cuttingremark | For starkingenuity

Pizza is pretty good. Loki would dare say it's the best thing he's eaten on Earth so far, but that isn't a very large sample size to pull from. He wouldn't say it's the best thing ever, but the appeal is apparent.

Dinner is surprisingly easy. Everyone is tired, so much of it passes in silence with the occasional question or comment thrown around. He can feel Romanoff watching him through much of the meal, though she's been doing that all day. He suspects she's mainly here to watch him on behalf of SHIELD, to report back the moment he messes up. Briefly he wonders about that morning's fight and what she told Fury about it.

She speaks with Tony alone and Loki feels his bonded's shame as he goes off to find Pepper. He feels the same sort of deep sadness, but it has a more resigned quality to it than this morning. No doubt the human has had time to think and is better prepared now. Loki wishes the red head would give it a chance, but he also understands why she wouldn't.

Seeing his brother's sadness, Thor suggests some form of entertainment. Rogers says he's working through watching modern Midgardian movies and asks JARVIS to put the latest one on the large screen in front of them. The Captain doesn't make it long, however; quickly succumbing to the weariness of a day's hard work shortly after the opening musical number.

Tony comes back and sits next to him on the couch. Loki unconsciously moves and throws his legs over Tony's lap.

"It is an interesting form of entertainment," he says, pointing at the projection, "though it lacks something from a live performance. Thor started crying when the father lion died."

"It was very emotional!"

“Who authorized Disney? It’s not Asgardian friendly,” Tony says, draping an arm over Loki’s legs like it’s easy to do. He’s never been one for physical affection in public, but this seems more like an extension of himself.

Meekly, from the corner, nibbling on a chicken wing without any sauce, Banner raises his hand. “I like this one.”

Maybe the Tower’s turned into this weird frat party, and Tony doesn’t know how long he won’t mind it, but for now, it feels nice to be surrounded by people that don’t seem to hate him.

He’s not going to tell Banner to stop his research on separating him and Loki, though, but he isn’t sure he’ll want it to happen if there ends up being a breakthrough.

The connection feels strong again. And without a barrier now. Tony will let himself be angry at that though later.

“At least it’s not Beauty and the Beast,” Tony muses. “But the music for that one is better.”

Loki is starting to like Bruce. He's insanely curious about the beast supposedly hiding in the man, but it's uncouth to bring up such delicate matters without actual reason. The scientist had been very patient in answering Loki's questions about the movie, though they had to do so more quietly after Thor shushed them the third time.

"Wait, what makes this 'not Asgardian Friendly'? It is just a show for children, correct?"

Tony makes some absent gesture at Thor before he leans over Loki’s legs to get himself some pizza. Lokis, it seems, make fairly decent lap tables. “Seems to me like you have your answer,” Tony points out. “Animated stories confuse some of you.”

Meaning Thor of course. Tony doesn’t dislike the Asgardian Crown Prince, but his loyalties obviously side with Loki.

“It’s better than Star Wars,” Bruce points out and after a moment’s pause, he wrinkles his nose. “Too soon?”

“Or too early,” Tony remarks and bites into his slice.

"I am not confused by anything!" Thor says, not taking his eyes off the screen. "This is a wonderful tale so far."

Loki rolls his eyes and grabs another slice himself. The calorie-heavy food is perfect for regaining his strength. He's eaten what adds up to a little over two full pizzas by himself, mostly pulling from different types in order to sample everything. So far he likes the one with pineapple and ham the best.

"Now this 'Star Wars' sounds interesting. What is it about?" And are you ready for Loki to nit-pick everything about the Force?

A lengthy discussion of plot and lore later sees Thor thoroughly annoyed that there had been talking during crucial moments of his movie, Steve jerk awake for a moment before shifting to sleep again at a new and equally uncomfortable angle, and Tony continuously trying to get Bruce to side with him.

He’s drawn to the Gamma radiation riddled scientist as much as Loki is, curious and appreciative of his strangeness and the way he hides at every turn. Tony wants to pry him out. Like a hermit crab. Or a Pearl. Neither are exceptionally good metaphors.

Eventually, Bruce decides it’s time to get to bed and while there aren’t that many spaces that are furnished in the Tower, there’s enough space and beds to accommodate them. “Should we...” he asks, glancing at the snoring Captain America, and Tony shrugs.

