Fourth Installment: A Lack of Trust

"It's been three days. Exactly how does a person regenerate . . . magic?" Tony asked no one who would know the answer.

Namely Bruce, because his tightly-wound friend was the only person in the room. Bruce blinked, looking up from his screen in a confused manner.

"Was that a rhetorical question?"

Tony sighed, flipping his pen and not trying to catch it. It clattered to the floor. "Unfortunately."

The beginnings of a grin started on Bruce's face. "I could go wake up Loki and we could—"

"Yeah I'm gonna stop you right there Oz. Far as I'm concerned, a sleeping Loki is the best kind."

Banner chuckled.

Tony crossed his hands behind his neck and leaned back in his chair. "Magic. I seriously just said that. And I'm not a kid. And I'm not dreaming. Who the hell sits around and has conversations about magic?"

"I'm sure they do in Asgard," Banner suggested mildly.

Raising an eyebrow, Tony shot him a look. "You weren't this mouthy when we first met."

"I wasn't?" the other said, smile threatening again. "Maybe you caught me on a bad day."

Now Tony chuckled. Then he frowned. "Wait, it was because of Loki that we met last time. Why do we always wait until there's a catastrophe before we get together for tea?"

"Is that what we're doing?"

"It should be. Jarvis, how about some tea?"

"Certainly, sir," the disembodied voice of his most faithful servant floated around them. "Shall I call back the maid?"

"Are you kidding?" Tony said, shuddering. "What if Loki woke up and threw her out a window?"

"An excellent point, sir," Jarvis agreed blandly. "Shall I—"

"Forget the tea," Tony cut him off. "Scan the damn ward again. And I don't want a list of anomalous energy spikes this time. I want hard, scientific data—"

"Sir, the ward no longer exists," Jarvis informed him.

Tony stopped dead. Well, shit. That could only mean one thing. His eyes met Banner's at the same moment, and he could see his friend having the same thought. He's awake.

They rose nearly as one, heading for the door to Tony's lab. "Jarvis, where is he? I want you to keep tabs on him at all times. If he comes anywhere near my lab, I want it to sound like World-fucking-War III."

"I'll emulate cataclysm when I sound the alarm," came the blasé response.

Damn Jarvis. "Where is he?"

"Top floor of the Tower," Jarvis said.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me!" Tony snapped, charging into the elevator with Banner on his heels.

"Forgive me sir, I will inform you of all his movements from now on."

"Please tell me he's not alone," Tony said as the elevator started moving.

"It would seem Thor and Steve Rogers are both with him," Jarvis replied. "There is no need for panic, sir."

"Easy for you to say," Tony grumbled, folding his arms and willing the elevator to go faster. "He didn't throw you out a window."

"If it makes you feel better," Banner said in a tone as mild as Jarvis', "it probably won't happen again."

"Which part of that is supposed to make me feel better?" Tony demanded.

"Every part but the probably," Banner said.

Damn him, he was smirking. Of all the—! "Just because you got to slam him around like the Christmas toy you didn't want doesn't give you the right to be a smartass with those of us who—"

"Got their asses handed to them?" Banner finished lightly.

"What the hell's gotten into you?" Tony snorted, torn between amusement and annoyance.

"Would you rather I turn into the other guy and slam Loki around some more?"

"It just might make me feel better, yeah," Tony said, grinning a little. He really wished he'd been there to see it. To see that insufferably smug smirk wiped off the god's face.

The elevator dinged, and doors slid open. Tony resisted the urge to charge out like his ass was on fire, but only barely. The scene waiting for him was disturbingly domestic. Thor and Steve were sitting side-by-side, their chairs pulled closer to the couch. Loki himself was leaning back and looking completely relaxed - and completely healed.

Loki. I take it back when I said I felt sorry for him looking so bedraggled. I prefer him that way. Because the fallen god sitting on the couch like a damn diva didn't look injured at all. The bruises were gone from his face, his skin wasn't death-white, and his eyes weren't dull with pain. And they oriented on Tony, green and bright.

He smiled. No, it was a smirk. A small one, but it managed to take over Loki's entire face. Something knowing glittered in his emerald eyes, and Tony wanted to either slap him or turn around and run.

Thor and Steve both looked up when Tony and Bruce entered, displaying an alarming lack of concern. Thor actually smiled as though nothing at all were wrong.

"Stark," he said in a warm voice. "How comes your research?"

"Whoa, how about we keep that conversation for less volatile company?" Tony protested.

Tony and Bruce stopped a few feet from the couch. Banner cleared his throat.

"Loki," he said, voice measured and calm. "Wish I could say I was glad to see you feeling better."

Loki's eyes slid off Tony's face, now aiming his smirk at Banner. "You seem to be feeling better yourself," he said in that ridiculously smooth and cultured voice. "More in control."

