Okay, this is definitely one of the longest chapters in the story. It would have been longer, had I not decided to put the rest in the next chapter. So, yeah, transitions, here. Not exactly the most exciting bits, but far from being unimportant. You know, to tell you the truth, I'm really ready to write three things: Loki spilling his guts to Tony, Loki spilling his guts to Thor (MAYBE, if he wants to) and Loki's relationship with his wittle baby (if she/he survives, that is. I can be pretty evil, sometimes).
Thank you, as always, for all the support. 3
When Natasha came back into Loki's holding area, Thor was following behind her. His eyes were downcast, hands in his pockets. Though, when he caught Loki's gaze, for a brief moment, said eyes were blue fire.
Loki immediately tensed up and looked away.
"What seems to be the problem?" Thor asked Natasha.
"Something is making Loki hurt, whenever he says something that might lead to information about Innokenti and the Asgardian. We think it has something to do with whatever was put in his eye."
"I see."
"We can't find or see anything, though. No sensors can pick up on it. I don't want to ignore any possibility, so I was wondering if you could take a look."
Thor raised one eyebrow.
"Me? I don't understand how I would be of any help."
"If there is a device there and its cloaked by magic or something, do you think you could see it? Sense it? Something?"
He rubbed the scruff on his chin, looking his brother over.
"I may be able to. Though, I must let you know that magic isn't my strong suit."
He could imagine a smug expression on Loki's face, at his admission.
He leaned over and whispered in Natasha's ear, "And, I do not know the signature, as I do Loki's."
"We just need you to try. If there is something, especially something that is used as a spy device, it needs to be removed. Immediately."
He looked in Loki's direction again.
Then, nodded.
Natasha turned, leading the way inside Loki's space. He still refused to look at Thor.
"He's been sedated," one of the medics said. "I'm hoping its enough."
"Good," Natasha said. "Loki?"
He grunted.
"Your brother is going to take a look at your eye, okay?"
He mumbled something.
"What?"
"I said, I heard you talking outside."
"Can you turn over, please?"
He shook his head quite vehemently.
"Loki, you're going to have to. Don't you want this thing out of you?"
He shook his head again. Natasha growled, looking at Thor for help.
"Loki," he said. "You're going to have to do this."
He hunched over, curling into a ball.
"Do you want me to apologize? I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry. Please turn over, so I can take a look at your eye."
Thor reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Faster than a pissed of panther, Loki flipped over, digging his nails into his skin. It didn't hurt Thor, but he did jump back at such quick violence.
"Don't," Loki said, steadily.
His gaze was steely, hazy. His grip was quite weak, but he refused to let go.
The agents were up in arms, by this point. Natasha, however, calmly rolled up to him. She clutched his pale wrist with enough strength to warn him, enough ease to calm him down.
He looked back and forth between them. Then let go.
"Do you need another shot?"
His speech was low and strained, like a shy kid, "Yes."
He patted the heel of his foot against the mattress. His gaze having returned to the wall. Even as the needle entered his arm, he didn't flinch. Didn't move. Didn't dare.
Natasha stayed by him, while they waited for the sedative to settle into his blood. Still tense, they were afraid it wasn't working, until Loki's eyelids began to droop, ever so slightly.
She looked up at Thor. He eased forward.
Yet, at his touch, Loki once again spun on him. His eyes wide, angry and wild with fear, uncertainty, and other unnamed emotions.
"Do you fear that I may hurt you?" Thor asked. "I will not."
His words were no comfort. Loki's breathing only got faster. He swallowed, looking everywhere, anywhere but that man's face.
"Miss Romanoff," Thor said, quietly. "I do not know what to do."
"Should we bind him?" an agent suggested.
Loki held his head up, absolutely seething at said agent.
Natasha placed her hand against his chest, gently pushing him back to a lying position.
"Look at me, Loki," she said.
His view was becoming slightly distorted. He blinked a few times.
Natasha moved her hand to his cheek, garnering his attention.
"Just look at me, okay? No, don't look at Thor. That's it."
Thor took this as a cue to begin his work. He softly pressed his thumb against Loki's eye. Loki tried to wrench away, but Natasha kept him steady.
"Hey, easy. Easy. Don't get so stressed out. It'll just take a minute. Just a minute."
His eye stayed on her. Noticing that hers were green, as well.
"You're not hurting, are you?"
"No."
"I don't see it," Thor said.
"So, he was tricking us the entire time?" another agent growled.
"I'm not lying!"
Natasha flashed a look of annoyance at that agent.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"He doesn't know what he's doing!" Loki shouted. "He doesn't know anything about this!"
Thor clenched his jaw. Perhaps he should give him the benefit of the doubt.
So, he looked once more.
Even though Loki was nearing a full blown episode.
Natasha tried to get him to stop fretting, so. A more difficult job, than it should be. She briefly considered calling Tony, again.
"Wait," Thor finally said. "I...I think I see what he's talking about, now."
Everyone perked up at his admission. Except for Loki, who was now holding onto Natasha's arm. She was starting to fear that he was going to crush it, with the force from his hand.
"It's so tiny," Thor continued.
"What is it, invisible? Loki, honestly, you're going to have to ease up. I don't want to lose my arm, too."
He looked at what he was doing. Blushing as he released her.
"No. Not invisible. Inconspicuous. It has changed its appearance to blend in with its surroundings."
"You can see that with your thumb?" Natasha smirked.
"It's difficult to explain," he rubbed the back of his neck, a brief smile touching his lips.
"For an amateur," Loki muttered. "Can he go, now?"
"Can it be surgically removed?"
"Yes. I believe so. If it was physically placed, it can be physically removed."
She turned to the medics.
"Can that be done, here?"
They all exchanged looks. Could they? Did they even want to?
"It sounds like this would be a complicated surgery."
"Who can do it?"
"We could call around, but this is also a sensitive issue. It can't get out that he's on earth, again. And, there's that pesky problem that there are some people out there who would purposefully let him die on the table."
Or, not so pesky, to them.
"Damn."
She moved away from Loki, going to the door. Thor followed.
"Where are you going, Natasha?" he asked.
"To talk to Fury."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Tony had all but promised himself that he was going to spend that Sunday relaxing and enjoying himself. Maybe staying in bed and watching a marathon of movies or catching up on all the shows he had missed. Maybe staying in bed to catch up on what sex he'd missed out on. Maybe staying in bed to spend the day napping.
Or all three. All three would make everything perfect.
So, why did he end up going through all of the info he'd downloaded from the prison and Innokenti's house?
Though, he was in bed, while doing this, so, one step forward.
"I'm going to order in breakfast, today," Pepper said, stepping out of the bathroom, having just taken a shower. "What do you want to ea...Tony! Why do you have our bed in such a mess?"
He looked up from his tablet, laptop, helmet, and the piles of marked up papers spread all over the blankets.
"What? I'll clean it up."
"I wasn't even gone half an hour."
"I'm very fast, in my mess making."
"Apparently," she ran a brush through her damp hair. "What are you doing, anyway? Or is this a secret, too?"
"I'm just looking through some things I collected over there. Trying to figure all of this out. Its starting to look more and more like Innokenti was small stuff, compared to what could be happening."
Pepper sat down next to him, concern on her face.
"And what would that be?"
"A rogue Asgardian, for one. And I'm not talking about Loki, in this case. There may be a chance that the Chitauri are in on this, too."
"The Chitauri?" she paled. "And an Asgardian?"
"Yeah. Its pretty bad."
She peaked at the overload of information, setting her chin on his shoulder.
"What exactly is all of this?"
"Uh...this here is a bunch of files the rescue group made of the prisoners. This, over here, those are the pictures I took at Innokenti's shed. I'm trying to split them up. I printed the documents, that I found. Still can't figure out what language this is."
Pepper squinted at what lay in front of them.
"Well..." she said. "The language would have to be either Asgardian or Chitaurian, if that's who they're working with."
"I know, but which, is the problem. If its Asgardian, well, Thor could help us out with that. If its Chitaurian, I have no idea what to do."
"What is that? This yellow stuff in this picture."
"That would be Loki's magic. Only, I couldn't tell if its in its pure form or the bio ick that Innokenti almost killed me with."
She rubbed his arm.
"Thing is," Tony continued. "I've been wondering if any of the other prisoners were kidnapped, due to whatever is going on. Or if there's a pattern. Or something."
"Want me to help?"
"Sure, if you want to."
"But, breakfast first."
"Yes. Breakfast first. Sounds like a good idea."
Food, then work. That was the direction the day was going to go, apparently. He shifted through the documents he'd had JARVIS scan. Pepper looked through the prisoners' files. What he found was confusing. Jumbles of notes and sketches and what looked like directions, from someone else. There were some chemical compounds. That, he atleast understood. And what was this? A draft sketch of one, two, three different machines.
"I've come to the conclusion," Tony finally said. "That these people are either brilliant or fucking crazy."
"It took this for you to come to that conclusion?"
"Shush."
She playfully punched him in the arm.
"Anything on your end, Ms. Potts?"
"Not anything useful, I don't think. I just...the injuries they sustained are absolutely horrible."
Tony nodded, trying to figure out what those machines were. Okay, one included some medical equipment. That had to be the one used on Loki. The other two, good grief...
"Look at this. Can you tell what the hell it is?"
She examined the plans he was holding. Shaking her head.
