PART EIGHT
Allow

"Stark."

Steve Rogers rested a hand on Tony's forearm, waking the man from a dead sleep.

"Wha.. oh. Cap'n," Tony mumbled sleepily, blinking his eyes open. The Iron Man's spirits were low, and he'd been drifting in and out of sleep more often and feeling less rested. Of course Captain America would show up to ruin the only decent REM cycle he'd had in days.

Tony was surprised to see the Captain, after over a week of being mostly alone in his room, a prisoner in his own bed. His wound was healing well, but he was still exhausted from the severe loss of blood, and couldn't yet take care of himself like normal. He moved only to eat, take pain medication and vitamins, and have his bandages replaced.

Dr. Banner had visited him several times a day, bringing his meals, occasionally giving him sponge baths, and assisting him when he needed to go to the bathroom. Tony got red-faced with shame at Bruce's having to help him with basic personal hygiene. Tony was not used to relying on others, and he kept up a front of dismissive humor and indifference about his dependence, trying to keep his overstuffed ego from imploding. And, most maddening of all, his memory was still incredibly fuzzy, and it was driving him nuts.

Tony tried very, very hard not to think about Pepper. He tried to convince himself that she was with SHIELD in some top-secret underground location far out of Loki's reach.

Tony had been carefully observing Dr. Banner for the past week, and found that he was almost like his normal self. Almost. Bruce would talk theoretical physics with him, and laugh about building The Hulk a superhero costume... But Bruce wouldn't answer any of Tony's questions about what was going on beyond his bedroom walls- what the Tesseract was doing, what Loki's plans were, what SHIELD might be up to, or if any of Jarvis' functions were still online.

One day, Tony had refused to take his meds until Bruce let him know some news of the outside world.

"It's not my place to tell you, even if I knew," Bruce had said.

"Not your pl- Can't you ask Loki? Doesn't he, like, trust you? …Please, I can't stand this anymore, I want to be in the loop," Tony had implored.

Bruce's expression had become shielded all of a sudden, and Tony wondered what he'd said to cause such a reaction. Was he getting through to the 'real' Dr. Banner at all?

"He doesn't trust me, he controls me," Bruce explained, eyes turning even colder. "I can't ask questions."

"Can't, or won't?"

Bruce hadn't answered him.

And now Steve, not Bruce, was in his room, unfastening his bindings.

"You awake?"

"Yeah," Tony mumbled, sitting up a little as his wrists were untied, and getting a better look at Steve.

Captain America was shirtless, with a heavy, Egyptian-style silver collar draped about his shoulders. Thick strips of dark blue fabric were wound around him from hips to knees in a sort-of kilt. He also wore silver bracelets and anklets in the same style as the collar, though these were more reminiscent of shackles. Tony wondered again at Loki's taste in clothing.

"You springing me out of here?" Tony asked jokingly, and was surprised to see the Captain smile at his banter.

"Still a wise guy," Steve muttered to himself as he unbound Tony's ankles.

"Where's Dr. Banner?" Tony heard the fear in his own voice, but he didn't care. Bruce was his friend, even if the man was brainwashed. He was allowed to worry about him.

"We're going to meet him. Loki's summoned all of us," Steve said conversationally. He then grabbed a pair of sweatpants from one of Tony's dresser drawers and helped him put them on.

"Even me?" Tony questioned unnecessarily.

"Yep," Steve said, then Tony winced as the Captain picked him up by his armpits and sat him down in a desk chair.

The chair had wheels, arm rests, and a plushy leather frame with great lumbar support. It was one of Tony's favorite chairs to sit and work in for hours, pouring over architectural plans and equations late into the night. Pepper would see the light on in his room, and come scold him for not attempting a regular sleep schedule. They'd have a play fight, and then he might take the suit out for a joy ride over the city. The lights were so beautiful at night. Tony loved living in New York. And when he'd get back home, Pepper would still be up, waiting for him, maybe with a drink, maybe with...

"We weren't able to find a wheelchair. Sorry," Steve offered, seeing Tony staring at the chair's arm rest with a concerned look on his face.

Tony was jerked out of his thoughts. "Really?" He chuckled. "I could build one in like, five minutes, downstairs. Unless Loki destroyed my workshops. God, that would be a waste. Oh hey, speaking of wasted resources, how's Jarvis doing?"

Steve sighed. "You know I can't answer that. Dr. Banner warned me about your curiosity, but I didn't think you'd try the same tricks on me."

Tony smiled despite the situation. "Worth a shot."

Steve started to roll Tony out of the bedroom and towards the elevator at the end of the hall. Tony's bedroom was on the fifth floor of the eight-story penthouse, while the main living room with the balcony was on the second. Tony would usually be able to see out a swath of windows lining the hall, but they'd been completely obscured with heavy golden curtains.

"Asgardian interior design?" Tony remarked, making a face.

Steve laughed. "Yeah, not my taste either. But what can you do?"

"…What can you do," Tony repeated quietly.

Loki had been working very hard for the past week and a half, making post-Tesseract plans and confirming with his own eyes that everything was going smoothly with his new planet's transition to serfdom. He had Dr. Selvig working full-time on duplicate stations to harness more of the Tesseract's power, so hundreds of portals could be opened simultaneously. Tens of thousands of Chitauri Leviathans, fighters, and soldiers were flooding into the atmosphere.

As the world was thrown into chaos, the use of nuclear weapons had been attempted by many countries. Loki had foreseen that tactic, however, and planned accordingly. Loki himself helped redirect many warheads to shoot harmlessly into deep space or pocket dimensions. Others, he was able to disarm and let fall into the oceans. He even managed to teleport a few of the smaller nukes right into military facilities, destroying whole armies and backup armies with their own bombs. It was messy, but effective.

After those incidents, the Chitauri forces had met minimal resistance as they destroyed every major city around the globe. Loki himself had played assassin several times, personally tracking down several political leaders in their underground fortresses. He had teleported at first himself and Hawkeye, and then later Black Widow as well, in and out of the 'secret' bases to topple governments and wreak irreparable havoc.

SHIELD had stayed far away and silent. With the Avengers defeated and the Tesseract captured, they'd lost the majority of their power. Loki would enjoy eventually destroying them.

In about two more days, everything would be secured for his reign, and the Chitauri would take the Tesseract away when they left the planet. Who-or-what-ever controlled the Chitauri was a reasonable trader—Loki had been promised a small army in return for the Tesseract. They would be stationed permanently on Earth and would follow his orders without question, assuring continued peace after he took his throne.

Loki discovered the thrill of using his powers to their full extent. He'd played tricks and set traps and destroyed opponents before, but never like this. The thrill of the hunt, the mounting surety of his victory, and the sights and sounds of his kills: graceful, personal, and permanent… these new experiences watered the seeds of darkness within him, feeding the flames of his ego and making him more confident and headstrong than he'd ever been.

On Asgard, he'd always felt apart. When he'd learned of his true lineage, that fissure was wrenched wide. And with the breaking of the Bifrost he realized he could never go back. His Asgardian days were over, and his childhood and young adulthood seemed so far away... A different life; a lesser existence. He now had the power to look back and laugh at the Loki from just a couple of years prior—how naïve and over-dramatic he'd been. How sentimental and weak. It was such a waste of his talents, he concluded without a doubt, to live under others' strictures. He would now be his own guide, in all things. He could finally trust himself, and he had an unbreakable team to aid him.

Loki sat on the luxurious fur floor of Tony's living room lounge, in front of a roaring fireplace. Thor was lying next to him, totally relaxed with his eyes closed, napping as Loki petted his blonde head absently. His brother… Loki found he was at last comfortable with that word after these days of self-reflection and discovery. Much had changed in so short a time. Names and titles and appearances and etiquette mattered little to him, now that he nearly owned a planet and controlled many of its most powerful defenders.

Loki watched Thor's tanned chest rise and fall slowly. The life held within that chest- how easy it would be to destroy in this moment. Loki needed to simply lift the scepter that rested in his hand, and bring the point of it down above Thor's heart, and his brother would wake just long enough to feel it and see…

But Loki didn't want Thor dead. He had in the past, but not now, when Thor was his to control. In fact, Loki had been feeling more and more protective of his elder brother of late, a feeling he thought had been lost forever since he fell into the abyss. But once he'd changed Thor, a new dynamic had formed between them. Thor wore the gag whenever he wasn't eating or bathing, and would do anything Loki ordered. But the God of Mischief didn't want to use Thor to fight… he was more of a trophy in this war. The All-Father would be ill upon hearing what had become of his firstborn. The blonde god had many uses to which Loki was becoming accustomed.

The first several days of Loki's conquest had been the most intense. His thirst for blood and power had begun when he'd been transported to Earth for the second time, and that lust had since consumed him. Mortal's lives were so fast, so bright, so beautiful to destroy. He felt no remorse in hurting or killing—he enjoyed it for the sport.

Loki would teleport himself, Hawkeye, and Black Widow back to Stark Tower to rest in between battles. After Loki had helped Barton find Romanov, the two ex-SHIELD-agents had each other to spend the still, silent nights with. But Loki was alone, and the nearly empty Tower was a buzz-kill. He'd find the silence too cold and too empty, contrasting with the action and heat of battle. He felt anxious at these times, like he was missing something dear or had forgotten an important detail. But he was too exhausted to meditate on the feeling during those brief periods of rest, and at all other times, the war demanded his full attention.

On the fifth night of his campaign, he had returned to his new bedroom after a very long day, and not bothered with turning on the lights. He set down his scepter, stripped off his bloodstained robes, and went to take a shower in the attached bathroom. When he got out, hair dripping wet and just a towel around his waist, Thor was waiting for him. The God of Thunder stood at his open bedroom door. Loki gestured for him to enter, not paying him much attention.

He didn't know what Thor wanted, but he suspected the scepter's influence may have accidentally allowed for interference from brotherly concern. Thor had been watching Loki and Hawkeye teleporting in and out of the tower at all hours, sometimes returning reeking of smoke and blood, Loki's coat and scepter splashed with gore. The God of Mischief had been exhausted for days, barely stopping to eat and sleep between missions. No doubt Thor was worried about him and wished to ask a question, so he needed the gag removed. Loki was assuming as much, so continued to prepare for bed while Thor stood to one side of his room.

The god let his towel fall to the floor as he rummaged in his dresser drawers for a pair of sleep pants, finding it hard to search with just the light from the bathroom. He was too comfortable in the cool darkness to use his powers to turn on the light, though; the lack of light calling to him to sleep. His nerves were shot and he was looking forward to a good night's rest.

So when he felt a warm hand on his lower back, he jumped.

"By the Nine… Thor," he breathed, then laughed at his own surprise. "You surprised me. What is so urgent?"

Loki turned around, not thinking about how he was naked with his brother's hand now resting on his hip. He was unusually relaxed, his mind pleasantly sleepy. He looked up into Thor's glowing blue eyes, a smile still lingering on his lips. But it faltered as he felt the blonde's other hand briefly touch his other hip, then the fingertips moved with purpose to caress the side of his neck.

"Thor?" Loki questioned softly, and he was suddenly acutely aware of his nudity. Thor's thumb at his hip began to rub in small circles, and the fingers pulled gently at his taught flesh. The other hand at his moist neck wrapped around it, gripping softly, a thumb sliding against his throat. Thor's warm, rough hands felt very good on his moist skin… too good. He glanced away, feeling his cheeks heating. "Stop."

Thor immediately stopped, his hands leaving Loki's body.

Loki took a moment to recover, then looked into Thor's eyes again. He wondered what game his brother was playing, and why the scepter's influence allowed it. He couldn't deny that there had been some strange impulses passing between himself and Thor after the God of Thunder had been changed, but Loki hadn't yet found the time to think on it. While he was certainly no stranger to steering himself around awkward conversations, Thor had caught him at a bad time. But Loki was confident and relaxed, and had mastered the art of thinking on his feet.

"You are pleased with my form?" He took the direct approach.

Thor nodded once.

"You wish to touch me?"

Another nod, this one a bit faster.

"You may do so—but let me lie down. I am beyond weary," Loki said, pushing past Thor gently and climbing into bed, keeping just his lower legs under the duvet as he was still drying from his shower. He lay on his stomach, his preferred sleeping position as long as he knew for certain his surroundings were secure. His arms splayed out on the pillows above his head of wet hair, face turned to one side.

He watched Thor stand at the side of his bed as he made himself comfortable, then once he stilled, the blonde god climbed onto the bed slowly and sat beside his foster brother, a hand reaching out to stroke wet strands away from his face.

"Hmmm," Loki closed his eyes and sighed heavily into the pillows, feeling sleepiness set in.

Thor's hands began to rub at the sore muscles of Loki's shoulders, gently but persistently kneading out the knots of tension that Loki always carried with him. Loki had never received a shoulder massage, and at first it hurt quite a bit, but the sensation was coupled with such an immense feeling of relaxation that it quickly turned to pleasure.

Thor's hands were hot on his skin, moving easier as Loki dried. The cooler temperature of the bedroom made the touches more vivid. Thor finished with Loki's shoulders after a few minutes, and moved to rub his hands soothingly down his back. Loki felt boneless and very near sleep, but he stirred when Thor's palms slid lower across his rear. A spark of arousal jabbed through his sleepiness, waking up a part of him that was suddenly uncomfortable to be restricted beneath the rest of his body.

Loki didn't tell Thor to stop, though. And the blonde's hands kept massaging, across his cheeks, then down his thighs, making Loki's whole body shiver. He'd never been touched like this.. not in any way remotely like this. Thor was touching him thoroughly, and Loki felt his unbidden arousal growing. He didn't know what to do. He was hard, and this position was becoming frustrating. He started to squirm restlessly under Thor's hands.

Thor's thumbs slid slowly up his inner thighs, and suddenly the older god was spreading Loki's legs, his fingertips sneaking up to brush against Loki's most intimate places.

"Aa-aah," Loki let out a stuttering gasp, shocked at Thor's boldness. "S-stop," he squeaked, and instantly, Thor's hands retracted.

"Hhha… hhaa…" Loki breathed heavily against his pillows, noticing that he'd curled fists into the plushy material, and his leg muscles were tense.

"Nnh," Loki bit his lower lip as he carefully turned onto his side, facing away from Thor. He let out a soft sigh of relief as his erection was freed, the hard shaft arching up from dark curls. He hadn't realized he'd become so excited from just Thor's hands on his body. He hadn't felt like this in many years.

A warm palm rested on his shoulder. It tugged at him gently.

"N…no…" Loki started to say, feeling vulnerable for the first time in a long time, undone by his brother's touch and combating these new feelings. It was silly- he didn't want Thor to see him in such a state, but the blonde was persistent. Thor stopped tugging at his shoulder, but kept his hand rested there, and Loki felt his brother's other palm slide up his thigh, then Thor lightly gripped a cheek of his rear.

"Nnnhh," Loki protested, and twisted onto his back to deny his brother's groping hand. But in a second he realized that he was exposed completely, his erection quivering in the air, and Loki put an arm over his eyes, ashamed. "Damn…don't…" he mumbled, but Thor had already begun to touch him. Fingertips traced across his pectoral muscles, making him arch his back. How could Thor's brutish hands make him feel this good? They moved lower to squeeze his hips, then brushed against his abdomen.

"Thor, please," Loki gasped, now feeling dizzy with arousal, and not knowing what to do with it. It was all too new- he didn't know what he was asking for. He didn't want Thor to stop, but this was…

The God of Thunder rested on his knees on the bed, leaning over Loki's body, blue eyes taking in the sight of his foster brother. Undone like this, his tricks and manipulations peeled away, Loki was truly beautiful. Thor felt his heart swell.

It had begun when the scepter had changed him, revealing some hidden feelings, while taking others away. His brain had been reshuffled, and this attraction sprung from it. Appetite whetted by Loki's tentative affections, that attraction had grown, along with a frustration.

Thor was well aware that he was under the scepter's influence, but it didn't matter- it felt so right to serve Loki, and he needed to be more for his foster brother. He desired to be everything for his Master, and would do whatever the God of Mischief asked of him. But lately Loki had been so busy, he not called for him or even asked for his assistance in battle, and Thor had grown impatient. He decided to act on his own to do what he knew would bring Loki happiness, and the plan was so harmonious with the scepter's influence, he'd never felt surer about anything in his life.

Loki writhed beneath him, and he gasped as Thor's fingers finally brushed against his erection and curled around it. Loki's hips bucked and he whimpered. Every sound from his foster brother's lips made Thor's heart beat faster, his head buzzing with joy as the scepter's influence coincided with his natural desires. He needed this so badly.

Thor began to caress Loki's shaft, slowly at first, listening for the other god's reactions. Loki was panting softly, still hiding his face with one arm. Thor's free hand moved to grab that wrist gently, and he lifted the hand and pressed it against his gag.

Loki forgot his shame for a moment as he blinked up at Thor. "Y-you wish it removed?"

Thor nodded, and Loki barely hesitated before unlocking the device with a touch of magic.

Thor pulled it from his mouth, then set it aside. And before Loki could hide his face again, Thor was leaning over and kissing him, hard, his mouth tasting metallic as he slid his tongue past Loki's lips.

Loki was stunned, keeping still as he let Thor claim his mouth. It wasn't his first kiss, but it might as well have been, as thoughts of past experiences fled his mind in the wake of the incredible sensation. Thor's tongue slid over his a few times, and Loki began to return the kiss hesitantly. Thor groaned into Loki's mouth at his response, and it sent a shiver down Loki's spine, hearing the need bubble up from deep in the god's chest.

"Loki…" Thor breathed as he pulled back for a moment, choosing instead to pump Loki harder, while kissing at his neck.

"Ahh! Th..Thor," Loki gasped, then found himself winding his arms around Thor's broad shoulders, pulling him close, and jerking his hips up to meet the hot fist around him. His head spun with feeling. Thor's mouth suckled at his neck and left messy kisses along his collarbone, then began to trail lower, and soon the blonde slipped down out of Loki's grasp.

"Wha..ah…" Loki panted, breath hitching as Thor's other hand spread his thighs apart, and his brother's large, muscular form settled between his legs, leaning down over him. Thor lowered his head to Loki's groin, and without further warning, drew a long lick over the head of his weeping cock.

Loki thought he might scream. But he was struck mute as he felt Thor's fist slip away, and then a hot, wet mouth engulfed him, bearing down until Thor's nose hit his groin.

"Nnnnmmh.." Thor moaned around him reverently, and Loki saw him shiver.

"B..b-brother, y-you…" Loki heard himself stutter, eyes wide, then he felt dizzy and lay back as Thor bobbed up and down on him, sucking hard, silky tongue sliding against the shaft as he moved. "I..c-can't…" Loki began, overcome with pleasure, feeling the end closing in fast.

"Mmhh," Thor groaned around him again, moving faster. Loki marveled at his speed and surety. How did he know how to do that so well? It was the most amazing sensation he'd ever felt, and it was too raw, too powerful, too much...

"Tho..-or, I.. I c-can't.. aa—aahhnnn…!" Loki gasped as it hit him, and Thor sucked him harder than ever, bearing down to the base of his shaft as Loki came with a moan.

That was their first night. Loki sighed wistfully at the memory.

He rolled his scepter in one hand, while his other fidgeted with the silver ties of Thor's ponytail. So much had changed in the past few days.

On Asgard, Loki had never been interested in sex. None of the maidens he knew ever showed romantic interest in him, and although there were some attempts at courtship in his young years, he'd always felt like he was just going through the motions. Loki had never really felt physically or mentally attracted to anyone. When he came of age, it was natural that he made personal sexual discoveries, but he only ever touched himself out of necessity to make the arousal go away. It had embarrassed and confused him, and the thought of asking his older brother or anyone else about such things, had never crossed his mind.

But now… the irony wasn't lost on him, and he found his attitude beginning to change with his newfound confidence.

"My lord," Bruce said from behind him. "The Captain is almost here, with Iron Man."

"Don't you think you're on a first-name basis with Captain Rogers and Mr. Stark at this point, Doctor?" Loki asked softly, not looking up.

"Ah. Yes, my lord."

"And what of my pair of assassins?"

"Hawke—er, Clint and Natasha are already on the roof, my lord."

"Good. Thor, awaken," Loki tugged on Thor's hair a little, and the god awoke, sat up, and stretched dramatically. Loki chuckled and pressed a kiss to the side of the gag.

Thor's eyes seemed to smile at that, until he noticed Dr. Banner standing nearby.

Bruce, for his part, blushed slightly and glanced away. Loki noticed and grinned.

"Is that… embarrassment?" He teased. He thought it odd that Thor would be so open, even demanding, when they were alone, yet acted so shy around others. And the doctor was uncomfortable as well. "Come now, Thor, am I not allowed to give my elder brother a kiss on the cheek?"

Loki grasped Thor's shoulders and leaned forward to lick a slow, wet line from his Adam's apple, over his bound chin, and up to the corner of his eye. All the while, the God of Mischief held Dr. Banner's flustered gaze.

Thor's eyes closed, and he shifted anxiously and rested a hand on Loki's knee. Loki knew it was just an affectionate, nervous gesture, but he decided to play a different game while the doctor was watching.

"My, my, Thor. So eager to touch me again?" he whispered in Thor's ear, but loud enough that Bruce would also hear him.

Thor withdrew his hand quickly, and Loki laughed, playfully shoving his brother away.

There was a soft chime over Bruce's shoulder. The doctor cleared his throat. "My lord, the elevator..."

"Yes." Loki stood up gracefully and walked to stand in front of the elevator doors across the room, Thor and Bruce in tow.