Disclaimer: Avengers-IronMan does not own the ACTUAL Avengers.
In fact, the author doesn't even own the original idea for the initial plot (Tony Stark as Loki's son). Please do not PM me about another writer using my idea, unless it is the EXACT same plot line. Thank you.
Chapter 4: Growing Up Part: I
Tony Age: 13
Tony gazed wearily out the large circular window above his fathers bed. Boredom had weighed heavily on his body all day, and had yet to relinquish his mind from its self induced fatigue. Whenever he was a child, everything had been so exciting and new! But now that he was somewhat older he couldn't help but think the opposite. Nothing ever changed, only occasionally rearranging. For instance: as of late the dwarves of Nidavellir. They had grown tired of the unfair trade regulations of Asgard. Why should they have to pay for entrance, when other beings could simply enter?
He never understood it much himself, though his father explained that it had to do with politics and that he would understand in time.
Father…
He sighed, a sad expression drawing his eyes down. Father had been missing from the castle for several days. He and uncle had left before, hoping to calm the council of dwarves before war could be declared. Normally, the Asgardians would welcome the challenge, but the dwarves were known for their marvelous weapons. Should battling commence, Asgard may be victorious, but not without intense casualties. Not to mention, most likely the fight would be on the home front. Dear All-Father, that can't be allowed to happen.
Odin had said that his father and uncle would return at the very least, a month. Until then, Tony had tried focusing on other things. Really, he tried as hard as he could. He attempted to learn more about their culture, and when that was finished, he began learning about the other realms.
After two hours of reading, he was too bored to continue. Who ever wrote those history books really seemed to favor the first level of power (Asgard, Vanahiem, and Alfheim). While it appeared he had a deep hatred for the third level (Hel, Niflhiem) and second level (Midgard, Nidavellir, Jotunheimr, Svartalfheim).
When he had tried to play with the other children, he found that while he had been growing, they had remained the same. Anything that would be acceptable for him to do now were still far to advanced for them. And when he decided to suck it up and ask anyway, they put him in the roll of the villain. He put up his hands and battled away the ruthless knight, vanquishing the vicious barbarian. When he had the other boy on the ground, the smaller of the two had become rose in the face. Soon enough, Tony had four other children shouting at him.
Tony had discovered that day that being the villain isn't a good thing.
It didn't mean he was stronger, or cleverer than the others.
It didn't mean he won.
It meant he was bad... Someone who hurts people.
Someone who didn't deserve others.
Someone… like him…
Tony stopped playing soon after.
He knew it wasn't true, his father had told him so. It wasn't true. It wasn't. They were just confused, being how little they were. If he were a monster, than he would have been locked up. Right?
What if…. What if that was why father had left? Maybe he had grown tired of Tonys irritating presence. Logically, the genius knew how improbable the concept was. After all the times Loki had proven just how much he loved his son, it was nearly impossible.
The genius sighed out, standing from his perch. Whistling, he glanced around for his friend. His only friend.
Small thumps sounded in the hallway, beating in a spastic rhythm. Escalating, puffs of exhaustion spluttered from beyond the intricate oak door. Scratches bit at the bottom of the wood, soft whimpers penetrating the turbulent silence. Tony chuckled, opening it up and watching as a teen wolf sauntered in. Jarvis sent the genius a withering glare, large golden orbs filled with tight childish amusement.
"Don't give me that look, you know that the hallways are off-limits to us. Why were you even out there? Someone could have spotted you." The brown smudge growled slightly in response, bearing his nub teeth.
Tony rolled his eyes, a nasty habit he'd picked up from his time in court with his father. "Oh yeah. Beware, powerful gods, the dust mop is on the attack! What ever shall we do?" A huff of indignation met his words, followed shortly by a nudge to his leg.
He sighed, "No, Jarvis. I don't want to go outside." Another nudge, more forceful this time, complete with a whine for good measure.
"Look, I know you don't like being cooped up in here. Why don't you go bully the horses for awhile?" Jarvis resolutely laid down, his head resting next to the boy's toes. It was one of the ways his friend communicated, meaning It's ok, its no fun alone anyway. Or maybe that was just Tony's head plaguing him with guilt. Either way, he felt the sad need to help his friend enter his conscience once again.
"I…" Tony released a heavy sigh, pouring all his stubborn emotion into it. "I… guess we could leave. But only for a minute, I'm not in a very good mood." Jarvis yipped in glee, speeding ahead of Tony out of the main rooms.
Stepping out the door, Tony eyed the hall back and forth wearily. He wasn't stupid, far from it actually. According to all of the people who heard him speak, he was very a talented boy. A genius mind, growing fast in a small body. Unfortunately, this also meant that Tony was very perceptive. He'd see every time an elder would glare at him from behind. He heard every single blasphemous curse whispered against his well-being. The fact that they all loathed his very existence, and thought he was too moronic to notice they're blunt hatred. They didn't like him wandering the halls.
Ignorant fools.
Sneaking down the marble tile, he eased his way to the near the end of the hall.
It wasn't like he could simply stop existing; he would if he could. With the constant air of detestation and animosity, he just couldn't breathe. Odium filling his windpipe and clogging his air passages.
Chocking him. Killing him. And he. Just. Can't. Breathe.
Ding dong.
Tony jumped at the sudden noise. Fear of being caught caused the genius to leap behind an old, but well dusted, grandfather clock. He peered out from behind the large timepiece listening for the dreaded footsteps to seal his fate. And yet… he heard nothing. Peeking out of his hiding spot, the genius stared at the void walkway.
