WARNING: some language/HEAVY violence.

Possible triggers.

Disclaimer: I do not in anyway own these characters. All rights belong to Marvel etc.

NOTE: The words in Italics that are not contained in "" [and that stand alone, not in a sentence] are the characters thoughts and not intended for others to overhear. [ although it does sometimes happen.]

The words in "Italics" are a conversation intended to be heard between the 'mind link'.

[ still not beta-d]

- A quick thanks to those who are reviewing! I apologize ahead of time for this chapter...it's a necessary evil.

Tony had an hour-long fit that included blowing out two more windows before Loki grabbed him and they disappeared. The team came to an agreement about the situation while the two of them were gone.
One, this was bullshit and unfair by all standards. Two, Stark may just kill Fury over this. Three, Loki and Stark had something weird going on between them other than the mind link.

The two of them reappeared down the in the training room with a soft metallic sound. Tony frowned and tried to calm his breathing down before he took out his anger on the only person there. He wanted to yell at Loki for being stupid, for saving him, for everything. He felt his anger building up again when suddenly he was being held from behind.

" Wha..? Loks? Are you trying to restrain me? " He asked with a hint of sarcasm. Loki chuckled softly and pressed his face into the back of Stark's neck.

" Perhaps a little, Anthony. I do not feeling like replacing all of your windows before I lose my magic." He muttered into Tony's felt his anger deflate slowly as his body lost it's tension.

He smiles before he touches the god's arms and says softly,
" I've never really been comforted by the person I'm pissed off at."
He paused and whispered,
" Loki... I don't want you to do this because of me. Honestly, I don't want you to do it at all."

Tony turns around to look at the god before he can respond. Loki is started at the sadness that has replaced Stark's anger.

He truly cares about me, not just for honor or duty.

It's just for me.

His mouth fell open a little in surprise, still staring at Tony without responding. Immediately,
Tony's attention was drawn to the god's mouth. He was trying not to think about the way Loki's tongue was licking his lower lip while he thought.

If he doesn't stop staring a me like that I'm going to kiss him until he pushes me away.
I give him five seconds.

Tony watched the god's mouth for another two seconds before he was pressing his lips against Loki's firmly.
Tony expected the god to push him away immediately and was preparing a joke to cover his ass.

When Loki , instead , ran his fingers through Stark's hair and pulled him closer; he just about lost it. His hands found their way up Loki's back as the kiss was deepened mutually. The god's long fingers dragged through Stark's hair until they were cupping his face.
Tony felt his brain running out of air and cursed being human for the hundredth time in his life.

If I break this kiss, he's gonna run away.

He held out a minute more before he pulled his head back, gasping for air.

Loki felt the mortal struggling mentally and physically to stay connected to him. He nearly laughed at Stark's efforts to keep up. When he finally gave in and broke the kiss, Tony met his eyes fearlessly.

Loki realizes he's smiling before muttering,
" That was unexpected, but enjoyable. "

Tony chuckled and reaches up to run his fingers through the god's hair.
" Can I tell you a secret?" He asks, his eyes still sparkling from the kiss.

Loki tilted his head into Tony's hand as he stroked his hair,
"You may."

Tony smiles and looks down, muttering,
" I've always secretly wanted to touch your hair but I was afraid you would have bear traps in it for that very reason."
Loki let out a quiet huff of laughter before leaning his head on Tony's.

" We just did something very dangerous and different and you want to crack jokes about my hair. How very you." Loki chuckled as he spoke.

Tony snorted and pressed his face into the god's chest.
" Hey, I'm trying not to feel terrified that you're going to kill me for kissing you. Speaking of," he glanced up and raised and eyebrow ,
" Why haven't you?"

Loki made a face and slipped his hands under the back of Tony's shirt. Tony shivered.

"I know I can be violent and nasty to those I dislike, but I am honest about my feelings when I know what I want." Loki leaned closer and purred,
"And I want you. "

Tony shuddered hard before roughly pulling the god's face closer to kiss him passionately.

Upstairs, the team was getting impatient to finish discussing the matter at hand. Steve had managed to fall asleep with his head leaning back on the couch. Agent Barton had taken the liberty of drawing on Rodger's face until there was hardly any skin left showing. Natasha took over the arm-chair and sat in it as though it were a throne. Banner was watching Thor shoot tiny sparks of lightning out the broken windows while humming something.
They were taken by surprise when the two missing members showed up again in the middle of the living room. Thor eyed his brother and Stark carefully, noting their slightly flushed cheeks. He smiles to himself and flops back on the couch, waking Steve. As the solder tilted his head up, blinking groggily, Tony spotted his face.

He pointed dramatically and made a screeching noise before bursting out laughing. Clint rolled his eyes and tucked the pen away,
" Really? Where did that reference even come from?"

