Chapter Text
‘I’m fine,’ Tony said before Loki could step into the room.
Loki paused in the doorway. An eyebrow inched up his forehead and beside him Bruce frowned. Neither had made a sound, and Loki hadn't had time to ask the question forming on his lips, and yet Tony had known.
‘How did you know?’ Loki asked after finally stepping into the kitchen.
Tony just shrugged a shoulder. He was still staring at Rhodes. Rhodes was clearly uncomfortable, but just sipped his drink calmly, letting Tony do what he wished.
Loki reached out to smooth a hand over Tony’s twitching fingers. Almost immediately he felt the Midgardian sag. A jolt where their skin touched made Loki’s fingers tingle, and he smiled when Tony glanced at him. ‘You must stop doing that,’ Loki commented.
Tony didn’t need an explanation; his fingers jerked beneath Loki’s. ‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘sorry.’
Shaking his head, Loki leaned over to press a kiss to Tony’s temple. Tony leaned into it, leaned further when Loki drew back and murmured, ‘It is fine.’
Tony still wasn’t well; his eyes were sunken, his beard was a mess, his hair… he didn’t look even remotely put together. Yet here he sat, staring Rhodes down, unwilling to let himself break down completely. Loki felt equal parts proud and sad. Tony had great personal strength; but he should not have to use it here, within his home.
So, Loki reached an arm around Tony and drew him closer. His mate sunk into his side willingly; Tony was clearly too tired to put up a fight.
‘Are you hungry at all?’ Loki murmured. Bruce had already moved to the fridge.
‘No,’ Tony mumbled.
Loki hummed. ‘Eat something,’ he said. ‘For me?’ he then added when Tony sighed.
Tony’s eyes shifted from Loki to Rhodes, to Banner, then swept around the room at large. Loki was fascinated by how quickly the young god’s mind worked. He took in Rhodes’ continued presence and the threat, the complication, he had become; he focused on Bruce briefly as the doctor ducked behind the refrigerator door and began rummaging around.
And then his eyes met Loki’s again and they didn’t hide. There was no shutter, no mask; not because Tony couldn’t hide from Loki, but because he didn’t have to. He didn’t have to be Banner’s friend or Rhodes’ ally. He was just… Tony.
When he blinked slowly, Loki smiled.
‘Okay,’ Tony said. There was so much left unsaid. ‘But if I eat something, then you have to.’
‘Very well,’ Loki responded. He wasn’t particularly hungry himself. His skin tingled, both from Tony’s close presence and the fact that Tony was continuing to manipulate Loki’s magic. But his stomach felt hollow and there was a pressure behind his eyes. It snaked into his temples every few blinks and Loki resisted the urge to put his head in his hands and just… go to sleep.
He played with Tony’s hair, even when Banner placed a bowl before him. It was some type of stew; chunks of meat and vegetables, a hearty broth that smelled of salt and spice. Loki nodded his thanks at Banner and Banner returned a small smile.
What a strange group we make , Loki mused as he looked around at his dining companions. Bruce was the only one with any true appetite. Though he clearly felt out of place with Rhodes by his side, he still sipped the broth he had made, chewed on the meat scattered throughout it, dipped his bread, and lifted it back to his mouth. Rhodes poked at his food much as Loki was doing and Tony nibbled on a piece of hard bread.
Tony nudged Loki in the side. Warmth spread from where his elbow made contact; a soft tingle followed. Loki smiled.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Eat,’ Tony said. He shot Loki a very mild glare when Loki snorted. ‘You promised.’
He pouted ever so slightly, a hint of the old Tony sneaking through his exhaustion. Loki knew that Rhodes’ presence wasn’t helping. Tony wanted to flop into Loki’s side and eat with his eyes closed; maybe hum and tell Bruce what a brilliant cook he was, all with a tiny smile on his face.
But he couldn’t, he couldn’t, because what if Rhodes couldn’t be trusted? What if Rhodes was the enemy? Any weakness shown before him could be used to hurt Tony, to hurt Loki-
Loki glanced at Rhodes. Tony wanted to trust him. Experience told him to be hesitant, to test and test and test. Experience also told him that sometimes he took his games too far.
