There will be 1 more chapter after this one.
I know I updated yesterday, but I'd rather get this entire story finished now then to give you all such a horrid delay like before.
Please keep in mind that all of the magic or the science behind it is completely made up (I tried to make it as logical as possible).
Please review, I love hearing from all of you and I take each of your criticisms or praises to heart.
The three stumbled through the swirling orange portal, Peter from the sheer disorientation and Tony from the unexpected weight of the Norse God.
Strange walked through like a celebrity and that flat out wasn't fair.
As soon as they exited, people glanced up. They quickly displayed expressions of bafflement as well as the common bashfulness that came from being near heroes.
They all wore strange robes that looked like something you'd wear after a shower, but Peter wasn't going to say that aloud.
"Where-" Tony blinked, raising the visor of his suit to glance around in shock.
"Careful," Strange warned dryly, "You'll catch flies."
"That's Petey's job." Tony sniped out, sniffing in disdain as he hiked the unconscious god further over his shoulder.
Mumbles spread through the crowd, the rising sound of 'Iron Man?' drifted in and around the ornate pillars- looking as if they had been recently repaired for some reason.
"This way," Strange beckoned, "We'll head to the private training quarters before I go search for Wong."
"Wong?" Tony gawked, "You mean-"
Peter sharply elbowed him, only to grunt in pain as his fleshy elbow was considerably weaker than Tony's suit, "Don't be rude!" Peter hissed under his breath with a meaningful glare.
Tony's jaw clicked shut as he realized how close he had come to being pretty insensitive.
Strange sighed through his nose, rubbing the shaking fingers of one hand against his temple. The Cloak he wore pat his neck reassuringly.
He guided them through the halls of what looked like an old Tibetan monastery mixed with an English castle. Display cases housed an assortment of modern marvels as well as rusty knives and one strange looking axe that still had dried blood on it.
They filed into a larger room, similar in style and size to the one back in New York. It had more chairs, more burn marks and damage to the walls, but also appeared more used and homely from the state of the well-worn rugs and freshly cut flowers.
"We may leave him here; nobody will infringe on a room I've taken." Strange permitted, beckoning at the ground where Tony proceeded to drop Loki with a loud crack!
Peter winced and Tony's eyes widened at the sound; the two looked at Strange who looked as if he was babysitting infants.
As if to undermine Strange's assurances, the doors flung open and a stocky man walked in with firm steps, his clothing rippling with the movements.
Strange turned at the sound, looking for the intruder. Once he spotted the man, a smile broke over his face and he took a few steps in the direction, offering a hand which the other man took firmly.
"Wong," Strange greeted, voice light and friendly, "I was just about to search for you."
"Wherever trouble is, I find you," The man grumbled, "Should I be concerned that you have returned?"
Strange shrugged his shoulders before looking off upwards, "Well," Strange started, a smile toying on the corners of his mouth, "Would you expect anything less of me?"
Wong sighed, although the expression wasn't one of disdain, "What problems have you conjured from your misuse of the Mystic Arts?"
Strange scowled and crossed his arms, "I only got caught doing that one time."
"I dread to hear how you became mixed with this man," Wong confided, addressing Peter and Tony for the first time, "Trouble follows him like that cloak."
Tony snorted, causing Peter to snicker wildly.
"Who is this?" Wong asked, walking around Strange once he caught sight of the body lying on the floor. He froze instantly, peering in blatant disbelief before he slowly rotated to look at Strange.
"It wasn't me," Strange defended, "They captured him and bound him in a cocoon and left him in a storage unit."
"Actually that was me," Peter smiled, giving a tiny wave, "Well, the cocoon part at least."
Wong blinked slowly, exhaled and inhaled rhythmically like Bruce in one of his soothing relaxation techniques, and then addressed Strange firmly.
"You should not have brought the Trickster here," Wong argued firmly, "His magic is unlike ours, and will only result in ruin. If word of his capture spreads, you threaten war across the mystic planes."
"Mystic planes," Tony sighed, "Do they offer you magic beans instead of peanuts?"
"This is no laughing matter, Mr. Stark." Wong growled, pointing threateningly, "You have no idea the magnitude of this disaster."
"Actually," Strange sighed, "It's worse."
"How," Wong muttered, "could it possibly be worse?"
