Tony sped out of the parking lot of Avengers High, feeling fairly good about the days events up until Fury had, figuratively, dragged him off to his office along with a few of his good buddies.
Tony didn't feel the tiniest bit of remorse for what he'd done to Loki. The little bastard had deserved it.
But what was eating away at Tony currently was what Loki had said to him about his home.
Yes Tony's father was a complete jackass when he actually happened to be home, which was not very often, but that didn't mean others with that knowledge could just spring it in his fucking face, thinking it was an okay thing to do.
"I suggest you slow down sir, you are currently going thirty over the speed limit." Jarvis interrupted Tony's thoughts.
"Shit!" Tony slammed on the breaks, the sound of squealing tires the only thing able to be heard.
"Thank you Jarvis." Tony cheerfully expressed, continuing down the road towards his home.
"You are very welcome sir."
Tony pulled into the garage, quickly exiting the vehicle in search of sustenance.
"Jarvis, I'm feeling a tad famished, what do you suggest?" Tony asked, waltzing to the kitchen.
Upon looking in the fridge Tony knew that he wouldn't be having anything out of the home.
"Hey Jarvis, what do you think this used to be?" Tony held up a bag filled with black, moldy contents of some kind.
"According to my scanners readings, it appears that they were grapes, sir." Jarvis replied instantly.
Tony took the 'grapes' and whatever other rotting food stuffs were taking up space, and deposited them into the trash can.
"Might I suggest pizza sir?" Jarvis inquired.
"Yes you may, you beautiful machine." Tony smiled up at the ceiling.
"You flatter me sir." Jarvis replied, almost sounding amused at Tony's compliment.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just get that order in. I'm starving, and have some work to do before my time is spent next week with me shriveling up in some corner of Thor's house." Tony frowned at the thought.
"Sir?" Jarvis questioned.
"Now don't play dumb with me smart ass. You heard Fury." Tony rolled his eyes at Jarvis' response.
"I am aware of the terms Fury stated sir. I am referring to the location." Jarvis explained.
"What about it Jarvis?" Tony asked curiously, wondering what the AI was getting at.
"Well sir, would it not be easier to bring Loki here. I imagine it would be much easier to work on your many projects while he works on his studies sir." Jarvis suggested.
"Hm. You make a good point Jarvis." Tony replies, pulling out his cell phone. "I think I'll text Thor right now and see what he thinks." Tony tapped his fingers swiftly across the smooth screen.
"Of course sir. I believe that to be a wise course of action."
Tony sent the message just as the doorbell rang.
"Here already? Damn that was fast. Jarvis, make a note to order from this place more often." Tony spoke as he rushed to the front door.
"Already done sir." Jarvis responded in a proud manner.
Tony laughed, pulling open the door, paying the delivery boy, and commencing in eating multiple slices of cheesy goodness.
"Oh Jarvis. If only you had taste buds." Tony moaned, taking another large bite.
"You would surely go hungry if that were the case sir." Jarvis countered.
"Don't get snarky buddy, I can re-program you." Tony lightheartedly jested.
"Sorry sir."
Tony snorted, starting on his third slice as he pulled up his recently thought up design for a bug repelling watch. Clint would very much appreciate the small gift.
Tony was about to start working on styling things up a bit in the design, but was abruptly pulled from his focus.
"I am sorry to interrupt sir, but you have received a reply to your text message from earlier." Jarvis' voice reported dutifully.
"Thank you Jarvis, pull that shit up." Tony pointed to the large screen nearly covering the whole wall.
Tony read through the text, a smile forming on his lips.
Anthony, it would seem that Loki is not fond of your proposal. He will however graciously accept the offer having received permission from our father. Worry not, for I will drive him to your home. You need only worry about driving him back.
"Well Jarvis, it looks like we will indeed be having company for the next seven days." Tony grinned.
"It should be a welcome change hearing a voice other than yours sir." Jarvis stated.
"What did I tell you Jarvis?" Tony pointed a warning finger at the screen.
"My apologies."
