Chapter Summary: Frigga has Tony pegged. Bruce Banner is summoned. Tony really hates magic.
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I just want to say I wrote this months before any mention of ships in any movie you might or might not be interested in. Yay Me! I'm psychic or psychotic or one of those words that start with a P.
After the New York attack, Odin has taken Loki's magic, made him mortal and imprisoned him. But Asgard is not a safe place for the Trickster under these conditions. Recent events make Odin decide to take away one more thing from his second son, his memory going back for the last four years. This decision and events that lead to it cause Frigga to decide that Asgard is not safe for Loki's reduced station. From stories Thor had told, she decides that Tony Stark's tower would make an excellent secure location for amnesiac Loki to be under house arrest.
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Chapter 4 -Bribes
Frigga reached out and stroked an exquisitely manicured finger along the top of the chest. "This is made with Adamantite, a Dwarf metal of great beauty and strength. Lovely in its pure state like this of course, however, it is more useful as a catalyst alloy with other types of metals, creating such as items as the energy absorbing Cavorite alloy used for the hulls of our self-powered sky ships." She met and held Tony's sharp inquiring look as she reached into a sleeve pocket and pulled out a small key which she held up between them.
"Open it," she breathed, watching him intently.
Tony turned the key and slowly opened the chest. That the trays inside were awash with jewelry was not surprising. What was amazing was that with just a glance; Tony knew he could only identify about half of the metal, stones and materials being used in the jewelry's construction. Once piece that caught Tony's eye was a lovely hinged plate, gold necklace with a blue faceted stone that glowed. It glowed a lot.
Looking to Frigga for permission, Tony picked up the necklace and examined it carefully. Frowning, he cupped his hands around the stone to block out as much external light as he could. Peeking between his fingers, he saw that the stone had not just been reflecting light to a ridiculous extent due to faceting, but actually producing it from within. Despite his attempt to maintain a poker face, both brows rose inquiringly.
"Titanite," Figga explained, touching the gold sectional plates that made up the necklace. "Which is also used in construction of some sort. I'm not too clear on the details. And of course a Star Stone."
"Really?" Tony said almost absent mindedly as he plucked several more items out of the chest. "Jarvis, I need a material run down on these please. Put the readouts up on a display for each piece."
Frigga trailed Tony as he moved several benches away to lay various pieces one by one on a sensor pad. Closing the clear lexan box between each scan, Tony intently watched as the floating displays more often than not refused to come up with a material analysis.
"Sir, perhaps you might have better luck in Doctor Banner's lab. He has several other different kinds of analyzers." Jarvis said.
"Ya know, I don't think so buddy." Tony mused, stroking his neatly trimmed goatee and looking intently at the various displays.
He turned his head and studied Frigga.
"You don't give up do you?" Tony asked almost amused.
Frigga gave a sad chuckle. "Sta- Anthony, I have the gift of foreknowledge. While I can't proclaim my prophecies, I would be ill served if I couldn't use the information to get something I desperately want."
Apparently this skill had not served her too well in the recent past as she crumpled a bit, and said hollowly, "Would that I had thought to take the time to look at recent events in greater detail, perhaps things would have turned out better."
Yeah really, Tony thought to himself, me and psycho kid wish you had too.
Walking back to the chest, Tony placed the jewelry back inside, before he shut the lid and locked it, keeping his one hand its lid.
He stood there, looking at, but not really seeing the key in his hand, thinking furiously. While the engineer still wanted no parts of an injured god of mischief being incarcerated in his tower, even one that was power bound and of supposedly reduced to mortal strength. However… Tony would be lying if he said he wasn't intrigued by the strange materials the goddess had shown him.
"So… Your Majesty, how much material can be delivered at one time from Asgard?"
He noticed a sly smile curling the tips of Frigga's lips, relief tentatively stealing over her face.
