Chapter 36

A Friend Of A Fan

"The kid?" Winter asked, turning to look at the man. He wasn't a large man like himself though he was obviously fit an extent; he was shorter than himself, with brown hair and well groomed facial hair.

"Peter."

"Ah. The target."

"Do not call him that."

"What would you have me call him then?"

"He has a name. Use it."

"…Negative." Bucky said, resisting the urge to smirk at the man. "What exactly, did you tell Rogers?"

"That I'd end you."

"Is that what you've come to do then?"

"No. Because then the kid would know I know about what happened."

"He did not seem to want you to know."

"So, how long have you been around?"

"In total or…"

"Do you have to push it like that?"

"Since the day after we arrived back, from the trip where I tried to killed the kid."

"Where he nearly drowned you?"

"Where he nearly drowned both of us."

"So, are we stuck with you?"

"Forever or for now?"

"For…I don't know how to answer that. It feels like a trick."

"You are smart then. How did you find out?"

"I had an alert that the suit had been damaged, and was rather annoyed Peter hadn't mentioned it. Found out one of the medical cots was smashed open and…what?"

Winter hadn't meant to stare, or to frown.

"How did he break it?"

"…What do you know, about Peter?"

"I know his name, and his relationship to you."

"Oh? How did you find that out?"

"He told me, when I asked him."

"What did he say?"

"That he is your intern. Or, that he thinks so, said it is informal at the moment."

"Huh. That…shit, he's right."

"Why did you come up here?"

"To tell you to back the fuck up, and leave him alone."

Bucky frowned at that purposefully. He had liked talking to the boy.

"Why?"

"Because you want to kill him?"

Still frowning; Bucky knew the man was right.

"But…he is good to talk to. I want to talk to him."

"Alone, up here, after midnight?"

"I do not like being around the others. I just want to talk to the child."

"Aaaaaagghhhhh." Tony said, waving his hands at Bucky and stepped back into the elevator without looking back.

The next morning, there was no Peter again, but the same goatee wearing man came back out of the metal doors again; an elevator, the computer lady had told him.

"I'm an asshole." The man said, the doors closing behind him, he was staring at Bucky angrily.

"Should I agree?" Winter asked, looking up from his cup of tea. He hated it, but he could figure the kettle out, not the coffee machine. Stupid thing.

"No. I don't need…look, I tried. I tried to think of…something, to make me feel comfortable with you being around him alone. I just…can't…not anything pleasant, anyway."

"Tell me." Bucky said, similar to the voice had used when he held the fork out for the boy.

"…No?" Tony said meekly, stepping back a little.

"Worked on the kid." Bucky mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Tell me what you thought of."

"I really don't want to. I just don't want you near him."

"Why won't you tell me? How bad could it be?"

"You'll kill me, then Rogers will bring me back and kill me again. It's a bad idea."

"I'll talk to him outside of the tower then."

"Um?"

"I was an assassin for a long time…whoever you are. You think I can't follow some kid?"

"Don't do that!"

"Then tell me."

"Do not follow him."

"If you tell me."

"Man I preferred Barnes."

"Funny, I think everyone else did as well."

"It…it's a little thing, it'd be attached to your arm and if you…fuck around, or try and go for the kid, it'd zap you enough to make you stop. It's a shitty thing, for a selfish reas-"

"Alright."

"Huh?"

The vent above them opened up, and Peter fell to the ground between the two men, glaring at Tony when he stood up.

"You need to stop doing that! I am not young! My heart is bad!" Tony shouted, clutching his chest.

"What are you doing?!"

"Were you eavesdropping?!"

"Obviously!"

"If you listened you'd know I tried to not have to do it!"

"Are you going to do it, or do we need to shoo the kid out first?" Winter asked, raising an eyebrow at the two people bickering.

"No!" Peter shouted, spinning and staring at Bucky.