"I have no idea."
"I mean, this part is definitely a generator. It looks like this conducts heat. As for what it does, well..."
"Again, I have no idea."
He rubbed his chin, putting the papers back down on the bed. Then, digging through the others, until he could find what he was looking for.
There it was.
A formula.
A couple of them, in fact.
All handwritten.
Only, one wasn't finished.
Huh.
Interesting.
He went back to the drawings. All of them had those formulas.
"JARVIS," he said. "Open..."
He glanced at Pepper. She was engrossed with what was on the laptop.
"Open file E92 for me."
"Yes sir."
A screen appeared in front of him. Framing all of his sketches, his calculations, his findings.
"That's what they were after," Pepper said, now staring at his project. "Are you sure you should be opening it?"
"I need to check something. Don't worry, its in my personal network. They didn't get it then and they won't get it now."
He scrolled down. Scanning the blue lit document.
There it was.
He looked at the papers again, just to make sure.
Yes, he was certain.
The unfinished formula. He'd found its completed form.
"The tesseract."
"What?"
He turned the screen so she could see.
"The tesseract. That's what they've been after this entire time, you know?"
"But they already know how to use it."
"No. I know that. I had JARVIS scan the whole thing, before Thor took it off. I..." he quieted down. "I spent years trying to disect it."
"For what? Tony, you saw all of the destruction that thing caused."
"Yes, but its not just destructive. Its like," he tapped his arc reactor. "This. I knew it was its own energy source. But it turns out, its even closer than that."
She blinked.
"You're not telling me your arc reactor and the tesseract are pretty much the same thing, are you?"
"Not exactly. You see, its not the arc reactor itself, its what powers it."
He could see her beginning to understand.
"The new element."
"Yeah."
"I still don't get what you were trying to do."
"I figured out...I think I figured out how to replicate it. Increasing the power of that element to make it just as powerful as the tesseract. Compatible, even."
He picked up the papers.
"And that's what they were trying to figure out."
Pepper stared at it. Unable to think of anything to say.
Why make something like that? Why? And to think of how close they were to handing it over.
"What does this mean?" she finally spat out.
"It means I'd better figure out what they're planning. Or else, we could be in big trouble."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Natasha quickly approached the office of Nick Fury. Thor was right on her tail. When they were about to enter, she saw the agent who had escorted her there the other day. He was approaching with determination, as well.
"Something going on?" he asked.
"Yes, actually," she entered the room as Thor held the door open for her. "Director Fury, we have a problem."
"I saw," he motioned to the screen in front of him.
"We need to do something. Getting that device out of Loki is imperative to the world's security."
"I know. Agent Reynolds, what do you need?"
"Oh, uh, I think this is more important. Much more."
"It appears that no one here is able to take care of Loki's needs," Thor said. "Someone with experience in such surgery will have to be brought here or he must be moved."
"I just talked to the council, not long ago. They won't be so keen on moving him."
"If that's the only way..." Natasha said.
"Like you said, we'll have to call around. Not letting them know who it is, until they get there."
"You know," Agent Reynolds said. "They may not have as much of a problem if he were moved to another one of our headquarters. Particularly the main headquarters."
"That is in New York," Fury said.
"Yes. But they are based in New York," he said of Natasha and Thor. "If he causes any problems, wouldn't it be better to have him near them? They were the ones who've apprehended him in the past."
"Fair point."
"I know of a couple of very good doctors in the area, too."
"Yes, I know. All I'm worried about is moving him. If we can move him at all."
"Either way," Thor said. "This has brought an enemy into our camp. They obviously want to spy on us, to figure out what weaknesses we have. We must be rid of it. Surely those of the council will understand?"
"They'll have to," Fury said.
"Should we prepare him for the trip?" Natasha asked.
"Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I will see what we can do."
Thor was about to argue further, but Natasha stopped him.
"I'm going to see how he's doing," he mumbled.
Natasha answered with a nod.
She rolled out of the office, letting Thor pass her to see their patient. His problem child.
She looked back, seeing that Fury and Agent Reynolds were busy talking. Knowing that they were busy, she went further down the hall and pulled out her phone.
He picked up on the first ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Tony," she said quietly, but calmly into the phone. "Listen, I need to ask you something."
"Sure, anything. Is everything okay?"
"It will be. I was wondering if you could give me your doctor's information. I can't remember his name."
"Something's wrong. Is it you or Loki?"
"Loki. But its about his eye. Thor found a spy device and we need it out as soon as possible."
"Good. I mean, not good that its there, but that you guys found it. His name is John Gehring. Let's see...JARVIS, can you pull up his number for me? Oh, you have it Pepper? Sheesh, what? Do you have him on speed dial? Oh, come on, really? You're going to bring that up, now?"
