Hey guys! Yes I did think of the chapter on my own. I'm glad everyone liked it so much, it makes straining my brain worth it. Haha, just kidding!

My feet walked down the strangely empty hallways, heading to meet up with Bruce. I took Riley to bed with me last night, and no I don't mean I had sex with her, we just cuddled. Which was fine for me. It felt nice, being able to hold someone and being held. I remember when Pepper use to comfort me like that, especially when I would go a little nuts in the middle of the night. Those were some pretty awkward nights.

I stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath before walking inside the lab. The door opened and Bruce slightly jumped. "Huh? Oh, hey Tony. What are you doing up? It's before noon."

I chuckled at Bruce's joke and moved aside so he could walk. We walked together down the hallway that I recognized to be the kitchen. Bruce went ahead and made himself some tea while I made coffee. My thoughts going back to late night. Loki and Riley were getting too close for comfort, my comfort. I know he would do anything to get Riley for himself, I would too, but doesn't mean I would just let her go easily. I felt a hand pat my shoulder. I turned to see Bruce pointing at my coffee that was overflowing my mug. "Shit! Fuck! Hot!"

Bruce laughed and handed me a rag. "Tony, is everything okay? Your acting...well almost normal by human standards." I rolled my eyes as he crossed his arms. "I might as well start expecting things from you like being on time and being nice to people." I turned to Bruce and smirked before flicking excess coffee at him.

"Well, we wouldn't want that now would we?" Bruce sighed and wiped his face. I took a sip of my coffee and frowned. "You're right, I'm a little off. I have been thinking about what happened yesterday."

Bruce reached over to pick up his weird herbal drink and took a sip too. "Yeah, I don't blame you. I have been thinking about it a lot too." He ran his fingers to fix his curly hair. "Right now we can't stress about that it is happening. We need to focuse on saving our planet, starting with getting Riley's weapon design ready to build."

I nodded and we went back towards the lab, our feet walking on metal being the only sound that could be heard. We reached the room and walked in, papers scattered across Bruce's desk and small little gizmos on mine. Bruce set his tea down and shuffled his papers together and I picked up a piece of metal that was one a part of Loki's staff-spear thingy. The golden color shined brilliantly in the light. Small markings were made on the bottom. I noticed that there wasn't barely any kind of scratches or dents, like Cap's shield. "I wonder why that is..."

"You wonder what is?" My head snapped up to Bruce.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was speaking out loud." I walked up to him, holding the piece of metal with me. "I know I have mentioned this when we first studied this before but now...does it seem like it is, like, healing itself...or something?" Bruce picked it up and adjusted his glasses.

Bruce flipped it around and handed it back to me. "I know that it had been damaged, but you're right. It does look like it is fixing itself." I flipped it in my hand as I made my way back to my desk.

"How strange..." My voice was trailing off until I heard the door open. Caps walked in wearing a white shirt with sweat pants. It was obvious he was working out for a while. "Hey Spangles! Whatcha doin' here?"

He froze and pointed a finger at me and turned to Bruce. "He is up? Before noon?" Bruce smiled and nodded. Caps was surprised and walked over to me. "Well...I guess it's a day for firsts." I gave him a questionable look and he sighed. "I went to your run to wake Riley up, getting her started on her training with everyone. When I opened the door..." I clenched my fist and narrowed my eyes. Caps jumped back and held up his hands. "No! No, it was nothing like that. She said it was okay for me to come in...I just wasn't expecting a strange purple glow covering her before a set of clothes just appeared out of nowhere."

I blinked and laughed. "That must've been interesting to see." He sighed and rubbed his head. "So, you and Riley were training this morning?" Caps shook his head.

"No, her and Loki said they need to find the source of the stone within her before she could train physically." I looked at him and he shrugged his shoulders. "Natasha and Clint are watching them, don't give me that look."

I rubbed my face and sat down in my seat. Caps spoke with Bruce for a while. I didn't listen because I honestly didn't care for what they have to say. I tried to put my attention on a way to create a weapon like Loki's, something that we can manipulate the power cursing through her and attack. My thoughts kept going back to creating her a suit but I knew that it may be too much for her on such short notice. We needed to create something light, flexible, and deadly.

I picked up a excess magnet in my hand and began to spin it around my finger, trying to give my mind a idea. "Tony?" My eyes looked up to Bruce, not paying attention to the old magnet, and accidently launched at Caps. It smacked him in his temple and he slightly flinched.

"Shit, sorry Caps..." I walked over to him and picked it up, staring at it before looking meeting their faces. "...That's it!" They jumped and I rushed over back to my desk, grabbing a pen and instantly jotted down my ideas.

