Tony stared in shocked disbelief. What the heck…? Loki- Reindeer Games- the Norse god who had attacked earth, with an army of his murderous alien pals- was now… hugging… James Buchanan Barnes- the Winter Soldier- Manchurian Candidate…
It'd been weird enough when Winter had started comforting Steve- and the other way around too- but at least now, they knew why that had happened. It made sense for those two to be drawn towards each other… but Loki- gosh darn Loki- and Winter…? That didn't make even the slightest bit of sense.
Tony couldn't even justify it as Villians being drawn to each other- because Winter did not count. He was not a Villain, and Tony would and could punch anyone who said otherwise.
His own brown eyes met Thor's blue ones, and they stared at each other for a moment. He could clearly see the shock in Point Break's face, so he couldn't blow this off as Loki being a cuddlely murderous god or something.
The last thing he- the last thing Steve or any of them needed was for Loki and Winter to become… Murder Brothers or something. That just… just no. He shuddered apon thinking of the damage and mischief they could wreck onto the poor unsuspecting world together.
But maybe… maybe there was more to Loki's story then they knew? The weirdest thing about future Loki… was that his eyes were a bright emerald green.
And Tony clearly remembered that the Loki who had attacked New York- had in fact, had clear blue eyes- like the humans he'd controlled with the scepter.
Thor had stated that Loki was adopted, but never from where? And that brought up the branch of questions like, had Loki known he was adopted? If so- how had he figured out? Or had he always known?
Looking at Loki now- he looked tired, like he'd given up- he looked like he was just a… kid? Even though he was obviously many years older than Tony- or even Tony's father had been- he acted like a teenager…
The silence was broken by Clint- who seemed to be unable to keep quiet. "Uhm, what?" He asked, though his voice was quiet, it echoed through the silent room.
Loki seemed to come back to himself, and pulled himself away from Winter- looking very uncomfortable and embarrassed.
In his haste to pull away from Winter, he accidentally backed into Thor's side. It was quite hilarious to watch the god's bright green eyes widen in surprise, but before he could yank away, Thor placed a hand on his younger brother's shoulder.
Winter, who didn't look surprised at Loki's reaction, just leaned back into Steve- somehow looking casual after seeing his future self getting tortured? Now… that was something Tony really shouldn't touch with a ten foot pole- but whatever, he was curious.
He'd come back to that later-
Loki seemed to give up, sitting still and tense. Silence rang throughout the room, and Tony decided to break it.
"Okay- so I know you're both gods. So you've been alive for like, thousands of years- but how old are you both mentally?" Tony asked, gesturing a hand towards the two Norse gods.
Thor, predictably, was the one to answer. "Well, mentally… I'm in my early twenties, and Loki is early sixteens- in Midgards age system…" Thor said, tilting his head a little.
Oh heck no…. So Loki was… Tony had beaten up a kid? Bruce looked like he was going to faint… oh gosh, oh heck no.
So Loki had just been a child going through some kind of teenage rebellion? Obviously, it didn't excuse what he'd done, but it brought into light… many other things. Why would Loki just randomly kill people, had Odin been abusive or something?
What exactly had happened? Winter, unsurprisingly, was the one to ask.
"Why… exactly did you attack earth?" He asked Loki, his voice soft, tilting his head at Loki curiously.
The young god sighed. "I was… well, when I originally attacked earth- aiming to, er, kill Thor- I'd just… found something out. So, when Thor returned, alive… I may have tried to destroy a planet. He stopped me, I fell into the void. Then I attacked earth." Loki said simply, and Tony was almost 100% sure Loki was lying.
Thor looked at the younger god, his blue eyes narrowed. "You didn't fall. You let go." He said, his normally boisterous voice quiet.
"My hand slipped." Loki said casually. Tony's eyes narrowed, so they'd attacked a suicidal sixteen year old? Or had he been fifteen at the time? What the heck was wrong with this world.
Judging by Thor's face, Loki's hand had not, in fact, slipped. The young god turned his face away from them, stubbornly staring at the screen.
A sharp snap made another presence known, Tony looked over towards the noise, expecting Sylvia or Felix- but was moderately surprised to see a different teen.
This one was shorter, with soft brown skin, and blueish- black hair with two whites streaks in it- it covered one eye. The visible eye was a dark blue.
And Tony personally thought he looked like a walking mental illness left untreated- but that could be left to worry about later.
"Um, since Loki's determined to lie, Sylvia is forcing me to do this…" The boy said uncomfortably, shuffling from one foot to another.
Winter's brow furrowed, "Why you?" He asked bluntly, seeing how uncomfortable the teen was.
"She said people have trouble being mean to me…?" The boy said, shrugging, a faint blush forming across his cheekbones.
