- Chapter 58 -

Love sparkled in Tony's eyes as he looked up his beautiful wife. She was so unlike any other woman he'd ever met. The kind of woman he met before her wanted jewelry, or dresses or horses. Not Loki. Loki wanted him to build shelters for homeless people. She wanted him to lobby politicians for state funding for jobs retraining programs for the undereducated. Occasionally she wanted him to buy her some antique book from Sotheby's. "If that's what you want then I'll make it happen. What state do you want to start with?"

"New York, of course," she smiled happily. "It'll be easy for me to oversee everything from the tower when we're there." Loki stopped to contemplate the operations in New York for a moment. She wouldn't be able to oversee the project for much longer, so talented people had to be recruited sooner rather than later. "Do you think Steve and Bruce would lend their aid? Steve could garner us some positive publicity, and maybe even some volunteers from the general populace. Working with the poor and disadvantaged is a perfect fit for Bruce. It could be good for both of them as well as us, don't you think?"

Thinking about it for a moment, Tony spoke, "Steve will probably be an easy sell, and I guess I could bribe Bruce with some more stuff for his lab. If you talked to them about it, I'm sure we could get them on board."

"It might be easier if we explained everything to Bruce," Loki smiled sweetly. She and Bruce had unfinished business. It was business that she wanted done sooner rather than later.

Returning her smile, Tony considered it again. Loki made some very valid points over the last few months. Bruce was a very rational, fact-based individual. Explaining all the facts would probably be enough to sway him. He still wasn't sure, and he wasn't going to risk Loki and his children for something that he wasn't sure of. "No, I'm not sure about bringing in anyone else. Lab equipment is enough."

"Bruce collects facts like you collect armors. He appreciates them," Loki pressed just a little more. She was still moving Tony and suspected that he suspected her in that.

"He collects lab equipment as well, so that'll be enough," Tony replied. If you don't ask then the answer is no. He disliked that Loki had no seidr whispers to give away her thoughts. She wanted to bring in Bruce, but he couldn't figure out why. The lab he'd set up in Avengers Tower was enough of a thanks in his opinion. All he knew for certain was that she swayed Jarvis again. Even he was starting to nag Tony about bringing Bruce to the mansion to show him everything. It was odd, because she was still against telling SHIELD the truth, or telling the other Avengers. Whatever she wanted Bruce for, Tony wasn't going to relent until he knew why. Once he knew then he could be certain of his family's safety while bringing Bruce in.

"Bruce's lab is getting a smidge crowed, don't you think? Why not just offer him his own research facility instead? I could find a nice building, maybe in Brooklyn, since property there is inexpensive right now. You could easily design it with sufficient safety features after I buy the land. It could be finished within a few years," Loki offered. "If I had the budget I could even staff it with world class peers for him to play with." She stopped to think about it again. I don't have much time left to make this happen.

"Maybe we could establish an internship program for him to oversee. That sounds like fun, making lots of new little scientists," Loki said, thinking aloud. She almost had Tony moved far enough to be willing to bring Bruce into the fold. If Bruce were brought in then she could conduct the rite she had set aside for him. Her time was running down though, and Tony still wasn't moved far enough. She worried occasionally that she wouldn't have enough time to tie up all the loose ends before she had to leave. Loki was startled out of her musings as Tony pulled her closer suddenly

"I like the sound of making 'little scientists'," Tony kissed the base of her throat.

.-.-.-.

Glancing over to Banner, Frey wondered why Loki might want to share the truth with him. He suspected it was connected to whatever debt was owed to him. Unfortunately, like many other things, he still didn't know enough to piece together what that debt was. It was one more thing in the ever-expanding list of things to speak with her about.

Loki wants to share whatever truth it is with me like they did with Rhodey? Bruce couldn't believe what he was hearing. But why? It was almost as surprising a thought as an entire research facility decked out in cutting edge Stark-tech just for him. Who would be willing to work with me? For just a moment he let himself dream of what it might be like. He could imagine himself walking down the well-lit hallways reading over the results of some experiment. He could imagine having another well used, rarely washed, lucky coffee mug. It was a pleasant dream. It's just a dream though. There's no hope of anyone wanting to work with me now. Loki has to know that. Why would she do this?