"Why were you in a vent?" Winter asked, staring at Peter with his eyebrow still raised. Peter looked at the floor, ignoring Bucky's gaze. Bucky smirked, glancing up at Tony.

"Tell me." Bucky said, in the same voice as with the fork. Winter's voice.

"I was eavesdropping. I like sitting in vents, I do it to scare Mister Stark mostly." Peter said, not looking up; he felt his cheeks burn as he spoke.

"Peter would you…just, go wait in the penthouse? I won't do anything, promise." Tony said, moving towards Peter and slipping something into the teen's hand. Peter turned and left, heading into the elevator.

"What the hell?" Tony asked once the elevator doors had closed and it had left the floor.

"Did you know that I have a voice different to Barnes?" Winter asked, in his voice.

"Er, I have for a little bit…why has it only just now come up?"

Winter smirked at Tony. "How would you know?"

"Err…I…listened to the audio, from the other times Peter has been with you. Calms my shitty heart."

"Do I know the kid, from earlier? Have I spoken to him before?"

"Yeah, sort of. He was terrified of you and Rogers at first, I don't know if it ever…went away, but he seemed better with you two."

"Ahh, someone will need to apologise to Barnes for me then."

"For?"

"Ruining his progress."

"Look just…think over it, come see me in the lab when you decide, or if you think of something else we can do."

Winter nodded, and Tony left in the elevator to go see Peter. They watched a movie, and made a deal to go out for breakfast the next day. They left in the elevator and walk out to see Loki and Thor outside the tower in casual clothes, arguing.

"Morning you two, what's up?" Tony asked.

"Loki won't come for breakfast!" Thor whined, pointing at Loki, who rolled his eyes.

"I don't see why I should have to; somebody will shout at me again."

"They wouldn't dare!" Thor said, shocked at Loki's words.

"Come with us then." Tony said, and Peter nodded "We're going for pancakes."

"Loki, you like pancakes! Come, we shall you one with the sauce you like." Thor said, beaming at Tony. "Come on Loki! You promised me breakfast on Saturday!"

"I wish Jane hadn't taught you earth days." Loki groaned. "Fine, but let's be quick."

"Yay, group breakfast!" Peter beamed, and the group headed out. They finished breakfast, without any interruptions, they even found somewhere with caramel banana pancakes for Loki.

It was after breakfast, that someone burst past Tony and Peter, and grabbed Loki by the arm.

"Release him." Thor said, turning to face the skinny dark haired man who had approached them; the man did not let go of Loki.

"Naw man, I wanted to see if it was really you! Man she'd freak." The man said, letting go of Loki, looking sheepish and possibly, very hung over.

"Believe me, someone already is." Tony said, looking at Thor.

"You really him?" The man asked, ignoring Tony, and kept his eager eyes on Loki. "Man come on, you gotta be!"

"You're not shouting, though you are still very annoying." Loki said bluntly, glowering at the man. "What do you want? Will proof make you go away?"

"Loki don't encourage him." Tony said, shaking his head. "I'm surprised your glaring hasn't scared him off yet."

"Nah man, I see it every other day basically." The man said, smiling brightly.

"You make no sense; you are very annoying."

"Aye, fuck wit!" A voice from nearby came, and a bottle smashed into the ground in the middle of the group. "Who fucking said you could be here? Get lost!"

"See brother; shouting. Always."

"I'll slash his tyres for you later if you want." The dark haired man said, shrugging; as if it was an everyday comment to make. Tony had to consider that it may well be.

"Not necessary, I have grown used to it; please, go away."

"Alright, sorry, sorry! Just…you know, a friend of a fan." The boy said, holding his hands up and moving back. He turned and walked away, slowly, moving into the crowd. The group began to move, when Loki stopped.

"Something is missing." He said, looking at his body, and frowning. "A knife is missing."

"The Midgardian stole from you!?" Thor shouted, looking in the direction the man had gone in. "We shall find him!" The god shouted, and headed off into the crowd; the others had to follow after him, trying to keep up.