Seriously, how could a voice sound like silver and melted butter? Tony cleared his throat as he and Banner reached the threshold. Thor leaned back in his chair, bending his knee to rest his ankle on the opposite knee. The three of them looked like they were having a meeting over Sunday brunch. No armed guards, no keeping wary eyes on Loki, no guns, no keeping wary eyes on Loki, no chains, and why the hell wasn't anyone keeping wary eyes on Loki?

"Loki needs to eat," Thor stated. As casual as you please.

Tony glared to find Loki's eyes on him again. Something in his smirk said he knew exactly what was going through Tony's head. He folded elegant white hands over his thin waist.

"Relax Stark," he practically purred. "It's not as though I plan to throw you out the window. Again."

Ass. God-damned self-satisfied asshole.

Steve looked up at Tony with a small shrug. "It's not like we expected him to apologize, right?"

Loki actually laughed. Laughed as though Steve had made some joke instead of a valid point. It really, really pissed Tony off.

"Listen up, princess," he growled, taking a step forward. "You're in my Tower, my guest, my rules. First, I expect you to play nice. That means no funny business, and it means you speak politely or shut the fuck up. Unless you're contributing something, I don't wanna hear it."

Loki didn't look intimidated. If anything, he looked more amused. "I shall endeavor to be as un-funny as possible."

"What did I just say?" Tony snapped.

Loki spread his hands. "I believe my response was very polite."

"You kinda set yourself up for that, Stark," Steve commented.

"Wha—you're actually agreeing with him? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Steve's expression said he didn't want to touch that with a ten-foot pole. Tony felt his whole body tense when Loki abruptly stood up. He did so slowly, as though he wasn't fully recovered just yet. Tony felt glad for that. Then felt a teeny bit guilty for feeling glad. Only a teeny, tiny bit. He didn't take his eyes off Loki as the god walked to the great big window.

He seemed to gaze over the city, then he caught Tony's eye again. "I see you entirely erased the evidence of my passing. I do not begrudge the green monster for his actions against me. Why should you mine?"

"Uh, because he knew you wouldn't die from his," Tony said, folding his arms in agitation. "Did you know I wouldn't die? I'd say you were counting on it. I think everyone in this room forgives my little grudge."

Loki smiled. "As do I," he said, oh-so-magnanimous. "Had I known you would prove such a challenge, I might have tried harder."

Tony suddenly ached to be in his suit. He didn't realize he'd taken several steps forward until Thor was in his way. The god of thunder looked at Loki. It wasn't quite a glare.

"Enough," he said. "Loki, remember our bargain and keep a civil tongue in your head."

He sounded more like a chiding parent (or big brother) than anything else, but Loki subsided with a last smirk.

Hm, Tony thought, I'll have to remember that. Thor made a bargain of some sort with him.

Loki turned back to the window. "I scanned the area, Thor. There is no activity, which means the witch either can't find me or knows better than to come here."

Glad to change the subject, Tony frowned. "You'll be able to tell if she comes here? To Earth?"

"I haven't sufficiently recovered to scan the entire planet," Loki said, "just the area around the Tower. In another few days, I should be able to remedy that."

Because that wasn't a horrifying thought. "How about you leave that to me?" Tony said. "All I need to do is calibrate my equipment to detect the right kind of energy or radiation. You're gonna help me with that."

Loki's eyes shimmered with amusement. And something a tad darker. "Am I? But not today, I think. The good Captain was suggesting a nice place to eat—"

"Ah hell no," Tony cut him off. "You're not setting foot outside this Tower."

The god of mischief turned to face him. The amusement was gone. "And who will stop me, Stark? You?"

Tony refused to be intimidated. "My Tower, my rules."

Thor put his hand on Tony's shoulder. "We cannot keep him locked up here," he said in a sympathetic-sounding tone. "Have no fear. Loki has made a deal with me that he will cause no harm."

Something in his voice made that seem very . . . important. Tony wasn't comforted. "This ain't Asgard," he said. "It'd be like turning a fox loose in a henhouse full of fat, slow chickens. And the more wandering around he does, the better chance SHIELD has of learning he's here. The very last place they want him."

"I am not your prisoner, Stark," Loki said, voice low. "I cannot heal without walking this world's surface and breathing its air."

"What, are you some kind of flower? And you're here because you need us, not the other way around." Okay, not strictly true.

"I need nothing," Loki said, taking a single step toward Tony, "least of all—"

"Enough," Thor said again.

Loki finally switched his attention to his big brother, and the intent glittering in verdant eyes looked dangerously close to murder.

Tony abruptly realized why Loki didn't look so physically imposing anymore. He was wearing jeans and a tee shirt. And he was barefoot. No weapons, no armor, no helmet. He looked human. Unfairly tall and attractive, but human.

