The Lover That Went Wrong
- Chapter Eleven -
"What do you need me to do?" Loki asked.
Tony glanced sideways and, for one brief moment, he was speechless as he found Loki standing beside him because who would have thought that he'd be standing side by side with him again, that they'd be allies after everything that had happened between them? He couldn't wrap his head around it, but then again, they'd found common ground. The only reason why they weren't clawing each other's eyes out was because they were determined to find their son and they needed each other for that – or so Tony liked to believe. He refused to admit just yet that he felt excited to be so close to Loki again, that he felt stronger as he stood beside him, seconds away from going against SHIELD and every agent inside that building ahead of them.
"I need you to keep them busy," He replied while turning his gaze ahead again. Every SHIELD facility – the one they were looking at included – was a fort with the world's best agents and assassins working in there and guarding it. Attempting to break in was foolish so Tony thanked whatever God was still out there that for all his brilliance and ingenuity, he could be very stupid. Or perhaps 'breaking in' was the wrong word. After all, he had an entrance card and if he walked through the halls of that place, no-one would throw him a second glance – or maybe they would since he was Tony Stark, Iron Man, and he was both famous and notorious.
No, the real stupid part of his plan was the fact that he was going to break into Fury's office and hack his computer. He wished he could do that from his basement, but – sadly, yet not surprisingly – Fury wasn't dumb enough to connect his laptop to any network. So Tony needed to get his hands on the actual device and this was the only way.
"That's not a problem," Loki grinned, his green gaze fixed on the entrance of the building. They were at the edge of the city, but the whole place looked rather abandoned. There were various buildings surrounding them, but Tony had a feeling they all belonged to SHIELD – probably storage units and possibly weapon's depots. They would have to be quick and clever; in and out.
"Don't kill them all," Tony said, and he instantly found Loki's narrowed, skeptical eyes on him, "Oh, don't give me that look," He added before Loki had the chance to speak or, most likely, sneer something at him, "We're here for one thing; a location. I don't want this to become a blood-fest."
"How dull," Loki drawled while rolling his eyes. He lifted both his hands, two daggers appearing in them out of nowhere, his fingers instantly curling around the hilts of the weapons. "I'd promise you that I won't kill them all, but I can't. If they come near me or threaten the success of this plan, I will slit their throats."
For one long moment, Tony gazed at Loki, but he only needed one second to understand that he wasn't kidding. He would kill them all if that meant getting their son back and maybe he shouldn't feel so scared by that. They were on the same side after all, but the idea still didn't sit very well with Tony. Before he could speak up, however, Loki threw him a dark glance, one that instantly silenced him, and Tony was uncertain of what he'd said or done exactly that could have Loki so visibly angry all of a sudden.
"You said you would not stop me if I wanted to burn them for what they have done," Loki said with a low, almost hissing voice, and ah yes, Tony did remember telling him that, "I suppose I was wrong about you. You do nothave what it takes."
"Maybe not," Tony snapped back. He felt both surprised and relieved to find that his unwillingness to just take those words had taken Loki off guard. "I just don't want anyone dead who doesn't have to be."
Loki hummed. "That's the difference between you and me, Stark," He said, shaking his head ever so slightly. Tony couldn't help but dislike the way Loki addressed him by his last name which was a ridiculous notion, he knew that, but somehow he thought they were passed last-name-basis after everything that had happened between them. "You are still trying to be a hero in this story. You haven't yet realized that you are already turning into a villain."
"I'm really not in the mood for your Shakespearean deductions or physiological illations," Tony smiled sharply, and for the first time, he knew his gaze stood cold and calculated. He could tell Loki was amused by it, could tell by the way his dark green eyes lit up, by the way the corners of his lips curved upward ever so slightly. "Just keep them busy, keep them off of my back."
"Of course," Loki said, eyes turning back to the building ahead of them, "Do hurry up. The longer I have to entertain them, the more their survival-rates will dwindle."
Tony didn't say anything anymore. He walked toward the building, wishing he could wear his Iron Man suit, but of course he couldn't. Everyone would instantly know he was up to something and he didn't really feel like shooting this place up. He'd leave that to Loki.
Without looking back, without wanting to see that terrifying look in Loki's eyes – because it would speak of murder and chaos and ruin – he entered the building and headed for Fury's office.
-/-
It was as if the mortals weren't even trying anymore.
