Starting Over #2 - Loki

2) Catch-up

"I can't believe how good you are at cooking!" Clint exclaimed, sighing as he tucked in to his steak.

Loki merely smiled. The first thing the others had wanted upon returning to Stark Tower, after a stressful teleportation (although it was only stressful for Clint, who disliked it immensely), was a big meal.

"I can't believe that you hid your magic from me," said Tony, annoyed. "If I'd known I would have an expert chef, I would've stayed quiet about your identity. I had to deal with rubbish cooking for years. Loki could only make breakfast."

The others laughed.

"Don't regret what you could have had, Tony," Loki said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "I can only create a dish once I've tasted it myself. Your food would've been tasteless. I needed the years on earth to try different dishes, otherwise Clint's steak would be disgusting."

"That does make sense," Tony admitted, although he did still sound slightly miserable.

"What would you like to eat, Tony?" Loki said, as though he was speaking to a child.

"Pizza," Tony decided. "A massive, mouthwatering pizza. A meat feast."

With a click, a pizza appeared in front of Tony and the man immediately tucked in. Steve looked confused.

"I still don't understand. Magic follows none of the same rules that fantasy novels do."

Loki sighed.

"It's not like any of those authors had actually encountered magic. J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien - they were making rules up as they went along. They just wanted to write unique books."

"So you can conjure up anything?" Steve asked, sounding sceptical.

"Pretty much," Loki shrugged.

"Lucky," Tony grumbled.

Loki shook his head, amused. He could use magic for a virtually unlimited period of time before it needed replenishing, as long as he kept it to small acts of magic. When Loki's magic needed replenishing, Loki could spend multiple days out of it, sleeping or walking around like a zombie with no energy, as he had after saving the Twin Towers from destruction. But that was only necessary after he strained his magic by pushing it way beyond its usual limits.

"Did Thor not want to go skydiving?" asked Steve.

Multiple eyes turned on him.

"The guy can fly, Steve," Clint pointed out. "I doubt he felt the need to freefall for no reason."

"Jane might have enjoyed it," Natasha suggested wickedly.

"I think not," Loki said amused.

Jane had not shown a particular proclivity for flying of any kind. It was ironic, really, that her boyfriend was Thor, who, if he had not been the God of Thunder, or indeed the God of Lightning, would have been the God of Flying. The couple were now happily settled on earth and Thor seemed to be settling in well. Loki had visited him a couple of times and kept up his regular physics communication with Jane. She still wanted to build a Bifrost for Earth.

"Did Pepper not want to try it?" Natasha asked Tony.

"Pepper has always distrusted the suit," Tony replied. "I don't think she would be enchanted with skydiving."

"Definitely not," Loki said, mock horrified. "There are levels to which Pepper would not stoop and that is one of them."

"Pepper is our superior," Tony agreed.

"Your goddess, certainly," Loki said, amused.

Tony nodded eagerly, looking lovestruck.

"So is Thor really happy on earth?" Steve questioned.

The super soldier could be infinitely curious sometimes.

"He has Jane," Loki shrugged. "What could be better?"

"It's only better if he likes Physics," Tony pointed out with a grin, "or understands it. It wasn't Thor who understood her science projects; it was you. I don't see Thor understanding Eisenberg-Goldstein Bridges anytime soon, do you?"

"No," Loki admitted, laughing.

"Thor also has you," Steve said, with a hint of thinly-veiled concern. "I thought you were getting on now."

Clint sighed.

"Steve, brothers aren't meant to get on. That's a simple fact of life. Siblings love and hate each other, never speak to each other, and try to kill each other. I'd like to see you try and deal with a sibling."

Natasha patted him on the shoulder. Clint's brother had died young.

"When you have all of eternity to get on good terms again, being on good terms all the time isn't really worth it," Loki explained, "or necessary. We are getting on at the moment. Thor is just spending time adapting to life on earth. And... adapting to having me back."

This time Tony patted Loki on the back.

"I guess it is a little awkward," Tony commented. "Thor thought you were dead and then it turned out that you almost did die. Despite all brotherly rivalries, he is worried about you."

Loki looked away. He didn't like being reminded of his 'past', if it could be called that, with Thanos. And Loki didn't like getting deep talks from anybody, least of all Tony. Thor's discomfort was between him and Thor, not him and the rest of the group.

"There is someone to see you, Sir," Jarvis said suddenly, tonelessly, from the ceiling.

"Really?" Tony asked, standing.

"I meant Master Loki," Jarvis said with a hint of what Loki would call amusement.

"Fine," Tony huffed, throwing himself back on the sofa. "I guess whoever it is isn't good enough for me."

"Not everyone is here for you, Tony," Loki said, standing gracefully. "I consider it an honour that I am still master of the house."

Tony hissed, feathers successfully ruffled.

"I am obviously the primary master of the house," the irritated genius sniffed. "Loki is... simply stopping by."

"And I have been for the past few years," Loki grinned. "My name is on the house ownership forms - don't deny it."

He had almost made it to the door when it opened, as if by magic.

And there, in the doorway, stood someone Loki hadn't expected to see for awhile yet. A someone Loki hadn't parted with on the best terms.

*****

A.N. DUN DUN DUN - who is it???

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