"He has influence of an Infinity Stone, a being is commanding it and from what I've assumed, has been since the New York Invasion." Strange informed, causing Wong to startle.
"An Infinity Stone?" Wong shook his head ever so slightly, "Are you certain?"
"He can't be expelled into the Astral plane." Strange grimaced, "The Power Stone is binding his soul somehow-"
"Seidr." Wong interrupted, "The mages and sorcerers outside our realm use the essence of reality and feed from it, drawing it into their body to use as Seidr."
"Like a tree?" Peter asked, tilting his head interestedly, "They can absorb this stuff like a tree absorbs nutrients."
Wong frowned slightly, "They use the existing powers all around them, absorbing it and expelling it through channels."
"Imagine breathing," Strange clarified, working as the broker between magic and science, "They are able to fully utilize the components already freely existing, and metabolizes it as an energy source."
"Loki mentioned something called Aether," Peter offered, "We didn't recognize the name."
"Aether? Are you certain?" Wong looked troubled, "I have to search further to be certain, although Aether as I know it is a chaotic force of power, too strong and dangerous even for the Ancient One."
"Ancient One?" Tony blinked, "Am I in a ninja movie."
Peter smacked him through the suit, only managing to hurt his hand.
"This is no laughing matter, Stark." Wong gravely spoke, "Aether is destruction in itself, it is said it is able to bend the laws of reality to what it deems useful."
"From what I've gathered," Tony argued, "You all can break laws of physics just fine as it is."
Peter hummed, "he has a point."
Strange was thinking quickly, trying to determine or make sense of the information, "This, this Aether. Is it related to an Infinity Stone?"
"I am not certain," Wong admitted, "You believe we may be at odds with two stones? Not just one?"
"Loki said that the Power Stone wasn't actually here," Peter offered, "He said that it was just a tether."
"A lingering mark is easier to wipe clean," Wong nodded, "I must search the tomes."
"I'll help," Strange offered, "Stark, stay here. The library will just give you an aneurism, surprisingly I can't actually remedy that if it happens anymore."
Peter floundered, not prepared for the morbid turn the conversation had twisted.
"Don't worry about that," Tony dismissed, a sharp edge of morbid humor glinting back, "You turned me down years ago anyways."
Strange gave a single blurt of laughter, somehow finding the exchange amusing to him. Peter and Wong didn't know how to react, although something certainly had just blossomed between the two genius'.
"We'll be back," Strange assured, "Perhaps you should meditate to kill the time."
Tony looked at Peter, "I have Sudoku in the suit."
"Give it here," Peter bluntly demanded, "I'll beat your time record."
Tony scoffed, "Try it, kid."
Strange and Wong returned shortly after, looking grim and carrying a stack of books adorned with gaudy chains.
"Find anything?" Peter asked, jumping to his feet. Tony was motionless, playing the Sudoku inside the helmet in an effort to beat Peter's high score.
"Unfortunately," Wong grunted, setting the books on a nearby table heavily.
Peter nudged Tony, getting the older man to look outwards into the room blearily, "Doctor! Ninja!" He cried enthusiastically, "You've returned from Hogwarts!"
"Ignore him," Peter added, "What did you find?"
"The Aether," Strange started with a huff, "resembles an Infinity Stone remarkably well."
"So we're dealing with two?" Peter asked hesitantly, "And... that's bad?"
"Very." Wong grumbled, "Stones are chaotic and desire to bind to one another. Removing the influence of the Power Stone is impossible in the presence of the Aether. Fortunately, they appear to be only impressions left behind."
Strange moved away from the ground, standing above Loki. He twisted his hands, forming complex geometric shapes that resembled a Mandela before it branched into uniform lines and patterns, twisting three dimensional outwards.
"Whoa," Tony breathed, eyes lighting up in glee, "That's like the holograms I use for my schematics."
"These are the 'schematics' of reality," Strange explained, pulling back two fingers to pluck out four of the burning lines, "When arranged in a specific way-"
He let go and the lined thrummed, vibrating like a guitar as they pulsed over the air of Loki, shifting and arranging with the quickly overwhelming sear of crimson red and nauseating blue.
"The Power Stone," Peter breathed, pointing at the blue cloud suspended between the burning wires of orange, "And the red-"
"The Aether," Wong spoke, glancing at the map critically, "Remarkably well contained, almost caged within his Seidr."
