Edited: Sep/6/2013

This has a lot of talking in it..less action. Unless you count Loki having a boo-hoo.

WARNING: some language/ violence.

Disclaimer: I do not in anyway own these characters. All rights belong to Marvel etc.

NOTE: The words in Italics that are not contained in "" are the characters thoughts and not intended for the other to hear.

The words in "Italics" are a conversation intended to be heard between the mind link.

Chpt 6

(karma or Kamikaze)

Loki glanced around for the source of the disembodied voice for a while, avoiding looking anywhere that was near Stark. After a few minutes he gave in, finding nowhere else left to look.

Tony was sitting in front of Loki, staring at the window where the sunlight was coming in. After a few minutes he cleared his throat and weakly asked,
"Jarvis... How long ,exactly, have I been away?"

Jarvis spoke up immediately, replying"One year, five months, three days, twenty hours, and four minutes, sir."

Tony jumped up and started to pace around the room.
Loki felt himself flinching back from the waves of anger coming from him. Stark stopped suddenly and directed his rage at Loki. "You... YOU SAID A MONTH!?"

He stalked closer to Loki angrily, fists raised and clenched. Loki crawled backwards and curled up, expecting blows.

He couldn't understand it himself. There was no way that the travel took that long. He kept going through the possibilities, curled up with his arms over his head, before he noticed he was not being hit.

Tony stood stock still, looking at the weak, curled-up ball of a god.

He was that terrified that I was going to... hit him? Tony thought.

Tony knelt next to him, reaching out to calm the god. Loki flinched, bursting out,
"Itrulydidnotknow! It-it's impossible to have taken that long. Iswearit!"

Tony frowned and quickly pulled Loki into his arms. He had no idea why he was freaking out this badly, but he needed to calm down. He felt a sudden sadness tighten his throat.
"Lokes... I'm not really blaming you. I'm sorry I got mad. I'm just a loud asshole. You should know that by now."

Loki shuddered in Tony's arms and visibly relaxed. A small voice came from somewhere around Tony's chest.
"My apologies for breaking down like this. I am not at my strongest now, neither physically nor mentally."

There was a long pause. Loki continued quietly, "The... The only reason I can imagine that time has changed so, was that the energy from the original portal was corrupted in some way. I fear that my choice of planet may have been a poor decision , considering the distance from both Earth and the Chitauri..."
He tapered off into a whisper, keeping his face pressed against Tony.

Tony felt a strange comfort being pressed against the god without his suit in between. He had rested his head on him before, but to have Loki relying on him for comfort felt...

Amazing.

Alright, enough of this half assed emotional thing.

Tony forced a smirk, and asked, "Are you crying, my blue friend?"

Loki's head suddenly whipped up, nearly smashing into Tony's chin. His glare could have melted the icecaps, or possibly all of Jötunheim. With a voice so cold that it made Tony visibly shiver, he spoke.
"Firstly, Stark, I do not cry. Ever. Secondly, Stark, as weak as I am, I can still kill you in a second. And lastly, Stark—"

"Sir?" Jarvis interrupted.

Loki's glare changed its focus to the ceiling and Tony was glad for the moment of relief.
"What is it, Jarvis?" he asked. "I'm kind of busy being threatened here after trying to comfort a god."
Loki's glare returned to him, but there was a slight hint of a smile on his lips.

"I thought I should warn you that SHEILD agents are on their way to the house. I am unsure if you should be seen embracing the enemy, sir."

Tony snapped at the AI, "He is notthe enemy! Also, why the fuck are they coming to my house if I'm dead?"

Jarvis responded with a slightly sarcastic tone. "They have been keeping an eye out for Loki's magic, sir. They must have picked up on him as you came in."

Tony swore nearly every swear word he could conjure up as he stood. He started pacing again before a giggle interrupted him. He twisted around in shock, seeing Loki sitting in the middle of his carpet, laughing.
Raising and eyebrow and stepping closer, Tony asked, "Have you finally snapped, Lokes? 'Cuz this situation is in no way funny."

Loki continued to chuckle at Tony while gracefully standing up.
"It's not amusing, no," he replied. "But your swearing was."
Suddenly, the god's eyes were back to green while his face slowly filled in with flesh color.

If that's what you can call skin color.
He looks worse now than he did when he was blue.
At least bruises on blue look like more blue.

Tony frowned, walking up to the taller man and studying his face.
"You look like shit. Why didn't you say how bad it was?"
Loki's sallow skin was bruised nearly everywhere. His hair lay damp and limp against his head, except where it had been ruffled up from his earlier panic attack. Although the god worked to maintain his usual perfect posture, he was listing a bit to one side.

