A/N- Wow! Shakespeare42 is to be thanked for the co-creation in this. Thanks to her this baby took off. If I get twenty reviews I'll dig up the starter for you guys. Thank you already to the 60+ people who've viewed this. And if you haven't followed our baby, please do. To those who have, free internet hugs! *hugs*This is my first Fanfic, guys. This is our first. This was adapted from our ... at last count ... sixteen part RP. And these suckers are long. I have successfully combined the first six so far.

We have a few songs we'd love for you'll to listen to while reading. You decide where they fit best and include them in your review. You don't have to be a member to review! I will answer any questions in upcoming chapters.

"Somewhere Only We Know"-Keane

"DNA"-The Kills

"Fix You"-Coldplay

"Safe and Sound"-Taylor Swift

"When We Were Young" The Killers

Sorry for the long A/N! Won't happen again!

Loki leaned against his bedroom door, his chest heaving as he fought the sobs threatening to tear from him. He heard Thor calling his name and he forced the lock, sliding down the door as the running back's heavy footsteps thunder on the stairs. Thor knew nothing, as was common. Loki pulled his long legs to his chest as his mind raced. His entire life had been a lie.

Someone pounded on the door and Loki started, gasping for breath. He choked on a sob and clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Brother, please let me in. What is going on?" Thor had been attracted by the sound of raised voices in Father's office. Loki had nearly floored him when he took off.

"Go away, Thor!" Loki cried, his voice thick. His vision blurred and he felt tears racing down his cheeks. He jumped to his feet and threw himself onto his bed. He grabbed his stereo remote and flipped it on. He buried his face into his pillow and let the sobs shake him to the core as the loud rifts of Tom Morello's guitar poured from his stereo, drowning him out.

He did not know when he finally fell asleep. He was only aware of waking up suddenly. He would never know what woke him, but it didn't matter. He lifted himself up reaching for his phone. He needed someone to talk to. He had the number on speed dial. He pressed the phone to his ear, listening to the ring. He prayed the person at the other end wasn't passed out drunk.

Tony Stark was awoken by the shrill ring of his phone. Grumbling quietly to himself he sleepily reached for his phone, missing the bright object several times.

"'Ello?" He muttered, his voice slurring from exhaustion, and not from drink, as was more often the case.

"Tony, it's me, Loki." Loki whispered, keeping his voice low. It was twelve thirty in the morning and he didn't want to wake Odin or Frigga.

"Oh, hey Loki. What's up?" Tony rubbed his eyes and squinted tiredly at his alarm clock.

"I need to tell you something." Loki's voice caught and he paused. He would not cry again.

"Go ahead, man." Tony muttered.

"I'm adopted." Loki half-sobbed. He buried his head under his pillow. "My father thought it was time I knew."
Tony took all this in for a moment. He knew Loki better than anyone, and how he had always struggled with his family life. Always second best, always one step below Thor. And now he knew why. Now he knew why, no matter how desperately he tried, he would never be Thor. This certainly was a heavy blow to Loki. "Come on, Shakespeare meet me at the creek in the woods behind your house. I'll be there in ten minutes. "
Loki sighed. "Alright." He hung up and slipped to his feet. The house was quiet. He knew Thor was probably camped outside his door. He slipped a pair of shoes on and boosted the window. He scaled the terrace growing beside his window. Tony was his closest (probably only) friend.
Grabbing a backpack and filling with a few random items- snacks, two water bottles,an entire box of tissues, and a blanket- he put on his hiking shows and left the house. Jarvis, his uncle, merely nodded to show that he acknowledged his departure. Tony cut through a trail that led straight to the creek. He walked swiftly and silently to the spot where Loki and him had spent countless hours debating, reading, doing homework. It was a remote little area beside a small stream, just far enough out that nobody would ever find it while still being close enough to easily walk to and from. When he came to the spot in the hemlocks where the enormous flat rocks left by passing glaciers, he whistled their signal. If ever they heard footsteps without the whistle, they had plans for rapid concealment and dispersal.
Loki smiled sadly when he spotted his friend. "What is with the pack? If we're running away then let me go back for a minute."