"Caged?" Tony blinked, "Wait- let's assume that these stones are charges- would it be possible for one stone to be manipulated accordingly to remove the influence of the other? Negate one charge to negate the other?"
Wong scoffed, "This is not electricity, Stark. For being a genius you know so li-"
"No," Strange blinked, raising a hand in thought, "He's right. The Power stone if put in place would not be arranged in such a way to cage his astral projection. The Aether, he stated that the stone was bonded to his Aether."
"Remove the Aether, the Power stone goes with it?" Peter offered, "Is that how this works?"
Strange took a step back, glancing at Wong with an expression Tony displayed in his moments of madness, "Wong, the Eye can draw it out."
Wong paled and looked at Loki unsure.
"Wait wait, let's say that we manage to draw out this mineral compound whatever," Tony argued, "Where would it go? In us? Would we all die?"
Wong frowned, "There- there are tomes with description for the Eye's construction, careful mixtures of alchemy and metallurgy-"
"World's best engineer at your service," Tony drawled, "Well actually you're at mine since I came to you first-"
"Even then it would take time, days to memorize the critical steps in the construction," Wong argued.
Strange sighed, "Wong, Eidetic memory."
Peter laughed at the expression of hopelessness on Wong's face.
The building of the shells would have taken a long time, days or weeks to gather the materials, longer to have them shipped in. Then the time to set up the tools not to mention pausing for wards and spells to be placed on it.
The book of instructions (in Latin which Doctor Strange almost fluently spoke) hadn't anticipated the combined willpower of two geniuses' and Peter's inhuman ability to be completely motionless and steady hands.
The first casing was built after nine hours of work, which technically meant it was well into the following day and Aunt May was going to kill Peter when he got home.
When the second casing was almost halfway complete, Peter was thoroughly dragging from exhaustion. The couches in Tony Stark's lab were way too comfy for just sitting. Peter had a feeling Mr. Stark's assistant-CEO-something had done that on purpose.
Peter woke up to over six dirty mugs stacked up in the sink, and two impressive eye bags under the genius' eyes who were still working.
Peter didn't know how they did it.
The second container was completed by two pm the next day, ending the exhaustingly long night with all three of them passed out on the too cozy couches. They only barely managed to slip away when JARVIS alerted them that someone was descending the steps into the lab. Strange's impossible ability to make portals like a videogame, was seriously handy.
(Tony made a joke about that to Strange's face. Strange managed to push him out to stand on the top of Mt. Everest for just over twenty seconds before he pulled him back in.)
Loki had been adjusted and his armor removed. He was still unconscious, although this time he was laying with his head on a pillow, looking strangely at peace despite the translucent quality of his skin.
"We ready to do this?" Tony asked, armed in the suit and holding the containers just to be safe. Peter was a safe distance away, behind Wong who was holding a strange weapon.
What did they honestly expect would happen? A little imp would jump out of Loki's chest like a strange Alien movie?
"Don't touch it," Strange warned, before he looked at the amulet around his throat shakily, and performed a movement in front of it with the ease of someone who had done it a million times.
The eye unfurled, opening to display a bright piercing light through its iris, staring at Loki's laying body with fervent attention.
The eye glowed brighter, Strange's own two eyes growing foggy as he closed them slowly. A golden eye opened on his forehead, burning with fiery energy.
"The eye of Agamotto will show the truth," He rumbled, voice deeper and almost gravel.
Loki's skin flushed, almost as if blushing. Under the skin of his throat and neck a dark red was glowing under the surface, swishing and pulsing with swatches of toxic cyan like a mutant infection.
Strange inhaled sharply, eyes still closed as his voice dropped lower, "Loki, break the tethers."
Tony looked warily at Strange, then back at the unconscious body.
"Can he talk to Loki?" Peter whispered to Wong, "Is Loki talking back?"
"Hush," Wong whispered, tensing further as Strange gave a full body shudder, tilting his head and raising his hands, crossed at the forearms.
It looked like an invisible knife gouged across Loki's throat in a clean swift blow. Instead of blood and other repulsive organs, something red and blue bled out of the wound like molten metal, pulsing and twisting near the edges.
