Welcome back avid readers. First off thank you once again for reviewing all that jazz. This chapter was super hard to write, as I suffered major writer's block, that's why its super long as i had to write more than i wanted to reach what I felt was...good. Apologies if its not my best work.

also I'm almost up to date with fixing up my small corrections!

I feel like a cookie.

Tony sighed as he hung up the phone. Pepper had been quite irate to learn he had gone to New York ahead of time. He didn't explain the situation to her, thinking it was better to break Pepper into it when she arrived at the tower in a few days. Tony searched through his contacts and opened another line. After a few rings, a voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Steve, it's me," Tony said.

"Who?"

Tony sighed.

"Honestly, Spangler, why don't you just use a cellphone? Caller ID is so much simpler… even my photo comes up when I ring."

"Oh… it's you. Evening, Tony."

Tony could hear Steve's lack of enthusiasm and simply rolled his eyes.

"How's the apartment? All fixed?"

"Small," Steve said. "But comfortable; my block has finally been rebuilt."

After the destruction of New York, resources had become limited. While aid had flown in from around the world, time was needed to rebuild the damage. Skyscrapers had been the first on the repair list, and major historical buildings. After that, the city of New York had sectioned off blocks into an order. Month after month these blocks of land were rebuilt, slowly. Steve's original apartment, sadly, had been at the end of the repair list. Tony had offered to speed up the process with some 'influence', but Steve had declined, telling him others needed it more.

Tony drummed his fingers on the counter, looking over to Bruce.

"Good… good," Tony had replied without paying attention. "Listen, something came up that required me to come to New York… something you might want to see."

"Everything alright?"

"Ahhh…" Tony trailed off, deciding whether the situation was a good or bad thing. "It will be easier for me to explain with you here."

"Okay… I can be there tonight."

"Oh and Cap… wear long sleeves," Tony said, and hung up. Facing Bruce, he rubbed his face.

"Any luck?" Tony asked.

"I managed to get a line to Natasha. They're both on some classified mission, so they'll be a while," Bruce said walking over, rubbing his bandaged hands.

"You're not gonna hulk out on me now, are ya?"

Bruce looked down and laughed softly.

"I would have done so already. Besides, these burns aren't too bad."

"I told you to wear gloves," Tony said.

Both Bruce and Tony had decided they had better give it at least a day before contacting the team. The science part of Tony's brain had overridden the commonsense section, while Bruce was just as curious to learn about Loki. Bruce's initial examination had gone terribly wrong, with Loki grabbing his hands and pushing him away. Tony had forgotten to tell Bruce about Loki's burning skin and had almost released the Hulk in his stupidity.

"I know, but I haven't been able to get close enough to examine him. From the looks of it, Tony, he's suffering from extreme disorientation," Bruce said as they made their way down to the cold room. "Do you know what happened to him?"

"Not a clue, he just showed up out of nowhere...I only knew it was him because JARVIS was able to confirm facial recognition." Tony shrugged.

"What about Thor?"

"You know the big guy doesn't answer calls anymore," Tony said as if it were common knowledge.

"We could still try," Bruce said as Tony swiped his clearance.

"We've been trying. I don't know about you but after the first year I gave up."

"Tony." Bruce held onto Tony's arm before he could reach the cold room doors.

"What?"

"This is something Thor needs to know about."

"I've already given Hiem-a-who-ha a call… I doubt anyone will come."

"Hiem- a what now?" Bruce asked confused.

"Isn't that his name?" Tony asked. After a few months he had forgotten it.

"Hiemdall," Bruce corrected.

Tony paused for a moment to contemplate Bruce's words.

"Sounds better the way I said it." He smiled and brushed past his friend. Bruce was not fazed in the slightest. As they both reached the door, their attitudes changed into something more solemn.

"Still no change?" Tony asked Bruce as they stayed near the door.

"No," Bruce said.

