Hey everyone, sorry to make you wait but I did warn you I would didn't I?

In this chapter we pick up from where we last left off, a bitter fight between Loki and Barton I will say it gets nasty. After that we have a little surprise for our Winter Soldier, Loki gets to show off some of his powers.

This might be a bit short, but I'll do better with other chapters I promise that.

I don't own the Marvel characters.

Enjoy!

"Barton…" Loki kept his guard up as the agent stared him down with intensity.

"Son of a bitch." Barton growled and took a step forward. Loki put up one hand trying to at least show he didn't want to attack…not yet at least.

"You know very well I am allowed to defend myself if you attack me…" Loki didn't get to finish as a gloved fist punched his jaw and he stumbled backwards.

"So do it then…come at me." Barton got into a fighting stance, and Loki just laughed.

"Give you the satisfaction of putting me behind bars? Away from my child? No I don't think I will." Loki went to turn around and he heard the click of a gun so he turned and grabbed Barton's wrist. He squeezed it so hard Barton yelped and dropped the thing, only for Loki to get punched again and this time into the wall.

"You think you're so smug just because those witches gave you some freedom, well I know it won't last long. Soon enough you'll be back in Asgard in a cell, or better yet here where no one will think to help a monster like you." Loki snorted.

"Can't you think of something better to say Barton? I've heard those words multiple times already."

"You…!" Barton pulled out a second weapon and pointed it at Loki's head. "You deserve death for all you've done."

"Perhaps we all do Barton, as your teammates' said everyone has a past they wish to move forward from."

"Yeah well at least we try to be good, you're just buying time until those women take that trace off you. Soon enough you'll either be dead or in jail, but you deserve so much worse."

"Agent Barton!" Captain Rogers came running down the hall with Tony in tow. "What's going on here?"

"Just having a friendly chat Steve." Barton didn't lower his gun.

"Put the gun away Clint, Jarvis saw everything you attacked Loki and he didn't do anything to you."

"He deserves…"

"We heard the words already, now lower the gun or I will ban you from the tower." Clint looked at Tony like he grew a second head.

"You're not serious."

"Actually I am, and if you don't get the hell out of my tower I can easily do it for you. You're dismissed for the rest of the day, and I'll be letting Fury know or Cap will." Tony held up a remote. "All I gotta do is press the big red button, and badda bing badda boom." Clint didn't move.

"Barton." Captain Rogers put on his soldier commanding voice. "We get you hate this, we understand, but Loki's under our watch and he's here for the long run so suck it up." all three men kept staring at each other until Barton finally lowered his weapon. He glared one last time at Loki and then stormed off into the hallway.

"You ok Lokes?" Tony walked up to him.

"I'm fine, thank you Stark. Does Sleipnir know?"

"He's still asleep, Jarvis checked on him." Loki nodded.

"I'll go see him then." Loki walked off and the two mortals didn't bother stopping him. Loki saw Thor talking to Jane Foster in another room but didn't stop on his trail. He heard Thor call out to him, but just continued until he reached Sleipnir's room. His boy was sleeping stone still in bed, so he decided to just sit down and cool off before he decided to vent and get himself in trouble.

Tony's conference room:

"I thought he understood." Steve ran a hand through his blonde hair and sighed.

"He understood, doesn't mean he had to like it." Tony leaned against the wall. "Jarvis make sure Clint stays clear of the tower until tomorrow."

"Already done sir."

"Good, you gonna tell Fury for me too?"

"I have sent word to him sir, he will no doubt be calling soon." Tony rolled his eyes.

"Just what I need too, want a drink Cap? You look like you could use one."

"You know I can't get drunk Tony."

"Hey a drink is a drink." he poured a glass of brandy and handed it to the soldier. Steve took a sip and sighed, he didn't think Clint would actually try and attack Loki but he'd been wrong before.

"Any ideas on how we can start Loki off on mending his ways?"

"Not really, he can't help SHIELD and he can't walk around as he is or it'll be media frenzy."

"We gotta think of something Tony, he can't stay in the tower the entire time here." Steve then had a thought. "Do you think he could assist us on missions?"

"Do you think Fury will let him?" they both knew the answer to that. "If he had a crystal ball or something he could watch us battle and help us in the background." Tony's eyes widened. "Wait that's it!"

"What's it?" Steve was a bit confused, and then it struck him. "Oh…"

"It might take a little time, but I can fashion up a way for Loki to be involved with the fights. After all SHIELD is still on the lookout for HYDRA's remaining forces, plus that friend of yours and Von Doom."

"He could stay in the tower and we'd still have his help."

"Yep! Jarvis did you catch all that?"

