Chapter 3: You're Okay?

There was a pause, and finally a figure stepped out.

A figure that was quickly identifiable as Thor.

And to the side of that figure?

Loki.

xxx

Tony couldn't believe his eyes.

Loki walked right out of that portal, and he looked fine.

Thor didn't have a rough grip on him like the last time he was escorted to Earth, no, he was walking perfectly fine beside him.

To say Tony was baffled was an understatement. All those images of blood and horror were dismissed in a second when Loki came to stand before the three of them; not a single scratch on his body. Not to mention his lips were together in their regular line, without the help of threads holding them there.

Tony raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner to the pair, and then back to his fellow teammates who were also quite surprised from the simple entrance.

Loki met his gaze lifting an eyebrow of his own, almost as if this was the most normal of greetings, and he hadn't been gone for more that a few hours. The two gods made their way over to the three heroes and stood there, neither of them uttering a word.

Tony rocked back on his heels, not being able to take it any longer. "So…." he began, slightly awkwardly breaking the silence. "This is a surprise."

Thor nodded, and Loki just continued to stare.

Tony squinted back at him. Something wasn't right. Loki looked completely normal. Too normal. And that silver tongue of his hadn't even spoken yet.

"Maybe you guys can give us a bit of an explanation inside?" Bruce said, gesturing back to the open door. "It's freezing out here."

Thor nodded, along with Steve and Tony who began making their way back.

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Loki mumbled, frowning, as if he were actually surprised.

"It speaks!" Tony grinned, breaking out into a huge smile and waited by the door for Loki to come in behind everyone.

Loki shot him a glare that wasn't too threatening, and Tony smiled, loving how easily he could get a rise out of him.

Bruce led Steve and Thor over to the couches inside as Loki made his way slowly behind, with Tony waiting by his side.

"Good to be back?" Tony asked quietly with a smirk, raising his hand to pat Loki on the back.

Although, Loki immediately turned and seized his wrist before he could make contact, gripping it at a dangerous strength.

Tony's eyes widened and made a bit of a strangled sound as Loki's fingers dug into his forearm.

The three on the couches looked over from the sound, and Loki quickly retracted from his arm in a panic. Tony was still half in shock from Loki's actions, but suddenly everything clicked. He brought his hand up to scratch at the back of his neck and gave a weak smile to Bruce.

"Everything alright over there…?" Bruce asked, with a raised eyebrow.

Tony nodded, "Yeah. We're good." he replied without missing a beat.

"Well then get over here, Loki and Thor have some explaining to do." Bruce urged, waving his hand over the back of the couch.

Loki glanced to Tony giving him a look that could only be seen as a silent thank you, and Tony tore his eyes away from him and made his way over to the rest of them.

Steve and Thor sat on one couch and Tony and bruce on another, Loki sat beside them on a chair.

"So…" Steve said, noticing Thor looking down. "What happened there?"

Thor dragged his gaze up from the floor. "A many of things." he replied.

Bruce squinted at him. "Good things? Bad things? Loki doesn't look injured, or sewn together?"

Thor nodded slowly. "A mixture of sorts."

Bruce cocked his head to the side. "That's all you're going to say?"

Thor nodded, "It is not much of a story to tell…"

Tony slapped his hands down onto the couch, startling them all, Loki nearly jumping out of his seat, the exact reaction he was looking for. He noticed this out of the corner of his eye, and decided he would definitely need to have a talk with him later. "Enough with these vague answers, Thor. We waited what, three months for Loki to get back, and three days for you to get him? So give us some details!"

Thor was frowning from Tony's outburst, and clasped his hands together. "Do not raise your voice at me, man of iron."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Are you serious?" he nearly laughed, "If you're going to play that card, well, I'm so sorry for yelling." he said sarcastically. "Now cut the crap Thor, tell us what happened."

Thor took a few moments to compose himself, taking a few not unnoticed glances to Loki before continuing. "Loki was imprisoned."