There was no way to tell how much time had passed for Loki. His windows had been boarded shut, and all of his electronic devices confiscated. Loki wasn't quite sure how not knowing how much time has passed would make him relent much faster to his father's wishes. Loki would rather die if he was being honest with himself.
The only way he could really tell if a day had come and gone was by the allowance of a couple glasses of water per day. It was consumed with gratitude, but could only do so much to dampen ones hunger.
A soft knock sounded at the door, opening a moment later, as Thor poked his head through the space he had created.
"It is Monday, are you ready to go brother?" Thor asked.
"Does it look like I'm ready Thor?" Loki scoffed, tugging at his gray sweatpants.
"Well, I am glad that you at least have some clothing, other than boxers, covering yourself." Thor smiled warmly, lifting Loki from his bed.
"I can walk myself to the car!" Loki smacked Thor's shoulder none too lightly.
"Very well, allow me to retrieve your crutches then brother." Thor acquiesced.
Loki supposed he had better at least let Thor do this trivial service, so that he felt he'd done something useful.
"Here you are." Thor held out the metal crutches to Loki, who accepted them hesitantly.
Allowing Thor to help him up off the bed, he tucked the crutches firmly in his armpits, making his way to the door.
Loki caught a slight glimpse of himself in the mirror before Thor had him turn to help him descend the treacherous staircase. He looked like complete shit to put it lightly.
Bruises covered most of his arms, the finger imprints around his neck having faded somewhat to include an ugly yellow. His eye was still swollen shut, and his nose displayed a vibrant purple, some black flecks scattered here and there.
That was all Loki had managed to catch in that brief moment. Hopefully Stark would have the decency not to open his trap for once.
Loki froze as they reached the last step, Odin a mere few feet away, looking at them. He was no doubt disappointed in Loki's needing assistance to the car, if his displeased expression was anything to go by.
"I will be leaving for Stark's now father. I should be back in time for dinner, not that it makes any difference for me." Loki coldly spoke.
Odin merely went on his way, most likely having to attend to business as usual.
It had taken them ten whole minutes just to get down the stairs, and another five or so to reach the car.
Once Loki had secured himself in the passengers seat, Thor stepped in the driver's side, taking no time to start the car on its course to Tony's.
Loki had never actually been to Tony's home, but if the boy's personality was anything to go by he'd say it would be larger than life in any, and every, way possible.
"So brother, are you excited?" Thor exclaimed with more enthusiasm than Loki had expressed in his whole lifetime.
"Not really. I don't fancy being driven to the home of the one who basically put me in this sorry state." Loki replied, gesturing to his injuries.
"Worry not, for all ill things are settled between you two." Thor shot back with a grin.
"Sure they are Thor." Loki snorted. "Because getting my ass handed to me by Stark suddenly makes the two of us the best of friends." Loki snapped, sounding a little more hostile than he'd intended.
"I meant not to insult you." Thor apologized, a small frown replacing the beaming smile from mere seconds ago.
Before Loki could say anything more, Thor's smile returned as they pulled into a rather long driveway.
"We have arrived." Thor happily stated. "Though I do not know why Steve's car is present as well."
Loki's muscles tensed at that.
Why would Steve be here? Loki decided that he had most likely just come to hang out. Tony and Steve were best friends after all. Of course if Steve was here, that could only mean Bruce and Clint had tagged along. It was an appropriate assumption, considering they carpooled to and from school.
Thor helped Loki from the car, slinging Loki's bag around his shoulders as well. Once Loki was balanced enough Thor smiled, waving up at the house. Loki's gaze shifted to the third level of the home, where the three unexpected additions to this get together stood, waving back.
I shall see you in a few hours brother." Thor gave a reassuring squeeze to Loki's sore shoulder, sending a look of apology as Loki hissed in pain.
"Yes, yes, now go before you cause me to have another physical ailment added to my stockpile." Loki shooed Thor away with a wave of his hand, slowly making his way to the porch steps.
