Hey so sorry for the few typos :/

Anyways, thank you to Horizonte for following this story, and to anyone who viewed it. Any criticism is greatly appreciated :)))

Chapter 2:

*Loki's P.O.V*

I landed on the barren lifeless planes habited by the Chitari. My body swelled with pain as blood seeped out of cuts laced across my skin. Freshly forming bruises began to paint my back with deep purples. I attempted to stand, only to fall feebly on my stomach. Winded, my attempts to speak were replaced with agonizing wheezes. I reached out a tentative hand at a dark figure that was fast approaching, but my mind went completely black and I faded into the cold sleep of unconsciousness.

*******Time Skip********

My eyes flitted open momentarily, but they did not see the golden and blindingly bright buildings of Asgard. I forced them closed, and hoped that I was mistaken, that I simply had a bad dream and I was still asleep.

That must be it! I thought, since the lighting was so dark and my vision so blurry. I attempted to raise my arm and pinch myself, but my hands felt like lead and stung with excruciating pain. I then realised I wasn't standing on my legs.. I tried to move my head, but the back of my neck was met with ice cold stone. I panicked. Fear began to surge through my veins, and I started to thrash uncontrollably. It was no use. I went limp and began to pant in order to regain my lost energy. When my vision had completely recovered,I looked around. I heard a muffled and sinister laugh echoing from the far corner of what appeared to be the dungeon I was in. The figure seemed to realised I was aware of their presence, and began to walk towards me. As he emerged from the shadows, the malevolent look in his eyes became clearer. With every step he took, the ground seemed to tremble almost in terror. Once he was less than a metre infront of me, he grunted in amusement at how his head towered massively over my diminutive and chained heap of a body. When he finally spoke,his voice was deep and gravelly, and sent fear racing through every nerve in my brain. I recognized the Titan from ancient legends tucked away in the library on Asgard. Thanos...

"A little Jotun runt . . ."

I gulped at the phrase. My usually cocky and sly demeanour was slipping away from me, but I did my best to plaster over it.

" . . . abandoned even by those who stole him"

My lips began to quiver. The foul man snickered. I looked away, not wanting to face my captor, and my eyes caught sight of a slender dagger in his hand. The tip oozed with a thick, blue translucent liquid that reeked of death. My eyes widened massively as I watched the little drips burn small holes in the rough stone flooring. What that could do to me . . . I dreaded to think. But I couldn't be broken so easily. After all, I am Loki: Prince, God of Lies, Silvertoungue. I would not be broken.

The giant raised the blade, its polished edge glinting in the mild light streaming from a hole in the wall. He brought it down, tracing deep gashes across my skin. The venom scorched my flesh, and I was resisting the urge to writhe in agony. As the torture progressed, I felt my mind slowly unraveling. My facade of confidence and control waning, as my mind slipped in and out of the realms of consciousness. I blacked out several times during the torture, and each time I woke I was horrified that I didn't find myself in the loving arms of Frigga, or with Thor knocking at my bedroom door. Each time I woke, new pains latched onto my skin. Lashes, bruises, blood smears. I was being moulded into a being of pain.

*Aether's P.O.V*

I awoke to unbearable pain rushing through every limb in my body. My head pounded with restless thoughts and I tentatively raised a finger to feel my forehead. I jerked back at the sharp pain, and in doing so hit the back of my head on a wall of some sorts.

"Owwwwwwwww!" I cried. I decided not to move since I was practically incapable of doing anything without hurting myself. I looked around the room, and realized that I wasn't in my apartment. I wasn't home and I wasn't with my fath- No. . . No it can't be. That can't have been real. I can't have used my magic and - NO! I didn't... I wouldn't... He was a bad man, to the point it was almost impossible to call him a man. But I shouldn't - couldn't - have killed him. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Many more clear droplets followed suite, and soon I was practically bawling at the top of my lungs. I was happy to be free finally, but I didn't expect it to come at such a cost. And the trauma seems to already have scarred my mind...

My thoughts were finally broken by a man flinging the door to the room I was in wide open.

"Jeez are you ok?!" The man asked, obviously startled by my wailing.

I recognized the unique beard and face shape. But... It couldn't really be him ... Could it?

"Hello? Anybody home? If you aren't gonna reply, I'll stop wasting my hospitality on y-"

"No wait!" I replied. "I was jus- I mean I was confu- ... ARE YOU TONY STARK?!" I finally managed to choke the words out. The man stared at me with unblinking eyes.

"Well... Yes that would be me" he quickly regained his composure, then proceeded to introduce himself with his usual overly self-confident and charismatic manner of speaking, "Tony Stark, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. At your service." He comically bowed at the foot of the bed I was resting on.

"Now that you finally know the name of your saviour," he smiled, but then let it fade from his face," why don't you tell me where the hell you've been? You collapsed right outside my door with several broken bones. Dr Banner had a hard time getting you into the infirmary, even as the other guy. He kept mumbling something about you have depleted energy levels, and your brain function is abnormally high..."

I was dumbfounded. I couldn't explain to the Tony Stark my abusive family. I tried my best to avoid the truth, but with each excuse he merely gave me a look as if to say "really?". When I finally got round to explaining my story, he was shocked, mouth hanging wide open.

"Jeez I know my dad was bad but... I'm terribly sorry. Do you have any other relatives you can stay with?"

I shook my head. He paced around the room, bearing a contemplative air. He decided that I could stay in a room in Stark tower until he found me somewhere else to stay. I breathed a small sigh of relief, but my happiness quickly melted away when Tony asked me to clarify the whole "magic" thing. This conversation obviously wouldn't end well...