Ding dong.
Vibrations from the clock rocked the young protégé, as he covered his ears to the vexatious sound. Oh… Well, now he feels like a dolt.
No wonder the other gods think me vacuous.
Awkwardly shifting out of his space behind the clock, solid stillness greeted him in turn. Frivolous delight flooded his core, an ample grin streaking his mischievous face.
Too easy.
Sliding up the embellished walls towards his goal, Tony smirked in satisfaction. He could practically see the brilliant glow of the Asgardian sunset, taste the salt-enlaced, warming breeze.
With his destination in mind, Tony didn't notice the other wayward traveller coming up from behind him. So enthralled in his chance for a moment of freedom, his strangely missing companion had slipped his mind. In fact, the young enervator wouldn't have taken heed at all, had it not been for the near silent clicking of high heels. At first, he hadn't been sure that it wasn't simply his imagination. However, after every third clink, the stiletto would give a small screech, as though whispering to the marble below.
Knowing the dangers one endures when confronting a stranger, Tony wisely chose to take a left. If he could just make it down this hall and to the right, he would arrive in his grandmother's needlework room. True, he absolutely abhorred that room, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Click.
Hearing the clacks from behind up in tempo, the genius found himself beginning to jog. What once was a simple pin-prick of paranoia, had escalated to a deep, dark, fear. Terror racked his brain, urges to run bursting forth from his inner psyche. A small voice inside of his head –that sounded kind of like Loki- forbade it.
'A prince walks pristinely and with purpose, Anthony. We may be gods, but we must still show a little decency.' Because of course he'll want to start obeying his father right now. He couldn't just wait until, maybe, tomorrow to start listening. No, obey the rules when there's a bizarre woman chasing him. Gods, he has to stop listening to his parent.
Click.
Click. Click.
Click. Click. Click.
Oh All-Father, she's getting closer. She's almost here and there's nothing he can do. The noise is louder than it was, as it appears that she doesn't care is she's caught. And while he knows that his father will detest him for it, he has no other choice.
Giving up on the ideal child ruse, Tony breaks into a run; swiftly leaving the stranger behind. While the genius may not have brawn, he certainly made up for it in his quick mind and reflexes.
The clicking continued, before suddenly…
Everything was placid once again. Calm. Quiet.
Too quiet.
Tony turned around, only to find the woman gone. Along with…
"Jarvis?" He called weakly, waiting for the bombardment of licks and nuzzles. But nothing came.
"Jarvis? Buddy, where are you?" Knowing this was perhaps the most idiotic idea he'd ever had, Tony headed back in the direction he had just come from. Nothing soothed his troubled ego, as he tried to think of reasons someone would take his pup. Ransom was a reasonable assumption, considering how much the royal family owns.
'Doesn't pay ransoms.' Whined an echo in his ear, which Tony chose to ignore for the time being. No use in listening to a daft whisper.
Money, everyone is after currency now a days.
Or maybe it's just a prank to scare me back into my room.
"Or, perhaps, it's none of the above." A saccharine sweet voice sung behind him. Tony swung around, gaping at the magnificent goddess before him. With golden locks swirling around her head like a halo, and verdant green irises, she reminded him of his father. Only… as a girl.
The frivolous goddess leered down at the child, "Have you relation to the great prince Thor Odinson?" The question hung in the air, adding tension to Tony's taut form. While a part of him demanded he form a lie to swindle his way out of trouble, the wave of adamant truth swept through his very soul. Truth be told, he wasn't particularly sure that he could lie, even if he wanted to.
Evidently, his silence was all the woman needed in conformation. A shark-like smile slithered on to her lips, her eyes creasing in a malicious leer.
Dizziness erupted around him, vertiginous taking over his entire body. His feet swept the ground, tagging back and forth between the far walls. Dark spots dotted his vision, a massive headache breaking out of his skull. Tony fisted the ground, vaguely being brought back by a high-pitched wail in the background. Who was that? He could punch them right now.
It had not occurred to him that it might be himself.
Tony fisted the ground –when had he fallen?- squeezing his eyes closed to end the blaring lights being forced unto him. His appendages felt cold, while his head burned with a flare of pain.
Thunder boomed around the palace, before darkness won out against the boy's will.
Loki sat on the edge of his bed, hair frizzled from constantly running his fingers through it. His hands were clasped tightly around a pillow. Tony's pillow.
Two weeks. He had left Tony for two weeks.
And now his son was gone.
Gone.
It was his fault.
Tony had asked to accompany himself and Thor on their quest, and he had denied him.
Gone. Gone. GONE.
"Loki?" With a creak of the door, his brother entered the room.
"He's gone…" Loki whispered into the cushion, holding it closer to his chest.
A dip in the bed was his only warning, before two large beefy arms wound their way over his shoulders. Collapsing over the filling bask of emotion he'd been holding in, he allowed himself to be held tightly to his brother. Tears streaked his cheeks, dripping from the tip of his nose to the armor Thor was still dressed in.
"We will find him, Loki," Pulling back to gaze into his brothers twinkling azure eyes, confidence shining as deep as the blue they were set upon, "We will find him, and we will never let him go again."
And for once, the trickster believed in the impossible.
They would find Tony.
Soon.
A/N: So, remember when I mentioned that my computer is on the fritz? Yeah, it will hardly stay on for more than ten minutes or so. Therefore, my updates will be a little uneven for awhile. A thousand apologies ahead of time. R/R And thanks for reading!