"First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect
Your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect
You live your life like a canary in a coal mine."
Canary in a Coalmine, Sting and The Police
After they showered together, Tony insisted he needed to finish what Loki had 'so rudely interrupted' and went back to the workshop alone.
Loki found his eyes meeting Barton's disapproving glare, an expression of disgust on his face after watching the pair kiss goodbye.
"Jealous?" Loki raised one eyebrow, taunting the archer. Barton had never really forgiven him for the whole mind-control thing, and made his hatred for the raven-haired god quite plain. Barton scoffed.
"Yeah, right," he quipped, both syllables positively dripping with sarcasm. Loki tutted, placing a hand on Barton's shoulder with a positively devilish smirk.
"Now, now, Clint, there's no need for such hostility," Loki said, silkily. "I'm sure Natasha will realise what a… ahem… catch you are one day soon. And if not… well, as you Midgardians say, there's plenty more fish in the sea, eh?"
"Don't you ever touch me," Barton through his hand off furiously. "You have no right to talk about Natasha and me. No right at all. You don't know what the fuck you're talking about."
"Don't I?" Loki raised one eyebrow. "Come now, Clint. We've all seen the way you look at her, heard the way you talk to her. And surely I can't be the only one who's noticed how you stare at her breasts whenever you speak to her? And yet you seem to be the only person who doesn't understand that she's not interested in you. She's made that much pretty clear. How many times has she turned down your advances now? Silly boy. You're so deluded."
"Yeah I'm the one who's deluded in love," Barton scoffed. "You keep telling yourself that, buddy."
"What does that mean?" Loki's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Barton gave a harsh bark of laughter.
"Jesus, and you're supposed to be intelligent?" he said. "Do you really think Tony loves you? Like, you actually think he cares about you? Because he doesn't."
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Loki sniffed, haughtily. "What Anthony and I have is something that requires deeper understanding than a halfwit like you possesses. You act so strong-willed and intelligent, but I've never found a mind more easily penetrable than yours. You're an idiot, boy, and you know nothing about Anthony and I's relationship."
"Uh, hate to break it to you but, but Anthony and you have nothing," Barton said, looking amused and angry at the same time. "Newsflash. He only likes you 'cause you're a decent fuck. Do you really think he'd be interested in you if it wasn't for the sex? Because that's all he ever mentions when he talks about you. How easy a lay you are or how good the sex is. Why d'you think he never talks to Thor about your 'relationship', huh? It's 'cause he knows Thor will kick his ass for talking about his precious little baby brother in that way."
"Y-you're being ridiculous," Loki flipped his hair back, taking a deep breath. "Of course Anthony loves me. He told me so. I'm the God of Lies, stupid child. I'd know if he wasn't telling me the truth."
"Oh yeah? Does he ever look you in the eye when he says it, huh?" Barton asked, more confident now that he could see he was getting to the slimmer man. "Or is it always somewhere else? Has he ever actually said I love you, Loki? Or is it always just 'I love you'? Or does he use that damn stupid nickname for you? Huh, Lo? Why do you think he calls you that? 'Cause he doesn't want to use your actual name. He's a good guy, he'd feel guilty if he did. You disgust him, you know that?"
"If you want to live to see tomorrow, I suggest you shut up," Loki hissed, softly.
"Why? Does the truth hurt?" Barton laughed cruelly again. "Newsflash, pal. The only person Tony has ever loved, and the only person he ever will love, is Pepper. You're a stop-gap until he can find a way to win her back, at best. I mean, did he ever even show a platonic interest in you until she left? 'Cause I never heard him even mention your name in conversation before that. He doesn't want you, not the way he wanted her. The only person who wants you here is Thor and even he'd get rid of you with enough convincing. Why don't you just go back home, huh? Oh that's right. You don't have a home."
"My home is with Anthony," the god's voice was quiet now, unsure of himself. Surely none of what the archer was saying was true? Anthony loved Loki, he was sure of it. But Barton seemed to be quite confident of what he was saying. And each one of his barbs met its target, each cutting deeper than the last.
"Oh my fucking… no, it isn't," Barton said. "Home is where the heart is, right? Somewhere where you're wanted, isn't it? I mean, are you actually wanted anywhere? Tony would kick you out tomorrow if it meant he could get Pepper back – he doesn't want you. Not really. Your adopted parents clearly don't want you – they sent you to a different realm because they were sick of the sight of you. They always loved Thor more anyway, didn't they? Even your precious mother cared more for her real son than someone else's child that she took out of goodwill. And your birth parents? They could clearly tell what a shitty person you were right from the off. Why else would they leave you for dead? Maybe it would've been better if Thor's dad had never found you. The universe would be a better place if you'd died when you were a baby, like you were supposed to."
What happened next happened so quickly that Loki wasn't entirely sure it happened at all. One minute he was standing, glaring at Barton, wondering how on earth he knew all of that – and more importantly how dare he speak to Loki in such a way. Then Loki's fist connected with something hard and there was a sickening crack as Barton collapsed onto the floor, cradling a bloody nose and mouth in cupped hands. Loki lunged forwards, meaning to hit him again, but a familiar forearm across his chest stopped him.
"What on Earth is going on?" Thor demanded.
"Your brother is a fucking psychopath is what's going on," Barton said, thickly.
"What did you do?" Fury and Natasha appeared in Loki's slight line, looking shocked and outraged.
"He was asking for it," was all Loki offered in the way of reply. "It wasn't unprovoked."
"You're a fucking lunatic," Barton addressed the younger god, a cruel glee glinting behind the pain in his eyes. "I knew Tony was a fucking idiot to ever let you out of that cell. You're just dangerous."
