Tony and Pepper were not happy with Loki's actions. Between them Loki hadn't felt this chastened since he was little.
"It wasn't worth it! They could have killed you and we wouldn't have been able to help," Pepper chided.
"What were you thinking Reindeer Games? It's one thing for me to be reckless but you're usually a more thoughtful type of guy," Tony added.
"You are my shield brethren. I will not let threats to you pass," Loki told them stubbornly.
Tony threw his hands up into the air.
"If you ever need help I'm providing it even if I have to force you to take it. Ouch, that sounded way too kinky. Sorry, you know I wouldn't do that to anyone. Even suicidal Norse gods," Tony told him.
Loki frowned.
"I am not suicidal," he retorted.
Pepper touched his cheek.
"You don't have to prove yourself to us Loki. We know you care about us and we need you to see we care about you too," she said.
Her comment touched him. It spoke of how much they were his family.
"I can do things you can't," he pleaded.
"Even I can see that doesn't mean you should," Tony butted in.
Loki smirked and almost made a comment about the two of them having the potential to be good parents. Only a desire to avert the awkwardness such a comment might have on their relationship caused him to hold his tongue.
"Well," Pepper asked.
Loki did find Pepper reminding him of Frigga at this moment. He sighed.
"I could have gotten away."
"That would have still been dangerous for you. They would be interested in chasing you," she replied.
"It was worth it. I knew not the motives of these SHIELD people or if was even them," Loki refuted stubbornly.
"What did you find out," Tony asked.
"Tony," Pepper groaned incredulously.
"Hey it'd be hypocritical if I didn't admit I would have done the same thing," Tony defended.
"I should give myself a raise," Pepper replied with a groan.
Loki grinned.
"You should. I know we're trying on your nerves. As for SHIELD they are interested in Tony's involvement in the Avengers Initiative to the point they invented this temporary cure to give him more time to find a permanent solution," Loki suggested strategically.
He handed the injection to Tony.
"Get on it JARVIS," Tony ordered.
"Doing so sir."
"You don't trust them though," Tony observed.
"If Fury was totally benign he would have given this to you the moment his people invented it. Instead he sent Agent Romanov to watch you. He would have been able to time how long you could live without this. Then he could have injected it into you at your lowest point. Like it or not, you would have been connected to SHIELD then."
"Geez," Tony said with a disgruntled look.
"We're going to have to be wary of them then," Pepper put in.
"Exactly Pepper. They could be useful, but should not be fully trusted," Loki added.
"Great. As if I needed more on my plate," Tony put in.
"Sir," JARVIS interjected.
"Yeah," Tony asked.
"The good news is that this substance indeed can temporarily disable palladium," JARVIS began.
"What's the bad news," Tony asked.
"The bad news regards another matter. Unknown persons have broken Vanko out of prison," JARVIS continued.
Tony groaned.
"When it rains it freaking pours! Well, guess back to the drawing board for now."
"What about Agent Romanov," Loki inquired.
"You don't think they would put Pepper in danger do you?"
Loki gazed off into the distance and thought for a moment. Then he, thankfully, was able to shake his head.
"That would be too obvious and embitter you irreversibly," he concluded firmly.
"So we keep Romanov, she's rather good at her job, and use them? To make them play nice for sneaking in," Tony suggested.
Loki smirked.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Romanov showed up the next day and Pepper had her work as normal. Loki and Tony, with that settled, went back to working to find a cure.