Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! Sorry about the delay - I was going to get this done on the weekend, but then I couldn't think of what to do (ugh)

Two days earlier:

Loki placed his hand on his leg. A small glow of magic appeared and sank into his leg, instantly knitting the bone together. He'd tried the spell before, but his magic was still too weak, even for this pitifully small spell.

He sighed and lay back on the stretcher Tony brought in the day before. It was strange to feel grateful to his captor, but Loki did. Tony had shown uncharacteristic empathy, he thought, wondering why. Or perhaps kindness toward prisoners was typical of these Midgardians, and his experience with SHIELD was an exception. Frustratingly, he had to admit that he didn't know. He didn't know nearly enough about this realm and it's strange inhabitants. He wanted to learn more about them, and about Tony in particular. Tony was important, he knew that much, but he didn't know why, which was what annoyed him most.

Why does it matter though?, he asked himself.

You need to know your enemy, came the easy, simple reply. The reply which disguised the messy, confusing emotions which he very much did not want to confront.

Loki stood up suddenly. He didn't want this, this endless waiting. He didn't even know what time it was. In two quick steps he crossed the room.

'Stark!', he called, banging a fist on the window on the front of the cell.

'Yes, Loki?', came a reply a long moment later. Loki spun around in surprise. It almost seemed like Tony's voice was in his cell. 'Loki?'. The voice came again, and this time Loki saw where it came from. There was a small black box in the corner of the cell.

'I require nourishment', he lied, addressing the box. There was a spell he cast a long time ago which prevented hunger, but he wanted Tony down here. For conversation. Intelligent conversation, which he sensed Tony would be capable of.

'What?'

'Food. Stark, I require food.'

No reply came, and after a moment Loki sat down on the bed, slightly hurting in a way that was all too familiar.

Ten minutes later Tony was standing in the hallway outside Loki's cell. He had a tray with fruit, pop tarts, sandwiches, coffee. . . probably far too much, but he didn't know what Loki would like. He wiped his palms on his pants and raised his hand to knock on the door, but then stopped. It was his house; he wasn't going to knock.

Loki looked up as Tony walked in. He was carrying a tray of food, but it was unlike any food Loki had seen before.

'Stark'

'Reindeer games'

'Why do you insist on calling me that, Stark?'

Tony rolled his eyes, and gave a hint of a grin. 'You seriously haven't figured that out yet? You're meant to be the clever one'

A brief smile flashed across Loki's face and he cleared his throat. 'What is. . .', he gestured to the tray, 'this?'

'You don't know what this stuff is?', Tony asked, surprised. He hadn't realised that Loki wouldn't know what the food was. He sat down on a chair and put the tray on the small table. 'Well, um, apple, pop tart, coffee', he said, pointing to the food as he said their names.

'Pop tart?'

'Yeah. Try it. It's good'

Loki picked up the pop tart with long slender fingers and ripped off a corner and put it in his mouth. He chewed for a moment and then smiled.

'You're right, Stark, this popped tart is good.'

Tony smirked. 'I thought you'd like it.'

'We - They don't have food like this on Asgard.'

'Have you had coffee?'

Loki shook his head, puzzled.

'Try it', Tony said, gesturing to the steaming cup. Loki took it in two hands and raised it to his lips.

'I like this coffee too. Your Midgardian food is satisfactory, Stark.'

Tony smiled and stood up. 'If you need anything else just let me know', he said. Loki nodded, and Tony left.

Loki looked to the side and rubbed his forehead. He took another bite of the pop tart, but it didn't seem as good now. He sighed and put it down, wishing Tony hadn't left him alone again. He hated to admit it, but he enjoyed Tony's company. Tony made him feel something that he hadn't felt in a long time

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