Everybody Wants to Rule the World // Frostiron

Bad Moon Rising // Chapter 14

    "How'd you hear the news?" Tony asked into the phone. "Really?"

    The person on the line responded. "Thursday? Alright."

    The person on the phone hung up.

     "Loki!" Tony called out. "I have news!" 

     The god got up from his place on the couch. "What is it, Stark?"

    "You're going to get to see Thor on Thursday, he showed up to S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters today."

    "Does he know I'm alive?"

     Tony shook his head. "Not yet. He just thinks he's coming to see me. It'll be a surprise."

    Loki couldn't help but smile. "Alright, that's good."

    "Woah, Lokester, you're happy. A rare sight."

    "Don't call me that or I'll slit your throat in your sleep."

    "Do that, Lokester. Anyway, this is good news, right?"

    "Yes, definitely," he agreed. "I hope Thor will be glad to see me."

    "Me too" Tony joked. "He was the reason we decided to keep you alive in the first place."

    Loki laughed weakly. "Keep me alive, won't you?"

    "Sure. You just have to convince Fury."

    Loki flashed a wicked smile. "No worries, Stark, I'm beginning to feel more like myself."

    "I'm not sure if that's good or bad news."

    "In my opinion, it's definitely good. Watch this," Loki said, a mischievous note in his voice. 

    He snapped his fingers and a book appeared in his palm. "Holy shit," Tony muttered. "Your magic is back."

    "Not in full, but it's certainly healing. Look, this is a book straight from Asgard."

    The god presented the book, carefully showing of the Norse runes written on the spine. "This is a book of children's stories. I just conjured it for demonstration."

    "Should I be scared?"

    "That depends."

    "What do you mean?"

    Loki snapped his fingers again and now both him and Tony were seated on chairs located in the jail cells in Stark Tower. "When I get my revenge on Odin will you stand in my way?"

    "Loki," Tony choked out, fear gripping his entire body. 

    "Stark?"

    "I thought you were past this. I thought you wanted to change. What are you doing?"

    "You don't know me."

    Tony stood up abruptly, placing a hand on Loki's shoulder. "Let me."

    The god's eyes softened but he pushed him away. "Oh, Stark."

    "What?" Tony asked desperately.

    "Gods don't change. We are forces of nature. For too long I was so weak, so human, but with my powers returning I can claim the throne of Asgard. I won't lay a hand on Midgard, there is nothing here for me. Can't you understand that, Stark?"

    "Gods can change. You told me that the Greek gods were just as real as you were- have you seen how many times they've changed in those stories? You could change. Maybe you could stay here. Heal. I know you have a lot on your plate but you don't have to face it alone."

    "It's my destiny."

    "Then change it. Reshape your destiny. If you do this, you'll just be proving Odin right. You'll be proving everyone right," Tony pleaded. "If you do this, well. You'll be the monster everyone has said you are. You will be a villain."

    "Maybe I'm okay with that. They are the ones that made me a monster. If they want a monster I will be one."

    "Frigga didn't want a monster, did she?"

   Loki spat back, "Don't bring my mother into this."

    "She didn't. You know that. She knew you could do great things. Killing Odin isn't the way to do that."

    "Then what is?"

    "Humor me. Do that teleport-y thing. Let's go to the window."

    Loki snapped his fingers and the two were in the window in Tony's room. "What's the point of this?" he asked sharply.

    "Look."

    Outside, Loki examined the people walking below. Families with ice cream walking down the street laughing. Couples kissing and smiling. People going about their lives. And there. At the corner of his eye he saw a little boy - maybe ten or eleven - sitting alone working on something. When he stepped away from his spot he had set up a clever trip wire prank. He looked pleased with himself.  

    "There is more to life than being the best. You don't need to win the throne of Asgard to try and be happy. Isn't that what you want? To be happy?"

    Loki looked up from the window and met the other man's eyes. "Then why don't you take your own advice. If it's so easy to be happy, why do you continue to ignore the wrong you've  done and live so high and mighty in your tower?"

    Tony looked out the window. "Actually, that's what I'm going to do. I'm leaving this. I want to be happy. And you deserve to be happy too. You've made so much progress, your powers don't change that."

    Loki stared at him. Tony looked back at him with true concern. The gods demeanor softened. He caught himself listening to the other man's words. Maybe there was another life for him. Maybe Loki could start a new life for himself in Alpha Centauri, and maybe Tony could go with him. That wouldn't be so bad.

    Oh. Oh.