Nick Fury beckoned Steve over as he entered the lab the next night.
'We need to know what he's capable of', Fury said in a low voice, 'I don't want any more of my people shipped off to the funny farm because he looks at 'em weird'.
'He used some kind of shield spell', Steve said, 'If it wasn't it would've set off the electric field'.
'Frankly I don't care what it was. What I care about is the effect it had on Agent Kelso'.
'What are you going to do about it?'
'Here's what 'we' are gonna do about it Cap. Despite my objections, Thor has insisted Loki gets some exercise and since my superiors don't wanna take the risk of offending the 'nice' Asgardians, I've been forced to agree. We're gonna take the opportunity to gather data on Loki's physical attributes. He'll be under guard at all times. Problem is, the room we'll be usin' isn't shielded'.
'Why not?'
'We hadn't intended to give Loki access to any other rooms and couldn't secure a second forcefield machine. Attempts to negotiate another one from the Asgardians are…ongoing'.
'Where do I come in?'
'I want you in there with him. You're the only one he responds to. Lucky you'.
'Is Thor okay with this?'
'Thor's on site and on side. He's doing the exercises in another part of the base for comparison purposes. We can't have them in the same room: Loki sees him, it'll go badly. We won't get the data we need and I'm not sure this base could withstand a brotherly reunion. You okay with this?'
'Yeah', Steve said.
'We'll still have guards walk you both from his cell to the 'gym'. Destroyer guns and all'.
Fury pulled a piece of paper from his coat and handed it to Steve.
'Here's a list of the exercise we need him to perform, I know you can handle yourself but be careful anyway'.
Steve memorised the short list and handed it back to Fury.
'Don't worry. I've seen 'Silence of the Lambs', he said.
'Who suggested that one?'
'Natalia'.
'Of course', Fury said with what Steve swore was a genuine smile.
Loki eyed Steve and his escorts haughtily as they entered his room.
Five guards stood to attention beside the old soldier, all holding the so called 'Destroyer Guns' Thor had made him aware of.
He raised an eyebrow as the glass divide separating him from them began to rise, disappearing into a slot in the ceiling.
'Exercise time then?' Loki asked.
He stood at the threshold and then slowly placed one foot outside it.
He gave a sardonic smile at the rumbling noise of the destroyer guns being powered up. His face was illuminated with pale orange light from the lights of the barrels pointing right at him.
'I sense a lack of trust', he deadpanned.
'It's more like a surplus of common sense', Steve said, 'Before we go any further Loki, I'm going to ask you to leave SHIELD personnel alone'.
'I'll think about it', Loki said, 'Provided of course they leave me alone in turn'.
'That's fair', Steve acknowledged, 'Right guys?'
There were a couple of nods from the guards and what sounded suspiciously like a bitter snort of laughter but Loki seemed satisfied.
'Lead on then', he gestured, waving a hand magnanimously.
Three of the guards fell in behind him.
Two flanked the door they were about to leave through as Steve stood beside Loki.
'After you', Steve said with a smile, 'They insist'.
The two walked abreast through the hallway, behind two of the guards with the other three bringing up the rear.
Steve could see the same 'magical' wiring as Loki's cell beneath their feet, crackling silently.
But, as they approached a large set of metal double doors, the wires ended, disappearing into an unremarkable looking grey box.
Glancing at Loki, Steve could tell he had noticed too.
'This room isn't shielded is it?' Loki asked.
'Nope', Steve replied.
No point lying about it.
'A big risk don't you think?'
'You're stuck fifteen feet below ground with five destroyer guns pointing up your nose and I'll be the only one in there with you. I can live with that risk since it only applies to me', Steve outlined as one of the guards keyed in a code to open the doors to the gym.
The doors slid back and the guards stood, one on either side as Steve began to walk inside. After a moment, Loki followed.
'They aren't joining us?' Loki asked, noting the doors sliding shut behind them.
'They're just going to get better view', Steve said, 'Let's get started'.
