Nik crumbled to his knees, tears running down his face. His lower lip trembling as he tried to halt the forlorn feelings that wracked his heart, mind, and soul. ~Loki gave up on me. He had to have gotten rid of the rune. What other reason is there for why he didn't sense the pain I was constantly in? It would also explain why I hardly felt him except for when he was experiencing strong emotions. I must have only felt that through the soul bond rather than the necklace.~
Tony could feel a few stray tears fall from his eyes. He couldn't imagine how Nik was feeling. To have a soulmate and love them as much as Nik obviously did, only to find out they had given up on him. He wasn't good with emotions. He was still trying to get his head around his father's last message. How Howard had told Tony that he was his greatest creation. If Tony hadn't seen the video himself, he'd call bullshit. He even had JARVIS look it over to check if it had been tampered with. He didn't know how to talk about feelings or comfort anyone. All he knew how to do was excessively drink and spend days endlessly tinkering in the workshop. Tony wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and sat down next to Nik.
"Hey, did I ever tell you what happened before you came to work here?" Nik sniffed and rubbed his eyes. "Tony, I know what happened. I learned all about you." Tony waved him off. "Yeah, but only what the media put up." "Tony. You don't have to tell me. I know it was a painful time." Tony looked at Nik like he was crazy. "You just told me about what you endured in that messed up place you're from AND about losing your mate. I think I can bear to tell you a thing or two." Nik sighed deeply. "Please don't feel obligated to talk about things because I did. I've avoided talking about all of this because I was afraid of how you would treat me after knowing, but whatever you have to tell me won't affect anything."
Tony stood up and offered a hand to Nik. Nikolas took his hand and let Tony help him to his feet. Tony led him back over to the couch and sat down. "Nothing you've told me has changed what I think about you Nik. Actually that's a lie. It has changed my view on you." Nik looked absolutely terrified. "I think you are a very brave and strong person. I'm inspired by just how much of a badass you are. I mean life has kicked you in the teeth so many times, but you've dusted yourself off and smiled through the blood. You're incredible Nik." The redhead looked like he would start crying again. "Tony-" Tony put a hand over Nik's mouth. "Nope. Not gonna have you putting yourself down because of some stupid shit those assholes beat into you. Anyways just listen ok?"
Tony waited for Nik to nod before continuing. "So about a year ago, I was doing a weapons demonstration for the military when we were attacked. The soldiers in the humvee with me were shot and killed. There was an array of gunshots and explosions. I tried to get away when one of my own bombs got fired at me. It blew up and since I had been so close to it, shrapnel was blasted into my chest. Which is the why and how I got this thing." Tony tapped on the light coming from his torso. "I've always been surprised that you have never once said anything about it. You've seen me without a shirt a few times." Nik shrugged. "Tony, my back and various other parts are covered in scars. I wasn't about to humiliate you by bringing it up. Besides I figured it had something to do with the Iron Man gimmick."
Tony's jaw dropped ridiculously. He looks flustered. "It's not a gimmick! This thing is real. I'm in pain here! This thing could kill me." Nik was nonchalant. "I don't know. You're a noble. Plus you are very flashy. Just like Loki." Nik smiled. Tony looked at him blankly. "Wow. Here I am sharing with you the most traumatic experience of my life and you act like it's nothing. You really know how to wound a guy's ego." Nik snorted. "I'm sure your ego will recover."
Thor felt the sting of tears in his eyes as he watched the boat set aflame. He didn't know what hurt more. The fact that this pyre was for his brother or that the boat contained hardly anything of Loki's. No physical possessions. Not even a body. He knew his brother would not go to Vahalla. With no body to burn, how would his spirit find peace?
To think of his beloved little brother being tormented for the rest of eternity was too much for Thor to bear. He was jerked from his thoughts by his mother burying her head in his chest. He tightened his hold around her, pulling her closer. He looked around wondering where his father was. He found him on the dais sitting in the throne that he used for every outdoor event, such as tournaments or public floggings.
~Why is he not down here, sharing our grief? He should not be presiding as king. He should be here solely as a father who's lost a child.~
Loki awoke with a jolt. Something between a sob and a scream was ripped from his throat. Gasping for the breath he couldn't seem to catch, his chest throbbed painfully. His entire body hurt. He felt weak and utterly drained. He didn't know where he was, but he could feel the cold unforgivingly hard ground pressing against his back. "Open your eyes, little godling. The Mad Titan wishes to speak to you."