The first night back at Malibu, Tony slept in the lab, draped over the work bench. He woke up with his back aching.
The second night, after fruitlessly working on a god tracker as well as aimlessly working through some sort of powder for skin that could keep the cold out—justifying that it could be used in arctic expeditions, or in battle against frost giants—he dressed up in a well pressed suit and went to the nearest party. He didn't get entirely drunk, but he did end up dragging back some nameless girl only to kick her out the next morning.
The third day a worried Steve Rogers showed up and Tony kicked him out. When Pepper found him he hadn't quite passed out of alcohol poisoning, but it was a close call.
The fourth night he talked to JARVIS about the feasibility of selling the penthouse attached to Stark Tower, and instead spent the day on remodeling sums. That night when he went out, he picked someone up with dark green eyes and it didn't help a thing.
On the fifth day after Loki had torn him apart, Pepper finally finished arguing with herself and borrowed Tony's jet to take a trip back to New York for the day. She strode into the Avenger's mansion, anger, stress, and frustration rolling off of her in waves. Locating Thor she tossed the disc she had made of the fight down in front of him, "Convince me not to track down your brother and break his kneecaps—at the very least."
Thor blinked, lifting the disc up. "Ah, Jane has been trying to show me more of these. What does this have to do with my brother?"
"This is the recording JARVIS took of what he did to Tony that has left him completely broken," Pepper answered, her voice too even.
The place behind Thor's eyes snapped and he handed the disc back to her. "I believe you understand how to play this better than I do."
She nodded once, moving over to the TV and sliding the disc into the player beside it. Taking a step back she crossed her arms to watch the same scene she'd seen unfold a dozen times in the past four days. Throughout the surprisingly short tape, Thor's jaw tensed further and further. "I was not aware," he said when it finished.
Pepper ejected the disc, "I didn't expect you to be. No one was. JARVIS couldn't even let me know it himself, he had to send it to me."
"My brother—" Thor started and shook his head. "How is the Man of Iron doing?"
"Well, he hasn't drunk himself into a stupor, but I'm pretty sure that's not from lack of trying. He's taken two different women to his bed in the past four days, and the most I've seen of him outside the lab was when he picked them up."
For a long moment, Thor considered. "It has been a long time since I had a way to speak to my brother."
"So there's no way to let him have it for doing this then?" Pepper asked. It was days like this that she really wished she had taken up some pastime that would let her take out her aggression where it would either be productive or not damage someone badly.
"I will look for him," Thor said. "I would have words with him over this."
"Thank you," she murmured. "I...I'm going to leave the disc for Steve. Just so he doesn't try coming to offer Tony comfort again. Have him break it for me when he's done with it, would you?"
Thor nodded. "Thank you, for showing me this. I hope to use this knowledge wisely."
"See that you do." Pepper left, stopping by Steve's room long enough to drop off the disc before taking the plane back to California.
o.o.o.o
It only took a moment in Tony's presence for Thor to realize something was wrong. He'd walked into the lab after making his way to Malibu and walked back out before Tony noticed he was there over the blaring music. "Brother," he said, once out on the patio of the mansion. "I would have words with you. Now. Loki, come here!"
There was a long moment before a bright green flash of magic shone on the roof, dissipating to leave the sorcerer perched on the eaves, "Have your words, then, Prince of Asgard."
Thor blinked, having not actually expected that to be so easy. "Have you lost whatever mind you still had?"
Loki's eyes narrowed slightly before he leaned back, resting on his hands and smirking lazily, "I've no idea what you mean, brother."
"I am sure you have every idea," Thor said, gesturing downwards. "What purpose does this serve?"
"He had outlasted the use I had for him," the liesmith answered.
"If that was the case it would have happened long ago," Thor said, shaking his head. "Your relationship with him has lasted almost as long as your marriage. I am not a fool, Loki, and I recognize your work."
The god of mischief arched an eyebrow, "Then do enlighten me, brother. What do you recognize here?"
"I saw the tape of your last interaction," Thor dropped between them. "You have shot people down like that before. It is only because they are getting too close."
His expression shuttered off completely at that, "I have no idea what you are implying, Thor."
"You looked as pained as he did," Thor said. "What do you hope to get out of breaking a mortal's heart, brother?"
"That is none of your concern, Your Highness," he answered icily.
"It is when my team mate is hurting and my brother is being an idiot."
"Stop calling me that," Loki snapped, finally sitting up fully.
"You are my brother," Thor shrugged. "Whatever happens."
The dark-haired god narrowed his eyes again, "I do wonder why I bother speaking to you anymore."
For a second Thor looked like he'd been struck before he rolled his shoulders. "You haven't bothered, in a very long time. You spoke to Anthony plenty it seems."
"Do you honestly wonder why I stopped bothering?" He'd found the chink in his brother's armor and he would use it if it diverted conversation from Stark, "We've not been close in eons and it's only grown worse since your coronation day."
"You mean the day I was banished and by the time I returned you were trying to destroy an entire world?" Thor returned, aghast. "We were plenty close before, then, brother, but everything since..."
"Oh do not take that tone with me. You would have dragged Asgard into war to accomplish exactly what I was trying to do," Loki's lip curled into a sneer.
"I learned," Thor said, quietly.
"And what did you possibly learn, Thor? What could you have learned that would change your mind so greatly about the monsters in Jötunheim?"
"They are part of our universe, and it is worth protecting all," Thor shook his head. "You are trying to distract me."
"I have no cause to distract you, Thor. There is nothing further for us to discuss," Loki responded, still perched on the roof, appreciating the height difference it gave him over the other god for once.
Thor rolled his eyes. "You have every cause," he said. "Since I was questioning your treatment of Anthony Stark. Do you know what he's working on down there, right now?"
"If you saw the recording then I am sure you know I care not at all," the smaller god responded.
"He's working on something to protect the bare skin from cold. I believe he muttered about arctic voyages, but I think it's something different, don't you, brother?"
Loki paled very slightly, "I am certain that if he says it is for arctic voyages then that is what he intends it for."
"Bare skin?" Thor asked, arching a brow.
"I have no idea what goes on in that mind of his. I never did."
"Why do you do this, Loki?" Thor asked, shaking his head. "What do you gain from it?"
"Freedom."
"From what?" the blond god demanded.
"My decisions are my concern, Thor. Keep your prying for those who care," Loki answered.
"You are a fool," Thor replied.
"Says the man who befriends mortals daily."
"You consider friendship foolish, don't you?" Thor sighed, shaking his head at his brother again.
"I consider friendship with those that will perish within the next fifty years, if you are lucky that they live that long, foolish."
Something shifted in Thor's eyes. "That's because when you give your heart you do it fully and are unable to give it up."
Loki's jaw tensed, "Then you seem to have the answer to all of your questions today."
"Brother, don't do this," Thor said, shaking his head. "Please."
"Don't do what?" Loki asked sharply, looking down at his older brother.
"Do this to him and to yourself," Thor said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You say you saw the recording. If so, you know that request is futile."
"Watching the tape showed me you were in love with him."
Loki froze completely at that, managing a weak "You're lying."
"I know you too well," Thor returned and narrowed his eyes slightly, considering. "And from your reaction I can only surmise I was correct."
The god of lies pulled himself together, shaking his head, "He was an amusement. A distraction. Nothing more."
Thor sighed, finally going so far as to rake a hand through his hair. "Brother, do you know yourself so little?"
Loki looked at him for a long moment, "No, Thor. I know myself too well. And I will not have that weakness."
The broad shouldered god shook his head. "You do. You always have."
His brother's jaw tensed, "If you're quite finished?"
"Did you know he started reading the myths?" Thor asked, not finished at all. "He came into my room at midnight, yelling about it all, demanding answers. He was angry at me, not you."
"He asked me about the children when I found him with the book," Loki admitted quietly.
Thor's expression became guarded, wary. "Fenrir misses you," he said, trying to sound mild. "So does mother. But you know what was most striking? Of all the tricks you played, all the pain you unleashed, the only legend that made the Man of Iron angry? Was when you tricked the dwarves. And he certainly wasn't annoyed at your part in it."
The god of chaos dropped lightly from the roof to land beside his brother finally, "I have done much damage in my time, but this is one cruelty I do not think I can make recompense for."
"You could try," Thor returned calmly.
"I wouldn't even know how to start, and I am not certain I am willing to do so, yet."
"He is downstairs," Thor said with a small shrug.
Loki took a half-step back, his gaze flickering toward the house, "I...I will take what you said into consideration, Thor."
"Good," he said with a quick nod. The smaller god considered his brother for a moment before he vanished. Sighing, Thor decided he really did not want to know how Anthony was doing, opting instead to head home.
o.o.o.o
Loki stepped out of the weave of his transportation spell and into the lab where Anthony was working. He made certain he was visible in the other's periphery—it would do no good to startle him any further than that. Which might have worked if Tony was anyone else. When working his entire focus narrowed to the device suspended in front of him, music blaring in the background.
The god drew a deep breath to steel himself and took a couple of steps forward, speaking up just enough to be heard over the music, "What are you working on?"
The smaller man froze, entirely screwing up the circuit he was working on. Reaching over, he slammed a hand down on the volume, shutting the music off before finally glancing up. "A lie detector."
His gaze darting around, never resting on the smaller man for more than a brief instant, Loki nodded slightly, "I see..."
"So I figured I could start testing it on Natasha, since she's the best liar besides you I know," Tony said, voice carefully mild.
"Sif." The liesmith advised mutedly, "Natasha is mortal, or mostly so. It is a different physiology."
Finally Tony turned around to meet his eyes. "You think this is for you then?"
"I think that if you want to cover more than the human eventualities you will likely want to test it on those of another realm," he answered, glancing away. "Considering the different creatures and such that you have need to deal with, you may want to think about it."
"So, Sif?" Tony asked, rolling a capsule around in his hands.
Loki nodded very slightly, "Sif. If you can convince her to allow you to test it."
"I'll keep that in mind," Tony murmured, still looking him over. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm still not entirely sure. I..." he shook his head, "Probably I should not have come."
"Probably thinking you're right," Tony said.
"I..." He closed his eyes, cursing himself for being unable to form the sentence he needed and make it sound sincere.
Considering him, Tony used a hand to gesture over to another work bench. "By the way, I think I figured out how to keep skin from getting frostbite. You think the Asgardians might like something of that nature?"
Loki's gaze came up, looking at the other for a long moment, "I am certain they could put it to good use."
"Good to know my work can be useful," Tony said, lounging back in the chair but keeping his gaze on Loki's eyes.
The god looked away first, "I shall leave you to it then."
"You didn't come out all this way for this," Tony said, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Thor summoned me to talk on your patio," Loki admitted, faintly.
Tony's eyes widened and then closed as he tried to process that. "He... right. Okay, that's probably normal wherever you people come from."
"He was here. And...he was displeased. I am sorry. I'll go now."
Tony made an irritated sound in the back of his throat. "He was displeased? And you're sorry? For what?"
"He is Thor, he rarely grows angry without a thunderstorm to herald it. And...I..." He could admit it, couldn't he? He wasn't truly a coward, was he? "For trespassing upon your time today." Apparently the answers were no and yes respectively.
"Well, tell him thanks for not causing a thunderstorm then," Tony said, turning away.
Loki closed his eyes and drew a steadying breath, "You shall see him before I do." With those words he vanished again, retreating to New York.
Folding his arms on the table, Tony thudded his head between them. When he finally propped his chin back up, the little plaque Pepper made him caught his eye. "Proof that Tony Stark has a heart," he muttered, letting his forehead hit the desk again. "I really wish I didn't."
o.o.o.o
Several days later, Tony approached Thor. "I need to get to Asgard."
Thor blinked. "You..." he started and shook his head. "Is there a particular reason?"
"Well, the lie detector worked great on Natasha, but, well, I figure I need to test it on Asgardians too, to be the most effective."
The blond god gave him a very long look.
"You don't lie well," Tony said quickly.
"Is not Asgard a drastic step?" the thunder god asked after another moment.
"Sure," Tony shrugged. "But you really don't want to see the step that I'm going to be taking to draw your brother out after I get this thing working. Think it's doable?"
The taller paused a moment and nodded. "It is... achievable..."
Natasha entered the room at that moment, "What's achievable?" She glanced between the thunder god and their resident inventor.
"Getting the Man of Iron to Asgard," Thor replied and Tony shrugged.
"You're going to Asgard?" The agent arched an eyebrow, "Unsanctioned?"
"There's sanctions for these sorts of things?" Tony asked, blinking as if the very idea had never occurred to him.
"The Director would figure so, rather than let you cause an inter-realm incident."
"I'm not going to cause an inter-realm issue," Tony protested. "I just want to test something is all."
"My people are always ready to welcome a hero and my friend," Thor added, frowning at her slightly for the implication his sanction was not enough.
Natasha shook her head at both of them, smiling faintly, "I still think it best if you at least take someone along who can cover your asses with Fury."
They exchanged a look. "You're just volunteering because you want to see the place," Tony shot back but Thor beamed.
Black Widow grinned at that, "Of course I am. A home of such renowned warriors? Who wouldn't want to?"
"Banner?" Tony offered and Thor clapped him on the back.
"I shall make the preparations!"
"How long will those likely take, Thor?" Tasha asked.
"Not long at all," he said. "A matter of hours even," he said, considering. "It is more than anything attracting Heimdall's attention."
"Perfect," she replied, offering him a smile.
Tony looked between Natasha and Thor. "I'll go pack, then, shall I?"
"Do you want a hand with that?" Black Widow checked.
"I'm pretty sure I can pack my own equipment," he huffed, leaving quickly.
She watched him go and glanced at Thor, her expression serious, "You think this'll help or hurt him?"
"I am not sure," he said, own expression matching hers. "He thinks it will help him though."
"Then let's hope it does."
o.o.o.o
Shortly thereafter, Thor, Tony and Natasha stood in Heimdall's observatory, the imposing god in gold armor staring them down impassively.
"Well that was different," Natasha murmured, looking up at Heimdall before glancing at Thor. "How long has the bifrost been repaired?"
"Not long," he said, shaking his head slightly.
Tony clutched the case holding his instruments over his chest, thinking how odd the glow from the arc reactor looked surrounded by so much gold and otherworldly colors. He realized the gatekeeper was eying him oddly and gave the other a massive grin.
"Anthony Stark," Heimdall greeted. "I feel like I've seen much of you."
"You enjoy being the voyeur then?" Tony asked, remembering the prophecies he'd read and resenting the gatekeeper on sight. Thor looked mildly alarmed.
Natasha shot Tony a look, "Don't start..."
"I started nothing," Tony said, glancing over at her.
"Keep it that way," she had tried for more of a question, but it came out sounding more like an order—which she knew wouldn't work.
Tony narrowed his eyes at her and suddenly Thor had a hand on his back, pushing him lightly past. "Hey—" he started to protest and Thor shook his head.
"Heimdall and Loki have never gotten along," Thor muttered. "Please, let us go."
"Yeah, I sortta picked up on that," Tony said under his breath but allowed himself to be steered. "I don't like him."
"Hush," Thor said.
"You don't like a lot of people," Natasha muttered as they headed out of the observatory. "Norse myth dealing with that hasn't happened yet, so you can stop glaring."
"It's not just that," Tony protested.
Thor scowled. "I should never have let you get me drunk on human mead."
"Damn straight," Tony said, starting to look cheerier. "You have no idea the stories you told me about your time here."
Natasha rolled her eyes skyward before directing her attention to the long walk to Asgard's capital along the bifrost, "We should have sent ahead for horses..."
Tony stopped dead when he finally raised his eyes. "Oh my god."
Thor grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "The walk will give you time to absorb the surroundings," he said, and soon regretted it as Tony pelted him with every question possible about the bifrost and city as they walked. Natasha laughed to herself, Thor should have known better. Though even in her amusement she listened carefully to his answers, filing it all away.
They finally reached the main hall and Thor look relieved for others to deal with Tony. Volstagg looked up from where he was putting together a rather large plate of meats and cheeses. A wide grin split his features, "Thor! My goodly friend!"
Tony startled, holding the briefcase up over his chest again as Thor roared in approval. "The Warriors Three!" he beamed, throwing his arms out and Fandral grinned at him from where he was polishing his sword.
Natasha arched an eyebrow as the third member of the Warriors, Hogun, offered Thor a faint quirk of his lips and a nod in greeting.
Thor glanced between Hogun and Natasha and laughed, his face lighting up again when Sif came around the corner. "And Sif!" he beamed, quite happy to steal some of Volstagg's food on his way over to lift the slender woman in a hug.