“He’ll be fine. Romanoff will be back with a new assignment in a few hours and he’ll work out whatever kinks he’s got— Or probably not,” he says, capitalizing on the double entandre. “I think he’s too represented to work out any kinks.”

It takes a lot for Tony to ignore Thor’s questions, and when the Thunderer realizes he’s being ignored, he loudly proclaims he is off to see the Lady Jane. That leans Tony and Loki with lots of pizza crusts.

Loki snickers at the 'kinks' joke, waving Thor off with a 'tell you later.' He pouts, but quickly gets over it when he brings up going to see Jane.

"Careful not to swallow a bug on the way there," Loki teases as Thor goes out to the landing pad to.

The common area finally quiet, Loki settles more on the couch and snags a final piece of Hawaiian pizza.

"Dr. Banner was telling me there is a live stage adaptation of that Lion King movie. Have you seen it?"

Pepper used to tell him that Broadway would build character, but he’s always resisted. “No. Recent East Coast re-transplant,” he explains, resisting the urge to once again snag food from Loki. He doesn’t care for that observation at all in himself but at least he can stop himself from doing it.

He takes instead to gently rubbing his thumb into Loki’s leg, over his trousers of course, and wonders briefly if Asgardians, or Jotuns in Asgardian shape, have leg hair.

“Do you want to go and see it?” Tony asks, glancing in Loki’s direction. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to spread a little New York culture to another new transplant. They could be on Earth together for a long time.

The gentle massage on his leg relaxes Loki even further, causing him to sink down to the point of being almost horizontal on the couch. He stretches out almost like a cat.

"That sounds lovely, but perhaps after the city is a bit more stable." He's partially here to help rebuild, it feels wrong to take some sort of leisure before that is done.

“You really haven’t been here in a few decades,” Tony laughs, causing Rogers behind them to jerk awake again. He actually makes a startled cry, which causes the older human to to hook an arm over the back of the couch and blink at him. The blond looks disoriented and then a little embarrassed. “Pick one of the rooms, Rogers. Actually sleep.”

It might be the kindest thing Tony’s said to the guy. Ever.

He settles his chin on his hand and looks back to Loki. “Reform takes a lot more work than one day of being a decent guy. I should know. We should go to bed too.”

He gives Loki’s legs a tap to indicate that he wants to get up as Rogers thanks him and shambles out of the room. Tony doesn’t watch him go, gaze focused solely on Loki.

“Or do you want a separate room too?”

"I am well aware," Loki says, watching Rogers tumble off the the chair with a smirk. "I have no plans of stopping my work after a single building. I vowed to help the city restore itself, and I will hold to that vow."

Loki slowly peels his legs away from Tony so they can both stand. He is very tired, probably would have fallen asleep like Rogers had he not been engaged in conversation, but the food has given him enough energy to at least get to a bed.

"I am far too tired to pretend I want to sleep in a separate room. Unless you think sleeping together will cause complications for you with the others."

“I should probably care,” Tony says with half a shrug. “But let’s be honest here. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me.” Except, perhaps, what Loki thinks of him. But that’s debatable given their connection now.

It’s a familiar road traveled. Just yesterday, Tony had ‘sprung’ Loki from the lab’s containment to lead him to his bed, after all. Tony doesn’t feel the need to speak, though if Loki wants to comment on the austerity of Stark’s aesthetic, he certainly can. There are no rich room dressings, no tapestries, nothing really of note. The bed is plain but comfortable. The walls are blank. The windows show a view of a half demolished city that Tony commands JARVIS to shut out with the blinds closing.

Tony undresses to his boxers and tugs down the black and red quilt to reveal plain white sheets beneath. There are no furs. So if Loki gets cold, he’ll have only Tony to help with that.

Loki had already donned the soft tunic and trousers he sleeps in before the movie began, so no change of clothes happens for him. He pulls back the covers on the other side of the bed and slides under them. They are soft, as is the bed, something Loki is very grateful for.

The lack of furs don't worry him, he never got cold that easily, but the lack of their insulations may pose a surprising problem for Tony if Loki decides to snuggle up. His skin is much cooler to the touch, especially his hands and feet.

