Welcome back avid readers!

First off, I would like to thank you all once again for your continued support... almost 1k reviews. never did I dream it would receive that much support I mean whoa. also 37chapters in ? I must be crazy.

Secondly My beloved Beta is studying away, and so these last two chapters have yet to be edited. I have gone through so many times but ended up staring at a screen for an hour (brain had been mushified at this point)

Enjoy

"I'm fine now, Tony," Pepper tried to say in between Tony pacing and Bruce wrapping the final layer of bandage around her arm. "I-I didn't know who it was… it's not something you would expect," she said.

"That doesn't matter. Confusion or not, he still touched you." Tony stopped pacing, face conveying anger.

Steve had remained silent, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He didn't want to interrupt their little argument, while Bruce did the same, finishing his work silently.

"It was all an accident; he only tried to help me."

"Pepper," Tony raised his hands, stopping her. "He knows that skin contact causes burns and yet… look what he did." He gestured to her arm.

It was true, the burns on her arm had done considerable damage… more than what Tony and Bruce had experienced firsthand. Loki had held on far longer to Pepper than the others and Tony could only think of Pepper's pain. Her arm now sported a rather black hand print, with lighter toned burns around the initial point of contact. Bruce had been rather concerned and pressed that Pepper should go to a hospital, but Pepper declined. Bruce tried to pressure her again, but when it didn't work he found suitable creams in the first aid and began his work.

Pepper could still feel the burning tinge around her arm and movement caused much discomfort. The mixture of heavily applied cream wrapped in cloth around her made things feel dirty… but it had helped soothe the ache temporarily.

Bruce had opened another wrap of bandages and began to fashion a sling.

"Best not to move the skin too much, I'll be applying some more cream in a few hours," Bruce mumbled as he worked around her. Pepper nodded but continued to stare Tony down.

"He didn't attack me Tony, and you should be ashamed of yourself. You didn't tell me anything and you've had him here an entire week?"

Tony pointed to himself incredulously.

"Ashamed? Pepper, how do you think you would react to someone who came back from the dead—"

"Don't try and pass the blame off to me—"

"—and whose skin is blue – "

"—I've experienced a lot worse since you became Iron Man –"

"Oh we bringing that up again? Because last time I checked my responsibilities have shot up skyward because of the suit–"

"Don't you lecture me about responsibility!—"

"—I've literally had to fight an alien invasion—"

"—I've run Stark Industries for years while having to worry every day—"

"—with weird looking guys and guns that don't make sense—"

"—thinking you may not come home."

"—trying to protect the world so you can be safe."

Tony and Pepper stopped immediately at the end of their bickering. Pepper's eyes softened for a moment while Tony relaxed his face. In the heat of the moment, Pepper sprung up from where she had been sitting while Tony rushed forward grabbing the back of her head gently and pushing her close. Steve blushed while Bruce awkwardly made his way to the captain.

Bruce and Steve turned around not wanting to intrude. Often their arguments had ended like this… from mortal enemies one moment to the heat of passion the next. Pepper pulled away slowly and gently hit Tony's cheek with her palm.

"You still should have warned me," she whispered.

"Would you have believed me?" He asked.

Pepper shook her head as she looked down.

"We should go down there," Pepper suggested. "Sort things out."

Tony shook his head, he was still pissed.

"His temperature needs to regulate for a few hours, and he's been less conversational of late… which is saying something."

"Do you know why his skin is like that?"

"Goldilocks did say he was adopted once, but it would be real nice if we could get an explanation from him." Tony raised his head to the ceiling expectantly.

Perhaps the gatekeeper may have heard… but after some silence, Tony ignored it.

"You need to rest," Bruce said. "And besides, Loki doesn't handle the daylight well."

"Oh," Pepper said, disappointed. "But I should-"

"Pep."

Pepper sighed as Tony's overprotective nature set in. She knew better than to argue against him and allowed herself to be led towards her room. Steve had excused himself, needing to go back to his apartment… promising he would be back tomorrow, while Bruce silently retreated into some part of the tower. Tony had even been gentlemen enough to help Pepper into bed and make her comfortable. Sighing, he lay down beside her, lifting his arms above him to hold his own head relaxed.