Loki tilted his head, saying nothing.

Tony mentally flailed,
I did not find that cute. No, I really didn't.

Loki spoke up. "I think the more important issue is what to do about your SHEILD coming here? Should I even bother hiding, seeing as they know I am here?"

Loki observed the shorter man's face as he thought it through. It was an interesting process to watch, considering the mortal was actually quite smart. He looked a lot better than on the previous days, and his skin was a healthier color. His hair, usually ridiculous, was sticking up in strange clumps. Loki found himself tempted to run his fingers through it, to pat it back down.
Tony focus snapped back to Loki, distracting the god from his thoughts.
"We are going to have to explain as best as we can," Tony said. "Like we originally planned, just a lot sooner." He grimaced and shrugged a bit.

Loki frowned in reply. "This isn't going to work, as our original plan was based on the fact that we were missing only a month or so. I do not-"

"SHEILD has arrived, sir," Jarvis chimed in.

Immediately after Jarvis' announcement the sound of many heavily armed men came from the halls around them. Tony stepped in front of Loki and backed him against the wall. The room filled quickly with soldiers, each finding a point in the room to make their stand, their guns raised and ready.
The silence after the movement ceased was heavy, and Tony felt a sweat break out on his skin.

Suddenly, Loki's voice spoke softly in his head.

"Stark, you should provide proof that you aren't under my control. That is sure to be the first question on everyone's mind."

Tony thought back, "I know, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Just let me do the talking first and don't... Move. Okay?"

Tony could sense Loki's sneer in his head, as well as the huff of air he let out against the back of his neck.
He was about to say something to the room full of armed men before a loud voice filled the room.

"Well, Loki, I would say this is an unexpected surprise, but it isn't."

Directory Fury stalked into the room, brushing past soldiers to reach the middle of the carpet. One eyebrow went up at the sight of Tony.
"Stark, I'm glad to see you are alive. Care to explain why you're hiding a war criminal behind your back?" he asked. "Or how about where the fuck you two have been for the past year and a half?"

Tony automatically snapped back. "Gee. I don't know, Patches, where should I start? So many questions can make a girl conflicted."

Tony nearly squeaked when Loki jabbed him in the back.
His mind filled with the gods voice.
"Cut that nonsense out, Stark. I don't particularly feel like dying along your side today."

Tony smiled at the wording and looked Fury in the eye. His tone serious, he began, "Loki is not a war criminal, more or less. His actions in New York were not by his choosing, seeing as he was under control of uh... "

Loki interrupted quietly,
"Thanos."

Tony glanced behind him at the god and thought,
"I was getting there! Way to go, let's make them think you're coaching what I say some more. Shut up!"

Loki made a face somewhere in between "don't you dare tell me to shut up" and " I'm sorry, okay?"

Tony turned back to Fury, noting the look of suspicion in his eye. "Look, I guess I should start with proving that I'm me and not under any kind of control, yeah? "

Fury nodded and gestured for him to go on.
Tony swallowed. "Back when Loki and I fought in Stark Tower, he tried to use his magic glowy stick of glory to control me. It didn't work, and I cracked some witty joke about performance that—"

Fury interrupted in a menacing tone, "Stark."

Tony cleared his throat and grinned. Pissing off Fury was as easy as ever. "I guess, no one was there so I can't say 'ask them!' But I'm sure Jarvis has the video feed somewhere."

The AI joined in, "I do ,sir, and SHEILD has already viewed that file."

Tony frowned at the ceiling and then looked back at Fury. "So you already know I can't be controlled."

There was the sound of more footsteps and Fury was joined by Clint and Natasha. Tony felt a mix of emotions upon seeing them.

Mostly fear at the moment.

Tony suddenly had an idea. "Oh! I know! How about I share something only Tony Stark from before the New York incident could know?"

His grin widened as Fury nodded again, looking interested.

Tony, speaking towards the ceiling, began.
"Jarvis, pull up folder 'Summer Hot Tubs' for me, please."

There was a pause before Jarvis asked, "Shall I put it up on the large screen, sir?"

Tony chuckled. "Yes. Now open the secondary folder titled 'Budapest'. You know the password."

Jarvis, sounding almost guilty, responded, "In this instance it would be preferable if you showed that you knew the password, sir."

Tony glared up at the ceiling. Where was Jarvis getting this personality from?

Rolling his eyes, he replied, "Take me out to the ball game, with the number three for the 'e's."

