AN: This is set during the Avengers, but Tony's not the good hero. Sorry if it seems a little messy; it's a work in progress and there are still several things I don't like about the first chapter that I'll undoubtedly alter later. -_-

Credit where credit's due: Blake and Gaile's Loki/Tony AU vids (Seek You Out: www. youtube watch?v =RZ6c3m6boHc and This Is A Trick: www. youtube watch?v= STHdh-dRdAY) on Youtube are AMAZING. Go watch them. Seriously.

Update on 1-6-14: Edited a few bits in chapters 1-3, but no major edits or plot-altering changes, just minor details I wanted to add and a few grammar fixes.

Callistontheweb translate this into French! She's still in the process of posting, but for anyone interested, the link is fan fiction s/10071731/1/Shuffling-the-Cards on . It's also on AO3 as well, and her pseud is the same on there. Check it out!

Chapter One: Setting the Stage

Tony Stark had been saying for years that he wasn't "the hero type" and no one doubted it. The problem was that they still expected him to commit heroic acts, and that just didn't sit too well with Tony. Being told what he could and couldn't do never ended well, and history was proof of that. "Build the Jericho missile" they said, and he builds the Mark I Iron Man suit. "Stay below the radar" they said, and Tony does the exact opposite. "Read from the cue cards" is strongly advised, and he confesses to the room full of press that he's Iron Man. This had been going on all his life, and it was silly to think that things would change.

Afghanistan did change him; that was no lie. Before, he had his head so wrapped up in one thing that he wasn't paying attention to the rest. He completely ignored accountability and didn't see what it was doing to the people he built those weapons to protect. Himself included. So he came back a better man, a more responsible man, and more resolute in what he'd been thinking on for a long time.

The thing was that he had plans since long before the Ten Rings were hired and Obie was outed as the one who paid them. Pieces were already in motion and his kidnapping and attempted murder only proved to him just how much this world needed someone to take care of it.

It was no secret that Tony practically ruled the world already. His tech was everywhere, his weapons were everywhere, and once he perfected his arc reactor, then that would be everywhere too. He was pretty much a few steps short of owning it all and simply lacked the formal title. "CEO of Stark Industries" was quite nice, but "Emperor of the Known Universe" was so much better. Tony ran on scotch, sex, and power and his appetites grew constantly. World domination - at least the official admittance of his rule - was the final goal. And if SHIELD didn't keep dumping these consulting jobs on him, he would reach his goal a lot faster.

This gig though... This gig was worth it.

Someone stole the Tesseract. His Tesseract, the one Tony was supposed to have. Some god from another age, pulled from another realm, was not allowed to walk in and take his Tesseract, so of course, Tony accepted this case for himself and only for himself. The file was chock full of unnecessary characters that Tony didn't need to know about: the infamous Dr. Banner, the first superhero, aforementioned bastard god's brother, all people that Tony had researched before. There wasn't enough about the Tesseract and its captor.

But he could always ask the source.

"I don't remembering ordering any Norse delivered." Tony leans back from his screens to face the figure stalking some ten feet away. "Fascinating biography on you, by the way. Love your work, it's got a definite... artistic quality to it." He gestures to the images of Loki taking out the SHIELD base - destroyed by proxy as it was actually the Tesseract's unharnessed energy that turned the underground complex into a crater - and smiles. Frankly, he was surprised SHIELD even passed over all this footage anyway since Tony was a consultant, just a consultant, and wanted nothing more to do with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division.

"The images SHIELD has proffered are nothing compared to the real thing, I assure you." Loki says, passing the scepter from one hand to another. Tony keeps a close eye on it and monitors the distance between them; he'd seen the footage, knew that fancy stick could turn even Barton into a personal butt-monkey for the enemy. Intriguing technology, but Tony had a feeling the cons outweighed the pros on that thing if the psychopathic look on Loki's face was anything to go on.

