As time approached the new day, the almost familiar misery crept away until it reached more manageable levels, but still refusing to retreat completely. JARVIS once again provided details about the weather that I couldn't have less of an interest in. "How are you?" he asked after a slight pause. Obviously, this was not one of the things he had been programmed for. At the time, I was convinced that this was some sort of way for the Avengers to spy on me… not that I'd expected them to trust me. I wouldn't even trust me. "I believe the Avengers will be needing a new way to spy on me," I informed him, before eyeing the pile of books that had been left for me.
I spent the next few days reading through each book in that pile, not leaving the rooms I was assigned. There was no reason for me to seek out the Avengers, and they chose not to seek me out. JARVIS must have been informing them that none of my actions were unacceptable. After four days, I had exhausted the pile of books, and the final traces of misery had retreated to wherever they had come from. I spent a couple minutes debating whether or not I could avoid every single Avenger for the duration of a quick trip to the library. Deciding that it was worth the risk, I opened the door to find Stark leaning against the wall outside.
"JARVIS said you were going to the library, so I thought I would wait out here," he informed me.
"How thoughtful," I sarcastically replied. "Now what was it you required?" I questioned.
"Walk with me?" Stark said and headed towards the elevator without waiting for a response. Seeing as I had most likely no choice in the matter, I followed.
"So…" he began, almost uncertain about what to say next. "I was talking with your brother yesterday, and…"
"I have no interest in what he has to say," I informed him bluntly.
"But…" he tried to protest.
"You will not succeed in changing my mind."
The doors for the lift opened and I immediately made my escape. Stark didn't even try to follow me. "At least listen to JARVIS!" he shouted after me. I did listen to JARVIS most of the time, but it wasn't worth informing him of that fact. I threw the door open to the library, wincing slightly as the door collided with a bookshelf as it swung open too far. I was frustrated, to put it simply. I was stuck on Midgard, living with the Avengers, with no magic and a general sense of misery, and almost… wrongness, that had become an almost intermittent friend. It had become a part of me like a shadow. No matter how you feel about it, you can never be rid of it unless you spend the rest of your life in the dark. I couldn't say I was very keen on that idea.
"Loki?" JARVIS began. "Would you like me to relay Mr Stark's message to you now, or later?" Although JARVIS was ever polite, I did not respond in kind.
"No," I snapped bluntly.
"Of course," JARVIS replied. "Take all the time you need. Just let me know when you'd like me to relay the message." I frowned at that as it seemed as though he had expected me to change my mind at some point.
I wondered the shelves once again, the books looking as though they hadn't seen a single person since I had last visited. Undoubtedly, no one had. "Loki…" JARVIS said uncertainly after a long stretch of silence. "Might I suggest a book?" he questioned.
"You may," I replied absentmindedly while skim reading the title of the science shelves. Everything Midgardians knew about space was either completely wrong, or hundreds of years behind the currently accepted theories on Asgard. JARVIS then suggested a book which, after a short time of browsing, I removed from the shelf. The hardback seemed to lack the layer of dust that coated the rest of the books like a light snowfall, which meant that this book was new… which meant that Stark was trying to be clever. "JARVIS?" I queried.
"Yes Loki," was the reply.
"Please inform Stark that his plan wasn't as clever as he thought it was," I said. There was a second of silence before JARVIS spoke.
"Mr Stark said that it wasn't meant to be clever, and only as an alternative should you refuse to listen to what I had to say," he informed me.
"I have already informed Stark that I have no interest in what he and Thor discussed. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do," I said, returning to the reading spot I had occupied on my last visit.
I opened the front cover slowly and began to read. After about an hour, it started to make sense why exactly Stark and my brother wanted me to read this particular volume. I continued reading until I reached the back cover. Taking care, I placed the book back in its designated shelf space before returning to my room. I threw myself on the bed, allowing myself a few minutes of silent contemplation before allowing myself to make a decision. "JARVIS… Stark was more clever than I gave him credit for." I paused briefly before voicing my final decision. "I'd like to hear the message," I said simply. JARVIS then began to speak.