Free Loki (for gloriously_purposed)

[di_misterio]

Stark had been acting extra weird lately. Everyone had noticed. Extra, extra weird. Sure, this whole arranged marriage to an alien war criminal deal was going to mess you up, and being the great Tony Stark he was already getting a few free passes for poor behaviour. But suddenly he was off his game, isolating himself in the labs whenever he could, and then suddenly not coming in, even for meetings.

Not that Quentin cared, but he noticed. He took it in and wanted to know more. Why wouldn't he? One day he'd get what was coming to him, the recognition he deserved, and if he had a few juicy additions for his memoir about beloved heroes and so-called geniuses, the better.

He had an In, he realized, after brooding on it a little. Then it was a waiting game, until Tony came in to the labs again to check the programming on the self-driving car that just wouldn't stop aiming for the pedestrian test dummies. It'd take a good day to find the bug Quentin added to the code.

Of course he'd saved the number...

Hi again, it's Mr Beck, Mr Stark's PA? We spoke before on his phone? He wanted me to let you know he's going to be late home and asked me to take care of your needs for you. Do you have any needs, Mr Loki?

Comments

[gloriously_purposed]

It had been a cruel joke with a cruel retaliation. But Stark had asked for it, humilliating him the way he had. Fucking Thor of all people? His brother, still sore over his actions but approaching him in an attempt to try and pretend that the bond between them was still intact and not rotten.

There was no such thing.

Even Stark was proof of it. The father of his children, the reason why the bump on his belly was starting to grow and why Loki was well aware of the lives he was carrying in him now. Stark, who despite of all his sins and his corrupted self still seemed to idiotically believe that something such as love was real and not a tale children carry in hearts that sometimes do not outgrown that lie. Stark, who had claimed to have fallen for him. He now blamed him for his current state and had seeked his brother's cock of all people to --

Beck?

Ever since Loki had shocked his fiancé by taking the form of Anthony's father mid-lovemaking he'd kept to himself, not sharing a word with the other man. His phone had been silent ever since for who was to call him if it was not Tony?

Of course. The servant.

Anthony said that to you?

Well, he'd been suspiscious of this Beck before, now he could smell the lies as freshly as a loaf of bread that's just been pulled out of an oven.

Interesting.

I could do with a little assistance, actually. Come up here.

[di_misterio]

It was exactly the kind of reply Quentin had been hoping for. But that seemed a little easy. He'd prepared himself to convince the Asgardian prisoner that he should come over with some gift or other from Stark himself. This skipped a step or two though, and he could adapt.

Interesting that Loki was so fast for a stranger to be invited to the Tower though. Maybe he should be more wary. He wouldn't be able to carry a gun into the Tower, security would be all over that, but some of "Stark's" technology he could get away with, and it'd be a valid reason to get access without too many questions as well.

Certainly. I'll let Mr Stark know I'm coming over to help you.

He wasn't going to say a thing, but he needed to keep up the front. Loki's response would also be telling for him.

[gloriously_purposed]

Hurry then.

It could be a trap. This man could hold on a grudge towards him after the attempted to take over the city and the world. Had he murdered any of his loved ones? There must be a reason why he is sneaking about as he is, no doubt about that.

I take it you are good at coding, if you work so closely to my husband-to-be.

Lets see just how much this Beck is willing to push it in order of getting close to him.

Ask him about the coding to his AI voice. She is malfunctioning and I'm sure you could give us a hand.

[di_misterio]

I'd gladly help you out with that.

Tony's personal AI malfunctioning? It seemed unlikely, and made him wonder again about the game that Loki himself was playing here. But they might be able to help each other out here, and if it meant that he got access to something as intimate as the program that ran the whole of Stark's life for him, it was worth it.

He made it to the Tower in a plain cab and walked into the building. Between his official lab ID and the mitten inbuilt with repulser tech that he was carrying with him, he managed to talk his way to the penthouse with barely any questioning.

And what would he find on the other side of the elevator door when he got there? He toyed with the glove, not putting it on but holding it so he could quickly if he needed.

[gloriously_purposed]

It had taken a while before Loki was given the codes to open the front door of the penthouse, Anthony not trusting him with it at first, SHIELD not being eager to give him any sort of freedom.