The room was the size of a gymnasium and, like Loki's cell, painted a sterile white. The floor was laminate and Loki identified one way mirrors looking down at them. The guards were no doubt behind these with their 'toys'. He was sure they wouldn't be the only ones: this 'exercise' was as much an information gathering project as a diplomatic concession. Dotted around the room were various pieces of equipment: barbells and dumbbells, a vaulting horse and monkey bars. There were also ropes hanging down from the ceiling and several punching bags.
'With what?' Loki asked, crossing his arms.
'A workout', Steve said.
'A non-negotiable workout?'
'You said you were bored in there', Steve said, pointing to the door leading back to Loki's cell.
'So instead of staring at blank walls, I get to jump through hoops is that it?'
'You want hoops?' Steve asked, 'I'm sure we could find some if you want'.
'Let's get this over with', Loki muttered.
'Great', Steve said, 'Let's start with the barbells'.
According to the briefing Fury had given him, he had two hours to get the data from Loki.
That would also unfortunately use up any time Steve had to question him further about the Chitauri so he was not about to waste any time.
The barbells provided went up to 115kgs: standard issue for 'World's Strongest Man' contests worldwide. From what he'd seen of Thor, it should have been no problem for Loki. But after a few minutes of trying half-heartedly to lift the weight marked 110kgs above his head, Loki dropped it onto the floor, where it landed with a deafening clang.
Steve directed Loki towards the punching bags instead.
Loki took a similarly unenthusiastic approach to these, hitting the first one so lightly it barely moved. He continued like this for a few minutes, until Steve, fed up with Loki's deliberately lacklustre efforts, punched the bag next to Loki so hard it flew off its chain.
Seeing that, Loki cocked his fist back and threw a proper punch. The bag flew slightly further than Steve's and burst all over the floor, scattering its contents.
Loki dusted his hands and shrugged at Steve, silently asking him to indicate what he wanted him to do next.
Steve thought about it.
Overall, Loki's results were pretty similar to Steve's when he had done the same SHIELD physical fitness exam months ago. The results were impressive. Most would call them superhuman. But only by human standards.
Steve hadn't seen Thor's results but having seen him in action, he knew Loki as an Asgardian should be nearly as strong. The results so far were underwhelming.
Then again, Loki was far slighter than Thor and had been through a great deal of physical stress in the last few days. Not to mention his obvious favour for stealth and subterfuge over brute strength.
There was also the far simpler theory that Loki was simply not trying: his disdain for SHIELD's observational efforts obvious from the way he kept smirking at the one way mirrors.
Steve felt a pang of annoyance as he saw Loki was now lounging on a bench. As Steve regarded him, Loki cracked one eye open and yawned in an exaggerated fashion.
Loki had said he liked to win.
Maybe a competition would help get him invested.
'Let's race', Steve said, pulling off his jacket.
'What for?'
'I feel like getting some exercise', Steve said, stretching his calves, 'Never raced an alien before. Come on, show me whatcha got'.
Loki clicked his tongue scornfully.
'Scared I'll beat you?' Steve teased.
The indignant look on Loki's face made Steve feel he had won a race already. Steve walked to a metal pillar rising out of the floor and pressed a button. A red light clicked on and a timer started counting down.
Steve took up position behind a line etched into the floor.
For a moment he thought Loki wasn't going to take the bait but then he gave an annoyed grunt and stood up briskly.
'Conditions?' Loki asked.
'Three laps around the room', Steve outlined, 'First one back here wins. Start when the light turns green'.
Loki knelt down and adopted the same starting position as Steve, facing dead ahead.
Steve saw the focused look on Loki's face as he watched the timed lights intently.
Amazing how a little poked pride could change someone's mind.
A blaring noise signalled the change from red to green and both racers leapt into action.
