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Loki Laufeyson, the Asgardian demigod, the God of Lies. Chaos and Mischief, He-Who-Invaded-New York, was living with the Avengers. A year ago, Loki had been mind-controlled and had led the alien army, the Chitauri, through a portal. The Avengers had fought him, and they won, resulting in Thor receiving Loki to bring him back to the godly land, Asgard, facing the judgements.
After the judgements from the Allfather, Loki had come back to Earth (Midgard, they say), and settled down on Stark Tower, to let the Avengers keep an eye on him.
If you ask Loki who is the person he is closest to, he would answer you, Anthony Stark! Iron Man. They had developed a close friendship through the time the Silvertongue had stayed at Stark Tower.
Tony was smitten the first time he saw Loki. He was tall, lean, a bit cunning and evil. Stark liked him. As he was a scientist, Loki was a good helper for him in the lab. The god could offer assistance in the lab. He could also talk about the Asgardian tales when Tony is tired. The inventor enjoyed Loki's company a lot. He was funny and interesting to talk with.
Oh god. Was Tony falling in love? Why did he think that? Tony started coughing up flower petals two days ago...
That day, Tony was tinkering normally down in his lab. Loki was by his side, a book in his hand- When Tony's lungs compressed and his throat tightened, letting out a few violent coughs. He dropped his tools onto the floor and leant forward, clutching his throat in pain.
“Stark?! Are you fine?!” Loki asked, voice filled with worriness. Tony coughed again, and this time a few rose petals followed. Loki's eyes widened in shock, but nonetheless help Tony up and teleported into his room. Placing him gently on his bed, he casted a scanning spell on him to see what in the Nine was happening to Tony. The mortal was writhing painfully on the soft mattress. It broke the god's heart from watching his dearest friend suffer from sickness.
Speaking of sickness, the mage had found out the cause of Tony's bizarre sickness. It was the hana haki disease.
“Loki w-what's happening to me?” The engineer, still in a greasy top and sweatpants. He looked weary, taking in sharp breaths and exhaling hard.
“Take a rest first, my dear, and I'll tell you about what situation you are suffering from.” Loki reassured, but Tony insisted that he really wanted to know the reason.
“You've fallen in love, Stark.” Loki said and Tony coughed up four petals. “You will continue to cough up flowers until your loved one returns their love to you." Tony flinched.
“This could be cured through surgery but your love for the person disappears.” Loki explained, “If you don't do it, you will pass away.” The Asgardian lowered his head.
“I cannot- I will get this over with. A bullet almost went through my heart, and I still survived.” Tony placed his hand on Loki's slim ones. Loki almost jumped. Tony's hands had turned cold... “I'll make tea for you.” Loki stood up and vanished.
While Loki was in the kitchen, he met Banner. He invited the doctor to take a look at Tony, Walking up with him Loki wanted to go to Asgard to find a cure. The god’s mind went through the people who might be Stark’s crush. Is it Pepper? No, they were best friends only. The two had clearly clarified that... Is it Natasha the spy in the Avengers? No, they always quarrel whenever they meet!
Is it himself? But Loki had invaded Tony's hometown, and even killed 80 people in two days! Stark is a good guy, why would he dare to desire having a relationship with a past killer? That would not be possible!
Arriving at his mother's palace, he asked Frigga right away. “Mother.” He started, voice and eyes showing deep concern. “Relax, take a deep breath, son. Whatever problem is it?” Frigga answered with a smile.
“It's my friend Anthony. He's suffering from hanahaki... Is there a way to cure it except removing the flower through surgery-?” Loki gasped, his brows scrunched up to a frown.
“I am afraid not, there is only one solution, their loved one must return their love…” Frigga replied. Loki fidgetted, bidding a farewell to his mother, he turned around and vanished.
“Thank you.”
He appeared in his room, finding Stark sitting on his bed, a fiction book of Loki's in hand. His eyes brightened a little bit when he saw the god. Tony's eyes had become dull from the original glistening and beautiful chocolate ones. His tanned skin had also become paler than usual.
"Stark. Say the truth, who are you infatuated to? Loki asked and walked next to the mortal. Tony coughed again, this time, flowers came out of his mouth, not only petals. Loki quickly went up to the human and placed his hand on his back, rubbing soothingly. And when Tony finished coughing he started with a weak voice.
“You don't need to worry about me., Loki. You can't help me, you know.” Tony explained, “They won't love me back. I'm sure they won't.” Loki frowned. “Just tell me who it is. I may ask them to come to see you. When they see you suffer they must be heartbroken. Therefore, they will finally realize their true feelings for you.” Loki insisted on knowing.
“Trust me. They won't.” Tony persuaded, “They probably won’t like a rude person like me…”
“You're a good person, stark.” The god informed, “I adore you.” Tony coughed again.
—
Hell, it had been weeks. And it still hadn't gone any better. It was much worse. He was coughing up whole flowers, with leaves, and he was sick of all this hullabaloo. Sick of the bright red he coughed up. Sick of the clenching of the lungs whenever his mind lingered on the god.
But of course, he wouldn't dare to the Asgardian, even though they were now friends.
A few more weeks had passed, and Tony started coughing up roses with its stem, its leaves, even spikes. The flowers were also covered in blood. Tony had thought roses are beautiful and romantic, but now he thought they are deadly...
Loki kept asking Tony for the name of the person Tony was in love with, even though only their name, or promising that he won't tell them. It still didn't help.
The god was heartbroken when he saw Tony coughed up numerous bloody flowers onto the floor. But now he knew that he could do nothing for that. The Midgardian was still refusing to tell Loki who his secret lover was.
“Please.” “Stark. I beg you.” Tony told him he would rather die knowing that they didn’t love him. Loki couldn't help him anymore.
Two months had passed, with Tony's sickness getting more and more serious each day. They still spent time together offen, but their silent and peaceful moments were always interrupted by Tony's occasional violent coughs. Loki was worried about him, he was afraid that Tony would pass away without him knowing.
One day, Loki was reading a book in his room. When Jarvis, Tony's Al, informed Loki should go to the lab and check on the engineer.
And when he arrived at the lab, Loki's eyes widened in utter shock. He covered his mouth and touched Tony’s body. “No, no-” he broke down and cried. The event he didn't want to happen the most occured.
Tony was laying on the floor, his eyes dull, his skin had lost its original vibrant colour and became pale. On his chest and on the floor were uncountable roses covered in blood.
“No, Tony- no.” Loki choked out, “Don't leave me, my dear friend-” Tony reached up for Loki, wanting for a hug. And Loki did. “I'm so sorry… I-” Tony muttered, but coughed, “My throat hurts.”
Loki looked at him with sad eyes. “I'm so sorry- that ... that I hid from you-” The-the- truth.” Tony said. “It was... it was…” “Who is it?!” Loki asked impatiently.
“You.” Tony said, and inhaled sharply. He never exhaled again.
The mortal's body became cold, his eyes staring into nothingness. Loki let out a scream of pain and leant his head on the body and cried.
“I loved you. Anthony. I loved you! And you didn't tell me!” Loki yelled. “But now... I can't…”
Suddenly, Loki let out a cough, and more followed, at last, a few blue flower petals dropped from his mouth. The god gasped, and lied down next to the mortal, crying.
Seemed like Loki had to go through the pain Tony had…
“We’ll see each other soon, Anthony.”
~The End~