𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦

chapter x.

Loki woke up to the sound of a loud banging on the front door. "What in the name of Asgar-" he started to say to himself as he sat up.
"Open the door, or we'll force it down!" Shouted a harsh voice from the other side. More banging a followed.
"Tony?" Loki called worriedly through the wall. "What's happening?'
"Go back to sleep, Loki, they'll never get in." Tony's tired voice sounded through back to him.
Loki got up and got dressed before half running to the kids' room. They were all sitting upright staring at him bewildered.
"Is it an alien invasion?" Steve asked stupidly.
"We'll fight them!" Clint said excitedly.
"No no." Loki assured them quickly. "But it's best that I leave. Now."
Loki ran back to his room and grabbed his sceptre. Staring down at it, he hadn't realised he'd not needed it for a while.

The banging had become more frantic, and loud. It wouldn't hold much longer. Loki pulled in his cloak and stepped out of his room, to be confronted by Tony.
"Where the hell are you going?" Tony asked crossly.
"Away. I'm not being caught. Not again." Loki quickly kissed him. "I love you. Look after Thor, for me."
"When will you be back?" Tony said, his heart filling with sorrow.
"As soon as it's safe." They had made their way to the balcony.
"I love you, Loki."
BANG!
Loki stared into Tony's eyes, before leaping of the balcony, disappearing from his view.
"Loki!" Tony yelled, his voice cracking. He didn't tear his eyes away from the place where Loki was just a moment ago, even when he heard feet pounding, getting closer to him.

Tony barely felt the hands grab him and throw him against the wall.
"Where the hell is he Stark!?" A deep raw voice shouted in his face.
"Loki..." Tony said his eyes desperate to find the man he'd cared so much about.
"Squad 48, search the streets, he's done a runner." The man talked into his walkie talkie. The man looked at Tony in disgust, before dropping him onto the floor and joining the rest of the squad leaving the building.

Tony sank to his knees, staring at his hands and looking hopeless. He knelt there for what felt like ever before a deep voice spoke from behind him, "Don't worry, we'll figure out how to undo whatever curse he's put on you." Tony didn't look up, he didn't have to for him to recognise that voice. Fury.
"Get out of my tower." Tony said his voice, cold and sharp. "Now."

***

(Loki's PoV)
My feet pound against the stone of the road as I tear away from Stark Towers as fast as I can. The first drop of rain falls onto my cheek, and rolls down my face. Each step I take is making me move further and further from Tony, but I can't stop. No, not when everything had been going great, not when I had fallen in love, and not when everything had worked out!

When I'd first arrived at Stark towers, and his stupid smirk and sarcastic comments had hit me, I'd almost turned on my heels and left. But looking at my brother, I knew I had to help. I had lost everything anyway. I was living in Thorn's shadow, afraid to disobey her in anyway in case she tortured me. For months I had been living off meagre food, a dark dank room to sleep in, and every single day I was ordered to murder more people.

I had lost every chance I had to return to Asgard, and I had no faith that I would ever take the throne. I was ashamed, humiliated, and my relationship between me and my brother had only worsened. Staying with Tony seemed the only thing to fix all my problems. And it has... Or had.

I resisted the urge to laugh as people stared at me, in my cloak, clutching my sceptre as I sprinted my way through the busy streets. I was examining the peculiar expression of an elderly ma-

The pain hit me before my brain could register anything, before I could move, think, blink. I fell to the ground, my stomach screaming, and let out a deep groan.
"That's it, stay down!" Men in dark clothes surrounded me, pointing high tech guns that even my magic could not compete. I let a tear roll down my cheek as I put my hands up in a sign of defeat. I had failed my brother, the others and Tony.