So here's an early update because I'm feeling generous and I can't actually update on wednesday! So on with the show...
Chapter 13
For a few long seconds he was flying, blue and white lights blurring as he sped by. Then he hit the ground, which had suddenly materialized before him, with such force he felt it vibrate from the impact. His head smacked the floor, knocking all sense from his body.
After a while of just laying still he managed to roll himself over. He caught glimpses of buildings, all of which gold, and a huge palace that shone bright even in the dark. If it wasn't for his head, he would have been able to see clearly, but instead his head was swimming and his vision was blurring. As hands grabbed at his body and heaved him off the ground, Loki went limp as unconsciousness claimed him.
When he finally awoke it felt like he had only been out for a few minutes, but when he realised the room he occupied was lit with natural light he knew a longer time period must have passed. His vision was still fuzzy and his head still pounded meaning he couldn't focus on anything. He wanted to care where he was but really the bed he was laying on was so comfortable he couldn't care.
A voice spoke nearby but he was so out of it he only heard faint mumblings. "Go, fetch the Allfather. Tell him Loki has awoken."
It sounded as though a person left the room by the sounds of a door opening and closing. Another person remained in the room until the door was pushed open forcefully. Hurried footsteps announced the second person had left the room meaning he was now left alone with this third mystery person.
"Loki," A deep voice said.
Loki recognised the voice immediately, but no...It couldn't be. His eyes flew open and he sat up fast. As his vision became focused, he saw the shape of a man he thought he wouldn't be seeing again for a very long time. Edging away from the side of the bed his back pressed firmly against the wall. With nowhere else to go, and with nothing else to look at, Loki gave in and looked Odin straight in the eye.
"I don't know what happened, the bracelets shattered and I could do nothing to stop them. My magic just broke through, it was such a strong surge that they couldn't help to stop it."
"It would only happen if you were experiencing some very strong emotions, it had to be powerful enough to call back your magic that had been forced so deep inside you," Odin answered, staring at Loki intently.
Not knowing how to reply to that, Loki brought his legs up to his chest and rested his hands upon them. What was he supposed to do? What was going on? His magic had broken through his bonds, he couldn't be contained. He should already be hanging in chains in one of the darkest cells Asgard had to offer. Why was he just sitting here talking to Odin? There was no anger in his voice; there was no emotion at all.
"You will not be locked away," The Allfather said, as though reading Loki's mind. "You will travel back to Midgard accompanied by Thor, once he arrives and we will carry on as though this never happened."
"But why?"
"You have served your punishment well, you have accepted every rule and every demand without protest and you have proved that how you acted before was not of your doing." Loki's gaze snapped back to his face, shock written on his face. "Yes Loki, I know. It was not you who attacked Midgard, or more it was just a shadow of you. You were there in body but not in spirit."
"You know everything then?"
"I know enough to guess the rest, some I would rather not know." A saddened expression passed over Odin's face.
"But my magic, as part of my punishment, was said to be bound."
"I am giving you a chance. You may have your magic if you swear to only use it when needed. If, as before, you use this power to hurt Midgard in any way you will be in Asgard in a cell and that will be where you remain."
Loki just nodded in response. He had been given a chance, another chance. Not that he had broken the first chance, but still this was difficult to process. He had been living with the thought for over a year that if he stepped out of line just once he would be dragged back to Asgard, no trial, no fight, no question. Yet here he was being told that he could keep his magic and carry on living in Midgard.
Standing up, Odin moved towards the door obviously showing that he was taking his leave. His expression had fallen back to its blank state, giving away nothing. But maybe that's what came with knowing everything, showing nothing.
"It seems that Thor has arrived. I will leave you to get dressed, come join us when you are ready. I know Frigga is very eager to see you."
"But I thought I was leaving with Thor straight away."
Loki didn't want to stay for longer. He wanted to get back to normality, to the avengers team. The people he had actually started to like. Midgardian's really weren't as bad as he first thought. And he needed to get back to Tony. He needed to sort out their issues before it was too late.
"He's worried about you. He wants to know if you are okay."
His gaze snapped up to Odin's and met his one grey eye.
"You know?"
"Yes Loki, I know and no I am not angry," He said, seeing Loki's mouth opening to speak. "I am glad you are finally finding some happiness, he is a good man."