Steve let Loki gain a few feet ahead of him. His strategy seemed to have worked: Loki was moving at a good speed and Steve actually found himself having to speed up to maintain a competitive pace. Loki was obviously not used to running though: his breathing was uncontrolled and his posture was off, costing him extra energy as they turned the first corner.
'On your left', Steve called, tapping Loki's shoulder as he caught up with him. He got a glimpse of Loki's surprised face just before Loki generated another burst of speed. Steve let him. All he had to do was wait.
'On your left', Steve said again as they crossed the finish line the first time. Loki cursed in a foreign language, his brow beginning to dampen with sweat and Steve let him draw ahead again.
By the second crossing of the finish line Loki was obviously struggling. His hair was clinging to his forehead and his breathing was ragged. Asgardians weren't much faster than humans and Loki's poor physical condition was tipping the race in Steve's favour.
Sensing the struggle was nearly over, Steve began to pull ahead slightly. He wouldn't win by much so as not to stop Loki trying to win, just enough to maybe teach him a lesson. Loki glared at him, determination creasing his face. Steve smiled good naturedly and passed him.
The finish line was straight ahead.
He could hear Loki gaining behind him.
And something far larger nearly knocked him flying.
He spun from the impact as something collided with his shoulder as it barrelled past him.
He just about stayed on his feet but lost all momentum.
This gave him time to try and process what he was looking at.
A horse crossed the finish line and cantered for a distance further before gradually slowing to a stop.
Its coat was a dark black but it looked distinctly unhealthy. Steve could see its ribs jutting out and its mane hung limply around its face. Its coat was gleaming with sweat and it gave a snort as it tried to slow its breathing. It turned to face Steve and despite its ill-used look, did a cocky trot, kicking its fetlocked hooves out behind it.
Steve shook his head resignedly.
'You should really have finished as yourself', he said, crossing the finish line out of principle.
The horse vanished as Loki resumed human form.
'I'm always myself', Loki smirked.
'Can you become anything you want?' Steve asked, taking a towel from a pile sitting on a nearby bench. Despite Loki's unpleasant nature, he was genuinely intrigued by what he could do. Even if Stark said it was just 'tricks', it was still pretty amazing stuff.
SHIELD was probably as interested in it as Steve was: the more they could observe it the better.
'I have a rather wide repertoire', Loki said proudly, 'But it takes practice and incredible powers of observation'.
'Observation?'
'For example, thanks to that little bout, I'm fairly confident I can replicate you'.
'Bet you can't', Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck with the towel.
Loki's form blurred.
Steve examined Loki's new shape critically.
'Wanna have a discussion about patriotism?' Loki asked, voice twanging with an attempt at Steve's accent.
Loki posed with both hands set on his hips, sticking out his chest: the white star on Captain America's uniform shining crisply on the clean fabric. He hadn't bothered with the helmet but had conjured a replica of the vibranium shield strapped to his back.
'The costume shouldn't be that tight', Steve critiqued, 'And it should be a darker blue. Still, not bad'.
Steve's mirror image smiled, completely breaking the illusion. Steve knew his smile was nothing like that.
'So what do I win?' Loki asked as he became himself again, 'I believe that's two victories to me: the race and that little demonstration'.
'I didn't say anything about a prize', Steve said, amused, 'Besides you cheated in the race'.
'That was not cheating. It was adapting to circumstances', Loki corrected, 'What else can it be if the king of the kingdom makes making unwise wagers?'
Sensing Loki was about to begin his next story, Steve took a seat on the bench opposite and leant forwards attentively.
Loki began.
'Despite its strength and strategic position, Odin wished to have the palace better protected. So he set up a contest: whoever could design a worthwhile addition to the palace defences would be rewarded with whatever prize he desired. There were many contenders: one that sticks in my mind (and one I fiercely endorsed) was an engineer who wanted to harness Thor as a kind of power generator. He was turned down and thrown out of the palace.