A smile touched Steve's lips at Loki's sentiments. He'd heard about the 2nd Chance Homes run by Stark Industries. While he was skeptical of a corporation running a charity for the homeless, Tony had proven him wrong time and again. He saw the newsmen talking about how the number of homeless people in California had dropped substantially. Steve mostly volunteered at centers that helped veterans, but still thought he'd be fine helping the homeless as well. Has Loki laid down her weapons?

Why tell Banner? Director Fury arched an eyebrow at that. Is she just planning on bringing in the Avengers one by one? Why wait so long in between each one? However it was done, it was a very interesting consideration. His automatic response was that Loki was trying to slowly convert the Avengers, but that didn't fit with what he was seeing. This wasn't indoctrination. It looked like honest trust. That was more unsettling than indoctrination. At least with indoctrination he understood who had the power and why. Trust was an unstable variable. People extended it for the most unpredictable reasons. They were often reasons that were far harder to discern than simple indoctrination.

Looking down at her hands again Pepper saw that they were still empty. Why am I here? What purpose does my being here serve? Small tears leaked out of her eyes again. She dabbed them away with a tissue and looked up again. I will not be beaten by this! A quick glance at the Avengers told her that their opinions on Loki changed. I thought she was my friend. There's nothing I can do. Tony controls most of the company because he still owns it, the Avengers are on his side. She sighed quietly. Maybe I should just let go.

.-.-.-.

"Not like that," Loki chuckled but didn't push him away. She hummed in approval when his hands found their way under the back of her shirt. She could feel him running his fingertips over the ridges in her skin. Loki never understood Tony's obsession with the royal markings of her Jotunn form. She couldn't deny that it was arousing to have him run his fingertips over each line and whorl. She patted on his shoulder, "I'm being serious."

Lust gathered in the kisses Tony placed against her skin. He stopped only long enough to respond, "I'm sure you are," before he went back to pressing slow kisses into each of the whorls on each side of her neck. Seidr began to gather in his mouth. It washed over his tongue like honey. She moved her head to the side to grant him greater access, which only made him happier. He loved Loki's neck. He loved it even more that Loki loved his love of her neck. His hands drifted down her back stopping on her backside and pulling her even closer. Her taste on his lips, and her skin hot under his hands caused Tony to begin to feel a little intoxicated. He rolled his hips upward grinding against her.

"Hm, if the children are in bed, then we can go to bed as well," she whispered. She could feel the claim mark beginning to tingle pleasantly. His lips were hot on her skin as he licked along another ridge, gently sucking at the lines and hollows. Her hands held tight to his shoulders, bunching up the material of his tee shirt. Her breath was quick and heavy as a slow fire built between them. Loki could feel her body drawing Tony's seidr up into her. It was singing pleasure up and down her nerves. There was something she wanted to do with it, something she'd wanted for a while.

"All the kids are in bed," Tony answered. Edward had just been put to bed. Edward's picture! Tony stopped and pulled back.

"Is something wrong," Loki looked down at Tony with a little frown at his hesitation. I'm going to stroke your crown tonight, let's not delay any longer.

Despite knowing how important it could be, Tony thought about waiting until later. He needed to talk to Loki about it. His resolve almost broke when Loki brought her body fully flush against him. When he looked down he could see the outline of her breasts through her shirt. Her nipples were tantalizingly hard which spurred on the growing heaviness between his legs. I could just push her shirt out of the way and ...

"No," Tony said and closed his eyes. He looked up at her, "I mean, yes. I mean, I want to. I do, but I found something." He tried to think calming thoughts. All that came to mind were images of Loki's legs wrapped tight around him, her hands clutching at his shoulders. He could almost hear all those sweet little noises she would only make for him. He could feel his own seidr pulling him closer to her. "I really want to, but I want to ask, about, this thing," Tony stammered out. His breathing was still too fast to be calm and his hands were tight on her hips.

"I'm sure it can wait," Loki ground her hips down against his growing hardness and whispered.

I'm not sure but you're not helping me. Tony lifted Loki off his lap and set her down beside him. His heart pounded swiftly in his chest. The rest of his body protested the sudden loss of her body so close to him. He swallowed hard trying to force the viscous seidr out of his mouth. Tony reached for the picture Edward drew. Unfolding it with shaky hands, he showed it to her. "Edward drew this before I put him to bed."

The small frown on Loki's face didn't disappear as Loki took the picture. She glanced over it and then set it aside. "It's lovely, now let's go to bed," Loki looked at Tony hotly.

