Okay, next chapter day. Hope you guys enjoy it. Now, since I'm getting closer to the end, there's more set up for the sequel. I'm trying to only have three more chapters (which may or may not include an epilogue) after this one. (Also, I didn't know if the council members had any official names, so I just made some up.)
Thanks for the support, guys! 3
New York welcomed them with a cold rain, that morning.
When he stepped out of the car, Tony stood at the entrance of the tower, letting the water drops fall on his face. Like in Rome, people were already gathering around him. Taking pictures and asking questions.
They were mostly ignored.
He went inside, limping slightly, with Pepper on one side and Happy on the other. A lot of the employees were waiting in the lobby and cheered for him, when he walked in.
"Well, aren't you guys sweet," he said.
He paused, atleast talking to them, some, before taking the elevator ride to the top floor. His own private elevator to his own private suite.
He took in a deep breath, when he stepped into the living room.
"Wake up, kids. Spring break is over."
"Welcome home, sir," JARVIS said.
Tony took in another deep breath and let it out. Letting in the familiar smell of his house.
"This isn't going to be a lasting front, is it?"
"The rain will clear up at approximately 12:25 a.m."
"Is the home system secure?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, good."
He slowly walked around, letting in the scenery. The fireplace. The water feature. The control unit on the wall.
"Tony," Pepper walked in behind him. "I hate to bring this up now, but the board of directors want to set up a meeting as soon as possible. And they're wanting you to hold a press conference, as well."
"Mmhmm."
He traced over the wood of the dining table.
"JARVIS, what is today's date?"
"November ninth."
Tony nodded.
"Give them...Monday, I guess," he said. "Though, before then, I want them and everyone else out of my hair. Except for you. And Happy."
He turned to her with a smile. It was brief, but there.
"Okay. I'll let them know."
"I'll probably be down in the shop."
"Already?" she frowned.
"Yeah. I need to check some things out. Do some system updates and such and such."
"Oh. I was, you know, thinking we would spend some more time together."
"We will. I'm sorry, I was just..."
"No, no, you go do what you have to do."
She didn't seem very angry. Not really. Usually, she might be, considering the sometimes unhealthy amounts of time he spent in solitude.
Tony followed her and caught up before she could escape him. He grabbed her wrist, attracting her attention.
"What?"
"I...I dunno. You look pretty."
"Uh...thanks."
He leaned in to kiss her.
Her return wasn't as passionate as it was on the plane.
"Want to go out to dinner tonight?" he asked, trying to fix it.
"Sure. Sounds fun."
She wasn't happy.
Oops.
He would make it up, he promised himself. Somehow, his homecoming wasn't exactly what he had imagined it to be, over and over while sitting in silence within that cage. By no fault of anyone but himself.
Ever since he was on the plane, he felt...awkward, was it? Or maybe it was uncomfortable. Like he was trapped quietly in the recesses of his own brain, watching all of this happen to another person.
Strange, yes. Annoying, absolutely.
He went to the lab, underneath his main apartment. Pausing at the door, he clasped his hands behind his back.
"JARVIS."
"Yes sir?"
"Scan for holes in the server's security."
He meandered to the empty chair and spun it on its swivel. Sitting down, holding onto the arms, looking everything over with the eye of a steady soldier. Then, scooched up to the main computer. Allowing his fingers to fly across the digital keyboard. Touching up and patching up anything that needed it. Running on autopilot. Deep in thought.
He leaned back, in a thoughtful sense. Looking over his work with sharp precision.
"I want to open a new project file."
He moved to the platform at his right. Pressing his fingers against the surface, bringing a blank holographic template a few inches from the table.
He rubbed his chin, staring at it.
"And what would this stroke of genius be?" JARVIS asked.
"Eh, I've been thinking about updating the tech of Mach VIII."
"Is that all?"
"More of an overhaul. Like a Windows 8 scale overhaul, except, you know, better."
