Welcome back avid readers! once again I apologize for your long wait (a week?) work consu, med my life but now I have a chance to update and BOOM baby..here ya go... Thanks to Phoenixwormwood137. Thanks TigerToa, ArchValkyrie, snaperdoodle, Charlio4444 thanks for your reviews, they all make me smile.
Stupid, utterly stupid! Loki thought as he paced the confines of his room. He had walked a single line all morning, but did not pay attention to time. He did not understand how he came or as to why he healed the mortal woman, only that he did. What sorcery does she possess? He turned around and retraced his steps. She did not possess the accursed stone, nor did her aura suggest magical energy … then what? Loki turned around rapidly, causing his coattails to wrap themselves around his legs and fall back into place. A soft knock at the door caused Loki to stop in his tracks. Such a knock could only come from a woman's touch, and Loki's heart beat rapidly until he calmed himself. The widow would not use such courtesies, he deduced, and remained silent. The door opened slightly and the head of lady Pepper poked around. Loki narrowed his eyes; he would not be deceived again.
"Oh, hey um … your brother -" Loki scowled at those words and Pepper held the door closer to her.
"Thor told me that he requests your presence on the balcony. Those were his words." Pepper's eyes shifted uncomfortably and Loki sneered.
"And why, pray tell, should I accept his request?"
"Because he told me if you didn't, he would use the stone," Pepper replied.
"His notion of a request is absolute hypocrisy," Loki said, walking abruptly to the door and throwing it open. Pepper jumped, as she led the god to the main living room. As Loki entered the room with speed, The Avengers all stopped moving and stared. Tony put his large cup of 'Pepper brewed' coffee slowly onto the table and watched the god meet his brother on the balcony. In these situations Tony loved his tower, the large glass windows allowed for him to see everything. It was almost like drinks and a show, for free.
"What do you think they are talking about?" Steve rolled his paper up and joined in the staring.
"Not sure, but I bet you a twenty they start fighting." Tony smiled.
"Don't wish for such things, Tony." Bruce sighed and rubbed his face.
"The guy is practically a Grinch, he's gonna try and ruin Christmas cheer over there." Tony nodded towards Thor.
"Grinch?" Steve looked puzzled. Tony rolled his eyes.
"He's this green creature who is always angry at something." Tony gestured absentmindedly and Steve looked at Bruce.
Bruce shook his head.
Steve looked away, embarrassed, until Pepper served him a cup of brewed coffee and whispered in his ear:
"I'll show you the books on it later." Steve smiled thankfully at Pepper. How she was able to put up with Tony, he would never know. Tony turned his easily-distracted attention to Bruce and began to talk about the developments on their project. Steve looked out at the two gods. Thor was leaning against the railing looking rather solemn, his lips moving with hesitation. Steve watched as Loki's face deepened into confusion, and suddenly he pushed Thor roughly aside. Something in the captain told him Loki had just received bad news.
"Hey, guys." Steve interrupted the other two, and Pepper looked up. Thor had grabbed the back of his brother's neck and with his other hand his collar and began to shake him.
"You owe me a twenty," Tony said flatly.
Steve watched Loki return the favor and grab Thor's collar. He jerked it up so close to his face that Steve was sure he was going to rip the fabric apart. While none of the humans were able to hear the heated exchange, they continued to gaze as Loki continued to yell and shake Thor back. Tony guessed the guy was going on one of his long monologues but was amused that Thor held Loki's wrists in an attempt to calm his brother.
They watched as Loki pushed himself off Thor and tried to walk away but Thor reached up to hold the stone fastened to his neck. The four humans knew what was going to happen, and it did. Loki took another step before the electric green light wrapped itself around his arms momentarily, forcing his face to screw up in pain. Steve looked away for a second, not wanting to witness such subjugation. No matter how much he disagreed with the stone's use, it was ultimately Thor's decision. Thor's lips moved again and Loki turned around, repeating the yelling match. Tony furrowed his brows for a moment before swatting his hand on Bruce's shoulder.
