Chapter Text
"We have a problem my friends," Thor began in that serious way that he sometimes had. Clint had to huff out in annoyance. They seemed to be having more problems than solutions at this point, combined with the abrupt information Thor had given stating that his brother was one of the best sorcerers in the nine realms and that the only reason he was still here with them was because he wanted to be was kind of...annoying. Sure they had not seen any of that fancy magic in action, but it did not matter, and was probably because he thought himself above needing it on such a 'pitiful planet'.
"What now?" He groaned out, stretching his arms, realizing that this was probably more serious than anything but not able to really care much about it. So many things had happened in but a few days, and it was hard to really keep the ground under his feet. He was also still having nightmares, but that was something that merely led itself to a lack of sleep, and not something that truly bothered him. What bothered him was the rather sudden realization that they really had no way of keeping Loki contained. Thor had reassured them that the muzzle put on him would keep him stationary if he wanted it off. He doubted it. If Loki truly was as powerful as Thor had hinted, he would easily manage to find some way to take it off.
"I cannot seem to get the portal to open. Furthermore, I tried calling on Heimdall but it seems as though the Rainbow bridge is not yet completed as I hear no answer, and my father is far too weak to open yet another portal."
"Did you ask Selvig?" Natasha questioned with a raise of her brow. "After all he opened it the first time." Clint already knew what Thor was going to say before he even said it, but that merely made disgust shiver down his spine as he recollected the time he spent with the Asgardian's younger brother.
"Selvig remembers little of what was done, and he merely did what Loki ordered him to do, so in reality, it was Loki that opened the portal the first time. And the second." Bruce sighed out, gripping the edges of the table frustrated. Clint understood, this was a very agitating situation. "I do know that the completion of the Rainbow Bridge will hopefully be done soon, and then we will have no problem traversing the space between realms."
"Why don't we just question Loki? Natasha was able to get the drop on him before, I'm sure we could wheedle something out of him." Tony blase like in his manner, said with a cool tone whirling the wine around his cup.
"No, this is something I must do alone," Thor said softly, "Though I would appreciate if you would come to show support."
The thought was almost touching, but Clint had no wish to see Loki again. Still, it was better than lazing around and doing nothing, so he swiftly agreed, along with the rest of them.
Once they got to the floor that Loki was being held on, Clint stayed towards the back left side, with Natasha, having no desire to be closer, while the others gathered closer behind Thor. Loki was in the room, staring up at the ceiling, muzzle holding him silent. The sight left Clint feeling ill, for some reason, and he shoved it to the side, ignoring it once again, but he saw a slight grimace coat Natasha's face as well, so at least he knew it wasn't some lingering hold the scepter had on him.
"Brother," Loki rolled his eyes towards Thor, lifting a brow. Thor strode forwards confidently, and Clint watched as Loki's eyes widened and he backed up until there was no room to back up further, tensing as Thor merely took off the muzzle from his face. Wary grey/green eyes stared at the older Asgardian as Thor backed up once more, and Loki's posture relaxed minutely. "I would have a word with you," Loki continued to stare blankly as Thor did not seem willing to continue his questioning. A tilt of his head was the obvious motion to continue and so Thor did. "We will be staying on midgard for the current time." Loki huffed, clearly amused.
"Pity, my execution is stayed for the moment." Clint couldn't actually tell if he was being sarcastic or not, as the tone would hint towards that, but the look in his eyes was legitimately upset. He liked to think he had grown to know Loki, if just a little, but he couldn't be sure if it was real, he had to tell himself that. Loki was a good actor.
"Execution?" Steve piped up questioningly. "Who said you were going to be exectuted?" Loki turned his eyes towards the blue of the Captain's and seemed to stare at him.
"Oh, you are being serious?" That seemed to make him laugh, and laugh he did, stopping abruptly as Thor growled lowly. "The Allfather would have nothing else, I am lucky he decided to not slay me when he found me,"
"Father is merciful, Loki, you know this. That is why he took you!"
"Oh, is that why? I must have mistaken his last conversation with me for something else, what a pity."
"You put lies in father's mouth!" Thor stomed on the ground, a flash of thunder echoing from outside the room.
"My, my," Loki smirked his eyes turning away from Thor, "What a horrid temper even now. I wonder, brother, Did the Allfather ever happen to tell you who sired me?"
"It would have never mattered, you were their son, my brother, we love you, he took you because he saw the innocence in your eyes, and decided to have mercy."
"Oh I beg to differ," Loki said, waving a thin hand as though dismissing Thor's words. "After all, what mercy good could the great Odin have taking the firstborn son of King Laufy? Hidden away in a temple, in the center of Jotunheim, next the the most powerful thing they possessed!" The words began soft, but quickly increased as the anger began to take hold. Tony felt a sort of kinship in the amount of hate it seemed Loki had for Odin, but it was the words that struck everyone as ill. A King taking the firstborn of another King? Loki inhaled sharply as Thor suddenly lunged forwards before anyone could speak, pinning him to the wall.
"Do not speak of the Allfather in such an ungrateful way," The words were hissed, venomous. "He is not so cruel,"
"Of course Odin's favorite would not notice,"
"He doesn't have favorites! Odin was a great father, and an even better King!" Bruce was beginning to get actively worried with how tightly Thor was holding Loki by his neck, and the tension which was skyrocketing upwards.
"Thor, Thor, buddy, I think this has gotten a bit out of hand," Tony said, reaching forwards but Thor merely shrugged off his arm, and continued to hold Loki fast.
"And yet he stole the baby of another King and then stole the power that powered their planet. So merciful," That was definitely sarcasm, but anyone could hear the hint of hysteria that climbed into it. Thor growled, yanking his hand away from Loki, watching as the other dropped, glaring hatefully.
"I cannot do this," Thor growled under his breath, shoving the muzzle back onto Loki before he could say anything more, turning and leaving, the rest of the Avengers just shellshocked at what just happened.
"I-..." Tony shook his head, not able to really understand.
"Let's go," Bruce muttered softly, throwing a look over his shoulder.