While Banner held no ill will towards Tony, the same might not be true of Rhodes. What hoops would Tony make Rhodes jump through? Would he push and test and play until Rhodes had had enough? Would Rhodes walk away or be caught due to Tony’s carelessness? Or would he earn Tony’s trust quickly?
Loki had been staring for too long. Rhodes shifted uncomfortably beneath his gaze.
Loki smiled at the mortal. ‘How are you, Rhodes?’
‘Oh, you know,’ Rhodes drawled and rolled his eyes. Loki could just see the barest tilt of Tony’s lips from the corner of his eye. Clearing his throat, Rhodes leaned forward on his arms. ‘There’s, uh, actually something I wanted to talk about with you.’ His eyes darted between Tony and Loki. ‘Both of you.’
Tony paused from where he’d been idly stirring his stew. Loki’s was similarly untouched. Loki tilted his head and Tony said, ‘And what would that be?’
‘This whole… thing,’ Rhodes said, gesturing vaguely at the couple, ‘the kidnapping. I’ve been helping Loki play the media.’
Tony glanced at Loki, who just smiled serenely. With a huff, Tony turned his attention back to Rhodes. ‘We’re gonna have a long conversation later, mister.’
‘I look forward to it,’ Loki quipped.
Rhodes cleared his throat. ‘Anyway,’ he said, ‘I came up with a few things I wanna run past you.’
Tony gestured with his spoon. ‘Go on.’ Banner gave him a look that pointedly said eat, but Tony ignored the doctor completely.
Rhodes glanced between Tony and Loki. ‘Right, well, first thing’s first; Stark Industries.’
Loki saw Tony blink slowly. ‘Uh… what about it?’ he asked.
‘It’s been without a CEO for two weeks,’ Rhodes said, ‘you know, ‘cause Pepper went into hiding after the whole kidnapping thing.’
‘Right.’ Tony frowned down at his bowl. ‘I’m gonna have to replace her. Hey, Loki.’ He turned a big grin on Loki, who was already shaking his head.
‘No,’ he said. With Tony’s current state, Loki would agree to anything his mate asked. Any protest would be a token one at best. Best to say no before Tony started begging.
Tony pouted. ‘Fine,’ he muttered. ‘Rhodes, how are your business skills?’
‘Not good enough to lead a multibillion-dollar company,’ Rhodes retorted.
Tony glanced at Bruce, who said, ‘Not a damn chance, Tony; eat your food.’
Tony dutifully scooped up a mouthful of stew. He looked thoughtful as he chewed, and Loki figured he should at least attempt to eat his own meal.
‘Damn,’ Tony finally said. ‘Shit, fuck, okay. Okay.’ He dropped his spoon and dug his fingers into his eyes. ‘Okay… who’s leading the company now?’
‘Your CMO and CFO,’ Rhodes informed him. ‘They’re not Pepper, but they’ve both been with the company for years, so I figured they could handle everything until you got back.’
‘Right,’ Tony said. ‘I promote Hemp to CEO,’ he mused to himself, ‘and leave Cunningham where he is; he’s good with numbers. I get a new assistant for Hemp; he’s banging his current one.’
Rhodes just stared at him; eyebrows raised. Loki smiled into his stew.
‘And then I just need a new CMO,’ Tony muttered. ‘I’m sure there’s a hundred middle-aged white men in the company capable of doing it. I’ll, um… later.’ He reached up to rub his eyes. If Loki focused, he could feel the pressure headache currently building in Tony’s head. It wasn’t helped by the stiff neck muscles he’d acquired from sleeping sprawled out over Loki.
Loki swapped his spoon to his left hand and reached up to gently massage Tony’s neck. He felt his mate relax ever so slightly.
Tony sighed. ‘I’m sure there’s more shit I gotta look at,’ he muttered.
‘Probably,’ Rhodes agreed, ‘but I’d say the more important thing is, you know, you being kidnapped.’
Tony grunted. ‘What about it?’
‘What if Loki rescues you?’ Rhodes said.
Tony dropped his spoon. Loki’s clanged loudly against the side of his bowl as he jerked, his gaze snapping up to meet Rhodes’. Only Bruce was unaffected, calmly dabbing at his stew with a piece of bread. He looked up at them when they all remained silent, chewing with a thoughtful look on his face.
‘What?’ Tony said.
‘What?’ Loki echoed.
‘Clever,’ Bruce commented. Loki and Tony glanced at him, and Bruce smiled.
‘We fake a big rescue by Loki,’ Bruce said, ‘I’m guessing that’s what the colonel was getting at.’ He directed the latter portion of his sentence at Rhodes, who nodded quickly.
‘You’ve already proposed hearing Loki out; or, at least, not judging him too harshly for what he’s been doing,’ Rhodes said. ‘And Loki’s planted the seeds of SHIELD actively trying to hurt him. So why don’t we have Loki stage a breakout? He hears about your kidnapping, he doesn’t like it, he rescues you.’
‘But why?’ Tony demanded.
‘I am curious as to how you will spin this in our favour as well,’ Loki said, eyes set on Rhodes.
Rhodes nodded and held up a hand. ‘I get the scepticism, and yes, we need to hash out the details,’ he said, ‘but why wouldn’t it work?’
‘SHIELD would just use it as another example of me working with Loki,’ Tony said.
‘So?’ Rhodes retorted. Tony frowned. ‘They’re gonna be pushing that angle until you kill them, Tony. We have to make the best of it. SHIELD says you’re working with Loki? Yeah, well maybe Loki wants to work with you. Maybe he sees you stepping away from SHIELD as a tentative white flag at him. Maybe he thinks you could help him; help him with the media, with SHIELD, with Earth’s laws. And I’m thinking with Loki’s flair for the dramatics, he can make it look damn good.’
Loki snorted at that and Tony shot him a dirty look. ‘Rhodes is not wrong,’ Loki said. ‘And we have no plans for your sudden return,’ he added. He reached out to wipe the pout off Tony’s lips with his thumb. Tony blinked owlishly at him, exhaustion making every movement just a bit too slow. ‘Do you have any ideas?’ he queried.
Another slow blink. The pressure headache was building.
‘No,’ Tony mumbled. He looked far too tired suddenly, completely unable to keep up with their conversation.
Loki looked at Bruce. Tony’s slumped form hadn’t escaped Bruce’s eyes either.
Clearing his throat, Bruce pointed his spoon at Tony. ‘You guys should rest,’ he said. ‘You don’t want to overexert yourselves.’
When Tony said nothing, Loki pushed his bowl aside and stood. ‘A good idea, Dr Banner,’ he said. ‘Rhodes, we can discuss your ideas later.’
Rhodes just nodded and watched as Loki hauled Tony to his feet and shuffled him from the kitchen.
Tony frowned at the windows of the living space as they passed them.
‘Do they bother you?’ Loki asked.
Tony’s feet dragged as they climbed the stairs to their bedroom. ‘Do what bother me?’
‘You keep staring at the windows.’
Tony hummed as he replayed his behaviour. ‘Yeah, um...’ Loki waited, patient. He pushed the bedroom door open and allowed Tony to leave his immediate space. ‘I dunno,’ he said. He flopped heavily onto the bed and groaned. It was a deep sound, primal, that of an animal happily back within its own territory.
Loki sat on the bed. ‘There is much we must discuss.’
Tony muttered something under his breath, but Loki couldn’t make out any words.
‘The guilt you feel towards Banner and Strange,’ Loki continued. Tony rolled over to face him. ‘The guilt you feel towards me,’ he tacked on. Tony frowned as Loki looked down at him. Tony was half curled atop the messy covers, his legs still hanging over the edge of the bed. He looked so tired. ‘Rhodes,’ Loki added.
‘’m good with words,’ Tony mumbled. He pressed his face against his curled fists. ‘Normally.’
‘And matters of the heart?’ Loki asked. Tony huffed and Loki flopped backwards onto the mattress. It creaked beneath his weight and Loki let out a long, slow breath. His body ached and he hummed, processed that, before rolling over.
Tony was suddenly much closer, and he blinked at Loki. ‘Hi,’ he said.
Loki smiled. ‘Hello.’ A smile crept along Tony’s face. Loki reached out to cup his cheek and rubbed his thumb along the coarse stubble. ‘You are breathtaking,’ he murmured.
Tony ducked away, a flush spreading across his cheeks. Loki’s lips morphed into a grin.
‘What?’
‘You can’t say that shit,’ Tony mumbled. He’d hidden his face in the sheets, as though Loki wouldn’t be just as content with staring at the arch of his neck, the slant of his shoulder, the dip of his collarbone.
‘Can’t I?’ Loki clicked his tongue. ‘My apologies.’
With a snort, Tony’s eyes reappeared. ‘How would you like it, huh? If I stated calling you gorgeous and breathtaking all the damn time.’
‘You use gorgeous as a pet name,’ Loki pointed out. He laughed at the pout Tony gave him, then leaned in to kiss it away gently. When he drew back Tony’s eyes were weary. ‘You should focus on your health first,’ Loki murmured. ‘We can figure out what to do with Rhodes later.’
A soft sigh escaped Tony’s lips. ‘I dunno what to do,’ he mumbled. ‘I gotta test him, right?’ Loki said nothing. ‘If I don’t test him, I get fucked over like with Potts. But he’s my friend. You don’t test friends, Loki; you trust them.’
‘You have been betrayed,’ Loki said. ‘It’s understandable that you wouldn’t trust Rhodes completely. We are in a delicate position right now. Do not fault yourself for being concerned.’
‘I’m not concerned.’ Tony chewed on his lower lip. His fingers dug into the sheets beneath him. When he spoke, he didn’t meet Loki’s eyes; ‘I’m scared. What if he’s like Pepper?’
It wasn’t healthy, Loki knew. He and Tony reacted much the same way when they were betrayed by those they loved, or those they trusted. No number of apologies, no hard work or dedication, would ever erase that betrayal. Loki and Tony were creatures of immense pettiness and would remember a slight until the very end of their days.
They also didn’t react to those betrayals well. Lashing out and trying to destroy an entire Realm, plotting with an ancient creature to bring about the downfall of those who thought they could swindle you… they were not particularly healthy reactions.
Loki knew that. Loki had known it his entire life, right back to when Frigga had sat him down as a babe to explain that destroying Thor’s entire room was not the right reaction when Thor forgot to give you your ball back.
But Loki also knew that he cared not. He was a petty, spiteful creature, and he enjoyed lashing out. Bringing down those who plotted against you, bringing them to their knees and holding a dagger against their throats… Loki would wear a grin every time.
Loki would turn immediately against anyone who betrayed him. But Tony? Tony never forgot the good times. Loki knew that Tony still remembered all the good Potts had done for him. He remembered the long nights spent pouring over plans for Stark Industries and for the Tower. He remembered Potts dragging him back to his feet after Iron Man had been created. He couldn’t forget the years of friendship the two had had.
And it was the same with Rhodes.
Smiling ever so softly, Loki closed the distance between them to press their lips together. Tony exhaled against his mouth.
‘It will hurt if he is like Potts,’ Loki murmured. This close, Loki could see the flecks of honey in Tony’s eyes. ‘But you are strong. We will face him together and punish him.’
Tony stared.
‘And if he isn’t…’ Loki drew back. ‘You have a way of commanding the utmost loyalty of those who you love. Rhodes will be the same man he’s always been. He will just have a better understanding of who you are.’
Tony didn’t reply, but Loki hadn’t expected him to. He kissed Tony again and pulled himself up. His back hurt.
‘Where are you going?!’ Tony had jolted upward; his panic barely being kept contained.
‘I am going to change,’ Loki said. Tony relaxed slightly. ‘And then I am going to try and ease some of the aches in your neck.’
‘Oh.’ Tony was clearly uncomfortable with his outburst but didn’t wish to talk about it. It was just another thing to discuss later. While Tony was okay with the direction their relationship was taking, some of the things that came naturally to Loki were clearly still confusing Tony.
Loki wore his own sweatpants but pulled on one of Tony’s old, oversized shirts. It hung loosely from his frame but smelled so much like Tony that Loki brought the fabric to his nose and inhaled. When he looked up Tony was making himself comfortable on the bed.
Loki smiled. His mate was back.