Chapter 29: Inspection

Shield director Nick Fury knew about Loki's status at the Avengers' compound since nearly the beginning. Rogers had told him. Romanoff had told him. Barton had told him. Stark had kept it a secret, but Fury already knew by then. Fury had tasked Romanoff with giving him day-to-day update on the situation at first. She had asked to give her report only once a week and if there was an emergency. And then they switched to monthly reports. To be honest, Fury really did not have nor the time, nor the patience to deal with the god turned slave, after all, the treat had been neutralised. But he had put his annual inspection off long enough and it was time to go pay a visit to the slave and the Avengers.

According to the report he got, Loki was even more perfect than the model prisoner. At first, Fury had doubts, so he had asked Romanoff to come to deliver her report in person. Upon interrogation, Fury had to conclude she had not been brainwashed by the god.

When Fury had asked Stark for some footage of Loki and his daily activities, it had taken the genius awhile to get back to him. Fury had analysed the footage, but it was not doctored in any way. So Loki was playing nice for now, and if he was not, all the Avengers were with him, so what's the worst that could happen?

So, on this late afternoon of March, Fury took a helicopter and landed at the Avengers' compound unannounced. After all, it was a surprised inspection.

A car was coming up the alley. Inside the car was Natasha and Alex.

"Look, a helicopter," said Alex happily.

"Yes, it is," answered Natasha.

But she had also recognised it as Fury's helicopter. So she went to park in the carport as Fury was approaching her. She got out of the car and opened Alex's door.

"Miss Romanoff."

"Fury. I was not expecting you. Is this for your annual inspection?"

"It sure is."

Then Fury crunched down to talk to Alex.

"I believe you are Alex, is that right?"

Alex had been intimidated by Odin's eyepatch, so he was also scared of Fury's. To answer the question, he just nodded.

"I am Director Fury, but you can call me Nick. How are you, Alex?"

"Good," answered Alex timidly.

"I think he's a bit scared," said Natasha.

Tony came outside to greet them.

"Fury! Was not expecting you today. Do you have a special mission for the Avengers? Or just checking in?"

"I'm here for my Loki inspection," said Fury.

"Ah, yeah. That. Well, Loki is working at the moment. Friday, please warn everyone about our guest. And can you tell Camila to leave Loki go earlier today? Since we have a guest."

Loki was supposed to finish work at 6 today, but Natasha would arrive around 5:30, 5:40 with Alex and take care of him until Loki come back from work.

"Is there anything we can do for you, Nick," asked Tony.

"Well, you can start by calling me Fury, director Fury or Mister Fury, but not Nick. Second, I would like to speak to everyone, one at the time. And I would like to inspect every area Loki had access to."

"Everyone as in everyone," said Tony. "Everyone on Earth?"

"No, Stark, every Avenger. Plus anyone who Loki sees on a regular basis," clarified Nick.

So here they all were, in the living room, all the Avengers, plus Tony, Bruce and Alex.

"Mister Loki is on his way," said Friday.

oOo

No one had told him what this was about, just that he was needed urgently in the living room. Was this about Alex? No, Friday or Camila would have told him. His boss had just told him she was letting him go earlier because someone was here to see him. It could not be Thor nor Odin because he would have seen or sensed the bifrost. And he did not really have acquaintance beside the Avengers. Loki tried to reason, he had not done anything bad lately, so he should not be in trouble, but with Loki, no one really knows. So now he was pushing Storm's stroller in the hallway. She was looking at him with big eyes.

Loki arrived in the living area of the Avengers and smelled a perfume he had last smelled nearly six years ago. Oh, it was the Shield director, that guy. The Avengers had told him Fury would eventually come for a surprise inspection, and while Loki was not stressed about it, he did not want said inspection. He had been told Fury knew everything, but he also had the power to put Loki in a Shield prison for which he should not be able to get out of. All in all, not so reassuring.

"Mister Fury. How may I be of service," said politely Loki.

