"No!" the scream came from Loki and he dropped back to the ground, hands clutching at his head. There was a crash of thunder and Tony saw Thor a dozen meters away, but before he could come closer, he was thrown back, as was Tony, both forced away from Loki. Loki was on his knees, image shifting so quickly and so violently it hurt Tony to look at, and he reached for the case of his suit, wanting to pull it on and get into the invisible barrier, not leave Loki to face this alone. The suit pulled on and he surged forward, against the warning cry Thor gave, and Loki's gaze snapped up as Tony pushed through the barrier.

"You." he hissed, green eyes bright with anger. "You knew."

"And you were to stupid to realize how hard he'd fight."

"You manipulated your lover to save your life. How very human of you."

"I manipulated him to save himself." Tony corrected.

"And if I kill him instead?"

Tony fought down the panic as he watched Loki dig his hand into his own chest, as if reaching to rip his own heart out.

"You like toying with him to much to do that." Tony said nonchalantly. "If you kill him now, your boss will be mad, and you'll be short a chew toy." Loki glared and moved as if to attack, but before he could he was hit by another fit of pain. Loki's image began to switch so quickly that the two were overlapping, conflicting and contradicting each other as they fought to dominate.

"Come on Loki. I'll be really ticked off if I have to start doing christmas on my own again." Tony scolded, and the image stopped flickering as if he'd hit a switch.

"You made a useless, corrupt human holiday into the most memorable winter of my entire existence." his voice was soft and panting as if from exertion, but definitely his Loki.

"Come back to me so we can do it again." there was a bang as Thor tried to break through the field of energy surrounding them but failed, and the two of them completely ignored it.

"I can't."

"Yes you can. You have to. Or let go. I'll fight him."

"No." This time there was no hesitation, no possibilities for change. It was a defiant statement. And that's when all hell broke loose.

It was as if sheets of energy flew away from Loki, knocking him back, as well as Thor even farther back, and sending the approaching vehicle with the other team members spiralling.

"Loki!" Tony shouted, but the only response was another keening wail.

"He's fighting it." Thor said incredulously, appearing by his side, and Tony shot him a glare.

"Course he is." he punched his shoulder, "Shame for thinking he wouldn't." Thor's expression was stormy for a moment as if he was considering hitting back before he turned his attention back to Loki.

"The others have not changed their mind." they braced themselves against the next onslaught of magic, holding their ground. "They still think the best way to stop him would be to take his life."

"I won't let them."

"Nor will I. I didn't think Loki capable of winning this battle in his mind. He has so many insecurities for the creature to eat at and use as weapons. It is harder to fight when your enemy has ready access to all your weaknesses – all your points of self hatred."

Tony didn't respond, just watched as Loki tried to stand and then fell again, hardly able to tell who was in control. A twister was beginning to form around Loki, and the destruction it was bound to reap on Paris was not a pleasant thought. Less worrying however than if Loki lost.

"Can you get me in?" Tony asked suddenly, and Thor frowned.

"In?" then realization dawned. "You wish to help him. You want to join the battle in his mind." Tony just nodded and Thor looked back at Loki pensively.

"It's a very intrusive thing, what you're asking. With the creature already there, your presence could tip the balance in either direction equally."

"I don't care. I have to help him."

The wind died instantly, and Loki's image stopped flickering, but he was unmoving on the ground.

"I have to help him! I have to help him now!" Tony shouted as he shot forward, fearing the worst.

Loki looked around in the darkness. He'd shut his own body down, turned it off in a sense, and in affect it was as if he'd turned out the lights of his mind. To the outside world it would appear as if he were dead, but he was still here. Waiting.

"Clever," the creature growled, clearly furious at what he'd done, but blinded by the darkness. "But it won't save you for long godling. I will destroy you. Rip your mind to pieces so small no one will be able to put it back together."