Tony sighed deeply.

Together they looked at the ceiling.

"Busy week?" Pepper mumbled at Tony's sigh.

"Yep."

"What did you do?"

"Made the tower home to a snowman."

"Apart from the obvious."

"Got a kebab."

Pepper smiled softly and turned her head to Tony… he had already closed his eyes.

"Sounds strenuous."

"I had to walk and everything," he mumbled, flopping his hands down on his stomach.

Pepper used her good hand and slipped it into Tony's. It wasn't often they were able to relax like this, and Tony never had regular sleeping hours… So to spend an afternoon silently resting was… nice. But Pepper frowned slightly; she would wait until Tony was truly asleep until going to the cooler room.

Pepper awoke to nightfall as a small shift in her position caused pain to her arm. Blinking slowly, she stole a glance at Tony. He slept spread eagled on the entire bed, and Pepper had to lift one of his arms off her slowly to be released. Making herself look presentable, with great difficulty, she slowly left her room and made her way to the elevator. Pepper traveled in silence all the way towards the cooler.

As she reached the entrance, she noticed the door had been left ajar. Large ice chunks were scattered against the floor as though Loki had pushed the door forcefully apart, breaking the seams that Steve had described. Pepper used her good arm to pull the door open and peered inside. The cold mist from the ceiling covered much of the room, trying desperately to cool the atmosphere against the warm air seeping in.

Loki was not inside.

"JARVIS, where is Loki?"

-Currently on the roof, Miss Potts-

Pepper frowned but turned around towards the elevator again. Just before she left the room she looked sideways at the gloves hanging on the wall. An idea struck her and she plucked a pair off the wall.

When Pepper reached the roof door she noticed the small amounts of ice around the handle and looked away momentarily at her arm. It truly hadn't been Loki's fault. It seemed no matter what he touched things turned to ice. It wasn't fair to be angry at something he couldn't control, not matter how confusing it was.

The night's air was crisp and the wind was silent. Loki stood in the center of the roof, staring upwards towards the sky with his back towards her. Pepper watched as he lowered his head, no doubt sensing her.

Pepper opened her mouth but hesitated unable to convey what she wanted.

"I'm-"

"You're trying to apologize for something that was committed against you?" Loki said with curiosity. "How strange," he whispered.

Pepper lowered her gaze.

She strode towards him, stopping when they stood side by side as they both gazed out at New York City. The height of the tower would normally have had the wind roaring in her ears, but strangely on this night, it felt as though she were behind glass. They stood silently until Loki finally spoke.

"Forgive me," he muttered. "I am… unaccustomed to this form."

Pepper looked up at the god, seeing nothing but sadness.

"I should not have reacted the way I did."

"Such reactions have always been the norm in Asgard." Loki let an audible noise through his nose. "I suppose now I should start familiarizing myself to be on the receiving end."

"I forgive you," Pepper said.

Loki continued to stare out at the city.

"Here." Pepper handed Loki the gloves she held.

Loki finally turned and let her drop them into his hands. He looked at them questioningly and Pepper smiled. Loki may have changed in his appearance, but she remembered the curiosity of his eyes of things that he couldn't predict.

No.

Loki hadn't really changed at all.

"Put them on," she waved. "They're just gloves," she assured his skeptical face.

Loki slowly put on the gloves with care and Pepper smiled. They fit perfectly around his long fingers, folding neatly underneath his long tunic. Without question she held out her hand. Loki looked at it silently, unable to deduce what she wanted.

"You're supposed to shake it," she instructed.

Loki frowned.

"Why?" He asked softly.

"Us mortals use the gesture as a greeting or a thank you."

Pepper followed Loki's gaze to her injured arm until they made eye contact.

"You won't burn me," she said.

Loki hesitantly lifted his hand to meet hers. With the utmost care he carefully fit it against Pepper's, copying the positioning of her fingers against his. Loki pushed his brows together in worry, but when Pepper's face showed no pain he tilted his head. Pepper gently shook his hand.

