A few days passed by relatively peacefully.

Ronan had been tasked with giving Loki food, because apparently he was the only one whom had permission to visit the man. It sounded very sad. Ronan would hate seeing only one person for days on end.

Steve and Natasha had ganged up on him and ended up roping him into basic hand to hand and weapons training, all of which ended up with Ronan tired and banged up. He had showed his bruises off to Loki during their talks, ranting about how talented they were but 'could they show a little pity - I'm a scholar, not a soldier!'

Bruce and Tony were more Ronan's field. They were much more reserved and less physical than Steve and Natasha, and had recently taken to explaining the science behind what they were doing. Ronan had absently mentioned his ability to fix engines and Tony had immediately taken him under his wing, explaining the components of the Iron Man suit. He had also gifted Ronan with a Stark Phone after seeing Ronan's ancient flip one and nearly having a heart attack, which was definitely over dramatic. Where Tony was all flash and over the top, Bruce was calm and quiet, and Ronan liked sitting with him and talking about mundane things while the scientist fiddled with settings on how they were tracking the Tesseract. Ronan normally ended up disappearing whenever the two were talking to each other, though - babbling about scientific nonsense he didn't understand, lost in their own little world. He wondered if he was imagining the attraction there, two brilliant minds meeting. Tony was in a relationship, and Ronan knew that, but still, there was something there.

Ronan had taken time to introduce Thor to some of the things Jane hadn't - mostly computer games. And by that, he meant Candy Crush. He had successfully gotten the Asgardian addicted to it, and Ronan often found him on a phone, frowning in concentration. It was honestly hilarious.

Ronan and Fury didn't talk. At all. Their communication consisted of looks and glares from across the room, which suited Ronan just fine. Fury obviously didn't like him, and the feeling was mutual.

The reason Fury disliked him was probably due to the fact that, instead of interrogating Loki, Ronan was just talking to him. Fury was a spy, and spies were good at manipulating people, coercing them into doing things without their knowledge.

Contrary to Fury's possible belief, Ronan had never trained to be a spy.

He could read people though, could see when pieces didn't slot together right. He'd convinced Phil to give him access to footage of when Loki had first come through the portal and noted the dark rings around his eyes, the pale skin, the sweat beading his forehead and the disorientation, mild as it was. The Asgardian just looked unhealthy and malnourished, like he hadn't been treated well, like...like he had been imprisoned by unkind captors and Ronan didn't want to dwell on those sort of thoughts.

So, instead of questioning Loki, Ronan had rummaged through his belongings, grabbed a battered, worn, well loved copy of The Philosopher's Stone, and made his way down to the room where he was kept, and read to him. It was odd at first, especially at the look Loki had given him the first time he had done so, but soon it felt normal and comforting. Ronan found peace in repeating the oh so familiar words, answering Loki's questions and arguing about favourite characters and plot holes.

Ronan had found a good companion in Loki - he was intelligent and quick witted in ways that Tony and Bruce weren't, showed some interest in human culture like Thor, but didn't become absorbed in certain aspects, and also, as he was inside a cage, couldn't beat him to a pulp like Natasha and Steve did while attempting to train him.

Ronan was probably not supposed to like the guy at all, but he couldn't help it. There was something about Loki that made him feel comfortable.

He should probably be worrying about that.

What didn't occur to Ronan was that Fury had footage of what, exactly, Ronan was doing with Loki, and that combined with the Director's initial distrust of him, would make the trust Ronan had built up collapse.

XoooX

"Wait, so you're actually reading a possibly psychotic God a children's book. About wizards. And debating about it with him?" Tony looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh. Ronan rolled his eyes, flipping through the pages of The Prisoner of Azkaban absently from where he was perched on a metal table. The pages were marked with pencil notes and doodles in the margins, comments on plot holes and character development and foreshadowing for when he and Loki eventually reached the book.

If they would get that far.

"I still think there is more to this than Loki just wanting to take over the world. He wanted Asgard originally, according to Thor, and the footage I've seen is highly suspicious." Ronan argued and Tony raised an eyebrow.

"I think Stark was more focused on the reading part." Bruce pointed out, sipping his coffee. Tony offered him the bag of tortilla chips he was currently snacking on, and the doctor took out a handful.

"Bruce, I have told you, it's Tony." Tony said. "And yes. I am more interested in the reading part."

"I'm not a spy. I am not trained in manipulating people to get their secrets. If he trusts me, however…"

"He might accidentally let something slip." Tony looked impressed. "I knew I liked you, kid."

"Not a kid." Ronan chimed, reaching for the bag of chips and stealing a few. "But, yes, my plan is ingenious."

"You're starting to like him, aren't you?" Bruce raised an eyebrow. Ronan choked on his chip.

"No!" He protested, apparently too quickly for the two scientists, who both looked bewildered. Ronan felt his face flush.

"Ronan, he would turn you into dust." Bruce pointed out.

"He's sort of trapped in a cage at the moment." Ronan pointed out. "I just like having a conversation that I can keep track of, and not get beaten to a pulp. Ok?"

"Ok, no need to get all defensive." Tony sighed. "I missed you when you were all hero worshippy. You were ridiculously cute."

"I wa -"

"Tony has a point." Bruce's lips were twitching. "You were very cute."

"I am not cute." Ronan muttered, jamming another chip into his mouth and chewing on it as obnoxiously as possible. Bruce rolled his eyes and Tony snorted in amusement. "How far has J got into SHIELD systems, anyway?"

"I am not going to ask how you know about that, but he's into everything but the really high security stuff. But that won't take too long to crack." Tony grinned devilishly. "Want to see what our resident super villian does when no one's looking?"

"You're going to make a dick joke. Don't."