"Well without the BiFrost, it is of course more difficult to travel and the amount carried would be perhaps a half a ton per person. When the BiFrost is repaired, then several wagon loads at a time easily."
Okay, maybe not enough for production runs, unless the amount of material per item used was very small. But definitely enough for experimenting with or trying in a future suit upgrade. Tony pursed his lips, as he unconsciously pocketed the key, "So, any idea when the Rainbow Bridge might be fixed?"
Tony was taken aback at the gleefully feral face presented to him. Frigga's eyes took on a wicked light and her mouth turned up in a frankly nasty smile that showed way more teeth than he thought the queen normally displayed. Kinda scary look actually, again he could see the resemblance between Loki Momma and her maniac son. Adopted or not, they had obviously spent a lot of time in each other's company.
"Oh," She trilled, dark joy apparent in her voice and expression, "The senior dwarf artificers and our best mages have been working to repair it, without any success, since shortly after it was destroyed. I'm afraid the loss of my son to the void, dealt them a severe setback."
No?
No!
Tony scrubbed hard little circles on his temples, his fingers trying to rub away the sharp stabbing pain that shot through them. He had to be misunderstanding that last statement. Surely she was not trying to tell him that Reindeer Games knew how to build an Einstein-Rosen Bridge.
He lifted incredulous eyes upon the queen, "Are you trying to tell me that Rudolf—I mean Loki 'knows' how to build a Rainbow Bridge? As in a bridge that can transport people and stuff from one planet to another?"
Frigga beamed at him, projecting such fierce, bright pride that it was almost blinding to experience.
"Rather let us say that Loki understands the theory behind the construction better than anyone in the Nine Realms. After all there is no one now alive from when it was originally constructed. But even as a child he was curious about it and continually badgered information out of the old mages who had worked upon it in their youth."
Then the prideful light went out like someone had flipped a switch.
"An unusual interest for an 'Asgardian' child," She told him, distain dripping from the word 'Asgardian'.
Taking a few agitated steps, Frigga tossed her head irritably as her lip curled in an ugly sneer, "Despite their disgust for his supposedly unmanly mastery of seiðr and their contempt for his scholarship, no one on the council even seriously considered giving Loki a death sentence." A bitter, hateful laugh escaped her lips, "No, they would have rather have my son imprisoned and shackled to their will for the next five hundred years."
Rage was clear in every line of her body, in the stiffness of her shoulders and the rigidity of her face. Tony played nervously with his suit bracelets and considered putting at least one work bench between them as a safety zone.
"And the All Father did not gainsay them, even though it was in his power to do so," She hissed. "But the council failed to keep him from further harm. His 'father' failed, numerous times, to keep him safe. So I say that they have lost their chance." She fastened her brilliant blue eyes upon Tony, willing him to understand.
"Let them realize what they have lost through their pig headed carelessness," Frigga said scathingly still watching Tony's every move. "When they do they will come on their knees and offer my Loki his freedom and restoration of his position in exchange for his help."
Okay, again with the knees. That has got to be an Asgardian kink of some sort, Tony thought sourly.
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Well hell. Who knew that Loki Momma was going to make such a compelling case for him keeping the god of assholes incarcerated?
"Okay then. Jarvis, get Brucie on the phone for me please." Tony asked as he patted the Jewelry chest one more time, his hand leaving it with clear reluctance. Lost in thought for a moment he worried his lower lip.
"Not to put too fine a point on it, but losing access to Loki is going to be a major ass-fucking for Asgard fixing their rainbow bridge isn't it?"
"Oh yes." The Queen breathed delightedly as she stepped closer and smiled at Tony.
Okay, this bridge thing… losing it would be like suddenly losing every international flight into or out of the county. Yeah, certain small groups of well-connected people could still get where they wanted to go… Tony glanced up at Frigga, but then looked over at the gaggle of guards and handmaidens standing by the door and then lowered his head in thought, but ONLY the very powerful and well-connected had the option to come and go as they pleased… even if it was more difficult. Everyone else? Totally screwed.
