Whaaaa an update for Poison AND Geniuses and Mischief? Stop the world, it's a Christmas miracle! Who knew such an awesome thing could happen? Without further ado...
Read, review, and enjoy!
Tony is pissed.
The team knows that he's pissed, but they don't know why and because they assume that the anti-magic shield has been properly working for the last year, they don't look twice when they see Tony doing work on it. They can tell he's pissed because he's slamming tools down, grumbling to himself while he's working, and refuses to talk to anybody who approaches him.
In truth, he's had a modified version of the anti-magic shield up, one that allows for…certain people to slip past. Well, not anymore. Because Tony is pissed at Loki and he's going to make sure that the bastard can't show his face around here.
Loki is a little arrogant, but Tony's never really been able to hold that against him because hello, Tony Stark here. On the list of most arrogant people in the world, he's probably up in the top ten. But the god actually had the nerve to come here and ask him to run away to some distant planet that he was positive that he could conquer and they could rule happily ever after or some bullshit like that.
The problem with Loki's arrogance is that he's power hungry too. Not all the time—it's something that Tony notices comes and goes. Apparently this is one of the times where it's the strongest. Who the hell did Loki think he was, to think that if he came in here and offered him that, that Tony would just pack up, wave good bye to the team and take off to rule over an enslaved race?
Tony whacks the wrench in hand strategically against the machine and hears a buzz at it starts up again. He smiles grimly before pushing himself out from the machine. He'd like to see him get in here now.
"Sir, you have received information from Agent Romanoff pertaining to a missing shipment of weapons," Jarvis informs him. Tony does a 180 and Loki is completely out of his mind.
"Open it." It appears in a hologram in front of him and he scans through it. Mostly he needs a location and then he'll read the details on his way there. Luckily, Natasha found them before they had even been shipped out of the country. They're nestled in an abandoned military base that's been taken over by an off shoot of A.I.M. because if they haven't messed with Tony at least once a month, than the month can't be complete. "Let's suit up Jarvis. Details on the way."
"Of course sir."
Five minutes later, he's suited up and on his way. He reads Natasha's notes, that the weapons are due to be shipped overseas to one of the many rebel armies in Africa. Personally, Tony tries to stay out of Africa because the territory is too volatile. The most he does is humanitarian missions, mostly working with water purification and clean energy. A.I.M. on the other, loves anything unstable because they have the means to take power. The last thing he wants is to have his weapons thrown into it. She's included a blueprint of the base, and she's given her approximations to where guards are stationed and where reinforcements will be. She hasn't had time to scout it yet, so guesses are all she can give him, but her guesses are usually pretty accurate.
Speak of the devil…
"Call from Agent Romanoff," Jarvis says as her picture appears on the screen.
"Yes mother?" he asks as he instructs Jarvis to connect the call.
"When I sent you that information, I didn't mean 'go off alone.' I meant this is what I have so far, give me another day to get more information."
"In another day, the weapons will be gone and then we'd have to start all over again."
"That doesn't mean you go off alone. I'm sending Clint to you."
"Don't bother. By the time he gets here, I'll be done."
"Tony-"
"Can't talk dear, work to do," he says as he disconnects the call. For a second, there's a flash of guilt in him. After he returned home bleeding and with broken ribs, he had promised Loki that he wouldn't go out on these missions alone. He usually brought Clint with him, because stealth was good for something. Natasha had come a couple times, Steve once. He'd even brought Loki with him once, but ended up having to drag him off the base when a couple of the guards pulled out armor-piercing bullets and Loki had snapped.
Tony shakes his head, ridding himself of the memories and the guilt. If Loki wanted him to have back-up, maybe he shouldn't have disappeared to some unknown planet where some poor, unsuspecting souls were just trying to live their lives.
He arrives minutes later, discreetly landing at the best high ground he can find out of the way. The building looks run down, but he-and Jarvis-can spot signs of several highly advanced security systems hidden around the outside. Men who think they're well hidden patrol the perimeter.
"What do you think Jarvis?" Tony asks, looking for the opening he needs.
"The security systems are well programmed sir. It will take time to break through them."
"Any holes?"
"I'm afraid not sir."
"So much for stealth then. Natasha will be so disappointed. Any way you can give me a layout of the building?"
"Sorry sir. I recommend that you wait for Agent Barton before proceeding."
"What, and prove Nat right? C'mon Jarvis, where's your sense of adventure? Pinpoint the sentries for me."
"Sir, I must-"
"Jarvis, just do it."
Three blue circles appear in the face mask's screen. Not much outside force, which means that most of their security is probably inside, because he finds it hard to believe they wouldn't be guarding a shipment of his weapons without an army. Waiting for Clint would probably be the smartest choice but common sense has never been Tony's strong suit.
"Deploy the sniper bullets," Tony instructs. A small compartment on his right shoulder opens up and, almost silently, three shots fire. The blue circles go out as the guards drop. "Did that set off any of the alarms Jarv?"
"No sir. It appears we are still undiscovered."
"Not for long," Tony says, and gives the systems one last check. "Never really been one for stealth anyway. Let's go Jarv!"
Turns out there is pretty much an army guarding his weapons and he runs right into them almost as soon as he blasts his way through the building. They clearly aren't ready for fighting with the armor, because their bullets ping harmlessly off of the suit. However, never let it be said that terrorists can't adapt quickly and before he knows it, the battlefield is leveled.
His vision shutters as he slams through several walls, thanks to the missile they fire at him. There's definitely some shifted ribs, but he doesn't catalogue much more than that before he's taking them out. Tony recognizes that he's lucky they weren't prepared for him, and that the missile is the only shot they get in before they're disarmed and down. He takes a moment to survey the weapons they've compiled—his stolen weapons and Hammer's most likely legally bought weapons, before he begins disabling them to make a nice little time bomb that will wipe out all of their weapons.
"Tony, what the hell man? I thought you learned to stop going out on these missions alone!" Clint's voice is not a welcome addition to the backdrop.
"If you value your life, birdboy, you'll follow me out," Tony says. The battle has settled his mind now, eased the sharp anger that clouded his thoughts, but he's still pretty pissed. What can he say? He can hold a grudge.
Clint is waiting for him outside one of the holes he blasted through. His bow is strung, but positioned at ease behind his back. He takes one look at the suit and points to the quinjet. Tony considers ignoring him, but Clint doesn't use his "Natasha glare" very often. When he does, it usually means he's absolutely pissed. Well, the mood is clearly spreading. Tony has that effect on people.
"You didn't have to come," Tony says as he takes off the helmet. "I had it under control."
"Right. That's why your head is bleeding. Jarvis, take control of the quinjet," Clint says, clearly exasperated. The ship eases up gently as Jarvis mans the controls and Clint retrieves the first aid kit. "Look, we can clearly tell you're pissed. No one goes after technology like you when you're pissed. It doesn't give you an excuse to run off like this!"
Tony stares at him. "Are you channeling Natasha or Steve there?"
"I'm channeling myself Tony! We've done in-depth research on these people, more than you can get with your hacking, and if they know they can lure you in with a shipment of your weapons, they'll do it! Believe me, you don't want to get captured by them."
"I don't really want to get captured by anyone," Tony says, then hisses when Clint begins cleaning the cut on his forehead. Great. Now he'll have to have Jarvis clean the inside of the suit again.
"Then maybe you should listen to Nat when she tells you not to go alone. Nat and I can always track weapons abroad and take care of them, but if they take you?" Clint leaves it up to his imagination, not that he really needs to. They'd take him underground before Clint and Natasha even knew he was gone. Sure, they'd probably find him. Eventually. But nobody wants to go through that. Great. He gets lectured by Clint of all people and he's sure to get lectured by Nat. And when Loki finds out—because he will—it'll lead to another epic fight. Tony huffs and Clint's posture eases slightly. "You're lucky. It doesn't need stitches. I'd say that you probably have a concussion but I know that excessive stupidness is the baseline."
"Ha-ha you're hilarious. Are you going to make Jarvis do everything on this trip?"
"Hey Jarvis, want me to take over?"
"If you wish, Agent Barton. However, I am perfectly capable of returning Mr. Stark and yourself to the tower."
"Traitor," Tony mutters as Clint grins triumphantly at him. "So how pissed is everybody else?"
"Dude, even Thor has a lecture for you."
Tony snorts. "I've read the myths and I'm pretty sure he doesn't get to talk."
Clint goes to slap his back, sees the metal, and reconsiders. Instead, he pats Tony's shoulder. "You don't either so I'd just suck it up and listen."
When they make it back, no one is exactly waiting for them. But about ten minutes after landing, Bruce comes forward to look at Tony's head injury (he keeps the ribs quiet, but he knows Clint is watching him and Nat will definitely notice the way he shifts his weight) and makes a few pointed comments. A half hour later, Steve brings him food down to the lab and also delivers his version of "this is not a lecture but it really is" lecture. Apparently Thor is content to leave his lecture at a "please do not leave without back-up Tony. It is unnecessary when we are all here."
Natasha corners him in the kitchen, just before he finally makes up his mind to reach for something on the top shelf. She lectures him, stops mid-lecture, and jabs him in the ribs. When he keels over, she gives him her superior look and leverages her information into blackmail. Tony's been subjected to one lecture from Steve and since he really doesn't desire another one, he quickly gives in.
He's settling back into the lab finally when Jarvis pops up.
"Sir, Loki is currently trying to enter the premise. Should I allow him in?"
"Nope," Tony says easily, leaning back into the chair until it pulls at his ribs. He sits up carefully. "I don't even want to talk about him. Don't even alert me again."
There's a slight pause and Tony wonders if he's processing the command or if he's using it as a way of reproaching him. He's guessing it's probably the latter. "Of course sir. I will allow you to return to your work."
Definitely a reproach. Since when did the A.I. side with the homicidal Norse god?
Tony decides to let it go. For now. Maybe he'll give Jarvis an overhaul this week. He loses himself in his work.
Well. He tries to. An hour later, Jarvis sends off another alert.
"What did I tell you?" Tony says, his eyes focused on the piece of metal he's soldering together.
"This alert is from Director Fury, sir. It seems that Loki is attacking the city."
Tony's so surprised that his focus slips and he drags the flame a millimeter lower than it's supposed to be. He doesn't even notice.
"Oh. This has got to be good."
It's good.
Loki is vindictive, Tony'll give him that, but it's a hilarious sense of vindictive.
"Tony, Loki's headed your way," Clint says over the coms. "I can't get there to help, these freaking birds keep attacking me. And don't say it!"
"Wouldn't dream of it Hawky," Tony responds, but if Loki's trying to put him in a good mood, it's working a tiny bit. Tony moves away from the team because this isn't an attack—this is clearly a draw-Tony-out-of-the-tower-and-distract-the-team tactic and Tony really doesn't want the team to see whatever happens next. He doesn't make it out of sight before Loki comes speeding around a corner, racing through the sky towards him. His scepter is glowing and the god is literally sparking in anger. Tony raises his arms and head in a "come and get me" kind of gesture. He's prepared to duck away at the last second, but as Loki gets closer, power starts to pour off of the scepter and bubble around him and before Tony can escape the bubble, it closes, trapping him inside. He hears Natasha's "Tony!" before the world goes dark and the air compresses around him.
As the landscape reappears around him, he realizes Loki's transported him. And, of course, the Frost Giant-turned-Asgardian god has transported him to some frozen wasteland. The god himself is standing below, still sparking, but now his skin is tinged blue as well. Loki is pissed.
Which, of course, he has absolutely no reason to be. He started all of this.
"Jarvis, cut any tracking devices. Lockdown," Tony says quietly. Dangerously. He turns his attention to Loki. "Is there a reason you brought me here?" he asks, crossing his arms, but he uses a tone he reserves for the people he hates the most—primarily Justin Hammer.
"You broke your promise," Loki responds, the king of coolness, even in Tony's anger.
"There seems to be a lot of that going around. You'll have to be more specific."
"I have broken no promises to you," Loki says and, okay, that's technically true, but it doesn't lessen his anger. "You, however, promised me that you would not return to your previous missions without back up."
"Clint was on his way. I just didn't need his help," Tony says. A half-truth, really, but one he doesn't think he'll get away with.
Predictably, Loki sneers and clenches his hand tighter around the scepter. "You cannot lie to a Liesmith, Stark," he says.
"Was I supposed to ask you?" Tony asks, taking a step forward and flipping up the faceplate so Loki can see his anger. If they're going to have this fight, he's going to go all out. "While you were off conquering your little world?"
Loki's eyes narrow. "You had a whole team to from which to ask for back up. And do not begin to imagine-"
"Oh believe me, I've been imagining and it's not making sense. What in hell made you think that if you offered me the world, literally, I would just pack up here and go off with you? For starters, I'm just supposed to give up my whole life for you?"
"I was not forcing you to do anything," Loki says.
"Why would you even offer? I play for the good team here," Tony says, gesturing wildly with his arms. It's a habit he picked up from years of engineering. "Why do you think that would change on any other planet? And what exactly would I tell the rest of the team? 'Oh hey guys, going off to rule a planet with Loki, see you in another life.' I'm sure that'll go over well." Tony's gotten started now, and he's not about to slow down at any time. "And what the hell am I going to do ruling over some alien race that I don't even know about? I can barely keep track of my own life, and then you have to come in and fuck it up even more, and now you're going to throw this at me? I just-I can't believe-"
"It was an act to protect your life," Loki spits through a clenched jaw.
"It was what?" Tony's anger stops mid-rant.
"You have many enemies here, and I cannot keep an eye on them all. It was an…attempt to remove you from here."
This time it's Tony who narrows his eyes. "If it was as simple as that, you would have just transported me to one of your stash points, despite the fact that I've told you countless time I don't do space."
And holy crap, is Loki looking…sheepish? He looks like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. "There are…certain sources of power that do not agree with my own power. However, using the power is the only way to tell what kind of reaction I will have. Some of these sources can amplify my less desirable traits."
Tony raises an eyebrow. "Like being a power hungry bastard?"
Loki grimaces. "It warped my ambitions. Some of them remained the same," and Loki is giving Tony that look, the one he knows makes Tony feel uncomfortable because feelings, "but the way in which to achieve them were not the wisest."
"To say the least," Tony says, and god damn it, why isn't he angry anymore? Loki literally insulted everything that made him a "hero" and now he doesn't even care. Tony sighs and releases the tension from his body. Loki moves closer, sensing an end to their argument.
"I am sorry to have angered you," Loki says quietly, and armor or not, he still manages to tangle himself around Tony's shoulders. Tony shifts under him. "I promise not to make you choose between myself and your team again."
A steep promise and one that, no doubt, Loki will actually uphold. Unlike someone else in this relationship… "I'm sorry I left without any back up," Tony mumbles.
"And?"
Tony pouts. He can feel it, but damn it, Loki just does these things to him and he doesn't appreciate it. "I promise not to do it again." Loki doesn't say anything and Tony huffs. "I double promise since I already broke the first promise."
"There will be penalties if you break it a second time," Loki whispers in his ear and Tony shivers.
"Are you trying to tempt me?" he asks instead, leaning his head back to put it closer to Loki's. The god moves with him and some how manages to connect their lips, despite the bulky armor. When both of them are breathless, Loki pulls away.
"All you need do is ask," Loki purrs in Tony's ear. Then, without warning, he gives the suit a whack on the side. Normally, it wouldn't have mattered, but he doesn't curb his strength and Tony can actually feel the hit through the suit. And, of course, Loki had managed to hit the busted ribs dead on. Tony jerks away and puts a hand protectively over the injury. "But perhaps we should let your ribs heal first."
Tony scowls at him. "You could just heal them yourself."
"Giving you everything you want is not good for your ego," Loki says. "I shall take you back to New York and give you one hour to solve your problems with your teammates. I will meet you in your room."
The air compresses around him again and he appears back in Central Park.
As soon as he hits the landing pad and the gears begin to wind and pull off the armor, the team is waiting for him at the end of the balcony. Most of them look pissed, hopefully not at him, but he's pretty sure that's also worry in their eyes, so he thinks he's probably safe.
"What the hell happened?" Clint asks, and Tony notices that he immediately checks Tony's eyes. He resists the temptation to roll them, because it didn't work once, so it's probably not going to work again.
"Loki transported me somewhere nearby and threw me around a little bit," he says with a groan that's not faked because god damn he's sore. He rubs a hand down his side and winces at the tenderness. Loki's little hit did absolutely nothing to help him. "I got a couple of good hits in and took off."
"Why didn't you get back in contact with us?" Natasha demands.
"Loki's power played havoc with some of my systems." Another truth, because Loki's power doesn't always play nice with his technology, something they found out the hard way. Communications had been down when they'd first transported, but a quick reboot and it would have been fine, had he not cut it. He hopes Jarvis has the sense of mind not to call him on it.
"Let me recheck your head wound and see what damage Loki did to your ribs," Bruce says, pushing Tony to the couch. He purposefully avoids looking at Natasha, particularly when he pulls up his shirt to reveal the mottled black and blue bruise that covers pretty much his entire right side. Okay, so maybe there were a few more cracked ribs than he intended. Bruce sighs.
"There's not much we can do for these. They don't feel broken, but you absolutely cannot go back down into the lab because I can almost promise you will break them if you keep moving around. Take some painkillers and go to bed. I'll check them again in the morning."
Tony puts up a perfect amount of protest because if he gives in too easily they'll be constantly checking in on him all night. Bruce sticks around long enough to make sure that he takes the pain killers, then relinquishes him to Steve's mercy.
"Steve, you don't have to walk me to my room. Even Jarvis is plotting against me!"
Steve rolls his eyes when he thinks Tony can't see him. He can and enjoys knowing what he's driven Steve to do. "Tony, all we did was ask Jarvis to tell us if you leave your room. We just want to make sure you don't injure yourself anymore."
In response, Tony rolls his eyes when he knows Steve will see him. "I took the pain killers. I'm going to bed. What more do you people want?"
"Go to sleep Tony," Steve says as they reach his room. Tony makes sure to make a face at him before shutting the door in his face.
He tries changing out of the oil stained clothes, but he only manages to change into sweats before the pull of his ribs convinces him that he should just wait for Loki who will most likely be more than willing to take the shirt off for him.
"Sir-" Jarvis starts.
"Fuck. Turn off the anti-magic shield Jarvis. I'll fix it tomorrow," Tony says. All of that work, just so he can undo it. Sometimes, he hates himself.
But not that much, because he is pretty awesome.
"Of course sir."
Loki appears seconds after Jarvis finishes the sentence, looking less than pleased. "I gave you one hour to arrange things and you forget to turn the machine off?"
"I was preoccupied," he says. He really means to say more but he's starting to wonder if Bruce laced those painkillers. Loki's stiff stance relaxes.
"You are exhausted."
"Mm I'll be fine, just need these to be a little less stiff," Tony says, rubbing his ribs tenderly, which is an absolute lie. He should've snuck down to the lab. Laying on the bed was a terrible idea.
"Of course love. That's why you're laying on the bed with your eyes closed." Loki sits down next to him and brushes his hand across his ribs. His hand pulls back quickly. Tony opens an eye.
"Problem?"
"What poison have you put into your body?" Loki asks. Tony eyes him until he decides Loki's being serious.
"They're called pain killers. And hopefully any minute now, they'll kick in and, you know, actually provide some relief."
Loki rests his hand on Tony's ribs again, first tilts his head before closing his eyes. He shakes his head as he withdraws his hand. "I cannot heal you with this strange substance in your body. It will most likely react strangely with my magic."
"But I asked so nicely!" Tony protests. Loki's smirking at him, he can practically feel it.
"Then perhaps next time you won't take these painkillers," Loki says.
"But what am I supposed to do all night then?"
"I hear there is a novel concept that you mortals call 'sleep' that is vital their health. Perhaps you should try that."
"But sleep is boring!"
Loki sighs, then adjusts himself and Tony until Tony's head is resting on his chest. "You say you are always interested in the world I grew up in," he says. Magic sparks at his fingertips and suddenly Tony's room is gone, replaced by a beautifully crafted room. Tony has only ever been in one of Loki's safe houses, but he can recognize the style of the room as purely Loki. Yet he can feel his own bed beneath him, feel Loki's coolness at his back. "If you promise to behave and let your body heal, I will show the universe to you."
Tony is nearly speechless for one of the few times in his life. "Promise," he says without even thinking. So Loki weaves his illusions and shows him, not only Asgard, but many of the other worlds connected to Asgard. After two hours, Tony is having a hard time staying awake, but he knows he needs to make sure Loki knows.
"For the record," he says, "this is way better than getting me my own world."
He slips into sleep a few minutes later, but he's pretty sure Loki is smiling.