Loki Who

A/N: ):c I think there is a higher power at work here, a power that really doesn't want me to get this story done. I have managed to become oh so wonderfully and painfully sick. Not like the eye infection, no, that was actually funny, this, this is not. That is why my update is late; I had actually planned to put up this chapter a lot earlier. Sorry ^^;

Anyway please forgive any missed grammar and spelling D: I don't mean to.

Chapter Ten

The mansion was quiet and still, sadly lonely it seemed as the melancholy gray light of the freezing December day shone through the open windows of the building. Tony sat in the living room that had for so long been occupied by the Avengers and Loki. However now it was empty and silent, no longer filled with the jesting jokes and loud laughter, not even the TV was on. Usually it was loud, the smell of take-out or an occasional homemade meal floating through the room as everyone watched the television or joked and laughed. It was always warm in the living room, however now the coldness that seemed to sweep through the empty space was almost unbearable. Tony let his mind wonder back to the previous day, his heart beating painfully in his chest.

~0~

Hawkeye hurried to break up the fight that was about to irrupt between Rogers and Stark; however Thor beat him to it. Grabbing Tony by a gap in his armor and Steve by the back of his uniform he pulled them apart, both unable to fight the blonds grip. They spit and cursed one another, Captain America growling about Tony's lack of allegiance to his country and Stark snarling at Rogers for being the biggest dick he'd ever known. Hawkeye and Thor looked to each other confused and somewhat helplessly when the two refused to stop their bickering. However everyone froze when Jarvis spoke, his voice entering each of their ears.

"Doom appears to be leaving, along with Loki." He said, and Tony swallowed.

He wouldn't believe Rogers until Loki came face to face with him to gloat. He wouldn't give up on Loki, not yet.

"What more proof do you need!" Steve shouted, as if to punch Stark in the gut.

"Until he comes out here and starts spouting off about how pathetic humans are and how easily we're tricked, fuck off Captain." Tony spit.

"You're going to kill the team!" Steve snarled, his anger at Tony's lack of concern for the others finally boiling over.

"You're about to cross a line Captain, and when you do, you're gonna have a good sized hole left in your head." Tony said, his voice colder than ice.

"Did you just threaten me, Stark?" Steve growled.

"I don't remember stuttering, Rogers." Tony snarled back.

"Um, guys…." Hawkeyes voice chimed in and Thor suddenly let go of Steve and Tony.

Both shot the other two glares, however their eyes widened and they ready themselves for attack when Doom's Hella-carrier appeared in front of them. Everyone tensed when the aircraft began to turn, as if readying to leave, and Thor and Tony prepared to chase after it. They paused however, when the hanger doors began to slowly open, their defining hiss easily heard over the low purr of the engines of the machine. No one knew what to do when Victor walked to the edge of the open hanger door, a smile in his dark green eyes as he watched each of them closely. Hawkeye quickly raised his bow, a used and bloody arrow ready, and was about to fire when Tony suddenly grabbed his arm and jerked it down.

"Don't!" He barked.

Hawkeye looked to Stark furiously, his blue eyes burning with shocked rage.

"Tony what's wrong with-" Hawkeye began, but stalled when he caught a glimpse of Rogers and Thor.

Everyone was staring inside the Hella-carrier, Thor and Steve's faces twisted with shock and horror. Following their gazes Hawkeye let his eyes widen and he gulped, his stomach twisting with fear. Doom had stepped away and pulled his cloak aside, revealing Loki, the Demi-god lying on the floor clutching his side. The shining, bright metal floor was covered with blood and as Loki writhed in pain everyone saw the thick line that ran from his mouth and down his neck, seeping into his long ebony hair. His eyes were bright with pain and confusion as he looked at the Avengers, trying his hardest to stand and get away from Doom. Victor looked down at him and laughed loudly, the sound heartless and cold.

"It seems poor Loki has had an accident." Doom chuckled.

"Let him go, he's got nothing to do with this." Tony said, everyone saw Loki look to him.

The Trickster's brilliant, bright green eyes stared at Stark's suit with tired recognition.

Doom laughed. "No, however if you try to follow, or attack me-" Victor cooed. "I'll send him back to you piece by piece." Doom said, his voice turning to ice and adopting a deadly tone.

"T-T-Tony?" The Trickster choked, thin ribbons of blood flowing from his mouth.

"Stay still Loki," Stark replied.

"Tony, please…." Loki cried, tears of pain and fear shining in his eyes. "Please Tony, I'm scared." He whimpered, clutching his bleeding side tighter, his bony hands slipping and sliding from the dark, warm blood.

Stark felt his throat bob and he struggled to keep his voice from shaking. "Lo-Loki calm down, it's gonna be alright," He lied. "Everything is going to be fine."

