"Why didn't you tell me you could talk to me like this, mind communication or what ever?" Tony slurred. Trying to pretend like he was in control. It must have been some alcohol induced illusion but he would play along.

"I just needed to escape my body and you're the first person I thought of."

"Well that's nice."Tony smiled. "Now if you excuse me I'm going to sleep." Tony rolled over and tried to ignore the mist. Loki chuckled and poked him awake again.

"Your not much of a conversationist tonight."

"Wait why do you have to 'escape your body'?" Stark said snapping up. He tried to clear his mind. He didn't know what he could do for Loki but if he was under torture he didn't want the god to be all alone.

"It is nothing you need to worry about." Loki's disembodied voice sounded a little tense.

"Come on just tell me." Tony was in no condition for games.

"I've been through worse." Loki sniffed.

"I've seen. I'm sorry. So sorry." The alcohol was making him sentimental. "So so so sorry. For every thing. It's all my fault. I should have done something. So so so very sorry."

"It's okay Stark I heal fast."

"What?"

"The wounds will all be gone by the morning."

"What wounds? What are they doing to you?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Loki's voice was stiff. Tony was about to argue but JARVIS cut him off.

"Sir, sorry to wake you but Dr. Banner is over riding my systems." JARVIS's voice interrupted Tony's argument.

"What's he doing here?" Tony asked nobody in particular.

"I called him."

"Why?"

"I didn't want you to get any funny ideas about coming to rescue me."

"Sir, I'm sorry Dr. Banner is not the best hacker but he will be through in a moment. You might want to consider a new security system.

"I love you." Tony whispered to Loki's mist hoping the man could see the look in his eyes. Too drunk to care what he was saying. He needed to say it out loud before Bruce showed up.

Bruce chose that moment to enter. "Tony..." He didn't know what to say. It was plain from his expression that Tony looked like shit, worse then shit. Bruce ran over to him and helped him up.

"Hey meet our esteemed guest." Tony motioned to Loki's mist.

"I've seen." Bruce ignored Loki and concentrated on Tony.

"So you see it too?"

"Yes Tony. He found me and told me you needed help."

"False alarm, I'm fine." Tony muttered attempting to stand but Bruce forced him down.

"Who did this to you? You haven't drunk like this in so long."

"I might have some blame there." Loki admitted.

"No! It's all my fault..." Tony slurred again. Then he started blacking out.

"Tony..." Loki's voice was soft reminding him to stay awake just to hear it some more. It was the first time Loki had ever said his first name. "I need you not to do anything that would get you in trouble to night. I'm sorry about this." Tony felt Loki's magic invade him, this time in his brain. Loki slowly parted the effects of the alcohol.

After a second Tony registered that he felt like he hadn't drunk anything. "Now I can come get you!" Tony stood up and made for the door. With his mind clear Stark knew what he had to do. Bruce stood and tried to grab him but Tony was fast.

Loki was faster. "I can't have you doing that." He said sadly. Then he blocked his voice from Bruce for the next part. "I wish I could, Stark. I want to see you again but not like this." Tony felt his whole body getting heavier and suddenly he was really blacking out. "Take good care of him Banner." Was the last thing he heard and then he was out cold.

Tony awoke in his bed. The sheets were arranged nicely around him, not like he had slept in them at all. What had he been doing last night? Wasn't he suppose to have a major hang over? Suddenly a shock of memories woke him up quickly. Loki's voice, Bruce helping him, Loki being tortured, and finally Tony blacking out.

Was it really just some alcohol induced illusion? How could he know? Going up to Loki and asking him was embarrassing at least. He would have to admit he was thinking about the god and if it was an illusion Loki would have a good laugh at him. Bruce would be able to help him out, assuming that he wasn't another part of the illusion.

"Hey your up." Bruce entered the room holding a breakfast tray, as if summoned by the thought..

"Before you say anything, last night..."

"Was real."

"Loki found you?"

"Gave me quite a scare as well."

"I can imagine." Tony sat up taking it all in. It was all real. Bruce placed the tray next to Tony and sat down next to him. bruce leaned forward and pressed his hand to Tony's forehead.

"No fever that's good. How do you feel?"

"Perfectly fine actually. He really took away all the effects."

"Tony you shouldn't have..."

"I don't need you to tell me what I should and shouldn't do." Tony snapped.

"Your right I'm just worried about you."

"I am known to be self destructive". A twisted smile formed on Tony's lips.