justakidfrombrklyn | At the door of Stark Tower

Steve can't help rolling his eyes.

"Right. No shrimp. And why were you headed there anyway?"

"To see if it actually existed, of course. Why else would anyone go to a universe without shrimp?"

None of the other Avengers have shown up yet, which might be good, but which is also making him unreasonably nervous.

Steve just... sighs.

"What do you want here then, because you're still here."

"Er, nothing?" Which is the truth, though he somehow doubts Captain America will believe him.

"Though I'm kind of morbidly curious now about what Other Me did."

Considering they're in New York and reconstruction is still in the midst of happening, he gestures behind Loki out into the city at large.

"Take a gander for yourself."

He turns a little, still keeping the good Captain in his peripheral vision. And swallows. It's rather a lot of destruction, though not as bad as it could be... Though yes, he can tell there's been a lot of reconstruction...

"It looks like Other Me threw one Hel of a temper-tantrum," he observes, turning back to Captain America.

Naturally, that's when he hears the sound of repulsor powered flight behind him.

"Are you fucking kidding me."

Tony lands, and, really? Loki? As if they haven't had enough trouble lately?

But despite the fact that Steve's been nothing but hostile, Tony's approach actually makes him hold up a hand.

"He's saying he's from a different dimension. A different Loki."

"A different universe," Loki clarifies. He takes a step to the side, half-turning so he can keep them both in his line of sight. "A different dimension is a bit of a different concept."

"Pull the other one, 'god' of lies."

Yeah, Tony's done his research. And he's not relaxing his aim, not when it's Loki, not even for Steve.

He glances up at Tony.

"I dunno. He looked pretty shocked before he got a look at our Loki's handiwork. Definitely looks different."

And has far less... pomp. Plenty of ego, he's picked up on that, superior of course, but there's something else there that Cap's picking up. And Cap likes to think he's a decent judge of character.

After all, he'd never really trusted Rudlow that much. And he'd been suspicious of SHIELD as soon as he got his bearings.

Is. Is Captain America really sticking up for him? Definitely the wrong universe, but not necessarily a bad one.

"Listen to the noble soldier, Stark, he's telling the truth. I didn't even mean to be here, and if you let me, I'll just get my bearings, and be on my way."

"Cap's a better man than I am. Just because he's giving you the benefit of the doubt doesn't mean I will."

If even half of the myth stuff is remotely true... Yeah, he's not buying it.

Steve shakes his head.

"I'm not giving him anything. I'm just saying that our information is a little on the low side for taking any serious actions."

"I'm not here to cause trouble," Loki says. "Honest."

God of lies, honest. Yeah right.

"Fine then, but you're coming with me," Tony says, and grabs the back of Loki's coat, before rising a couple feet on his repulsors. He'd be lying if he said the startled yelp from Loki was anything but satisfying.

"Want a lift, Cap?"

Steve shook his head and waved Tony off and up.

"I'll take the elevator. But don't attack him before we get to talk to him a little more."

"Yeah, yeah. Take the back elevator, it's express. You already have access."

And then Tony takes off, back up to his landing pad/balcony, grinning behind the mask despite the fact of Loki - fucking Loki - in his hand. There's nothing like flying.

Loki yelps again, just a little - more of an eep, really - as Iron Man takes off. It's not entirely dissimilar to being dragged off without warning by his brother.

"You know, this isn't too different from being dragged off by my brother." Saying it out loud will give him a chance to gauge Stark's reaction to a mention of Thor.

Steve sighs and heads around back to take the elevator up. He can't help but sigh a little as the doors close.

"JARVIS, you'll tell me if Tony does something stupid up there, right?"

"Certainly, sir," the AI replies. "Shall I take you to the penthouse level?"

The lift is already moving, of course, but it's a matter of courtesy to ask.

Tony snorts at Loki's comment as he lands, and sort-of frog-marches the (for now) unresisting little villain (he definitely seems smaller; slightly shorter, narrower shoulders, though the coat and armour make it hard to tell) into his penthouse.

"Have a seat," he says, pushing Loki towards the couch. It's not a suggestion.

"If you insist," Loki replies, sprawling gracefully on the couch. It's quite nice, actually, plush and rather comfortable, upholstered with soft calfskin leather.

"Yeah, the penthouse. Wherever Tony took Loki."

Because he'd very much like to make sure there isn't a cross-universal, cross-dimensional incident.

"Certainly, sir." It only takes another forty-five seconds after that for the elevator to reach the penthouse floor, and the door slides open with a nicely understated 'ding'.

"Oh hey Cap, what kept you?" Tony calls, grinning just a little under the mask, from where he's keeping a close eye on Loki.

He breathed in and out, put walked in, and let the doors close behind him.

"Can you put the face shield up, Tony? It's weird talking with you like that."

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