Tony inhaled deeply, pulling back the large silver handle to the cold room door he stepped aside for a moment to let the majority of the cold air disperse. Taking a pair of leather gloves off the wall, Tony and Bruce walked inside, pulling at the material tightly. Both Avengers had found that only thick gloves were able to block the searing burns Loki would give, if contact occurred.

Loki sat in the corner, leaning against the two walls, staring at nothing. Bruce felt a sense of déjà vu, as he tried to maneuver around to catch the god's attention. As Loki's eyes turned to Bruce's he looked further into the corner, turning his head away. Bruce scratched his head.

"How are you feeling today?" He asked.

Tony knelt down with Bruce. Loki had barely communicated or moved since he was placed in the room. Tony had assured Bruce that JARVIS was regulating the temperature to suit the god, but Bruce was concerned. It had been a long time, but Bruce had not seen this particular emotion on Loki's face. It was never a good moment to see sadness in a being that was so old he could barely comprehend.

Bruce gave a gentle shake on Loki's shoulder, but the god kept his gaze away. Bruce waited patiently, but when nothing happened he quietly took out his small tablet. Bruce had opened a link to JARVIS, and looked over the A.I.'s monitoring of the god.

"His vitals seem normal."

Tony reached over to take control of the tablet.

Loki slowly creased his brow and neither Avenger had noticed. Slowly moving his head to face them he watched them forlornly. The god opened his mouth and breathed in the cold air. His mind had become much clearer over the past few hours. Loki assumed it was the correct environment that sped up his recovery. Inwardly, he tried to laugh, but came up short. Correct environment, he thought… I belong nowhere.

Hours of sitting in the cold darkness gave him ample time to re-live the thousands of memories he had experienced as his old self caught up to him. Loki remembered.

He remembered the sound of the gates of Asgard opening. He remembered the impact Midgard had greeted him with, and the roar of the green beast that knelt before him. He remembered Thor's mighty swing-

Thor… Loki thought, ignoring the mortals. Before the darkness he could vaguely recall the warmth of his brother. The strong but gentle grasp that held him… he had felt so warm. He had felt safe.

But Loki only felt cold now. There was no difference in temperature in this room. He blended with it, and it sickened him. Everything he touched turned to ice. Being thrust into consciousness without a single explanation or person to even help him was truly the highlight of this experience. Loki wanted to scream… having to adapt to a body that was disgustingly his, without any knowledge of how to control it, it hurt.

How long had it been? How was he here? Questions burned through him like a fire that could so easily repel him now. Loki inhaled deeply again, thinking it was time he spoke. The two mortals were still looking over something that was no doubt was connected to him.

"If you wish to know, you need only ask." Bruce and Tony snapped their heads to Loki.

Both mortals were taken aback. Bruce shoved the tablet into Tony and scuffled closer. His face held a soft understanding to it.

"You can understand us," he stated.

Loki pushed himself in a straighter position against the wall.

"Sadly," he said, still trying to get used to his voice.

A sudden thought passed through Loki. Strange, he thought, how something so easy as words can be missed. Loki swallowed and flared his nostrils.

"How are you feeling?" Bruce asked but Loki shook his head.

"May you… answer my questions first?" Loki said with scorn. "Seems… only fair." Loki swallowed again; it was still difficult to talk.

Hush, Loki calmed himself… you are recovering quickly. You have seen it many times… many have remained feral for longer in these circumstances.

Bruce waited patiently while Tony rubbed his arms.

"How am I here?" Loki asked with genuine curiosity.

"We don't know," Bruce replied calmly. "We were hoping you could tell us."

Loki sieved through everything he knew, and for once, he had no explanation.

"I know not of how I came to be. It was my understanding that my sentence was finite." He stated. As soon as he finished Loki's gaze immediately shot down to his wrists. Why did he not think of it before? Using his fingers to rub over his smooth wrists, his heart burst with exhilaration. Loki's mind was still slowly recovering, but it did not stop the hundreds of possibilities that lay before him.