At first, they had come at him so very fiercely and determine. It had almost been admirable, but after having pierced a few hearts, killing those agents swiftly and painlessly – which would be his only real kindness of the day – Loki found that the others were rather … hesitant. They were still firing bullets at him, in every shape and with every kind of gun, but he deflected them so very easily and truly, was this the best they could do? Had they learned nothing? It was no wonder they needed a bunch of dressed up dolls with impossibly good facial structure to defend them. If they hadn't had the Avengers, he would have so easily defeated them all, making them bow down before him.
Honestly, it was getting ridiculous. Were they even trying? Bullets weren't going to hurt him, they definitely were not going to kill him, nor was that flame-thrower one idiot had fired at him. Perhaps sending that man to his death by fire had been a bit dramatic, but … well … he had tried to light him on fire first. His screams still echoed through his mind, but Loki wasn't particularly bothered by that.
The others had learned how dangerous and unpredictable he was, however, and their attacks had grown rather dull. Loki felt bored and if Stark didn't return soon, he would just blow each and every SHIELD agent into a thousand bits and pieces, or maybe he could try the Soul Gem on them. He'd seen its effects on a few Asgardians hundreds of years ago and he wondered what would happen should he use it on a mortal soul. It was an untested theory.
Another dozen bullets came at him and Loki, sighing exasperatedly, easily threw up a force-shield to protect himself, only to send those bullets right back where they came from. He watched in delight as two SHIELD agents fell down, blood pooling beneath their bodies.
More men came his way and Loki smiled at the sight. They were nothing more than lambs led to the slaughter-bank. One flick of his wrist later and more daggers were sent their way. Some got their shoulders pierced, others had their throats cut. Loki didn't care whether they lived or died. He simply reveled at the chaos surrounding him, at the screams reaching his ears, at the smell of blood filling the air. Another flick of his wrist later and flames erupted all around them, and since Tony wasn't around to stop him, they would all burn.
Something heavy and hard knocked against his shoulder, and Loki almost lost his balance. Furiously, ready to tear apart whoever had dared to touch him, he spun around, only to find himself facing his brother – no, Thor – who easily caught Mjolnir as it returned to his hand.
"Enough, Loki," Thor said brazenly, his blue eyes wide and confident, as if he had any say in what was happening, what would happen.
Loki wanted to laugh in his face, but he was too irritated and flustered at the moment. His attention had slipped and the flames around him had died out. The chaos surrounding him had lessened and an eerie silence had settled around them, most SHIELD agents having run – out of fear, to get more weapons, to get back-up, whatever – and those that couldn't run were smart enough to keep quiet.
"Enough," Thor repeated more calmly.
"I was wondering when you'd show up to protect your pets," Loki said sharply. He glanced around in search of the other Avengers, but he found no-one and it made him wonder what in the Nine Realms Thor's intentions were.
"That is not why I am here," Thor replied without missing a beat. The sincerity in his voice was enough to have Loki narrow his eyes. He loathed Thor's attitude, the way he still seemed to want to help, but there was no denying that his first concern were these pathetic Midgardians. Loki honestly didn't understand why Thor loved them so much, why he risked so much for them, why he would die for them.
"Then why did you just stop me?" Loki asked. A ghost of a smirk appeared on his face, because seeing Thor's reticence was nothing short of amusing. "Oh, of course," He continued before Thor had a chance to, "I forgot that you are incapable of standing by idly, of doing nothing. That's not in your nature. You're too noble, too kind and too heroic."
Loki's words could have been a compliment had they been spoken by anyone else, but the way they had been spoken made them sound like the lowest of insults. At least, that had been the intention, but Thor looked strangely, annoyingly unbothered.
"I know about Fredric," Thor said. Loki's hands turned to fists, uncertain if he would like what Thor would say next, but he assumed he wouldn't like it all. "I know he is alive."
"I've heard you were unaware," Loki said. For one brief moment, he felt his chest tighten painfully with the idea that Thor might have known all along, and that betrayal would hurt him more than he dared to admit. "Let me swear to you right here and now that if ever I learn that you knew all along, I will burn you for it."
Thor's gaze steadily met his. "Then I'll never burn."
"I will get him back," Loki said with heat in his voice. He knew Thor wanted to protect this world, but he was entirely willing to rip it apart if that meant getting his son back. "I'll get him back even if it means I have to murder every SHIELD agent I encounter."
"I'm not here to stop you from finding him," Thor replied. He took a step forward, but Loki wasn't quite ready to be close to him. He quickly stepped back, every muscle in his body growing tense. "I'm here to help you, brother."