"Focus, Tony."
"Right, right. Um, his number is 212-555-7979. I'll tell him about the situation."
"Not yet," she looked back to Fury's door. "When I give the okay, you can. We're kind of tangled up in some red tape, here."
"So, are you bringing him here?"
"Maybe."
"Okay," she could hear his voice light up. "I can get a room in here set up. You know, since you and Clint so cruelly rejected my invitation."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. If he is taken to New York, he's going to stay at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters."
"He would be better off here. You know I would keep an eye on him."
"Tony, no."
"Look, I know you think our relationship or whatever makes me biased. But security here is tight, I have the medical floor and JARVIS will have eyes on him at all times. You know I'm the best candidate."
"Yes, but you know Fury would never go for it."
"Let me talk to him."
"No, no. He doesn't exactly know I'm telling you about this."
"Ah, being sneaky, are we?"
"Tony, just..." she thought she heard someone behind her. "Just get prepped for a just in case scenario, okay?"
"On it."
"Thank you."
Tony put his phone back on the bed.
"Is Loki sick or something?" Pepper asked.
"Kind of."
"Why didn't you tell Natasha about what you found?"
"Not really an over the phone type of thing."
He scooped up a bunch of the papers, setting them on the side table.
"J, I want you to make a digital model of all three of those machines. Save them to my server."
He picked up his tablet, pulling up a few things that Pepper didn't even bother asking about.
"Hey, um, I think I'm finding a...pretty disturbing pattern, here," she said. "I don't know if it will help with anything."
"Anything may help."
"Well, there's a picture of this girl here," she showed him.
"Yes. That's his girlfriend. Was his girlfriend."
"Really? Poor thing."
He chuckled.
"Well, that makes sense. I was reading the list of injuries the prisoners received. And there are some who were sexually assaulted. I haven't seen all of the files, but, the ones I've seen so far look alike. To be more specific, they look like her."
Tony furrowed his brow.
"Really, now?"
He schooched next to her to take a look.
"Yeah. Both women and men. Some of it was severe, according to this."
Her voice was even, but her face gave her away.
"So, he might have been trying to relive her through them," Tony said. "That's really sick."
Pepper closed the laptop.
"There's no telling what he did to her while they were 'together'," she said. "I really can't stand people like him. They just take what they want, damn anyone who gets hurt."
"Yeah."
She looked up at him, tears threatening her lashes.
"Hey, hey," Tony put his arms around her. "No, don't cry."
His insides always twisted into knots when she cried.
"What did he do to you?" she burst out.
"Huh?"
"I saw the first video, but I couldn't watch the others. I was too scared to. You were in there so long, I'm afraid of what he did to you."
She openly cried into his chest. Tony tightened his hold on her, stroking her hair, saying things like 'shh,' 'now, now', 'its okay'.
And now, that old anger was bubbling in his chest. She shouldn't be crying over him. Shouldn't be hurting like that. How dare Innokenti do this to her? How DARE he?
"Pep, things happened...but it wasn't that bad. Not compared to some of the others in there. He certainly didn't do that. I promise. I guess I wasn't pretty enough."
"Tony, this is nothing to joke about," she sat up long enough to glare at him through puffy, red eyes.
"Sorry, I...sorry."
He smudged a tear away with his thumb. Then, kissed her on the forehead.
"I'm okay. Really."
She probably didn't believe him. But there were no signs of it on her being. She must have decided to let it go, for the moment. Tony grabbed a Kleenex from the side table drawer and diligently gave it to her. She dabbed her eyes.
"I'm sorry I worry you, so much."
She gave him a watery smile, which he returned.
oooooooooooooooooooooo
One week.
One week of back and forth, that's how long it took. Even though Natasha told him not to several times, Tony called Fury. Causing her to get chewed out. Therefore, causing Tony to be chewed out by her.
That was only on Monday.
Thor refused to leave Loki's side. Until Loki dragged himself across the room, removing his IV and refusing to let anyone put it back in, until he left.
That was Tuesday.
Wednesday, Fury spent the entire damn day talking to the council about this. Telling Thor afterward, if his brother ever caused them anymore trouble, he would personally back hand them both.
Thursday, Loki started feeling better. Somewhat. Natasha talked to him for an hour or so. Trying to get something else out of him. He refused to speak.
Friday, Fury was finally able make a deal with the council. For the good of the world, Loki would be heavily sedated and taken to the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in New York.
Saturday, Tony threw a wrench in their plans by arguing to Fury that it would make more sense to keep him in the Tower. Natasha, had to agree. Only if they were all there. After all, as Tony made sure to remind them, they could handle Loki. S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't. Thus, causing yet another meeting between Fury and the council. He was in such a bad mood by the end of the day, anyone who saw him coming immediately went in the other direction. Warning all ahead to steer clear or else, possibly lose a limb.