Just as it seemed we would never be presented with a practical solution, an outsider stepped forward. He outlined his plans for a forcefield that, when activated, would encompass the entire palace like a glass globe. His blueprints were impressive and it was obvious he was a magician of great skill from the way he spoke of his designs. Odin hired him and gave him a time limit of three days. The man (who only ever referred to himself as a 'smith') protested this was not enough time. Odin accused him of not being able to follow up on his promises. The smith took offence and said he would complete the task, if Odin would then keep his promise: to give the smith whatever treasure he desired. I remember Frigga (Odin's wife to you) trying to calm Odin down (no doubt sensing the smith had something up his sleeve) but Odin shouted her down, raging that the smith was accusing him of being a king who would go back on his word. The smith then named his prize: if he completed the task, he wanted Frigga as his wife. We were all shocked at this. Not at what he had asked for: he was impudent and low born but rather that Odin had fallen for his trap.
Struggling to keep his temper in check, Odin agreed but gave him conditions. He was to work without help from any other man and was not allowed to use any craft to help him transport the stone. The smith bowed and went off to start his task.
I went to sleep that night listening to my parents arguing down the hallway and ate meals the next day with them both ignoring each other.
To make matters worse, after two days it looked like the smith was going to win his bet.
The forcefield was nearly finished. The main reason for this was the smith enlisting the help of a gigantic stallion he had brought with him. The smith would mine the dimensional crystal he required from Asgardian quarries and then have the massive beast carry the bags of it to the palace for integration into the walls and atmosphere'.
'Dimsenional crystal?' Steve interjected.
'A rare element even by Asgardian standards due to the difficulty in mining it. It must be coaxed out of the rock by hand due to its volatility. The way a forcefield of this element works is when a threat is detected, the crystals that form it react violently against the intruder, vaporising it on impact. The smith had obviously been planning this design for a while: there is no way he mined that much crystal in so short a time but we could prove nothing.
The progress was worrying: the smith and his horse never seemed to tire or stop to eat.
At the end of the second day, Odin called the smith in for an update on how the work was progressing but in reality it was his attempt to denounce him for cheating by using his horse.
The smith challenged (quite correctly) that a horse is technically neither a man or a craft so he was not breaking any rules. He then asked to return to his work and mentioned that Frigga may want to 'start packing her bags'.
Odin was furious but could not do anything about the situation since the entire court had heard his bargain with the smith. Even those that had never been to the palace before were talking about it! They were all keen to see the outsider put in his place.
So when I pointed out to the All-Father that technically his conditions had also left it open for the smith to seek help from women or children, he did not appreciate the observation. He stormed out of the hall, challenging me to do something 'if I was so clever' before walking straight into yet another blazing row with Frigga over the whole affair.
Luckily for him (and Frigga), I am that clever.
The main obstacle to our victory was the horse.
I had to lure it away somehow.
Its weakness was obvious.
It was a large, strong, hot blooded stallion.
It was easy to sneak close enough to the worksite and put on my disguise.
All it took was a bat of my eyelashes and a 'come hither' whinny and he gave chase, breaking free of his bonds.
I led him on a merry chase throughout Asgard until the sun set low in the sky on the third day and the smith's time limit expired.
My victory was assured.
Until the stallion caught me. And was quite insistent on enjoying his 'prize''.
'You're kidding me', Steve deadpanned.
'What?' Loki said, unrepentant, 'He was a very fine stallion. And very persuasive. It was quite a while before I returned to the palace (give or take 9 months) but when I did, I brought my father a kingly gift. He said it was the best horse he could ever ask for albeit unusual with 8 legs and a shockingly bad temperament (which it of course got from its father)'.
'You're kidding me', Steve repeated, rubbing his eyes.
'Odin praised it as a great mount', Loki continued wistfully, ''The best of all horses' he said. That helped me ignore the jibes, the snickers behind my back and the disgusted looks as I passed. I didn't care. Thanks to my little misadventure, the smith was unable to complete the work on time. I had saved my father's reputation, my mother's virtue and had created something wondrous. I was happy. Truth or lie?'