No matter how hard Loki tried to hide the shock in his eyes, he knew he was failing. Thor had that kind of effect on him. He always failed when Thor was around – that bastard.
"You look surprised."
"I suppose I shouldn't be," Loki sighed after a long silence. Noble, kind and heroic – his brother. Of course he would want to help.
"But I will not watch as you kill any more agents," Thor added. He had the audacity to raise his hammer, his blue gaze widening, and Loki couldn't believe that Thor had the nerve to set terms. "And if you do, I will stop you."
"I don't need your help," Loki snarled. He was seconds away from throwing a dagger at Thor's face or perhaps he would stab him in the side again. Tony probably wouldn't like it, but fuck him. Thor was being an ass and Loki didn't have to explain his actions to anyone.
"Maybe not," Thor said, and without warning, he threw Mjolnir into Loki's direction.
Only … the hammer didn't hit him. It flew straight passed him and Loki watched – shocked, horrified and humiliated – as it knocked aside a SHIELD agent who had tried to sneak up on him with a large knife in hand. Loki gritted his teeth together and exhaled sharply through his nose. The only reason that he hadn't heard that moron approach was because Thor had been distracting him, and now Thor considered himself the hero once again.
"Maybe you do," Thor continued as he caught the hammer again – fucking show-off – and Loki couldn't help but roll his eyes, "If you want to take on an organization like SHIELD, you need back-up, brother."
Anger coursed through his veins, his nails digging deep into the skin of his palms with how tightly he was balling his hands into fists. "If an army of agents stand between me and my son," He hissed with a low and dangerous voice, "I will kill every single one of them if I have to. I won't need your help for that."
"We can get him back without a massacre," Thor said stubbornly. Oh, how Loki hated him in that moment. "But only if we work together. You know I am right, brother. We've always been stronger together. We've always had each other's backs."
Loki couldn't help but take a step forward, but only because that would make it easier to slit Thor's throat if he said any more of that horrifying bullshit. "The only reason why I've had your back in the past is because one day, I want to stick a knife into it."
Thor shook his head, rejecting Loki's words, which only angered him more. "That day has yet to come," He said with nothing but conviction in his voice, "And it won't come soon either."
Loki smiled sharply, coldly. "Always so hopeful."
Thor smiled warmly. "You know me."
Loki's gaze shifted to Tony approaching hurriedly. At first his dark brown eyes widened as they took in the various SHIELD agents littered around – some dead, some just injured – but then he seemed to shrug of the disturbance that filled him and focused on Thor and Loki instead.
"What did I miss?" Tony asked so very casually – like only he could – his gaze actually lightening up at the sight of Thor.
Loki suppressed the urge to roll his eyes for the umpteenth time in under two minutes. "Thor here is going to help us get our son back," He told him with that fake smile he'd gotten so good at, "I am absolutely thrilled." If Thor felt irked about his insincerity, he didn't show it. "Now tell me, do you have a location?"
Tony's gaze instantly turned sorrowful as he shook his head. "Fury was smart enough not to keep anything on his computer. I only have a country; Ireland."
"Is it a big country?" Loki asked. His heart was pounding within his chest and nerves claimed him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this nervous, but then again, they were talking about Fredric and the plan hadn't gone according to their wishes and now he had the urge to snap a few necks because of that.
"Not the biggest," Tony answered, "But we can't go searching every house."
"Then bring Fury to me," Loki hissed, "I'll torture the location out of him."
"That would be useless," A new voice said.
Loki spun around to find Steve Rogers standing behind him, wearing his fancy outfit and holding that ridiculous shield of his so very tightly, as if he expected an attack any minute – and perhaps that would happen. Loki's eyes narrowed at the sight of him. He never did like that man. Too honorable, too kind and too heroic – like Thor really.
"Captain," Thor greeted him.
They probably did weekly competitions in honor and morality. It made Loki feel nauseous. "Is there an Avengers-assembly I haven't been informed about?" He asked with another fake smile filling his features. "I should have brought more daggers."
"Fury doesn't know where your son is," Steve said, tactically ignoring Loki's comments, "The Council doesn't trust him enough. Only Council-members know the exact location."