Tony nodded, glad for getting some sort of information. "Okay…" he pressed, "No torture, or anything as promised?" he asked skeptically.

Thor nodded, although he was fidgeting slightly.

Tony shook his head. "Then why would Odin say all of that stuff, if he wasn't planning on doing any of it? Why did he want you there so bad?" he asked, directing his attention to Loki.

Loki was quick to reply. "He wanted me as a symbol to Asgard, and nothing more. To them I was a disgrace, and Odin keeping me under his own hand had given him the accolades for imprisoning a universally wanted war criminal."

Steve raised his eyebrows. "So your own dad wanted to keep you, for his own personal merits?"

Loki bit the inside of his lip. "Not my father, but correct."

Bruce sat forward in his seat, "Makes sense. I mean, why keep Loki here imprisoned if he can have him in Asgard and get credit for it? Makes him seem like a good guy, right?"

Thor nodded, almost a bit too quickly. "Those were exactly his intentions."

Tony crossed his arms over his chest, something about this all not sitting right with him. "So, how do you explain you going in there and saving him?"

Thor sighed, tapping his fingers against his leg. "When I reached my palace, without any form of attack on me I knew his threats were empty. Although since it had taken me three months to get a connection, I suppose-"

He was cut off by Loki, "By that time Odin had had his fun, being congratulated on containing me, and had no further use. He did not care where I went, as long as I was imprisoned. And Earth has the Avengers who had… defeated me earlier. So of course, it is only logical for him to send me back."

Bruce and Steve seemed pretty pleased with that answer, and Tony only continued to watch him with a careful eye.

"Well, I guess, welcome back?" Steve said, a bit unsure of himself.

Loki managed to give the soldier a small smile.

Tony could tell it was forced.

xxx

About five minutes later of awkward small talk, and really no further elaboration on what went down in Asgard, Tony stood up, not being able to take it any longer.

"Alright, if you'd all please excuse us, I need to show Loki something in my workshop."

Steve and Bruce both looked up at him quizzically, as did Loki, having a feeling that Tony didn't exactly want to show him anything.

"Well, okay?" Bruce said, staring between them.

Tony walked over to behind the chair Loki was sitting in and rested his hands on the back. "Yep, come on Loks. Important things to… show." he pressed.

Loki hesitated slightly, but soon enough he slowly got up.

Tony grinned brightly, and gave them all a short nod. "We shouldn't be too long." he said, beginning to walk out the room, and turning behind him to make sure Loki was following him.

Thor watched his brother and Tony carefully as they made their way down the hallway and out of sight. He relaxed into his chair a bit as Loki's presence was gone now, and hoped that the other two didn't notice.

xxx

Tony had just entered the passcode for his workshop door, and motioned for Loki to walk in before him. Loki slowly stepped in, admiring his workshop for what it was worth before he felt Tony step up beside him as the hydraulic door hissed shut behind them.

"So. What really happened in Asgard, Loki." Tony said, a bit quietly.

Loki furrowed his eyebrows. "Am I mistaken, or did Thor and I not just debrief you a matter of minutes ago?"

Tony frowned, "Loki, Bruce and Steve might have bought that story, but I'm sure as hell not going to." he said, turning to face him.

Loki shook his head. "I believe you are mistaken."

"Mistaken? Well, I might be. But how do you explain the whole attack, when I went to pat your back earlier? Hm?" Tony asked.

Loki took a moment. "I've told you on multiple accounts not to touch me, Stark."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Oh, now we're back to Stark? What happened to Tony?" he asked, coming off a bit more hostile than he expected.

"Well I am sorry you are so sensitive to which part of your name I call you by."

"Don't try and change the subject." Tony said, "Loki you're more jumpy that usual." he said. "Also, good try, but the no touching thing doesn't explain why you nearly jumped out of your skin when I slapped the couch up there." he pressed, not giving up at this point. "And, well, you know what? The only time I can think of whenever I was so jumpy around things like that was, after I was… taken. And tortured." he said quietly. "And well, Odin, promising to torture you like that…. It fits the pieces of the puzzle."

