Author's Note:
I appreciate all the reviews :D Would also not mind a few more (I see you people there, subscribing and not saying anything. That's right! I get emails, I know all your names o_o)
Ahem, anyway enjoy the next installment :D
Two days, that's all the time that had passed since Thor left for Asgard. And in those two days Steve didn't know left from right anymore. Everything! Just everything went completely wrong! He knew it was Loki because every single time the little devil snickered and half the time he just straight up laughed. Steve was certain that it was boredom that caused this kind of behaviour in Loki but he had no idea how to stop it. He was sick of having to triple check the salt or pepper shakers to ensure their lids were screwed on properly, or going to the bathroom and finding that Loki had stolen all of the toilet paper and put it somewhere else in the apartment. It wasn't that Steve didn't make sure some was available but when you had to go you generally didn't want to have to run around in search of the damn stuff.
Just after Thor left Loki had told him he knew a cool trick so Steve did exactly as Loki said, put his palms flat on the table and watched as the demigod placed two full cups of water on the tops of his hands and then walked away. "Where's the trick?" Steve had asked which only earned him the uncontrollable laughter of the mischief pest. "Oh you little... Loki, get these off my hands... Loki!" He of course had to dump one of them and promptly cleaned it up, grumbling a little bit but reassured himself that this was for Thor. If that was the worst kind of mischief that Loki could get up to then he figured he wouldn't have much trouble other than an annoyance or two (that had been before the toilet paper thing, mind you).
The first morning Steve had woken up to make breakfast and found that Loki had already gotten to all of the eggs... and had hardboiled them and put them back in the fridge. Steve rubbed his temples briefly but decided that it wasn't a big deal, he liked hardboiled eggs too. And some of them he could pickle so that was alright. Slightly annoying, just slightly. He'd gone to the sink to wash his hands before preparing the eggs and found that Loki had put tape over the nozzle, leaving a small hole aimed right for where Steve was standing so he got a face full of water.
After briefly sputtering and turning the tap off all Steve could hear from the couch was a muffled giggling. He wanted to shout at the demigod but figured it might just be boredom again, or maybe he missed Thor, maybe this kind of thing made him feel better. It was alright, Thor would be back at any time.
The first time he almost fell for the toilet paper joke but luckily he had the sense of mind to check first. Granted he rushed about to find the darn thing but that was okay, not a big deal. The part that really bugged him was the fact that Loki had rubbed some 'Deep heat' muscle relaxant on the seat. He'd been too distracted by the lack of toilet paper to notice the shine on the seat and was promptly disturbed after he sat down. Of course after rushing for the paper it was way too late to wipe the seat off first, so he suffered through it.
The next morning Loki apologized and offered to get him breakfast. Steve smiled and agreed, it sounded lovely and why would he turn Loki down when he wanted to make it up to him? Loki apologized, saying he wasn't very good at making Midgardian food so he'd poured Steve some cereal instead.
Steve shook his head, "It's not a problem, thank you, Loki."
"You're welcome." Loki smiled so earnestly that Steve let the other things go, it was too cute really. He took the spoon and as he dug into the cereal he realized that it was frozen, or at least everything beneath a fresh layer of milk and cereal. Loki snorted back a laugh and smacked the table as he had his fun.
Steve furrowed his brow and sighed, getting up and going to dump the ruined breakfast out, "You know..." he glanced at Loki who was still pale, still thin and still darkly bruised, and reconsidered what he was going to say. "You're being a pest."
Loki's laughter died down to a chuckle and he aimed an amused smile Steve's way, "I am aware."
"Is this because Thor told you to behave yourself? I'm starting to get why he said it." Steve pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. Two days, that was it. What was taking Thor so long? Two days was forever already!
Just then the phone rang and Steve went to it like it were some kind of therapy that would heal the annoying thorn in his side. "Hello, Steve Rogers." He stated immediately after picking up.
"Hey, Cap. Whatcha up to?" The speed at which the person on the other line spoke those few words was more than enough for Steve to know who it was.
