at, and running and the Allfather catching up with him. But there was something else... someone else. Thor... and his friends. The Avengers. He tried to focus his eyes and recognised the voice, recognised the man. Doctor Banner, the scientist who was also the Hulk. He tried to back away even more, but couldn't. Why was he in a house in with Doctor Banner? We were the SHIELD agents, the cells, the interrogations. What was this nice music. What kind of punishment was this.
"Hey, hey" Banner had his hands in front of him, motioning... what? That he wasn't going to attack. "Loki, do you remember what happened? The deal we made with Asgard?"
It was a bit fuzzy, but it was there. The Captain had said that they wouldn't send him to Asgard, that they would make him pay for what he did by making him help them. Or something of the sort.
"This is Steve's... Captain Rogers' place. He and Agent Romanoff will be watching you and probably myself too, making sure you're not giving us any reason to send you to that Asgardian doom. But if you behave nicely, there will be no need to do that, no need for SHIELD or for the Hulk. But you need to work with us."
"Where is...?"
"Thor? He left for Asgard, trying to get this deal or whatever in writing, so the... other side can't back off. Getting the details and all that. That way we'll have some defense to continue with our plan."
"Plan?" Loki said, worried.
"Yeah, I don't know exactly what Steve and Natasha are planning, but I'm sure it's a lot of hard work. You are not here out of kindness, Loki, you are here because some people think you may be useful. And I would advise you to get on their good side, because the rest of the world, hell the rest of the universe would rather kikck you out to creative punishment."
Loki's eyes looked more focused now, more lively.
"Now, will you let me finish bandaging your wounds so you don't bleed all over Steve's things?"
So, Loki let me the man, knowing that the for emotional breakdowns and wallowing in his own misery was sadly over. Now he had to be back to being smart to make the most of this situation.
"And how do I get on your good side, doctor?"
"Well, I am not a soldier or a spy... But as a scientist I have a lot of curiosity. If you were to tell me what I am interested in, maybe I would be grateful, which may or may not turn the hulk less violent nex time he sees you."
Now this was something Loki could understand.
"What would you like to know?"
"Well, we have enough info on Asgard with Thor and Jane Foster, and I can pretty much deduce your motives for New York... But there's a big blank on ouar files, and I can't help but be curious."
Bruce finished the bandages and looked at Loki, eager, knowing he could ask anything.
"Tell me about the void."
A/N: Loki isn't going to have the best of times, even if he's better off than in Asgard. Did you like it? Please do leave a review!