"You deserved it," Loki breathed heavily.
"I doubt that," Fury cut in. "He's right. You're dangerous. I think it's about time you went back to the basement."
"I do not think that will be necessary," Thor's voice boomed. "Allow me to calm my brother down. I will talk to him. We will sort this out like adults."
And with that, Thor dragged Loki out of the room and away from prying eyes.
In one of Stark Tower's many lounges, Loki sat on a couch, sulking, arms folded across his chest. Thor paced up and down the room in front of him.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Thor asked, for the umpteenth time.
"I'm not speaking to anyone but Anthony," Loki gave the same response.
"The Man of Iron is seeing to Barton's wounds," Thor reminded him. "You may be waiting for some time. Why not tell me? I will do my best to understand and to help."
"I don't want your help," Loki sounded vaguely like a sulky toddler, but Thor didn't comment on that. Instead, he stopped pacing and crouched in front of his brother, so they were eye-to-eye.
"Loki, you must understand that until you explain yourself the others will think you attacked Barton unprovoked," Thor said, gently. "At least tell me what he did to spur such a reaction from you? The at least I can tell them that you were right, he was being most provocative."
"I'm not speaking to anyone but Anthony," Loki repeated.
"Well, you can speak to him now," an angry-looking Tony appeared in the doorway, and Thor took his cue to leave. Tony didn't sit beside Loki. He stood over him, arms folded, expression serious. "What the fuck did you think you were doing attacking him like that? Did you really think that was a good idea? Just when the others are starting to accept me and you, you go and ruin it by doing that? Well done, Loki. Well fucking done. Smooth move on your part, babe."
"He… he provoked me," was all Loki could manage. He hadn't expected Tony to be so angry; he'd expected Tony to be on his side from the off.
"Well I'd sure like to know what he did to provoke that," Tony scoffed. "You realise you broke his nose and took four of his teeth out? I've never seen so much blood."
"He… he said things," Loki's voice was barely a whisper. Maybe it would've been best to tell Thor first. Get Thor on side, so at least he wasn't fighting his corner alone. Tony laughed, a harsh parody of the real thing.
"He's always saying things to you, Loki. His throwing a couple of insults your way doesn't justify you doing that. You usually keep your cool so well when he tries to wind you up. What the fuck happened this time?"
"He went too far," Loki sighed. "Much too far. He… he spoke ill of my mother and how Odin and she loved Thor in ways they didn't love me. He spoke of my birth parentage and how I was left for dead as an infant. And he said… he said…" Loki's voice trailed off, as he no longer trusted himself not to break down in tears.
"What else did he say?" Tony's voice was softer now, kinder. Loki looked up, meeting the mortal's eye for the first time in the exchange.
"He said that you do not love me, that you just use me for sex," it was barely a whisper, but it was loud enough for Tony to hear.
"Oh, Lo," Tony dropped beside the taller man and flung his arms around the slender frame. "That's not true. Not even a little, okay? I can understand why you got so upset, but you can't lash out at people like that, not with Fury around. SHIELD are looking for any reason to put you back in prison."
"Which is what Fury wants to do with me anyway," Loki mumbled.
"Fury can want all he damn well pleases. It's not happening," Tony said. "I managed to talk them out of locking you up again. But it was on the condition you wear this." He slipped something around Loki's wrist and locked it in place; a thin metal bracelet, not so tight that it was painful, but tight enough that Loki wouldn't be able to ease it off. He looked at Tony for an explanation and the mortal sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Listen, Lo. The first thing you need to understand is that it's really painful for me to do this to you. I don't want to have to do it, really I don't. But it's for your own good. And the good of everyone around you," Tony sighed. "It's basically… it's kinda like a handcuff, I suppose. It keeps you from doing anything you shouldn't."
"How so?" Loki asked, curious as to how a simple strip of metal could stop him doing what he pleased. Tony pushed a hand through his hair.
"If you misbehave, it'll give you a high voltage electric shock," the mortal explained, wearily. Loki swallowed but nodded – he preferred this to being locked in that cell.
"A-And what constitutes misbehaviour?" Loki asked.
"Okay, sweetie, you gotta know that his was all Fury's choice. Not mine," Tony said, quickly. "But basically… basically it'll give you a shock if you um…if you try to take it off, if you leave the Tower without me at your side, if you lose your temper and get violent and if you… if you…"
"If I what?" Loki asked, tilting Tony's face so he had to look him in the eye.
"If you use magic," Tony said, hoarsely. Loki's hands dropped to his lap.
"I can't use magic?" Loki repeated. "You're taking my magic from me?"
"Not me. Fury is," Tony said, fidgeting with his thumbs. "Please don't argue with this, Lo. I know it's shitty but you'll get used to it. Don't cause any more problems than you already have. And… and if you're really exceptionally good, Fury might let me take it off in the next couple of weeks."
"Oh," was all Loki could say. There was silence for a long while. Then Tony breathed deep.
"You're upset with me, aren't you?" he said.
"A little bit," Loki confirmed. Another bout of silence. Then, wordlessly, Loki got up and headed for the bedroom.
Tony didn't follow for several long hours.
A/N: Ooh two chapters in one day, you lucky little things! So finally you're getting a bit of plot/angst. And I'm sorry to any Barton fans out there. I have nothing against the character, at all. I just needed an excuse for Loki to lose his temper and I think he's more likely to deck Barton than Fury in all honesty. Remember to review! Also I realise I made a typo and got Barton's name wrong. Thanks to KieraPSI for pointing it out to me. It's amended now :)