Chapter 12- Negotiation

Loki radiated indignation and now that he wasn't forced to tell the whole truth, he wasn't shy about complaining about it.

"Why am I here? I haven't done anything, I was minding my own business, and I was just enjoying the human market. What's wrong with that? Are Asgardians not allowed to mingle with mortals anymore?"

Thor scowled at his brother from the corner of the room, but held his peace. Superman and Captain America were in charge of this interview, with Wonderwoman and Thor acting as silent backup. Everyone else waited in the adjacent room, watching the action through a large one way mirror.

Superman cleared his throat. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he was the best choice for this. Batman usually took point if he was available, but he had insisted Superman take his place. The dark knight clearly had a plan, Superman just wished he'd shared with the class. "We know that you were involved in bringing us to this world. We know you teamed up with another magic user," he said, trying to use his size to kind of loom over the smaller man.

"What we want to know is why?" Captain America picked up the thread. "Who did you contact?"

Loki laughed. "Who says I contacted him?"

"Who contacted you?" Captain America asked, undeterred.

"Are you supposed to be the good cop? You're not very good at it." Loki asked. He turned to give Superman a poisonous smile. "I think you should switch with the boy scout."

"Obviously you know about us. Who told you?" Superman pressed.

"We're wasting time," Wonderwoman spoke up from her corner. "I could make him answer truthfully."

"Brother, please, stop with your games," Thor added.

"Why should I?"

"What were you doing in Seattle?" Captain America asked.

Loki smirked. "I was planning to visit a Norse Mythology Convention. I thought it could be fun."

Thor looked interested, but at Steve's look, he backed down. But Loki had the reins now. "After my brother's dramatic return to Midgard, interest in his origins and the old religions has exploded. Did you know there is a Norse Church? They're pretty boring actually, since they can't sacrifice animals within city limits."

"And you were going to wreck the convention?" Steve asked, starting to worry.

"As usual, you don't pay attention. I wasn't going to do anything at the convention. Even I need to take a break, a vacation of sorts. Seattle seemed far enough from you so called heros, I thought I could enjoy myself, inconspicuously. Apparently I was too optimistic," Loki scoffed accusingly.

"You weren't going to do anything?" Steve asked with a healthy amount of suspicion.

Loki didn't actually roll his eyes, but it felt like he had. His demeanor was that of an innocent accused of some heinous crime. Steven held his ground, though and finally Loki gave in and answered. "No, I wasn't planning on anything. At most I will prank the mortals foolish enough to dress as Thor or Odin, but nothing that would bring myself to your attention."

Thor chuckled, which from him was not subtle. Steve sighed, suddenly tired and wishing he was on the other side of the glass. Superman, who did not have the same history with Loki, didn't bother to hide his own amusement.

"Then, why did you help bring us here?" He asked. "Is it just another prank?"

Loki turned his attention to the Kryptonian. His eyes were piercing, looking for a weakness to exploit or even just determine Superman's motivations. But Clark was, at heart, a simple man from Kansas, and he didn't let Loki see anything to latch onto.

"No," Loki admitted after a long moment. "More of a favor, a helping hand to a kindred spirit."

"With who?"

Loki smiled, enjoying the game. "We never actually met, face to face. Magic users like us are notoriously distrusting. Suffice it to say, he is a young man who's chaotic nature is aligned with my own."

Superman nodded and tipped his head a touch, as he listened to something the rest of them couldn't hear. "The witch boy, Klarion."

Loki's eyebrows knitted in disappointment for a moment before he laughed. "What a pity, you guessed. Though I shouldn't be surprised since you have, what did the boy call him: the world's greatest detective, on your side."

"Batman has dealt with him before. He's a spoiled brat with powerful magic and a feline familiar," Superman explained to everyone else.

"Didn't know about the cat," Loki mused. "I'm more of a dog person, myself."

"Where is he?" Superman asked. "What is he planning?"

"I honestly don't think he plans anything. He just does what he wants," Loki replied, "and he didn't tell me anything. I didn't want to know."

Captain America leaned forward, ready to ask another question when Superman stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Wait. Sam has something."

Steve nodded. "We'll be back. Don't think you can escape from here. We'll be watching," he warned Loki as he held the door for Wonderwoman.

"I will bring you some reading materials, brother," Thor promised as he left too.

~~~~~~~~~

In the other room, Sam Wilson was practically vibrating with anticipation. "I know I missed the late night research binge last night, but unlike some people I need my sleep. But," he waved his tablet around excitedly," I wanted to redeem myself and used some tracking algorithms I made for the infinity stones. And I found the other magic user."

"We know his name now," Stark interjected. "Klarion the Witch boy, apparently."

"That…actually makes a weird sort of sense," Sam said slowly. "Since I found him in Salem, Massachusetts."

Everyone stared at the young genius. Clint nudged Flash. "Did you guys have the witch trials too?" he asked in a loud whisper.

The question hung in the air for a minute. "Yes, but that has nothing to do with Klarion," Batman explained. "He's probably just playing around."

"Well, are we going to get this kid or what?" Hawkgirl asked. Her feathers ruffled in anticipation and her hand caressed the grip on her mace. She was clearly spoiling for a fight.

"What do we need to know about him?" Natasha, ever the practical one, spoke up.

Batman waved off their questions. "Give me five minutes," he demanded.

"For what?" Stark asked.

"To talk to him." Batman pointed over his shoulder at the Asgardian in the other room.

Tony opened his mouth to argue, but when Batman narrowed his eyes, the billionaire held his tongue for once.

"Do you want back up?" Wonderwoman asked.

Batman smiled. "No, I've got this."

~~~~~~~~~

The assembled heroes watched as Batman entered the room alone. Loki, who had been contemplating the ceiling, looked down to assess the newcomer before seemingly dismissing him to continue his study of the ceiling.

Batman took a seat and waited silently. It only took one full minute before Loki was bored enough to give in and speak.

"Batman, I presume?" He said with disdain.

"And you're Loki, God of mischief and lies."

"Well, I don't like to brag."

"I didn't expect you to be a fool, though," Batman continued.

Loki tensed. "Excuse me?"

Batman leaned forward and cut right to the heart of the matter. "I think you, the god of tricks, was yourself tricked."

Loki narrowed his eyes and ground his teeth. "Explain, mortal."

"Think about it. Normally, could the Avengers have defeated you so easily? Could they even have found you?"

"It's not like I was prepared for battle. Trust me, I am usually a much more formidable opponent."

Batman leaned back and crossed his arms. "Maybe. But I think you were foolish to more than double your enemies as a, what did you call it? 'A helping hand for a kindred spirit.' What could possibly have to gain from that?"

Loki took a second to think about that. "Say what you mean, plainly," he said through clenched teeth.

Batman's body language shifted. It wasn't anything obvious, like him leaning forward or anything. Now he was the Batman who could make hardened criminals cry, and it was all directed at Loki. "If you do not help us return home, I, along with the Justice League, will make it my mission to stop you at every turn. You will never have a moment's peace on this Earth," Batman stated in an even tone that made even the people behind the glass shiver.

Loki opened his mouth to dismiss the threat, but something made him pause. Maybe it was Batman's argument, or maybe he felt the same shiver that the humans felt. "You want me to betray an ally for my own self interest?" the trickster said finally.

Batman smiled slightly, glad to see he was getting through. "You are the god of lies and deceit. It's in your nature, just like it is in his nature to cause chaos."

Loki drummed his fingers on the table for a long minute while he considered the situation. "Okay, Batman. I'll admit you're very convincing and I admit to not wanting to fight the Avengers and the Justice League together. So, I will help you."

Batman nodded. "You made a wise decision."