He flipped the page, so it was upright, if slightly angled. Like an easel. Immediately, he grabbed the stylus from the side holder and began sketching furiously, just trying to get the idea on "paper".
"I made this thing to keep things like getting kidnapped again from happening. If I can't get to my suit, I can't protect myself. If I can't protect myself, I can't help anyone else. If I can't do that, then what the hell am I even here for? I found a glitch, I need to fix it."
He scribbled down a few lines of code.
Then, he paused.
"It might take me a minute to fix it."
"Are you losing your edge, sir?"
"Ha."
He put down a few more lines.
"By the way, let me know when it get's to be about seven or so."
"Seven or so or seven exactly?"
"Seven exactly."
To be honest, he didn't really want to go anywhere. Not with the knowledge that everyone was going to be hounding him, once he was outside of the building.
Besides, there could be anyone, anyone out there. The fact that he was going to have to keep watch the entire time was already making him feel exhausted. And he was already tired enough from jet lag.
But, no, he couldn't rest. Didn't have time to. Couldn't if he tried.
He had to get this thing down. An idea, like a mosquito biting him and he wasn't going to be relieved of the itching anytime soon.
Ah, no rest for the weary.
Until he closed his eyes for good.
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
With the events that just transpired, the world was in a state of disarray. Leaders were pointing fingers at the other, conspiracy theorists were going crazy. As were the everyday citizens.
Fury knew he was going to have to talk things through with the council eventually. That didn't mean he had to look forward to it.
"Director Fury," Councilman Calvo addressed him as soon as he stepped into the room. "I'm hoping you now have this situation under control."
He faced the surrounding mega screens with straight backed confidence.
"We have the body of the Ghost's leader in our custody. The bio chemicals have been contained. Stark is back at home, Ms. Adessi was kept out of harms way, and Loki has been caught. I'd say the situation has been handled nicely."
"The fact that he has been allowed to return to our planet shows that things have not been handled nicely."
Fury shifted his jaw.
"That was due to others dropping the ball. We didn't exactly invite him to spend the night."
"We are still vulnerable from attacks by these other worlds," Councilman Hudgens said.
"We don't have a box to put the earth in. All we can do is take them as they come. I'd say we've done pretty well, considering."
"And what of these terrorists?" Councilwoman Cevil asked. "I've seen that they are mostly contained, but who's to say there are none who would resurface the group? Or imitators wouldn't rise up?"
"I can't tell the future, but we would be able to shut them down. They're extremely downsized. We've shown them we can win once. We can show them again."
"We want copies of the autopsy of this Innokenti," Hudgens said.
"And you will get them."
"As well as a transcript of what Loki has said. You've interrogated him, haven't you?"
"One of my best agents has been assigned to him."
"That wasn't an answer to the question, Director," Calvo said.
"She has been interrogating him. Her tactics take time, but have been proven numerous times to be effective."
"Time is important. You should do whatever you have to to get information out of him. Before it's too late."
"If they have found a more effective way to do things, they should continue to use it," Hudgens said.
"And if he has yet another attack waiting for us, taking so much time would prove to be detrimental."
"By taking time, I didn't mean it would take weeks for her to get it out of him," Fury said. "I'd prefer to get correct info, anyway. Seeing how he's as tricky as he is, I think a method from someone who's just as sly is best."
"What will you do with him, afterward?"
"I plan to let Thor take him back to Asgard."
Calvo scoffed.
"Can they really be trusted to keep him again?" Cevil said. "He's escaped from them already."
"We are not going to allow him to leave this planet," Calvo said.
"What do you want me to do? I doubt they'd be so reckless with him again. Besides, he's ill."
"How ill?"
"Ill as in, he just woke up from a coma yesterday after using his magic to heal Mr. Stark."
They paused, a little surprised.
"How do you know he didn't do anything to Stark that would prove to be against his well being later?" Calvo said.
"It was either let him do it or letting Stark die. Would you rather me have done that?"
"With all of the things he's done, it was foolish to let him use his magic on one of yours. Especially an Avenger."
