Loki woke up to a sharp, stabbing pain. Crying out, he sat up, reaching for his protesting ankle. His fingers brushed stiff fabric and he yanked the blanket back, staring down at the brace wrapped around his left ankle. He began to recall the details of last night in scarily slow time. Had he hit his head as well as injured his ankle?

He closed his emerald eyes, letting every memory flicker behind the closed lids. He was hit with the accompanying tidal wave of emotion.

The facts were- he had learned he was adopted and while he was trying to run away he fell and injured his ankle. But had he made it to Anthony's house after said injury?

His eyes snapped open and scanned the room. The room was not painted green, like his own, at home. This didn't mean he was at Tony's, exactly. His ankle gave another twinge and Loki decided to abandon the search for his location. He would wait until someone came to check on him. He hoped they would hurry as he doubted he would be able to walk for the pain killers he badly needed.

Tony awoke when Jarvis came in and shook him awake. He wondered, as he sat up, if Loki was awake yet.

"I picked up some food on the way home," His uncle said as Tony debated a quick shower.

"Thanks, Jarvs." Tony said as he stepped into his en-suite bathroom, having decided to bathe after all.

Loki sat in the bed, trying to keep a level head. He did foggily remember Tony carrying him into the house and let out a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. He figured he was in one of the numerous guest rooms of the Stark mansion.

A knock at the door disturbed his thoughts and he started.

"Come in!" Loki called, reaching down to re-adjust the pillow he'd been using to prop up his ankle. He knew by now that it was either going to be Tony or Tony's uncle.

Tony pushed himself inside, balancing the array of food he had brought and smiled broadly, seeing his friend and patient was awake. Tony wore his favorite Black Sabbath tee-shirt and a pair of jeans. His feet were bare, as he doubted he would be going anywhere for a while.

After all if they really needed anything that wasn't at home Jarvis was more than ready to go out and get it. His hair was still damp and it dripped down his collar.

"Morning, Shakespeare." He said as he came over.

"Tony!" Loki said, happily.

"I come bearing presents." Tony grinned, hooking a chair with his foot and dragging it to Loki's bedside before carefully placing food and drink on a table. "But first, do you need some pain killers?"

"Oh gods yes. I thought you'd never ask." Loki answered, smiling, his pain evident in his shining eyes and barely contained grimace. Tony nodded and rushed into the other room for the first aid kit. He returned with a couple Advil. Loki was eyeing the cups of steaming liquid and wrappers of food.

Tony picked up the closest one, trying to remember which was which, and took a careful sip. While Tony preferred a nice cup of black coffee, Loki preferred tea. Tony made a face, deciding this was tea, and handed the cup to Loki. Loki took a sip and grinned over the lip. Tony handed him the Advil and settled in the chair.

He hopped up a moment later, having remembered Loki's ankle. He moved the blanket, taking care not to catch Loki's foot in the process. Loki bit back a cry of pain and cursed his weakness. Tony carefully undid the brace and slid it from Loki's foot. The ankle was swelled, which was to be expected and the entire ankle was a nasty shade of purple and black.

Loki leaned up on his elbows and looked over with Tony. He looked at Tony.

"Well, I'm not a doctor or anything and we haven't had this X-rayed nor will we unless you really want to, but I mean this seems normal. I think it's healing, Loks. I mean it's going to be painful for a week or so." Tony said, grabbing the brace again. On second thought he fished his self-made ice pack from the kit and applied it to Loki's ankle. "Are you hungry? Because I am."

Tony plopped down in his chair and grabbed the food Loki's eyes had been glued to earlier. He unwrapped the muffins and handed one to his friend and kept one for himself. "These are from the new bakery a few streets over. Have you tried it yet?"

Loki shook his head, too busy (and too polite) to talk.

"Really? Thor must take you to Starbucks all the way by the interstate then for their crappy, overpriced drinks." Tony said. Loki nodded, agreeing. "When, sorry, if we go to school Wednesday, remind me to take you to the place for dinner after school."