'There is no way you slept with a horse', Steve deadpanned, 'And mares don't carry for nine months, they carry for eleven so that part's bunk too'.
'Maybe on your planet', Loki interjected but Steve continued.
'Okay but even if we allow that, you are way too selfish to spend all that time looking after a foal. I believe the part about you becoming a horse: you just showed it to me. If things happened the way you say they did, I'm willing to bet you were the stallion and the smith's horse was a mare. But the real clincher is there is no way you'd hear all that gossip and not retaliate somehow. No matter how happy you were'.
'Correct', Loki said, nodding appraisingly, 'I simply had him chase me until he collapsed from exhaustion. I brought him back to the palace the next day where the smith was waiting, angrily accusing Odin of cheating. The forcefield had been finished a few minutes after the time limit expired: the smith was clearly exhausted having obviously tried to finish the task without his horse. I explained I had found the horse wandering around in the woods but was too weak to pull it back to the smith in time. Odin said the smith should thank me for returning his horse but the smith just stormed out. We never saw him again but Odin got a new horse to go with his new forcefield'.
'What was all that about the foal with eight legs then?'
'The people gossiping behind my bck was not a lie', Loki said darkly, 'And after nearly a year, it was becoming tiresome. No matter how I threatened, the rumours would just not stop. Once again my father did nothing so I decided to make sure he wouldn't be able to ignore the issue any more.
I went to the stables and found the stall holding Odin's newest prize foal (the offspring of the smith's stallion) and tried to change it into a giant spider as recompense.
Thor came in looking for me, interrupted me and then promptly told Odin everything.
Sleiphner (as the foal was called) ended up with eight legs, a change Odin found to his liking when he observed how swiftly it could run.
I ended up with the envious task of cleaning the stables for the next five months. This I could have lived with. But if anything it made the gossip worse: the story evolved from me simply sleeping with a horse to giving birth to the 'deformed' foal'. It was easy for people to latch onto this new fantasy since the creature was, quote, 'as much of a freak as Loki''.
Loki's expression was borderline murderous.
'The lesson is that despite real life providing logical explanations, people always prefer a scandal', he concluded.
'A giant spider's not really logical. Or a guy giving birth to a horse', Steve mused.
'I repeat: maybe not on your planet', Loki retorted, 'Though Midgardians seem just as eager to accept the latter story about me'.
At Steve's quizzical look, Loki elaborated, 'That version of the story was in Erik Selvig's head. It was an unpleasant surprise'.
Loki stood and stretched.
He gazed into space, his tone thoughtful.
'It's astonishing that you'll believe that but you don't believe in things that are real. Multicoloured magic stones for instance'.
Steve shrugged, unsure of where Loki was going with this.
'Human nature I guess. So, how about that information? I guessed right'.
'I just gave it to you', Loki said, his face unusually serious, 'Unlike you, I reward those who pass my tests'.
The sound of the metal doors to the hallway opening stopped the conversation. The guards filed in.
'Time's up', one of the guards said brusquely.
Steve and Loki took the same position in the centre of the guards as they began to head back to Loki's cell.
'Let's go Pony Boy', one of the guards behind them remarked and a couple of others laughed as hey walked down the hallway.
Loki stiffened but was powerless to retaliate now they were back in the hallway.
Steve felt a surge of anger at the remark as well as confusion over his reaction.
As far as insults went, it was tame. Or at least it was compared to what he had heard other SHIELD agents calling Loki.
He realised it was the timing that irritated him as they re-entered Loki's cell
The guard had deliberately waited until they had left the unshielded room before insulting Loki. Too late for Loki to do anything about it.
It was a bully's tactic.
And it was a tactic Steve hated.
As the secure glass wall settled back into place, Steve beckoned the guard to the side.
'Why did you say that in the hallway?' he asked, his voice low.
He had his back to Loki so the prisoner hopefully wouldn't glean what they were discussing.
