A/N: It's, uh, 2:30 in the morning and this chapter is, uh... long.
Really fucking long.
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel's Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Incredible Hulk.
Conviction
Chapter 3
Scotch dripped from the bottle, the glass below filled to the brim, with the bronze liquid staining the outside and pooling around it, falling off the edge of the counter onto the floor. Tony stared at the new arrivals with shock. They had appeared in a short flash of green light, Thor standing in front, ever imposing and regal. He was flanked on the left by a blonde man who stood tall, hair perfectly coiffed and goatee precisely trimmed, and a red haired and red bearded giant who was gripping an axe tightly in front of his generous weight. To his right stood a beautiful creature with gray eyes, pitch black hair, full lips, full bosom, and a fierce look about her, with a shield and spear, and a grim looking man with black hair, hefting a spiked mace in his hands. Against the backdrop of Manhattan at night, they were rather out of place.
"Anthony Stark!" Thor boomed with a grin, stepping forward, "It is good to see you well!"
"Uh huh," Tony said, lifting the glass, dripping with alcohol, and taking a significant gulp. He held back a wince as it burned its way down his throat and met Thor's happy gaze, "Good to see you, too, buddy. Who're your friends?"
"My friend," Thor said, turning slightly toward the troupe that looked like they came from the Renaissance Fair, "Allow me to introduce you to the Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun."
Each of them nodded respectively with smiles, save the grim looking one.
Tony took another generous sip of scotch.
"Right," He said, taking a deep breath, "Please tell me you're not here because your brother's having another temper tantrum. I'm not sure Manhattan can handle that so soon after the last one."
"I take offense to that, Mr. Stark," A voice purred from his side.
Tony stiffened in recognition of it, standing still as a hand reached out and swept a finger across the spilled drink.
"Now," Loki said, "That is just a waste of good scotch."
"Uh... Thor?" Tony asked, glancing at his wrists, ensuring that the tracer bracelets were in place.
"It is..." Thor paused, a strange look coming to his eyes, "A long story. Yes, Midgard is in danger; no, my brother is not the cause of it. He is here to assist."
"Worry not, Mr. Stark," Loki said, laugh evident in his voice, "You've nothing to fear from me."
Tony finally mustered the resolve to turn and face the god who'd thrown him out the window just several feet away. He didn't know why he was so surprised when he actually saw Loki standing there, looking down at him with what was nothing short of amusement. His eyes seemed sharper, clearer than they'd been when he'd last seen him, gleaming light green with something distinctly predatory. Yet, there was also a tiredness about him, as he seemed to be leaning heavily upon his staff – wasn't that supposed to be blue? - and his eyes, though clear, were half lidded, and his posture, though regal and commanding, held a slightly forced look to it. There was also the matter of the ragged burn on his cheek.
"Rough day?" Tony settled upon asking.
"You," Loki drawled slowly, and Tony noticed belatedly that his hand was empty and the glass now rested in Loki's, "Have absolutely no idea."
Loki downed the last of the scotch without so much as a twitch, then frowned down at that which was spilled over the counter. With a wave of his hand it lifted itself into the air and poured into the glass, which Loki immediately drank down.
"I don't know how you can stand those mortal concoctions, Loki," Thor said, shaking his head, "Give me a fine ale any day."
"That is because you have no taste, brother," Loki responded with a half grin, setting the glass down upon the now clean counter.
Brother.
Tony felt like he was missing something important here.
"Mr. Stark, shall I inform SHIELD?"
"Do so, and I will be gone before they even arrive," Loki said casually.
"No, thank you, JARVIS," Tony said, drumming his fingers against the counter, still looking at Loki, "I got this."
"I am sure you do, sir," JARVIS replied dryly.
"Don't get cute," Tony shot back.
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir," JARVIS said, "Shall I wake the others, at least?"
Tony raised an eyebrow at Loki, who merely shrugged.
"Go for it," Tony said, "Don't tell them exactly what's going on, just... to get up here and not freak out when they do."
"Certainly, sir," The computer's voice dripped with disapproval.
Loki seemed to find the exchange amusing and laughed lightly as he poured (when did he get that bottle?) himself another glass of scotch. Three glasses in as many minutes? Overfilled glasses, at that. For someone who looked like a lightweight, he sure was downing that stuff. Tony shook his head of the ridiculous thoughts, and, without thinking, snatched the glass back from Loki, who scowled darkly in response.
"Explanation," Tony demanded, since he had apparently taken leave of his senses, "Now."
"Of course, friend," Thor said in a placating tone, walking forward as Sif and the Warriors Three began looking around in fascination, "I thank you for your patience to this point; after all that my brother has done - most earnestly Son of Coul-"
"Who?" Loki asked, brow furrowing.
"The agent," Thor said, looking down to the floor sadly, "You-"
"Stabbed him in the chest," Loki finished for him, remembering, "How is he? I'm sure he has recovered by now."