"Thor, it is good you've returned," she said, kicking him in the shins and he put her down quickly. Her eyes went over to Natasha and slid over to Tony, stopping there. For once, Tony looked entirely out of place.
Black Widow sized the other woman up, quickly categorizing her as a dangerous opponent, but a far better ally. She wasn't so kind in her opinions of the Warriors Three. Volstagg made some half-hearted protest when Thor stole a bit of his "small repast." Hogun approached silently to stand beside the large, bearded man. Natasha re-categorized him rapidly as a potentially strong ally, if not one she would fight back-to-back with.
Fandral poked his head around Volstagg. "Who have you brought with you then, Thor?" he asked, giving both Natasha and Tony what he hoped was a charming, seductive grin. Thor looked horrified for a second.
"Natasha and Anthony."
"Okay you have got to stop that," Tony snapped out, finally breaking out of his daze when presented with too many Asgardians.
"Stop—" Thor stared with a frown.
"The Anthony thing," Tony said. "My name is Tony and I'm quite happy with it."
Natasha smirked at Fandral, oh that could be fun, in a 'no way in hell, but you're welcome to try' sort of way, though her glance at Tony held a glimmer of concern.
Fandral moved his interest to Tony. "Well, then, Tony, welcome to Asgard—"
"I wouldn't," Thor said, knowing his friend too well.
"Wouldn't?" Fandral offered, looking over at Thor innocently as the larger god looked him down.
"He is Loki's lover," Thor replied, hopping to stop Fandral in the bud.
"Former," Tony protested, a hand coming up as he glared at Thor and Sif looked at the mortal in a whole different way he was sure he didn't appreciate. "I ask everyone to respect the former bit."
"The point still stands," Natasha murmured.
Volstagg blinked, and looked at Thor, "How long?"
"Does that matter?" Tony demanded and Sif answered almost before he finished speaking.
"Yes."
Hogun nodded once, backing Sif up.
"Well, frankly it's not your business—" Tony started.
"Over six months," Thor answered for him and for a moment Tony looked like he was going to hit the god with the briefcase.
Volstagg froze with a piece of meat halfway to his mouth and Hogun's brows rose toward his hairline. The red-headed Warrior gaped at Thor, "Six months? A half a year?"
Thor nodded.
"Does that matter?" Tony repeated, disliking the way Sif was considering him.
Hogun finally spoke, "The only reason his marriage to Angrboda lasted longer was the treaty."
"And the children," Fandral added.
"Look, this is not about my sex life," Tony protested. "He made his thoughts on me very clear and—okay, actually this is sortta about my sex life but not really!"
"Then what is it about?" Fandral asked, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
"I'm trying to make a lie detector," Tony said after a pause and Sif gaped at him.
"You want to detect the god of lies when he lies?" she asked.
"Basically," Tony shrugged. "By the way, he recommended testing it out on you." Really, he thought. If this was any other situation the way her eyes widened would have been comical beyond words.
"But why would you need to test it on Sif? Or on any of us for that matter." Volstagg asked, frowning slightly.
"Because humans are different from Asgardians and—and honestly I'm not walking into Jötunheim for this so Asgardians make better test subjects."
"Jötunheim?" Sif asked with a frown.
"Did I say Jötunheim?" Tony asked, grinning in a way that put Fandral to shame.
"What has Jötunheim to do with this?" Volstagg just ended up looking more confused.
Natasha shrugged a shoulder and spoke up finally, presenting what could be a passable excuse, "He's been reading the myths the Norsemen handed down to us for the first time. The locations are still scrambling in his head."
"That's insulting," he said, glancing over at her and bit his lip. "But we'll go with that."
"So what is the truth?" Sif demanded.
"Nothing," Tony said, quickly and tried not to look over at Thor. "It's really just mixing sounds up, stuff like that. Anyway, so, can I do some tests and get some read outs, please?"
Natasha had shot him a look at his protest. So much for even the semblance of a viable lie. Hogun shrugged and Volstagg nodded, "If it will aid you."
"Great," he said, dropping the brief case on the table and setting the work up quickly, wishing he'd remembered his sunglasses.
In other words the chapter which Tony does not cope with life. Victoriousscarf adds: There was some confusion last chapter with why Loki was doing what he was doing. Hopefully his conversation with Thor will clear that bit up just a little. Cheers all! Thank you for the wonderful feedback.