And Alex came running toward him.

"Daddy! I'm home. And I saw a helicopter in the front yard. That man came out of it."

Loki took Alex in his arms.

"Oh yeah. Was it big?"

"Yeah, really big," said Alex. Oh, the boy loved helicopter.

"Loki, I am here to talk to you and make sure all is well," said Fury.

"Yes director, I understand. I will answer all of your questions," said Loki calmly.

oOo

Loki showed his room to Fury.

"How do you feel about sharing a room with your children?"

"It's fine. I'm closer to them so, if there is a problem during the night, I'm already there. With Storm, it's easier."

"But you don't lack intimity?"

"No, it's fine. I prefer to be with them."

Fury nodded and then proceeds to check each bed thoroughly.

"Is there something you are looking for," asked Loki.

"Anything you should not have here," answered Fury.

"Knives, daggers, weapons of any kind? I don't have that. Sorry."

Fury did not care and check the whole room.

"Fury, it's not necessary," said Steve. "If Loki had something he should not, Friday would have told us."

And Fury did not find anything Loki should not have. Then, they moved to the playroom and the circus started again. Loki found this humiliating, but he kept his mouth shut. No need to anger Fury more that he was angering Loki. But Steve did not see it like that.

"Fury, I don't think Loki would hide knives where his children are playing."

"Oh, I'm not only looking for that, but also for anything dangerous for the children. So far, I must admit everything is safe and secure. We would not want those children to get hurt."

"Yes, we made sure the children were safe in their playroom and their bedroom," said Steve.

"Come on, Nick, I designed Friday and then I upgraded her so she is the perfection of surveillance systems. She is in control of the base and she always keeps an eye on Loki, at all time," said Tony. "We went over this, the compound is the best place for Loki to be."

"And we don't even want to know what you might do to him in your Shield super-max prison complex or at the raft," added Steve. "We are all here to guard him and so far, he had earned our trust. He stays here."

"At least, at Shield, he would be secure and the whole world would be safe from him. What if the Avengers are all needed at the same time on some big mission and you? And I mean all Avengers, even Iron Man and the Hulk. Loki would be here, completely alone, and he could get loose."

"No, we trust him," said Tony.

"Fury, we left him with Bruce once and everything when well," said Steve.

"You left him with the strongest Avengers. He is probably scared of the green guy," said Fury.

And Loki was still in the room.

"Let's ask him," proposed Tony. "Loki, are you scared of Bruce?"

Loki opened his mouth to respond, but Fury stopped him.

"Oh, I will ask him a lot of questions, but after," said Fury.

Well, to be honest, Loki was no longer scared of Bruce, the doctor was just a man. But Loki was slightly scared of the other guy.

oOo

Fury had asked all the Avengers to wait in the same room as he interrogated each one of them, one at the time. Once one had been interrogated, he was free to go back to his activities, but far from those that Fury had not interrogated. Forever a spy, he did not want interference from those he would have spoken to already.

"If you want to interrogate Alex, please pass him first," had asked Wanda. "He's a kid and won't wait."

It was then decided Alex would be the second to be interrogated. Fury would first talk to Vision. In the room, the director had installed a lie detector and he knew it would be useful for some of them, but not Vision. The android was very relaxed for his talk with Fury.

"How do you feel about Loki living with you?"

"I don't really have feelings. Loki is a good man. He had not caused problems and I know Friday would not let anything pass," said Vision.

"Do you fear him?"

"Fear would mean I think of him as a menace. I don't. He is not a danger to us. And I'm not only talking about his power. He is much calmer than he was when he came to invade Earth. In a way, he has changed and will never do the same mistakes again. He had learned from those mistakes, but I think the most important change in his life is his children. He is trying to be good, to be a good example for them. No matter what you do, do not take his children away from him," said Vision. "While it is true Loki is powerful when allow his magic — which he is not, at the moment — he has potential, but I believe he can use that potential to do both good and bad. And I believe he would choose what is best for the children."

oOo

"Daddy, who is the guy?"

