The faint blue glow from the arc reactor lit the darkened room, wavering slightly as Tony's chest rose and fell. He watched the light shift with a vague air, but was too used to the sight to find it remotely fascinating. His insomnia had been worse than usual in the past weeks, and he had increasingly found himself awake throughout the night. Nonetheless, his being unable to remain unconscious for more than an hour or two at a time was proving frustrating.
With an angry huff, Tony ripped off the sheets and slid out of bed. Stumbling somewhat in the darkness, he exited the bedroom and into the extravagant open living space atop Stark Tower.
"Lights, J.A.R.V.I.S." he grunted, and the bright downlights blinked into action. Tony made a beeline for his personal (and very well-stocked) bar, reasoning that a nightcap could hardly do him any harm. He picked up the heavy glass decanter, poured himself a brandy, and almost dropped it in surprise.
On the floor, leaning up against the cupboard, was a leather-clad and extremely bloodied man. His dark hair was matted, his armor scratched and worn, and a thin trickle of blood ran along his hairline. He shifted uncomfortably in his sleep, head tilting slightly so that Tony could see his face.
"What?" he exclaimed blankly, shaking his head in confusion. "Loki?"
The man's eyes flickered open, pupils dilute and unfocused. His brow furrowed as though in pain as they drifted shut again but a moment later.
"Loki, what in the hell are you doing here?" Tony snapped, trying to sound imposing but finding it difficult considering the vulnerable way in which he was propped up against the wall.
"I had... Nowhere else." he replied, every word an effort. "They said they would find me, kill me..."
"Who? The Avengers?" Tony asked, failing to recall Fury mentioning any such mission the last time he had seen him.
"The Avengers? No - they haven't the nerve." Loki laughed, coughing slightly. "The Chitauri."
"I thought they were your best buds." Tony stated questioningly.
"Oh no, no. They are not pleased with me, not one bit." Loki responded, wincing as he straightened up slightly.
"They did this to you?" Tony clarified in shock.
Loki opened his eyes, staring up at him with an oddly innocent air. He looked, Tony thought, far more vulnerable than he had ever seen him before.
"They aren't overly pleased with me, may I suffice to say." he said finally.
"Well, alien army or not, they're not breaking into this tower any time soon." Tony replied instinctively, cursing himself a moment later.
Loki's eyes widened in surprise, and Tony averted his gaze, hiding the slight blush on his cheeks.
"Why are you here, anyway?" he returned snappily. "Aren't you meant to be in jail?"
"Ah, well, yes, I suppose I am." Loki replied, chuckling softly. "I am not fond of incarceration, however. Captivity suits me ill."
"Oh, okay, great." Tony said, rolling his eyes. "So you escape prison, get yourself captured and tortured by a bunch of psychotic aliens, and then come crawling into my high rise? Fury is going to kill me."
"How unfortunate. I had hoped that I may evade prison for a while longer, but it seems I am destined to pay my debt." Loki sighed, taking each breath tentatively, as though testing for a broken ribs.
"No, no, you misunderstand me. I'm not going to hand you over to Fury." Tony amended quickly.
Loki's eyes widened. "No? On what grounds? Pity, I suppose-"
"Not pity. Empathy." Tony replied shortly. "You've got daddy issues, I've got daddy issues... Besides, you need a place to mend yourself up, and I happen to have a conveniently located skyscraper for the purpose."
"I do not expect you-"
"Shut up. Just accept the offer."
Loki nodded his head gratefully, emerald eyes surveying Tony with curiosity.
"I am in your debt." he said finally.
"Yeah, whatever." Tony grumbled. "Do you want to lie down somewhere more comfortable?"
Loki raised his eyebrows.
"On the couch, I meant." he added awkwardly. "I, er, meant-"
"That would be most welcome, thank you." Loki replied graciously. His face screwed up as he tried to get to his feet, his arms trembling under the strain. Tony offered a hand of assistance, but Loki dismissed it with a cold glance, groaning in pain as he managed to haul himself upright.
"Pride still intact? Great, let's go." Tony commented, leading the way over to the sofa, followed by a hobbling Loki. "These Chitauri guys really did beat the shit out of you, didn't they?"
Loki sighed in relief as he fell back onto the black leather, but gave a short peal of laughter.
"You have no idea." he replied, eyes sliding shut as he leant back. It was only then that Tony noticed the man holding his hand tight to his torso, his palm flat to his armor.
"Take that hand away." Tony demanded, frowning slightly.
Loki opened his eyes, feigning surprise. "I am not sure I understand you."
"Move your hand." he repeated threateningly. Loki sighed and brought his hand away to reveal a bloody, jagged slash that tore right through his leather armor and into the flesh beneath. His hand was dripped scarlet liquid onto the polished concrete floor.
Tony cursed loudly at the sight of the wound.
"You need a doctor." he stated firmly.
"I am fine." Loki replied, rolling his eyes, but only managing to hide the pain in them somewhat. "I do not need some mortal fussing over every scratch-"
"That's more than a scratch, you idiotic diva-" Tony exclaimed, running a hand through his hair nerve-rackingly.
"What did you call me?" Loki snarled.
"You need to get that looked at." Tony finished, ignoring him. "At least let me put a bandage on it, or you'll bleed out."
"Absolutely not." Loki snarled immediately.
It was Tony's turn to roll his eyes. "Okay, how about this? I'll get the bandages, and you can do it yourself, if you won't let anyone else do it."
Loki narrowed his eyes. "Fine."
Tony turned away, muttering under his breath. "It's like dealing with a stubborn child."
"What?!"
"Nothing." Tony replied, flashing the god a falsely sweet grin as he disappeared out the doorway. A minute or two later he returned, several tightly-rolled bandages in his hand.
"Lucky OH&S calls for a first aid kit in my workshop." Tony said brightly, Loki giving him a deeply unimpressed glare as he handed him the bandages. He sat up and began to unroll one, before Tony coughed uncomfortably.
"What now?" Loki snapped.
"Well, you're, er, gonna need to take off some of that armor." he explained uncomfortably.
Loki raised his eyebrows in alarm.
"You can't bandage it over the top of all that leather and stuff." Tony stammered.
The dark haired man gave him a cold, threatening, lay-one-hand-on-me-and-you-are-dead stare. Tony stepped back and averted his eyes awkwardly as Loki shed his overcoat and unbuckled his leather tunic. He pulled it off, wincing slightly as the fabric skimmed over his wound. His torso, thin but muscular, was pale and dotted with blossoming purple bruises. His trembling but skilled hands quickly wound the bandage around his chest, and Tony, glancing over in spite of himself, could already see blood blossoming underneath the white fabric. Loki tucked in the end of the bandage and cast his gaze across to Tony.
"Satisfied?"
"Yep." Tony agreed, trying not to feel uncomfortable agreeing to such a statement whilst standing meters from a shirtless Asgardian god.
"If that is all, then..." Loki trailed off, lying back down and deliberately taking no consideration for the furniture as he kicked his boots up onto the sofa.
Tony bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing, and walked away, unnoticed by the god, whose eyes were already blissfully shut.