Thor stared at his brother dumbfounded. Loki raised his glass (how the hell did he get that back?) in a mock toast, then took a delicate sip. Tony slumped against the counter, his head hitting the marble with a dull thud.
"Explanation," Tony repeated desperately, voice slightly muffled, "Please."
There was a ring from the elevator.
"Tony, I swear if you're naked..."
Clint Barton walked in first, hands covering his eyes as he spoke, followed closely by Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner, and finally Steve Rogers taking up the rear. Many things happened at once. Natasha drew a gun and pointed it at Loki with one hand and pulled Clint's hand way from his face with the other. Steve quickly moved in front of everyone, standing tall and raising his fists. Bruce Banner merely stepped forward threateningly, eyes flashing green. Tony raised his head from the counter.
"I told you to tell them not to freak out."
"I did, sir. They seemed to take that to mean that you were unclothed or in some disgraceful way. A reasonable conclusion, given your-"
"Mute."
"Please, my friends," Thor implored, garnering the attention of the tensed Avengers, "Things are not as they seem. All will be explained."
"Thanos," Loki said, sipping at his drink, eying the Avengers with a bored expression, "Let us begin with that. He is called the Eternal One, and many thousands of years ago he ruled all the Nine Realms. He was overthrown and exiled, the source of his power taken from him. He has returned and seeks vengeance, and he will begin with Midgard. He enjoys a challenge, and you have foiled him once."
"Gee, thanks for the info," Clint said, his own gun pointed at Loki, now, as well, "But what the hell are you doing here?"
"Thanos draws his power from something called the Infinity Gauntlet," Thor said, stepping forward with his hands raised innocently, placing his body between the Avengers and Loki, "The Gauntlet has gems inlaid in it that each have a unique power. One of them is called Soul. It can control someone's very being, or influence it, in this case. Thanos was being subtle, building on what was there, rather than taking complete control, making it obvious what was happening. The gem is missing from the Vault."
Noticeably, Loki grimaced and finished off his drink at that, in one gulp, pouring himself another.
"I think that is, perhaps, enough alcohol," Fandral suggested with a placating smile, which turned nervous when Loki shot him a withering glare, "...My Prince."
"It's later," Volstagg said, laughing as Loki turned his glare upon him, "He's dwelling."
"So you're saying," Steve cut in, stepping forward, "That Loki was under this guy's control the whole time he was here."
"Yes," Thor said, grinning triumphantly.
"Yeah, not buying it," Clint said, cocking his gun, "Sorry, but this is the God of Lies, right? How would you possibly know that he's telling the truth about this? He could have taken the gem-thingy, himself, and orchestrated this all to make us trust him and then stab us all in the back."
Loki looked thoughtful.
"Clever," Loki said with a slightly manic grin, "That sounds like something I would do."
"Brother!" Thor hissed at him, "You are not helping!"
"It's just a bit of fun, brother," Loki said, eyebrows raised in an innocent expression, as he slumped slightly and continued to nurse his fourth glass of scotch.
"Well," Steve said, raising a hand toward Clint, "We hear them out, then decide, alright?"
Loki smiled deviously behind his glass, turning Mind in his other hand idly. It was just a nudge. A harmless little nudge.
SHIELD was not called. Not immediately, anyway. They sat, stiffly, in the many couches and chairs that decorated the room. Tony mused lightly that he was running out of room for all the crazy people. On one couch Thor's friends all sat shoulder to shoulder, and on another, Clint, Natasha and Steve did the same. Bruce and Tony sat next to each other, a little more comfortably, in the third. In the single chair sat Thor, and Loki seemed to chose standing, leaning more heavily on his staff with each passing minute, and sipping his fifth scotch (Or was it sixth, now? God, how was he not hammered?).
It seemed that Loki had taken it personally that he was controlled by this Thanos, regardless of how Thor continually said that no one could resist Soul, and was wallowing. It was one of his own favorite pastimes, and, after slipping his best blue label off of the shelves and under the counter, he let Loki carry on without attempting to stop him anymore. And, man; the guy could drink. He should have expected that; viking, right? All the old stories (Hey, he'd done his research) spoke of how, in the halls of Asgard, there was feasting and drinking to put any mortal men to shame.
"We'll inform SHIELD in the morning," Natasha was saying, "We'll have a full meeting where we can go over everything that you know. Will we be receiving further backup?"
Thor shifted uncomfortably and Loki made a face.
"He's going to kill me," Loki said inelegantly, "Gonna kill me, and it's your fault, brother. You broke me out. Gonna behead me. He's always wanted to do that. Always what he says he'll do. Why's he always say that? 'You'll fix this, Loki, or I'll have your head!' Always my head."
Perhaps he was slightly hammered. He finished off the glass.
"That isn't healthy," Bruce said.
