Author's Note:

Pairing: Tony Stark/Loki

Warnings: Mild language, mentions of sex and violence

Title: 21 Guns by Green Day

Disclaimer: The world and characters of The Avengers belong to Marvel. I own nothing but the plot and make no money from this story.

They had twelve hours until the magic bomb was set to go off- magic bomb, seriously, what the hell had Tony's life become? Anyway, twelve hours to go, and none of them could stop it. Not SHIELD, or Natasha and Clint, or even Thor with his understanding of magic, as limited as it might be when compared to others. Tony knew what their only option was- their only chance at saving New York and all the people in it. SHIELD had left it too long, and New York was too big a place to evacuate in such a few hours. The panic wouldn't have even begun to wane before the bomb went off, devastating everything for hundreds of miles.

Yeah, they only had one option. But surprisingly, it wasn't Tony, or even Thor who suggested it; it was Natasha.

'We have to ask Loki.'

Every head in the briefing room turned to her. Clint was under the table, had been for the last four hours, trying to catch a nap, and whacked his head on the underside. He cursed before scrambling across the floor, and popped up opposite Tony.

'What?!'

Natasha gave him a condescending look, and Thor asked, 'My brother?'

'Yes, your brother,' Natasha said.

Fury was just staring at her- Coulson, too. Bruce sighed, Steve took a sip of his coffee, and Tony blinked rapidly.

'Loki?' he asked. 'As in, super villain who likes to throw us into buildings regularly and set fire to cars Loki?'

'Yes, that LokI!' Natasha snapped. She rounded on Fury. 'Thor's already looked at the bomb, and he told us he has no idea how to deactivate it.'

'Yes, I was there, Agent Romanov,' Fury grunted.

'We only know two people capable of magic; Dr Doom and Loki,' Natasha continued. 'Doom will kill us if we approach him, but Loki-'

'Won't?' Clint interrupted with a laugh. 'Nat, he tried to kill us last Thursday!'

'He never does, though,' Natasha said, and her eyes flashed to Tony. Tony squirmed in his seat, but tried to look unaffected. It wasn't like Natasha knew. 'He plays with us more than anything, and you all know it. We know where he is, because he hasn't bothered moving since Thor found his apartment.'

'Not like we can get past his wards,' Clint muttered in disgust.

Natasha ignored him, her eyes still fixed on Fury. 'What other choice do we have, Director?' she demanded. 'If we ask and he says no, so be it. If we ask and he says yes, we save over eight million lies.'

'And why would Loki say yes?' Coulson asked. He looked more curious than anything, and Tony knew that he was all for the idea. After all, like Natasha had said; what did they have to lose?

Well, whatever Loki demanded in return for helping them.

'He'll want something,' Natasha said, voicing Tony's thoughts, 'and if it's worth eight million lives, we agree.'

Tony wasn't sure if they could offer Loki anything that would make him say yes. He could probably offer Loki something, but then again he usually offered Loki all sorts of things for free. Like a cellphone, a tablet, his ass...

'Fine,' Fury said, and Tony blinked back to himself.

He looked around and realised that everybody was moving. They must have continued the conversation when he was lost in thought. Tony groaned and stood, stretching every which way to try and work out the kinks in his back and neck. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd slept. At this point he was running on caffeine and a good dose of fear. Because if Loki didn't say yes, they were all dead, Tony included. There was no want in hell Tony Stark was abandoning New York.

{oOo}

Loki lived in an upscale apartment in Manhattan. His living room and bedroom both offered great views of Central Park; Tony knew, he'd been there. He didn't voice any of that as the Avengers, plus Fury, got out of the elevator and walked down the short hallway to apartment 5C.

SHIELD had known where Loki lived for a good six months now, but they were unable to even enter the building unless Loki let them. They'd found out the hard way; an entire SWAT team had been teleported to a research facility in the North Pole. Loki had promised more bloody results if SHIELD tried again (which Fury had; he'd lost four agents). Since then, SHIELD had monitored Loki's house from afar, which didn't do any good, seeing as how Loki mostly teleported in and out of his place.

This time Loki allowed them in, apparently curious as to what the entire Avengers team wanted. The door wasn't locked and Tony, leading the way, entered first, glancing around the short hallway. It was painted dark red, bleeding into a navy blue when the walls became the living room. Tony's team mates followed him down the hallway, all glancing about, curious despite themselves.

They found Loki in the living room, sitting in the only armchair. There was a sofa directly beside him that could comfortably seat four people (or two Thors), and a few stools lined up against the counter that divided the living room and kitchen.

'Shall I offer you a drink?' Loki questioned.

'We're here on business, Laufeyson,' Fury said, not beating around the bush.

Loki looked more amused than anything, and Tony could read the curiosity in his eyes, in the slight arch of an eyebrow. 'Please have a seat,' he replied.

Tony, Fury, and Thor all did; the others remained standing near the counter.

'Well?' Loki asked.

When Fury failed to say anything, just staring at Loki in... well, fury, Tony took over.

'There's a magic bomb set up a few streets from here,' he said.

Loki looked at him, eyebrow arching higher. 'Is that what all that commotion was a few days ago?' Tony nodded. 'I see,' Loki mused. 'I can feel the magic, you know,' he continued pleasantly, 'that amount of raw power isn't something you mortals can stop.'

'If you knew of it, then why didn't you bother to do anything?' Fury demanded.

Loki smirked at him. 'I am not a hero, Director Fury, as you all gladly remind me every time we meet. Why would I do anything?'

'We need you to take a look at it,' Natasha broke in before Fury could do anything else- like shout or maybe shoot Loki. 'If you can sense it, then maybe you can stop it.'

'Oh, I know who put it there,' Loki said, 'and I can stop it. But why should I?'

Tony swallowed thickly. He was prepared to offer Loki anything to save his city; money, technology, his body... again. But Tony didn't want to have to offer his body. He wanted Loki to save New York because he liked it, because it was Tony's home, because... because he wasn't completely evil. Loki was messed up, and he wasn't a good person, but he wasn't evil.

'Brother, please,' Thor said, which really wouldn't help. The best way to piss of Loki was to call him Thor's brother.

It worked; Loki scowled and shot Thor a look, closely followed by, 'I'm not your brother, you blonde idiot!'

Natasha stepped forward, apparently having had enough, and planted herself between the counter and the TV. Loki liked reality TV, Tony knew. He liked to yell at the idiots on it before Tony managed to distract him with kisses and blow jobs.

'Look, Loki, we need your help,' she stated bluntly, arms folded over her chest. Loki leaned back, looked away from Thor to meet her eyes. 'You know that we do. You're our last option.'

'How sweet,' Loki sneered.

'You'll either help us or you won't,' Natasha continued as though the god hadn't spoken. 'Either you'll come with us now to look at the bomb, saving New York, or you won't.'

'And how are you going to convince me to help you?' Loki asked. 'I'm quite fascinated to hear what you think I'll save your pitiful city for.'

Natasha stared at him, not scared in the least. Loki could kill them all right now, but Natasha knew he wouldn't. Tony knewhe wouldn't.

'I know that you've been sleeping with Tony,' Natasha revealed, and Tony nearly choked on his own tongue. If he'd been drinking anything, he would have spat it across the floor. Fury turned to glare at him- Steve and Clint, too. Bruce just sighed, like he knew it was inevitable- probably did, going by all the looks he'd caught Tony and Loki giving each other during fights. Thor simply gaped.

Natasha kept her eyes on Loki, and Loki... well, he didn't so much as blink; didn't even twitch. He just surveyed Natasha with cool eyes, as though he'd known she was going to say that.

'And?' he finally questioned.

'I know that it started as just sex,' Natasha said, 'and I know that three months ago it turned into more for Tony.' Loki still didn't move, and Tony rubbed his face. Shit. 'I also know that if you don't help us, we're all going to die,' Natasha continued, 'because there's no way in hell the Avengers are going to leave until that bomb ticks down to zero. That includes Tony.'

She paused, took a breath, and spoke once more.

'If you don't care about Tony, you'll let us go and watch him die in eleven hours,' she said. 'If you love Tony like I know he loves you, then you'll help us.'

A thick, smothering silence fell over them. Clint and Steve were still glaring at Tony, as though he'd told Loki all their secrets (for the record, he hadn't). Bruce and Thor were more focused on Loki; Fury, too. Natasha hadn't looked away from the Trickster, and Loki was staring her in the eyes, as though trying to ferret out her secrets.

Great. They were all dead. Because Tony knew that Loki didn't really care about him; as a good lay, maybe, but that was it. What they had was sex; nothing more, nothing less. Tony's feelings might have changed, but Loki's sure as hell hadn't. He still blasted Tony with magic on a regular basis; still crushed his suit during every fight. Just because they fucked every now and then didn't mean that Loki actually cared.

