Ok sorry I kept you waiting longer than I wanted, it's just been hard with real life and things haven't been going like I'd hope they would. Either way you have a new chapter here, until I can get the next one ready.
Lots of comments came about not wanting Jane to get off, so you'll just have to wait and see what happens next. I will warn you, it's a bit tame but there's gonna be more involved with her later.
We also have the dinner date with Loki and Tony, and as we all know these two seem to have a good bit in common so bring on the fluff.
Warning ahead there is a flashback here, and it's with abuse so be aware.
I don't own the Marvel characters.
Enjoy!
SMACK!
Loki's face went to the side, and his eyes widened slightly. He suddenly felt his head spinning, and then his entire body felt heavy like metal.
"Loki…" he heard someone calling him, but he didn't answer as he felt his legs nearly give out underneath him. Someone came up behind him and put a hand on his back, he steadied himself carefully.
"What the hell Jane?" an angry female voice suddenly snapped Loki's thoughts back and he regained his composure. He glared angrily at the mortal woman, she just hit him and he tried to be nice to her.
"How dare you…" he growled and she stepped back, flinching under his gaze.
"Jane Foster I know I did not just see you hit my guest." Stark stepped in front of Loki.
"Y-Your guest…?" she paled slightly. "But he's…"
"He's Loki of Asgard and he's welcome in my tower, now tell me why you just hit him when all he did was greet you."
"I…" the woman paled more, realizing what trouble might come with her actions.
"Mr. Stark, it's my fault." Dr. Selvig as Loki heard his name stepped forward and pulled Jane back. "I told her Loki was here and Fury told her about the New Mexico incident, Jane tends to be a bit defensive on things like that."
"So that gives her the right to attack him?" Stark's glare didn't let up. "Listen here little lady I know you met his brother and all, and yes I know what he did in New Mexico and he's paid for it already. You ought to know better than to hit a man who happens to be a god."
"Yes she should." Loki regained his own glare. "I had hoped you were as good as Thor described, yet even you are as vile as him." his teeth snarled at her.
"You attacked and almost killed Thor." she tried to sound strong but failed.
"But I didn't now did I? Stark if you can please get this…wench away from me before I obliterate her." he was struggling not to attack her, his magic still hadn't fully returned. If he did attack now he would weaken his body and likely make him fall into a coma.
"I shall, JARVIS open up conference room number six on the floor below us. Tell Fury and Coulson to meet me there."
"As you wish sir."
"Now…Dr. Selvig I think you should take your girls and wait below, and just so you know I am extremely close to banning Dr. Foster from my tower permanently." he meant it too, Loki could tell.
"Understood Mr. Stark." Selvig pulled both women out of the room, Jarvis would direct them the rest of the way.
"Are you alright?" Stark could see Loki was seething angrily, trying to keep his cool but failing.
"I just said it was nice to meet her, and she struck me." Loki had tears forming in his eyes. "She is the same as Thor."
"Whoa now Loki, I agree she was out of line but let's not compare her to your brother." Natasha went up to him with Kira in her arms. "Here hold your daughter." Loki took the baby without fuss, and kissed the top of her head.
"I'll take care of Dr. Foster, Loki you stay here with Romanoff and Steve." Stark patted Loki's shoulder and walked off to the elevator. Loki took a seat with Kira still nestled in his arms, and she cooed at him.
"I know darling, I know." he bounced her a little.
"If it makes you feel any better I might've slapped her back myself." Natasha smiled. "Or twisted her arm until it snapped."
"I'm sure." Loki sighed, he could tell the girl was unnerved by him but she was lucky he didn't attack back.
"Hey Jarvis?" Steve spoke up.
"Yes Captain?"
"Can you show us the video feed from the conference room Dr. Foster and her group are in?"
"Of course sir, please direct your attention to the plasma screen on the far left wall." all eyes did so and the screen blared before showing a high definition picture of Jane Foster's group, but no Tony or anyone else yet.
"Jane what is wrong with you? You seriously just hit a man who's a guest of Tony Stark! The Tony Stark the man anyone is lucky to meet these days!"
"Darcy I didn't know, I just thought that…"
"You didn't think at all Jane! That's not like you, you're always telling me to watch it yet it looks like we switched personalities or something!"
