A/N: So, this is technically my first fanfic, and it has just underwent some serious editing. I hope you all like it. Constructive criticism is much appreciated! :)

Chapter One: Of Arguments and Promises

The silence was deafening.

They stared at each other from across the room, each perched straight backed on rickety wooden chairs that were conjured with such haste it was quite possible for them to collapse without so much as a groan for a warning.

Now, don't get me wrong, the weren't in the least bit calm, not at all. Their chests heaved and their fists were bloody. The taller of the two sported a sizable gash in his left cheek, and the shorter a black eye.

But the damage went far beyond the exterior.

The tall man rose and without warning threw the chair against the wall. With a great smash the unstable wood collided heavily against the bare wall, collapsing into the pile of what used to be expensive furniture.

"You think I want this! You think I like hitting you, screaming at you! Do you think me a fool Anthony! Quite honestly, I should kill you where you sit! But I can't! Norns take me I just cannot!" Anger, pain, confusion, pleading and distress wrapped up into one sentence. Quite the pitiful thing actually. To see such a noble figure lose himself over a mortal man...

"Well why the fuck not! I'm not stopping you! Just get it the fuck over with so I wont have to put up with your constant bullshit! I told you I was fucking sorry! Hell I didn't even do anything to you! You said no strings attached! But what happened! Now there's a shit ton of strings and I fucked up! Big surprise! So stop acting like you care!" The mortal was standing, drawing himself up to (not so) impressive height of 5'8. Moving in front of his lover he looked up at him, brown eyes staring right into green.

And those brown eyes told a story.

How sorry he was, how intoxicated he was, how much he loved the man in front of him, how much he wished he had the courage to say it out loud, how he didn't mean anything he said, how he was so human.

And then the damn broke.

Tears, so pure and crystalline slipping out one by one marring the beauty of the taller man. Pale face contorting into a expression of understanding and longing, apologies and forgiveness. Black hair so unruly and tussled, like artful strokes on a canvas, quivering slightly with the tremors wracking his lithe body. And he realized just how temporary this love was. How he had broken every rule in his carefully constructed self-outline, only to someday face the world alone, again. The beautiful man standing in front of him; in no way was he innocent, or angelic, he could even be considered downright sinful and demonic. But that didn't matter beacause he was his.

He was Loki's.

Just like that all traces of the sinfully beautiful tears erased themselves, and as quickly as the emotions his eyes read appeared they were gone.

And no matter how loud the rational part of the god's mind screamed, its pleas went unheard.

He had made his decision, one that he was in no way proud of, one he knew was so selfish and heartless, but one he felt was completely necessary.

Head bowed low, shamefully so, eye contact broke. With a shuddering breath, the shorter man knew what was to come would be in no way good or inviting. Grabbing the maker of mischief by the hand his heart broke into irreparable little pieces when the other man yanked himself from the soft grip.

"I shall return to Asgard at once." Words cold and unfeeling, face an impassive mask he was so convincing.

"What, n-no! You can't we had plans... we were gonna change the..." frantic Anthony waved his hand and grabbed Loki's own, shaking the god slightly. Holding on to the green eyed male as if to assure himself that he wasn't going to leave.

"Do NOT tell me what I can and cannot do Stark. I will be leaving shortly." A faux glint of malice and a fake lilt of ice and anger and the Man of Iron was sobbing damn near inconsolably.

He just didn't understand! Why was his Loki acting like this!?

"Is this a-hic-trick! Why did you even pretend to care if you didn't-hic-even l-love me in the firs-s-st place!" It was killing him, he had given up his life for this man, no, god! He sacrificed so much! It didn't matter tat e eventually climbed back into the media's good books again, or that since Loki's incorporation of magic, and magical education of such a high caliber he was able to-once again-revolutionize the technologic industry. All that mattered was coming home after a particularly stressful meeting, and having the black haired man there to hug him, and kiss him, and damn there love him. To have him wake up right along with the brown haired man after a nasty nightmare, whether about Obidiah or Afghanistan, or even the Battle of Manhattan, and comfort him, and make him warm milk. And hold him, and rock him when he was crying, and to listen and to...

'"I know that I'm not exactly known for being faithful, that this is just supposed to be physical...but I feel something so much more than physical attraction..."

"Anthony, if you are willing to stay faithful, I am...willing to give myself to you. It will never progress to love of that I am sure, and I am not easy to please when...courting... But if you are willing to try, as am I.'

'I'm sorry I'm just so bad at the...uh...romantic stuff..."

"It's perfect"

'Before we start talking crazy, saying things we'll regret, let's just please slow down!'

"Well explain this!"

'Please don't judge me...take me as I am, not who I was. I...can't..."

"Don't cry Loks, I will never judge you, I am no damn position and you know that.'

And he was in no way proud of his decision, but there was no going back.

No matter how loud and violent the rational part of his mind screamed, he pressed on.

"Well if you're going to leave you may as well take this too because there's no point in keeping it otherwise." Trying and failing to sound absolute, he held out the arc-reactor in his right palm. And while pain gripped his chest like some sinister vice, he stood seemingly patient, and waited or Loki to take the device.

The black haired god looked on in horror and he realized what he had almost given up, the long embraces, the spontaneous outings, the unexpected odd gifts, the warm milk, the comfort he had when he had a nightmare of the abyss or the Mad Titan or The Other, his confident...

'you don't think me disgusting?!"

"I think blue is actually a very nice color on you'

'He can't get you, you're safe, I will never let anything happen to you.'

'What...is this?"

"It's called a Pikachu and it is meant for cuddling. Name it!"

"Hm...how about Waffles.

"Seems legit.'

"Warm milk?'

"It's supposed to make you feel better and all that sappy shit...damnit just drink it you skeptical fuck.'

And the he realized that the very first man to love him completely lay on the floor shaking and sputtering incoherently. Kneeling beside him he roughly shoved the reactor into the gaping hole I the center of his chest.

It didn't light up.

Still gasping and quaking, Tony seemed to be trying to say something,

"What is it love, please tell me! Oh norns, I'm sorry!" Ugly tears this time, drenching the Man of Irons now wrinkled Black Sabbath shirt.

"L-l-lo-v-v-vee ya-ya-you."

"I love you too, no! No! You can't leave me! No, please." The body under his hands still, no amount of magic would help now, just as it failed moments earlier.

"Odin, father! Mother! Thor, please somebody, just please! Bring him back, norns if this si your way to punish me for my crimes, please just...spare him! He doesn't deserve this! He is too important to the people of Midgard just..."

It lit up.

His chest began to move ever so slowly, rising and falling in a fixated rhythm as his heart started once again.

Hands shaking, the taller man buried his head in the shorter mans neck. The fear he had felt, mind numbing, paralyzing, unadulterated, just pure terror coursing through his veins bringing the ice in him to life.

He was determined never to feel it again.

"I swear on everything, I will never lose you again."

So...how'd you like it? Let me know!