Helloo! I won't hold you up so I wish all well who are starting school again and hope you enjoy this chapter!

Shout Outs!:

AidenJacksonSmithDSBB

XD glad it was a good read but I will not apologies for my cliffhangers, I do love them :)

Guest

Wow! I just binge read both full Loki and Loki'd and they have to be one of the best Httyd fics I've ever read. The way that you seamlessly combine both medias to weave a compelling story is amazing! I'm very excited to read the next chapter when it comes out and eventually see what you do with the Loki show! Love it!

Awe, thanks! That's both a challenge and a lot of fun to figure out, I always get excited when I think of new ways to combine the two.

omega13a

Gah, I know! Drives me nuts. The biggest reason for that is for years I had to manually go through and do all the htmi coding (things like bolding, italising, etc.) by hand and it grew very tiresome. And now that I think I found a site to do all that...there's a lot to go through to update it all again. I need to it's just that there's so much that I often see it and just think "nah, not right now".

CHSHiccstrid

Thanks :) I have the time to do so so I'm going to. If Odin tried he'd have a very angry Frigga to deal with and he's smart enough to not try that. I'm very excited for Iron Man 3 and CA:WS, still a little on the fence about certain decisions for Thor the Dark World but we'll get there!

TheBeard263

Oh, I promise I'll keep writing but it might take some time, I got a bit burnt out for a while so needed a break. Thanks! I read some similar stories many years ago that had 'somewhat sentient' stones and after reading some articles on them I felt it fit quite well. Thanks for reading!

Journal 2, Entry 43: "Iron Man 3 Part 2"

1999 Bern, Switzerland

"H-hey Tony!"

Tony turned with a frown at the unfamiliar voice…Though he was rather drunk and might even have troubles recognizing uncle H's voice over the celebratory hubbub of the other guests.

He finally managed to track down the voice to the man, who took to heart the fashion choices of nerds in the 80s, shoving past the other buzzed guests. Aldrich grinned and was able to briefly snag Maya's hand in a delighted shake. "A-Aldrich Killian. I'm, I'm a big fan of your work."

Maya's frown hid her surprised smile, expecting him to fawn over Tony over her as everyone had throughout the entire convention. "My work?"

"Well who isn't?" Tony asked offhandedly, it was impressive work even though she'd only begun.

"Miss Hansen, my organization has been tracking your research since year two of MIT."

Tony gently pulled Maya into the elevator with a dozen other passengers, missing her intrigued look at their admirer. "Alright, and we're full."

Aldrich ducked under Happy's arm and into the elevator, surprisingly nimble for caring around a cane that could not have been for a fashion statement.

"Oh wow, he made the cut." He said a bit disappointedly, he really didn't want to be dealing with Aldrich and his kind right now. Not after a long night of presentations and speeches, it was time to relax and enjoy the Ball Drop—not more work talk. But his kind took any chance they could snag, understandable but still annoying.

Happy kept himself between Killian and his boss, all too used to his type—usually harmless but they annoyed Tony and this is partially what he was getting paid for. "What floor you going to pal?"

Aldrich grinned. "Now that is an appropriate question. The ground floor actually, I got a proposal I'm putting together myself." He started feeling around his pockets until the cards he was looking for appeared. "It's a privately funded think tank called Advanced Idea Mechanics…"

He held out the cards and Tony nodded to Maya. "She'll take both. One to throw away and one to not call."

Aldrich kept talking excitedly and he spaced out, staring at the beautiful scientist standing before him. "…Aim, for short—you get it?"

Tony blinked and smiled politely. "I see that…because it's on your T-shirt."

Aldrich beamed then the elevator dinged, opening to their floor. People began spilling out and Tony gently ushered Maya out as well, she sparing Aldrich a half-glance as she waved the card. "Thank you, I'll call you."

Tony hung back, stretching an arm out as Aldrich tried to follow her, and waited for the rest to vacate before turning to Aldrich. "Not that the notion of working with you isn't titillating but we've both got a packed schedule and I don't see her calling you when she has every other company, headhunter and think tank, big and small, after her and her work. I wouldn't get your hopes up. Now, if you'll pardon me, I have a lovely lady to—talk science with."

He pressed the ground button and left, missing Aldrich's disappointed frown. He rode the elevator down in gloomy silence, still standing in the corner until it filled with people again and progressed on its journey of ferrying people up and down. He hit the roof button as the last person left and didn't have long to wait, exiting the warm box for the frigid wind.

He hobbled down the short flight of stairs and crept closer to the edge, staring down at the thong of people celebrating below, looking like a colony of ants whose home had been stepped on. He stood still until his ears froze, shoulders falling even more. This had been his last chance, AIM's last chance. Without Hansen, they were going to sink. Nobody took him seriously and thought his work and the think tank were a joke.

He looked down again, maybe I should end it before she can really stick me in the heart? He gripped the concrete and leaned forward, heart fluttering at the thought.

A heavy hand suddenly pulled him away and nearly threw him into the snow on the far side of the little patio. "Aldrich Killian."

Aldrich's breath hitched, thinking that hotel security caught him and he'd be banned from the presentations tomorrow then he'd really be up a creek. "I wasn't planning to jump! I just needed air and wanted to look around!"

The shadowy figure hmphed and crossed his arms but said, "I have some associates who are interested in some of your work."

Aldrich's brows shot up and he picked himself up, fear forgotten. "R-really?"

