Steve had been right about Thor's return.
However, Tony had done his damnedest to avoid all of them, locking himself in various off limit labs or scurrying around the narrowed back passages that the others knew little of. He was entirely certain that the god already knew, in great detail, Tony's recent problems and Tony was more than happy to avoid confronting them at all costs. If he had to confront them, there was the possibility that there was something more to it than just messed up dreams. And that was a scenario Tony was really not ready to deal with since the only alternative was that it was the real Loki in his head.
He just had to try to drown out the small part of his head that told him that the reason he didn't want to face what was happening was the fear that it might bring the dreams to an end.
He forced that thought to one side as he emerged back in his penthouse from one of the side doors. He certainly did not enjoy them and he certainly did not want them to continue.
"Tony!"
Tony winced as Thor's booming voice echoed into the room as the man stepped out of the main elevator, Steve close behind him.
"Security breach," Tony muttered feebly to himself. The Avengers had long since seemed to have stopped caring about Tony's personal space, coming and going as they pleased.
"How are you faring?" Thor asked, crossing the room in half the number of strides it would have taking anyone else.
Tony flashed a smile, pouring himself a drink from the bar, "Just awesome, I mean, my tower is now only three quarters destroyed, New York got running water again last week," he paused to take a sip of his brandy, "Oh and my home is being used as an Avengers gathering site, to the detriment of my own personal space and comfort. So yeah, things are just peachy."
Thor grinned, "I am glad to hear it!" he announced, as the sarcasm flew right over his head.
"I've told him about your…problem," Steve input as he came to stand beside Thor.
"Of course you have," Tony replied, stepping out from behind the bar and crossing the room to the leather sofas.
"The Captain was right to tell me," Thor informed him, watching as Tony dropped onto one of the seats, facing away from them out across the cityscape, "They are no normal dreams."
Tony waved a hand in the air in sarcastic celebration, "Wonderful."
"I think you need to take this more seriously, Tony," Steve urged, taking the seat opposite him and snatching his gaze, "It's Loki."
"Yes, thank you, I'd got that," Tony responded, rubbing the bridge of his nose and screwing his eyes shut to avoid Steve looking at him, "So what? Loki's sat in a cell somewhere concocting some mind control spell, is that what this is?"
Thor shook his head and joined them, standing beside Steve, "Nothing so theatrical. Loki has the ability to retreat into his mind, which he did not long after our return to Asgard. None have been able to reach him, we assumed he was beyond any contact. Until, Steve spoke of your dreams."
"So the king of crazy got home, went into a coma and decided that my head is a better place to live?" Tony asked, scowling disbelievingly.
"My brother has always been able to enter dreams," Thor told him, "He used to visit mine when we were younger. Though in not quite the same capacity as the Captain says he does with you."
"I should hope not," Tony wrinkled his nose into his drink, still unable to find the amount of concern that the Captain and his giant cohort made him feel like he should.
"I learnt a way to keep my dreams my own however, when it became clear that Loki's intentions were not always playful," Thor continued.
Tony gave Thor his full attention at that, "They'll stop?" he asked, trying to make it seem like it was something he definitely wanted to happen.
"No, unfortunately not," Thor replied, gravely, "Unless you are a magic wielder yourself, there is no way of preventing Loki's travels. However, they may give you the control, rather than he."
Tony nodded into his drink, eyes downcast as he took a couple of sips, not sure of his own thoughts.
"Tony, you need to listen to Thor," Steve insisted, "We don't know what will happen if this carries on."
"Jealous Rogers?" Tony quipped, his smirk met with a stern glare, "All right, all right! I get it. What do I need to do?"
That night, Tony sat on the edge of his bed, more reluctant than usual to actually go to sleep. Thor had spent an hour talking over the techniques he had once practiced himself to keep Loki at bay, but there was no way actually putting them to use before bed. There was only so much Tony could take before he wanted to regain his privacy, ushering the others out and relaxing onto the sofa with the remains of his drink in hand, thoughts caught in a blender of Thor's instructions and blurred memories of Loki's trips into his head.
