At the time, it didn't matter what was happening. All that mattered was the fact that things were happening that needed to be stopped. That was the first priority; stopping it all. No matter how confusing, mind blowing or seemingly impossible things were, it came second to stopping it all and bringing safety back to the city - and to the rest of the planet.
What exactly didn't matter? ...Where to start?
There were two Gods from a whole other realm, one which was trying to take over the realm known as Earth, and the other which was sworn to protect it. That was a lot to take in... Gods, other realms, magic, not being alone in the world... but, it didn't matter. It had to wait. What Tony had to focus on was stopping the God that wanted to rule the world.
Being accompanied by a scientist that was known to turn into a ginormous green rage monster, and could easily rip everyone to pieces in a single second? ... Alright, well that wasn't as big of a worry to Tony - it was quite the topic, really. He was rather eager to see it. He only just had a little too much faith that Doctor Banner could learn to control himself.
The weirdest Ali? Rogers. Everything he was, was defying science and logic. His strength came from a bottle - a bottle from Tony's own father. To Steve, it was just the other day that he saw Howard Stark, working hard during the war. He wakes up and suddenly seventy years go by and Howard isn't around anymore. All that was left was his son. Sure, it was pretty weird for Rogers, no doubt, but it was without doubt at least equally weird for Tony. Seeing a man, in the same mental and physical state that he was in seventy years ago when was dealing with Tony's father? Tony was seeing the exact same man that his father was... though, he didn't understand what the big deal was.
Let's not forget the death of poor Coulson. That took a toll on Tony, hitting him hard - but he didn't have time to let that get to him. He had to focus on saving the city.
Putting all of that aside, there was still a lot to take in and deal with. For instance, the loon on the loose that was trying to take over the world, his army of aliens from outer space that were pouring out of the sky from a portal, and Tony's city being blown to bits.
It was a lot, but Tony managed to push it all out of his mind long enough to do what needed to be done.
Then it was over. Just like that. No explanation, no nothing. It was just over.
Of course Tony had initially planned on talking about what had happened, and getting answers - especially from Thor, but he had to leave. Not that Tony wanted him to stay long enough for Loki to escape somehow, but even just five minutes with Thor would have been satisfying enough. The thought of having answers was what kept Tony going for so long. He thought that everything that didn't make sense could be explained to make sense. He thought it would all be okay.
Now, Tony had been having nightmares. What could solve that? Nothing.
The... 'Avengers' had gone their separate ways until they needed to be rejoined, again. The only one who stayed nearby was Steve, and that was because he didn't know of any other person or place to go, but Tony couldn't talk to him, or any of them, to relate about what happened and try to make sense of it. Even if he could, he was sure that they didn't want to bring everything up and remember it all over again - especially purposely. Or maybe it was just Tony who didn't want that. Either way, discussing it with those who were there, was out of the question.
Who else could he talk to? Pepper? No. She just said that it was over, all in the past now, it's done with and should be forgotten. Besides, they were on the rocks and their relationship was not headed in the best direction.
A therapist, or psychiatrist? No, they wouldn't understand. Nobody would. Not even the civilians that were put in immediate danger could understand. Did they go inside one of those giant monsters? Did they go up in space (to who knows how many light years away?) and see the rest of these aliens - and their main ship? Were they threatened by a God himself? Thrown out of a window of their own home that was somewhere near almost one hundred stories high?
A lot happened, and it all happened so fast. Tony's thoughts and memories were all mixed up; with parts missing because they weren't things he wanted to remember.
What had happened was giving Tony major confusion and so many mixed feelings... he wasn't quite sure how to deal with them.
Screaming.
Someone was suddenly screaming.
Tony jumped, having been scared awake. It was him; he had been the one screaming. He didn't even remember going to bed.
He took in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before blowing it out, trying to calm himself. It was just a dream, he told himself. He knew it wasn't, though. He had a nightmare about what happened. He had been dreaming of dying. Dying in space, all alone. The only thing in sight was enemies that would have killed him if they were close enough. Dying... without even a final goodbye to the one he loved - Pepper. Sure, he would have died so that he could save an entire city and the rest of the world, but he didn't want to die. Not like that, anyways.
As much as Tony didn't want it to be, it was reality. He couldn't try to pass it off as just a dream. It happened. There was just no denying it. He still couldn't accept it and move on, though. Not without knowing what and how everything happened, and if it could be prevented from happening again. For all Tony knew... he could end up back in space, and he could die there.
He rolled over and looked at the clock beside his bed. It was just past four in the morning. As usual. He always seemed to wake up at the same time every night.
