We made it! All the way to the end. I won't take up too much of your time, I just wish to thank everyone who read along and pointed out mistakes and betad for me. You guys are the best, and It's been a pleasure to write and talk and... oh all that good stuff. Enjoy!

Loki had been so focused on his lover's face, that when Anthony's eyes snapped open he nearly flung himself backwards off the table. He just managed to catch himself, slipping back towards his love in the mess of blood. Loki was already regretting greeting Tony looking as though he had been through a slaughtering, but he had no other choice at the moment, considering how weak his magic was. It wasn't as though Tony looked much better.

"Tony!" He shouted, causing the man to flinch away from the sound of his voice. Loki tried again more gently, "Tony, can you hear me?"

Stark was looking up at him strangely, one hand waving in between their faces before a small smile formed.

"Lokes, hey there," He wheezed in a raspy voice.

"Yes, I am here." Loki pulled him up into his arms for a quick embrace before pulling back to stare into his startled face. "Are you in pain... are you well?"

"Am I... what's going on? Wasn't I outside?"

"Outside? No, love, we were in the tower."

"The tower?" Tony asked slowly, his brow furrowing as he tried to remember. "But we left the tower years ago..."

Loki spared his mother a questioning glance, but received only a small shrug in response. He knew she must have known more, so what was her game? She narrowed her eyes at him in warning and he quickly looked back to Stark.

"Tony, do you remember the fight? With Do— the mortal magic user?"

Tony closed his eyes for a moment, one hand rubbing at his blood encrusted temples. "I do," he admitted,"but there's all this other stuff."

"What do you mean?"

"We did so much more after— what the fuck happened to you?!" Tony yelped, apparently just now noticing the gore covering Loki's body.

"Oh, this came from you, for the most part," Loki replied, reaching out and touching his face gently. There, the blood was already dry, caked into every crevasse and wrinkle in Tony's skin. His hair had gone dark with it, slicked back against his scalp and hardened. Even though Loki know the physical wounds were gone, the mess and damaged clothing clothing were still there as proof of the battle. Tony's eyes widened as he finally looked at himself, patting down his body quickly to check for damages.

"I'm not even hurt, so where is all this from?" He looked up at Loki and frowned. "What the hell is going on?"

"Perhaps you two should discuss it after a bath," Frigga intervened, gesturing out the door. "I can show you the way."

"But—"

"No, Tony, she is right. This conversation will suit us better once we are clean and better rested," Loki cut him short, pulling his love after him as he slipped off the the table. "Are my rooms still taken care of?"

Frigga smiled and shook her head at his foolishness. "Of course, my son. We had anticipated your return a bit sooner. You missed the day, my dear."

"I am well aware of that, now. Lady Sif explained it with some distaste."

Tony leaned heavily against him, distracting Loki from his thoughts of the disappointment he still saw in Sif's eyes. Bridge mending could wait, if he ever wanted to mend them in the first place. Stark may have been alive and healed of his wounds, but he still seemed weak and disoriented. "Ah, forget that for now. Come, let me carry you, my love."

Tony scoffed and pulled himself up as tall as he could. "Thanks, but I can walk on my own, my shining prince."

Ignoring his protest, Loki ducked down, slipped his hands behind his knees, and scooped Tony up into his arms. Amid the grumbling and complaints, Loki give his mother one last look and mouthed a, "thank you". There would be many more thanks for her later, when he wasn't taking care of Stark and feeling faint himself.

The journey to his rooms was a quiet one, Tony remaining unnaturally still in his arms the entire time. If he hadn't just been dead not but a few moments ago, Loki would have not thought all that much of it. But he had, and Loki still did not know what his love had just awoken from.

Tony cleared his throat and asked, "So, was that all a dream?"

"Pardon?"

"The marriage, the honey moon, everyone dying."

Loki stopped just outside his door and stared at him, unsure of how to respond. He did not know what Tony had seen, but it seemed the trials were something of a dream form. The man's eyes had looked almost hopeful until that point, a hint of sadness creeping in when Loki did not have an answer.

"I guess that's a 'yes', then. What the hell was that? I never have such lucid, long winded dreams and I'm not even sure I want to live forever, no offense."

"I see..." Loki mumbled softly, not sure how to tell his lover that that was precisely what he was going to do. For now, he decided to avoid the subject. "I don't believe you invented that dream," Loki replied instead, nodding his head at the door to open it with a weak spell.
"I will explain momentarily, but I would not expect much, if I were you. I only know a little more than yourself."

Tony muttered something and fell back into a sulk, not even rejoicing as much as Loki when he found the bath already filled and steaming. He had a sneaking suspicion his mother sent a servant ahead to set everything up for him, considering the copious amounts of candles lit across the room and around the wide tub. Which also meant she had a lot more confidence in Stark's success than he had, originally.

Loki gladly let Anthony down and began to peal away his own blood soaked clothing, every so often sneaking a glance at Tony as he undressed. Tony was healed, fully and without any fresh scars. In fact, he looked noticeably younger in the candle light. Perhaps it was the absence of pain in his features, or simply the return of his sun-like energy. The arc reactor still glowed in his chest just as it had before the trials and he could not help but wonder if his lover was already immortal, or if that meant the reactor was meant to stay. He really did need to speak with his mother on the subject more. Perhaps, as much has he dreaded it, he would need to speak to the Allfather as well.

Loki's fingers stumbled over his scorched shirt, falling through the large holes burnt all the way though to his skin as he tried to pull it over his head. After a few frustrated grunts, he was rid of it, earning him a startled, choking sound from Stark.

"You said all that mess was from me," Tony said with a worried frown, coming closer to inspect the wounds, "you are hurt, goddammit! Why didn't you say something?"

"I feel fine. Full of energy, in fact."

"Yeah, that's probably the adrenalin talking." Tony paused and ran a hand down Loki's chest, careful to avoid the open wounds. "Why haven't you healed these yet?"