"If it's all the same to you, I think we will forgo our Asgardian lesson for the night. I do not believe I can keep my eyes open for much longer." The weariness he feels is almost like helping someone move as opposed to a day of working out: a long day spent doing moderately strenuous work where the tiredness creeps up on you.

As Loki settles in and breaks the disappointing (of understandable) news about their new, ritual nightly lessons, Tony slips an arm around his chest, under his arms, and presses himself against the other.

He probably ought to have given more warning than that, but the time to fight the bond with Loki has already ended. He sleeps better like this, though he’d been more of a solo sleeper even when he shared the bed with Pepper. If last night time him anything, it was that touch with his bonded was tantamount to a good night sleep.

He’s gone so long with such terrible dreams that he’ll happily spoon Loki for a chance at rest.

Once again, Loki sleeps soundly. It would be nice to believe it was due to the hard day's work, but he knows that's only part of it. As he wakes up on the third day of having found his soulmate, he finds it's getting harder and harder to even think of the excuses anymore. He feel comfortable with Tony, more comfortable than he's ever felt next to anyone. Why should he even try to pretend he doesn't?

The early morning light shines around the edges of the lowered blinds, just enough to not make the arc reactor in Tony's chest unbearably bright by comparison. Loki studies the human more closely as he sleeps: the subtle variations in color in his hair, the way his eyes flicker behind closed lids, the subtle lines just starting to form around his eyes.

He could get up, perhaps start breakfast, begin discussing the day's plan with the Captain (he can tell the man is likely an early riser), but that would mean leaving the warm bed and his soulmate. The world could wait for just a few more minutes.

He does, however, sit up, gently maneuvering Tony's head from his chest to his lap. Holding out a hand, a book appears: "The Hobbit" by one JRR Tolkin. Banner had said it was a classic of modern Midgardian literature, so it seemed a good idea to read.

There is not one moment where Tony believes he’s with anyone else when he drifts from sleep nearly a full hour later. There’s not many times in his life where he’s woken up this way, no dream to plague him and hold him down, no spike of ‘inspiration’ so painful he couldn’t risk laying still for a moment more. He slips a hand up Loki’s leg, thumb massaging his knee cap before his palm falls still again.

“The Hobbit?” There’s just an instinctive knowledge of the book Loki is reading, and that he is reading at all, before Tony even begins to wake. It’s a blessing to wake with such a beautiful picture in his mind, too.

There is a lot to do, but Tony chooses to spend a few more minutes with his bonded before slipping out of bed towards the shower. An invitation for the other to join us very nearly on his lips, but gets left unsaid.

"Dr. Banner suggested it to me," Loki says, flipping another page. He's well over halfway done judging by his placement in the book. "Well, he actually suggested the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, but said I could start here as it was technically composed first."

The hand that turned the page comes down to rest in Tony's hair. "We should not be too long. No doubt the others will want to get as early a start as possible." That said, it's not like he's exactly hopping out of bed himself.

Though it may be a no to the shared shower, Tony isn’t heart broken. He doesn’t take too long, though he does make a point of washing his hair quickly before shaving and dressing again. Loki’s presence has reduced the anxiety of wetting his head a great deal but his habits are hard to break.

Breakfast is quick, a JARVIS provided continental affair shared because all of the Avengers and Loki as Cap goes over their marching orders for the day. The next week or so is much the same. Breakfast. Clean up New York. Meet with leaders. Dinner. Asgardian lessons or sometimes films, and then a separation of the majority of their members before Tony and Loki slipped off to bed. Tony can honestly say it’s the most time he’s spent with any number of people, but he doesn’t exactly hate it.

By the end of the week, New York more or less working again, the group splits. Steve heads to DC to work more closely with SHIELD, Tony or or less nopes out of that but his connection with Loki isn’t something that can be overlooked or allowed to just carry on without study.

And it’s for that reason, not long after the team’s dispersal, that Tony and a rather sharply Midgardian dressed Loki head down to HQ. Ostensibly, it’s because there has been Chitauri technology detected in Europe and they want a consultation, but as Tony flies them out of New York, he can’t help but state how he really feels.

“I had having a babysitter.”