Strange gasped, forcing his eyes open as he twisted his hands, forming the singing ropes to try and prevent the liquid from escaping in a gaseous form.
"The containers," Strange grunted, voice hoarse from how low it had just gone, "Now, Stark."
Tony cracked open the one, the enchantments on the inside of the sphere activated with yellow light, drawing the liquid up and in like a video in reverse.
Strange cracked the other sphere open, drawing the blue gel away from the red into its own container. There was a significant more amount of it than red.
Tony forced the ball closed where it sealed with a flare of purple- locking shut so there was no ending or beginning. Strange followed suit, dropping the ball as it scolded his hands and burned them raw.
"Did it work?" Peter anxiously asked, peering around Wong who lowered his guard, "Is it over?"
Tony dropped the ball as well, letting it roll over to the edge of the room. Relief hung heavy on his shoulders, allowing him to pop the faceplate of his armor up and exchange meaningful looks with Strange.
"Yeah kid," Tony grunted, clearing his throat from where it had gummed up in his worry, "I think it's ov-"
Loki bolted from the ground, curling inwards and smashing his fingers into the floor. The wooden boards crunched, puncturing small holes clean through.
The look in Loki's eyes was savage as he hissed- he hissed, like a snake! With one hand, fingers powdered in sawdust, he swiped it across in front of him sending a thin razor pulse of something dark green.
Strange twisted, conjuring what looked like orange fans but deflected the dark green with minor sparks.
Loki scrambled backwards, shaking his head while his body shook from full body tremors. He turned, pausing in one stiff moment before he retched all over the ancient floor.
"Loki!" Peter yelped, jumping over Wong, using his shoulders as a springboard. Peter landed in a crouch, holding his hands up non threateningly, "Loki! It's okay!"
Loki shook, eyes wide and glazed as he frantically searched around the room. His hands were clenching randomly, as if trying to quell some sort of urge.
"Loki, hey, hey look at me." Peter offered, quieting his voice as he shuffled forward carefully across the floor. Skittering like the bug that he was. "Hey, hey buddy look at me."
Loki didn't, obviously he was in shock over what had just happened.
"Peter," Strange's voice was low, warning. Tony had his faceplate up and was barely resisting the urge to blast the Norse God with all the ammunition he had.
"I got this," Peter urged, shuffling forward across the ground once again, "Loki, I know you're probably freaking out, I'd be freaking out too," Peter confessed with a small awkward laugh, "But it's all okay now. You're okay, you're out. You're not alone now," Peter slowly reached out and with two fingers rested them on Loki's nearby calf, "You're not alone," Peter assured soothingly.
The fogginess cleared slightly, eyes focusing on Peter. Loki's eyes were a deep glowing green, the same color as a tree snake Peter had seen on a nature show a few weeks back.
"Hey," Peter waved, giving a toothy grin, "I told you we'd get you out."
Loki blinked, sanity returning from his hysteria, "It's gone," he croaked, voice low from being unconscious for over a day, "It's gone,"
Peter grinned, "No more Aether or that stone thing, we got it out." Peter agreed.
"How- how-" Loki started, shaking as if in denial.
Loki's eyes focused behind Peter, looking at both Tony and Strange. Peter could imagine how imposing those two looked, being decked out in the armor and a curtain from renaissance Europe.
"Hello, Loki." Strange nodded, taking a few steps forward although still staying a considerable distance away from the two, "My name is Doctor Stephen Strange, I am the protector of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum. You are currently located in Kamar-Taj." Strange rattled off in a pure professional tone Peter subconsciously connected to his own medical doctor.
Loki shifted, unfurling slightly from his incredibly defensive posture into something with the barest skeleton of regality. His sharp jaw rose as he lifted his nose in disdain, despite being on the ground below everyone else.
"I care not where, petty human," Loki taunted, his voice lacking the bite Peter had heard over the shaky camera footage of the New York invasion. "You simple minded-"
Strange offered a restrained smile, crossing his arms behind his back. The cape fluttered out of the way, avoiding being pinched to his back.
Loki spotted the movement that defied the laws of gravity, his brows furrowed for a fraction of a second before his face smoothed into something veiled,
With a loud automated click, Tony's faceplate rose and the armor disassembled. If Peter wasn't in such a compromising position, he may have paused to gawk at the example of mechanical and engineering genius. Instead he was stuck with two fingers touching Loki's leg like an elementary school show and tell.
