Loki was beginning to find it annoying that so many others wanted Tony's work. He was not happy that they wanted to conscript Tony's creations for their own purposes. It also made him unhappy because it caused tension between Tony and Rhodes. Tony wanted to fight the good fight, but on his terms versus the U.S. government's. Loki couldn't blame him. After finding out Odin had lied Loki had authority issues and father issues.

"Tony, send me to this hearing. You know I can keep them occupied," Loki cajoled his friend.

"Loki, I can't ask you to do that," Tony negated.

"I'm volunteering. This Stern person is really starting to annoy me," Loki replied.

He swallowed and decided to say something he had thought for a while. It was a term that originated in Asgard, which made him feel ambivalent, but he couldn't think of a better term to express how much he cared for his friend.

"You are, as the Norse would put it, my shield brother. Your battles are mine," Loki vowed.

Tony looked at him seriously and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You had better remember that goes both ways," Tony declared.

Loki arrived at the hearing and, metaphorically of course, wiped the floor with Senator Stern and his confederates. It was a time full of political innuendos and outright threats. He saw more than one person eying him contemplatively. At one point one of the president's advisors tried to poach him from Tony. Loki politely refused. Tony was his shield brother and Loki would not desert him. Plus, he was finished with politics. It was much more fun helping Tony with his technological inventions and other assorted mayhem. Loki was pleased with how the trip ended. As he drifted off in thought JARVIS broke in.

"Sir, you may wish to be aware that Mr. Stark has encountered a situation."

Situation? What threatens my shield brother?

"What has happened," Loki asked the AI.

JARVIS rerouted footage that had to be from Tony's helmet. Loki saw in shock that another man was attacking Tony with electronic whips. What is that? Who and why? I could teleport there and show that cretin a lesson. It will mean revealing my secret unless I can create an illusion to distract JARVIS.

Loki prepared but just as he was about to do so Tony defeated the man. Loki was glad his shield brother was triumphant and that Loki hadn't had to risk revealing himself. Tony's enemies are gathering. I don't like this. Could this man be connected to Stern? No, surely Stern would not be so foolish as to support someone who creates such collateral damage! Still, I should meet with Tony to discuss Stern and this other foe.

With that he spent time in thought until he arrived in Malibu. When he saw Happy not happy he initially thought it had to be due to the attack.

"Tony is alright and his new armor worked," he reassured Happy.

"It's not that. Tony's been acting a little off since a day or two after you left for Washington," Happy informed him worriedly.

Loki thought back and realized he hadn't spoken with Tony in the whole time he was away. This was not unusual: he figured Tony must have been busy with the company and/or some development. Could something else, such as another foe, be the cause for Tony's behavior?

"How so," Loki inquired.

"He's been pushing us all away. Pepper and Rhodey have tried talking to him, but it didn't go well," Happy commented.

"Perhaps I will be lucky," Loki commented.

"I hope so. He's a good guy and he's got enough going on without something else," Happy replied vehemently.

"Who attacked him," Loki asked.

"Some rival of his dad's who claims Tony's dad was a thief and Tony too."

Loki snarled. Even years and distance apart we aren't free of our fathers. Tony labors in his father's shadow still. I have to use some remnants of restraint just in case my so-called father is looking for me. I will not let Tony face this alone.

"You look like you want to kill someone," Happy informed him.

"What you don't know about you can't testify about. I will figure out what is bothering Tony directly or indirectly my friend," Loki promised Happy.

"Be careful, either way could get messy," Happy warned him.

Loki felt determined and grim because he knew Tony, like him, could wield words as a defense.

"I like to live dangerously. This will be no exception," Loki assured Happy.

Happy nodded and they continued the rest of the trip in silence.

It took one look at Tony to see that something was wrong beyond the recent attack. Loki's magic picked up something wrong. It was only in small amounts but it was present. Tony knew about it and Loki knew Tony well enough to see his shield brother was upset.

"Tony what is it?"

"What is what," Tony asked Loki with a narrowed eye look.

"Something is wrong," Loki declared.

"What makes you think something's wrong?"

Why was this uncomfortably reminding him of the time when he and Thor had started to drift apart? When Loki, upset by Asgard's disapproval of him and approval of Thor, had started to stop speaking freely with his brother. Maybe it was Tony trying to hide pain by lashing out at the world or anyone who got too close that caused that feeling. Did Thor ever feel this way? Like he cared but that he didn't have the words to get me to trust? No, I had reason to distrust him: he was trying to get me to abandon magic just like everyone else! I can't think about him now. I have to focus or I'll lose another person I care for.

"Tony, I know something is wrong. You are my shield brother let me help," Loki came as close to pleading as he felt was dignified.

"Loki, you have your secrets so why shouldn't I have my own? Stay out of it," Tony replied bluntly.

I knew I couldn't keep secrets from Tony forever. I can keep my secrets and let whatever this eat at him, I can walk away…or I can tell him. If I speak, I might lose his friendship and thus not be able to help him anyhow. What am I supposed to do? How would Odin react to me revealing that other realms exist?

Telling Tony I'm an Asgardian who was born a frost giant isn't something I look forward to. He could reject me, but I have to risk that. Revealing my secrets is the only way to get his so that I and the others can help. If he takes it badly then at least I will know I tried. I can go back to San Francisco, or somewhere else, until things die down.