I strolled down to the kitchen again. It was about noon and once I had come up with several ideas I wouldn't stop until I was sure I had everything down. I hadn't eaten anything yet so I was growing very hungry and needed to at least get some donuts in me. When I walked in it was a lot more crowed with agents sitting at the tables eating salads and sandwiches. I walked past them and went up to the small trays of cakes and donuts. I picked up a napkin and grabbed two donuts, chocolate with vanilla cream. Freakin' delicious.

I took one bite and turned to leave when I caught the sight of Riley sitting with Tasha, Clint, and Reindeer Games. Without a second thought I strolled over to them and sat down next to Riley. "Hey there beautiful." She raised a eyebrow and picked up her own napkin, wiping away whatever was on my face.

"Hello, Tony. What are you doing?" I swallowed and made myself comfortable, placing a arm around her shoulders.

"Nothing, I think I have come up with a perfect idea for your weapon." She beamed, making me get slightly warm. "Yeah, I was up around nine this morning working-"

Tasha lifted her hand and narrowed her eyes on me. "You mean you have been up, not just got up?" I was not amused.

"Yes, I have been up for three hours now." Clint and Tasha shared looks before turning to Riley.

Clint chuckled and crossed his arms. "I'm surprised that you could be such a influence on him." She giggled and even though I was highly annoyed her sweet giggle made it alright.

"I honestly am not doing anything." Riley shrugged and took a sip of her Pepsi. "I don't think I have that kind of affect on him."

I took another bite of my donut. "Hey, *Munch* I'm still here." They weren't impressed. Riley rolled her eyes and turned to Loki.

"So, you said that I need to figure out how to call upon it, right?" He nodded and leaned forward.

"Yes, My Queen. I was able to call upon it because of my emotions. It triggers a response, but remember this is not like your natural born magic. This was implanted in you." He reached over and took a drink of his water. "I suggest we see what can trigger your emotions the easiest."

I was not catching on. "Um...Review? Prequel? Anybody?" Tasha and Clint chuckled.

Riley sighed and answered. "Today Loki and I were able to find where Space was hiding inside of me. It's in the area where my Brain Steam meets my spine. Which makes sense as to why I get exhausted while using magic now." I looked at the back of her neck and began to rub the area she was talking about.

She flinched and I stopped. "Does it hurt?" She waited a second before shaking her head slowly.

"No, it's not that. Remember, last night when Loki was rubbing my head to feel my nerves?" I nodded. "If a bundle of nerves gets touched in a way they don't like then my magic can react unconsciously." I went to pull away but forced myself to stay. She looked at me funny so I gave her a friendly smile and gently rubbed her back, between her shoulder blades. She sighed and leaned into my touch, making Loki glare at me and I smirked at him in return.

Clint flipped open his phone and shared a look with Tasha. "It's about time. You ready?" She nodded and got up.

"We have our own training we need to get to." Tasha reached over and took Riley's hand and gave it a firm shake. "We will meet up later to finish up." Riley smiled and waved as they left. I was at a loss for what happened.

"Riley? Since when did you too become friends? Did she beat you up and you both decide to call it even?" Riley rolled her eyes and reached over to smack the side of my head.

"Be nice." Loki snickered. "We have a mutual understanding. That's the magic about friendship between women. We can come together when we find something in common that we both hate." That was never a good thing but I figured I should let it go for now. I got up and quickly finished the last of my donut. I wiped my face with my napkin and offered my hand to her.

"Let's go, I want to show you what I've come up with." Riley smiled sadly at me and my own smile fell.

"Sorry Tony, I have more practice with Loki." They both got up. "I will come by the lab when I get a chance. Give my regards to Bruce." She reached up and kissed my cheek before leaving with Loki. I was not happy about this and turned to follow them, wondering what they were doing exactly.

I walked up to a doorway that led to the outside The sun shined down on Riley and Reindeer Games. They walked about ten to fifteen feet away and sat down on the ground with their legs crossed. Riley lowered her head and Loki lifted both of his hands to wrap around the back of her head. He was saying something but I couldn't hear what he was saying from here. I waited a minute and thought about just going back to the lab until I saw Loki move his hands quickly and shot out so they were around her neck. Riley's head leaned back and her arms went limp with her mouth hanging out wide in a silent scream. I jumped up and ran towards them. "Hey! What are you doing to her?!"

Loki stared at me, keeping his hands around her neck. "Stark...you need to stay where you are. You will-" I pulled back and punched Loki square in his face. His head flipped back and he tumbled a bit.

I grabbed Riley and felt for a pulse. It was slow, very slow. "Riley?!" I went and placed my arms under her. Her face was froze in shock.

"Stark! You can't do that!" I turned around, still crouching next to her.

"The hell I will! I saw what you were doing!" Loki ran up to me, his arms stretched out for her. I pulled her away and aimed to punch him again. "You will not touch her you bastard!" I threw another punch at him but he caught it and threw a punch to my face.