Though he could not see it, the man smirked. "Very. We're quite fortunate that Stark so readily looked over the gems in your arsenal."

Aldrich frowned but it quickly turned into a grin. "W-we should go-go inside where it's wa-warmer."

The man nodded and gestured for Aldrich to lead. He started back to the elevator door as the sky began flashing with the fireworks' brilliance. "You, you know me—if we're to begin a part-partnership, I should know who-who's interested."

In the flare of an explosion Aldrich saw the man smirk wolfishly. "Of course. I am Strucker, representative of Hydra."

August 2012

Killian frowned as the cryo-pod was wheeled in, icy mist rising from the biting cold metal meeting the warmer air of the lab. He glanced over to his lead scientist and partner, she staring unsurely at the pod.

He approached and hovered his hand above the frosted glass that would have let you see the face of the person within, a now strong hand tingling as the cold stole away his heat. "So, who's our newest patient?"

Strucker hummed with dissent. "A project failure, however one that must soon be fixed if we are to continue to operate."

Killian raised an eyebrow with a small smile. "Oh? What can this man do that the men we have provided can't?"

Strucker smirked but it was hollow. "I assume you saw the news the other week?"

Hansen finally neared but kept to the opposite side of the pod and Strucker. "Who hasn't?" She looked down again at the pod. "What am I working with here? Amputation, illness, seconds from death since you obviously saw fit to freeze them?"

Strucker's teeth glinted as he laughed. "He is not frozen to prevent his death, he's frozen to ensure our lives."

Hansen's brow furrowed and glared at the Hydra leader. "Explain."

Strucker nodded to an assistant who inserted a drive into the computer, playing a few short clips of the Winter Soldiers.

Maya gasped, a hand flying to her mouth in horror at some of the scenes that played out, while Killian tilted his head in fascination.

The video cut off as the training fell to unthinking chaos and Strucker turned to the AIM leaders. "As you can see, they are far better suited to fulfilling our missions than your foot soldiers. However, there were problems, mostly psychological—the physiological abnormalities have played out well enough for Hydra's purposes."

Hansen's frown became studious as she moved closer to the pod, taking in its readings as well as the redacted notes the Hydra scientist offered her. "We haven't tested Extremis for psychological defects but I'd theorize that it should work to fix the issue…"

"But." Strucker growled.

She sighed, clipboard dangling at her side as she turned to face her partners with a tired look. "These are Super Soldiers and," she glanced at the notes again, "well, it was basically the basis for my research."

"So?" Strucker asked, an annoyed lilt in his voice.

She fought the urge to curl her lips. "What Extremis does is advance the genes to seal any gaps—progress our evolution so to speak. Which is essentially what Erskine and Hyse did with Rodgers and you did…badly. I'm not sure if there are gaps to fix. Erskine made it quite clear in his notes that the serum enhances everything, which includes their personality and might mean it filled in the gap that Extremis completes. Since Rodgers froze at the end of the war and no tests were truly run on just what the serum did to him…and you used a modified serum on these men to boot. I-I can't tell which reason is the result of their…insanity."

Strucker leveled her with a flat gaze. "Then find out, he's all yours. Like this, none of them are useful and only take up resources."

She nodded with a hum and gestured for the assistants to wheel him further in, testing beginning immediately. They worked quickly as the pod adjusted the internal temperature, so as not to send the Soldier within to an untimely death of temperature shock, the lid hissing open and frosty air spilling out once it was within a safe limit. Hansen fought with the injection needle until Killian grumbled and took it from her, surprised when he struggled briefly before managing.

They shot Strucker curious looks to which he only smirked at. Hansen rolled her eyes but otherwise ignored him as they went about the process. Extremis flowed from the IV bag and the man groaned as awareness returned.

Strucker subtly glanced between the Winter Soldier and Killian, maybe it would have been wise to bring Zola's Winter Soldier with him…just in case.

The waking moans turned pained, shifting as much as the restraints would allow. Hansen followed the red, near glowing, Extremis through his veins—it was up his arm and now making its way to his heart-

The half-conscious man hissed, the most his addled brain could come to a yell, as a silver pulse swept through the room. Screens and other glass shattered while the people staggered back a step.

Strucker glanced eagerly down at the Soldier's arm, only for his hope to plummet. The Extremis had stopped its crawl, in fact if it was an indication of blood flow he would have said the man had no heartbeat. It only remained that way for but a moment before the glow dimmed and turned dark, something else now racing through his veins.

"Get him back on ice before he fully wakes!" He barked to the nearest technician.

They scrambled to follow orders while Hansen and Killian ignored the hubris after the little show was over, invested in deciphering the results once a new screen was wheeled in and hooked up. Strucker waited impatiently, arms crossed and glaring at the pair as though it would make them process faster.

After a time they finally did turn, Hansen's face drawn. "I am unable to confirm if the serum destabilized his mind or enhanced his personality; however, I can say with full confidence that Extremis will not work in curing him. Whatever you mixed into that serum fights against Extremis like it is a disease—they cannot mix."

"Damn." Strucker growled, slamming his fist against sheet metal housing a computer.

Killian smirked at Hansen, a look that warred on her nerves but let it pass as few others would let her work as she can with AIM. "There's still a light at the end of the tunnel."

Strucker's brows furrowed and whipped his head around. "And that would be?"

