Loki was kind enough to meet up with Steve in the days after his return to America from the ice. He'd asked Steve to pick the place, knowing the man would choose somewhere, anywhere, that was still around from the '40s. They ended up in a dated diner where Brooklyn bordered Queens, right between the two boroughs.

"This is nice," Loki commented, looking around.

He was lying, of course, but, if there was one thing he could do, it was lie.

"Thanks," Steve replied, smiling slightly but still looking comfortable. "I'm sure this isn't what you're used to."

"Tony and I visit places off the beaten track far more than you'd think," Loki grinned.

"Ah, yes, of course," Steve said, understanding, but uneasy at the mention of Tony's name.

"Steve," Loki sighed, "If there is anything you want to ask, anything you want to get off your chest, ask me now. I won't judge and I won't invade your privacy."

"That's very kind of you," Steve said at long last. "I have a few questions."

He asked a few questions about modern technology, culture, noting things down in his little notebook. Then he closed the notebook, sighed and asked:
"What is Tony Stark like?"

"You knew his father, didn't you?" Loki questioned, although he knew that already.

He wanted a little time to think before he ruined Steve's idyllic war memories. Steve nodded.

"Tony's a playboy," Loki began with a grin and Steve smiled slightly, presumably being strongly reminded of Tony's father. "He's also consistently the smartest guy in the room. He's extremely rich but he gives to good causes. He made his money mainly in the medical industry, producing technology to help people."

Steve frowned minimally.

"Howard made his money making weapons," he said, sounding confused.

Loki sighed, stroking his forehead to dispel the headache forming there.

"Tony didn't get on with his father. When Howard died, Tony did everything he could to be different and to make a different name for himself. He didn't want to be compared to his father."

It looked like Steve might cry.

"How did he die?" The supersoldier asked, clearly subdued.

"Howard and Maria Stark died in a car crash before I met Tony."

"I'm sorry," Steve said, shaking his head. "That's terrible."

"It's not me you need to say that to," Loki said ruefully.

"Hiya boys," said Natasha, appearing suddenly beside their table. "We need your help."

"My help?" Steve asked, bewildered, having jumped at Natasha's arrival.

"Well, no," Natasha admitted. "Mainly Alden's."

"I'd like to come along," Steve decided. "I have nothing else to do - maybe I could help?"

Natasha pursed her lips as though biting into a sour apple, a look which Loki caught but Steve didn't. Steve clearly wasn't wanted at this consultation but Loki wasn't about to muscle in. He felt sorry for Steve and also felt a small sense of kinship with the man. Both were men out of time, away from things they knew or recognised. Admittedly Loki had lived in modern day America a lot longer than Steve had, but they'd still started in the same place: alone and frightened of a new, unfamiliar world.

"It's just a consult," Natasha continued, turning to Loki. "We were hoping your background in Classics and History could help us out here."

"What do you have - a Roman relic?" Loki asked, laughing.

Natasha's look signalled something monumental.

"We don't need you right now," she said, "But we'll call in a few days. We were planning on setting up a secondary HQ. The location is confidential," she added, when it looked like Steve was about to interrupt.

"We'll be there, Agent Romanoff," Loki stated determinedly. 

She nodded at him.

"At your service... Ma'am," Steve said, almost bowing.

Natasha simply rolled her eyes and left.

"They're not royalty, Steve," Loki pointed out, as the two made to exit the diner after the agent.

"No," Steve accepted, "But they do pay my bills. For some reason, my bank didn't keep my account open for seventy years."

*

"Tony!" Loki called when he returned home.

"Yeah?" Came the muffled response.

"Leave the workshop for ten whole minutes!" Loki shouted back.

There came the sound of shuffling and then Tony emerged in a Black Sabbath t-shirt and jogging bottoms.

"A lovely sight you are," Loki commented with a small laugh.

Tony chuckled ruefully, wiping grease off on his trousers.

"Anyway, S.H.I.E.L.D wants me to consult on some sort of ancient artefact. I thought you'd be interested. Captain Rogers wants to go with me too so, if it's caught his interest, it'll definitely catch yours."

"Why did you go and meet him?" Tony hissed, seizing Loki's arm.

Loki replied calmly, determined not to be angered by Tony's distress.

"I did find him, Tony, I'm not about to just abandon him and leave him to the wolves that are S.H.I.E.L.D."

"You know who he is!" Tony continued heatedly.

"Yes, I do," Loki answered. "He's a hero and the saviour of this country. He's also a man out of time, someone looking to fit in. I know your father worshipped him," he added before Tony could interrupt, "But Steve never knew that! He didn't know anything about you and your father - how could he? Are you going to make this man's life miserable because of what your father did?"

"You're calling him Steve now?" Tony said, disgusted.

"Well he does have a name!" Loki exclaimed, starting to feel slightly irritated.

"I hated my father and I want to forget he ever existed! Why should I become pals with a man my father admired?"

Loki rubbed at his head where a fearsome headache lurked.

"When my father, my adopted father, had friends round, Tony," Loki said in a quiet but chilling voice, "I didn't go out of my way to spite them. My father was a horrible man who I despised. But, despite everything he ever did to me, not once did I ever attempt to get revenge on him through his friends. People don't deserve to be hated because of who their friends are or used to be. People can change, Tony - you know that more than anyone."

Tony was silent for a bit. Loki wondered idly whether he had crossed a line but Tony had offended him too and the man wasn't about to get off lightly.

"I'm sorry, Tony," Loki said before the other man could speak, "For the perceived slights I have apparently caused you. I understand your anger but don't take it out on Steve and do not take it out on me. I'm your friend, not your enemy. Your father is the only enemy here and he's gone. Forever."

His words may be harsh but Loki did now feel decidedly unwell. He'd had a trying day and he needed nothing more than to find a dark room somewhere and close his eyes.

Once again it seemed he had stunned Tony into silence.

"I need to go and lie down - I have a terrible headache. Fetch me in an hour, will you? I'll likely be asleep."

Eyes widening at taking in Loki's greying face, Tony nodded and watched him walk slowly away.

*****

A.N. Please let me know if anything doesn't make sense. My time skips are infamous for not making sense and so is my writing lol. I hope you enjoyed it anyway! xD

Thank you for reading!