A life together

A Solution

"Sour patch, I have a gift for you"

"What are you talking about?"

"Follow me"

Tony was aware that time was running out. He, too, was aware that the military were going to keep trying to get one of his suits. So, he came up with a simple solution.

"Ta-da!" He said with jazzy hands, showing off Mark II.

"Uh, Tones? You realize that this is one of your suits right?"

"Well, technically, it's yours now"

"Did you hit your head?"

"No"

"Are you drunk?"

Tony rolled his eyes, "I'm not, why can't you just accept the suit without stupid questions?"

"'Cause I don't understand why you would give it to me just like that. It seems sudden"

"Believe it or not, I actually thought about it before taking action", but Rhodey still looked at him doubtfully. "Look, the military wants a suit, and there's no way in hell I'm going to give it to them. There's no guarantee what they're going to do with it, so what better than giving the suit to my best friend who also works at the air force? Everyone wins "

"You're crazy, you know that?" He said with a big smile before tackling him with a hug.

"Just take care of it, that's all I ask"

Two days after his birthday, Nick Fury showed up on his doorstep. Loki was the one who opened the door, since he was just up and making breakfast. He was glad to see him, as the man had not visited since that time with the 'I am Iron Man' incident.

"Where's your worse half?"

"Uncle Nick, you wound me," Tony said, appearing in the living room in his pajamas. "To what do we owe this unexpected and rude visit?"

Fury glared at him, "Anything you wanna tell me?"

"Not that I know of, I mean, I have things to tell you, such as how horrible you are for visiting at this time of the morning. Don't you know that there are people who sleep?"

"Funny. I was thinking more about the 'I'm dying' kind of thing," Tony went pale. "Yeah, I know about that. Let me tell ya, I am pissed at you. Why the fuck didn't you tell me?"

"How do you even know?" He asked quietly.

Loki sat next to him on the couch and took one of his hands to give him a gentle squeeze to reassure him.

"We questioned Vanko before he was transferred to prison. He said quite interesting things, but I didn't understand them until I realized what you were doing. Passing the CEO position, rewriting your will, canceling the party. Everything led me towards the truth. And you're lucky that it did, because otherwise I wouldn't have brought you what I brought you "

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone except Lokes, I didn't want to worry you."

"Stupid brat"

"You know me", he smirked. "Anyway, what did you bring me?"

"Your father's belongings", he said, shocking Tony.

Loki went outside to help Agent Coulson bring the boxes at Fury's request. Thank the Norns he was the only agent he brought with him.

"Agent, it is a pleasure to see you again"

"Sorry, I don't recognize you. Do we know each other?"

The god smiled with humor in his eyes. This was going to be fun. He was sure he could trust Coulson, otherwise Nick wouldn't have brought him.

With a green flash, he changed into the form of the man he had used to go help Pepper that day and then changed again.

"Holy crap"

"If I had all my seiðr I could make all these boxes levitate to the mansion. You are going to have to forgive me, it seems that we have to do force work"

Speechless, the agent helped him move everything inside.

"So, it seems that Uncle Nicky here thinks that my dear old dad left me the solution for the reactor among his things. Also, he injected me with lithium dioxide, which is kind of like a temporary fix, and I feel wonderful", said Tony with a toothy smile and a spark in his eyes that he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Here's the thing, as of now you are going to be locked up here without communication with the outside world until you solve this."

"What if I don't want to stay here and I escape?"

"The moment you put a foot outside this property I'll post certain videos and images that I have in my possession"

"That sounds fun. Nick, you would not mind showing me, would you?"

"Nick?" He could hear as Coulson whispered in confusion. It seemed that the whole situation was kind of surreal to him.

"Come on, the public has seen the worst of me. There is nothing you can use as blackmail."

"Do you remember that Halloween you spent in the office asking every agent you came across for candy? I think you were dressed like a-"

"Okay! Yes! I get it! No need to say it. Jeez"

Watching Tony concentrate on the contents of the boxes, Loki approached the director.

"You are going to show me anyway, right?"

"Oh yes, there is nothing better than a little snot-face Tony Stark dressed as a rabbit and missing a tooth"

The next three days after Fury's visit were frantic. Tony discovered a new element following Howard's research, began to destroy the house in order to build a particle accelerator and spent the time in between with him.

Loki, who could only help him up to a point, spent the time answering the thousands of questions Phil Coulson had about him, his brother and his planet.

It appeared that S.H.I.E.L.D had found Thor's hammer and was now studying and monitoring it. He also learned that Agent Romanoff - better known as Natalie Rushman - was keeping an eye on the god of thunder, who was making noise everywhere he went.

"So you've been here for years. How come we didn't notice an alien?"

"First, because I do not go around screaming and telling everyone about the tremendous battles I fought like Thor does. And second, every time I go out I try to take another form. It is something we agreed on with Anthony. So, he continues with his playboy image, I keep the fact that I am from another planet a secret and we can live in peace. Plus, it is fun "

"Smart"

Shouts of excitement interrupted them.

Running down the stairs to the workshop, they were blinded by a blue light.

Tony made it.

"Hey babe, you wanna plan a vacation for next year? Because I'm definitely not leaving you any time soon."

Running, Loki jumped into his arms and laughed with joy. In the background, he could hear Phil calling Fury and updating him, but he didn't care. He was clinging to the love of his life, who was now fine.

He could breathe again.

"I'm sorry we have to cut this short, but we have to go to the Expo. Justin Hammer's presentation is today"

"Okay, explain"

"Vanko is alive, and I'm pretty sure Hammer is working with him."