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ENJOY!

Tony steps into the apartment and looks around. Every object brings back painfully happy memories of his time here with Loki. Looking at the still unwashed, empty wine glasses, Tony sees the memory like it happened yesterday.

"Why me? Tom asks suddenly. They were sat on the couch in each other's arms, watching some cartoon called 'Spongebob Squarepants.'

"What?" Tony replies sleepily.

"Your Tony Stark, you could have anybody you wanted, and yet here you are on a Saturday night, drinking cheap wine with me. Why? I'm not significant in any way, shape or form."

Tony looks down at him for a moment before answering. "Your right about the first part. But not about the second. You are significant. You're significant to me." Tony takes Tom's hand in his own looking him in the eyes. "Why are you with me?"

This catches Tom off guard. "What? What do you mean?"

"Your right. I'm Tony Stark. A notorious playboy and alcoholic. And yet I have the most amazing, smart and beautiful man lying on my chest."

Tom smiles softly, a sudden sadness in his eyes. "If only you know who I was underneath. I bet you would leave without a second glance."

"What did you do?" Tony asks tenderly.

"If I told you you'd hate me, and I couldn't live with myself if you hated me…" Tears spill and run down his cheeks. The sudden show of emotion catches Tony off guard, so not knowing what to say, holds Tom closer. Whispering in his ear softly.

"I promise I would never do that. No matter what you did, I will always be by your side."

Tony suddenly grabs one of the glasses, and throws it into the far wall. Crying out in pure heart break, realising he'd done exactly what Loki predicted… And worst of all, he had broken his promise. He sinks to the floor and rests his head in his hands, crying softly.

A soft clicking comes slowly towards him. Tony almost hopes he'll see Loki, but he only sees Pepper, who was bending down, worry all over her face.

"Tony?" She says softly, placing her hand on his arm, "Oh Tony I'm so sorry. Natasha told me what happened. JARVIS told me you were here…"

Tony smiles half-heartedly, more tears running down his face. Pepper pulls him in and hugs him tightly.

"What happened?"

"I was the one person he didn't want to hate him! I promised I wouldn't abandon him no matter what he'd done in the past!..."

"Oh Tony… You really do like him don't you?" She asks.

"I don't like him Pepper… I love him."

Her eyes widen slightly, looking into Tony's eyes she instantly knows he speaks the truth.

"I've never seen that look in your eyes." She whispers.

"What if he doesn't feel the same way about me anymore?" Tony asks, struggling to breath as panic bubbles up inside him, "What if Fury kills him?! What if he kill himself?! It's all my fault!"

"Shhhhh," Pepper coos softly, "When you're truly in love with somebody, they can never truly hate you. I saw his conversation with Thor, Tony he does truly love you. Now, are you just going to sit here and feel sorry for yourself, or are you going to help me come up with a plan to get him out of there?"

Tony looks up at her and wipes away his tears, standing he has his trade mark Stark grin in place.

"Lead the way Miss. Potts." Tony says.

Pepper smiles, and together they leave the apartment and head back to Stark tower.

When they get there, Tony instantly pulls up the cells security footage. All Tony could see of his god was his now extremely pale back. Tony himself turns pale as Natasha walks into the cell. Loki stiffens and slowly turns around to see who would hurt him this time. Upon seeing Natasha he cowers in the corner, knowing she would hurt him the most for what he did to Barton. Tony's jaw drops as he sees the full extent of SHIELDs 'necessary procedures.' Loki's body was covered in dried blood. His lips and eyes were swollen, and thousands of scars covered him head to foot.

"Oh my God…" Tony whispers, "No fucking wonder he's so jumpy… It makes you wonder who's worse. The good or bad guys."

"It's ok. We'll get him out of there."

Tony stiffens as Natasha unlocks, and walks into Loki's cell.

Loki's eyes dart up as he hears his cell door open, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"Это нормально Loki. Вам не нужно бояться меня ... Пока вы ведете себя." (It's ok Loki. You don't need to be afraid of me... As long as you behave.) Natasha says in Russian, knowing the god will understand her. "Я только хочу, чтобы задать несколько вопросов о моей собственной. Они не будут, как и другие вопросы, хотя." (I only want to ask a few questions of my own. They won't be like the other questions though.)

Loki nods silently, looking at her with wide eyes.

"Когда вы впервые начинаете с чувства к Тони?" (When did you first start having feelings for Tony?)

"Вскоре после того как я бросил его из окна своей башни." (Shortly after I threw him out the window of his tower.) He replies in perfect Russian.

"Я могу сказать ваши чувства истинны. Я также считаю, что вы сказали Thor, когда ты сказал, что под контролем. Я не прощая вам. Вы по-прежнему были убиты сотни людей, я просто говорю, я не ненавижу тебя. Но если вы больно Stark, я убью тебя." (I can tell your feelings are true. I also believe what you told Thor when you said you were being controlled. I'm not forgiving you. You still killed hundreds of people, I'm merely saying I don't hate you. But if you hurt Stark, I will kill you.)

Loki nods silently and watches as Natasha stands and leaves his cell, locking it behind her. He runs a hair through his greasy black hair and sighs. Hugging himself he closes his eyes, hoping he won't be disturbed.

'I wish you were here Tony… I told you you would hate me though…"

The heart break in Loki's voice shatters a Loki sized hole in Tony's heart.

"Don't worry Loki," Tony says watching the screen as the god sleeps. "I'll be there soon."

He turns to Pepper and says quietly, "I'm in love with a criminal Pep. And I mean the whole 'his smile is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, his laughter is music to my ears' crap." He smiles softly as he recalls a memory, "There was this one time, we were lying on his couch and he'd fallen asleep. He looked so peaceful and haunted at the same time. I find it hard to believe he's truly evil. He's just got a tainted heart that needs repairing. And too be fair, after reading the mythology, you can hardly blame the guy for not loving his life in Asgard."

Pepper nods, smiling sadly. After that they lapse back in to near total silence until the plan is finished.

After days of carefully formulating a plan, Pepper and Tony finally finished and looked up at each other with a smile.

"Make the call." Pepper says softly.

Tony nods and pulls out his phone. Scrolling through his contacts until he's found the number he's looking for.

It gets picked up after two rings.

"Stark what do you want?"

"How is my favourite Director of SHIELD this fine morning?" Tony replies cheerfully.

"Cut the crap Stark and get to the point."

"Ok, ok Mr Grumpy pants," Tiny mutters. "I just wanted to let you know I believe I have a plan on how to get Loki to give you the information you want."

There was a short pause before Fury answered. "I'm listening."