Chapter 4: Fool me once
No words could begin to describe the immensity of pissed off Tony and Steve were expressing through fierce glares at the Norse Gods before them. If only looks could kill.
After ensuring the unconscious Bruce Banner, who was now no longer a panic inducing shade of green, was indeed asleep and not dead, Tony and Steve confronted Thor ordering him to have words with them away from his brother.
Thor had commanded Loki to temporarily adjourn to a corner of the penthouse, which amusingly made the magic powered super villain look like he had been banished to the naughty corner. It was unsettling.
"Did you know?" Steve asked first through gritted teeth, crossing him arms and glaring daggers at Thor through the slit of his eyes.
Thor knew exactly what the question was directed towards, and was already questioning his own part played in the whole process leading to Loki returning to the realm which not too long ago he attempted to conquer through violent force.
"Yes," Thor responded guiltily, "But I did not think Loki to disobey my express instruction not to reveal himself until I had a chance to discuss our agenda."
"So let me get this straight." Tony interjected pinching the bridge of his nose, "You already brought Loki to Earth with you and then you planned to ask our permission to bring Loki to Earth. Do you not see the flaw in your brilliant plan?" Tony had to bite his tongue to keep himself from calling Thor all sort of profanities insulting the god's intelligence.
Before Thor could respond Steve forcefully interjected - unable to contain his boiling anger any longer, "You had no right! After all we have had to endure because of your brother! After all the death, and destruction he brought upon us!" Steve took in a breath to calm himself; quiet seconds passing before he recomposed himself and gave Thor a look that conveyed Steve's spat was over and he now had permission to speak. Even more unsettling, it wasn't like Cap to lose his cool. If the situation wasn't so serious Tony would have capitalised on the opportunity to mock Steve about losing his 'cool'; considering he was once a human capsicle.
Thor started to feel his stomach churn with unease and doubt. This was not how he expected this plan to pan out. Of course, his friends didn't understand the complexities involved in travelling between the realms. He observed that clearly from Jane Foster and her under developed research. It took great levels of dark magicks to transport one from Asgard to Earth after the destruction of the Bifrost.
Thor's first inclination was to travel to Midgard alone. But when Loki had offered that rather than Thor venture alone to Midgard at first instance, why not both go together and Loki would stay out of sight until instructed otherwise. Surely his comrades would see the logic in the proposal sanction by the Allfather himself?
The alternative seemed like such a waste of time to wait the days for the alchemist to regain his strength to channel the dark powers and transport Loki. Or was that Loki's thought? Thor couldn't remember but it was a fair enough point to make.
In Thor's silence Loki decided to voice his opinion, no matter how unwanted it may be. Yelling across the room he argued, "In Thor's defence, it seemed like a good idea at the time."
Tony and Bruce did not take well to hearing Loki's slick voice again. "Shut up or I'll punch you in the face again!" Tony yelled back in response not questioning how Loki even knew what they were saying from across the spacious room. He was a god. No surprise he had super bat-like hearing.
"Friends, please. It was not my intention to cause you any distress. But considering the present situation, let me show you our sincerity in our actions. Let Loki offer your leaders an apology for his misdeeds." Thor offered his eyes in pleading once more.
"For heavens sake," Tony protested in utter disbelief pointing his finger angrily across the room at Loki, "that bastard is the king of lies! Even if he did say he is sorry for what he did, why in hell should we believe him?"
Thor considered his next words carefully. "Friend Stark, if not for the good of your people then I implore you to let Loki make his apology for the good of ours. There is great unrest in Asgard following Loki's actions here on Earth, many are starting to distrust in the Allfather's decisions concerning his Kin against greater good of the nine realms."
In the corner of the penthouse, Tony and Steve heard a silent scoff at Thor's words. They could already visualise Loki rolling his eyes.
Steve did not regard Thor's justifications of deserving any weight so he remainrf adamant, crossing his arms to resemble an immovable force in his decision. Tony however, massaged his chin in thought.
Between the thoughts of how much he hated that Loki was standing in tower, again, and repeating punching Loki in the face over and over, Tony considered Thor words and more over what Thor didn't say, but was plain in his face. The guy wore his heart on his sleeve, and everyone knew that made it hard for him to hide his emotions, which always left him vulnerable to Loki's manipulations.
To Tony it seemed so was obvious now why Thor brought Loki to apologise. No person in their right mind would think an apology would make up for what Loki inflicted. What? The mass murderer says 'I am really sorry please forgive me' and all is right in the world. Nope. Not even the people of Asgard would be so naive to believe that. But perhaps, a family member would, someone who held affection to said mass murderer.
