Welcome back avid readers. Thankyou for all your continued support in reading this. 28 chapters in huh?Updates do take a while, I'm afraid, its just one of those things. But good chapters take time as I always say.

or do I?

I'm going to bed.

"What is that?" Loki finds himself asking as sounds distract him from the ocean view.

"Hmm?" is all Stark is able to reply, his mind set on the task before him.

Loki 'tsks' and turns his head away from the mortal's tinkering. After a few minutes he cannot stop his eyes from slipping back to Stark. Chastising himself he looks back to the window and shifts his position in his chair. Another 'clunk' and Loki does not stop his gaze from wandering back to the mortal. He hears a chuckle beside him and turns to Thor. Raising his eyebrows he challenges his brother. Thor's smile widens heartily as he shrugs, dismissing Loki's attempts to question him.

Loki deadpans his brother and leans his head forward. As if he didn't know what Thor was thinking, it was clearly written all over his face. Go see for yourself, he reads. With another glance to Stark curiosity gets the better of him and he pushes himself reluctantly out of his seat. They had been relaxing all day, gathering their strength with each passing hour. It had been nice, Loki thinks, to spend simple time with Thor once more. A time he thought not possible a while back.

Walking casually he moves to Stark who, as Loki garners, has migrated his workspace to the kitchen. Tilting his head he stands behind the mortal, and watches his hands work. He does not speak a word as he eyes in all the detail trying to deduce what he is working on, but for the life of him he has no idea what it is.

Loki finds himself intrigued at the challenge before him.

He leans further, his nose almost pressed into the objects before him and passes into Stark's line of sight. The mortal visibly tenses at the sudden shock of another presence and he turns to Loki sharply.

"Can I help you?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

"What is this?" Loki finds himself asking as he picks a metal piece of construction up without permission. He turns it over curiously, letting the light catch the markings on its surface. Stark's hand enters his vision as he takes the piece slowly away from him.

"A bit of this, bit of that." Tony says as he pushes away from the bench, causally turning the piece over in his hands. "Just playing around with some of the communicators. I'm sorting of aiming for a space walkie talkie." He says with a lopsided grin.

"A walking talking... pardon?" Loki leans further, his hands automatically trying to go for the object.

"Like a phone without the waiting time."

He pauses at this and turns to Thor.

"What I talk to Jane with." Thor clarifies as Loki now recalls the object in question. He straightens his posture.

"Fascinating." He murmurs to himself. A device that does not expend one's own energy to communicate through the worlds would be, as Loki admits to himself, useful.

"Don't fuel his ego, brother." Thor's voice resonates closer as he moves to meet them.

"Oh no, please continue. I'm amazing aren't I? It's not like I didn't know that when -"

"How far can your devices transmit a message?" Loki asks, ignoring Tony's ramblings.

"Uh..."

"Are the workings similar to the water mirrors of Vaard?"

"Well..."

"Say if I were to travel to-

Stark blinks once before raising his arms. "Well prototypes are just that." He mumbles, trying to push away what lays before him.

Loki finds himself smiling as he sees the mortal's frustration boil easily. He looks to Thor with a playful eye and waits patiently. These were Thor's friends after all, Loki thinks, best he not disrupt the balance here on Midgard as on other worlds. But it was a rare occasion that he felt he could push these boundaries without repercussion. Thor nods with a carefully held face and Loki turns back to Stark eagerly. He flicks his hands in a well practiced motion. Green energy trails like smoke between his fingers as he moves them like a dance. The pieces before him buzz with the same energy and soon Stark is grabbing frantically at his equipment, trying to keep them from floating upwards in the air.

Loki hears Thor laugh and he closes his eyes with a smile. He missed that sound, the sound of his brother enjoying his tricks. It's been years, he thinks, since they had shared these moments. Resting his arm within his other he plays with his hand's movement, turning the objects over with a growing smile. He watches Stark fail dismally at his attempts to retrieve his things. He opens his palm then, letting his magic build within and blows it gently towards Stark. Like a living thing, it winds its way towards the mortal, twisting and glittering emerald.

He watches Stark still and gaze at the light that circles him, his work forgotten. Loki chuckles as the static of it all raises the mortal's hair, disrupting the chaotic style the man preferred. He raises his hand to still his spell but it falters momentarily. He watches Tony lift his own hands gently, his fingers touching the perimeter of his energy. It is soft, he feels, like a warm stroke of a hand against ones hair.