"Hey, Stark." He glanced over at Loki who peered strangely at him with wide and slightly sunken eyes, still nowhere close to healed up and definitely damaged in some way. "I'm uh... not up to much-"
"Thought not. Hey! I'm working on something and I could use a hand, mind coming down to the tower? Can't lift two really heavy things at the same time you know, otherwise I totally would." Tony was off on his usual pace and Steve was about to try and say no, he was busy helping Thor with something but then it dawned on him; he could hand off some of the Loki pranks to Tony.
"You know what? I'll be over as soon as I can." Steve said cheerily.
"Really? Great! I'll get JARVIS to let you in when you show up. See you in a few." And just like that Stark was gone. Steve shook his head and hung up, that guy really needed to take a moment and calm down for a bit.
"Alright," Steve looked at the robe that Loki was still wrapped in and scratched his head thoughtfully, "I guess... I'll give you some of my stuff."
"What is going on?" Loki asked cautiously, suddenly not having as great a time as he had been just tormenting Steve.
"Stark needs my help with something so we're heading over to his tower for a bit." Steve explained as he went to his room and found some of his smaller things, grabbing a belt with the slacks he'd picked out. It'd have to do. "Here, put these on."
Loki took the clothes and slowly started to undress, his hands still a little shaky though not as bad as they had been. Steve turned away and tried not to pay attention though after a few minutes he heard frustrated grunting behind him. "Everything okay?" He asked though he didn't really want to know the answer.
Loki glanced over at the Captain and for a moment considered asking for assistance. Then again, this wasn't Thor; he wouldn't be as caring and unbothered by it. "I am fine. Just figuring out how these pants work..."
Steve knew that taking care of Loki meant helping him and so he stopped being a baby about and went to the demigod's side, "Hold on," he noted immediately how Loki's fingers fumbled awkwardly with the button and had to wonder what exactly had happened. Thor had said Loki was strung up for a long period of time, his hands cut off from some circulation for too long, he'd probably lost a lot of strength and dexterity in them for the moment. Regardless Steve helped Loki finish getting dressed, it wasn't like the other man was completely naked or anything, it wasn't such a big deal.
Loki's face was burned with a dark red as he looked away with embarrassment. "I... I can do it on my own."
"It's fine to ask for help, you know." Steve smiled at him, "Now come on, Stark's waiting."
Loki nodded and followed Steve closely. This was the man his brother had trusted most out of all the humans, Loki felt vulnerable as they stepped outside and the feeling of safety came with trust, so stepping closer to Steve was the easiest solution. Steve glanced back at first about to complain about his personal space but when he saw how fearful Loki's expression was, big untrusting eyes scanning left and right subtly, his gaze softened and he slowed his step to put a guiding arm behind Loki's unexpecting shoulders.
"Hey, it's going to be fine." Steve said gently, "Thor will be back any time now, okay?"
"I know that." Loki snipped at him but didn't move away from his arm, this god was confusing the hell out of Steve but he figured just being kind was the best way to get out of this without feeling like a jerk.
"Alright, regardless though we're going to have to walk or take the bus, I don't think I can take you on my motorcycle." Steve glanced at it sadly.
"I do not know what a 'bus' is but I would really rather not walk." Loki muttered as he curled his toes a little on the pavement, that being the moment that Steve realized the god had no shoes on. Of course he had no shoes on, where would he get them? It wasn't like Steve had a plethora of shoes lying around; he hated shopping for the ones he was wearing, for Pete's sake. Shoes were shoes and they should be a simple thing to purchase. Apparently not in today's world.
"Yeah... though I don't think public transit would be a good idea either... Taxi, I'll call us a taxi." Steve took Loki back inside and did just that, at least giving the poor guy some socks to put on. He stared at the now fidgeting mischief maker, wondering what could possibly be going on in Loki's head, and yet he really didn't want to know. As Bruce had put it once, like a bag of cats... Where did that saying even come from? He wondered absently before his apartment was buzzed, alerting him to the taxi's arrival. "Okay, now we're going."
"What was that noise?" Loki asked curiously.
"Annoying, isn't it? It's the sound my room makes every time someone 'buzzes' me to let them in." Steve explained on his way out again.