Through the week Loki rides the find line between working until he's bone tired and true magical exhaustion. He has years of experience avoiding just such things, and finds smaller ways to conserve his energies such as refraining from using magic outside of cleanup activities. Still, at the end of the week, he feels like he needs to sleep for the next month. Luckily they do get a few days rest before being called down to SHIELD.

Loki makes a vague noise of agreement.

"It is annoying, but probably the best outcome to be hoped for. At least they aren't actively trying to put me in a cell." He adjusts his black suit jacket slightly. The god finds he rather likes the Midgardian clothes Tony had pointed him towards, even if they aren't as comfortable as Asgardian threads.

"Besides, this should be a relatively short trip. Chitahuri technology is fairly rudimentary on a galactic scale. Once they understand the basics, it isn't hard to extrapolate the rest."

“That’s not good,” Tony grumbles, pulling the quinjet out of the clouds to see the ground again. Tony had almost insisted that they fly commercial after Loki told him about being DB Sweeney, but the thought of breathing the same air as so
Many other people, not to mention having to smile at the flight attendants changed his mind.

He sets JARVIS on the flight path before he turns in the jump seat towards Loki. His sneakered foot slides forward and lightly hits against the shiny black shoes Loki seems to appreciate.

The guy does look good in his chosen threads. Tony can’t help but let his eyes linger over the rim of his red tinted lenses.

“That means there could be a lot of not so great people doing a lot of really bad things with dead metal space whales.” Tony smirks just before the proximity alarm goes off and JARVIS banks the quinjet hard to the left to avoid whatever is incoming.

Telling the human the story of his time as DB Cooper had honestly been more fun than living it. He had no idea the tale had grown so infamous! Perhaps he would have to create one of these twitters his soulmate was always talking about...

"Well, we'll simply have to find them and put an end to it." Loki's foot pushes out and bumps Tony's sneakers in return. "Speaking of, how much do you actually trust SHIELD with these weapons?" Loki doesn't trust them at all, but he will admit he is biased. He does trust Tony's judgement on the matter, even without the bond. The human is cautious, especially with matters of advanced technology.

Loki on Twitter? Yes. Tony is pushing for that one hard. He’s already gotten him a phone, shown him how to download books, but the chaos the Asgardian could cause on social media is just too good for Tony not to encourage.

Tony is just a single second from telling Loki exactly how he feels about SHIELD when the klaxon goes off in earnest.

“J—?”

“Sorry sir. There is a missile incoming. Would you care to take back the controls?”

Tony arches an eyebrow and pulls up the aft view camera and radar. “Over the US? J, give me more than just visuals!”

"What convenient timing," Loki grumbles, getting out of his seat to move to the back of the quinjet. Coincidences are a myth, in Loki's opinion, so the fact that they are suddenly attacked as they were talking about SHIELD does not escape his notice. Still, there are more important matters to attend to at the moment.

Summoning an Uru dagger, he hastily starts scratching runes into the metal of the floor. Were he not still rebuilding his energy from the week of clean up, he would be able to conjure a shield for the aircraft without them, but he's not pushing it.

"Warn me if we're about to get hit!" he calls back to Tony in the cockpit.

Tony doesn’t share Loki’s paranoia about SHIELD if only because they need them both alive to use Loki. Tony is a bargaining chip, one more effective still because his own ingenuity is useful to the cause. Whatever Tony is, he is generally pretty willing to help out when and however possible. Even if it’s just to show off a new toy.

He pulls back on the joystick and turns the quinjet to a hard right, banking vertical for two seconds. He probably should have warned Loki about that, but the god is intuitive. He’s survived hundred of battles. He’ll figure it out.

Evening them out, JARVIS identifies two more missiles locking on them. “Two more,” Tony calls back, just as one explodes too far in the distance. Mechanical issues? Tony doesn’t stop to think about it.

“JARVIS, tell Fury we might be a little late!”

The sudden bank catches Loki off guard, but he's quickly able to catch himself before toppling head-over ass.

"A warning would have been nice!" he yells as he scrambles to the runes to add the last one. Pushing his magic into them, the quinjet is surrounded by a soft green glow.

"The shield can take one hit, but I'm not so sure about the second! How are they targeting us?"

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