"Yes sir, shall I start creating possible plans for you?"

"Please."

"As you wish sir." Tony sipped his drink again.

"I'll fix up the plans and run a test as soon as I can, which will be fast if I don't sleep." Steve rolled his eyes.

"Pepper won't like that."

"Maybe, but she'll agree it's a start for Loki." the men finished their drinks before Jarvis interrupted the silence that fell.

"Sir, Ms. Romanoff is coming your way."

"Oh great…Clint must've called her." Tony set his glass down and waited as the redheaded assassin walked into the room, but she didn't look upset or close to it.

"Hello Nat." Steve greeted her. "Did Clint call you?"

"He did, steaming about how Loki should be dead and that you banned him from the tower."

"Only for the day." Tony held up his hands in defense. "He tried to attack and Loki didn't take the bait. Jarvis can show you."

"No need, I told him he should just leave it alone. If Loki messes up then it's on him, not us and I mentioned those women wouldn't be nice if he tried to muck up everything."

"Good, I don't feel like renovating my tower AGAIN. You want a drink?"

"Sure, whiskey thanks." Tony poured her a glass. "So where is Loki?"

"He's with his kid, spends almost every waking moment with him." Steve answered her.

"He's catching up on years of missing out, no thanks to daddy dearest. The queen herself helped them reunite, it probably won't be easy with the other two."

"You mean three."

"No Nat, Loki said only Sleipnir, Fenrir, and Hela are his real children the sea serpent is a myth. He misses them, it's pretty obvious."

"Yeah well it's not like we have anything available to find them, unless those women help. It sucks though, Loki turned out the way he did because Asgard was unfair to him. Granted he could've made better choices, but low self-esteem and confidence can really tear you down."

"We've all got a past, what matters are how we face the present and ready for our future. Loki's been given a second chance, so we'll let him do as he wishes so long as he complies with the rules." the three teammates sighed, they all knew the facts and yet still had some trouble grasping them. Loki attacked their realm because he was forced to do so, and he couldn't get a fair punishment in Asgard.

"Excuse me sir, but Director Fury is on the line he claims it is urgent."

"Send him through Jarv." a few seconds later and Fury's voice rang through the room.

"Stark, I need you and everyone else now."

"What's going on?" Steve jumped up.

"Barnes has been sighted in the city, out near the upper east in Manhattan. You're to bring him in but try not to destroy anything…" Tony laughed slightly.

"Wishful thinking there Nick, anything else?"

"Yeah, leave Loki in the tower and put surveillance around him until you return; same goes for the kid."

"Do we all have to go? I mean it can just be me, Tony and Nat everyone else can…"

"Rogers I'd agree with you if Barnes wasn't already acting out of his mind. The people who spotted him said he was speaking in tongues, slurred, and he's not drunk or drugged from what they can see. Thor can watch around, in case he's been followed."

'Hydra.' Tony thought. "Alright Jarvis tell everyone to suit up, let's go!"

"Jarvis tell Loki where we're going, and keep an eye on him."

"Of course sir, Captain Rogers." moments later the whole team vanished from the tower, Tony and Thor to the sky and Natasha with Rogers down below. Tony just hoped Loki and Sleipnir would be alright, they weren't sure how long this was gonna take.

Loki's room:

"Papa, where'd everyone go?" Sleipnir walked into Loki's room where Loki was sitting with a book in his hands.

"They had to leave for a mission son, is something wrong?" Jarvis had told Loki about the mission, that was over twenty minutes ago.

"No papa, but…are we safe?" Loki closed the book and beckoned Sleipnir to him.

"We'll be alright son, Jarvis is watching over the tower and I can protect us if needed." Sleipnir climbed into Loki's lap. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?" the boy knew he couldn't lie to his father, so he sighed and Loki could sense something was up.

"Papa…the Odinson keeps glaring at me."

"What?"

"Every time I see him I don't speak, but when I leave I can feel him staring at me. It scares me Papa." Loki pulled his child close, he knew Thor had been quiet since that talk with Stark and Rogers but to terrify his son was a low blow.

"I will have words with him later, don't worry." Sleipnir looked down at the book Loki was reading. "Have you eaten yet?"

"I had a snack moments ago, I'm fine."

"Alright, then why don't we…" Loki stopped as the lights in the room suddenly went out.

"Papa?"

"Jarvis? Jarvis what's happened to the lights?"

"Forgive me sir, it seems we have intruders…" so Jarvis was still working.

"Where are they?"

"They're heading for the…the llllll….." Jarvis' voice started faltering, oh that wasn't good.

"Sleipnir, get in the closet and stay there."