Perhaps if Thor heard Loki apologise out loud, to someone else who was not him, he could convince himself that Loki had actually changed and he could trust his brother once more. Although he didn't say it, even Thor was distrustful of Loki. Tony could see it. After all, how can you possible trust someone who continually tried to kill you?
Yet here was Loki, sent to Earth with the permission of Odin who apparently wasn't one to easily forgive and hold back on cruel punishments. Loki didn't appear to have gone a day without food, or torture. Tony concluded that had been as a result of whatever Thor had done on behalf of his brother.
Tony didn't envy Thor not one little bit, and he could never grasp, even now, why he defended Loki so much. Then again, Tony was a single child. And a human one at that. As far as he knew, gods lived a lot longer than humans. Who knows how many centuries Thor had known Loki before he turned into this twisted devious version of himself. According to Thor, Loki was never like this, and Loki had 'family issues'. Tony, aka the Merchant of Death, at least could sympathise with that.
Thinking carefully before answering, Tony conceded a defeated "Okay." At the very least, he considered Earth owed Thor this one for his participation in the Avengers initiative, they could at least trust in Thor - even if he could not trust the god's brother.
"Tony!" Steve snapped in utter shock. Tony raised his hand to silence Steve while he continued to speak directly with Thor. "But he does this and then he is gone. I never want him back on my planet again."
"Agreed" Thor declared raising Mjölnir from his side to his chest in formal recognition of the agreement.
Steve slapped his hand to his forehead, frustration fuming through his deep frown lines, "I will not agree to this. This is insane. You are all insane!"
"Then I will fit right in then won't I, since you all consider me mentally unstable." Loki added, earning him a death stare from the super soldier. Tony just sighed in annoyance, knowing very well this is what he had to look forward to. Loki. Loki and his sardonic tongue.
Hoping with more explanation Steve may yet come around, Thor then proceeded to explain to his friends the implications of their trek to Earth, the lack of the Bifrost, and the days that were required to wait until the alchemist could transport them back to Asgard. Steve and Tony did not like it one bit that Loki was actually trapped on Earth. Yes, excellent plan to bring Loki first and ask questions later. Those profanities were piling up inside Tony again.
However, there was one aspect of Thor's plan that they did like. Immensely.
"Aesir binding spell. Loki cannot directly or indirectly cause any physical harm to humans while the markings remain on his wrists... magically or otherwise." Thor explained as Loki held out his wrists once beckoned over, rotating his pale joints to let Tony and Steve see the inked writing that appeared all around like a thick bracelet that allegedly rendered him without claws courtesy of Odin.
"And how do you remove the markings?" Tony asked.
Loki decided to fill the question, "By peeling off my own skin or by the original caster removing my bindings with a reversal spell."
Loki's answer did not comfort Tony in the slightest. He eyed the god suspiciously with the thought that it would be within character for Loki to slice off his own skin to regain his ability to cast a spell on them when they least expected it. He would just have to make sure reindeer games didn't have the time alone to attempt it.
Tony's trepidation was comical to Loki as he gave the man a sleek smile. Eyeing Loki's smirk, Tony wanted so much to punch him straight in the face just one more time. He mustered all his self control to restrain himself.
Noticing the tension between his friend and his brother Thor interrupted to return the momentum of the meeting. "My friends. Shall we make arrangements with the S.H.I.E.L.D so my brother can address your members of court."
Steve nodded, "I am lodging at S.H.I.E.L.D's New York base I will make the arrangements. I'll try my best to explain the situation but no promises Nick won't bring in a barrage of agents to assassinate this guy." Steve finished pointing at Loki.
Thor flinched at the comment, "Captain Stephen, please convey to the Director that there is no need for panic. Loki has come to Earth bound by the spell. He poses no threat."
"Yeah yeah." Steve uttered dismissingly as he turned to take his leave. Deep down he wished he was of the character to lie to Director Fury and say Loki was in Stark Tower holding Tony and Bruce hostage in the hope they would send everything S.H.I.E.L.D had in way of firepower to take out the nuisance once and for all. But he couldn't. He just was not made of such despicable tendencies.
Regaining Thor's attention Tony asked sarcastically, "So did you two arrange for your visitor visas with immigration before your travels?" Thor and Loki just stared at each other blankly.
"I assumed as much. Therefore you are not legal in this country and you are both under house arrest while you are on Earth. To make it simple for you both - you are not to leave. Not even a foot outside this Tower. Is that understood?"