"There was no time, you were..."

"Dead? I was dead, wasn't I?"

"Yes," Loki breathed, unable to look away from the man he thought he had lost, "yes, you were dead. I was too late, too weak. I couldn't do... anything..."

Choking back a wave of tears that had threatened to fall for hours already, Loki looked down at his blood stained hands and tried to steady them. His body was betraying him, showing weakness where he needed strength. Stark needed him right now, whole and capable. He was not going to break down, not when everything was alright. It was pointless, foolish.

"Idiot," Tony said softly before he pulled Loki into a warm embrace. "You did everything you could. You did manage to save me, Lokes."

"I... but I failed you. You died, Tony. This time you were gone..."

His lover's arms tightened around him, as if he was attempting to squeeze the memory out of Loki. "Lokes, it happens. People die, it's what we do. I'm a filthy mortal with a short lifespan and a kink for danger." Tony pulled back to look at him with a sad smile, "you forget that sometimes, don't you?"

"Never. I fear for you every single day and it is my only nightmare at night. Your mortality is always in the back of my mind."

"Time give your brain a rest, then. Let's take a bath in your friggen enormous bathtub and forget that we're adults for a while." Tony looked over his shoulder at it and whistled. "I missed that thing. We need one back at home."

"Home..."

"Yes," Tony said, stripping off what was left of his ruined clothes, "that place where we live together with a bunch of... oh shit."

"What is it? What's wrong?" Loki frowned, pulling him close to look his body over for whatever was paining him.

Tony gave him a bemused sort of smile and snuggled right into his arms. "Uh, if I scratch out all that shit that was a dream, didn't we just leave the tower with no explanation of where or how we are? I mean, in my head we got back and they were happy enough that we were alive, but that's not reality, usually. Usually they're angry and crying at the same time. Oh, and there's smacking, always with the smacking."

"Oh, you might be correct," Loki admitted, biting his lip, "I had not thought of that at the time, just the need to get you safe. I suppose someone would have contacted Thor about our arrival, at least."

"So they still think we're dead?"

"I know not of what they think, Tony. The last we saw of one another, you disappeared upstairs with the creature and I followed you. I do not suppose they have any idea of what happened."

Tony's half smile fell a little, something dark and sad returning to his eyes. There was the memory, flickering across the bond between them. The body of an almost friend, the nameless being that cost them so much, yet it somehow managed to take away one more thing on its departure. Stark had felt its loss, when no one else had. His big heart had found a small place for the lonely beast, a place now left empty like so many others.

Loki twitched forward to capture his lips, wishing to kiss away that sorrowful look forever.

No more, please.
There has been enough sadness, enough pain for a lifetime.
Grant this greedy god one more kindness.
Please, take it away.

Where had that smile from the party gone, and the ease his lover finally felt again around his friends. Why was it taken away again so soon and so cruelly?

Loki had kissed him again and again, before realizing the needy whimpering sound was coming from him and that Tony was looking up at him between kisses with a hint of worry.

Flushed with embarrassment and eyes bright with tears he still could not shed, Loki lead his lover to the bath that Tony said should be in their home. It was time to give their minds a well deserved rest.

The water was warm, the candle light dim, and something in the mood begged honesty from the one named the God of Lies.

"At times I feel like one from your mortal's stories, he who flew too close to the sun."

"Icarus," Tony offered.

"Yes, him." Loki fell silent, worrying his lip a while before be spoke again, "somedays I fly to close to you, and sometimes you shine too brightly for me. The harsher the light, the darker my shadows fall. Where as before, I could hardly see them, now I see them all the more."

"I'm no sunshine," Tony interjected, giving him a small sneer, "i'm as dark and dingy as a New York City alley way."

Loki shook his head, a sad smile forming on his lips. "No, you are no such thing. You may have a shade or two of your own; ghosts who haunt you, but you are not dark. Never dark."

"You're both insulting my metal soul, and dismissing a huge chunk of my past."

"Your second skin may be metal, but not your soul."

"It's... no, never mind. I'm not explaining my music to you again."

Loki's smile grew warmer at this. "Please, save me the trouble of feigning interest." He ignored Tony's haughty sniff and the small splash of water, and continued, "this force of power in your chest is not the only source of light in you. Believe me, I have seen it, and when it was gone it only served as a hollow reminder of how bright it should be. You are my sun, Anthony, and it never ceases to amaze me how one so light and strong is bound to one so dark and weak."

Tony shifted, drifting over to Loki to look him in the eye. He was searching for something, reflections of the candle light bright in his eyes as they moved over Loki's face. There was something else about his eyes that Loki could not quite put a name to yet. The color...

Loki's inspection was stopped short when Tony spoke up at last.

"I don't see this 'impregnable darkness' you keep saying lurks around you like some sort of grim reaper. So maybe your hair could use some highlights, but you're pretty shiny to me, babe. I feel warm and fuzzy around you, like a pat of butter melting on some of Pepper's amazing toast..." Tony got that far away look, undoubtably reminded of either their friends, or food. His eyes grew sad once more, and Loki leaned forward with concern.

"You don't have these memories, do you?" Tony asked softly, "you don't know what we accomplished, who we lost."

"No," Loki answered in a soft voice, "i'm afraid those were only for you. Their only purpose was to be a lesson, as unfair and unkind os a lesson as it may be."

"Unkind is one word for it, gut-wrenchingly painful is another. No, don't give me that look, i'm not dying again. Or any time soon, for that matter."

"Do you wish it were not so? Do you loath the thought of an eternity?" Loki asked, unable to hide the slight wobble of anguish in his voice.

He knew the trials had a chance of breaking his one and only apart. He had seen it many times before, small mortals aiming to be more and asking the Allfather to provide them with the means to gain it. The king would always allow them to try, nearly always. The trails served more purpose than a simple test of strength. Character, the ability to assimilate, to grow even when your time is nearly unlimited. Thousands of years to become someone knew, thousands of choices to make. It meant something, to be able to hold true to yourself over the years, but one was often better for the change. Loki was proof of that.