"A man's life was at stake, Calvo," Hudgens commented. "I would suggest keeping an eye on Stark and keeping Loki under our observation. Not Asgard's."
"So you agree its suspicious that he 'healed him'."
"We have been watching him," Fury said. "Throughout his stay."
"None of that changes what he's done and how many people he has killed. The death penalty would be the only thing suited for him."
"Wait," Cevil said.
"Wait? What do you mean, wait? This is a dangerous man, we're talking about. He's not even a man, he's something even more dangerous."
"I know. Yet, he could be useful to us."
"I would prefer him gone. What do we need from him so badly?"
"He brought Stark back from the brink of death. If we could keep him sedated or find some other way to keep him calm, we could hone his powers to save those in critical states of being."
"We already have S.H.I.E.L.D. working on the TAHITI project."
"TAHITI isn't really something I want to make a habit of," Fury said. "The side effects are severe and have shown up on all test subjects. Including the successful ones."
"More so than what Loki has done?"
Fury sighed.
"As far as I've seen...Loki's method has had no side effects."
"Are you forgetting that one of our agents was stabbed by this very man?"
"If you're thinking I'm advocating Loki be released, you're dead wrong."
"It would just be better to use him for a higher purpose than to get rid of a valuable resource," Cevil said.
"Hudgens?" Calvo said.
They all waited for him. Usually the tie breaker in their arguments.
"I think we should keep him alive. Cevil is right. This is a resource that could be the answer to so many problems."
Calvo grunted.
"However," he continued. "If he tries anything that suggests he's attempting another attack on us...I'll have to go with Calvo. He gets one chance and one chance only."
Fine.
They could agree on that.
"Okay," Fury said. "I'll let everyone know."
ooooooooooooooooooooooo
Loki was left alone, for the most part. Unless a doctor was checking his vitals. Though, he could tell it was done begrudgingly.
Only because of orders, right?
Not that he expected any less.
It made him think, how interesting humans were. They would do so many things only due to another's words. No weapons involved. Nothing but words.
What funny little puppets they were.
Then again, humans weren't the only ones. Asgardians did it. Jotuns did it. Even animals would do it.
What was it about the creatures of the universe, that they had to follow such a specific order? He almost wanted to do something to the doctor. Smack him, maybe. Or yell in his face. If only to get a raw, honest moment from the man.
"You need more rest," the doctor said. "The fever is staying down, thankfully. But I'm going to get someone in here to try to feed you."
"Mmhmm," Loki answered.
Enough. Stop with this fake concern. I know you hate me. Act like it. Act like you hate me.
Okay, maybe he was having a moment. But what else was he supposed to do? He had been stuck in these awful little spaces for so long, he felt he would become violent.
When the doctor left, he immediately sat up, even though he wasn't supposed to. He had to lean his back against the wall. Such slight action causing him to feel winded.
"Feeling better?" a voice invaded his space.
He didn't even move. Not for her.
"Do I look as though I feel better?" he snidely replied, though his words were breathless and not exactly clear.
"Hard to tell."
"I'm surprised to hear from you, actually. I thought you'd abandoned me."
"Now, why would I do that?"
He sent a displeased look at the camera.
"I'm tired of this."
"Tired of what?"
"Fake nice. I never cared for it."
"We just think it would be best to keep you from suffering," Natasha said. "Come on, we're not sadists."
"Aren't you, though?" he quirked an eyebrow.
"No."
Was that so? That simple? A fact?
"I missed talking to you, oddly enough," she continued. "It can be pretty lonely here, sometimes."
"I'm just your entertainment, is that it?"
"Yes."
He stuck his tongue out at her. She scoffed.
"You're such a child."
Loki just shrugged.
Natasha recollected where they had left off before he had his first attack.
"I heard what you told Tony."
"Yes. What of it?"
"You must be pretty scared."
"No. We of Asgard are not taught to fear death, but to be honored by it."
"Honored by it?"
"Yes. We are a culture of...well, they are a culture of warriors. Death kind of comes with the territory."