Tony sighed and it seemed to draw Loki's attention. The god looked at him, his green eyes shadowed as always; blank, not a secret being spilled. Tony smiled weakly. He wondered if Loki understood what he was saying; that Tony knew he wouldn't help, that he'd teleport away and watch as the Avengers died together, finally allowing Loki more freedom to do what he wished.

A part of Tony wished that Loki would help because he wanted Tony as much as Tony wanted him; a bigger part of him, the part used to constantly being disappointed, knew that he wouldn't.

'You think I care about Stark?' Loki finally asked. His voice was absolutely emotionless, and Tony felt his heart break just a little. 'You think that what we have is more than sex?'

'On his part, certainly,' Natasha replied. 'On your part? I'm not sure.'

Loki's eyes narrowed a fraction, and Natasha just continued to stare.

Tony almost choked again when Loki's perfectly, flawless mask cracked. It fell away in bits; first his eyes flickered, and lightened, as though a burden had been lifted; then his mouth twisted into a grimace before becoming a smile, a mirthless chuckle escaping his lips.

Loki sighed and reached to scrub his face, fingers then threading through his dark hair. 'I shall help you,' he said.

Tony gaped. Natasha looked smug.

Clint swore.

{oOo}

SHIELD had cordoned off an entire six-block radius around the bomb. A lot of good that would do, when it exploded. If it explodes, Tony thought, glancing at Loki. He and Loki were in the back, Natasha driving with Bruce in the passenger seat. Clint, Steve, Thor and Fury had taken the other car.

They didn't talk as Natasha drove, even though Tony kind of wanted to. He wanted to ask Natasha how long she'd known, and why she'd never said anything; because the others clearly hadn't known. Why had she kept it from them? Why hadn't she told Fury, and had Tony thrown in a cell for fraternising with the enemy? Hell, why hadn't Natasha told him and forced him to stop?

And why the fuck had Loki agreed to stop the bomb?

Tony refused to believe that Loki cared about him. Nobody cared about him apart from Pepper and Rhodey. Sometimes the Avengers did, but it was mostly because he had something to offer; his suit, his intelligence, his money. Tony had nothing to offer Loki but a warm body and bed.

There must have been some other reason for Loki agreeing; maybe he just liked New York. Maybe he just liked fucking with the Avengers and didn't want his favourite toys to die. Maybe, maybe, fucking maybe.

Tony sighed, and Loki glanced at him. He didn't say anything, though, and Tony was grateful. He needed more time to pull his thoughts together.

They reached the bomb site after another half hour of driving, and Natasha and Loki got out of the car first. Tony remained seated, and when he did Bruce opened his door and stared at him.

'What?' Tony asked.

Bruce smiled tiredly. 'I'm sorry, Tony.'

'For what?'

'For... everything?' Bruce tried. 'For you and Loki being found out that way? For Loki agreeing to help? I don't know.'

Tony frowned slightly. 'Did you know?'

'That you and Loki were sleeping together?' Tony nodded. 'Not exactly, no,' Bruce shook his head. 'I thought you might be. And if you weren't already, I thought you would be sooner rather than later.'

'Why?' Tony asked.

Bruce chuckled. 'I've seen the way you look at each other. I might not be the best judge of character, but I'm not blind.'

'You never said anything.'

'No, I didn't,' Bruce agreed.

'Why?'

'Because it's none of my business.' Bruce shrugged and stepped back. 'Still isn't.'

Tony finally climbed out of the car and stretched. He hesitated before clapping Bruce on the shoulder. 'Thanks, Bruce,' he said, and walked away before Bruce could reply.

He eventually found Loki at the bomb site, crouched over it and muttering under his breath every so often. His fingers were twisted through the air, shoulders sometimes moving as he made slashing motions. The Avengers, plus Fury and Coulson, were standing at the edge of the bomb site, on the wooden floor that had been erected over the road.

Tony gulped but moved around them, not one of them trying to stop him as he approached Loki and eventually sat opposite him. Loki had removed some of his armour, now only dressed in leather pants and a green tunic. It was what he usually wore when he teleported into Tony's bedroom.

'I'm a bit busy at the moment, Stark,' Loki said without looking up. 'We'll have to save the heart-to-heart for a later date.'

'You're an asshole,' Tony said, and Loki chuckled. 'Why are you helping us?'

Loki's eyes flicked up to him, but almost immediately when back to staring at the bomb, his hands still moving. 'I thought that was made clear with Romanov's revelations,' he said.

'Um... not really, no,' Tony shook his head.

'Oh?' Loki asked, a single eyebrow raised.