Four in the morning... Tony didn't consider that to be too late or early to have a drink, especially after the dream he had. He got himself out of bed and made his way down to his bar, letting his alcoholic tendencies get the best of him. He grabbed a glass, poured himself a drink, and sat down on the couch in the dark room and stared into the distance.
He was lonely.
Pepper went to her parents' house since she and Tony were on the rocks. Tony's constant nightmares and mood swings were almost too much for Pepper and she needed time. She was constantly being inconvenience because of him and nothing she did seemed to help in the least.
What could she have said now, anyways? She's said everything. All she could do now was listen to Tony and tell him it'd be okay.. but he didn't want to talk about it, and he knew it wouldn't be okay.
Tony sighed, and began thinking about everything that happened, and if he'd ever be okay again, and how far away that might be.
Somehow, being okay... just didn't seem like something that would ever happen.
Meanwhile...
"Father," Thor protested, stepping upon the steps before the great Odin. "Are you really going to banish him to the -"
"Yes!" Odin hissed before his son could finish. "Look at what he has done. Look at who he has become. Loki has become a great evil, and is too much of a threat to just lock up somewhere."
"Is there not anywhere else; no other way?"
"I am afraid not. If there were..."
Thor bowed his head in defeat. "I understand," he accepted. As much as Thor wanted to try to suggest something, or come to an agreement of some sort, he knew he couldn't. Loki was mischievous. Thor knew as well as Odin that something would happen. Loki would do something. He'd escape. Maybe not in the first month, maybe not in the first year, but Loki would find a way. He wasn't known as the God of Mischief for no reason.
As Thor retreated from the steps, he glanced up, just in time to meet his brother's gaze. Thor looked at him, in such a way that let his brother know how sorry he was that he couldn't help; how sorry he was for what happened, and that he couldn't protect his own little brother.
Thor had tried to reason with Loki several times before, but he seemed to be too far beyond reason. Every time Thor had tried to help Loki, Loki ignored it all and ended up in more trouble than before. Thor knew that there was no hope for his brother anymore; he knew there was no way to change Loki back to who he used to be, but it was still difficult to accept.
Loki stared back at Thor, but with a look of hatred and disgust. Why would Thor try to stick up for him and try to get something less than what he deserved? After everything Loki had done to him? They weren't even brothers. Loki didn't want Thor's help, or pity. Loki understood how things were. He brought it on himself, but he had a plan. He always had a plan.
Loki's banishment? That wasn't bad. It didn't matter where he was being banished to, so long as he was anywhere but where he was; in Asgard, stuck being ruled by a liar and a thief.
It was only natural that Loki thought Odin didn't want him around, anymore. Why would he? It was no longer about what Loki did, it was about Odin simply not liking Loki.
Odin lied to Loki, for his entire life. Not only that - but he raised Loki as a lesser being to Thor. Thor was always put above Loki. Always. No matter if it were something as simple as a drawing. No matter how good Loki's was, or how bad Thor's was, Odin seemed to always pay a little more attention to Thor.
What else was Loki to do in Asgard except to rot in some cell that wouldn't hold him? He didn't want to be there and he wasn't wanted there. Getting banished, was actually something Loki looked forward to.
The utter most peace and quiet imaginable, away from Thor, Odin and Asgard. It seemed rather perfect.
As Odin began summoning his magic to banish Loki, Thor looked over at his brother once more, possibly, for the last time. He looked at what his brother had become, in such a short period of time.
Thor was truly aching as he had to watch his father banish his own brother, and for eternity. With everything in him, he wished that there was something much simpler; possibly similar to the treatment Thor got. Stripping Loki of his powers and sending him to an area surrounded by harmless mortals sounded like a half decent idea. With no powers at all, Loki couldn't do much harm... right?
Was it possible for Loki to ever be harmless, again? To Thor, Loki was still that little child that wanted to grow up and be king, just as bad as Thor did. Thor had remembered playing together, laughing together, pulling pranks and joking together, doing stupid things and getting in trouble together, learning together. Thor simply remembered everything as they grew up together, as brothers. He had always considered Loki to be his equal. He tried to get him to understand that... but Loki was the one thinking of himself so much less than Thor, he had assumed Thor felt the same as him and their father. To Thor... no matter who Loki's parents were, or what he did, they would always be brothers.
A portal suddenly appeared before Loki. He went to step inside, but Odin grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Loki. Son."
Loki tried to object to himself being Odin's son, but his mouth had been sewn shut, so he simply had to settle for shooting Odin the most disgraceful look of disgust he could manage. Odin was, indeed, in no position to call Loki his son. After what he had just done? Forcing Thor to sew his own brother's lips shut? What kind of father would do that? ... One that felt nothing but hatred towards his 'son.'
