Chapter Thirteen
The very second that Loki and Parker arrived in Loki's building, Loki threw his hood back and grinned at Parker, a genuine, happy grin, Parker pulled off his mask, and held up his hand in anticipation.
Loki shook his head, still grinning and slapped Parker's hand with his own,
"Alright, I'll have you high fiving like a pro in no time," said Parker and gave Loki a half hug before spinning himself a web hammock and dropping himself into it so he could take the weight off his leg. "They totally bought the whole performance. Who's a genius?"
"You're a genius," said Loki, conceding "I admit it, you're a genius."
"Well you are pretty smart too," said Parker, grinning, "you were right, they wanted to see a couple of fuck ups playing amateur hour, and it's exactly what we gave them."
"Let them create the lies they want to hear and they will build them for you," said Loki, returning the grin.
"What was your favourite part?" asked Parker.
"The part where they believed us and we got to walk out of there," said Loki.
Parker threw him a look, "Play nicely, Loki."
"Fine," he said, "I think it was the bit when you slipped and called me Puck, nice touch."
"Wasn't it?" said Parker, still grinning, "I'd like to thank the academy, but I won't because they had nothing to do with it and I'm awesome."
"Though you might have gone slightly over the top with the hugging," said Loki.
"I was caught up in the moment of my performance," said Parker, "besides it sold the separation thing, we might be able to use it later. Come on, Loki, it couldn't have gone any better."
"I agree, it do go much better than I thought it would have," said Loki, "though we could have done without me having to agree to stay at that tower for three months. That part I am not as pleased with, yes for now they did not realise my true identity, but I don't want to give them any reason to suspect me, and being in close company, they may, at some point."
"Yeah, but think of it like his," said Parker, "you're out with me all night, and I'll try and pick you up earlier than normal, you'll sleep during most of the day, I mean realistically how much time are you going to have to spend there? A few hours? It's a big enough place, you'll have your own room, you can just sit in it and read or whatever until it's time to come play out."
"Easy for you to say when you're not going to be the one dodging Stark and the monster for those few hours," said Loki.
"Aw, give him a break," said Parker, "he patched up my leg, didn't he? He's not that bad."
"I'll ask you if that's still your opinion of him if you are ever put into the situation where his other side is throwing you around the room like a rag doll," said Loki, his muscles getting phantom aches from the memory.
"He'd never catch me," said Parker grinning at him, "I'm pretty spry."
"Well if he did catch you, you'd be pretty dead," said Loki.
"Shut up, Loki, you're bringing me down," said Parker, "I want to bask in the glory of my own genius."
"Careful, Parker," said Loki, "you won't get your head back through the window."
"Pscht!" said Parker.
"I suppose that one thing will be advantageous," said Loki, "if my brother returns to this realm I will know about it before hand. We may have been able to pull the wool over Stark and Banners eyes, but my brother has known me too long and too well to be fooled. He'll know me the second I open my mouth."
"I'm sure you'll be able to think of a decent excuse to get out," said Parker, "and just think, once this three months is done, you can be in the wind."
"We still have the slight problem of this," said Loki, pulling back his sleeve and showing Parker the bracelet, "as long as it's still on my wrist, I can't access all my magic, which means I can't disguise myself and I can't teleport."
"Aw, you can teleport?" said Parker, "as soon as we get that thing off, we're so going to Disneyland."
"You're sure you can't get it off?" asked Loki.
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Parker, "we need some kind of specialised tool. Maybe you can have a poke about in the tower? I'm sure if anyone on Earth has the kind of thing we need, it'll be Tony Stark."
"It would give me a deep sense of satisfaction to know it was one of his tools which free me from the binding," said Loki.
"Yeah, well, one thing at a time," said Parker, "pack your shit, anything you think you'll need because we're probably best avoiding this place while they're watching us."
"I agree," said Loki, "I'll pack my things, you rest your leg."
"That was my plan anyway," said Parker, smirking, "oh, and one more thing."
"What?" said Loki impatiently, as he'd bent to his small pile of clothes to pick them up.
"Can we throw ourselves out of the windows every day?" said Parker, "Because that was fun!"
x-x-x
The next day Loki was standing on his roof, waiting for Parker to arrive, it was mid afternoon, he'd packed his things into a backpack that Parker had loaned him. Not that he had many things to bring, his clothes, spare masks, a few of the favourite newspaper clippings he'd kept, though they were more for props than anything else, and his copy of Jurassic Park which he'd just started reading for the second time, and not just because it was the only book he owned, but because he had enjoyed the story so much he wanted to read it again.
Parker swung into view and as soon as he saw him, Loki burst into a fit of laughter. Parker dropped onto the roof and knelt down in front of Loki, holding up his arms, palms flat, a brand new sweeping broom resting across like he was presenting Loki with a sword.
"Your weapon, good sir knight," said Parker.
Loki lifted the broom from Parker's hands and pulled the bristled head off, he gave the wooden staff a twirl between his fingers, "Excellent balance, good choice, squire," said Loki.
Parker stood to his feet, "Thought you could do with a new one, since the old one got broken."
"Much appreciated," said Loki, "thank you."
