Faith In The Deceiver

Chapter 10

To Tony, nothing made sense anymore. His world has come crumbling down and there was nothing he or anybody can do about it. He didn't blame Loki for any of it. It just seemed they both got a shit hand in the game known as life. His face was buried in his hands as the snake on his arm began to burn. It one quick fluid motion and with a flash of gold, Tony stood up and swung at the wall behind him.

The wall crumbled and cracked around his hand. The golden light that encased his hand faded and the snake stopped burning. He sat back down as Clint entered the hall. He glanced at the wall, then at Tony.

"How is he?" he asked.

"Loki will be fine," Tony said staring at nothing.

Clint hesitated before he asked his next question. "And the kid?"

"Dead." Tony said in a monotone voice.

Clint watched Tony carefully and took a sat next to him.

"I'm sorry," he said. Tony stood up and stretched out his shoulders.

"I'm going for a walk. Do me a favor and make sure no one tries to find me."

"Tony shouldn't yo-"

"I need to be alone, Clint," was all Tony said as he turned the corner and left Clint's view.

Tony didn't go for a walk in the end. Instead he found himself in the dance room. He sat cross legged and took deep breaths. The light glow of gold found its way around his hands again. He hasn't told Loki about his progress, about what he can do now. Not that he was being secretive, it just, never seemed to be the right time to bring it up. Though, he could feel it now, his magic.

His mind began to race with everything that has happened. He could feel his emotions beginning to stir and his magic growing.

Next thing he knew the sound of breaking glass entered his ears as the mirrors shattered to the floor.

He sat a stared at the shards on the floor. His own shattered and misplaced face staring back.

He held out his hand and little by little the mirrors became whole again.

But not Tony.

An ache in his abdomen was the first thing that came to Loki's senses. He knew why, he remembered everything. He opened his eyes and blinked against the bright lights. He watched the ceiling as he waited for his eyes to clear.

"Didn't expect you to wake so soon," said a voice.

Loki turned to the unfamiliar voice. He scrunched his face.

"Coulson?"

The agent let out a little laugh, "Yeah," he said.

"Last person...I'd expect at my bedside," Loki said as he tried to sit up.

"Hey," Coulson got out of his seat and placed a hand on Loki's shoulder. "you should take it easy."

Loki settled back down. "Why are you here?" Where's Tony?

"Bruce wanted someone to be here when you woke up."

Loki just mouthed an Oh, but Coulson knew better.

"Tony went for a walk."

Loki nodded.

The was awkward silence. Loki almost wished that Thor would come charging in asking him if he was alright and if he could do anything.

Almost.

Soon the awkwardness went away and it became a more of an understanding silence. Loki stared at the ceiling as Coulson flipped through a magazine, which Loki could've sworn he caught Steve on the cover of.

His hand itched to touch his abdomen, but he fought it. He could feel the emptiness where his and Tony's child used to be growing. He felt a lump in his throat and the ceiling became blurry again. He gave in, placing his hand upon his abdomen, the full force of what he had done struck him. He had taken the life of his child, the child that should never have been.

"Hey," Coulson said in a low voice. "Do you want me to find Tony?"

Loki dared not speak, he simply nodded.

He didn't know how long he was alone before he felt another presence in the room. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. He turned to the window.

Casimir was looking out of it.

"You think you can simply erase me?"

Loki watched him. The man wasn't the same as he when they met at Tony's. Although looking no different, he seemed older.

"You never existed." Loki said.

Casimir turned to him.

"I'm here now, aren't I? I've been with S.H.I.E.L.D. Interacted with people and caused a difference in this world. Why should I be erased because of their mistake?"

"Who exactly are they?" Loki asked as he tried to sit up.

"They are simply beings of the universe. There since the beginning of time. They are just there, understood."

Casimir walked to the edge of the bed and watched Loki. "The fact they physically showed themselves to you," he let out a hollow laugh, "Yggdrasil truly was in danger."

Loki looked away from him. "Why did you want my child?" He needed to know.

From him.

"You already know."

"I want to hear it from you!" Loki snapped.

Casimir smiled. "To bring the end of all the realms."

"And what would you have accomplished from that?"

"Your child, would've been the new Yggdrasil and I would've been the new Allfather. All would've been mine."