"We need each other," Steve said, finally coming toward them. "Tony, Loki already agreed to wear a device that restricts his magic while we're outside the Tower. And he will have an escort at all times, namely Thor."

Since it seemed he wasn't being given a say, Tony changed the subject, still glaring. "Where the hell did you get those clothes, anyway?"

Loki glanced down at himself. When he looked up, malice and mischief vied for dominance in his eyes. "Would you prefer this?" A wisp of green light, and suddenly he was clothed in his leather armor.

It took a great personal effort not to physically recoil. "Oh yeah, you'll blend right in. House rule: I never want to see that outfit again."

The leather was replaced by silk and cashmere. Tony resisted the urge not to roll his eyes. The guy still wouldn't blend in very well. But it was better than the alternative.

"I would like to go now," Loki said, striding past Tony and stopping in front of Thor. His gait was slow and a bit halting. "I've grown quite tired of my body's current state."

"At least you can't get into too much trouble like this," Tony muttered.

Loki's smirk told him the god heard.

o0o 0o0 o0o

Though the breeze was chill, it felt good to walk outside through relatively clean air. Loki walked between Steve Rogers and Thor, too grateful for the near-lack of pain to cause either of them grief. Or even to protest the large silver cuff around his wrist. Unlike the manacles back in Asgard, this cuff didn't cut off his magic, simply made it impossible to do anything large-scale.

That was fine. Loki's body still wasn't fully healed. He had the energy to walk the streets of this backward world, but pretty much nothing more.

"Should I be worried about random strangers recognizing me?" he inquired more out of curiosity than because he cared.

"No," Steve replied. "SHIELD made sure the public never really knew what happened that day. And even your one spectacle . . . well, you look a lot different like this."

Loki couldn't help a small laugh. "You humans are such hypocrites. You vehemently shut down my attempt at control, and yet you do it to each other whole-heartedly. My way would have been no different than the current way. You simply would have bowed to a different master."

"Loki—" Thor began, the warning in his voice clear.

Loki chuckled, waving a hand. "Relax, Thor. That was an observation, not a portent of things to come. I really have no interest in Midgard. Why would I? There is no magic here."

His brother—no, Thor—looked mildly surprised.

"You seemed pretty interested in it nine months ago," Steve said, frowning.

Loki's mind drifted over the last two years of his life. It'd certainly taken many turns he couldn't possibly have foreseen. He saw no reason to complain.

"I would like to know why you did it," Thor said.

Lips twitching, Loki didn't look up at him. "I'm sure you would."

"So would I," Steve piped up. "It would go a long way toward earning our trust, Loki."

"A goal which is ever so important to me," Loki murmured. "Have I ever given the impression I care what you fool humans think of me?"

"Loki—" Thor snapped.

This time, Loki cut him off with a sharp smile. "I believe the agreement was, I keep a 'civil tongue' in Stark Tower. We are not there."

"I would think earning a little good will should be your priority," Thor said, eyes narrowing, "since you are here relying on their generosity."

But that is the difference between me and them, Loki thought. Their ridiculous moral codes require them to behave a certain way. Just this once, Loki exercised restraint and didn't say anything aloud.

Well, nothing too inflammatory. "Fortunately, thanks to the witch, it need not be too high a priority."

Thor looked lost between amusement and incense.

Steve seemed not to care one way or the other. "I'd like to know everything about Æsa. Her power, her allies, her motives, everything."

Loki sighed softly. Ever the soldier. In truth, he would rather walk quietly and absorb the energies of Midgard without speaking. Restoring magic was best when one didn't divide his attention. Still, his own chances of surviving all this unscathed were higher if his unlikely allies—was that what they were?—knew as much as possible.

"She's not a threat to take lightly," he mused. "Her title, the shadow witch, is well deserved."

"Thor mentioned she's called that," Steve said, looking thoughtful. "Where did it come from?"

"The moniker was given to her by her enemies," Loki replied, "eons past. Æsa is a master manipulator of darkness. She can give it form, create weapons made of shadow, and move through it as though she herself were but a shadow. Naturally, light is her greatest weakness." He looked at Thor. "I'm told she once allied herself with the dark elves of Svartalfheim in an attempt to conquer Alfheim. They failed because Odin came to the aid of the Light Elves."

Thor frowned. "I've never heard that."

"It is history so ancient our tutors never taught it," Loki said, "and you never were one to sit and read if there were beasts to be slain and adventures to be had."

The elder Aesir's lips quirked. "But the adventures we had were grander for it."

Loki almost smiled. "You got very good at it," he agreed.

Thor's expression was soft. Fond.

Not wishing to hear anything sentimental coming from the other, Loki went on. "The second . . . his name is Surtr."

"The fire giant king?" Thor said, looking startled. "What has he to gain allying with the witch?"