"Well, excuse me, Rogers," Tony said, and Loki was surprised to hear such hostility in Tony's voice as he addressed the Captain, "But the identity of the members isn't exactly public knowledge, so unless–" Loki watched as Steve's lips turned to two thin, white lines and oh, this was going to be brilliant, "That's just great, Steve," Tony snapped, "That's fantastic! Anything else you want to share with us while you're at it?"
Just like before, Steve ignored the comments. "I already went to see one of them," He said, his gaze shifting awkwardly between the three men standing before him. He looked guilty and apprehensive, and somehow Loki couldn't help but study his behavior. Tony's voice echoed through his mind. No-one knew. Bullshit. "She gave me the address," Steve continued, but before he could say more, Tony interrupted him.
"Because you're BFF's with the Council now."
Steve's tact was starting to annoy Loki. "He's in south Ireland, on Bere Island. It's hardly inhabited so it's the perfect location for a hidden SHIELD facility."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Thor asked, sounding eager to get over there.
Loki couldn't blame him.
"Can you teleport over there?" Tony asked.
Loki shook his head, hating himself in that moment because for all his power, he couldn't. "No," He answered, "It's halfway across the world. There would be no telling where I'd end up since I haven't a clue where I'm actually heading."
If Tony was disappointed, he didn't show it. "I have a jet."
"Don't bother," Steve said. All eyes were suddenly on him again, and he didn't look particularly pleased about that. "I already contacted Clint and Natasha and gave them the exact coordinates. They're heading over here as we speak with a Quinjet. It will get us there faster."
Tony's smile was one Loki didn't think he had in him. It was false and sharp and so very bitter. "How thoughtful."
"I'm just trying to help," Steve replied heatedly.
"Obviously," Tony said, nodding his head a bit too fervently. He placed a hand over his heart and cocked his head to his left. "I feel touched."
"I've said I'm sorry. What more do you want?"
"You can start by getting off your high horse," Tony sneered, "Don't pretend that you're doing this to help. You're just trying to ease your guilt."
"Will you two stop bickering," Loki snapped. He glanced up to the sky when he heard the sound of an approaching Quinjet. Just in time really. "By the gods, you two are like an old married couple. Either fight or make out."
When Tony's gaze landed on him, it softened and a ghost of a sincere smile curved the edges of his lips ever so slightly upward. "That would make your day, wouldn't it?"
"Which option?"
"Both."
Loki grinned at him. "You know me too well." He'd forgotten how easy it was to lose himself when interacting with Tony, how easy it was to forget his pain and anger and hatred, how easy it was to smile at him, even now, after everything that had happened between them.
The Quinjet landed a few yards away from them, wind whipping around them. Thor and Tony instantly headed over to the machine – which had no style at all in Loki's opinion – and for one short moment, Steve seemed to want to follow them, but Loki stepped in his way and curled a hand around Steve's wrist. He stared directly into his wide and startled blue eyes, but before he could pull himself out of his grip, Loki leaned a bit closer. He didn't believe he'd ever been so close to the Captain before.
"I'm well aware that you knew about Fredric all along," He whispered, his face only inches away from Steve's. He knew the man could hear him clearly, even with the Quinjet so close by. "And the only reason why I haven't carved your heart out of your chest yet is because I do love to see you squirm like this as you're losing your team." When he took a step back, he found Steve staring back at him, his jaw clenched together and his gaze still startled, but cautious too now. "It's best if you sit this one out, Captain," Loki grinned, "Who knows what could happen if you get involved in a fight? One strayed dagger is all it would take."
And with that, he spun around and walked to the Quinjet.
No-one said a word when he told them to leave without Steve Rogers.
-/-
A few hours passed that were mostly spent in silence.
Barton and Romanoff were flying the Quinjet and Loki could hear them exchange soft words, but he couldn't understand them, nor did he have any interest to. Tony and Thor were sitting a few seats apart, both their gazes focused on him and Loki had been this close to telling them off on it, but then he'd glanced at them and found their eyes unfocused, their thoughts miles away.
That left him in the back of the jet, sitting where he'd sat months earlier – it might even be years now, he hadn't kept track of time – after his fight with the Captain in Stuttgart. Times had been simpler then. He had been the villain and they had been the heroes. Those lines seemed blurred at the moment. Steve Rogers certainly wasn't a hero anymore, not in Loki's eyes and not even in the rest of the Avengers' eyes anymore.
Eventually, Loki dared to close his eyes for a bit. It was strange to allow himself some rest in the proximity of his former enemies. It was a form of exposed vulnerability and it was strange to know, just know that he would not be harmed or arrested or thrown out of this very plane.
