Chapter 27 – The Avengers

They wanted to kill Loki. Tony wanted to be angry, but all he could feel was numb. Romanov and her other half the pigeon Agent Barton were both for taking Loki down as quickly and easily as possible. America's favourite, the dear old Captain Rogers, had agreed with them saying that Loki was dangerous and he'd killed enough people as it was. He'd looked at Tony when he'd said they should kill him, as if daring him to stop them. Doctor Banner a.k.a. The Hulk hadn't wanted a fight – but he never did. He wanted a peaceful resolution, but that was shot down and he'd just shrugged, accepting the plan the others had presented. Thor didn't want to kill Loki and that was at least a slight relief. But with the others leaning on him, he agreed to it as a last resort. Then they'd all looked at Tony; as if he were supposed to agree with this ridiculous plan. Kill Loki? The idea was so painful that his brain automatically rejected it. No, he wouldn't let that happen. He saw the disdain again on the faces of the others and this time it made him angry. They were right, his feelings were affecting his judgement, but that was what made him human. That was what made him so much more dangerous. He loved, and he wasn't about to toss that away because the others were stupid enough to think he'd stand back and let go, let them kill Loki. The numbness was fading and the angry resolve was setting in. He would not let any harm come to Loki. If the others were able to kill him, it would only be because Tony was already dead.

He was flying over water, supposed to meet the rest of their ragtag group in Paris, France, but he was hoping to get there first, lure Loki away before the rest of them got there and could do some real damage.

He landed on the Eiffel Tower, doing a quick scan of the surrounding area, but he didn't have to do much looking. Loki appeared sitting lounging on the other side of the tower as if he was as comfortable there as he would be in a luxurious hotel.

"Paris is lovely this time of year." Loki remarked in a bored voice, and Tony moved closer, so that he was facing Loki. Loki turned his head to give Tony an equally as bored look, though his green eyes were sharp. "Though I doubt you've ever been just to appreciate the season." Loki said condescendingly.

"Weather doesn't really do it for me." Tony said with a shrug, and Loki just gave a mirthless laugh.

"Yes, of that I am very aware." He stood suddenly, jumping effortlessly across the empty space hundreds of feet up to another support, acting almost careless. It made Tony nervous more for Loki's safety than his own, but he kept his distance. "Why are you here?" Loki asked, suddenly directly in front of Tony, expression menacing.

"Heard you were here. Thought I'd visit."

"How sentimental." he hissed, and Tony lifted his mask so he could give his customary smirk.

"Yeah well, it was me or the other clowns."

Loki lifted a sarcastic brow. "Oh?"

"Yeah, you know. Your brother Thor, Capsicle, and the two wonder twins." there was a pause as his voice grew less sarcastic and more serious. "They want to kill you."

Loki laughed, a cold, cruel laugh that had Tony set on edge.

"They wish to kill me?" all amusement fled Loki's expression as he pinned Tony with cruel green eyes. "And is that why you are here? To kill me? Or to catch me so that they can?"

"No."

"No?" Loki looked almost confused, and then an expression of revelation passed over his features.

"Are you here out of love? To convince me to turn myself in so they won't hurt me?"

"No."

The frown returned and this time it stayed.

"Then why?"

"I'm not going to let them kill you."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Protect you." Loki froze, his whole body going completely still, eyes wide and not moving from Tony's face. "They aren't going to be able to get to you unless it's over my dead body. I know this isn't you. I can see it. The Loki I know? He would never do any of this. But this is the torture, isn't it?" Loki remained still, eyes still wide. "You're in his head. He used to call you his keeper. I just think you're a weird, freaky looking alien. You're trying to hurt him by making him hurt other people, but it won't break him. You can't do it. He's to strong. It may take a while, but he'll beat you, and until then I'll keep the others away. But I won't let you destroy him or his life."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Loki said haughtily, but Tony saw the concern in his green eyes.

"Don't I?" Tony lounged back against a support, now feeling at ease. "Want to know what tipped me off? Your eyes."

Loki blinked, clearly not knowing what it was Tony meant.

"Loki's eyes are blue. A beautiful blue. My favourite blue." he pushed off the side and the anger became visible. "Yours are green. I want the blue back."

Suddenly he couldn't breathe. Loki had flown forward, grabbing Tony by the throat and lifting him to slam him against the bar they were standing on, hand trying to squeeze the life out of him.

"You know nothing." he hissed, and Tony just gave a strained smile.

"Then why aren't I dead already?" he wheezed. His breathing was strained, but Loki's grip wasn't growing any tighter. "If you were in complete control then I'd be dead already. I know you're strong. I know Loki's strong. So if you were capable of killing me, why aren't I already dead? He's in there." Loki's expression was a fierce grimace.