The dark haired god smiled slightly at that. Yes Tony was a good man, a man he didn't deserve.
"So I can go back soon?" Loki asked.
"Stay for a day, that's all I ask. We used to be your family, we still are your family. Your mother loves you dearly and hasn't seen you in over a year. Let her fuss, let her show her love. Please just for a day let us be family again."
The expression that had crossed over Loki's face fell, he didn't want to stay. No matter what anyone said, these people were not his family. No anymore. This was becoming too much. He had tried for so long to bury all his feelings towards his adopted parents and now they were digging down and dragging them all back up to the surface.
He tried to think of it in context. It was just a day. Tomorrow he would be back at the tower, back in his new life and back with Tony. They could make up for their argument and talk and kiss and hold each other because they were together and they could get past a stupid fight. That thought helped Loki along the road of emotions. Whenever things began to get too much throughout that day, he thought of Tony and he calmed. He knew Tony would be waiting for him. Or at least he hoped he would.
Sighing loudly Tony admitted defeat and climbed out of bed. Heading to the bathroom, he relieved himself then washed his hands before picking up his shaver and beginning to neaten up his beard. By the time he had finished the clock had worked its magic and it was now considered a reasonable time to get up.
He left his room after he found some clothes and walked towards the kitchen, ready for his morning coffee. The caffeine boost would serve him well when all he planned to do that day was sit in his workshop and work. Then the memory came back of Loki walking out on him and how he had made a prat of himself. Okay so before work he would have to apologise. They could easily work this out.
There was silence when he entered the kitchen, which was odd seeing as the whole team were gathered there.
"Err has someone died or are you all just practising for when Fury takes up stand-up comedy?"
"Tony, something's happened and well it's sort of bad," Bruce said.
"O-kay now I'm worried, what's going on?"
That's when Thor stepped forward and spoke in his deep somewhat troubled tone. "My brother has been taken back to Asgard after breaking one of the first rules set by the Allfather."
At first Tony thought it was a joke and laughed, but seeing the others faces it quickly died away. "You can't be serious."
"He broke the bonds that kept his magic locked away. My father has summoned me but I felt it necessary to deliver this news myself as I'm not sure when I shall return. Do not stress about this, I will return as soon as possible to tell you the news."
"But, but no Loki wouldn't do that. Thor, hey, you can't just leave!"
"I'm sorry Tony but I do not have the answers you seek, I don't know why Loki has done this. I must leave now." With those final words, the golden god looked to the ceiling, shouted Heimdall and vanished a second later, engulfed in bright light.
Once he was totally gone, no one knew what to say. Obviously they had already asked the important questions before Tony arrived but they could not be answered. As Thor said, he knew nothing. Breakfast had been completely forgotten. Steve hadn't even bothered to begin cooking something up because it looked like no one felt like eating.
"Just to let you know, Fury's on his way here now. He called an emergency meeting," He said, watching Tony for his response.
"He already knows? Who told him?"
"No one, he found out himself. Don't forget he had his own devices installed into the tower to keep watch on Loki. One of those must have been set off and then he would have been alerted."
"Well that's fucking perfect."
Tony walked into the living room and threw himself down on one of the sofas. This had to be the worst possible start to the day ever. What did they expect him to do, just sit there and wait? Like hell he could do that. And even if he could, he wouldn't.
Why had Loki done this? He thought things were going well for the god. He thought he meant something to him or was it all just fake. Thor did once say that everything was a game to him and he would play his part well. Was this the proof? In a way he felt stupid but he also didn't because deep down he didn't believe Loki had used him. He didn't believe Loki had broken free either. Tony knew he hadn't been close to Loki for very long and he had been dating him for an even smaller amount of time but he still felt he knew him. He knew there was a balance with him, it would occasionally slip to a side but mostly he stayed on centre. He was calm now, he didn't want to cause mischief that involved raising an army and taking over the world. Loki had broken free but not for all the reasons everyone else believed.
But what if no one believed him? It's not like he could prove Loki's innocence. Then a thought struck him so hard that it felt like he had been punched in the head. What if Loki never came back? What if he was locked in Asgard and was never allowed back? What if he never saw the god again? The rush of emotion that washed through him then almost knocked him off balance and if he had been standing, he probably would have stumbled over. He had to see Loki again, he had to!
