Loki freezes, looking up at the world's mightiest heroes, staring right back at him in horror.
He's a Jotun, and Midgard's heroes are witnessing it, in it's full disgusting view. Fist clenching the broken shard, crimson liquid almost glowing as fire, trailing it's way down his ocean blue skin, contrasting like the elements.
There's a thousand openings for him to attack, escape, but with being seen like this, and the Hulk so close, he doesn't want to take his chances. The green beast heaves, large lungs contracting.
"I suppose formalities are at a loss now." Voice raw but slow like honey. It could have been done, he could've been gone.
"Loki...drop it." Clint sets his bow on the ground, slinging the quiver down as well. Hands raised in peace, the rest stare at him. He should be the last person trying to help Loki.
"Why should I do that, Barton? You hate me, don't you? If there's anyone who deserves death, it's me. Kill me now, and you get your revenge." He's reaching for it, higher than he could imagine.
"You don't."
Poised in a wary manner, Loki's voice shrinks. "Don't what?"
"You don't deserve it. I may hate you, hell, I want to punch you so hard you forget your own name, but you don't deserve this."
The god's arms fall to his side, the broken glass clinging to his hand in the cuts made before clicking on the floor.
"What is left for me then? I have no purpose to any of you, or myself." His breathing stutters and he takes a gulp of air. "I'm stuck in this skin until I find a way back, or I die. Even then, I'd be left with it."
"There's a million reasons to live. Right now, let's make yours finding one." With the knowledge that Loki could likely kill him with a touch, he reaches out his hand, in question of a chance.
Loki looks lost, but there's no mistaking the small sob of relief, as he lifts the hand clear of blood to an archer just as lost as him.
There's a small council held inside Miss Potts' old room, Clint disappeared along with Bruce, who had shrunk down. They speak in hushed voices, Loki sitting on the bed blankly, still in his blue form that he refuses to explain. They stand near the mirror, broken pieces crunching under their feet like autumn leaves, not having to worry about the blocked windows.
"-obviously we can't leave him alone."
Steve rolls his eyes, "Thanks, Tony, for the new information."
"Listen pal, neither of you two are saying anything, why don't-"
Natasha playfully pushes him, "Alright, calm down Stark. Look, we have one of the worst situations we could deal with right now, but you two going at it never helps."
The engineer opens his mouth to defend himself, before popping it closed and nodding his head.
She continues, "We're gonna keep an eye on him, no leaving him alone. With us at all times. Until we can convince him to get therapy or something."
They test it on their pallete, tasting bitter. Steve huffs, "Best plan we have, not in the long-run, but we'll figure something out."
Tony pulls his face into a pout, slumping. "Aw, this means I can't sneak away to the lab when everyone's being an idiot."
"Quit acting childish. I shouldn't have been messing around in the first place." Pulling her straight red hair into a ponytail, she drops all signs of amusement.
"'No fun allowed', Natasha Romanoff."
"I doubt Loki's having fun."
Stuck in his position of mockery, Tony lets the extent of the events hit him. "Okay, wow, this one time I'm going to listen to you the first time you tell me."
They stand uneasy, before looking at the god.
"It definitely won't be fun telling him that."
They obviously don't know he can hear them.
Loki listens to every word, advanced hearing making it hardly a challenge. He catches every soft breath, every grunt. So he already knows his fate, before they call his name. He plays innocent, just to toy with them.
"Yes?"
"Look, you're not going to like this..." Stark scratches the back of his neck, looking to the ceiling. Loki takes note of it.
His head tilts, and he feels a smirk behind the veil he makes. "What, Stark?"
Natasha gives the inventor a disappointed glance before speaking, "After...this, we had to think of a way to keep you safe." She puts emphasis on the last word, likely meaning not letting you be weak, a failure. Safe, is a word Loki hasn't used to describe his surrounding since before he egged Thor on to Jotunheim. Not before his disgusting nature was shown true.
"...And you've all decided to lock me away, what you should've done when I first came? Finally make use of me?" He's already chosen a path because of the archer, but this is much more fun.
The Captain interjects quickly, "No, no! Of course not, didn't we just say we'd help you?"
"Your Hawk said that. You three, however, have no promise holding you."
Tony goes to yell, before Romanoff shoves him back. "No, Loki. That promise applies to all of us."
He lowers his gaze. "I heard your argument, and I despise your plan, almost as much as I hate you."
Natasha and Steve take a step back, almost groaning when Tony moves forward.
Loki stands, "But, seeing as I have no choice, I don't see why not. My opinion doesn't matter in this."
"Loki-" Stark tries to say that of course it matters, but the Jotun glares at him.
"Don't waste your breath."