i do not own the avengers

Chapter 27

Loki thanked what little luck the Norns allowed him for being confined in a room with possibly the only two Avengers who would listen to his tale before taking action. Of course, the Anthony he knew now was never going to bind him, for he knew the truth, but the Iron Man he had met was a listener and a talker as well. Dr Banner was more than the green monster stirring under his surface and the scientist's eyes gleamed with interest at the prospect of an explanation.

"I need your word that you will let me finish," Loki stated, watching the calm scientist. The gamma expert nodded, giving the ex-god the go to tell what they needed to know right now. Tony, however, still looked as if the world was ending. There was a strange mix of sorrow and acceptance on his face that disturbed Loki more than he anticipated.

"I will begin by explaining why the Chitauri dropped like flies after that bomb detonated. Their large ship served a purpose much like a beehive, giving off a constant, undetectable signal. Each Chitauri, as well as the machines they use, is telepathically linked to this mother ship. It is both their greatest strength and their greatest weakness. Destroy that source and the force of the separated link will render anything Chitauri utterly useless." The ex-god mirrored Anthony's movement at the holographic display, making a small area light up between the blue layout.

Loki had studied the engineer while he had been using the technology, slowly but surely gaining enough knowledge to know how to use most of the basic movements. "This is where, according to the report, Item Number 47 was found." He manipulated holograms with childish skill compared to Anthony, but nonetheless, he could work them. A large circle appeared on the map, drawn by his hands. "Most of their attacks were focused on the densely populated city centre to subdue and gain control as swiftly as possible. They were only meant as a tool to use and install fright in human hearts."

"Until Loki held the Earth as its ruler," noted Bruce, focused on the story.

Loki could see the truth of this knowledge slowly dawn on the scientist. "Yes," he replied quietly.

"Then why did they not leave? After all, Loki's so-called intent to rule ended quite badly for the guy." The scientist cleaned his glasses and put them back on his nose, as if he was testing the trickster's patience. "Sorry for interrupting. Carry on."

Loki shifted his gaze to the engineer and their eyes met. He continued, his voice unusually soft-spoken and tinged with an odd emotion that might have resembled regret had he thought about it. "Had this been a regular invasion by the Chitauri, they would have landed in the crowded city centre and swept it clean. After that, they would have buried themselves in preparation for the takeover." His gaze had not wavered from Anthony's and it was apparent the engineer knew that only a fraction of a second remained before Banner uttered Loki's true name, recognising Stark's "assistant" for his true nature.

"So they created a new hive elsewhere, in the underground of the city?" Dr. Banner frowned at the thought of such a unexpected threat underneath his feet, adding to his already agitated state. "Why do you know so much abo..."

Loki could see the moment on Banner's face when all the facts settled into place, when one and one became two, a spark firing in the intelligent man's eyes. The doctor looked directly at him with surprise, fright, and that deep flare of anger boiling under the surface of his skin.

"Loki," he whispered, a tremor of unnamed emotions echoing in the name. Bruce spun wildly to face his friend and fellow compatriot-in-science. "Loki! Tony, what the hell are you thinking, bringing him to stay under the same roof as the rest of us? Last time he was anywhere near my vicinity, I nearly killed Natasha!" The anxiety and budding anger was rippling around him as he struggled to control his reactions.

Tony hadn't moved a muscle as Loki had revealed himself slowly, word after word bringing disaster closer. He felt odd, moving now, as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder to steady the man. "Nearly being the correct word here, big guy," he said quietly.

"Oh God, Tony, how could you? With him?" The expression on Bruce's face was wounded as the truth of everything slowly became clear. It was evident the man felt hurt, even betrayed, in this moment of discovery.

"I'm all up for second chances, Bruce; you of all people should know this," Tony said, facing his friend squarely and trying, by sheer strength of will, to make him understand. He grinned, a bit crookedly, trying to get away from all these feelings that made him uncomfortable. "Now, I'll admit that Mr. Prissy Pants here used to be no less than bat-shit crazy, but now he's just plain vanilla crazy."

Loki had been watching the doctor very closely; he knew that, for the sake of his human constitution, a Hulk-out should be avoided if at all possible. His now frail body would not survive a "playful" smash or being thrown around like a rag doll. Cautiously, as although he did not relish human life, he rather preferred it to the current alternative, Loki spoke. "So far, my words have been truthful. I have simply withheld certain unnecessary details." He stayed perfectly still, not wanting to trigger the green beast's natural instinct to chase prey.

Bruce huffed. "Unnecessary details? That's what you call your deceiving nature?" The gamma expert was slowly growing more nervous, moving his hands and fingers without a place to put them.

Loki fought back a sigh, pinning Banner with his gaze. "Would you tell people who hate that monster within that you are that very being? Would you give them the excuse to act blindly based on earlier facts? Or would you try to survive?" A complete silence followed his questions, one not even Anthony dared to break. Yet the only response from the man in question was a series of deep breaths as he shook his head in denial.