"What do you mean, broke you out?" Natasha bit out.
Loki giggled, breaking off with a snort, which made him laugh again.
"No, it is not," He said, "And by 'broke me out', I mean that Odin is unaware that we are here. We came to Midgard against his wishes, and my imprisonment."
People should not be able to say words like 'unaware' and 'imprisonment' while that drunk, it's not right.
"You broke yourself out," Thor pointed out, "I just encouraged you to."
Loki paused, narrowing his eyes, thinking for a moment, then grinned.
"This is true," He said.
"Brother, perhaps you should stop drinking," Thor said, looking at his brother worriedly, "I can count on one hand the number times I've seen you drunk. I know you're... angry, but you are quickly approaching unhealthy levels of consumption."
"You have seen me drunk a handful of times," Loki said, tilting his glass at Thor, "I have been drunk a great deal many more. I know my limits."
"Well this is... fun," Bruce said, standing suddenly, "But, it's two in the morning."
Tony frowned lightly, glancing at a clock on the wall. It was just after two. He really has to stop waking up in the middle of the night.
"Wait, that's it?" Clint asked, "We're all okay with this? No proof, no nothing? 'Cause, I sure as hell won't be able to sleep with this guy in the house."
"I can go elsewhere," Loki offered, "I have the means."
"Hell, no," Clint said sharply, "You're staying where we can keep an eye on you."
Loki sighed.
"Well, do make up your mind," He said, setting the bottle and glass on the table, "I have expended a large amount of energy today, and with the consumption of seven glasses of scotch, – good scotch, by the way; my compliments upon your taste Mr. Stark – I believe I am about to pass out."
With that, he wavered on his feet, hand going to his forehead, and slumped only an inch before Thor caught him. Thor looked sadly down at his brother as he lifted one of his arms over his shoulder, holding him up. Loki's eyes slipped shut and his body fell slack against his brother.
"Anthony," Thor said, looking at Tony – Oh, come on; puppy eyes is cheating.
"Yeah, follow me," Tony said, standing, "My house, I say he stays. We've got plenty of rooms. If it makes you feel any better, Barton, I'll have JARVIS monitoring him. If he so much as twitches, we'll know."
"Fine," Clint muttered.
"I'd just like to say something," Sif said firmly, drawing the attention of the room.
Sif stared them all down fiercely. The suspicious one was getting on her nerves, and the woman sitting beside him silently glaring her disapproval wasn't helping. She had known Loki for a thousand years; more. She grew up with him and Thor; they played together, hunted together, and fought together. He may have not been the easiest person to be around, or be friends with, but despite their near constant disagreements that is what they were at the end of the day; friends. She may not like it. He may not like it. But, a thousand years of being forced to put up with each other doesn't just go away. So, maybe, she was taking this a little personally. And, yes, maybe Loki was lying to them. She had come to expect his mendacity in most things.
But, she knows, almost instinctively, that the only reason Loki is here is to help; to possibly repair the damage he had done. She is his friend, even though the thought of that left a sick taste in her mouth, and she looks out for her friends.
"I just want to make this clear," She said, eying each person in the room individually with as withering a glare as she could muster, "Loki is a lot of things. But know this; he is our friend first. I'd like you to think about what that means. That is, if honor and friendship mean the same thing here as it does in Asgard."
The red haired woman was eying her strangely, in a both wary and appreciative way; as if sizing her up.
"If you dare to lay a hand upon him." Sif continued, "If you dare try to imprison him, or threaten him in some way; it is not just he who you will be against, if that is not formidable enough already. He is our friend and we will defend him."
Thor was looking at her with watering eyes, smiling softly and gratefully. The woman with red hair nodded to her respectfully, and the man beside her grimaced and looked away. There was a tense silence in the room as no one knew quite how to respond. Suddenly Sif felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder. She glanced up to see Fandral grinning nervously around at everyone, trying vainly to diffuse the situation.
"And, if any of you," Sif hissed, "Breathe a single word of what I just said, to him. I will strangle you."
Consciousness returned slowly. Loki felt like his mouth was stuffed with cotton and Thor was dancing on his head. Tentatively he opened one eye, only to immediately shut it when greeted with dim light of dawn that shone in through the window. Loki turned onto his back, the soft mattress shifting slightly under him, an arm coming up to rest over his eyes. He breathed deeply and frowned. This was not the smell of his room. His room smelled like books and dried leaves.
In a rush that almost hurt, the events of the longest day of his life came pouring back to him. A peaceful morning in the garden had turned into a day of roiling emotions and strain, both physical and psychological. Loki exhaled, a chill running up his spine. He was a liar, plain and simple; sometimes he thought it might even be compulsive. He had never allowed himself to feel guilt for his lies, but there was no mistaking the heavy feeling in his gut this morning. He hadn't meant to do it, really. It was even more that he didn't exactly lie, rather than just letting Thor believe what he will. There was nothing he should feel bad about. It wasn't even relevant.
