Tony wasn't devious enough to coax Loki to create chomping cars during shop class at Xavier's Institute, though he supposed it'd hardly be more dangerous than what went on in the Danger Room.
So, Tony was perfectly content to show off during shop class and show Scott up at the same time, effortlessly putting Scott's work to shame. Tony wore his own sunglasses just to piss Scott off further.
Tony wouldn't have been remotely surprised if Loki brought a few vehicles to life. Loki had cackled wildly at the rampaging Audi, after all.
Loki found other ways to cause chaos in Scott's class. He summoned tools out of students' hands and stuck them in his mouth. One girl freaked out over the possibility of Loki swallowing her lug nut and getting hurt.
One exceptionally brave or stupid student decided to sit on Logan's bike. His friend tried to tug him off, whispering "Get off! He'll literally stab you!"
The bike shuddered, then bucked, sending the student sailing over to handlebars. The student landed on a workbench while the bike shook its handlebars like a horse tossing its head.
Tony didn't bother to hide his smile.
Tony knew he had trust issues, and Natasha being SHIELD hadn't exactly helped, but they trusted each other more now than ever. He didn't think any of the Avengers are snitching on Loki to Fury, even though Natasha and Clint still answered to him. Both spies seemed to have a soft spot for Loki, especially Clint.
So Fury either had eyes and ears in Xavier's Institute, or someone there tattled.
Regardless of the reason, Fury was once again glaring at them with one eye. Loki didn't tug Fury's coat this time, but Fury watched him suspiciously.
"So he can bring vehicles to life. Make them attack. What if he does that on Fifth Avenue? That sounds a lot like the villains you apprehend."
Thunder rattled the windows, and Tony had to shout to be heard.
"This again?!" Tony scoffed. "What if Capsicle decides to start flinging civilians like he frisbees his shield? What if I make a self driving car with an AI that goes rogue? What if Thor goes into a berserker rage and smashes a helicarrier with Mjolnir?"
Bruce looked startled that Tony hadn't used the Hulk in his last hypothetical disaster. Tony went on, "Any of us could hurt people, but we don't."
"Loki's instances are random occurrences," Fury stated, prompting Clint and Natasha to report several times when they didn't seem quite so random. Clint struggled to keep a straight face during his report. Bruce hid a smile, and Tony unabashedly smirked.
Tony opened his mouth to comment but was drowned out by Thor's booming laugh at his brother's latest prank.
Fury's eyepatch resembled the googly eyes Cooper and Lila had used on crafts, and it rolled around wildly.
"Go be paranoid somewhere else, Mad-Eye Moody," Tony gave a dismissive gesture, shooing Fury from his tower.
"Now you try," Jean made a gesture and telekinetically floated a book from the shelf during their next visit to the institute.
Thor copied the same gesture, obviously without success. He frowned like a kicked puppy, playing up his disappointment.
"Brother, I would be most grateful if you would assist me in this endeavor."
A book flew off the shelf onto Loki's tray. Loki flipped through it dismissively, found it lacking, and shoved it to the floor.
Jean pointed meaningfully to its spot on the shelf. Summoning it was one thing, but controlling it enough to put it in its proper place was another matter.
Loki was obviously unimpressed by Jean's demonstration. He looked away.
Thor made a point of trying and failing, hoping Loki would be motivated to beat him. With all Thor could do that Loki couldn't yet, it seemed natural that Loki would be glad and smug to possess a power his older brother didn't. Surely little brothers across all Nine Realms would delight in doing something their older brothers couldn't.
But right now, Loki didn't make the book fly like a bird. He didn't make it eat other books or put it in its proper place.
"It matters not how much I practice, brother," Thor told him. "You will always be more skilled at magic."
Loki turned to Storm as she strolled by. Storm wielded powers much like Thor's, powers Loki would never have.
Thor laid a hand on Loki's shoulder. "I hope this institute of learning can help you strengthen your skill. It is training, brother. Like training a muscle."
Loki spat derisively. He'd never enjoyed training as Thor had.
Thor woke to the sound of Loki's cry, instantly alert.
He summoned Mjolnir, ready to protect his brother from any threat.
