Tony shouted at Loki for twenty minutes before he allowed the god to haul his ass back to the tower. They arrived instantly in their room; Tony promptly stripping off his armor and throwing himself onto the bed.

"I should let Thor know we have returned," Loki said, dropping his leather coat on the floor with the rest of Tony's laundry. Tony snickered as he looked over his shoulder. The god seemed to be catching some of his bad habits.

"Nope," Tony grumbled before he nuzzled his face into into the pillow. "Jarvis, you can let him know we're back."

"Right away, sir."

Loki let out a huff of laughter and moved closer.
"Have you been sleeping?" He inquired tentatively, sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbing Tony's back.

"Yes..."

Loki lay down next to him, leaving a protective arm across Stark's back. "Anything less than a hour does not count, love."

"Then, no," Tony said, sighing into his pillow. "I think I dozed off for an hour yesterday down in the lab. You probably heard the fire alarm."

"So that is what that was?"

"Don't ask."

Loki chuckled and scooted closer. "Let us sleep, then," he said as he nuzzled his face into Tony's arm. Tony nodded, already starting to doze off. Smiling to himself, he though about how much his life had changed since falling through the portal.
Before, he always had trouble falling asleep. Even when we went to bed with Pepper, he found that he just could not shut his brain off. Whether it was compiling notes on the day's test run, or the impending nightmares; he couldn't stop those running thoughts. With Loki, it was different. Not just because they had their own special place to hide away in. Something about him relaxed Tony like no wasn't oblivious to the fact that he had no problem taking things that Loki handed him. Or the fact that Loki hated most of his music and somehow, he didn't care.
His thoughts drifted and slowed, a few stray memories drifting through his mind. The last one he remembered, before he was whisked away to Loki's dream room, was a memory of Loki ranting about AC/DC and how music should at least include melody.

_

"No gang signs."

"I'm kidding..." Tony said, frowning. Didn't he do this before?

He turned to look at the soldier besides him. Instead of the young man's face that had long since been etched into his memory, it was Steve. "What the fuck? Steve, we need to save these people."

Steve ignored him and looked out the window with a dark expression on his face. Tony hissed in irritation, launching himself over to look into the front seat. Clint was driving and Natasha was curled up on the other side looking sick.

This isn't right. This didn't happen.

"Hey, Romenoff," he asked, leaning over to see her better. "You don't look so good."

The spy groaned and turned her head to look at him, allowing Tony to see the bleeding head wound. He grunted in surprise.

This is all wrong.

When Tony leaned back, it was Thor sitting beside him. He was staring out the same window, dark rings under his eyes and a shallow cheeked. He had never seen the god look so awful. Thor looked as lost as Loki seemed when they first started talking in the cave.

The cave.

Tony continued to peer at Thor as if the god could explain everything.

What was important about the cave?

The first explosion sent Tony through the windshield. He hit the ground hard and the army Jeep tilted over, nearly crushing him under a flaming chunk of metal. Everything was different than the last thousand times he went through this. For once, Tony didn't know what to expect.

Where is Loki? Loki is always here when we dream together.

Tony tried to talk, scream, move. He couldn't, something heavy was on his chest. He coughed the desert dirt out of his lungs and sat up. It was dark, the only light coming from a few stray bulbs hanging from the cave ceiling.

Oh. I haven't been back in the cave for a long time.

Tony clutched the car battery to his chest and slid off the bunk. He wobbled around, trying to gain his balance back when his attention was caught by a lump on the floor by the open doorway..

No. This is not happening. I refuse to see this.
Dead eyes and the smell. Where are his glasses?

It's too much.

Tony screamed in anger and horror and jerked awake. He sat there, panting and shaking uncontrollably while he tried to catch his breath.

"I'm sorry."

Tony turned with a frown to look down at Loki. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I woke you up."

"I'm sorry for leaving you to sleep alone these past few nights," Loki responded quietly, his eyes shining in the light of Tony's reactor. Squinting with his one good eye,Tony could just make out Loki's saddened expression.