But, lords, when Thor had assumed such a thing so readily. It was what he wanted to believe, wasn't it? Why not let him? It is simpler; much simpler than suffering... well... Thor. Endearing, at times, but wholly unwelcome at others. He would pity and he would tip-toe. And, certainly after Loki's little outburst, in which he most certainly did not cry, he would try oh so desperately to fix it all. He would console and apologize, and worse yet try to make him talk about it. Let it never be said that Loki Odinson did not like to talk, but not about this. Thor would stomp about thinking he could make things better just by wanting them to be that way and all manner of other infuriating things that Loki just...
Could not deal with at present.
Loki forced himself to sit up, rubbing at his face tiredly. He frowned as his hand met bandage and he was reminded of the minor burn he had sustained while under attack by the Chitauri. Despite the day's events, and the way in which he had fallen into the realm of dreams, he had hardly gotten any sleep. Hours, at best. It was a state he had grown used to. Sleep rarely found him, and when it did it was merciless and drove him off in an unreasonably short amount of time. Loki dared to open his eyes again, the light making him flinch, but he resolutely kept his eyes from closing. He cautiously slid out of the comfortable bed, swaying only slightly when his feet touched the ground; bare. Loki grimaced. Thor. He glanced around and found his armor and leathers set neatly on a glass table nearby.
Loki moved to wave his arm and clean the sweat and grime of Álfheim and a short night's sleep away and clothe himself, but stopped as his magic weakly attempted to rise at his demand. After a moment's thought he spoke.
"JARVIS, correct?" He asked to to empty room, trying to not feel foolish.
"That is correct," The computer responded.
"Is there a washroom nearby?" Loki asked more confidently.
"Just across the hall," JARVIS answered, and Loki swore he heard his door unlocking. Interesting.
"Thank you, JARVIS," Loki said, and walked briskly toward the door. A shower would be most welcome. Magic was convenient, but not quite so soothing.
"You are welcome, sir," JARVIS replied with what sounded like slight surprise and pleasure.
He emerged some ten minutes later, refreshed and clad in his leathers and attached decorative shoulder plate. He glanced either way down the hall, then into 'his' room to see that it was no longer at all dark outside, the sun rising brightly. Loki tested the waters with his magic, and upon its much more eager answer than earlier, pulled upon it to bring him up to the top floor where they had arrived.
He was met with a spectacular view.
The outside air was surprisingly clear and crisp; the air of late autumn. He stepped forward, gazing out over the immense buildings of Manhattan, crossing his arms over his chest with a dry smile. The city was impressive; he could admit that. Barring his recent debacle, the last time he had been to Midgard was over a century ago. They had nothing quite so striking, then. Loki caught a glimpse of a half-repaired building out of the corner of his eye and his mood darkened considerably.
With a snarl he turned from the sprawling cityscape, shutting his eyes and falling cross-legged to the concrete ground. He took a deep breath, focusing intently on his magic, and summoned his staff from the pocket of space in which he had kept it. He held the staff, in its smaller scepter form, to his side and channeled his magic smoothly and precisely through it. Such a ritual must be without even the most miniscule error.
With a lurch, his consciousness was thrown through space. In an instant his projection appeared upon a familiar, desolate rock. Loki bit back a cold fear as The Other passed in front of him, moving toward the strange staircase that floated nearby. He let a satisfied smile curl his lips. To conceal oneself was a simple matter, though a bit more difficult while projecting; if people did not expect to see you, or did not wish to, it was easy to trick their mind into to believing that you were not there. People are blind only by their own design. It was how he had first observed the Tesseract on Midgard, and visited Thor in the SHIELD encampment, though he was physically there in the case of Thor's banishment.
Loki followed as The Other walked slowly and, Loki noticed, fearfully up the steps. He had hoped to catch something useful, and it seemed that fortune smiled upon him today. No doubt, thanks to the Lord of Prosperity's blessing. He had intended that his first action upon the return of his powers would be to garner what information he could from spying on The Other; the only one whom he knew spoke to Thanos. Ælfæd had taken up quite a bit more time, and magic, than he had anticipated. The transportation of six people from Álfheim to Midgard was no small feat, either.
"The armies await your command," The Other rasped as they reached the top of the stairs.
Loki stepped past The Other and toward the large stone – for lack of a better term – throne in the center of the platform. From this angle he could see a hand clad in gold resting upon the arm, his fingers drumming lightly. Loki felt almost frozen in place, unable to step forward further and look upon The Eternal One.
"Patience," Thanos rumbled, and Loki's eyes were drawn by a flash of green in his hand. Thanos turned Soul between his fingers and Loki found himself transfixed. With a jolt he looked away, "The Tesseract is ours, my... associate within Asgard has assured that."