"It is, kind of." Loki agreed and followed at a little more of a comfortable distance for both of them, his spike of fear had subsided and he'd regained some of his old confidence, fake and masking as it might have been.
The ride to Stark Tower was as quiet one, Steve sat in a way only a soldier would, his back straight, shoulders squared and his eyes straight ahead. Loki wondered if he ever wasn't on alert but remembering the petty pranks he'd been pulling in the last couple of days was enough of an answer to that. "May I ask you something?" Loki hesitated to ask but still decided to, looking over at Steve carefully.
"What's on your mind?" Steve had suddenly given him his full attention, somehow his gaze made Loki nervous, those scrutinizing eyes completely locked in on him.
"Why do you trust me enough to let me roam free like you have?" He clenched his hands into fists on his knees, "I have been nothing but trouble to you."
"You're right, you have been nothing but trouble to me, but mischief is in your nature so I've been taking it as a sign of health returning." Steve shrugged, "It's not exactly like you're in top physical condition or anything, truth be told I'm not exactly scared of you, never have been."
"But I killed your comrade." Loki nudged the issue a bit further; it was bothering him why these people were so happy to help when he'd been such a pain, a problem in the past. What was with them? Surely pressing the issue he'd find Steve's breaking point. And yet he didn't, the man smiled sadly at him and shook his head.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Loki. Stop trying to make me."
His words hit Loki pretty hard and the god leaned back in his seat, turning his head away. It was true, he wanted them to stop hiding behind some fake wall of 'it's all okay because my friend asked me to do this' or 'you begged me to help you'. He just wanted the truth to be obvious, so he wouldn't have to play these guessing games in wondering when they'd snap and come at him with that anger. And yet his mind couldn't help but linger on the thought, 'They aren't the ones lying, you are.' That had some merit to it as well, if anyone was lying it'd be the god of lies, wouldn't it? He kept telling them he could do it on his own, he could handle it, he was fine, but how true was that? Not at all. He struggled to get off the couch in the mornings but he felt better each time he'd managed to trick Steve, as childish and stupid as that was. He always had to find a place to sit down because he felt dizzy and weak. But mostly he was scared. Scared of when someone would come for him, scared of Steve and his team, and of all the stupidest, most retarded things, Loki was terrified that Thor wasn't coming back.
"We're here." Steve got out of the cab as it pulled up, handing the driver some money to pay for it, mentally noting that taxi's weren't cheap and how he'd have to apologize to Fury, being on the man's dollar and everything.
Loki stepped out and looked up at the building, one he remembered well enough from his last visit. There might even still be a hole in the floor with his shape. 'Maybe I could lie down in it for old time's sake.' He joked miserably, following Steve inside. It was still a building meant for work; therefore many people were bustling about doing just that, work. Steve wasn't terribly comfortable in the technological company building but he showed very little signs of it as he approached what he assumed was the reception desk.
"Hi, I'm here to see Stark." Steve smiled though it faded slightly when the woman sitting there went straight to her computer to check.
"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Stark?" She asked in that monotonous tone that receptionists could get.
"Uh... he just called me and said come down... I didn't know I needed-" Steve furrowed his brow though the woman looked up to see who she was talking to for the first time.
"Oh! Mr. Rogers, yes of course you can go right up." She gave him the clearance card and sent him to the elevator, glancing strangely at Loki as the god stumbled after the super soldier, looking somewhat ill.
"He said JARVIS would let me in..." Steve muttered, not noticing Loki's struggle to walk. And how could he really? Not like Loki was telling him anything. The god of mischief fell against the wall in the elevator and slid down to the floor, his hand reaching up and cradling his head. "Loki?" Steve knelt down next to him, "Hey, you okay?"
"Just... dizzy." Loki muttered softly, his eyes closed in an attempt to reset his equilibrium.
Steve nodded and hit the button for Tony's office, that being the only option in the elevator's keys. However some light scanned him quickly and the elevator's settings changed on their own, taking him past the office intended. "Welcome, Mr. Rogers. Mr. Stark is waiting in his personal quarters. I will take you to him."