"Hey, I get it," Tony said, reaching over and nudging the god. "You were scared."

"I do not get scared."

"Yeah, you do."

There was a lengthy pause before Loki spoke again. "Only for you. Not of you."

Tony smiled and patted Loki's hip. "Go back to sleep, you're being poetic again."
Loki grunted and the small pricks of light went out as he closed his eyes.

Caves, Tony thought to himself, fidgeting with a corner of the sheet.

Why do the key moments in my life take place in caves. If I wasn't an Atheist, I would almost say someone planned it that way.

Tony frowned and went completely still, his mind stringing thoughts together one by one. It was almost as if someone wanted to use the cave as a catalyst. Something Tony would feel a certain attachment to. Almost as if someone wanted...

Us to get together.

Did we do, exactly what someone or something
wanted us to do?

Loki lets out a soft sigh and snuggled into where Tony's body usually was. Tony couldn't hold back a smile at the fact that a god of lies and chaos managed to look so utterly cute.

I'll think about it when I'm less tired and paranoid. No reason to freak Loki out.

Laying back down, Tony snuck his way into his lovers arms and fell, at last, into a calm sleep.

Thunder woke them. It wasn't unusual during this past year for Thor to cause some weather changes. What was unusual was how particularly violent the storm was.

"Fucking hell," Tony swore as he looked out the window closest to the bed. "What crawled up your brother's golden ass this morning?"

Loki rolled over and peered at the rain-sheeted widows. "Undoubtably my lack of attention to him after our return," he replied and frowned as another snap of lightning struck a near by building. "Something feels off about this storm, though."

"You feel that too?" Tony asked, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. "It screams 'rejection' all right. But it's something... else."

Loki tilted his head at him. "Remind me to give you a lesson in honing your magic skills today. You are far too perceptive and powerful to go on without proper schooling."

"Powerful?" Tony asked with a snort. "I don't think so, sweet cheeks. At best, I'm a toaster. You're like a Mark 15."

"I do not understand what that means."

"Of course not, you―"

Thunder rolled loudly, ending their conversation for them. Tony grumbled and climbed out of bed, searching through a few drawers for some clothes.

"Something is really wrong," Loki thought to Tony.

"What makes you say that?"

"Thor was not even this emotional when I was hurt," Loki responded, a glitter of gold appearing around him to provide him clothing. "This is something worse. To him, something worse than me in pain, is something to be feared."

Tony turned and gave Loki a look, keeping his blind eye closed. "Why does this sound like the opening to a horror film?"

All he got in response was a glare before Loki disappeared from the room.

Someone screamed from downstairs.

"Shit, that did not sound like a B movie scream." Tony tugged on some pants and bolted from the room. He hit the stairs going way too fast and ended up rolling his way down the last few steps. Limping a little, he peeked through the door into the short hall that lead to the common room. With no one in sight, Tony decided it was safe enough to to creep closer to look around the corner.

Thor was standing in the middle of the room, wearing a strange combination of his armor and human clothing. If not for the fact that there was blood dripping from said armor, Tony wouldn't have been all that surprised at the god's sloppiness.

"Brother," Loki said from somewhere out of sight. "Please tell me that is not you."

Tony raised and eyebrow and peered further around the corner to find his boyfriend. He spotted him on the far end of the room in front of the other hallway. Behind him, Natasha was holding her head and leaning against the wall shakily.
An image from his dream flashed through his mind. Bloodied Red head in the front seat.

"Why, Lokes," Thor said cheerfully. "You should not doubt me."

"You," Loki spat, reaching behind him and urging Natasha to go down the hall way. She glanced between the two gods before she noticed Tony. Natasha stared at him meaningfully for a minute before she bolted away.

Tony thought to Loki, "Hey, since I can't do the Mind Link to anyone else, now is a good time for you to talk to them about what's going on."