Tony truly had no idea of what to do; he couldn't help Loki, Doom had the Trickster's life in his hands. Not to mention, there was no telling what harm would come to Loki while attempting to rescue him, he could easily be caught up in the crossfire. However as Tony looked at Loki, he noticed, much to his heartache, the Demi-god nodded and calmed somewhat, however fear and pain still danced brightly in his beautiful green eyes.

"Brother…." Thor mumbled, taking a step forward, his voice getting lost on the cold wind.

Doom only laughed and turned, his icy, hard voice floating to each Avenger's ear. "Follow me, he dies."

And with that, the hanger doors closed and the hella-carrier took off, the low humming of its engines quickly fading away.

~0~

Swallowing hard Tony rubbed at his eyes, having gotten no sleep the night before. His shoulders were tense and tired, as if the weight of the world had just been tossed on his back. Sighing he looked up when he heard the distinct click of high-heels and he glanced at Pepper, who had stalled at his side, a steaming cup in her hand.

"Here's some coffee, you look as though you need it." She said, her voice was bland; however it lacked its usual biting, motherly tone.

It seemed almost sad in Tony's opinion.

"Thanks," he mumbled, taking the cup from her and sitting it down on the table in front of him. "Thor alright now?" He asked tiredly.

The Thunderer had gone off the deep end when told he couldn't go and rescue his brother and had just about left anyway until Stark stopped him and told him why. When Thor had found that going to rescue his brother would end up just being the death of him, he'd gone off the deep end again and had actually threw his hammer through a handful of walls. Tony hadn't bothered with trying to calm him or worry about the walls, he couldn't begin to understand Thor's fear at the moment and he didn't want to try-unsure if he could handle it. Not to mention he was struggling with his own emotions right now, handling someone else's wasn't at the top of his To-Do list. No one knew what to do at the moment and no one could get ahold of Fury. When S.H.I.E.L.D had finally arrived -far too late to help with matters- and delivered the news that Fury had been out of contact for over three weeks, everyone was left in shock. Apparently when S.H.I.E.L.D had gone to look for him, Doom had threatened war on the States if they didn't retreat back. Now S.H.I.E.L.D was left without a commander and the Avengers were left without orders on how to proceed.

"He's very worried." Pepper said, pulling Tony from his thoughts.

Stark opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him and he simply placed his face in his hands, rubbing vigorously. When Stark didn't speak for a long moment Pepper turned to leave, thinking it would be best to leave Tony alone for the moment in time. She couldn't help him understand what he was feeling right now, for Tony had never felt such loss before and for the first time; Pepper didn't know how to help him.

~0~

Loki's tired eyes opened, his lids heavy-almost like iron weights as the world slowly came back into view. Looking around he noted he was still in the carrier and the shining metal floor was covered with more blood than before. He'd already lost consciousness twice and both times the puddle of blood on the floor had only managed to grow instead of shrink like Loki wished it would. Coughing he tried to gather himself and stand, however the pain that shot through him crippled the Trickster before he had even risen from the floor. Crying out in pain he curled in on himself and whimpered, his voice choking on a sob that had ripped itself from his throat. His mind instantly shot to Tony, his voice and his words.

'Everything is going to be fine.'

Loki let a small smile grace his blood soaked lips as a wave of comfort enveloped him snugly. It was almost as if he were in Stark's arms at that moment, lying against his chest where he always felt safe. Loki longed for the comfort then, ached for it as he suddenly realized that he was very far from the mansion and Stark at that particular point in time. He felt his eyes star to burn, the sudden loneliness and fear that was engulfing him was suffocating and he sucked in a sharp breath, his heart giving a painful beat that yearned for Tony and the peace he constantly gave Loki. The Demi-god couldn't stand the awful aching in his chest, the monstrous emptiness that made him feel so utterly alone that it made the gaping wound in his side seem like a little scratch. Whimpering Loki placed his hands on his wound again when it throbbed painfully, bringing him out of his emotional fight and back to the nightmare of the present. Groaning he coughed, blood catching in his throat when he craned his neck up in a response to the pain. As the warm, red liquid ran into his mouth the Trickster spit, and looked at the blood. Loki was sure if he had had anything in his stomach he probably would have vomited, the overwhelming taste of iron in his mouth making him more than nauseous. Panting for breath as the wound throbbed again Loki looked up when he heard loud, clanging steps sounding out, making their way closer to him with each thud. Glancing around he swallowed hard and began to back away, blood smearing the metal ground and leaving a morbid trail that easily gave him away.