Freedom, he thought, releasing a shaky breath. The mortals were unaware of their sheer stupidity. Their blind trust in a being that was greater than them in every way, a being that could destroy… one that could now disobey.

"Thor didn't explain anything to us," Tony remarked, unaware of the potential time bomb sitting in front of them.

Loki's ravenous thoughts of chaos were frozen like the blood that now ran through his veins.

"Where is Thor?" Loki asked slowly.

Loki had watched Banner look at Tony. It took longer than he was comfortable to admit, but he was able to distinguish the emotion the mortals held…unease.

"He, uh… isn't here," Tony said.

"Why not? He was with me few days ago," Loki said with an intense gaze that bore down on the mortals.

Tony looked at Bruce again and scratched his chin, trying to find the right words.

"Listen, about that…" Tony trailed off.

Loki bared his teeth, getting angry. As if his Jotunn instinct acted against his mind, Loki quickly brought his hands against Tony's large jacket. His fingers curled into clumps of material as he used the balance to stand himself up and push Tony against the wall. Bruce stood up with his hands raised, trying to disarm the situation.

"What aren't you telling me?" Loki hissed through his teeth.

Tony raised his hands staring at the white teeth. Unlike his teeth before, these new sets of pearly jams ended in a rather sharp point. It was so minute that he had never noticed before, but with Loki up close and personal, it truly set him on edge.

"Calm down," Bruce said.

Loki snarled the green beast into submission as he brought new force onto Tony.

"Tell me," Loki commanded.

"Thor isn't here, because he never returned after you died," Tony said quickly.

Loki immediately dropped the mortal, not expecting that response. Tony sidestepped away, towards the exit, while Loki frowned.

"I…I what?" He asked, confused, losing all menace in him.

Bruce tilted his head.

"You faded away," Bruce said slowly.

Loki's eyes flickered around trying to comprehend… Did the bracelets take what was owed? If so… how…no…why am I here? Loki licked his lips, but the sudden moisture froze almost instantly.

"When?" Loki turned his gaze away from the mortals.

Bruce dropped his raised hands.

"It's been about two… two and a half years now." Bruce looked at Tony for confirmation, and Tony nodded.

"I…" Loki tried, but found he couldn't speak. Mortals often believed the gods were immortal creatures, but they were not. It was true that they lived for exceedingly amounts of time, but for the Aesir, it was common. And while their tales were longer than those of mortals, it did not mean they experienced time differently. Loki's year in the void was bearable because he experienced it, felt it, and tasted it. Now, now he had a two year gap of nothingness he could not account for. He couldn't even describe anything… it was as though he truly didn't exist, and it frightened him. Loki kept his composure intact as he faced the mortals once.

"You…" He tried again. "You said my brother never returned?"

Loki didn't even notice that he referred to Thor as family.

"We'll talk later, when I'm warm." Tony rubbed his arms, he had spent too long in the room, and he needed warmth.

Loki growled again and forcing the mortals back as he made his way to the closed door. Placing his hand on the handle Tony and Bruce watched as ice crept over the lock and filled itself into the seams of the door. Loki had trapped them.

"You will answer my questions." His voice dripped with venom. "What happened to Thor!?" He said loudly.

"Big guy returned to Asgard, haven't seen him since," Tony said quickly.

"Impossible. Thor's love for this realm matches his love for Asgard, he would never abandon it." Loki narrowed his eyes. His heart began to beat faster. Everything was so confusing.

"The guy didn't take your… absence well." Tony raised his hands; he was starting to lose feeling in his hands and feet. "Look, you gonna let us out?" He used his head to point to the door.

Loki went rigid for a moment but ultimately conceded, breaking apart the ice on the handle with ease. Bruce and Tony sighed. The tension was unbearable, but they managed to leave. Together they briskly rubbed themselves on the outside to gather back their lost warmth.

