Author's note: Well, I guess that agent deal could have gone a lot worse. At least Fury wasn't evil enough to send in Clint or Natasha. ;)
He watches in silence as the good Captain downs his fifth sandwich and then reaches out to make another one. Damn, how is it even possible to eat that much and still remain as fit and toned, even with a metabolism faster than that of a humming bird?
Definitely, totally not fair.
The conversation around the table is going haltingly, to put it mildly. Not even he is feeling up to doing much talking at the moment; he's still too busy trying to figure out how he's going to be able to put up with a prune like Steve hovering over his shoulder all day. Sure, he can work with the guy if need be – to be honest, there are few people he'd rather have at his side in a fight – but that doesn't mean he's going to enjoy living under the same roof as him.
He glances over at Loki, who looks pretty unperturbed for someone who's just gotten a personal probation officer assigned to him. At that, Tony can't help but silently speculate how everything would have played out if Loki had been handed over to Steve instead of to him. Well, apart from Mr America's moral compass going haywire and exploding from the total breech of his sensibilities and ethics.
And he wonders if Steve would at all have cared about the implied threat from the Einherjer guard of consequences to follow if he didn't accept the compulsory offer of a personal slave. Knowing the Captain, he would most likely have refused, causing a big scene ending with him giving one of the longest speeches ever of his uptight life. And then, once the space Vikings had grown tired of listening to him talking and proceeded to dump Loki off at his doorstep anyway and apparate back home before Steve was even halfway through with his morality sermon, he'd probably have called Fury faster than he could down one of Tony's sandwiches.
Well, he has to admit, in that regard, Odin sure knew what he was doing when he didn't pick Steve for the doubtful honour of becoming a slave owner. And as much as he remembers initially wishing that Steve (or anyone, really) had been chosen instead of him, right now he's very glad things didn't happen that way.
His gaze drifts away from Loki back to Steve again, and the bulging biceps peeking out where the T-shirt sleeves end. Does the man really have to wear shirts that tight as opposed to simply opting for one size bigger? Then again, maybe thrift stores don't usually carry XXXXXL sizes.
His own sandwich and coffee are already finished, and he knows that Steve wants to have a private conversation with Loki, so he might as well leave them to it. It's going to happen sooner or later anyway, and sooner is no doubt the better option.
Scooting back his chair and standing up, he looks briefly at each of the two in turn, then makes a toss of his head in the direction of the door.
"Alright, I'll be down in my workshop if you need me. Until then, enjoy each other's company."
With that, he heads out the doorway, leaving Loki and Steve alone.
"So," Steve begins, twisting uncomfortably in his seat, but seemingly determined to carry on nonetheless. "Director Fury has already given me a thorough run-down of the situation, but I'd still like a few words in person with you about certain things."
"As you wish," Loki says, tilting his head. He's not sure exactly what the Captain wants to talk to him about that he doesn't want to say in front of Tony, and he has to admit he's a bit curious. It's clear that the man isn't comfortable about the situation, but Loki can sense no obvious resentment or anger emanating from him. Then again, if Steve had been harbouring any animosity towards him, he's sure that Tony wouldn't have left the two of them alone for even a second.
Steve leans forward, resting his lower arms on the tabletop, a crease on his forehead. "You know, first of all, I'm aware of what the situation is like and that there is nothing to be done about it, but I have to say that I don't understand your kind at all. For a people so supposedly advanced, you should have realized by now that slavery is wrong and inhumane." He makes a small pause, during which he intently studies Loki. "And I certainly don't see how becoming a slave could help anyone reform."
Well, Steve obviously isn't familiar with the way justice is dispensed in Asgard. A way that Loki has by now learnt is so very, very different from how things are done in Midgard.
"The main purpose of Asgardian punishments isn't primarily to be reformative, but to actually be punishments meant to work as deterrents," he answers simply.
"It's barbaric," comes the determined reply as Steve crosses his arms before him in what is probably an unconscious defence mechanism.
Loki gives him a little smile. For some reason, he just can't help himself. "If you think that's bad, then you should hear about our execution methods." Well, they're generally quick, but it's not like Steve would know.
The look he gets in return is disapproving. "I doubt I would agree with any of those either, or at all understand how your culture works," he says. "Nor do I understand why Stark of all people got chosen for… this task."
"How so?"
Steve looks almost like he would have preferred to take his words back, but then he relents. "I simply do not see him as well suited for it, given his way of living and general morals." He makes a hand gesture to indicate their surroundings. "While this tower does have all the security measures anyone could possibly ask for, I would still not have considered Stark an appropriate choice for taking on this kind of responsibility."
