Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, they belong to Marvel (and Norse mythology :D). I am very sad about this, but I have borrowed them to write my own story.
AN: I am disliking telecommunications today. So tempted to unplug the phone. Time to turn the music right up I think. Also I have solder burns on my fingers, last time I help my brother with his toys.
Quote for the day:
"Night is not something to endure until dawn. It is an element like wind or fire. Darkness is its own kingdom; it moves to its own laws, and many living things dwell in it." – Patricia A. Mckillip.
Song for the day: 'Bad Girlfriend' by Theory of a Deadman.
LovesDragons: I am beginning to think that is everyone's favourite line. I must just like to be different because I want to slap Loki for it. Yeah it is hard to leave, bear in mind Loki has never seen his brother beaten before. I don't want to be in the blast radius when that happens.
Chapter Seven – Empty Eyes.
After his already bruised back made contact with the hard jet seat Loki had decided that until he could get a better handle on the mortals present his best course of action was to remain still and quiet. At least the magical construct had remembered the ice packs, and with some wiggling he managed to get them under his armour and sighed in relief as they eased his skin. The worry he'd had that the cold would trigger his Jotun side was banished as his skin remained white, despite the slight silvery markings that appeared momentarily on his hands. He closed his eyes against Thor's piercing gaze and thought back over everything that had occurred since he had made it to Midgard.
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Tony was running equations across the displays inside the suit, while getting Jarvis to dig up any information he could find on golems and magical constructs. He needed to know if these were something he would have to worry about with the Asgardrian magic user in their midst. He ignored the fact he was sort of flattered at someone noticing his genius in the wave of disgust that flooded over him that it was Loki who had noticed. His background reading on Norse mythology meant he had a small selection of information on the two so-called gods on the jet. There were several things he wished to know were true, but what he had gathered was that Loki was the brains and Thor the brawn, he didn't know what had caused the split, as there were some files of S.H.I.E.L.D. he hadn't dared hack before doing a job for them, the ones he had gotten into told him little other than what was in the package Agent Coulson had brought him.
The change in pressure warned him they were landing and he snapped away from that chain of thoughts and focused on the two Asgardrians. Jarvis was muttering information into his ear and his displays were still running data, but Tony nodded slightly, barely moving the suit's helmet and stepped between a worried looking Thor and a meditating Loki as the Quin-jet touched down. In the same silence that had filled the jet after retrieving Loki Captain America dragged the dark haired Asgardrian to his feet as Tony trained his repulsors on the blonde.
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Loki had found himself pulled from his memories by hard hands on his biceps and his eyes widened momentarily at the sight of the magical construct standing between Thor and himself. The anger in Thor's bright blue eyes had him going silently with the soldier and allowing the strange handcuffs to be placed around his wrists. He reached for his magic to help him charm the guards slightly, but even as they took him away from the soldier he swayed with the effort. He wouldn't be trying that trick again he decided and settled for merely watching those around him. They were stern faced and hard eyed, probably not easily swayed after what he had done to their comrades. If he had had the sceptre then escape would have been a possibility, as it was he would have to wait for his rescue and that galled him somewhat.
Apparently the cell they were leading him to meant a long walk and he decided if he slowed his pace he had time to take more in. His senses told him the craft they were on was in the air, but was much larger than the one the golem had told him was a jet. Actually the longer he had to walk for the more impressed he was that a thing of such size could get in the air, let alone stay there. The vehicle was full of mortals working on huge screens, some of which flashed information up more quickly than he could take in and the air was full of a dull drone of at least fifty voices all talking quietly. Loki shook his head slowly, Thor was going to be a nervous wreck once he encountered this, because Loki knew he sure as Helheim that it unnerved him. That many mortals would make his escape a little more awkward, but he had complete faith in the skills of a one Agent Clint Barton he had under his control.
Loki managed to glance up as they were approaching what seemed to be a research facility of some kind and allowed himself a mental fist pump at the sight of the mortal he recognised as a one Doctor Banner. A few mind games should get him the distraction he would need to get free and so he waited until the Doctor looked up and held eye contact for a few seconds longer than was polite before grinning charmingly at the mortal. The Doctor didn't back down and Loki found himself blinking first as dark brown eyes stared into him. He hunched his shoulders slightly as the air locking doors finally shut the Doctor from his view and shuddered, how such warm eyes could seemingly strip him down to his soul he would never understand. He had gotten the impression that Doctor Banner was much stronger mentally than any he had previously come across. Somehow he doubted the mind tricks would work.
