He hadn't told his wife the entire truth. Yes, it was helpful to have her here for the reasons he had stated, but the truth was her presence was also serving to keep him calm. Dealing with mortal nonsense had a way of getting under his skin, doubly so when it was something like this.
Thor had suggested he sit in on these talks so he could get more practice in diplomacy...as if he needed any. He had a reputation for possessing a silver tongue for a reason. He was the diplomat. He found it insulting that Thor thought he needed more "practice". Loki knew the real reason Thor suggested him...it was so he wouldn't have to sit in on these talks himself. Thor was pawning off the work he didn't want to do onto his younger brother, as usual.
He wasn't completely without bias. T'Challa had helped his Pet when she first came here, and for that Loki owed the man. Namor so far had already managed to earn his ire by giving his wife a look that suggested he considered her as low as something he found on his boot, if he wore any...the Atlantean monarch was walking around barefoot, each foot sporting a pair of flippers that grew out of the sides of his heels. The arrogant toad was no doubt doing it as a statement, showing that he was so tough that he didn't even need shoes to walk the streets of man's cities.
Loki concluded that such a display can only be put on by someone who was actually very insecure in himself. Like recognized like after all.
"You already know why we are here, so I will not waste your time with empty platitudes," he started. "Rather, I am going to sit back and listen to the two of you. I am here merely to keep order. My wife and I are well aware that emotions are running high…"
That went double for Tracy, since she was an empath. Loki knew it was all she could do to stop herself from leaving this room, this compound completely. He squeezed her thigh under the table to center her. He knew this wasn't easy for her, and he was sorry for that, but he needed her. He opened himself up and allowed her to feel that.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly and she was at least breathing now. Good.
"I am perfectly calm, Loki," T'Challa stated.
Loki saw his Pet narrow her eyes at the Wakandan king. He had just lied. Loki repressed a sigh. This was getting off to a great start.
"As am I, and I cannot help but point out the irony in the God of mischief being the one to keep order at these proceedings."
Namor was definitely not the only individual in this room who could appreciate that. Loki was reminded of the time Thor broke him out of prison so that he could aid in some drama involving Jane Foster and the Reality Stone. These people were as desperate now as Thor had been then.
"Setting that aside," T'Challa interjected. "Since our cards are all laid out, I would like to know why Atlantis attacked Wakanda without provocation."
Well now. Loki was hoping to ease into that, but if T'Challa wanted to start off by pissing Namor off out of the gate, then hey…starting the day off by having to stop a rampage was exactly what the healers ordered!
Tracy made a very small noise.
Namor was livid, his eyes full of rage. "We very well were provoked! You sent those land dwellers to my kingdom to steal our vibranium deposits!"
Loki didn't have to look at his Pet to know that Namor wasn't lying. It was the truth, the way he saw it anyway.
"Why would we do that?" T'Challa replied coldly. "We have vibranium of our own. We have no reason to plunder anyone else for it."
"I know you have been under pressure from the governments of man to export your vibranium and share your technology. Perhaps you are looking to restock your depleted stores," Namor insisted.
Loki found himself staring at the Atlantean king, wondering how someone this stupid could possibly rule three quarters of this planet.
T'Challa chuckled. "We are far from depleted, and even were we close to having mined all our vibranium, we are doing well enough for ourselves not to need any more. Your accusations have no basis in fact."
"The invaders…"
"Did they wield vibranium weapons? Wear vibranium armor? I am telling you, I had sent no such people to Atlantis."
Tracy shifted in her chair and Loki could feel her chomping at the bit, wanting to say something, but she kept her mouth shut. Probably so she wouldn't call Namor an idiot.
So, Loki did it for both of them. "Your Majesty, were the invaders wearing any insignia, or any particular colors?" Nope, he didn't come out and say it, but Loki had the ability to imply that a person was a complete moron just by using a particular tone.
Namor was silent for several seconds. "No. They wore all black. But who else would attack us and attempt to plunder our vibranium?"
"Perhaps one of the other nations who have been trying to divest Wakana of their vibranium. It is a rather competitive arms race," Loki pointed out. He could feel his Pet's growing frustration and was quite certain she was biting her tongue to the point of blood filling her mouth, but she was staying tight lipped. Judging by the current mood Loki could sense, it was a wise choice on her part.
"Then they targeted my kingdom because Wakanda is being tight fisted with their vibranium?" Namor glared at T'Challa. "You are forcing them to find other sources of vibranium. If you were not being so unwilling to compromise, my kingdom may have escaped being a target."
Loki began a mental countdown in his head...
"That is quite the stretch you have performed. I doubt Reed Richards himself would be incapable of such a feat," T'Challa replied.
...and he didn't even make it to two.
"You are only trying to absolve yourself of the responsibility of hundreds of Wakandan lives," T'Challa went on.
Tracy winced, which didn't surprise Loki. Even he could feel the anger in this room spiking.
"You couldn't be more wrong. I regret having to take the actions I did, but..."
"Then why did you do it?" T'Challa snarled.
"And I think that is it for now. I call for a break. I feel we can all do with some air and leg stretching," Loki declared as he stood up. "Shall we return in two hours?"
Namor wanted to say something. If the expression on his face were anything to go by, Loki would have to step in and teach the monarch some manners. Instead, the Atlantean nodded and stormed out of the door.
T'Challa glared at him. "Why did you-" he cut himself off when he saw that all the color had drained out of Tracy's face. "Oh. My apologies, she was so quiet I had forgotten she was here."
Loki hadn't, and he had known Tracy was having an increasingly difficult time with all the rage radiating from the men. It was why he called for a break.
"It's okay," Tracy spoke for the first time in a while, and she sounded like she had swallowed a hot poker. "I knew it was coming. I can't blame you for it. Loki didn't have to call for a recess."
"Yes, I did," Loki retorted. "Namor was not going to listen to anything after that. Both of you, take those hours to cool down. We will be here when you return."
"I suppose I can visit with Steve and James anyway," T'Challa stated, then he left.
"Come. You need some air as well," Loki grabbed Tracy's hand and helped her out of her chair. He led her to the kitchen, retrieving glasses of water for both of them. "How are you, Pet? And be honest."
Tracy blew out a breath. "It was intense, and my head was starting to hurt. But Namor wasn't lying."
"I know," Loki sipped his water. "Something else is happening, and we need to figure out who the involved parties truly are."
"Too bad I can't go to Atlantis and search for possible clues. Scents don't hold in water, but maybe those people left something else that the Atlanteans missed."
Loki arched a brow. "Are you certain you cannot go to Atlantis?" He shot his wife a meaningful look.
Tracy stared at him. "You can't be serious. You have any idea how much trouble we'll be in if we're caught?"
Loki snorted. "That has never stopped us so far, why start now?"
She just continued to stare and then slowly lowered her eyelids and sighed. "Steve is going to kill us both."
"Possibly."
She sighed again and stood up. "I guess a field trip is in store..."