On the surveillance, Loki's eyes looked sunken and his body unruly, but the man before him was anything but uncoordinated after a day or two's rest. Now a god in no small meaning of the word. Taller than Tony, he paced with unearthly fluidity and presented as a creature of extreme opposites. Loki moved like both predator and prey, ready to both pounce to kill and dive to dodge. Leather and armor, flowing coat tails and stiff metal chest pieces fit to a strong form of lean muscle, soft features on a face of sharp cheekbones with a piercing gaze from unusually bright eyes. He put together a striking picture in person.

"I'm sure grainy images and secondhand talk from a biased brother is a sad bit of not a whole helluva lot for a god that's a few thousand years old." Hell, that kind of info wouldn't do Tony justice. Lucky him, he got to meet the real Loki. "Why" was still the big question on his mind, but it could wait.

Loki's lips split into a wide grin and he opens the distance between them a little more, eleven feet, fourteen, twenty feet away in slow, evenly paced and deliberate steps. "You would know, wouldn't you, Stark? Barton has given quite the tale of the great man of iron. Privatizing world peace, taking things into your own armored hands, successfully reaping vengeance on your betrayers... You've quite the legacy yourself."

Tony crosses his arms and tilts his head to one side. Flattery was great, but Loki wasn't the flattering type. "Skip to the point. Are you here to mind tap me or not, Loki?"

The god's eyes fall to his scepter for a moment before returning to Tony and shaking his head. "No, I'm not here for that. Your worth is far greater when you're in your right mind. I come bearing a proposition, Mr. Stark."

Proposition? One where he would have to trust a homicidal god, no doubt. Not a good option, but Tony could always listen while waiting for backup. He taps out a short code across his keyboard - putting JARVIS on alert to respond with one word if need be - before turning back to Loki and reclining into a relaxed position in his chair again. "Commence," he waves one hand in a vague gesture and then tucks both hands behind his head, "you have my undivided and temporary attention."

Loki moves forwards again to glance at the screens, seemingly entertained with the chaos he sees. Then he glances to his scepter, and with a twist of his hand, the air swallows it up whole to leave his hands free. The god's eyes are clearer as he nods to the screen featuring his image beside the diagram of the cube. "You know the Tesseract is in my possession."

"Yeah. Jumped ahead in the line, there were those of us waiting for it, you know."

Gaze fixed on Tony, emerald orbs were alight with pleasure. "I am aware. What if I told you I was willing to give you the Tesseract?"

Tony raises one eyebrow in disbelief. "You want to give it to me? And what's that going to cost?" Sure, Tony had insane amounts of money, but what would a god want with cash and bank accounts? Loki was one he couldn't just throw money at and expect satisfaction; whatever Loki wanted would be beyond monetary value. It would be personal, and something only Tony can provide. Most likely something Tony might not be too keen on agreeing to.

"Cost? Absolutely nothing. I require...assistance in a matter that I am unable to conduct alone." He waited to make sure Tony didn't have any other commentary before continuing. "I have an army at my command called the Chitauri. They're vile parasites that care only for destruction and pain and agony upon their victims. And they are delicate in comparison to the ones that hold their collars." The words are hissed from between bared teeth with such venom that it takes him a moment to recompose himself so that the next words are slightly calmer. "They tasked me to retrieve the Tesseract from earth for them, and in exchange, they would lend me their army of Chitauri to overtake and rule this planet." Sighing, Loki shakes his head and his eyes travel over the various video feeds playing across the screens. "I care not for heading a monarchy though. Mutinous factions and disloyal denizens are not in my interests. What I do want is the end of the Chitauri and their masters."

"The aliens that are offering to help you rule the world, you want them dead?"

"When powerful beings offer you a planet in exchange for a bauble, there is always a catch."

Tony stands with a sigh and leaves Loki to look over all the top secret images that were supposed to be for Tony's eyes only. He goes to his bar, pulls out a decanter of alcohol, and starts pouring himself a drink. "Alright, let's say I want the Tesseract, and I agree to help you in exchange for everybody's favorite pocket-sized Allspark. What am I supposed to 'assist' you with?"

"SHIELD and the Chitauri, of course."

