HUD: Finally the last part! I hope you enjoy. :)

Pepper was true to her word. First thing that morning she was knocking on Tony's suite door and waking his ass up. He grumbled and opened the door, rubbing the side of his face. "'M up."

"Obviously," she drawled, breezing by him and stopping at a table in the living room. She set her folders for the seminar down and sat in the armchair. "I called Happy; he's going to meet us at the docks in Havana. Think Loki could get over there unnoticed?"

Tony blinked, feeling more awake with the topic. "I dunno, I still haven't asked yet."

Pepper shrugged and waved her hand. "Semantics. I'm sure he's resourceful enough to get there. Now, as far as the renovations, have you thought of where you want this huge pool to go?"

Tony flopped down onto the couch beside her armchair. "You know I'm useless before coffee, right?"

"I was thinking floor fifty and fifty-one. They're the lowest levels of your labs and mainly used for storage anyway. Anything volatile down there I should know about before I give the okay?" She asked, eyeing Tony carefully as the genius rubbed his face with both hands.

"No," he answered after a few good minutes of silence. "Nothing."

Pepper nodded, pulling her phone out. "Good; I'll call them now."

Tony listened to Pepper's voice as she ordered a contractor and gave Happy clearance to leave his second in charge before he left for Havana. She spoke for only a few minutes, promising an email with the blueprints in a few moment's time to be waiting for the contractor once he arrived. Tony had no idea how she'd managed it, but Pepper seemed to have all her ducks in a row with little input from him.

She really was amazing; Tony had no idea what he'd do without her.

"There," Pepper said with a smug smile. She looked over at Tony while she put her phone away. "The easy part's done. Now, you have to draw the blueprint and talk to Loki."

Tony nodded, pulling his nearby tablet to his lap with a stylus. "I can handle the first part, no problem. The other, well - "

"There's no going back now, Tony," Pepper cautioned. "Once you send that blueprint over, it's going to start. Are you sure he's going to say yes?"

Tony thought of Loki's curious eyes, his mischievous smile, his cool lips against Tony's -

"Yeah," Tony answered. "I'm sure."

Tony held his flip flops in his hand as he always did, letting his arm swing as he walked. He whistled, too, something he did just to distract himself from his nerves. He was hella nervous; he felt confident that Loki would say yes and come back to New York with him, but what if he didn't? What if Tony had read Loki all wrong?

Loki's beautiful voice drifted to him over the crash of waves, the tide higher than normal. Tony had to walk closer to the foliage to keep his feet from getting wet. Loki's voice still carried wonderfully, and within a few more minutes, Tony was standing outside of the little path he took to visit their grotto.

He pushed aside the branches and vines, like he had every other time, but today, it felt harder. As if his arms were made of lead and the foliage that of steel. Tony pushed through, feeling his heart in his throat when Loki came into view.

The water had risen in the grotto as well, leaving only a few feet of their rock exposed. Loki still leaned against it, but only his shoulders up were free of water. Tony dropped his flip flops and began to unbutton his shirt. Something told him to wear his swim trunks today, and he was certainly glad he listened to it.

Loki's eyes were closed, his lips moving slowly in a language Tony doubted he'd ever learn. He stepped lightly into the water of the grotto, warm from the rock formation that separated it from cooler currents and from the day's sunlight. Tony moved slowly towards Loki until his companion's eyes opened and his song stilled.

"Hello, Tony," Loki said quietly, a content smile on his lips. Tony smiled right back, sitting beside Loki against the rock. The water had risen only a few feet, and at a glance seemed much higher than it was. Loki straightened up once Tony was beside him, leaning immediately into the genius' presence. Tony was able to sit on his knees and keep his head level with Loki above water.

"Hey beautiful," Tony answered, enjoying the slight flush that brought to Loki's neck and cheeks. He grinned, leaning forward for a sweet kiss. Loki immediately yielded to the touch, resting an underwater hand on Tony's chest.

