Chapter Ten.

"Let's get something to eat, Loki," Steve suggested and they entered the kitchen, where Hawkeye and Black Widow had already eaten and were taken aback to see Loki in their midst. Pepper glanced over and poured herself a coffee as the Captain helped Loki to a chair and the Avengers surrounded him.

"Here's the deal Loki. You stay in the Tower. No touching my research and development, no waging war, no inviting other species to Midgard. All of us will be staying here, at least until we know where the rest of the Chitauri are and what they plan to do. No smashing, folding or stapling. All clear?" Tony finished.

"What would I fold?" Loki asked and Hawkeye smirked,

"You'll have to excuse Tony, he thinks sarcasm the highest form of wit." There was general laughter at this, but the Black Widow didn't smile. She was very uneasy about this latest developement.

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Subject:- Hourly updates on our guest.

10am Has finished food and drink. Asleep on couch.

11am Still asleep. Have registered DNA sample with Jarvis for security purposes.

12pm Loki snores.

1pm Had some lunch with Thor. Awkward family conversations.

2pm Dinner table smashed by Mjolnir. Recommend family therapist. Loki repairs table with magic.

3pm Watching music channels with Capsicle. Both amazed at lack of clothes on female singers. The Capt's cute when he blushes.

4pm Loki attempted to use coffee maker. Loki has repaired it with magic.

.gov to .com

4.30pm Enough of the domestic crap, Stark. Security concerns only, please. How dangerous is his magic?

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4.35pm Jarvis reports that Loki is securely having soup with Dr Banner.

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5.10pm Very funny, Stark. Report on his magic, please.

Replied 5.30pm – Loki sucks at card tricks.

"Jane, what should I do?" Thor asked as Jane poured them drinks.

"Don't rush your brother, Thor. You said yourself that he's been ill for a long time, that he wasn't in his right mind."

"He has not been in his right mind since the Allfather told him of his adoption. We were brought up as brothers. He was always the clever one, the crafty one, but this got him the reputation of a trickster, a liar. We did not know he was Jotun."

"Tell me about the Jotuns, Thor."

"The Jotuns are Ice Giants, an old race. They invaded Midgard and created your Ice Age until we intervened and protected the Nine Realms. Father went to war with them and took the Casket of Ancient Winters. He found Loki abandoned as a baby in one of their temples. He brought him back to Asgard."

"The Jotun's didn't want him then."

"The Jotun have no sense of family, Jane, they are monsters."

"Did Loki think of them as monsters?"

"We all did, growing up. The attacks on the Nine Realms.."

"But when Loki found out he was from that race of monsters..."

"Jane, he is from Asgard. Why can he not see this?"

"If he is adopted. He is from Asgard but not of it, perhaps. And if he has been tortured, his memory might be faulty anyway."

Thor thought about this whilst Jane drank and looked at him. It had been a long time since New Mexico and she was overjoyed to see him, safe after the battle of Manhattan. It pained her, however, to see him so troubled. He glanced up at her and smiled.

"I like this drink."

She smiled. "Another?"

"Why don't you come back with me to New York? Tony has many computers which will help you with your research."

"I'll let Erik know what's going on, he'll probably want to come. Thor?" Here she paused, plucking at her jeans at non existant fluff, "Erik told me what happened in Stuttgart and New York. Are you sure Loki has changed, that he won't do anything like that again?"

"Yes. Loki has no quarrel with Midgard, or its people, Jane. You will be safe."

I wonder if Erik will believe that, she thought.

Thanos meditated and sent out his thoughts. Magic had long been a useful communication tool to it's practitioners and the Entrantresses' mind was like a blazing star in the ink black cosmos. She had long battled with Asgard – a foolish infatuation with the king's son, Thor, to be certain, but a useful ally nonetheless.

Together, they could attack Asgard. Bring down the band of proud thieves and their foolish peace. He would have the Gauntlet and she would have her prince. And then surely the Nine Realms would be his.