Everything seemed to go downhill from the moment Loki went out the door of Tony's home.

Loki sighed and stared listlessly out his window, elbow propped on the windowsill. The glass was cool against his temple as he watched the people milling about in the streets, dodging the rain that fell from the grey clouds in fat drops. The weather fit his mood as he brought his knees up to his chest, toes poking out from under the ends of worn jeans. H hadn't kept track of how long he'd been sitting there; his mind had gone blank since he'd left Tony and his body running on auto pilot. He'd barely eaten or slept, spending his time sitting by that window, and he knew that the moment he tried to focus on anything his thoughts would go running back to that man who'd taken a complete stranger into his home.

Loki's head turned in the direction of his cell phone ringing.

It had been doing it for the last three days and at first he'd thought that it might have been Tony but after checking the number he saw that it had been Amora. The crafty woman had probably learned of the mess that happened when he hadn't come into work and Darcy had been calling him as well, trying to find out what had happened to him. Well, he had an answer to that one: Tony Stark had happened to him. Tony Stark was the reason he was in this mind set and couldn't find a single reason to give a damn about anything, let alone go to work. Loki imagined that if this remained the way it was he'd be out of the job and his house.

Getting tired of the ringing, Loki stood up and picked up his phone, answering it with a harsh, "What?"

"There you are, where the hell have you been for three days?" Came Amora's voice through the phone and Loki could picture her pissed off expression easily in his mind's eye. "Well?"

"I'm sure you've heard by now but I am no longer living with Tony Stark." Loki's voice gave away no emotion as he said his name. He wrapped an arm around his waist as he walked back to his perch. "Why do you even care where I've been?"

"Because I do care and that's the problem. I know how you get, and when you get this way no matter what anyone says the words are going to fly right over your head. Even when they're trying to help you and this is ridiculous."

Loki sighed, running a hand through his messy hair, "So you've told me. What is the point of this phone call?"

"My point in calling is that you need to talk about what happened and I'm coming with a friend. And you aren't getting out of this. You've been holed into your house for the last three days no doubt. I don't know the details but I will."

Loki made a sound, fingers clenching around his phone, and hissed out, "You'd be wasting your time, Amora, although I know you have nothing better to do in your life then meddle in my affairs. If you were this enthusiastic in your own love life maybe you'd have found someone who could put up with you."

"That was extremely unnecessary. If you'd cared a little bit more about people other than yourself you'd have learned by now that I am currently dating someone and we're going steady. So take your wounding words and shove them. You can be such a dick sometimes. Just so you know, Loki." Amora clicked off the other end, leaving buzzing in Loki's ear.

Loki slammed the phone down onto the end table, rattling the items sitting on it. What the hell did she know? Did she think that just because she'd known him for so long that she could go ahead and lecture him on his own things? Apparently she did. The little voice in the back of his head that told him that she was right had returned but he refused to acknowledge it.

All the pent up emotions over the last three days threatened to burst from his chest the longer he sat there, taking in deep breaths in attempt to calm his fraying psyche. Against his will all the thoughts that he'd tried so hard to keep away bubbled up to the surface. He knew he was a selfish creature and had been told as much throughout the years. He'd wanted Tony, craved his touch and his presence, and he wanted him unquestionably, to have him be his companion without any other motives. He'd felt that Tony had considered him the same way and Loki had been okay with that fact. When they'd both given into their passions Loki had been amazed that he could feel so much again. He'd been so numb and the sensations filled him.

Then came the self-sabotaging Loki was so good at and Tony's betrayal that followed.

Loki let out a choking sob, burying his head in his knees. He hated this, he hated feeling so damn weak, feeling this way over a man he'd only known for a month. It burned in his chest and threatened to burst his heart. He hated that Tony had made such an impression on him in such a short time. Loki had been on his own for so long even in his family that he'd forgotten what it was like to have someone love you. Was it love? Loki lifted his head. Was what he felt considered love? Perhaps it was and if it was, then love hurt. Love was a horrible thing. It turned you into a simpering animal rushing at their lover's every beck and call.

At least that was what he'd always heard and witnessed in those rare times one of his street-walking former co-workers had been with a person. When the relationship eventually ended and often badly, he'd watch the poor fool seep into a deep and dark place. And here he was doing just that thing. He'd let himself get close to Tony and like always, to everyone, it all came crashing down around him in shattered pieces. Sentimentality was a waste.

He sat there staring into space until there was a knock at his door and reluctantly he moved to it and swung it open. Standing there was Amora, arms crossed and dressed in a green off the shoulder sweater and black skinny jeans, Darcy, minus her glasses and hat, and of all people, Alexi. He met Amora's gaze and scowled at her, "You actually showed up."