"Hey big guy … ever wanted to know the answer of the age-old question, 'what happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object'?"
"I … ah …" Bruce stuttered, and Tony pointed at Thor.
"Unstoppable force." Tony pointed to Loki. "Immovable object." And took another sip of his coffee.
"Enough, Tony." Pepper glared to silence him as Thor burst into the presence of The Avengers.
"Done and done," Tony said to himself. One look at Thor's face, and Tony wondered if the vein on Thor's forehead should pulse that way. But he didn't want to provoke a god so early in the morning.
"Is everything okay?" Pepper stood up and asked Thor. Thor walked over and placed the stone in her hands.
"In a few minutes, retract the command I have placed on him. That should give my brother adequate time to calm himself." Thor began to walk away.
"And where are you going?" Pepper called out.
"To calm myself!" He replied without turning around.
When Loki had entered the presence of Thor, he expected a disgusting display of affection towards him. However, nothing happened.
"Brother," Thor acknowledged, and Loki felt curious.
"You summoned me? Almighty Thor." Loki spoke the last words with contempt, edging closer.
"I have been thinking -"
"Always a hard task, in your case," Loki commented, and Thor ignored the jab.
"I have been thinking about the current consequences of your bracelets. I have come to a decision to return home."
Loki's heart skipped a beat. Was the removal of the bracelets up for consideration? Loki could only deduce that such an emotion in Thor could only relate to deep contemplation.
"We are … to return to Asgard?" Loki's eyes lightened suddenly in a small expression of hope. Would he be free of this hateful realm?
"No."
Loki's face dropped.
"You will remain here, where it is safe, away from searching eyes. I will speak to the Allfather about the stone." Thor sighed; he knew what was to come. Sheer rage swelled in Loki's heart as he roughly shoved Thor.
"You would leave my fate to the mortals!" Loki raised his voice, disgusted. Thor grabbed Loki by the neck and tried to shake some sense into him.
"Do you not realize the gravity of your situation. You can die from this!"
Loki snarled at the sudden contact and returned the favor, grasping Thor's collar with all his rage.
"You are a prisoner to your own values, brother! You act concerned about my welfare, but need I remind you who it was that held me down." Loki released Thor and pushed him away. He attempted to remove himself from the situation, but Thor reached up and touched the stone.
"Stop."
Loki's grimaced in pain and hatred as his feet obeyed.
"Turn around."
Loki complied, and Thor sighed.
"Why must we fight like this, brother? We once stood in arms against common foe." Thor's eyes saddened and Loki's glared with hatred.
"Do you forget what blood courses through my veins? We shall never be as we once were; my hatred of you shall continue to endless time and that, brother, has and always will be the nature of our relationship. Do not act so righteous that you forget it," Loki spat. Thor balled his fists up in anger and touched the stone as Loki bared his teeth.
"Yield."
Loki immediately fell placid, all recognition fading from his eyes as he relaxed his pose. Thor closed his eyes before storming back inside of Stark's fortress. He needed to remove himself from the situation before his hot-headedness interfered with his rational thoughts. How could Loki not see he was doing this for his own good? He would ask the Allfather the true properties and consequences of the stone and return in good faith. He was going to protect his little brother at all costs, even if it meant from his chosen path of destruction. He would save Loki from all the pain.
-Agent Fisher, ma'am, what would you have us do? -
A voice rang through the telecommunication line. A woman put down her binoculars and tapped her earpiece with her fingers.
"Have I issued orders to engage Stark Tower?" Her voice dripped with impatience.
-No ma'am- replied a hesitant, fearful voice. Another tap to the earpiece opened the line.
"Then don't question my authority again." She removed the piece and returned her gaze through her binoculars.
"Strange," she thought to herself as she observed the tower. "Thermals for all residents in that tower remain normal, but you … my mysterious friend, have a subnormal temperature." She smiled as she took photos of Stark Tower. Zooming in on the figure that remained on the balcony, the woman squinted her eyes through the lens; the picture remained too far to distinguish. Such a precaution was necessary, to her dismay; after all … the decoy signals could only work for so long.
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