"Ok," said Parker, "we'll get you there and unpacked, then we can go kick some butt for a few hours."
They set off, first keeping to the back streets then moving into more visible ones until Avengers tower came into view. Loki couldn't point as one hand was firmly gripping onto Parkers back and the other was holding onto his new staff, making sure he didn't drop it onto the streets below.
"Get us to the platform again," said Loki into Parker's ear as loudly as he could as the wind rushing past them, the noise of the streets and Parker's mask all added to the blocking of sound.
"That's where I was heading," said Parker, "not a big fan of doors."
Parker swung them up in a huge arch, dropped his web and spun a new one to a higher part of the tower, moving them up gradually until they reached the platform which attached to Stark's penthouse and dropped them both on top.
Loki could see from under his hood that the doors were opening for them and Stark and Banner the monster were inside waiting.
"Ok, now do that thing I told you to do," said Parker, moving towards him.
"Must I?" said Loki.
"Just do it, trust me," said Parker.
Loki sighed and put one arm around Parker's shoulders, then pressed his knuckles on the top of his mask, as if he was ruffling his hair.
Then they walked inside, Loki keeping a hand on Parkers shoulder, since he was still walking with a limp, though not as pronounced as it had been the previous day.
"We were beginning to think you weren't coming," said Stark, standing up to greet them. Loki's eyes shifted around the room suspiciously, keeping one trained on Banner the entire time.
"We had arrangements to make," said Loki.
"Of course," said Stark, "well you better follow me, I'll show you where you can sleep."
Stark walked to the elevator and opened the doors, Banner walked inside, Loki tightened his grip on Parker's shoulder.
"It's ok, bro," said Parker in a low whisper.
They walked to the lift and got inside, Parker moved to put himself between Loki and Banner, but Loki stopped him and kept them both on the opposite side. Stark pressed a button marked '47' and it began travelling down in awkward silence.
"How's the leg?" asked Banner, breaking the stillness.
"It's healing, thanks, Doc," said Parker.
"I'd like to take another look in a few days," said Banner, "to make sure it's healing, no infection."
"It's fine," said Parker, "it'll heal on its own."
Good boy, don't give the beast any more access to you than necessary.
The elevator pinged and the doors opened, Stark stepped out and Loki and Parker followed behind him into a corridor which had several doors. He took them to the end one which bore a plaque reading '47-A', Stark turned the handle.
"This is you," he said, walking inside.
They followed behind him, Loki acutely aware that Banner was behind them the entire time. It was a small room, at least smaller than his room in the Roberts building. There were two large windows, which Parker went to immediately, checking that they opened all the way, which they did. There was a bed pushed to the far wall, a decent size, though after weeks of sleeping on a yoga mattress, Loki wasn't sure if he'd be ready to sleep in a real bed again. There was a bedside table, a set of drawers, a small desk and chair, Loki couldn't think of anything else he'd need, he watched Stark open a door at the side of the room, showing him a small bathroom with a shower inside. Running water and a toilet, hallelujah.
Loki lent his staff against the wall and pulled his backpack off his shoulders, setting it on the bed, whilst Parker spun himself a hammock, which caused Loki to roll his eyes, but Stark and Banner watched in mild amusement as Parker dropped himself into it.
"Cool digs, bro," said Parker.
"So," said Stark, "do you prefer Shadow or Puck?"
Loki threw Parker a look for the sake of performance.
"Either is fine," said Loki.
"There's a kitchen on the main Avengers floor," said Stark, "you can help yourself to anything in the fridge. I don't mind if you use that floor, and Jarvis can tell you where the gym is if you want to use it, but I'd prefer if you didn't go wandering. We have detention cells and they're not nearly as comfortable as this."
"I assume I can come and go as I please," said Loki, "that I am not a prisoner."
"Sure if you want to go out and shake your tail feather," said Tony, "as long as you don't disappear on us for days. This is probation, so you're supposed to be proving to us that you can be trusted and you're not about to start tearing up the streets."
"Nah," said Parker, "he'd never let me have that much fun."
Stark smirked at the comment.
"I assume it's fine for him to come and see me when he wishes," said Loki.
"As long as he doesn't start drawing on the walls in crayon," said Stark.
"Then I have no objections to this living arrangement," said Loki.
"Excellent," said Stark, "hey, we'll be having beers tonight, you can join us if you want."
"I'll decline," said Loki, "we work at night."
"Whatever, don't say I didn't offer," said Stark, "we'll let you settle in."
He walked towards the door, and then stopped and turned, as he patted Banner on the back.
"Oh yeah," said Stark, "part of the probation, you're going to have to have a physical at some point, sooner is better than later, mkay, pumpkin?"
Then they both left.
Loki looked at Parker, "Shit," he said.
"Don't worry about it," said Parker, "you'll be able to keep your cowl on."
Loki nodded and unzipped the bag to begin unpacking his things, and taking a roll of masking tape, he opened the window and stuck an X to the outside of the window to make it easier for Parker to see which one was his.
"You better go," said Loki, "come pick me up later, we'll go on patrol."
"Okey dokey, dude," said Parker, jumping down from his hammock.
"And clean up your web spooge," said Loki.