"Loki."
Eyes snapping open, Loki instantly found Thor standing before him, having that peculiar look in his bright blue eyes, a look Loki had come to loath over the centuries. It was all stubbornness and righteousness.
With narrowed eyes, he watched his brother – Thor –take a seat beside him.
"Why do I have the feeling that I will not like what comes out of your mouth next?" He asked while he cocked his head slightly to the left. He smiled sharply, his lips pressed together tightly.
Thor's expression didn't change and Loki hated to think that the oaf had finally found a way to hide his thoughts and emotions from him, to finally shield himself. It was both impressive and highly aggravating.
"I want you to hand over the Soul Gem."
Nodding, Loki chuckled, but he never broke eye-contact with his brother – dammit, Thor – even though for some reason, he wanted to toss Tony a glance. "And why would I do that?" He asked, unable to hide the amusement in his voice. The Soul Gem was the most powerful weapon in his possession at the moment and he would be a fool to hand it over to Thor, and a fool he was not.
"I won't allow you to use it on the people of Midgard," Thor explained, nothing but sincerity in his eyes and seriousness in the way he held himself. He folded his hands in his lap, an odd gesture, but Loki figured it was Thor's way of staying calm.
"Always such strong love for them," Loki sneered.
"They have our son, Thor."
Loki's head snapped a little to the right to find Tony approaching and taking a seat on his other side, effectively caging him in. At least, that was how Loki felt, but asking Tony to take another seat or to just remain standing would betray that mindset.
"You know not of which you speak," Thor told Tony with a surprisingly loud and sharp voice.
It had Loki raise his eyebrows, his lips parting ever so slightly, because while he wanted to snap at his brother – oh, whatever – he was speechless for a moment. Did Thor really just speak condescendingly toward a fellow Avenger? One look at Tony revealed that that had indeed been the case. Tony seemed as shocked as Loki felt.
"To use the Soul Gem is to destroy," Thor continued with a softer, more collected voice, "Mortals aren't capable of withstanding such pain."
Though clearly insulted, Tony somehow managed to remain calm – which Loki almost admired. Almost. "I know the gem can be used for torture," He said quietly.
"Barbaric torture," Thor corrected. There lay obvious tension in his muscles, his hands previously folded together now clasped tightly, his knuckles having turned white. "Did Loki explain what it feels like to be tortured with the gem?"
Loki rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatedly. "Ignorance is bliss."
"It's like your flesh is ripped from your bones," Thor explained, his gaze focusing on Tony again, "It is like your nails are ripped from your fingers, your limbs from your body, again and again, a thousand times. The gem tears your soul apart, only to piece it back together and then restart the whole process. A second feels like a century, a minute like an eternity. No-one ever recovers and no-one is ever the same. The guards we will encounter did nothing to deserve such a cruel fate."
There was an awkward silence filling the Quinjet and Loki was seconds away from making a rude remark – like how any mortal deserved that fate if they stood between him and Fredric – but then he cast one long look at Tony and he knew the man agreed with Thor. Apparently, he had not yet forgotten about righteousness.
"He is right, Loki."
How annoying. "So you would prefer I kill them instead?" He asked, his gaze shifting between Thor and Tony, which wasn't easy with how they were sitting on either side of him – something that would not be happening again in the future.
"Death is favorable to this kind of torture," Thor easily replied.
Tony held out his hand and for one split second, Loki contemplated on conjuring a knife and driving it through Tony's hand, making his feelings about the situation extremely clear. In the end, however, he merely sighed, muttered a vexed 'fine' and then placed the Soul Gem in the palm of Tony's hand.
"Thank you," Thor said much too kindly, making Loki want to drive a dagger through his hand, as he received the gem from Tony.
"Heads up, guys," Clint announced through the intercom. Hearing his voice did nothing to lift Loki's spirits. He was still expecting that man to plant an arrow through his eye, even after all this time. Mortals never did let go of grudges, did they? "We're arriving."
Without hesitating, Loki rose from his seat – Thor and Tony doing the same – and walked to the front of the Quinjet, wanting to see where they were landing. The landscape beneath them was bare, just grass, a few trees and mostly rocks. One large house stood about twenty yards ahead, a few smaller houses – sheds really – surrounding it, as well as half a dozen vehicles. Even from this distance, Loki could count at least ten SHIELD-agents guarding the perimeter, and at the moment, they had their eyes fixed on the Quinjet, radios in their hands, probably alerting every agent around that they were having company.