Loki felt dread pool in his stomach. They already had their means to transporting their armies across the Nine Realms? What were they waiting for? The troupe that had attacked him in Álfheim made much more sense now. He had not sensed any other presences upon Yggdrasil, and it was too large a group to have travelled the branches together.
"We have been patient," The Other said, stepping closer, "You promised revenge. You promised us the princeling and the mortal."
"And you shall have them, yet," Thanos said as Loki held back a shudder, "All must go exactly right. When winter falls upon Midgard, we will have war, and you will have your revenge. Seven Hives; we will launch seven attacks across Midgard simultaneously. The Tesseract is in proper hands now, and here we have the means to use it to its full potential."
"Hives?" The Other hissed, "Thousands died when one Hive was destroyed by that wretched mortal."
"You will do as I command," Thanos' voice thundered as he stood, "I've no need of my slave in Asgard any longer; perhaps, if you wish to be so disagreeable, I should simply ensure you cooperation."
The Other flinched away, bending into a deep bow. Loki felt dwarfed by Thanos' towering stature, and though all he saw was The Eternal One's back he felt awed and terrified at the same time. Here was a creature who once lorded over all the Nine Realms. Here was a being so great that Bor himself once knelt to him. Here was a thing that the All-Father feared.
"Certainly not, Lord," He placated, "Seven Hives."
Suddenly Thanos turned, and Loki looked upon his face in shock. The creature was purple-skinned, with a large jaw and he scowled darkly, bright blue eyes glowing. A gleaming gold crown sat atop his head, and Loki could do nothing but stare awestruck.
"The stench of magic is thick in the air," Thanos boomed.
Panic gripped Loki and he stumbled back a step. He forced himself to take a steadying breath and made to tear himself away from this wretched place. He lurched slightly, but a striking pain split through his mind and he doubled over, clutching at his head, eyes snapping shut. A dark laugh echoed through the stale, desolate air of the barren rock.
"And where are you going, little princeling?" Thanos asked. Loki kept his eyes shut, trying desperately to concentrate, but there nothing short of cold terror in his mind and in his bones. Thanos was standing only just before him, "Please, stay a while."
Loki could only stay, kneeling upon the rock cold even to him, holding his head through he ringing pain. Suddenly, something shifted inside of him and his eyes snapped open.
Loki screamed.
"Good Morning, Mr. Stark," Tony awoke to the sound of JARVIS' voice, leisurely swimming on the edge of wakefulness, "Loki Odinson has awoken."
That made him jolt upright.
"JARVIS, what time is it?"
"Six fifty-seven, sir. He has asked where the washroom is, shall I unlock his door?"
Tony rolled out of bed easily, stretching slightly. It was not the earliest he'd ever been up, but then, he'd never been a regular sleeper. Up at all hours of the night or sometimes working for days on end.
"Yeah, go for it," Tony replied after only a second's hesitation.
"Shall I inform you when he leaves the shower?"
"Now I just feel creepy," Tony said with a frown, pulling a black tank over his head.
"Is that a yes, sir?"
"It's a 'yes, but let it go on the record that I think it's creepy'," Tony responded dryly, "Have the coffee ready by the time I get down to the kitchen, please."
"Of course, Mr. Stark," JARVIS said.
Tony quickly made his way down the hall and into the rather large kitchen slash living room slash dining room. Steve was sitting at the counter, staring at his cereal with a furrowed brow, munching on it lightly. Steve was usually the first one up out of all of them, except maybe Natasha (She kind of does this thing where she appears and disappears at random with Clint. God only knows when she actually wakes up, or if she sleeps at all.).
"You okay, there, Cap?" Tony asked, as he made a beeline for the coffee machine that was just finishing brewing the pot.
"I don't like this," Steve said, with a frown.
"You're the one who said we should hear them out," Tony pointed out as he poured the coffee into his mug.
"Yeah," Steve said, frown deepening, "I did."
Tony clapped a hand on Steve's shoulder, making the soldier jump slightly.
"Don't think about it too much," He said.
"I can't help it, Tony," Steve said, "Something just doesn't sit right with me. I get that something is coming; I get that we probably need his help. I can even wrap my head around the mind control thing-"
"Soul control," Tony corrected.
"But something just seems... off," Steve finished.
"Well bury it, Cap," Tony said, squeezing Steve's shoulder lightly, "Or Xena will chop off your head."
Steve sighed and resumed glaring at his breakfast as Tony sipped at his coffee.
"Sir, Loki has exited the shower."
"That's creepy," Steve commented, making a face.
"Let him know how to get here," Tony said.
"Yes, s-"
There was silence for a second. Tony's expression turned worried and he set down his coffee, exchanging a nervous glance with Steve.
"JARVIS?"
"I apologize, sir," JARVIS responded, in an annoyed tone, "I lost his position for a moment. He seems to have transported to the top floor, outdoor platform."
Tony let out a short sigh of relief, picking up his coffee again and walking toward the door.
"Maybe we ought to have a sober chat with him before we call SHIELD," Tony remarked as he walked out of the kitchen, calling back, "See ya later, Steve."
Tony stepped out of the elevator and immediately his eyes locked onto The figure sitting on the ground outside, facing the building. Tony frowned and walked closer, noticing that Loki had his scepter in his hand and his eyes were closed. He turned to move toward the door and head outside but was stopped in his tracks as a hand locked around his arm.
"Disturb him and you may kill him," A deep, accented voice spoke from his side.
Tony turned sharply to see that the hand belonged to-
Wait, wait, wait. Come on. Name. Think Happy, remember? Think Happy? What kind of hint to himself to remember a name is that? OH!
"Hogun," Tony said as the Æsir loosened his grip on his arm. The warrior nodded sharply, eyes meeting his.
"He is performing what is called Astral Projection," Hogun said, gesturing to Loki, "It requires great concentration and if you were to break that concentration, his mind could be lost, disconnected from his body."
"That would be bad," Tony said, swallowing thickly, looking out at the god sitting cross-legged on the platform, "Uh, what's Astral Projection?"
"I do not know precisely what it entails," Hogun said, "But it involves shifting his consciousness across space."
"How does that-"
"I am a warrior," Hogun cut him off shortly, "Not a sorcerer. If you wish to know, you must ask Loki."
"Right," Tony responded, frowning.
Tony realized that these are the first things that he had heard Hogun say. Tony watched the god sitting a short ways away, eyes closed and clearly focusing. He sipped idly at his coffee, and Hogun silently stood next to him. So, maybe, he'd passed the threshold of creepy, Tony thought. He felt fairly creepy right about now, but it was interesting to see. He would have to figure out the workings of this.
Suddenly, Loki's eyes snapped open, and Tony knew that something was very, very wrong. The scepter clattered to the ground and Loki reached up to clutch at his head, agony ripping across his face. Tony responded in the only way he really thought he could; by rushing to the door and out onto the landing as quickly at he could. His arm was roughly grabbed again as he came within feet of the god. He viciously tried to snatch his arm away, but his strength was no match.
"You will make it worse," Hogun said.
Loki screamed.
"I don't think I can make it worse," Tony hissed, ripping his arm away as Hogun looked in growing horror at Loki.
Tony knelt down and grabbed Loki's shoulders, turning his body to face him. Loki's head was turned toward the ground, head held tightly in his hands as he screeched his agony. Tony shook him harshly.
"Loki!" He said loudly, "Damn it, I hope you can hear me, 'cause you gotta listen."
Loki 's throat seemed to run dry and he sucked in a sharp breath. Tony put his hands on either side of Loki's face, forcing his wide, unseeing eyes to meet his. Tony knew terror like that and it made him sick to his stomach.
"Loki," Tony repeated urgently, "Loki, you've got to come back."
Loki shook, and his eyes closed again, his hands scratched against the concrete as they were pulled forcefully into fists, leaving lines of blood.
"Loki!"
Loki's eyes snapped open once more and he breathed raggedly. His eyes darted around, before settling on Tony, wide and afraid. Loki lifted a bloodied hand and gripped Tony's shirt as he fell forward against him, shaking like a leaf a gasping for breath. Tony relaxed, though he was certain he should have tensed, and put a hand on Loki's head, threading his fingers through slightly damp hair as soft as he might have expected.
"They strike," Loki breathed brokenly against him, "At the start of winter. Seven different armies. Seven different targets."
Tony pushed Loki up, by the shoulders. His face was ragged and tired and the bandage on his face was red, but the terror that had been there had faded somewhat.
"You... heard this? Saw this guy?" Tony asked.
Loki closed his eyes and shuddered, nodding.
"Are you..." Tony began nervously, slowly remembering what was going on and who this was.
"I'll be fine," Loki snapped, drawing back suddenly, hand falling from his shirt.
The god stood sharply, but immediately faltered, and Tony stood straight, catching him on his way up.
"Easy, there."
Loki scowled darkly and averted his face as Tony supported him. Hogun came up on his other side, giving Tony a grateful and incredulous look as he helped maneuver Loki back inside. They set him in the nearest chair that they came to just as the elevator opened.
"Brother!"
"I thought it prudent to wake everyone," JARVIS said as Thor rushed toward them, Sif, Fandral and Volstagg at his heels.
"I'm fine, Thor," Loki said shortly as his brother knelt at his side, puppy-eyes shining.
"What were you doing?" Sif demanded.
"I was trying to give us all a little more to go on," Loki snapped, "And I succeeded. Thanos took control of someone in Asgard, someone powerful enough to get the Tesseract. He has it."
"Shit," Tony said, running and hand through his hair.
"Well, look at this," A very familiar voice spoke, "How come I wasn't invited?"
Tony got the feeling that Loki didn't like Fury. It may have been the dark glare he was sending his way or it may have been the scathing insults that appeared every five seconds that gave it away. Either way, Loki did not like Fury. That's okay, though, because the feeling was quite clearly mutual. Loki looked tired, and entirely not in the mood to do this right now, and Thor stood at his shoulder, flanked by their friends; which made a rather imposing tableau. It was interrupted only by Sif pinching Loki every time he insulted Fury's intelligence, competence, or eye.
He seemed to have a thing against the eye.
Regardless, it was tense.
"I don't think you understand, Loki," Fury spat, "You are a war criminal. You tried to enslave the human race, and killed hundreds of people. You say you're here to help us against this Thanos, but this is the guy you were working for in the first place. You'll have to forgive me if I'm a little skeptical."
"We have explained-" Thor tried to say, but was cut off.
"I heard you the first four times," Fury snapped, "And hearing it again won't make me believe it any more."
"Surely, you must see-"
"No, Thor," Fury said, sighing and rubbing his temple, "I don't see. I have to make judgment based on what I know as fact, what I have proof of; not your opinions. And what I know, is that Loki is dangerous. He belongs in prison."
Sif stepped quickly in front of Loki, snarling at Fury. Fandral followed, hand on the hilt of his sword. Volstagg put a Hand on Loki's shoulder and Hogun merely glared grimly, frown deepening. Fury glared fiercely at each one of them and they gave as good as they got. Fury conceded with a scowl, stepping back.
"Look," He said, "I believe that this threat is real, and we will be prepared. But, we can't trust you. Something this big? We can't afford it."
"Are you kidding?" Tony said, startling the group, "He just went through a hell of a lot to get us some good intel. I think that says something."
Fury looked at Tony in disappointment, but that was the norm, so Tony didn't even flinch.
"That's just the thing, Stark," He said, "We can't know if it's good or not. If it's truth or a lie."
Loki only half listened as he simmered. He was still reeling from whatever that thing had done to him. Anger burned within him at the thought of it, covering the fear that most certainly was not there. Thanos' terrible countenance was all he saw in front of him and he had to concentrate to stop his body from shaking. Stark's interference had saved his mind; his life. But, in the end, Thanos would strike, and his vengeance would be swift and terrible. The sheer power that rolled off of him was palpable even in his projection form, and that was without the Gauntlet. Without the Power Gem. All he had was pretty Soul, dancing in his hand.
The Tesseract, with the proper powers that Thanos could provide, will open the doors for legions of Chitauri to swoop in upon Midgard and leave nothing but scorched earth.
They were all going to die.
"Enough," Loki hissed sharply, and the bickering ceased. He stepped forward in front of Sif and Fandral, staring Fury down, "I do not care whether or not you trust me. I do not care what you or your organization do. The only thing of import is that the people who can help defend Midgard, will. Believe it or not, I am one of those people; and I know that the rest will follow, because it is what must be done. I will do all I can to find out where Thanos will strike with his seven armies, and we will be prepared. Do what you will, but do not interfere."
Fury glanced around the room. Natasha met his gaze head on, face deceptively passive, but he'd known her for long enough now that she believes that they are trapped. Clint looked oddly thoughtful, frowning lightly. Captain Rogers stared at the table, clearly unhappy. Stark looked the most relaxed of all of them, and damned well set on trying his best to defy him at every turn, even if it meant siding with Loki. The Æsir all just glared ferociously, and Fury had to admit that he wouldn't dare make a move against them, and they were sorely needed allies if any of this was to be believed. Fury sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked up, directly at Loki, who stared back unflinchingly.
"We'll be watching you."
The elevator closed behind him and he walked swiftly past the archway leading into the lobby, footsteps thudding with his displeasure.
"A word," a smooth voice spoke from behind him, "If you please."
Nick Fury scowled darkly in response, turning sharply to face the imposing god who stood tall and regal in the archway behind him.
"I've had enough of your words for one day," Fury said, eyes narrowing upon Loki, "I don't like you and I don't trust you."
"And rightfully so," Loki said, stepping toward him, eyes glinting dangerously, "I would be disappointed if you did not."
"And we're all here to please you," Fury spat.
"Sarcasm," Loki 'tsked' disapprovingly, "The recourse of a weak mind. How utterly dull."
"You've managed to get Stark on your side," Fury said, fist tightening at his side, "And you brought along your brother and few friends who have your back; they're the only reason you aren't in a cell right now."
"I think we both know," Loki said, lips twisting into a savage grin, as he spread his arms, "That you have no prison that can contain me."
"What is it that you want?" Fury said, stepping toward him in a show of fearlessness.
"Oh, it is not what I want," Loki corrected in a condescending tone, "Rather, what you need. The truth, Director Fury. You should be grateful, for I am told that it rarely passes my lips."