Okay, Tony could see Sylvia's point, you'd have to be an awful person to be mean to this walking ball of anxiety. Even Loki looked like he'd struggle to be sarcastic to the teen.
"Anyways, um, I'm Morgan… er, so I'll just be explaining what really happened to Loki." Morgan shuffled from foot to foot, fiddling with his fingers. Loki sighed, but
didn't protest.
"So, uh, Odin found Loki as a child- their respective raises had been at war- and seeing as Loki would die, Odin took him. However, he er, also took Loki hoping to make a peace alliance between the two nations."
Tony's eyes narrowed, so Thor had probably been favored over Loki- and Odin had only wanted his supposed 'son' to use as a bargaining chip? What the heck was wrong with this 'wise' god?
Loki had been slowly shifting closer to Winter throughout Morgan's explanation. And everyone pretended to take no notice of it.
Morgan continued, "Um, so, when Loki figured out what he was… he confronted Odin, and then Odin fell into one of his deep sleep thingies."
"Odinsleep." Thor supplied, his voice dull.
"Er, right. Anyways, since Thor had been exiled for attacking… a planet, Loki took the throne. And er, well it was a bad time. As Loki stated, he tried to destroy the aforementioned planet- trying to make Odin… proud of him. Thor defeated him, and he fell off the bridge."
Tony felt a grimace form on his face, as Loki gave up all pretenses and curled back into Winter's side- it seemed like the Assassin had been expecting this to happen, and wrapped his metal arm around the young god.
Steve hesitated, but gently patted Loki's shoulder. Tony could understand the hesitance, obviously, no one knew how Loki would react.
Loki tensed, but didn't do anything.
"Um, Odin had awoken, and Loki managed to grasp the end of Odin's staff thing. Er, Loki tried to explain that he could've done it… for Odin- and Odin… well he said, no. And so, Loki let go… and fell into the void."
A horrified silence fell upon the room, and Tony was considering permanently avoiding trains and bridges. Why was everybody falling?
So… Loki was suicidal? And Odin had obviously been a terrible father- to have let his son do that. Tony could understand how Loki must feel about that, considering his own experiences with Howard.
But why had Loki attacked earth? Had he been doing it as a last resort, or had he been… under something's control? He silently prayed for it to be the prior, because if it was the latter…
"So, er, Loki fell into the void. And then… something found him- I'll leave it to Loki to tell you when he feels… more comfortable with it. Anyways, er, they, well, tortured Loki- and used the scepter to control him." Morgan stuttered out.
What. The. Hell. Loki hadn't even been in control the whole time? So not only had they attacked a teenager, but one who was being controlled too? Obviously, they couldn't have just done nothing- but there had to have been a better option, like… maybe if Thor had just hugged him or something?
So pretty much, Loki wasn't some power deranged monster, but a neglected, suicidal teenager. This was so messed up.
Thor's mouth had fallen open, shock written across his face. Morgan awkwardly stuttered out a 'uhm, well, bye' and snapped out of the room.
Thor turned to Loki, who was still half curled into Winter's side. This was going to be emotional and dramatic wasn't it.
"Loki… I'm so sorry. I've not only failed you as a fellow Asgardian, but as an older brother. I understand if you… if you can't ever forgive me. I should've realized something was wrong back on Midgard… this is all my fault- if I hadn't been so wrapped up in myself-'' Thor rambled, tears forming in his eyes.
Loki had pulled away from Winter a little, turning his attention to his brother. The young god bit his lip, before shaking his head.
"It doesn't matter. We aren't actually brothers." His voice sounded hollow. Tony bit back a sarcastic comment, knowing this was not the time.
Thor shook his head, reaching forward to rest his hands on Loki's shoulders. Loki flinched, but didn't move away.
"I don't care what you are, or what you've done. You're my brother, blood or not. You'll always be my brother." Thor said, his voice stern, Loki's mouth fell open a little.
Loki seemed to throw away his pride completely, and fell into Thor, hugging him tightly. Thor looked surprised but hugged him back tightly.
Tony smiled faintly at that, glancing around, he saw that even Natasha looked shaken, and was having trouble controlling the faint smile on her face.
Steve spoke up then, "Knowing what we know now… you can return to earth if you want." Obviously, Thor would probably have to explain this to their future selves. But whatever… or technically, was this an alternative universe?… so scientifically speaking, after this was all done, would they be able to take this version of Loki and Thor with them..? Would that, like, delete their own current Thor and Loki? Huh.
Loki looked towards Steve, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
"I'm serious, you're just a kid, so there would be more forgiveness, but especially knowing what we know now." Loki looked offended at that.
"I'm not a child!" He exclaimed, pulling away from his brother to glare balefully at Steve. Tony burst out laughing.