'Pet the dog with two fingers,' Peter thought, and it took all of his willpower to not burst out laughing at that moment.
"Hey Reindeer games," Tony waved casually, walking away to a nearby table where a decorative tea set was set out for the group, "Long time no see. Well for you, because I was lugging your unconscious body all over the world."
Loki tensed and Tony poured himself a small teacup of dark amber liquid. He picked it up daintily, sniffing once before taking a sip. With exaggerated movements he gagged, hurriedly putting the cup back down.
"God, this stuff is disgusting." Tony grimaced, pointing at Wong accusingly, "Tell your people to make better tea. Or better yet, get a coffee maker in here. A K-cup would really spice this place up, get that hipster coffee shop feel going."
"I think Tea is supposed to be soothing, not caffeinating." Peter spoke, not as loudly as the billionaire but loud enough to be heard.
"Wait," Tony gasped in horror, "That was decaf?"
"Wong," Strange spoke, pausing as he considered his words, "We should get a coffee maker."
"I have one hidden in my office." Wong admitted, looking annoyed at everyone's expressions of disbelief, "We're not uncivilized!"
Loki took this moment to try and stand, drawing his leg away from Peter's hand as if he hadn't ever noticed it was there. Loki slid backwards, subtly bracing his back against the wall as he stood up slowly- his eyes became clouded in the telltale sign of lightheadedness.
"Whoa there," Peter worried, offering an arm that Loki promptly ignored, "No, seriously you should probably slow down there."
"Maybe he has a concussion from when I dropped him?" Tony offered weakly.
"I am not wounded by your Midgardian ailments-" Loki seethed, looking rather pale while standing.
"No, but I assume your cells are struggling to regenerate considering that the Aether was fueling your Seidr." Strange casually mentioned, looking critically at Loki from head to foot, "With an Infinity Stone being used internally, you were severely damaging your own ability to utilize the freely existing."
Loki blinked in surprise, before it shifted into intense suspicion," You are remarkably well informed for a mortal."
Strange's expression was flat, "Dormammu spoke pleasantly of you."
Wong gaped and actually flinched at the name. Peter didn't recognize it, neither did Tony.
Loki did, because suddenly he seemed much more interested in the Sorcerer.
"You speak of beings you know naught of," He sniffed, "Of which script did you hear such a title."
Strange's lips thinned as he smiled coldly, "A few. He's more intimidating in person."
Loki laughed, a curt cold sound that offered no comfort, "Oh, your pathetic jests-"
"I am the Sorcerer Supreme, a Master of the Mystic Arts. I have warded this planet from threats beyond the level of perception and reality itself," Strange announced boldly, arching one eyebrow in a way Peter was almost swooning for his cheekbones, "I don't jest."
Loki stared, as if he wasn't sure what to do.
"Come on fellas," Tony sighed, beckoning to each of them, "Yes yes, you two have so much in common. You can both shoot sparks and break science, but can we get a thanks because we sort of just saved your Ass."
Loki scowled and looked at Peter barely interested, "You were able to communicate with me while unconscious?"
"Astral projection," Peter shrugged, "Doctor Strange figured out that something was wrong when he couldn't eject you."
Loki nodded shortly, still unsure of the situation, "I find myself interested in how you mortals have found a way to consume Seidr."
"We don't use it like you," Strange explained confidently, "You're able to grasp it around you. We bend energy from realities around us, through the webbing and rearrange-"
"You're an Eldritch Mage?" Loki interrupted, eyes burning green like a chemical fire.
Strange paused, "Perhaps that is the term for it, to be honest I'm quite curious about your own magic. How you utilize it- do you redirect it as it exists outside your body or manipulate it from inside your being?"
Loki looked taken aback, and positively thrilled.
"Oh, you do know of what you speak," He nearly cackled, fingers twitching microscopically, "How fascinating."
"Okay okay, uh, this is fun and all," Peter awkwardly stated, jerking his hands quickly to trigger his web slingers to snatch onto the two metal balls, each the size of grapefruits, "But what are we doing with these stones?"
