A/N: Just a short one for right now. More of a plot-mover-alonger than anything else. Hopefully still interesting and enjoyable. :) Thanks for reading!
When Loki finally escaped the bag he came face to face with the majority of the Avengers. He suddenly had flashbacks of when the Chitauri had failed and these same people had come for him in the very building he was in now. It was an effort not to put his hands up in surrender again.
"Father shall be most displeased," Thor was saying to the others, "Might Loki stay here for the time being? Until I've reasoned with Odin?"
"Him? Stay in Avengers Tower? While I have my family here?" Tony crossed his arms, "Not likely. Can't he stay with you?"
"I only thought that since Wanda is here for a short time she might be able to keep him in check should any problems arise."
"Wait, what's Wanda doing here?" Captain Rogers asked.
"Something went wrong with the water in their building so she's staying here while Vision tries to fix it."
"Y'know, if it were Vision here then I'd totally let Loki stay. I mean, Vis can just summon Mjolnir if he has to, right?" Tony was glaring down at Loki, "But I don't know if Wanda can handle him."
"Handle whom?" A heavily accented voice asked as Wanda stepped into the room with a duffle bag over her shoulder. When she spotted Loki sitting on the floor she raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I see."
"No offense, Tinker Bell, but-"
"You don't think I could take him in a fight?" She set the bag down on a nearby table, "He does not even have his seidr. He poses no threat."
If the silencing spell had not still been in effect Loki would have sided with the Scarlet Witch. He also might have argued that he had no plans to do anything until Thor got things sorted with Odin and even then all he wanted was to live peacefully alongside them - at least for the time being.
The heroes all shifted uncomfortably, most of them turning to Tony to see his reaction. He was pouting and crossing his arms. Loki wasn't sure he'd be allowed to stay.
"It is up to you Tony, but I am well prepared to handle him. And if I am not and he attempts something we call in Bruce."
Loki swallowed nervously at that. He certainly didn't want them to resort to bringing in the Hulk. He would rather be back in Asgard than deal with the angry green beast.
"Ah, you see?" Wanda chuckled, "He has gone pale at the mention of the doctor. He will not try anything. Not that I think he would anyways," She paused and regarded him curiously, "I know that he would not."
"And you remember, Stark," Thor clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Cole and Loki have gotten along quite well in the past. If I trust him around my child do you not trust him around yours?"
"Yeah, well my kid isn't an indestructible, super strong, alien princess!"
"Tony," Wanda said gently, "He will do no harm. I can sense it."
"Ugh! Fine. He can stay for a week! One week."
Loki tried to smile politely at Stark, but it must have come off as too smug because the Man of Iron glared at him. Loki got up off of the floor where Thor had dumped him and offered his hand to shake.
"Why is he being so eerily quiet?" Stark asked, narrowing his eyes, "I don't like it."
"I, um, gave him a silencing potion. It should wear off soon… I think?"
Loki rolled his eyes. The size of the dose that Thor gave him would take about a day to wear off. Thor truly knew nothing of potions or any of the magical arts.
"You drugged your own brother?"
"And kidnapped him. He certainly did not ride in the bag willingly," Thor laughed, "I told Heimdall he was an infant Bilgesnipe."
"Wait, wait," Tony put up his hand, "So he's here against his will?!"
"I assure you, he wanted to come back to Midgard, but he didn't want to anger our father. Father would have kept him in Asgard for the rest of his days and Loki would have gone along with it, hoping that his good behavior would grant him freedom eventually."
"So you," Tony rubbed his forehead, "You broke Asgardian law? Why?"
"Loki did not deserve to be trapped in the palace for the rest of his life. He would do better fighting alongside the Avengers," Thor stated as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
In truth, Loki didn't have any fondness for the Avengers, but he wouldn't mind fighting alongside his brother once more, like in the old days. Before things became complicated. And if being allied with the Avengers was what it took to be around Thor, Jane, and Tova then he would be the first to offer the hand of friendship.
"So out of the two of you, he's actually the one who has been following the law lately," Tony rolled his eyes and finally shook Loki's hand, "You can have one of the guest rooms - three floors beneath my family and on the opposite end of the building."
Loki nodded.
"Thor?" Captain Rogers asked.
"Yes?"
"Are you sure Odin isn't going to bring Asgardian forces down on us for harboring a fugitive?"
"He would not be so foolish. In his heart he knows that Loki will do no harm. I've simply wounded his ego and I must make him see reason. I shall return soon - don't let him out of the building."
With that last warning, Thor left the building, presumably to open the Bifrost outside where it wouldn't make a hole in the ceiling. Loki watched him go and then turned back to the three Avengers that were watching him. Rogers and Stark were scowling, but Wanda only smiled pleasantly at him.
"Dinner is at six," Tony snapped, "I hope you like spaghetti."
The billionaire shoved past him on his way out of the room, even though there was plenty of room to go around him. Loki, had he not been on his very best behavior for the past four years, would have shoved him back. Possibly out a window. But all he did was let Stark pass by and roll his eyes after the other man had gone. Unfortunately, Captain Rogers caught his brief moment of sass and glared at him. Loki sighed. This was going to be a very long week.