Tony was bent over laughing, barely able to respond,
" Oh.. Come on. Pod People is perfect for any situation, besides, you're one to talk. "

Steve stared at them ,still half asleep, and raised a hand to his face to rub it. Loki snorted at the Captain's expression when he saw the ink smudged on his hand. Before he exploded, Thor took him off to find a bathroom.

After Tony caught his breath, Clint asked,
"So are you two done flipping out and having makeup sex?"
Loki narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

Stark smirked,
" We didn't have enough time for the second part, maybe if you all left..."

Bruce made a choking sound and hid his face as he laughed. Agent Romanoff stood and stretched before heading for the door.

She patted Tony on the shoulder as she passed and said,
" I know it's only temporary, but removing his magic is still wrong. I want you to know that all of us agree on this." She glanced at Loki and nodded to him. The god smiled weakly and tipped his head back in response.

Tony and Loki both looked exhausted and ready to sleep where they their goodbyes, The remaining Avengers headed out to gather the pissed off Captain and leave.
The god and mortal glanced at one another before they both collapsed on the couch. The house filled with silence as they both leaned against one another.

Tony spoke first,
"Please don't go tomorrow, just don't. Fury can't touch us again, not if I take him seriously."

Loki snorted,
" So you weren't taking him seriously before?"His voice softened as he nuzzles his face into Tony's hair,

" Anthony, I don't want to do it either but I swore I would. I do not go back on my word and I do not often make promises. This was the bargain to take you home without a fight."

Tony sighs and finds himself drifting off to the sound of the god's heart beat.
" I'll be here for you the entire time... Just..don't get lost again, Loks." He manages before his eyes finally shut.

The god mumbled sleepily,
"That damned nickname.."

Both were asleep before Thor peeked in to check on them. He beams happily at the two of them sleeping on the couch together and sneaks off as quietly as he can.

Tony stared out the window of the black SHEILD car as they drove to the base. He had long since been able to hide his emotions behind a cocky expression no matter what the situation, today was no exception.

Except it is.
I can't fucking smile or crack a joke.
Loki broke me, dammit.

There was a gentle touch on the back of his clenched fist. He glances up and meets his favorite green eyes , filled with emotion.

Loki's quiet voice reached him,
"Anthony, you're hurting your hands clenching them like that. "

Tony looked down at his hands and saw that his short nails had somehow dug into the skin. He smiles bitterly and thinks back,
"It doesn't matter, Loks , It doesn't matter at all. More importantly, why all the ceremony? We could have just popped into the room."

Loki raised an eyebrow and glanced behind them at the other cars.

" I believe Fury said something about SHEILD agents needing to see this. This is a ceremony, of sorts." He said out loud before slipping his hand into Stark's.

Tony's eyebrows drew together in anger as he squeezed the god's hand gently. They sat in silence for the rest of the journey. Once there, A glance passed between them before they let go of each other's hands. Loki stepped out of the car and was followed by the Avengers team. The halls of the base were lined with agents and scientist here to watch Loki suffer. It was deadly quiet as they walked past them through the maze of hallways and rooms.

The designated room was large and circular with a single long widow all the way around. The glass looked as though tanks couldn't break through it. Tony thought bitterly,

Just like Loki's cell.
Well, Hulk's cell originally.

I guess.

As they arrived, Nick Fury came out of the door and opened it for Loki. Tony looked the director in the eye and smiled slowly, his eyes glittering with hateful promises. Before the god stepped into the room, Thor came forward and hugged his brother tightly. He muttered softly in his ear before letting Loki go and stepping back.

Loki kept his face solemn but sent one last thought to all the Avengers,

" You all have my thanks for your feelings on the matter."

He turned away without meeting Tony's eye and walked into the room.

The door shut behind Loki, leaving Fury outside with the rest of them. Inside the room were several scientists in full white suits and goggles. None of them approached the god but one asked almost kindly for him to step into the platform. When he did all eyes moved to the machine that faced him from across the room.
It was a strange combination of wires and glass hooked up to something that look all too similar to a vacuum cleaner.

It seemed to run on its own power source which caused Tony to glance at Bruce and raise an eyebrow,
"Did you have a hand in that, cuz' there's no way Raisin's men could have pulled that tech out of their asses. "

Fury interrupted,
" Stark, I will shoot you if you use that nickname again."

Tony turned his head slowly and looked at him, snarling,
"Director, I will shoot you for existing today. Don't push it. "

He turned back around to face Banner.
Bruce frowned looked at Tony apologetically,
" I did have a hand in it, Tony. I'm sorry, but it was before we knew everything that had happened. To us, you got kidnapped by a crazy god. So yes, I helped them build something that could potentially remove magic from the user. "

Stark's smile comes out more like a grimace as he pats his friends back.