For a guy who is scrawny, he does have quite a bit of strength in him. "Stark! Listen to me before you regret it!" I hunched over and lifted my right leg to kick him in the gut. Something felt like it popped under my shoe but I didn't pay any attention to it at the time.

"Listen to what?! Why is she limp?! Why is her pulse slowing down?!" Loki coughed some blood in his hand. When he looked at it he raised his head to me, murder in his green eyes. "Fuck..." He pounced me and punched me twice in the face before I kicked him off and threw my foot down on his shin before he could get up. He let out a loud grunt and rolled over to his hands and knees, kicking me in the face with his heel.

I fell back down again and groaned. It hurt like a bitch and I was sure that he broke my nose. I pushed myself up and swung around as Loki reached out to grabbed me. He got a hold of my arm and pulled me closer to him and kneed me in my stomach. I gasped as the wind was knocked out of me. That hurt like a bitch but I wasn't going to back out of it know. I blindly reached up to claw at his face so he would let me go. Warm goo was under my finger nails when he finally let me go.

I took a large gulp of air in time for Loki to grabbed me again and flipped me over his shoulder. I landed hard on the metal ground and wasn't able to hold back the scream of pain that I felt. With the hand that held me, I pulled down so Loki's face could land on my fist. His head bounced as he went into a short daze. I took the chance and threw him to the ground and rolled on top of him, grabbing a fist full of his hair.

"Tony! Stop! Now!" I heard Caps' deep voice yell at me. I turned to look at him along with Bruce and Fury running towards us. "Let him go!" I growled and slammed his head down on the ground.

"ENOUGH!" We stopped moving and turned to look behind us. Riley hovered above us, her eyes glowing a bright purple color that released a violet haze. Her voice seemed to echo, sending shivers through us all. "You will stop this child's play!" She waved her hand and Loki and I separated. The next thing I new I was in the hospital wing, resting on a bed.

"Huh?" I blinked a few times just as a few doctors came running in. I wanted to ask so many questions, I was too tired and let my eyes close heavily.

I heard faint whispers around me as I began to wake up. My eyes opened to small slits as I was met with Caps, Bruce, Clint, and Fury. I groaned and tried to move to my side, crying out in pain. "Damn...it..."

Bruce moved to my side and offered a pill and a glass of water. I opened my mouth, not being able to feel my arms. Caps sighed and shook his head. "I asked you once what you were capable without your suit." He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "Now I know."

I scoffed and licked my bruised lips. "He deserved...it." My voice was horse and croaked slightly. "He was...s-strangling her...her pulse was...s-slowing down." Fury turned and walked out the door just as Thor can in. Now I was fucked.

"Man of Iron." His voice was loud or over powering. Instead it was low and deadly, something that actually scared the piss out of me. "Why have you tried to take my brother's life? Are we not friends now?"

I swallowed and cringed at the taste of blood. Bruce patted his shoulder and Clint spoke up. "Tony thought your brother was trying to kill Riley."

I adjusted myself, moving up and almost sat up on my own. "I know...what I saw." Thor was confused and crossed his arms.

"There is a misunderstanding, Man of Iron." I raised my eyebrow at him.

"What do...you mean?" Steve pulled out a chair and sat down. "Where's...Riley...and Tasha?"

Clint gave me a smug smile. "They are both with Loki, healing his wounds." My eyes widen and I felt betrayed.

"What-" I began hacking over the white blanket, red spot staining the fabric. "Riley...is with him?!"

Steve held onto my arm. "Tony, you attacked him. You didn't even give him a chance to explain himself." I pulled out of his hold and flinched as my sore muscles yelled in protest.

Fury walked back into the room with Riley behind him. The room was dead silent, our eyes locked on each other. I blinked once and sucked in a breath of air. "Riley...your eyes." She stepped forward, Thor and Clint moving out of her way. "Are they...purple?" Riley was emotionless as she stared at me.

"Everyone, please leave. I need to concentrate." Fury left first with Bruce, Steve and Clint behind him. Thor waited a second before leaving as well. She looked towards the door and walked over, locking it and moving back to my side. "You, are a bastard." I was taken back.

"Riley, I saw...him choking...you!" She shook her head and placed her finger tips over my neck were my vocal cords were.

"Loki sustained two dislocated ribs, a fractured nose, four deep cuts in his face, and a light concussion." I smiled at the list she gave me. I know that Loki was basically human now but it does feel good to know I managed that all on my own. "Stop laughing Tony!" I jumped at her voice randomly and looked up to her. She refused to meet my eyes and looked over my body. "You have a broken nose, a fractured eye socket, one broken rib, two dislocated ribs, a bruised back, and four broken finger nails." She met my eyes and frowned. "Taking in the different battle wounds the both of you have, I say Loki won."

