Summary: Doom proves to be a good friend. Loki is more like Odin than he thought. Odin loves Loki. That pesky Thanos problem is taken care of.
No beta.
This one mentions torture by fire.
It's the start of some feels but still some crackiness.
Doom sighed. Loki was going to kill him if he found out. No, not just kill him, fillet him and make potions with his eyes and liver. That's what he did with Red Skull's eyes. Darcy unknowingly wears it around her neck for protection.
But Loki was his friend and he was in trouble and like in all things, Loki was treating this as a joke. They both knew Thanos would come eventually since Loki failed in his plans. Silver Surfer came just a week ago to warn Loki that Thanos knew where Loki was and was coming for blood.
Loki shrugged and told Doom to take care of his Little Mortal. And each time Doom tried to talk about it, Loki dismissed him without seeming to be very invested in the situation.
But then, Loki started acting weird. He was cranky and irritable, which Doom wrote off as Loki being afraid. Thanos did a number on Loki. His friend wasn't that forth coming about it, but he knew Loki learned to control fire while in captivity which meant where ever he was, it was hot. Probably not that comfortable for a Frost Giant.
And then it moved to Loki sleeping all the time. Darcy said Loki, who usually slept only two hours a night, was sleeping a full eight hours and was still tired.
And he was eating a lot, as if storing up energy. Now Doom didn't know much about Loki's biology but the man was a snacker, not an eater. He would snack throughout the day. Whatever he saw someone else eating, he wanted a piece. Now he was eating meals, sometimes two at a time.
Doom wasn't sure what to do so he found himself at the Avengers Towers knocking on the door unsure of even what to say. It could be a coincidence that Loki was taking ill at the same time Thanos planned to kill him but Doom didn't believe in coincidence.
It was Thor who opened the door all smiles and white teeth. "Doom! Have you come looking for Loki? If so you have just missed him. He and Darcy went to SHIELD. Now, Fury can only tolerate Loki but for a short time, so I am certain it will be a quick visit."
Thor was a talkative fellow. Doom supposed it made him endearing. He was so different from Loki, not better, just different. "I know, I waited from them to leave."
"Oh? Why?"
"I was hoping to speak to you and who ever from the Avengers are available." Doom responded. "It is important."
Thor frowned. "Come in. We were just about to order something for lunch."
Doom followed Thor into the kitchen where Tony, Jane and Pepper sat looking through menus. The three looked up at Doom with curious faces until Thor explained. "Doom wishes to speak to us about something. He says it is important."
"Really? Does Loki know you're here?" Tony asked. "He usually likes to keep his superhero friends away from his villain friends."
"For the record, I am a super villain," Doom clarified. "For two I am well aware of that. But as you said, we are all his friends and that is why I have come. Loki is in trouble."
Thor frowned. "What kind of trouble?"
"I don't know how much you've been told about his attempt to rule Earth." Doom started. "I know Loki sometimes speaks in riddles."
"Well," Pepper started. "We all chalked it up to a temper tantrum."
"Yes well, that might be some of it. His rage about the situation was real, his reasons were not. After Loki fell into the worm hole Loki was found by Thanos and he… persuaded… him to give him the Gauntlet in exchange for a kingdom. He chose Earth knowing that it was under the protection of Thor and purposefully used SHIELD agents knowing the Avengers Initiative would be used and he would be taken back to Asgard where Thanos wouldn't go."
"But Loki sent off the Gauntlet while disguised as our Father." Thor explained. "We know not where."
"And what exactly is persuaded?" Pepper questioned. "He has made it clear that he was tortured but…"
"Yes in an effort to keep Asgard from being destroyed Loki got the stone away." Doom responded to Thor first. "He also freed your friends from jail then split mostly because Odin wanted to wring his neck but also because you were here. And what is a villain without his superhero. As for what exactly happened, I am not sure. But I know Thanos is an expert torture and enjoys bringing people to the cusp of death."
"So now I take it Thanos is coming for Loki." Jane sighed. "We'll have to get Darcy away from him before Thanos comes."
"That's been taken care of. Both Loki and I have spells on her, she's fine but oblivious. As is he about my coming here. I wish it to stay that way in both accounts."
"Loki doesn't want help?" Tony questioned. "He must realize that we'd help him."
"Loki isn't stupid. He does nothing by chance. He could have moved in with me when his lair blew up but instead he moved in with some of the strongest heroes he knows. He then made sure the powerful villains he knew, knew the Avengers. He surrounded himself with people that would protect him." Doom started. "But I don't know if you noticed, Loki doesn't fear death. He's done it before, a few times. The problem is, at the same time this is happening, Loki has been showing signs of illness."
"He has been tired lately." Thor agreed.
"Now I don't know if it's because of Thanos that he's not feeling well or if it's an unrelated illness but what I do know that if Thanos attacks now, while Loki is sick, Loki doesn't stand a chance on his own."
"But if Loki can't know about this, what can we do?" Tony asked. "He says it all the time, he does what he wants."