"Bruce." Anthony's hand rested on the other genius's shoulder and Loki fought an unwelcome spark of jealousy. "I know it's obvious that I am nothing short of rich, handsome, and on the brink of insanity, but I trust him." He gave Bruce's shoulder a hesitant squeeze and laid his hand over the arc reactor. Rubbing the device through his shirt, he let out a slow, deep breath, his voice quiet. "With my life."

"I can't believe that even you are this reckless, Tony." Bruce, whose prickly nerves had calmed down a fraction, shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, willing himself calm. A part of him still refused to believe his friend was having relations with an enemy, or former enemy, assuming he could believe the words of that deceiver, which he really didn't. Yet he knew how the kind-hearted Tony really was, no matter how flashy his outside appearance was. Not once had Tony thought of him as an uninhibited monstrosity, even when the eccentric man was fully aware of what Bruce could become. To him, Bruce Banner was just a fellow scientist, a man on the same level, a good and trusted friend.

Tony's voice was soft and Bruce knew it was serious. "Don't make me say please, Bruce. You know asking nicely isn't my thing, but I'll resort to extreme measures if I have to." Bruce knew how his friend always deflected anything to do with emotions, the short brown-haired genius would always beat around the bush. But Bruce had become an expert in hearing what his friend never said and here all he heard was a meaningful and heart-felt plea: Please give Loki his second chance.

Bruce looked at the tall god before him, taking in the absolute stillness and watchful eyes. The man he had come to know as "Locke," a fitting name if he thought about it, had revealed his true nature, knowing it was dangerous. Bruce knew full well how easily the Other Guy had dealt with Loki once, but the man before him had treated him decently enough, especially given their history. So far, this weird Locke-Loki person had been pleasant enough around him, if a bit cautiously distant. He looked at Tony's hopeful yet wary expression and sighed, kicking himself mentally.

"I don't understand where you are going with this, Tony." Bruce pointed between his friend and the man formerly known as Loki of Asgard. "But I'll try and give him a chance." For a small, geeky scientist, he looked menacing, his dark eyes directed toward the magic-less Loki. "One chance. If you blow it, if you as much as lay a hand on Tony or anybody else..."

"Well, he's had his hands on me, that's for sure," interrupted the grinning engineer, who seemed wildly amused at his words.

Bruce noted the glare Loki gave the amused man. It seemed both he and the ex-god deemed Tony's behaviour as inappropriate considering the situation. "I have made my point," he said, watching as Loki's posture relaxed just slightly. Oddly enough, Bruce saw understanding in Loki's eyes, as if the tall blond had accepted the terms and conditions.

Tony squeezed Bruce's shoulder lightly before moving back to the hologram. "Now, where can we find those left-over sons of bitches?" Tony clapped his hands together to break the last shard of tension in the air.

"There is nothing left of them," Loki growled. "I was betrayed from the start, without realising it, much to my shame." It angered Loki, for a deal made was a deal held. Yes, he could and would twist and turn the truth and formed words to suit his ultimate purpose, but to blatantly disregard the pact made and devise a second plan, one nobody would notice until it was already too late, was despicable. Well, unless he was the one doing so and had exceptional reasoning, of course. He pulled up the underground map. "My guess is that they are in one of these locations in New York's underground. I can't decipher the exact location given the time they had to advance. For all I know, the hive's centre has already been moved, but according to my calculations, those creatures should roam in these areas. And…Anthony, where are you going?"

"Out of here. Jarvis, ready the suit." A British accent from within the building's walls answered with a yes and the engineer made haste towards the exit.

Loki moved to block him. "Stark, you are useless out there in the tunnels; one wrong use of your weaponry and half of New York could collapse and crumble on top of you." Loki faced the engineer who was still dead set on leaving. "Stark." Loki's tone was one that often implied dangerous repercussions if the wrong move was made.

Bruce tilted his head, taking in the scene with interest. "I hate to say it, but he's right, Tony." Not that the eccentric genius would ever listen, not this time or ever. He knew Tony was one to go his own way if he thought it was the right way. Even if it could kill him, Stark would gladly make the sacrifice. He'd never admit it, of course, but Tony didn't believe there was a scenario out there that he couldn't beat. It was one of many reasons Bruce worried after his friend.

Tony reached up to pull Loki into a kiss, spinning him around and grinning at the wide-eyed stare he received. "Now, you boys be good and don't fight." Then he sped out of the glass door toward the balcony, where Jarvis was ready to dress him in his golden-red armour with inhuman precision.

"Cap, I'm coming your way."