It was Loki's turn to let out a hollow laugh. "So all this. For world domination?"

"You once went to great lengths yourself to rule, no?"

Loki's jaw tightened. "I'm not that person anymore."

"Ah, yes. The mortal has done quite the tune up on you. Does he still love you? You have killed his child."

"Which reminds me, when will you be dead."

Casimir's hand was around Loki's neck before he could inhale. He was slammed against the headboard of the bed as Casimir straddled him.

"Oh, dear, Loki. I still have six months before I expire. Me, you, and your little tech boyfriend are going to have so much fun."

Black spots began to dance along Loki's vision. He was too weak for all this right now, he had no strength after all his body's been through.

Suddenly Loki heard a roar and felt Casimir get yanked off of him roughly. His lungs burned and he coughed as air rushed back into him. He looked up and was faced with a green back.

"Bruce," he said in a raw voice. He watched as the Hulk went in for another blow.

However, Casimir was no weakling as Hulk was flung out of the building through the wall.

"No one will interfere with my plans for you!" Casimir said as he grabbed Loki from the collar and mimicked what he did to the Hulk.

Mustering up the little strength he had left as he fell, Loki was able to materialize his common clothes and muster up a bit of a healing spell.

He was caught, rather roughly, by the Hulk and tossed beside him. Loki stood up slowly and muttered a thanks to the beast. They both looked up where they had fallen at Casimir who was glaring down at them. His yellow eyes burning.

His head suddenly snapped forward as Loki saw the familiar shape of Mjolnir appear, then return back into the building. How his head didn't fall off, let alone his neck break, would forever be a mystery to Loki.

Casimir was batted out of the building and Hulk jumped up and punched him a few hundred yards away.

"Loki!" Loki looked up and saw Thor coming towards him, he couldn't help but stumble as the Hulk landed beside him and shook the ground. Luckily Thor was there to catch him.

Loki didn't fight him.

"Are you alright?" Thor asked concerned.

"I'll live." Loki said as he braced himself against Thor.

In the corner of his eye he saw a small, orange sphere.

He knew immediately what it was.

"Look out!" he shouted.

The explosion erupted and shook the earth.
Loki hit the ground hard. His vision was blurred and there was nothing but ringing in his ears.

Thor and Hulk were both gone from his sight.

He let out a yell of pain.

God or not, the pain was unbearable and he didn't have enough magic to help himself. The ringing in his ears began to subside as he heard footsteps approaching him. Not taking a chance, he did his best to roll over and try to stand, but heavy boot slammed down on his back and he yelped in pain.

"Your friends can't save you," huffed Casimir. He knelt down and planted his knee in Loki's back and he grabbed a fistful of hair. "You are Loki, the god of mischief. You are chaos. A life of peace does not exist for you. Your life will always be filled with pain and sadness and horrors!"

Casimir slammed Loki's face hard into the ground, a sickening laugh escaped his lips.

"And I'm one of those horrors."

"And I'm going to be one of yours. Now get the fuck off my boyfriend."

Loki was engulfed in a golden light as he felt the weight of Casimir be lifted off of him. He felt a gentle hand on his neck. He looked up and saw Tony.

"Tony..."

"Everything's going to be alright, I promise." Tony said with a smile.

Loki didn't like it.

"Tony what are you going to do?"

"What I have to," he knelt down and kissed Loki. He handed him something, too. "Keep it safe. I love you," he said.

He stood up and said to Steve, "Take care of him."

"Tony?" Loki said as he tried to sit up. Steve grabbed Loki, forcefully, but gently.

Loki sat there as his eyes widened. Tony was glowing. He could feel the power, the magic radiating off of him. How? How was this possible. Tony was no where near this level of experience yet.

What was he doing?

Casimir was shouting something, but Loki was to transfixed on Tony.

Tony raised his hand and a look of horror appeared on Casimir's face. The two were engulfed in light and when it faded, they were gone.

Loki stared on in disbelief. He looked down to see what he was clutching.

It was the arc reactor.

Tony's arc reactor.

"Tony?" Loki said in a small voice. He looked up to where he last saw the man he loved. "Tony?" he said again.

He felt tears slide down his burned face before he passed out from pain, exhaustion, and sorrow.