...if I could buy you all cookies and cupcakes to make up for this horrendous wait, I would. I am so, so sorry about it, but school has just been absolutely killing me, and combined with writers block on how to approach this chapter, I was dead. I promise that the waits will not be as long as this, but since I am starting exams very soon, they may still take longer than usual. :( I am, again, ssooooo sorry, but I can promise you one thing: I am not abandoning this story. No matter how long updates take, I will always update eventually, and have no plans to stop writing this fic. Actually, I have even been toying around ideas for a sequel, if all goes well in the first story, and am having fun creating and messing around in this verse for my own amusement. ;) So thank you for your patience, and, yet again, I am so sorry for the wait, but hopefully this chapter makes up for it: we finally get to see Tony and Loki talk! :D :D :D
Also, a big thank you to my amazing-as-always beta Shells a.k.a GreenLoki, and to my wonderful friend Sarah, a.k.a Liliya-Lokison (make sure to check them and their stories both out!). Love you guys! Also, a giant thank you to all of my reviewers, as well as the people who have favourited and follow the story; you guys keep me inspired to write and work on this. You're all the best! :D :3
Chapter 4: Watch Me Crawl Through Your Heart
Loki didn't really know what to expect when he opened the front door.
He had been blaring music from his room, some weird alternative stuff with lyrics that Loki, for some reason, felt he could spend hours analyzing and taking apart, and attempting to do some science homework. But, since he really hated science, he wasn't really getting anywhere, and was just leaning against his bed on his green and gold (he admits that he had a fetish for the colours) carpet, wishing he wasn't too lazy to get up and make himself some food.
So when the doorbell rang, he groaned and reached over to shut off his music, stretching as he slowly stood up. "I'm coming!" He yelled, trying not to sound as irritated and tired as he really felt, and started to make his way to the front door.
Loki's mind ran through the options of people it could be. His father, as always, was away on 'business' (Loki wasn't even fully sure what Laufey did for a living, let alone where he went on these trips) and none of his friends or fellow workers ever visited the house, so it didn't have to do with his father. Loki wasn't exactly the most social person himself, and didn't know anyone that would come there for him with the exception of Tony, who had texted Loki briefly yesterday telling him he would be away for a few days. So all in all, Loki really didn't have a clue who it could be.
Suddenly curious, he fixed his shirt and opened the door with a cool, calm air. "Can I help you…"
He faltered and his eyes widened when he saw Tony standing there, eyes unfocused and with blood dribbling down from his cut lip.
Rarely was Loki speechless, but at that moment he honestly had no idea what to say. So, watching his best friend closely, he stepped aside and let Tony enter the house. Tony swallowed and went inside quickly, and Loki could hear his rapid footsteps as he entered the living room and collapsed on a couch. Swiftly shutting and locking the door, Loki went into the kitchen and grabbed a first aid kit from the main cupboard, also grabbing a wash cloth and gently soaking it in some hot water. He headed to where Tony was sitting, shaking and absentmindedly playing with a string hanging off of the edge of the couch.
Loki sat down close beside him, gently tilting Tony's head to face him. He fought the urge to flinch when he saw Tony's bruised and cut lip, which was coated in still-fresh blood. Tony was unusually pale, and his eyes, normally so bright and filled with life, were dull and red, focusing on the pillow resting beside Loki's hip even as Loki's own eyes searched him. Loki felt a stab of pain at how hard Tony was trembling, and the fact he wasn't even trying to hide it worried him to no end.
Cupping his jaw lightly, he carefully dabbed the washcloth along his lip, wiping the crimson off of his chin and around the cut. Reaching into his first aid kit, he grabbed a disinfectant wipe and pressed is ever-so-slightly against the cut. Tony's eyes flickered up and he hissed in pain at the contact, and Loki reached his other hand down and almost mindlessly grabbed Tony's hand, intertwining their fingers and squeezing lightly. Tony just squeezed back as Loki worked away at the cut, but didn't let go even after he finished. They sat there for a while, Loki waiting patiently until Tony started to speak. And when he did, after almost twenty minutes of complete silence, his voice was hoarse.
"I hate him."
Loki knew instantly who Tony was referring to. Damn it, Loki should have known this was Howard's fault. Tony's father was practically a mirror image of Loki's, one who was practically never there. Except with Loki, Laufey was just distant and cold, uninterested, whereas when Howard came to visit it usually ended in screaming and blood. Like now, Loki realized with a pang.