However, Odin thought that, by giving Loki such a horrid punishment, having his lips sewn shut by his brother, he'd realize how horrible his actions were, and how speaking lies only made things worse. That, however, did not work. Odin only added to the anger and hatred Loki felt, making him more of a threat.
"I am very disappointed in you and the choices you have made," Odin continued. "I hope that one day you realize what you have done and why it is wrong. You are deserving of the punishment I am giving you. I do not know if this will teach you anything, but I hope that leaving you alone with nothing but your thoughts will do you good. Even if it is too late to fix, you must realize what you have done to yourself and everyone around you." Odin stared at Loki for a brief moment, one last time, before pushing him into the portal, sending him off to the Isle of Silence.
When Loki was teleported to his new home, where he had been banished for eternity, the first thing he did was fall on the hard, colourless ground. His powers had been stripped of him. It was overwhelming. He had never felt so weak. For as long as he was banished, Loki Laufeyson was a mortal. A pathetic, powerless, mere mortal, and absolutely nothing more. It truly was the worst feeling ever.
He rolled over on his back, and wiggled his hands out of his handcuffs. He threw them, but his weak, mortal hands were only able to toss them few small feet.
If he were able to, he would have cursed Odin's name for what he had done, but even if his lips hadn't been sewn shut, he was in the Isle of Silence. Silence. There was absolutely no noise, whatsoever. Nothing but complete and utter silence.
What a dreadful place. No sound, no colour. Nothing for him to entertain himself with... Not that he'd need much entertaining. He wouldn't be stuck in such a dull place for very long.
Loki smiled on the inside, keeping his face straight, as it would hurt too much to move his lips, even the slightest. The first part of his plan was complete. The rest would soon start unraveling.
He got himself up to his feet, and slowly made his way over to a large rock, where he sat down.
All there was left to do, was wait. Oh, how Loki hated waiting. Everyone knew that, too, so he knew he wouldn't have to wait for very long. Only a fool would keep the God of Mischief waiting.
As time began passing and Loki was still alone, he sat upon a large rock, and rested his elbow on his knee, and his forehead in his hand. He should not have been stuck on such an isle for so long that he would become bored. Surely, he would save the wrath he felt, for whom was deserving of it.
Suddenly, a light appeared. It was faint, but slowly grew, until it was a full portal, with colour on the other side. It was exactly what Loki had been waiting for. The Enchantress stepped out of the portal and looked around the dark, gloomy isle. She simply shook her head in disapproval, and waved Loki over to return through the portal with her.
Loki rose from his rock, and stared at the Enchantress. Though he couldn't smile, the happiness and approval could clearly be seen in his eyes. He walked over to the Enchantress, and stepped through the portal with her.
He was suddenly surrounded with colour, noises of all sorts, and he could feel his power returning to him. Though is was returning slowly, he was getting his power back nonetheless, and that was the most overwhelmingly pleasurable feeling he had ever experienced. After feeling the weakest he had ever felt before, he was gradually feeling stronger than ever, and he loved it.
The first thing he did? Heal his mouth as much as he could, of course. Loki Laufeyson was not okay with having his lips sewn shut. He had far too many things of great importance to say. Unfortunately, with the little bit of power he had that was returned to him, he could only undo the sewing that Thor that done. He would have to fix the rest as his power finished returning.
He turned to the Enchantress and grinned. He grinned the sort of grin that only one as mischievous as him could pull off. Just by his smile, the Enchantress could tell that Loki was thankful (which was good, because Loki wasn't one for thanking), and he had a plan that he knew was going to work. The confidence in his grin was unparalleled.
"Come," Loki spoke to the Enchantress, keeping his grin plastered upon his face. "Let us pay a visit to Midgard."
"Let's," the Enchantress agreed, with a grin almost as evil as Loki's.
Loki joined his newly re-possessed power with the Enchantress' to transport the two of them to Midgard, where he would once again try to rule the planet, and everyone in it. This time, there were no Avengers to stop him. Nobody knew he had escaped. Thor and Odin would still be thinking he was stuck in the Isle of Silence, while he was actually free, and taking over the planet. They had no way of knowing otherwise. Loki would not fail this time. Of course not. Humans were made to be ruled. They were so easy to rule. How could he fail? He couldn't. He wouldn't.
A/N: Just a quick little peak at Tony and Loki's individual lives, before they cross paths again... hehe. (;
Next chapter will definitely be more cool, exciting and longer. c:
