Meet Me In The Middle

Chapter 3

Chapter 3-

Silence was eerie after Loki's proclamation; causing tension to aspire into the atmosphere. The trio were all internally conflicted, but covered it up from leaking it to the others present in the room. The God of Thunder was wary, slightly apprehensive about the idea of facing an new foe he has never heard of. The God of Mischief was holding his pure terror under many layers of his cold, calm demeanour. The billionaire genius was holding his class in his hands, staring thoughtfully into his drink. If what Loki was rue, and there was a chance of something bigger than the Chitauri coming to Earth, they needed help.

Desperately.

"Thor, buddy, if what Loki is saying true, then we need to bring in more help," Tony stated. "I know you said you don't want them involved, and I cannot believe I'm saying this, but we need to contact S.H.I.E.L.D."

Thor shook his head. "I will not let S.H.I.E.L.D know about my brother," both of them ignored Loki's whisper "not your brother" and the blonde continued, "because they still see him as an criminal and lock him up before any of us can explain. I will not let Director Fury near Loki."

"Well, it's either that or you admit defeat already because we are not able to gain any more help to this shitty apocalypse!" The billionaire snapped, losing his temper a little.

Thor, to his credit, did look down sheepishly. "My apologies, but I fear the tortures Fury would conduct if he manages to capture my brother. I will not let someone take Loki ever again. I promise this, brother." Thor directed that last part to the raven-haired God.

Loki rolled his eyes. He waved his hand in, somewhat, Tony's direction. "Anthony is correct. Listen, Thor, before you reject my opinion. The Chitauri was a small fleet when I started the invasion, yes, but it still caused death and destruction to this civilisation. If that small fleet can cause that amount of destruction and disorder, what can the entire Chitauri army and the Other accomplish?"

Tony's eyes widened a little when he heard this comment. If what New York and the Avengers faced last time was a small fleet, how the hell were they going to defend Earth and win? Tony remembered when he threatened Loki, saying that if the world ends the Avengers would avenge it. But how could they avenge it when they're more likely to be dead? The Avengers were called the Earth's mightiest heroes, yet if they're killed the planet is doomed. And so is the rest of the universe.

"Shit", the billionaire hissed quietly gaining the attention if the two Gods in the room. "So, basically, we're all doomed."

Loki raised an eyebrow and laughed humourlessly. "And I thought the great Anthony Stark didn't admit defeat."

"Well, when facing an apocalypse I have to be realistic," Tony snapped, glaring at the smirking God.

Loki just chuckled in response as the billionaire removed himself from his bar, drink left abandoned on the counter. Now wasn't the time fro him to get drunk and hopefully not think about his heart ache. Thor and Loki were distracting him so he wasn't thinking about his ex-girlfriend. He ignored the fact that he was going to propose to her in three days.

Tony, now feeling suddenly deflated, made his way over to his couch and sank into it, closing his eyes as he exhaled slowly. Just once- just once- he wanted some peace in his life. If it wasn't aliens, it was Asgardian Gods. If it wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D, it was his own damn mind. But how do you find some peace from your own mind? It's blatantly impossible, Tony thought wryly with a small smile.

The sky was black, the sun setting without Tony's acknowledgement. This frustrated the billionaire; another night without his Pepper lying beside him in bed. His bed must be cold- untouched by the absent of bodies to keep it warm. He briefly wondered if he would ever sleep in the bed again, knowing that no one would sneak under the covers in the middle of the night and cuddle into him in his sleep. Pepper tried that tactic every time- and every time she'd failed to keep him asleep. Even if he was truly asleep in the first place.