Killian gestured to Hansen, intending to place a hand on her shoulder but she moved away before he could. "We have essentially created a faux super soldier serum—with a bit of his blood, I'm sure we can—fix his problems. After all, all the building blocks are there—we just have to figure out how to correct the small misstep."

Strucker turned to Hansen, gaze deadly. "Is it possible?"

Her lips pressed together as she stared at the frozen Soldier then glared at Killian again. "I think so..."

November

Loki exhaled as they left the United States' Federal Courthouse, at recess for the day. Hiccup descended the stairs next to him along with a pack of New Archipelagans, mostly their versions of lawyers along with Ivana to provide doctoral credibility. The media, as always, were like Terrors—flocking the steps, all shouting questions at the defendant group.

They were ignored by all but the dogs, cats and occasional bird that forever trailed the group, this disappointing many reporters as they'd hoped to get a glimpse of the dragons that were claimed to exist and live among them. But other than the shaky footage from the Invasion, no new footage could be had.

People gasped and skittered back as the dogs growled and cats hissed, birds dive-bombing people leaning a little too far onto their toes. This continued until Loki exited the building…and Jörmungandr with him. Though looping behind his Commander with the grace of a gentle giant, disguised as he was as a polar bear, his unaffectedness did not stop people from screaming and running a good distance away.

Jör's bear head tilted at the screaming people and rumbled, possibly a terrifying sound to normal folks but it was like a hatchling's grumbles of annoyance to the Archipelagans. Loki smirked and reached over, rubbing his head and speaking lowly—as he had done hours earlier in the courtroom when judge, jury and witnesses began panicking over his and every other familiar's attendance. That was a long and frankly wasted hour of the trials to explain that their presence would not be dismissed. It too, only added more stress to the trial Hiccup had insisted they go through to clear his name.

He wasn't paying much attention to the now distant crowd but did notice when Hiccup and Tor left his side to that of Clint, Selvig, Fury and a band of other SHIELD agents—both having been possessed and not.

Fury scowled as the Viking cofounder of SHIELD sauntered over with an easy grin. "You are not making my job and that of SHIELD's business easy to keep under wraps. Not to mention the fact that I don't entirely believe him."

Hiccup gave a small huff, glancing back at Loki who hadn't moved on the steps since he left and remained staring at him—easily hearing their conversation over the low din of reporters. "SHIELD will be fine." Hiccup waved him off, though he would have been just as happy to have it entirely disbanded and a large majority of Hydra's control of the world with it. "And I don't care if you don't believe him; until another invasion happens where he has a chance to prove himself like Talos,"

"Hyse!" Fury hissed.

"-did, you never will…even then." Hiccup ignored him, the only people who could hear them were people already in the know or those within the organization who knew it was way above their pay grade. "If your men can get off Scot free then so should Loki and he went through a Hel of a lot more than they ever did."

Fury's nose wrinkled but Hiccup ignored him to face the gaggle of previously mind controlled agents and smiled. "Selvig, how you holding up?"

The older looking man smiled wanly. "I won't lie, Loki makes me nervous but your therapists have helped a great deal. Especially with the…dreams."

Hiccup's smile turned sad while Clint crossed his arms uncomfortably. "I can't believe you actually let them in your head."

Selvig chuckled and shared a look with Hiccup. "It may have only been a few weeks but…the dreams…" He shuddered. They were awe inspiring but also terrifying and—every time they came, he swore he could feel that same cold slither through his mind again. Hyse's people swore that the staff was no longer affecting him but it still left him shaken.

Hiccup set a hand on his shoulder, sympathy and sorrow lingering in his eyes. "I'm sorry, that I didn't act sooner, I-"

Selvig waved him off, eyes going distant. "It was too late by then."

Hiccup gave a small, understanding nod before backing away with a wave. "Then, see you guys tomorrow."

Selvig waved back while Fury grumbled a goodbye, looking at his pad about SHIELD workings—never a break even when dealing with Loki's trial, while Clint merely nodded his head sharply.

Hiccup easily slid in beside Loki, the god's arm wrapping around his shoulder as their familiars guarded their edges. "Visit Tony for the night?"

Loki grinned and grasped Jör's fur as Hiccup did Tor's, both disappearing in green flashes only to reappear in Tony's Malibu home, seemingly empty.

Tony was tinkering with a car down in the lab when JARVIS suddenly spoke. "Sir, we have an invasion of tricksters in the family room."

Tony jerked before sliding out from under the car and glaring at the ceiling. "Haha, J, way to give me a heart attack."

Not a moment later there was a knock on the glass wall before the door pinged and Hiccup entered, Tor barreling in greeting him with a happy woof—withholding greeting kisses due to his grease tracked face. He beamed up at his godfather then over at Loki as he grabbed an automotive paper towel and wiped his hands off. "How'd it go?"

Loki grunted in annoyance. "Mostly useless for today's session. Far too much cultural explaining and arguing for a case that has already been cleared for others."

Tony smiled sympathetically. "Well, you were the face of the attackers but, hey! Think of this as practice."

Loki arched an eyebrow, Hiccup unconsciously mimicking him. "Practice? What for? I have no intentions to invade this Realm again."

Hiccup turned to him with a playful frown. "But you do others?"

Loki smirked. "Well, my short stint into Jötunheim was fun."