"Oh, and Loki." Thor called out. "Feel free to eat a little something while you're here. I imagine you to be starving by now." Thor commented, a sour note in his voice.
Loki could not bring himself to even think of eating. He felt Odin would be able to sense it somehow, and the smell of whatever he'd eaten would linger on his breath.
But he simply nodded, giving Thor at least some comfort that he'd consider it.
Loki took far much longer than he would have liked climbing the porch steps, only to be faced with a whole grand staircase upon entering the large home.
"Hey Loks!" Tony exclaimed, sliding down the railing with ease.
Steve, Clint, and Bruce followed suit, taking the more normal option of simply walking down the sleek glass steps.
"I don't recall you having a broken leg, or a black eye when I last saw you." Tony raised an eyebrow speculatively.
This had been the part Loki had dreaded most, made only that much worse by the others' presence.
"I took a spill down the stairs." Loki quietly replied, keeping his eyes glued to the floor.
"That must have been quite the fall." Bruce winced as he examined Loki's new injuries.
"Well, before we get started on any work, I think you have something to say to my dear pal Clint." Tony smirked.
Loki inwardly grimaced, but knew better than to make any of them cross at him when he had no means of escape.
Loki reluctantly turned to face Clint, avoiding making any eye contact.
"I apologize for my uncouth behavior towards you on Friday." Loki grimaced.
"I don't think I heard the sincerity in that, did you Clint?" Tony asked in mock innocence.
"No Tony, I don't think I did." Clint responded, a mock sadness overtaking his features.
"Well then Loks, I suggest you try again. Make it sincere this time." Tony was radiating arrogance at this point.
Loki snapped right then.
"Maybe if you weren't being a complete ass about it I would apologize with more sincerity." Loki snarled. Perhaps his empty stomach was finally getting to him. Loki had always been the type to be in a fowl mood when hungry.
"Sir, my sensors are picking up a hostile presence." Jarvis announced.
"It's fine Jarvis, nothing to be too worried about." Tony replied.
Loki was utterly confused.
"Who was that?" Loki asked curiously.
"Hm? Oh, that's Jarvis, he's an AI I developed, and a damn smart one at that." Tony explained, his ego growing at the passing of each second, if that was even possible.
"Thank you sir." Jarvis responded without pause.
Loki was amazed that such an amazing piece of machinery could have been created by someone like Tony. Loki had known he was considered a genius, but he hadn't realized how intelligent the lazy shit indeed was.
The amazement must have shown on Loki's face, for when he refocused his attention onto the four boys smiling his way, he mentally cursed himself.
"Well, as much as I would love to continue with this lovely conversation, I would very much like to get started on my homework." Loki claimed. "I only have so much time before I have to go home. I would rather not have you showing up at my house at the crack of dawn, asking, for my assignments."
"Have it your way pumpkin, but you will have to say sorry at some point." Tony retorted with an amused glint in his eyes.
"You know, you're probably the first person I have met that would rather study, than make friends." Tony commented.
Loki tensed up at the remark.
"Well, perhaps I do not wish to have friends for good reason." Loki coldly replied, urging his way towards the dangerous glass steps. One mistake and Loki just might find himself with his other leg snapped in two.
"Would you like some assistance?" Bruce kindly offered.
"I am sure I can manage." As soon as the words had left Loki's mouth he felt himself loosing his balance, beginning to topple backwards. Just as Loki thought he'd perhaps split his skull, he felt himself gripped painfully hard in a pair of somewhat toned arms. Opening his eyes, he discovered his face mere inches from Tony's.
"Gee, I never thought you would have felt this way about me. Or anyone for that matter." Tony suggestively wiggled his eyebrows. Clint muffled his laughter, not having much luck in doing so.
Loki scrambled to remove himself from Tony, bashing his leg against something hard in the process, clutching it to his chest as sheer agony ripped through the limb.
"That was uncalled for Tony." Steve chastised, kneeling down next to Loki's crumpled form.
"That must have really hurt." Steve spoke softly, mainly to himself.
"No shit captain obvious." Loki groaned.
