Before you get started reading.
Author's note: What you need to know for this fic, is that Loki is dead. Thor has just returned from his funeral in Asgard. It has been three days since Loki's attack and it is in MidOctober about a week from Halloween.
Disclaimers: I do not own any of Marvel's characters. I do own my Loki, a few others, the plot and the some of the backstory. Including my Loki's past.

Well enjoy.

Chapter 8 Breaking the Ice

Sixteen bolts apiece later, they had one panel of the wall down, and after Loki shut down the water system and waited a few minutes for the water to drain, they had all the hoses out and spread across the floor. Loki had already filled the sink full of water and with some help was submerging the tubes one by one to check for leaks.

"So I was just wondering," Tony began handing Loki another tube and drying off the one Loki handed him. "Why are you flying this ship anyways? If you're a mechanic shouldn't you have a shop of your own somewhere?"

"I should say I'm an ex-mechanic."

Tony snorted, "There is no suck thing as an ex-mechanic. I saw what you did to my coffee maker a few days ago." He caught Loki's anxious look and grinned. "Don't worry it works better now then it has ever did. Besides Thor told me he broke it. Between him and Hulk I think I'll be needing to replace a lot of things. I've gotten off track though. If you can fix something without knowing what it is first, why don't you have your own shop?"

Loki sighed and his bare hands stilled in the water. "I did have a shop once."

"What happened," Tony asked gently.

"I left and while I was gone my home got blown up. I should have been there."

"Would you have been able to have stopped the explosion," Tony asked softly.

Loki shook his head, "No I lived in a trading post village, very small, quiet, but important. It was in the way of the front guard of a Chitauri attack so they blew it up. That drew the attention of the police of course but by the time they got there my world was gone and the Chitauri didn't exactly want to mess with the police so they left. It was pointless slaughter."

"And left you alone without anywhere to go," Tony said. "I'm sorry that happened, but not that sorry."

Loki frowned and looked a Tony oddly, "Why not."

"Because if you had died, or your home was not destroyed I never would have met you and if I never had met you I would never have seen Dr. Doom dancing." Loki started laughing along with Tony.

"And speaking of dancing would you like to do me a favor?"

"What kind of favor," Loki asked resuming his work. One of the tubes started 'blowing' bubbles and he stuck a toothpick in the hole so they would be able to find it again when they went to patch the hole up later.

"It will be easy," Tony said, "I'm having a Halloween party two days from now on Halloween. The DJ I hired for the party called and said he couldn't make it. Since you did so well with the robots I was wondering if you could fill in and play the music."

"I suppose I could try but I do not know what Earth songs would be appropriate."

"I'll help you. We can do it now if you wish. Those tubes need to dry and that was the last one, so we've got time to kill. One more thing though it is a costume party. You must dress up in a costume."

"I don't…"

Tony cut him off, "It doesn't have to be fancy. I know! We could get you an eye patch and you can wear your black coat."

"Who would I be dressed up as that," Loki asked.

"Director Fury!"

"I don't think I should dress up as your boss."

"He's not really my boss." Loki raised a skeptical eyebrow at that. "He's only my boss when I'm saving the world," Tony said sullenly.

"I still don't think that would be wise," Loki countered. "But I will find something to wear for your party Tony."

"Thanks Loki, come on we can make our plans in the kitchen I'm starving," Tony grabbed Loki's arm and they went to find some food.

*8*8*8*

Two days later Tony and Loki had finally finished putting the gallery wall back together. "You'll be downstairs tonight right?"

"I did promise didn't I," Loki replied gathering up his tools.

"What are you wearing tonight?"

"Not sure," Loki said, "I've had other things to worry about then costumes."

"I've got an eye patch if you want it," Toney said a gleam in his eye.

"I'll find something," Loki promised as he escorted Tony off his ship.

"You better or I'll find something for you to wear." Tony headed back inside the tower and Loki ducked back inside.

"F.A.D.E. could you find out what Earthling adults wear to Halloween costume parties?"

"Sure thing Master Loki," F.A.D.E. replied. "But he did say dress up."

"No. I am not. I can't."

"At least look Master Loki."

"NO!" Loki dropped down on to his bed and sighed. After a minute he got off the bed and kneeling down next to it reached under it. He dragged out a metal box with a blue lock on the front. His hands hovered over the fragile lock of ice. "No, I won't think of them. I can't." He took a shaky breath and touched the lock. The ice melted at his touch and he opened the lid.

Inside are the pictures of his home. He removed them not looking at them, not yet. Loki paused when he reached the gold cloth bundle at the bottom. He lifted it out and looked at the clothes there. He reached to pick up the mask then the other garments.

"It is a party,' F.A.D.E. says softly. "And those are the only clothes that would be adequate for the evening. It is alright to live."

Loki slowly pulled his shit off and reached for the costume, "Alright I'll wear it."