"Girls please, don't start now they'll be in here soon."
"Too late." all eyes directed to another end of the room where Tony entered with Pepper, Fury, and Coulson. Tony glared at her slightly but Fury and Coulson kept their stony masks on.
"Dr. Foster, do you realize you could've been killed?" Fury stepped forward.
"Killed?" was that woman serious? Of course Loki could've killed her but he didn't.
"Loki is the God of Mischief and Chaos; he has abilities even we can't comprehend yet. He might not be a warrior like Thor, but sometimes muscle isn't everything." Loki couldn't help but smirk at those words.
"But he almost flattened out New Mexico."
"We know, he told us everything and we know he wasn't lying. If he wanted to leave here he could've done so already, or kill any of us. He came to us for help, and we've given it to him."
"Why would he need your help?" Darcy asked that question.
"It's not our place to say everything, but he was a bloody mess when he arrived, barely able to walk or fight. Needless to say, he went through Hell and back before he showed up here." Coulson answered her.
"I…" Jane Foster looked at a loss, not fully able to understand what she'd done until now. "I didn't…I don't know." she sat down at the table. "Why did you ask us to come here?" she changed the subject.
"For one I'd like to apologize for my agents taking your equipment, at the time we were on some sensitive materials regarding others outside our solar system. We're going to reimburse you for everything we took, as unfortunately it was all destroyed." Jane's mouth fell open.
"It took me months to make that equipment! You think money alone will make up for all the hard work I had to go through?"
"Not if you have a lab to back you up." Fury looked over to Tony, who glared slightly harder.
"You expect me to lend this woman my lab after what she did?" Fury didn't back down.
"We're going to need a little help with some experiments Stark, and SHIELD knows your lab has more than enough equipment. I know she attacked Loki but you can give her limits, and monitor her with your AI."
"True, but I doubt Loki will be comfortable with her here."
"Look Stark I don't want to fight on this, we need Dr. Foster's assistance and Dr. Selvig's too. They won't go anywhere near Loki unless you say so."
"Why not put her at a SHIELD base?" Fury's eye narrowed slightly.
"I just told you why." Stark rubbed his eyes, as if trying to smooth a headache.
"You gonna force my hand if I say no?"
"If I have to, and you know I make well on my promises." Fury gave a long stare, and Coulson just gave Tony a look that said 'Please do as he asks'. Tony sighed, and then glanced over to the women and older gentleman.
"Alright, you can work in one of my minor labs under the direct supervision of Jarvis and my CEO Pepper Potts. Anything you need you take it up with them, but while you're here you are to stay clear of Loki's floor and stay away from Loki and his baby." Loki froze when he mentioned that.
"Baby?" Jane's eyes widened.
"Wait he has a baby? Wow…" the one called Darcy let her mouth gape open.
"Damn." Stark rubbed his eyes. "Ok pretend you didn't hear that and leave him alone, if you slip up once you're out. Jarvis will be watching your every move and I'd better not find anything missing."
"Y-Yes of course." the woman nodded. "I'll do as you ask."
"Good, because this is my building and my rules I don't care what SHIELD allows or tells you to do. Obey my rules and we won't have any trouble." Tony turned around and left the room, and Jarvis cut the feed when he came back to the room.
"You guys saw?" they nodded. "You alright Loki?"
"Yes…for now." Loki only nodded and felt like he needed Kira again.
"Look don't let that girl get you down, just try and relax the rest of the day and I'll see you at seven tonight. I'll leave some clothes for you, and don't worry about Kira Nat's gonna watch her. Ok?"
"Alright." he already agreed, he would go out and take it from there.
"Excuse me sir." Jarvis' monotone voice was heard.
"Yeah Jarvis?"
"I believe I should tell you that Agent Romanoff is on her way to the conference room where Dr. Foster is." all eyes widened slightly.
"Doesn't she have Kira?" Steve asked.
"Little Kira is asleep in her crib, but I have watch on her." Loki felt himself tense up. "Fear not Mr. Loki she's fine."
"Turn on the feed Jarvis, is Fury still here?"
"He left a moment ago sir with Mr. Coulson, Dr. Foster and her group are currently waiting on Ms. Potts." Tony watched as Jarvis turned the screen back on, and all eyes spotted Natasha standing at the far end of the table with Jane and Darcy backed against the wall with Selvig nearby.