Steve ignored the scathing comment and lifted Loki into his arms, making his way up to the third level.
He placed Loki on a soft reading chair, setting him up with the two assignments he'd been given.
Looking up and recording definitions for his Physics class, and an assignment from art to draw a portrait of someone they admire.
It took Loki no more than thirty minutes to finish his Physics homework, but hit a roadblock when he realized he hadn't been given any of the proper materials to work on the assignment.
Loki looked around the room, noting that Tony was leaning over a workbench, mumbling things to himself as he scribbled in a notebook, Clint and Steve playing some video game, and Bruce reading in between them on the small couch.
As much as Loki didn't want to draw attention to himself, he needed at least a pen and some decent paper.
"Stark." Loki firmly said, a bit annoyed when Tony merely ignored him.
He was about to call out again when he found that Bruce was suddenly next to him.
"Sorry about that. When Tony is in his zone, it's near impossible to get his attention. Is there something you need?" Bruce was simply too nice Loki concluded. But it wasn't necessarily a bad thing at the moment.
"Well actually, I am in need of some sketching paper and a pen." Loki responded somewhat nicely.
"Alright, hold on for just a second." Bruce walked over to Tony, tapping him on the shoulder.
Tony looked a little annoyed at the small interruption, but pulled some paper and a few different writing utensils from a drawer nearby.
"Here you go pumpkin." Tony practically flung the materials into Loki's arms.
Loki glared at Tony's retreating form, but simply opted to get started on his picture. He knew exactly who it was going to be of.
Frigga.
There was no one he respected and admired more in this world than his own mother.
Loki looked over his options and decided to use a light, tan, colored paper, drawing with a standard ballpoint pen.
Loki had nearly completed his drawing, just adding the finishing touches to the hair. It was one of Loki's best pieces this year he concluded.
Suddenly he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. Loki reluctantly tore his eyes from his work to find all of them observing him curiously.
"We got pizza." Steve placed a plate with a couple slices on the end table next to Loki's workspace.
It was truly tempting, but Loki didn't dare.
"Thank you, but I am not hungry." Loki politely declined, holding the plate out.
"More for us." Clint grabbed the plate digging into the first heavenly slice of the greasy junkfood.
"Are you sure? You've been here working for seven hours now." Steve persisted.
"Maybe he's on a diet." Clint chuckled, his mouth still full.
Loki's eyes suddenly widened. Before he had a chance to voice his insistence that he be driven home that instant, Tony's voice cut in, as was the usual.
"Who is this little hottie? This looks amazing." Tony picked up the finished portrait. "Think you could draw me some pictures of boobs to put on my wall?"
Loki was seething with fury in a matter of moments.
"That, you completely ignorant fuck, is my mother." Loki growled.
Tony had never met Frigga, as she busied herself during the day helping Odin with his work, so whenever he had happened to come over, their parents were busy.
"Your...your mother." Tony repeated, his eyebrows nearly to his hairline. "Well let me be the first to congratulate you on having a smoking hot mom." Tony didn't seem the least bit ashamed and sorry for what he was saying about the one person Loki truly cared for.
"You will not talk about her that way." Loki fumed, barely containing his urge to strangle the boy in front of him.
"Alright, geez, no need to go all momma's boy on me over a complient." Tony placed the picture back down, grabbing a slice of fresh pizza from the nearest box.
"I need to get home." Loki reminded himself more than Tony of that fact. He was two and a half hours late, and he was going to get more than an earful.
"Actually, you're going to stay to watch a movie with us!" Tony announced like it was what Loki had been waiting to do his whole miserable existence.
"I don't think you understand Stark. I need to get home. I am already too late getting back to be an acceptable time. My father is very punctual." Loki explains as calmly as he can. He can already feel the bruising grip of his father, that familiar lump forming in his throat.
"Don't worry about it, I'll explain it to him when I drive you home, sound good?" Tony smiles, everything in his expression emitting a laid back feel.
It doesn't matter. Loki seethed.