"He is the director of a very special organisation that make sure no treat comes to Midgard. He protects this realm," answered Loki.

"But, were not the Avengers the protector of this realm?"

"The Avengers protect the realm when a treat is dangerous, they fight evil. Director Nick Fury anticipates treats to come."

"Why does he want to speak with us?"

"As you know, I have done bad things. He is here to make sure I don't do those things again."

"But you won't do those things, right?"

"Never, Alex. He will ask you some questions and you need to answer them honestly, okay? You tell him what he wants to know."

"Okay."

oOo

Next, Fury interrogated Alex.

"Take a seat. It's just you and me."

But Alex was a bit nervous, intimidated by the eyepatch.

"Can you tell me about your life on Asgard?"

"We lived in a small cell. Daddy said it was our bedroom, but the bedroom here is not like that one. And we slept on the ground, we didn't have furniture. But now we have beds! We all have our own. But sometimes, I sleep with daddy."

"Do you miss Asgard?"

"No. We are better here. Sometimes, daddy would come back and be hurt. He would pretend he was fine, but here, he does not have to pretend because he is always fine. And he is never gone. In Asgard, sometime, he would be gone when I was supposed to sleep, so I could not sleep. And once, he was gone for a few days and he was sleepy when he got back. But here, he had only been gone once for a few days and I was not alone because the Avengers were there. And daddy came back to sleep with me. But now, I don't see him during the day because I go play with friends at the daycare."

Fury knew about Alex's daycare and about Loki's punishment in the cage. He had heard the theory about how Loki had been treated on Asgard, but now he knew Alex still remembered some parts of it. Fury just hoped the boy was young enough to forget.

"At daycare, how do the other parents treat their children? Do you think your father is like the others?"

"No. My daddy is also my mommy. He is different than the other parents because he is both the mommy and the daddy."

Fury knew that part, even though it had been hard to accept, but then again, aliens! What he wanted to know was if Loki was acting like a normal parent.

"Do you think your father is like any other parents out there, beside the fact that he is both your mommy and your daddy?"

"No! My daddy is the best! He loves me. Every night, he reads a story for me and Storm. And we use the gold starts to get me some toys. And my daddy has magic, but I cannot tell about it because the Avengers want to keep it a secret. I can do magic too, but I should not tell you."

"And can you do magic now? Here?"

"No. Daddy and Steve said I need to be with them or with Wanda to do magic because I could have an accident. Last time, the ball I created caught on fire."

Fury pondered the problem, but he could not find anything wrong with what the child was saying. So he let Alex go, knowing Vision could handle the boy.

Next, Fury interrogated Tony, Bruce and the rest of the Avengers except Steve, Loki and Natasha, he was keeping those three for last. What they had told Fury was pretty much along the same line.

"He's behaving and keep in line."

"We had trouble making him not act like a slave so much, but he is really learning."

"It's clear he is not a bag full of cats like last time. He is calmer, more in control."

"He had made peace with his mistakes, mostly."

"All that matters for him are his children. He would do anything to not be separated from them. But he genuinely is more responsible and he wants to stay in line."

"Seriously, Nick, you have reports of everything. You know the guy set off the monitoring bracelet only once," said Tony. "He lost control of the situation once and we did punish him for that. He had been out of the base only once, for the daycare. I think he deserves more giving his pristine behaviour."

"I'm not letting him go easy," said Fury.

"First, giving the torture he called training, it won't be letting him off easy. Second, he was not given to you, but to dear old Cap. Steve has the last say, not you," said Tony.

In the gym, that was more a waiting room before the interrogation, it was now only Steve, Loki, Natasha and Storm. Loki was mostly calm on the outside, but he was worried inside.

"Loki, as you know, I gave monthly reports to Fury about everything you did so far," said Natasha.

"Yes, I'm aware. Therefore, he knows everything."