He looked up at Frigga thoughtfully, "You know, you're taking this well for an Asgardian aren't you?"
Twirling and then tucking an escaped lock of blonde hair back up into her hairdo, her finely shaped hands moving with the unerring skill of someone who has done this for centuries if not longer, Frigga smiled at Tony. "While as their queen, I of course must consider what is in the best interest of the Æsir, even if they are currently persecuting my son… however I was born a Vanir." Curling her fingers out, she regarded her palm as though something important was inscribed upon it, before rolling her fingers back in towards her palm.
After a moment, she looked solemnly up at Tony, "So, Star— Anthony, do we have a deal?" she asked, the corners of her mouth curling up impishly.
Tony grinned at her, "You knew you were getting a deal when you walked in here, didn't you?"
Frigga's kid might be crazy murdering maniac and I may be a selfish asshole, but damn if I don't know an exclusive opportunity when I see one, Tony thought gleefully.
"Jarvis, call Pepper, tell her we need her back here to cross some T's and dot some I's." He waved her over to the chair by his design table, "So, who in the government did your magic crystal ball tell you we needed to call to keep SHIELD off of your little Lokikin's case?" Tony asked as he opened up a few screens, "Oh, and Jarvis? Start taking notes please."
As Frigga at last consented to be seated, Tony's eyes narrowed in amusement. "So, your Majesty… What exactly are the terms and conditions you're proposing?"
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While waiting for Bruce, Pepper, and a Deputy Secretary of Defense to arrive he and Frigga had agreed to several basic terms.
Tony would have the contents of the chest appraised for value; keeping in mind that many of the pieces within were unique even on Asgard, let alone the value they contained in being materials not available on earth. Tony, not Stark International, not SHIELD, not the Avengers would deduct the cost of Loki's care from that total, and when those funds ran low, Tony would either receive another chest or could make a specific request for certain materials, allowing of course lead time for the ones that were not readily available even in Asgard. Oh, and he had to send the Queen a detailed statement of charges and a condition update every three months in an envelope, wax sealed with a signet ring she gave him.
Tony was obligated to provide Loki with food, water, clothing, a suitable environment and medical care as needed. Also reading and writing material and some opportunity for physical activity. The one item they had a disagreement about was that physical activity, since there was no way in hell Tony was letting the irritating little punk outside, even if it was only up on his roof.
Eventually, after Jarvis pulled up the architectural plans of the floor he was going to house Loki on, and explained what a bike was, it was agreed that there was sufficient unused space outside where his cell was going to be placed for Loki to exercise, since it was as Jarvis pointed out, having the entire floor gave Loki an area large enough to ride a bike in. That unknown to the Asgardians, form of transportation briefly threatened to sidetrack their conversation, but they were finally able to continue.
The cell, or suite as Frigga insisted on calling it, would be a modified version of a Hulk bunker. It was slightly larger with an attached bathroom and an airlock sort of double door chamber attached to it. That way Loki's food and what not could be delivered and that area secured before the door to Loki's area would open to allow him to access it. Tony would be paying for that, since it was going to be a permanent improvement to his property.
Amazingly, at least to Tony, Queen Frigga was more concerned that Loki's cell be strong enough to keep unauthorized persons out, rather than worrying that it was going to keep Loki in. Or maybe not so amazing, Loki had already been assaulted twice. At any rate, once Tony had explained that Thor with his hammer was the only known way to ever even damage the walls, she acknowledged that it should be safe enough.
Frigga insisted that knowledge of and access to Loki be restricted to just Tony, Pepper and Bruce, or Tony's personal physician if Bruce was not available for an emergency. No one else was allowed near Loki unless one of the three of him with them the entire time. At first she wanted to restrict it to just Tony, but agreed also allowing the other two after Tony pointed out that he sometimes traveled. Thor, later taking the queen aside for a private chat also helped get her to agree.
"Your building's spirit and metal servants can take care of his needs and at least I don't have to worry that they will abuse him." Frigga said with a tired smile. Which for some reason made Tony feel kind of bad for her and maybe just a little bit for her kid.
But they had been at it for hours and Tony was starting to feel the events of the day weighing him down. He wished whoever Frigga had called from Washington would hurry up and get here, so they could be done with this mess.
"Yeah, and if your kid starts to give me grief? What then?" Tony had demanded.
Frigga closed her eyes for a moment; her features pinched in pain, her hand coming up to haltingly stoke, as if for comfort, the gold filigree pendant hanging from her necklace. She regarded Tony with a sigh.
"He will not be your guest Anthony; even I can't change the fact that this will be his prison. If he should become… unruly, certainly comforts and privileges can be revoked until his behavior is amended."
"Heimdall will also be watching him, in case there is any sort of problem that you cannot deal with."
"Well that right there, we have a problem. I'm not a big fan of having some all-seeing Norse Busybody watching every move that goes on in my tower. Let's talk about that."
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There had been a quick whispered fight with Pepper. Which Tony totally won when he mentioned the various unknown materials he was getting access too. Pepper then disappeared to start wrangling Jarvis' notes into a preliminary contract.
Tony dragged Bruce upstairs to introduce him to the Asgardian healer and help get Loki over to the medical wing. Bruce wanted to run some tests, get a base line of Loki's injuries and details of any recommended treatment needed. The good doctor wasn't happy about it by any means, but Bruce came around a bit when he learned that the god's strength, magic and memories of the last several years had been removed leaving him vulnerable to repeated assaults for reasons he wouldn't even know about.
Trust Bruce to feel for the underdog, even if said underdog had been a murdering megalomaniac world conquer just months earlier.
As per the way things usually worked out, the Washington group arrived within minutes of each other. During their original phone call, it had taken several minutes for Jarvis and the Queen to convince Daniel Nudact, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, that her call was not a hoax. However the man had remained in contact with Jarvis and had shown up with two other officials, one a Special Prosecutor and the other the Department of Justice Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications. None of them, Nudact assured the queen would allow any information to leak, not now and not in the future. Also, due to the queen's insistence, they had already hashed out amongst themselves a level of classification that exceeded even the SHIELD council that Nick Fury answered to.
His attention split between them all, Tony had reluctantly stayed with Pepper and Bruce to get them on board, while Frigga, over the strenuous objections of her guards, took the Washington Three and the chick who had been carrying the chest into a conference room for a private conversation. Tony consoled himself that he would watch the security vid of their meeting later to find out what was said.
It wasn't until the next day he discovered that somehow, white light and an undulating hum was all that the recording showed. Tony hated magic.
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Once they finished working on the injured ex-god, he was put in some sort of healing sleep coma and surround by a glowing green haze. Since Loki would stay like that until he was healed and the haze disappeared, there wasn't much else that needed to be done with him. So Tony, Bruce and Eir wheeled him down to the Hulk's cage for Jarvis to monitor. Fortunately for Tony, not for Loki, it was going to be at least two to eight weeks for Loki to come out of his coma thing. That would give Tony would have plenty of time to get Loki's floor and an improved cell ready before the stricken god-ling woke up.
He, Tony Stark personally, had a contact with the royal family of an alien planet. This contract was co-signed by three of the biggest behind the scenes power hitters in Washington and said contract made him the not-so-proud owner of one bat shit crazy Asgardian Prince and a chest full of new material to play with. But as exciting as the new material was, the last few hours had been as boring as hell and it took everything he could do not to fall asleep during the final review and appending of medical reports and then thank god, the signing. One wrinkle that was totally Asgardian was the Queen laying a geas on everyone to keep the matter private.
A magically enforced confidentiality agreement… Tony really hated magic.
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