Hiccup huffed with an eye roll while Tony chuckled then laughed outright as Tor tried to get comfortable on his Iron Man bed only for Jör to attempt to join him—squishing Tor under his white bulk leaving the black dog snarling. Jör got off with impossibly sad eyes while Tor grumbled and swiped his tail across his face and proceeded to ignore him.

Loki shook his head at the polar bear's kicked hatchling act while Tony took pity and drug out Tor's old bed from the cleaning closet.

Hiccup stared in shock at the old bed. "You still have that?"

Jör leapt upon the bed with glee and made a comfortable nest for himself.

Tony smirked at them before shrugging to his uncle. "Better to have two beds with your crazy mutt around than not enough—you saw what he did to my bed when he decided he wanted to nest!"

Hiccup chuckled. "Yeah…sorry again."

Loki's gaze narrowed in again on Tony. "So, for what do we need practice in the legal system?"

Tony smirked. "Capsicle's old buddy of course! Doubt he wants him to sit in some jail cell for the rest of his life—though I still want to take a good swing at him, preferably in the suit."

Loki snorted. "I thought you'd want to take it out on his 'handlers' who chose your parents as targets."

"Oh no," Tony's face turned dark with premeditated, dark pleasure. "I'm gonna blast them with a repulsor. Not quite enough to be lethal but more than enough to hurt like Hel while they sit in a cell until they die."

"Ah." Loki nodded, that sounded much more like him, before he sighed. "I'll fix us something to eat, might as well start recreating some Asgardian delicacies seeing as I won't be returning anytime in the near future."

Tony's eyes lit up. "Oh, new cuisine! For some reason I thought the New Archipelago ate pretty much like you do?"

Loki chuckled by the door, Jör lifting his head contemplatively on if he should follow his troublesome Commander or enjoy a snooze on this wonderful bed. The little Alpha certainty had the best things to sleep on. Tor was on his feet in an instant at the mention of food, bolting out the door before Loki could go through it.

"We do, in certain aspects, but many meals differ for the sole reason that these are not the same Realms and Asgard has had precious little to do with Midgard so the meats, spices and food available are vastly different."

Tony hummed and sat down at his desk. "Yeah, makes sense."

The trickster left and Hiccup joined him as he pulled up some schematics. "Since you're here…maybe I can pick your brain on why my baby the Mark 42 is giving me some slight issues. I could figure it out on my own but,"

"I'm sure." Hiccup chuckled.

Tony glared at him before continuing like he wasn't interrupted, "but you'll help it go along much faster. So! The main problem…"

Tony struggled to keep his full attention on Rhodey, eyeing the screen that had played the news coverage of Loki's trial until the airwave takeover by "The Mandarin", now every news station played the host's reactions to the most recent threat to the president. A server of the little restaurant finally paused their channel flipping to a coverage of the president's response to said threat.

"It tested well with focus groups, alright!" Rhodey huffed as Tony snickered at the president discussing Iron Patriot and the comical red, white and blue paint job. It looks like a mechanical Capsicle. Tony thought.

"I am Iron Patriot." He teased but understood his friend's frustrations, at least the public graced him with a good name. He glanced down at his phone to news channels still covering Loki's Trial to keep tabs on uncle H and his patron. He was almost grateful to the Mandarin as he took most people's immediate anger but he also kept cutting into Loki's defense with his airwave hijacking. He managed to keep his own ire tampered down, however, with the comfort that more and more people were coming around to Loki and uncle H's side of the argument—even if many were still up in arms and refusing to believe it.

Rhodey barely noticed his divided attention and ran with the half he did have. "The War Machine was a little too aggressive, alright. This sends a better message." But even as he said it, it barely sounded like he believed it.

"So, what's really been going on? The Mandarin." Tony asked, finally giving his full attention to his friend. "Seriously. Can we talk about this guy?"

"It's classified information Tony." Rhodey said lowly. Tony's eyebrows rose just a hair in amusement and Rhodey rolled his eyes, getting the silent message. "Okay, there's been nine bombings."

"Nine." Tony said softly. When had nine terrorist bombings occurred? Usually those made some kind of news.

"The public only knows about three. And here's the thing; nobody can ID the device. There's no bomb casings." Rhodey said lowly, frustration lacing his voice.

Tony frowned, mind already whirring with potential reasons why no casings could be found. "You know I can help, just ask. I got a ton of new tech. I got a new suit, I-I got bomb disposal—catches explosions mid-air."

Rhodey rubbed his chin as he thought before looking up at Tony, worried for his friend. "When was the last time you got a good night's sleep?"

"Einstein slept three hours a year, look what he did." Tony shot back far too quickly.

Rhodey shook his head. "People are concerned about you Tony. I'm concerned about you."

"You're coming at me like that?" Tony asked on the defensive. "Fine, if you're so concerned about it. I had a full night's sleep last week."

Rhodey's head dipped forward while his eyebrows rose. "Let me guess, Hyse got tired of your antics and knocked you out."

Tony glared at his friend. "Hey, I'm-!"

"Look, I'm not trying to be a dic-" Rhodey began arguing even before Tony got started, this topic unfortunately becoming a familiar song and dance, only to stop short when a pair of kids came up to the table—staring hopefully at Tony. "-Tator." He tried to finish off politely and child-friendly.

The girl smiled and put a paper on the table, sliding it to Tony. "Would you mind signing my drawing?"