Whether he was to return now, or after a movie was not going to make a difference in the outcome once he got back.
Breathing a sigh of defeat, Loki accepted, much to Tony's approval.
"Great! Hey, I'll even let you pick what we watch." Tony offered. "Jarvis, roll the film of Loks choice tonight."
"Yes sir. Is there anything you had in mind Loki?" Jarvis inquired dutifully.
"Loki?" Bruce waved a hand in front of Loki's face, receiving no response.
"I think we broke him." Clint's eyes widened in horror at the thought of Thor coming to beat them all into a bloody pulp.
"No, we didn't, Loki doesn't break, he's...well he's Loki. Nothing phases the guy." Tony reasoned with the group, the worry increasing by the second. "Right Jarvis, there's nothing wrong with him?"
"Actually sir, though I am not certain, I believe he is about to commence a panic attack." Jarvis informs the four boys.
Sure enough Loki curled into himself, clutching his head as his breathing became ragged and uneven.
"Oh god, wh-what do we do!?" Tony turns towards Bruce, the more knowledgeable in these things than the others in their little posse.
Bruce moves over to Loki, placing a gentle hand on his back, rubbing small relaxing circles into the tense muscle.
"Loki...Loki can you hear me? You need to calm down, everything's okay. You're safe. We'll take you home, all of us together. We won't let anything happen to you." Bruce whispers calmly, urging the others to say something.
"Yeah, we can go right now." Steve chimes in, sliding his fingers slowly through Loki's hair.
Loki can feel his muscles begin to relax, the dull ache in his head subsiding little by little at the words of comfort, and the promises being made. It was bringing back memories of when Thor would pull him close after he'd been punished, telling him things would be alright, that he was there for him.
Loki had stopped shaking, slowly sitting up.
"You will all come?" Loki wished for it to be as they said, hoping it'd make a difference.
"Yeah, we'll all come along for the ride. Explain things to your dad. I'm sure he'll understand." Bruce reassured Loki of all the things he needed to hear.
"Alright then." Loki agreed, bringing his breathing back to a more normal pace.
Before anyone had time to move, a loud banging was coming from downstairs.
"Sir, someone's at the front door." Jarvis announced.
"See what he wants." Tony orders. You can never be too careful about who you allow into your home.
"It seems Mr. Odinson is here to pick up Loki sir." Jarvis announced.
"Let him in." Tony directed.
Loki had the look of a dead man written all over his face. He hurriedly got up from his seat, hobbling to the furthest corner of the room.
It would have been a funny display if he didn't look so scared while he huddled in the corner by the large glass window.
The door to the workshop opened, revealing the most intimidating man in existence.
Even more so than Fury, and that was saying something. Go figure they both were missing an eye.
"Where is my son?" Odin growled. "Clint merely pointed to where Loki had placed himself, earning a slap on the arm from Bruce.
"Ow, what!?" Clint hissed quietly.
Odin spotted the pizza boxes lying open on the coffee table.
Odin glanced at the small group before he turned his full attention to Loki.
"I come here to bring you home. I am sure you are very much aware of the time." Odin's voice was dangerously low.
"I am going to assume you've been eating?" Odin dared Loki to raise his voice in denial.
"Actually sir, he hasn't had anything." Steve bravely spoke up. Odin glared at the boy, silencing any other words he might have given voice to.
"And above all else, upon my arrival, I find you cowering in the corner, sniveling, like a woman." Odin snarled, unfastening his belt, extracting the smooth, leather, accessory from the loops of his slacks.
"I-I'm sorry father. I meant no disrespect, I merely lost track of the time." Loki stuttered, barely being able to mask his crying, let alone speak.
"Please father, please don't." Loki pleaded as Odin moved towards him, his words falling on deaf ears. No one in the room moved from their spot, fearing what might happen if they slipped even a millimeter out of place.
"I will not stand for this behavior. You knew that you needed to be home at seven, and you were not." Odin's words carried a finality in them that was nowhere near pleasant.
