Author's Notes:

This is for thephoenixandthedragon4ever - who is a constant support ;) and who wanted Loki in therapy with Prof X. I aim to please.

Obviously, since I'm crossing MCU with X-men, this is AU. (I may end up taking advantage of this fact - but am going to attempt to not get distracted by plot bunnies.)

A big inspo for this fic is "To Speak" by alwaysamusing - which was recommended to me by thephoenixandthedragon4ever.

If there're any other fics which have a more-than-passing influence on this fic, then I'll mention them as I go along.

I thing this is gonna end up quite long so... sorry in advance!

WARNING: This entire fic is about depression, suicidal thoughts, and emotional issues. Other warnings will be given if and when needed.

"I don't understand," the circles under Loki's eyes betrayed his weariness.

Tony wondered whether his lover had slept at all last night; he knew Loki had still been awake when he himself finally drifted off.

"Babe, you're not... you're not well," and man, Tony wished he was better at this kind of shit – at the oohy-gooey emotional stuff that other people seemed to find so easy.

"I am not injured," Loki said quietly, "I am not feverish. I am fine."

Except he wasn't. Anyone looking at him, slumped in the chair by the fire, eyes haunted, could've told you that. And Tony was scared.

It was noticeable, this decline in Loki's well-being. It had been slow at first, but then the signs that something was wrong had become more and more apparent.

And then, in bed, just a few days ago, Loki had admitted to letting go of the bifrost (which was, apparently, the official name for Asgard's magical rainbow bridge thingummy,) on purpose. He'd admitted that it wasn't the first time he'd tried something like that; that it wasn't the last.

Tony perched himself on the arm of the chair, "No babe," he whispered, "you're not fine. And I don't want to lose you."

Silvery tears cascaded down Loki's face without his permission. He would not allow himself to sob, but couldn't stop the muffled whimpers that fought their way through.

Tony threw his arm around him, pulling the slender body to him. He slid down the arm of the chair and onto the seat with Loki, until both were nestled in the chair's support.

"I'm sorry," Loki muttered, "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Tony asked; one-part incredulous, one-part heartbroken, "For being sick? Babe, you have nothing to be sorry for."

"The Chitauri?" Loki whispered.

Tony winced, "Is a different topic – and one we've been over time and time again. Let bygones be bygones babe."

"Why don't you hate me?" Loki breathed weakly.

Tony's own eyes were welling now. No, he had to be strong – for Loki.

"Because I don't believe you're evil," Tony told him, honestly, "because I think you deserve another chance, because I think there was more going on – back then – than you let us, or anyone else, know about, and, most importantly – because I love you."

Silence for a moment. Tony gripping Loki's supple flesh, as if he could remove the pain by touch alone.

Then, "You wish me to... visit with this man? This healer?"

Tony looked at him, but Loki wouldn't meet his eyes.

"I think it would do you good," Tony started carefully, "to talk to someone outside the tower. And yes, Xavier is a shrink – a healer, for the mind – but, he's also exceptionally smart. It'd be nice for you to have a friend that you can talk to – like, really talk to – who's on your level intellectually."

Loki nodded, "You think he can help?"

Tony nodded, "If anyone can, it's him. But... Loki, he's a... well, he's a telepath."

Loki stiffened beneath Tony's arms, "Tell him," he said, keeping his voice carefully calm, "tell him that if I agree to this, he must not attempt to enter my mind without my permission," he turned slightly to look more fully at Tony, "my magic will respond if he tries to read my mind unannounced. It will kill him. And then... then you really will hate me."

"Never," Tony whispered, planting a gentle kiss on Loki's cheek, "but I'll warn Charles. I wouldn't want him getting brain-fried by accident."

Loki nodded, "Thank you."

"And I don't want you to feel any pressure to let him literally into your head – you don't trust easily, and I don't want you doing something so... personal... without being comfortable with it."

"I have not said 'yes' yet, Tony."

"You haven't said 'no' either," the hint of a gentle tease edged Tony's voice.

"I still can," Loki folded his arms, carefully, as if he were made of glass.

Tony sighed gently, "Come on, babe. This is important to me. I think you need this. And," a small smile, time to pull out the ace in the hole, "Charles has a magnificent library – which he has promised will be the venue for all of your meetings. He also suggested he might be open to you borrowing some books."

Loki smiled faintly. Even that worried Tony; only a week or two ago, and Loki would literally have busted through walls for the promise of a good library. Tony'd been right in his amateur assessment: Loki needed help.

"If it is important to you," Loki murmured, "then I will acquiesce."

"Tony," Bruce's voice snapped him out of his calculations-based zone-out, "coffee."

A mug was shoved into his hands. Good ol' Brucie. Like a mother-hen, only a dude.

"You're worried," Bruce said, between sips of his own beverage, "Loki?"

"Got it in one," Tony shoved away the StarkPad he'd been working on.

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah."

Bruce gave him one of those, 'tell me exactly what you broke,' looks, "And?"

"He agreed – well, 'acquiesced.' Though I'm going to have to warn Charlie-boy about trying to push into his brain without warning: turns out magical burglar-alarms don't take prisoners."

Bruce smirked, "Fair enough."

Tony sighed and ran a hand over his eyes, "He's gone back to bed."

"Oh?"

"He couldn't stay awake any longer... and he was trying so hard that it actually hurt to watch him. I don't think he slept much last night."

"Classic symptoms of depression, Tone."

"I know that," he grimaced, "and you know that. I think, deep down, Loki knows that too – but... he sees it as a weakness. And it's breaking my heart."

Bruce took a few calming breaths, "Fucking Asgard," he murmured.

Tony held up his mug, "I'll drink to that."