"If Richard doesn't mind." Tony laughed instead of huffed, Rhodey chuckling as well for the kids. He pulled the paper closer, glad to be off that topic. "What's your name?"

The girl beamed. "Erin."

He nodded and finally looked down at the picture and felt his heart try to skip a beat—the image being the scene of so many nightmares. He took a breath and grabbed the Crayon; it's all right—your feet are firmly on the ground. See? A shredded Crayon in your hand and not a bomb. The chattering drone of the customers around them merging to sound like the hum that surrounded the portal. He turned to the little blond boy with glasses standing next to the girl. "I loved you in A Christmas Story by the way."

The joke flew right over his head and Tony's next breath was easier and took advantage of the distraction the boy had unknowingly given. He started signing the paper while Rhodey leaned over, returning to safer conversation.

"Listen, the Pentagon is scared. After New York; aliens, dragons and a whole…country we didn't even know existed…we need to look strong. Stopping the Mandarin is priority but it's not…"

Tony rolled his eyes and finished Rhodey's thought. "It's not superhero business."

Rhodey nodded and echoed that sentiment before adding, "Quite frankly, it's an American business."

The Crayon crumbled in his grip and frustration set in. He needed to be a part of something, something that didn't involve 'superhero' business and something outside of his own company proper—the latter often hitting too close to the former or just too dang boring to keep his mind truly occupied. He could feel himself spiraling as option after option was closed to him and the portal filled his mind again.

Somehow, through the shouting of incoherent thoughts, a voice got through. "How'd you get out of the wormhole?"

He shoved away from the table and stumbled over another one as blue at his peripheral and stars and ships filled his vision. He blinked and the restaurant was there again but a blink later it was gone. Where was he? Was he in the restaurant or in space about to die? What was happening right before? He remembered seconds ago being both flying out of the Helicarrier and signing a picture.

Through the blinking he managed to find his suit. Suit…found suit. Which means, it's not on. Every blink of the restaurant was slightly different as though he was moving through it but the blinks of the portal remained stagnant as he drifted there and waited for death…But he wasn't cold.

He stumbled into the suit, which was cold but it was a different cold. A pleasant cold. In the silence, no more humming of the crowd or portal, the different blinking visions stopped and stayed at the restaurant scene.

"Sir, I'd advise taking a slow, deep breath then letting it out just as slowly. I've already contacted Anna."

Tony did just that, kneeling on the ground and letting the world come back to rightness.

Something tink-tinked! on his helmet before Rhodey's voice drifted through the suit's audials. "Come on man, this isn't a good look. Open up."

"Sorry, I gotta-" Tony began and stood but just before firing his repulsors a teal flash filled the sidewalk. Followed by screaming as people scrambled away from a cross looking woman and an irate white and black spotted dragon.

"Tony! Thank Thor you're already outside, it would be a nightmare trying to get Ruff through that crowd but I wasn't sure of your state when JARVIS alerted me."

Rhodey, who'd taken several steps back at the sight of Ruffrunner, protested as the strange woman reached out for Tony. "Hey, just a minute! Who the heck are you? One of Loki's people?!"

Her nose wrinkled at his tone of 'Loki's people' but she spoke simply as she waved Ruffrunner over who'd tried to sniff a few braver pedestrians. "That is a bit of a complicated answer and I think he'd argue that he's one of our people, not we his. But I guess we're certainly more his than Thor's. Ready Tony?"

He nodded, faceplate sliding up and giving Rhodey a strained smile, unconsciously leaning against the dragon. "Lunch at my place next week." With that, teal filled the air again and the trio vanished.

The people murmured, having heard about the Archipelagans but many still disbelieving it. Rhodey sighed loudly and stared at the spot they once were a moment longer before leaving. Why could his life no longer be normal?

Tony paced the room Ivanna teleported them too until she grabbed his shoulders and shoved him in a chair. "Sit and breathe while I collect Agnutt."

Tony frowned but closed his eyes and focused on breathing normally, eventually leveling out his heart rate. He cracked an eye and gave a breathy chuckle when a scaly snout wiggled its way under his palm. Giving the offspring of Torbjorg a smile, he went back to breathing, matching his breath with that of Ruffrunner's.

"I see we're making some progress." Agnutt smiled in the doorway.

Tony, who'd jerked at the unexpected voice, held his heart and scowled. "Don't scare a man with a heart condition!"

She snorted and took a nearby seat. "Please, your heart's probably in better condition now than it was when you were a teenager."

Tony huffed a laugh. "Yeah, it's a miracle of uncle H's that I survived—considering some of what I ate at MIT."

Ruffrunner huffed at the newcomer but slunk out of the hut after giving Tony a gummy smile.

She smiled. "So, it seems as though you're doing a bit better this time than last, care to share?"

Tony sighed and leaned his head back before speaking.

*O*

It was a good hour or more before he could finally leave the hut, not necessarily feeling better but they laid down a better game plan—one that JARVIS was now a part of, something the AI was quite pleased with. He wandered the healer's island, Dragon Defenders or something, eventually making his way to their 'Great Hall', quieter than outside and proceeded to call Happy. He didn't know if Rhodey had said anything to his previous chauffeur-guard now head of security but he would get the riot act read to him if he didn't call him or Pepper and Pepper was likely to be in meetings.

The video call rang a few times then was answered—by a very large forehead. Tony's eyes widened and he bit his lip to keep from laughing. For as much as Happy hung around one of the tech kings of the world, he was abysmal with it.