Which brought them to that Sunday, when Loki would be transported.
"You did let Tony know that he's not going to be around Loki by himself, at any point. Right?"
"Yes, Director Fury" Natasha said.
"Can I trust the lot of you with this? Because if he gets out and pulls something like three years ago, they'll probably have all of you disbanded and locked up, somewhere. Not by my decision, of course."
"I know we have to be careful."
She really wasn't in the mood for any of this today. She was up all hours, couldn't get comfortable. It took about three hours for her to get herself dressed and ready, that morning. Better than the last few days, but still enough to make her blood pressure go up.
She inched closer to Loki's cell. The muscles in her arms protesting.
"How is he?"
"I'd have to say he'll be down, for the trip. With the amount of tranquilizer we've given him, he'd have to be."
She looked to Fury for his approval. His face was stone.
"Get him on the plane. We need to take off as soon as possible."
A few agents gathered around him, rolling out the stretcher they'd placed him on. He was completely still. She would have thought him dead, if it wasn't for the gentle rising and falling of his chest. A small white pad had been placed over his eye, for safety. Couldn't have any insiders looking in on them. Steve was standing at the doorway, letting them pass, before following behind. Walking slowly, so Natasha could keep up.
"Rough night?" he asked.
"Yes. The sooner we get home, the better."
He nodded in agreement. They were all feeling it. The weariness in their bones.
"Bruce has already been sent to New York," he said. "To meet us there. The same with Clint. They figured they could trust the safety of Mandy to the the Level 6 agents, now."
He noticed her eyes slightly brighten at the mention of her best friend, whom she hadn't seen in a while.
"Is Thor on the plane?"
"Yes. He's waiting for us. Tony told me that Doctor Gehring should be there to check Loki out, this evening. So, I'm hoping we don't have any problems that delay us. We need to get him settled atleast an hour before that."
"Definitely."
The agents angled the bed up on the ramp, pushing it to its destination. Thor was waiting at the top. He smiled a hello to Steve and Natasha. It was forced and unhappy.
"We should arrive at five thirty," an agent mentioned.
"Right," Natasha said. "Keep an eye out for any unusual activity. We still have to deal with that Asgardian and I'd rather not have any surprises while we're gone."
"We'll be on standby, just in case, though," Steve mentioned, grabbing the handles on her wheelchair to help her up the ramp.
She didn't bother to protest.
"He could be anywhere, honestly," Thor said. "He may not even be in this realm."
"Let's hope."
Loki's bed was secured. Natasha took her place on one side. Steve joined her. Thor shuffled to the other, sitting dutifully and on watch. There was no shortage of agents surrounding them.
The hatch at the back of the plane was closed. Sealing, once metal touched metal. The machinery whirred, the jets pointed downward, pushing the plane into a hover, before they angled out and began to move forward. On their way back home.
Back at the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Agent Reynolds watched the airplane disappear into the bright blue sky. He placed a finger over the earpiece.
"The plan is moving forward. We've got him."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
It had been a tiring week for all, including Pepper and Tony. The company needed tending too, of course. But his return had sent everything into a hectic tailspin. Putting so much outside attention on them. No one had an easy time getting in and out of the Tower. It had developed a band of news media and paparrazzi, in the last few days.
Tony would never tell, but he had nervous butterflies fluttering in his gut. He hadn't left the building. Not since his date with Pepper. Didn't feel the need to direct the circus downstairs.
However, the butterflies weren't caused by that. Most had left, probably onto bothering the next sucker who would make a good ratings target. But, there were still enough to make a big stink of you know who coming you know where.
And then, well, no one would be able to stop the media firestorm that would ensue.
He could practically see his world crumbling around him, if that happened.
"Natasha called," Pepper walked up behind him, her heels click clacking on the wood floor. "They'll be landing in about two hours. Bruce has just left LaGuardia. Clint and Rhodey are about twenty minutes away from here."
"Got it."
"The room looks nice."
"Well, its not like I had to do a lot."
She shifted her weight, her lips pressed together.
"What?" Tony said.
"This isn't a good idea."
"Who said it was?"
"Do you remember the last time Loki was here? He threw you out of the window."
"Oh, I didn't forget."
"I know you feel like you owe him. But, why couldn't he have just stayed at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters?"
"Because I don't trust S.H.I.E.L.D. None of us completely trust S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Yeah, but..." she trailed off, looking at her surroundings.
"Are you scared? You know I wouldn't put you in danger. He's too sick to try anything."
She raised her eyebrows, her mouth in a line.
"I can handle it."
"What if this gets out?"
"It won't."