"Did you miss me?" Tony teased once they broke apart. Loki pressed his lips together in a thin line, thinking.

"I suppose," Loki replied after an agonizing pause. Tony barked a short laugh.

"Uh-huh." Tony pressed forward for another kiss as Loki's fingers traced along his chest. He kept up the lazy patterns even after they parted, making Tony realize he'd never had his shirt off for Loki. He enjoyed the exploration, leaning into Loki's caresses and lips.

They finally parted when Tony felt something stirring that he wasn't quite sure Loki would know how (or be able) to handle. He brought a hand to cover Loki's over his abdomen, dangerously close to Tony's too obvious interest, and pulled it to his lips to press a kiss to Loki's knuckles. "Loki, we need to talk."

The merman nodded, his lips still red from Tony's attention but his eyes cleared of the haze they had developed, now the same sharp green as always. He freed his hand of Tony's grasp and trailed a finger along his goatee. "I know you will not be here forever."

Tony swallowed against the lump in his throat; he knew Loki wasn't dumb. He may not understand everything Tony described to him, but he could pick up on context clues.

"Tomorrow, actually," Tony heard himself whisper. "Tonight is my last night."

Loki nodded again, his eyes oddly blank. "I understand." Tony knew it had to be a defense mechanism, like his fucked up humour for him, because Loki's eyes had always been the most expressive part of him. "This is farewell, then."

Tony shook his head. "It doesn't have to be." At Loki's puzzled expression, Tony took a deep breath and pressed on, taking both of the merman's hands in his. "I can - I want - to bring you with me. I have a boat for tomorrow, and people working on a habitat for you to live in, thousands of feet up so you can see all of New York. We can be together, as long as you want; you can say no, and that's fine too. But I'd really love to be able to take care of you, Loki, if you'd let me."

Tony ended his ramble a little breathless, feeling his face heat under Loki's impassive expression. He took a deep breath and began to rub circles in the back of Loki's hands. When Tony still had no answer, he felt his heart breaking and gave one more plea: "Please, you can say no and I'll understand, but please say something."

Instead of speaking, Loki pulled his hands free of Tony's grasp and the genius immediately closed his eyes, feeling a wealth of pain rush his expression. The water around him rippled and he felt cold in the warm water, and when he opened his eyes, he was suddenly alone. Tony didn't even try to look around, he knew the grotto was empty of its only other occupant.

Tony sighed, dropping his face to his palms to fight his despair any way he could. He wouldn't cry, even though the tears were practically choking him to be free, because Stark men were made of iron, and perhaps this had been a failure from the start. He and Loki, they were too different. Of all the land dwellers he'd met, one of the three tried to kill him. Tony wouldn't exactly be jumping at a romantic getaway either, given that fact.

He leaned against the rock again, eyes now on the break in rock formation that brought in water and Loki, willing for some type of sign or a flash of red/gold that would help him not feel totally like shit.

After twenty minutes of silence and loneliness, Tony Stark pulled himself free of the chilled water and grabbed his shirt and flip flops. He couldn't help looking back, even when he was walking down the main beach. He only gave up when he reached the gate for the pool area.

That certainly could have gone better.

"You have everything?"

"Of course; I'm not you, Tony."

The genius shrugged, not feeling his heart in the light teasing Pepper was aiming for. He kept his eyes on his phone, hidden behind his sunglasses. He hadn't been able to fight his disappointment all night, finally giving in to his tears around two in the morning. He woke looking terrible, and no amount of face washing was going to get rid of the puffiness he knew she could see.

"Hey," Pepper coaxed, dropping a hand to cover the screen of his phone and forcing him to look up to protest. "Why don't you try one more time? Go see if he's there, maybe - "

"No," Tony answered, harsher than he'd intended. "I got his answer loud and clear."

"Well, maybe he - "

Tony just shook his head. "I doubt it. There wasn't that much of a language barrier, Pep."

She sighed, her eyebrows arching in concern for him. Tony wanted to just go back to his phone and ignore her, but she was Pepper Potts and damn good at getting Tony Stark to do what she wanted.

"How about this," she began. "The car isn't going to be here for another forty minutes. That should be enough time for you to go check on what you're obviously missing." Her tone booked no argument, and that coupled with her steely gaze, had Tony sighing and shoving his phone into his pocket.

"Fine," he snapped. "I don't know why you're trying to put salt into the wound, but whatever."

"Just trust me!" Pepper called as Tony stalked from the lobby to the pool area then to the beach beyond. He was dressed in a complete suit, not at all conducive to being on the beach, but he just ignored the looks he got from the few patrons and followed the now familiar path with ease.

Tony walked and walked until he found the shoe-abandoning rock and then turned down the semi-hidden path, careful of his suit with the barbs and sticks. Usually, he'd hear Loki singing long before he got to the rock, but today, it was quiet. He figured it would be, after all - why would he show up again anyway? Loki obviously didn't want to be with him more than those amazing few days, and that had to be enough for Tony.

It couldn't be, and it never would be, but Tony was damn good at bullshitting.

Tony stepped into the grotto, somehow darker even with the sun so high in the sky. The water wasn't as high as the night before, now much more even with what it usually was. Tony stood, looking around carefully. Loki, of course, was nowhere to be seen. Tony had expected that, but he couldn't stop himself from speaking.

"I'm leaving," he said to the rock, the focal point of their last few days. "Got a boat waiting in Havana, a few miles from here, then I'll be gone. Maybe I'll see you again in another life." Tony, feeling terribly sentimental, pulled his phone from his pocket and took a quick picture of the grotto. He'd never thought of photographing Loki in all his beauty, not sure if the merman would take to it, but he wasn't here and Tony needed something for closure.

The genius looked around one last time, willing and failing for Loki to appear. In echo of Loki's last few words: "This is farewell, then."

He turned and headed through the foliage back to the beach, back to his world with Pepper but without Loki. Even with the sun so high and bright, the world beyond seemed too dark.

Tony took two steps beyond his shoe rock when he thought he heard something. He looked back at the palm trees and, when nothing happened, shrugged and continued. The genius only got a few more feet before something thudded against the ground beside him, muffled by the sand. He looked curiously at a beautiful sea shell, no bigger than a few inches. Another thud, and another shell, and then another not too far from the first. They were coming from behind him, and now he wondered if someone was throwing shit at him. When he turned, anger on the tip of his tongue, his heart slammed against his chest and stopped.

It was Loki behind him, on the beach, holding himself up with one arm wrapped around a palm tree and the other poised with another shell in his hand, ready to throw. Tony felt his jaw go slack as he stared at Loki, his feet rooted to the sand beneath him.

Sure, Loki was using a palm tree, but he was standing, on legs. Legs that hadn't been there the day before, or the day before that, or the day before that. Legs that shook from obvious exhaustion as he held himself up. Legs that were so long Tony knew he'd stand an easy half-foot over Tony. Legs that were the same pale as the rest of Loki. Legs that were giving out and buckling and Tony suddenly remembered who and where he was and who those legs were connected to and he was sprinting across sand to catch Loki before his new knees connected harshly with the earth. Tony wrapped his arms around Loki's chest and broke his fall, letting the gorgeous man lean on him for support as he sat instead of fell.

"Loki, I've got you!" Tony rushed, pushing the dark hair that had fallen into Loki's face back. He cupped his chin, bringing Loki's face up to look at him. His green eyes were closed, his brows drawn in obvious exertion as his chest rose and fell rapidly to catch his breath. Tony skimmed his fingers along every feature of the face he'd never thought he'd see again, starting from his cheek and chin to his nose and eyebrows, rubbing the crease away with a soft touch. "Are you okay?"

Loki nodded, bringing up his left hand to grab Tony's wandering one. He opened his eyes and smiled at Tony, his chest still heaving, but he squeezed the hand in his and relaxed.