Loki looked away, rueful. "His goal is not necessarily an allegiance with her, but rather my capture," he said. "I . . . acquired something which once belonged to him. A relic which was stolen from him ages past. I found it. He believes he is entitled to have it back."

"Well, is it his?" the captain inquired.

"It was," Loki replied.

"Then why don't you just give it back?" the human demanded, righteous anger blazing in his eyes.

"There would be no benefit to me in doing so," Loki said, the image of flicking the captain away like a little bug popping into his mind. "And it matters not. As soon as I located and obtained it, I gave it to another."

"What?" Thor said, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and planting his large hand on Loki's slim chest. "I suppose I should have expected anything involving you to be convoluted, but I'm not following you. Why in Borr's name did you do that?"

Loki sighed, trying to keep a handle on his irritation. "It really is none of your business, and it doesn't at all matter."

"It matters," Steve cut in, now also barring Loki's path. "Motives are hugely important."

Taking a single step back, Loki slapped Thor's hand away. "I will not satisfy your morbid curiosity. I did not steal the relic from Surtr, and to whom I gave it is not important. That individual is not the enemy, nor will they ever be. Leave it at that."

Thor's entire countenance said he wasn't satisfied with that answer, and they would revisit the subject. But for the moment, he backed down. "Surtr isn't an unknown entity," he said to the captain as they resumed their places flanking Loki. "It is also unlikely he would leave Muspelheim, preferring to send aid from afar."

"That is correct," Loki said, "but he did have a hand in my . . . torture . . . when I was captured both times. If it makes you feel better, his motives are completely different from the witch's. Likely knowledge you could use to your advantage."

The captain nodded. "I'll keep it in mind. You said he's a king? Could he mobilize an army of his people?"

"Against Midgard?" Loki said, scoffing. "Doubtful. Asgard would respond swiftly, and the last time one of the realms attacked Midgard the result was total defeat. None are like to wish for a repeat performance."

"That's something, at least," Steve said, sounding thoughtful. "Who is the second ally?"

Loki's vision sort of hazed over. "They call him the Mad Titan," he murmured. His words he directed mainly at Thor. "When I fell from the Bifrost, I thought to die. I did not. I landed in the between, a place for no living being. It was the Mad Titan who found me there, half mad and mostly dead. I still do not know how." He closed his eyes for a moment. "He created the weapon from the Tesseract's power. He commanded the Chitauri to follow me. He pointed me at Midgard." He paused, trying to decide how much to say. He settled on something neutral. "He was not the Chitauri's leader, but they obeyed him. They were his army, and you destroyed most of them. It was a great blow, so even he is less a threat than before."

"And he uses magic?" the captain asked.

"Yes," Loki said, "although he artificially augments it."

"Did he make any other weapons like the scepter?" the human wanted to know.

Loki paused. "I don't know. Possibly. More than likely. His alliance with the witch is stronger than Surtr's. He wants revenge against me for losing his fool army, as well as a piece of the Aether. Unlike Surtr, he is not afraid of Odin and Asgard. That makes him more unpredictable. But not a fool."

Steve frowned, looking pensive.

Thor, too, remained silent for a time. Then, "Loki, I would like you to help Stark and Banner find a way to defend against magic."

Loki stopped. It took his guards a few steps to realize it and turn to face him. Loki glared at Thor, blood feeling hot with anger. "And make myself helpless to the Avengers? Has your brain decayed into dust, Thor? Or have you simply turned into the utter fool for which I have always taken you? Nothing could entice me into that!"

"If you do not-" Thor began.

"Don't you dare say you will turn me over to the Allfather," Loki snarled, preparing to flee if necessary. He had enough strength to leave this realm. "You already swore you would not-"

"That is not what I was going to say," Thor interrupted. "If you do not, the chances of the Avengers holding their own against three strong magic-users will be greatly lessened. It benefits you, as well, to help them."

Loki clenched his jaw. Then he took a deep breath. "It is always the same with you, Thor. You and your friends mocked me unceasingly for my study of the 'womanly art' of magic, and yet it was always to me you turned when you got in over your fool heads. You always demanded that I use my magic to help you. You only have use for it, you only see its value when you have some need. I spent my entire childhood doing as you commanded, Thor Odinson. Those days are long past."

The two once-brothers glared at each other, Loki cursing Thor's slight height and larger build, Thor cursing Loki's stubborn pride.

It was the captain who broke the tense silence by clearing his throat. "We definitely need to work together," he said lightly, "not do their job for them and kill each other."

The glaring continued a few moments longer. Thor relented first. He had far less anger smoldering in his heart.

"You're right. Loki, I cannot make you help them, but I am asking all the same. Any advantage you might give us can only prove useful in the long run."

Loki swallowed a black retort. This was a mistake. I never should have asked Thor for help. I would have been better off on my own. I've always been alone, and I've always found a way. He suffered them flanking him again in silence. For now, it had to be this way.

But not forever.