Another update! Hope you all are having a good week!

Bucky had pictured this differently. He had pictured striking Loki then gathering him into his arms. Kissing him and berating him as he did so. He imagined Loki hugging him back and apologizing, Bucky would kiss the place he had struck Loki while avoiding the glare Thor would shoot him.

Instead however, Loki went down. Hitting the ground, and attempting to stop his fall. Thor snarled and roughly shoved b the human, knocking his shoulder and reaching for his sibling. Loki's eyes lifted to look at Bucky who stared at Loki.

"Are you mad!?" Thor snarled, helping his brother to his feet. Bucky stared. Loki pulled away from Thor's grasp his eyes meeting Bucky's. "So this is how it is? This is what a relationship with you will be like?"

"Loki I-"

"You hit me because you felt like it?"

"I thought you were dead…"

"Thor thought I was dead. He never struck me."

"I-"

"Both Thor and I thought our mother was dead and the thought to strike her never once crossed our minds."

"I'm sorry! I just reacted."

"Oh yes! Emotions get so strung up that the fists start flying? How quaint. Your 1940's mannerisms are quite fetching." Loki turned and began to head towards his apartment. Bucky took off after him. He grabbed onto his arm only for Loki to shove him to the ground.

"You do not touch me. You do not get to touch me. You have no right to touch me."

"Loki please I thought you were dead! I just overreacted!"

"I can see that quite clearly!"

"Loki…"

"No. I'm done with this. I'm done with you!" Bucky grasped at Loki's arm. "RELEASE ME!" The God snarled and Bucky flinched away. Thor shoved past Bucky. "I will come by the tower later tonight. You will do well to stay out of my way." He growled eying Bucky. Steve nodded helping Bucky up.

"Sorry!" Steve called out helplessly as Thor followed Loki around the corner. Steve turned sharply to Bucky whose face was drawn into a terrible grimace.

"Bucky!"

"I know! I fucked up! I just reacted without thinking!" He moaned. Steve scowled. "You hit him."

"I need to go apologize." Bucky managed attempting to walk in the direction Loki had gone only for Steve to grab him. "Let him be for now. Don't rush up on him." Bucky relaxed under his friend's grip and nodded. "Alright."

The walk to the apartment was in tense silence. Thor's mood had shifted; souring from the elation he had felt earlier. "I will speak with Barnes." He mumbled as they climbed up the stairs. Loki did not respond, too put off by Bucky's actions. He stalled at the door, unsure on how to proceed. Thor after watching him for a moment hesitantly stepped forward. "There's nothing there Loki."

He walked by Loki and cautiously opened the door. He had not returned since bringing Loki to Asgard. The scorch marks and signs of struggle would still be there…

However upon opening the door, he was shocked to see that the burnt floor was replaced. A new wooden floor was laid out. Not only that but there were flowers. Everywhere. Forget-Me-Not's lined the whole wall. Lily of the Valley's were all placed on counter tops and the table. The Poppies all lined the perimeter of the windows. Azaleas wound up the stair banister. Thor blinked in shock as Loki peered around. Near the kitchen he could see a pile of old decaying flowers sticking from a bag. Someone was here replacing the old with the new. Loki slowly made his way past a gaping Thor and up the stairs following the Azaleas. His bedroom door was propped open and cautiously Loki made his way down the hall and peeked in the door. He could see white lilacs on the nightstand and a single red rose on his pillow. A wilting rose sat on the edge of the bed.

Loki edged in the door. He could hear shuffling around the corner. Slipping into his room he stared at Tony Stark's back as he was shuffling around Loki's room, placing wilted flowers into a trash bag and replacing them with fresh. He had yet to notice Loki who sat down on his bed watching the human.

Tony was muttering to himself, carefully sitting the flowers just so. He reached back towards the bed for the dead rose, without looking and Loki silently handed it to him almost laughing as the human ignorantly took the rose. Tony tossed the rose into the bag and Loki watched as he pulled out another rose from his bag of fresh roses.

