The breathless fall

Chapter 9

"Lingering in a nightmare"

Tony is surrounded by clouds of darkness. He blindly stumbles forward, searching for a way out. His leg is caught on something, he looks down, searching for a reason. The world around him blurs, and he is in his Iron man suit now, in his garage. His leg is caught by Jarvis's metal arm. It pries and pulls, intent on wrenching the metal from his body. He tries to push the machine away, but he's moving so slow, and its hard to see here. More metal arms are clutching at his head, his arms, his legs, all pulling, all crushing. He cant fight them all. His vision is fading with his strength.

The metal arm around his leg pulls free his suit's skin, and digs into his flesh, intent on pealing away skin and muscle both. He cant move. He cant scream. He cant see anything. Just the feeling of crushing hands all over his body, and the claw tears out a piece of muscle and -

Tony fades into reality, disoriented and half conscious. He can feel the metal arm digging into his leg, relentless in its task of tearing flesh from bone, and he lunges to try to fight it off. He is met with resistance, and he struggles with another arm, this one trying to push him down. He manages a choked cry, and feebly clutches the arm holding him down. There is a sound humming in his ears, and it begins to sharpen, sending him into a dizzy spell. He coughs and tastes copper in his mouth. The sound intensifies with his struggles, and he begins to listen to it.

Something is familiar here, the voice is soothing to him. He relaxes his arms, and lets go of the hand on his chest. Tony rolls his head from side to side, trying to shake the fog from his brain. A cool hand runs over his fevered brow, and he moans at the touch, wanting more.

His body is hot and achy, and His leg feels like it's being torn to pieces. Tony scrunches up his eyes and blinks repeatedly, trying to see the source of his pain. Everything is bathed in white light, except a shadow leaning over him. He concentrates on the blurry form, and it slowly comes into focus.

The cool hand on his head moves down to his cheek, and Tony can feel fingertips trace down his brow and around his eye. He reaches for the hand, and clutches it to his face. It is soft, but Tony can feel strength behind the gentle caress. He groans again, and tries to focus. He must stay awake.

The voice of the shadow speaks to him in flowing words.

"Anthony... please come back."

Tony strains against the lingering fog of the nightmare and tries to speak. He manages a strangled grunt.

"Anthony, can you hear me?" The voice has a high note in it now. Worry he thinks.

Tony struggles fully out of his wakening nightmare with a gasp, and his vision swims. He closes his eyes until the vertigo passes, and as it ebbs, he opens his eyes to the world.

Loki is sitting beside him, his cool hand still over his cheek. The god's face is contorted with grief, and his eyes are red and swollen. There are tiny ragged cuts all across his neck and bare chest, and Tony nearly blacks out again when he notices a large round wound of torn muscle tissue over his collarbone. Loki's naked torso is also covered in a handful of bruises, most over his stomach.

"Wha.. H'pend" Tony slurs, trying to sit up.

"Lie still Tony." Loki whispers, his voice cracking in sorrow.

"No. I want... sit me up."

"You cant move!" Loki says and Tony can hear him sob briefly. "I've tired to heal you, but your leg, it is broken."

Tony tilts his head up and finds Loki's boots are on his feet, and his right leg has green strips wound tightly around it. His muscles in his feet twitch, sending a wave of agony though his leg.

"Yes. That would be a yes. Really, really broken." he grits through clenched teeth.

"I tied to set your leg while you were unconscious, so you would not feel it." Loki says and tucks his knees under his chin.

"Your shirt?" Tony questions, pointing to the green strips wound up from his ankle to knee. Loki nods. "and where are my shoes?"

Loki's eyes dart quickly and Tony can tell he's trying to hide something. "I had no other choice. Your shoes would not fit me, and my boots were the only bracing we had."

Tony flashes a strained smile at his companion. "You did good Loki."

Loki's eyes begin to water at his words of kindness. He gives Tony the tiniest of smiles in return, and rubs his eyes clear.

Tony cranes his neck around, trying to get his barrings. They are in a tiny cell of ice, enclosed on every side except the front, where rough bars of tarnished metal line the opening. There is a small door to the right, but the hinges are on the opposite side. Damn.

There is a bucket in one corner, and aside from that, nothing else is inside their cell. No beds, no food and no water.

"What happened?' Tony asks exhaustively. "What was that Thingthat attacked us? It sure as hell wasn't a Frost giant."

Loki's entire body stiffens, and Tony watches his face fade into a tight mask of fear. Shadows deepen across his face, and for a moment Loki looks at him like a cowering child. Tony gropes for Loki's hand, and clutches it tightly. "Its ok... you don't have to say anything buddy." He runs his thumb over Loki's fingers, trying to ease the tension in them.