The only attack was Loki bringing harm to himself with vicious scratches and flailing fists.
Thor's first instinct was to prevent Loki from further harming himself, but JARVIS had informed him earlier that restraint holds often heightened distress, adding helplessness on top of whatever horror they were facing.
" It appears Mister Loki is suffering from a nightmare," JARVIS said needlessly. Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly for a moment, wishing he could enter Loki's head and obliterate his bad dreams the way he destroyed his foes. He wished he could strike Loki's self loathing down with lightning.
Thor set the hammer aside and gathered Loki in his arms. He rumbled reassuring words as thunder rumbled outside and Loki cried out in his sleep.
Finally Loki seemed to wake up. Thor braced himself for rejection.
Loki started to squirm away from Thor but then threw himself back. Tears and snot continued to run down his face and Thor's bare chest.
Thor hugged Loki even tighter. "You are safe, brother. Any who dare to attempt to bring you harm will face my fury, as well as that of the other Avengers. They care about you a great deal, Loki, as you are their shield brother too."
Thor's speech was met with a piercing scream. Thor stood, cradling his brother easily, and paced the room.
" Sir wishes me to inform you that you are welcome in his lab," JARVIS said. Thor nodded gratefully at the invitation, but stayed in his and Loki's chambers on their floor. Loki's magic was even less predictable when he was worked up like this.
Loki snatched Thor's cape from where it was folded over the sofa. He clutched it like a security blanket as he laid his head on Thor's shoulder.
"What thought plagues your dreams?" Thor asked, wishing once more that he could go into Loki's head, yet remembering how Loki had hated the Professor's telepathy.
Loki continued to sob. He hadn't seemed scared of the attempted abduction and had defeated the enemies. He didn't fear Fury. Was he recalling Odin's dismissive attitude once he'd accepted Loki's disability? Thor cursed Odin for deeming Loki worthless when it became clear Loki wasn't worth what he'd intended as a bargaining chip.
Thor swore that when he sat on the throne, all of Asgard would give Loki the respect he deserved.
Perhaps Loki was mourning Mother's passing, undoubtedly feeling the same pain and loss Thor felt daily.
Or perhaps the dream had been baffling and nonsensical as nightmares often were. Had he dreamed of a lunchbox devouring him, or all his books flying forever out of reach?
Without knowing what the nightmare was, there was nothing for Thor to do but hold his brother close, as he'd countless times since he was a boy.
After checking whether Loki was hungry or needed a change of clothes, Thor settled in bed, tucked his cape around them both and flipped through Loki's favorite books.
"This is where Father banished me," Thor said fondly as he gazed around the small desert town of Puente Antiguo.
Unlike his banishment, Thor did not go unrecognized. He was frequently approached by civilians who requested photos and seemed enormously proud of the fact that Thor had grown to love Earth in their town.
Loki was entirely disinterested, seemed to view the whole town as beneath him as Thor wheeled Loki across it. They covered the entire town in a matter of minutes.
"There is the pet shop. They still do not have horses." Thor deliberately did not point out that none of the animals were large enough to ride, remembering the shifting sizes of objects in the Barton farmhouse.
Loki glanced at the caged dogs, cats and birds. All the latches sprang free at once. Loki chuckled as the employees scrambled to round up the animals.
Thor wheeled Loki back out. Several civilians filmed the incident on their phones and Thor wondered when Fury would bring up the possibility of Loki releasing prisoners instead of pets.
"You set them free!" A young boy walking his dog with his parents stared at Loki in awe, completely ignoring Thor. "No more pet jail!"
The boy's dog sniffed around Loki's wheelchair. Thor bent to pet it, and Loki reached out to feel its fur.
Loki soon started squirming, and the boy said "I know, it's so hot here,"
Loki seemed to enjoy the desert more than the snow at the Bartons' despite being Jotun. Thor was saddened to see evidence of Loki's hatred toward his own race.
He showed Loki the diner, reminding him that throwing cups was not custom on Midgard.
Thor kept an eye out for Jane, Darcy and Erik but saw no sign of them.
"They must still be in London." Thor said. "I suspect you will like London a great deal more, brother."