"I read about fifteen life-signatures inside of the house," Natasha said, clicking away on a few buttons on the dashboard while Clint was busy landing the jet, "Thirty around the house."
"They were expecting us," Tony said with a sigh while he was putting on his suit, "Fury isn't taking any risks with this one."
"You get inside that house and you find our son, Tony," Loki said as he turned to the man. Tony nodded, every piece of his suit in place, save for his helmet. His dark brown eyes stood less kind for a change. "Let me take care of the guards outside."
"I have your back, brother," Thor announced.
When Loki turned to Thor, he smirked a bit, memories of past battles returning to him, and for one brief moment, he dared to feel nostalgic. The idea of fighting side by side with Thor was a welcome one for a change.
"Just like old times, am I right?"
Thor replied with a fond smile.
"Let's do this," Tony said once Clint landed the jet and opened the hanger-door.
The five of them exited, all heavily armed and ready for a fight. Thor's knuckles were white with how tightly he held Mjolnir. Tony's suit buzzed as weapons locked into place. The sound of guns being cocked could be heard and Loki found Clint and Natasha checking their weapons, unafraid to either wound or kill.
They crossed the distance to the house in under thirty seconds, the agents in sight uncertain of what they should do – morons. Without hesitating, Loki sent a batch of daggers their way, injuring them, clearing the way for Tony to enter the house and find their son, Natasha and Clint right behind him. Gunfire could be heard, but Loki easily deflected the bullets sent his way, only to make them change direction and send them right back from where they came from. More agents fell down, dead this time.
After a few minutes, Loki found himself standing back to back with Thor, the position having come so naturally that he hadn't thought twice about it. He threw daggers around and made sure no extra agents could enter the building to stop Tony from finding Fredric.
It took him a while to realize that there was a side door, however, something which caused him to curse under his breath. "Thor!" He shouted over his shoulder, watching as Thor knocked aside an agent with his hammer – the brute, "Guard that door! Make sure no-one else can enter!"
Thor didn't reply and instantly moved to the side of the house, knocking agents aside, roaring and groaning like only he could. Loki would roll his eyes at it, but three agents were firing at him which, at the moment, was more annoying than Thor's battle-behavior. Throwing up a force-field, he avoided getting shot, although if he were to get shot, he imagined it would feel nothing more than like a nasty sting.
And then there were no more agents left to fight, except for one, though he was not an agent.
Loki found himself facing the one man he wanted to rip apart, the one man he wanted to see burn for what he'd done. Director Nick Fury. His one good eye was staring at Loki, his arms beside his body, his feet planted firmly into the ground. He looked tall and confident, and Loki refused to make the mistake of underestimating the man.
"You're too late," He said, his hand curling around a dagger. One swift movement and he would throw it, slicing Fury's neck with deadly precision. He didn't just yet, though. "Do you really think you can still stop us from getting Fredric?"
Fury shook his head. "This is no longer about your son. In truth, it was never about him. It was only ever about you."
Before he replied, Loki glanced aside, finding Thor knock aside three agents who were trying to gain entrance to the house. "Should I feel flattered?" He asked before grinning sharply. "What will you do, Director? Kill me?" His green eyes fell to Fury's right hand, finding the gun he was holding so very tightly. "You'll need more than an ordinary gun for that."
"Oh, this isn't an ordinary gun," Fury said, dead-serious, "I have Stark to thank for this." Without hesitating, before Loki could even blink or rememberto throw the dagger in his hand, Fury lifted his hand and fired.
The sound echoed loudly through the air.
Gasping, Loki found himself overwhelmed with a sudden sharp pain to his chest, his lips parting as if he wanted to scream – and he did, but no sound came from him. He glanced down to find blood streaming from a deep wound in the middle of his chest, his flesh torn apart, his lungs slowly filling with blood, his heart racing to keep him alive.
Gravity pulled him down so very quickly, just as he heard Thor scream behind him.
"No!"
The sound of Mjolnir flying through the air reached Loki's ears and he witnessed as the hammer knocked Fury aside, effectively knocking him unconscious, and then Thor knelt down beside him. Loki glanced up, unable to breathe, unable to move.
"Loki," Thor whispered. Mjolnir returned to him, but Thor set it aside, his hands instead moving to pull his little brother in his lap.