"I see. But don't you want to get better?"
He rolled his eyes.
"You must not have been listening very well, Miss Romanoff."
"But, if Tony were to find a cure, would you take it?"
He chuckled.
"Sure. And I shall give him a flying pig and my first born as a gift, in return."
"No flying pigs in Asgard?"
Loki groaned, rolling his eyes.
"You know, if anyone could do it, it would be him," Natasha continued. "And you know he would do it, too."
"Yes, well, Stark may be slightly too confident in his abilities. Next thing you'll tell me, he will cure cancer and AIDS on the same day."
"So...you've accepted it."
"I'm in the process, darling. I'm sure your agents are cheering with joy that they don't have to deal with me too much longer."
"Probably."
He narrowed his eyes at the camera and smirked.
"How much longer do you think you have?"
"So quick you are to get rid of me. I don't know. It could be a few weeks, it could be a few years. Its hard to tell, at this point."
"What would they do for you in Asgard?"
"Heal the damage caused by the disease enough for me to function. Eventually, when I'm too far gone, they would just give me medicine for the pain."
"Are you going to have anymore...attacks?"
"I don't know. I don't know where that came from."
Odd.
"I would think they would have more advanced means of making you better in Asgard, to tell you the truth."
"They do. Not everything is curable. Not all problems can be solved."
She twisted her lips to the side.
Boy, was that the truth.
"What would you like to do, before you die? Hypothetically."
Loki sighed, feeling irritated by her nagging questions. But, well, that was something to give some thought to. Creating a bucket list in three seconds.
"Well, I honestly don't know."
Better hurry up. The clock is ticking.
He would like to see the ocean. He loved the ocean.
He would like a day of complete, uninhibited freedom.
He would like to hold his daughter or son.
He would like to kiss a woman. Someone he atleast felt fondness for, unlike his 'dear friend', Mia. To feel the thrill of it, to feel like a man again.
He would like to spend the day just talking about random, stupid things with his new 'brother'.
A simple list, yes. But, well, was it too much to ask for a little simplicity?
"You really don't know or you just don't want to say?"
He stubbornly crossed his arms, slumping back into a lying position. Tired of feeling so bad all the time.
"Okay. Don't tell me, then."
Fine with him. He didn't want her to know the secrets of his heart.
"Would you like to go back to Asgard?"
He snorted.
"Why would I ever want to go back there?"
"To get the treatment you need? To say goodbye to your family?"
"I have no family there," he said with words laced with venom. "Why? Are you planning to send me back?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Seems like a nice enough place, from what I've heard of it."
"I'm a wanted criminal there."
"You're a wanted criminal here."
True.
There wasn't really anywhere he could go.
All of the wonders of the universe and he could not see them.
"Would you take it all back, if you could?"
He shrugged.
"So, you still think we deserve what we got."
"No. I never felt your people really deserved to die, per se. It was just...collateral damage."
"Oh, is that right? Just collateral damage?"
"Get off your high horse, woman. What with the wars you people are so fond of starting, you didn't exactly need me to lower the population."
"So, now its our fault."
"I just believe you all are being a bit hypocritical."
"And because of that, you shouldn't be punished for murder?"
"Were you?"
She squeezed the arms of her wheelchair.
"Yes."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. And I remember every crime I committed. I feel sorry for every death that was brought by my hand."
He shifted his jaw.
"Are you sorry?"
He didn't say a word.
"If someone killed Tony, right there in front of you..."
He gritted his teeth.
"A little bit."
"Really?" she sounded like she didn't believe him.
"Really."
She paused, letting her words sink into him like water.
"You said you helped...Innokenti kill someone. That girl."
"Yes."
He nodded. The room was spinning slightly. His insides ached.
"Are you glad he's dead?" Natasha asked.
He nodded again.
"Was he always so cruel to you?"
He stared at the floor, ignoring her.
"Talking might help."
No it wouldn't.
"There must have been a time that you two got along. We were okay, at first."
