"Pep, I don't think he's lying about this."

"Then you're the only one who thinks that because the man is insane! He killed one our friends, and put thousands of lives in danger! Not to mention all the damages done, and all the other people that died because of his little stunt!"

"And you never wondered why he did that? You really think he just woke up one day, scratched his balls and said 'Oh, I'm going to go destroy earth now!'"

She wasn't going to win. Pepper opened her mouth to speak then pursed her lips upset. No matter what, no one could be smarter than Tony. He was always right somehow, even if he had to defy the laws of logic to prove it. He always found a way to be right. Pepper took a deep breath, trying to keep herself calm.

"I don't know why he did it Tony, but that doesn't change the fact that he did."

"I also did a lot of bad things Pepper, don't forget that. I killed people too, and unlike Loki, I did decide to just do it."

"No, you didn't decide to kill people. You decided to sell weapons to the wrong people, and you've paid your price for it."

"And what does he have to go through before you're happy?"

Again she was at a loss. She didn't know all the details, and she never wanted to know, but from what she'd heard Loki's punishment at SHIELD was more than severe. Even stripped of his powers he was left in conditions no human should ever have to live through. And not just for a few days, but for several months. Six, if she remembered correctly.

"And what exactly are you going to do Tony?"

"I don't know yet, but that's not important right now. What is important is the fact that he's human, just like you and me. And that like me, he deserves as much as forgiveness as I was offered."

"He tried to kill you."

"You think I don't realize that? You think I'm not still suspicious when he spends a little bit too long standing outside my labs? Or when he leaves and I don't notice? I'm just as skeptical as you are Pep, but I'm willing to give him a chance."

"Then consider yourself alone on that." With that, Pepper turned and left. Her mind was racing as she went out to her car, and tried to sort her thoughts. There was no denying that Loki had been through enough as it was, but the trickster had yet to utter anything even remotely resembling an apology. Not once had he asked to be forgiven. But when she really thought about it, neither had Tony. And for as amazing a liar as Loki was, it wasn't possible that he was faking those nightmares.

Tony stayed in his lab for a good while before going back upstairs. He didn't need anyone to believe what he said. The brunette turned off the lights and headed to his room, laptop tucked under his arm. He paused as he passed Loki's room, and pressed an ear to the door. Nothing. But that didn't mean nothing was wrong. Tony went into his room and accessed the cameras in Loki's room. Sneaky and invading, but necessary. He watched the fallen god sit by the window, that same miserable expression on his face that he had when he was alone. He saw Loki's lips move, but couldn't hear him very well.

"JARVIS, see if you can't pick up what he's saying."

Sir, if I may….

"Now JARVIS."

Without another word, the AI did as it was told, and amplified the audio on Loki. Tony stayed silent, listening to everything the fallen god said.

"….I thought I could change. I really did. Maybe if I'd listened to you Father none of this would be happening. Why couldn't you just tell me sooner? Why did you have to treat me like some miserable wretch?" Loki covered his eyes, though Tony could already tell he was crying. "Why couldn't you just lock me away in Asgard? No, you had to send me back here and watch as I was paraded around for the failure that I am."

He sat there dumbstruck. So he was right. Tony listened for a good while, almost tempted to go over and hug Loki, try and tell him that it was okay. But the trickster was already furious at Tony for having viewed the earlier footage, and this was no way to ease that tension. He shut his laptop after a while, and let sleep whisk him away.

Chapter Two: Begin Here.

It was raining again. Loki inhaled sharply as he woke to the sound of music coming from the kitchen. He groaned and sat up, his eyes sore. Then again, after crying himself to sleep it wasn't surprising. The trickster fixed himself up, ready with an excuse as to the redness in his eyes before he left his room. He walked into the kitchen, Tony listening to music while he stood at the stove. Whatever he was making, it actually smelled delicious. Loki walked over and poured out the coffee that was sitting in the pot before making some more.

"Hey, I just made that!"

"And you expect me to drink that swill?"

"You know what? I don't feel like making pancakes for you anymore."

"I'd never ingest anything you cooked, Mr. Stark. Odin knows what I might contract from trying your panned cakes."

Tony snorted, trying not to laugh before he just let it go. This didn't sit well with Loki, who scowled at Tony's reaction.

"And just what do you find so amusing?"

"Panned cakes? Really? I swear you're just too cute sometimes!" The barking laughter coming from Tony turned into an all-out roar when he saw Loki's cheeks darken. The trickster breathed heavily through his nose, but kept his silence until Tony was done. The playboy held his sides and managed to steady his breathing, though his grin didn't falter.

"Are you quite finished?"

"I think so."

"Good."