"There! He went into that shop." Peter said, pointing at a rundown building, the word fitness plastered over the shop front in broken LED lettering. They pushed through the door, and found themselves in a large open room, with wooden floors and solid, white walls. Various people were performing moves, either with wooden sticks or small fake knifes; practicing fights, and solo moves.

"What the heck?" Tony asked, then saw the man across the room. "There's the fuck, let's get your shit back and go home."

"Thief!" Thor shouted, as they walked towards the man who simply looked at them, and waved. "Return what you have stolen from my brother."

"Alright. Hey gloomy, I brought some friends for you to meet." He said, turning lazily to look at a woman who was looking away from them, spinning a wooden staff in one hand. She continued to spin the staff as she turned to look at him, rolling her eyes. She was young, early twenties, with black hair pulled into a tight bun on her head. She had a sharp face, with high cheekbones and dark brown eyes.

"What do you want? Finally roll out of your coma?" She asked, looking at him with disinterest.

"What the fuck is on your shirt?" Tony asked, seeing what she was wearing.

Plain black tights, no shoes or socks, and a solid white singlet, with a golden metallic crown much like Loki's on the front, the word kneel in all black lettering beneath the crown.

"What'd I say; friend of a fan." The man said, smiling at them. "How hungover are you?"

"The eyeliner left in my eyes suggest very, as does my aching head." She said, shrugging, still spinning the staff, and finally looking at the group.

"What the…" She said, her staff slowing as she looked at them, staring at Loki. Thor nudged Loki in the side and Loki rolled his eyes but let the magic happen; his body shimmered as his clothing changed from his black suit, to his green armor, minus the helmet. Her face went from disinterested, to confused, to mortified.

"Come on, where's the thank you! Look what I did!" The dark haired man said cheerfully, then laughed as he ducked the staff she threw at him.

"What do you mean what you did?! How did you get them to fol- oh, you did not." She groaned, rubbing a hand over her face when he held up the small knife.

"They can come to the photoshoot!"

"Absolutely fucking not. Return the knife, and fuck off. I need to go get ready. On my own, maybe while you're getting stabbed." She said, and stormed off, picking up the staff as she went. He turned to look at them, and grinned.

"There's a museum down the road, meet us down there in a bit.. It's super cool, promise!" He said, ducking past them as he slid Loki's knife back where he had found it, and followed the girl out of the store, calling out after her.

"I would rather not." Loki said.

"I'll go, make sure he's…not an issue, later. I don't like the idea of someone ballsy enough to steal from an actual murder god." Tony said quietly, and Peter nodded. The two headed off. Loki and Thor eventually followed them, deciding it might be worth it to be out of the house for awhile. Or cell, in Loki's case. They found Tony and Peter, watching a group of photographers set up equipment, aimed at a stone staircase leading up to the small museum.

"This feels…very familiar." Loki said, frowning at the scene.

"Loki. I know you're standing right next to me…but you are also, over there." Tony said, pointing at a figure who had climbed up the steps, and was now facing them. It was…not Loki, though the resemblance was so close it was frightening.

"Stark, explain." Loki said, staring at the person on the steps.

"Explain what?"

"Why a Midgardian is dressed as me."

"Cosplay!" Peter said suddenly and Tony nodded; Peter was right.

They watched as the person posed for the photographers. They did a variety of poses, before someone threw a stick up at the fake Loki, and they easily caught it, spinning it so they were holding the prop scepter the right way up.

"Is that…" Loki was saying, to himself.

"I wonder if they made it, it looks good, if they did. Maybe they had it made…" Tony was saying to himself, and noticed Peter looking around. "You okay kid?"

"Spidey senses. Something's…wrong."

"You look awesome!" The dark haired man shouted as the Loki look a like walked down the stairs towards him, smiling.

"I hope the photos turn out good. Can't believe we got the scepter finished in time."

"You kidding? They're gonna look amazing!" He said, and look a like Loki laughed.