" Hey, I would have done it too. If it were any of you, you would be in my shoes right now." He responded before gritting his teeth and watching silently through the glass.
Loki had stripped down to some sort of loose undershirt and his usual leather pants. If this had been any other situation, Tony would have been completely turned on. There was a lot of chatter from the SHEILD members gathering to watch.

Here they are acting like this is justice. They're no better than Loki when he was being controlled.
They are here to watch the torture just as he was.
What a joke, this bread and circus.

Loki glanced once more out at the crowd gathered around the room. He found Tony instantly and felt a smile tug at his lips. He stopped himself from it, knowing that he needed to put on a show.

The criminal going to the gallows.
I need to look guilty.

One of the scientists waved at Loki and said,
"It's time. You will need to hold as still as possible and this is... Probably going to hurt. Are you ready?"

There was a small sort of cheer that went through the crowd at the mention of pain. Loki simply snorted and nodded. The man pushed a switch on the side and stepped back behind a barrier. The contraption rattled and made a high pitch wine before a ray of blue light came out directly at Loki.
For a moment he assumed that the machine was a failure and turned his head to look at Tony. A second later he felt something tear at his insides.

Tony flinched when the light hit Loki's chest. He held his breath a moment as nothing happened and nearly sighed with relief as the god glanced his way. Suddenly, the machine made a hissing sound and the color drained from Loki's face. The god looked shocked as he reached a hand up to clutch at his chest. Tony stepped forward and pressed against the glass, his breath catching on his throat.

There was a moment of silence before the god's mouth opened and he screamed. His hands clutching his chest as bloody raw screams tore through the room.

Tony clutched the rim of the window and shouted,
" TURN IT OFF! TURN IT THE FUCK OFF!"

Thor had jumped towards the door of the room, trying to get in. Seeing the number lock on the side he turned to Fury and growled,
"Director, open this door before I tear it down."

Fury frowned and shook his head,
" You were all warned that it might hurt him. If you interrupt it now, we don't know what it could do to him. It could very well kill him."

Tony couldn't hear any of this, his ears were filled with Loki's screams.

When the god suddenly fell to his knees Tony felt a sharp pain rip through his chest,
"Nnaauugh!?"

Tony fell forward clutching his own chest in pain and confusion. Bruce tried to help him up, looking over at Thor for answers.
" T-Thor! What is going on?!" He yelled over Loki's continuous screams. Thor looked at Tony then at his screaming brother. the color drained from his face.

" Director, you must stop this or you may kill both Loki and Tony..." He said, his expression fearful.

Fury glanced down at Stark and was about to speak when Tony suddenly screamed. Clint and Natasha rushed over and tried to help Tony off the floor as Thor turned away from all of them and took out his hammer. Jumping forward to stop him, Fury tried to grab Thor's arm.

The door flew into the circular room with one hit. The moment it was gone, Tony was off the floor and running awkwardly into the room. He stumbled and fell before he could reach the machine, another groaning scream escaping him.
Loki's pain filled eyes lowered from the ceiling and found Stark crumpled on the floor near by. His own screamed shuttered to a stop as an expression of fear crossed his face. The god was about to crawl towards the mortal when something finally ripped free.

His magic tore from his body, leaving a gaping bloody hole in his soul. A final shuddering scream escaped both he and Stark before the machine came to a halt.
Loki's green eyes slowly dulled to a gray as his skin flickered blue once before becoming the sickly pale color of the dead.
Everyone blinked before assuming they imagined the blue.
The god looked down at his hands silently while everyone filed into the room. Steve and Clint were trying to get Stark to uncurl from the fetal position he had formed. Thor was at his brothers shoulder, trying to speak to him.

"Brother! Brother, are you alright?!"
He shouted into Loki's ear.

Loki turned slowly and looked at his brother as if confused. He stood carefully with help from Thor and looked over at Tony's crumpled body.

"Anthony, are we dead?" He asked in a quiet toneless voice.

Everyone's eyes were following Loki as he walked over to the curled up mortal. Falling to his knees beside him, he touched the man's back gently. A small whimper came from Tony before his head came up. A shock went through the room at the sight of him.

His usually rosy skin was a nasty gray color, under his eyes were darker than ever. Tony's eyes were no longer a clear brown but a dark gray, nearly black. Bruce visibly flinched back at the sight of his friend. Loki helped Stark up from the floor, both of them leaning on each other for support.

Fury's voice broke the silence,
"Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?"

Thor shakily responded,
" I know what it is, but I shan't explain it until we return my brother's magic from that mechanism."

A thin voice startled them,
"This has not been my week, month...year ..I guess." Tony said, looking over at the machine.

Steve stepped forward and offered an arm to help him.
"How are you feeling?" He asked nervously.

Tony looked at the Captain with his dark eyes and said,
" I feel a little dead...again."

Loki followed them slowly over to the machine, looking very much like a lost puppy. Tony looked back at him and tried to think to him. A pain shot through his head, knocking him off his feet.
It was a while before he could hear what anyone was saying again.

