Having put Tony to bed and planning to drink himself into oblivion rather than doing anything vaguely productive, Loki was rather infuriated when Jarvis' cool, British voice informed him that there was someone at the door.

"Yes?" He asked, irritated, opening it with an exasperated and wholly unneeded tug.

Agent Coulson stood there, dressed in his customary black suit. Natasha had introduced Loki to the man after the whole incident with Stane.

"Should I come back at a better time?" The inscrutable man asked.

Loki sighed.

"What is it that you want?"

The other man paused for a moment.

"S.H.I.E.L.D has an initiative which we call the Avengers Initiative. It acts as a defense mechanism. When the earth is threatened, the Avengers can be called on to set the earth to rights."

Loki raised an eyebrow as if to say 'what next?'

"This initiative is still in the planning stage," Coulson continued. "We have... two recruits so far."

Loki rolled his eyes.

"Natasha and Clint?"

"Yes."

"I assume you are here to recruit Tony then?" Loki asked, gears whirring in his head.

"That is correct."

"Come in, Agent Coulson."

*

Loki stood, hands entwined behind his back, staring out of the window.

"Mr Walker?" Coulson questioned.

Loki's brow furrowed in thought before he turned around, face betraying the immense worry he felt at the expense of Tony.

"I need S.H.I.E.L.D's help," Loki admitted.

Coulson tilted his head to one side, considering. He was, after all, a clever man.

"You want our help in return for allowing us Mr Stark's assistance on an occasional basis?"

"Yes."

The agent just stared at Loki, allowing him to speak at his own leisure, much like a therapist would.

"The thing is," Loki began, "Tony's ill. He's being poisoned by his Arc Reactor, the palladium is killing him. Without help, he's got a few months at most to live."

The agent looked thoughtful.

"Can you help?" Loki questioned. "Can S.H.I.E.L.D?"

Coulson looked him straight in the eye.

"I can make a few calls."

*

The next day Coulson was back but, this time, with many cardboard boxes. 

"What are these?" Loki asked, gazing round at the circle of boxes surrounding him and the agent.

"They were the property of Howard Stark."

Loki was surprised.

"And S.H.I.E.L.D has been keeping Tony's property from him?"

"Director Fury has kept these for safekeeping. Howard Stark was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D when he was alive."

"I am well aware of that," Loki replied, a tad icily. Despite this, he forged on with his usual diplomacy. "So you think there's something in here that can help?"

"Yes," Coulson said dispassionately.

"Well... Thank you, Agent Coulson. With any luck, you'll see Tony soon about this initiative."

"Thank you, Mr Walker."

*

"Dad's stuff?"

Tony managed to sound incredulous, upset and tired, all at the same time.

"Agent Coulson brought it round. He seemed to think it could help."

"It better not make me more depressed than I already am," Tony grumbled.

"I can't guarantee anything," Loki said uncomfortably. "Call me if you need me."

He put a hand on Tony's arm, saying everything and nothing, and then left the room, hoping that somewhere in those cardboard boxes there was a miracle which would save Tony's life.

*

"Mr Stark requests your presence in the laboratory," Jarvis informed Loki.

It had been two days since Loki had given him his father's belongings and part of Loki was scared of what he would find. Watching Odin during the Odinsleep had taught him that he really did not like having to comfort people on their deathbed. It was awkward, uncomfortable and undignified. 

But Loki would do anything for Tony, even comfort him on his deathbed.

"Tell Tony I'll be right there," he replied, casting aside the book he'd used to distract himself and hurrying down to the lab.

"Alden, you made it."

Loki, for his part, was gobsmacked. There stood the billionaire - standing was definitely a good sign - looking miles better and wearing a triumphant smile. His arc reactor glowed with a different light to that of before.

"So did you, apparently," Loki joked but his heart wasn't in it.

"I invented a new element," Tony shrugged. "Or rediscovered one, I suppose. Howard Stark was slightly cleverer than I gave him credit for."

Loki chose not to comment on this.

"Promise me you'll never do that again," He said instead, trying to retain his usual cool exterior.

"Promise me you'll let that mask crumple for a few minutes?" Tony smiled gently and it was heartbreaking.

Ignoring everything that told him to leave his treasured mask in place, Loki threw caution to the wind and moved forward, embracing the shorter man.

"So you do have emotions after all!" Tony said but it was more half-hearted than his usual jibes.

Instead of mentioning Loki's unpardonable slide in professionalism, Tony hugged him back. 

They stood like that for a while before moving apart. Tony did clearly have tears in his eyes which Loki neglected to mention while he himself was managing to hold his in.

"Please give me some advanced notice next time," Loki said drily. "Otherwise you'll give me a heart attack."

"Me first," Tony grinned.

Loki rolled his eyes.

"You, Tony Stark, will be the death of me."

"As if."

Loki would have to be incredibly unfortunate to die before Tony, however morbid that thought was. But they had a while to go before that.

"Well, if dying was a phase you've overcome, the next step is joining everybody on your baby project," Loki remarked, smiling.

Tony huffed.

"People are gathering on my helicarrier? They've got some nerve."

"You did give it to them," Loki pointed out.

"Still mine though. I built it."

"Either way, I'm not sure we can pull any strings here. S.H.I.E.L.D did us a favour, now we have to return it."

Tony sighed.

"Fine. But first, I want a hamburger."

"Coming right up."

*****

A.N. This chapter is another favourite of mine. Tony inventing a new element is a great cinematic experience and I thought Loki crumbling under the relief at seeing his friend alive would be pretty cool in print as well.

I hope you are enjoying this and thank you for reading! :)