Tony quickly scaled up a rock that was at least twenty feet tall and twelve across. It was entirely flat- perfect for sitting and talking. "Well, you know me. Always prepared. Plus, I'd much rather stay out here all day than at...home. "He said the word "home" as if it were some level of purgatory. He sat down cross legged on the rock after laying down a blanket. It was mid-October and slightly chilly.

Loki grinned at the challenge and scrambled up the side. He reached the top and reached over the grab the things from Tony's hands. "You have a new invention?" He asked, looking the little device over. "

"This thing?" Tony said, intoning his head towards the flat transparent sheet. Although it looked simply like a clear piece of wrap or plastic, it was infinitely more complex. "It's a cloaking device. This is just a sample of the material. It's tech to make things invisible. It can be made into armor, planes, cloth... So don't go breaking it. "He smiled, happy at the thought of the future uses for invisibility."So, Loki. Sit. "He said, motioning to the spot on the blanket across from him.
Loki dropped down, crossing his legs. He handled the small slip carefully. He handed it back. "I like that."
"Thanks. I have yet to get a patent, 'cause I'm still working out all the kinks." Tony looked carefully into the painfully clear emerald eyes of his raven haired friend. He could see that he had been crying- but not all out sobbing... yet.

Loki looked away, breaking the contact and glared down the slope. "What kinks?" He was avoiding any thoughts of home right now. Or anything really.
Well, one time I ran a test and it started strobing. Oh, and I learned that it's best to keep the invisible technology in one area. Kinda hard to look for when misplaced. " Tony said, trying to sound light. He didn't want to pressure Loki into talking about serious matters until he was ready. Luckily, in matters concerning Loki, Tony was patient.
Loki laughed. "Are you going to sell it when you patent it?"
"I might. But I would need to watch who I sell it to. I mean, if every army was just invisible soldiers, we'd go extinct in a few months. So, maybe it shouldn't go to the military. "Tony replied thoughtfully. He often had to work through every single use of his inventions any single one of them in the wrong hands could start WW3.
Loki nodded. "That's good." he took a deep breath. "What was it like when you're parents died?"
"Well... Mom died when I was seven. I didn't really have time to grieve, because Howard wouldn't allow things like that. No displays of weakness. He said to take it like a man. And according to him, "taking it like a man" was drinking yourself into oblivion then taking out your aggression on the nearest human being. When Howard died three years ago, when I was fourteen, I was... Well, not happy exactly. But I was free. Or so I thought." Tony said, portraying little emotion, excluding bitterness.

Loki looked over, sensing the bitter. "What do I do?" He whispered, cold and fearful.
Tony held out his hands, palms facing upwards. "Loki- Look at me." He said firmly. "You go on. You continue your life, and you excel. Do not let this hold you back or change you. "
Loki took the warm, calloused hands and met Tony's eyes."I don't want to go home." Ever he whispered.
"I know. Do you remember how often I used to just come out here- and drag you with me- all through middle school? That was because I didn't want to be at "home". At home I was nothing. Lower than nothing. Beaten and treated like the dog I was. No, like the dog Howard made me feel like." Tony encased the long, pale fingers in his firmly. "And yet I made it through. I didn't let it affect my life at school. Okay, I did surround myself with girls and I did show off a bit grade wise... But all that evil at home just motivated me to be better than him. "
Loki remembered that Howard used to beat Tony but he had never said anything about it."Can't I stay with you? Just for a little while? Thor wanted to "talk" about it."
"Of course you can stay. If you can stand living with me. " He said with a soft smile. "And Loki- you will never be Thor. Because you should never be him. He is dull witted and a brute. Tell me- unless he gets a sports scholarship, where will he go in life? Yes, he is the star quarterback and popular and all that.. But what does it amount to? So what if your "parents" like him more? Let them! You are cunning and swift and a genius.. You will go so far in your life.. But you cannot allow this to hold you back. " Tony looked into the emerald orbs and could see the emotion raging behind them. This was one of the things he loved about Loki. No matter how impassive or blank his features were, Tony could always read his eyes. Meanwhile the rest of the human population was left clueless... But Tony could see.
Loki controlled his expression. "Thank you." He whispered. As much as he'd always been jealous of Thor he realized Tony was right. Even if Thor did get a scholarship (which was highly likely, with Odin's connections) what would Thor do? He would flunk out. The boy was only passing his classes because Loki always stepped in. Maybe that would stop. It was time Thor's parents saw how much of an idiotic loser their son was. He fought a grin. He could always make trouble out of anything.
Tony squeezed his hands lightly."No problem, Shakespeare. Now- do you want to grab some of your stuff? Maybe write a note to your family so the police don't get involved. "He grabbed a bottle of water and took a quick gulp, swallowing two painkillers. Coffee could wait- this was important enough.