Even Tony in all his power and self-inflated ego has to laugh at that. He was supposed to fight SHIELD and an alien army capable of overtaking earth? With what resources? His own suits and a cut off god? A few brain-washed goons? "Um, no. I'm not suicidal enough to take on a government organization and an occupying force from another world at the same time. I'm amazing, but I'm not that amazing."

"All you have to do, Mr. Stark, is play a part." Loki says assuringly. "I want the Chitauri erased, you want the Tesseract, and SHIELD wants your consultations. The Chitauri will come; there is no stopping this. If I do not secure the Tesseract for them and open the portal between worlds, they will find another way and destroy everything on their path without mercy. If we open the portal and destroy their mothership, then their armies will be crippled indefinitely."

"And you want them dead so much because?"

There is a suspicious pause, and Loki's mouth is set in a hard line, but Tony doesn't avert his gaze. "I fell from the Bifrost and came upon their world some time ago. Months, it was in actual time, but it felt eons longer there. I declined their offer profusely at first, of course, but then they-" he pauses, eyes glazing over for a moment, "they persisted until I complied. I want to return the great favors they impressed upon me."

Loki's eyes are hard, and Tony doesn't have to ask what happened; he knows that look well. He saw it in the mirror after Afghanistan. For a moment, he wondered why the hell Loki confessed to his motives, but of course, Barton is under Loki's control and therefore, all the knowledge of SHIELD is at the god's disposal. By telling Tony of Loki's treatment at the hands of the Chitauri or the Chitauri's masters or whoever the hell was running this game, whether it was the truth or not, it accessed a weak spot in Tony's defenses. Tony was well aware of this weakness, but he couldn't prevent the way he automatically reacted to the similarities. Tony wanted revenge on the Ten Rings, and he got it; Loki wanted revenge on those that wronged and attempted to control him, and he was seeking Tony's help to achieve that.

"If you are not willing, then speak up so that I may stop wasting my breath." Loki says in a biting tone, backing up towards the door to threaten his departure despite not actually needing a door to leave.

"Au contraire," Tony bows and pulls a smile. "Sounds like a fun plan you've got going on there. I want in."

The god straightens and steps back to Tony with a smile. "Then we have much to discuss."

Tony gestures to the screens and walks over carrying two tumblers of vodka, offering one to Loki. "Well, then, down to business." Loki glances at the glass as if taking it would leave him vulnerable. "Go on, it's not poisoned, and I don't bite. Not unless you ask." Tony winks, and Loki scoffs but doesn't berate the choice of words. Interesting.

Turning their attentions back to business, he focuses. It really is just a business deal. The god is attractive as all get out, but Tony has Pepper. Sort of. For now. He just shouldn't be checking out the god that's about to fake trying to take over the world.

"SHIELD is going to be searching for the Tesseract, if they haven't started already. Dr. Banner there," Tony nods towards the far left where video shows Hulk smashing with all the grace of an elephant on egg shells, "well, not how he looks there, but the man inside the monster, that pretty face," to the still of a brunette juxtaposed to the video, "is the leading brain on gamma radiation. The Tesseract emits gamma rays, so it's no mystery why SHIELD put Banner in the files they sent me. They'll find a way to forcibly convince him out into the open and searching for our toy like a good little lab rat in no time. A city or somewhere heavily populated with a din of tech waves and fields will help hide the Tesseract, lead is best, but you'll still have to work fast because even hiding it somewhere like Stark Tower, it'll take a couple days to pin point the signature here, but they will find it. That much is inevitable."

Taking a small sip of his drink, he walks a little further and stops in front of the set in the middle. "Steve Rogers, Captain America, the good little soldier lost in time. Hydra was working with the Tesseract in World War Two when Cap was his new and improved self fresh out of the lab; disappeared for a while before they fished him out the ice recently. Another connection to the Tesseract, so no surprises there either. I heard he packs a punch though, so better beware of that.

"You know that L'oreal jock," Tony bypasses the images of Thor and the fall of the Destroyer as Loki casts each of them an intense glare, "so we'll skip him and go for the good little SHIELD agents at the end." No videos provided for them, but Tony figured if Barton was involved, so would Agent Romanov. Widow wasn't the only one good at reading people. "Natasha's tough, but human as far as I can tell. She'll take it personally about mind-raping her boyfriend though. Good actress, she'll probably try to pull a mind trick on you."