His distressing musings were interrupted by the lift arriving and Fury stomping out.
"Where's Thor?" He demanded, not even bothering with formalities.
"He left a couple of minutes ago," Steve replied immediately.
Fury stepped into the centre of the room so all the team could see him. His eyes darted to each of them in turn and studied their expressions, getting an idea of their moods and thoughts.
"What the hell is up with Stark?" He said loudly.
Tony didn't look up because he was lost in his thoughts again. The director moved closer to him but it did nothing to distract him.
"Stark!"
"What?" Tony shouted, head snapping up so his dark brown eyes could meet Fury's almost black one.
In frustration Fury turned to the others, his annoyed expression telling them he wanted an explanation. None of them volunteered to explain. This really wasn't how they wanted to tell Fury.
"Um Tony maybe you should explain," Bruce said, taking a seat next to his friend.
"Explain? What's there to explain? Me and Loki are, were, are in a relationship."
Fury stared for a second. "You've got to be kidding me," He said in response, raising his eyebrows.
"No I'm serious alright now can everyone shut up because I'm really not in the mood to talk."
"No I cannot shut up when I've just found out one of my team was been possibly compromised by one of the most dangerous enemy's this planet has ever seen."
"I'm not compromised, why can no one except I actually like him? Do you see him going crazy? Has he ever given you an idea that he was gunna break free before today? No. What does that tell you? Whatever this is, whatever's happened, it's not Loki's fault."
"So just because you thought he was sane you thought it would be a smart ass idea to jump in to bed with him."
"When I say relationship I mean it, I don't mean a quick fuck every other day," Tony spat, standing up to face Fury.
The director didn't reply to that. He left his mouth hanging open, the snarky reply he had been preparing totally gone from his thoughts. No more words rolled off his tongue. He simply stood staring at the genius.
Clint and Natasha exchanged a look. Both knew where Fury was coming from but they also supported Tony too. They had seen firsthand the change in Loki, no one more so than Clint. Neither of them could deny he was sane now. The mad glint in his eye had been diminished and the stiffness in his posture had melted away. He was Loki now, the proper Loki, not whatever the hell the Chitauri had sent.
"Say if Loki is proved innocent for this and comes back, what if I say no to your little relationship as you call it?"
"When Loki is proved innocent and comes back I will tell you to shove your rules up your ass and carry on seeing him."
"What do you think of this Banner?" Fury demanded, giving up on Tony and taking a different approach.
As all eyes turned on him, including the genius's himself, Bruce sighed. He removed his glasses, polished them on his shirt before placing them back so they balanced comfortably on his nose.
"My opinion doesn't matter, it's up to Tony what he does and if he wants to be with Loki I don't think any of us can stop him. Really I think we should all stop worrying about it and focus on the real issue at hand."
Fury looked like he wanted to protest but the others were all eager to change the subject and get on with the important stuff. They moved to the kitchen and all took seats to discuss. Tony remained in the living room and took up his seat once again on the sofa.
With no distractions, his mind took over and began to play him a series of clips he would rather not think about at that moment. Loki could be in Asgard being questioned and abused and yet he could do nothing. His perfectly unblemished skin could be being scarred and bruised while he just sat there.
Tony let his head fall into his hands as he sighed deeply. This was going to be a very long wait for Thor to return. Maybe alcohol would help the time pass faster.
Finally it was over. He could go back. The day had been far harder than he first imagined it to be. When he saw his mother again, well his adopted mother, she threw her arms around him and cried into his shoulder as he hugged her back awkwardly. She had then gone on to engage him in conversation about his time on Midgard and about the people he stayed with. He tried actively to avoiding the subject of Tony, knowing it would only cause for even worse conversation and would also bring Thor's anger flooding back to the surface. Surprisingly the thunder god had stayed silent over the matter but Loki knew he wanted to discuss it, which meant he wanted to dissuade Loki from it.
Perhaps the worst part of the day was in fact dinner. Frigga had a whole feast prepared for them. All the food was glorious and perfectly cooked and garnished but Loki could barely eat. All this was too familiar of the times when they would sit down just as a family and talk and laugh. And that Loki couldn't take. It became too much to bear as the early evening turned into late night. He soon excused himself to his room where he just sat on the edge of the bed. It was too much too fast. He wanted to go home. Not Asgard, he wanted to go to his new home.