Loki took a step forward, ignoring the cries against the searing heat each ball radiated. The long pale fingers plucked one orb from Peter's web, turning it thoughtfully in his hand even as his skin flushed pink.
"You entrapped the imprint within a runestone," Loki noted, flexing his hand to observe the golden web of lines that was melted into the flawless circle, "This is excellent warding."
"Thank you," Strange noted with a small nod, "I couldn't help but notice the entrapments you placed around your Seidr, with the Aether. It was beautifully done."
Loki glanced away quickly, picking at impossible flaws on the surface of the runestone.
"Strange," Wong spoke suddenly, his face hiding concern intermingled with outrage, "It seems you need to explain a few things, after."
Strange winced, trying to avoid making eye contact with anyone.
"So!" Tony chirped, poking at the tea set once again, "who was in charge of the invasion if you were under a rock's influence?"
"Huh," Peter blinked, "That's actually a good question."
"Well obviously it is," Tony deadpanned, "Speaking of which, where were you when all this happened, Merlin? Stuck in Narnia?"
Strange sighed, "I had a few other things to deal with, Stark."
"Other things? What could be first compared to an alien invasion?"
"For starters, ignoring you."
Tony pouted.
"Our Sorcerer Supreme had not yet learned of his abilities," Wong informed the room smugly, as if knowing how new Stephan was would change something.
"No way, you're a newbie?" Tony laughed, collapsing back on his chair, "Oh man, please tell me there's pictures of you in those Jedi padawan robes."
"I'll have you know they were very stylish."
"Oh yeah, like your beard- oh wait-"
Loki stepped forward, his movements graceful although his joints were jerky. It was an oxymoron if Peter had ever seen a living breathing one before.
"You've encountered Dormammu, despite having mastered as a wielder in such a short time?" Loki's eyes were chips of emerald.
"No," Strange informed, revealing his hands which shook as badly as Parkinson's, "I only began learning about magic a year ago."
Loki paused, tilted his head blankly and stared at Strange as if he was a creature that existed against all laws of nature.
"Why you looking at our Jackalope?" Tony quipped, causing Peter to gape.
"No way!" Peter hissed, "I was thinking of a thing like that too?"
"Why is he looking funny?"
"No! The Jackalope!"
"Oh my god," Tony exhaled, "It's like a mini me. I like you, can I keep you? Haven't we had this conversation before?"
"You know," Peter paused, noticing how Loki and Strange seemed to be having a silent conversation, "I can't really remember. All of this has been a weird blur."
"His name, is the Mad Titan." Loki paused, gazing purposefully at a wall and not meeting anyone's eyes, "He courts Death and tends to her whims with whispers of the dead."
Strange frowned, placing one fist near his mouth in thought, "And this being possesses the Power Stone?"
"Yes," Loki bluntly stated, "He gathers them with intent of destroying all that has existed."
"Oh," Tony blinked in surprise, "That's not good."
Peter huffed, "Yeah, no shit Sherlock."
Tony and Strange's heads snapped around and stared at Peter with the oddest of expressions.
"This Titan," Wong spoke, hand flat on the table between everyone, "He has his eyes on Earth?"
"The destruction of his army has drawn Midgard to his eye," Loki's lip curled in glee, "The destruction was devastating."
"Good to hear that wasn't a waste," Tony smiled thinly, tapping the table quietly in thought.
"So, this guy, is there a name that they could look for in the library?" Peter asked hopefully, "I hear the library is impressive."
"Thanos," Loki spoke, tensing as if in preparation for being hit. After a second he relaxed, as if unused to it, "His name is Thanos."
The word sounded strange in Loki's mouth, as if his tongue fumbled to pronounce it properly.
"We can look," Wong offered, "The library has a collection of books, some in languages we don't speak."
"I can take you," Strange offered Loki, "To the library. I have a feeling you'd enjoy it."
Loki blinked three times quickly, then gave a lazy nod as if the visit would be beneath him.
"How long do we have?" Peter asked quietly, "Until this Thanos guy gets here. Weeks? Months?"
"Years," Loki rolled his eyes, "Which is a blink in my own-"
"No no, years is good." Tony soothed, "We humans can get a lot done in a couple years."
"He's right," Wong nodded, "With preparation we can ally and provide a significant help."
"And the X-men!" Peter smiled, looking excited, "Those guys have been chasing me for a bit, we could totally get them in on this."