"Yes, I did and I brought back-up. Darcy volunteered to help because for some god-forsaken reason, she actually likes you and I happened to catch Alexi out at the bar looking for you." Amora shoved past him and into the apartment, scrunching her delicate nose, "There's dust everywhere. The least you could have done was a little house cleaning."

"I'm sorry that my cleanliness isn't up to your standards, my lady." Loki growled sardonically as Darcy and Alexi slipped by and he slammed the door behind them. He stalked back to his spot as everyone else settled into the available seating, looking at him expectedly. "What?"

"I spoke to Thor a bit ago and he told me about your run-in with him. Apparently it didn't go well and that you're just a self-centered as before. How many fucking times does someone have to tell you that shit happens?"

Loki quickly realized that this was an intervention and that he was doomed. Three sets of eyes were glued on his face; Amora who'd he'd known the longest, Alexi who was his introduction to his life on his own, and finally Darcy who was a little piece of normality. They were all a part of his life now in their different ways. Their faces held different emotions, different reactions to his current state; Amora with her angry sneer, Alexi with his sympathy, and Darcy with a quiet understanding. They filled him with a gut-wrenching panic and his first instinct was to bolt for the door. He knew that they weren't going to let him do that though and he sunk into is spot, wishing the earth would swallow him whole as an escape.

"What do you want from me?"

"We want you to pull your head out of your ass and listen to what people have to say." Amora returned, searching his face for reason and saw that panic written in his eyes. "And if you try to run, I'm going to have Alexi pin you down. A job I'm sure he'd enjoy."

"What Amora is trying to say, I think, is that it's dangerous to lock yourself away like this. She filled me in a bit about your past and I figure that with your history, depression and the like can play a big role. Your best bet is to get out and try to let people help you as best they can. Otherwise you could suffer some major medical issues." Darcy threw in, fiddling with her sleeves and she smiled crookedly, "But I'm not a shrink or anything so don't take my word on it."

"Yeah, pretty much this, and that you're a selfish, egotistical prick with a victim complex that thinks that everyone is out there trying to wrong you in some way." Amora added in for good measure and ignored the hostile glare Loki sent her. "However, the lot of us consider you our friend and because of this we've resigned ourselves to the fact that you need help for your own good. So we're in for better or for worse."

"Loki, when we first met I thought you were gorgeous, broken, but gorgeous. I was alright with your cutting remarks and the flaws that came with it but I learned quickly that we weren't ever going to be anything more than bedmates that have a tentative friendship I was willing to pay for." Alexi took over the conversation, leaning in towards Loki, "I haven't met Stark, but the very fact that you're taking it this hard is enough to tell me that you cared deeply for him and that he's horribly lucky to have won you over. You'd be stupid to let someone like that go. I told you that you should have told him earlier and this all could have been avoided."

Loki felt all sides pushing in at him as they continued on, each taking their turn telling him all the reasons why he was an idiot for running away from something good. Guilt and irritation mingled together as he listened to them. Did they expect him to run back and just take Tony back for the breach of trust? In his heart he knew that he was making a bigger deal of it than it actually was but his pride refused to bow and those insecurities that fueled it burned bright.

"We know it's because of that night when Baldur died. Loki, what happened that night would have happened either way." Darcy said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "He was 17 and he was going to do what he wanted regardless if his brother was there. That's just how kids are at that age. We were all there once."

"But I was trusted with watching him. I was supposed to be keeping him from going out and doing something stupid but I was sleeping around." Loki intoned bitterly, clenching his fist. "I failed to do so and he ended up wrapped around a tree. My own family hates me for it, blamed me for it. They say they never really blamed me but I know they do. After all, I'm the adopted misfit in their brood; it's easy to hold me responsible for something."

"You know that's not true. You're family, adopted or not and they love you regardless of that night. It was a horrible accident yes but they'd never blame you honestly for it. They were grieving for their son and sometimes those in grief lash out. You're doing that now. Your leaving Tony is fueling your own grief. My suggestion? Grow a pair and go back to him."

Loki swallowed and looked away, fixing his eyes to the window again, "I…can't. What if he-"

"If you're worried about this and that your family's 'harm' done to you will prevent you from actually doing something healthy, why don't you go talk to them. Worst case scenario you're back here but I think you'll be surprised." Darcy supplied with a shrug and continued on to add, "I haven't met them obviously but they're family."

"You three are not going to let this go, are you?" Loki looked back at the three faces again, heart thumping painfully in his chest. He had two choices, sit and continue to stew in his depression until he snapped or do as they asked and probably end up here again. He didn't have much faith in this plan but he knew they'd find out if he bailed out on a promise, what with Amora's apparent constant contact with Thor. "Alright, fine. I'll…go talk to them. It won't work but I will."

When they left, giving him a stink eye, Loki curled up on the couch and fell into an uneasy sleep as his mind replayed memories.

Things weren't much better for Tony back at the tower either.