Was it needed? No, the AI took care of everything. The post, the servants, the laundry and food supplies. She opened the door and locked it without questioning anyone.

But time had earned Loki some privileges and access a few of the lower levels of the tower. Anthony himself had been attempting to build up an indoors garden to please him. It wasa little gesture but, truth be told, it had been quite refreshing to him. It had brought a little brightenss to his days.

Now, tapping those codes he allowed this Beck in.

Loki arched a brow, surprised to find the tall brunette behind the door. His attention immidiatly fell on the weapon he was carrying.

"Is Anthony using you as his delivery boy too?" Stepping aside, he allowed him in.

[di_misterio]

"Hmm?" He glanced at the glove. "Yeah, he said that if I was coming by anyway..."

He wasn't willing to let go of the gauntlet quite yet though, instead holding it casually as he stepped inside and around Loki.

The Asgard prince was as he'd expected, as he'd seen in all the photos and videos. More dressed down, but the same. He looked well looked after, not abused or neglected or chained up. Maybe Stark's doting act wasn't so much of an act. In fact, Loki looked a little on the well-fed side. Not that Quentin was judging. It'd be nice to be looked after for a change, too.

"So, what can I help you with?"

[gloriously_purposed]

Loki had been stripped down from his armor, but even in casual green robes and barely a few golden ornaments on him, he still looked every inch of a prince. His spikey hair had been growing, now falling down his shoulders and the baby bump? Well, it was not that easy to detect him when he wore those flowly robes that reached his knees.

Hands behind his back, he guided Beck further in.

"You see, this treacherous AI Anthony is so fond of, she keeps malfunctioning. I've already told him he needs to have another look at her." Blue eyes flickered upward as if FRIDAY was an omnipresent as Heimdalls and somehow watching from above.

"She's locked me up in the hallway once, wouldn't allow me to go downstairs or back into he penthouse. I'm afraid she is playing up again." He turned to face Quentin again. "Oh, you can leave the gauntlet ober there on the table, Anthony won't miss it."

[di_misterio]

It did sound a little like a malfunction if Stark's AI was trapping Loki in places, as unlikely as that seemed. Perhaps it trapped him because he was trying to do something she shouldn't, like escape.

Well, he could help him out there. And if he helped an Asgard prince with connections, maybe that prince could pay back the debt some time as well.

"Yeah, that doesn't sound right. Where's the main control panel? Let me see if I can get in and take a look at the code..."

He hesitated at the suggestion that he should leave the gauntlet, though. It was his only backup if Loki tried to jump the gun before Beck showed all his cards. Or if he genuinely didn't like what Beck was being offered. That seemed unlikely, though; he was still a prisoner here, wasn't he?

"So you've got quite a bit of freedom, then?" He tested the water as he put the glove down. "Does she let you out the front door normally?"

[gloriously_purposed]

Loki kept his silence for a moment, both guiding the assistant but walking aimlessly at the same time. His feet were guiding him towards the stairs that led him to Anthony's workshop, a space in their home he had only been recently granted access too.

Behaving had certainly earned him a few perks.

"I am not certain, that's something my fiancé takes care of. I suppose in his working area but... Being his co-worker I'm sure you'll have a better idea than I do."

Stopping and waiting for Beck to finally lower his weapon, Loki took that as an olive branch of sorts. He was sure that question was not something brought up by chance, there was a purpose behind it.

They were both testing the waters here.

"Of course. When this pesky technology allows me, that is."

[di_misterio]

That was definitely a lie. While he didn't know the exact ins and outs of this arrangement, and especially the parts behind closed doors, he knew that if Loki was allowed to walk free he'd see it in the media and the front of the building would be swarming with protestors.

"Right. Okay. Well, we can't have the program getting in the way of your right to freely come and go as you please, can we?"

He glanced around himself as they moved to the steps to the workshop, taking in as much information about his boss' home as he could. The glass doorway stood between them and the virtual Aladdin's cave beyond and Beck though that this would be the end of the line for him, but to his surprise Loki had access.

YOU DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO BE HERE. A voice warned as he stepped into the workshop. He needed to be fast before the AI contacted Tony.

"I need his main computer terminal. Where does he normally work?" He asked, pretending not to hear the voice.