A/N: Whoo an update! ^^ Thank you so much for the reviews, story alerts, and favorites; it really means a lot to me! Plus I love hearing from my readers! Anyways, this is actually a requested situation from a nameless reviewer (they know who they are ^^). I love writing about Loki accidentally getting himself into trouble, though I had to admit Bruce Banner was hard to write for at first, but hopefully he came out in character! I still don't own the Avengers, so no suing, please! Anywhose, please enjoy!
It was no surprise to the Avengers that SHEILD deemed their current residence (Stark Tower) not secure enough to hold Loki – even though the trickster had given up villainy. The only one who even questioned the various agents and mechanics as they completely revamped an entire floor, turning it into a secure lock down system that rivaled the helicarrier was Tony Stark. The other Avengers and Loki glanced curiously into the new floor of the tower. Security screens were lit up along every wall, various control panels covered most of the floor, and a large holding cell was sitting in the corner. Loki smirked at the room; as if any of that could suppress the god.
Thor, Clint, and Natasha quickly went off to do other things as they didn't have avid interests in computers and such; Stark went down to the basement to sulk. That left a very intrigued Loki and a slightly worried Bruce Banner at the entrance to the security center.
"I wonder how many things they have changed," Loki stated as he calmly walked into the facility, tracing a pale finger across a control panel.
"Judging by the extreme amount of buttons, I'd say a lot," Bruce said as he took a hesitant step into the room.
"Do you think that cage is for you or for me?" the trickster asked with a smirk. Banner laughed a little darkly.
"You really want to see the other guy again?" he said with a smirk that rivaled the god's. Loki's own smirk faded away. "Yeah, who's the jokester now?" Banner mockingly asked. Loki's eyes narrowed.
"I hardly think that such a confrontation would be necessary," the God of Mischief asked, smooth voice not betraying the slight fear that crept into his mind. Bruce chuckled slightly at the god's discomfort. Loki merely turned away from the scientist and walked slowly over to the cage. "I wonder how similar this one is to the one before," he said, mostly to himself, as he gently placed a pale hand on the glass.
What happened in that next moment was almost too much for either being to fathom. Loki was suddenly yanked from the ground by a strong net, and Bruce, in an attempt to help the god, tripped over a trip wire that had appeared due to the net's deployment. When the trip wire was activated the holding cell opened and a robotic arm reached out and snagged Bruce from the ground. The cage door shut tightly and locked itself.
Loki was almost at a loss for words, but quickly recovered his composure. Using a little magic he burned – using green flames – through the net and somehow gracefully landed on his feet. He dusted himself off and turned to face Banner, but almost blanched at the sight before him. Bruce was trembling slightly, droplets of sweat beading on his forehead, and trying desperately to control the other guy. Loki backed away slightly, the memories from his previous engagement with the beast still fresh in his mind.
"Oh Asgard…Dear Odin! Please, don't Hulk-out Dr. Banner!" Loki pleaded, his composure slipping away from him.
"Loki, I'm not going to Hulk-out," Bruce said with a sneer. The trickster was reasonably unconvinced. He turned to the control panels, there had to be a way to open the blasted door! The god frantically started mashing buttons and spinning dials but nothing seemed to work.
"Damn it! Banner, I am far too unfamiliar with this type of Midgardian technology!" the God of Mischief cried from across the room. Banner, who was still trying desperately to regain control over his body, looked up to the helpless god running around like a frightened child.
"Get. Stark!" he ordered. Loki's eyes widened slightly at the harsh tone of Bruce's voice, but he nodded and ran quickly down the stairs that led to the basement. Tony hadn't even had a chance to glance at the god before Loki began shouting.
"Banner is stuck in the new cage that SHIELD just put in and he's about to Hulk-out, and I swear it wasn't me! The machines, they're EVIL! Please get him out!"
The man of iron simply blinked for a moment. Then he looked Loki in the eye.
"If this is a prank-,"
"No, I swear upon Thor's love for Mjolnir that this is the truth!" the god said in his most sincere tone.
"That's what you said when I asked you if you had broken into my candy stash – which we are still keeping a secret!" Stark said as he gestured with the tools in his hands.
"Anthony Stark, I would never lie in the matter of the Hulk. I actually have scars from that fight," Loki said in a dark seriousness. Tony looked down at the invention that he had been working on then back to the trickster's emerald eyes; there was a strange flicker of an emotion in those eyes. Stark sighed and headed for the door. Loki cautiously followed. As the two beings were headed back up the stairs an inconvenient sight welcomed them. Nick Fury stared at them with his good eye.
"What the hell are you two doing sneaking around here?" the director boomed fierce fully. Loki, silver-tongue that he was, was quick with an answer.
"Director Fury, it's good to see you too, really it is! Mr. Stark was just explaining to me the structural integrity of a so called 'cardboard box' and he was just about to go assist Dr. Banner in an experiment dealing with Midgardian physics which I am still unfamiliar with," the god said in a very convincing manner.
"An experiment?" Fury questioned, his voice booming through the stairway.
"Just you know, putting particles where they don't naturally go, that kinda thing," Stark added in smoothly and shot Loki a quick look that meant "be a distraction". Loki subtly nodded.
"Director Fury, please accompany to the living quarters for a beverage; I am very curious to hear about your reason for your current visit to our, uh, humble residence," The god said as he somehow led Fury away from the Security floor. Stark took this opportunity to sprint into the main security room and was almost shocked to see that Loki had in fact been telling the truth.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., get Banner out please," the billionaire ordered the AI.
"Right away, sir," the AI responded as the cage door opened forcibly. Bruce slowly walked out, finally catching his breath.
"Thanks, but where's Loki?" the scientist asked.
"Causing a distraction for us with Fury."
"You left Loki with Fury?" Both men looked at each other as that realization dawned on them. They both bounded up the stairs and burst through the door of the floor that housed the Avengers – and Loki. Stark had to bite his fist to keep from going into a laughing fit. Beside him Bruce was already failing to suppress his giggles at the scene in front of them.
Loki was lying spread eagle, face down on the ground, moaning something about vengeance and pirates. Hawkeye was standing next to him laughing hysterically.
"What happened?" Bruce asked.
"Loki learned what happens when one asks Fury why he has an eye patch," Clint answered, still snickering at the god bellow him.
A/N: This is actually the longest chapter yet, yay! ^^ I hope you enjoyed, and please review and send in any requests – feedback is my Nutella (I promise I don't eat your reviews ^^'). Stay awesome!