"I don't care." There was silence, but Loki could feel the anger seething at his response. "You may do whatever you wish. But you will not escape the confines of my mind. I will not allow you to hurt Tony again, whether it is by using my body or by invading his mind. You may drive me insane, but you'll then be stuck here with my insanity. I will never let you escape."

Again there was silence, but Loki could feel the creatures fear, and relished in it. He was winning. Tony had given him the strength, and the need to win, and he was not going to disappoint. Well, he might disappoint Tony, but he wouldn't allow any more harm come to him, and that was far more important. He could practically hear Tony's voice as he crept through the darkness, tracking his keeper;

"You idiot. As if I've never been hurt before. Christ my experiments are more dangerous than some of the fights I get into. You need to start learning you don't have to fight alone."

he smiled at the words. Yes, they were exactly what Tony would say. He would be furious at Loki for taking on the responsibility of protecting him without allowing him in on the fight.

"Damn right I'm furious."

Loki straightened from his crouch, looking around in sudden confusion. Tony's words were responding to his thoughts? That made no sense. The only way that would be possible would be if -

"I was right here."

Loki spun and came face to face with Tony, dressed casually and without his suit, looking around curiously.

"Is it always so dark in here?" he asked nonchalantly, though he was so relieved he could sing. He'd thought Loki had died.

"What are you doing here?" Loki hissed, and Tony shrugged.

"You were right. I am furious you were going to fight this battle alone. What the hell do you think I'm here for? To sit back, relax, and enjoy the show? I'm here to help you. I won't let you fight him alone. I'm going to fight with you."

"Not bloody likely," Loki said in a low voice, clearly just as angry as Tony, and Tony glared at him.

"Why not? Are you that desperate to fight alone? Or is it me in particular you don't want around?"

Loki blanched. "How could you think that." it was barely a whisper, and a chill seemed to fill up the large dark space, whispers of wind whipping around them, and Tony realized they were actual whispers.

He believes I don't want him,

Is it because he doesn't want me?

Is he attempting to, as they say, "let me down easy"?

He can't leave me, no he can't

What will I do, I need him.

"Loki," hearing the others' fears literally whispered in his ear had him stopping and trying again, he moved forward to wrap his arms around the other and didn't loosen his grip until the other had relaxed. "I need you about as much as you need me. Which is why I can't let you fight this alone. I need you back. This has all been fun and good, but I'm tired of it. I'm ready to go home and I'm not going without you with me. You need to protect me? Well I feel the same way. They don't call me a superhero for nothing." Loki nodded, his arms tight around Tony.

"Alright. But be -" his words were cut off and he suddenly jerked away.

"What is it? Loki! What..?" Tony demanded, and then he saw it, even as Loki grasped it. There was a blade, silver in colour, protruding from his abdomen. All colour seemed to drain from him face as he grasped the blade, and Tony watched in horror as it cut into his hands.

"Sentiment. Such weakness." the creature crooned, it's face appearing behind Loki's shoulder. It pulled the blade out and Loki fell to the ground, the whole space filling with light the instant Loki hit the floor. Tony just stared in horror, unable to move, staring at Loki just laying on the ground, a pool of blood forming.

"You killed him," his vision filled with red, and all he could see was the creature. As if he'd been wearing it the whole time, he was in his suit and he shot forward, slamming into the creature and tossing it into a pillar. He didn't even have time to admire the beauty of the castle Loki had created in his mind, instead he used it to the best of his advantage. The creature started to rise but Tony shot it with a booster, sending it flying, and he flew after it, grabbing it and slamming it into the ground, fist coming up to slam into its head. "You. Killed. Him." he could see nothing but red. Nothing but his bloodlust. His sent energy to the booster, ready to shoot the creature from close range as he had it pinned to the ground, but the creature seemed to gather its senses and pushed him off. Tony still let off the shot, noticing that it clipped the creatures shoulder, landing on his feet where it had tried to toss him.

"You're stronger than last time." the creature noted, "But not strong enough." it lunged forward but Tony was ready, dodging to the side and swinging around to shoot the weapon out of the creatures hand.