"He..." Loki swallows hard. "It was my father. Laufey. The one who pulled us here with his old magic. But he was DEAD! I killed him-" Loki chokes on his words. " I killed him on Asgard. Turned him to ice and scattered the pieces." He gives a short deranged laugh. "But apparently it was not enough. He is a god after all!" Loki begins to giggle manically.

Tony is struck with fear for himself, and Loki's state of mind. "Loki, stop that." He snorts, and with great effort, heaves himself into a sitting position. He embraces his shaking partner, and Loki clings to him for dear life. Tony stays like that for a while, just holding Loki and caressing him until he begins to calm down.

"We will make it out of here alive." Tony says in a firm tone.

"You can not possibly know-"

"Say it!" Tony commands.

"There is no way-"

"Goddamn it Loki!" He shouts, and pulls Loki's face to his. He stares into his companions eyes with all the courage and strength he can muster.

"We WILL make it out of here alive! Say it Loki!"

Loki looks into his eyes and Tony can see flickers of fear, anger, then finally hope flash across his face. Loki stares at him, and nearly breaks his heart when he speaks.

"For you." He whispers in Tony's ear. "I will make it out of here, for you Anthony."

"Alive. You are not going to leave my side, understand?" he murmurs.

Loki nods. "Now I have a reason to continue. I do not wish to end this before it begins." and Loki pulls him into a slow kiss. Tony is lost in Loki's arms as the world falls away around them. An ache of sorrow and joy twists in his heart, and he is filled to the brim with emotions so strong, he has no choice but to give in to them. His passion builds, and his body says the words that are caught in his throat.

I love you, Loki.

There is a loud smash, and a door at the end of the corridor swings open. Tony pulls back from Loki, but refuses to let go of his companions hand.

"Whatever happens-" he says quickly.

"Stay strong Tony. Do not give in-" Loki interjects, and before he can say anything else, a pair of frost giants is at their door, carrying metal rods with collars fixed to the ends. Tony blanches with terror as one of them fumbles with the lock, and opens the door. They rush into the cell, rods pointed at them, and charge froward. The bigger of the two goes for Loki, who attempts to stand, but the collar is clamped around his neck before he can move. Loki's hand is torn from his own as the big one thrusts Loki backwards, hanging him in the air. Loki starts to choke, and Tony snarls like an animal, and tries to fight to his partners side. The smaller giant laughs at him, and clamps the ice cold collar around his neck. It bites into his skin as he is lifted to his feet, and hauled towards the door.

"NO!" Loki cries, holding his body up to collar in an attempt to speak. "Take me instead! He is of no use to you! Cowards! Monsters!" The big one shoves him roughly against the ice wall hard enough to chip it.

"Loki! I'll be ok-" he screams as the giant pushes him forward, dragging him along on his broken leg. The pain is so great that Tony nearly vomits when he is forced to walk. He bites the inside of his cheek and holds onto his collar, trying to take the weight off. He is forced out of the cell, and he sees the big one give Loki one last push backwards before it releases the control rod, and slams the door in Loki's face.

"Nooooo!" Loki howls in anguish and pounds on the door with his hands.

Tony is pushed and dragged down the tunnel, each step making him cry out in pain. He is forced through the hall, and around a corner. By then he is hardly able to walk, so one of the giants simply picks him up and throws him over his shoulder like a toy. The collar comes off, and Tony struggles to stay conscious as they move through the maze of tunnels.

After too many steps to count, the enter a large chamber. Columns line the rounded room, and as Tony is flung to the ground, he sees a large stone throne in the middle of the room. Sitting on is is the creature from his nightmare, the one who attacked them, Loki's "Father". Laufey.

A crown of clawed metal sits atop a rotting head. Laufey's eyes are clouded and wreathed with the silver tint of magic. Pockets of decaying flesh and dark patches of mould cover most of its skin. There is a large bandage wrapped around its waist that is horrendously stained, and when the creature breathes, Tony can see the outline of its lungs through it. The smell of rotting flesh burns into his nose and makes his eyes water. It raises its skeleton hand, and it speaks to him in a voice like the death rattle of a dying animal.

"Pathetic... broken mortal..." It wheezes and sniffs the air. "Why is the stench of god-magic upon you?"

I don't even want to guess how it's speaking in a body like that, let alone speaking in a language I understand.

Doesn't matter what it says though, I'm not going to play this game. He fumes internally. Instead he braces himself for the inevitable blow and turns on full tilt sarcasm mode. "I haven't had a shower in days, Its not my fault there isn't a decent hotel here. And from the smell of it, you should have one first."

The creature snarls at him, and one of his guards backhands him wickedly. Tony spits blood on the ice, and he moans as he realizes two of his teeth have cracked.

"Answer me mortal, while I still see fit to keep you alive." It growl at him.

Tony screws his eyes shut in an attempt to steady himself.

"Go fuck yourself." he says and spits at the creatures feet.