'Just a joke', the guard said, confused at Steve's obviously belligerent stance.
The other guards filing out were looking at him with confusion too but did not have time to watch whatever fireworks were about to go off.
'It was unprofessional', Steve said sternly, 'And it was idiotic. I thought SHIELD personnel were the best of the best? In character and quality as well as skill. Just because he looks like he can't hurt you right now does not mean he's not dangerous. Do you understand?!'
The guard said nothing but lowered his eyes.
Steve realised he had raised his voice and took a breath.
'I know he's done terrible things', Steve said, a bit more gently, 'Don't sink to his level. You're better than that'.
The guard nodded.
'Dismissed', Steve said and the guard left sheepishly after saluting.
Steve rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. The anger was fading now. He was surprised at the intensity of it: childhood resentment probably.
'You should have gotten his name', Loki said.
Steve looked at him.
'So I could remember it', Loki said, hands clenched together as if wringing some unfortunate chicken's neck, 'I remember every name'.
Steve had nothing to say to that.
It had been over fifty years but he still remembered all his bullies' names too.
So he left, leaving Loki alone with his anger but taking his own tumultuous emotions with him.
Emerging into a New York rainstorm, Steve noticed Thor sitting beneath a nearby bus shelter. He was drinking coffee and had a face ironically like thunder.
'One of yours?' Steve asked as he approached, pointing up at the grey clouds.
'Not enough lightning', Thor commented with a weak smile. He was wearing a tshirt, sweat pants and a pair of trainers. Steve could see a sweat stain on his back. It appeared Thor had taken the SHIELD workout more seriously than his brother.
Steve took a seat beside Thor.
The bus stop was no longer in use and the busting crowds paid them no attention, more focused on getting home and out of the cold than looking at two guys talking.
'You are wasting your time with him', Thor said suddenly, 'The truth is a language he no longer speaks'.
'I don't need to listen to everything he says Thor. I just need to watch him', Steve said.
'Explain'.
'You're a warrior. You know a fight isn't totally reliant on skill, it's about how you react to a blow. Loki can say whatever he likes but everyone has tells that give it away when he's lying. I just roll with the punches until I see an opening'.
Thor took a sip of coffee, frown deepening.
'You are speaking sense. But I still don't like it'
'I know. But I need to get whatever information I can out of him before he leaves', Steve said, 'If there's something bigger on the way-'
'We will stop it', Thor said, crushing his coffee cup.
Hot liquid ran over his fingers. If it burnt him, Thor gave no sign.
'I know', Steve said gently, 'but the more information we have the easier it'll be. It's bothering Stark; he hasn't been the same since he fell through that portal no matter how he tries to hide it. I've seen that kind of thing before and it rarely ends well'.
'I had not noticed', Thor said, obviously bothered by this, 'Very well. Continue with your plan but make it clear to Loki that if he is deliberately withholding information, he will find me similarly ungenerous when we return to Asgard'.
'I'll make sure he gets the message', Steve said.
Thor sighed.
'He is changed. His mind has become a twisted thing bent upon its own destruction. I do not know if it was the fall through oblivion or the Chitauri's tortures. They do not appear to have been kind masters'.
Steve said nothing. Thor had obviously been holding this in for a while.
'But that does not give him the right to inflict his own self-inflicted misery upon anybody else!'
'You think he's insane?' Steve asked evenly.
'How else can you explain his choices?' Thor growled, 'I was once arrogant and cruel but I took my blows and came out tempered. He threw himself on the anvil and has been broken'.
They sat in silence for a few moments. Car horns honked impatiently and the rain pattered above their heads.
'Do you think they'll execute Loki when you get him back to Asgard?' Steve asked.
'My mother will ask he be spared out of misplaced affection but imprisoned for his crimes', Thor said without emotion, 'To my father Loki is already dead'.
'I asked what you think', Steve pressed.
Thor looked thoughtful. After another silence, he responded.