"Once."
"You got along at first?"
"Do you think I'm so insane that I would work with someone like him if I had known?"
"I don't know."
"He was..."
A terrible pain went through him. He froze, baring his teeth. Afraid to move.
"He was what?"
Loki held onto the edge of the bed, until it went away. That strange pain that he had never felt before, despite his illness.
Except...earlier.
When he had stupidly started blabbing about the Chitauri. When Natasha talked him in circles and took advantage of his weakness.
And speaking of weakness, he was really feeling it in his limbs.
He creased his brow. This was concerning.
"He and the Chitauri..." he tested.
There it was again. He wrapped his arms around himself, the sharp pain so bad, he felt he would throw up again.
"Loki?"
What was wrong with him?
"I'm sorry," he forced out.
Then, he kept his mouth shut.
And the pain then subsided.
"Loki, what happened?"
What was this? Everytime she was getting somewhere, he did that. Once was a coincidence, but now, twice?
Something was up.
"Can you talk? Loki? Come on, say something."
He looked into the lens. He was one part excited that he discovered something.
And one part terrified at what he had found.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
It was that morning, when they got the all clear. Mia was all smiles, while packing her things. Roberto was in a good mood. Wary, but good mood, anyway.
"I can't believe this nightmare is over," she beamed from ear to ear. "I finally get to sleep in my own bed!"
"Yeah, don't get too happy," Roberto said, his suitcase already at his feet. "You're still not leaving my sight."
"Who cares? I'm going home!"
Bruce lightly smiled at her enthusiasm. She wasn't the only one happy to be going back home. He hadn't seen the guys in a while, being stuck in there, and he hadn't seen Tony at all.
"We still need to be careful," Roberto looked to Bruce for help in explaining the matter of safety to her.
"Yeah," Bruce said. "You never know what could happen. Copycats. The disgruntled follower."
"You guys are such downers."
"We're not downers. We're realists." Roberto said.
"Realists or no, you're not ruining my day."
She rubbed her belly while looking around to make sure she didn't leave anything behind.
"Do you want me to drive you two back?" Bruce asked, secretly hoping they'd decline.
"No, no," Mia said. "You've done a lot, already."
"Then, I guess this is goodbye. I'll miss you guys, but I hope if we see each other again, it will be under different circumstances."
"Definitely."
"Okay, then," Roberto reached out to shake his hand. "We really appreciate everything you and S.H.I.E.L.D. have done for us."
"Oh, no problem. I'm glad to do it."
"Send my condolences to Natasha," Mia said. "And to Tony."
"I'll do that."
Bruce picked up his suitcases and went out the door. A car would be sent for them, so he would take the S.H.I.E.L.D. car, with no worries.
He opened the trunk, putting all his stuff inside. When he heard shoes clicking behind him after the thump of a shutting door.
"Bruce?"
"Yeah?"
"Is it okay if I were to ever call you? I mean, with the baby, and everything. You were kind of the only one I could really trust with that, for a while."
"Sure," he held his hand out.
She gave him her phone, which he programmed his number into.
"I promise I won't be a pest."
"You won't be. Just remember the time difference."
She laughed softly.
"Here you go," he handed the phone back.
"Thanks."
"Send me pictures, when you have her."
"I will."
After a nod goodbye, Bruce got into the car and backed out of the driveway. Only realizing at the intersection, he didn't remember how to get out of there. So, he used the few seconds of not having anyone behind him to dig Natasha's directions out of the dashboard. Then, worked backwards from there.
After about a half an hour drive, he believed it was, he pulled into the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. He would have to go in to fill out the paperwork, then he could go back home.
Definitely something to look forward to.
"Dr. Banner."
He turned. Thor was at the entry of the hall, waving to him.
"Hey," Bruce said. "What, has it been like a year?"
Thor laughed, walking up to give him a big hug.
"How is Ms. Adessi?" he asked. "I bet she is happy to regain her freedom."
"Oh, yeah. She was. I'm just glad it's over."