Five minutes was all it took Dr. Banner and Loki to reorganise the Avengers and draw their attention under the surface of New York. The finer details of how and why they came to this conclusion were left out of the equation, but even in the silence over the com, Natasha's unspoken questions were still heard. And one could bet that if Clint was anywhere near her, he'd know she had underlying suspicions.

"It's not going to last," said Bruce, not looking at the ex-god. This truce, this white flag between them would be torn apart by the whirlwind of curious and suspicious minds tugging on it.

"I know," replied the blond ex-god, his tone carefully neutral and unaffected. He shifted the map to mark and trace the team's current whereabouts.

"Then why stay?" asked the scientist, with nothing but honest curiosity regarding Loki's answer.

For him.

The answer wasn't voiced but Dr. Banner could read it in the way those blue eyes studiously avoided his. This wasn't about fulfilling this promise to Bob and it wasn't about the safety of those homeless people that took care of a sick and injured "Locke." No, this was all about Tony; somehow the engineer had managed to crawl under Loki's skin and befriend him. Bruce studied the man out of the corner of his eye, curious. At what point had the two of them become attracted to each other? How was it even possible for such unlikely people to have some form of relationship?

Granted, Tony had been paying more attention to the work Pepper gave him, if only because Locke? Loki? This really shouldn't be so complicated. Bruce could see some of it now - the god from the invasion - but it was hidden well. Apparently well enough Thor hadn't said anything. Or maybe Thor knew? Bruce fought back a groan and reached for his tea. It was possible, but unlikely, that Thor didn't know exactly who Locke was and he hadn't warned them at all. He had let his questionably sane baby brother infilitrate the Avengers in a way they had never anticipated.

Bruce frowned at his now empty mug of tea. It had been Loki who kept pushing Tony to complete paperwork and sometimes, Tony even signed the given documents on time. Bruce had noticed Tony looking well-rested these past few days and had even caught him grinning for no apparent reason. Maybe this was who Loki was before his personal hell had caught up with him, why Thor always fought so desperately for him. Tony was even eating regularly, especially if Loki cooked. This normal, yet oddly intimate, little act told Bruce everything he needed to know.

"Pepper was right. You actually care for him." Bruce was honestly surprised - the god who had tried to run rampant over humanity, banished and turned mostly human, actually caring for someone. Well, that would make things difficult. If Bruce knew Tony, and he did, then things were going to get extremely complicated when the rest of the Avengers discovered who exactly was in their midst. Tony would never let Loki go, even if it meant putting on the suit against the rest of them. Tony wouldn't hesitate to go against S.H.I.E.L.D., but Bruce knew he cared for the team. And judging by the uncomfortable way Loki looked under his scrutiny, Loki would do the same for Tony.

Loki huffed and shifted uneasily, tension noticeable in the lines of his back and shoulders. "This human infatuation I am having is purely physical."

Bruce caught the vaguely nervous or worried tone in Loki's voice. The man seemed to be on edge waiting like this, watching events unfold without his interference. Bruce rolled his eyes. "You don't even expect me to believe that lie," he replied. "It's obvious that you're worried about him."

A small click betrayed an open comm line; a bright red light flashing icon identified the speaker as the Black Widow. "I've checked the first marked location with Hawkeye. It's clean."

By now, all of the Avengers had covered a small portion of a larger area that Bruce had marked as Section One, giving each of them a part to search. Using this search method, help would never be far if a sudden sticky situation occurred. So far, they had been questionably lucky and nothing had been discovered. The territory was dark, narrow, and unfamiliar. Even if it was still New York, the city underneath its high towers and cement surface was an entirely different world.

"Good work, guys. Banner, where to next?" Bruce's mouth twitched in a suppressed smile at the morale boost. The team's captain couldn't help but give positive reinforcement for negative results.

He had configured a central point in his layout, a place possibly free of alien invaders and a decent starting point for future searches. Bruce tapped the holographic grid, zooming in on the area. "From where you are, second tunnel to the right and down the hatch. It might be locked, but it shouldn't be a problem for you to open it. Behind it should be an old maintenance room, connecting several drainage systems."

"Got it." Captain America's strong footsteps were heard over the comm as he made his way through the damp tunnel, the man's keen sense of memory instantly recognising the turns he had to make. A loud screech ended by a hollow crack signalled the opening of the thick metal hatch. "This is a darn good spot Banner. Relay its position to the others."

Bruce watched as Loki silently centered the holographic map on Rogers, but had smaller screens devoted to the movements of Barton, Romanov, and Thor. Stark was still off-grid. "Hawkeye, we are sending you a new location for you and Widow, are you getting it?"

"Give us ten minutes, we'll be there," the archer replied. Ever-observant, he noted Chitauri presence. "They have been at our current location. I'm guessing they were just passing through, but the tunnel has been used in the past few days." The comm chatter was silent, save a bit of rustling on Barton's end. "Nothing here now though."