She turned her back to me and walked over to a metal tray. "Riley..." I was at a lost of words. She was very upset with me, to put it nicely. Riley faced me again with a curved pair of scissors and began to cut away my shirt. I wanted to tell her that I was sorry, that I was stupid and I was just scared of losing her.

"Why didn't you give him a chance to explain himself?" Her voice sounded softer this time around.

"I-" I swallowed my dry throat and avoided her judging eyes. "I saw Loki...choking you... You went limp and I got scared." She shook her head and placed her hands over my chest. I clenched my teeth as a wave of pain washed over me.

"That is no excuse for your behavior." Great! It sounded like I was getting scolded by my mother. "Tony, I have known Loki my whole life. He saved my life and helped me through my problems. Why would he hurt me now?" Damn women and their rational argument.

I sucked in a sharp breath of air when I felt two ribs pop back into place. "Damn!..." She moved her right hand further up. "I...I don't know what to say." My voice started coming back to me. "I got scared that I was going to lose you." She shook her head and turned to grabbed my hand, checking my black nails. Her faces scrunched up and I didn't blame her since I held the same expression. "Ew."

She brushed her thumbs over the nails and they slowly began to fall off and land on the bed. I wanted to gag at the sight and of the weak smell of dying flesh. Riley kept her cool and brushed over the skin again and a set of new finger nails began to grow quickly. "You're lucky that I am doing this for you."

"How are able to do this anyway?" She brushed off the fingernails to the floor and sat down, bringing her hands to my face. "You're eyes are purple and your healing has grown so much more stronger now." I thought about it and realized that her eyes were the same color glow she had earlier. "And what was with that thing you did before I got here? You were flying and your eyes had amazing glow to it! Not to mention your voice was freaky." She gently placed a hand over my lips and I took the hint, staying quiet.

She carefully caressed her finger tips over my right eye a couple of times. The small pain that was there had settled down to a mild annoyance. She moved her fingers from my eye to my nose. I flinched and she sighed. "Try to stay still, I know it hurts." I did what she said and let her touch my swollen nose, even though the pain made me almost want to cry. Almost. "Tony...Loki and I were trying to figure out a way to connect to Space's powers." I watched her as she watched me. "We needed to search my brain for the right emotion that would best connect with Space, tapping to its powers as best as I can on short notice."

I raised a eyebrow. "By choking you?" She shook her head, not entertained at all.

"He wasn't choking me, he was...trying to bring me to the state of being aroused." A faint blush came over her.

"What?..." I was at a lost and she sigh dramatically while rolling her eyes.

"I need to have my heart race at a fast pace so I can tap in Space's powers. Earlier today we had tried fear and anger but it wasn't working. So we were going to attempt being aroused." Her hands left my face and rested in her lap. "Loki was sending signals of pleasure through me to try and trigger a response. When you came and pulled him away my heart...um, it kinda freaked out and forced itself to slow down as fast as it could. Thus making my pulse slower than what it should've been."

Damn...I felt like a asshole. I nearly got her killed because I thought she was getting killed. "Riley, I'm so sorry. I got scared, I didn't want to lose you, especially to him." She smiled softly at me and leaned forward, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. "But...it seems that you succeeded in tapping with Space. How did you do it?"

She blushed again and rubbed the back of her head. "Heh! Well...Loki and I were right about our hypothesis. It was arousal." I blinked and stared at her. "I was...um...quite turned on by your guy's fight." Her face was beat red by now, bringing the purple out even more.

"Well...I will have to remember that next time." She snapped her head towards me and smack the side of my head. "Ow! What was that for?!"

"There will NOT be a next time! If you and Loki get into another fight like that again I will not bother healing you. I will leave you here to suffer!" She jumped off the bed and placed her fists on her hips. I chuckled at her and tried to sit up but cringed and laid back down. "I haven't healed your back yet, and I won't until tomorrow. That's your punishment."

She straightened herself out and stepped closer. "What are you going to do now?" She ran her fingers through her hair.

"I'm going to go and check on Loki. Bruce and Thor have volunteered to watch over you while I'm gone."

I frowned at the mention of Thor. "Riley, Thor is going to kill me." I let my bottom lip quiver while I gave her my best puppy dog eyes. She leaned forward and kissed my bottom lip. I went to kiss her fully but she pulled away too quickly and now I was really pouting. "No fair!"

She smirked and turned towards the door. "Thor won't kill you, Bruce won't allow it." She unlocked the door and opened it, turning back to me. "Rest. Tomorrow I will finish healing you." She was out the door before I could say anything else. So I sat back and waited for Bruce and Thor to come back.