"Not completely."
"Well, the hard part is. Everyone is finally accounted for."
"True. I could not be happier about that."
And boy could he tell. The tall blonde shone like the sun, absolutely beaming. The only thing that didn't match his bright disposition was his tired eyes.
His tired, reddened eyes.
"You should get some sleep," Bruce said. "Knowing you, you've probably been up at all hours, haven't you?"
"There's still much work to be done."
"But you still have to take care of yourself. Even though you're light years beyond us."
"Heh, certainly. I will keep that in mind. Oh, there is the Captain."
Steve walked up to them, happy to see another familiar face.
"Hey, Bruce. Getting ready to ship out?"
"Yep. When are you guys leaving?"
"We're going to stay behind a little while longer."
"I'm hoping not too long. I know Tony and Pepper are going to want to have another big Thanksgiving thing at the Tower."
"Oh, no. We would never miss such a feast," Thor said.
"I know that's right," Steve chuckled. "Want me to walk with you?"
"Sure," Bruce said.
"I must finish here, but we'll meet up again, soon."
"Okay. See you later," Bruce waved, once more.
"I heard you telling him to take a break," Steve said, when they were out of hearing range. "He's been going all day."
"Yeah? Something going on?"
"I guess he's just trying to keep busy. Tony got it out of Loki that he has a terminal disease. Some kind of magical cancer or something."
"Wow. Really?"
"Yeah. And Thor's been taking it a little too well."
"In other words, he's not dealing with it and is trying to hide everything by keeping busy. I knew he seemed too happy. I mean, I know its great that I'm back and all, but, still."
"Heh, yeah. I've been trying to keep an eye on him. Talk to him, you know? But, he's not budging."
"He can't keep that front up forever. As long as he knows we're here for him, he'll get through it. I mean, he'll be okay eventually, right?"
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
Thor was not okay.
Not in anyway, not in the least.
He thought of going down there. To Loki's cell. But, what good would that do, really? The boy would be stubborn until the day he took his last breath. Which was going to be sooner, rather than later.
And the fact that he would rather go to his grave without making amends broke his heart. It made him angry. Because Tony said he had told him this in the woods. So, Loki knew he was ill and dying, when he demanded Thor leave his hospital room. Choosing a grudge over his family.
How could he do that?
The thought was plaguing him more often, as the day went on.
Until it got to the point where he couldn't take it, anymore.
When he marched down the hall, he tried to think up of what to say. Where to start. Whether or not he could keep himself from yelling or tearing up at this emotional warfare that had been going on between them for so many years.
And when he found him, well, there was no holding back, anymore.
"Loki," he thundered. "We need to talk."
Loki immediately turned away from him, seconds after seeing who it was.
"No. No, you are not doing that. You are going to listen to what I have to say and I will not leave until I've finished saying it."
Loki only peeked over his shoulder to growl at him.
"Stop being so immature, Loki. I know we've had our differences and yes, I wasn't the best brother to you, at times. But you're dying? And you've neglected to even tell me?"
His only answer was stiff shoulders.
"I don't think I've ever met anyone who would let themselves be completely eaten alive by bitterness. You hate me so much you won't even tell me this? Do you have any idea how this makes me feel?"
He started pacing. Trying to work out the need the punch something.
"Oh, but it must be to hurt me. Right? Is that not your life goal, brother?"
He could hear Loki gritting his teeth.
"Perhaps I should warn Stark of how selfish you can be. I hope he never says anything that you should take out of context or else you stab him in the back."
Loki glowered at him. If looks could kill...
"You think I stabbed you in the back?"
He slowly sat up, but still didn't look him in the eye.
"Is that not all you've done in the past few years? If you are angry, that's one thing. But to go off and try to kill me? Several times? And for what? Because you're jealous?"
"I'm not jealous of you. I'm angry at how all the worlds prefer such an idiotic brute to me."
"Is that so? Well, this idiotic brute, as you say, was willing to put it all on the line for you."