The real Loki. Not just some figment of his own imagination. It was the real World Ruler Wanna-be that was in his head. The thought had generated a new question. Why?
It was a while, but sleep was going to take over. Laying down on top of the covers, staring up at the ceiling, Tony sighed, anxious about what he would find when he finally fell asleep.
They were face to face this time, Loki's shadowed grin not inches from Tony's face, his body pressing Tony up against a wall, once again pinning his arms over his head with one hand while the other gently held his neck. He could feel his own pulse beat heavily against Loki's fingers. His breath smelt like cinnamon, hot and sweet as he brushed over his skin.
"Good evening, ," came the silky greeting, lidded green eyes fixed on Tony's lips, "Pleased to see me are we?" he asked, flicking his gaze further down momentarily before up to meet Tony's, sending reluctant shivers down his spine.
With a force of will, Tony shut his eyes and focused on what Thor had said. Reminding himself that this was not reality. This was his mind. Tony's mind. Where Tony had full control. He just had to remind himself of the fact. That's what Thor had said.
"What's the matter Tony?" Loki asked, amused.
His voice made it a lot harder to concentrate on anything else but the sound, the smell, the warmth of the man pressed up against him. But Tony kept his eyes shut and did his best to tell himself nothing of this was real.
It took a moment but eventually, Tony felt the weight of Loki's body and the force holding his arms above his head weaken. He had gained control. Opening his eyes, Tony pulled his hands arms out of Loki's grip and slipped out from in front of him, taking a number of long steps backwards, putting distance between them, watching him warily the whole time.
The background shifted and they were in the main room of his penthouse, his comfort zone.
The muscles under Loki's eyes tensed, narrowing his eyes from below as he glanced around at the change before turning to look at Tony with a small, almost impressed smile, "I heard a saying on your world. That you can't teach old dogs new tricks. They stand corrected, Mr. Stark."
Tony pulled his shoulders back, watching as Loki turned fully to face him. This was the first time he'd actually been to take a look at the guy properly. He was dressed in a linen shirt and trousers that were baggy and ill-fitting on his slender frame and his face seemed a lot more gaunt and hollow than the last they had faced off, tired and haggard. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and his hair was a dishevelled mess, thick strands framing his face and covering small portions of the deathly pale skin on his forehead. Without the armour and the weaponry, he wasn't much more than a wiry, almost fragile man with a grin that seemed forced past the point of truth.
"I do not need grand fineries to be powerful, Tony, you know that better than most," Loki commented then smirked at Tony's frown, "Ah, don't be so surprised at my reading. I am in your head am I not?"
"Yeah well, you don't get the run around anymore," Tony replied, with a sniff.
Loki's smile fell slightly, "I can see that," he glanced around the created room once more, "Such a shame. You were just about to let yourself indulge."
Tony narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to protest but Loki cut him off with a raise of his hand.
"In your head, remember," he told him inclining his head and regarding him like a child who should know better, "You can't hide anything from me."
Tony licked his lips, there were few who could best him in conversation, it just seemed unfair that the person he was talking to could read his every thought, "You want to explain what the hell you're doing here?"
"Why should I not be here?" Loki asked in response, raising his arms, "I have little else with which to occupy my time."
"Oh yeah, Thor mentioned that," at the name, Loki's grin faded slightly which only made the dark circles beneath his eyes more prominent, "Your little nap."
"So, Thor is on Midgard," Loki mused, tilting his head and looking to the floor as he seemed to file the information away. He gave a small chuckle then stopped and raised his chin like he had heard something and was listening intently. A moment passed and the grin returned to his face. He touched his fingers to his brow and presenting them forward in a salute, "Another time, Mr. Stark. It seems the waking world calls your presence."