The night had been long but he had survived and now here he stood in one of the side rooms off the huge entrance hall that was the greeting sight for anyone entering the palace. Tapping his foot on the marble floor, he waited slightly impatiently for Thor and Odin to arrive. He had been led down from his room, by one of the many maids, and asked to wait for the others to arrive. But there was waiting and then there was waiting. This was ridiculous.
Just when Loki gave up and sat on the edge of one of the tables, a side door opened and in came Odin. No Thor, perfect.
"Thor will meet us at the Bifrost but I wish to talk to you before we head off."
"Okay," Loki replied. What else could he say? He couldn't refuse. The quicker he got this over with, the quicker he got back.
Odin hovered for a moment. He appeared as though he wished to say something and yet no words escaped his mouth. Standing by the door he had entered from, he cleared his throat. It still took a few minutes before he actually spoke.
"Seeing you again now after not seeing you for so long has made me see there is a difference in you," The Allfather began. Loki rolled his eyes but made no comment. So it was going to be one of these talks. "I see now that you are healthy, you are no longer plagued with evil thoughts and you have begun to move on. This man that you have grown close to, I see that he means a lot to you. More than you would like some to know. I will give you this advice; don't let him love all that he sees. Let him see what's under this surface, let him know you properly-"
"I'm sorry but what does this have to do with anything?"
"Now that you have regained your magic you can show him all of your sides, all your forms."
Something clicked into place in Loki's mind. "I'm not ready to show anyone that."
"Your Jotun heritage is nothing to be ashamed of."
"You were the one who brought me up fearing and hating them," Loki shouted. "And now you're telling me it's okay to...to be one of them."
"When it comes to the future, I know what is coming as do you. The Chitauri will not stop in their hunt for you and you know that too. When they come you will need all the help and support you can get. You will need this man and if he doesn't truly know you, how do you expect him to stand next to you. Let others accept you so you can accept yourself."
"I don't need acceptance; I need to just get on with it. So what if the Chitauri are coming, I can't stop them, with or without Anthony's help."
A sad expression filled Odin's face as he looked at Loki. "I wish I could help you but helping means risking all out war between Asgard and the Chitauri. Midgard is right in the middle, the planet could be destroyed and its people slaughtered. I cannot risk that."
"Yes, yes I know," Loki muttered.
"So tell Anthony of these problems, let him help you. Thor did give you the book, did he not?"
"Yes he gave me the damn book but what do you expect me to do. There is no answer, there is no stopping this, so can we all stop pretending. The Chitauri will come and take me away, they will take me to him and I will be forced to beg for my life."
Odin shook his head, pressing his fingers to his temple. "Don't give up hope, there is always hope."
"I said that to myself the first time when I let go but look where that got me," Loki snapped, watching in triumph as the Allfather's expression turned even sadder. "Don't just blame Midgard for why you cannot help me. You know the real reason is because the Aesir voted against it, voted against helping me. That's why me being here now has been kept so quite, the palace has been practically empty. Obviously because if the others found out there would be riots. Being sent to Midgard was not my punishment, you would never offer something so light. No, I was banished and cannot return here, that's why you cannot help. Don't pretend you care, you're a terrible actor."
"I'm sorry Loki, my son, I'm sorry-"
"Stop saying that. You're not sorry and I'm not your son," He hissed before stalking towards the doors. He had had enough, it was time to leave.
So they left. Odin didn't speak again until Thor and Loki took their places, ready to travel back to Earth. The rainbow bridge had been rebuilt to all its former glory since he had last seen it. The reminder of that event stung so he pushed it away.
There were quick farewells in which Frigga let the tears fall as she hugged Loki again before stepping back to stand beside Odin. He just said a hurried goodbye and a reminder of the price of what will happen if Loki abused his magic. After that it all went silent as Heimdall inserted his sword into the slot. Before Loki had a chance to look back, he was sucked into the between lands that lay between each realm. He was flying, rushing fast until his feet hit the hard wood floor of Tony's tower. He was home. He was happy.
I hope you all enjoyed that! Now I just want to say a few quick thankyou's to Aralas Baggins who has reviewed moe than once and each time with very kind words and I would also like to say thankyou to aeron4 who is currently translating this story into German! Anyway please review and continue to enjoy :)