Loki quirks an inquisitive eyebrow in his direction. "You mean to say, then, that you would have been more suitable – or perhaps appreciative – of the honour, Captain?"
Steve looks at him with a wrinkled brow and a set jaw, as he lets a quiet sigh slip. "That's not what I meant. My point is that the correct thing to do would have been to have handed you over to the proper authorities to stand trial for your crimes here on Earth."
He stands up and starts pacing slowly across the room. "At least then you would have gotten a fair sentencing and not… this." He turns to give Loki an intense stare, as if there's faintly printed text on his skin that the man is doing his utmost to decipher.
From his current vantage point, Loki is very much certain that such an outcome wouldn't have been an improvement of his situation by any definition of the word, but the Captain still means well, he supposes.
"Anyway, I hope that Tony hasn't been… treating you badly or violated your rights in any way? If you have any complaints about your treatment here-"
"I assure you, Captain, I have no complaints whatsoever," Loki interrupts him. "And I can say for certain that my treatment here would be very much preferable to SHIELD's tender hospitality."
Steve looks unconvinced, but doesn't voice any further protests or doubts, just nods slowly in silence.
And Loki can't help but marvel that Steve should at all voice any concerns on his behalf. Then again, Bruce Banner had asked him similar questions during his visit here, obviously wanting to make sure nothing bad had been done to him, something that had confused him at the time.
As strange as it is, he knows at this point that this is not an isolated aberration, but something born out of Midgardian sentiment. Humans are indeed very different from Asgardians, who would have called it weakness, but as paradoxical as it might sound, he's come to understand that it's actually one of humanity's strengths.
Looking into the hard-chiselled face in front of him, he decides to ask Steve a question of his own.
"You don't like Tony very much, do you?"
Steve draws himself up a little, looking uncomfortable. "I didn't say that. But we are very different," comes the rather clipped reply.
And that is a very interesting thing to say, because that's not Loki's own impression of the two men, regardless of what Steve might say and Tony probably would too. No, there's something about the Captain that actually reminds him very much of Tony. Not physically, of course, because the two of them are obviously very dissimilar in that department, but there's something else there. Something that is responsible for making both of the men what they are.
Perhaps like a sword and a hammer, neither looking anything like the other, having vastly different appearances and uses. But when taking a closer look it would become obvious that each has been forged from the same material, each one made of the same steel that shaped the other, sharing their inner essence.
"But you're still comrades in arms," he says. "Or 'shield brothers', as we would have said in Asgard."
Steve stops his pacing for a little while, placing his lower arms on the backrest of a nearby chair, leaning forwards a bit. "I trust Stark on the battle field, but it doesn't mean that we have great chemistry in private. We have too little common ground for that."
It is interesting indeed, because the more Steve talks, the more he reminds Loki of Tony. Not in any way that immediately meets the eye, no, but if you dig a little deeper, the similarities are definitely there. Both men are passionate and driven, though each in their own way. They both have convictions that they firmly stand by and are probably not too different, not at their core.
The outcome of all that might vastly differ, but not what lies beneath – heart, soul, kindness.
Of course, he is sure that if he were to give voice to any of this, both Steve and Tony would vehemently deny any resemblances, so he decides to keep his observations to himself.
"If you say so," he concedes with a shrug, letting it lie at that. "And how long are you planning to stay here to keep an eye on me?"
"As long as is necessary." He gives Loki a searching stare. "However, I do hope that you will prove yourself reformed as claimed and aren't planning on reverting to your old ways. In that case, I will have no choice but to report the state of things to Director Fury, and I'm sure you realize what will happen then."
"I guess that would mean I get to enjoy SHIELD's hospitality for an indeterminate amount of time," he replies, throwing his hands out, palms up. "Worry not, Captain. I can assure you that I very much regret my previous actions in Midgard and I harbour no plans whatsoever to the detriment of your realm or its people. And I intend to make what amends I can as recompense for my crimes."
"I hope so," Steve says, giving a curt nod. "I believe in second chances, so don't waste the one you've been given."
"I won't, Captain. Trust me."
Steve relaxes a little bit. "Glad to hear it. Then I'm sure we should be getting along just fine."
"I'm sure we will," Loki agrees.
He has to admit that when meeting him like this, he actually likes the Captain, despite the two of them getting off on the wrong foot in Germany.
He seems nice. Kind, even.
Like Tony.
And like Tony, he's pleasant to look at as well.
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