Chapter 24

"Excuse me, Mr. Odinson? I need to have a word with you." Tony says as soon as the door to Loki's room closes behind him. He was actually surprised to see Odin still standing near the room, but he doesn't let that show on his face as his eyes narrow and he frowns.

"Ah, Anthony Stark. To what do I owe this?"

"It's Tony. And please don't give me that shit. I get the feeling you know exactly what I want to talk with you about.

"Tony, then… and I apologize, but I can't say that I do."

"Bullshit." Tony hissed.

"Watch it, boy. You would do well to respect your elders."

"Respect is earned, not just given to every bigoted asshole hanging around." Tony was not surprised when Odin fisted his hands in the front of Tony's shirt and shoved him roughly against the wall. In fact, the action was so expected that he almost had to fight back a laugh.

"Oh, big man, Odin… beating up people smaller than you? Look at you go… better watch out though because if you touch a single hair on Loki's head... just because he's too broken from what you and his jackass ex-boyfriend put him through... I will come after you. That's not a threat; that's a promise." Tony's voice was low and he didn't care what Odin did to him now, as long as his message was clear. Odin just let him go and chuckled.

"Trust me, Anthony... I have no intentions of involving myself with him any further. But remember that I have money... lots of it. And when people are desperate for that... there's very little they won't do." Just like that, Tony remembered the conversation with the barista that morning in Starbucks, but he had to be sure...

"Muninn. Hugh Muninn... he was one of yours wasn't he?" Odin raised his eyebrows at this, no doubt surprised to hear the name from Tony's lips.

"Well, I wouldn't tell you that now would I? But you're a bright kid; I'm sure you've figured it out already."

"You sick... sick man. It's because of you that your son is in here right now. Shut up, I don't care that you don't want to call him your son, it doesn't matter... because he still is. You paid that sonofabitch to work his way into Loki's life and date him and make him believe he was loved before ripping that away fr—,"

"What do you mean, date him?" The look on Odin's face was utter confusion and that gave Tony pause.

"Hugh was dating Loki…" Tony tried to say as nonchalantly as possible but the more he spoke, the angrier he became, "For about two months… until… things started to go bad. Loki didn't know what the hell was going on but it seemed that suddenly Muninn turned on him and tried the same to a girl I know. That was a couple of weeks ago… but then this weekend…. You know what, no. Why should I tell you? You're the one who wanted this all to happen… even paid for that piece of shit to…" He broke off, not wanting to be reminded of the way Loki looked when he'd come home that night. The horror must've shown on Tony's face because Odin's next question wasn't expected.

"What did Muninn do to Loki?" Tony gaped at him for a moment before replying.

"Again, why should I tell you? I believe you've made it pretty clear that you no longer think of Loki as your son… why do you care?" Odin stared at him, thinking that he had a point. Then again, it was his money that Hugh Muninn earned… he was kind of curious as to what the other man had done.

"Because, Stark, if you don't, I'll just ask him and find out any—,"

"That sick fuck raped him!" Tony yelled a little too loudly. His words made Odin's mouth fall open.

"Wha—,"

"You heard me." Tony cut him off. "Twice when they were 'dating'… and then this past weekend…" He clenched his fists at his sides. "And I couldn't do a single goddamned thing to help him. Did you know that he was saving himself? He wanted his first time to be with someone who really cared about him and who he felt the same way about! He's had it taken from him and now he'll never get that back! I've never seen somebody in as much pain as I've seen Loki in the past few weeks. No thanks to you an—,"

"Enough!" Odin nearly yelled at him. Tony did stop talking, but by now he was shaking out of anger. He chanced a glance at the older man and to his surprise, Odin's expression was one of concern and… regret? "I… that's not what I wanted. That's not what I asked for… I just wanted him to listen to me and to respect my decisions."

"It's not your decision! It's Loki's life! So what if he loves another man? Goddamn it, that could've been me! I didn't realize until it was too late, but shit…," He looked down the hall towards Loki's room and swallowed thickly. "I love him. I am in love with your son and I would do anything to make this go away for him. If that means I have to go to bed with nothing but my right hand to keep me company at night because he doesn't feel comfortable doing anything physical because of this… then so be it… but I love him!" Tony gasped at the emotion behind his confession. Odin looked like he was going to say something but was interrupted as Frigga appeared at the doorway to Loki's room. She avoided her husband's gaze, but looked straight at Tony, something unreadable in her face.

"Tony, Loki is awake and would like to see you." She spoke softly and it made Tony's heart lurch in his chest before he walked down the hall to Loki's door, pausing by it briefly before entering.