Clint snorted from beside Natasha, earning him an elbow to the gut.
Loki observed their behavior and leaned close to Tony's ear, whispering,
"Those two have become more intimate since we last saw them."

Tony barely surprised a shiver from the god's breath in his ear.

Please, god, never do that again...
At least not in public.

Loki overheard the thought.
"Oh, so I have permission to do that in private?"

Tony flipped his head around, blushing a little.
"No! Just... Don't. What happened to being quiet? Do I have to treat you like a child and silence you myself?"

Loki let out a small huff of laughter. Tony turned his head back to the staring crowd, smiling. The little interaction had clearly not gone unnoticed.

Oh sweet fuck, please tell me they haven't noticed we can talk to each other in our heads?

His lips tightened together. "Jarvis... Find folder labeled 'Legolas Drops Trou.'"

Clint's eyes widened as he stepped forward and shouted, "NO!"
Natasha actually laughed, and Fury looked curious. Tony grinned with pride.
"What's wrong Agent ? I need to prove I'm actually The Tony Stark."

Clint glared at him. "I'm pretty sure only the real Tony would pull a stunt like this," he said. "Also, how in the hell do you have a visual of that?"

Tony tsked, shaking a finger at the archer. "Silly Legolas, there are cameras everywhere. When I was given everyone's information, I went on a little info gathering spree of my own. I just had to save some files from Budapest on you."

Tony glanced over at Natasha, his smirk falling. His face grew sober. "Agent Romanoff, what I found for you I left alone... except to destroy some of the files."
Nat gave Tony a sad little smile and nodded a thanks. Tony returned his gaze onto Fury, raising an eyebrow.

Fury heaved a sigh and crossed his arms. "Yes, Stark, you are the lovable asshole we all know. Now would you care to explain why Thor's insane brother is somehow not a criminal?"

Tony looked around the room. "Hey, where is the big guy? I thought for sure he would be front and center, bawling that his brother has returned to him."
Clint let out another snort and was silenced by a glare from Fury. Turning back to face Stark, he replied, "We didn't call him. He has been jumping at every blip on the map for a year now. We wanted to be sure this time before we let him know Loki had returned. "

Loki cleared his throat and peeked out from behind Tony's head. Smiling weakly, he said, "You should know, he already knows I am here. He would have felt my magic immediately. " Loki paused and tilted his head, listening. Everyone stopped and listened as well, finally noticing the sounds of rolling thunder.

Fury looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "Oh shit."

There was an impressive crash as the god of thunder threw himself through the ceiling and into the room. Rubble flew, though most of the agents jumped back in time before getting hit. Before anyone else could say anything, a voice bellowed out,

"LOOOOKKKIIII! Why have you returned now!?"

The dust slowly settled enough for Fury and his agents to see Thor in the middle of the room, surrounded by parts of the former ceiling.
In front of him stood Stark, in the exact same position but inside some sort of greenish shield. Loki held a hand up, mumbling something before the shield fell with a soft pop.

Loki frowned gravely at his brother from behind Tony. "Thor, you could have killed people. I thought you had overcome that impulsive side of yours."

Thor let out a bitter laugh. "Warning me that I could have killed humans, brother? This is an amusing irony."

"Regardless of the situation, Thor, I am not your brother," Loki snarled back. "If you would gather your wits for a moment, I shall explain the events of New York as best I can. "

Fury gestured to the men in the room with guns, without taking his eyes off of Tony and Loki. Many of the soldiers left, and the remaining lowered their weapons. "Stark, you can move now," Fury said. "I would like to hear this face to face. "

Tony's lips formed a thin line, he looked Fury in the eye before stepping to the side a little. More than half his body was still in front of the Loki. Clint and Natasha raised their eyebrows, but no one commented on it.

Loki cleared his throat and glanced at Thor before be began. "I suppose I should start somewhere near the beginning. Back when I originally attacked a town somewhere... south of here." Loki went on, again explaining how he came to fall, how he met Thanos, and what emotions lead him into the trap set by the king.

"I was fooled. He successfully fooled the trickster, " Loki said bitterly. "I had felt betrayed by the man I believed my father and I found myself searching for understanding in anyone. I thought... I thought he cared. By the time I realized his words were binding me, I was already under his spell. I did not receive the blue eyes of one under control, as I was directly under Thanos' control, not of the staff's. I..."
Loki stuttered to a halt, his eyes focused on the floor. A sheen of sweat had formed during his talk and his hands were clenched in fists. Tony turned and thought to him,
"Lokes? You're looking really bad. What's wrong?"