"Where are you going?" Tony asked as he turned around to find Loki staring at them.

Loki narrowed his eyes.

"I will not be locked up in that infernal room again."

Bruce and Tony exchanged glances.

"You do know what happens to ice when heat is involved." Tony stated.

"You're more idiotic than I gave you credit for Stark. A Jotunn does not melt," Loki said closely to Tony's face.

"Good to know you're still pompous as ever," Tony mumbled as he thought of Loki's words… Jotunn?

Loki flared his nostrils and inhaled an audible breath of annoyance.

"Okay, okay geez. Do whatever you want…"

"I intend to."

"Just, don't touch anything."

Loki smirked.

"Strange… I don't see the Stone around, which brings me to another matter of interest," Loki said slowly. Tony had no time to react again as he was thrust down onto the floor like a rag doll. Bruce again tried to disarm the situation by stepping forward but Loki, who knelt on his chest to hold him down, merely interrupted.

"My senses may have dulled, green monster, but I know for a fact we are underground. Your attempt to threaten me is poorly handled, for you would never risk burying us all." Loki leaned in closer to a wide eyed Tony Stark.

"Was it not my promise to kill you once I was free?" Loki made sure Tony looked at his bare wrists with his own gaze. "Was it not!" Loki pressed.

Tony merely cringed.

"In my defense, I had to know it worked."

Loki raised his fist and brought it down, while Tony closed his eyes, expecting the blow. Tony heard a large crack and after a moment opened one of his eyes. Turning his head he saw Loki had brought his fist next to his face, missing him by inches. The concrete next to him had formed a miniature crater and the god was breathing heavily.

"It is often against my nature to ignore what is owed, but I made a promise to another." Loki jumped up and roughly pulled Tony into a standing position.

"Enough!" Bruce raised his voice. Loki turned to face him.

"I don't care about what happened, because I not going to be put into situations that will make me angry all the time. So stop being foolish and let us help you. Unless you don't want help… which is fine by me," Bruce huffed.

Loki raised his brows and considered the doctor's words.

"Fine," he conceded through gritted teeth.

"Good. Now while you two were being idiots, Steve arrived, and is waiting upstairs."

Together, with a reluctant and frustrated blue god behind them Tony briskly walked past Bruce.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side," he mumbled.

Steve had informed JARVIS of his arrival and waited patiently on Tony's main living floor. He casually walked around killing time, picking up things that interested him. After a while he merely stood against a counter with his hands in his pockets. He hadn't seen Tony in a few months but had often made attempts to keep in touch, as he did with the others. Moving his head slightly to one of his favorite songs from the past, Steve looked up when we heard voices. What he was expecting was Tony to be talking on his cellphone.

What Steve wasn't expecting was to see Bruce, and another figure behind them, who was blue. Straightening his posture he stood there with a face of confused shock.

"Who is that?" He asked.

Tony sighed. He really hated explaining things.

"Didn't I say it was better if I explained things with you here?"

Steve stared at Tony and then at the strange person who stared back.

"Tony… "

"By the Norns, must we go through this again?" Loki said under his breath. While he could see nightfall outside the large windows, the bright lights still managed to cause him to squint slightly. Luckily the temperature was bearable, for now.

Steve's mouth dropped as recognition set in. Raising his finger he pointed.

"Is that?..."

"Yep," Tony deadpanned.

"But he…."

"Yep."

"And now he's…"

"Yep."

"Tony was investigating an energy spike at Fischer's place and found him," Bruce added.

Steve blinked a few times. Being surprised was often an everyday experience with him, which often led to confusion. Steve didn't know what to think… so he spoke the first thought that came to his mind.

"He's blue."

Loki looked down at his hands, as if ashamed, but said nothing.

Steve put his hands on his hips and sighed.

"Can someone explain to me what is going on?"

An alert gets you lets you accompany the science bros on their journey. A review let's you have Loki as your tag-a-long.

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