So Loki just sighed, leaning forward until their foreheads were brushing. "I know you do." He whispered softly, hands tightening to the point where it was almost painful. Not that either of them minded, really. Tony seemed to relish at the contact, eyes squeezing shut and a shudder running through him, trying to keep his breathing steady. Their foreheads were practically pressed together now, Loki's free hand reaching up to brush a strand of sweaty brown hair from Tony's face.
"I hate him." Tony repeated, this time more shaky and hysterical.
Loki just pressed the young billionaire's face into his shoulder, wrapping his arms securely around him. "I know." He whispered soothingly as he held Tony close, warm and comforting as he pressed a small kiss to the top of his head. "But I've got you, okay? I'm here, I'm not leaving."
He could swear he felt Tony smile at this, and heard his shaky whisper. "I know."
Later on, they never fully acknowledged that moment. But every time they whispered the words "I know," to each other in a situation like this, they finally felt like someone was listening, that maybe they actually understood.
Like maybe they knew.
The rain was drizzling on the roof of the tower, the faint sound deafening to Tony's ears. He sat there restlessly, tapping his finger on his knee, brown eyes flickering between the dark and bleak New York skyline and the unconscious man lying on his guest bed.
Loki.
Tony still hadn't moved from his spot beside the bed that Loki was lying on. He had been trying to read a newspaper before, but soon gave up. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from the man, who was pale and had a bandage covering a long gash across his forehead, but still eerily beautiful, just as he had been all those years ago.
Happy hadn't asked any questions when he saw Tony in the alleyway, cowboy hat in one hand and a knocked-out man lying at his feet. Before he had arrived, Tony had dragged and hid the other men behind some garbage cans, grabbing some soaking wet paper and quickly using it to make sure they were still holding tightly onto their guns.
The two had managed to carry him into the back of the limousine, and Happy (Tony really needed to give the man a raise) had calmly grabbed a first-aid kit and treated Loki's head wound. He told Tony that the man had a concussion but would be fine, acting reassuring as if he knew, and Tony retorted with a 'take us back to the tower.'
He was never really good at the concepts of 'displaying his gratitude' or 'not being a douchebag' as Clint so delicately put it. Oh well, Tony would just buy Happy (another) seat-cozy later.
The ride back was silent, Tony staring out of the window and trying not to dwell on a) how pissed Pepper was going to be and b) Loki was in his fucking car and what the fuck was going to happen when he woke up and oh fuck-
Tony had been on the verge of some sort of major internal panic attack by the time they had made it back to the tower.
Happy had drove casually into Tony's workshop, parking the car with record speed and even helping Tony carry Loki to the guest room. Tony could feel his eyes boring into the back of his neck the whole time, but pretended to ignore them. After Loki was safely on the bed, Happy had soon left, awkwardly telling Tony to call him if you needed help or anything. Tony just nodded, giving him a small but grateful smile, and turned to his ex-best friend as the other man left.
Tony, as creepy as it sounds, couldn't stop staring at Loki's face. The sharp angles he had long since memorized, the slight curve of his pale pink lips, the peaceful expression that only ever crossed Loki's face when he was asleep (or in this case unconscious). But then there was the dark, bruise-like bags under his eyes, the way his body seemed to be permanently stiff and tense, even now, and the slight sheen of sweat that rested on his forehead that was a sure sign of an up and coming fever.
Concern suddenly ripping through him, Tony leaned forward and pressed a hand softly to Loki's pale forehead. Sure enough, he could feel heat radiating off of it, causing Tony's lips to curl into a slight frown as he absentmindedly wiped a strand of damp black hair from his face.
…The last thing he expected at that strangely intimate moment was for green eyes to fly open and a cold wrist to grasp his own.
Tony gasped and started, nearly toppling off his chair. The hand gripping his wrist soon fell to the bed once more, but Loki's eyes stayed open, fixated on Tony as he sat up slowly.
God knows how long they stared at each other. Longer than at the restaurant, for sure. That may be due, however, to how disoriented Loki clearly was, his bright eyes slowly coming into focus and losing their foggy glaze. Tony braced himself for when they finally did.
He watched as Loki's eyes widened with sudden realization, shock clouding his gaze.
Then suddenly, Loki's eyes narrowed into icy, snake-like slits.
"Anthony." His voice was flat. "How lovely to see you."