Tony had been coming to Loki's apartment ever since the accident. He and Bucky had fixed up the floor and repainted. It was hollow, knowing that Loki was gone but the two men found comfort and trying to fix the scene. They had bickered of course at first, both stubborn and spiteful. But both were affected by Loki's death and needed a healthier outlet rather than drinking and fighting. So they agreed to this. The flowers had come afterwards. Tony had felt like it wasn't good enough. There was no grave for Loki. Nowhere he could go and talk to him. He was just gone. So Tony had began decorating the apartment in Loki's favorite flowers. He'd pick some up from the florist who gushed over the lucky lady. Tony would come and place the flowers in certain spots getting rid of the old ones. Rhodey had agreed it was a better outlet and managed to keep Indries distracted most days with random friend fiancé outings.

It left Tony some much needed time to himself. With the baby and wedding on the way, Tony needed to get out. The tower suffocated him. The obsession over finding the arsonist plagued his mind as well as wishing he could find Loki's murderer and kill it. Bucky had taken to walking. Every morning he would get up early and go for a long walk. Sometimes he would taken Steve with him. Usually he was on his own. Pepper had agreed Tony needed time; not once having shoved it in his face that it was his fault Loki was dead. That if Loki had still been his he could have protected him. He could have spared him from the fire. But instead he had fucked it all up. Tony could just imagine the look on Indries's face when she found out where he was spending his days. He could picture her rage. He didn't care.

Yet, at the same time…he didn't want to fail Indris like he had failed Loki. He didn't want to lose his fiancé like Loki had been lost to him. He'd do better this time around. He'd protect his lover this time. Shaking his head as he reached out for the dead rose, he took it frowning. Placing it in the trash bag he dug around for the fresh, finding it and wondering if he had already replaced it with a fresh one. Muttering to himself he turned to place it on the bed when instead he came face to face with a pair of bright green eyes.

Loki sat on the bed Indian style watching Tony in interest. Tony stared at him I shocked silence for a moment before his brain caught up with his eyes. Yelping, Tony stepped back from the bed, stumbling over his own feet and landing on his ass. Loki laughed at Tony's expression and slowly stood to help him up. Tony stumbled to his feet his eyes never leaving Loki.

"You-you're alive?" The mortal croaked.

"Yes."

"Thor said he watched you die…"

"I was gravely wounded, but am recovering." Loki replied calmly. Tony gulped looking Loki up and down. "You're alive…" he repeated absently. "Yes, Stark." Loki replied managing to hide his amusement. Tony nodded his eyes shining. "Can I…can I hug you?"

"Hug me? Why?"

"To make sure you're real."

"I assure you Stark I am quite real."

"Yeah, but…" Tony trailed off. Loki rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Fine." He replied. Slowly Tony approached, eyebrows furrowed. Loki remained tense as Tony suddenly wrapped his arms around him, his head resting against Loki's throat. Arms stiff at his sides, Loki allowed Tony to hug him. Tony breathed in raggedly, the familiar scent of Loki filling his senses.

"I'm not hurting you am I?"

"No."

"Okay, good…shit this is probably really awkward for you." Tony stated, not pulling away from Loki.

"Incredibly."

"Sorry." He murmured, still not releasing Loki. Loki blinked. Slowly his arms relaxed and he hesitantly hugged Tony back. Tony's nose moved to the hollow of Loki's throat and breathed. "Jesus Shakespeare…" He mumbled his old nickname for Loki who chuckled. "Hello Anthony." Finally Tony pulled out of the hug, his eyes reddened. He offered Loki a teasing smile but it came out weak. Looking at his feet Tony laughed.

"It's good to see you." He managed. Realizing that the rose was still in his hand he offered it to Loki. "Here…sorry it's kinda crushed." Loki took the rose and smiled. "Thank you." He placed the rose on the bed.

"Thor's downstairs." He offered. Tony nodded jerkily. "Kay…" He allowed Loki to lead him from his room. Following the god down the stairs. Thor was standing by the window sniffing a Poppy when he looked up in surprise.

"Stark! What are you doing here?"

"Flower delivery." The inventor mumbled. Thor's browns furrowed. "You brought the flowers."

"Yeah."

"Loki adores flowers."

"Thor." Loki hissed and Tony cracked a smile. "I know." Thor offered the mortal a smile. "It was very kind of you."

"He…he's alive." Tony stated. Thor nodded. "He has a chest wound, but is beginning to heal." Thor confirmed, watching as Loki sat on the sofa moving a bunch of flowers aside. Tony turned to Loki.

"You sure I didn't hurt you?" Loki waved a hand. "You were quite gentle Stark." Tony stared at Loki for a moment before facing Thor. "Does anyone else know?"