Loki glanced at Tony with relief, thinking in reply,
" I am completely out of energy, Stark. I'm having trouble holding onto my form."

Thor's voice interrupted their thoughts. "Broth...Loki, you look unwell. What ails you?" Thor stepped closer, reaching out in a gesture of affection. Loki hissed and stepped back behind Tony a little more. Thor's face fell, clearly hurt by Loki's reaction.

Loki simply muttered, "You know what would happen if I touched you just now. I am... not at my strongest, Thor."

Fury's eyebrow went up, along with nearly everyone else's. Thor looked confused for a moment before it dawned on him. "Oh! I apologize, I didn't realize you were this unwell, Bro...Loki." Tony glanced at Loki and back at Thor.

Tony thought,

So he did know his brother was a smurf.
So what happens when a smurf touches an Asgardian?

Thor spoke up again, this time at director Fury. "I would like to suggest my brother rest here with The Son of Stark before he continue with his tale."

Fury glowered at Thor and then turned to assess Loki. Even he could see the god looked like hell. He did just perform magic that protected Stark, the director thought. Then again, he was right behind the man and was probably protecting himself.
"So it would be just you and Stark looking after him?" he asked. "How do we know he isn't going to wake up and start killing everyone again? "

Loki looked thoughtful for a moment and coughed, gaining everyone's attention.
"I believe I can grant an... offering of good faith. A peace offering, if you will."

"What could you possibly have to offer? You're not exactly carrying anything," Fury inquired, clearly curious.

"I would offer you the Casket of Ancient Winters, from the Frost Giants. Currently, only I am able to wield it, so it would remain inactive in your care. However, I'm sure your scientists would enjoy poking at it."

Thor's mouth had dropped open at the mention of the casket. "You still are in possession of that, brother!?" he shouted.

Loki rolled his eyes and sneered at his brother. "Yes. It has never left my possession since I fell."

Tony spoke up quickly. "You have a casket on you? Right now?" Tony circled the god. "Where, in a back pocket?"

Fury interrupted the debate. "Stark, if you're done looking at Loki's ass, can we get a move on?"

Tony stopped and stared at the director. Clint had a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. "Oooh man," Stark said, with a sly smile. "I couldn't have made you say that if I tried. JARVIS! Save that audio clip, loop it and save it as my ring tone. Then call me."

"Immediately, sir," Jarvis replied. The room suddenly filled with Fury's voice repeating itself.
" Loki's ass. Loki's ass. Loki's ass..."

"ENOUGH," Fury growled. "You," he said, pointing at Thor, "Keep an eye on both of them. If Stark starts acting less of an ass-hat and more of a weirdo, zap him. You know what to do with your brother." Fury focused his glare at Loki. "And you, hand over that casket. I'll keep it as a promise of good behavior. Since you're the only one who can wield it, apparently. "

Loki's tensed into a mask of full concentration. His effort to perform the magic was nearly tangible. He twisted his wrists, and then, from between his hands, a gently glowing, floating casket appeared. He held it forward between his hands, offering it to the director.

Fury frowned at that display. "I'm not just gonna' take some floating magical thing. Hand it over normally."

Loki grimaced, glancing first at Thor and then Tony. "I.. Can't touch it, currently," he said. "I'm afraid it would effect me poorly. "

"If it effects you 'poorly', there's no way I'm touching that shit."

Loki bit his lip, trying to hold his concentration. Tony suddenly stepped forward, reaching out for the casket. His eyes met Loki's as he asked silently,

"Is it safe for me?"

Loki smiled warmly in answer.
"Yes. And thank you."

Fury followed their movements, watching as some sort of silent exchange was made. This wasn't the first time they had shared something quietly. Something fishy was going on between those two, he thought.
Tony interrupted the director's thoughts by handing the casket over a bit roughly. It was heavier than either of them had expected.

"Watch them," Fury commanded Thor. Casting one more all encompassing glare around the room, Fury stalked out with his new prize. Natasha moved to follow him, but Clint lagged behind. He shuffled his feet a little and glanced at Tony.

"Hey man, I'm just glad you're alive," Clint said. He smiled sheepishly. "I don't know about this whole Loki thing, but you're alive, and that's what counts." Tony grinned at him and waved as the archer left, followed by the rest of the SHIELD men.

The front door clicked shut.
Loki was blue before he hit the floor, unconscious.

Sooo that one was a little longer. I just wrote it last night. Might still need some editing.