"Oh my…" Steve's mouth dropped. The look Natasha was giving the group was a stern and stony face with determination in her eyes. The kind of look she used on the field or on a mission, but deadlier.
"You might've already gotten a warning from Director Fury and Stark, but now here's mine." she paused and leaned a little over the table. "I know you're a smart woman, so please from now on make smart choices. I get you have a problem with Loki, but I suggest you keep your distance or you'll exactly why I am called 'Black Widow'. Got it?" the girls nodded. "Good, nice meeting you Dr. Foster, Dr. Selvig." she turned and exited the room.
"She didn't have to do that." Steve ran a hand over his eyes. "But…it works."
"That's Nat for you." Barton walked through the door. "Fury briefed me."
"Mission go alright?" the archer nodded. "Okay well, I'm taking Loki out tonight so Nat's gonna watch Kira."
"Really?" Barton turned to Loki. "You up for that?"
"I suppose I can try, it's only for a few hours." he didn't want to leave Kira, but his magic would protect her to a point.
"Alright, you just take the rest of the day to relax and we'll leave at seven. I'll get you some clothes, or you can borrow mine if needed."
"I'm a bit thinner than you Stark." Tony gave him a mock glare.
"Shut up." Loki knew he was kidding, and gave a small smirk. "I'll see you in a few hours." Stark left the group alone, and Loki left to get Kira.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Clint looked over at Nat.
"Yeah." she smirked.
"I don't even wanna know." Steve just went back to his own thing, and the others followed suit.
Later that evening:
"You're absolutely certain there's enough?" Loki was busy fussing over the clothing Stark had given him, but at the same time fussing over everything for his daughter's babysitter. Romanoff agreed to watch her for the night along with Rogers, but Loki wanted to make sure everything was in place.
"Yes Loki, you've prepared four bottles for her and I doubt she'll drink them all before you get back." Kira was in Natasha's arms fast asleep, but she'd eaten nearly two hours ago she would be hungry again soon. "You've also gotten clothes and bibs ready in case, and Jarvis will keep an eye on the tower."
"Just relax Loki you're only going out for a bit not a whole night." Loki sighed, and looked at himself once more in the mirror. He was wearing a dark green and black suit with gold and silver buttons, one not too fancy for a dinner but not too casual either. Stark left it in his room, said it was custom made and it fit perfectly. His hair was combed out and slicked back just above his shoulders, and he was shower fresh.
"I am a father, I want to be sure she'll be fine while I'm gone."
"You've got a top rate assassin and a hero icon babysitting, I dare say she'll be just fine." Rogers laughed. "Besides Tony knows you worry, he'll just have dinner and you'll come home after." Loki froze for a moment.
"Home?" he turned to Rogers.
"Yeah, you can call this home if you want; or your home away from home, whichever it is."
"Asgard was never my home, but I shall consider." he straightened the jacket once more. "Alright, Jarvis?"
"Mr. Stark is waiting for you sir, just outside the door."
"Thank you." Loki walked over to Kira and kissed her head, and she stirred a little. "Love you little one." she grunted but didn't wake.
"She loves you too, now go on Stark's not a patient man." Loki snorted and made his way out, Stark greeted him with that boyish smile and led him to the elevator.
"Pray tell, where are we going exactly?" they reached the bottom floor.
"To a favorite steak restaurant of mine, booked it private for the two of us tonight. The owner owes me a few favors, and I'll be bringing back some food for the rest it's only fair. You eat meat right?"
"I do, though I prefer fish most of the time."
"Eh don't worry they have a great grilled tilapia in butter sauce, though I love the New York Strip cooked rare with sautéed potatoes and onions. Yum." Loki laughed.
"You have a hearty appetite Stark, yet it seems you fill most of it with alcohol." Stark laughed and they stepped into the limo.
"Only occasionally now, booze doesn't help the feelings fade it just intensifies them. Anyway you'll love this place, eat whatever you want it's on me." there came that uneasy feeling again, but Loki tried to keep a straight face as the ride went on.
"Stark, I do appreciate you've done for me and Kira thus far."
"It's nothing Lokes, just glad to help a guy out."