"Thank you," she said, letting go.

"I do not understand," he said softly, leaning in when he noticed the mortal's eyes began to glisten.

"I'm sorry; it's just something I've wanted to say for a few years now. When you disappeared, I didn't think I would ever get the chance."

"Why would you thank me?" Loki asked.

No one thanks me.

Pepper wiped her cheek.

"Because of what you did for Tony," Pepper looked at him again. "You sent him back to the tower."

Loki stood up straight as the memory flooded him. Yes, that's right… he had decided to transport the mortal away, which had depleted his reserves.

"You saved his life."

Loki gave a non-committal shrug.

"It seemed logical at the time."

Thor would have done the same…. Foolish oaf, he thought.

"When Thor came back with the bracelets I…" Pepper sighed. "That's when I realized what you had truly done… so thank you."

Loki stepped away as his mouth unwillingly pulled upwards. Pepper stared curiously at the god.

"No one has ever shown me that kindness before." Loki laughed. "I like this feeling." He smiled genuinely to himself, raising his stance high.

"What feeling?"

"Acknowledgment… tell me, do all mortals feel this?" Loki asked with genuine curiosity.

Pepper remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Loki looked up to the sky.

"I wonder if Thor would acknowledge me," Loki said to himself. "Or would he strike me down?"

Loki had wondered that question for a long time. He would often play out the thousands of possibilities in his head, always trying to find a way… a way that would end well.

Such things didn't exist.

Still… Loki wondered.

"You're his brother," Pepper said plainly. "He loves you, and will continue to do so when he realizes you're here."

Loki smiled to himself, and when he could not contain it further he laughed. Pepper frowned.

"Forgive me, Lady Pepper, but you know nothing."

Pepper opened her mouth to protest but Loki interrupted her.

"You are young. You may be considered… mature in the eyes of Midgardian years, and I mean that with no disrespect, but to the nine realms you are but an infant. A being so trifled with the happenings of oneself you ignore the entirety of life around you." Loki turned to face her. His crimson eyes bearing down with intensity Pepper fidgeted.

"Thor will come back, Loki, we just have to wait… is that what you're worried about?" Pepper asked.

Loki chuckled.

"You still do not understand. Why has the Mighty Thor not descended on Midgard? Does he fight a war? That possibility is improbable because only Jötunheimr bears ill will upon Asgard, and they cannot travel between worlds as easily as the Aesir. So then… perhaps he has been ordered to stay on his realm? Yet another improbable possibility, because when has Thor ever heeded orders?"

Pepper listened in silence to Loki's ramblings.

"You see, Lady Pepper, an infant as young as you cannot begin to understand the possibilities around you."

"You're saying Thor won't come because he doesn't want to come?" Pepper asked, trying to understand.

"It is the only logical answer I can think of… and I've had a lot of time to think," he answered.

"But we are his friends… "

"Do not assume he does not value the alliance between Midgard. It is just…" Loki stopped.

"Well?" Pepper pushed. She wanted to know why Loki thought this.

Loki sighed and gazed back to the moon.

"When you've lived as long as I have, Lady Pepper, you start to see the darkness in people's hearts," he whispered, "And from what information I received from those oafs about my brother, it appears Thor could not absorb any more."

Loki tilted his head Pepper's way.

"It would make sense, after all. My brother is rather a simple fool… and he had made a foolish promise, one he could not keep. I was fated to fade, something that was in all probability orchestrated all along by the Allfather to teach us both."

Pepper raised her hands, interrupting Loki.

"Hold the phone a minute."

Loki raised his eyebrows, unsure to the meaning of the colloquialism.

"Your father wanted you to fade away?"

"You seemed surprised."

"Generally human families have a gentler approach to these things," Pepper deadpanned.

Loki hummed in enjoyment. No matter the seriousness of the conversation, it seemed Pepper could always bring light to the topic. Naturally it would disgust the god to ever admit it, but it was nice feeling.

Having someone to talk to.

And someone that listened.

"Loki," Pepper asked in a strange tone.

Loki merely gazed at her, waiting.

