All hell breaks loose
Loki inhaled. It was finally time to take Earth for himself.
“Jofri, tell the troops it’s time to move,” Loki commanded, and his brother went through the portal back to Jotunheim. The portal snapped shut. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Oops, welp there goes that,” Loki whirled around and standing a few feet away was Stark. Loki let out a growl.
“How dare you!” Loki hissed and let a long piece of ice extend from one had, “You are going to pay.”
“Terrified,” Starked waved a hand dismissively, and pretended to look at his fingernails. Loki roared with rage and leapt at him.
Tony dodged the enraged frost giant, and closed the mask of his suit. Hopefully he would be able to distract Loki while the kids (young men), Sherlock, Hill, Coulson, and June got the Avengers knocked out and teleported to holding cells. He also needed to find Pepper.
“Where is Pepper?” Tony grabbed Loki as he leapt toward him a second time, and threw the angry frost giant to the ground. The god laughed.
“You’ll never know!” Loki spat.
“Sir sensors indicate that she is on the ground level of the office building of the compound,” FRIDAY informed Tony. Tony needed to deal with Loki before he went to his wife. He didn’t want to risk Loki hurting her of the baby. Loki jabbed up at Tony with the long piece of ice. He sprang away at the last second. The frost giant threw himself at him, and Tony swung his leg through the air, and roundhouse kicked the god in the head. Loki crumpled to the ground. Tony launched metal clamps at his hands feet. Loki didn't dudge. He was out cold.
"Friday, where exactly is Pepper?" Tony asked quickly.
A loud screech jolted Pepper out of her restless sleep. The heavy metal sliding door to the room she was in was slowly being pushed open. Pepper grabbed the closest chair. She wasn’t going down without a fight. A familiar glowing circle showed through the darkness of the room. Pepper lowered the chair and squinted. She hadn’t seen this armor before, but she knew it was one of Tony’s. The only question was, who was in it?
Pepper squished down her faintest hope that it was her husband back from the dead.
“Who the hell are you and How the hell did one of Tony’s suits!” Pepper shouted and gripped the chair tighter.
“Well it’s not that hard for a man to get a hold of his own suit,” The helmet snapped up, and revealed Tony’s grinning face. Pepper wasn’t sure she believed it was actually him. She didn’t quite trust her sleep deprived brain.
“Tony?” She breathed quietly.
“Yes, baby I’m here,” His calm even voice replied. It was him.
“But they said…” Pepper mumbled. Tony stepped close to her, and pulled the chair out of her hand. Her husband tossed it gently away.
“You know better then to listen to people,” Tony looked fondly at her, and stepped out of his suit, “Plus you know I wouldn’t let myself die before I get to see squirt here.”
Tony leaned down and kissed her belly. She couldn't believe it. All of the grief that raked her for weeks flushed out and she felt like she could float away. He was safe. He was fine. He was here. Pepper let out a sob of joy.
“I am here to stay Pep,” Tony pulled her in close to him. Pepper buried her face in his shoulder, and cried softly. He stroked her hair gently.
Tony stared down into Pepper’s eyes, it had been so long, to long.
“No more Die-” Pepper broke off into a grown of pain, and almost doubled over.
“Pepper!” Tony caught her, “Honey are you okay?!”
Pepper stared wide eyed into his eyes, terror written all over her face.
“The baby…” She gasped in pain, “Tony… I’m having contractions!”
Her voice was thick with panic. Tony could feel his own panic seazing through him.
“What?!” Tony exclaimed. Not now! Not here!
“I thought they were just cramps at first, but Tony they’ve been getting worse for the past few-” Pepper broke off into a cry of pain. Tony had no idea what to do.
“Oh… Um… Oh gosh,” He guided her over to a corner and helped her lay down. He balled up his jacket and tucked it behind her head.
“Tony, Thor is heading your way,” Harley’s voice came over the coms.
“Shit…” Tony breathed.
“Tony? What is it?” Pepper asked searching his eyes. He chewed his lip nervously.
“I’ll be right back baby,” Tony kissed the top of his wife's head. He hated himself for having to do this to her, but brainwashed Thor could not go unhindered.