"Just keep him close. The more people who are around at the time of the attack the better." Doom stated. "When he leaves the towers I will be with him."
"Thank you Doom." Thor started. "For telling us abo…."
Before Tony could finish Steve, Loki and Darcy appeared through the door. "Hey guys." Steve said looking bewilderingly at Doom standing in the kitchen. "Fury said to keep Loki out of SHIELD or he's going to call his father."
Loki snorted. "I don't even have a father."
"Join the club." Tony added.
"Doom? What are you doing here?" Loki questioned.
For all of Doom's villainy, he couldn't come up with a lie fast enough. "Um…."
"We invited him." For all of Tony's superhero-ness, he was able to lie easily.
"Why?" Loki frowned. "I'm the only villain allowed at this superhero table."
Darcy sensing something wasn't from the stutters around the room quickly added. "He scheduled for lunch with you. They figured you guys would like to eat here."
Loki looked at her, eyebrow arched. He was too tired to call her on her lie at this moment, but before the end of the day he would speak to his Little Mortal about lying to the god of lies. "Alright I'm going to go wash up."
As he left Darcy turned to the group. "Someone want to tell me what's going on."
Doom shook his head. "No. Not really. You should check on him though."
"Is that villain code for leave the room so I can fill Captain America in?"
"Yes." And they say villains were dishonest.
"I know when I'm not wanted." Darcy looked at Jane. "Take notes you'll be quizzed when Dr. Doomy leaves."
After Darcy left, they filled in Steve who sent out messages to Natasha, Barton and Bruce.
000
TEXTING
Steve to PRIVATE AVENGERS NUMBERS: Loki is in trouble. Thanos is coming to kill him.
Bruce to PRIVATE AVENGER NUMBERS: I'm flying ASAP
Natasha to PRIVATE AVENGER NUMBERS: Kill him like murder or kill like just toss him around a little bit?
Barton to PRIVATE AVENGER NUMBERS: Does it matter!
Natasha to PRIVATE AVENGER NUMBERS: …
Barton to PRIVATE AVENGER NUMBERS: NAT!
Natasha to PRIVATE AVENGER NUMBERS: Alright! I'm on my way
000
Darcy and Loki came back and they settled on Japanese food. The food hadn't even arrived before Loki was nodding off, his head in his hands.
Darcy was worried, though she would never tell Loki that. She had watched her normally strong healthy boyfriend get weaker and weaker as the week worn on. She leaned in close to him "Are you ok?"
His eyes opened slowly and he looked at her. "I'm fine."
She gasped. "Oh my God your eyes. They're red."
Her panicked voice caught the attention of everyone at the table.
Loki frowned before he noticed his hands turning blue.
Oh no.
Why was the spell fading? The spell to keep him in his Asgardian form wasn't taking on his magic at all. He didn't even have to think about it to keep it up.
He could not turn Frost Giant here. He never wanted anyone to see his true form, not Thor and especially not Darcy. He rose from the chair in a panic looking to his brother as if Thor could help him. Thor looked back, looking at his brother in his true form for the first time. Though he always knew his brother was a Frost Giant, he never truly believed it. but now, he saw it. His baby brother changing into beings they were taught to hate and he suddenly realized why Loki was angry and felt so isolated.
He wasn't at all Asgardian.
Loki tried to teleport but he couldn't summon his magic. He was breathing hard, his head started to pound and everything was going black. His red eyes rolled into his head and his body gave out.
Out of instinct, Steve reached out and caught Loki before he hit the floor. Darcy squealed before running to his side trying to wake him up despite his now very alien appearance.
They rushed to him trying to figure out what was wrong when suddenly a bright light appeared out the window. Tony summoned his armor, Thor summoned his hammer and Steve grabbed his shield. Darcy stayed near Loki, confused as Jane and Pepper grabbed knives. What did they know that she didn't?
Doom stood in front of all of them in his fighting stance as they waited. They could hear the heavy footsteps approaching.
The door opened slowly.
And then,
Odin appeared.
Thor gasped. "Father! What are you doing here!"
"I killed Thanos." Was Odin's quick reply.
Everyone gasped before sighing in some relief. Except for Darcy "Thanos!" Darcy stood up. "The guy that Loki tricked?"
"Yes that one." Odin stepped forward. "You must be Loki's new minion. He's always liked curvy women. Must be his giant blood." He looked down at his youngest son in his true form lovingly. "I should kick him. That little snot ball."
Tony snorted.
"Father, Loki is ill."
"No, he's asleep." Odin smiled, almost proudly. "Lokisleep actually."
"Lokisleep?" Thor looked confused.
"Indeed." He bent down and cupped Loki's head with his thumb rubbing his forehead. Just as he had when he first touched Loki in that temple over a thousand years ago, the top of his head changed to a pale complexion, his red eye turning green as he opened them.
He looked at his father for a moment before turning into the man's touch. "I'm tired." Loki confessed.
"I know son." Odin answered. "Just go to sleep."
Loki's eyes closed before Odin took his youngest son up in his arms and carried him to the couch.