Loki frowned, keeping his eyes on Thor as he started to creep sideways in an attempt to keep Thor's attention on him only.

"When did you arrive, Anthony?"

"I just rolled my way down after the scream."

Loki grimaced as he moved behind the couch.
"I will contact Clint and Bruce first. Perhaps they have something that can put him to sleep."

"Good idea," Tony agreed, crouching down a little to keep the weight off of his ankle.

"Stop your foolish game, Lokes," Thor growled, his voice less playful.

"I am not the one playing games here," Loki responded shortly, launching himself over the couch to land a heavy blow between Thor's eyes with an elbow. The blond was sent flying backwards into the wall that Tony was currently hiding behind. All of the framed pictures in the hall fell and shattered around Tony.

Great. I should have grabbed some shoes. Or maybe my god damn suit.

Tony glanced around the corner again and caught Loki's eye.
"I need my bracelets. Think you can distract him long enough for me to grab them from the kitchen?"

"That is not a good idea..." Loki skirted backwards as a fist came at his face suddenly. The gods began exchanging blows faster than Tony could follow. With both of them distracted, Tony dove behind the couch and rolled his way into the kitchen. Once there, he leaned back against the cabinets to catch his breath.

"Wow."

"Jesus fuck!?" Tony jumped, ready to lash out.

Clint glanced at him apologetically.
"Sorry."

Tony flipped him off and joined him in looking over the top of the counter.
Clint sighed. "He wasn't just bragging when he said we should see them train together," he said, whistling. "Impressive."

"Yeah well, somehow I doubt Thor would be this vigorous if it were actually Thor."

"It's that thing again," Steve joined in from the other side of Clint. "Isn't it?"

"Seriously?" Tony snapped. "Who else is back here? You got Hulk in the fridge?"

"Just us," Clint responded, sounding worried. "Well, Nat was with us until Thor exploded. Then we got separated."

"She's alright. Loki sent her to get Bruce."

"Yeah," Steve said, shifting to look around the side. "He said something in our heads about it."

Tony spotted his bracelets, and gritted his teeth. He frowned down at them as he slipped them on. "Glad that worked. Now, if you guys would excuse me, I've got a tall, dark, and handsome princess to save."

"I'm telling him you said that."

Tony gave him a look, then summoned his suit. Flipping the face plate down, Tony responded with a smirk, "I dare you."

Loki had what looked like a clump of Thor's hair in his hand. Thor's hands were now frozen to the floor in a block of ice. Tony vaguely wondered if his boyfriend had gone Smurf to do that.

"Hey," he asked, coming out of the kitchen. "Need some help?"

"Stand back, Tony!" Loki shouted. "The last thing we need right now is for you to be possessed while wearing... that."

"Oh, Tony. Why don't you come join us?" Thor asked, tearing his hands from the floor and shattering the ice. "I rather liked being in you. All that affection for our Lokes here. It is almost on par with my own."

With a short burst from his thrusters, Tony shot up in the air and dropped Thor to the ground with an elbow to the neck.

"You say that again," Tony snarled. "And I don't care what body you're in, you're going to suffer."

"What you fail to understand," Thor said with a bloody grin. "Is that I am all Loki truly has. You have barely scratched the surface, boy."

Thor laughed and the room shook. "Where are all his friends? Hiding away and letting him fight alone?" He asked, his mad eyes rolling towards the kitchen.

"Nope," Clint disagreed, aiming at arrow at Thor's face from the other side of the couch. "We're right here."

A hint of a smile formed on Loki's face. "I believe," he said proudly. "I have an army."

"No, I'm afraid I do."

Tony jumped back just in time to avoid a wisp of a shadow slip from Thor's lips and rise into the air. Thor coughed and gurgled, his eyes fluttering open and looking around. Loki was by his side immediately, placing his hands on Thor's chest to heal him.

"You keep doing that," Tony instructed, standing up while keeping an eye on the shadow. "We're gonna deal with this guy."

Loki shook his head. "Tony..."