Ouch. Tony still reacted on instinct, despite the jagged pain that seemed to rip through his chest at Loki's harsh tone. "Well hello to you too. And is that any way to address the man who is housing you?" He raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance despite the uncontrollably rapid pounding of his heart.
Loki stared at him coolly, lips pursed tightly. His hand was still pressed to the wound on his head, and Loki seemed to press with more force at Tony's words. Tony had seen Loki act like this towards other people before, dozens of times, and used to find it entertaining to watch people's usually-scared reactions. But Tony had never actually been on the receiving end of it before, and damn did it hurt.
"…So what brings you to New York?" Tony asked feebly when it became apparent the other was not going to start speaking. Instead of replying, Loki just shook his head and stood up, clearly intent on getting out of there as soon as possible. But instead, he stumbled slightly, clearly about to topple over. Without thinking, Tony had his hands tightened around the man's waist, holding him up and close.
As cheesy and stupid as it sounds, it was a bit like time had stopped.
As their eyes met, Tony felt his heart start to ache at how right it felt. He could feel Loki's breath, hot and minty, against his cheek, see the range of emotions cloud his gorgeously green eyes at their closeness, feel the damp shirt and cool leather clinging to Loki's still-lean hips. Tony swallowed slightly, not willing to move away, but also wary of the fact that Loki probably is still prone to slapping people. But the dark-haired man's eyes suddenly weren't on him.
They were on Tony's arc reactor.
Loki seemed to be mesmerized by it, watching the glowing blue light shining through Tony's thin white shirt with wide eyes. Tony watched closely at his expression closely, which was unreadable and unfocused, when suddenly a pale, shaky hand reached up to trace a faint pattern around the circle. Tony felt his throat close up, a faint but thrilling shiver running down his spine, but didn't protest at the action, which somehow spoke louder than any words or expressions ever could. He was all-too aware of how close they were, bodies nearly pressed together. Tony suddenly felt as he did when he first met Loki: he wanted to untangle him, study him, unravel the mystery that was Loki Laufeyson.
But now, Loki was even more of a mystery to him.
There were so many unanswered questions. Too many for Tony to count, about both tonight and these past few years. They were on the tip of Tony's tongue, begging to be asked, but he seemed unable to do so. He was captivated, wanting nothing more than to just be near Loki again, to re-memorize the sound of his laugh, the spicy yet enthralling scent that always lingered on his skin, just see him smile one more damn time…
Then it was as if Loki had a switch turned on, and he all but leaped back and away from Tony, nearly falling onto the bed in a frantic and desperate attempt to get away. Tony felt a searing flash of distress at this, but fought it back and put on a clear, calm mask. Loki looked away, swallowing harshly, and silence fell once more, and no sound remained except the pitter-patter of the rain that was methodically hitting the tower.
"…why am I here?" Loki eventually asked, gaze flickering to Tony, as cold as he was before.
"Because I found you in an alleyway surrounded by a bunch of armed guys who seemed to have gotten the shit beat out of them. Care to explain?" Tony's response was harsher than he intended, but he had never exactly excelled at self-control.
Loki's eyes narrowed even further. "I don't have to explain anything to you." He responded calmly with a slight warning edge to it.
"Actually, I think you do. I dragged your unconscious ass over here, I helped you, and I am pretty sure you owe me a debt for that. And didn't you always tell me that debts are made to be repaid? Screw telling the truth, but once you're in debt-" He paused, before sighing and taking a deep breath to keep from letting his anger and other emotions spill over even further. "Look, I think this counts as you owing me a debt. So, what happened to those guys?" He looked at Loki directly, who was watching him with wariness and some other unidentified emotion shining in his eyes. He looked away at this.
"Things change. You and I know that better than anyone."
Now it was Tony's turn to look away. "Morals shouldn't." He eventually stated.
"Yet they do." Loki turned to him, "Have yours?" There was a twisted humour to his words, and Tony knew instantly what Loki was referring to. He remembered the times before Afghanistan and being Iron Man; his playboy, I-don't-give-a-shit reputation, even when they were in high school and college (of course, Loki knew him better than that, but it still stood). Then there was his after-Afghanistan one, where everyone was under the impression that he was falling apart. Then, he was Iron Man. Sure, he still held part of that before-Afghanistan reputation and demeanour, but he had changed and grown, and everyone knew that. He had a responsibility now, and he would not let the people he cared about, or anyone else, down. And now, he was almost someone the world, and he, could be proud of.
