Tony was spending a lot of time hitting the bars. He'd seen his acquaintance from the unfortunate almost car collision once, and found him less engaging upon the second meeting, and hadn't seen him since. The man was persistent in wanting Tony's time, and Tony entertained the idea without ever actually considering it, for the sake of business.
He didn't hear from Loki, and he had no way of contacting him, so he kept himself busy-which really wasn't difficult even before the vacation ended. The team worked out together, helped each other train and work on their skills, relaxed together, and often went out together. It wasn't a rule, or a constraint, or an expectation, but the team often found themselves nearly altogether or in pairs. It was a kind of friendship none of them were used to, and yet, all of them appreciated. Tony wondered if this was part of the reason that he hadn't heard anything from Loki.
Loki. He'd been under the foolish impression during his lust spell prior to sleeping with Loki, that somehow managing to have sex with him would dispel his distractions-his colorful thoughts of what it would actually be like, to have sex with someone like Loki. Someone who wasn't human. Someone who called himself God, and really seemed to believe it. A man who was troubled enough to send a "destroyer" to kill his brother, and then attack a planet and it's inhabitants partially to piss his same brother off. And a man psychotic enough to think it was okay to do that; that doing it would bring him some sort of glory among the human race, or his own race, and whoever else it was he was trying to please.
But the thought's didn't go away. They only became more detailed, now that he knew exactly what it was like to have sex with a man holding all the previously cards in his deck. Loki was the joker in the deck, the wild card, and he loved it, mostly because he was, too. There was something so superior about Loki; Tony joked about how much better he thought he was than other people, and meant it, sometimes-Justin Hammer-but he was never unaccustomed to being ridiculed. He knew how to handle insults, and jabs at his personality or stability from most anyone, because a lot of the time they were wrong, or he expected them. Or he just didn't care. Mostly because he could roll his eyes and push them to the back of his head like lies, even when they weren't.
But Loki always seemed to hold up with the way he presented himself. Even when admitting defeat, he could smile, or laugh it off, or simply play cool in a way that surprised Tony. Sure, an insult was one thing, but in losing a big time battle like Manhattan, even Tony didn't think he'd bounce back. But Loki had. "I came, I saw, I got beaten into the floor. Can I have a drink?" It was like nothing Tony had ever seen before.
He wondered if, at any moment, Loki had not been thinking of a way to escape after he'd lost. If there had been a moment of doubt, where he'd said to himself; "I'm going to have to go home, now, and face what I've done," and accepted-without, for at least a moment, hoping for escape, tried to accept that. To Tony it seemed like something anyone would do, but Loki wasn't human like Tony. Didn't worry about the same things Tony worried about.
Loki's attitude was almost exactly what one expected a modern devil's to be like. Not an obvious, choking sort of evil, but a mad, sort of senseless violence that snuck past your senses and only became obvious when you were lying six feet under. He had no doubt that Loki, with his careful words and smooth voice, could've feigned goodness had he ever needed to fool them. The kind that could wrap around your throat like a scarf, only to choke you like a noose, or shine like a knife a cut like a feather. He seemed the kind to toy with his friends and dote on his prey.
Which, all things considered, didn't bode well for Tony, who often found that science was sometimes the only distraction from his wandering thoughts. Now that he knew what it was like to look into Loki's eyes and see pleasure, to kiss him and feel that he wanted you; he'd never forget the texture of his skin, smooth and carrying the slightest, non-inhuman chill, that held strong against weapons and the passions of sex. He'd always remember what it was like to kiss his-
Oh, fucking hell. He wasn't getting anywhere with this. He put more thought into his work as a result-which made Pepper happy, at the very least. He started going to more events, attending twice as many meetings, and taking more of a part in the company's running. This also meant more time with Pepper, which, at any other time in his life, would've been a godsend.
But it wasn't anymore. He was lying to her-had betrayed her, and he knew he could only keep his mouth shut for so long before his conscience won out. He had no right to leave her unaware, and the longer he waited to tell her that he wasn't ready to be in a relationship with her, the more he was lying to her. Pepper was too good of a person to be kept in the dark about something like this. But he also didn't know how to approach it with her. Every morning he saw her his mind wandered back to what he'd done, and to the horrible realization that he didn't know how he felt about it. Naturally, sleeping with the enemy was all kinds of stupid; cheating on Pepper, stupid; sleeping with your friend's crazy brother, stupid. But it had made him happy, at least for a time, before his thoughts of all the things Loki had done came back to him, and he remembered that sometimes, wanting to have sex with someone was only okay until you did it.
That being said, when Tony thought about it in retrospect, he could easily say it was a mistake he'd never make again. He knew the seriousness of his actions, and he'd realized the cons outweighed the pros of amazing sex; and yet, there was a part of him that wasn't sure. His lust and curiosity had gotten the better of him at least three times before, hadn't it? He didn't have to sleep with Loki-hadn't had to convince Loki he wasn't brushing him off. He could've said no the second time, in the bed, or have controlled himself the third time, the next morning. But the fact remained that he simply hadn't, for whatever reason, and there was a part of him that would do it again if it could, and a part that was scared because he knew that about himself.
