I honestly feel like flying when I read the support I've had for this project. I won't lie, I suffered a bout of writers block but it's not as if I'm going to drop the story! It's cloudy but it's there and I am enjoying myself.
Chapter 4
Hypnagogia
Tony woke before the morning alarm went off, twisting himself around in the sheets and feeling peaceful in the first moment of awareness. Then reality crept slowly in and his heart plummeted. It was so easy to turn Loki in to SHEILD, so easy and so close he could taste it. Dial them in, helicopters on his roof, explanations to Fury. He played through it all in his mind. He could go back to New York, wham bam thank you ma'am. So what gave? Loki Laufeyson, he liked that name. He imagined how Loki would behave at a shitty night club, so pristine and unavailable. Tony turned onto his side without opening an eye and thought of Loki's plight. Earth was his hell, well too fucking bad, it belonged to the human race and god damn it that wasn't a punishment, no matter what planet you're from.
"Could you describe for me a normal work day back in Asgard?"
Loki entered the den at dusk to find Tony lying on the carpet, throwing a bright green ball in the air. The question came spontaneously as he crossed the threshold. "What kind of job are you interested in, exactly?"
Tony shrugged, keeping his eyes on the ceiling. "Come down here a second, I want to talk to you."
As Loki approached, Tony patted the floor next to him. "Lay down, we're having a therapy session."
"Therapy," Loki considered the term, seating himself next to his host. "What is your idea of therapy?"
"We talk about your problems, I give you encouragement. Emotions and…breakthroughs abound…," Tony glanced at Loki, holding the ball at his chest. "Sound like a good time?"
Loki squinted with a subtle shake of his head. "Is this not keeping you from your work?"
"You kidding me, babe? You are my work."
Loki turned away in silence, which dragged on with Tony's patience. "How 'bout you ask me something first."
"Why are you helping me, Stark?"
"Tony," he corrected. "I was hoping I'd figure that out once you got here."
"And now?"
Tony shrugged, though he knew at least a part of why he kept Loki there. At the moment he was still SHEILD's top offender. Aside from hints of a stronger force on the horizon (tip offs from recent low rate criminals and thieves), SHEILD had their own things to deal with, most of which Tony knew nothing about. The Avengers team had been called together only once, in order to stop none other than the man sitting next to him, and he was all his now, until he decided what to do with him. "Dunno," he answered simply. "I know I don't want to be the direct cause of your death and suffering. It's…weird to think about." He threw the ball again. "What's the difference between the Loki who unleashed thousands of monsters into New York and the one sitting next to me right now?"
"I was promised revenge. The Others had power and because of my wit they let me live. A bargain was made and I was sent to Midgard to dominate it. I had no choice in the matter."
"Did you want it?" Tony's response had lost the playful tone he'd been using moments ago, setting off flags in Loki's mind.
"Yes, the chance to have ultimate power over a world such as yours, why would I refuse when it was being handed to me on a platter?"
"Well I wouldn't say we were served up on a platter. You got pretty down and dirty trying to make it all happen. 'Didn't seem like they gave you much help."
There was the bait, and Loki took it. "They gave me the knowledge and means to capture your world in a single stroke," He boasted loudly. "All that was needed was a wave of my staff and you all fell to my feet, dead or no."
Tony made no comeback after that. Instead Loki could feel his stare boring its way into his back. He refused to look at him though; he knew what he would see.
"You still want that," Tony deadpanned. He saw Loki's body twisting subtly, how uncomfortable he was, how angry. He felt a little ill himself. How quickly the evening could go sour. The ball was thrown halfheartedly to the other side of the room, bouncing off the wooden paneling and landing near Loki's feet. He stood up shortly after, taking the shallow set of stairs out of the room. "Sessions over for today," was all he mumbled.
The den was a quiet place, it was peaceful and warm, cozier then the other areas of the household. The ceiling was low and the fireplace made shadows dance on the walls. In a way it reminded Loki of home. Without Tony's constant jibes and sarcasm and looming eye, it was probably Loki's second favorite place to be, the seclusion of his room being the first. He moved himself closer to the flames, settling himself against the marble hearth. Tony may not be having the best time with him there, he may even be planning to take him in to SHEILD after what he'd just said, but for the moment, Loki could relax by the fire. This wasn't his ideal outcome by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to living under the rule of the Others and smuggling his way around Midgard, hidden and in poverty, this was the lap of luxury. Tony Stark excluded.
Loki closed his eyes, letting ideas come and go in his mind. He wondered how long he would stay there and where he would go next. He thought about the things Odin had said to him when he was banished, the way it felt to be sucked down into the Midgardian realm, the way the sun set just as beautifully from his new room as Asgard's sun had done when he was still a little prince.
Morning came and Loki found himself still in the den, curled around a pillow on the couch. He rubbed an eye and smoothed his hair, feeling incredibly put out. In fact, he felt angry, anxious even. His host was at the bar in the main livingroom, making something horrible with the blender, when he came through. He intended on heading straight to his room for the comfort of his own bed. "Loo-ki," Tony called from his mess at the bar top. It was the most annoying stretch on his name Loki had ever heard. He could only imagine that Tony meant for the sound to have that effect, as if he was mimicking a nagging housewife. He stopped in the center of the room, shaking a hand nervously at his side. "Yes, Tony?"
Tony smiled at the sound of his name and took a sip of the drink. "Do you have anything to say to me?"
Loki's chest tightened with frustration. Despite the gracious living arrangements he was still a mouse in a cat's house and Tony seemed to be soaking up every opportunity to get under his skin. He wasn't mistreated by any means, the man had gone as far as to fetch him fresh clothes, but the psychological warfare was different. That was the prison, that's where things could all fall apart. "My apologies for last night, I lost myself, I-"
"No, no. You were being truthful, don't hide that," Tony shook his head. "In fact I don't want anything but the truth from you. You're kind of an evil son-of-a-bitch aren't you, so why play nice? Why even bother walking around here like you're a new person?"
Loki's face hardened, clutching at the air with his right hand. "You're really trying hard aren't you?"
Tony only shrugged as his guest continued.
"You clearly have the power here. You ask and I answer, you order and I obey. Fine." Loki tilted his head, running his tongue along his teeth. "I'm not without my manners, Tony, I was bought up as a proper man. I'm smart too, oh yes, I can see that you're trying to draw out whatever monster I have lurking inside me, but you see, that's kind of a problem," he laughed, taking steps backward towards the high windows. "If I raise my voice, if I throw a tantrum or let anything untoward happen, I go straight to SHEILD don't I." His words were slow and hard. He knew he was pushing his limits but damn it if he wasn't tired of living like a mouse.
"But you do have a monster in you," Tony tipped his drink towards Loki, a small smile matching his curious eyes. He could see the shadow of Loki's former self, the monster they spoke of was practically shining through the seams. "I want to know what you want to do with him."
Loki glared at Tony from across the room, looking as if he was about to fight for his life.
"Come oon," Tony dashed away from the bar to take the spot in the room where Loki had stood. "Let's see this monster, I want to meet him, see if he's the same."
"You're joking," Loki replied, unsure of where the conversation was going.
"Come to the gym with me, we can duke it out there. Come on," Tony coaxed, throwing his head towards the elevator.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"You've got a lot of aggression and it looks like you're either about to punch me in the face or throw yourself out that window, it's understandable," he mused. "I've got these weird little shorts you can wear, I won't laugh, but you gotta wear them, besides, I'm done arguing with you."
Tony spared no expense and pampered himself when it came to fitness; high-end footwear, form fitting sweats, color that brought out his eyes. Loki was given a medium black tee and board shorts. It wasn't terrible, Tony decided, but he figured Loki was miserable in it so that made the difference. The once proud prince pinched the fabric of the orange and brown nylon, grimacing at the cheapness of it. "Where did you get these things?" He asked.
"A kid left them here." Tony answered as they entered the gym. He began to move the mats around to make proper space. It was funny to him how intimidating Loki had been just a week ago, back when he thought he was here to finish the job and take down the Avengers team. Back when he thought Loki was an all-powerful god. He remembered that even before the attack on New York, Loki had been acquiescent to an extent. It was obvious after the fact, when Loki had gone so willingly to the hellicarrier in order to infiltrate SHEILD and wreak havoc on board, but it went without saying that Prince Loki of Asgard had an obedient streak in him, no matter what kind of show he put on or how well he used his silver tongue. Maybe that was part of the reason he went so bat shit crazy back home, he wanted to be something more than what was in his own nature. Now he was just Loki, standing uncomfortably in his gym with a rain cloud over his head. Tony would laugh at the outfit if it had done anything to hinder Loki's appearance. He was loath to admit it but Loki wore it well.
"JARVIS will be recording all activity and he's highly sensitive to bullshit, he scares easily. That being said, you try any funny business and SHEILD is on their way, guns blazing. Also, I've got an Industries meeting online in t minus 60 minutes. Are we clear on those terms?"
Loki approached with a great lack of enthusiasm. "You've had JARVIS set like that since I arrived here," he said softly. Tony nodded, meeting Loki on the side of the mat. The former god looked towards the ocean view for a moment, smoothing out his hair and seeming to make some sort of decision. He followed Tony's backward steps to the center. "Are you sure about this?"
"I want to know what I'm dealing with."
People have had concerns with Tony so if he still needs work after this then by all means, I enjoy my Tony's well tailored if you know what I mean ;) (And for those of you waiting around for smut, hey, it's Fiction M for a reason. The build feels so good, does it not?)