“Tony!”
“I’ll be fine Pepper,” Tony could tell his voice was shaking. He hoped what he was saying was true.
Pepper couldn’t believe it. She had just gotten him back. She had the horrible sneaking suspicion that he was about to go off and fight some impossible foe.
Tony had barely made it out of the building before Thor dive tackled him. He managed to land nimbly a few feet away from the god.
“Alright buddy, I’m going to warn you now, this is not going to be like when we first met,” Tony was having hard time firing up his snark, but he had to try, “I made this suit for the soul purpose of kicking you royal highn-ass.”
Thor straightened his back.
“And this time I won’t be holding back,” Thor laughed, “You’ll be sorry you ever challenged me.”
Tony shrugged.
“Yeah, probably, but I have so bruises that I don’t really think I’ll be able to tell if you add a few more.”
“I’ll do worse than a few bruises,” The norse god growled.
“I’m sure you will,” Tony stated haphazardly. He mimicked glancing at a watch, “Anyway I got a baby catch here in a little bit so can we like get along with this?”
“Gladly, but don’t be expecting to survive to catch that baby,” Thor said.
“We’ll see,” Tony shrugged and leapt at Thor. He caught the god off guard, and managed to land a good punch. Thor stumbled back and attempted to kick Tony. He dodged and countered with his own kick to Thor’s chest. He grabbed Tony’s foot, and shoved him back ward. Thor was tackling him, before he could get his balance back, and slammed him into the ground. Tony slammed his fist into the ground and broke the sement. He slammed a chunk of it into Thor’s head, and the god fell backward swearing. Tony hopped to his feet and drop kicked the still stumbling god. Thor fell down. Tony let out a small triumphant laugh that died in his throat as Thor grabbed him by the foot, and yanked him to the ground.
“Would like me to deploy the shield?” FRIDAY asked.
“Yes! Do it!” Tony exclaimed, and the shield folded out just as Thor brought his fist down. The hit reverberated through Tony’s arm. He slammed it into Thor who didn’t flich. He must be getting used to getting hit. Tony twisted out of Thor’s grip, and leapt into the air.
The air filled with a thick crackling, and Storm breaker flew into Thor’s hand.
Tony had forgotten about Stormbreaker. Stormbreaker was a problem. Thor pulled himself to his feet and laughed.
“You really think your tin suit is going to do anything against me?” Thor spat and lifted Stormbreaker, lightning crackling around it.
Tony gulped. Iron Man lifted his shield preparing to fight Thor.
“Bring it!” was all he said. Thor leapt up at Tony. He brought Stormbreaker down and split the shield in half. Tony dropped it, ducked to the side and elbowed Thor in the back of the head. Thor managed to reach around and grab Iron Man around the face. Thor dove, Iron Man punching him uselessly. Tony could sworn he heard something break as Thor slammed him head first into the ground. Thor dropped Stormbreaker; He grabbed Iron Man’s head and began pounding it mercilessly into the ground.
“FRIDAY! Convert power to the chest ark!” Tony shouted his vision blurry. He blasted Thor. Thor stumbled back; Iron Man rose slowly to feet. Thor picked up Stormbreaker, and Tony leapt at him. Thor swung Stormbreaker. The hammer side of the battle axe slammed into Iron Man’s chest and he flew backward. Tony crashed through the wall of the next building over. He slid across the hard tile floor and lay lip. He coughed and his chest tightened. He cried out in pain, which only made the crushing feeling in chest worse. Thor flew through the hole in the wall and stood over Tony.
“This how you end metal man.”