He stepped closer toward her. Then placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
"Would I be here if I didn't?"
He smiled.
"Everything will be fine, honey," he hooked his arm in hers, going toward the door.
So, there came the wait. Clint and Rhodey arrived first, smothered in hugs (particularly Rhodey). Well, before Tony playfully gave him the cold shoulder because he was the only one who hadn't gone looking for him.
"I had to hold down the fort here," he'd said. "You had the super team over there. And don't think I didn't use what resources I could to try to help."
"Suuuuure, traitor. I thought you were my best friend," Tony pouted.
"Can't stand not being the center of attention?" Clint smirked.
"Hey, that's not fair. I bet you wouldn't be saying that if I had died."
Bruce entered, about half an hour later. Taken a little off guard, when Tony bounded up to him. Pulling him into an embrace that had his feet off the floor.
"Yeah, let's irritate the Other Guy, by doing that."
"Missed you too," Tony poked him in the ribs.
Bruce could practically see the Other Guy shaking his head in annoyed fondness.
"Did you have a good trip?" Pepper asked.
"As much as anyone can have, on a flight," he smiled.
He dropped the luggage at his feet, before falling back into the dark, leather chair.
"Good to have you back," he continued. "We were afraid we'd lost you, for a second."
"You think a guy like that can actually bring me down."
They all exchanged looks.
"Welllll..."
"Wow. You guys are really breaking my heart. Seriously."
"Hey, you're breaking ours," Clint crossed his arms. "Loki? Really?"
Tony shrugged.
"National security issue."
"I'll say. Don't know why you have to bring his ass here."
"Who has the most secure building in the country? Besides, you don't live here."
"When are you going to let that go?"
"So, we just have to keep an eye out while Mac gets that thing out of his eye?" Rhodey asked.
"Mac?"
"Yeah," Tony said. "John, the doctor. We call him Mac. We were old friends, all three of us. He keeps a check on my heart."
He tapped the arc reactor.
"So, not an eye doctor."
"He has a team. His specialty is cardiology, but he can do a lot of medicalized things."
"My question is, does he know what he's getting into?" Bruce asked.
"Sure, he does."
"Does he?"
"Okay, he kind of does."
"Tony, you didn't tell him?" Pepper said.
"I recommended him for a job with S.H.I.E.L.D. Told him it was a sensitive issue and that the patient was from an outer realm like Thor. That's all he needs to know."
"Yeah? I'd want to know if I was going to be working on enemy number one," Clint muttered.
"Why? So you can kill him?" Rhodey asked.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Hey, no killing in my building," Tony said. "I just had the floors cleaned and I don't want my insurance going up, again."
Bruce watched Tony and Clint go into a back and forth. Their tone was light hearted, but there was certain tension building in the air. Clint's arms were stiff. He gripped the material of the chair. Tony was leaning back with his legs crossed, but there was a venom in his words. A kind of calm dominance in his being that said 'if you don't like it, you can leave'.
He glanced at Pepper. She glanced back. She could see it, too.
"Say, uh," Bruce finally interrupted. "I'm getting something to drink. You guys want anything?"
"Whiskey," Tony and Clint said at the same time.
"No," Pepper said to Tony.
"Pepperrrr," he whined.
"Better behave," Clint smirked. "Don't want her to put her foot down. Those heels look like they'd hurt."
"You behave. I'd rather deal with Pepper than Natasha."
Clint opened his mouth, but thought better of saying what he wanted to.
"I'm not scared of Natasha."
"Famous last words," Rhodey said, making Tony laugh.
Bruce felt a little better, that the conversation had diverted from Loki. For the moment.
"Uh oh," Tony said. "She just texted. Her 'Clint needs to be straightened out' radar is going off. You better run."
"Oh, shut up. What did she say?"
"They'll be here, soon."
Clint growled under his breath. Just the thought of seeing Loki again...
"Off to the races," Rhodey got up from his seat. "We should try to divert the vultures, outside."
"Good idea," Bruce said. "Exactly how are we going to do that, though?"
"Oh, I've been dealing with those idiots ever since I started working with Tony. Give 'em a quick little press conference. That's what they want, right? Talk them down at, say, the front of the building. Bring Loki in at the back."
"Awful lot of trouble for that guy, isn't it?" Clint said.
Tony ignored him.
"They're going to have to," Tony said. "But the diversion sounds...good."
"Doesn't sound like you think its good," Rhodey said.
"No, it is. Just, I hate dealing with them. That's all. Nothing important. Let's get it done."
They waited, the hardest part. Tony and Rhodey went over what they were going to tell the press. Pepper joined in, leaving Bruce and Clint to themselves. Or rather, Bruce to himself. Clint was sulking on the couch. Well, something a little darker and sadder than sulking.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
When Natasha made the call, Tony, Rhodey, and Pepper went right downstairs. Clint didn't move.
