When We Lie

Loki teleports the two of you back to your room, where you first unpack to gain time to calm your nerves.

It's past three o'clock when you lock hands with each other and leave to face the Avengers. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, they are all gathered in the conference room. Natasha is the first to notice them and practically jumps off her seat in order to get to them. She throws open the door and pushes Loki away from you.

"What did you do to them?!" she screams. "Brainwashing? Manipulation? WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Loki shrinks in front of her, momentarily forgetting he once faced her head on in battle. It only lasts for a moment, however, before he regains his cold, icy mask and sneers at her. "I didn't have to do anything," he taunts her. "It was easy enough to get them to get me out of here without magic. Unlike Thor, I do have a brain."

Thor glares at his brother, now standing beside him while the rest of the group gathers outside the room. "Why couldn't you just keep calm?" he asks, pain and disappointment flashing across his face. "A month, was that all you could stomach? And then you kidnap one of my friends for another month. Was it worth it, brother?"

Loki rolls his eyes and glares at them all, except you. You, he doesn't even grant a glance. "Being coped up with a mortal for a month was enough. And yes, brother, I do say it was."

"Lock him in," mr. Stark snarls, a hand protectively around your shoulders. "And Thor, you better talk to your parents about this. It's not safe having him around." He turns to you and his scowl immediately turns soft. "Did he do anything to you?"

You shake your head. "We had fun," you say, tears gathering in your eyes. "We went to Rome, Tikal, saw the Chinese wall... I've never had so much fun in my life." You look away from mr. Stark's confused eyes. "I'll go get something to eat. I know you won't believe a word I'm saying anyways. Not like he tried to change, or anything, right?" You laugh at yourself.

"Wanda, Nat, please," Cap says, and you feel them following after you as you leave.

"Goodbye, Loki," you whisper.

He doesn't answer.

***

For the next few weeks, you neither see nor hear from or about Loki. Every time you walk in on a conversation regarding him, the others turn silent and change the topic. You give up begging Thor for answers regarding Loki, too, as he only looks at you with immense sadness and apologises for forcing you to take care of him.

"You wanna go watch a movie with us?" Wanda asks one day. You look up from your breakfast and gives an empty look. Her face falls and she laughs nervously. "Ah, I-I see you have something else to do, then?"

"Oh come on," Natasha begs. "You need to get out of that room. Whatever are you doing in there?"

Looking through the pictures and souvenirs from your trip, but you don't say that to them. Chances are they will confiscate them all thinking they're helping Loki brainwash you.

You stand up and leave the room, having lost your appetite.

***

Mr. Stark put you on probation the day after your arrival, so you are once again left almost completely alone in the headquarters. This time, though, you're accompanied by Happy, Pepper and a young boy named Peter Parker. He's on summer vacation, Pepper explains, and on mr. Stark's list of potential Avengers. Apparently, he asked for you to train the young boy.

You take him to the gym and asks him about his powers. He explains the basics as well as the technology behind his web shooters. You're impressed with his knowledge and abilities, and you quickly bond over the gadgets you have both created to help enhance your powers.