Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or even the idea that this came from.
Tony Stark's Flying Circus
Chapter 2: Relations and Revelations
The journey to Tønsberg, Norway, was a relatively easy one, the flying circus having given their second performance in London the night before and flown the nearly seven hundred miles through the night while most of them were sleeping. Tony would appreciate the landscape as they landed close to the oldest settlement in Norway, but the view from the storage room turned lab wasn't the greatest. He wasn't complaining, he was there for the company anyway.
"Are you sure you're fine?"
Snapping shut the portable workstation he was sitting at to keep the other from seeing what he was tinkering with (surprises made the discoveries that much more fun), Loki sat back to give the engineer a fond look. His response was tinged with exasperation as he answered the question once more.
"Yes, Anthony. I may have second guessed my decision once, but I take care to never make the same mistakes twice. I stand by my decision - I will be meeting with my parents and you will be joining me. Honestly, Monsieur. I am beginning to believe that you are more nervous about this reunion than I have ever been." Loki sounded far too amused by that as he flicked the locks on the case closed and stood to make his way over to were Tony was trying to peer out at the scenery through the 'port hole' installed in the wall of the room.
Loki pulled on the other's arm, dragging him into a standing position and looking him in the eye. "You are going to do just as well as you keep insisting I will."
Offering the other a grin, Tony remarked, "Don't you think it's a bit ironic that we have so much faith in each other but none in ourselves?"
As Loki gave the slightest shake of his head in disbelief (Tony's humorous defense mechanisms were in full effect), some hissing whistle-clicks had Tony leveling a flat look in Dummy's direction.
"There is no need to be pedantic." Another beep had him making a face, "No, I did not mean pundantic! There is nothing funny about things made of iron being ironic!"
Fed up with all of this back talk, Tony ignored the magician's amused looks as he pointedly asked, "Why are you even up here anyway, aren't you supposed to be comforting The Jag?" Loki started playing with the inventor's lapels on his rather boringly normal suit jacket (not having a show planned for the night, Tony had dressed a bit more casually) as more hiss-clunks were given in response.
Rolling his eyes, Tony clarified, "No, I'm not making a replacement you, one is more than enough. Now, get out of here."
After making sure the mech was on its way down the hall, Tony ran a hand down his goatee and tried to get them back on topic.
"Alright, so. Reunion for you, meet the parents for me. That's," many words sprang to mind (great, horrifying, a step forward, way too soon, about time - wait, stop that) and Tony tried for diplomacy, "doable." Loki clearly saw right through that pause and the crooked smile that accompanied it, but he gave Tony another smile before using those pressed lapels he'd been toying with to pull the ringmaster into a gentle kiss to show his appreciation at his attempt.
Tony allowed himself a long moment to enjoy it, carefully keeping his hands away from Loki's coat to prevent any unnecessary mussing, especially since they were planning to go out to meet the other man's parents presently. Then Tony asked the question that would require the most planning, depending on the answer.
"And you're sure about Thor?" Tony had been sure to keep Jane in the loop and was more than willing to have her distract the strongman while he and Loki settled things.
Fingers twitching at being questioned once more, Loki almost crumpled a few wrinkles into Tony's jacket before he seemed to realize what he was doing and smoothed them back down.
After a moment, he looked satisfied with his adjustments and answered, "Yes, he can come as well. His presence will attract more attention from the city, but it will also pull attention off of myself."
"As I said before, our father is still slightly upset with him as well and that will come in handy when I have to meet with them." Grinning at the magician's dry, insulted tone (Loki obviously didn't enjoy being repeatedly questioned, but telling Thor no after telling him yes would be a nightmare), Tony reached up and pulled him in for another quick kiss before slipping around him and towards Thor's room to set the plans in motion.
"Alrighty then; one family reunion plus one coming right up. I'll let the others know they can explore the town until we all get back from the theater. Either Natasha or Clint will most likely follow us there just out of curiosity, you know that right?" Tony nearly tripped over the door frame as he turned to tell Loki this.
The native man just smiled knowingly, "Of course. It will be Lady Romanova, she can blend in more easily here. The Hawk would be far too conspicuous trying to hide up in his rafters."
Tony hoped that Clint hadn't heard the challenge that his 'enemy' had just laid out for him.
It only took a short while to round up Thor, convincing him that taking his 'Lady Jane' when all of those crowds would be trying to vie for his attention wasn't the best idea, and get him to the ramp where Loki was waiting with a couple of horses for the short ride in to the city. Thor started trying to draw his quiet brother in to conversation and, while normally not totally against such things, Loki was apparently at the end of his patience, the surroundings and anecdotes no doubt bringing back some bad memories. Seeing that and acting quickly to prevent any fighting before the shindig even got off the ground, Tony spoke up.
"So, big guy. Tell me about your mom. I'd like to know a bit about the lady before I meet her, don't want to say anything terrible." Tony really was a bit interested, but he knew where he stood. He listened with half an ear as Thor listed the virtues of his mother, Frigga, and watched as Loki started to relax again. It didn't matter how their mother and father treated him; Tony stood firmly beside the magician and, in a lesser sense, Thor.
They were both his employees, though Loki was far past that (Tony's mind wandered dangerously into the deep end whenever he started thinking about how he felt towards the magician and his logic threw it a life preserver before it could sink to far, dragging it back to the task at hand), and if they didn't want to stay they weren't going to.
His mind slipped from the flotation device when he thought about Loki choosing to stay here instead of coming back with him and his chest twinged slightly.
Rubbing at his medallion through his jacket, Tony continued to nod along as they passed in to the main part of town. Loki was leading them to their destination, but the ringmaster thought he saw the magician glancing back at him in the reflection of a window pane or two. He knew that the other man wasn't as confident about the outcome of this reunion as he was trying to convince the world he was, but Loki was doing a fantastic job of not letting it show, especially when the crowds gathered.
Odin's family was well known and well liked throughout the city, Thor especially. The louder son had many friends who came to greet him as they passed through to their destination, calling out to him from windows and alleys or even walking along side to try and catch up.
Loki had fewer people acknowledging him and a few of those were outright hostile, glaring at him even as they smiled at his brother. Making note of all who so much as sneezed wrong, Tony's smile held a sharp edge.
Not all of the people were doing this, there were even a few that got Loki to smile back, but when compared to the hero's welcome Thor was receiving it was easy to see when people held back. Thor wasn't as unaware of this as some of those around them obviously believed. He earnestly tried to pull his younger brother in to the stories as well, portraying the darker brother with just as much glory as the townsfolk attributed to himself, but some villagers only heard what they wanted to hear.
Well, these people might not know who he was right now, out of his performer's gear and looking like nothing more than a well-dressed steward to the two men he was following, but that just made their reactions more genuine. JARVIS kept records of both faces and names when he could get them.
He might not have a lot of influence here, but there was always something that could be accomplished by throwing a lot of money around. He wasn't really doing anything with his personal funds anyway and investing discretely in those who treated his magician with common decency while subtly destroying those who had made Loki's life hell during his formative years here wouldn't be very hard, especially with JARVIS available to keep an eye on everything after they'd left.
Tony made a mental note to try and set up another remote site for the AI inside the town before he left, perhaps within the opera house itself if Frigga turned out to be the ally her letters to Loki made her out to be.
Soon enough, they reached the primary theater of Odin Borson, Asgard. The owner and his family still kept their residences above the opera house and a groomsman led their horses away to the opera's stables as Thor waved away the rest of the well-wishers, promising to talk to them after meeting with his family. They were led through the large wooden doors into one of the finest opera houses Tony had ever seen and, after looking everywhere for talent for his show, that was saying something.
A regal woman met them at the stairs and it was obvious who she was when she stopped for a moment to place a hand to her mouth, blinking furiously to keep herself from crying (largely ineffectual), before quickly moving down the last steps to hug her youngest son. Loki was shaking ever so slightly as he returned her embrace even as Thor beamed brightly behind him, looking happier to see the two reunited then he would have if he had received the welcome first.
"My son," Frigga said, voice shaking as she pulled back to touch his face, needing reassurance that he was here, that this wasn't a dream. The watery smile she gave him only made her more agelessly beautiful in Tony's opinion, but he couldn't look away from the answering smile Loki gave her in return. Another hug was given before she turned to her eldest with open arms. "Both of my sons, home at last."
Tony sidled up to Loki, whose smile still lingered. "See, that wasn't so bad."
Worry lines between his brows deepening a touch, Loki's grin turned a little self-deprecating. "It was never her that I was worried about when it came to whether I would be welcome here or not. Only her safety if I had stayed."
Tony then found himself pinned under the woman's wise gaze.
"And who might you be, that you accompany my sons on their journey back to me?"
Giving his best bow, Tony smiled charmingly as he introduced himself, "Tony Stark, my lady, at your service."
An eyebrow cocked, telling Tony exactly where Loki had picked it up from, Frigga gave a humored smile as she recognized the name. "The man who gave my youngest shelter and stole my eldest right out from under our noses?"
"One and the same." The ringmaster grinned back, rakishly.
She gave a short laugh even as Loki gave a small roll of his eyes at Tony's behavior. "And so forthright about it! Come, the parlor is upstairs. Let me offer you some tea and you can tell me what my boys have been doing."
She led them back up that amazing marble staircase, which gave Tony plenty of time to appreciate the fine masonry that went in to the opera house.
Spotting his interest, Frigga explained, "The Borsons were wise to invest in the stonework many years before my husband inherited the opera house. It was an insightful venture that has paid off many times through the generations and will hopefully continue to so for the ones yet to come." Frigga smiled as placed a hand on the smooth wall next to her.
Turning back to her sons and their guest, she waved them forward as she ascended a second flight of stairs. "Come, just a little further."
This one was simpler, made of worn stone and leading to a plain but sturdy wooden door. The woman was stronger than she looked; easily pushing the thick wood out of the frame to allow the men entrance to what was obviously the family's living quarters and shutting it behind them. While the building below was grand, this place held a quiet elegance.
As they sat down in an adjoining room, Tony asked a question that had been bugging him since he met the brothers to break the ice, "I've been meaning to ask about that; why do none of you share the same last name? Borson, Odinson, Liesmith…" He trailed off at the last one, waiting for an answer and hoping that the woman hadn't noticed his preference for the last even as the name lingered in his mouth and in the air. He continued to try and cover that, "Wouldn't it be easier with just one?"
There was a tense pause as the woman continued to pour the tea servings quietly and Tony realized that this may be another touchy subject. He sent an apologetic glance in Loki's direction, having only wanted to break the silence, not make it thicker.
Green eyes caught the motion and, after accepting his cup from his mother, Loki started the explanation himself. "It was because of my situation. Many believed that I should not be allowed the prestige of the family name because of the adoption."
Thor broke in here, looking angry at the memory. "Loki is just as worthy of the name Borson as I, those who believe otherwise can take the matter up with me!"
Patting her eldest son's hand before she pressed a cup of tea in to it, Frigga moved to present their guest with one while glancing back over at her youngest. Seemingly satisfied by what she saw there, she finished the explanations. "When Loki chose his last name, Thor joined him in doing so, taking the name Odinson in honor of the old ways."
Nodding his understanding, Tony sat back and politely waited until the woman was turned away before making a face at the tea. He'd never enjoyed the taste, preferring the strong bite of coffee over the leafy drink, but he smoothed his expression back in to an interested smile before the woman looked at him.
Loki raised a humored brow at his antics from where he was seated to the other side of his mother on the settee as Frigga smiled warmly at the American. And that acceptance was all it took.
The family was soon exchanging stories; Thor regaling them with wondrous tales about his Lady Jane and the other members of the troupe with Loki offering his own observations in between, the ringmaster even chiming in for a few of those. Frigga returned with tales of returning performers who had asked after them and the new acts that had filled the theaters night after night. It was the type of conversation that one really relaxed into, filled with warm words and humored chuckles.
While he was enjoying the friendly atmosphere, Tony couldn't help but think of how much happier Loki seemed to be now that he knew that his mother was safe and still held any sort of affection for him. He knew it was irrational, that Loki had many reasons to want to stay with the circus (friends, freedom, and Tony was optimistic enough to add himself to the list) but that didn't help the fear that grew in his chest. His hand rubbed just above his heart as he listened to Thor's next story.