"The good captain and Bucky Barnes met us on our way here." Tony slowly nodded. "Oh….okay…" He watched as Loki shifted on the couch, his face tense. "Does he need anything?"

"Rest mostly. It had become infected and will take some time for his magic to reach enough strength to heal him."

"He has his powers back."

"Aye…it is slow to take full affect." Thor stated. Tony looked around. "I can clean up the flowers if you want." Thor opened his mouth to reply when Loki cut him off.

"No I like them." He stated eying Thor who nodded. "He wishes to keep them." He commented and Tony grinned. "Sounds about right….how about I get us something to eat?"

Bucky sat in his bedroom staring out the window in silence. The street below was busy. The city was alive. Sighing He pressed his nose against the glass watching the area in front of him fog up. He heard a knock at his door and slowly looked up.

"Yeah?" He croaked. "Bucky?" Natasha's voice called out. "We're all heading to Thor's place. Steve made Loki a card. You want to come with us?"

"I don't think Loki will want to see me…"

"Steve told me what happened…can I come in?"

"Yeah." He looked up as Natasha slipped in quietly closing the door behind him. "Steve told me."

"Course he did."

"It was pretty dumb of you to hit him."

"Thanks Tasha, the support helps." Bucky replied blandly. Natasha smiled and pushed her hair from her face. "It was stupid, but people react to those sort of things in different ways." She murmured. Bucky nodded stiffly. "Yeah."

"Just come talk to him okay?" After a moment Bucky nodded again. "I will." He allowed Natasha to usher him from his room. The team made their way to the apartment. Tony was already there. When walking in the team were surprised by the large bouquets of flowers strewed around the apartment. Loki was seated on the couch munching from a box of fried rice. The team greeted him and Thor asking how he was feeling.

"I'm quite well now thank you." He stated through a mouth full of rice. Steve handed him the card he had made causing the God to laugh. "If heroism does not work out for you, you could start a career in stationary." He quipped. Steve smiled back. The atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed. Everyone ate and drank and Clint had warmed up to Loki from the last time they had seen each other. The two discussed several movies they had become fond of. Clint had even complimented Loki's fighting techniques, although reluctantly. Bucky however kept his distance. He sat with Natasha neat the window staring at Loki.

"I don't know what to say to him." The man hissed. Natasha eyed him. "Just walk up and apologize."

"Thor's glaring at me."

"You punched his brother in the face. You're lucky he's not killed you yet."

"Thanks Romanoff."

"Anytime Barnes." She watched in amusement as he stood and slowly began to approach Loki who looked up him warily. Bucky sat down across from him offering him his drink. Loki shook his head. "Can we talk?" Bucky asked looking around. "Somewhere private?" Loki stared at the man for a moment before slowly standing. "Make it quick." He stated in a clipped sound. Nodding Bucky led Loki up the stairs towards the god's room. Tony staring after the pair in silence.

Bucky opened Loki's door letting the God enter first. Loki briskly entered the room, whirling to face Bucky. "What is it?"

"I wanted to apologize." Bucky stated softly. Loki stared unimpressed. Bucky ran a hand nervously through his hair. "I messed up okay? I shouldn't have hit you."

"No you shouldn't have." He replied icily. Bucky gulped and brushed his hair from his face. "Please, just tell me what you want me to do."

"Leave me alone." Loki replied casually staring at the other man in annoyance. Bucky shook his head. "I can't do that." He murmured. Sitting down he reached for Loki taking his hand and squeezing it. He pulled the god to sit beside him. "I'm so sorry Loki." He croaked. "I thought you had died….and then there you were. I just…I didn't know what to say or do…my body reacted before my mind did." Loki looked at their entwined fingers.

"You struck me…"

"I know…I know I'm sorry…" Bucky murmured reverently. Loki sighed. "This can't go on. You can't just hit your anger away."

"Loki…"

"I need… I need time to think."

"Loki…"

"James," Loki snapped. "Please just give me this." He stated through gritted teeth. Standing he pulled his hand free and stormed from the room leaving Bucky to sit desolately alone in Loki's room.

Loki made his way down the steps. He accepted the drink Clint offered to him and sat down on the couch beside Thor. Across from him, his eye caught Tony's. Tony offered him a small smile. Loki smiled back nervously and looked down at his drink. He missed the guilt that flashed in Tony's eyes.