Whatever the creature expected, it certainly was not that. It lunges for him with an enraged growl, and wraps its hands around his neck. It squeezes hard, and lifts him off his feet. Tony frantically tries to get a handhold for air, but the creature shakes him like a rag doll until he is weakly clinging on for dear life.

"I WILL KNOW how this feat was accomplished !" The dying monster screams in his face, and tightens its grip. Tony's vision begins to swim. "HOW? How are you god-touched and still alive mortal?"

A familiar cool sensation begins to spread from his neck, and works its way in waves over his body. Tony recognizes the tingling dizzy sensation of Loki's magic coursing through him. His body grows cold, and when the wave rushes over his head, he can taste mint on his tongue. He watches the last of his skin on his fingertips turn blue, and frantically digs into the creatures rotting arm with his borrowed strength.

It shouts in surprise and flings him against the wall. Tony crumples as he hits the floor, and greedily takes a fresh breath of air.

"Bring me Loki!" It commands, and two guards go running past. It turns to him, and sneers. "and water for the mortal. I believe he has requested a bath.''

Tony is left on the floor, sides heaving in exhaustion. He watches the dying god limp back to its' throne, as two giants return with a large basin of water, and place it on a stone table. One of them picks him up and holds him standing in from of the basin. Tony's heart is racing, and he's starting to take in quick gasps of air.

NONONONONO! I cant have an attack now. God-damn it! His heart skips a beat, and he clutches his chest, fighting against his own body as hard as he can.

There is a commotion behind him, and he sees Loki being forced into the chamber. The collar rod is clamped around his neck, and he's trying to tear it off every step of the way. Loki is forced to his knees beside Tony but immediately jumps back up to try to attack his captor. Tony lunges too, but before he gets more than a step, he is caught by his guard, and shoved headfirst into the water basin.

Tony struggles violently, losing the little air he managed to take before being plunged. He tears at the giant hand weighing him down in blinding rage, and he is shoved deeper in to the basin as a result. The ice water touches his shoulders, and his stomach is being pressed hard into the stone table. His heart skips a beat again, setting off the attack he's tried so hard to resist. Tony has the mind of an animal, kicking, punching, and claws at anything he can reach. He is so desperate for a breath now, that he repeatedly smashes his head against the bottom of the bin, trying to gain any amount of momentum so he can twist up to breathe.

Cant fight- oh god-

Tony's diaphragm contracts reflexively, and he sucks up a mouthful of water against his will. He chokes underwater, and inhales.

Suddenly his head is thrown backwards, and he surfaces at last. Tony coughs and wheezes, snorting water out of his nose, but he still cant get a good breath. He gags, and manages to take in a sip of air. The tiny breath sets off a chain reaction, and he is trapped in a circle of suffocation.

-cant get enough air to get water out but need more air..-

Something slaps him on the back, and the strength of it forces the water from his lungs. At last he takes in a reedy breath. Now Tony cares about nothing else except filling his lungs with air. He's struggling with his own body to much to even spend the energy to speak.

Laufey gestures to him and speaks. "Behave little prince, or I will have your pet drowned while you watch."

Loki is frothing in anger. He is on his knees again and straining to stay still. The God's face is frozen in a ferocious snarl, and his eyes are possessed with the darkness of insanity. A deep rumble works through his companion's chest, and Loki growls like a frenzied animal.

"Enough cur!" the creature yells at Loki. "If you tell me how you altered this mortal's spirit, I will let you live."

"I will not give you the answers you seek, you poisonous curse upon dying flesh" Loki spits. "How much longer can you cling to this insignificant shred of life? Tell me how you rot where you stand. Tell me of the agony of the half-life you live." Loki says with a lust for vengeance that startles Tony. "If you suffer I would have it increased upon you tenfold, a hundred fold, until you writhe in the dirt before me as a worm, begging me to end your existence once more." Loki finishes, breathing heavily.

"So be it, little prince of Asgard." the creature says, using his title as an insult. "I admit, I did not think you would kill your pet so willingly." The dying god tilts his head, and Tony is plunged into the water. Loki screams for him to stop, and Tony can hear him screaming still, as he is pushed deeper into the basin. Tony fights hard, but the hand holding him will not budge.

There is so little left in him, he is so utterly hollow now... He tries again, lungs hurting for air, but his hands wont work anymore... They just stop moving, and Tony Stark begins to die.

There is this odd feeling, like he's having a nightmare where he is being chased by some horrible monster. Like that empty feeling that he gets when it tears into his heart as it gets closer. He is unable to move, unable to wake up. The bright water fades around him to dark purple, then grey, and at last black. He tries one last time, because he doesn't want Loki to be alone anymore, he never even got to say goodbye to his lo-

Anthony Edward Stark, dies.

For a moment in time, he has no heartbeat, no breath. He simply IS. He floats in the space between space and dreams. He dreams of his mother and father. He dreams of Pepper, ever at his side. He dreams things that are not his. He dreams of Loki and Thor, their mother and father. He dreams across the endless pattern of ALL their lives, experiencing things as they do. He lives their lives beside them, watching and remembering. There is no fear in him any longer, no pain, no doubt. He watches, and finally understands. He simply is.

But there is something now. A familiar feeling. Cold, like snow falling gently upon his body. This feeling is full of comfort and love. It takes root in his heart, and blossoms into a beautiful sensation. An emerald green ribbon of magic unfurls from his chest, and his heart swells with emotion and thought. He is wanted, He is loved. The cool magics work their way thought his body, touching brain, heart, lungs. He can see the magics warming him, and it fills him with colour, and at last...

Life.

Tony Stark utters a strangled cry as he is dragged back into the world of the living. Loki is kneeling over him, one hand over his heart, and one hand over his head. Loki is crying, and Tony is confused. He opens his mouth to speak, to console his companion, but no sound comes out. Puzzled Tony ties to lift his hand. He wants to bring it to Loki's face, to wipe away the endless stream of tears that are pouring down, but all he manages to do is twitch his fingers.

Loki immediately reaches for his hand and clutches it to his chest.

"Anthony!" He weeps. "say something! please let me know you can hear me!"

Tony mouths the words he is too tired to speak.

I was lost. But you found me. And tony manages the tiniest of smiles.

Loki sobs with relief, and manages to smile back through his tears.

"How entertaining." Laufey interrupts, looming over them. " And so very fortunate that he lives after all. Is the mortal your bed-mate Asgardian? Or simply a toy to be used and broken to your will? Ether way he is of use to me now. Be a good boy and he will not come to harm." Loki glowers at the creature with all the hate he can muster. "Oh you do learn quickly after all, little prince. Keep that silver'd tongue behind your teeth except when it is asked of you, and I will resist the urge to rip it from your mouth." Laufey emphasizes the last threat by grasping Loki's chin in his hand and squeezing it hard. Loki's mouth is forced open, and Tony is helpless to watch as Laufey draws a small silver knife from his side.

"You remember this one don't you?" Laufey says as he brings the knife point to Loki's lips. "It belonged to the last soul who inhabited this body. It shaved the hair from your head. And cut, oh so deliciously deep, into your soft flesh." Laufey laughs and draws a line across Loki's bottom lip, drawing blood. "See, it remembers! And how It hungers to taste you again."

Tony manages a choked sound, and Laufey frowns at him. "Take the pet back to its cell."

Rough hands lift him up, and he is thrown over a shoulder again. On the way out he watches in vain, as Laufey continues to torments his partner. "The two of us have much to discuss, and I do not care for an audience." the creature smiles wickedly at him, before returning to Loki.

Tony tries so hard to stay conscious on the way back to his cell. All he can think about is Loki, trapped alone with that monster. But what could he do? He can barely move, his leg is shattered, and he cant even manage the energy to lift his head.

He is thrown into his cell, and his rag-doll form slides against the far wall. The giants locks the door behind him, and he is left alone.

Tony manages to roll over on his back where the pain from his broken leg is lessened. He lies there, silent tears rolling down his cheeks, and weeps for his partner. At some point he cries himself to sleep, and ebbs in and out of dreaming for hours.

Much, much later, the door to his cell swings open, and something lands with a crunch near him. Tony focuses enough that he can see the bloodied form of Loki crawl on his stomach towards him. His companion manages to pull himself beside him, and then wraps one arm around his chest.

Loki snuggles up as close as he can, wanting comfort and the connection that he shares with Tony.

Tony twists so he is facing Loki, and he can smell the coppery tin of blood on his companions ragged breath.

All they can do, is hold one another, and hope. The last words they spoke to one another echo in his mind.

"We WILL make it out of here alive! Say it Loki!"

Loki looks into his eyes and Tony can see flickers of fear, anger, then finally hope flash across his face. Loki stares at him, and nearly breaks his heart when he speaks.

"For you." He whispers in Tony's ear. "I will make it out of here, for you Anthony."

"Alive. You are not going to leave my side, understand?" he murmurs.

Notes

Authors warning: Heads up this chapter involves a scene of torture. I've tried to blur it a little, to soften the blow. And remember "the night is always darkest, just before the dawn" I do promise that the next instalment in this series will not be as dark. I felt this trial of suffering would give them a bond together. And soon you'll be able to see them as a true couple back on earth. Thank-you for holding on a little longer. =)

Disclaimer: I do not own any marvel characters or their movie interpretations, I've done this for fun and I hope you enjoy! Also this is set after Iron man 3 and the avengers. Loki escaped to earth and Tony never had romantic feelings for pepper. (Hence the arc reactor is still in his chest)