Loki:

New Mexico

The heated argument never allowed Loki or Thor to leave Lady Jane's home. As soon as Loki touched down Thor fired off question after question before his brother could even take off his coat. Both Thor and Loki were in a heated argument, screaming and yelling in their home language while Darcy, Jane and Dr. Selvig stared in awe at their proximity to Loki and Thor in the same room and not being killed. Yet. Finally, after a long pause from Loki he spoke in regular human tongue.

"I do NOT see the problem Thor. Why must you insist this is a bad idea when you work with him?" Loki gave Thor a judgmental look but the God of Thunder stood his ground.

"Brother, please reconsider. Stark will never live as long as yo—"

"DO YOU NOT THINK I KNOW THAT THOR?" Loki turned around and nearly bit off his Brother's face. Thor actually stepped back, he was surprised by his brothers fury directed towards such a question. The trickster gritted his teeth and sighed.

"I know Tony is only a Midgardian and…I know one day he will," Loki grumbled the word, "but we are going to be fine and…he is my Tony Stark. Time will not change that."

"Brother…I only have your best interest…" started Thor but he cut off his sentence when Loki raised his hand.

"Enough. This cannot be the only thing you wished to speak of. Change the topic quickly I know what I am getting into." Loki glanced to the side and sat in a random chair, crossing his arms in annoyance.

"…."

"Well? Get on with it."

"You love Tony very much do you not?"

"…"

"Ah, tis the first time I have seen you so in love, possibly the only time. Though I do not approve of Tony's actions, he seems to make you happy and content, enough to make you bow your head to not only S.H.I.E.L.D's Fury but even Father! I am happy for you brother! We must celebrate!" Thor clapped his brother into a might hug and lifted him off the ground. Loki just rolled with the punches, but he had to admit…Tony made him the happiest god in all the nine realms and beyond. The idea of Tony not living as long always lingered but the full weight would probably crush Loki after looking into Tony's mind. He would relish the present…that is all he could do. To love and cherish Tony beyond all limits. Time was not going to stop him from loving Tony. Even if Tony grew old he would still be his Tony. He would always even when he left this world. Loki would search far and wide for Tony's soul if he could.

Thor finally managed to get Loki to calm down enough so they could all go eat the wondrous Midgardian dish called "pancakes" except Loki had to chime in Tony made a better omelet then this establishment. Thor frowned but smiled at his brother's prod. It was familiar and nice, in an endearing way. Jane went along as well, making sure Thor and Loki did not start the diner on fire or worse, destroy the whole town.

Loki:

Pamper Myself

[Loki was padding around the lavious bathroom in Tony's robe. The giant tub was filling with hot water and bubbles to the brim. Loki was tired from spending his morning with Thor as well as the feel of dust in his hair. He looked once, twice in the mirror over his face. The trickster was a vain creature, he would admit, but he also wanted to keep Tony happy. But today it was a day for him, or at least for a couple hours while Tony was out.

Loki dropped his robe and slipped a pale leg into the water. He sighed with content and submerged himself fully. Loki turned off the water and relished the peace and tranquility. He snapped his fingers and an old tome appeared in front of him, its pages were old and brittle. A good book, a hot relaxing bath anddd…SNAP! A wondrous Midgardian drink called coffee, Loki felt completely at ease. Nothing could ruin this.]

Sir, would you like me to play track 5?

[JARVIS had popped up a menu window of music Loki had downloaded recently, with the help of JARVIS not Tony. The god smiled.]

Yes, that would be lovely and tell Tony not to bother me unless it involves the world ending. Otherwise I am not here.

[JARVIS immediately started to play some calming club music, very 40s, and Loki sighed again, slipping down to let the water cover his shoulders.]

Tony:

[Fear of mine]

If there was anything that Tony knows better about his relationship with Loki, it was that it wasn't going to last forever like he would want it to. It often lingers in his mind when he's by himself, or when he watches Loki sleep. It haunts him like an unanswered question the way a philosopher would ponder on and on about the meaning of life, unable to come to a rational answer.

Once upon a time when Tony was a teenager, and even as he grew to become an adult, he used to think that he'd always be young regardless of how old he grew. He thought that there was nothing that could stop him from being young and free and insane. At least, he thought that until he settled down into a relationship with Loki. He never thought that someone could ever have so much influences in his life.