"Well … fuck," Loki finally managed to utter. He drew in shallow, sharp, gurgling breaths. Fear moved around his chest like a claw, because he never had experienced such physical pain before and no matter what he tried, he could not heal himself, the wound being too large, too much blood flowing down his chest and stomach.
"Don't move," Thor said, and fuck him.
Loki couldn't move, his entire body seemingly paralyzed. He could only look up his brother, look into his eyes and hope that he could understand him, that he knew what he wanted to tell him. "I have to know … if he is safe." He coughed, blood instantly staining his lips.
"I'm sure he is," Thor replied.
But that wouldn't do. Loki's mind was racing, thought after thought crushing him, but they all resolved around the same subject. "Please … brother."
A new voice called his name.
Tony.
His face filled his vision a moment later – together with Thor's – and Loki didn't know why he smiled, why he suddenly felt less panicked. It was just the sight of those familiar brown eyes, that frown on his face, that ridiculously well-kept goatee.
"Fredric?" He managed to ask.
Buzzing and whirring filled the air, every piece of Tony's suit falling away from him. Slowly and so very carefully, Thor handed his injured brother to Tony, the man quickly wrapping his arms around Loki's narrow shoulders and pulling him as close as possible. The thought of lying in Tony's lap, being held by him, was strangely soothing, and Loki didn't feel bothered by that thought. He'd been held by him many times.
"I found him," Tony said with a hint of a smile ghosting over his lips. One hand moved to rest to the side of Loki's neck, his pointer finger pressing against his jugular, feeling his pulse. "He's okay, Loki, he's healthy and he's okay and he's gorgeous."
Loki could only nod, no longer trusting his voice, no longer trusting the fact that he still had a voice. His breathing quickened, every inch of his body feeling like it was lit on fire, and it became hard to keep his eyes open, darkness trying to pull him under.
The feel of Tony's lips against his gave him new strength, no matter how cliché that sounded and no matter how bothersome that was. Loki truly didn't know why Tony had that effect on him. He kept his eyes fixed on the mortal and focused on breathing – in and out, in and out. He had to stay conscious.
"You're not gonna leave me now, are you?" Tony asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. He even managed to smile convincingly even though his dark eyes only revealed fear and concern and pain and panic. "Because that would be selfish."
"You know me," Loki said breathlessly.
Tony's hand brushed aside a strand of his raven hair, his smile faltering ever so slightly.
"He needs help," Thor stated.
"No shit, Sherlock," Tony hissed, glancing up at Thor, "But look around you. We're in the middle of nowhere. We just injured and killed over a dozen SHIELD-agents. No-one is gonna help us."
"There is one other place," Thor offered calmly.
"No!" Loki exclaimed. More excruciating pain shot through his body, making him scream, causing him to squeeze him eyes shut.
"Let me take him to Asgard."
It became hard to focus on what was happening around him. "They won't … let me go," He said, finally managing to lift a hand and place it on top of Tony's which was still positioned to the side of his neck. He squeezed as hard as he could, wanting Tony's attention, actually wanting him to see his desperation for the first time since ever, but he figured his squeeze was too weak and rather pathetic to achieve that goal. Still, he needed Tony to look at him, needing him to understand. "Please."
"I'll bring him back," Thor said assuredly, "I promise."
"Tony …"
"I'm not gonna let you die," Tony said as he glanced down at Loki again, his voice hard, yet on the verge of breaking. It was an odd combination, and Loki didn't know if he'd ever heard that before. It was because of him, though. Tony was upset because of him. He shouldn't feel so pleased about that. "Not after everything." Slowly, cautiously, Tony pulled away from Loki, allowing Thor to pick him up – Loki screamed at the pain racking through his body – and then he rose to his feet. There were tears in his chocolate brown eyes, but they did not fall. Loki held his gaze for a moment, and then Tony turned to Thor. "Don't you dare break your promise, because I will find a way into Asgard so I can kick your ass if you do."
Loki – lying in his brother's arms which was both pleasant and infuriating – glanced up at Thor, watching him nod before directing his gaze to the sky.
"Heimdall?" He called loudly.
The clouds darkened and pooled together ominously.
Loki's heart was racing, his entire body trembling both due to pain and fear. He hadn't returned to Asgard since he'd escaped his cell and there was no predicting what would happen upon his return.
Before he could cast one last look at Tony, before he could see those tears in his eyes again, the determination and despair lining his face, the Bifrost whisked then away, the force too great, too painful, and Loki blacked out.