Chapter One

Tony often ignored the teachers in class, and managed to fluke all his subjects, but one class he listened in was Tech and Designs. He focused 100%, and everyone knew not to bug him in the class. He worked harder than all the other students put together and the results were amazing. Last year's Tech teacher used a wheel chair because his knee was stuffed beyond recognition. Tony had created a knee brace that plugged into the nervous system so he could control his knee again. It took a while for him to get used to, but now he runs marathons to raise money for limbless children.

Anyway, it was the last double on Thursday, Tech and Designs. Tony was bent over a welding station, fixing together a joint for his latest creation. Everyone else was chattering among themselves or trying to work the welding iron. The door creaked open and a few people looked over. Tony didn't. He was deeply involved in his work. But the people that did look quickly looked away. Tony felt a hand on his lower back and put down what he was working on and turned around, ready to 'firmly remind' whoever it was to leave him alone.

When he saw Loki standing there, shoulders hunched, hands shaking and tears streaming down his red, puffy face, he was shocked. Loki – for staters – never came into Tony's classes. It was more of an out-of-school relationship. And, even more importantly, he never ever cried. Not in front of people. Tony took off his welding helmet and chucked it aside, wrapping Loki in a giant hug, stroking the back of his head. He didn't say anything or ask any questions; if Loki wanted to talk, then he would. Loki put two small hands on Tony's hips and gently pulled him away, walking out and leading Tony. They kept walking in silence, ignoring all the looks and whispers, until they were at the school entrance.

"Do you want to leave?" Tony asked, and Loki nodded, almost submissively.

"Can we go to the park?"

The park was a little grassy space in the middle of a bunch of trees, a nature reserve. There were two swings, a small wooden bench only just big enough for two and a little water fountain. Not many people knew about. Tony and Loki shared their first kiss there. Tony nodded, frowning.

"Of course, babe." They walked, arm in arm, the twenty minutes to the park. By the time they got there, Loki had calmed a little. His green shirt had tears stains on it, but his face was clear. They sat on the wooden bench, Tony's arm protectively around Loki's shoulders. "What's up? This is… different," he leaned over and kissed Loki's cheek.

Loki leant into the kiss for a second, before pulling away and looking Tony in the eyes.

"Can I live with you for a while?" He asked, dead straight faced. They had talked about living together for a long time, but it had always been far away fantasies for the future. Of course, Tony had more than enough room in Stark Tower. After a second of shock and thought process, he nodded, vigorously.

"Yes! Yes, yes of course! Yes!" He almost yelled it. He pulled Loki into him so that Loki was leaning on his chest. "But… why?"

"I like Earth, Tony. And I like this school, and I like this park. I like America. I… I really, really like you." He said, intertwining his fingers with Tony's.

"I know, it's great isn't it. And, I like you, too. A lot," Tony said, nervously. He did, a lot, but he wasn't sure where this was going.

"But… Dad is… being unreasonable. He… he thinks it's time I get a 'proper education.' Not a Midgaurdian education. He wants to move me home, take me away from Earth. He wants to take me away from you." Loki's voice caught in his throat as he thought about it. He couldn't possibly live in Asgard after living here, on Earth, with Tony. He rub bed his face with his hands. Tony wriggled him around so they were facing and their legs resting against the others.

"Oh my Lord, of course. You are going to live me for as long as it takes for your Dad to get some fucking sense. Come on, do you wanna go now?" Tony asked, holding Loki's hands. Loki nodded.

They stood up and Tony pulled him against himself and kissed him, long and hard; as if that could keep him there, as if as long as they were together like that, he couldn't possibly leave.

But he underestimated Odin. He underestimated him so, so much. He had been listening, you see, and he had been watching his son ever since he broke the news to him, only now and hour ago. Loki was a fool to think he could hide from Odin.

So he took him away, infuriated that Loki had stubbornly disobeyed him. He took him away, right out from under Tony.

Tony fell forward a little, catching himself at the last minute. He looked around, expecting Loki to have pulled away, maybe because he was crying again. Maybe Tony's breath smelled. As he spun around and did not find him, he began to panic. Where was he? Where the heck was he?! His blood pumped and he spun around, choking back tears already. The panic flooding through him was overwhelming.

"Loki!" He called, desperately. "LOKI!" He stumbled back and sat on the wooden bench holding his face in his hands. He covered his face and screamed into his hands. "LOOOKKIII!" And his chest shook with sobs and his legs were shaking from the shock. Tears pooled in his hands, try as he might to keep them back. He smashed the bench, got up and kicked it. Odin had taken Loki, no other explanation. Right out from under him. And what's more, Odin had waited until they were passionately wrapped in each other. And then… bastard. Bastard. BASTARD!

Tony gripped at his hair, the unknown of what was to come chewing away at him. He cursed, at first under his breath, increasing in volume until he was bellowing it. And then he called out to Odin, cursing him and cursing his wife and cursing his goddamn door mat.

After half an hour of that, Tony was exhausted. He fell onto his knees. He couldn't tell how long he was there for.

Meanwhile, in Asgard…