But Loki had also-supposedly-kept him out of danger, that night at the bar in the alleyways. Transporting away and warning him that there were others out there, others who would kill him if he didn't move quickly.
There were so many things whirling through Tony's mind, he didn't quite know where to begin sorting them, and while a part of him said that that the two fastest ways to deal with what he'd done was to tell someone, or breakup with Pepper, he simply didn't think he was ready to do either of those things. Well; he'd never be ready for the second thing.
So, to avoid thinking about all things moral, he focused. He was good at focusing-he had just gotten lazy at it the past few weeks. You didn't get to be this smart without learning to stop thinking about sex and guilt for more than an hour.
He went drinking with Clint and Natasha, trained with Steve, worked in the lab with Bruce, and talked with Thor, doing a lot of explaining so that he'd be more equipped to stay on Earth for as long as he needed to. He really liked the guy, and after their initial rocky start, he found himself being able to work more cohesively with the team. He had been pleased to discover that Thor was a lot more intelligent than he'd expected. He had vast amounts of knowledge humans hadn't the remotest idea of, and was more than willing to share it. He wondered if it would be even half as easy to get Loki to crack about Asgard. He doubted it.
Thor, however, was delighted by Tony's interest, and generally very open with the answers, and it was from Thor that Tony learned for the first time of Loki's troubled past.
"...and the Vanir, whom hail from Vanaheim, are our sister race; Vanir to our Æsir, though we are all Asgardians. They are old gods; the masters of magic and sorcery, and have a talent for fortune telling, such as my mother, who in fact, taught my father all he knows on the subject. My mother came to Asgard from Vanaheim after the war...along with her father, and twin brother, Frey." Thor was saying, looking up at the sky. It was past dark, and the two men were more separated from the rest of the crowd. Tony had shaken off his date about an hour ago, and hadn't seen her since. As a result, questions and needs for a distraction struck him, and what started off as a quick inquiry changed into a long discussion that had taken them outside, where the chatter and need for attention from the Avengers was lessened, although not dissipated.
"Okay, okay, but-and please don't get all hammer-time on me when I say this-Clint mentioned that in old Norse Mythology...Frigga isn't your mother?" Tony said, being fairly candid.
Thor nodded slowly, brows wrinkling. "She is only what you, here, would call my stepmother," he sounded uncomfortable with the term. "However, unlike my brother, I was always aware of my parentage, and therefore it is something I have no qualms in discussing. She is my mother, regardless, as Loki is my brother, despite his own complaints to the contrary," He sighed and paused for a moment. "Perhaps, had my father been honest with him, such things might have been prevented. Perhaps not. It stands to remain, however, that had I not charged into Jotunheim against both their wishes, my brother and I would likely still be in Asgard, unaware." He looked away from the sky and saw the surprise in Tony's face. Tony had no idea what Thor was talking about. Thor misinterpreted it; "Forgive me, friend. I do not make excuses for my brother's actions here. He is troubled being, but that does not excuse his actions." He said respectfully.
"What are you talking about, Thor?" Tony finally questioned. "What about Jotunheim and Loki? He's not your brother?"
Thor looked surprised. "Pardon me, Man of Iron. I assumed that if our Hawk friend had informed you of my parentage, you would have heard word of of my brother's..." Tony continued to look at him expectantly, but Thor didn't look at him.
"What happened, man? None of us actually know why Loki picked Earth to attack, but you seem to have a pretty good idea of where things went bad." He said, now extremely interested. "I had family issues, too, with my dad. But I'm an only child. What happened with Loki and you guys to make him turn on you?"
Thor sighed again. "To understand, one must explain first whom the Jotuns were; specifically, the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. They were our biggest enemies, but after a great war with us, we learned to control them, created a peace treaty. My father himself won this war, and spared many lives, including that of their king, Laufey, who continued to rule after the war. In Asgard, the Jotuns were fear, hated..." Thor explained everything. The hatred between Asgardians and Jotuns, the fear and the stories told of Frost Giants in Asgard, how they were feared, and hated. He told of his unrealized coronation, and it's interruption, of his attack on the Frost Giants and being cast onto Earth. "...to this day, I do not believe my brother intended for that to happen..." he explained what little he knew of what happened in Asgard while he was gone. "...Loki was mad with the realization of what he was, and my father fell into Odinsleep...mother told me he was reluctant to take the throne, and yet, take it he did, at her encouragement..." he told of his time in earth, then and his meeting Jane Foster, and Loki's lie about their father. "All The While my brother plotted against Jotunheim.." about his friend seeking to help, the destroyer attack and the return of Mjölnor, and then his return to Asgard. "...my brother had grown more and more maddened with power and self-hatred..." Loki's plan to kill all of Jotunheim, and their battle, which resulted in the destruction of the bifrost. "and in the impact we nearly fell into nothingness. But Odin awoke from the Odinsleep, and caught my ankle as I caught Loki's staff, which his hand still clung to. And he looked into our eyes, and he let go." Thor was silent for a long moment, and Tony waited, wondering if he had asked too much of Thor. But after a minute's pause, he concluded: "we thought him dead. But word came from Heimdall of strange occurrences here, of Loki, still alive, terrorizing the race I cared for so much already. So I ventured here, in hopes of stopping his crusade against the things he thinks stand between him and what he cares about, what he wants, and what he thinks he cannot have. My brother is proving himself further beyond reason," Thor admitted. "and yet, he is still my brother."