These days, he is constantly reminded that one day he will die, and he'll be leaving Loki behind with nothing that he can do to prevent it. It scares Tony, and it scares him that it does scare him because he's never been that afraid of anything in his entire life. He's never been one to understand boundaries and so nothing has ever stopped him. He has already decided that if he would only allow one thing to take Loki and that would be him dying of old age, because he's unable to stop that. Not even with a mind like his, and not even with all the money he can get, not even if he falls on his knees and hopes and begs, and prays and cries.

Heroes live forever, he was once told and it made him laugh, still makes him laugh, always will. At least he'll live on forever in the media, and he tries not to think how tough that might be on Loki.

Tony is lucky, and he knows that, from the way Loki looks at him, loves him, stays with him, will stay with him until the last of days even when he's not strong enough to carry Loki back to bed anymore, and even when he probably looks like crap from all the wrinkles he hopes never to get. A part of him knows, and is relieved, that he probably will never have to watch Loki die, even if he was once told, love is watching someone die. He's lucky, because he gets to spend the rest of his life with Loki, but, who's going to watch you die?

Sometimes, he dreams about it, like today, like other days when he's alone and decides he's tired enough to take a nap. In his dream, he sees himself as he is, but he knows it's time for him to go. It usually starts with the hospital room, and Loki's there clasping his hand so tight. It's happy at first, because he knows that he would have had a fulfilling life with Loki, that he knows he has properly cherished and loved Loki through his entire life, and that if there was only one regret he would have before he dies it was that he couldn't have more time with Loki, but he knows that time with Loki is never enough.

The dream's always the same, and it's always so surreal to him as he lays there in the hospital bed of his imagination. The white of the hospital lights a little too blinding for his old weary eyes, the smell of the hospital clean filling his nose, the hint of Loki's scent somewhere in there, and that plays a soft tired smile on his lips, the rasping of his breath as he struggles to stay just a little longer, the tightness of his throat because he knows he should be leaving, the tightness around his hand wanting him to stay, the tears stinging in his drooping eyes because he knows, the tears stinging in Loki's eyes as he says I love you, the nod Tony always gives because I know and I love you too, the faintest of sigh when it really is his last breath, and the way Loki just holds on to his body as Tony whispers goodbye.

So who's going to watch you die?

Loki:

Loki had emerged from his extremely long bath session in a long green silk robe that accentuated his naked body underneath. The train giving off a regal air for him as he towel dried his hair. Loki hummed to himself quietly opening the door but stops rigidly when he spots Tony on the bed. At first a coy expression, slightly mischievous with a drop of seductive, shaken not stirred, but then he notices the way Tony moves in his sleep. A look of worry covers Loki's face as he quietly walks towards the bed. He crawls on and looks over Tony's hunched shoulders. His eyes flutter as he waves a hand lightly over his sleeping lover to look inside his mind. His emerald eyes spark with his magic, gently melding with Tony's thoughts. Tears prick his eyes as he watches the dream play out. He looks down at Tony as tears fall down his face. The memory plays quickly on repeat for Loki but for Tony it is a slow occurring scenario. The trickster floats amongst the ideas in Tony's mind, analytic, precise, calculated, warm, loving, dangerous, passionate…the shards and fragments float past him like fish in water.

He smiles. He smiles at the sight of an older Tony. His face smiles but the inside of his chest hurts.

Please do not think of the future my love, my darling, my burning star, my star…

Tony was like a star to Loki. Bright, brilliant and beautiful, yet so far away. They were so far far away from each other yet so close. Tony blazed bright and consumed Loki in his searing hot flames. It was so warm…so welcoming…chaotic…

The god started to weave dreams. With his slender fingers he weaved lovely dreams for his Tony. Ideas Loki has had, but has never spoken a soul to, not even Tony.

"Ah…" Loki feels a light kicks from the inside of his belly. He places the book down he was reading and gently rubs at the spot shushing quietly.

"Be calm my darling, father will be home soon…" a warm smile spreads on his lips. There's a super sonic boom in the distance and Loki looks up from his sunning spot on the roof of Stark Tower. The Iron Man himself speeds towards Loki, feet first, and touches down gently at the landing pad. He walks down from his landing and JARVIS removes his armor section by section to reveal a tired but smiling Tony Stark. Loki lays down gently, letting the hot concrete heat his face and smiles at Tony. The genius billionaire quickly walks over to kneel next to his love, placing a gentle hand on the large bump.

"He keeps kicking. It is most dreadful, he is exactly like you." Loki smiles mischievously and takes Tony's other hand to rub against his face. The other laughs and lays down next to Loki, rubbing small circles to calm his future son.

The memory starts to fade as Loki continues to weave. A smile in his eyes as he watches his ideas unfold against Tony's own thoughts.

"Father! Come on why can't I?"

"I said no, now get your ass back in there with your mother or I am grounding you along with your other brothers."

A 17 year aged version of Tony, goatee sans mustache, groaned and walked back into the house to stand next to his mother who just smiled, patting her son on the shoulder. To the tricksters right was a junior aged child, 13 with dark hair like his parents but in a more Loki slick backed fashion. The child to Loki's left was a small child, no more then 5, holding onto his mother's leg as their father quickly flew off to assist the rest of the Avengers.

"Mom, why does dad have to be such a loser?" asked the oldest, crossing his arms and flopping onto the couch.

"Darling, your father does not want you getting injured. Do you think I want you injured?"

"No."

"Do you think I enjoy it when your father leaves to get injured?"

"No…"

"Do you think your brothers would want you injured?"

"No…"

"Then I see no reason for this conversation. Come, we have lunch to make."

The eldest grumbled as he followed after his mother and younger brothers to the kitchen. Tony smiled to himself in his helmet. He was watching the entire situation unfold as he flew off via cameras in the living room. Stupid kid was just like him, even in the way he quietly obeyed Loki. He was going to have to scold the brat later…no one, especially him, was gonna talk back to his own mother.

More, more, more memories. Loki continued to weave more as best he could. Their children in sports, visiting Asgard, visiting Uncle Thor, visiting their Grandfather Odin (much to Loki's unhappiness but it was a peace treaty), good grades, bad news, family moments together on vacations, sitting with Tony and watching Loki yell the shit out of him for getting injured, again. Their eldest taking over Tony's empire, one of them taking on his suit, another getting married, maybe two or all. Loki could feel his mind bleed in weaving everything but he wasn't about to stop.

The autumn leaves blew past Loki, a hand hesitates to find the right time to move the strewn hair back into place. Another hand comes up and moves the hair to the back of his ear. An old hand, calloused and tired but warm and all too familiar. Tony's old smiled was warm as Loki kissed him passionately and with love. It was a bit difficult with a baby bump but he managed three times before. Young children ran up to them and Tony turned to give his grandkids hugs and kisses. Loki made a desperate attempt but almost fell over. His eldest son coming to his rescue to hold him up. It was a sight. All of Tony's kids, grown with families of their own, having a day in the park together. Loki smiled and grabbed Tony for more warmth. A smile and a kiss and spinning in the fallen leaves, it was bliss. Loki did not look a day over 30 and Tony was older, much older but it did not bother them. They were happy.

Loki could feel the bones crack in his hands, no, one more. Please…

Loki is seen laying in a half empty bed. He cradles a photo and cries desperately. Only moments before Tony was with him, he was alive and warm, but now…now…he couldn't bear to think he was gone…but he was. He knew this would happen. It happened so quick but…

The God of Mischief looked over his shoulder and wiped his tears. He sat up slowly and walked over to the crib beside the bed. It was old, worn, but sturdy because Tony insisted on making it himself because no child of his was going to sleep in a screaming store bought death trap while he still breathed. Loki leaned in and picked up the baby. Another boy, really Tony sure was selective. The baby smiled and cooed at his mother. The only one to have gained his magical powers…which means he could go back to Asgard…

No, Loki thought, he was going to stay here. Watch his children raise their children. Watch his grandchildren grow and marry. Watch over them. The living reminders of Tony's love they shared.

"I am not alone Tony. I will never be alone. Even when I continue to live, I will still look back at our children and know…I loved you. You loved me. We loved one another and then some to make more. We loved our children, grandchildren…please, do not cry. I'll be here. You will always be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more, my darling."

—
Loki was violently ejected from Tony's mind. He had done all he could. He looked over his bruised and cut hands but quickly bandaged them so he could hold Tony close. Watch over him as he dreamed warm and happy dreams, watch him sleep and keep out the bad thoughts.

"When destiny calls you, you must be strong…I love you Tony. You will always be in my heart, my darling."

Tony's blog:

Strange.

My dream was different this time, it… It still woke me up in tears, but I saw such beautiful memories. When I woke up, I was cradled in Loki's arms and he had fallen asleep.

His hands…

Thank you, love, for fighting my demons for me.

You don't know how much you mean to me.

Loki:

I am glad you are well darling….

[Loki was going to say more but he felt Tony knew. He didn't need to say any more. A sad smile and a warm morning kiss was all he needed to do. There were no proper Midgardian words that could express his love for Tony.]