Hey guys thanks for reading.
Hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Mornings are usually Tony's favourite time, mostly because Loki isn't awake yet and won't wake up for a while, but also because in reality it is the only time he can see Pepper now.
Loki's metaphoric leash on Tony has grown shorter since the challenge only a few days ago and where Tony was once able to roam the campsite almost alone he was now unable to do so without Loki's presence.
So essentially he was more of the man's pet than anything else. Which for a man with a free spirit like Tony was annoyingly frustrating and he let the other man know that whenever he could.
He climbs out of the bed softly removing Loki's arms from his waist in the process with a shiver before moving in search of some food, he was hungry and thirsty and he had the overwhelming sting in his bladder that meant he needed to pee.
He pokes his head out of the tent ad motions to one of the guards who looks at him like a goldfish.
"Seriously man, I need to pee." He calls, but the man just continues to stare.
Fine, since the guard won't accompany him to take a leak he will go by himself and get both he and the guard in trouble, which is perfectly fine with him because he wants to get this arsehole in trouble.
But as soon as his leg has left the warmth of the royal tent the guards spears lower so that he is unable to get past.
"You're kidding me right?" he says with a raised brow as he stares at one of the guards who remains impassive.
The man opposite him speaks first in a loud commanding voice.
"Lord Loki has forbidden you to leave the tent without his say."
"I think 'Lord Loki' would rather you let me out to pee rather than pee on his expensive carpets like some sort of stray."
One of the guards scoffs but is quickly silenced by the other one who glares at the man before turning his attention back to the younger male.
Tony groans and rolls his eyes because he knows what is going to happen and he where he will end up and that is back in the tent with the overwhelming urge to pee. He turns around and faces the overly furnished tent and frowns, Loki continues to lie on the bed his body now spread completely out obviously loving all the spare room on the bed.
He contemplates going over and waking the Prince up, but he knows that the Prince is not a morning person and that it will end up terribly for him if he were to wake the other man up.
So instead he moves over to one of the seats, it is soft and comfortable, really Tony only knows one good use for them and Pepper isn't here to reminisce too much on that topic, so he throws himself down and crosses his legs to the best of his ability. He begins to dance around in his seat as the overwhelming need to pee is overtaking all of his hunger and thirst.
He puffs his cheeks in annoyance as he holds it in and it is actually quite painful.
There is the opening of the tent and Tony spins around in excitement expecting to see Pepper, to see the girl that makes his palms sweaty and his brain become a jumble of words and phrases that make no sense and make him sound like a town drunk, even though he has been the town drunk on many occasions.
But when he looks for orange hair all he sees is white hair and an ugly crooked nose and he frowns at the newcomer.
His need to go to the toilet diminishes.
"Who are you?"
The woman jumps slightly, well he thinks it is a woman, he isn't really sure but the word bear comes to mind when he sees her, before shoving a glare at the young man.
"The new maid."
Tony freezes and he turns to a thoughtful glare as he tries to piece everything together.
"What happened to the old one?" he asks softly aware that Loki could wake up at any moment but he needs to know, he really needs to know what happened to Pepper, to see if she is okay to know that no one has harmed her.
The old woman shrugs her shoulders and glares at the man again, a pale of water in her hand.
"How am I meant to know." Is all she says and it takes all Tony's effort not to run up to her and grip her by her apron and demand where Pepper is, well that and the fact he can hear the rustling of bed sheets and linen behind him.
He doesn't turn around; instead he simply watches the space where the old woman once stood.
She said she was a maid and not a slave, that hits Tony hard and judging from her accent she is also from Asgard, she was probably his nurse maid when he was a child, judging from her familiarity with the tent and at how comfortable she is.
"Get up Child."
Tony spins around in his chair to find Loki face down the blankets completely ripped off his body and a loud snarling groan, that Tony has never heard before in his life. The old Lady stands above the sleeping figure, the blankets held in her pudgy hands.
Tony watches the scene in rapt amusement until the old lady calls Tony forward.
"You there," Tony looks up at her with an innocent smile. "Gather the pail and bring it here."
Honestly Tony doesn't know if he should listen to the woman or not, but either way he goes to move to get the pail.
"If you get that pail, so help me Stark."
Tony spins on his heel and faces the bed, where Loki now sits upright, his hair all over his face as he scowls at the woman in front of him.
"When I sent for a new maid, I had not thought they would send you." Loki growls, getting out of the bed with a slow turn.
The old woman laughs and moves around the bed picking up a few items of clothing that have been lying around.
"Who else would they send to keep you in order." She continues to pick up the clothing and other items before dumping them in a small pile in the corner of the room.
Tony sits back down slowly, he has no idea what is happening, but he thinks there is going to be a power shift. Suddenly there is a hand lifting his arms up in the air and the little old woman is taking his tunic off in a hurry.
"And when have you ordered your slave's cloths to be cleaned." The cool air hits Tony and he shivers at the cold air, they couldn't have planned this invasion during the summer or spring at least, it would have made this all so much more bearable.
Loki scoffs and throws himself onto the chair opposite Tony with a hand covering half of his face. Tony has a feeling the Prince had too much to drink last night, it would probably explain why he had attempted to pick Tony up like a bride and declare that he was going to 'take his new bride and take him to their married bed.' Really it made no sense to Tony who had ended up landing on his shoulder as soon as the man tried to pick him up.
It hurt but it wasn't too bad.
"I has never come to mind." He grumbles.
The old lady scoffs and Loki gives her a glare that has Tony want to scream to the woman to run for her life, but the woman simply glares back at the prince.
"You need to look after your things, Prince Loki."
"I need a better maid."
"I need to pee." And suddenly everyone is looking at Tony in looks of disgust.
"Well then go pee, you half-wit." The old woman cries and Tony turns to glare at her shortly before turning to look at Loki.
"Your guards won't let me leave to pee." He states and Loki lifts his head and watches Tony with a strange glance.
"And that is my problem?"
"Well unless you want me to pee all over your expensive carpets."
Loki goes to open his mouth but the old woman beats him to it.
"In your father's name, just let him go to the bathroom."
Loki growls at the old woman before shifting his head towards the entrance of the tent.
Tony almost jumps out of his seat, not giving a damn that he isn't wearing a top and that it is freezing outside.
"Put on your Tunic." Loki growls as the maid throws the fleeting figure a clean tunic, Tony pulls it over his head with a growl and almost bowls over the guards who watch him in shock and confusion.
He misses Pepper, he really does, but this old lady can really give him some ground in living with the crazed Prince.
That however doesn't mean he is willing to sit down and just allow the Asgardians to keep him locked up, no because he will get out of her and he will find a plan to do so.