Tony decided to tackle the obvious, then (more obvious than Loki naked and practically in his lap). "Loki, you've got legs. How'd you get legs overnight?"

Loki's expression turned weary, then. He lowered his eyes to the sand beneath them. Tony ducked his head to hold his gaze. "Hey, you can tell me."

Loki nodded and mouthed I can't. Tony felt his brows furrow. He recognized this; oddly enough, Pepper had even mentioned it the day before. Depending on Loki's answer, Tony literally was about to rethink everything.

"Loki," he began slowly, making sure he had Loki's attention. "Can you speak?"

When Loki shook his head, Tony had to fight down hysterics. The merman - man - grabbed desperately at Tony's suit, seeing the disbelief on the genius' face. He tugged and pulled until Tony could focus his gaze again on him. Loki's beautifully expressive eyes were asking a question - Are you well? It was so clear that Tony could hear Loki's voice in his head. A voice he'd never hear again.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered, smiling for Loki's sake. The man relaxed, his expression still concerned, but with an answering smile of his own. Tony was suddenly glad that he had his sunglasses still on. If Loki saw the tears welling up, he had no idea how he'd react. The fact that Loki gave up such a large part of himself to be with Tony was killing him. Tony had accommodations to take Loki just as he was, but the little fucker had gone and changed everything.

"I need to call Pepper," Tony said, fishing around for his phone. He dialed the number and waited, his eyes never leaving Loki.

"Do you have good news?" Pepper answered, her voice hopeful. Tony couldn't help but grin; she was going to love this.

"Fantastic, actually," Tony replied. Loki smiled again, easier this time. "Is the car there?"

"No, not for another fifteen minutes. Why?"

"Have a bag guy sit with our stuff. I need you to buy a robe from the gift shop and some flip flops, maybe a size eleven, and come to the beach."

"Flip flops? Why - ?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you," Tony teased, winking at Loki. He hung up without waiting for her answer and pulled Loki forward for a soft kiss. "Thank you."

Loki sighed against his lips and nodded when they parted. They sat in comfortable silence while they waited for Pepper. She couldn't believe her eyes, having a reaction similar to Tony. When Tony explained that Loki couldn't speak, Pepper was worse at hiding her expression than Tony had been. She hugged Loki tight around his neck, unable to help her tears.

Together, the two of them helped Loki regain his footing and led him to the resort. Tony watched his eyes light up at all the people and the building itself, even more when they helped him into the car taking them to the dock. Happy was already waiting with the boat, after all; no need to waste it.

It didn't take long for Loki to get used to living in Tony's tower. He took to walking quickly, and once he could without a hand on Tony's shoulder, Tony took him to buy his own wardrobe.

Tony filled an extra room on his floor with anything that Loki would need and gave it to him. He wanted Loki to have his own space, even though he still ended up sleeping in Tony's bed, and more and more of his clothes migrated to Tony's closet. Tony wasn't complaining.

Tony eventually showed Loki what was originally going to be his floor at the bottom of his labs. It was beautiful, almost identical to the grotto in Cuba. The contractors had made a very realistic beach along the grotto, and because of the extra thirty feet the other floor gave them, the water was deep and the ocean floor as clear as the beaches Loki might remember. The entire left side of the floor was glass, letting in the natural light from the sun and making the water a beautiful cerulean. Loki froze, taking in everything. Tony himself had only drawn up the plans but never stepped down after Loki came home with him. He had no reason to, but he knew Loki would appreciate having water nearby.

Tony wouldn't mind swimming every so often, too.

So when Loki threw off the shirt and shoes he wore and drug Tony's own shirt roughly over his head, Tony figured that swim would come sooner rather than later. He let Loki guide him across the sand and to the actual water, warm as a beach would be after being in the sun all day. He knew JARVIS controlled the temperature and could change it when he wanted, but Tony appreciated not jumping into a freezing cold pond.