Nearly an hour had passed before they realized it, the tea in Tony's abandoned cup lukewarm as he held it like a prop, and Thor finally asked the question the engineer had knowingly avoided the first time.
"Where is our father? Why has he not come out to welcome us home?"
Watching as Loki tensed slightly at the mention of the man, Tony drew comfort from the long suffering sigh that the woman gave in response. Nothing really terrible was ever prefaced by an annoyed sigh.
"Mr. Jotun has asked him to meet with him again."
Loki looked sharply over at his mother before averting his eyes, taking another sip from his recently refreshed tea.
"Your father has had to put up with this almost every week for the past few months." Shaking her head, Frigga explained, "His theaters have never done quite as well, but recently he has been blaming it on a curse. The poor man has had to shut down two of his theaters in other cities because he did not have the funds to keep them."
The stately woman didn't sound very upset about the businessman's problems. In fact, Tony got the impression that she was quietly pleased at their rival's failing business and the small smile that flitted across her lips as she peeked at her youngest only solidified that belief. Tony grinned quietly for a moment, but the woman continued before he could comment.
"Your father allowed Mr. Jotun to sell a theater to us on the condition that it be returned if he bought it back within three months. That three month grace period finished over a fortnight ago, but Mr. Jotun has recently gained a new investor and wishes to buy it back."
If Frigga was any less classy, Tony assumed she'd be rolling her eyes at that. Of course, because the woman was more elegant then some Queens the famous businessman had been introduced to over the years, she simply raised her brows and pursed her lips as she stirred her tea. "Your father is under no legal obligation to sell it back and met to tell him so."
Looking to Tony, she hastily explained, "It is because we have already begun the renovations to the theater. If it were still in the same state we would have gladly sold it back, but it was the damaged theater." She subtly laid a hand on top of Loki's and Tony thought he saw her pat it out of the corner of his eye while he kept eye contact. "We already called in the contractors and began work on rebuilding the whole structure. Mr. Jotun simply cannot afford to pay us back for those contracts as well."
"It's perfectly reasonable to ask that he pays for both when he'd be getting that added benefit if you returned the theater." Tony assured her, not mentioning his quiet glee at the karma that was catching up to the man who had pretty much run Loki out of Europe. He paused a moment to stifle his grin before using the opening to change the subject, "Speaking of buildings, would you mind if I left a box of Stark technology here in one of your theaters before we move on?"
Even Loki looked a bit intrigued by the question before Tony casually adjusted his spectacles higher on his nose. A slow smile curled the edge of the magician's lips as his eyes narrowed with understanding.
"Setting up another remote location for JARVIS?" It might have sounded like a question if he hadn't sounded so confident in the assumption. Tony nodded as Frigga glanced between them curiously.
"For JARVIS? Who is this JARVIS and why would they need a box here?"
Tony raised his hand, elbow still resting on his knee as he sat forward, and the AI spoke up from the cufflink now displayed. "That would be me, Madam Borson."
Only a woman with years of experience in running theaters could accept that sort of thing with barely a blink. "I see. Shall I address you as Mister JARVIS, then?"
The inventor could hear the smile in that posh voice when he responded, "That won't be necessary, Madam. I am Just A Rather Very Intelligent System; JARVIS will be sufficient."
Turning his arm so that he could look directly in to the lens he had installed there, Tony gave it a strange look.
"Are you flirting with her? Not only is she happily married to the best of my knowledge," Frigga nodded with an amused smile when the inventor glanced over, confirming his statement, before he continued, "But I definitely didn't program you to do that!"
The AI gave a very good impersonation of a long suffering sigh from the speakers located within the accessory.
"I was attempting to be polite, Sir, which is something you programmed. Even though you seem incapable of it."
Thor's booming laugh at JARVIS' retort nearly covered Tony's disbelieving, "Again with the sass and mouthy comments." He looked away from his technology and up into laughing green eyes, his own narrowing as a thought occurred. "I don't believe you were ever this snappy before you started having those mysterious conversations with Sunshine, here..."
When Loki made no move to answer him nor any sound to stop the unspoken question from continuing, the AI answered as Thor finally collected himself.
"I did say I learned from the best, Sir."
That sent the three Nords in to another round of laughter, Loki's signature breathy chuckle joining the other two this time as Tony sat in shock, a betrayed look on his face. Tony would later blame this shock for missing any knowing looks that Frigga may have been giving to her youngest and him.
The sound of a carriage arriving at the front of the opera house brought the laughter to an end as the lady of the house moved to the window to confirm who it was.
"That is your father." She looked back at her two sons, "Would you like to come with me to meet him at the door?" It was a tradition that she had started decades earlier, greeting her husband at the door whenever she could. Her sons had joined her there for many years before they had grown 'too old' for it.
"Of course!" Thor stood to accompany her down to the main hall, giving Loki a questioningly hopeful look as he did. (The elder was simply happy that his brother had agreed to come home at all and didn't want to push him in to leaving once again especially over so simple a thing.)
Shaking his head slightly, Loki stayed seated as he watched his family make their way back downstairs before finally looking at Tony, who was watching the exchange with an unreadable look on his face, hand to his chest. Loki let the silence stretch until he could no longer hear his family's footsteps before asking the question that had been worrying him for some time.
"Is it bothering you today?"
Coming out of his dark thoughts (how easily they fell back into family routines, having never really had one Tony wasn't sure if that was really as bad a sign as it seemed), Tony's hand paused in its rubbing motion before he set it down quickly.
"No, nothing so serious. It's just a nervous habit, you know that."
And Loki did. He knew all of the ringleader's strange habits when it came to that medallion; tapping it when he had a new idea for an invention, rubbing it when worried or when the pangs from the pacemaker became a little too much, even licking it a few times out of boredom when drunk enough just to feel the shock.
"Yes, but that is the fifth time in the last two hours." 'I was beginning to worry' was left unsaid, but Tony gave an apologetic smile at the magician's concern none the less.
"It's nothing," Tony repeated more genuinely, an inexplicable sense of relief filling him at Loki's inadvertent admission to having been watching him even when he should have been paying attention to his family first. He received a skeptical look for his trouble and he relented, "Really, don't worry about it. I'll tell you once we get back, alri-"
A set of hurried footsteps made him pause and both of them turned to look as Thor burst in with more force than necessary.
