After his announcement, Loki fell asleep. He looked exhausted and that was a really kind word to describe the white skin, his shallow breathing and the way he gave an unconscious whine (Tony was sort of glad he would not remember this later because he was probably going to kill anybody who saw him in this state) while Bruce was taking care of his wounds. No one lost a word about what the God had said earlier.

When they turned him on his stomach to look at his back, Tony noticed his hair for the first time.

"Jesus, what the hell?" The words slipped before he could think about them, and he didn't quite know if they were about the lacerations on his back he didn't even want to know the origin of or about the fact that Loki's black hair was long enough to cover his shoulder blades.

Banner just stared at the black, tangled mass in confusion before he said: "I don't know and I don't want to. Tony, scissors."

Silently Tony handed the pair of scissors over and watched as the doctor slowly trimmed the strands to a length they had had before, with black locks curling over Loki's shoulders. Then he started to sterilize the cuts, wiping them clean and doing whatever medical treatment had to be done.

Treating Loki took two hours altogether, and to say he looked better would be a lie, but at least he looked ill in a clinical way, with white bandages and plasters all over, not that dirty and not that bloodstained.

"Tony, I would love to discuss that with you now, but I'm far too tired and seriously not in the mood, so... let's do that when I'm awake, shall we?", Bruce mumbled, standing up and stretching. "Don't worry, I will not call SHIELD in... yet."

"Thanks. You'll find your floor by your own, I guess?", the millionaire asked. After the New York incident, Stark Tower had become something like the Avengers' head quarter, and since it was a mess anyway, Tony had made a few changes including a separate level for every one of them, adapted to the personal needs. For example, Bruce's was completely Hulk-proof. Well, as much as it could be, at least.

"Yeah, I will. Good night... naw, more like good morning. However, I'm going to sleep now."

With that, Banner disappeared into the direction the elevator was.

"What about you?", Tony asked, directed to Thor. "Not going to sleep?"

"I shall stay at my brother's side until he awakens", the god of thunder answered and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, as if he expected an objection. It was waved away.

"Since it's 4am I don't think it's worth going to sleep either, so I guess I'm gonna have a drink. Should I bring something along for you?" Thor just shook his head and Tony shrugged. "Well then, I'll be right back."

When there was no reaction, he sighed and began to make his way to the top floor with Loki's words still echoing inside of his head. He is going to kill you, one by one.

"For Christ's sake, Loki", he mumbled to himself. "You are driving me crazy. And that's not half as hot as it sounds."

He didn't even have to tell JARVIS where he was going. The elevator stopped at the highest floor and he got out, wandering over to the bar where he had sat even more often than usual in the past few days. He had expected to sleep better with Loki gone, but since he didn't know where he was and if he wasn't up to something again, it had made him even more restless.

That and the fact that he had been researching about runes, magic and lots of other stuff he normally refused to believe in – counting the past few months out because he didn't really could deny it any more – without getting results (which was not only depressing Thor, but offending his pride as well, 'cause Tony Stark solves every problem once he deals with it) had led to a full week where he did not sleep more than 48 hours altogether.

And that led to a really, really tired Tony Stark who, once he had his drink in front of him and got seated on one of the bar stools, dropped his head onto the counter and fell asleep in an instant.

Loki did not wake up in the morning. In fact, he would not wake up during the whole day.

Tony did though.

He shrunk from his sleep with a cry and a movement that made the bar stool fall over and caused him to hit the ground with the back of his head. Groaning, he laid there for a second, shaking of the pictures of the nightmare that had woke him.

"JARVIS, what time is it?", he asked.

"It's one fifteen, Sir."

"One fifteen what?"

"Pm, Sir, if you would mind to take a look out of the window", the AI replied. Tony tilted his head to the side and tried not to think of the image he had to be showing right now (laying on the floor on his back, arms stretched out to his side, legs somewhat tangled in a bar stool – not really an image of dignity) as he gave a little "Oh".

The weather was amazing, not one cloud to be seen at the sky. Slowly he got to his feet, trying to ignore the aching at the back of his head. Suddenly a thought hit him.

"1 am, JARVIS?", he repeated.

"Yes, Sir."

"Wow." Tony ran a hand through his messy hair. "That's... that's almost seven hours at a time. That's a new high score."

"I would still recommend you slept more since..."

"Shut up, JARVIS. Let me have my little moment of happiness, will you?", he interrupted. "So, am I the only one awake right now?"

"Actually, Doctor Banner got up around 9am and Thor never went to sleep", the AI told him. Sighing Tony went over to the elevator and asked: "Where's Banner now?"

"He is with Loki, as is Thor."

"Great. There's no chance one of them is going to make breakfast, I guess?", he asked hopefully.

"Most likely not. But Captain Rogers might fill that part."

"Well, maybe he would, if he was here and..." Tony went pale. "Oh fuck. Please tell me he's not here, JARVIS."

"He is not here."

"You're lying, aren't you?"

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because you told me to."

"Crap. Where is he?", Stark demanded.

"He just entered the building, therefore he is currently in the elevator."

"Alert the others", he ordered. "Tell them to... to get into the kitchen. If Rogers gets to know about Loki, then so will Fury. And then we're dead. Do not tell the cap anything about Loki, get it?"

"Yes. They are on their way, Sir", the AI said after a minute.

"Good. Where's Rogers?"

"He has just reached his floor. It seems like he is planning on changing into casual clothes before he enters the common floor."

"Whew. Thank god. Well, at least I'm awake now. God bless the adrenaline."

Sighing Tony stepped out of the elevator and headed for the kitchen on the... yeah, common floor. The top floor had his bar and the landing pad for the suit on it; right below it laid the level with the kitchen, a living room with the equipment for long evenings and a giant bathroom including a pool because – just because he could; underneath that were the floors of the individual Avengers members and beneath that the tower was used for business, Stark Industries and so on.

When he stepped into the room, Thor and Banner entered from the other way. The god of thunder looked like he hadn't slept the whole night (which was probably a fact) while Bruce seemed pretty well-rested, even if worried.

"Looks like you should start explaining by now", he said with a small smile.

"Yeah, I guess", Tony mumbled while taking a seat. "Actually, there is not really much to explain. I practically stumbled over him after a small mission last week and... I didn't shoot him right away do he had time to explain. According to him he was banished to earth without his powers-"

"And you believed him?", Banner interrupted.

"He proved it", Tony replied. "I mean, you saw his arms, didn't you? Now let me finish."

"Fine", Bruce mumbled.

"Actually, most of the time he slept. I got him here, found out he's not the guy for alcohol and forced him into bed. His bed. Alone", he added after receiving suspicious glares from both sides. "Well, when he woke up, the Chitauri appeared and... kinda crashed my tower. And then, this morning, he appeared in the hall. That's it."

Banner let out a breath. "That's it?", he repeated. Stark just nodded.

"You have seen Loki. How can I not pity him? Given that I'm a philanthropist after all."

"I think you should be worrying a bit more about what he said", Banner stated with arms crossed in front of his chest. "I mean, he didn't sound like he was joking for once."

"We can't do anything right now, can we? My biggest concern right now is the Cap. If he finds out..."

"If I find out what?", a voice came from across the room. All heads turned to see Steve leaning in the doorway.

"Y'know what? Fuck this", Tony groaned, burying his face in his hands.