He does not understand then how the mortal is captivated by this, how he slowly spins, brushing his hands through the spell circling him. It is like, he thinks, watching the warriors of Asgard look on to Thor with awe. To see the same emotion within Stark for his own talents, it is...

"Shoot," Tony mumbles to himself as light seeps through his fingers and moves around him once more, "almost had it."

Tony tries once more to catch Loki's spell as he looks on quietly.

"What's uh..." The mortal says hurriedly trying cup it between his hands, "What's the expenditure of this? I need to take some readings, calibrate... the uh.."

Loki's lips part in hesitation.

"It cannot be measured." He finally states and soon Stark slows, giving up. "It is unique to the person."

Loki opens his palm once more, recalling his energy back. It returns to his hand and cupping one palm over the other he extinguishes it gently. " It is, a part of me, but it also taps into the very heart of all things. I know not how to explain it for you to understand."

Loki watches Stark's face fall and he leans forward, reaching for his hands. He wants to see that same spark in his eye.

"What.." Tony begins to say as Loki takes his wrists and lifts them up until his hands are cupped. With hurried movements he straightens Stark's posture, flicking his chin up for good measure.

"Focus your mind." Loki begins as he brings forth his energy once more. "Imagine..." he looks up trying to thinks of how to explain it. "Imagine yourself cupping water."

"Alright." Tony's grins eagerly and Loki smiles then, seeing the spark of enjoyment in his eyes once more.

It is intoxicating, this sense of yearning.

Gently, Loki tips the light from his hands into Tony's and watches intently. Stark's face is hardened with focus.

"I got this." He mumbles as he adjusts himself. "No, wait, I don't..."

Thor chuckles beside him. "Here Tony." Loki hears his brother say.

Thor moves forward to help. Loki's smile widens as he watches them both lose their ability at trying to contain to most basic of all spells. He looks to Thor, who holds the same gaze of focus as they fail dismally. Something strange bubbles in his chest then, a sort of unfamiliar lightness. He opens his mouth, his chest rising as he inhales. He watches his spell slip through their fingers and disperse across the floor around them. It is at this moment, that Loki cannot hold himself any longer.

His air escapes him in quick bursts and soon he is unable to hold himself up. He bends forward as he laughs, grabbing one knee while the other finds purchase on the bench beside him. There is nothing but the thrill of feeling inside him. Loki's eyes blur and he looks back up to Thor. His brother holds nothing but a disappointed pout on his lips over Stark's puzzlement.

"My feat is more strength." Thor tries to say as Stark nods his head, patting his brother on the arm, agreeing.

Loki laughs harder and he forces himself to turn around, embarrassment rising on his cheeks in a swift warmth. The fit subsides and soon Loki is taking deeps breaths, calming the sensation within him. He feels, as he looks away, unburdened.

"To be fair brother," Thor states as he moves to his side. "You are a few hundred years ahead of Tony in terms of practice."

Loki turns his head, bemused and cocky and looks Tony straight in the eye.

"Only a few though." Tony replies as if to keep his dignity.

"I am sure if you were of Asgard your skill would be considered of great song."

"Oh." Loki waits as Stark croons with raised eyebrows. "Doth thee giveth the great Tony Stark a compliment?"

"Hardly." Loki replies immediately knowing he has inflated an ego that rivals his brother. "If was the word I believe I used."

Tony merely hums with a knowing look. Loki moves to say something but is interrupted by a strange noise. He watches the mortal intently as he takes out a phone. Stark frowns slightly.

"I should probably answer this one." He says and moves off murmuring quietly to the side.

Loki looks to Thor as his brother places a hand upon his shoulder.

"I am sure all is well."

"That is not promising, brother." Loki points out as he crosses his arms.

"It has been days Loki. If they were to have condemned you, it would have been immediate. Believe in our friends."

He says nothing, knowing if he were to speak more if would upset his brother. Honing in on his hearing Loki listens to the last of Stark's words. He murmurs quick words of measurement and nods every so often. Loki deduces that Stark is receiving orders, for what, he does not know. With a quick press of a button Tony walks back to them, face revealing a strange mixture of emotion.

