(A/N: Tumblr prompt fill for vc-ness. Prompt: FrostIron-Loki offers a golden apple to Tony one day, and it's obvious that it must not have been easy to obtain. But why? I don't own the Avengers.)
Apple
There were bloody footprints on his balcony; he noticed them even before he landed. He considered not removing the suit, but opted to take a chance and allowed himself to go unprotected. With silent feet he followed the trail, which led into the penthouse and further into the bedroom that he shared with Loki. Tony's heart was clenching painfully by the time he made it into their room. The trail ended in their bathroom where he could see Loki collapsed against the glass of the shower door.
He knelt beside his lover and slid his hand around slumped shoulders. Loki's legs were drawn up against his chest, arms trapped between them and his chest. One green eye cracked open and Tony froze, Loki's face was cut up, a bruise highlighted one pale cheek. But still he smiled and gave Tony a kiss.
"You scare the hell out of me," the billionaire said softly and Loki extended first one long leg and then the other. Tony could see that elegant fine-boned fingers were wrapped around a shining golden apple. It gleamed in the light, and unlike Loki, looked totally unblemished.
"It was necessary," Loki breathed and gently pressed the apple into Tony's hands. The brown eyed man stared at the apple in confusion. He didn't know why, but it was radiating warmth and felt as light and insubstantial as a bubble.
"For an apple? I don't understand. What do I do with it?" Tony asked, stroking the apple and finding that he could not leave a smudge. Loki's smile did not fade as he shook his head.
"You eat it Anthony," Loki said softly and Tony froze. He lifted his eyes and stared very carefully at his lover.
"What is this?" Tony whispered, barely daring to breathe.
"Please, just trust me. Eat all of it," Loki said, his eyes slipping closed. Tony obeyed, biting into the apple and nearly choking at the unexpected flavor. It tasted like all of his favorite foods all at once and yet somehow it wasn't a bad thing. He ate the shining golden thing, core and all, watching for a reaction from Loki the entire time.
After a long moment there came a searing pain in his chest and his head swam with it. He felt a sharp sting in his flesh and screamed as several shards of metal tore through his shirt, plinking to the floor shining with red. When the pain subsided, his heart beat more easily, the Arc reactor felt warmer and more solid, like a real part of him. When he touched the device out of curiosity he found that it now fitted seamlessly into his chest.
"Loki? What was that?" Tony whispered, slightly frightened as he cradled his lover's face.
"Immortality. It had to repair what was injured first, but that is what it is. You will never know old age, or sickness, or death," Loki whispered and Tony swallowed thickly.
"You almost died so that I could live forever?"
"It was necessary."
(A/N: What did you think folks?)