"Laufey is coming, brother."
Both of the seated men appeared unfazed at this announcement, much to Thor's bewilderment. Loki waved his hand to encourage his brother to retake his seat.
"There was always the possibility he would come once he was informed of our arrival. Best to get it over with promptly, I suppose."
Looking to his boss, Thor tried to figure out what had changed. When Loki had left the country, even the mention of Mr. Jotun's name would have him flinching but now he looked calmer then he had on the ride over.
Tony understood that there was a large difference between meeting your spurned family (and hoping for forgiveness) and seeing the man who had pushed you in to running in the first place. Especially when Loki was now even more confident about the actual part he had played in the fire (not intentional even if it possibly could have been him who started it). Besides, the magician had always been one to meet his opponents with a smile rather than a frown. It threw them off beautifully.
Patting the side of the armchair next to his, Tony encouraged, "Come on, big guy. Take a seat and watch the masters at work."
The engineer was pretty sure Loki was, under all of that poise that tinged with a bit of remembered fear, just as excited at the chance to mess with this guy as he was. After all, messing with Laufey had been one of the younger brother's favorite past times before the fire breathing incident had temporarily robbed him of his confidence and made him fear for his family.
As for Tony, he'd never liked a bully. The fact that it was Loki who was affected by it only made him want to mess with the rival owner even more. Loki may not know it, but he had become Tony's and the inventor wasn't fond of other people hurting what was his, even if it had happened before they had met.
He sent the magician a sharp grin of anticipation and received a quick smirk in return before the wooden door creaked open once again, Frigga leading the way, face a little pinched in annoyance. It looked like she was as happy to allow the oily businessman entrance as her imposing husband was to have met with him at all (and judging by the scowl on the large man's bearded face as he followed his rival into the parlor) but introduced the room with a bland smile none the less.
"Mr. Jotun, let me reintroduce you to our second son, Loki Liesmith." The seedy man made no moves to keep his sneer hidden, reddened eyes narrowed and looking distinctly displeased to see the prodigal son's return.
Loki returned the scathing look with a polite smile that didn't completely cover the dark amusement in his eyes, obviously laughing at the other man's discomfort.
"So good to see you again, Mr. Jotun. I understand you have been down on your luck lately. I do so hope that you are able to dispel that run of bad luck."
Bristling in his worn blue suit, Laufey gave a small snarl at the mocking undertones even as he paled a bit at the subtle implication that he was as cursed as he had been claiming.
"Yes," the petty man bit back in their native language (JARVIS quietly translating in Tony's ear), uncaring of those who surrounded him as he once again crossed words with this most detested nuisance. "I had a recent windfall, no thanks to you."
Loki just gave a mocking smile and used English once again simply because he knew Laufey was terrible with it, "A 'windfall', what a fine choice of words." His smile sharpened as the businessman read the clear threat, paling further. "Perfect, even."
Taking that moment to interrupt and continue introductions, Frigga gestured to Tony, "And this is our friend and the employer of both our sons, Mister Anthony Stark."
Tony dialed back his wickedly amused smirk at Loki's playing to give the theater owner a rather flat version of his usually dazzling smile. But Laufey didn't seem interested in his expression, his bloodshot eyes glued to the faint outline on Tony's chest, a hungry sort of surprise on his growing into a disturbingly smarmy smile.
"Ah, Mister Stark." The theater owner moved forward slightly even as Tony held back a wince at the man's pronunciation. He obviously wasn't as practiced as the others in the room and the inventor silently wished that he would go back to his native language for the sake of his ears (JARVIS was a fantastic translator), but watching him struggle was way too amusing. "I was hoping to see you sometime during your tour. I would be more than glad to offer you the use of my theaters for your shows."
Well, there was just no way that was happening. Not after his acts against Loki and his family and certainly not after that telling look he'd just subjected Tony to. But, denying him out right would only anger him needlessly, make Pepper mad at his negotiation skills, and ruin any further chance of fun. Instead, Tony tried for a politely regretful tone.
"Terribly sorry, Mister Yo-ton, but we have already agreed to use the Borson's theaters if anything." The mispronunciation was intentional.
Smile becoming slightly wooden as his eyes flicked back down to Tony's chest then around to the others in the room, Laufey gave a nod of acceptance.
"Of course you have." Even Thor must have noticed the disgusted curl at the corner of the lanky man's lips before it disappeared. "Well, if you are going to Germany, I will be more than happy to have you as the Borson theaters have not yet purchased any land or buildings in that country. Feel free to call so I can take care of you."
Not enjoying the continued treatment as an object (and the sickening thought of being possessed by that man), Tony simply made a noncommittal grunt before requesting a refill on his half empty cup of tea and struck up another conversation with Frigga.
"Now, about that remote server, where do you think we might be able to set that up?"
He noticed that Laufey's eye twitched a little as he turned back to Odin and made his excuses in his native language. Loki was watching the other two carefully as the short man promised to bring the required amount of money shortly with a confidence he hadn't possessed earlier.
Tony glanced over at the magician as he stood to finally greet his father properly once the wooden door had swung shut, but continued his discussion of available spaces for JARVIS' newest addition after a quick look from Loki. As Tony listened to the woman's suggestions as to where the machinery might be placed, Tony kept half an ear on the conversation that JARVIS was kindly enhancing for him and tried not to look over at the two men he was eavesdropping on.
Odin's voice was heavy when he spoke, "Loki." The younger man's tone was a little lighter and Tony thought that he could detect a note of relief when the magician replied, "Father."
They must have been inspecting one another as they stood like that for a long moment, long enough for Tony to start worrying that his earpiece was acting up and sneak a quick glance at the pair in between his explanations of how the machinery would work with a little help from Thor. The strongman had the added benefit of having a tinker for a girlfriend and growing up with Loki probably helped, but their mother had been content to leave such things to her boys. She seemed quite content to listen to their easy banter over the placement of the device as the other men in her life reacquainted themselves.
Tony's glance came just in time to see the magician start slightly as his father rested a hand on his shoulder and the ringmaster thought he could almost see pride on the older man's bearded face as a gruff voice was projected over his ear piece. "Welcome home, my son."
The inventor found it hard to keep up with his current conversation, but held it together even as he grinned. He knew it! Well, okay. No, he hadn't been sure that Odin would react in this way, but he had been reassuring Loki of it for quite a while, so he was looking forward to saying 'I told you so'.
He thought that over again as Thor tried to explain how the devices communicated through radio waves. No, he couldn't, because he wasn't supposed to be hearing this. Damn. Maybe he could somehow entice Loki to tell him directly. Tony licked his lips slightly as he planned a few persuasion techniques that would be highly entertaining even if they didn't work.
Loki's amused voice brought him out of his contemplations and he could almost feel the other's gaze on the back of his neck. "It is good to know I can still claim this place as my home, for all that I have found and made my own elsewhere."
Catching the look easily from the corner of his eye, the ringmaster sent a quick grin in return, before turning back to Frigga. "Now, what would you like the device to be named?"
"Named?" The woman queried, clearly not understanding why a mechanical device would need to be named. It wasn't common, but all of these inventions needed names to be able to differentiate themselves to JARVIS and one another. Tony usually named them himself, but he was more than willing to make an exception for this exceptional woman.
"Yes. It's like a call-sign, a way of designating where each piece of information came from and where the information is supposed to go to." He could hear the pair still talking to each other faintly, but he couldn't pass this to Thor because Jane hadn't ever been told about this part of the process. Tony resigned himself to listening to it later as he continued, "That's why it has to be unique. When JARVIS references other people or places he sends out a mass signal and it's a hassle to have to modify it for a few locations like he would if two of the names were the same."
Frigga seemed to have an idea of what might work, but turned to Odin for his input, easily spotting them as he followed their younger son back over to the conversation. They shared a 'couples' look (and damn it if Tony didn't get a little ticked off. Did everyone else understand those?) where she was all smiles and he was grudgingly amused anticipation.
"What would you call the one who watches over all of us, both here and abroad, husband?"
Odin's lips twitched slightly at what was obviously an inside joke before answering, "Heimdall would be best suited for the position."
Glancing over at the two brothers, Tony was relieved to see he wasn't the only one who didn't catch the reference. He gave a shrug before having JARVIS take note of the name, "Alright then, that's spelled with two 'L's at the end, right?"
Receiving the affirmative, Tony nodded before standing to shake the theater owner's hand. "Nice to see you again, Mister Borson. I trust you've been as well as your letters have led me to believe?"
The bearded man took the proffered hand with both a smile and a hard look. "Of course; better now that my sons have returned." Odin caught the mostly suppressed twitch as Tony's hand made to rub at his chest once more, his fears flaring for a moment before the ringmaster grinned.
"Only temporarily."
Not looking as upset by the reminder as Tony thought he would, Odin gave grunted chuckle as he released his fellow businessman's hand.
"I can see that, now."
Feeling a bit paranoid at how easily this was going, Tony narrowed his eyes at the older man, only to see that sharp eye flick down towards his neck and then in Loki's direction. Sudden insight into what that couple's conversation might have been about dawned on the inventor, eyes widening as the meet the parents scenario became very real.
"As for your snap decision to only use Borson theaters on your tour," Odin continued even as Tony quietly freaked out within his own head.
He'd never met the parents of anyone he had ever dated, ever. Tony congratulated himself on not hyperventilating under the combined weighted gazes of two of the most important people in Loki's life. In fact, if it weren't for the sudden tensing of his shoulders and a few quick glances in the magician's direction, Tony might have pulled off 'casual'.
Pausing for another measured look, Odin's eye seemed to stare into his very soul and Tony wasn't so sure that it was even close to being worthy enough. He gave a gulp that sounded terribly loud to his own ears as the father shared another couple's look with his wife and finally ground out, "I approve."
Tony had never before been so speechless, struck dumb by the underlying message he'd just been given. Wide brown eyes shifted over to meet Loki's equally surprised gaze.
Thor looked on in amused confusion - eyes slightly narrowed as he acknowledged the fact that he was missing some deeper meanings - as his employer opened his mouth only to close it again when no words came.
It happened only once more before Tony found his tongue. "I – thank you. I'm honored you – I'll – Thank you."
Finding his tongue didn't mean that it would obey him, evidently.
Frigga gave a short laugh at his reaction and patted her younger son's hand. "Will you be performing tonight, then?"
Both of the sons looked to the ringleader who shrugged, appreciating the solid footing of his business.
"We could if you wanted. We'd agreed to take the night off so that your family could get reacquainted, but if you'd rather see them perform that could be arranged as well." Tony grinned at that, always up for performing and the adrenaline rush it brought (and Loki's tight leather pants). He hastily added, "Your theaters won't be needed though, we brought our rings with us, as usual."
"If it would not trouble your troupe to perform with so little warning, we would love to see our sons perusing their passions." Frigga looked concerned at the possible inconvenience, but she smiled shortly after. "And you have our approval, none the less."
Grin widening at the reminder, Tony couldn't think of one reason why they shouldn't at least try to put on a performance that night. "Let's get to work then, JARVIS. Send a message to the group that we're having a show tonight with two VIPs."
"At once, Sir." The AI didn't seem terribly surprised by this decision, but continued even as Tony opened his mouth to speak once more. "And, I am terribly sorry to interrupt, but Miss Romanova is requesting your presence in the opera's stables."
Tony frowned, mind already flicking through the things that she might ask him to be there for at this time and coming up with nothing good. He turned back to the others. "If you'll excuse me; I never like to keep a lady waiting."
Not really waiting to be dismissed, Tony was quickly out the door and headed down the stairs, only pausing slightly as he heard light footsteps behind him.
Throwing a look over his shoulder after reaching the main foyer, he spotted Loki following him down to see what was wrong. It was the person behind him that made him stop short though. A dusty Clint was moving silently down the steps as well, apparently having been listening in from the rafters and now trying to spook the magician.
It didn't seem to be working, as even with the inventor's strong reaction Loki didn't even pause or turn to look behind him before warning, "I do hope you understand what you would be starting if you try that, little Hawk."
Clint mouthed a very incredulous looking 'Starting?' but put down his hands from where he was going to smear dust all over the European man's dark outfit. Reaching Tony's position, Loki gave the acrobat a sly look over his shoulder.
"I see that you can be trained. Excellent." He then had to move quickly to dodge a swipe.
Tony ducked out of the way and out the door as he realized that Clint wasn't going to stop just because he missed his original target. Swiftly making his way around to the side of the building, the warring pair almost dancing their way over behind him, Tony soon spotted the redhead waiting for them in one of the empty stalls.
Making his way around to the opening, he surprised himself with only a small hitch in his step as he spotted the kneeling man. It wasn't anyone he recognized, but the blank look on his face and his jerking movements once he saw Tony were frankly disturbing.
Natasha didn't take her eyes off of the bound man as she explained, "He started tailing you half way through town and looked about ready to start climbing the walls once the front door was closed." She nudged him on to his side with her foot, unmoved when he gave a grunt of pain as he hit the ground. "Two others were with him. Clint got one but the other got away."
Tony jutted his jaw slightly, running his tongue over his teeth as he processed this. "What's so different about these guys that you had to tell me?"
Assassination attempts weren't so unusual these days, but the Black Widow and Hawkeye were more than ready to use them as practice to keep their skills sharp. The fact that they called him in to see it was different and the ringmaster needed to know why. Leaning down, Tasha pulled the gag down, allowing the mutters to be heard for a moment.
"-llion. Retrieve Tony Stark. Take medallion. Retrieve Tony Stark. T-" The cloth quieted the droning words once more and Tony found he was more surprised that he didn't jump as Loki placed a hand on his shoulder, green eyes narrowed as he inspected the lackey.
"I know this man. He was the second apprentice at the carpentry mill over on the east side of the village last I heard." He looked back at the now professional Clint, "You might want to give that a look if you have time before the show."
Sharply nodding at the advice, Hawkeye shook the last of the dust from his hair and gave the wall two taps of varied strength. A sharp sniff was all he got in reply from his partner before he scaled the building, presumably to start the investigation.
Finally knocking the man out with a swift squeeze to the back of his neck, Natasha looked up at the ringmaster. "Get Thor and head back together, Pepper isn't happy that you've changed plans last second." She then shifted her gaze to the magician.
The look she gave Loki spoke volumes (protect him while we hunt or die trying) as did the nod she received in reply and Tony felt an irrational surge of jealousy at their silent understanding before he pushed it back and went to go round up the strongman.
Looking a bit relieved - Odin had taken the time during their absence to start asking after Thor's 'Lady Jane' that had convinced him to stay in America with his brother - Thor stood readily when they made it back to the parlor.
Loki had a few whispered words with his father about the situation that had just occurred on his property as Tony begged forgiveness for their hasty departure from the lady of the house. Waving them off elegantly, Frigga kissed both of her sons on the cheek as a farewell (a heavy hand and a stern one-eyed glare had put the fear of god and Odin into Tony) before the woman went so far as to bestow a kiss on the ringleader's cheek as well. Tony thought he saw her glare at her husband as they left.
Taking their leave, the ride back to the airship was much quicker, though still dotted with a few villagers wanting to speak to the brothers. Both Tony and Loki had decided that Thor would only be told what had happened once they arrived, along with the rest of the group; there was no need for him to start rushing around looking for threats that may or may not be there.
It didn't take them long to arrive back at the balloon, a stressed looking Pepper waiting for them at the ramp.
Tony winced slightly as he realized exactly what this next hour or four before the show was going to include. Not only was he going to have to round up the cast and crew, set up the rings, and get it all done without alerting whoever those drones worked for, but he was going to have to explain the dangers to an already annoyed Virginia Potts.
He tried to wipe the grimace off of his face before they got close enough for her to spot it, replacing it with a wide grin. "Pepper, darling!"
The irate woman cut him off before he could try to sweet talk her out of the small speech she had prepared after JARVIS had informed her of the change.
"Oh, no. Don't you try to talk your way out of this one!" Her scolding finger lowered as she gave him a look that clearly questioned his sanity, "What do you think you were doing, changing your mind at one in the afternoon? When we're on the ground and the carts are already out is one thing, but pulling it all together when it's all stored?"
Carefully not rolling his eyes at her rapid fire questions, having learned that she wasn't really expecting an answer and definitely not wanting to provoke her further, Tony led his horse up the ramp as the circus' manager followed.
"How could you even think tha-" The redhead was clearly on a roll, not even stopping to let Tony dismount and return the horse before starting in, but was cut off by a velvety accented voice.
"Please do not treat him too harshly, Madam Potts. This is my doing."
Blinking as she turned away from her boss, mouth still slightly open as she paused mid-sentence, Pepper looked torn between asking why or simply changing the target of her frustrations. Loki continued playing her like a fiddle before she decided and Tony was glad that Thor had gone ahead with Loki's horse.
"Our parents expressed that they wished to see our performances tonight. Monsieur Stark was kind enough to acquiesce to their request at my insistence. Forgive me; I should have considered everyone first." He looked so contrite that the woman's anger fizzled out and she gave a slight sigh.
Tony watched with amusement as Pepper gave in to the magician, accepting his apology with a quiet, "No, it's alright. We've dealt with worse before and today was planned for you and your family in the first place." She gave him a small smile before addressing the retreating ringmaster.
"Don't think you're getting out of this. You're helping Happy with set up!" Pepper then moved away to continue her own preparations for the night.
Giving a sigh of his own, Tony let his shoulders slump slightly as he hitched his horse back in its stable and started pulling out the equipment needed to make up the rings and tents. Loki stopped to place a questioning hand on the showman's shoulder.
"Do you require any assistance?" Tony just gave him a small smile and nudged him towards the ladder.
"Don't worry about it, Sunshine. Your act just got me out of a lecture and you've got some last minute prep to do before tonight, so get going."
Loki gave him a warm look, obviously enjoying the fact that the other man could read him so well and appreciate his powers of manipulation. He leaned in to whisper a reminder, "You will be telling me about that incessant rubbing later."
With a roll of his eyes, Tony pushed Loki towards the rooms. "Later, now go."
Taking the hint, Loki left to get dressed and start preparing his box of tricks for the upcoming show, needing everything perfect for when he would perform for his family.
It wasn't like the larger preparations were hard for Tony, simply time consuming. The wagons moved out of the airship on magnetized rails, rolling easily on to the hard packed soil of the clearing at the touch of a button.
Already waiting for them, Happy shot him a grin as he started lining the carts up, obviously amused at his wife's reactions to both Tony and Loki (and possibly the duo's short interaction afterward).
"Not a word out of you. I still have to call a short meeting before the show."
Happy looked concerned at that, meetings weren't terribly common in a circus, especially not ones that might interfere with the upcoming show. Seeing that, Tony quietly started explaining what they had seen at the theater's stables, allowing the loud mechanical noises of the carts to shield his words from any spies.
Just under two hours' worth of work later the Circus was ready for business, the whole thing going even faster after Cap and Rhodey wandered in from the town to pitch in as well.
Wiping a bit of sweat from his brow as they inspected the rings for anything they might have forgotten, Tony took the time to ask Steve, "Hear anything while you were out asking around, Cap?"
The blond removed his signature star-spangled hat to run his fingers through his hair in an aggravated gesture before answering, "A bit. Last anyone had heard, Bucky's troupe was down on the main continent. Mostly down the eastern half near Russia according to the rumors, but no more information than that."
"Well, looks like that's where we'll be headed next then," Tony decided immediately, returning the clown's grateful grin with a cheerful one of his own.
A soft whoosh as the tent's opening flapped shut again had them both turning to see the last of the troupe filing into the big top, Tony earning a few questioning looks from those gathered. Ignoring them for the moment, the inventor looked to the pair of ex-assassins and Natasha answered with a short shake of her head – nothing new was found.
"Alright, groundlings, let's get this meeting started." He gave a sharp smile as some of them grumbled at the Shakespearean insult, before sobering, "We had a little trouble crop up today in the form of rather mindless kidnapers. Emphasis on the 'mindless'."
A heavy look was shared between the two scientists in the room at that before Bruce visibly held himself back and rubbed at the bridge of his nose uneasily.
Jane spoke up shortly after, "Do we know who they were targeting or why?"
The man in question hesitated, not wanting to lie but, at the same time, not wanting to have to put up with a large group of mother hens like he'd been forced to the last time.
He wasn't allowed the choice as Clint spoke up, "They keep repeating their orders over and over; it wasn't hard to guess that they wanted the bossman here."
Sending the archer a halfhearted glare (only getting a careless shrug in response) Tony nearly groaned as he spotted that protective glint in nearly everyone's eyes. He just couldn't understand why they felt the need to defend him so often; it wasn't like he couldn't protect himself! So what he nearly got shot last time, the armor did its job! Granted, he couldn't just wear the armor all the time here, but come on!
Eyes sliding over the muttering group (they were making plans to have him watched at all times, he just knew it) Tony's gaze locked with a steadfast green one. Unconsciously relaxing, Tony let Loki capture his attention briefly before moving on.
"We aren't going to stop the shows, we're still going to tour, and we're still going to try and locate the Bucking Broncos." Some looked ready to protest this, but Tony just held his hands up for continued silence. "Look, we knew it was going to be dangerous when we decided to come. That didn't stop us then and it isn't going to stop us now that the threat has been confirmed. We'll just be a little more cautious, that's all."
He then lowered his hands to show he was done, moving towards Bruce. Finding the scientist quietly discussing something with Steve, the ringmaster made his way over to the good doctor.
"Brucie," the fugitive looked up at the genius inventor's call. "Do you think you could whip up a few more of those pills for everyone here? Just in case of... just in case?"
That got a short nod from the chemist. "I'll let them take my latest batch." Sternly looking over his glasses at Tony, Dr. Banner queried, "You have been taking them faithfully already though, right?"
Tony started sputtering at that, "What? Of course I do, why wouldn't I, it-"
His AI spoke up to put him out of his misery, "I've been adding them to his coffee every morning, Doctor Banner."
An amused smile flitted over Bruce's face at that even as his friend muttered darkly at his cufflinks. "Keep up the good work then, JARVIS."
Glare shifting up to the chuckling duo in front of him (Steve always liked a good joke) Tony over-dramatically admonished, "Don't you go encouraging him."
"Tony," a stern female voice called from just behind him.
Turning to face his long-time friend, the ringleader complained, "Don't tell me you've finished designing the babysitting schedule already! What, is this contingency plan K for Kidnappers?"
The redhead immediately parried with, "No, it's standing order T."
Tony looked suspicious as he took a guess, "For Tony?"
Not even raising a brow at his ego, Pepper corrected, "For Trouble, but the two are completely interchangeable these days."
He almost went to argue before he thought better of it, "Fair enough."
It was about that time that Tony noticed that the meeting was breaking up, over half of the cast already missing from the tent, but Pepper prodded him on the shoulder to bring his attention back. He ignored Darcy's snicker as he rubbed the area like he'd been injured, playfully pouting as the organizer pointed to the exit.
"You still have to wash up and get ready for the performance tonight. I know how long it takes you. Go."
Pout becoming a little lopsided, Tony debated whether or not to obey that order, before deciding she was probably right and that this was the perfect chance to escape on his own before a baby sitter could be assigned (Loki was one of the ones already gone, so what would be the point in staying?).
Not wanting to let on that he might be getting the better end of this deal, the ringmaster rolled his eyes and gave a huff of annoyance before slipping out of the tent towards the tethered airship.
It didn't take long for him to make it back to his rooms, where he promptly discarded his already undone tie and hung his plain black suit jacket, pulling out his showman's outfit as he did. Tony was just glad that he'd remembered to pack at least three pairs of this outfit, seeing as he'd forgotten to do any sort of laundering the night before and that jacket was still crumpled and half under a chair.
He did a double take. A very occupied chair.
Loki gave a smile at having finally been noticed.
"I can see why they think you need a minder if that is how long it takes you to realize someone else is in the room, Monsieur." The magician's tone was teasing, but his posture was more tense than usual.
Sure that he knew why the other man was here, Tony attempted to distract Loki, slowly unbuttoning his white dress shirt and pulling it from where it was tucked in to his pants as he replied, "Maybe I'm just used to your presence, Sunshine. It would've been different if it'd been anyone else."
Loki's intense gaze followed his fingers as they pulled the shirt off completely to expose Tony's chest, catching the way the inventor's pulse quickened under the heated inspection. Enjoying the display, the European man licked his lips in a deliberately sensuous fashion before asking the question Tony was obviously trying to avoid.