"Oh, really?" Loki scoffed. "And what exactly was it that you put on the line? Huh? Stark and I had to get ourselves out of that prison."
"And stop acting as though you and Stark are a team. You are not his true friend. Not the way you are. He helps you out and you're on good terms. But let one tiny thing happen to make you angry at him. You don't care about him enough to work through any rough patches you might have. You don't know how to act around others. You never have."
"Perhaps because you and your ignorant friends were the only examples I had."
"Yes. Of course. It's always someone else's fault. Poor Loki is innocent of everything, isn't he? There's always an excuse."
"Why the hell are you even here? I've made it clear, several times, that I want nothing to do with you."
A few agents and medics were filing in, at this point. Pretending not to be watching their exchange.
Apparently, he had overstayed his welcome.
"Right. Fine. I suppose you are just going to go to your grave with nothing but hatred in your heart."
With those words, Thor stomped away, leaving Loki to turn over harshly. Roughly pulling his sheets over his shoulders.
Outside the door, a bit further down the hall, Thor paused. Back against the wall. He slid down, sitting on the tile floor. Rubbing his hands over his face.
"Thor?"
He looked up, immediately rising to his feet. Embarrassed after being caught in such a state of weakness.
"Miss Romanoff," he nodded his head. "How are you?"
"Great, compared to you," she said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Honestly. Just...tired."
"I can imagine."
"I should get out of your hair. You seem to be on your way somewhere."
"I was just going to..."
But he quickly walked away, before she got the chance to finish.
What was with everyone, today?
She rolled to Loki's room, not having time to go after Thor. Though, this was the direction from which Thor had made his escape.
Yeah, made sense.
"Find anything?" she asked of those looking Loki over.
A very unhappy fidgety Loki, that is.
"No."
She crossed her arms, watching the display in front of her. Her and Loki's eyes met, for a brief moment. He was surprised. Not at her presence, but at her...
"What is that?" he asked, while trying to put some distance between him and the people surrounding him.
"A chair."
"A chair with wheels? Can you not walk?"
"Sure I can. I'm just tired from all the work I've been doing lately."
"Pffft. Liar."
"Look in his eye," she said to the medics. "His medical report from the hospital said that he's been complaining about that eye."
"We know. I'm still not finding anything in it."
Loki clenched his teeth.
"What's wrong?" Natasha asked. "Are you still in pain?"
"I know they put something in my eye."
"Are you absolutely sure? Or is it possible that you imagined it? With the severity of your injuries that night, you might have thought you saw something that you didn't."
"I know what I saw. I didn't imagine it. I am absolutely certain that they put something in my eye," he said with frustrated ferocity.
"Can you scan him again?" she asked.
The medic sighed, but nodded.
"Someone is controlling you, is it?" she asked Loki. "Or are you faking it?"
He smiled at her.
"I wish I were faking."
"He is showing physical signs of distress," the medic said.
He walked outside to show Natasha the results on his tablet, which was digitally connected to the machines.
"Now, I don't know if he can manipulate his vitals, like this," he said. "But there is nothing physically in his eye."
Natasha took the tablet to get a closer look, ignoring Loki's annoyed grunting behind her.
"Innokenti didn't do this, but the Asgardian did?" she asked.
"How many times must I say that?"
"Did you see what it looked like?"
"Yes, it looked like Chi..."
Wrong call. He dug his fingers into his scalp, squeezing his eyes shut.
Natasha rolled to his cell. One of the agents let her in. Going right up to the ailing man, grabbing a flashlight from a medic.
"Go away," Loki growled.
"Hush."
She held onto his chin, forcing him to lean his head back. She shone the light in his eye. He cringed, but stayed still.
"Chitauri, right?" she said. "That's what you were going to say?"
He couldn't even open his mouth before leaning over, nearly in her lap. Clutching onto her knee, gritting his teeth. Nearly passing out.
She grabbed onto his shoulders, pushing him back onto the bed. Moving forward, so she was staring him square in that eye.
