A/N: Another chapter for you! It would have been here sooner, but this flu has been killing me…hope you enjoy!

From The Ashes

By Anna Morgan

Chapter 8 A Second Chance

The ride to SHIELD Headquarters was much shorter than Loki had expected. Or maybe it was because he was just so nervous. His insides squirmed as if he had just swallowed a bucketful of snakes. His fate, the fate of the precious cargo he carried, would be decided here. His heart pounded hard and fast. What if they chose not to protect it? Where could they possibly hide the wretched thing? Or worse, what if they handed him back to the Chitauri? Do not be ridiculous. Thor promised that wouldn't happen. He could easily take you back to Asgard he scolded himself. Though you wouldn't exactly be safe there either…

It was with much anticipation that Loki, now clad in his normal Asgardian attire that he morphed into before leaving the Avengers tower, allowed his brother and his former (former? He wasn't quite sure about that yet…) foes to lead him through the halls of SHIELD. After many twists, turns, and glares ranging in various degrees of curiosity to fear they came upon what Loki assumed was the control room.

In the center of the upper floor of the split-level room stood director Fury himself, surrounded by agents clad in matching black and blue uniforms working in cubicles on the lower floor. His hands were behind his back, patiently waiting for them, as the Avengers plus Loki walked into the room.

"I never would have believed it myself if I didn't see it," the director called to them the second they walked through the doors.

"Well, your letters must have gotten lost, Director, I was beginning to think you didn't miss me," Loki said mockingly with false sadness in his voice.

"Yep, he's back…" Clint mumbled under his breath.

It was then that Fury directed their attention to the screens in front of him where, to Loki's surprise, he heard his own voice from last night, replaying his explanation for his sudden reappearance. All of the Avengers' attention was now on the screen, which was playing the first few seconds of Loki's story, as they crowded around the director.

"I take it this was your doing," Steve mumbled to Tony in approval.

"Technically it was JARVIS, but I may have had a hand in it, yeah," Tony replied.

They watched intently as the scene was replayed before their eyes. These mortals and their gadgets…I have to hand it to them, Loki thought, impressed.

When it was over, Fury turned to Thor. "Can you back up any of this, Thor?" Fury asked, his tone serious.

"Yes," Thor said. "All that Loki has spoken is the truth."

"Then I have to tell you that I'm weary of taking responsibility for protecting this thing," Fury informed them. "Keeping the Gauntlet here poses a threat to our world. To take it would be practically begging for a fight to be brought to us here, and would endanger every living thing on Earth."

"The Avengers are the only beings in the Nine Realms that I would trust to handle such a responsibility," Thor argued. "They are a most formidable force to be reckoned with and are more than capable of providing the protection that any other race could not."

"Why can't it just be taken back to Asgard?" Fury asked.

"Asgard is not impenetrable, Director," Loki piped up. Everyone looked mildly surprised at him.

"And Earth is?" Fury reciprocated back.

"Even with Tony's improvements on the security of our weapons vault I would not trust anyone but my friends," Thor motioned to the rest of the Avengers, "to keep watch over it. The Chitauri have already returned once again seeking my brother, and our warriors were barely able to keep them at bay," Thor finished.

"I'm sure Mr. Stark would be willing to provide additional safety measures to what he has already done," Fury said simply.

"Consider this, Director," Loki stepped forward so he was closest to Fury. Natasha put her hand on her gun in the holster of her pants as Loki stopped a foot away from him. She held the grip of her weapon, ready to draw as he spoke. "Thanos will search the Nine Realms for his remaining Gem and when he fails todiscover it in any other realm, he will come to yours," Loki argued with a hint of desperation in his voice. "He will discover the Gem here and ultimately that the Gauntlet in his hands is a decoy. He intends to destroy Midgard with or without the Gauntlet. The fight is already at your doorstep, Director! Sending the Gauntlet elsewhere will only temporarily delay the battle, and cost countless lives of every race across the Nine Realms." He glared at Fury as he finished.

"Since when do you suddenly care about other race's lives?" Fury jabbed.

"My sentiments are not the concern here, what is the concern is the continued existence of our universe," Loki replied quickly.

"Forgive me for not willingly taking your word on this right away, you aren't exactly our ally."

"And I am not your enemy!" Loki was practically yelling now, and nearly every head in the room was turned to the verbal tennis match between Loki and Fury. "Your enemy out there!" Loki pointed through the window, "And he will stop at nothing to destroy you!"

Fury and Loki's showdown continued through poisonous looks alone now as the room silenced. The tension in the room heightened as everyone watched them nervously. Natasha had her hand on her gun, Clint his bow, and they both held their breath. They could see the wheels turning in Fury's head as he considered Loki's words and they exchanged an anxious glance.

