For Tony Stark

[throneenvy]

Sometimes Loki could not quite remember why he had set himself down the difficult path of redeeming himself. Each punishment that he had to bear, each scornful look or insult thrown at him that had to be borne without retaliation, each bitter reminder that he was still the second son in every sense, all made him question the wisdom of his own decision.

Yet he did not turn back from it.

He had no other choice now, it had become an ultimatum between execution and redemption. The All-Father had made it clear that only the memory of Frigga's love and hope for him had motivated this last chance, and that any further acts of hostility would not be met with lenience. No more prison, no more trickery, simple execution. Even then, he might have chosen death over bending knee once more to the man who had lied to him for so long, but there had been Thor.

Stupid, bumbling, arrogant, trusting, loving. He had never given up on Loki however many times they had faced one another in battle, no matter what he had said. and, in the end, Loki had been unable to turn his back on that for the final time.

He had not apologised. Nor would he, for that would be more than his pride could bear, but he did the punishments required of him with as much grace as he could muster. It had been the All-Father's idea that he should spend some time on Midgard, serving the mortals, in order to pay restitution to them. It had been Thor's idea for that mortal to be Tony Stark, trusting in his friend (possibly foolishly) not to abuse the power given to him.

Which was how Loki of Asgard came to be once more outside Stark's home, though this time knocking on the door rather than destroying the architecture. He covered his wariness with a mask of calm nonchalance, and held himself in a proud, upright posture as he waited for the door to open.

Comments

[throneenvy]

If Tony Stark truly intended to gift his trust to Loki, then he was far from the genius that everyone lauded him as. No matter his intentions here on Midgard, Loki was a known liar and murderer and had shown no real remorse for his actions, nor would he. He still did not quite see why his actions upon Midgard were punishable. He would have ruled fairly, and he had not done more harm than Odin often had to other realms in the past.

"Very well, if you insist on this farce, let us do it and be done."

Loki rose from the seat he had taken and gestured impatiently to the smaller inventor. He had no wish to spend any time around human children, but if he must then it must be done now.

"If all of my tasks are so insulting then my patience shall wear thin, however."

[gbpp]

There was no way in hell that Tony intended to give Loki free reign of anything, and an inch of his 'trust' would take them a long way as far as he was concerned. The trick, he believed, was to try and build something, and to start with the children's hospital - well, he'd hoped that perhaps they could brighten spirits and perhaps Loki would see what good he could do.

That - and he'd made a promise to several of the hospitals staff and patients that he would pay a visit and bring a friend. Friend, in the loosest sense of the word, but someone who looked ridiculous enough to play the part well.

"We're going tomorrow. Did I mention that?"

Tony would rather not have a lengthly discussion about patience, so instead he leant back - watching to see what Loki's next move might be.

[throneenvy]

"No, you failed to disclose that particular piece of information."

Loki's eyes glittered with irritation. He disliked people getting the better of him, even in small ways, and this grated under his skin like an itch he could not reach.

Instead of taking his seat once more, Loki instead moved towards the small kitchen area off to one side. If he would be force to remain in this place then he would at least make sure to sate his hunger and thirst liberally with Stark's supplies.

"I trust I am to be given chambers for the evening?"

..... hi

[gbpp]

"It's not until the afternoon." If that's an consolation. He can't be all doom and gloom, and although there's a pleasure in getting the better of Loki, there's that twinge of guilt that he can't stand. His feelings about Loki are mixed. On the one hand, he hardly deserves this chance at redemption, and on the other - isn't he just a kid walking in his big brother's shadow?

Tony pushes up off the chair, following after Loki - passing him and wandering up toward a set of stairs across from the ones they'd come up through before. There's a long balcony with doors and corridors that lead off to guest rooms - he'll walk Loki to his.

"Set up a space especially." Which wasn't a lie exactly. He'd had someone else change the sheets, tidy up a bit. Tony had a place for each one of the Avengers here, with art work and objects he thought would appeal to their individual tastes, but the room he'd chosen to put Loki in was pretty bare. A lot of white.

It's a considerable size, there's an en suite. If Loki didn't just magic himself clean, showered and dressed in the morning.