It was hard getting through each day, knowing his soulmate, his reason for living and fighting was now dead. Nik knew he had to keep going. He had a responsibility to Tony. Also he had made it his duty to figure out what happened to Loki and repay whoever took his love from him.
He wasn't yet sure how he would go about doing that, but he knew he had to try. Nik was actually a little surprised that he was still alive. He had thought that soulmates died within a short time of each other. Though he supposed there was still time where he could die as well. It had only been about two weeks since he lost Loki.
Nik wished he could speak to Frigga. She would know more about soulmates. Though he could only imagine how the Queen was coping with the loss of her second son. Her and Loki had been very close. He missed her.
Tony had more or less forced him to take a three day break. Nik knew he would have to talk to Tony deserved to know the truth about him. He had been putting it off for a while now. ~If I tell Tony, he'll probably fire me. He will think I'm filth and not worthy to work for him. The only thing I'm good for is bending over.~
He's a good person. He won't turn on you. He's a good person. He won't turn on you. This had slowly become his daily chant every time he saw Tony. He would wake up every morning and tell himself that today would be the day he would tell Tony.
Then Tony would look at him with kind eyes and that thousand watt smile and Nikolas lost his confidence. Every time Tony joked with him and spoke fondly to him, Nik would have flashbacks of his return to Vanaheimr. Of being treated like less than dirt all his life.
After about a week, Tony finally had enough. He had J.A.R.V.I.S. call Nik down to the workshop. Nik walked in, tapping away on his phone. "Hey Tony. What's up?" When Nik was a few feet from the door, Tony walked behind him, blocking his exit. "Alright. Jar, Fortress of solitude." Just then, thick metal slabs fell, covering all the windows and doors. Trapping them inside. Nik gave Tony a shocked look. "Really Tony?"
"We need to talk." Nik gestured around. "And you felt the best way to do that was to imprison me!?" "You've been stalling for weeks! Walking around with the kicked puppy look. What's so bad that you're acting like this? Where's my fierce personal assistant?"
Nik let out a deep sigh. It was now or never. He just blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I'm not from Midgard." Tony looked puzzled. "What the hell is Mid gard?" Nik laughed nervously. "Midgard is one word. And it's the realm we are on now. You call it Earth. There's actually nine different realms in total."
Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm a very intelligent man and can understand pretty much anything. Besides Justin Hammer. Though I don't think anyone could understand that guy. But I have no idea what you just said."
Nik was biting his lip and his hands were playing with his shirt. "Where did I lose you?" Tony cocked an eyebrow at him. "At the part where you said you weren't from Earth." Nik brought his right hand up to his mouth and began biting the thumb nail. "Could we go upstairs where it's more comfortable?" Tony huffed and pointed to across the workshop.
"That couch is the most comfy piece of furniture I have. Slept on it many times." Nik smiled. "Tony, that couch is probably older than you are. And you've passed out drunk on it many times. That's not the same thing." Tony pouted and put his hands on his hips. "Fine. Fine. Have it your own." Tony took out his phone, pressed a few buttons, and the alloy coverings over the door and windows receded.
The two men made their way up to Tony's floor. They both knew it would be better than going to Nik's bare rooms. Being unused to having money to spend or anything besides a simple bed, Nik hadn't known where to start nor the time to put much thought into it. They got into Tony's private elevator and rode up to the penthouse on the top floor. With each floor they passed, Tony noticed that Nikolas seemed to withdraw into himself more and more. He was tense with anxiety.
~What's he gotta tell me that has him acting like I'm walking him to his death? That he's an alien? Does he really expect me to believe that?~ Finally they arrived at their destination. Tony immediately went to the bar and poured himself a scotch. "You want one? Look like you could use it?" Nik slowly walked out of the elevator and sat down on a bar stool.
"Uh no. Midgardian alcohol does nothing for me." Tony gave him a skeptical look. "Because you're not from this planet right?" Nik sighed heavily. "You don't believe me." It wasn't a question. Nik could see and hear the disbelief coming from the other man. Tony made it obvious for Nik to read him. His body language, his voice, even his eyes told him that Tony thought he wasn't at all serious. Nik didn't know if that made this easier or harder to tell the billionaire everything.
"I believe in science. There's no evidence that suggests what you've said is true. I mean other realms? What the hell does that even mean? There are eight planets in the solar system. We haven't confirmed that there is or isn't life on all of them yet but hey why not?" Nik rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache beginning. "Ok. For the sake of this conversation, could you please keep an open mind?" "I always have an open mind." Tony smiles and gives Nik a wink. "Oh Norns, give me strength."