"Hello?" Happy asked, truly unknowing of the caller's identity.

"Is this the forehead of security?"

Tony could see Happy's forehead wrinkle in dismay as he lowered and fidgeted with the tablet. "Yeah. Look, I got a real job. What do you want? I'm working, I got something going on here."

Tony smiled. Oh, he knew how much Happy was happy with his promotion, he practically glowed every time he pinned on his security badge. "What? Harassing interns?"

Happy glowered at him before becoming antsy, going off on a rant about the current guy Pepper was in a meeting with and tried showing him the 'big brain' Killian was 'wooing' Pepper with. Tony shook his head and pulled up the name Happy gave, Aldrich Killian, but didn't feel like spending the time to hack Happy's tablet to get an image.

As Happy talked, still nervously eyeing the man he thought was also trying to woo Pepper, Tony racked his memories of the night he and Killian met. There wasn't much, most of it an alcoholic fog but he did remember a woman and giving her some help with a formula…and vaguely Killian.

"-There's a shifty character with him and I'm gonna follow this guy. I'm gonna run his plates and i-if it gets rough, so be it."

Tony frowned at Happy's jitteriness. He was used to Happy acting a little jumpy but this was not in his normal range of anxiousness. Finally he sighed. "Alright, whatever. Look, I'm in the Archipelago-"

"What!?" Happy nearly screeched then apologized to the people near him, quickly getting up and taking an unoccupied office that still had visuals on the office Pepper and Killian were in. "What happened, are you okay?"

Tony took a breath and didn't let his mind wander. "Physically, I'm fine, no one attacked me or anything just…New York."

Happy's face fell at the reminder, a bitter feeling rising with being unable to help him. "I'm glad Hakon set you up with some good people, I'd be a lot more worried about you if he didn't."

Tony smiled but it was far from true. "Yeah…Listen. Just keep an eye on Pepper till they leave. I'll ask uncle H or someone here if Killian's on their radar for anything weird or worrisome."

Happy didn't know to what extent they were involved but had an idea and nodded, some relief flashing across his face. "Thanks Tony. Hey, you better make this up to Pepper—missing date night and all."

Tony frowned. "Who says I'm going to miss date night? Technically I'm already done here."

Happy raised unimpressed eyebrows. "Tony, come on, you're in technological heaven. You're going to miss date night and not even realize it."

Tony winced. "Okay, probably."

Happy frowned at Tony now. "Pepper is one of the best things that has ever happened to you. Don't screw it up."

Tony stared down his head of security, unimpressed. "Yeah I get it. Now go yell at people for their badges or something and let Pepper know I'll be back by tonight…sometime. I'll really try to remember but with the time change and everything-"

Happy huffed and scowled. "That is your lamest excuse yet. And I wasn't joking Tony. Besides, I'm not your bodyguard or messenger anymore. You know people actually laughed at me when I said that I was. Now I have an actual job…and the first thing I'm doing is running that plate." His eyes hardened at the man Killian brought with him lounging in the waiting chairs. "I don't like the way he looks. Something fishy—about the eyes."

Tony smiled, grateful he was watching Pepper's back. "Alright, see ya Hap."

He ended the call and left the Hall for where he thought the branch was, maybe he could hitch a ride with whoever was going through next.

Less than ten minutes later Tony wandered the village of Berk, decked out for Christmas—or Snoggletog as they called it. He remembered that being written in his book Nuffink and Ivana wrote for him; only now realizing it wasn't just a joke for a little kid. He almost shivered as a bitterly cold wind blew across his face, wiggling a bit in his armor—ever thankful it had a heating system as he wandered the marketplace. Or what he thought was a marketplace, it was difficult to tell as houses and 'stores' often seemed to be one and the same and places that once might have been a house was now a place of business and vice versa.

A group of children ran past, several of them blue and in summer clothing while the others tried to copy their fashion and prove they were just as comfortable in the cold…however, their bright pink skin and goosebumps belated their gallant efforts though they continued to ignore the cold all the same.

Tony shook his head, uncle H's people truly were something else, even the fully human among them. He watched them run to a shop and stop at the viewing window, gawking at the itty-bitty dragons flying around. Dragons he knew should never have been that small, even fresh out of an egg if those old stories were to be believed at all. Which, in just glancing around, he felt the did.

Curious, he wandered over to the shop and chuckled at the kids pointing and chattering about Snoggletog wishes and what they hoped Odin would bring them. He glanced up at the strange dragons again and smiled.

An hour later he still wandered the village when his helm rang. "Sir, you have a call from Hakon."

Tony stopped to watch a Gronkle and Terror wiggle on their backs in the snow, mimicking the young teens making snow angels. "Well put him through."

"Tony, it's done! He's cleared!" Hiccup cried without any warning.

Tony winced but said with a grin, "That's great!" He laughed. "You coming over for a feast? That last one was fun."

Hiccup chuckled and his voice lost a bit of joy. "Ah, not yet. Actually, we need you to come here. Fury tried calling you but JARVIS sent him instantly to voicemail and made it quite clear he wasn't going to give it to you for a few days, at least."

Tony chuckled and nodded approvingly. "That's my guy. Thanks buddy."

"I live to serve." JARVIS said with far too much pleasure, mischief somehow lining the AI's synthesized voice.

Tony suddenly became more serious. "So, if you're calling me it must be serious. Did Reindeer Games have a back-up plan he's just now remembering?"