"Oh! It's the girl from that fitness place!' Peter shouted, and was obviously loud enough for her to hear. She turned to see him, and frowned.

"You fuck." She muttered and kicked the man in the ankle. He just smiled; he was apparently very proud of what he had done. Something flew over head, barely missing the girl's face, and it smashed into the steps behind her; a glass bottle.

"What the hell was that?" Tony asked, looking around, to see a car come careening from the road nearby. Peter pulled Tony back, out of the way of the vehicle; which stopped close to them, and someone clambered out; obviously drunk.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing here?! I told you earlier, fuck off! You're not welcome!" The man from the car shouted; Tony noticed the small handgun tucked into the man's pants, and felt his stomach flip. The man couldn't really believe it was Loki on the steps, could he? Apparently he could. "Now, fuck off!" The man shouted at the girl, who had looked over at the noise of the car leaving the road, and had frozen in place. The man had his gun out, aimed at her.

"I'm no-" She said, walking back away from the dark haired man, wanting to make some distance between the two of them. Peter jumped forward, as the man pulled the trigger. The gunshot was incredibly loud, and the other people nearby began to scream, running away from the noise. Peter saw her grab at her shoulder as she dropped to the ground, her mouth open but nothing coming out. She stared at the man, who had taken aim again; he was swaying, apparently from how inebriated he was.

"I don't have a suit." Peter said, groaning, knowing he shouldn't jump into action when he could be seen.

"Child, go duck behind the car, the side not facing the street." Loki said, and Peter listened, without argument.

"Loki you ca-" Tony was ready to tell Loki off, but Loki shrugged.

"Do you believe the child would stay out of this? He will be suited, so he may assist." Loki said. There was a flash of green light from the car, and Peter swung out, in his suit.

"Yes! Go magic!" Peter shouted, swinging from a lamp post nearby, and headed for the man, who had closed in on the girl where she sat on the ground. He fired again, seconds before Peter fell into the man. She screamed that time, moving her hand from her shoulder to her leg, where the next bullet had struck.

"Stop it! Let go! I'm solving a problem that none of you will!" The man shouted form the ground, where Peter had pinned him down. The dark haired man had run over, and had begun to pull her armor off, to reveal the singlet and tights that she was wearing underneath.

"You'll be fine; the ambulance is on their way. You'll be fine." He was saying, pressing a hand to her leg wound, which seemed to be bleeding the most out of the two. "You have to be fine."

"I-I'm fine…just thinking…" She said weakly.

"What about? Talk to me."

"My…my next costume…I'll win a competition with it."

"What is it? Can I help?"

"U-Ultron…" She said softly, smirking at him, though there was no humor behind it. Loki had walked over to them, with Thor beside him.

"No, get back!" The man shouted, apparently worried for their safety until Loki flashed, and his magic dressed him back into his armor, much like earlier. He had returned to his black suit for the walk to the museum. "W-what…"

"Move." Loki said to the dark haired man, but the man simply moved closer, seemingly to protect her.

"No." The man said, doing his best to be brave.

"…Broke…" She whispered, glancing at Peter. "He broke it…landed…"

Loki glanced over to see the scepter on the ground, snapped in half beside Peter and the man.

"It can be fixed." Loki said simply and looked back at her, or himself; it felt a little odd. "As can you."

"You…paying for…hospital? Because…I sure ain't." She said, weak, her eyelids fluttering; there were sirens in the background.

"Loki, stabilize her!" Tony called out from behind them, helping the emergency services get to them, by breaking the chains away from the locked driveway; a maintenance gate.

Loki nodded, and held up a hand, which was covered in soft green light; the same light spread over her upper leg, and her shoulder.

"I apologise." He said, before she went limp and he lowered his hand. "Stark, she is ready for treatment. They must be quick."

She was transported quickly, arrangements made by Tony, through Pepper, for anything to be charged to him personally. Loki avoided the group, asking Thor to return him to his cell early; he needed time to think.