The smokey shadow paused above their heads before shooting across the room and smashing into Clint. Steve shouted something and rushed to help him. Luckily, Tony snatched the soldier away seconds before an arrow flew into Steve's head.

Clint's laugh sent shivers down Tony's spine. "This one has a weak mind," he said with a nasty grin. "Oh, it looks as though you have been in here Loki."

"Not I. Look closer," Loki growled. "You shall see who was there."

Clint went silent, his bow resting on his knees as he thought. The room groaned as if the tower itself was processing the event. The archers eyes went wide, his confident smile gone in seconds.

"Thanos..."

Loki laughed bitterly when the shadow escaped quickly from Clint's body. "Why, are you scared of little old him?"

Steve pushed Stark away as the dark blur shot towards them. It joined with Steve and left again as quickly as it entered. Tony let out a huff of laughter as it flew away down the hall.

"Good ol' patriotism," he said sarcastically. "Nothing like America to―"

A loud grunt interrupted him, causing his smile to drop immediately.

"Oh for fucks sake," Tony grumbled, turning to face the hall. "Please tell me that was Natasha."

Clint managed a weak laugh from where he was still slouched on the floor. "I've never heard her make that sound before."

"It must be Hulk."

"Must be," Tony agreed with Steve and waved at Loki. "You, move your gold fish out of the way."

Loki wasted several seconds to glare at Stark before he dragged his brother's limp body behind the couch. Tony waited and smiled faintly when he saw Loki's dark-haired head pop back up to continue his glare over the top of the couch. His amusement was short lived due to the fact that half the wall that separated the kitchen and the hallway got thrown across the room at them.

Tony opened his eyes to the sounds of coughing and swearing from around him. What worried him was the soft whimper that seemed to be coming from his left. Tony turned his head as far as possible, squinting his right eye to see who it was.

Clint was halfway under a huge chunk of plywood and concrete. With shaking arms, the archer had somehow kept the rubble from crushing his chest.

"Hang on, buddy," Tony called out, trying to sit up himself. He had moved just in time to take the brunt of the attack and managed to catch most of the wall, but not enough apparently. He pushed up the larger slab off of him, and nearly screamed. His knee was crushed inside the casing of his suit, bleeding out of every crack in the metal

"Shit... okay, Clint," he said slowly. "I'm going to be a little slower than I thought."

"It's...fine..." Clint panted. "I could do... this all... day."

"Psh," Tony scoffed, trying to keep his voice light and carefree. "No you can't."

"Anyone else alive?!" He shouted through the cloud of dust. "Sound off!"

"Stark!"

"Who's that?" Tony grunted, pulling him self closer to Clint. The agent was growing more pale by the second.

"It's Steve," the solider replied from out of sight. "I'm with Loki and Thor. We are all fine."

"Tony," Loki called out. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Lokes. Just peachy."

Clint laughed weakly and shuddered under the weight just as Tony managed to slide his way under the piece of wall and prop it up on his shoulder.

"Come on, slither on out of there. My suit's power is off," Tony said, a sweat breaking out on his face. "This is all man power now."

Clint groaned and pulled his way out, pulling his legs behind him. The archer looked pained and exhausted.

"What's broken, Legolas?" Tony asked, slipping the wall off his shoulders and letting it fall. The air filled with more dust, blocking Tony's already limited view. Before Clint could respond, Tony was jerked into the air and thrown across the room.
His back cracked as he hit the breakfast bar in the kitchen. It was either that or the marble countertop shattering beneath him. Either way, it hurt like hell and completely winded him.

Loki started panicking at him in his mind, and it wasn't helping. "Tony?! What was that? Was that you? Are you alright?"

"Lokes, darling, please shut up a sec," he thought back.

"Well, excuse me for being concerned."

"Concern is fine, babe. The wave of freak out is a little too much for my aching skull."