"Mentally, Loki, you're a kid." He cackled at Loki's offended expression.
"Pardon me, I'm a god! Not a mere child!" Loki argued, and Tony could just picture Loki stumbling his foot as he said this.
Winter patted him on the back, grinning. Loki huffed.
At this, the whole room burst into laughter, Loki looked to be fighting to keep a pout off of his face, as he glared at them all.
With a snap, Sylvia reentered the room, smirking at them all. "I'm going to show a brief clip of Loki shapeshifting." She said before snapping out of existence.
Wait- shapeshifting…?
"You can do what now?" Steve asked, looking at the teenager with narrowed eyes. Loki's expression turned to one of mischievous pleasure, and Thor rolled his eyes. They obviously both had something in mind.
The screen changed from what it had been paused on- which was still horrifying, mind you- to a image of Thor and Loki
Loki: This is so unlike you, brother. So clandestine. Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?
Tony felt relief, this was more like the Loki he had met- a menace to society. Thor had a hand covering his face, obviously exasperated. Loki was practically beaming.
Thor: If you keep speaking I just might.
"Don't you dare," Winter spoke, his voice teasing but it did hold a real threat in it. Tony silently agreed with the Assassin, you can't just punch a child. Bruce looked like he was regretting all his past decisions- the ones that had brought him to this, anyway.
Thor shook his head, "I didn't mean it seriously." He said with a roll of his eyes.
Loki: Fine. As you wish. I'm not even here. [using his diversion tactics Loki turns himself into an Asgardian guard] Is this better?
"This is so cool," Clint said, seeming to have forgiven Loki for all his past misdeeds. "Just imagine the chaos that could be caused with this."
Natasha hit him over the head lightly, rolling her eyes. Steve groaned, obviously disapproving of a Loki and Clint friendship.
Tony smirked, "Just imagine all the relationships you could ruin with that." Loki cackled at the idea, Thor groaned- but he was smiling.
Winter smirked.
Thor It's better company at least.
Everyone snickered at the brothers' antics, Loki rolling his eyes at the screen version of his brother.
Loki: Still, we could be less conspicuous. [Loki turns back into himself but turns Thor into Sif] Hm, brother. You look ravishing.
"Oh my gosh! This is priceless." Clint cackled, Tony nodded in agreement.
"Gold." He said approvingly, Loki held up a slender finger.
"Just wait for a second," He said, his devilish smirk growing. Steve looked towards the young god with trepidation in his eyes.
Thor rolled his eyes, "Is this you admitting to having a crush on Sif?" He snickered at his brother, who looked horrified.
"Ew, no. I'd rather court a toad than her." Loki replied instantly, his nose scrunched up in distaste.
Laughter filled the room again.
[Thor looks down at his body then replies in his own voice]
Thor: It will hurt no less when I kill you in this form.
"Stop threatening children." Natasha snickered, glaring at Thor playfully. Loki groaned in unison with his elder brother.
Loki: Very well. Perhaps you prefer one of your new companions, given that you seem to like them so much. [Loki then turns himself into Captain America in his full Captain America costume]
Tony promptly fell off his seat- again- laughing, Winter and Clint soon joined him on the floor- all cackling with laughter.
Steve's look of horrified interest only made it harder for Tony to control his laughter.
Oh, this is much better. Woh. The costume's a bit much, so tight.
Tony slapped the floor with a hand, cackling. Winter seemed to be fairing even worse, his whole body shaking with uncontrollable mirth. Steve's face was beat red, and Loki was laughing at him.
Thor started laughing at some point, soon joined by Natasha's thrilled snickers, and Bruce's quieter laughter.
"So tight." Winter rasped out, punching the ground with his metal arm and accidently leaving a dent- which only made them all laugh harder.
But the confidence, I can feel the righteousness surging.
Steve lost it at that too, laughter erupting from him, even though his face was still red. Loki looked satisfied with the reaction his antics had wreaked, and Tony couldn't blame him.
Now that Loki wasn't trying to murder them, he was sure they would all get along swell.
"The righteousness sure does surge, doesn't it Capsicle?" Tony managed to say between bursts of laughter. Steve managed to roll his eyes.
Hey, you wanna have a rousing discussion about truth, honor, patriotism? God bless Amer-
Tony cackled even harder at that one, Loki must've been practicing this. It was so perfect, Loki could've been an actor if he was born on earth. Someone just needed to give the young god a script and let him go at it.
"I do not act like that," Steve squawked, and Winter propped himself on his elbow to give Steve a look.
"Uh huh. Sure." The Assassin said, taking obvious joy in Steve's disgruntled expression.
"You do, though." Tony added, and then high fived Winter upon seeing American Mother's face.
Success.