"You never did explain why you were rubbing your chest so earnestly all day."
Tony looked down at the reddened area just under his swinging medallion. Frowning at the reminder, the inventor turned and grabbed a nearby wash cloth, hitting a button to start filling his wash basin with lukewarm water as he did.
"Like I told you before, it's nothing you should worry about." He wet the rag and began to wipe the sweat off of his upper body, wishing he had the time to take a bath before the show and hoping against hope that Loki might drop the subject. The nervous habit and the reasons behind it seemed almost foolish now that they were both back here. Together and without the threat of Loki possibly leaving.
So focused on not answering or looking at the other man, Tony jumped as he felt those familiar, ring clad hands on his back. He froze as the hands started moving, one caressing down one side of his back slowly as the other slipped up, over his shoulder and down his arm to pull the damp washcloth from loosened fingers.
The art of breathing came back to him ask Loki took a half step back and started running the cloth over his back.
"That you are so hesitant to tell me only worries me further."
The soft admission had Tony slouching forward to place his hands on the dresser in front of him, head hanging a bit as he realized that if he didn't explain now, Loki would drop the subject just as the inventor had done for him many times before. Damn him for using Tony's own tactics against him. Damn him for actually caring. 'And damn me for loving it,' Tony thought with an almost humorless smile. 'Don't ever let him stop.'
The thought of Loki not caring anymore had his hand at his chest.
Cloth disappearing from his back, Tony started to look back and moved to drop his hand down on to the wooden surface in front of him, only for it to be caught in a long fingered hand. Tony leaned back slightly into Loki's warmth as it chased away the chill left behind by the washcloth, allowing his captured hand to be guided back to his chest, more directly over his heart then before.
A quiet plea was whispered near his ear as the magician rested his chin on Tony's shoulder, "Tell me."
"It's," Tony moved to grasp the hand as his waist, intertwining their fingers as he slowly admitted, "it's when I." He cursed himself for being so terrible at expressing the important things. Closing his eyes and squeezing the other man's fingers, he forced it all out in to the open. In for a penny, in for a pound.
"When the thought of you possibly leaving, to stay with them, to not be with me-" No, he wasn't going to stop. He wrestled with his cracking voice, "It hurts when I realize that you have better places to be."
It was times like this that Tony felt the emotional scars left behind by his father and pseudo-father most keenly, when he couldn't think of one reason why someone else would stay with him when he was so clearly unwanted. He made to pull away, needing a stiff drink to help wash those insecurities away. He'd built himself a family of his own, one that traveled, performed, joked, argued, and lived together; wasn't he over this sort of thing?
Loki simply tightened his hold on the engineer.
"No."
Tony flinched at the other man's unknowing response to his mental question, turning his head to the side looking for an escape even as Loki pressed a gentle kiss on to his neck.
Closing his own eyes, the trickster whispered, "There is no place better for me than this."
Time seemed to step out to give the pair some space as Tony froze, trying to figure out if he'd heard correctly. Releasing his grip on the magician's hands, the slightly shorter man turned in the other's embrace to face him.
Allowing it, Loki stood up straighter and dropped his hands to grasp the inventor's elbows lightly. The confused wonderment on Tony's face confirmed the magician's suspicions that the genius didn't fully appreciate his own worth even as he continuously endeavored to remind Loki of his own.
"What do you mean? This town has everything you'd need, family, friends, a theater to perform in -" His protests were cut off by Loki's lips covering his, one of his talented hands pulling Tony roughly into it. Only able to helplessly respond to the familiar sensations after the initial half second of shock wore off, Tony was a little breathless when Loki eventually pulled back to respond.
"This place may house my parents, but it holds little of interest for me past that. Why would I stay when I would lose my independence, my freedom?"
Tony looked away, but the magician didn't give him time to even begin to be disappointed.
"When you would leave me behind, why would I ever stay trapped in this city?"
Tony stared at Loki with wide eyes. His silence stretched so long that the later was almost afraid that he'd misread the level of affection the former held for him. Those worries were thrown away when Tony threaded his callused hands through the magician's hair and pulled him close, fiercely muttering his response against the other man's lips.
"God, I love you." He didn't wait for a response to that admission before nearly attacking Loki's lips with his own, feeling the other smile as he did.
He realized that, while he might be half undressed, Loki was still fully clothed and ready for the performance, just missing that long, beautiful leather jacket. Tony set about remedying that error, busying one hand with the buttons on the black fitted vest while using the other to encourage the magician to tilt his head to the side and give the inventor better access to his neck. Allowing it, Loki gave a deep, throaty chuckle as his hands caressed the other man's back.
"Going above and beyond on the number of," he had to pause, inhaling sharply as Tony's hand started not so gently tugging on the sensitive hairs at the nape of his neck. Loki let a few fingers slip ever so slightly beneath the back of the inventor's pants in retaliation before continuing, "Touching moments this month, Monsieur?"
Tony snorted at the reminder, grazing the junction between Loki's neck and shoulder ever so slightly with his teeth then replying, "Well, we are geniuses."
Tony pulled back to shoot the other man a grin as his fingers finished unbuttoning the dark dress shirt and began tracing familiar patterns on the now exposed skin.
"And it would be quite a shame if we didn't at least try to outdo the competition, don't you think?"
Free hand sneaking up the engineer's spine to stop just between the shoulder blades, Loki purred, "I think that I would like to get on with the type of 'touching moment' we'd both prefer at this moment, Monsieur."
Moaning slightly as the hand on his back pressed the two of them closer together, Tony enjoyed the feel of Loki's bare chest against his own even as their lips met once more.
He nipped at the magician's lip when he felt that wandering hand work its way further into his pants, releasing it to murmur, "Well, I'm not going to say no to that."
In the back of his mind, Tony made a note to subtly thank Pep for sending him up two hours before the show was set to start, before succumbing to his desires.
Turns out I am still a tease. Sorry about the wait, Assassin's Creed III and work have consumed nearly all of my time these days. The next chapter is roughly the size of both of these first two chapters combined, maybe a little less. So you'll have that to look forward to if you're still sticking around for the final part of the series! :)