"Are you okay?"
"No. Why are they doing this? Its like Tony just decided to move Loki in and no one has a problem with it."
"You know we're trying to keep these people from spying on us. That's all."
"Pffft. That's all. You don't think Tony's going to try to initiate him in our group or something stupid like that? Because he's completely forgotten what that asshole did and..."
He leaned over. Rubbing his hands over his face.
"Do you realize what that man made me do?"
"Yeah. I do. And Tony didn't forget, he just...he was going through something terrible and Loki was all he had."
"He's probably orchestrating this whole thing."
"I don't know, this time. Honestly, the more I think about it, I think there was someone bigger behind this the entire time."
"So, he should just go free. Who cares who may get hurt in the process."
"No, I'm just saying, he might actually be sick. And if there's someone behind the scenes, we need to focus more on them, right now. We can worry about the rest, later."
"He's not moving in here."
"Not unless Tony wants to be institutionalized."
Clint chuckled.
Downstairs, things weren't as bad as they thought it might be. Until Tony's foot hit the pavement outside. It was like he stepped on a mine that exploded reporters. He backed up a bit, tensing up at their need to surround him like wolves on a deer.
"Hey, back up, back up!" Rhodey put his hands out, trying to give them some room.
Tony scanned the area. Across the street, a black van drove slowly up to the building.
"One at a time, please," Rhodey said over the clamor.
"Hey, guys," Tony said.
The van sat, waiting for traffic to go by.
"I know you love me and all, but relax. Okay? Relax and I might answer a few questions."
Immediately, a dozen microphones were shoved in his face.
"Mr. Stark, who were the people who were responsible for your kidnapping? Are we still in danger, from them?"
"I'd rather not get into too many details. We're here for your protection, so you have no need to worry. It was a small terrorist organization and they have since been disbanded."
A break. The van turned down the side road, not bringing any attention to itself.
"Ms. Potts," he quickly whispered. "Make sure there's a clearing for our delivery, please."
She nodded, maneuvering through the crowd. The noise fading some, as she put distance inbetween them. The van had parked at the loading dock. Thor was the first to step out. Happy was at the other side of the van, helping Natasha.
"Hello, Ms. Potts," Thor beamed.
"Hey, Thor. Its been a while."
"Get the doors open," an agent said. "We need to hurry."
The back doors were opened. The ramp was pulled down. Pepper took in a deep breath, not letting her gaze drop from that van. Thor helped the two agents roll the bed down. She watched steadily as Loki was emerged. Covered in a white sheet, up to his chest. His hair covered by a sterile cap.
It took her a minute to register that that was Loki. The Loki.
"Do you have him?" Steve's muffled voice came from the inside of the van.
"Yes," Thor said. "Do you two have Miss Romanoff?"
"Yes."
"Get him inside," this time, it was Natasha's order.
Pepper suddenly snapped out of her daze. Forcing herself to move and take some kind of order.
"Bring him through here, guys."
She walked sturdily ahead, listening to the wheels rolling on the pavement. Leading them through the wide doors at the very back.
"We were a little late," Thor said. "How much time will we have until the doctor arrives?"
"Over half an hour," she pressed the up button, to the private elevator. "That should be enough time, shouldn't it?"
"Not as though we have a choice. But yes, it should be enough."
They entered the elevator. Pepper held it open, for Natasha, Steve, and Happy after Loki had been put in place.
"You guys go ahead," Natasha said. "We'll take the second one."
"Okay."
The doors slid closed with a hollow beep. Pepper watched the big, digital numbers climb. Even as fast as they moved, it all felt like a molasses pace. Partially due to the heavy silence, only cut through with those beeps. She looked over Loki's form. That was the same man who had nearly gotten her boyfriend killed, caused the deaths of hundreds of people, created pain for thousands more.
He didn't look like him.
No, he didn't look like the same man.
"Tony got one of the apartments ready for him," she said, if only to break the silence. "For when he goes through his recovery."
"I appreciate his kindness," Thor said.
"He won't be staying long," one agent said. "After he heals, he's going back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Council's orders."
"I see," Pepper said.
Inside, she felt relieved. She wasn't going to tell Tony that she really was nervous about him being there.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. She stepped out first, holding the glass door of the medical station open, for them. He was just taken inside, when the other three entered the floor, from the second elevator.
"Is he still under?" Steve asked.
"Yes," was Thor's answer.
"With all of this going on, we didn't have time to properly greet each other," Steve smiled at Pepper.
"I know," she put her arms around his broad shoulders. "Its good to see you. And you had us worried."
Natasha chuckled.
"Had myself worried."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'll be better, when this is taken care of," she pointed to Loki.