(Almost.)
Tony felt anger run through him, hot and fast, at those words and the memories they brought back. Loki was staring at him with those poisonous eyes, a perfect eyebrow raised as he waited for a response at the question. He wanted a reaction from Tony, he realized, and although Tony was an expert on keeping a handle on his emotions, he didn't deserve, or want, this.
Though he had never admitted it to anyone, he had imagined a thousand different scenarios in which he and Loki had met again. And while most of them had never started well, this was never supposed to happen. It was childish on Tony's part, these pathetic thoughts and happily-ending fantasies, but as Clint had stated, however jokingly, more than once before, 'The heart wants what the heart wants'.
And he had just rescued the guy from lying in a disgusting alleyway in a pool of his own blood, saved him from being found in a potential crime scene, abandoned his date and chasing after him through New York City of all places, and god maybe they had a slightly chaotic past together but Tony didn't deserve this.
So he turned to Loki, eyes flashing. "Look, I get that you are still pissed-"
"Still pissed about what?" Loki asked, a small but somehow pained smirk on his face, standing up from where he was previously sitting on the bed, hands staying limply at his side.
"Jesus, it's been how long now?" Tony nearly snarled. "Since all of that shit happened between us, let alone we even saw each other? Did it ever even fucking occur to you that-" Tony stopped there. That what?
I missed you I need you I just wanted to hear your goddamn voice I wanted to know where the fuck you were and how you were doing I was lost without you I never let go and I never want to.
Tony swallowed, a funny taste in his mouth before asking evenly, suddenly feeling drained of anger. "-to see how you were doing."
That worked too.
Loki's eyes narrowed at the billionaire, "And why would you care?" he asked, voice like acid, but Tony noticed that he was trembling ever-so-slightly.
Tony visibly recoiled, and shot back, "When did I not? Look, just because we fucked up-"
"We fucked up? Anthony, I recall that you were the one-"
"-That knew what he was getting into and didn't want to risk it-"
"-Yet you were the one who always thrived on taking risks-"
"-Well maybe I was tired of it-"
"-So I wasn't worth the risk then?"
"That isn't true: you know you were worth everything to me!"
Both fell silent at this; Loki in shock, Tony breathing heavily and in a state of horror at what he had just admitted.
You know it's true. A little voice in the back of his head taunted him. And okay, maybe it was, but Tony, once upon a time, had had a better filter then this. Except when he was around Loki, of course.
Some things, clearly, just don't change.
Loki's eyes lost some of their venom, his face slowly draining of his previous harshness until he had placed his typical, cool and detached mask in place.
"Thank you, Anthony, for allowing me to stay here during my rest. But I must be on my way now." He spoke calmly, his voice silken as always, but more even than it had been during this whole exchange. Slowly but without wavering, he exited the room.
(Before Tony could see the pain in his eyes.)
Tony let Loki go despite himself, despite the twisting of his gut and the panic seeping through his bones, and despite the fact that Loki was unconscious just a few minutes ago with a fucking concussion and he really should not be moving, let alone leaving. When Tony spoke, it was in a monotone voice. "JARVIS, let him go, don't have anyone interfere." He paused, before slowly saying, "But I want tabs on him. Hack into whatever cameras you need to, use whatever methods possible, but I do not want to lose him again, understood?" His voice grew more and more determined as he spoke.
He also chose to ignore the fact that he was now sort of attempting to borderline stalk his ex-best friend, and that this could only get him hurt and end badly.
Closing his eyes and running his hand through his hair, causing it to stick up messily, he staggered over to the small fridge he always kept loaded with some extra beer bottles and scotch. Swiftly taking out a bottle, he expertly popped off the cap and took a giant swig, welcoming the familiar burn and bitter taste that it brought. Leaning back against a nearby table, he sunk down until he was sitting, eyes wandering around the workshop as his vision blurred slightly at the edges.
His inner turmoil was interrupted by the sudden vibrating of his suit pocket. Groaning slightly, he reached down and fumbled for the phone until it was held firmly in his grasp, glancing at the screen…where the bright, beautiful face of one Pepper Potts was illuminating it.
Tony instantly froze, hand tightening involuntarily around the bottle.
He was so screwed.
He had run out on her, on their anniversary date, in public, with no clear (at least not to her or anyone else) explanation, or update on why he did it even after Loki had left. If he was being honest with himself, his girlfriend was the last thing on his mind when those intoxicating emerald eyes had met his once more.
