Chapter Nine
Tony sat up with him until morning, whilst Loki remained motionless. He didn't respond to any of Tony's words or actions, he just expelled heavy breaths as though he could just will himself out of the situation. Tony knew he wouldn't get any answers that night, Loki probably didn't even have the strength to do it again. It was only through sheer force of will that he hadn't fallen asleep yet.
"I don't know how to deal with you," Tony said when the first rays of light came through the window.
Loki didn't respond, but Tony knew he was listening to every word. "We should have thrown you to the dogs the moment you got here."
This caused Loki to raise his head, asking a silent question: Why didn't you?
"Now, I'm not so sure about just what's been going on this whole time. You're sick."
Biting his lip, Loki nodded. There was no way to deny it now.
"I'm not going to be able to hide this for long if you carry on. And I've got to let them know you could talk."
Loki was still, he didn't know what he wanted. He was relieved to know that there was a way around this, that he could still have some measure of his former power, but it wasn't the same. He would have to live behind this illusion for the rest of his life. Quite honestly, he wasn't sure it was worth it. Especially not whilst he was a prisoner here. Cornered, he would have to answer all those questions that were put to him.
He needed a way to get out, but there was nowhere for him to go. Even if he could again gather the power to transport himself across the realms, he would be rejected in them all. What kind of life would he have as an outlaw in Vanaheim or Alfheim? In Asgard he would be a prisoner just like he was here, and Jotunheim was not even an option to be considered, unless death was the best way to go. Loki forced his mind off of that path before it took him somewhere he didn't want to go.
"Damn it, Loki! Say something. Do something!" Tony had lost his patience, and had to refrain from punching something. He didn't feel comfortable being in charge here, and the situation was a lot more complicated than he had ever thought it would be.
Loki took a deep breath, it was now or never. He had to see if it worked. He dropped his own mask and used the power to create a secondary illusion. Beside him, another Loki sat. Clean, in his armour. It was a Loki at the height of his power and it was unbound.
Already he felt his energy drained, but he forced it to continue. He used a last burst of strength to totally inhabit the illusion, to look through its eyes, hear through its ears and maybe even speak with its voice.
Transported a foot to the left, he turned to regard himself. His hair was long and unkempt, his clothing stained and too big. He was a mess of blood and dirt. He was a jotun and a disgrace.
Turning back to Tony, who was looking quickly between the two as though he too couldn't believe the difference, he just had the strength to ask his own question.
"What do you want from me, Stark?"
When Loki next woke he had an IV pumping into his arm. Groggily, he opened his eyes. Thor sat beside him, watching intently. On the far side of the room Banner and Tony were engaged in conversation. Thor quickly alerted them to his waking.
"Brother, you're awake," Thor said, reaching to grasp his shoulder. "You slept almost a week. We thought for some days that you might not wake at all."
Loki just turned to face him, still not entirely awake. It was a strange feeling to sleep peacefully. He went to pull the IV out, but Tony stopped him.
"I wouldn't do that quite yet, big man."
Loki didn't out up a fight, letting his arm fall back down heavily. He hurriedly reinstated his mask. He hated his true form, and waking in that state was nothing short of embarrassing.
"Loki, Tony has said you discovered a way to speak with us. Could you do it now?" Thor seemed almost desperate.
"Give him a minute," Banner told him. "He might have woken up but he still has to recover."
Thor looked a little crestfallen at the scientists words, but accepted them without comment. Loki was relieved to be spared the conversation, if only for a little while.
"Do you wish for any food or drink? Tony Stark has any that you could wish for here," Thor told him. Loki nodded, more to send him away than for any other reason. Banner and Tony exchanged glances as he left, before Tony followed him, leaving Loki alone with the scientist.
Loki gave him a questioning glance. Aside from staying to ensure he ate something, he never seemed too bothered with Loki's wellbeing. Most of the time he seemed absorbed in his own thoughts, or he just wanted to leave. Unlike his brother and host, Banner had never spoken to him.
"So, Loki," he began tentatively, "I, uh, don't know what to say." He ran a hand through his hair. "Tony, he told me about your, err, little problem." He gestured vaguely to Loki's arm, which was hidden by long sleeves. "Thor and the others don't know. Don't worry."
He was silent for a long while. "This is crazy. This is crazy!"
Loki remained motionless, curious as to how this would pan out.
"The bridge. You let go on the bridge."
It wasn't a question, but Loki nodded, a simple sign for him to continue.
"We've all had a go on your life before, mostly in self defence, but that's different. But I, I get it. I've been it that situation."
This warranted Loki's attention, and he sat up a little despite himself. He narrowed his eyes slightly, wanting him to continue.
"You being in that position isn't good for anyone. I know from my own experience it hurts people, in my case quite literally." He frowned a moment, looking back at the memory. After he'd shit himself and transformed his memory was foggy, but he remembered the next day very well. Luckily, nobody had died when he went on a rampage. "If you need to..." His voice faltered. "You can speak now. And if you've got anything to say we're going to listen. You don't need to do that again."
Banner left the room as soon as he finished speaking, not even giving Loki a chance to respond. Loki just sat in confusion at what had transpired. They were trying to reach out to him, trying to help him, but they couldn't forget his past. Neither could he, and now, now Loki knew. He wasn't worth saving.