"He also knows we wish for you to stay here. He has no reason to take you away," said Natasha.

oOo

The week Storm was born.

Natasha was at Shield Head Quarter, a secret underground base, to see Director Fury.

"So, is the baby there yet?"

"He gave birth a few days ago."

"Great. So what do you think? Should we bring him in?"

"Loki had not had a single accident or disobey or misbehave in anyway for a while," said Natasha. "He should be allowed to stay at the compound."

"He is an intergalactic criminal, a space invader," said Fury.

"Yes, but he behaves. And technically, he belongs to Rogers. I think we should stay with the status quo. Let him at the compound, under the eyes of the Avengers and Stark. Loki doesn't even want to escape. He is docile and respectful."

"For how long? Someday, he will rebel."

"Maybe not. Right now, he has rules and he is following them. You want to lock him up and I do understand. But, director, there are people who can change when you give them a second chance. I'm not talking about making Loki an Avenger, but he just wants to be a father now. He knows he will never be a king, or even be free. And to me, it's clear he made peace with that."

"Eventually, those children will be adults and may not stay with him. What will happen then?"

"He might change so much that he won't even want to be a criminal. After my probation as a Shield agent, I didn't want to go back. Okay, I knew I would be killed if I set foot in Russia. But I got friends here now. I am better because of them. Because of Clint and Laura, because of you, because of the team. I have a criminal past, but I'm not a criminal anymore. The same could happen to him if he forms significant relationship here. He won't want to let people down," said Natasha.

"He is not like you," said Fury.

"No, he's not. But by living with him, I realise he could past for a human any day. I even forgot someday that he's not from Earth."

oOo

Back in the gymnasium, Steve tried to reassure Loki, or maybe just himself.

"You belong to me, Fury cannot take you away," said Steve.

"Mister Rogers, if Asgard realises I am not where I'm supposed to be, meaning with you, they will ask questions. You'll probably get a visit from Thor. Stealing a slave is like stealing an object. It's theft. The object will be brought back to its rightful owner. So as long as you do not deny your mastership on me, I belong to you. Also, the slave bond allows both of us to always know where the other is."

Steve signed. It was an impossible situation.

"I don't want to be your owner. If I let you go, who know what Shield might do to you? I must do what is right, Loki, even if there is a part of wrong in it. So I am your master and I won't let you go. That's why I accept to take you in the first place, because I knew I would not abuse my power as a slave owner, because it was the best outcome for you and the children."

"And I thank you for that. You are the best master a slave could ever dream of."

"I still want to do more."

"You cannot free me or kill me. You can do everything else."

oOo

It was now Steve's turn to talk to Fury.

"Director!"

"Captain. I get why you took Loki as your slave, though I must admit I was quite surprised to learn you, of all people, now own a slave."

"And I hope you will not take Loki away. He belongs to me."

"I get that part. But if I remember correctly, he should help Midgard, right?"

"Thor was not that specific on that. Loki should pay for his mistakes and giving that the Avengers defeated him, Thor gave him to me when Banner refused."

"Don't you think Loki would be better used if he were to work directly for the country he tries to destroy? To really repair the damages he caused?"

"Yes, but it is not how we do things on Earth."

"He is basically a prisoner under house arrest, not a slave."

"That's what he is," said Steve. "He is a prisoner and we have giving him a job. He has conditions to respect and so far, he is following all the rules."

Fury knew he did not have control over this situation, but he should at least assess the treat, so next, he interrogated Loki.

oOo

Storm's stroller was in a corner of the room. She had a view on everything and she was looking at everyone. Nothing could scare her and Fury was not intimidating her the same way he was for Alex.

Loki had been strapped to the lie detector, sitting at the table. He had not even bat an eye when Fury had told him there would be a lie detector.

"This beauty can analyse over thirty behavioral aspects and can determinate with great accuracy if someone is lying. Agent Romanoff here is not even able to beat that machine. So I would suggest you do not try."