'Yeah,' Tony said. 'You could just be helping us 'cause you don't want your play things to die.'

Loki smirked lightly. 'I could be,' he agreed.

Tony took a breath, and let his eyes drop to Loki's hands as he asked, 'Or you could be doing this because you don't want me to die.' Loki's hands stalled briefly before commencing their work. Tony watched. 'You could be doing this because Natasha was right.'

'I know better than to fight a battle I know I will lose, Anthony,' Loki said after a brief beat of silence. 'I know when to give up and run.'

'Is this you giving up and running?' Tony asked.

'Me agreeing to help was me giving up our façade, Anthony,' Loki said. 'It was me giving up the pretence that I don't care for you.'

Tony sucked in a breath. Loki looked up at him, green eyes bright in a way Tony had rarely seen.

'I would rather them know that I love you,' Loki said, 'than have you think that I don't.'

Tony had stopped breathing, and had to wonder if this was a dream. Maybe he'd fallen asleep at that meeting, and Natasha had never suggested going to Loki for help. Maybe Natasha didn't know that Tony was sleeping with Loki, that Tony had fucking feelings for Loki. Maybe Loki really didn't care, hadn't just told Tony that he loved him.

'Are you alright, Anthony?' Loki asked. His eyes were back on his work, and his voice had taken on an amused tone.

'I hate you,' Tony growled.

'I think you're adorable,' Loki replied. 'And odd. I tell you I love you, and you respond with hate?'

'You just told me in front of the Avengers and SHIELD!' Tony snapped.

'Yes, I did, didn't I?' Loki mused. 'Perhaps I've lost my mind. Or lost more of it, as I was hardly sane to begin with.'

'You are insane,' Tony sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. 'I'm insane.'

'For sleeping with me?' Loki questioned.

'For loving you back, you jerk,' Tony grunted.

Loki's fingers twitched, and his entire body went still.

'You heard me,' Tony muttered. 'I'm not saying it 'cause you said it, alright? I do fucking love you.'

Loki was silent for about a minute before he laughed softly. 'You're crazier than I first assumed.'

'Maybe,' Tony shrugged, 'doesn't change how I feel.'

'Or how I feel,' Loki said.

'Yeah,' Tony murmured. He looked down at the bomb. It looked like one you'd see on TV; a big block with a few wires, a clock that was steadily ticking down to zero. Only it glowed purple, and the magic radiating from it had stopped anyone getting too close. 'Can you stop this?'

'I know who built it,' Loki replied. 'So yes.'

Tony just nodded. He knew that they'd have to talk- talk properly- but that could happen later, after the bomb was taken care of and Tony and Loki were alone. That was if Fury didn't decide to cart his ass off to some prison underground. Maybe Loki could teleport them to the Bahamas. Tony had always love the beach.

'Done,' Loki stated suddenly, and if Tony hadn't been sitting he would have fallen on his ass. Because Loki chose that moment to lean over the now dead bomb and kiss Tony softly. 'We shall speak later,' he whispered before standing, turning to face Fury and the others. 'Now that I've helped you, I want something in return.'

Fury was scowling, as usual. 'Like what?' he demanded.

'You leave Anthony alone for sleeping with me,' Loki stated. 'And perhaps, sometimes, I'll help you with any magic related problems you have.' He raised an eyebrow, as though daring Fury to refuse such a good deal.

Fury sighed and rubbed his one good eye. 'I don't get paid enough to deal with this shit,' he grunted. 'Coulson, take care of this motherfucker,' he then ordered and walked off. Clint, Steve, and Bruce all followed after him, leaving Thor and Natasha.

Thor was beaming at his brother, as though him sleeping with Tony was a good thing. Tony supposed that it was better than getting the shovel talk from a guy who could crush you with his pinky.

Natasha smirked and folded her arms when Tony met her eyes. 'So...' Tony hummed.

'I am so going to make you suffer for this, Stark,' Natasha declared. Her voice was more amused than threatening, though that didn't bode any better for Tony.

'Uh... I'm sorry?' he tried.

'He isn't,' Loki interrupted. 'Believe me, he's rather enjoyed the sex.'

'Loki!' Tony snapped.

Loki just grinned, and Tony's heart skipped a beat. Fuck, Loki loved him.

Tony pinched himself. Nope, not dreaming.

He grinned, too.

Author's Note: So I was watching Heroes and this happened; my muse is a strange thing indeed. And he likes making me write stories where Loki and Tony declare their love in front of other people, apparently.

Cheers,

{IBegToDreamAndDiffer}