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Tony's heart was hammering in his chest, a type fear he didn't wish he would ever have to live through. The fear of loosing what he loves most, his son. When S.H.I.E.L.D asked him to help with the Loki situation, he was very hesitant because he knew he would have to leave Peter. He knew Jarvis was looking after him at the tower, but what if that wasn't enough? Well, turns out he was right to be skeptical, because now Loki was at his tower, his son in there with him.
Tony was going as fast as he could, having ran out of the discussion with the other Avengers when they figures out that Loki was going to use his tower for his plans. Not having said a word to the others before he was off, Tony knew that Rogers was going to be pissed with him afterwards, but right now he didn't care, the only thing on his mind was getting to his son in time.
The Tower came into view, and Tony wished that the suit could go just a little faster.
Finally, he landed the suit and all but ran inside while the suit was being taken off.
Heart in his chest he ran inside, ready for everything. Or, that was what he thought. Loki, kneeling on the floor with a crying Peter in his arms was not what he was expecting.
"Bambino?" Tony spoke up, trying to get the attention of the 5 year old. Peter jolted, looking up at his with shiny eyes full of tears.
"Daddy!" Peter all but screamed, running over to his father.
Tony was fast to pic him up, pulling him into his chest protectively. He rocked slightly back and forth, trying to calm him down. Tony turned towards Loki, ready to go off at him, b ut stopped when he saw the black haired man sitting with tears streaming down his face.
"Loki?" Tony asked, taking a slow step towards the other man. Loki looked up at him, pain clear in his eyes.
"I'm sorry" Loki said, almost in a whisper. Tony's eyes went wide, not expecting an apology of all things. "I never wanted this"
"You what? Never wanted to take over earth?" Tony snarked out of reflex, tightening the hold on his son.
Loki looked down at his hands, more tears streaming down his face. A small hand tapped Tony's cheek, and he looked down at Peter, Bambi-eyes staring up at him in response.
"Daddy, he was hurt by bad guys" Peter whispered. Tony looked towards Loki, shocked by the news.
"Is it true?" Tony asked, slightly softer this time. Loki spoke up, a little higher than a whisper.
"His name is Thanos. He waned me to get the tesseract. He wants all the infinity stones, and I am one of his puppets to get the Space stone to him"
"Infinity stones? What and why would he want those?" Tony asked, still a little skeptical of the God in front of him. Loki finally looked up at him.
"The Infinity stones are what keeps this world at balance. He wants the stones to 'reform' the balance in this world. He wants to use the stones to wipe out half the universe" Loki said, eyes flickering to Peter before Turing back to him.
Tony tightened the hold on his son just a little more, heart dropping to his stomach. If this was true, and that's a big if, Tony knew that they had to do everything in their power to keep all the stones away from this Thanos. The thought of possibly leaving or loosing his son because he didn't believe Loki makes his stomach turn.
"How do I know you're not lying?" Tony asked the man, voice as steady as he could get it.
Before Loki could say anything, the door busted open and the other Avengers came bursting in. Peter let out a tiny scream, hiding his face in Tony's neck. Everyone froze at the scene in front of him, both Rogers and Romanov staring at Tony and his son as if he had grown two heads.
"Brother! I ask you to stand down right now!" Thor boomed, walking towards his brother with determination.
"Thor, wait" Tony interrupted. Loki's head snapped towards him, shocked.
"Stark, what are you doing?!" Rogers demanded, walking towards him. Tony took a step back, not wanting the Captain near his son. Rogers stopped at that, but still had a demanding look on his face.
"I'm trying to save everyone, Rogers" Tony sneered at the man, angry that the other had so little faith in him. "There is more to this than what we thought, and I don't think the best corse of action is to arrest Loki right now.
"Down" Peter suddenly whispered, wiggling in Tony's hold.
"Not right now, baby" Tony whispered back, gliding his thump over his son's chubby cheeks.
"Please?" The boy pouted, and Tony hesitantly put Peter on the ground.
Tiny sounds of Peter's small feet rang through the room as the boy headed towards Loki. Everyone except Tony sucked in a breath. Loki looked at the boy in shock when the Peter sat down in front of him.
"You looked scared, so I am here to make you feel better!" Peter whisper-shouted, as if it was a secret. Loki gave a small smile at the boys antics, slowly taking a shaking hand out towards the boy.
"That you, Peter. I really appreciate it" Loki answered. Peter beamed up at the God, giving one of Tony's favorite giggles.
"Tony" Rogers snapped Tony out of his thoughts. Looking towards the captain, Tony answered.
"Rogers"
"Peter!" Peter yelled, throwing his hands in the air. He giggled, looking towards his dad. His eyes was still red and puffy from crying, but still, Tony thought, his son was just as perfect as ever.
"Yes, baby, your name is Peter" Tony smiled at his child, his heart warming as Peter played with one on looking horns. Tony looked back at the others, determination in his eyes. "And I believe that the best course of action right now is to bring Loki with us back to S.H.I.E.L.D., not to imprison him, but to ask him questions on what has happened to him. He needs help, and we work to help everyone." Tony said. Thor looked shocked, casting a sad look towards his brother.
"Is this true, brother? Is this why you haven't been home for a while?" Thor asked. When Loki only looked down at Peter instead of answering, everyone in the room knew the answer.
"Are you going to help him?" Peter asked, looking at everyone in the room. Bruce spoke up for the first time.
"Yes, Peter, we are going to try" Peter smiled at the scientist, bruce smiling back at the small child.
"Are you sure?" Rogers asked, and Tony gave a firm nod. Rogers nodded back, looking down at the two on the floor. Suddenly Natsahsa spoke up, looking at Tony with a irritated look.
"How did you manage to hide a whole as child from me?" Natasha asked, making everyone in the room laugh.
"I am very good at protecting those I love, Nat" Tony said in amusement. The assassin only huffed, before giving a tiny smile.
"Daddy, can I have a juice pop?" Peter asked, patting over to his dad.
"Sure, bambino" Tony smiled, taking Peter's small hand.