"Uh, thanks JARVIS." Steve wasn't sure how he should ever speak to the computer voice Tony had made but considering it was so polite to him he figured it was only correct to return the favour. The door opened soon after, Steve helped Loki to his feet, slinging an arm around his shoulders and leading him to a decent spot to sit.
"Steve, welcome." Tony walked around the corner, coming from Steve had no idea where really. "What took you so long- Who the heck is that?" Tony pointed at Loki, a drink in the hand that did so.
"You know who this is." Steve straightened up and turned a smile in Tony's direction, taking in the shocked and appalled expression on the genius' face. "Thor asked me to watch him for a little bit so-"
"So you're babysitting for Mr. Thunder and lightning?" Tony interrupted, like he always did.
"No, watching out for." Steve corrected him firmly, "So where's this stuff you need help with?"
"Oh that, I did that already." Tony shrugged, "But you're just in time for the party."
Steve rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose agitatedly, "You had me come all the way down here for a party?" He asked tiredly, "I'm not exactly in the position for a party."
"Well I didn't know that, you didn't tell me you were god-sitting today." Tony motioned toward Loki who had flopped over on the couch he was put down on. "Speaking of, he looks pretty bad."
Steve looked down at the lump next to him, "You okay, Loki?"
The demigod nodded slowly, curling his legs in and decidedly resting right there. Tony raised an eyebrow, "Wasn't he being punished or something? I didn't know that trying to destroy the world, succeeding in destroying most of a major city, and killing several people was only punishable by two years in jail. I should give it a try."
"Stark," Steve walked over and past him, wanting to take the conversation further from the individual attempting to sleep. "Look at him; he's gone through a lot. We have no idea what prison is like in Asgard, don't take it so lightly, okay?"
Tony shrugged, "Whatever, Cap. Regardless, you're here and so's everybody else so let's get this hangout underway."
"Who's everybody else?" Steve's gaze followed the billionaire as he moved to retrieve these 'other people', the super soldier expecting a wave of random people and reporters that he didn't know.
He was pleasantly surprised though, the only people that followed Tony out were the three other members of their team (obviously excluding Thor). "Hey, Cap." Clint was the first to greet him with a wave; Natasha smiled and copied the gesture though she said nothing, pretty quiet as usual.
"Did you all get tricked into coming here too?" Steve smirked.
"Nat and I, yeah." Clint shrugged, "Banner was here the whole time."
Steve glanced at Bruce who shrugged, "What can I say? I enjoy big labs."
"Fair enough." Steve knew he had to tell them so he motioned toward the lavish couch and sitting area, "I know there might be some mixed feelings about this so I'll tell you right away-"
"Oh you tell them right away! I call you and you don't bother to tell me anythi-"
"Stark, shut up." Natasha interrupted Tony who looked completely offended by it. "Go ahead, Steve."
Steve smiled appreciatively at her before continuing, "Thor asked me to watch his brother a few days back. Loki's here with me, and before any of you ask he's not dangerous so don't worry about that."
"Wasn't worried." Bruce put his hand up calmly which earned him a grin from Tony.
"Right," Steve nodded, "Regardless, he's been hurt pretty badly and though I haven't been given all the details Thor was insistent I take care of him, so something must have happened in Asgard. I'm not sure what or if it's a big deal at all so I'm waiting for him to come back and let me know. I know everyone will have mixed feelings about Loki being here and I will understand entirely if you'd like him to leave, I'll take him home as soon as he gets up."
"Don't worry about it, Cap." Tony spoke up again, not surprising to anyone there. "We want you to hangout too so I guess we'll put up with a diva god for a while, right guys?"
"Absolutely." Bruce said sarcastically, "Though you're keeping a close eye on him, right?"
"Of course." Steve nodded, "So... everyone's okay if he and I stay?"
"Well if Stark's the one who chose the less obnoxious option it gives the rest of us no choice but to say it's fine." Natasha joked, a smile tugging at her lips. Clint nodded in agreement, which made it unanimous.
"Great! I'll get the alcohol." Tony grinned.