"I'm glad you're back, regardless of form," Pepper said softly.

Loki smiled to himself.

You would be the first, he thought.

"Well!" She said loudly, breaking away all seriousness of the conversation before.

Loki stood confused, unsure to her intention.

"I'm quite hungry, would you like me to make you something?"

At the mention of food Loki's stomach rumbled and he quickly placed a hand on it in an attempt to quell the noise.

"I'll take that as a yes," Pepper said, taking precaution as she grabbed a clump of his tunic and dragged him away.

Loki would have beaten any other mortal to a pulp if they had ever casually touched him that way. Would have... he pondered. Later, the god had found himself sitting comfortably as he watched the mortal prepare him food. Many had seemed to forget that he was still royalty regardless of blood, and to be waited on did give him some comfort.

"Here you go." Pepper pushed a plate forward. "Would you like coffee?"

Loki suspiciously sniffed the food, poking it with the utensil nearby. Normally on Asgard his food never 'jiggled', and the strange texture found him at odds as to whether to actually eat it. Pepper pushed a cup of coffee towards him as well but upon seeing Loki's curious face she frowned.

"Probably didn't think this one through…" She mumbled to herself. Hot food would most likely cause a bad reaction.

Loki brought one of his hands to his mouth, and using his teeth gracefully pulled off one of the gloves. Gently he touched the cup. Pepper watched as the steam around the edges dissipated, leaving a cold cup of coffee. Carefully holding onto the handle he brought the piece close to his nose, assessing the smells. It was bitter, with a small trace of sweetness.

Curious… He thought as he took a sip.

"You're meant to have it hot but… ice coffee is good too," she said awkwardly.

Loki raised his eyebrows but soon placated his face into something more suitable for the situation.

"May I ask you a question, Lady Pepper?"

"Please just call me Pepper."

"Pepper."

"You may." She waved at him as she took a sip of her own cup.

"The woman … Fischer." Loki put his drink down casually to convey it was of nothing of interest.

Pepper hesitated.

"Was she ever… apprehended?" He asked taking another sip.

Manipulation was such a simple thing. Centuries of practice had allowed him to become the most skilled in all of Asgard… not that he would take credit for it of course. Loki remained calm as he took a bite of Pepper's meal and smile reassuringly. He watched Pepper's eyes soften.

The bait had been taken. He smiled inwardly.

"Uh…" he watched the mortal think. "No. Tony said she went underground afterwards."

"Self-inflicted banishment?" He tried to understand.

"More or less. I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D. is still trying to find her. There is nothing to worry about, though, and you'll be safe here."

It appeared the mortal woman was in hiding.

But Loki feigned a grateful smile at Pepper, who was unaware of his intentions.

No matter how well she hid...

He would find her.

"I've got it!" Loki heard Stark yell one morning.

Another few days had rolled by and the fiasco with Pepper had died down. Loki had confined himself to the cooler, reading one of the books he had borrowed/stolen. During the day Loki would often hear what the mortal called 'music' blaring through the walls, keeping him from resting. It was not a comforting feeling knowing the mortal's primary workspace was just outside his… room.

Suddenly an explosion caused the walls to shudder and the objects on the wall to fall to the ground.

Loki's patience was indeed tested.

Carefully closing the book in a well practiced motion, he stormed to the door and ripped it open.

Stark stood in the middle of his workspace, coughing and desperately trying to fan away the smoke. Loki twitched his eyes in annoyance and with a snap of his fingers the smoke dissipated.

Stark stood still with his arms raised, looking confused.

"Butterfingers." He motioned to a contraption near him. To Loki's surprise it obeyed his order and wheeled itself towards the mortal.

"Fire safety much? Look I'm putting you on time out okay, our little rhythm going on here just isn't going to work… just look at this." Loki followed Stark pointing at a small flame on his desk. The contraption followed his point.

"What's that, huh?" Stark muttered and pointed to another machine.

"You there."

The machine looked around.

"Yeah, you. Come here for a sec."

The machine wheeled itself over but stopped as the desk stood in its way. Multiple times it began to reverse and try again but to no avail. Stark's face fell flat and he leaned over to Butterfingers.