Thor nodded in stern understanding whereas Loki decided to push his host, "Miss me that much Stark you feel inclined to confine me to your quarters. Shall I throw you out the window again for old time's sakes?"
Thor glared at his brother with obvious an threat of repercussion should any truth be present in his offer. Tony glared before responding with that snarky Stark smile, "Why not. Then I'll get the Hulk to pound you into the tiles again... for old times sakes."
Loki smiled. He liked Anthony Stark. He was nothing like the prudish saps of Asgard. Odin castrated Loki for speaking to him in snide comments, while Thor was a desert when it came to wit. At least this human provided challenging banter.
Behind the three men a groan emanated from the leather coach as Bruce rubbed his head and sat up to see Thor, Loki and Tony standing across the room in a circle. All present just stared at each other blankly, Bruce utterly confused and Tony not knowing where to begin to explain what happened since his induced time out.
Breaking the silence Bruce murmured, "I've missed out on something huh?"
Tony just offered his friend a nod and a look confirming he would fill in him shortly.
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Tony showed Loki and Thor to one of the many spare rooms of Stark Tower that they could stay in, even though both gods stated they did not require rest. Apparently sleep for an Aesir was not required daily, but Tony thought it best they at least offer them the use of the bathroom to clean up after their travels.
Once leaving them to their own devices, Tony ordered JARVIS to report any movements of his guests to him immediately. Father, if Loki even eyed any of the exits to the Tower to alert S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers.
Tony then returned to the main living room to fill Bruce in on everything that happened during his Loki induced nap. Considering the slight headache weighed against the damage he could of done to Tony's place if he had of fully Hulked out, he was actually thankful for Loki's assistance.
Tony knew the first thing Bruce was going to ask. It was the question Tony had not stopped asking himself since he agreed with Thor to let Loki stay on Earth to apologise, "Do you believe him?"
Tony shrugged, "I trust Thor."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I don't have an answer to give." Tony replied slumping against the armchair next to the couch where Bruce was sprawled still finding it had to sit up without becoming dizzy.
After a moments silence Tony looked to Bruce and asked, "Why did you agree with Thor?" Bruce rotated his eyes to look at Tony who continued logically laying out his thoughts before his friend, "Loki used you as a pawn. Almost succeeded in using you to destroy Earth's last resort to defend itself. You saw how conniving he is, that he never does anything without a purpose, and a self serving purpose at that. How can you believe he can turn it all around?"
Bruce rested his head against the cushion considering his own thoughts, "I guess I can just understand him."
Tony stayed quiet waiting Bruce to explain, which he did without hesitation, "I know Loki is crazy and if it was up to me I'd lock him up in a padded room for eternity, but you remember everything Thor told us Loki's gone through."
How could Tony forget. He knew firsthand the effect it has on someone to know that part of you is seen as a monster by others. He had his death merchant label, Bruce had the Hulk and apparently Loki had a 'frost giant'. Then Loki had allegedly drifted through the endless oblivion of space for who knows how long. That kind of stuff would push anyone over the edge of mental balance.
Still, it didn't justify mass genocide. Why couldn't Loki just become an alcoholic like normal people.
Bruce let out a sigh, "I guess I just feel for the guy."
Tony scoffed, "He killed people in cold blood without a seconds thought."
Bruce shrugged, "So has Thor. They are warriors. And Gods at that. War and fighting is all they know."
Tony grimaced. Bruce not wanting his opinions to cause a fight, looked to Tony raising his hands in defence, "Look, I'm not trying to make excuses for the guy. What they do in their world is their business and they have no right bringing it here. It's not how we do things. And you're right, there is no justifying what he did. But I can try to understand and maybe accept Loki has realised that what he did may fly elsewhere, but not here. Maybe we kicked his ass in just the right way to knock some sense in him? He may not be sorry for what he has done, maybe it's enough that he is for doing it here."
Easing and smiling, Tony joked, "Well, we can thank the Other Guy for the ass kicking." Bruce chuckled.
That afternoon Tony considered Bruce's words. He would reflect on the possibility. But he would not be a fool. Even if Loki was remorseful he had to have an ulterior motive. It's hard for someone without one to have a change of heart.
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A/N Hi everyone! Thanks again for checking in for another update on this story. I apologise if this seemed more of a 'filler'. It kind of was, but it helps lead up to the upcoming events. More humour and action is on the horizon! Please let me know of any comments and criticism, and if any of the jokes are actually funny (I think they are, but hey, I am bias after all), it always helps with my writing.