"Wow," Tony said lamely after another long pause. "So this whole thing is the result an identity crisis...?" he was a bit in disbelief, and he found himself growing angry at the thought. "He finds out he's adopted and responds by trying to commit genocide? Fails at killing himself so he tries to kill us instead? Now your brother seems like even more of an ass," Tony decided.

Thor laughed. "It is more complicated than that, Tony Stark. My brother may not be a good man, but he is not yet an evil one."

"But still-" Tony replied, unable to stop himself. "I mean, I knew he was a prima donna, but come on! Killing people to get on top all because daddy didn't love you enough-"

"That's a bit ironic coming from you, Tony." Someone said from behind them. They turned and saw Natasha, champagne in hand, wearing form-fitting red dress and stilettos, looking absolutely stunning. "Considering all the daddy-issues you've been backpacking your entire life. What was that you were saying? 'Killing people to get on top'? I think sometimes you forget what kind of business you used to own. Do the words 'weapon's manufacturer' ring a bell?" she had on that light, smug smile she used whenever she knew she had you beaten.

Tony was speechless for a moment. He took pause and regained himself, reminding his brain that designing and producing weapons wasn't the same as bombing foreign territories. "I'll admit, you have a bit of case there, Natasha." He nodded. "But the difference is I never directly killed anybody. Besides, that's not what I do anymore." She wasn't phased by his response.

"So basically what you're saying is 'doesn't count, I stopped'?" She rolled her eyes. "Tony, what do you think we would've done if Loki had just given up in the middle of his plan? What if when Thor had shot down from the heavens and told him to come home, he'd said 'Opps, you're right, Thor. I get it, I get it. Lemme just help you find the tesseract so we can be on our merry way again'." Tony could tell by her tone she was more into proving a point than guilting him about Stark Industries. "Or if in Germany he'd suddenly dropped his staff and said 'pardon me, I've forgotten my manners' and ordered Clint and Selvig to drop their actions and come back so he could undo his mind-control thing. Really, Tony? What would you have done if when you'd confronted him in Manhattan and he'd said; 'Oh. I can't win. How stupid.' and offered you the tesseract on a dessert plate? What would you've done?"

