A/N: This first chapter takes place almost exactly one year later from the end of Unseen Curve.
I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.
"I feel under dressed," Fay said to Sander, hands around his glass. She had on a floor length green dress with gold accents around her waist and the top of the dress. Sander glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding me with that eyebrow? You're a freaking Prince here and you look like it, and I'm your peasant sidekick." Sander had stayed his normal pale self, but couldn't deny that the clothes they usually wore for official functions made them stand out a little.
"I wouldn't say peasant," Sander told her as she adjusted the high collar on his long jacket. He could see how close her nails were to his neck and the look in her eyes that told him to choose his next words wisely. "You are obviously someone of import." She narrowed her eyes at him a little as she pulled her hands away. He smiled and leaned in to give her a quick kiss.
"Go easy on him, he's still being trained." The couple turned to see Gabby and Steve walking over to them. "All men begin a slow training process once they get into a relationship. Isn't that right sweetheart?" Steve kissed her forehead and Gabby grinned.
"Uncle Steve." Sander shook his head slowly. He jumped a little when Fay pinched his arms.
"Like you aren't already whipped," Steve said, snorting a little.
"Among other things," Fay murmured and smiled when Sander's face turned a little red.
"I'd love to see that blush on a Jotun," Gabby told her nephew, making him blush even more. Fay smirked and rubbed his arm a little as Gabby and Steve chuckled.
Tony was holding onto Key in his arms as he stood next to Loki, who had Melisande standing in front of him. Most of the guests were taking their leave for the night, and they had positioned themselves by the exit, with Emma and Dani not too far away, and they were being gracious hosts, with adorable children.
Key let out a big yawn, turning in Tony's arm so she could lay against his chest but still see the people who were walking by. "Not too much longer baby girl, go ahead and fall asleep on Daddy." Loki snorted a little and Tony grinned. "Daddy is nice and warm."
"Are you pandering to our one year old?" Loki raised an eyebrow after he watched Melisande run over to standing with Emma and Dani across from them.
"Never," Tony shook his head, but couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. The hall was getting quieter as some of the last of the guests were leaving, leaving mostly just family to mill around as palace staff started to clear the room. A small group of guests headed their way and engaged the family individually. A woman came up to Tony and gave a soft smile to the tired Key.
"You have an amazing family, that cannot be argued," the woman told Tony. Tony was unable to tell where she was from, but he knew she wasn't from Jotunheim.
"Thanks, I think I'll take a lot of the credit for that," he said with his patented Stark grin. Tony's instincts extended his hand to shake her hand as he noticed the rest of the group leaving. When their hands met Tony looked into her eyes and saw a yellow flash and felt a knot build in his chest suddenly. He was aware of Loki moving suddenly from his peripheral vision as a suddenly burning pain shot up his arm, hit his shoulder, and spiderweb through his body. He felt his knees give out and his body start to fall to the ground, his vision started to go black. Tony tried to turn his body in a last movement to keep Key from falling.
As Loki finished talking to one of the village Elders near to the palace he felt an odd tingle of power. He turned to see Tony reaching out to shake hands with a strange woman that he hadn't seen before, and Loki had made a note to have at least seen the face of every person who had attended tonight. Loki saw the moment that Tony's body lost all control, and his feet were already moving. He felt Dani's magic across from him, ice crackling across the floor to trap the woman's legs and Loki moved for Tony.
Loki wrapped an arm around Tony's waist, catching him before he hit the ground, his other arm wrapping around Key as she jerked in Tony's grip, making a slight squeaking sound. Tony's eyes were closed and Loki gently lowered him to the ground, shifting Key into his arm. "Tony, Tony open your eyes now." He ran his fingers along the side of Tony's neck and felt some relief when he still felt a strong pulse underneath.
Loki looked up when he heard a low growling voice and saw that Thor was facing the woman, Steve by him, and Utgard-Loki behind the both of them. Dani's ice had moved up to her arms to trap the woman completely, and everyone else had moved over to them, Chris and Alex kneeling down next to Loki to check on Tony as well. Melisande had moved over to Sander and Fay, standing behind his legs.
Loki pushed himself up, barely feeling Tomas take Key from his arms, but knew that she would be safe. Loki walked towards the woman, who moments ago had a soft smile for his daughter, but now had a hard glint in her eyes, face set in a scowl. Yet she wasn't struggling in her bonds.
"What did you do?" Loki growled out at her. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What did you do to him? I will Not ask again."
"The great Trickster, tamed," she said eventually. "Look at you, taking orders, staying in one place, being so, Predictable."
Loki glanced at over at Sander minutely and saw him frown before moving to block Melisande's sight, and leaning down to talk to her, Fay helping. He could hear Tomas behind him moving to take Key away. Loki wasn't sure what they saw in his eyes at the moment, but he knew what he was feeling, and he didn't want the two youngest around.
When he was sure that they were far enough away Loki reacted, faster than anyone around him could have predicted. His hand lashed out, long fingers wrapping around her throat, pulling her from the ice roughly.
"Loki." Loki had moved before Thor could try and stop him. The woman was trying to pull in breaths as Loki lifted her up.
"I said I would not ask again," Loki told the woman. "If you will not tell me willingly, I will simply pull it from you, in one way or another." His fingers had started to glow a sickly green and he locked eyes with the woman.
A cough and voice stopped him though. "Loki, try not to cause any bloodshed at a wedding." Loki tilted his head back slightly, masking the relief and slight surprise he felt at hearing Tony's voice.
"Your family, catches, attention," the woman wheezed out with a smirk. "This was, just, a bit, of fun." Loki saw a yellow light flash in her eyes suddenly and her body went cold, her skin cold, even to Loki's Jotun form. Loki dropped her body and it fell lifeless to the ground.
Loki ground his jaw a little then turned back to move to Tony, who had just gotten to his feet with Chris and Alex's help. Tony put a hand on Loki's arm, hoping it would calm down the rage that was slowly becoming more and more noticeable. "It's okay, I'm okay." He knew they were both still on edge from the events from last year. "There's no lasting effect, you'd be able to feel it." Loki nodded as he placed a hand on Tony's side, mostly reassure himself.
"This is just life getting back to normal, small stuff." Tony gave him a small smile, leaning his head against Loki's. "Although I am a little flattered that you went a little evil for me." Loki grunted but didn't move, keeping Tony close to him. "Just another day in our crazy lives."