Tony coughed and somehow managed to pull himself to his feet. Thor grabbed him around the neck and squeezed. Tony lifted a gauntlet and blasted Thor, who just flinched and choked him harder. With his other hand Thor grabbed the gauntlet and ripped it off Tony’s arm. Pieces of metal scratched deep into Tony’s arm. He tried to scream, but Thor’s hand around his neck choked off his air supply. Choking Tony brought his foot up and slammed it in between Thor’s legs. The god dropped Tony and stumbled back gasping in pain. Tony sank to his knees spluttering. Then Thor’s foot collided with his head. The god was on top of him in a second raining down punches like a jackhammer. Tony charged the chest arc, but before he cold fire Thor embedded his fingers in the metal, and ripped the entire chest piece off. The suit became dead weight. The god then grabbed hold of his helmet, and ripped it off. Jagged pieces of metal scrapped his face. Thor smiled and tore away the remaining piece of Tony’s neck protector. It sliced through his skin as it was torn away.
“Now it’s time we go see my brother,” Thor said grabbing Tony, and flying out of the building.
June paced nervously. There was no way Tony was going to be able fight both Loki and Thor. Not alone. She glanced over at Sherlock who was also pacing. She had an idea.
Tony was thrown to the ground at Loki’s feet. The god of mischief smirk angrily down at him.
Clang!
Tony swivel his head around just in time to see Thor go rigid and fall over unconscious; Sherlock stood over him with a pipe in his hand.
“You’re next smirk!” Sherlock called pointing the pipe in Loki’s direction. Tony couldn’t help but smile. Sherlock had caught some of his flare. Holmes ran at Loki, took a leap over Tony’s head, and attempted to land a blow with the pipe. Loki dodged and threw a punch. One punch was all it took to knock him out. Tony used the momentary distraction to his advantage. He pushed the emergency release on his suit, and lept out of it’s dead remains. He slammed his fist into Loki’s face. The god didn’t flinch. He struck Tony in the solar plexus with his elbow. Tony gasped as all the air left his lungs. Loki twisted around behind Tony, kicked him behind the knee, forcing Tony to his knees. Loki grabbed a handful of Tony’s hair and yanked his back. The god pulled out a long knife and rose it up. Tony closed his eyes tight. He knew he powerless to stop what would come next.
“Stop!”
Loki’s blow did not fall.
“Stop!”
Loki stopped. June was standing 15 feet away, glaring like no other ten year old had glared before. The fire in her eyes scared Loki.
“He’s ruined everything again! He won’t survive it this time!” Loki spat angrily.
“Don’t,” June warned.
"I have to," Loki snarled back at the girl.
“June please go,” Stark’s voice startled Loki, “You don’t need to be here for this.”
“No, I’m not leaving.”
“June, you need to leave,” Loki warned.
“Get out of here kid,” Stark rasped. Loki felt a strange gratitude toward Stark. Neither of them wanted her to see what was about to insure.
“No. If he wants to murder you he’ll have to do it in front of me.”
Loki growled. He couldn’t let Stark live, not after he had taken everything. He tensed his hand on the knife and brought it down.
“You said you wouldn’t!”
Loki stopped a centimeter from Stark’s throat. The man let out a gasp of relief.
June shifted her feet and took a deep breath.
“You said you wouldn’t kill him. The day we met you told me you wouldn’t,” June’s voice was even and confident.
Loki remembered. He hadn’t meant it as a promise, but he had said very clearly “I will not kill him”
“I can’t fail completely!” Loki accidently let the desperation into his voice, “Plus if I let him go they will all imprission me!”
“No they won’t,” June smiled and opened a portal,“They will never be able to find us.”
Us? He had betrayed her trust. Why was she offering him this chance.
“I betrayed you, why are you… Why are giving me a chance?”
“Because you are the first person to ever really protect me, and you didn’t mean to.”
“But-”
“I forgive you,” June said a stared him in the eyes. He didn't deserve it. How could he? but the look in the girl's eyes told him she was sincere.
“Don’t do it kid,” Tony coughed.
June turned her gaze from Loki and smiled at Stark.
“It’s okay, he will never hurt me. I will be safe with him. I’ll be fine,” June reassured the man kneeling at Loki’s feet. Loki knew he couldn’t kill Stark. Not now.
June looked back up at Loki with tears in her eyes. She held her hand out to him.
“Let’s go.”
Loki dropped the knife. Stark let out a breath and Loki released him; he fell forward with a cough. Loki stepped over him and took June’s tiny hand in his.