Loki looked skeptic, "Thanos is persuasive, he may ally those beyond your comprehension-"
"Dormammu and I have bargained," Strange spoke solemnly, "He has agreed to leave and never return or threaten this planet."
Loki looked shocked, "You- you bargained?"
"It took many lifetimes," Strange smiled, although it was strained, "He spoke that you are formidable, as a threat or as an ally."
Loki didn't react to the information.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Tony muttered under his breath before clearing his throat and speaking louder, "Assuming that all of this Thanos crap isn't just crap, we could really use you on our side, Lok's."
Loki glanced at Tony with an expression of 'Are you kidding me?'
"Yeah," Peter smiled sheepishly, "I could show you around New York when you know, you aren't wanted by the whole planet for attacking us with aliens."
"Why would I bother myself with the simple minded requests of mortals-"
"If you wouldn't mind," Strange interrupted politely with a genuine smile, "I'd love to see how Seidr is different from my own- Eldritch, as you called it?"
Loki paused, "Eldritch is the harvesting of energy external of the veil-"
"And Seidr is using gathered radiation inside of you," Strange's mind was spinning so fast Peter could almost hear it, "Is it possible to combine both types to harvest energy from an unlimited access point?"
"Strange," Wong sighed, standing and gathering his things, "I will be within the library if you need me."
Doctor Strange nodded, not even looking in his direction.
"It is possible," Loki started slowly, "those of Alfheim did not share the secrets of Eldritch willingly-"
"I'll share," Strange offered politely, reigning on his enthusiasm, "provided that you show your Seidr. It's casting is absolutely astonishing, how long until your storage is sufficient?"
Loki curled his hand and inspected his nails arrogantly, "The surrounding area has provided an ample supply to draw from."
"Can you draw directly from a casted source?" Strange asked eagerly, already twisting his hands, "Here-"
Loki froze completely, eyes wide as the air above the table lit with orange and golden embers and sparks, bisecting and arcing into an elaborate spinning display neither Peter or Tony could understand.
The fire singed the air, casting orange across Loki's snow pale skin. With a trembling hand (nobody called him out on it), Loki reached out to graze his hand across the nearest stretch of fire. He visibly shuddered, before the spark began to stutter and fade away like escaping fireflies.
In seconds the room was as empty as it was before, except Loki looked overwhelmed and shocked-
"Is he blushing?" Tony whispered to Peter, who nudged the man sharply. Thankfully the other two didn't hear.
Loki twisted his hands, instead of casting lines and geometric shapes, green light warped in the air like Aurora Borealis. It shimmered and danced, condensing with smooth edges like ink in water, or smoke in the air. It took the form of a running horse, arching upwards to shift into a rearing two legged serpent thing-
"Is that a Bilgesnipe?" Tony whispered eagerly to Peter, smacking his side repeatedly, "I think it is! It's a Bilgesnipe!"
"I don't know what that is!" Peter hissed back quietly.
It dispersed, shimmering away in the air until once again, none could tell what had been happening just earlier.
"I'll help you," Loki breathed, not looking so far at Tony or Peter, "Doctor, have you learned the art of Transdimensional Travel?"
"Portals through sections of this reality was the first thing I learned," Strange tilted his head, "Why?"
"Perhaps teaching one the backpaths between realities and worlds could be beneficiary," Loki casually spoke, "Between the roots of Yggdrasil and under the eyes of those searching."
"Actually, if it's not so much of your time," Strange confessed, "I've been experiencing the strangest difficulty with transmutation-"
Peter didn't think Loki was aware of the sudden smile that crossed his face. The god looked much better without the expression of casual indifference or rage.
Tony stood suddenly, stretching obnoxiously, "Well! Good work team! If you don't mind Peter and I should be getting back, Avengers to annoy, things to invent." Tony drawled, grabbing Peter and dragging him out of the room against his protests.
Loki blinked, having essentially forgotten about the others in the room with them.
"Have they forgotten that they are far from home?" Loki inquired.
Strange rolled his eyes jokingly, "Give them until they go outside to realize it."
As a small joke to my friend who enjoys this story very much as I write it, I decided to create the tiny headcannon that pointedly performing magic in front of another is taken as courtship or a very very high level of flattery to another.