"If you refuse this task, and throw it to a less capable force, you will sentence Nine Realms to immeasurable and irreversible destruction," Loki added quietly.

Fury continued to glare at Loki, weighing his options. Finally the Director turned to Steve and spoke quietly. "Captain, have you discussed this with the team?" Fury asked.

"We have discussed it, Sir."

"What are your opinions?"

"We are willing to take on this mission, Sir, if our involvement is necessary." Steve replied.

"I'm afraid it seems like it is. Fine, we'll take it," Fury sighed in defeat. "Stark, Banner, I want you to take this thing and evaluate it. I want all of its physical properties documented and recorded, specifically any levels of radiation it may be emitting and fit it with a tracking device. We'll discuss its actual whereabouts in a more private setting." Fury turned his eye back to the other agents in the room who hastily resumed their work at his threatening eye.

"Sir, we've also discussed what we believe would be the best course of action concerning Loki," Steve added as the bustling continued around them as if nothing had happened.

Loki turned around briskly to face the captain as Thor put a protective hand on his brother's shoulder.

"We feel that it would be a tactical and strategic advantage to keep Loki here as well," Steve explained. Loki looked at him in disbelief. "He knows the inner workings and tactics of the enemy as well as their capabilities, weaknesses and the structural layout of their ships. He could hold the key to defeating them when they come. If he's willing to cooperate," Steve looked at Loki questioningly.

"I shall be as an open book," Loki said cleverly. Whatever keeps me away from the Chitauri…

Fury narrowed his eye at Steve. Was he really serious? "As long as you're all willing to play babysitter and you keep him under control, I'll approve," Fury said hesitantly.

"Thank you S-"

"But with certain conditions," Fury interjected.

The team exchanged glances. "What conditions?" Tony asked.

"First, he does NOT leave the tower," Fury said. "For ANY reason without my explicit permission. I want periodic updates on his behavior and I don't want him left alone."

Loki could understand this condition. It wasn't as though he had any real desire to be anywhere outside of it anyway…

"Fair enough," Steve said.

"Second, if he's here I reserve the right to put his abilities to good use," Fury added. Loki was taken aback by this request and sent a reproachful look to Fury.

"The hell does that mean? Sir?" Clint added as he narrowed his eyes at Fury.

"If there are missions that could benefit from having someone with magic, or a face they won't recognize I want Loki to tag along and help out," Fury looked at Loki as he spoke, then turned his gaze to Clint and Natasha definitely.

Natasha bit her lip. She wasn't sure she wanted to agree to this. Sure, Loki was behaving himself, but did she really want to be put in a situation where her life, or Clint's, would rely on his actions? She looked over at Clint, who returned her look, his eyes conveying that his thoughts were along the same lines. She raised an eyebrow to send a look that asked Are you okay with this? Clint blinked a couple of times, his mouth tightened to a thin line as he thought. Finally, he broke the silent communication with his partner and looked back to Fury.

"Fine," Clint said through gritted teeth.

Loki took another few seconds to consider. So this was his choice: to become Fury's temporary hand puppet and house pet or return to Asgard to face Odin and Asgardian punishment, with the risk of the Chitauri coming back for him. His choice was obvious, but he certainly wasn't thrilled.

"As you wish. Director." Loki said in a tone to match Clint's.

"Then I'll approve. But the first time he so much as causes a traffic jam, it's back to Asgard he goes," Fury added.

"We understand the responsibility, Sir. Thank you," Steve replied.

Fury sighed. "Don't make me regret my decision, Captain." He turned back to his screen shaking his head. "Jesus it's not even 10:00 and I already need an aspirin…"

….

As nervous as Loki had felt about the ride to SHIELD headquarters, that was how much better he felt as he sank into the back seat of the car. They were going to protect it…he had not gone through all that time of pain and misery for nothing. He felt lighter now, as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

And, he wouldn't have to face Odin on Asgard. Not yet, anyway.

Clint and Steve climbed into the front seat (the former on the driver's side – Steve still didn't feel comfortable driving in the busy Manhattan traffic), leaving Loki to sit between Thor, Natasha, Bruce and Tony. The entire ride home, the car was silent. The occupants were so immersed in each of their own thoughts on their situation that none of them could hardly believe it when they found themselves pulling up to the Avengers tower once again. Thor took the lead this time, guiding their troupe to the elevator and up to the common room floor. Loki was sorely tempted to just teleport back up; oh he could just picture the looks on their faces if he suddenly –pop! – disappeared! He grinned inwardly at the thought but resisted the urge to cause any mischief at the moment. He was not exactly in a position that allowed him to annoy and scare his hosts. Instead he stared at the ground until the elevator ding told them they had arrived at their destination.