Preparing himself for the onslaught, and knowing he couldn't put this off for long anyway, Tony pressed 'answer' and held the phone slightly away from his ear. "Hello?"
The screaming Tony had been expecting never came. There was only a sigh, made fuzzy by the phone's bad reception. "What the hell happened Tony?" Pepper eventually asked, and Tony didn't miss the cold edge to her voice.
Wincing, Tony sat up straighter and set the bottle down with a soft ping. "Pep, I-"
"Did you know the press are already on this? That there is all this new speculation, and do you know how damn humiliating you leaving me there, and on today of all days, was?" She finished breathlessly and with a raised voice, anger seeping into it as she ranted.
Tony fought back a rising headache, Pepper's words sending spikes of guilt throughout him. "Pepper, I promise I will take care of the press, and set them straight. I am so sorry, but I will make it up to you, I promise. I just…thought I saw someone on SHIELD's wanted list outside, and I had to make sure I was wrong." He blurted out, hating how easily the lie came.
There was a tense pause, then another sigh. "Were you wrong?" She asked.
"I-yeah, I was. And I am sorry I didn't call after that, but I got mobbed by some wannabe journalists-"
(In another life, he could remember teasing Loki, saying 'Lies never get you anywhere, now do they?' Loki simply laughed and smirked at this, but his eyes had darkened slightly with bitter disbelief when he thought Tony wasn't looking. And it was only years later that Tony had begun to understand why.)
"-and couldn't get away. But I swear I will make it up to you, however and whenever you want, okay?" He finished, waiting to hear Pepper's reaction.
More resigned sighing, and then she spoke. "Okay Tony. Just….shut up the press, okay? I'll be back at the tower later." She sounded tired, but Tony could tell she forgave him. He felt his heart clench at this. She's too good for me. "Love you." She added.
"Love you too." Tony replied before hanging up the phone, ignoring how foreign those words sounded on his lips.
Scrolling through his phone, Tony realized he had two text messages. The first was from Fury.
Anything on the assassin yet?
Tony suddenly remembered that he agreed to do that yesterday, and decided to reply with:
Yes, of course I do. His name is Steve fucking Rodgers. Didn't you here that Cap went rogue? Look, you just gave me the damn job yesterday, so I will inform you at a decent time when I have something. And I better be getting paid for this.
Smirking to himself and taking pleasure in the eye twitch he probably just caused the SHIELD director to have, Tony then checked his other message. Funnily enough, it was from Steve.
Doom is screwing around with us again. Doombots on the lower east side of New York. WHERE ARE YOU?
Vaguely wondering how Steve managed to send a freaking text in the middle of a battle, then realizing he probably just had a nearby agent quickly do it, Tony flinched and got up, stretching as he made his way over to the centre of the workshop, feeling the cool metal cuffs around his wrists dig into his skin as he flexed them.
"Time to suit up." He muttered, mostly to himself, and he heard the familiar clang of metal as the suit suddenly encased him in its heavy, iron grip, fitting around his body perfectly. His vision was swiftly filled with images and words and schematics, all courtesy of JARVIS, who greeted him with a, "To the East side of the city, sir?"
Tony just nodded, feeling a small smile spread across his face as the metal suit sprung to life and he rocketed out of the tower. Maybe this was good. You know, not the whole Doom-trying-to-kill-and-destroy-New-York-again part, but the battle part. It would take his mind off of Pepper and fixing the press, Fury's questions about his progress on the assassin…Loki. Especially Loki. And maybe it would even allow him to take out some of his anger and pain on the whole, new situation revolving around him….not that he had a lot.
But if he said that, that would be lying again, wouldn't it?
Loki walked through the darkness and rain of New York City, feeling vaguely sick… and not just because of the wound on his head.
What the absolute hell just happened?
The last time he was knocked out, he woke up in Beijing, tied to a chair and with a knife to his throat, courtesy of a man hired by the Chinese mob to take him down. Of course, he wasn't the one who died that day, but either way, Tony was lucky that Loki was so out of it that time, and that he didn't get a bullet between the eyes the moment Loki's eyes flickered opened. Which brought him to his next point.
Tony.