"I have no intention to lie, director."

"You are known as the god of lie. So I won't take your word for it."

Natasha and Fury would lead the interrogation. Natasha was impartial, because she knew both Loki and Fury.

"Now, why are you here?"

"I suppose you mean on Midgard. And you know why. I was sentenced to be a slave here."

"What exactly does your sentence say?"

Good question indeed. Loki had heard his exact sentence been read out by Odin all those years ago, but he could not remember the exact wording. Thor and Frigga had been there, but sentences are kept in a special room in Asgard once they are written and guards with magic. A sentence cannot be changed, therefore, it's kept safe so that no one might try to interfere. But it also meant no one could reread the exact words of a given sentence without the approval of the AllFather.

"My sentence stipulates that I am to be a slave for the rest of my life. First, for 1500 years on Midgard. Then, for 1500 on Jotumheim. And finally, I am to finish on Asgard."

"It just says Midgard, nothing more specific?"

"Well, first, those responsible for my capture. Bruce Banner was first, then Steve Rogers. I do not know the rest of the list."

To be honest, he only found out about the list when Thor talked about it in front of the Avengers when he had brought Loki here. But Loki had been aware he would serve them.

"And does it stipulate how you should serve?"

"As a slave. But there is nothing more specific. That part is left to the discretion of my master."

"I want to know what you think about your sentence," said Fury talking more to the lie detector than to Loki.

"You want to know my feelings about it?"

"Yes, let's start with that."

"All things considered, I think it's harsh, but deserved. I would have preferred to go without the training."

Loki stopped there, but Fury was not satisfied.

"Anything else you might want to say?"

"In Asgard, it is the law that the children of a slave are also slaves. I never like that part of our law, but I despite it even more now. I understand that I should be a slave, that it is my place now, but my children are innocent. They should not suffer the consequences of my actions."

"So you would prefer if they had been left on Asgard?"

"No. A child needs his parents. I am responsible for them even though I never intended to conceive them. I worried a lot about them, but I would want them near me," said Loki looking at Storm.

"I understood you ended up twice in the holding cell. None since Storm's birth. How do you feel about being separated from Alex this way?"

"Horrible. I have learned a lot from those punishments and I have sworn it would never happen again. I won't get into trouble again."

"Let's say you do something bad again, hypothetically. How would you react when the Avengers will be upon you to neutralise you?"

"I cannot answer that. The two times they did put me in the cell, I was mostly calm. I cannot say it will happen again. But I would hope I won't get into this situation. Hypothetically speaking, I don't think I would resist if I am guilty, but I would ensure my children are fine."

Fury did not like that answer, but the lie detector found nothing wrong with it.

"And what is your status here?"

"I'm a slave. I am a prisoner with a job. I am a father of two, an alien without nation, far from my h... No, this is my home now. I live here and so will be for the forseeable future. I am a convict serving a sentence in exile. And some say I'm not a slave.

'The situation is complex, director Fury. I am here and try to do my best every day.'

'Hum... You are here. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?'

'Still here, with my children, serving the Avengers in whatever capacity they need me.'

'And in 20 years?'

'Still here, hopefully with my children that would never be slaves. Serving the Avengers.'

'And in a few centuries?'

'On Midgard, serving my master, whoever he or she is at that time.'

'Why are you so calm about your sentence? When we caught you and brought you on board the helicarrier, you were all nice and docile, but you had a plan. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. What are you hiding, Loki?'

'I'm not hiding, I'm not lying. I'm telling the truth. I have no hope for the future. I just want my children to be happy, to have a better life. I hope they could cease to be slaves. I am calm because I made peace with my sentence. I will serve the Avengers for as long as I am required to do so. Eventually, I will do the same on Jotumheim.'

'Sound like you love it.'

