Author's note: This chapter has been written for AidennQueen, and I must say, from not really knowing what to do with the request, once I started writing, it turned out to fit so amazingly perfectly into everything that I can't believe I didn't think of it immediately... ^^
He takes another gulp out of his cup, enjoying the calming feeling of hot, caffeine-rich liquid sliding down his throat. Loki is sitting on the other side of the table, fingers fiddling with his glass of water, and from the look on his face, there's clearly something important going through his mind. Tony is about to ask what it is, but Loki pre-empts him as he looks up, as if sensing the questioning gaze lingering on him.
"You don't have any books about human diseases and ailments, do you?" the god asks. "I was going through your library yesterday, but I couldn't really find anything on the subject matter."
Tony puts his cup of steaming coffee down on the tabletop, wrinkling his eyebrows a little. "You mean… you need books in order to perform that healing thing? Isn't it enough with, well, magic?" His fingers trace a little meandering pattern through the air, accentuating the last word.
Loki shakes his head. "Mending broken bones and torn flesh should not prove much more difficult with humans than with the Aesir, since you have similar bodies. However, as far as diseases go, it's a different matter. There are rather few such afflicting the immortal races, but in order to heal them with magic, you need in-depth knowledge of the disease itself, and how it affects the body and its organs and functions. Otherwise, not even a skilled sorcerer can do much to help, and even healers on Asgard have to study and undergo specific training before they can be of use." Loki makes a short pause, his long fingers drumming rhythmically against the glass. "So I was planning to use these two years to gain the knowledge needed in order for me to understand and counteract the diseases I will come across here in Midgard."
Tony scratches his head. "Huh, and here I thought you could just wave that mojo of yours around, and voila, problem solved. Not that easy, huh?"
Loki gives him a slight smile. "Not quite, no."
"Okay then, I suppose I could order you some nice and shiny books, maybe the local med school reading list or whatever. There should be lots of material out there for you to read about cancer and infections and evil viruses and what have you." Perhaps a little too much, even, since he's not sure what would actually be of use in this situation, given his own lack of knowledge in the field. He makes a little grimace. "Though, I'm afraid I'm pretty clueless what books would be the most useful to someone with your background and aspirations; never was one much interested in the medical sciences. But I guess we'll have to wing it and see what we can find."
And then, a thought suddenly hits him. Steve had mentioned it off-handedly during his stay in the tower, and even though Tony hadn't paid it any particular mind at the time, now he finds himself grinning as he remembers.
"What is it?" Loki asks, giving him a curious look.
Tony leans forward across the table, gaze holding Loki's. "You know, I just remembered Steve mentioning that Bruce Banner has moved back to New York, deciding to finally go back to his roots or something after having flittered around the gutters of the world. If you want, I can ask him for a list of book titles geared towards your specific needs." He makes a pause, gauging Loki's reaction. It doesn't seem too adverse, or even adverse at all, at the mention of Bruce, so he continues. "Or, better yet, how about asking him yourself?"
There is a look of apprehensive surprise on Loki's face, but it only lasts for a brief second. "You mean, you'll arrange for him to come over here?" the god asks, voice painted with something Tony can't quite interpret.
"Sure, why not?" he replies, throwing his hands out in a sweeping gesture. "I figured the two of you could compare Asgard's versus Midgard's medical techniques, and he could give you some basics and help you get started." He takes another sip of coffee, realizing that there's actually another potential benefit to be had. "Plus, I figured it'd be good for you to get to see another face other than mine, as handsome as it might be. So, what do you say?"
Loki fiddles a little with his glass. "You don't think Bruce would mind?"
"Not at all," Tony assures the hesitant god. "I'm sure he'd be delighted for the chance to discuss everything from the common flu to flesh-eating bacteria with a smart and knowledgeable guy like you."
Loki is quiet for a while, as if lost in contemplation. Then, he nods slowly. "In that case, I'd be happy to meet with Bruce again and learn what I can from him."
Tony grins at him. "That's the spirit! I'll call him and ask him to take some time out of his no doubt non-busy schedule for some intergalactic, cross-cultural exchange."
It's a strange feeling being in the same room as Bruce again. It's as if an eternity has passed since he last met the doctor, given all the things that have changed since then. At the time, he'd been wary – if not afraid – of the man, and that also feels strange to him now, how he could ever have been so distrustful of the unassuming man before him, the complete opposite from his other, berserker self.
He watches as Tony and Bruce exchange pleasantries and the standard Midgardian mutual inquires about health and life in general. And he realizes, then, that he isn't even sure how much Tony has told Bruce about the situation. Granted, the man had recounted their phone conversation to him, but he had been too distracted and aloof at the time to really listen, his swirling mind occupied with all the questions he would be asking the doctor, all the things he had to learn, and the amends he would be making. Whatever details Tony had told him, they're forgotten now.
And that's when Bruce turns to him, who's been watching in silence from the sidelines.
"Nice to see you again, Loki," he says, holding out a hand in greeting. "I'm glad to see that you're looking a lot better than last time we met."
Tentatively, he reaches out a hand of his own, grasping the doctor's. "I've healed," he says. "Not just… physically." And really, he must have cut a quite sad and pathetic figure back then, for more reasons than one. No doubt, he's coming off as very different now, or at least he's hoping that he does.
Still, he can't help but feel oddly bashful in he doctor's presence, not at all like when Steve had been here. He'd felt comfortable and relaxed around the Captain, whereas Tony had been the tense one. Now, however, the tables have turned; Tony being all unperturbed, while Loki is the one feeling awkward and not quite knowing which way to look.
With an effort, he whisks his meandering thoughts away, because there's still something that needs to be said before all else. So he looks into the eyes of the man before him, steadfastly holding his gaze. "I never thanked you back then for tending to my injuries," he says, seeing Bruce's face shift ever so slightly at that, be it in surprise or something else. "So I'll do it now instead." He inclines his head a little. "Thank you, Doctor."
Bruce gives a small smile. "No need to thank me, Loki," he answers, ever unassuming. "It's my job. It's what I do."
"Nevertheless, I appreciate it."
"Alright, you guys," Tony pipes up behind them. "Now that proper introductions and everything's been taken care of, who's up for a beer?"
He never much liked Midgardian beer, but he sips dutifully at it anyway, swallowing the cool liquid down as Tony's voice occupies most of the available audible space, filling it with anecdotes and humorous quips. Surreptitiously, Loki throws the occasional glance towards Bruce, wondering what's going through the man's head as he's sitting there, if he at all wants to be here, and what he thinks of Loki wanting to see him.
He's deep into his own thoughts when an empty beer can smacks against the tabletop as it is set down. A second later, Tony stands up, rolling his shoulder joints a couple of times as if to get the circulation going. "Okay, I've got some stuff to see to down in my workshop," he announces. "So I'll see you in a bit, and in the meantime, have fun. Oh, and there's plenty of more beer in the refrigerator if anyone would like some."
And with that, Tony heads for the door, leaving him and Bruce alone on opposite ends of the couch.
For a few moments, there is silence as Loki isn't quite sure where to start or what to say, feeling uncharacteristically tongue-tied. It strikes him as odd voicing a request like this, considering his and Bruce's previous history, and he doesn't know how best to frame it.
It is Bruce who speaks first, though. "I understand that you'd like some help in where to start your studies of human medicine?" he asks, hands neatly folded over one of his legs.
There is a droplet hovering on the edge of his beer can, and he traces his finger along the circular rim, sweeping it away. "Yes," he affirms. "So that I can make amends for my actions here in Midgard."
Bruce nods in understanding. "As stipulated in the ruling from Odin. Yeah, Tony told me about it, and the accompanying terms."
"It's true that Odin has stipulated it, but… I would have wanted to do it anyway," he hears himself saying. And it's true, he would, even if it hadn't been a required part of his sentence.
Bruce gives him a long and searching, but not unkind, look, urging him to continue.
"I want to make up for what I did, insofar as it can be done," Loki adds. "To actually help people instead of hurting them."
"Well, that's certainly a commendable change of heart. If you don't mind me asking, what made you come to the conclusion that you wanted to help people?" Bruce asks, but there is no suspicion in his voice, only curiosity and interest, now.
So Loki tells him of the incident with the little girl in the street, and even of the thoughts that had followed in its wake.
"I see," the doctor answers slowly. "So saving that child was what brought it about, huh?"
He's about to say 'yes', but then realizes that it isn't actually true. "No," he says instead, "that incident only made me realize how I could go about making a difference, but it wasn't what changed me. What really did was… Tony."
"Tony, huh?" Bruce looks even more interested at that. "Forgive my curiosity, but how did he manage that?"
And it's a very good question, really, because Tony never did preach Midgardian morality or rebuke him for the error of his ways. Truth be told, he never made any active attempts to get Loki to change his outlook – neither lecturing, chiding, reasoning, or coaxing – and yet, he still somehow managed to.
How indeed. But he knows the answer already.
"He… didn't actually treat me like a slave," Loki says distantly, suddenly overwhelmed by the sheer number of memories from those earlier days washing over him. Looking back on them, it's really hard to see how he could have held such mistaken views of Tony, expected such terrible things from him.
"I would have been very surprised if he had," Bruce replies. "Tony's a good guy, although I think I already told you something to that effect last time we met."
"You did," Loki agrees. "Though it took me a while to realize just how good."
Bruce looks vaguely amused. "He really grows on you, doesn't he?"
And how.
And he can't help but reflect on how surreal the situation is, sitting here discussing Tony and his merits with Bruce – or, for that matter, with another person at all. But he enjoys it nevertheless. Even if the topic had been addressed with Steve as well, the Captain had been suspicious and disbelieving, so it hadn't really been the same thing. Bruce, on his hand, seems to trust in Tony's good qualities, though, and he also has a special aura around him, one that invites trust and confidences and makes him relax in the man's presence. Of course, he'd been too tense last time to notice it, but now it's strikingly obvious.
"I guess that's one way to put it," he concurs. "I must say, Midgardian men are very different from their Asgardian counterparts."
Bruce makes a little snort. "I can imagine. To start with, I would think us mortals generally aren't quite as keen on the whole war-and-glorious-fighting thing that you gods seem to go for."
"True. But it's certainly not just that," he says, his tongue freed from its initial constraints, now, as it enthusiastically continues to speak what's on his mind. "I mean, Tony is the most amazing man I've ever met, and I want-" And as he can see one of Bruce's eyebrows dart up, he realizes that he's said too much, his mouth has run off with him, lulled into safe complacency by the doctor's relaxed and inviting manners.
He snaps his mouth shut, cursing himself. He should have kept quiet, rather than blurting things out that could lead Bruce to draw his own conclusions about the state of things. Bruce doesn't need to know, especially not after how the revelation had gone over with Steve.
"Is that so?" Bruce asks, his other eyebrow going up to join the first.
"What I mean to say is…" Loki begins, then trails off as his brain is searching for the best way to save the situation, but the other man interrupts him before he can continue.
"You and Tony are… an item?" comes the surprisingly direct question, but there is no immediate judgement in that voice, although there's clearly surprise to be heard.
And of course, being a healer, it figures that Bruce would be highly perceptive and quick at connecting the dots with only scant information at his disposal.
He's about to deny it, to tell the doctor that he's misunderstanding, but for some reason, he finds that he doesn't want to lie to Bruce, not when those calm, intelligent eyes are boring into his, as if they're reading every word and every truth that Loki isn't speaking. So there's only one thing left to say, really.
"We are," he relents, hoping he isn't making a mistake by admitting to it, willing that Bruce won't take offence and think badly of Tony the way that Steve had done. "But I was the one who instigated it," he hastens to add. "Not Tony. He didn't coerce or pressure me in any way."
Bruce doesn't even bat an eyelash at that. "Of course not," he says. "Tony isn't the kind of guy who'd do that."
"You don't consider it upsetting or inappropriate?" Loki blurts out, surprised at how Bruce is seemingly taking this revelation in stride. He had expected at least some kind of negative reaction, even if it wouldn't have been as strong as Steve's.
There's the hint of a smile on the doctor's face, now. "Under somewhat different circumstances, I probably would have. But I remember, even now, when I was here tending to your injuries, how concerned Tony had been about you and your situation. It was clear to me that he honestly cared about you." Bruce leans back in the couch, his gaze still focused on Loki. "And people who honestly care about someone would be very unlikely to take advantage of them."
"Oh," he manages, unable to stop himself from feeling vaguely stupid that he hadn't realized it back then, given that it had been so obvious to Bruce, and all that only from one short visit. But it's nice not having to explain either himself or Tony, since the doctor seems like he understands anyway. There's no judgement, no questioning, and Loki is very grateful for that.
But, for some reason, he feels a sudden urge to explain anyway. Maybe it's the man's calm demeanour, the glint of intelligence in his eyes, or the way he cocks his head in interest as he's regarding Loki; whatever it is, suddenly he finds himself telling Bruce about his stay in the tower, and the gist of what transpired during that time. Not the details and nothing really intimate or overly revealing, but enough so that Bruce can truly understand. And it's quite pleasant, really, to sit here and have a relaxed and open-hearted conversation with someone who for once isn't Tony, and he's long lost all sense of time as the conversation much later starts to drift off into other topics, naturally and seamlessly, as if he's known Bruce for a long time already.
He doesn't realize how late is actually is until Tony suddenly comes sauntering back into the living room, throwing a look at the discrepant couple on the couch.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get really hungry here," the man proclaims. "So unless anyone has any objections, I'm going to order us some Chinese."
There are none voiced, so Tony saunters back out again to place his phone call, as Loki's stomach slowly and unpleasantly sinks. Here Tony had gotten Bruce to come over so he could help Loki get properly started with his studies of Midgardian medicine, and they haven't even touched the topic yet, what with him getting carried away and using that precious time to chatter about a million other things instead.
He looks down at his hands, a little sigh escaping him. "Ah, I… didn't realize how much time had passed," he says dejectedly. "It wasn't my intention to squander it all away like this, rather than using it as intended."
Bruce offers him a sympathetic smile. "No worries, Loki. It certainly hasn't been a wasted evening," he replies and then reaches down into his pocket, bringing up a device that Loki knows well by now.
"Are you familiar with how cell phones work?"
At Loki's affirmative answer, the man continues. "Well, tell you what, then. How about you give me a call when you feel up to it, and I'll make sure to gather some of my medical books for you to start out with, and then we'll meet again?"
Bruce left shortly after dinner, but Loki is still sitting on the couch, fiddling with the little electronic appliance in his hand. Once again, he opens his address book, smiling as he looks at the screen.
Before, there was only one number in it – Tony's – but now there are two of them, another name showing on the screen.
And it's strange, really, how such a small, seemingly insignificant thing as seeing that one additional name in his address book can make him feel so happy inside.
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