Thor spoke next, his booming voice over the speakers causing both Loki and Bruce to wince. "I found no traces in this Midgardian underground. I shall head to the captain."

Good, that left only Tony's answer. Bruce watched as Loki maneuvered another screen, searching for Tony's marker. "Iron Man, what is your position?"

"In the city's underbelly and God, it stinks. I can smell it through the armour."

"You're not answering my question, Tony." Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. If only his friend could provide a reply without added comments.

"I am currently taking the scenic route of New York and I see crap. Literally."

Back in the tower, Loki was growing restless with the provided answers. Quickly, before the scientist could react, he grabbed the earpiece and hissed, "Where are you, Stark?!"

"Don't you fear, my pretty princess; I'll protect you from those nasty aliens."

"Locke, this line is Avengers only." The Captain was polite, but stern. "Please return the earpiece to Dr. Banner."

"Jarvis, give me Anthony's exact position," demanded Loki, ignoring the captain's order. He didn't say it, but he feared that the engineer was going his own merry way. Naturally, this meant that he was very likely being reckless, wandering off on his own, and taking uncharted routes. How like Anthony to go exploring in dangerous places without the availability of a back-up nearby. Loki practically crushed the ear piece in his hand.

"I am not permitted to give out Iron Man's current whereabouts, sir." A yellow marker blipped into existence near Romanov and Barton and Bruce sighed gratefully, silently thanking Jarvis for the information.

Loki swore that he heard Jarvis underline the word permitted, making it crystal clear for the ex-god that Anthony himself had ordered the AI's reluctance for a particular reason. It left him with only one option. "Jarvis, override. Code cellist." Anthony's bright yellow marker, flashing near Natasha's red and Clint's purple markers, faded from the map. It was nothing but a decoy, left there for appearance's sake.

Stark cursed. "You are not supposed to know that."

"You are not supposed to wander off on your own," snapped Loki.

Bruce frowned at the tension in the room and migraine starting behind his eyes. Thankfully, he had lots of practice dealing Tony-induced migraines, but Barton helped lighten the mood. "Oh God, Cap was right; you guys do act like a married couple."

Banner couldn't help but smile at the barely repressed sigh of frustration coming from Rogers over the comm. "Hawkeye, stop it. Iron Man, what is your location and why did you let us follow a fake trail?" Apparently, the good captain had deemed it useless to tell Loki to give the earpiece back to Bruce after finding out over the comm that Tony had them tracing a decoy.

"I wouldn't call it fake, just misplaced a bi..." Tony was interrupted as a loud rumble claimed the line, followed by a recognisable inhuman noise. All of them were familiar with that chittering and Bruce took a deep breath to calm the beast inside him that wanted desperately to smash the source of that sound.

"Fuck!" Loki gripped the table as he listened to Anthony maneuver in battle. The noises made by the Chitauri sent a chill deep through his core; it sounded like they found a suitable prey to hunt and strip of its skin. "I found them, or they found me; it depends on your viewpoint, I guess." More worrisome to Loki was the fact that Anthony's real location finally showed itself on the three-dimensional map, right on the other side of the city. He had already sent the location to the others, but even if they hurried, the tunnel maze would slow them down immensely. They wouldn't be there in time to assist in the battle.

Over the line Loki could hear Anthony's voice, strained with exertion. "These guys are different. Sending you an image now." The sounds of battle carried on as Loki looked at the picture. "Stark," Loki's breath caught. "Get out of there. Now."

"Aww, but I'm having so much fun with my new pals."

Bruce noted that even Jarvis' normally unpertubed voice seemed tight. "Sir, I insist you follow your assistant's advice. The level of damage you are getting is taking a toll."

"Anthony, listen to me. They are not the same Chitauri you faced. Those were an army existed of mere foot soldiers, the lowest of the lowest they had available." Loki stared across the table, mentally formulating and disgarding plans rapidly as he watched awareness and understanding battle with rising alarm on Banner's face. Loki was playing a dangerous game now, but Anthony was woefully unprepared for this fight. "What you are facing now is far, far more dangerous. These are Chitauri seasoned in battle and..."

The ex-god had so much more to say, but the sounds of struggle ended and a frightful static noise filled the comm line. "Anthony! ANTHONY!" He all but ripped off the earpiece and tossed it in the Banner's general direction. He growled as worry, anger, and dread washed over him, the thought of loss clawing its way into his heart. He felt more human than ever.

"You're going in." The dark-haired man stated, brown eyes dark with the hint of fear.

"Yes." Loki was so filled with the flow of emotions surging in his body that he didn't notice the look of sympathy on the other man's face. "Don't you dare to stop me, Banner, you or that beast within you."

Loki didn't hear what Banner whispered as he rushed out the door.

"Good luck, Loki."

Thank you kind and patient readers!

also thanks to swordmistress for beta-ing this thanks to cats for being cudly warm creatures