The grey slacks Loki wore began to darken as they absorbed water, his long arm stretched out behind him holding Tony's hand. Tony quickened and wrapped his arms around Loki's waist, pushing them both into the water with a chuckle and a splash. He opened his eyes underwater, saw Loki smiling with air bubbles around his mouth from laughter, and Tony's heart hurt.

Since Loki's voice was lost, he could still sigh and huff and mouth words. Communication wasn't difficult, but Tony missed Loki's voice and laugh and singing so much it hurt. He couldn't imagine how Loki must feel, going his whole life and then suddenly not having his voice. All so he could be with Tony.

Tony grabbed Loki's face and kissed his smiling lips; Loki wrapped his arms around Tony's waist and held him close, his buoyancy still unnaturally good from living as a merman. They kissed until they both needed air, and Loki kicked his feet to bring them to the surface.

Loki smiled at Tony, again, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. Tony rubbed his wet goatee on Loki's chin and grinned when he swatted him away and moved to the window walls. Tony didn't follow, instead watching Loki press his hands against the glass and peer out. It was close to evening, the sun setting behind a few more buildings and casting the sky in beautiful orange, pinks, and purples. It was breathtaking, the sky, but Tony was distracted by something even more beautiful.

Loki, his hair wet and dark and slicked back from his face, with his hands and nose pressed against the glass to the outside world. He was so beautiful and curious, his teeth nibbling his lower lip as he watched the world. Tony felt his chest clench almost painfully and swelled with a warmth that only Loki could make him feel.

"Loki," he said, swimming slowly over.

Tony was surprised he'd waited so long to say it.

Loki looked over from the window and the city below, his lip freed of his teeth. His eyes were still as green as ever, reflecting the evening light and the blue of the water. He blinked, his full attention on Tony, who was so quiet that Loki's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Loki," he began again, licking his lips with a smile. Tony ran a hand through Loki's wet hair, his palm resting against his neck. "Loki, I love you."

Loki's eyes widened before a large smile - the largest Tony had ever seen - broke out across his lips. The light from outside seemed to brighten along with it, making Tony squint. He felt the beginnings of a smile, too, knowing that was the only way Loki would be able to answer him, but so happy that he couldn't care.

Which is why he grabbed Loki's shoulder for support when he actually spoke.

"I love you too, Tony," Loki said, his voice hardly a whisper from disuse but still as wonderful as Tony remembered. The genius floundered for a moment before latching onto Loki's shoulders. The other man grabbed both of his arms to keep him afloat.

"I - I'm sorry, what?" Tony gaped. "Could you please repeat that?"

"I love you, Tony," Loki answered, stronger this time. Tony just blinked, his eyes wide, as Loki smiled and chuckled (it vibrated through his hands and right into Tony's chest) at him. "More than words could describe."

"But - how - I," Tony stuttered. "I don't understand, how can you talk? It's been a month - "

"I must apologize, Tony," Loki began, moving a hand to cup his chin. "I had not meant to frighten you. When you asked that day, the need to finish my spell was dire."

"Spell for what?" Tony decided he would ignore the whole magic bit, thankyouverymuch, and just get to the good parts.

"To be with you," Loki answered, as if he were discussing the weather. "To leave my life, I needed to give away something important. Should you love me in turn, I would receive back what I offered."

"You offered your voice? For me?" Yeah, so he might have been a little squeaky, but Loki just smiled.

"You are worth it," was his simple answer. Tony couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't believe any of this. Maybe it was a dream that he'd wake up from in a minute, and the last six weeks would just disappear. He'd tell Pepper and she'd call him a therapist. Done deal.

But Loki was here and real and cool against his skin in the warm water and now he was kissing him and Tony still wasn't sure his head was screwed on right but dammit was his heart finally happy. He let Loki kiss him until he was panting and couldn't hold himself up in the water, and then they were lying on the beach and Tony was laughing at the absurdity of it all with Loki there right beside him, joining in.

Tony Stark was a man of science, but even he knew when to not ask questions.

A/N: Totally sweet, right? Hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to check out Shi-Toyu's version too!