He sat in a chair by one of the many rows of windows, watching the same rain fall as Loki blocks away. In one of his hands was a glass of Scotch and in the other was the bottle. Every once in a while he'd take a swig out of his glass and refill it. He really couldn't be certain where he was sitting on the sobriety-drunken meter but he had a feeling he was leaning towards 'drunken' at this point in time. It'd a long time since he'd been drunk for three days. Go figure that Loki's departure would bring up old things like not-so-borderline alcoholism.

Loki…

It hurt more than he wanted to admit that day when Loki left him and the memory of it throbbed angrily in his heart. Even the burn of the Scotch couldn't numb that pain. A part of him wondered why he cared so much. It wasn't like Loki was the first person to leave him; he'd had plenty of mishappened relationships. He'd bounced back well enough from them and didn't he once upon a time decide that monotonous relationships weren't for him? Whatever happened to that decision? Ah right, Loki walked through the door.

Damn it, why couldn't he get that man off his mind? This whole thing was ridiculous and the more he thought about it the more upset he got and the more upset he got, the more he drank. Which thrilled Pepper to no end. She'd come in to check on him a few times, sighing and shaking her head at the mess her boss was in. She'd seen him like this before so it came to no surprise to neither one of them. What had surprised him was that that day was when she decided that enough was enough and came in with Natasha and Clint in tow, the latter looking decidedly unenthused about being dragged into the mess that was Tony Stark's living habits.

"Tony…we need to talk." Pepper said gently as she came around to stand in front of him, Natasha and Clint lingering in the back. Tony looked up at her with an emotionless mask that would be better suited for Loki. Pepper carefully took the bottle and glass out of his fingers to which he didn't even have the energy to protest. "You should get out, Tony. Maybe even go to the office. You can't stay cooped up here for three days."

Tony shrugged indifferently, not meeting her gaze, "I don't see why I can't. I have you to look after things."

"I can't do everything. I can't live both our lives for us." Pepper sighed and took his chin in her hand and moved his head up to look at her. "I know this is hard for you. I know I said that it was a bad idea to get with Loki before…"

"And you were right, it was a bad idea. I just don't learn, do I?" Tony asked miserably, tipping his head back and out of Pepper's fingers. He knew he sounded pathetic but he didn't particularly care either. "I was better off without relationships."

"No, what I was going to say was that Loki made you happy. I was in the wrong with my original assessment of him. He was actually good for you. I haven't seen you take something this hard in a long time which tells me you care a lot more than you're willing to say. Natasha and Clint agree and we all think you should try and win him back."

"Well, the girls do. I say do what you want." Clint said dryly, getting a nudge in the ribs by Natasha. He returned it with a sheepish look. Clearing his throat he corrected himself, "Err, yeah. Go…get your man back. Wow, that's odd to say to another guy."

Tony snorted, "In case you people didn't notice, he doesn't want anything to do with me. He won't answer any of my calls and he sure as hell hasn't bothered to call me back. It's a waste of time."

"So you're just going to give up now and spend the rest of your life miserable and alone?" Natasha's voice joined the discussion and she came around to look at him, arms crossed and face impassive. Under that he could see genuine compassion, reminding him that he wasn't the only one who wore masks. "Loki has his own share of problems and a lot of emotional baggage. I did my homework on the man too."

"We were all a bit suspicious but he's not as bad as we assumed. He's the sort that needs a gentle but firm hand." Pepper continued on and Tony didn't know rather to laugh or scoff at the group therapy session the whole conversation was but they weren't wrong.

"He's an asshole but, well, Pepper said it best." Clint clearly didn't want to be involved but did his best. Probably not wanting to piss off his girlfriend. "I think. Anyways."

Tony ran a hand through his hair and looked at the three. Loki did make him happy, genuinely so, but Loki was stubborn and selfish. And beautiful. And witty. And intelligent. Loki was a match for him and Tony wanted more than anything to make things better for him. Even if that meant confronting his family and demanding answers for why Loki was as emotionally screwed up as he was. But Tony was also stubborn and selfish and he wasn't sure if he should bother with it.

However one look at the group and he realized they'd keep nagging him about it until he at least tried.

"Alright. Fine. I'll…call him again." Tony grabbed the cell off the floor where it sat beside the chair and pushed the redial button. It rang. And rang. And rang. And just as he was about to hang up, there was a click and a voice came through that he hadn't heard in three days.

"Stark…I'm willing to talk things over but there are some things I need to sort first. Important things. I was reminded about them by an inquisition earlier." Loki's voice was raspy and tired and Tony could picture the mop of bed-head hair and a thin body clad in pajama pants and a ratty t-shirt. Nothing seemed sexier to him. "I will call you again soon. I promise. I know how impatient you can be."

And the line went dead.

And Tony couldn't believe that he was willing to take Loki's word to be called again later.

Because he really did miss him.