"I can't believe you just said dick." Ronan blinked. "Tony, Bruce Banner did just say the word 'dick', right?"

"It's a terrifying thing." Tony agreed, pulling up the CCTV feeds as Bruce rolled his eyes.

"I am capable of using swear words, you know."

"You just don't strike me as the type to do so." Ronan reached over to pat Bruce on the arm fondly. "You're too nice."

"I can turn into a giant, green monster when angry."

"Details, details." Ronan waved a hand. "I bet when people aren't trying to kill him, the Hulk isn't too bad a guy."

"I'm not going to comment on that theory." Bruce rolled his eyes again, before returning to his work.

"Hey, Ro, did you get Romanoff involved in your not-interrogation plan?" Tony asked, eyes locked on the CCTV feed. Ronan blinked.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because...well, she's speaking to Loki now." Ronan let out a noise of disbelief, joining Tony to watch the CCTV feed. True enough, the Black Widow was there, face to face with Loki. Ronan swore violently and Bruce started at the loudness of it.

"What the hell is she doing?!" Ronan hissed urgently, fingers tapping a fast paced rhythm against the tabletop. "Can you get sound on this thing?"

"Possibly. Maybe it's nothing - no offense to your idea, but you've been at it for days and we have nothing."

"I'm getting his trust. He may be more open to sharing plans." Ronan retorted. "By bringing someone else in who is obviously interrogating him will get rid of the entire process. He'll be warier."

"You aren't supposed to grow to actually like a prisoner, Ronan." Bruce pointed out from his workspace and Ronan pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I know. I just...can't help but feel that something's...off. About this entire thing."

"Agreed." Tony said. "And what d'you know - I finally have proof."

On the hologram board he had up, a sign flashing with the words 'phase two' was blocking the view of Natasha and Loki, both wearing masks that seemed almost impenetrable.

XoooX

Of course it didn't take long for Fury to find out that Tony was hacking into SHIELD documents.

Honestly, Ronan was surprised the director hadn't found out days ago. It was only about five minutes after Tony had gotten into top security files that Fury stormed in, Tony not looking at all guilty, Bruce trying not to turn green and Ronan still scanning the screen.

"What are you doing, Stark?" His voice was harsh, and Ronan had to laugh. It was humourless.

"We could ask you the exact same question." He retorted, leaning against the table.

"You aren't supposed to be here." Fury said and Ronan snarled.

"What, you're going to lock me in my room like a badly behaved kid? I may be the youngest here, but I am still an adult, Director."

"The kid has a point." Tony said. "What exactly is phase 2?"

Fury didn't get an opportunity to respond. Steve had come in, dropping a prototype of a gun onto one of the empty tables.

"Phase 2 is SHIELD uses the cube to make weapons." He said. "Sorry, computer was a bit too slow for me."

"Weapons? Why the fuck do you need more dangerous weapons?" Ronan scowled.

"We need to protect ourselves."

"From what?"

"From them." Fury gestured to Thor, who had entered the room with Natasha when the argument had increased in volume. The God raised an eyebrow in question. "A nuclear deterrent if they decide to decimate a town again."

"Yes, because nuclear weapons are clearly the best way to do that!" Tony snapped, Thor cutting across Steve's probably less than civil response.

"My people wish nothing but peace."

"But you aren't the only people out there." Fury retorted.

"Nuclear weapons won't deter them." Ronan spoke up. "If Asgardians aren't deterred by it, if they who want peace can destroy cities, others will be much harder to destroy. You must know that."

"Not like you would mind if someone from another world took over ours." Natasha said that, voice quiet, but Ronan caught it.

"Excuse me?!"

"We've been monitoring your actions." Fury's voice was harsh. "Recording your conversations and we know that you've been man -"

"Manipulated?" Ronan snarled. "You know absolutely nothing -"

"We know your name is Ronan Samuel Spire, your birthday is August the thirteenth." Ronan felt his face grow slack as Natasha spilled the facts, voice monotone, Fury just listening. Everyone just listening. "We know your mother died when you were ten -"

"Shut up."

"We know your grades and wellbeing started slipping after that."

"I said shut up."

"We know your father is in a coma after a car accident."

"I said SHUT UP!" Ronan practically screamed, covering his ears with his hands, eyes clenched shut. All eyes were on him and his skin was on fire.

"We know that Loki is manipulating you." Fury said. Ronan laughed, bitter and hoarse.

"No one manipulates me."

"Your luck -"

"My luck doesn't work. My mother is dead, my father is good as." Ronan blinked back tears furiously. "It only works on keeping me alive. It's why I'm not dead - because the bullets didn't fit the gun, or it jammed, or the blade was too dull to do any harm." The room had gone deadly silent. "Because for some reason, when I really don't want it to bounce back, it fucking does."

"Kid -"

"I want to know why the hell you think building weapons is a good idea." Ronan cut Tony off, snarling at Fury. "Why the fuck you think the Asgardian in the cage is manipulating me, when all you have done is spill my life story to everyone, said things that I don't want people to know."

"I also want to know why you are making weapons of mass destruction." Bruce sounded like he was trying not to lose his cool. "And why you thought bringing all of us in on this was a good idea. We're a mixture of people who can't cooperate without losing our cool. We...we're a time bomb. And he knows that." Ronan felt his stomach churn at that.

"The question is...when is our time up?" Ronan whispered.

That was when the explosion hit.

XoOoX

Took me wayyyy too long to update, but here it is!

Some more about Ro revealed, his views on the Avengers and company and yeah.

When I eventually get around to finishing this, I will be writing more - The Dark World, Age of Ultron and bits that happen in between the three main fics. Civil War is still a bit shaky, primarily because Ronan shakes things up a lot during the next two fics.

Anyway, hope you enjoy! ~ Jazz xx