'I don't. I don't want to go to Jotunheim. I have no expectation of my treatment being better there than it was in training. I despise my sentence, but I have earned it. Slavery is wrong, it's inhuman and should have been abolished ages ago. I have no problem serving the Avengers because, despite everything, they treat me like a human being.

"I know I said human being," repeated Loki. "They treat me as an equal. Not a part of the team, but someone who has rights like theirs, dignity, pride, feeling. I thought humans were weak, pathetic, worms not worth my attention. I thought conquering your realm would lead into a glorious battle, however a short one. But I admit I was wrong. Humans are better than I ever gave them the credit. And I'm not judging them all only by looking at the Avengers. I have access to the television, to the news, the radio, books. I see what is happening in your world. Humans are a force in this universe. They are not weak. They have hearts. When I took over Barton's mind, I knew he had heart, I didn't know how much human were capable of. And now, I admire them. It's weird for me to say, but I admire the humans. And a part of it is because they treat me like an equal. I should be below them, an ant on the ground. But they respect me even when they don't have to. And for that, they have my undying admiration."

"Moving, truly beautiful speech," said Fury sarcastically.

"But true," said Natasha. "Loki is a good man and I saw it. Director, he respects the human now. Allow me one question."

"Granted."

"Loki, if we could go back in time, would you do the same?"

Loki took his time to think, but the answer was obvious to him.

"While I understand your question and know the answer you seek, I am sorry to disappoint. At the time, I thought I was owned a throne. I seek equality with Thor in the wrong way. I know I commit a grave serie of crimes, but the punishment gave me what is most precious to me, my children. I would do everything for them, but not undo the past, because it's that path that gave me my children. I regret my actions and I wish my children did not have to suffer with me, but I would not undo the past, because I am selfish and don't want to lose them. I'm sorry."

"Hum. You could have an abortion for the girl," said Fury pointing at Storm, "but you didn't. You could have asked for them to be sent to an orphanage where they would have been placed into a nice family, but you didn't. Are you really doing your best?"

Loki was shocked and a bit offended. He looked at Fury with rage in his eyes.

"I could not have sent them in an orphanage while in Asgard. Once on Midgard, they would have been far too different than the other children to be deemed normal. And Asgard might not have let them off so easily. They would not have a chance in life. I tried to escape training in Asgard to give Alex a better chance. But I understood the best way to help my children was by accepting my sentence and behave. I did what I did because I had to, because of the children. Only I can make sure they can have a chance at a semi-normal life."

"Was there any chance you could not have conceived Storm," asked Natasha kindly.

"If I had resisted, they would have been more aggressive. You see, I felt pregnant during a certain type of training. I resisted too much during the first year of my training and the trainers thought they could break me by moving to bed training. It did not make me more obedient and I got pregnant. I didn't even know I could. I suspected it since I learn I was a frost giant though, but it was far in the back of my mind. I got calmer once I got Alex and knew the only way to take good care of him was by listening to the guards. They circled back to that particular training once they were really advanced in the rest of it. I knew what would happen and did not resist. I thought if I stay calm, it would be over quickly. And if it's quicker, I got less chance of getting pregnant. I did the only thing I could to not get pregnant again, but I failed.

"No matter where my children are, they will be outsiders. They are aliens from Midgard's perspective, they are not completely Asgardians, but will also be outcasts on Jotunheim. I am their only chance."

oOo

At the end of the day, Fury went to talk to Camila, Loki's boss. She gave a good reference for Loki, said he was a really good employee, worked really well and was responsible. It was weird for Fury to hear a description of Loki as the best employee.

So Fury decided his inspection was complete. Was Loki dangerous? He had the potential to be. Was he a danger to the society? No, not now.

"Loki will stay with the Avengers and I still want a monthly report. Loki will keep his monitoring bracelet and he won't do magic unless absolutely necessary. Alex and Storm will be treated as normal children," said Fury before he left.

Needless to say, the Avengers were all relieve when the helicopter took off. So the inspection was to calm Fury, but things stayed as they were, meaning status quo.