Loki left him in silence while he caught his breath and sat up. He ignored the roar from somewhere back in the living room, and crawled his way over to join the others behind the couch. Steve had Thor's head in his lap. It would have been cute If they weren't both bloody and exhausted.

"Hey, where's Clint?" He asked, peering around the couch in concern. Loki pulled him close and began healing him before he responded.

"Barton made it into the hallway before the beast found him. I believe he is hiding in the stairwell with a broken foot."

"Damn," Tony said with a wince, feeling his broken knee bones attempt to heal in the small space of his suit. "Stop, stop it Loki!"

"What? Why are you stopping―"

"The metal around my knee is crushing it," Tony responded irritably. "You're just driving the bones and shit right into it. I have to get the suit off first."

The god apologized, jerking his hand away from Tony quickly. "I will not be able to remove it without hurting you right now," he said, turning away from Stark. "Besides, we have more pressing issues."

"Did you just make a pun about my leg?" Tony asked in disbelief. "No, never mind, you aren't that lame. More pressing matters, huh. Like a possessed Hulk?"

"The trouble lies in Bruce's mind. He was just changed only hours before hand, so all of his usual mental walls were not up in time for this sudden change."

"What the hell do you mean?"

Loki went silent and glanced at the captain.

"Loki, what do you mean his 'mental walls'?" asked Steve slowly.

"Bruce's mind is a turbulent place. He lives inside a safe bubble whilst surrounded by the rage of the beast," Loki spoke quickly and quietly, keeping his voice low for fear of alerting Hulk of their position. "It is something like a violent storm. Now, due to the possession and the fact that he has changed again far too soon..."

"He's in danger, isn't he?" Tony asked, his heart dropping.

Loki nodded and looked away. "There are cracks emitting from where the creature entered his mind. I sensed them immediately when the he possessed him. If they continue to grow," Loki paused and gave Stark a solemn look. "He will be lost forever."

"Lost... how?"

"Even if we remove the darkness, the Hulk will win. The beast will take control forever, and your friend will be no more."

Something small and fragile snapped inside Tony, and with its absence came a flood of rage.

"No more shit," he growled, standing up with the help of the battered couch. His voice rose as he started to limp into the living room. "No more hurting my friends. No more lies. No more fucking mind games."

Loki hissed his name and he ignored it, all of his attention on the large, panting beast in front of him. He didn't flinch when Hulk rushed him, curling his powerful hands around Tony's armor and pulling him face to face.

With a slow smile, Tony growled, "You and me, we need to have a talk."

Light, pure blue and blinding, emitted from his chest once again. It washed over the room, causing the two behind the couch to shield their eyes. The Hulk screamed as the darkness was ripped from him, and pulled into Tony.

"NO!" Loki shouted, leaving the others behind to stumble towards Tony.

"Lokes..."
"Lokes..."

Tony turned and fell as Hulk turned back into Bruce. They both landed heavily, but Tony managed to stay standing. His face hadn't changed, but Loki could already feel the uproar in his lover's mind.

"Tony... what have you done?" Loki asked, reaching out to him hesitantly. Tony flinched back and smiled at him sadly.

"I'm sorry," he said. Then he was gone.

"Where is he?!" Shouted Steve seconds after Tony disappeared. "How can he even do that?"

Loki remained silent, staring at nothing.

"No..."

Steve felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The Loki he knew never sounded scared. He always passed it off as boredom or rage. What he heard in the god's voice now was pure, unashamed terror.

"Loki, where is he?"

Loki continued to stare, his eyes growing wide with realization.
"It cannot be..." He said quietly, his voice becoming choked.

"Dammit, Loki! Where is he!?"

"Gone," he replied quietly, his eyes glassy and wet. "I cannot feel him at all."

Steve paled and stumbled back, falling into the dirty, broken couch.
"What does that mean? He's dead?"

Loki turned at last to look at the soldier. "No, it is much worse," he said, his voice barely audible. "He has left this realm for another with the darkness inside him."

"He has gone where I cannot reach him."