He pivots back to Loki and takes another sip of vodka before Tony props his hips against the table edge. "So that's my part of show and tell, now it's your turn. What do you want from me that you can't get from a turned SHIELD agent?"

"A secret ally," Loki says, moving to stand in front of Tony. "I need someone inside SHIELD on my side. Obviously Barton will not be suitable and anyone else that I enthrall with the scepter is immediately recognizable. This means that I must have a willing accomplice that can work within close quarters of SHIELD and not be suspect. My options are slim. Barton told me of your... tenuous alliance with them and I had hoped you'd be willing to help me."

"SHIELD didn't invite me on their little excursion. I'm just a consultant."

Loki smiles. "From what I've gleaned, invitations will not stop you from insinuating yourself." He tilts the glass to his lips and drinks half of the liquid without so much as a cringe at the alcohol's strength.

Tony pauses to give a few moments of consideration, already formulating ideas on how he could get onto a SHIELD helicarrier he wasn't even supposed to know about. He glances back to the flashing surveillance of heroes, monsters, and gods, all flies on a web, but what was at the center? "They've given me a lot here, but it's purposefully overkill, deliberately so much information that I can't see what they're hiding. There's something else with the Tesseract, not just some war for energy and power."

"Yes, there is." Loki agrees, following Tony's line of sight. "It would be much easier to discover their secrets from inside the cage, don't you think?"

A small laugh breaks from Tony, but it sounds like nothing more than a nasal exhalation. "Well, today must be your lucky day, Loks. You've just got yourself an iron-clad ally." Putting his drink down, he holds his hand out to Loki, and the god hesitates for a moment before mirroring the movements, setting his glass by Tony's and shaking the offered hand. Tony's hand tightens slightly and the edge of his lips turn sharper. "When this is done, I want my Tesseract, no funny business. I help you, you hold up your side of the bargain. My Tesseract to do with what I want, no questions, no strings. Agreed?"

Loki's eyes harden, but he nods and returns the pressure of the grip. "My word is gold, Mr. Stark. The Chitauri ship destroyed, the portal closed, and after the suspicions have passed, no longer than a few of your Midgardian weeks, I will give you the true Tesseract, and it will be yours. I expect you to play your part as well; SHIELD cannot know of your connection to me."

Compared to this deal with Loki, Tony's relationship with SHIELD was downright trustworthy. He was making promises with the God of Lies, and even with all the crazy shit Tony had done before, this was a bad idea. But now it was done, and the only way he was getting out of it was if Loki was dead.

"And I want to see the Tesseract."

They released each other simultaneously, though Loki moved away with a sneer, and when he spoke, his voice was irritated. "It's safe."

"I want to make sure you have it."

"I am a god, Mr. Stark. I wouldn't advise you to question me." Loki hisses, but Tony remains calm and collected, the usual shit-eating grin on his face.

"You might be a god, but I'm the one you came to for help. Deny it all you want, but carrying around your magic staff there isn't helping with your compensation issues."

"I could slay you where you stand." The god threatens.

"And then where would you get your ally? You need me and if you want to actually get my help, you'll show me the Tesseract."

Loki fell silent, casting a stare deadlier than any glare Natasha, Fury, and his Ten Rings captors combined could muster. Still, Tony stared back in the face of death. Better to die young than grow old and crippled, right?

"I... accept your offer." The words were venomous, and Tony was honestly a bit surprised his threat worked. Stark: 1, homicidal Norse god: 0. Fucking succeed for Tony.

"Good. When can you show me?"

Then Loki grinned, and Tony wasn't so sure it was fitting in their current situation. "I think now. You've taken control over enough of these proceedings, Mr. Stark. It's my turn."

Before Tony could argue or question anything, Loki closed the distance in one measured pace and took ahold of Tony's arm. The last thing Tony saw was everything splintering apart and his vision blurring to nothing.