Loki nodded, still fighting his evil grin. "I'll meet you right here in about ten minutes." He slipped his hands free and slid down the slope.
"You sure you don't want me to come with? I can hide outside your window. Just in case something happens." He said, hiding the concern in his voice.
Loki paused, thinking. "Hmm. Alright." He stepped aside so his friend could drop down. "You would have followed me anyways, wouldn't you?" He asked
"Not if you had told me not to... Okay, that's a lie. Yes. " Tony said, smirking a bit. Suddenly, a memory of when he had tried to pull a similar stunt, only with him sneaking over to Pepper's house, had ended up with his hand being broken. He nodded when he was at the bottom. "Yeah, I'm definitely coming with you."

Loki grinned; he could see it in Tony's eyes. He'd always wondered about that story of falling out of bed.
Tony followed silently, wondering what would happen when Loki went back into the house. They came to the positively medieval looking house- Scandinavian architecture with lots of stone and wood. Not even needing to be said, he got down on one knee below the window, ready to lift Loki up through the window. Going through the front door was not an option.
Loki closed the door, quietly and set about. He packed as much as Thor's hiking pack could handle. He added a second bag of his favorite books. He grabbed his school bag, not wanting to come home later to get it. He dropped the light bags, swinging the pack on his back. Oh gods, it was heavy. He grunted quietly, not expecting that.
He quickly grabbed a random sheet of paper and scribbled a note. I'm going to Anthony's house. I am safe. I will not be coming back. Thanks for nothing, Odin. He signed it and went to pin it on Thor's shirt.
Tony waited tensely underneath the windowsill. He hopped and looked through the glass to see Loki opening the door. Just a little while longer... He thought where he was going to have Loki stay... Definitely not in the guest rooms. They were cold and rather like an asylum. No, Tony had just the place.

Loki scanned the room again, making sure he had everything he needed for now. Then he went to the window and climbed onto his sill. "I'm coming down, Tony." He whisper called
"Drop down the bags first." Tony replied quietly, arms outstretched.

Loki dropped his book bags and considered the heaviest bag. He decided he would just carry it down. He turned, swinging his foot onto the trellis. He was quite conscious of the extra weight.

Catching the bags, he slung them over his shoulder quickly. Man, they were rather heavily laden. He held up his hands, cupping them for Loki to use as a makeshift step. Yes, at one point, Tony Stark had taken gymnastics.

Loki heard the trellis creak and quickened his scramble. That was probably the wrong move. Screaming from rusted nails and much too much extra weight (it was a good thing Thor hadn't gotten this room) the trellis suddenly gave and tore from the house. Loki cried out, his limbs tangled in the ivy his mother let grow wild.

"Are you stuck?!" Tony yelled, as loudly as he dared.

Loki groaned, laying in the tangle. "I'm fine!" He saw lights going on. Odin's hounds began to bark. He tested himself. Nothing hurt until he reached his ankle. He gasped. "Tony ..." He whimpered. He sat up, shoving off the broken wood and leaves. He reached for his left ankle, moving down his leg gingerly.

Tony ran over to the tangled heap of ivy and plant matter and splinters from the terrace and such. He saw the ankle, and realized that ankles just didn't twist that way. "Stay still." He said, gritting his teeth. He bent down and put one hand under Loki's neck, the other beneath his knees. Luckily, Loki weighed surprisingly less than Tony had expected. But with the extra bags- this was not going to be very fun.