"Fight back." Without warning Loki tossed him into the air and away from the tower. Tony caught himself with his boosters but Loki was already launching himself towards him. He slammed into him, and the both spiralled, falling through the air at quick speed, Loki with his knee on Tony's chest, hands holding him firmly beneath him. "Fight back you foolish mortal." the creature said using Loki's voice, and Tony just shook his head.

"No."

There was a low growl and Loki's fingers curled into the metal of Tony's breastplate. They were approaching the ground quickly, but Tony didn't even react, didn't even try and stop what would end up being a very painful crash. He just stayed still, letting them fall, and Loki growled one last time. Then, as Loki had hoped, his image began to flicker. Tony still didn't move, still didn't react to a thing, knowing they were only feet off the ground. Then before he knew what was happening he was going the opposite direction. This time by himself. He stabled himself with his boosters, looking around for Loki. Then came the bang, and he looked down to see Loki lying on the ground. Tony dropped to the ground, landing beside him just as he began to move.

"Loki?" he asked loudly, and the other just gave a low pained moan. Tony moved closer but still didn't touch him, not quite ready to take that risk. He wouldn't fight back, but he also wouldn't purposely get himself killed.

"You have to go Tony," Loki said hoarsely, and Tony felt immediate relief, moving forward to help the other up. Loki stiffened at the touch but didn't shrug him off.

"I'm not leaving. They're coming for you and I'm not going to let them get to you."

"He'll make me kill you." his voice sounded broken, and Tony moved so he could see Loki's face. His eyes were closed, and he was shaking, but Tony didn't move away.

"No, he won't."

Loki opened his eyes to give a pained look.

"Yes he will. He's almost succeeded twice already. I could've killed you right now. You have to go. I can't let him have the satisfaction of having me take you're life. Not yours. Anyone's but yours."

"Don't make me punch you." Tony mumbled, and Loki blinked.

"What?"

"Don't be so stupid. You'd rather continue on what your doing instead of killing me? I'm one tiny person in this whole giant world. Yeah the world would fall a long way without me I'm kind of important what can I say, but I'm one person. My life is just a spec. It's dangerous, awesome, and bound to be short. I'm Iron Man, and I'm in love with some crazy magical god who goes on occasional rampages when his old jail-keeper pays a visit. I'm not likely to live long at this rate, so what's the big deal?" Suddenly his suit was shedding from his body, leaving him in just regular clothes, folding into a neat little suitcase at his feet. Loki watched in horror as Tony spread his arms wide. "So go ahead. Kill me. But if you're not going to? Shut the hell up. You're choosing to take control when it's me. So choose to push him out. You can make that choice." Tony's voice left no room for question, no room for error, but still Loki did not move. Instead, his face contorted in pain and he doubled over.

"You don't understand. He's tearing my mind apart. Bit by bit. The mind is a fickle thing. It doesn't follow the rules of normal life. He tears holes faster than I can repair them, builds new walls I do not recognize." He looked up at Tony, eyes swimming with a pain Tony couldn't even begin to understand. "You are the one thing that keeps me sane. Knowing somewhere you are alive and well, far from the misery I've been forced to bring."

Tony kneeled in front of Loki who was still clutching his sides.

"I'm not going to sit this one out Loki. I love you, and that's not going to change. The others are coming, and I'm not going to let them hurt you because that son of a bitch decided he wanted to play."

Loki reached a hand up to cup Tony's face, touch featherlight.

"Look at you, love. The unlikely hero. Protecting a monster from facing his judgement. They're right to want me dead for what I've done. But I as long as my keeper is in my head, he is not in yours."

Tony's mind went reeling.

"In mine? That isn't even possible."

"It is. And that's why I can't let him go. Better to be the scapegoat they want, and save the few I can than allow him to win, dispose of me and turn his attentions to you. I'd die a thousand deaths before I let that monster get a real chance at you."

The switch was so sudden that Tony didn't even have time to blink. The pained yet loving blue eyes turned green, and filled with malice.

"His sentiment for you makes him weak. It makes him easier to control." a pure hatred looked at him through Loki's eyes, and he felt the sting, though he knew it wasn't his Loki. "He may not let me hurt you directly, but I'll make him suffer for the disobedience."

"Take me instead."

Loki blinked, green eyes going from shrewd to curious in an instant.

"Take you?"

"Loki said you could get to me if you left him. Could take me over the same way. Do it. Leave him alone and take me."

Green eyes stared at him in disbelief before filling with genuine amusement. Loki laughed, a foreign high pitched sound that grated.

"The two of you. Both so noble to each other." the creature gave a leering grin using Loki's mouth and stood, looking to the sky. A storm cloud was growing at an abnormally quick rate, and they both knew it meant Thor was close. "Very well. Before the others get here. It will give them all a shock. Teach them a lesson about trying to beat me – no matter what body I'm in." he offered Tony a hand up and Tony reached to take it, but before he could, a keening wail filled the air. A single syllable being screamed.

"No."