Author's Note: *imagine a tiny squeaky voice saying this.* IMPORTANT READ ME! So I have a feeling you are soooo going to hate me by the end of this chapter. Not going to tell you for what reason I think this. You're just going to have to read to find out. ;)
Odin was eating breakfast when the messenger came in. "My king, Loki Odinson wishes your presence in the throne room." he said. Odin nodded. He took his time, not moving until after he finished his food. He was the king after all.
When he entered the throne room, Loki was already there. "Loki, I see you are feeling better. What do you wish to discuss with me?" he asked, seating himself on the throne. Loki looked up at him. "I would like you to free Tony Stark and the other Midgardians." he said. Odin smiled. "Loki..." Odin sighed tiredly. "Please Odin. Can you not just throw away your sense of justice of them for just an instant and let them go free?" Loki pleaded. Odin stared at him.
He had never heard Loki speak like this before. Usually, he was angry and cruel. But now he was...pleading.
"Loki...I cannot-" "Then take mine instead." Loki insisted. Beside him, Thor stiffened. "Loki no!" he said. "Be quiet Thor." Loki hissed, looking up at Odin. "Take my life and let them go. I am the reason why all of this is happening anyway. So it is only right that you punish me instead." he said. Odin shook his head.' Loki the people-" he broke off as Loki knelt in front of him. "Please..." he said. "They do not deserve to die fo my mistakes. Let me take this burden." he urged.
Odin straightened in his seat. "I must call a trial but...I will try." he said.
In the dungeons, Tony shivered. It was colder tan he could have ever imagined and he could feel the tips of his fingers and toes starting to lose feeling. He jerked as a guard knocked on the bars of his cell.
"Hey, Man of Iron. The Allfather has chanced his mind. He's not going to kill you and your friends...yet." he said. Tony stood, wincing a bit at his feet. "What are you talking about? He's setting me and my friends free?" he asked. The guard chuckled. "You're going to have a trial first. Someone offered to take your place. He challenged the Allfather himself." he said. "Who? Who was it?" Tony asked.
"Well, none other than the bastard Loki Laufeyson."
"I want to see him." Loki said. Thor looked at him, a frown plastered on his face. "I do not believe father will allow that." he sad. Loki glared at him. "I want to see him." he repeated. Thor shook his head, and stood. "I shall ask him." he said leaving the room.
Loki stretched out on the sofa, and picked up a book off of the table. An hour later, Thor returned, looking surprised.
"He said yes." he told him. Loki smiled. "Of course he did." he said standing and leaving the room. Loki made his way down into the dungeons. it was cold there, which made Loki happy. As he came to the cell, Tony looked at him.
"Why'd you do it?" he asked. Loki smiled. "I figured that it was only fair. You saved my life, so I am returning the favor." he said. Tony stood and leaned against the bars.
"You know there's a possibility that you might die right?" he asked. Loki nodded. "It is fitting. I started all of this when I made that deal with Thanos." he said sadly. Tony stared at him. "You're willing to die for...me?" he asked in disbelief. "I am tired Tony Stark. Tired of saying things to benefit only myself. It is better this way. Don't you think the same?" he said. "No Loki. I don't that. And I don't want you to do this. I don't want you to die."
Loki studied him carefully. "What is this Stark? Do you care for me? The God of Mischief? Of Lies?" he asked. Tony stayed quiet. "I thought so." he said, turning away. "I don't care for you Loki. I love you. And I don't give a shit if you don't love me back. If you don't then it's not your problem anyway. At least give me the satisfaction of you knowing." Tony said.
Loki continued walking. He didn't turn around. He couldn't. He couldn't look at the man he was leaving behind. That loved him. He couldn't bear it.
As he passed the cells of Steve and Bruce, he looked at them. They saw the pain in his eyes. What grease doing. Giving himself up to save three innocent people.
This was something the Old Loki would have never done. He probably would have killed them himself back then.
The look he was giving them now told them that if they interfered, he would kill them with his bare hands.