"Are you trying to make a point here?" Tony finally spoke, finding his words again. "There's a difference between making weapons and-"

"Everyone's got a past, Tony," she interrupted. "Loki, Thor, Clint, Bruce, me-even Fury. We all had rough patches, or are going through rough patches, or will go through-the thing is, Tony, some of us are able to get out of them. Some of us experience revelations, some of us get second chances-and some of us are forced into them. You seem to think that just because you've managed to get over some of your problems everyone has to." Clint, seeing them together, was approaching. "Some of us were lucky. Some of weren't." Her face is serious, but not hard. "Back on the helicarrier, before Manhattan, you kept teasing Bruce and then you said-you told him there was a reason he was alive; a reason you were alive. Did you really believe that?" She asked critically.

"Well, of course I do-"

"I really think you helped him, Tony." She interrupted, nodding. "You did for him what a lot of people couldn't do; what Pepper and Rhodey probably did for you, what Clint did for me. You helped him change. We all had that moment-that critical moment when we could've gone on doing whatever we wanted, or what we were already doing, and decided not to. Because we almost died, or should've died, or changed, or realized what we were doing or who we were. We all had someone. Who do you think Loki had when he realized he was still alive, after falling into a black hole to kill himself? That's not even a painless suicide, Tony. So imagine," Clint had stopped to listen, and Natalie was stepping closer to Tony, becoming even more serious by the minute. "you've tried to kill yourself, only to find that you've failed. He should have died, and who did he have to help him make a change? Thanos, the Chitari, the promise of redemption and royalty." She was in his face. "Where would you be without your friends now, Tony? Where would any of us be?"

"So what, you think that-"

"Tony, our Spider friend is right," Thor interrupted, having been quietly listening the entire time. "had I not met Erik Selvig, or Jane, or Darcy, I would likely still be wandering Earth, powerless and naive." Tony turned to look at him, and the entire tone of the conversation had changed past his Tony's comfort zone all too long ago. "While I do not condone his actions, Loki made his choices alone."

"Face it, man," Clint jumped in, lightening the air. "None of us would be here without our guys. Loki doesn't have any friends. That's his problem. I mean, come on. Do you really think you'd be half this awesome without the rest of the Avengers now?"

"Very funny, guys," Tony said, finally accepting the truth of what they were saying. "But I think I've finally spotted my date again,," he gestured to a brunette across the room in a slim yellow dress. "so 'cuse me, but she's hotter than most of you, so unless Natasha's willing to take her place..." he flashed them all a smile and walked to his date, smoothly interlocking their arms and directing them to the bar.

"Ah, so you decided to come back after all..."

His date-he couldn't remember her name, as she wasn't Natasha, Pepper, or anyone else important-wasn't offended at his walking off on her. It wasn't a date in the formal dating sense, after all, in that he'd only taken her because Pepper insisted he not go alone, a fact that his date, who actually worked for Stark Industries, was aware of. She was an extremely intelligent woman in her mid-thirties that worked in-well, some department of Stark Industries. Pepper had picked her out personally. She was good company, all in all, and Tony might've even made a point of remembering her name, had things not gotten crazy before he had a chance to ask again.

They were headed to the limo when it happened, Tony tired and slightly drunk as he held the door open for the brunette and she climbed inside when suddenly, out of seemingly nowhere, came a flash of light, heading at him from the sky.

"Holy sh-Happy, drive!" He yelled, shoving the brunette inside and slamming the door. The press scattered to avoid the blast as Tony grabbed the suitcase Iron Man suit from the trunk of the limo, hitting the back of it with a slap that told Happy he could drive away. The blast missed him, luckily, too far off to the right. He donned the Iron Man suit as quickly as he could, shouting orders to Jarvis all the meanwhile.

"Alert the Avengers, Jarvis!" He yelled, searching the sky as another blast headed towards him. "Something's attacking me." He flew up, trying to see who or what it was. "Got anything, Jarvis?" he said, eyes scanning the sky.

"Three o'clock, sir," Jarvis replied, and Tony's head snapped in that direction. "It appears a certain Mr. Laufeyson has decided to join the engagement,"