Once outside of the wretched elevator (he had decided that he didn't like the elevator; teleporting was much more convenient and much less awkward), Loki stood back as his escorts casually filed past him to observe the common room floor. In the confusion and desperation of the moment the night before, he had not really had a chance to observe his surroundings properly.

It was a very large room with a tall ceiling – perhaps twenty feet. Loki recognized the sunken area in the center that housed a curved white sofa flanked by matching white chairs and glass coffee table as the place where the Hulk had once pummeled him into the ground (he swore he could still see a slight crack on the floor in front of the table). The panoramic widows revealed the busy Manhattan life going on below them and the cloudless, blue sun-lit sky – he admitted that it was an interesting, if not beautiful, sight. To his right he recognized the giant bar counter where he had been sitting the night before, fully stocked with all manner of Midgardian liquor. There was a kitchen area beside him and a table that could easily fit all of the Avengers, and perhaps some guests, off in the far corner.

By far, the most curious thing in the room was a small metal loft just to the left of the seating area. It was nothing more than a platform centered on four tall white metal poles about ten feet from the ground. On it was a seating pillow large enough for two people to sit comfortably, alongside a round black-suede folding chair. Loki cocked his head to the side a bit as he looked at it. Clint, noticing Loki's curiosity (never misses a thing, does he?) took the opportunity approach the platform, give a mighty leap, grab the edge, and hoist himself up. As contently as a cat curling into a basket, Clint sat cross-legged on the pillow, pulling out a quiver of arrows from behind him where he proceeded to sharpen and clean them, all while glaring intently at Loki.

"That's the 'Hawk's Nest'" came Natasha's voice from beside him. He turned his head from the platform to look down at her. "Tony added it as a joke. We didn't think he would actually take to it. I would stay off that if I were you." She gave a small, advising smile and walked past him. He watched her as she sat down on the sofa and grabbed a battered-looking book from the coffee table and began to read.

It was with an immensely relieving feeling that Loki conjured the Gauntlet and handed it over to Tony and Bruce. Finally, his mission was complete. Bearing responsibility for the Gauntlet throughout his ordeal had put a pressure on him as though Mjolnir was placed upon him, and now, as he placed it into Bruce's outstretched hand, he felt that pressure lifted and he breathed easier.

"Shall we play, Doctor?" Tony asked brightly.

"Thought you'd never ask," Bruce replied brightly, with an undertone of sarcasm to match Tony's own.

Together, the two scientists made their way to the elevator sprightly, almost looking forward to the task ahead. Loki watched amusedly. He suspected it would be quite some time before they would return; the two brilliant scientists' attention to detail was staggering. They would know all of the secrets that their scientific methods could convince the Gauntlet to reveal before the day was out.

….

Much to Loki's annoyance, the Avengers seemed to have taken their word to Director Fury that they were up to babysitting duty very seriously. He was not left alone for even a single moment for the remainder of the day. Natasha and Clint eventually made their way back to SHIELD headquarters (they did work, after all) so Loki was left alone with Steve and Thor all the day. His only moments of relative peace came when Thor offered to give him a tour of the tower, to which Loki accepted gladly.

Each of the Avengers had their own floor in the tower – the top six floors. Thor's was at the very top of the tower and was adorned with renaissance-style furnishings themed with red and gold. Loki was to take residence in the second bedroom of Thor's tower. Below him was Hawkeye, then Steve, Tony, Natasha, and Bruce at the base. A storage floor separated the team members' floors from the common room floor. Loki was only half-listening to his brother going on about each of the interesting points in the tower – but being around his brother in a non-hostile way was something he admitted he missed.

By the time they arrived back on the common room floor, night had long since descended on Manhattan. The floor was deserted, thankfully. Loki didn't feel like being in anyone's company. He excused himself from Thor's presence and made his way outside to the balcony overlooking the city.

He stood at the edge of the balcony and stared down at the bright city lights and cars streaming below him, contemplating the series of events that had lead him to this moment, replaying them like a film reel in his mind. His defeat, return to Asgard, being chained to the cliff, his deal with Amora (he scowled at himself at the very thought), his to save the Gauntlet from Thanos, and (he struggled to keep his stomach calm) his imprisonment and escape from the Chitauri. It had certainly been a journey. His mission was over – he had delivered the Gauntlet to the Avengers. It was safe. He was safe. So why did he feel like he had not yet reached his destination?

"You aren't going to jump, are you?"

Loki turned to see Tony himself, a drink in his hand, striding slowly toward him. He frowned. "Why would I jump?"

"I dunno, maybe the way you were staring longingly at the ground?"

Loki let out a slight chuckle. "No, I was just…thinking."

"What's on your mind, rock of ages?" Tony asked, taking a sip from the glass in his hand.

Loki turned back toward to the city. "Probably nothing you would care to hear about."

"Try me."

Loki sighed. "It's complicated."