"That was Natasha." Tony explains and Loki slides a blank face into place.

"SHIELD 's hovering a few miles away, waiting."

"For?" Thor asks.

"Not sure, Natasha was pressed for time and privacy but it seemed pretty serious. She seemed concerned, which is saying something because the only emotion I get from her is anger."

"Attend to your SHIELD, Tony. My brother and I will remain here, you have my word."

"Hey let's be positive here, the fact that they aren't sending agents or missiles is promising."

"Go, friend. We will wait for the news."

"Alright. JARVIS ready the armor I'm coming to you." Tony yells to the ceiling as he heads to the stairwell.

They watch from the windows as Tony leaves for the air, he travels East, heading for skies above the city and Loki sighs inwardly. He will have to leave again he can feel it in its core, but, he think, where else is there to go?

"All will be well, Loki." Thor says, seemingly knowing his thoughts. "Our friends are honorable."

"Five mortals cannot speak for the other six billion Thor."

"No." Thor says slowly. "They cannot, but they will try."

"Come then," Loki says to distract his brother. "Show me how this phone works."

"Alright." Thor replies, and Loki knows that his brother is playing along.

Loki spends his time listening to his brother as they sit within the living room. The hours tick by slowly and even though Loki does not follow everything his brother tells him, he nods anyway. With one palm holding his head up and the other loosely draped over his leg he looks to the windows.

Loki looks to his brother lazily as he stands and stretches.

"Where are you going?" He asks, seeing the signs of boredom on Thor's face.

"I must stretch my legs."

"You gave your word you would stay here." He says with a sigh as he leans back in his chair.

" I said I would stay here, but here is a very vague term no?"

Loki smiles genuinely and hits his knees to stand.

"Well, I can't very well let you go without me. Knowing you Thor, you'll get lost."

"It's only down the road." Thor points out with a side glance.

"I insist." Loki presses as he clasps his arm around Thor's shoulders and bows his head happily.

Loki sinks into the arm that wraps around his. He is happy in this moment, truly happy. There are no darkened thoughts on his mind, no saddened ones just the simple moment of talking a walk with Thor is all that rests on his mind. As they exit mansion and leave by the side gates Loki lets his hand slip from Thor's shoulders as his brother does the same. They make their way slowly through the winding roads without interruption and in silence. It is not an awkward silence that surrounds them, but rather a content one.

The ocean of their left ripple colors of silver and gold and Loki closes his eyes, letting the fresh air blow across his cheeks.

"We should head back." Thor says after some time and Loki nods.

They turn on their heels and head towards the way they came. Loki lets his mind drift in the peace of the moment. Even though his brother keeps to his left Loki imagines Frigga on his right. Long before everything had fallen to pieces they once spent their afternoons this way, enjoying the environment around them. He can almost hear it, if he concentrates, the soft gentle ruffles of a dress against the wind, and can smell the perfume in the air. He turns his head away slightly, not wanting to see an empty space beside him and looks to Thor, smiling softly against the memory.

He watches him carefully, noticing the strength that has returned to his cheeks. The rest has done him well, he notes. He too, can feel his own through his veins as he clenches his hands to stretch the muscles.

Loki looks to Thor when his brother hums.

"Tony returns." He says nodding his head in the direction.

Loki turns his head to look and watches a streak of fire approach them from the sky. His brow lowers minutely as his feet grind to a slow stop. Thor moves past him a few steps but stops once Loki does not follow.

"Loki?"

He tilts his head at the oncoming object.

"Stark went inland." He says with narrowed eyes. Even at this distance he cannot make out the detail.

Thor looks more closely.

"He would not return from the ocean."

Loki moves to stand beside Thor.

"That is not Stark." He states, keeping one hand almost in front of his brother, warning him not engage.

They stand and wait, watching the streak of fire burn closer towards them. It is slow to turn, but they both find themselves standing back as the red flame makes a beeline toward them.

"Loki." Thor says.

Placing a hand on his brother's arm Loki pulls Thor back slightly. He takes a deep breath, and summons his reserves to his hands. He braces himself. Thor cannot summon Mjölnir without injury and is not prepared.

But this time he is.

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p.s. Mistakes do get fixed up when Sleep is caught up on.