"What? Stop yelling at me" he groaned. Those around him looked on with concern.

"What did I miss?" He asked groggily as he sat up. The situation had changed since his blackout. Fury was speaking to Thor over to one side while a few scientists were removing a glass dome from the back of the machine as Bruce ordered them around in an abrupt angry manner. Tony stood with the help of Clint and Steve again and hobbled over to the machine.

"You taking out the power source?" He asked, leaning a little on Steve.

Bruce looked up sharply, his expression softened at the sight of his friend.
" That's where we think Loki's magic is stored. The thing is," he frowned and looked down at the glowing core,
" We never did figure out where it stayed in the machine. It never went to the designated place."

Tony leaned over and looked at the core, he felt a familiar stirring in his chest.
He gasped,
" Oh..."

Bruce's eyebrows went up with concern,
"What's wrong?"

Tony struggled to explain what he felt.

It was Loki.
The feeling of Loki.

He reached in and touched it gently, It felt cold under his hand.
Tearing up, he replied,
" That's it. It's in there."

One of the scientist removes the core and hands it to Stark. Tony glares at the man and turns to find Loki, his eyes land on the crumpled up form by the door.

Before he could reach the god, a loud thunk fills the room. Everyone's attention is drawn to where Thor and Director Fury had been talking.
Thor was standing above the man, his hammer in hand. Fury was on the floor several feet away holding his jaw with a look of surprise.

Thor's voice shook the room as he spoke,
"We may have come here and played by your rules, but you forget we are immortals. My brother and I have lived far longer lives than any of you and we shall continue to live long after you have passed!"

Tony's heart skipped at beat at the thought.

Thor continued on, his voice rising,
"You seem to have also forgotten that not long ago, we were your gods. I do not expect you to revere us as you once did , but I do expect respect. Loki is not the only one who could tear this base apart and kill everyone l standing. I have the very same power."

There was a silence after his outburst. Fury looked as though he would speak before Thor put up a hand to stop him.

" You have betrayed our trust, lied to us, and nearly killed my brother. You attacked one of your own team members and nearly killed him as well. I ,for one, feel that our truce between Asgard and Earth is no longer an option."

The god sighed,
" But I love this planet and I shall never stop protecting it. I will, however, no longer be taking orders from you."

Tony laughed.
He couldn't help it, he felt dead and icky and Thor had just smashed Fury with his hammer and told him to suck it. It was funny, so he was going to laugh.

When he finally stopped he looked at Fury as the man stood and smiled,
" I withdraw my funding and support for SHEILD. This means all my technology, money, and weaponry are no longer at your disposal. This also means I'm out with Thor, I won't be taking any more orders from you. Not that I ever really did anyway."

Fury started to look pissed,

" Oh COME ON! All of you agreed to this, you knew it was going to be a little traumatizing." The Directer gestured to Loki's slumped figure,
" It's fucking temporary! There are always gonna be draw backs in science, you of all people should know that, Stark!"

Tony crossed the room and was in his face in less than a second.

His voice was venomous,
" The difference with me is that I put my own body through these tests. I know what I'm doing to myself before I do it. If I hurt myself, it's my own damn fault."

Tony snarled and pressed closer,
" The problem with you? You would put any one of us through a test without a seconds thought."

Fury swallowed and looked over at the remaining three of his team expectantly.

Bruce glared at Fury and grumbled quietly,

"Don't even look at me after saying that about 'drawbacks', Fury. I agree with Tony and I know damn well you would do the same to me if you weren't so afraid of me."

Steve simply shook his head and joined Banner in standing next to Tony. Natasha and Clint both frowned and glanced between Thor and their boss. Thor smiled at them with understanding and turned away from Fury, joining Stark and the Captain.

As they walked away towards Loki, Clint called out,

"Hang on guys, You aren't running off without me."

Tony raised an eyebrow and glanced back at the archer as he ran up behind them. Clint let out a laugh as Natasha followed, frowning as usual. As they reached the door, Tony crouches down in front of Loki and tilts his head up to see the god's face.

His usual expressionless mask was no longer a façade, it was reality. There was no emotion in his eyes, no hint of a smile behind his lips ,no signs of life at all. Tony felt his already weak heart stop at the sight of him. In a rush, he shoved the glowing core into the god's hands in hope that he would suddenly feel better.

Loki's eyes widened as soon as the core made contact and pressed the it to his chest, cradling it in his hands gently. Everyone held their breath for a moment longer before the god looked at Tony. He gazed into Tony's eyes and Tony suddenly saw how helpless, fragile, and old he looked.

The god looked around at the people surrounding him and spoke in small, childlike voice,

"How do you put it back in?"

Oh gods, please don't kill me.

Explanations, happiness, healing, funny, bad, good all of that

more to come!

Review!