Loki shook his head, staying strong in his own argument. "I assure you Odin never laid a single hand on me- nor did one of his guards. I was in a cell, somewhat similar to what I was staying in here. And for myself being 'jumpy' as you put it, I was simply surprised from your childish outburst."

Tony shook his head, not letting that last jab at him deter him from his point. "You're positive this is the story you want to tell me?" he asked, leaning a bit closer to him, staring right into his eyes.

Loki nodded, never breaking eye contact. "I am positive. Tony." he added in the end, for even more effect.

Tony wanted to believe him, his tone was as reassuring as ever, and the story was plausible after all. Although, something in his stomach wasn't sitting right. He let his eyes search Loki's face, looking for some little twitch or indication that he was lying. As his eyes lowered from his eyes, he saw them.

And his heart sank down to his knees.

On the top left corner of his mouth there were two absolutely identical scars, with one just under his bottom lip to match. The marks being thin, hidden from a distance.

Some part inside Loki wanted Tony to find out, and another wanted to keep it a secret. He saw Tony's eyes land on his lips, and linger for far too long, knowing then that he had seen them. If he were allowed his magic, he would of made sure there were no scars, and intended to do so the moment he got it back. But for now, he would have to live with Tony knowing, and was strangely okay with it.

"Oh gosh Loki…" Tony said quietly, almost a whisper. He brought his eyes back up to him, who admitted defeat.

"They did not finish." Loki said evenly, trying to not let any emotion into his voice.

Tony shook his head. "Loki, I am so so sorry." he said, his eyes automatically dropped back from his gaze and down to the scars again. "Thor, didn't- did he?"

Loki shook his head. "No, it was a guard." he said, truthfully for once, not bothering to lie any longer. "A few guards. It happened the day after I was brought there, before Thor was allowed back."

Tony looked down to his feet, starting to feel sick to his stomach. "How come they didn't finish?" he asked, feeling horrible for asking, but honestly curious as to why they didn't get half way.

Loki paused, his own eyes catching the floor for a moment. "My, um. …Screams." he admitted. "My mother… well, Frigga, heard, and she could not bear to hear them, I suppose, and threatened my Father to do anything but sew my lips." he managed out.

Tony was just absolutely dumbstruck, "You're lucky."

Loki scoffed. "Might I remind you they still threaded through three times."

Tony's expression softened. "I know, I- I didn't mean it like that. I just mean, you're lucky, that someone was there, to stop them from finishing. There was no one to stop my captors."

"Yes. But were your captors sent by someone you assumed loved you your entire life?" Loki asked, with obvious bitterness in his tone.

Tony paused, "...Yes, actually." he admitted.

Loki frowned, that catching him completely off guard. "Really?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah, …you know, sometimes the emotional betrayal is a little more painful that the torture, hm?" he mused, although there was no humour to his tone.

Loki nodded slowly. "…That is exactly right."

Tony brought up his hand slow enough so that Loki could see it, before he gently brought it to rest on Loki's shoulder. "Well, you're safe now."

Loki gave him a bit of a smile.

"And I promise not to torture you, ever, if you do the same." Tony added with a bit of a teasing tone.

Loki's smile grew slightly. "No promises." he teased in return.

Tony gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before withdrawing. "That's the Loki I know." he said with a small chuckle.

Loki let out a bit of a laugh himself, the first in nearly four months, thinking his new imprisonment on Midgard might just not be that bad.

Hey! So late! I know, exams, sports, friends, all that jazz, you know how it goes! Anywhooo Loki's back! Let me know what you thought! Were you expecting what happened to happen? Anything you want to see happen in the next chapter? I'd say every reviewer on this chapter gets a hug from Tony, and maybe a cookie or something. And maybe if your review is super awesome, you'll get a hug from Loki as well. :) You guys still rock, and the amount of support I'm given is incredible! Stay awesome guys! :)

Also, if there are any weird typos in this or something, I apologize it is very very late.