"Look at the picture, Loki," Tony said. "Please." Calm thoughts. Puppies, butterflies, Loki's flesh sliding against mine. Fuck! He huffed and tried not to look at the outline of her curves through her clothes. Tony knew each and every one of them intimately.

"Tony, it's just a ...," Loki started.

"Little mirrors, pretty and shiny. That's what he said he sees when he looks at you, at your eyes," Tony interrupted her, pointing to the drawing. He swallowed down more viscous seidr.

Sighing, Loki looked at the picture. Sure enough, Edward had drawn little silver and green disks where the irises of her eyes should be. They were oddly small circles. "Tony, all this tells me is that the spell is in place. We already knew that."

"It tells us that it's small, that's what it tells us. Are you absolutely certain that the spell isn't too small?" Tony pressed. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his blood began to cool. He flexed his jaw and swallowed down the last of the viscous seidr.

Tossing the paper onto the table, Loki was exasperated with the conversation before it even got going, "It's a spell, Tony. It's not a sweater! There is no 'too small' or 'too large'. There's 'enough seidr' and 'not enough seidr'. There's 'affected area' and 'unaffected area'. It's 'effective' or 'ineffective'. Size in magecraft isn't often a measurement of the physical space a thing occupies. Almost never in spellcraft."

"Almost never isn't never. There is a chance that size is the problem. I don't see why you're so resistant to asking," Tony said. He huffed a little in frustration. They'd been having this argument for a long time. Too long for his liking.

"The spell can't be adjusted. It's too complex to tinker with without me losing my sight. I'm not willing to risk that," Loki picked up her mug and took another drink of her coffee. An argument wasn't the kind of heat she wanted in her blood right then.

"We don't have to risk it. We ask the mage who put the spell on you. It's simple. Why won't you even ask?" Tony demanded. What else are you hiding? What or who?

More exasperation caused Loki to stand quickly and head to the kitchen. There was more than a little irritation at having to have this argument again when they were moving on to something far more pleasant. She crossed the wide section of floor, leading back into the hallway, to get to the kitchen. "There's no one to ask, why can't you just be happy that I can see you and the children?!"

Who. Ok. Which mythic asshole is it this time? Tony followed her into the kitchen, "I am happy that you can see." He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her against him, her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. "But I'd be happier if you could see without intense pain and nausea. Why can't we just ask? Just talk to him, or her. Whoever. I'm sure that Frey would even be ok talking to them if you're really that uncomfortable. Please babe, can't we just ask?" You don't need to be afraid of them. If they hurt you, then I wait to burn them until after they've fixed this.

"There's no one to ask," she repeated. Loki's shoulders slumped.

"Why?" Tony pressed for an answer. Tell me who it is.

She'd fought him off for long enough, misled him even. If she didn't answer him now then he was going to be angry. That anger might lead him to use the bargain. That had to be avoided at all costs. "I'm the one who cast the spell," Loki said as guilt crept into her voice.

Surprise tinged his thoughts for only a moment before frustration colored all of them. You're the mythic asshole. Rhodey was right. Should've known. Tony let her go and walked around to face her. "Then what's the problem?"

"I don't know how to adjust the spell, or even take it apart. I don't remember how I did it." Loki picked at the hem of her shirt.

"You don't remember? Really?" Tony looked at Loki skeptically. Her mind and memories were unstable enough for it to be a valid point. It was something he had to take seriously whether he wanted to or not. Strange things happened when her memories and her magecraft got mixed. What happened with her injuries, her hand in particular, was a shining example of that. He also knew it was a onetime incident. When he noticed how she was picking at the hem of her shirt, that told him what he needed to know. He knew that she knew it as well. So, he crossed his arms and said, "We can just use a Mists of Memory Spell then."

Distress caused Loki to look down and a bit away. A Mists of Memory Spell might not work on her anymore. Tony didn't understand that yet. She kept picking at the edge of her shirt. "Can't you just leave it alone?"

"When it comes to things that cause you pain? No, I can't," Tony said sternly.

Loki moved past him to refill her mug. A bittersweet smell filled the kitchen as she melted raw chocolate into her steaming coffee. She could feel her husband's gaze boring into her back. The cream mixed smoothly into the coffee and chocolate before she took a sip. She gave a little sigh then turned around. "I removed a small part of the memory chain. I cannot remember how I created the spell."