"Papa…"

"Don't argue son, just do it!" Sleipnir nodded and ran to the closet as told. Loki quickly set his magic up, feeling the rune warm up as it surged through his veins. "Jarvis?" no response came. Curse this, he didn't need this right now!

'Damn, the lab!' that had to be the place, where else would they go? Stark's systems were pretty much top notch on this world, anyone would want them.

As Loki finally reached the lab he sensed someone nearby, and whoever it was had to be mortal. He could hear footsteps coming closer, and even the sound of…metal?

BOOOM!

Loki jumped back just in time as a huge metal fist connected to the wall barely missing his head. He saw the face of his attacker, but the mouth was covered up by a mask. He moved away just as another punch came his way, only to grab the other arm and flip the assailant onto his back. He was heavy, and strong, but not much different from Thor or Stark.

"Who are you?" Loki summoned his daggers ready to throw, but the man down jumped up and tried to knock him over. Loki moved fast and stabbed one dagger into the metal arm, and the metal being screamed out in pain. He started mumbling in some odd language, but he swung at Loki again only for Loki to pin him down against the floor with a knife to his neck. "I'll ask again, who are you?" he mumbled again and Loki didn't know what he said.

"Grrrr!" the half-metal man growled and managed to flip Loki off of his body. Loki landed on his feet, and decided he'd had enough. Taking the chance he had one good punch to the monster's face, and he was out like a light. Wow…he might not be as strong as Thor but still stronger than a Midgardian metal man.

'You are an odd one, but you haven't always been.' Loki took one good look at the man, he didn't recognize him but perhaps the others might.

"Jarvis…?"

"Master Loki?"

"You're running again?"

"A temporary block on my systems, but I am fully functional now. I have sent word to the others, they shall be arriving any moment now."

"Good, in the mean time I'll take this brigand to the den." Loki used his magic to bind the man in light ropes and levitate him into the den away from the lab. Why had he come here? Who was he? What did he want? So many questions, but hopefully answers would come soon.

Once the man was safely and greatly restrained, Loki gave a quick word to Jarvis to watch him until he could go see Sleipnir. He found the child hiding in his bedroom closet, and when Loki held out his arms they were full of his precious son.

"Papa, is everything alright?"

"For now son, I'm glad you're alright but you need to stay put a little longer until the culprit is imprisoned."

"But you caught him didn't you?" Loki smiled, Sleipnir was a swift one.

"I did, but we don't know who he is or why he's come. So stay in your room until I come back alright?"

"Ok Papa, can I use my magic if someone comes in?"

"Only if necessary." Loki gave his son a quick kiss on the forehead.

"Master Loki, the Avengers are back and awaiting you in the living room."

"Have you told them what occurred?"

"Yes sir, but Master Odinson has a question for you." Loki rolled his eyes.

"I'm coming." Loki patted Sleipnir's head and left the room quickly. When he came upon the living room he spotted Rogers sitting next to the unconscious man, with his hand on his chest. "So you all made it back alive."

"Yeah, whole thing was a damn hoax." Stark was annoyed. "But, why did I lose a connection with Jarvis?" he already knew the answer, but

"Because this man somehow disarmed your system and got inside, yet I was able to subdue him."

"Yeah how did you do that?" Rogers looked up at him.

"It would appear I am stronger than I thought, I was able to beat him unconscious but I doubt it was because of luck. You should have Banner test his blood, see if he's had anything injected into him." the man went down too easily, magic or no.

"Yeah we should, but SHIELD's gonna want their own 'testing' done on him." Romanoff looked at Rogers.

"Not happening, that's how he ended up like this." Rogers looked at the man with sorrow. "We can't just turn him over."

"We don't have a choice Steve, either he goes quietly or in restraints."

"I won't let you." Rogers stood up, and then Loki recalled the conversation he and the former soldier had recently. Rogers knew this man, from where?

"Captain Rogers." Loki addressed him. "You know this man, is he one of your former comrades from your time?" everyone was stunned at the words, not Steve.

"Yeah, his name is James Barnes, I call him Bucky. We were childhood friends, and we joined the army together until…"

"Until HYDRA abducted him and turned him into their own version of the super soldier. Basically turned him into a killing machine, that's how he got that arm." Stark pointed at the metal arm.

"What is this HYDRA?" Thor asked, he didn't know about it either.

"It's sort of the evil version of SHIELD that experiments on humans, you know the usual take over the world drama but worse." Stark spoke again. "From what I know, this poor soul was tortured before they experimented, and then…"

"They used mind control on him, I don't know how but he didn't remember me the last time we fought. I'm not even sure if he remembers me now."

"Is there a way to reverse it?" Loki was curious now.