Tony walked forward so that he was standing shoulder to shoulder with him, overlooking the city. "You know, I wasn't always a team player. I like to do things on my own. I didn't need anyone, just myself, my ingenuity, genius, and my own personal agenda." Loki turned to face him, wondering what he was getting at. "But these guys," Tony continued, motioning back toward the tower, "helped me realize that 'we' can be better than 'me.' Try me."

Loki considered his words carefully. He wasn't sure why Tony was being nice to him, but he couldn't see any ulterior motives behind his actions. "I am not sure where to even begin."

"Well, as a genius, I find that sometimes it helps to start from the 'here and now' and work backward," Tony said, taking another sip.

"I thought my mission was complete. The Gauntlet is safe from the hands of the Chitauri and Thanos," Loki began. "Where do I go from here?"

It felt good to say those words, better than he thought it would. Loki couldn't believe he was opening up to this man, when he had barely been able speak to his own brother that day.

"That's a good question," Tony replied. "Let me tell you a story – "

"Oh good I love story time," Loki's voice was infused with sarcasm, which Tony seemed to appreciate.

"Once upon a time I was taken captive in a warzone in Afghanistan," Tony began. "My father's best friend hired a bunch of terrorists to kill me, but they failed. They took me back to their cave and another prisoner of war named Yinsen tried to save me by getting the shrapnel out of my chest. But I made the weapons used against me; the shrapnel was going to move until it pierced my heart and killed me. So, to save my life, Yinsen gave me this little circle of light," Tony flicked the mini arc reactor glowing in his chest. "This stops the shrapnel from killing me. Yinsen told me all about how the weapons I was producing was killing thousands, hundreds of thousands, of innocent people, including the people I was supposed to be protecting. Including Yinsen's whole family."

Tony stopped for a second. Loki looked at him in surprise. Tony continued, "He saved my life. I was a hand in the murder of innocent people for years without a single shred of regret or a second thought before then. I didn't deserve a second chance. But he gave it to me. He told me 'You have a gift. Don't waste your life.' Just before he died."

"I suppose this is the part where you tell me that I can have a 'second chance' and reform just as you did?" Loki asked, the sarcasm returning to his voice.

"Yep." Tony replied.

Loki let his words sink in while they sat in silence. He was surprised at the parallels in his story to his own. "I also don't suppose your comrades are too enthusiastic about my 'second chance'?"

"Well I won't lie to ya, Legolas was reluctant to say the least," Tony replied. "So was Cap. But they were persuaded to see your current situation through your eyes and they agreed to let you stay."

"That was kind of them," Loki replied somewhat darkly.

"Which brings me to my next bit of advice," Tony continued, "Next time you see Agent Romanoff, you might want to thank her. She was the one who did most of the persuading." Loki looked at him, genuinely surprised. "I don't think I've ever seen her that close to hitting Barton."

Loki didn't know how to react to that. He was perfectly aware of the close bond that existed between the two agents. He was grateful and surprised that she would advocate on his behalf to the point of turning against her precious archer.

"Well, it's awfully cold out here and I'm out of whiskey, so I'm going in," Tony broke the silence between them. "Feel free to join, I might even get you that drink."

Loki grinned. "I may just take you up on that."

"As long as you promise not to jump and make my ass fly after you," Tony added.

"You have my word," Loki replied, still grinning as they made their way back inside to the warmth of the common room floor.

Inside, Tony led them to the bar, swiftly taking an extra glass and a bottle of Jack Daniel's from beneath the counter as Loki took a seat on the same stool he had occupied the night before. On the sofa sat Natasha and Bruce, peacefully reading in the warm glow of the lights overhead. Tony's advice floated into Loki's mind as he spotted her, looking tranquil and content with her battered-looking book. Their entrance had caught her attention and she glanced up, catching Loki's eye. He felt a sudden, unwelcome rush in his cheeks that had nothing to do with the warmth of the room and suppressed the flush that he feared would come. He broke their glance, though he sensed she was still watching them, and shifted his eyes to follow Tony, who finished pouring the whisky.

Tony set the extra glass down alongside the still open bottle of whiskey. Loki reached for the glass, but at the last second an idea occurred to him and he swiped the nearly-full bottle of whisky, leaving the freshly-poured glass abandoned on the counter.

"Thank you," Loki said politely, wearing a mischievous grin as he took a swig from the bottle.

Tony looked mildly offended but amused, his mouth open like a gaping black hole. "Sneaky," he said, though he was admittedly amused. On the sofa, Natasha laughed softly and Loki smiled, pleased with himself for earning such a positive reaction to something so small. He would have to remember to heed Tony's advice when he got a moment alone with her.

….

A/N: Another chapter down. Thanks to everyone who has given me feedback so far. Please review, it's really motivating to hear what you think. But as always, no flames please.