"Whoever you are," she said. "Whatever you are, you are not going to win. We will find you and you will suffer greatly for what you have done. You may think the Earth is a weak planet. But you have sorely mistaken. It is possibly the greatest mistake you have ever made. Whether an Asgardian or Chitauri, you will not win."
She moved back, letting Loki have his space. He was a little concerned at her ferocity.
"Give him a sedative, he needs to rest. Then, get Thor in here."
"What?" Loki snapped. "I will not have that man in here again."
"You don't get a choice in the matter. He actually understands some of this other worldly stuff. I want him to take a look at your eye."
Loki clenched his jaw, no doubt cursing her out in his mind.
"And, one more thing," she said. "You had better pray you're not lying about this."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"...so they were asking me if we could both make an appearance on his show, sometime before Christmas. Maybe after Thanksgiving. I told him it wouldn't be a good idea, but that I would atleast talk to you about it. You know how he is, and I know you two can't get through an interview without one telling the other to 'go to hell'. He would be the very one to hound you to death over what happened, the last few months. Maggie has been getting calls from just about every morning show, evening show...afternoon show. Why do you keep staring at him?"
"Hmm?" Tony perked up.
"You keep staring at that man. I think you're starting to give him the wrong idea."
"No, he was just...you didn't finish what you were saying about the shows."
"Well...Oprah wants an extended interview. So does Dr. Phil. MSNBC, CNN, and FOXNews are practically fighting each other over it. 60 Minutes somehow got the idea that they already had rights to it. Now, we have some of the guys in Italy's news circuit calling about it, too."
"Ah, popularity. I should tell the kids at the local high school that it's not always worth it."
"Well, it's not like this is our first network rodeo."
Pepper took a sip of her lobster bisque. Tony downed the rest of his scotch.
"So, what's been going on during my 'vacation'?" Tony asked. "Anything new?"
"Mostly the day to day. Nothing that would really interest you. Well, one of the guys suggested we start doing some investing for up and coming tech companies."
"Like venture capital? Doesn't Google do that?"
"Yes, that's why he suggested it. He thinks getting into that will help us keep up with the rest of them."
"Yeah, but I don't want to do something just because Google or anyone else, is."
"You can't say its a bad idea."
"And I'm not. I don't know, if you want to, put the green light on it."
"What we really need," she folded her hands and sat her chin atop them. "Is another really big thing."
Tony grinned and busied himself with his food.
"Nothing, Mr. Stark? That is your department, last I checked."
"I'm not telling you what I'm working on, Missy."
"You know you can trust me."
"You're one of the only ones. Its everyone else, I don't trust. Oh, come on, you can't tell me that guy isn't acting suspicious."
"Tony, at worst he might be an undercover paparazzi. Stop staring at him."
"I can't," his phone buzzed, startling him out of his thought. "I can't stop staring at him."
Natasha was calling.
Why did it have to be now?
"Ugh. Excuse me. This is probably important."
He stepped away, going into the short hall that led to the bathrooms, so he could get some privacy.
"Hellooo?"
"Hey Tony, it's Natasha."
"I know. I have caller ID. Everyone has caller ID."
She ignored him.
"We found something."
"I'm hoping its something important. I was kind of in the middle of dinner with Pepper."
"I'm sorry. But, we have a reason to believe that Innokenti and that Asgardian were working with the Chitauri."
"Oh, what wonderful news. How did you find out?"
"I was trying to get some information out of Loki. Anytime I could get him close to spilling something, he would start having these awful pains."
"Is he okay?"
"For now, yes."
"Was it...?"
"The thing in his eye? We're checking that."
"So, what, he said something about the Chitauri? Please don't tell me we're going to have to fight those awful things, again."
"I don't know. I hope we can solve this and keep them from even getting here."
He bit the inside of his cheek.
"Is there anything you want me to do?"
"No. I thought you should know, just in case."
"Okay. Keep me posted."
"I will."
They both hung up.
This...
This was not good.