Someone huffed irritably. "Could you please convince your godson to give me a more appropriate nickname, or at least a less demeaning one."

Tony huffed good-naturedly. "I think it fits perfectly."

Loki grunted irritably.

Hiccup sighed before saying, "It's nothing like that, kiddo. It's, well, while they've cleared him their still demanding community service."

Tony bobbed his head side to side. "I mean, I can understand that. Too bad your people already helped rebuild most of New York. You people are fast." He said in slight awe.

Hiccup chuckled, a distant one that often accompanied a trip down memory lane. "Experience; old village, lots and lots of new buildings. And it's not the fact that he has to—pay penance. It's…how. They want him under SHIELD. Well, actually, it's more like a part of the Avenger Initiative but that's mostly because you're, and I quote, 'better suited to keep an eye on him'."

Tony's jaw dropped before, "I am not playing babysitter!"

"Believe me, Clint's not happy about it either but it honestly could be worse. And other than the fact that the multi-headed snake knows he's with us, he'll honestly be like another Changewing in SHIELD."

Tony still rolled his eyes. Well, at least if he has to share quarters with the guy he might be able to get him to spill some of the more embarrassing stories about his uncle. "Alright." He drew it out. "When?"

Annoyance laced Hiccup's voice. "Now, if possible. I can collect you. They want to finally get this case out of their hair and, really, I can't blame them. I'm done too."

"Well then," Tony looked down at his suit, knowing casual clothes lay beneath. Not the best for a court appearance but it is on them for the short notice, "meet you at the bridge? I'm on Berk."

"See you in a few, kiddo."

Tony stared longingly at the village for a long minute, imprinting it on his mind's eye before he had to return to the very city of his current nightmares. He clutched his brown wrapped package in dread before walking up to the cliff—no need to rush back to the city.

*O*

The courtroom was empty, bar SHIELD and Archipelagon representatives, the judge who was overseeing the final verdict of how exactly Loki was to be serving his sentence and the god himself. Tony nodded to Steve and slipped into a set between Hiccup and the Archipelagon attorney.

The judge sighed before banging his gavel to silence the room. "Now that all those who are a part of the Avengers Initiative are gathered who can be…we can finally get this matter settled." He sent both Fury and Hiccup exasperated looks.

Fury's nose wrinkled but said, "Look, I'm going to cut to the chase. I don't think Loki being an Avenger is a smart decision."

The judge just looked tired. "Director, they are our best bet of containing him should he—go rouge again."

Steve snorted and the judge raised a questioning eyebrow so he leaned forward respectively. "Sir, we never contained him. The only reason we took him down in Germany was because he wanted us too. Thor's people might be the only people who truly can…I don't know about Hakon's."

Hiccup shrugged. "Probably but we're not going to unless someone tries to mind-nap him again." His eyes narrowed on Loki. "And that's not going to happen any time soon. Especially since grandmother's having Heimdall watch you like a hawk."

Loki grumbled something in annoyance but it was ignored.

The judge shook his head. "Director, I understand your reluctance but as previously explained—Mr. Hyse's people may be able to contain him, however, having him serve his term within their borders wouldn't do much to make reparations to the world he hurt. As he has clearly said before, he is—fond of them and they are not exactly open to the public."

Hiccup grunted quietly and said behind a fisted hand, "And we're not gonna be for a long, long time. If ever again." His eyes cast down at Tor sticking out from underneath the table sadly.

Loki patted his knee while Tony nodded. Dragons were amazing but he was well aware of the world's darker side—they'd be the targets of a life-time.

Fury's face twisted and scowled at Loki. "I still don't like it but I'll concede. Are there any, stipulations? Or is he ours to do with as we please for the term of his sentence?"

Hiccup's face darkened and a dragonnic growl echoed from deep in his chest. "Careful, Nick, I'm still in SHIELD and you're not getting rid of me."

Fury grunted irately, once again reminded of Hyse's deep involvement of his organization.

The judge banged his gavel on the desk again, glaring down both men. "Gentlemen! You may use his services in whatever capacity you wish though do stay civilized—or as civilized as your organization can remain. Now," he said with a definite edge, "if we are quite finished with these arguments, I promised to take my son to see Santa at Macey's today and would like to remain a man of my word."

Some of SHIELD grumbled but finally accepted the ultimate ruling while the Archipelagons grinned and nodded to their chief and god before leaving. Tony chuckled and slapped Loki's back. "Welcome to the band!"

Steve gave him a quiet welcome before Fury came over, holding out a device for Loki to take. The trickster stared at it dubiously and Fury leveled him with a flat look. "It's not a bomb, it's a communicator. I don't need you in my bases twenty-four seven, Hyse's people can deal with your shenanigans when you're not on a mission."

Loki nodded and accepted the device, going over it magically—just in case.

SHIELD left and Tony bid his godfather adieu before taking flight.

Steve turned to his old friend. "Can I…come to the Archipelago?"

Hiccup smiled sadly, saying lowly, "You wanna try looking for Bucky again."

Steve's eyes turned pleading. "He's out there and, I don't have anything to do here. Please Hakon."

Tor bumped Steve reassuringly as Hiccup turned and waved for him to follow. "Come on."