"Not sure, it's something way beyond what I can think of." Stark shrugged. "I doubt SHIELD can do much either, even with their top scientists it's a stretch if he wakes up and doesn't remember."

"Which is why we should still turn him over." Barton had to butt in. "He wakes up he'll be a wrecking ball all over this place."

"No." Loki spoke up, and everyone looked at him. "I understand your concerns, but I don't think turning this man over so soon is the answer."

"Oh really? And what gives you the right to say so?" Loki gave him a look.

"In case you've forgotten Barton I myself have knowledge of mind control, I think perhaps I can use my powers to help this man. I may not be able to stop it, but I can at least find out what's plaguing him."

"No fucking way!"

"Barton!" Rogers stood up, and Tony stood between Barton and Loki with his 'metal arm' at the ready.

"You're gonna let him near Barnes? You're gonna let Loki muck up his mind?"

"I think we should." Banner surprised everyone. "I mean he's got a point, he's got knowledge of mind control maybe he can help."

"That was when he had that spear, and that was only Asgard magic we don't know if it's the same with Barnes." Romanoff looked at Barton.

"We can try, Loki can at least find out the source."

"I might, I didn't say I could. As Romanoff stated this isn't magic, or at least I don't think it is, but I would like to offer my assistance. That is the reason I'm here after all."

"You can forget i…!"

"Clint enough!" Rogers all but jumped at the archer, this was about to get out of hand. "I think…what we need to do…is give this a shot." protests started going up. "I know, this isn't something SHIELD would approve of but I think Loki can help, it'll be a start for him here."

"A start to mess up your friend's brain? Which is already messed up?"

"Barton shut up!" Stark was pissed with this man, and Loki was getting there. "You hate Loki, we get it already but if he's willing to do something for Barnes for Steve's sake, then I say we let him. After we talk to Fury that is."

"You know he won't go for it." Romanoff states the obvious.

"Maybe not, but this is part of Loki's…probation. Banner and I will help, and Steve can supervise." Loki could tell Stark wanted to say more, but didn't push.

"Oh yeah put Playboy, Green Giant, and Captain Softy in charge of Lord of the Brain Puppets. Terrific idea Fury will love it so much he'll just make the bastard an avenger by default."

"Sarcasm is not a good color on you Barton." Loki smirked and Barton aimed a punch at him, but Rogers and Romanoff held him back.

"That's it! Barton get your ass out of here, Romanoff watch him and contact Fury, Bruce help me get Barnes to the lab, Jarvis…put the security grids up around the whole floor and the labs. Thor…well you just sit tight, and Loki you go check on your kid. We'll have to wait until Barnes wakes up before we can use your assistance."

"Are you sure this is wise son of Stark?" Thor looked at Loki with hard eyes. "Loki and his tricks are…deceptive in nature, troublesome at most."

"Thor, man I told you we gotta make this work. This is a start, and we'll go from there; the rules about you and Loki still apply, now let's get going." they were in for a long ride, and it was going to be a rocky one. Loki would not speak to Thor now, even if he wanted to talk earlier he was not in the mood.

As Loki made his way back toward Sleipnir's room, he couldn't help but think about the strange man Barnes. He was like Rogers, but he'd been tortured and brainwashed, and Rogers and Stark commented it was the work of HYDRA. He would have to check that out, perhaps the answers needed were somewhere in this HYDRA.

'Only Barnes can tell us, we'll have to work it out.'

"Papa!" Loki broke out of his thoughts when Sleipnir wrapped his arms around his waist. "Is the prisoner gone?"

"He's been moved to another level son, but we'll see what happens later."

"Who is he?"

"An old friend of Captain Rogers' who vanished years ago and was imprisoned; I'll tell you more when we know more. For now, how about we play a rousing game of…chess or checkers?" Sleipnir smirked.

"Chess papa, and if I win you have to let me have extra dessert." Loki chuckled.

"Alright and if I win…no more late night reading. Deal?" Sleipnir smirked again.

"Deal papa!" the two shook on it and Sleipnir went to get the game out of the closet. While Loki helped him set up the board, the god knew that despite his son's own cheery nature, he too would catch on quickly about Barnes.

Well that's where we'll end it for now. Once again I'm sorry I made you guys wait it's been hard with writer's block and unfortunately my reality has picked up on me due to stress from work.

Next chapter we'll get Fury's opinion on this situation, and he's not going to be a happy camper we all know it. Barton's gonna be out for a bit, and Loki is going to speak with Tony and Bruce on how to approach the situation…oh and Bucky wakes up but will he still be the winter soldier? Or will he be his former self?

I'll try to update quicker with the next one but no promises on super quick.

R&R

Later!