"What truth?" Fury demanded, though, Loki thought in amusement, he seemed to already know the answer.
"I was never possessed by the Soul Gem," Loki said simply, leaving that to the air.
"And why are you telling me this?" Fury asked sharply. Loki smiled darkly.
"Come now, Director," Loki encouraged, "You are a man of intelligence. A man of strategy. What would I have to gain by offering you this?"
"Trust?" Fury asked, breathing a laugh, "You want me to trust you?"
Loki scowled.
"Do not mock me, mortal," He hissed.
"Maybe you should just leave," Fury said confidently, glaring at the god, "Go run home to daddy. We don't need someone who's lying to us. We've proven already that we don't need your help to stop an intergalactic war."
"War?" Loki breathed with a chilling laugh, giving Fury a disbelieving look. He stepped closer, menacingly, like a predator stalking its prey, eyes narrowing threateningly upon the man before him for a fraction of a second in a cold, mocking gesture, "Oh, no. You stopped a siege on one city by a man without conviction, half-mad and backed by an army of mindless mongrels. You know nothing of what comes. Thanos-" Loki laughed darkly, with a twinge of hysteria, "-Thanos will tear your world to pieces."
"Only half-mad?" Fury said with a short mocking twist to his lips, standing tall in the face of the god's imposing advance.
"You undervalue the threat I could pose to you," Loki said, lip curling up in a snarl, "You think, because you beat me once, that you know my power and have found it wanting. I am offering you truth and accord, and you slap it away as if I am unworthy of your notice. Allow me to enlighten you."
With a viciousness he had not called upon since his invasion of Midgard, Loki summoned a swell of power, thickening the air with dark energy. Fury stiffened, to Loki's satisfaction, feeling the energy around him, biting and cold. There was nothing in the world that Loki hated more than being deemed unworthy. Anger burned, bright enough that Loki ignored the shame creeping up at the feeling. Fury was a truly infuriating man, and he was rather sick of him.
"One day," Loki hissed, stalking slowly close, eyes taking on a wide-eyed, haunted look, "I know not when, I know not how, nor why, I will rain fire upon this world and all others. Yggdrasil will rot and the great towers of Asgard will crumble. I will bring the legions of the dead to swallow all things and The Nine Realms will beg me for mercy! But, until that day-!"
The god drew up sharply, standing tall almost toe to toe with the man, reigning in his power.
"Until that day," He breathed, "I am Æsir in all things save blood; and it is the duty of the Æsir to protect the Nine Realms. The Ragnarok burns ever at my heels, but I do not forget myself. I do not wish to see the worlds burn in Thanos' vengeance. I come here seeking to right past wrongs, but I cannot do so if you fight me at every turn."
"You ask me to trust you," Fury said, meeting Loki's eyes defiantly, "Then you tell me to be afraid of you."
"I am telling you to respect my power, and it is your decision whether or not to make this easier on us all and trust me," Loki said impassively, drawing back, and turning away, swiftly retreating, pausing at the doorway, "But yes. Do not think, for one second, that because I take my charge seriously, that you should not fear me."
Loki turned at the corner, intent on a quick departure, but Fury's voice stalled him once more.
"I've just got one question for you, then," Fury called from behind him, "Why lie to them in the first place?"
"Thor eagerly assumed," Loki said, laughing through a bitter smile, "I merely did not correct him."
"Why?" Fury asked, stepping toward him slightly, "Clearly they were prepared to forgive you without it; so why?"
"Why does it matter?" Loki hissed, suddenly defensive, turning fully back to face Fury.
"You want me to trust you?" Fury said, "Then tell me why. Tell me why or I'll just keep on thinking that you have some ulterior motive here."
"It is easier," Loki snapped, a spark of green shooting up his arm suddenly, "Let him think what he pleases, what he wants. Let them all. This way he will not bear the guilt of my actions; of his. Let him think that all is well; that it can be as it once was, because nothing changed, after all. And perhaps he will then leave me in peace to sort through the haunting of my mind alone. Without his pity, without his apologies, and without his interfering concern. Thinking he can fix me. Let him be ignorant and happy with the thought that I am well and sane."
His footsteps clicked sharply around the corner and Fury stood still in the empty lobby of Stark Tower. After a moment of staring at the spot where Loki had stood before him, tall and imposing, he turned on his heel and walked quickly toward the doors, but not before calling off the sniper team he'd set up in the building across the street from Stark Tower.
Tony watched the security monitor, holding his chest, willing his heart to stop beating so loud.
A/N:...Please say you liked it? In a review, maybe?
I have a DeviantArt account and I drew a picture for this chapter, my first piece of art with my new graphics tablet; please, let me know what you think:
http : / cherry-top . deviantart . com / # / d51jo1s
Remove the spaces.