Eighty Eight

Loki's view

"Loki, we may have a problem." Îrben finally spoke after a much needed rest. It was probably the first time he'd ever been transformed into another creature. I'm sure the rest was much needed, as even beginner transformation spells were exhausting.

"What sort of problem?" I said poking at my lunch.

"I went through Tony's mind. His memory ends in the same spot yours does. His last memory was of you being led away and how he wanted to go with you. But your brother prevented him from going. Then it goes black." He explained. "He feels nothing but love and sorrow for what has happened. He needs you back before he does real harm to himself and you lose him forever."

"Harm? What do you mean by real harm?" I asked, confused.

"He's tried to kill himself several times now. He doesn't understand how he's still alive. You did tell him about the apples of immortality, didn't you?" Îrben lectured.

"No, I may have tricked him into eating it though. I just didn't want to see him get hurt any longer."

"You need to tell him. He's not exactly that dumb, he'll figure it out."

"Fortunately, Tony is smart enough to have started restoring the lost data on his computer. I had Jarvis finish it up." I changed subject, pulling out my phone. "Jarvis, play the downloaded video."

"Yes, sir." Jarvis chirped.

"How?" Îrben asked with a confused look.

"Jarvis is linked with anything that is Tony's tech. It's complicated, I'll explain later."

The video played on the phone, Îrben adjusted so he could see the screen. Îrben was obviously fascinated by the phone Tony gave me. The video had started midway through the party.

"What's happening?" He asked.

"You don't recognize this?"

"No, it's overhead instead of through your eyes." He rolled his eyes.

"Clint is being an ass and Tony is trying to defend me."

"He does love you, I see it in his eyes." He rested his head on my shoulder. "I remember that look in your eyes." I pushed him off me. The video played through the rest of the party, Tony's fight with Steve, then Thor breaking it up with drinks.

It wasn't long after I was being led away by Jane Foster. The video split into two screen, one followed me, the other followed Tony. I smiled at how smart he was, but it would be the last time I smiled during the video.

The video became dark as I watched, as Tony collapsed soon after I'd been led away. My brother and Steve carrying his limp body off. As they undressed him, and posed him for the pictures I'd seen. The soldier taking pictures as my brother violated my lover.

Tony had been right, he didn't cheat on me. He had been taken advantage of. I felt the rage and tears build up in me. A lump in my throat preventing me from speaking. Îrben backed away slowly, horrified by what he'd seen.

I wanted revenge. Revenge on my brother and the solider. I saw the first tears drop onto the screen, before I felt them streaming down my face. Something nearby shattered.

"I've done this." I mumbled.

"This isn't your fault, Loki."

"It is. I could have protected him. This would have never happened if I'd never fallen for him." I said sadly as I touched Tony's face on the screen.

"No it's not. He loves you and you love him. You're not responsible for your brother's jealousy. You said Thor wasn't happy with your choosing to be with Tony." Îrben reasoned.

"Thor has always been bent on destroying my happiness. He broke me apart from anyone I was seeing. I thought he'd change since finding Jane."

"Jane?"

"That brunette woman who escorted me to my bed and watched over me to make sure I didn't wake. It's too bad she was in on this. I liked her as a friend too." I sighed. "I truly thought this time was different. I truly thought after he'd experienced love he would leave me be."

"Some people never change." Îrben shrugged.

"What do I do now?" I looked to him for help.

"I suggest you open that gift." He said with a sneaky smile.

"You know what's in it, don't you?" I sneered back. I teleported it to me, the little box wrapped in white paper and red ribbon. He worked hard on the ribbon as he always needed help with his bow ties. I gently unwrapped it, revealing a black box. It looked like the one I'd seen when Tony took me to dinner. Tony explained the man was proposing marriage to the girl he was with.

"No." I shook my head. I opened the lid revealing a charm on a thin chain. I smiled.

"I saw it through his eyes, what is it exactly?"

"His heart." Îrben looked at me confused. "It's a miniature Arc Reactor. The one in his chest keeps him alive." I ran my thumb over the gorgeous gem. There was an inscription along the smooth edge. It read 'I love you, always'. There was a tiny pulse through it, indicating it was working. Îrben helped me fasten it around my neck.

"This is what my wife kept seeing in her visions. I mentioned it to her while we rested. She saw the one in his chest when you brought him here. He's the one."

"He's given me his heart." I mused, still holding the jewel.

"Go to him."