Disclaimer: I do not own, nor profit from.

Author's Note: Right, I have finished writing the whole story now. And I will now post the remaining chapters up all together, cause I really can't help myself. I will be having a break from updating after that, to set myself up for my next story, which will be the next in the series. I am not writing these in chronological order, so I don't know when it's going to be set. Enjoy!

Ripples and a Whisper

Erik and Clint watched Tony hobble back into the Avengers Mansion, aided by Coulson and Bruce.

"Feeling better?" Erik asked, an eyebrow raised. The billionaire raised one in return.

"Tickity boo. Ta for asking." Erik smirked, returning his gaze to his book. Tony detangled himself from his aids, and started to make his way to his bedroom. Bruce made to stop him, but Tony turned an icy glare upon him.

"I am not incapable." Bruce moved away, understanding. Tony shut his door with a quiet finality, Clint turning his gaze quickly onto his boyfriend.

"How is he?" Coulson gave his boyfriend a glance.

"Fine." His answer was short. Clint rolled his eyes.

"I didn't mean physically." Coulson raised an eyebrow.

"I knew perfectly well what you meant. I was just not answering it." Clint glared.

"Stupid SHIELD training." He muttered, crossing his arms, returning his attention to the telly. Coulson moved behind him, lacing his fingers in the archers hair.

"Stop sulking." Phil ordered calmly. Clint grunted.

"Not sulking."

"Yes you are." Coulson's mouth twitched slightly.

"Not talking to you." Clint muttered. Coulson pressed a kiss to Clint's hairline. Clint relaxed, leaning backwards. "Not fair." Coulson raised an eyebrow.

"What's not fair?" Clint stared to glare again.

"You know." Coulson smiled.

"Sorry." Coulson's voice contained dry humour. Clint wriggled out of Coulson's grip, leaping over the sofa into the arms of his boyfriend. Erik glanced up from his novel, shaking his head.

"He is really an over enthusiastic puppy, isn't he?" Amusement was evident in Erik's tone. Coulson looked at the mutant over Clint's shoulder.

"Don't insult my boyfriend. I can still taze you." Erik chuckled.

"I know."

Bruce cleared his throat, and the three men glanced at him (with Clint leaning his head back, still clinging to Coulson).

"What are we going to do about Tony? He's heartbroken."

Coulson sighed. "Do you think Steve would talk to him? They are friends."

"He's our friend too." Clint's voice was muffled, his head pressed into Coulson's side.

"Not in the same way." Coulson murmured into Clint's hair.

"Steve is a good idea." Bruce conceded. "Do you think he could talk properly to Tony?" Coulson shrugged.

"It's worth a shot." The agent replied.

"This is going to blow up in our face." Erik muttered, a smirk on his face.

Clint humphed in response.

o0o

"Tony?" Steve stuck his head around the door, scanning the room. Tony was standing behind a work bench, his arms crossed, a frown creasing on his face.

"What do you think about black and blue? Silver and blue is overrated." Tony murmured, more to himself.

"Um, it's okay. Why?" Tony finally seemed to notice Steve, starting slightly.

"Hey there, Cap." Tony uncrossed his arms, and shuffled on his feet. "It's for the new Stark Phone. I was going to go with silver and blue, but silver is too overrated." Boredom was in Tony's voice, never a good sign.

"Black's good." Steve affirmed. Tony nodded absentmindedly. Steve watched the inventor, slowly plucking up the courage.

"Tony?" The inventor hummed.

"We know you miss him. However much you try to hide it." Tony's sudden look of disbelief shocked the soldier.

"You didn't even like him. So why are you try to make me feel better?" Tony's voice was slightly hoarse. Steve shrugged.

"I know how much he means to you. He was broken while you were unconscious." Steve spoke softly, but a fire lit up in Tony's eyes.

"If he was so broken, why didn't he stay?" Tony snarled. Steve gaped.

"I don't know." The expression of Tony's face darkened even further. "I don't!"

"That's not good enough!" Tony was starting to scream.

"Tony. Wherever he's gone, he must have done it for good reason. We could not make him leave, forcibly or not, until he left. I don't think he was intending to hurt you Tony. I think he's trying to protect you. You did say that he is your best friend. Best friends protect each other. Maybe that's what he's trying to do. I don't think he could ever intentionally hurt you." The dark expression that had been looming over Tony's face started to disappear, leaving only sorrow and pain in its wake. Tony sagged against Steve.

"I miss him." Tony whispered. Steve stroked his hair, guiding him towards a stool.

"I know. It will hurt. But you have the memories." Tears were beginning to fall down the inventors cheeks.

"I loved him. Maybe not in the romantic way. But I loved him. He was everything to me. I thought I was too." Steve pulled Tony closer.

"He did. I didn't see Loki, supervillian, God of Lies and Mischief, those last few days. I saw a man who had had all his fundamental beliefs and ideas stripped away from him, all the misconceptions of the world laid out at his feet. You were his everything, Tony. Seeing him watch you, it was like watching someone seeing the sun go out. Don't ever blame yourself for that." Tony sniffed, pulling away from Steve. Steve looked inquiringly at Tony, then stood to make his way out of the workshop.

"Cap?" A broken whisper trailed out after him.

"Yes, Tony?"

"Do you miss them?" Steve gave a slight smile.

"Every day. But they wouldn't want me to mope. And I still have my memories. The good times we shared. No-one can ever take that away from me." With this parting sentence, Steve left the room. Tony stared at the door, wishing it would open to reveal his Loki. Whilst knowing, in all reality, it was never going to happen again.

o0o

Far away, a god stood by a fountain, watching the ripples fan out. The rings expanded, encompassing more and more space.

Tony had started out as a small part of his life, almost insignificant. Now, his life was nothing without Tony. His life was Tony.

"I love you." The whisper caught on the wind, whipping the words away from the dark-haired speaker.

o0o

Thousands of miles away, Tony heard those 3 words.

When he slept that night, it was with a small smile on his face.