Chapter Text
Peter joined the Avengers just before Loki came to Earth and began raining fire down on New York. Of course, his mentor, Mr. Stark, wouldn't let him anywhere near the main action, delegating him instead to evacuating the city.
He watched from afar as the Asgardian fought the Avengers, nearly defeating them. He marveled at the god’s strength with a tinge of fear. He knew that Loki could kill him easily.
When it was all over, when the Avengers finally triumphed, they locked him in a cell in the tower, leaving no security feature unused.
“Hey, Peter, you okay?” Tony Stark was walking over to Peter, suit badly damaged. Smoke was wafting up from a few holes dotting the nanotech suit. He walked unsteadily, and swayed on his feet. Peter thought that he probably had a mild concussion.
“Yeah, I’m all good.” Peter had already changed out of his suit and was getting ready to head back to Aunt May’s. “Are you okay? Maybe you should lie down. Does Pepper know you haven’t gone to the Medbay yet?”
“Nah, I’m fine. And what Pepper doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” Tony said, waving away Peter’s concern. “You still coming over tomorrow?”
Tony had extended a real internship to the boy after seeing his intelligence and drive. He had to admit it, he was starting to think of the boy as a son.
“Yeah, see you tomorrow.” Peter headed down to the parking lot, where Happy was waiting to bring him home.
As he left, he caught a glance of Loki, standing in the middle of his cell. A few of his wounds were still bleeding sluggishly, but he didn’t seem to notice. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he had a small smirk on his face.
Peter was confused. Loki had just been wounded, defeated, and locked up, and yet he was still smiling? The Asgardian looked up and locked his piercing gaze on the boy. His smile stretched even wider as Peter flushed and hurried away.
Something in Loki’s stare made Peter curious. What had his life been like? Why had he come to Earth? Where had he learned Magic? Why was he so bent on death and destruction?
That night, Peter couldn’t sleep, instead researching all he could on Loki.
The next day, when Tony was called away by Pepper for an urgent business matter, which he made sure to complain about as he left the room, Peter slipped out of Tony’s personal lab and made his way to the room where Loki was being kept. The Asgardian was leaning nonchalantly against the wall of his prison, arms folded and a look of absolute boredom on his face.
“Why, hello.” Loki drawled, cocking his head at Peter.
“Um, hi?” Peter stayed a good distance away. He wasn’t sure how to start a conversation with the god of mischief and lies.
“So, boy, have you just come to stare at my exceptionally handsome face, or do you have some reason to visit a poor defeated god?” Loki grinned, showing no signs of anger. In fact, he merely seemed amused at his predicament.
“I – well, Mr. Loki, Sir, I just wanted to talk.” Peter blushed, realizing how awkward he had sounded in front of the silver tongued man.
“Mr. Loki?” Loki snorted. “That’s a new one.” He pushed himself off the wall and strode closer to Peter. “So, you want to talk, huh. Well, alright, a little company never hurt anyone.” His grin turned slightly maniacal, stretching wider. “Unless, of course, that company is me.”
Peter felt a shiver run down his spine. Loki’s voice was pleasant, friendly, but his words…
“Oh, don’t be so scared.” Loki sounded slightly annoyed now, his gaze turning hard. “Honestly, you Midgardians are all the same. I’m just playing around. Now, what is it that you wanted to talk about?”
“Well, I just…” Peter trailed off. He couldn’t find the right words.
“No, wait, let me guess.” Loki put a hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture and closed his eyes, as if thinking hard. “You want to know what happened to make me so evil? Why I came to Earth to reign as king? Where I learned magic and how I became so powerful? How I was defeated and put in this nasty cell?” He grinned, lowering his hand and opening his eyes. “Well? Am I close?”
Peter was shocked. How had Loki known his questions? “Can you read my mind?” He whispered, eyes wide.
“Hah! That close, huh.” Loki shook his head. “No, I’m just good at reading people.” Loki smirked and tossed his dark hair over his shoulder.
“I see that.” Peter was a little in awe of the man, but reminded himself that Loki was dangerous and cruel. “Are you really evil, though?” The moment the question left Peter’s mouth, he regretted it. He cringed inside. He hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but it was the question he had been dying to ask.
Loki appeared taken aback. Whatever he had expected Peter to say, it wasn’t that. For a moment, he was stunned. “What?” He said, staring at the boy.
“Sorry, that was bad phrasing.” Peter rubbed the back of his neck, trying to think of a way to dig himself out of the mess he had made. “I mean, you could still be good, right? If you wanted to?”
“Good?” The god sneered at the word, stretching to his full height, seeming to grow larger and more intimidating right in front of Peter’s eyes. “I am not good. I may have been, in the past, but I learned something.” His smile was gone now, expression serious.
Peter drew back. The god radiated pure power and fury.
“I learned that ‘good’ means weak.” Loki’s voice was rising, his normally controlled emotions breaking to the surface. “I learned that love is a lie. That I will never be accepted for who I truly am!” He turned, breathing heavily and clenching his hands into fists. His shoulders slumped, just a little, and he lowered his voice, talking more to himself than to Peter. “That no one has ever loved me and no one ever will.”
“I’m sorry, Loki.” Peter shuffled closer to Loki’s cell. “I really am. You must’ve been through a lot.”
“Sorry?” Loki shook his head, keeping his gaze pinned firmly on the ground. “Sorry doesn’t mean anything.”
“Maybe not.” Peter looked down, fiddling with some machine parts from his pocket. “But I think you’re wrong.”
Loki took a moment, closing his eyes and composing himself. When he turned back to face the boy, he had a neutral expression, no hint of emotion on his stony features.
“Really? Wrong about what?”
“I think people do love you. You just won’t let them. Or maybe you just can’t see it.”
Loki said nothing, staring at the boy.
“What’s your name, Spider-Child?” He finally asked.
“What?” Peter was so startled he staggered a step back. “Spider– No! That’s not me, I swear! You must be wrong! I don’t know what you mean!”
“I see.” Loki let out a little laugh at the teenagers’ ramblings. “Well, then, not Spider-Man, what is your name?”
“I’m Peter.” He said, thoughts racing. How had Loki figured it out? Peter wasn’t entirely convinced he couldn't read minds. “Peter Parker.”
“Well then, Peter.” Loki said, looking amused by Peter’s confusion. “It was nice to have some company, but now your father is coming, and I doubt he’ll be thrilled to see you chatting with a mass murderer.”
“Father?” Peter was confused for a minute, then realized he must have meant Mr. Stark. “Oh no! I’m not supposed to be here! Bye, Mr. Loki!” He raced from the room, skidding
around the doorway.
“Peter.” Loki repeated softly, plopping unceremoniously down on the floor. New emotions threatened to overwhelm him, and he pushed them back, focusing on his rage instead.
It was always easier to focus on rage.
Still, he couldn’t forget the words that the boy had said to him. Was it true? Was he loved and just couldn’t see it? Was he accepted?
No.
Loki shook his head, blocking such thoughts. The boy didn’t know Loki, he didn’t know what he was talking about. He was still young and hopeful. He was still blinded.