Chapter 10: Encounter

It seemed to be fate messing with them that the exact moment Phil stepped into the lab to confront Tony – with the others hot on his heels – that they were attacked and Tony ran out of the room with Jarvis following him to change into the suit where others wouldn't see and everyone else also scattered to defend the Helicarrier.

Tony, as Iron Man, flew outside to get the damaged turbine of the Helicarrier working again, with Captain America's help and once he finished that flew into the guy that wanted to shot the Captain. Things slowly settled and news reached them that Loki had fled, Thor and Banner had fallen of the Helicarrier, Clint was again on their side thanks to Natasha (Tony felt himself breathing easier knowing that his friend was – not okay, who would be after being mind controlled? – but getting better) but then Nick announced words Tony had always feared to hear and had hoped with all of his heart never to hear, "Agent Coulson is down."

He felt his heart break and if he hadn't known that the arc reactor was still working he would have thought that the pain in his chest were the splinters crawling to his heart…

"These were in Coulson's jacket. I guess he never did get you to sign them." Nick threw the – now bloodied – Captain America cards that Phil had collected so carefully and Iron Man's head snapped up at the sight. Phil would never wear them in his jacket, in fear of destroying his mint collection! Nick gave Tony a tiny nod and a flicker of a smile that no one except for Tony saw and he didn't know if he wanted to laugh, cry or just punch Nick in the face for doing that to him even though the older man knew of Tony's feelings for the Agent. He carefully picked them all up with his gloved hands and stored them in a small pocket of his suit, not caring that his action must seem strange from the point of view of someone who didn't know of the connection between Tony Stark/Iron Man and Phil Coulson.

Captain America gave him a strange look before handing over the card he had been holding in his hand, which Tony took with a small nod of thanks and put to the others.

Nick continued his speech about the Avengers Initiative and Phil 'died' believing in this idea and Tony got why Nick was doing this. But would a team brought together by a lie last longer than one fight, if even that?

Tony left the room, the Iron Man armour clanking slightly as he walked – he would have to replace it as soon as he could – and heading towards the room Clint and Natasha were in.

He came in as Natasha and Clint where talking about Loki's whereabouts. "I didn't need to know. I didn't ask."

They both turned towards him and despite the faceplate being down, thus hiding his face, the two seemed to sense Tony's inner turmoil.

"What is it?" Clint asked concerned and afraid that he had down something to make Tony like this.

"It has nothing to do with you, feather brains… Just contemplating of hitting Nick really hard – preferably with the armour on – in his good eye."

That drew questioning eyebrows from both Assassins/Spys and Natasha seemed to realise what this was about. "Phil…?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah, told everyone he is dead and then threw these" He took the cards out of the pocket and laid them on a desk "before me and Cap saying that they had been in his jacket."

"Oh."

"I will hit him with you for that tin can."

"Thanks but let's concentrate on the god that escaped us. He's a full-tilt diva. He wants flowers, he wants parades, he wants a monument built in the skies with his name plastered..." They could almost see the big light bulb as it turned on for all of them and they said in sync, "Stark Tower!"

Tony stormed out, Clint and Natasha following him but then split ways to pick up the Captain…

Tony landed on the landing pad he had built for the armour and told Jarvis to dismantle it – it wouldn't be of any use anyways since Tony consider himself lucky to have even made it back to the tower with it. He walked into his apartment, planning on making a show of threatening the God of Mischief and Lies, when their eyes connected. Tony's headache returned with a vengeance and Loki's eyes widened visibly.

Tesseract blue eyes stared into brown with green rings in confusion and denial. "It's not possible. You… You are dead! You had been killed by that Frost Giant!"

Tony grabbed his head in pain; his headache was reaching a new record and it was killing him. It only got worse when he looked at the dark haired Norse god – by Nine (and where did that come from?) where were the others?!

Loki took a hesitant step forward and a hand was reaching out to Tony as if he wanted to comfort him but something made the god freeze in the spot.

Meanwhile Tony was fighting against the on slaughter of images and emotions that his mind was throwing at him while also trying to contain his magic that wanted to break out of him so that it could protect him from whatever was wrong.

He let out a pained noise and suddenly Loki's eye flashed a bright blue, he stepped closer and tapped his sceptre against Tony's chest. A light *clink* resounded in the apartment and a burst of magic broke out of Tony who couldn't control it anymore after the energy of the staff too tried to influence him. They were both thrown back by the blast and both hitting their heads pretty badly on the ground.

Yes I know it's shorter than the previous ones but it seemed best to end it there. I will try to give you chapter 11 tomorrow, if I can't then I'm already gone on my vacation and I'm sorry.
Hope you liked this chapter. :)