"You have a point so let's tradeoff. I will tell you everything if you do the same," Loki offered.

"Loki, I'm not interested."

Loki took in a breath and then let his magic thread through his fingers, made several illusions, changed one wall into gold, teleported across the room and made a cannoli on a silver plate appear in his hands. Tony stared at him in shock.

"Are you certain about that," Loki asked.

"You've got to be kidding me," Tony replied in amazement.

Loki put the dessert down and cautiously approached his friend.

"I can sense something is amiss. If there is some way I can help tell me," Loki stated.

"Losing people you care for sucks Loki- wait are you the real deal," Tony asked.

"Yes, I am," Loki replied.

"Huh, well you don't want to waste time-"

"Do not tell me what to do Tony. I would rather fight at your side than be a coward and walk away," Loki declared.

Tony got a stubborn look. Loki braced himself because whatever Tony was going to say was bound to hurt. Loki knew because he used words to chase people away too.

"Like you walked away from Assgard?"

Oh yes that hurt, but the name for Asgard was amusing. He walked up till he was in his shield brother's face and stared deeply into his eyes.

"Listen to me well Anthony Stark-"

"I hate being called-"

"Then hush, shield brother, and don't try my patience. I know not what I can do to help you but it would hurt me worse if I did nothing. Do not bring Asgard into this. I left because no one would truly let me work to my fullest abilities. I was unloved, disrespected and alone. You have given me what I have not had since I was a child: friendship and respect. Do you expect me to give that up without a fight," Loki asked stubbornly.

Emotional without being too emotional. About my weaknesses as much as about Tony's. Will it be enough?

"It's the arc reactor. The palladium in it is starting to contaminate me. I'm trying to stop it but I can't figure out a way. I think I'm going to have to make a new element," Tony informed as he sat down and grabbed a bit of the cannoli.

"How long," Loki asked.

"Months."

"You haven't told any of the others," Loki observed.

"Would you? I love Pepper but how can I put her through that? Or Happy? Rhodey?"

"We are your friends. Doing otherwise would hurt far worse. Now stand still," Loki ordered.

Loki put his palm over the arc reactor and looked inward. The technology made him think of the long lost tesseract, but that was of Asgard. If Tony, or his father, had experience with it surely Heimdall would have known. If nothing was done then it was because Odin willed it. Loki could not tell, offhand, what new element would serve as well as palladium. He could not fix that part of Tony's problem. He could help with the other part though. He gently cleared out the palladium from Tony's blood. Such detailed healing was not Loki's strong suit, but he was patient and powerful enough. Finally, he stepped back.

"Does that help," Loki inquired.

"I was starting to feel a little off, the problem is still in the beginning stage, but I feel better now. What did you do?"

"As long as I am close to you, and can concentrate, I can remove the palladium. I don't know what else would serve as a replacement unfortunately," Loki answered.

Tony grabbed his shoulders.

"Listen to me Loki. You've given me more of a chance than I had before. You've also trusted me…and I know that took a lot. Those people were beyond idiots not to appreciate you and you had the right to walk away. I'm sorry I was a jerk."

"Tell the others what is going on with you," Loki advised.

"They can't help," Tony negated.

"You didn't think that I could," Loki replied.

"I know they aren't Norse beings in disguise," Tony retorted.

"They could still surprise you," Loki suggested stubbornly.

"I don't know how to tell them," Tony admitted.

"One at a time," Loki answered.

"I've been a jerk."

"They will forgive you," Loki said and it amazed him he was that confident, but it was true. He believed they would. Pepper, Happy and Rhodes were strong and not the type to leave a friend.

"I guess. At any rate, I might as well get some good brain nourishment before that. Tell me all the stuff you left out before," Tony ordered.

Loki did and it felt good to be completely honest with someone. Tony shook his head.

"Anyone who thinks you're a monster is an idiot. Which includes you by the way. You care too much. Moving on: you went to Washington. You, Mr. mischief god from another galaxy/dimension/whatever, went to Washington. When the government finds out who you are they'll want to dissect you or something else screwed up, " Tony predicted.

"They won't be able to catch me," Loki snarked with a smirk.

"Exactly reindeer games. I won't let them," Tony vowed stubbornly.

"What?"

"Your helmet in the pictures from Norse mythology. Loki is your name so I need to create a nickname," Tony explained.

Cow.

"Loki? Did I piss you off? Are you going to smite me or otherwise go off?"

"Thor called me 'cow'."

"Okay, so I'll need something else," Tony allowed with gentle sarcasm.

"No, it is alright. It is the same reason for a name, but a different name," Loki said.

"Preliminary nickname it is," Tony said with a grin.

"Tony?"

"Yes Harry Potter?"

"What," Loki asked confusedly.

"You've got green eyes and you get into trouble," Tony replied.

"Go tell the others. About the palladium and not about creating pseudonyms for me," Loki ordered his friend.

"Only if you tell the truth too. We can try this unlimited trust thing together. Okay, maybe just Pepper and Happy as it could be a conflict of interest for Rhodey," Tony replied determinedly.

"He told me if such was the case he didn't want to know," Loki informed him.

"Smart man," Tony replied with a smile.