"That's a tragedy. JARVIS, help me out here will ya."

-Certainly.-

Loki's eyes widened slightly as the room filled with a blue illusion. Unknowingly, he walked forward into the strange images that were suspended in the air. Stark quickly glanced at the god who seemed enthralled. With a flick on his hand the images changed again.

"You need something, Frosty?"

"You can conjure images," Loki said.

Stark laughed, flipping through some designs.

"It's a hologram… no magic here."

"It is impressive."

Tony tried to flip through an image but stopped.

"I'm touched, but you're standing in my image, muchacos."

Loki sidestepped with curiosity as he gazed around him at the intricate algorithms. Tilting his head he smirked as he recognized some of the math.

Mortals were so under-evolved.

Tony tried flipping the image again and again, but each time he ended up tapping his chin.

"Your work is admirable, Stark, but you've made a mistake," Loki smirked.

Tony snorted.

"I've been working on this baby for four months; the system is at optimal level," he said, crossing his arms.

Loki looked at the problem and smiled.

"I believe you are missing this…" Loki said as he reached up and finished a small section of the equation.

Tony narrowed his eyes.

"JARVIS, run a diagnostic."

Loki turned his head as the sound of the security pass was activated. Bruce rushed through, looking disheveled as always, but the god noticed something was off.

-Initial scans shows performance would double at the predicted rate.-

"We'll I'll be damned," Tony muttered as he waved Bruce down.

"Bruce, you should get Frosty here to check your own work. He practically enhanced my design in less than a minute."

Loki smiled at the compliment.

"We've got bigger problems, Tony," Bruce said.

"What's up?"

Bruce shook his head and with a few screen touches, the holographic image changed to something Loki couldn't understand. Loki watched Tony's face frown.

"Well… that's untimely."

Bruce and Tony both looked at Loki and then back at the screen.

"Either you tell me what is happening or I'll rip the answers from you… limb by limb." Loki bared his teeth.

Tony rolled his eyes at the threat and pointed to one of the graphs.

"That's a reading… from the Tesseract. It's meant to go off every time it spikes near Earth."

But the Tesseract is in Asgard… he thought, until it clicked.

Tony and Bruce stepped back as they watched Loki visibly tense, eyes opening to all amounts of extreme. Loki immediately tore himself from Stark's workplace and rushed towards the stairs. Tony and Bruce slowly followed suit as they made their way towards the elevator. Loki opted to take the high stairwell, teleporting himself gradually up the landings. After he could feel himself losing energy, Loki began to take large strides as his reserves quickly depleted again. It seemed Jötunns were less prone to magic than that of the Aesir, he would have to learn to ration himself.

Around the others he would have worn the gloves Pepper gave him, but there was no time. The railings of the stairwell froze as each touch added to the frost inside the stairwell, but Loki continued to climb. His heart pounded heavily in his chest, he was beginning to overheat himself and without the cooler room… Loki didn't care. As he burst through the main living floor ran down the hallway towards the large panel windows.

"Loki?" He heard Pepper ask with confusion as he passed her.

Ignoring her he rounded the corner towards the windows, but immediately raised his hands to his face, shying away. The sun had flooded his eyes, distorting his vision momentarily. Loki inched towards the windows, peering out beneath his fingers as he could make out the sky.

"What's going on?" Pepper asked but as she neared the windows she fell silent.

His heart dropped as the familiar sound of the Bifrost tore a pathway between the space of Midgard. Pepper heard Loki gasp and he began to take slow steps away from the windows.

A blinding light hit Tony's disassembling pad.

Loki retreated further, nearing the edge of the hallway he had rounded earlier.

A wash of relief and fear hit his heart as a familiar vision of golden hair blew in the wind. Even as the sunlight clouded his vision, Loki could clearly see the contrast of the red cape against the city backdrop.

Loki retreated behind the corner as he saw his brother stand from his kneeling position.

An alert will let you watch the landing like a 3D experience, a Review will let you calm Loki down.

-Brought to you by the Broadcasting Service of Mimbillia-