Loki admits he was harsh and perhaps too cold while talking to him. But seeing Tony had brought back an massive tidal wave of memories and feelings that he hadn't expected and was not prepared to deal with. He had built a solitary life, one where he was the definition of the perfect, (mostly) emotionless assassin. Loki was cool, calm, and capable of almost anything he so desired. And yet when he saw Tony, that wall that had spent years perfecting was sent crumbling to the ground. So he reacted as he always did when cornered: he lashed out, was cold and icy, unyielding and even downright cruel.
And if there was one thing even Tony couldn't fully see through, it was that mask (if only because Tony was just as good at using that same one as Loki was).
He also knew that walking out like that was foolish, all things considering, and awfully reckless. Tony saw what happened with the men in the alleyway. He saw that Loki was (almost) the last one standing, and that something was very clearly wrong with the whole situation. He could tell the police or his 'Avenger' friends about this, who may be the only ones capable of tracking him down. They, Tony especially, could ruin Loki, and yet he left abruptly, without giving any proper excuse to justify and cover up what he did.
But the idea of staying in that room any longer, bright brown eyes unwinding him and watching him like he knew, wasn't an option in Loki's mind.
Loki realized he was heading down to the alleyway, walking faster than normal to get there. That's when he saw the small crowd around it, and the police tape blocking its entrance. Police cars, some still flashing hues of red and blue against the broken-down building walls, and others with alarms still blaring, formed a half circle around it.
Loki froze, dread clouding him, and was about to turn and get the hell out of there when he saw an officer stepping in front of the agitated crowd and say in a loud, gruff voice "Everyone, please, settle down, settle down." Warily and still prepared to bolt, Loki lingered at the fringes of the crowd and waited to hear what the man was announcing, heart pounding.
"We can inform you that an apparent brawl took place here recently. However, the men found here were armed and we believe this was just a one time incident, most likely gang-related. We are on the look-out for at least one more person who was involved, and who was responsible for hiding the men behind surrounding garbage cans. It was only due to the diligence of our officers on patrol-" (Loki almost rolled his eyes at this.) "-that they were found. We urge you to keep your eyes out for any suspicious activity, and also to take caution around here, but we suspect the men have already fled far from the scene and should be of no danger. If you have any concerns, please talk to one of the surrounding officers. Thank you for your cooperation." The man turned away at this and started discussing something with the two uniformed men flanking him.
Loki had been frozen slightly as he listened, stumbling as he was forced moved along with that crowd and away from the 'crime scene', mind whirling. So before taking Loki to the tower, Tony had hidden the men away from sight? Why? And why chase after Loki when he saw him in the first place, then help him despite the consequences, and the fact that he could be clearly tied to whatever occurred in the alley? Why go through any of it?
Loki remembered their final exchange all those years ago, that stupid night that fucked it all up and the morning after it that ended in a broken heart. He knew that no matter how much Tony pretended, he never cared. At least, not like Loki had. So why did Tony do all of that for him?
Now, Tony wasn't the only one with unanswered questions.
Feeling even more ill at those unpleasant thoughts and the memories that came flooding back at them, Loki turned and headed down a more busy road, tightening the coat around him and the scarf he realized he was somehow still wearing (even though the patches of it were saturated in blood) and intending to find his car and get back to wherever-the-hell he had checked himself into while staying in the city. He melded in with the crowds of people that even at this time of night floated around the city, some mindlessly chatting or texting on their phones, oblivious to what surrounded them, while others racing around with umbrellas fluttering above them in the wind to avoid the oncoming downpour.
Everyone looked up and paused, however, even Loki, when a blur of red and gold was seen racing through the sky, heading in some unknown location. Some people gasped, others even cheered as they saw the infamous 'Iron Man' flying through the sky. Loki abruptly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stayed there even after Tony was out of sight, ignoring the people who ran into him as they glared and swore under their breaths.
He could be in trouble, going into the line of fire, risking his life, as always. His mind taunted him, and Loki absolutely despised the panic that gripped him like a cold fist at this. But, after all, he was used to the feeling when it came to Tony, and since the superhero always managed to get out of it alive, Loki had learned to ignore the feeling. Even after all that had happened that night.
So, fighting back the bitter sour-milk taste in his mouth, Loki shoved his hands further into his pocket, looked away, and kept walking.
Honestly...ehhhh. I don't know if I really like this chapter that much. Especially the flashback scene *winces* The next chapter is where stuff is gonna get real though, and we will finally see some action AND some Avengers. ;)
But thank you for reading and hopefully enjoying, and please, if you can, leave a review telling me what you thought! :)