Loki squeezed his good eye shut, bracing himself for the worst. Odin snatched a fistful of hair, pulling him into the nearby bathroom.
"That has to hurt." Clint whispered, the others silently agreeing that it would, indeed, be very unpleasant as the door slammed shut.
The next few minutes are filled with the sickening sound of leather against skin, and muffled chastisements from what could only be Odin's voice.
Suddenly Thor bursts into the room, eyes scanning for the one person that's not there. He closes his eyes at the sounds coming from the bathroom, after shooting his friends a sad, weary look, that they'd never thought such a strong guy would wear.
"You came to save your baby brother from big daddy's wrath right?" Tony expectantly looked at Thor.
"I...I cannot cross him." Thor finally answered after a moment, an awkward silence falling upon them.
"But you'd do anything and everything for Loki." Steve almost pleaded, wanting it to end.
Thor wore a pained expression. "In this matter my friends, I can do nothing." Thor choked back a sob, tears streaking his unusually pale cheeks.
The slapping sounds come to an abrupt halt, Odin exiting the bathroom, a bloody belt in hand, and no Loki.
"I thought I told you to wait in the car Thor." Odin showed a tired look to the bulky teen.
"I am sorry father. I figured it would ease your burden if I came up to bring Loki down." Thor told a little white lie. At least they hoped it was a lie.
Odin bought into it though, gesturing towards the bathroom.
"I shall wait in the car. Get that mess cleaned up as well." Odin added. Making Tony's eye twitch ever so slightly.
Thor nodded, reaching the bathroom, friends close behind. Tony wasn't quite sure he wanted to see the aftermath, but his curiosity had gotten the best of him.
What Tony saw wanted to make him empty the meager contents of his stomach.
Loki was laid on the floor with his back facing the door, pants and underwear pulled down to his knees, his ass nothing but colorful bruises from various beatings. The worst part of it all though was the amount of blood that pooled on the floor, flecks also dotting the walls, toilet, sink, and shower.
"Fuck." Tony didn't know what else he could say.
A hollow laugh came from the body on the floor that seemed suddenly so small.
"Upset Stark? I thought I deserved a good beating every day. Didn't you say so?" Loki rasped.
Tony suddenly felt really bad about that comment he'd made, remembering Thor's reaction to those very words.
"I didn't actually mean that." Tony choked out, tears beginning to fall from his eyes. "I just said that out of anger Loks."
"Yes, well, you can take your apologies and shove them up your ass. They are nothing but words, as are promises as I've come to understand." Loki spat venomously.
"Brother-" Thor began but was quieted by a fist connecting with his gut. It hadn't held much force behind it, but the point got across.
Tony pushed past Thor, a bowl of hot water in one hand, and his shirt in the other.
"Can't pass up the chance to grab some ass Stark?" Loki joked, wincing as the fabric was raked across the fresh wounds.
"Shut the hell up, and let me do something nice for you." Tony lightly smacked Loki's hip.
Loki stayed silent, as Tony continued to clean him, the others setting to work in getting the blood off the rest of the bathroom before it dried.
"I feel like we're cleaning up a crime scene." Clint voiced, looking noticeably paler.
"We are. Domestic violence is a crime Clint." Came Bruce's blunt reply reflecting the emotions all of them harbored on the event that occurred mere moments ago.
"I'm only going to ask you this once Loki, did you really fall down a set of stairs?" Tony urged gingerly, knowing the answer already, but needing to hear it spoken aloud.
"No." Loki placed an arm over his eyes, silently sobbing as Tony pulled up Loki's pants, placing the distraught bundle of emotions in his lap, slowly rocking back and forth, not caring if he was getting blood all over his pants. Clothes could be replaced, people couldn't.
It absolutely killed me writing this chapter towards the end! T^T
I was practically sobbing uncontrollably as I typed Loki's misfortune out on the screen in front of me.
I hope all of you could share in my emotions.
But now that it's done and over with, perhaps some adorable happenings in the next chapter. We'll see what my fingers think of that suggestion.
Until next time! Reviews are very much welcome!