Tony grunted as he was pulled roughly to his feet. "Today's your lucky day Midgardian." his guard said, yanking his arm painfully. Tony bit his tongue, saying nothing.
He winced as his feet met the warm floor above the dungeons. They prickled painfully as they began to regain feeling. He stared up at the ceiling. He had never been in this part of the castle before. There were golden arch ways and silver columns jutting up out of little pools in the floors.
The servants shuffled by on silent feet, carrying plates of food and wine, their eyes looking toward the ground. Tony saw slaves, some being beaten bloody. Even from the distance he was at, he could practically feel their pain. Then they entered the throne room. It was possibly the most lavishly decorated room Tony had seen.
And there, kneeling in front of the king was his savior in the flesh. Loki. He had been stripped of is armor and was wearing a green cloth shirt and pants. His eyes were lowered to the floor, reminding Tony of the servants he had seen moments earlier.
But the only difference was that the god was shackled to the floor. Like a criminal.
Tony was forced to kneel beside the god, but thankfully he was spared of the restraints. He didn't know how much more damage his wrists and ankles could take before they were rendered useless. Then he looked over as Steve and Bruce were put beside him. They looked better than he did, but then again they were genetically altered, one accidentally the other by agreeing to be a volunteer.
Tony looked over at the god. Loki kept his eyes on the floor, unmoving. He was still slightly blue and his eyes were slightly red, but he looked a lot better than before. Tony could feel Odin watching him, so he turned to face him, staring him straight in the eye. The Allfather stood and walked down the steps of the dias.
"The trial of the Midgardians Anthony Stark, Bruce Banner and Steven Rogers has now been called to order. The Asgardan Loki Laufeyson has offered to take their punishments upon himself, to compensate for his alliance with the enemy, Thanos and the Other. Are there any objections?" he asked, looking around.
"Kill them both!" a few people shouted. Tony looked around in surprise. "Well dang!" he said. Odin looked at him in confusion.
"The jury shall now vote for the verdict." a man said, looking over at a group of people. They raised their hands, some crossed over their chests, others their arms held out in front of them. Tony didn't get it at all, but he hoped the majority was for innocent.
Odin gave a nod ad sat back down on his throne. "The verdict has been decided innocent. The Midgardians shall be sent back to their home, whereas Loki Laufeyson's punishment shall be overruled on the evidence that his mind was being controled and he was under someone else's influence."
There was an angry cry up in the crowd of citizens that had come to watch the trial. One man stood, drawing something out of his sleeve.
Tony was helped to his feet, being led out of the door. Thor was smiling, happy that his brother and friends were cleared of all charges. Loki looked up into he crowd and seeing the armed man, he had a feeling on what was about to happen. He dove for Tony just as the dagger went flying. People screamed as they were pushed out of the way, the guards diving for Loki, most still not trusting him.
Tony felt a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down to see a long knife protruding from the arc reactor through his skin. He gasped a sudden cold began to spread through him, clouding his thoughts. Then he felt someone grab him from behind, guiding him gently to the ground as he fell. Loki knelt over him, and removed the blade from Tony's chest. He studied it, and then looked at the black veins spreading across Tony's chest.
"Poison." he breathed, tears forming in his eyes. Odin came up behind him and knelt. "Is there anything you can do?" he asked Loki shook his head. "This is not of the Nine Realms, Allfather. This is something...beyond. Beyond even my own powers and abilities." Loki ran his finger over the oily substance coating the blade. He didn't draw away from it as it hissed against his skin, the pain in his heart overpowering the pain of his flesh.
"I can do nothing. It burns my very skin when I touch it." he said. He stared down at Tony. The inventor's eyelids were darkening, turning a dark blue, his body writhing in pain as the poison flowed through his body. And then as Loki watched, unable to do a thing, he sobbed, staring on in horror as Tony's breathing stopped and he went still.
Author's Note: So...don't tell me you're not saying 'Oh god Rathian Empress is a monster! How could she do that to Tony! He could sue her.' Oh well, I think it was time for a little twist. Don't you? Keeping you on your toes is my job. ;)