"Why do you help me though? You could've just let them lock me away somewhere else."
"After you just gave birth and were nearly beaten to a bloody pulp? Yeah that's not me, I mean if you wanted to stay until you were healed that'd have been fine with me but I've gotten used to having you and Kira around. It's not easy for me to let just anyone stay in my tower." the limo stopped and the driver let them out. Loki noticed people starting to gather with strange devices, and flashes started coming.
"What's going on?" Loki shielded his eyes.
"Damn press." Tony pushed him slightly through the door, and the owner came out to greet them. "Remind me to call Pepper when we get back." Loki nodded.
"Mr. Stark nice to see you again, and who's your guest?"
"A friend, this is Loki." Loki shook the man's hand. "Loki this is James Flair, owns this fine establishment and cooks a damn good steak when his chef is out."
"Pleasure to meet you." the other man smiled.
"Best steak in the city sir." the man was in his early fifties Loki could tell with a bit of gray around his dark hair. "Your name is Loki, like the Norse God of Mischief?" Loki chuckled.
"The very same, family's a bit old fashioned and in tune for the Norse myths."
"Ah, we may have just met but I think the name suits you somehow. Table's in the usual place Mr. Stark; I'll send Tessa for your orders."
"Thanks James." Loki followed Stark to the back of the restaurant and they took a booth.
"Good evening gentleman, how may I serve you today?" A woman in her early twenties came over and handed them menus, which Stark didn't bother opening though Loki used his and found a rather intriguing dish, one Tony had mentioned earlier.
"Like you need to ask darling. How's your daughter doing?" she smiled and pulled out a pad and pen.
"She's doing great thank you, the usual Mr. Stark?"
"You know me too well Tessa, Loki?" she jotted down some notes.
"The grilled tilapia with a baked potato, no sour cream please." he handed her the menu.
"And to drink?"
"Ice water is fine thank you."
"It'll be right out." Tessa smiled again; she was quite pretty when she smiled Loki noticed.
"Tessa's a nice girl; I always leave a good tip for her."
"Do you?" was this one of Stark's flings from the past?
"It's not what you think, I helped her get the job here and she makes good money. Dropped out of school at seventeen when her boyfriend dumped her while she was pregnant, parents kicked her out so I gave her a helping hand."
"So she lives…?"
"In an apartment building just down the street, not bad for a single mom and her three year old daughter; nice kid too."
"You met her how?"
"Found her trying to get a job at a coffee shop, at her wits end with a baby due soon. I took her in until the kid was three months old, and helped her get a job she's good at." Tessa came back with their drinks, but didn't say much.
"Seems rather odd, Tony Stark helping out an adolescent; at least that's how Romanoff and Rogers portrayed you at first."
"I helped you didn't I? I also helped Steve out of a jam when he came to New York. I know a lot of people think I'm just a playboy or a party man, but I do have a caring side."
"How did that come to be?" Stark took a sip of his drink.
"Well I wasn't always like that, hell I didn't even run my own company at first. After my parents died I let my dad's right hand man Obadiah take over, but the company still belonged to me." Loki saw a look of pain in those eyes.
"He betrayed you, is that how you got that device?" he pointed at Stark's chest; he'd heard tales about it from Rogers but didn't know the full story. Howard Stark had been a business man through and through, but from the way Tony was behaving they weren't close.
"Yeah, I was kidnapped and tortured in the desert. They experimented on me, but I got away and Obadiah is dead now. I trusted him, and he used my company to sell weapons of mass destruction that killed tons of people. I didn't even know, hell I didn't bother to care." he sipped the drink again.
"You have control now though, and you're alive."
"Yeah, but I hit a major stage of depression when I got back. I mean Pepper is my CEO and she oversees everything but all the important stuff is decided by me. Granted I'm not the man my dad was, but then again why would I wanna be?" Loki snorted.
"You sound like me almost; my father and I weren't close either. He mainly doted on Thor, because Thor was the ideal heir. I stuck to my books and magic, and let's just say that didn't go well with him."
"He wanted you to be like Thor?" Loki shrugged.
"I don't know, we never really had a family conversation like that. My mother and I were close, but she still lied to me about the adoption and I don't know if I can forgive her."