The sight of his accommodation for his stay on the vessel brought him up short and he glared at it with deep disgust. Apparently privacy was not something that he could be afforded, nor was there even going to be an opportunity to mess with people's heads. He groaned in relief as the shackles were taken from his wrist, snarling as he was nearly flung into the clear room. Humans really needed to learn their place.
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Tony had waited only until the doors shut behind Loki before he had broken the stared-off with Thor and walked away from the Quin-jet. He had a suit to look at, lightning may have boosted his power levels but he didn't need the displays to tell him that a couple of the connections had objected to such electrical surges. Damn Asgardrians and their toys that Tony would never understand. He waved off the offer of a guide and headed straight to the workshops on the third level. Right now he didn't need the company of other humans, and working on his suit would get the sight of ice-blue eyes widened in surprise out of his head. He should also probably phone Pepper.
Removing the suit took little time, and soon he found himself confronted with the mess his fight with Thor had left. He groaned as he realised that this was going to take a lot more work that he had previously thought. Grumbling softly to himself he slipped in a Bluetooth earpiece and patched back into Jarvis, his holographic computer screen was playing up and so as Jarvis informed him of the information he had gathered on golems, constructs and the like Tony made a few adjustments before sliding it into place in front of his eye.
"Yes. Thank you Jarvis," he muttered, "What is the probability we would have to face something like this controlled by Loki's magic?"
"Without previous statistics to go off it is hard to say Sir," Tony rolled his eyes at Jarvis' apologetic tone, but allowed his AI to talk unhindered as he laid the suit out on the work bench. "However, from the magics used by Mr. Laufeyson I would suspect that creating an animated anthropomorphic being and maintaining said construct would be beyond his current capabilities."
"Huh?" Tony scratched his head as he carefully hammered out a dint in his chest plate, "How do you mean Jarvis? The guy is pretty scary." If he couldn't admit that to Jarvis then he had no-one he could trust. Besides knowing his creator was nervous around someone would mean the AI paid them a lot more attention.
"Well Sir, Mr. Laufeyson is currently wielding a power that is not his own, and bar the holographic images in Stuttgart he does not appear to be using his own power." The AI sounded almost like Pepper when she was gearing up for a rant. Oh yeah,he needed to phone Pepper. Making a mental not to phone her shortly Tony replayed what Jarvis had just told him.
"Yes Jarvis, but just because he hasn't doesn't mean he cannot right? God dammit stupid God of Thunder, wires are not supposed to do that!" Tony shook his hand as the supposedly dead wires in the chest plate sparked and burnt the back of his hand. "Sorry J go on please."
"Yes Sir. I recorded the energy signature of those holograms and the longer they were in place the more Mr. Laufeyson began to waver. I then thought to scan Mr. Laufeyson himself as you had suggested a way to track him and found that there was only a tiny percentage of the energy signature he put out that was compatible to the holograms."
The AI paused and Tony stopped what he was doing, welding torch lax in his grip, as he thought that over. "So what power is he using if not his…the spear?"
"Yes Sir. The rest of his energy signature was compatible with the sceptre."
Tony rolled his eyes as the AI corrected him and snapped goggles over his eyes to fix the crack that Thor had caused in the stomach area of the suit. "Pedantic J," he mumbled, "But what about before, when he and Thor decided to go sky diving without a 'chute?"
He supposed he should be thankful that Jarvis understood him through the screwdriver in his mouth, "I believe that somehow the sceptre's energy has bound Mr. Laufeyson's own Sir."
Tony spat the screwdriver out and coughed slightly, "Excuse me? What?"
"Mr. Laufeyson's energy is being trapped by a different kind Sir. Also there is a weakness in the left knee joint of the suit Sir."
"Hmmm so he has allowed his own power to be bound so he can have mind control and a spear that shoots energy. That seems rather stupid…" Tony trailed off as he examined the joint Jarvis had pointed out, "Hmmm hydraulics are a bit fried. J remind me to really punch Thor at some point."
"I have made a note of that Sir. I believe there is something you may wish to watch Sir."
Tony raised his other eyebrow as the AI changed the subject. "Very well patch it through Jarvis."
It took several moments to realise what he was seeing, but when he did Tony carefully placed his tools on the work bench and stepped away from the suit. "Jarvis have you hacked S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance while I am on board?" He hissed.
"Yes Sir now be quite and listen."
Tony learnt a lot in the few minutes Fury was confronting Loki and rubbed a hand across his brow, barely feeling the oil he smudged there. Fury was definitely pissed, and for once showing actual emotion, that in itself was alarming. What was more alarming was the fact the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was rising to the traps Loki was setting and not realising it. "Damn it Jarvis."
"Just watch Sir."
Tony suddenly saw red. "Oh hell no!" he growled loudly, fist slamming into the table under his hand and making metal jump. "He did not just say that."
"Yes Sir I believe he did." Tony took a deep breath at the apologetic tone his AI was using.
"My apologises J," he muttered turning back to the suit with lightly shaking hands. "I've changed my mind about who I wish to punch. After all I wouldn't have gotten into a fist fight with the God of Thunder if Loki hadn't shown up."
"Of course Sir, I will change the note to punch Mr. Laufeyson when you get a chance Sir."
"Thanks J, you're the best." Tony found himself smiling softly as he went back to fixing the suit and running over the data flashing on the tiny screen in front of his left eye. "Oh and J?"
"Yes Sir?"
"I would stop calling him Laufey's son. Somehow I think that will go down as well as Odinson."
"Sir? Are you suggesting that Mr…Loki would ever interact with me."
Tony chuckled at the nervous tone he hadn't realised the AI could project. "While I am not intending to invite him around for cocktails J, I wouldn't put it passed the slippery bugger to find a way to the tower if he ever finds out Stark Industries is involved with the creation of this suit."
"Sir!" Okay J sounded pained, "Please allow me to activate emergency protocols if he ever shows his face."
"Oh J," Tony sighed, catching sight of a shadow moving behind him in the stainless steel. "I give you full permission to protect any and every one in that tower if he does ever show up there. I'll even let them know it was all your idea."
"Thank you Sir," Now Jarvis merely sounded relieved and Tony relaxed slightly, "Oh and Sir Agent Coulson is behind you."
Tony laughed out loud, "Thank you Jarvis."
Turning he eyed the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who had dragged him into this mess. "Coulson, what can I do for you?"
The suited man looked up, wry smile on his face. "Well met Stark, I couldn't stand to watch the feed of Fury being played by our…erm…guest and so I came to find the only person I know on the helicarrier who is always a sarcastic, irritating bugger."
Tony grunted in surprise, "You heard what he said about Doctor Banner as well then?"
Coulson tilted his head and sighed, "I want to wring his delightfully pale neck."
Tony laughed harshly, "I think you may have to get in line. From what I have read of the interaction at your HQ, Hill and Romanoff are before you."
Coulson huffed and pulled out a stool by the work bench, "Hey I'm the one who had to deal with the aftermath of his first foray into madness."
Tony eyed the Agent and made an abortive gesture. "Ah. New Mexico was his doing?"
"Yes…stupid if you think about it. We ended up with all these problems because of a family rift."
"Damn Coulson, I really don't envy you your job." Tony made a note of the tired lines around the agent's eyes. "Tell you what since Pepper seems to like you, why don't I show you some of the less classified parts of the suit."
Eyes flew to his and Tony smiled slightly at the child at Christmas look the normally unflappable agent was wearing. "You…Why would you do that?"
"You look like you need a distraction, and believe me when I say you also look like you are at the point where if you don't get one you are going to do something stupid."
"Show me!"
Tony's laughter was loud and he didn't bother to hide the grin on his face. Coulson, he knew, would appreciate any technology he showed him for its invention alone not what use it could be…that would come later for the agent. As he reached for one of his gauntlets Tony thought that the agent's unbridled joy in learning the tech might help wash the memory of Loki's praise away.
AN: How did I do? Please feel free to leave me a review.