"He looks terrible."
"He is terrible."
Thor's shoulders tensed.
"Tony's coming up, in a minute," Happy said to Pepper. "He says Bruce and Clint are on their way down."
"Good. I hope Tony didn't have too much of a hard time."
"There's no telling."
"You know, I'm actually surprised only two agents were sent."
"Nothing we can't handle," Steve snorted.
"There are more," Natasha said, smirking at Steve. "Not so obvious, but there are more."
"Great. My place is going to be teaming with you people skittering around in every corner?" Tony came through the door.
Rhodey, Bruce and a reluctant Clint followed behind. Reluctant, that is, until he saw Natasha.
"Nat," he grinned broadly. "Hey, I missed you. I know you must be glad to be out of that hospital."
"Oh boy, am I ever," she reached up to hug him tightly. "You know, I think this is the first time in months that the whole team has been together."
"More than that," Tony said. "Thor was off with his girlfriend for so long."
"Should I not be allowed to spend time with her?" Thor raised his eyebrows over narrowed eyes.
"Of course, as long as you come back."
"I think someone has some abandonment issues," Natasha said.
"I have no such thing."
"So much for not working well with others."
"Hey, I don't work well with others. Doesn't mean I don't want the company, every now and again."
"Aww," the boys said, in unison.
Pepper chuckled, shaking her head.
Their reunion was suddenly interrupted by a quiet moan. They turned to Loki's still form. He winced, but didn't open his eyes. Thor, was the first one next to him. Tony, a close second.
"Brother?" Thor called, gently.
Loki didn't fully wake up, but the sedatives were obviously wearing off.
"Do you have more of the tranquilizer?" one agent asked the other.
"Of course I do."
"Wait," Tony said. "How much of that stuff have you given him?"
"Enough to keep him under."
"Oh, gee, that's not vague or anything."
"We used the amount we would have used if it were Thor."
"Yeah, you do know that they are different weights and completely different species, right?"
"I'm sure he will survive a few sedatives. It's not like their kind are fragile as glass or anything."
"I'm sure Innokenti and his band of merry morons thought the same thing. Bruce, help me out, here."
"Well," he stepped up to them. "He isn't at his best, healthwise, that is. Tony's right. We don't know what kind of effect this could have on him."
"Oh, now you're taking up for him, too?" Clint mumbled.
"I don't want anyone dying in here," Bruce said. "Wouldn't you rather he live and help us figure all of this stuff out?"
Clint just crossed his arms, while leaning against the wall. Natasha patted him on the hand.
"Don't give him anymore. Not until Ma...the doctor, gets here." Tony said.
"Are you crazy?" the agent said. "He can't be fully alert. We have to follow orders."
"Oh really? Well, when you're in my damn building, you have to follow my damn orders. Is that clear?"
"Tony," Bruce nudged him on the arm. "Take it easy."
"No, I will not take it easy. I'm not having these goons running around here, thinking they can do what they want."
"You were the one who had us come here," the other agent growled. "Yes, this is your building, but he is the property of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Property?" Thor didn't sound very happy with that.
"Oh, you hear that guys? I guess that means we're S.H.I.E.L.D.'s property, too."
"Look, I don't like the guy," Steve said. "But no one needs to refer to anyone here as property. When that sort of thing starts, it causes problems. I've lived through World War II. I'd rather we not point ourselves in that direction."
"Guys, take it easy," Natasha said. "Loki isn't the property of S.H.I.E.L.D. I'd rather you not refer to him as that, anymore."
"Thank you," Tony said.
"However, Tony, he is our responsibility. They aren't going to give him too much of the sedative. Just enough to keep him calm."
He shifted his jaw, pacing beside the hospital bed.
"Tony? If we're going to do this, we have to do it right. I know you and Loki have some history, now, but our first priority is New York. Okay?"
He shrugged.
"That goes for you too, Thor."
He nodded. But, his eyes were darker. A stormy blue.
"Now, I think we should take turns in here, after Dr. Gehring arrives. Tony, you can, of course, stay. If something happens, I think Loki would trust you the most."
Tony nodded.
Thor's eyes only got stormier.
"I'll stay too and...Steve? You want first watch?"
"Sure."
"Okay. Now, the rest of you can go about your business, but still be on standby. Pepper? Happy? Is there somewhere you can go if, well, if there's a worst case scenario?"
"Yeah, there is," Happy said.
Pepper's gaze went right to Tony. He could read her as if she had spoke.
I thought you said this was safe?
He walked to her, sending out as many mental apologies as he could.
"Nothing is going to happen," he whispered.
"You can't promise that."
"You heard what Natasha said. We're good, me and him. We'll be fine."
She sighed.
"I really hope you're right."