He set off walking as fast as he could with all the strain. At least he was in relatively good enough shape. Good enough to carry Loki and practically all of his possessions. He scurried to a trail in the woods, and after a few minutes he was shaking from the ache in his arms. Just a little further... When they got to his enormous house, he walked up the steps to one of the many floor to ceiling glass panels on the house. It was a back porch to his personal living room. "Loki... Door. "He gasped, struggling to hold him up.
Loki shoved the door open. He felt terrible. This was not how he'd planned things to go. Now he'd burdened Tony with housing him, carrying everything, and his ankle as he was on the verge of passing out
Pushing the door closed with his foot, Tony went over to the large leather couch in the center of the Stark white-glass and metal room. He lay Loki down softly, and ran off to out the bags in an adjoining room. When he came out, he had a large first aid kit with him.
Loki whimpered. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Tony said, kneeling next to the couch. He propped up a pillow for Loki's head. Looking to his ankle, he fought to keep his visage calm. He had taken a few first aid classes and was technically Red-Cross certified... but this was no simply cut. Rolling back the torn and scraped jeans, he grimaced slightly. It was dislocated. This was not going to be pleasant. "Loki- it's dislocated." He said solemnly. "I assume you know what has to happen next."
Loki whimpered and nodded. He gripped the couch. "Just get it over with." He rasped. He turned his head to bite the pillow.
Tony put his hands around the ankle tentatively. He was running the drill through his head like a mantra. Pull out, then lock back into place...pull out, and then lock into place. "One. Two." He steeled himself and straightened out the ankle forcefully and repositioned it. It was sickening how he actually felt the bones popping back into place. He had to completely ignore the fact that this was Loki he was working on, for if he lingered on it too long he got nauseous.
Loki cried out, hands clenching and unclenching as he shivered. Tears sprang and he couldn't fight them back. Oh gods it hurts so much. He lay there, whimpering. He didn't want Tony to see his tears
: Brushing his hair out of his eyes, Tony sighed. He grabbed the special ice pack he had designed (and successfully patented), and out it around the slowly swelling ankle. It was a cuff, rather like those for blood pressure, but it had specifically measured liquid nitrogen in it. You could set how cold you wanted it, so the person wouldn't get frostbite. He wrapped it around the ankle and knelt next to Loki. He clasped his hand and it was immediately gripped with an iron vice. "It's back in place." He whispered, hating that Loki was in so much pain. "Loki, I'm going to give you some morphine. You'll be out for a little while. You okay with that?" He said soothingly, brushing a single strand of long raven hair out of his clenched shut eyes.
Loki nodded, still hiding his face. He gripped Tony's hand, never wanting to let go. "Thank you." He whispered.
He smiled reassuringly and it was for both their sakes... "No problem, Shakespeare." Still keeping one hand entwined with Loki's, he reached inside the first aid kit and pull out a small syringe. "Sleep tight." He whispered, injecting a small dose of morphine.
Loki felt the morphine take effect immediately. He moved his other hand, turning to face Tony. He wiped his eyes and his nose. It was there that he realized that Tony just might share his feelings.
Tony felt better as he watched Loki drift off to sleep. If he was sleeping, he wasn't in pain. Standing up and stretching his searing limbs, he thanked the adrenaline rush that had helped him carry his injured friend. Looking down at himself and Loki, he saw how torn up and filthy they were. He quickly went to his room and changed, putting the shredded clothes in the trash. Luckily he had been wearing a plain tee and not one of his precious band shirts. He came back out and hastily bandaged a few cuts and scraped on himself, and then set to work on Loki. If Tony was torn up, Loki looked twice as bad. Working as gently and as neutrally as he could, he slid off the tattered long sleeve and dark jeans- avoiding the ankle. He went to Loki's bags and fished out some sweatpants and a green tee. Getting the seemingly comatose Loki into the clothes proved slightly more difficult, but he accomplished it.

A/N: Hey! So ... how was it? Keep tuning in. It's gonna be sporadic. Review please! We live on reviews. We'll starve otherwise.

*pout*