Most men came back from the trials mad, screaming of the future only they could understand. Something in them having gone so wrong, they broke under its weight. The gods would sit upon their raised thrones and watch them babble into the gold floor of the hall, eyes wild with fear. Loki used to make jokes, cast spells upon them to relive moments from their nightmarish future. What had onces been a source of amusement to his younger self, now instilled in him a sense of terror.

What if Anthony had not been strong enough? If he watched all of his mortal friends fall to dust, and lose himself somewhere Loki could not reach him. There was still chance his love could lose his mind, and now that Anthony was, indeed immortal, what did that mean for their future?

"Loki... I was dead," Tony said slowly, his eyes fixed on him, "I was dead and now i'm not. You said I was too far gone for you to get me, so that really only leaves one option in my book. Something I was supposed to be able to chose for myself. So i'm only going to ask this once..." His lips tightened for a moment before the dreaded question came, "did you give me a golden apple?"

Loki wanted nothing more then to turn away from him and hide in all his shame. To take that choice from anyone was wrong, to take it from Tony was something Loki could never forgive himself for. But he could not run away, not this time. There was no void to let himself fall into, no monster to give excuses for his behavior. Perhaps this time, he should face the pain rather than run.

"I did not choose to, but it happened. The apple was not the cure for your life, but the price. My daughter, Hella, she chose your morality as the price for your soul."

"Your daughter? Why would she... I... so i'm immortal now?" Tony asked incredulously, finally dropping Loki's gaze to look down at his body, "I can't... this is too much information at once."

"I believe you are," Loki answered, pulling him close and tipping up his chin to look into his eyes, "I had thought you would receive the power after the trials in some sort of ceremony, but something has changed in you. I can feel it across the bond and something in your eyes..."

Tony mumbled, "My eyes?" and blinked up at him. He was struggling to remain calm, Loki could sense it. But it wasn't the fear that Loki had expected, but worry and pain. He did not fear the future he had seen, but he already felt the loss. He was still there in those memories, feeling the sadness of things not yet come to pass in reality.

"They are lighter, almost gold. Truly beautiful."

Tony huffed and relaxed into Loki's arms, as if the simple compliment released all his worries. The water was starting to cool, but his lover's body was warm, pressed against him with a sleepy weight to it. It was calming, being close to him, unlike the way he clung to cold, dead body for hours before. Regardless that there were still so many more questions to be asked, so much more to do, but he simply lacked the energy to even care anymore.

A man had died by Loki's hand, and that could change everything in regards to his acceptance and redemption in Odin's eyes. Tony was calm enough now, but what of later? When time had passed enough for him to think about it, to linger on the meaning of an eternity. Only he knew of his possible future, and what little Tony had mentioned to him was enough for doubt to grow in Loki's chest. Forever with Anthony was a thing Loki desired, but did not deserve. To stand by his side while he watches his friends and family die around him would be no easy thing, either.

Tony shifted in his arms, pulling his body up onto Loki's lap. His golden eyes flashed while warm hands traced their way up his torso.

"Tony, what are you...?"

"Shhh... I'm full energy, I want you, and I don't want to think anymore," Tony replied in a husky voice, "please don't let me think anymore."

"Aah," Loki breathed, pulling his hips down his thighs, just close enough for their chests to brush together, "I wish to rid my mind of these thoughts, as well."

"Then come on, babe. Blow my mind."

He needed this, he needed it so fucking badly his heart was racing from the smallest of touches. That, or the golden apple shit that was running through him was strengthening his libido. Or maybe it was the openly loving look Loki was giving him that was sending shivers through his body. Probably all of the above.

Come on, Tony, no more thinking.
Just Loki.
Don't think about how all your friends are gonna die in front of you.Dammit.
Loki. All I need is Loki.

"Toooonnyy," Loki purred, leaving Tony no doubt that the same thoughts were going through the god's head. They needed one another right here and now, fuck the future. He could worry about it when it happened.

He was still exploring with his hands, every so often stopping to venture into Loki's mouth with his tongue. What had been a steadily cooling bath was now much too hot, causing them both to pant and writhe in the water.

"Don't close your eyes... look at me," Tony commanded, one hand running through Loki's dark hair. When the god didn't comply, he gave the hair a small tug. Loki moaned, his eyes fluttering open to stare up at him in a daze. They had barely even gotten started, and Loki was looking thoroughly ravished already.

"Good, Lokes, good. Now watch me."

Tony grinned at the spark of curiosity in those green eyes and reached his own hand around to tease his opening. It was a little tight, but he hissed in pleasure just to see Loki's face crumple into ecstasy. He had learned exactly how much Loki liked to watch one night before his trip back to the icy planet. It turned Tony on a lot more than he expected; not even so much the watching, but the expression Loki made when he saw Tony touching himself. Hunger, possessiveness, amazement.

And, just like he always did before, Loki had to take over. A small pot of oil appeared next to the god, and Tony smirked at it. They had used it before, and Tony remembered the sweet smell of it from last time.

Loki's oiled fingers slid between Tony's until both of them had a finger inside of him. The added pressure was enough to drag out a whimper into their kiss. Then, Loki was pulling him closer with that finger hooked inside of him, sliding him close enough for their cocks to touch at last.

Tony yelped, not expecting such a sudden stretch inside of him, nor the heat from Loki's member pressed against his. With another whimper, he pressed his face into Loki's neck, breathing him in. Even with the bath salts, the soap, or Tony's blood, he still smelled like Loki.

How could he have gone so long without this? How many years had he wasted in meaningless relationships, flat connections between him and all those women. He didn't want to belittle what they had, but this really was a thousand more... everything.

God dammit, you're thinking again.

"More," he growled into Loki's neck, "fuck me..."

Loki sighed against his skin and slipped a third finger in as he mouthed his way along Tony's neck to the collar bone. Tony could no longer concentrate on moving his own finger inside of him, but allowed Loki to take control.

"You feel so warm," Loki growled as he took to Tony's neck with his teeth, dragging them back up to under his ear. "Even not in my Jotunn form, you burn me."

"I think... the apple..." Tony choked on his words, moaning helplessly when the god suddenly bucked his hips up, causing Tony to fall forward against Loki's chest and press their cocks together between them.

That was the last straw, he couldn't wait anymore.

"Loki, come on... you promised to blow my mind."

"Patience, I fully intend to do just that," Loki replied, and suddenly a hand was around both their members. "Just a... little longer."

Loki's breath was hitching slightly, a clear sign that he was just as impatient and worked up as Tony was. He wasn't even moving his hand, just keeping those long fingers wrapped around both their cocks as his other hand pumped in and out of Tony's entrance at a steady pace.

He could hardly breath, it was too hot, too good, and Jesus he still needed more. With a guttural snarl, he pulled Loki's head back more violently this time, making the god gasp as his neck was exposed. Tony wanted to taste him, to mark him as his. So he latched his lips against Loki's neck and sucked until he left a bruise. Then it was his teeth again, and Loki let out a delicious moan when he bite down around the mark.

The link between them was demanding he show ownership, and somewhere in the back of his head a part of him craved something more permanent. Proof that Loki was his, forever.

Tony was startled from his nibbling by the sudden empty feeling below. He whined at the loss of Loki's fingers, but was met with fiery green eyes that promised something better

"Oooh, yeesss..." Tony moaned in anticipation, moving up on his knees while Loki slid further down into the water. Tony was now high enough that the cold air hitting his throbbing cock sent a shock through him. It didn't bother him for long, because a second later Loki was pulling him down and sinking the head of his member into his stretched entrance. It was tight, and a little painful, but it did exactly what Tony wanted. His brain shut up, and all he could think about was how fucking much he wanted this.

Stark's eyes were squeezed closed as he began to push up into him. It was tight, which was to be expected. If Loki had thought about it before, he would have brought his lover to the bed. But the need had been too great, and there was something sensual about the large bath and candle light. The chill against his exposed skin was perfect contrast to the heat rising from his groin and the water.

Tony was enticingly warm around his member, and much to inviting to hold back any longer. So, with a small twist of his hips, he pressed up into Tony until every inch of him was inside. His lover let out a strangled cry against Loki's shoulder, his nails digging into his back as he tensed.

"Calm yourself," Loki cooed, "relax, my love."

"It's so hot... Holy shit it's burning me."

"You are probably feeling the effects of the apple, it would be better to expend as much energy as poss— aah!"

Tony giggled into his ear, clearly proud of the effect his little hip wiggle had on Loki. Feeling vengeful, Loki gave him a rough thrust, still embedded deeply inside of him. Tony mewled, and rather than rejoicing privately in his revenge, Loki cupped his face in one hand and kissed him. It started out slow, but soon grew passionate and messy. Tony was all teeth again, pulling on Loki's lips, nipping at his jawline. When Loki had had quite enough of his puppy affections, he pulled Tony's body up by the hips, and forced him back down over his member.

"Aaaoohfuck!" Tony gasped, pulling away from Loki's abused mouth to stretch his head back. His view was highly arousing, the muscles in Tony's neck tense and straining, mouth parted as shallow breaths past between his reddened lips. A glaze of sweat had already formed over the golden skin of his chest, and Loki had mad desire to taste it.

What was with them today?
There must be more to this than the apple's energy.
Loki would not have been effected by it, so why?

There was a rumble along the bond between them, and Loki gave into the urges pulsing through him. With a small hiss, he leaned his body against his lover's and started to trail his tongue along the lines of muscle across Tony's chest. Even before he found his way to a nipple, the man had already started to writhe against him. With each wriggle, a spark of pleasure traveled up his spine from where their bodies connected, every tweak of muscle driving him mad. Really, he could cum just from this alone. But he didn't want to, he wanted more, needed more. He wanted to hear his own name echo off the tiles in Tony's lust filled voice.

"As I promised, prepare to lose your mind," he warned, and gripped Tony's hips firmly. Bright golden eyes met his with a challenge, and Loki gladly accepted.

The fist few thrusts were slow and deliberate, hardly slaking his thirst. But with each careful roll of his hips, a little more of Tony came undone before him. First, he lost his words, the inventor's babbling of praise and adoration falling into moans.

"Oh fuck, you're beautiful... t-talented all around-uugghhnnn! God I can't even..."

Then it was nothing but noise, happy mewls and low growls with every thrust. Loki joined in until he stole them away from Tony with deep, hungry kisses.

His love was staring down at him, and Loki couldn't bring himself to break gaze for a second. He was doing most of the work now, thrusting himself down and grinding Loki in as deeply as possible. Loki intertwined their fingers together, giving Tony's hand a squeeze after a particularly rough buck from his hips.

Tony whined, "Loki! L-Lokes, shit... so hot..." and his breath came in shorter bursts as he leaned their for heads together, eyes fluttering closed. Loki wasn't even aware he was making desperate pining noises until Tony's moans slowed into just gasps for breath. He wanted more than was physically possible to take, all of Tony, more of Tony. And before Tony could utter another word, Loki lifted him out of the water and laid him down on the towel by the bath.

"Don't stop," Tony begged, his eyes wandering over his body as he leaned over him. The lull was enough to catch their breaths, but the need was too powerful. With a smirk Loki began to thrust into him with revived vigor, enjoying the sight of his lover spread wide and inviting for him.

Something crackled over the bond, and Loki felt his climax drawing closer with each wave of pleasure. That feeling of connection, drawn together in one mind and one body. It was a feeling he had only felt once before, back when Anthony returned to him the first time after. A different sort of fire, a pleasant warmth like that of a sun. Loki's senses grew sharp, and he felt everything, heard everything, smelled everything at once. He heard his name echo throughout the room, he smelled the metallic musky scent of his lover, he felt a tug on his soul, and they collided.

Colors, space, time. Loki did not know what he saw, only that it was beautiful. He could feel Tony there with him and being a part of him at the same time.

In the physical world, Tony's body arched away from the floor, every muscle taught as he shuddered with ecstasy. Loki opened his mouth in a silent scream, his own body filling with tension. It was a silent, almost peaceful, moment. Yet, even as time slowed down for them, their bodies released, ending the silence with a strangled cry from each of them.

Loki fell against Tony with a gasp, his body too weak to lean over him any longer. His breath came in short, smart bursts that trickled into an affectionate chuckle as Tony reached up and ran a hand through his hair.

"Loki..." Tony, said, always the first to recover enough to speak, "Loki, you amazing creature."

"Mmmh..."

Loki felt the body under him shiver, but when he looked up with concern, he found Tony to be chuckling as well.

"I can do this," he said, grinning down at Loki as he rested chin against Tony's chest.

"Hmm, do what?"

His lover's fingers were tracing Loki's features slowly and deliberately while he answered, "I'll be okay, Lokes. I can do forever with you. I think I was meant to, anyway."

Loki's sex daze wore off immediately at his words, replaced by a bubble of happy laughter that earned him a bemused smile.

"Can you, then? You will be mine forever?"

Tony's thumb brushed against his lips and he tugged him up closer for a kiss. His lips linger against Loki's and he whispered, "only if you are mine."

"I am yours," Loki promised.

"Then I think we'll be okay." Tony hummed softly as their eyes closed and exhaustion washed over them both.

Loki curled up against this chest and just as the last dregs of energy seeped away, he heard Tony repeat one more time, " We'll be okay."

Pepper was crying, and Thor had absolutely no idea what to do about it. He kept sending Steve pleading looks and received only helpless shrugs in response. Bruce had not been seen since he brought Victor's body into one of the labs, his face drawn and his movements stiff as he carried the larger man over his shoulder. The two spies were curled up together on the couch with Clint fast sleep, leaving Natasha to look out at the room with dark, unreadable eyes. They had gathered in one of the smaller living rooms on a lower floor, since the upper rooms were still a mess of rubble and blood. They had lit candles and set up flashlights around the room, since the power was still not working.

Pepper had taken charge as soon as they relayed all the information they had gathered from there exploration after the battle. Starting with the fact that Victor was dead, Loki and Tony were missing, and there was an unnatural amount of blood on the upper floors. At first, she barked out orders and went down to the reactor to try to figure out what was wrong. Eventually she was found sitting on the floor next to it sobbing uncontrollably while babbling about mechanics and how useless she always was.

Now, she was sitting in the chair, stiff and silent as tears continued to trail down her face.

"Lady Smith, I shall go to Asgard immediately to follow my brother and Stark. I feel that the threat here has diminished enough for you to no longer be in need of my presence."

"How do you know they even ended up there?" Steve asked quietly from the doorway, "they didn't the last few times Loki did the traveling."

Thor nodded absentmindedly, his answer curt. "No, Asgard is the only place he would have gone. The path was open to him, as it was intended to be."

"W-what?" Pepper stammered, drawn out of her state of depression. "What do you mean a path was open? Asgard expected... this?"

"No, not this," Thor denied, sitting up straight and frowning slightly at her accusation, "Loki's date of return had already passed. I, myself, had forgotten to remind him of it with all the trouble we have faced as of late. He was a week overdue to return for his final trial."

"Oh god... Is he in trouble, you think?"

"I do wonder," Thor admitted, standing up and casting a faint smile around the room, "I am sure all is well. My mother is the best healer in Asgard, and she would not refuse Loki his request to heal Tony."

Pepper whipped her eyes with a tissue and gave Thor a weak smile in return. He had reassured her as much as he could without telling falsehoods. He could not tell them that he doubted Tony to be alive on their arrival, or what might lay in store for them yet. Hope was the only gift he had to offer, so with a final nod, he turned to leave them.

"Thor!"

He paused in the doorway, turning to find Natasha pushing a drooling Clint off her lap and rushing towards him. "Do you have a way to contact us?"

Thor pondered this a moment before he was struck with an idea. "If I do not return myself, I shall send one of my friends to you. You shan't go without news, this I promise."

"Can you promise me one more thing?" Natasha asked quietly, her voice low enough for just Thor and Steve to hear.

"I can try, Lady Widow."

"If Tony's dead... bring his body back for us. Don't leave him there, okay?"

Thor paled a little at the thought. As practical and a strangely caring gesture as it was, the Widow's lack of faith startled him. "I shall do my best to... to bring them back. Please, take care until my return."

"We'll do our best," Steve said with a sad smile.

"That is all we can do," Thor replied, and left them to head to the roof.

The Bifrost was unusually loud to him, as if the lack of company made the empty space echo the rushing sounds tenfold.

Heimdall greeted him with his usual half smile that was reserved for just his old friend.

"Tis good to see you again, Gatekeeper. I trust all is well?"

"For the most part, Thor, son of Odin," Heimdall replied, accepting Thor's hug with a gruff laugh. "Your brother passed through here a day ago."

"Is he well?"

Heimdall's smile fell way to a blank expression as his eyes looked across the great distance. " he has been healed, but not all is well."

"Tony, then? Has he... is he...?"

"He lives, but he joins us in eternity, and not by his choice. I fear the king will also find issue with this."

Thor turned his gaze to his city, and wondered not for the first time if his father might be wrong. "You say not by choice? Did Loki force it upon him?"

"No, Hella did."

"Hella..."Thor breathed the grip on his hammer tightening, "he was that far gone, then."

"Indeed. But, my prince, I suggest you speak to them directly. Your brother and his partner are to meet with the Allfather later today. I hope you meet with them before that time, in case there are... repercussions."

"Aye, I shall do just that. Thank you, friend. You have helped me greatly, as usual," Thor said, clapping the gatekeeper's arm once more and stepping out into the bridge. With a swing of his hammer, he lifted off towards his old home, stomach full of dread and a heart full of hope.

"Do we have to move?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because both of us are in a bit of trouble," Loki answered from within the closet.

Tony rolled his head over to glare at the empty doorway from which shuffling sounds were coming from. "That's not fair, I didn't die on purpose."

"I shall be sure to mention that to the Allfather."

"Well aren't you in a good mood, smart ass."

Loki poked his head out closet door and give him a wide,very un-Loki-like smile. Which, in all honesty, was a little unnerving to him considering their current predicament. Without giving a reason for said smile, Loki ducked back into the closet and made lots of noise fussing about with chains and gold things.

"No, really," Tony emphasized, "you're way too chipper for just telling me we're in trouble. What gives?"

"I'm happy, that is all." There was another loud clink before he added, "Is that so bad?"

Tony's curiosity was too strong, so he rolled out of bed to go inspect what Loki was up to. He found that the god had gotten himself tangled up in a long, thin chain that connected to a golden collar.

"What are you doing?"

More importantly, Why does Loki have a dog leash?
Oh, that's not a bad idea...
Saving to process for later.

"I am attempting to dress formally for our meeting," Loki replied in a choked voice, his eyebrows drawn together in irritation. With a roll of his eyes, Tony shuffled over to help the god out of his tangled mess.

"Ah! No, don't pull—!"

"Sorry! Sorry..."

"Tony! I said stop!"

"Sorry, just, stop wiggling. Oh shit," Tony cursed and let go as Loki's hair got tangled in it too. "Why aren't you just magicing yourself dressed, anyway?"

"I am still very weak at this point, and I assume the All— skít! You made it worse!"

"I said I was sorry," Tony grumbled, reaching out to help again. Loki batted his hands away and attacked the chain furiously with his long fingers. Tony decided he would rather keep his fingers out of it, and leaned back against the doorframe.

It was actually pretty cute, watching Loki make a mess out of something for once. He was so used to seeing the regal, perfect Loki, that, or the battered, hurt Loki. That was a different kind of mess, the less cute kind that ripped his heart out just thinking about it. The fact that his handsome soul-mate still could not use his magic freely was bothering Tony a lot more than he was willing to admit openly. By now, Loki was usually zapping Thor from three floors above, or filling Clint's bathtub with leeches. Silly things that, Tony could only assume, took less energy than, say, fighting an immortal void beast. Maybe it was because Loki's two favorite targets weren't here to fuck with, but Tony thought it was more likely that he was just that worn down.

"Now you're making it worse," he commented with a smile, pushing away from the doorway to steal the chain from Loki's hands. "Let me actually try, this time."

Loki grumbled, "As you did not, before."

"Hey," Tony said, butting his head against Loki's shoulder while his hands fidgeted with the chain. "What happen to your good mood? I was enjoying that."

"It came and went."

Tony looked up to see if it was true, but was met with the same wide smile as before. Loki's eyes were even crinkled up and his cheeks tinted a light pink. He looked adorable, and down right whimsical; which was too much for Tony to handle without kissing that smile right off his face.

Loki hummed against his lips, instantly wrapping his arms around Tony as he deepened the kiss. The sound, coupled with the closeness, was hitting Tony right in the heart, and maybe the groin too.

"Mmh, really," Tony muttered against his lips, breaking the kiss regardless of how Loki leaned in for more. "Really, though. What's got you so chipper? You're rubbing off on me, I may even skip down to the meeting with the angry king."

"Is it so surprising, me in a jovial mood?"

"A little, considering the shit we are in."

Loki hummed again and brushed his nose against Tony's with slow, deliberate movements. "I am happy because I have you forever. I know you said you would join me, before on the roof... but now it is a reality. You are mine. You are truly, fully mine."

Whatever Tony had thought the mood was about, he did not expect an answer like that. He was literally breathless at the thought of it. The way Loki was beaming at him, a spark in his eye that had not left since yesterday night, that adorable giggle.

His god -yes his- was ecstatic because of Tony.

Oh god... it's like a wedding proposal, for real.
My future dream thing is already coming true.
Why am I not more freaked out about this?

Tony shook the memories of a future he never lived from his head and pressed a few gentle kisses into Loki's smiling lips. "I'm sticking around, just for you, babe. Thousands of years of Smurf jokes. I hope you're ready."

"On second thought..." Loki narrowed his eyes at him threateningly.

"No take backs!"

Loki laughed and scooped him up into his arms like he weighed nothing. Tony squirmed a little but gave in, allowing the god to express his child-like glee by spinning him around.

If it were anyone else, he would have purposely vomited down their back already. But, dammit, he broke Loki's eternal sulk just by dying a little. Maybe the rest of his life wouldn't be so bad after all.

"LOKI?!"

Loki froze mid turn and met Tony's eyes with a look of dread.

"No..." he breathed, turning them both towards the closet door. "He needn't have come, a messenger should have been sent."

"I get the feeling they crossed paths, or something." Tony listened as the steps grew closer. "Oh god, here he comes. He's going to crush us. I only got to be immortal for half a day!"

"LOKI!" Thor cried out again in a mix of worry, happiness, and with maybe a hint of a sniffle in there. As predicted, the blond enveloped them in his usual bone-crushing hug, times ten stronger with the weight of Thor's gushing emotions behind it.

"Thor..."

The hug lingered.

"Thor, you will break us," Loki groaned, meeting Tony's amused smirk with a sulky pout.

"I thought you dead," Thor replied, loosening his arms only enough to pull his head back and look at them. "I worried so much for the both of you!"

Tony smiled at the teary thunderer and wriggled one arm out enough to pat his shoulder. "Nice to know you care, big guy. But we're alive and well. Well, sort of in a shit ton of trouble, and i'm sort of gonna be joining in the eternity party, but we're good."

Thor's face slowly broke into a toothy smile that ended with an ear-splitting bellow of laughter.

"You have taken the apple?! This is such good news! Brother," he turned to address the slightly blushing Loki, "I am so truly happy for you."

"Thank you," Loki replied tersely.

"But what trouble are you in?"

"That would be my fault," Tony answered for them both, waving his free hand to get Thor's attention. "I think my sexy ass distracted him from remembering the date and then I went and died and Hella, the little darling, decided I was gonna be immortal, or die." Tony paused only to take a breath and tilt his head towards Loki. "Which, by the way, I would like to thank her for. If that's not awkward or anything. Am I allowed to meet the kids?"

Both gods had gone oddly still while he talked, Loki far more stiff than Thor. The cheerfulness of the situation had slipped away into some sort of uncomfortable shock.

"You... wish to meet... my children?"

Tony frowned at the confusion in Loki's voice.

Oops, looks like I just stepped on a land mine, there. Children were a 'no', apparently.

"I, uh..." Tony cleared his throat and tried to keep how disheartened he felt out of his voice. "I mean, if you don't want me to, I totally understand. I haven't even been a part of life very long, by your standards. Or, uh, well i'm not exactly mortal anymore, but i'm not a god either. They'll probably don't want to meet me, anyway."

Tony laughed, and it sounded fake even to his ears.

Dammit, there's no reason I should feel this disappointed.

I like kids, though. But it's not important, right?Yeah, it is. They're Loki's kids, that matters.

Thor looked between his brother and Tony and promptly released them from the hug, saying, "I think they would like you, Tony."

Loki was just staring at him like he grew another head, which made Thor's comment push the knife in deeper. Loki didn't seem to agree with his brother on the matter of his children liking Tony, and Tony's fake smile faltered. He was itching with a need to distract himself before he started tearing up or something else unmanly.

The chain still needed untangling, so he moved forward and started to work on it without another word. It was silent while he worked his skilled fingers through the awkward knots for a while. The next time he looked up, Thor had disappeared and Loki was still watching him.

"Okay, stop... please," Tony begged. "I'm sorry for asking to see them, it was wrong and I won't do it again."

Loki's answer seemed to take a long time forming. "No," he said at last, "you are not wrong."

Tony waited for more, starting to grow impatient and more depressed by the minute.

When nothing else came, he prompted, "And? If it's not wrong, then why do you keep looking at me like I stabbed a cat and gave it to you as a birthday present?"

"You want to meet them, all of them?"

"Yes, I don't see why that's hard so understand."

"I told you that they were monsters..."

"And we came to an understanding that looking different doesn't mean you're a monster, remember? Otherwise, all my monster money is on Thor. I mean, those muscles should not be physically possible."

Loki's blank shock was starting to fade with the color returning to his cheeks. But instead of a happy smile like before, a sudden stream of tears began to fall from his bright, hopeful eyes.

"Oh shit! Shit, i'm sorry!" Tony whined, cupping his face and quickly trying to fix another mess that he had made. But no matter how he wiped or kissed them away, the tears just kept coming. "Please don't cry. I'm the biggest asshole in the universe and I—"

"I love you."

"I... oh."

"I love you more than I can bare," Loki repeated, now following Tony's kisses with his own. The smile was back, shining through the tears like a hint of blue sky during a storm. "I wish for you to meet them. I cannot tell you how much it pains and thrills me that you wish to as well."

"No more of that. No more pain, okay? Shhh..."Tony cooed and ran his hands up and down the back of Loki's neck.

"I love you,"Loki whispered, nuzzling his face into Tony's shoulder.

"I love you too, you big fuzzy wuzzy."

Loki snorted into his shoulder and Tony squawked when he felt teeth close around his skin.

"I take it back, no fuzzy wuzzy. You're a piranha."

"No take backs," Loki hissed against his skin before releasing him.

Tony grinned up at the teary eyed face above him and laughed. "Don't use my own words against me."

Loki replied with a smirk? "Oh? But there are so many things I wish to—"

"Brother?"

Tony snorted when he caught the way Loki's eye twitched ever so slightly.

"Yes, Thor?"

"Father is calling for you... my apologies."

Tony let out an exasperated sigh and whipped the god's face one more time. "Come on, honey. Introduce me to you dad, nice and proper."

"He's not my—"

"We know," Tony gave Thor a look and popped the chain free from Loki's neck. "Oh, would you look at that. Distract me enough and I get it done."

"Genius idiot."

"Enormous puppy."

"Miniature tyrant."

Tony huffed and swatted Loki's ass before running after Thor to avoid the magic sparks Loki was shooting at him. Someone seemed to be feeling better, whether or not Tony had something to do with it, didn't matter all that much right now. He would enjoy the moment, because soon that sad look might return to Loki's eyes. So he did enjoy the smile from Loki, all the way to the golden doors of the throne room.

Loki was exhausted. He could not remember a time where he felt more worn and empty, not even under the thrall of the Tesseract. At least then, the cube was feeding him energy enough to power his body like a puppet master.

But now, he was just tired. The battle had taken so much from him, and the death of Tony so much more. Seeing his love standing next to him again, that warm, bright soul supporting him; it was the only thing keeping Loki standing. It might just be enough to help him hold himself up and look the king in the eye.

He did not want to see his father's face, with that disappointed look he always wore when his eyes fell to Loki. He knew there were laws broken, trust betrayed, and that this time it was all on him. But he did not want to see it, not after the best moment of his life had just come to pass.

"Loki," Odin's voice boomed from the throne, and Loki faced him at last. "You have returned late."

"I was busy, as Heimdall can confirm."

"Too busy to remember the requirements of your trial?"

"Well, yes," Loki answered simply, and shifted a little closer to Tony in hopes of absorbing some of his warmth. Tony was already sneaking his hand into Loki's, giving him a quick squeeze, that sent a small boost of confidence through him.

"I see," the king murmured, leaning forward with his chin resting on a hand to look down at them.

Loki was frozen in place, waiting for the disappointment to start and the king's final judgment to fall. Instead, Odin stood up and disrupted Loki's thoughts at the sheer randomness of it. He never left the throne when a trial was happening, what was going on?

He was just about to open his mouth to speak when the king walked straight down the stairs and threw him arms around him. Loki gave an undignified squeak of surprise and glanced at Tony, asking through the link in a panic,

"What is going on?! What do I do?"

Tony covered his mouth with one hand and responded with obvious humor in his voice, "I think you hug him back, you adorable moron."

Loki narrowed his eyes and made a face that promised retribution. Tony just laughed behind his hand and stepped back to give them some space. So, still glaring over the kings shoulder, Loki gently slipped his arms around the king. His hands fell awkwardly across Odin's shoulders for a moment, before his fingers curled against him and he tightened his arms around the man he had once called father. Odin let out a soft huff and Loki pretended it didn't sound like a sob while he pressed his face into his shoulder.

It was ridiculous, to want to cry now. The man had not even said if he forgave him, or if he was right, or wrong, or that Loki was not a monster, or if everything would just be okay. Something, anything to prove that Loki was still...

An Odinson.

"Loki..." The king pulled back, still firmly holding on to his arms as he looked into Loki's eyes. "My son."

"Yes?" Loki replied tentatively, his eyes flickering back to Tony for a moment. The hand was gone, revealing a wide smile and watery, golden eyes. Loki felt a smile start to form on his own face, his brain slowly catching up with the moment.

"Welcome home, Prince Loki," Odin spoke loudly, allowing everyone in the court to hear him. There was an awkward pause before everyone began to clap and cheer, some more fervently than others. But it was a welcome all the same, and Loki could not help but smile up at them all.

As the noise died down, he looked back at the king and thanked him quietly before slipping back over to press his body against Tony's. He was actually more nervous than before, and Tony was starting to look a little twitchy as well.

"Ah, yes. I had nearly forgotten," the king said as he turned to Stark. "You have joined us all in our eternity." He paused, looking into Tony's eyes with a small smile. "I can see it the power in you... I trust the trials went well, then?"

"Uh, well... everyone died and it sucked, but I lived on." Tony flashed a sharp smile at the king and slipped his hand back into Loki's.

Odin smiled in return, but it had grown sadder. "That is the nature of eternity. We can only hope to find someone to spend it with, lest we lose ourselves while we travel it alone."

Tony nodded and squeezed Loki's hand a little harder. Loki took this as his cue to speak up, and cleared his throat.

"Ah, father, I do have one thing... we have one thing we wished to speak to you about."

"Yes?"

Tony's hand was gripping even harder now, and a torrent of panicked babbling came across the link.

"Not now! No no no!
You can't make me ask now!
How do I even...
Lokes!"

"Now or never, dwarf." Loki thought back with a twitch of a smirk.

"I will bite your knees off..."

Loki arched an unimpressed eyebrow, and Tony cleared his throat nervously before he addressed the king.

"My... lord, er, the Allfather," he began slowly, "since i'm sort of stuck with your son forever, I mean not that I mind, i'm happy about that, but since I am, do you think I could... Uh... marry him?"

"Yes."

Tony blinked and let out a startled laugh. "That was fast, you sure you don't want to think about it before you hand over this precious package of lovable—ow!"

Loki grinned and lifted his boot off of Tony's poor crushed foot.

"Son of Stark," the king said with a strange smile, "even if I were to say no, do you truly think Loki would no go and marry you anyway?"

"Uh, yeah, you're probably right. He would."

"It is a yes."

"Great! So I guess I'll need to pick out a dress for him and—god dammit your feet weight a thousand pounds!" Tony shrieked at Loki, pulling his abused foot away with a sniffle.

"No dresses," Loki hissed and pulled him away from the king, "and that is quite enough out of you."

"I, whoa, okay." Tony stumbled after him and waved back at the Allfather, who was standing their looking completely bemused. "Where we going?"

"Anywhere and everywhere."

"Well, we do have forever to do that. Where are we going now?."

"Yes, forever to see all of the nine realms," Loki agreed, looking back at the man who fell from the sky into his arms and who he would never let go of again. "but for now, home."

They bid Asgard goodbye with a promise to return for Loki's return celebration and the wedding.

Tony smiled as he watched the rainbow of the Bifrost colors swirl around him, and for just a moment he thought he heard music. As soon as he tried to strain his ears, the sound was gone. But even as they landed on the roof of his tower, the ghost of a melody lingered in his mind like a farewell from an old friend.

As predicted, Pepper smacked him before everyone in the group fell on them both in a heap of sobbing, hugs, and laughter.

It was good to be home.

1,100 miles away, a man was on a beach in the Bahamas. If you looked him long enough to make it past the deadly glare, you would see just how out of place this man was.

Gone were his usual leather jacket, his black, steel-toe boots, and his giant floating heli-carrier. Because that's what happens when you're fired from your director's position in SHIELD. They take away your toys.

He still had the eyepatch, hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses. For a man who was supposed to be 'relaxing', he looked a lot more like a guard dog than a beach bunny.

But even the sun, sand, and sea had a way of wearing down the stiffest of men. His gaze softened, and a small hint of a genuine smile had started to form.

His only warning was a small vibration from his pocket before his own voice filled the air.

"Loki's ass, Loki's ass, Loki's ass, Loki's ass—"

"Mother fucker, how the fuck did he do that?" Fury hissed, pulling out his phone to see a message in his inbox. He paused at the image on his screen and let out a short bark of laughter.

[ Image: oi60. tinypic 21e9h7a. jpg ]

"Yeah, yeah. Happily ever after, you assholes."