cuttingremark | For starkingenuity

"Not at the moment, no." As Tony dons the suit, Loki shifts into his Asgardian armor. If they fall from this altitude, it won't do much for him, but he feels better with it on.

Once the armor fully encases his bonded, Loki wraps his arms around his chest. It isn't going to be comfortable, but he's done this with Thor in a pinch, so the discomfort isn't completely unexpected.

Tony and Thor have two very different ways of flying. A few stabilizing bursts by the hatch and Iron Man stays suspended in the air as the quinjet spirals away from him. He can’t do much to hold Loki, but there are plenty of chinks in the armor to provide handholds. And he already knows the other is incredibly strong. He’d had those fingerprints around his neck for a few hours, despite the very brief touch.

Inside the armor, Tony pulls up his battle HUD and scans for more Chitauri based missiles. “They shouldn’t be able to lock on,” he grumbles, as two more appear at an intercepting trajectory towards them. Iron Man drops straight down, mindful of the cargo holding into him, in an effort to put them on a more level playing field. He could guide the missiles out to the ocean a few miles East but he’s not putting Loki at that kind of risk. He turns off one gauntlet repulsor and wraps his armored arm around Loki, spiraling more quickly now to the Earth as the missiles lock on him.

It’s like they have a mind of their own.

The missiles had to be finding them somehow. With Stark in the armor and Loki being...Loki, it's unlikely to be heat. Visuals are possible, but not likely. What is likely is that they are somehow locked onto the energy radiating from either the human's arc reactor or the god's magic.

Well, one way to find out.

"Stark! Drop me!"

Drop him? Loki has got to be kidding. With the ground rapidly approaching, Loki isn’t likely to suffer much if Tony was to drop him, but the thought is so foreign to him.

The proximity alarms inside his helmet signal just how close the missiles are and it clicks, finally, as to why it is Loki wants him to let him go.

Grunting, Tony aims Loki towards the trees and releases him only ten feet from the branches before he turns sharply upwards to climb away from him.

Between his natural durability and some quick shield work, Loki makes it through the trees with minimal bumps and bruises. He's able to grab hold of a branch about halfway down to stop his fall. Through the canopy he can see the missiles streaking after Iron Man as he peals away.

He's nervous, obviously, seeing his soulmate pursued by alien explosives. But he also knows Tony can pilot the armor better without a tag along. Still, he stays at the top of the trees, holding his breath as he watches the red and gold fly through the sky.

Adrenaline is his best friend and fuels his unobtrusively dazzling dance high above Loki. He zips up much too high, a trick he’d learned long ago. There’s just one problem.

As much as Loki says that their limit of being apart is five miles, by the time Tony hits two, he’s really suffering. In distress, he mangles a loop and one of the missiles following him explodes too close and shorts out the reactor.

He blacks out after that, heart stopping.

Loki feels the tug. He gets as high up as he can, using his magic to jump from tree to tree in an effort to follow along with the chase. He watches as Tony goes higher and higher, their new bond straining under the distance.

Then the explosion. He feels his own heart stutter as Tony's stops. Loki isn't dead, which means only one thing.

It isn't Tony's time.

The human is falling out of the sky, the other missile exploding in the distance as it's target fades. If only Loki could fly, if only he were the magpie shown on his soulmate's tattoo, if only he had-

It is yours

Frigga's voice rings in his head as clearly as if she were standing beside him. He reaches into his personal pocket dimension for something he never placed there, but knows is there anyways.

A beautiful cloak made from tawny and golden feathers drapes around his shoulder and Loki ascends. He isn't as fast as Iron Man, but he is fast enough to catch Tony just before he hits the ground.

"Shit, shit! Stark, don't you dare do this to me!" Laying him gently on the ground, Loki tears off the chest plate and presses his hands to where the arc reactor should be shining brightly. He can feel blackness begin to creep in at the edges of his vision. If he doesn't act fast, it's the end for both of them.

Magic surges from Loki's fingers into the device. He doesn't know how it works, only hoping that the infusion of energy would act as a jump start.

There’s so much nothing beyond his vision, endless expanses of literally nothing, that Tony doesn’t even feel comforted by the cacophony of thoughts, should haves and could haves, that hit a crescendo in the gloom. He can’t act on any of them and his thoughts and ideas scream louder and louder until they fade away into the din. The paradox doesn’t strike him, funny or otherwise. Not when there is nothing but an endless maw.

Madness sets in so easily when your brain is starved of oxygen. There’s no respite in death. There’s only torturous loneliness.

Tony doesn’t know how long he spent alone when bright, pulsing green light finally caused the darkness to evaporate and shot air back into his lungs and blood stream. Still in his helmet, his eyes shoot open and he panics outright trying to claw it off with arms that refuse to move as quickly as he needs them to. Thankfully, he feels Loki in the pit of his stomach again, that chaotic spirit that is more calming and tempered than his own thoughts in their calculation and manipulation. It doesn’t make his brief stint being dead any less horrifying, though.

The reactor in the center of his chest shines green rather than the blue-white it had before as Loki’s magic sustains it. The body it keeps alive trembles. He needs out of the armor.

Obviously there are latches built into the armor for situations like this, but Tony's own need to get out of the armor combined with Loki's anxiety has the god tearing armor pieces off in a frenzy.

The faceplate is first. Loki rips it off and tosses it to the side as he begins working on the gauntlets. The god babbles as he goes, swinging wildly between concern for his bonded, and anger at the ones who did this.

"They're dead. Does anything hurt? Whoever did this, I'm going to kill them. The shrapnel, is it-? I'll hunt them down like beasts-"

Though Tony might regret it later, he's ecstatic that Loki pries him out of his iron coffin as quickly as possible. He tries to focus on his breathing, but he's pretty sure he's still on a crash course with death and the thought scares him beyond measure. Shaking hands grasp and then cling to Loki's arms as wild brown eyes scour his face for any sign of illusion.

Surely not. His mind is a lot of things, but his creativity is not exactly artistic enough for this. If this truly had been his mind, Loki would be an Android and the sky would be filled with those mechanical whales.

Sitting up, and feeling the rushing surge of life and their bond, Tony presses his face to Loki's shoulder and steadies himself. The cool grasp of his bonded pulls him back from himself and the terror and the madness subside. "After me, then. Reactor signature...."

Loki clutches Tony to him as soon as his bonded sits up, gently petting the brunette hair in what he hopes is a soothing gesture. After holding him tight for a moment, he loosens his grip to allow the other to lean back just a little though his hand remains cradling the back of the other's head.

"Where did they launch from?" JARVIS said he was able to trace them, but their sudden exit from the quinjet prevented Loki from hearing their origins. "Was it SHIELD?"

There's that paranoia again. Tony can actually feel it seep into him and he has to put his foot down on it. Rogers and Romanoff are SHIELD. Fury is SHIELD. "Not saying no, but there are easier ways to kill me," Tony says. "Pretty sure that would be a dumb move on their part. Kill me, kill you. They already have all of Banner's research and Thor's confirmation on the subject."

And Fury did do his cruel little trick to test their bonded sensitivities--

Which stirs Tony even more as he lifts one hand to Loki's angular, long face. "Are you all right?" He's had the reactor out enough to clean it, to install a new one, and when family members have gotten testy with him. He knows the feeling of having his heart stop. But does Loki? Likely he does now. Tony's other hand presses firmly to the god's chest. "Still with me and everything?"

Tony's not quiet trust does put him at east a bit. There are a million easier ways to kill the human, as Loki is now painfully aware. He can put aside his distrust of the organization for now while still keeping a vigilant eye.

"Me?" Loki almost laughs. "I'm fine, you're the one who fell from the sky and had his heart stop and almost died right here in front of me-" His eyes burn with unshed tears of anxiety and relief. His had goes to Tony's chest to reassure himself he's still there. The new green of the arc reactor shines against his skin.

"I didn't know if it would work, it was all I knew to do. It might not hold forever. Is there a test or a replacement or-" Because what if his magic isn't enough? What if it fails his beloved like it's failed him before?

Beloved?

Shit.

"Yeah, yeah, okay, deep breaths," Tony says as if he's the one trying to coax Loki back to health. He curls his fingers around the other's ear and pulls him in to rest their forehead's together. "I have backups. Not on me...not yet. I'll make sure that's the first thing I do. Once I figure out how to make them undetectable first. Then you can keep one just in case. I'll show you how to change them out."

Would a Faraday cage work? Tony will need to collect samples and, just on the off chance SHIELD is somehow involved, or this is just another of Fury's very annoying tests, he's not going to share this with them.

The missile debris part, at least. Obviously, JARVIS has likely sent them a Mayday. SHIELD is bound to be enroute.

All the more reason to get going. Tony gives Loki a little push back. "I have to get some samples. Can you... Oh. Actually, I feel really great." He smirks and clicks his tongue against his upper pallet. "You task like apples." Perhaps he could have phrased that better. Loki's energy tasted of apples. Likely do to life magic potentially be tied to Idun and the gardens of Asgard.

Loki chuckles at the comment. The taste of magic is something he's so use to, it doesn't even register anymore. It's pleasing, for some reason, to be able to share that with Tony.

"Stay here and try not to die. I will fetch your samples."

He stands, drawing the cloak tight around himself. The cloak turns into a pair of beautiful tawny and gold wing. Leaving his bonded's side after such an ordeal is the last thing he wants to do, but both he and Tony are practical to a fault. They need to gather some of the debris for testing before SHIELD arrives and sweeps it all up.

Opening and closing his mouth, Tony leans back on both hands as Loki's wings make an appearance. And in shades of gold that match his Mark III armor. "I'm sorry, you grew wings?!"

He and Loki are close, but there's a great deal about the other that Tony just hasn't had the time to figure out yet. Like his flying cloak ownership. And his shapeshifting abilities.

As Loki moves out of sight, Tony sighs and bends over the ruined armor. "Time to make the Mark IV," he mutters to himself. "Still with me, J?" No answer. He'll have to wait until he's at a server to uplink again. He really does need to make smaller devices to carry J with him.

And to give to Loki. Then they'll always be connected. He really likes that thought.

Just as Loki returns, a new quinjet will just be touching down with Rogers riding the end of the opened bird. Tony tilts his head at him. "Took you long enough."

"It is mother's. Or was, I suppose. I believe it is a bonding gift." He assumes. It's not like her giving it to him was a super formal thing. Though he would like to know how she gained access to his storage.

Loki gathers several samples of varying size and materials, trying to not make it immediately apparent that any pieces are missing. He returns after having safely stowed them in his pocket dimension just as the Captain jumps out of the quinjet.

"Sorry," Rogers says approaching Stark to offer him a hand up. "Wasn't expecting an attack so soon after the invasion." He looks around at the shredded armor pieces scatters on the ground and raises an eyebrow. "Are the both of you okay?"

Loki keeps the cloak on, just in case, and comes to stand just behind Tony.

"As well as can be expected," the god says.

Though a regular person might not notice, Tony does lean somewhat back towards Loki, turning his shoulders to acknowledge his presence. Steve does notice, just like he notices almost everything, but he keeps his mouth shut. This part isn't his business. Does he trust Loki? No. He's been involved in helping resettle people, tending to the injured, but he is still grateful for the intel he'd brought. It makes Steve more accepting than tolerant.

"We're all right. Armor's shot," Tony says. He's already mostly pulled himself together and while his shirt is ripped, there's enough fabric to cover his chest and the reactor. "Got any of those sweet SHIELD hoodies in there?"

"Matter of fact, we do," Natasha calls from the ramp, tossing a white and black shirt in Tony's direction. It's much too big, and Steve frowns visibly enough for the assassin to smirk. "It's all right, handsome. We'll get you another. Can we give you boys a lift?"

Tony rolls up the arms of the sweatshirt and gestures for Steve to grab the armor. "Bring that with you? Great, thanks," he says, and moves with Loki towards the rescuing quinjet.

Loki thought he would hate seeing Tony in the oversized sweater, the human looks so nice in the tailored clothes he normally sports. He is, as usual, wrong. Not only is he attractive in the hooide that's at least twice his size, it makes Loki want to bundle him up in his arms and whisk him away somewhere safe.

No, no. None of that. Not right now.

With his magic, he could help Steve pick up the armor. Could. Instead he follows Tony into the quinjet, leaving the super soldier to his work. No need to flaunt his abilities to people he doesn't entirely trust.

"Do we know who might be attacking Stark?" He asks to the room in general. He tries to be loud enough to be heard by Rogers, but honestly if anyone had the information it would be the Widow.

“Some idea,” is the redhead’s response, eyes shifting over Loki. The lack of trust is mutual on their parts and she should be forgiven for fantasizing about snapping his neck on the odd occasion. Arms cross loosely over her chest as Tony tries to play off how stiff and pained he is. “The signature given off by your reactor is unique, and you haven’t really tried to keep it private.”

Which is true. Anyone with a bit of tech can scan the frequency Tony gives off when he’s nearby.

“We also caught some movement out of the air as we flew in.” That would be Rogers, putting down the bulk of the Iron Man armor carefully by the back netting. “They jammed our scanners as soon as we got close.”

“Not great but it gives us some sense of where they’re headed. We have STRIKE in position. It looks like they’re headed for the tunnels under Baltimore.”

Loki would very much like to go with this STRIKE and meet the people who did this, but that would mean leaving Tony's side. Even without the distance restriction on them, that is the last thing Loki wants to do at the moment.

"I do hope there is something left when they are done. I would very much like to have a chat with those responsible."

Both Natasha and Steve give Loki a look. He's really trying not to sound like a villain, but they hurt his bonded, only so much restraint can be expected.

"We'll get word as soon as the team has them," Natasha says before turning back to the cockpit. "In the mean time, lets get back to HQ. There's some alien tech for you two to look at."

Tony knows why they’re not being sent to help. Loki’s magic is strong and while Iron Man might be out for the count, he’s notoriously resourceful. The problem comes with the whole huge population of civilians thing, and honestly, Tony doesn’t have his heart in it for a fight right now.

He’s still got those memories floating around his head and they’re bright enough for him not to have grasped just yet that it’s what it must have been like for Loki for that year. Falling through nothing for two minutes had nearly destroyed him.

When it does become clear, they’re headed towards the elevators at the DC office for SHIELD and Tony reaches out to grasp at Loki’s hand. He doesn’t let go either. It’s not just one squeeze. Tony radiates worry and lingering fear and sorrow for Loki to have experienced what he did.

While the bond transfers the emotions Tony is feeling, it doesn't transfer thoughts. Unsure why Tony is suddenly feeling this maelstrom of negative emotions, Loki gives his hand a squeeze and holds on to it for as long as Tony wants, wary looks from SHIELD agents be damned.

Their hands stay interlocked as they land and as they depart the quinjet. Steve and Natasha give it a small glance, but otherwise dutifully ignore the contact as disembark first.

Loki looks down at their hands, then back at Tony. "Are you sure?"

“Later,” is all Tony says, though that doesn’t mean he makes a move to take his hand back. During the entire briefing, and then debriefing, Tony holds onto Loki’s hand as if his life depends upon it. It’s noted by everyone in the room, including Fury and whoever the blond is that Fury reports to. Tony doesn’t notice his name. He doesn’t care that much to deal with more than one person at a time.

The whole of it comes and goes and then Tony and Loki by default are shown to the debris that had been collected from the dead Chitauri that had been left on this side of the portal, their connection to their ships severed.

Once they’re alone, Tony picks through the piles as if it’s just junk. He’d only just released Loki’s hand. His thoughts are elsewhere.

“Hey. Not to rehash bad memories. But I think when I died to saw what you did when you fell from the Bifrost.” He’s under no assumption that he hadn’t died back there, though it’s not quite accurate.

Fortunatly for them both, Loki has centuries of experience pretending to pay attention in long, boring meetings. Especially long boring meetings with a bunch of people who probably hate him. He answers all questions flawlessly, but without giving too much information away. It is the first time SHIELD truly sees the diplomatic son of Odin in action, in his element.

Something about how some of the agents act concerns him. He can't quite put a finger on it, but some of them seem off in a way the average agent doesn't. Perhaps he will inquire into this later, but right now his bonded is in distress and they are finally alone. Well, as alone as one can be at SHIELD HQ when one of you attempted to take over the planet not even a month ago.

Loki doesn't have to ask Tony to explain, the human starts as soon as the door closes. It makes sense: his bonded was in a state of unconsciousness, his body falling and his mind now with access to the sensations and emotions of what plummeting into the void felt like.

"I am sorry you had to experience that," he says. "It is not something I want to repeat, nor something I wish on most. Least of all you."

He frowns, picking up Tony's hand again. "Is that what has been bothering you today? My fall?"

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