"Your mom sounds like a good woman, from what you've said at least." Tessa came back with their food, it smelled delicious. "My mom took care of me, when my dad was away it was always just us. I loved her, and when she died in the accident I was a mess. Obie was there for me, and then I find out he was betraying my family name well…you know." Loki took a bite of his fish, it was good. Stark ate his steak and chowed down on the potatoes, but they stayed silent for a bit.
"My mother…she said there shouldn't be any secrets in a family. That I was her and Odin's son regardless of my blood, and I wanted to believe her but at the time I didn't know what to think."
"When did she say all that?" Tony ordered another drink.
"Just after the Allfather fell into the Odinsleep, and before she made me king." Tony frowned.
"Sounds like you weren't ready to hear that, or be king so soon." Loki shook his head.
"I wasn't, that's why I don't want to return I don't have anything there for me now. I have Kira, and I don't want to even think of what Odin would do to her or me if he found out the truth." Loki finished his plate, and Tony wasn't too far behind.
"Done already Mr. Stark? Would you care for desert?"
"Sure, but get some to go meals ready please." she pulled out her pad. "Three steaks two medium rare one well done three baked potatoes, grilled chicken salad, and five fudge cakes."
"Any drinks?"
"No thanks."
"I'll get right on it sir." she smiled and left them alone again.
"Looks like we both came from messed up families, guess that's another reason why I like you." Loki stared at him.
"Like me? How do you mean?"
"Well you're nice to be around, despite all you've gone through you're strong, and a good papa to your daughter. Yeah you've been through a lot I can tell, as have the rest of us but you…to go through the hell you've had and come out in one piece makes you a resilient being." Loki closed his eyes.
"You're like me, is that why you…connect with me?" Tony nodded.
"That's also why I'd like to know you better, hell you've told me about your past but only the bad stuff. You can tell me about the good times when you're ready."
"Stark…as much as I appreciate this gesture of friendship I will tell you now that it's not easy to have me open up."
"You have so far, but I understand. I was told talking about the bad times helps ease the pain, it's helpful to also remember the good times. My best ones are the stories my mom would tell me as a kid, and when she'd take me to the park which was rare but still fun. Being Howard Stark's son wasn't always as glamourous as it appeared."
"Your father and mine didn't have time for us."
"Something else we have in common, look you're gonna be staying down here for a while so why not let me show you and Kira the highlights of this world? Not just me either, Steve will help out too and he's a bit old fashioned but he's a great guy."
"Stark…" Loki could see the logic in this man's words, he didn't want to be locked up again but then again he wanted to know more about the mortals, they'd become more advanced in such a short time it was fascinating almost.
"It'll also help your case when your brother or anyone else from rainbow city comes down. Hey next time we go out we can involve Kira, maybe take her to a movie."
"Alright Stark, you've peeked my interest. I will allow you to take me and Kira out, as friends." Tessa came back with the orders all packaged up and ready to go. She handed Tony the bill, and he pulled out a card and some money, a lot of it and Tessa's eyes widened when he placed it in her hand.
"M-Mr. Stark this is…" she tried to hand it back but he refused.
"It's nothing, just take it." Tessa blushed.
"But sir…"
"Tessa, you earned it tonight. Take a day off with your baby and have fun, do whatever you want with it." she placed the money in her pocket and took the bill back with the card.
"How much did you give her?"
"Three hundred, she works a lot of shifts and still makes time for her kid but not a lot." this man still astounded Loki to no end. "So next week, I'm taking you and Kira out with Steve and Banner. I don't know what we'll do yet, but it'll be something we all like." Loki shook his head but laughed.
"Anthony Stark…you are one strange mortal."
Hope this was long enough for you . Took me longer than I wanted to finish it.
Yeah I wanted to give Stark a more caring side here, so sorry if I side blinded you with the story about the girl and her baby. I've seen things in reality where some people are nice enough to help the less fortunate so I figured why not throw one in here?
Next chapter we have a time skip, Loki and Stark get closer and we might have a little surprise later ;). I haven't decided still when I'll bring Thor it, it might be within the next two chapters but first I need to get a little something on Thanos beforehand. Also if you want to throw ideas in about when Thor shows up on what you'd like to see I will look them over and see if I can put them into the plot. I do love to hear what my viewers wanna see.
R&R
Later!