As Doom walked into the back of the carrier he laughed, the sound sharp and cold, just like the metal that he had sank into the Demi-gods side only a day before. Victor's dark green eyes danced with amusement as the Trickster tried to protect himself in any way he could, which at the moment consisted of him sitting and shaking in a corner. Whether it was completely out of fear or the fact Loki's shock was wearing off and his body was beginning to truly react to the wound Doom had inflicted, Victor didn't know. However Doom begrudgingly acknowledged that even in the state he was in, Loki had a fair amount of courage. Even after Victor had stabbed him, Loki had pulled the metal out and slipped it into a gap in the villain's armor, deeply cutting the back of his leg. Not to mention his face was throbbing in pain from the hit he had taken by the pipe. Even without his powers Loki had a mean swing. Doom had learned long ago to keep well away from Loki; the Trickster could easily handle his own in a fight. Frowning behind his mask Victor stared hard at the Demi-god, Loki's weakened body was unaccustomed to the rigors of battle and wounds such as the ones Doom had inflicted. While he had had his magic, the Trickster had been almost immune to pain and wounds, Thor being the only one to prevail in such a task. However now he was nothing more than an ordinary human and had little to no defenses, apart from determination. Loki had already outlived his usefulness to Victor and if the Trickster managed to survive, he'd simply live his remaining days in the dudgeons of Doom's castle.

A sudden coughing fit from Loki drew Doom from his thoughts and he watched as the Trickster's eyes began to close. Loki's breath was shallow and ragged and his skeletal hands still gripped his wound tightly. Victor laughed and watched as Loki coughed violently, blood spraying from his mouth in a thin red mist as his eyes fell completely shut. While Loki once again lost consciousness Doom smiled wickedly and turned, heading back to the front of the carrier.

~0~

Steve wondered around the mansion, his mind blank and his heart heavy. Thor was still a mess and Tony had yet to leave the living room, he had been in there all day, refusing to speak to anyone but Pepper, and even to her he still didn't say much. Rogers wondered down another hall, not knowing where it was he was going; only that he had to keep moving, because sitting still would only let his mind wonder more than it already was. Steve was having a hard time dealing with the fact that he felt guilty. It seemed seeing the Trickster stabbed and bleeding, begging Tony to make it stop had proved too much for Captain America's hollowed feelings toward Loki. He'd never thought he would ever feel anything toward Loki other than hate and animosity, mixed with a desire to see him locked away like the monster he was-his freedom forever taken away. However now Steve was beginning to think about Peppers earlier words, and he was starting to place himself in not only Tony's shoes, but Loki's as well. Trying to see things from both of their points of view seemed to be overwhelming, the emotions that stirred inside him when he thought of both of their positions was choking. As Rogers wondered down yet another winding, massive hallway he began to wonder if he truly had been wrong, what if Loki really had been telling the truth.

Sighing Steve stalled, rubbing at his face and growling, he shouldn't feel guilty for someone like Loki, no matter what his position was right now. He had killed people, tried to take over the world, and had tried to kill the Avengers more times than anyone could count; he was too dangerous to care for. Rogers was terrified for his teammates, they were so blind to the dangers that man posed and Steve was so scared of losing another family, of losing more friends. He didn't want to end up alone again, the feelings he had felt apon waking up from the ice had been overpowering. He had had nothing when he'd awoken, and after so long, he had regained a family and he couldn't lose that again, he wouldn't. However now, it seemed that his family had lost a vital piece of themselves, something that had made everyone work together more easily. Rogers stalled and his heart beat painfully in his chest, while he had yet to accept Loki, the others had made him a dear member of this….very odd circle of friends and they had in turn, given Loki, who had woken out of his stupor with nothing and no one, a home and, just like with Captain America, a family, albeit the oddest family one could gain. As he continued to walk down the hall, his mind now a horrible mess of strangling emotions and crushing guilt, he stalled apon hearing a familiar sound. Glancing over and into the Tricksters bedroom, his eyes widen. Tony had apparently wondered from the living room and into Loki's room and now he sat on the Demi-gods bed, his I-pad in his hands. As Steve listened to the soft melody floating from the device he knew it was the game Angry Birds, the music all too familiar to his ears. Loki had played the game constantly while at the mansion and everyone had been ready to break every electronic device inside the massive tower, the blasted music and tweets of the birds to much to handle after days of hearing it non-stop. The heartbroken look in Stark's big brown eyes as he played the game made Rogers sick with grief; he had never seen Tony so upset, or ever before for that matter. The man guarded himself and his emotions constantly and carefully, never letting his true feelings show. Looking on at Tony with sad eyes Steve watched as Stark continued to play, completely unaware of Rogers presence.

Looking down to the ground and stepping away from the door quietly as Tony continued to grieve; Steve turned and walked back the way he had come. After putting a good distance between himself and anyone who could hear, Rogers spoke.

"Jarvis," He said, his voice hard.

"Yes Mister Rogers," The voice said, only audible in the hallway Steve was in.

"Get S.H.I.E.L.D on the line." He barked.

A/N: :D HAHA! Team break down :B Lol I had to have Tony and Rogers boil over into an argument sooner or later, why not in the middle of a battle :3 Hope it didn't seem out of character or anything. D: