Pretty Little Tragedies

Tony's lips met Loki's and they gently fell down onto the bed. The kiss slowly became more passionate as the two men explored each other's bodies. Loki carefully sat up, removing his shirt from his body and dropping it to the floor. Tony's hands slid up his lover's biceps before stopping at unfamiliar marks on his skin. Breaking the kiss gently, Tony gently looked at Loki's skin. Five puckered white scars at on his normally unscathed skin.

"Loki... Love... What are these?"

The God flushed and turned his head.

"Ignore them... Come on.. It is our date night."

"Loki, what are they from?"

The God of Mischief whimpered.

"My-myself."

Tony stood abruptly and stared at his lover. His feelings were mixed. Worry, fright, sadness... But mostly anger and betrayal. He'd given Loki everything; love, a home, a life... This was how he head repaid him.

"You selfish..."

He left the room in disgust, going to improve his suit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Half-an-hour passed and Loki got up, pulling one of Tony's shirts on. He wiped his tearful eyes and took a few breaths. He was not selfish. He had planned this, but he had not planned for it to go like this. The mechanical sounds of Tony upgrading his suit drifted down the hallways. Loki hesitated. He was not supposed to disturb Tony unless there was an emergency. On second thought, this was an emergency. Loki walked down the halls, tentatively looking around the door. Ton'y face was hidden by his welding mask.

"I am many things, but selfish is not one of them."

The blow torch stopped and Tony removed his mask, turning around to face his lover.

"You're self-destructing... After everything I've done for you."

"It hurts... Does it not? To know the one person you love, the one person you would do anything for, is self-destructing."

Tony nodded, leaning back in his chair.

"That is how I feel... Everyday when you get drunk. Abusing alcohol is destroying your body from the inside. You are self-destructing, and it pains me to watch you."

Tony watched Loki.

"Is that why? You wanted to know how it feels? Well I get it."

"But you do not. If I left now, you would go and pour a whiskey, down it and then pour another."

Loki walked across the room, tears forming in his eyes.

"I wanted you to know what it felt like, Anthony. To be scared that one day you might lose me. It is the one thing that gives me nightmares. I try and wake you up but you will not. I have to stand and bury you whilst all of them; Clint, Natasha, Bruce, Thor, Steve, Coulson and Fury; blame me for not stopping you. So, here I am stopping you. You stop your self-destruction and I will stop mine."

Loki watched his lover shift and turn away from him. He could have sworn the man made of iron was crying.

"I'll cut down-"

"Stop... Cut down but eventually stop. Every day you are sober is a day my skin will go unscathed."

"Deal... Oh and Loki? It's Tony."

"Be quiet, you mewling quim and kiss me."

The lovers' lips met again as their relationship moved healthily forward.

Notes