The next two days passed without much of a problem. Thor did call every day and texted every other minute. He did fill up their inboxes on Facebook and posted on their walls. Loki ignored it all, his mood growing darker every time his phone made a sound, indicating more communication attempts from Thor.

It was on Tuesday afternoon when Loki finally gave in.

He was perched on the bed, his leg propped on the chair. A mug of tea sat beside him. He was reading Hamlet and listening to Tony's music as it poured from the stereo. His phone began to ring again. Tony noted that the ringtone had changed to "Shut up" by Simple Plan.

He watched Loki's jaw clench and his friend reached over to turn up the stereo. Loki angrily flipped the page and took a deep sip of his tea.

Barely a second after it went to voice mail and phone began to ring again. Loki gave an exaggerated groan and reached over to flip off the stereo. He marked his place and grabbed up his phone.

"Thor ..." he sighed into the phone, "I don't ..."

"Brother!" Thor boomed, his voice filled with severe concern. "Brother, you must return home! Mother is distraught and father worries that you were injured when you ran away! Is Anthony feeding you? Are you being held against you will?! Brother, please come home. We can work this out!"

Thor Borson was actually pleading for the first time since he was an infant.

Loki sighed, massing his temples. "Did you father not tell you of my true parentage? I am not your brother. I am fine. Yes, Tony feed me. No, I came here of my own free will to get away. And we can never 'work this out'."

Tony looked up from the tiny pieces of nanotechnology for his invisible material. He could hear Thor on the phone, and he could see the sudden weariness coming across Loki's features. He set down his work to watch, offering silent moral support.

Loki looked over at Tony, feeling those amber eyes gazing upon him, and smiled wearily.

"What?!" Thor exclaimed. He fell silent for a few moments, absorbing the severity and depth behind this news. Slightly softer, he added, "But you are still a brother to me, Loki. Mother is distraught and in reality, Odin is rather impassive about the whole situation. Now I know why he seems so ... unempathetic. And I understand that he has been somewhat rough with you in the past, but please. Come home, Loki." Loki withdrew his phone from his ear and stared, disbelieving at the screen. "Father didn't tell you?! He is the reason I am staying at Anthony's. I am sorry I am hurting Mother. Give me time, Thor. It has been three days. How would you feel if you realized your entire life was a lie?" He collapsed against the pillows. "Please bring me some Advil." He begged of Tony, dropping the hand holding his phone to his side. Thor hung up, stunned into silence.

Tony rose from his side of the bed, laying his nanotechnology aside, and fetched the Advil. Handing Loki the pills he climbed in next to his friend. He rests his hands on the taller teen's shoulders and massages gently. He wasn't going to ask how Loki was feeling. He knew the answer without the need to waste breath. And he knew Loki would lie and say everything was fine. This was how they worked. Loki accepted the pain killers, without a word, staring at the Call Ended screen. Tony sighed, feeling how incredibly tense Loki's shoulders were. "How can I help?" He whispered. "Do we have to go to school? Ever again?" Loki finally answered, seeming hypnotized by his now-dim screen. "Yes, Loki, we must. But I can make us doctor's excuses for pneumonia. We could be out for a week or so. I haven't missed any school this year so it won't look suspicious. Besides, Pepper can bring us our work. It's up to you." Tony said softly, working at a knot in Loki's right shoulder. He had read enough biology books and had been with enough girls to know how to give a killer massage. Loki sighed, beginning to relax as Tony worked his shoulders. "I don't think he knew. He never understands." Then with a sudden burst of anger Loki sat up, yanking out of Tony's comforting grip, and sent his phone sailing at the opposite wall. The tea would have followed had Tony not grabbed his hand. Loki burst into tears. "Why Tony? Why me?!" Tony held his wrists for a moment, staring into the emerald depths that were screaming to him. They were pained and stressed and it tore Tony to bits. An idea suddenly hit him and all logic and reason flew out the window. He released Loki's wrists, trusting the other boy not to turn to destruction. He ran a hand through the raven locks and brought his thumb up to wipe away a few tears. Then he leaned over and kissed Loki.