Chapter Five
"Care to run that by me again?"
Thor swallowed thickly at the ice in his shield brother's voice, and despite the billionaire being the second smallest person on the team, he found himself afraid.
There was something dark in his friend's eyes that he'd never seen before, something unmatched even by the darkness in Loki's gaze.
He hadn't been expecting this when he'd returned to tell his friends the news of his brother's impending arrival.
A tall dark-haired man he didn't know placed a hand on the tiny man's shoulder and the genius exhaled, smiling the devil's smile at the god. Eyes hard and smile cold, it was terrifying.
"The all-father has declared Loki innocent. It has been discovered that my brother's mind had been tampered with by a great evil, the likes of which the realms haven't seen in millennia."
"And somehow that translated into Loki being banished to earth? The place where over 90% of the population want him dead?" He snorted. "Yay, always knew you gods were smart." The man cheered sarcastically.
"Brother- "The unknown male said but was cut off by The Man of Iron, who smiled vividly.
"Jarvis set up a floor for our impending guest…and let him know that if I catch him near any of the windows I will defenestrate him."
Sighing, Thor looked at the other members of their team. Besides the Man of Iron, only the Eye of Hawk seemed unsettled by the news. The others looked slightly encouraging, and forgiving, even the two unknown men that had joined in his absence.
"If Loki is innocent, I see no reason he can't stay here." The captain acquiesced and Thor smiled.
"I shall fetch him immediately."
The others nodded and he turned to leave, shuddering as he felt the billionaire's cold eyes following his every move.
The Man of Iron was not one to be trifled with.
He would make sure Loki would stay on his best behavior.
After all, he'd rather the trickster resent him than be killed at the human's hands and the Son of Stark for all that he was human, was one of the smartest beings he'd ever met.
If he hadn't found a way to kill them yet…he would.
Bucky pursed his lips as he watched Tony pace their bedroom anxiously, the genius' thoughts tumbling from his lips in a torrent of words he hadn't began to even try to understand.
Since their talk a few nights previous, a weight seemed to have lifted itself from the smaller man's shoulders, leaving his gaze just a bit lighter, mania calming slightly.
He'd hoped that the next major crisis would wait a little longer, let the former prince regain his footing after falling for so long, but it just wasn't to be.
Thor had arrived bearing news of Loki's innocence and impending arrival and the Darkness had come rushing back with a vengeance, heightening the mania that he and the older Salenyme brothers had spent so long trying to calm.
"There's something else happening here. Loki isn't just being sent here as repentance. There's something bigger happening here, something darker."
Bucky nodded in agreement.
Even though he'd only met the demigod a handful of times, he could tell that the man had been holding back information during the meeting. Important, potentially dangerous information.
"So, what are we gonna do about it?"
Tony smiled, slowing in his pacing until he directly in front of his husband.
"Nothing."
Bucky raised an eyebrow, placing his hands on the lithe assassin's hips and pulling him closer.
"Nothing?"
Tony nodded, gasping as the other tightened his grip. Leaning down, he kissed the man deeply, moaning when Bucky's tongue caressed his own gently.
"Sir, Loki has arrived."
Pulling away, the billionaire licked his lips, capturing the lingering taste of his husband, before sending the man a sultry smile.
"The quicker we greet Loki, the quicker we can finish this."
Bucky grinned and stood, blue eyes gleaming darkly.
"You're playing with fire, darlin'."
"And yet I'm still not getting burned."
He smirked. "Burn me good."
Later, Bucky promised himself, watching with hooded eyes as his wife left the room. Loki first, then he could have his little minx all to himself, and he'd show him how good the flames felt.
Loki wasn't sure what he expected from Thor's Midgardian Host.
A cell, perhaps a cage, he certainly hadn't expected the man to build him a whole floor to himself, free of bars and confinement of any sort. He stared at his host, heart beating strangely fast in his chest.
"This…certainly wasn't what I expected."
The small mortal smiled, a cold humorless structure that set the trickster's hair on end.
"The windows are reinforced…for your safety and mine."
Loki found himself nodding, his throat clenching as he saw the darkness in the man's eyes.
Who was this man?
The gleam in his eyes, the ice in his smile, he was The Mad Titan in human form and he found himself terrified to disobey him.
Suddenly, as if it were never there, the ice in the man's features melted replaced by warmth, and if he weren't so damned confused, he'd try to move closer to him to get more of it.
"Good! Then enjoy your stay. We have team movie nights once a week, yes, it's mandatory. And dinner will be at about seven…I think."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Son of Stark."
His host's eyes flashed once more, before the warmth covered it.
"My pleasure, just tell Jarvis if you need something."
"Jarvis?"
"Say hello, J."
A male voice sounded above him, and he could hear a bit of reluctance entering it when this Jarvis spoke.
"Hello, Mr. Odinson. I am JARVIS."
Loki glanced around then nodded and took a seat on the plush bed, stark watching him curiously. After a moment, the mortal hummed and turned to leave.
"You're not so bad, Loki. I look forward to getting to know you."
Something kindled in the god's chest spreading warmth through his very being and, for the first time in a long time, Loki felt something.
He felt hope.
TBC…