"You haven't seen anything yet."

He threw everything he had at the creature. He didn't relent, and the red in his vision didn't fade. He knew he was injured, but he didn't care, because so was the creature. If he was panting, the creature was as well, equally as drained from the fight. And there was a shimmer of disbelief appearing in its eyes, as if it actually believed Tony had a chance. That was all he needed. He pounded it down with everything he had, everything he could think of, everything he could get his hands on. All he could think of was Loki, finally accepting his help, and then dying because Tony had distracted him from the fight. With a shout of anger, he leapt forward again, energy ready, sending the creature reeling, following it with a punch to the face. The creature stumbled back and Tony went in for the kill. But then the creature went still, eyes going blank with horror.

A hole appeared in the creatures chest and then it stumbled to the side, both of them watching in disbelief as Loki appeared, the creatures heart in his hand.

"Sentiment is weakness?" he asked, his voice cold, squeezing the organ in his hand, his whole arm coated in strange blood. "Let us see how you learned such a thing."

Tony heard the whispered no, but then images surrounded them, images of creatures just like the one before them, images of a family, and of their death.

"I see," Loki hummed, satisfaction filling his features at the horror appearing on the creatures. "You make so much more sense to me now. See and I thought perhaps you just had no heart. But we see that isn't the case." he gave the organ another squeeze, and much to Tony's confusion, the creature gave a wail of pain.

"You were dead," Tony said, and Loki looked up, all cruelty fleeing from his features.

"No, love. Only injured. He didn't hit anything vital. And you, so much more capable than I gave you credit for, gave me time to recover." there was a hint of amusement on his features now. "You may punch me later for scaring you." Tony found himself reeling. Which Loki was this? He stood there, a literal heart in his hand, smiling at Tony and offering him retribution for his deception. He didn't know how to react and before he could, Loki was turning back to the creature.

"Perhaps we should truly see what it's like to be without sentiment." Loki mused, and the creature tried to rasp out a reply, obviously afraid, but Loki's face just split into a grin. Fire appeared in his hand, consuming the heart, and the creature yowled, dropping to its knees, its screams of pain filling the air. When the heart had turned to ash, and Loki had dusted it off his palm, the creature looked up, it's features still contorted in pain.

"You think you've won," it laughed, "But you haven't come close. You may be dispelling me from your mind, but there is always his." the creature looked at Tony, and then the cold eyes he'd been looking into were gone. Tony looked at Loki in time to see him discard the head as if it were just a ball, not even staying to watch as the body collapsed, both pieces slowly disintegrating. Tony just stood there and stared, unable to tear his eyes away. Had Loki really just beheaded the creature? Was that even possible to do with your own bare hands?

"Tony," he noticed suddenly that the lights were dimming again, and he turned to see Loki sitting on the ground, swaying as if he were about to pass out. He was beside him in an instant, and Loki looked up with a serene smile. "Thank you," he said, and Tony frowned.

"For what?"

"You defeated him. I would've lost if not for you. It appears as if you saved me."

Tony just grinned.

"Yeah well. I've gotta be good for something."

Again Loki smiled, but then he looked past Tony with a tired expression.

"You should go back. The others think we may both be dead. Though they're only worried about you. After all, I am the evil one." he closed his eyes and the lights nearly went out.

"What's going on?" Tony demanded, and Loki gave a faint smile though his eyes were closed.

"I need to rest. Go back. Tell them the story. Let them do whatever they see fit."

"They'll still want to hurt you, or imprison you." Tony said angrily,

"And they have a right to do so."

"What? No. You – just no." Tony spluttered, and again Loki smiled.

"Go on. I need rest. I'll leave the dealings up to you."

Tony suddenly realized how much shit he was going to have to take and scowled at the other, but there was a smile behind it.

"Coward."

Loki opened his eyes just to grin at him.

"Yes. Now get out."