Steve grinned and fell in step with Loki who shared a sympathetic grimace with him. Maybe Hakon's people could also better explain technology to him so he could look better on his own. He glanced at Hakon who spoke conspiratory with Loki, shooting him a glance and smiling when he saw him looking. He didn't quite know what to make of the look but watched Loki, not out of distrust but inquisitive—beginning to grow eager to know what his friend's father was actually like. He had a gut feeling they would be paired together often for his 'missions'.

*O*

Tony flew home to Malibu as quickly as he was legally allowed to fly—the air force actually had the nerve to put a speed limit on his suit during 'flights of non-emergency' because he'd disturbed the local peace one too many times by breaking the sound barrier.

He flew into the lab/garage and winced at the sight of Pepper sitting on a sofa reading a magazine, not even bothering to look up as he landed. "Hey, Pep…Look, I'm so sorry about missing date night. I hope you ate without me because-"

She finally looked up, expression a cross between relief and worry. "I'm not upset about date night, Happy told me—I'm glad if it had to be canceled for anything it's because you're getting help."

Tony sighed in relief, setting his package down as JARVIS activated the machines to dismantle his suit. "Oh, that's good…why do you still look mad?"

She reached down next to her and picked something red up from the couch with eyebrows raised.

Tony cringed. "Ooh, busted."

"Forty-two?" Pepper breathed in exasperation as she stood and approached him. "I thought you were on fifteen or something but—forty-two? Tony…"

Tony, now free of his suit, gently grabbed the shoulder plate of the Mark Forty-two and pushed it down, taking Pepper's hand. He looked into her concerned eyes then away. "I—Pep…I still experience things and," he shook his head, struggling for the right words, "it's difficult to explain them even after they're over. Then let alone remember in the confusion of present and past…gods, aliens, other dimensions. I'm just a man in a can.

"The only reason I probably haven't cracked up is because you moved in…and uncle H's therapists are truly something spectacular but-" he set the armor piece aside and brought Pepper's hand close to his chest, gripping it tightly, "they aren't there when I wake up at night in a panic. Which is great but—uh, look; I love you and I'm lucky beyond words that for some reason you like me but, honey, I can't sleep."

Pepper huffed and crossed her arms, sending Tony a meaningful look. "Yeah, Hakon's called a few times saying he had to actually knock you out for a day."

Tony cringed, those were never his finest moments. "When you go to bed, sometimes I can get to sleep but I always end up coming down here and doing what I know. I tinker—not always on the suit!" He quickly defended as Pepper started to argue. He reached back and grabbed a chair from his desk. "The threat, it's always iminent. Aliens coming down or some random, forgotten partner creating Arc Reactor whips…it's always something. And I have to protect the one thing that I can't live without—and that doesn't have a crazy dog-dragon protecting them." He perked up and tilted his head. "Though that is a good idea."

Pepper didn't know whether to feel exasperated or touched as she grabbed the other desk chair and sat next to her boyfriend. "Tony…"

Tony quickly grabbed her hand again and looked her in the eyes this time. "That's you. And I can't-" he could finish the awful thought so he moved on. "And my suits-"

"Are machines. A distraction." She said softly.

"Maybe." Tony admitted before tiredly laying his head on her shoulder, a little awkward but she held him anyway. "But they're a part of me—they're what allow me to protect you."

"Well, at least a break for tonight—no coming down while I'm asleep."

Tony pursed his lips but didn't speak, too worn out by the day and laying himself out to her like that.

She stood and kissed his cheek. "I'm going to take a shower."

He nodded tiredly but before he could think of what to start doing she turned around. "And you're going to join me."

He gave a small smile. "Better."

He began to stand when the package caught his eye again. "Hey, Pep, wait a sec."

She paused by the door and tilted her head. "Hm?"

He snagged the paper wrapped gift and handed it over to her. "It was supposed to be a Christmas gift but…"

She smiled curiously and opened and opened the dinner plate sized gift. Inside was something silvery and was indiscernible what it was until the paper fell away and it shivered. She gasped as soft gift stretched and stretched its wings, turning its long neck to peer up at her and chirp. "Tony…" She breathed, at a loss for words.

Tony smiled as the dragon crawled up her arm and curled around her neck. "It's called a Razorwhip. Beautiful but lethal."

She chuckled and petted the little head, brows furrowing as it squished down like a stuffed animal. "What-?"

Tony laughed at her confusion pinched the dragon's tail to which it squawked indignantly at. "It's not actually real, just an enchanted stuffed animal. See? Saw a shop full of them today and the kids were going mad over them—thought you'd like this better than the twenty foot stuffed rabbit I originally wanted to get."

She looked up and breathed in relief. "I love it."

He beamed. "Oh! I almost forgot!" He hurried over to his desk and shuffled through a drawer till he found a sparable piece of paper and held it up to the little dragon. "Watch this."

The dragon lifted its head and with barely a glance at the paper, flicked its tail and the bottom half of the paper floated down to the floor. "He's a letter opener!" Tony chuckled.

Pepper stared at the paper in minor shock before mentally shrugging it off. Enchanted dragon stuffies now becoming scarily usual in her list of oddities. "They let kids have that?"

Tony laughed. "If they don't already have a dragon by the age of five they're already swinging axes and swords. As much as I love the guy and find his culture fascinating; uncle H's people are a bit terrifying."

She could only nod to that before grabbing his arm and leaving the room. "Now, about that shower…"

Okay! Longer chapter for ya'll, hope it was good and see you next time!