'On the tower, when we were fighting, I thought he could come home. For a moment I saw my little brother looking at me, alone and terrified. He said it was too late to stop. I offered help'.
Thor's face darkened.
'Then he stuck a knife beneath my ribs', he growled, 'Do you know what he said?'
Steve knew it was a rhetorical question.
'He said 'sentiment',' Thor continued, knuckles white, 'I hate to admit it but he is right. That is something I cannot afford to succumb to. When we return to Asgard, Loki's fate will no longer be in my hands and I will rejoice to be free of his poison'.
Thor's words were harsh but they were tinged with sadness: the desperate tone of someone who wants to believe what they're saying but can't ignore their doubts. Steve had heard it often during the war.
'He told me about when the Alfheim delegates visited', Steve said, altering the subject slightly.
Thor gave a wordless grunt.
'He said you stole the spotlight'.
'Only because he couldn't remember the words!' Thor snapped.
'How did you know the words?'
'Before the banquet I had learned the entire book', Thor said.
'You didn't believe Loki could do it?'
'That is not true', Thor said, glaring at him, 'I knew those delegates; they were contradictory and insulting every time they came to Asgard. I knew they would change whatever they had asked to be prepared at the last minute. I tried to warn Loki how difficult they were but he would not listen. I simply wished to spare my brother embarrassment!'
'What happened to the delegates?' Steve asked, interested to hear Thor's side of the story.
'They got so drunk they were forced to apologize for their behaviour', Thor laughed sourly, 'Elves apparently can't hold their mead. Loki got his revenge'.
A tone of sincerity crept into Thor's laugh.
'I remember Loki said 'I may not be able to remember a poem but you can't remember an entire night! We all thought it was funny'.
Thor's growing smile faded.
'It was funny', he said melancholically, 'When did things go wrong?'
Thinking about how Loki may have had something to do with the drunkenness of the delegates, Steve wasn't sure.
'What about the horse rumours?' Steve asked.
Thor banged a fist on the arm of the bench. The wood splintered at the force but did not break.
'He knew about them?!'
Steve nodded.
'As soon as heard those filthy lies I took steps to silence them', Thor growled, 'Anyone that refused I silenced with my own fists. I didn't tell Loki about the lies because I didn't want them to taint his victory. And now you tell me he knew all along?!'
Thor ran both hands through his hair. Steve felt guilty for telling him so attempted to lighten the mood.
'He also told me you tattled on him when you found him in the stables'.
Thor gave an odd shiver.
'I don't care for spiders', he said quietly, 'Especially not those the size of horses'.
'His strength readings are really different from yours', Steve commented.
'You should not be surprised', Thor said, a tad too hurriedly to be casual, 'Loki was never one for martial pursuits. Besides the Chitauri's treatment of him may have caused damage'.
Thor kept his eyes firmly on the sodden pavement and Steve got the unpleasant inkling he was hiding something.
'No doubt the medical test tomorrow will shed light on things', Thor continued, 'Even if Fury has insisted on using Midgardian technology'.
'Probably to get readings he understands', Steve thought, 'Or ones that aren't tampered with'.
'Hey Thor?'
'Hmm?'
'Are magic stones real?'
'Of course my friend'.
'What are they for?'
Thor leaned back on the bench, grateful for the less personal line of questioning.
'Depending on their enchantment, they are used for a variety of things from powering craft to just being used for jewellery. Why do you ask?'
'Loki just mentioned they existed. Wanted to make sure'.
'I would need to know more to know what kind he is talking about', Thor mused, 'Magic stones aren't unusual on Asgard: the main bridge to Asgard is constructed out of thousands of them. And many other alien races use them'.
'Learn something new every day', Steve said, standing up.
'I would not worry you are missing anything my friend', Thor said good naturedly, 'After all your world has many wonders of its own. Have you sampled the hot pockets yet?'
'I'll add them to the list', Steve smiled and giving a wave to Thor, headed back to Stark Tower intrigued by the prospect of the medical test the next day.