Oh, hey look, I've started listening to 24 hours by Jem on repeat again. I wonder why.
Time didn't seem to move correctly. For some time was going by quickly. For others, it moved so slowly. The Enterprise had captured the Avenger in her tractor beam and pulled her out of the neutral zone before anyone else could attack them. It was Chekov who had spotted the two faint life signs on the Avenger in the shuttle bay. They were beamed straight to sick bay without question.
Loki had to be treated for an oxygen deficiency and blood loose. Tony was in much worse condition and had to be treated for a number of things from exposure to space, as well as a concussion and again, an oxygen deficiency. Bruce had been so mad that the two had once again ended up deprived of oxygen. But he did his job and with the help of the Enterprise med bay staff, worked on fixing the two up. Bruce would have Doctor Strange with him, but Strange had opted for comforting Wanda, along with Vision.
Kirk had tried to convince the Avenger's crew to rest, and while some of them did, about half of them refused at point blank. All the engineers, most from science and the navigator and pilot had all returned to the Avenger to start repairing her. Kirk sighed in fursteration and sent a handful of his engineers to help them. The Enterprise hadn't taken on nearly as much damage as the Avenger had.
Kirk managed to sideline most communication with Starfleet while everyone was recovering. Though another ship was sent with parts that were needed to repair the Avenger with. Otherwise the Enterprise and Avenger floated side by side, somewhere far outside the neutral zone.
Loki had recovered fully after a couple days. Something about his biology that the doctors couldn't figure out. But he didn't leave sick bay, even after he had been told he could leave. He kept his distance, but he watched over Tony, who was still unconscious. They'd patched him up but the strain from exposure to space and that explosion had been a lot. Every minute Loki spent watching he considered letting his powers heal Tony. Just one touch was all it took. But he was too afraid of hurting Tony.
It was a long week before Tony finally woke up. He was groggy and disoriented. The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't on the Avenger. This was the Enterprise sick bay. The second thing he noticed was that Loki was there, a couple beds away from his. Just sitting there and reading what was probably reports. "Heeeey. Commander Laufeyson."
Loki looked up from his PADD with a slight jerk of his head. He was surprised that Tony had spoken as he wasn't aware the man had woken up. He set his PADD down and stood up, moving over to sit on the bed next to Tony. Now that Tony was awake, he felt a little better being close by. "How are you feeling Tony?" He asked, "No formalities please. We're off duty."
Tony pulled himself into a sitting position, grunting a little due to sore muscles, "Never better," He joked, cracking a smile. He didn't want the mood to get to dark and depressing, so he tried to lighten it up. Make people feel better. Though, he was extremely glad to still be alive. How he was still alive, he wasn't completely sure to be honest. Someone had probably beamed him back to the Enterprise. Yeah, that seemed logical.
Loki nodded. It was good to see that Tony was doing well enough to be making jokes like that, though he could tell Tony was sore, likely from being unconscious for a week. "I was able to assist your computer with getting the transporters working enough to beam you onboard the Avenger. You've been unconscious since then, though Doctor McCoy and Doctor Banner do say you will be okay. The crew has been working on repairing the Avenger. There is a lot that will need to be discussed, but for now you need to rest," Loki said, encouraging Tony to lay back down.
Tony huffed in disapproval, ending up laying down again because of Loki's encouragement, "I don't need to rest, I just woke up…" He trailed off because as soon as he'd gotten comfortable he was starting to fall asleep. In fact, he just passed out again. Unconscious meant healing. And now he needed sleep and rest to fully recover. Guess Loki was right.
Loki smiled ever so faintly when Tony passed out. He was glad that Tony was going to actually rest. It was good for him to be doing so. Loki sighed and brushed Tony's hair away from his face. He noted that it was usually shaggy, but getting a little longer and shaggy than usual. He hoped Tony wasn't going to try for fashionably long. He knew he kept his hair about shoulder length but it worked. It wouldn't work as well for Tony. Loki grabbed his PADD and settled back in to the reports he was reading.
The next couple of days passed without much going on. Tony slept most of the time. Loki stayed in the Enterprise sick bay, mostly just to watch over Tony. When Tony was awake for a while at one point, Loki gave him the rundown of what had happened since the fight. Tony was impressed by his crew and glad when he heard that the Avenger's main systems were online. Apparently JARVIS had startled a few people but ended up making work faster. Tony had programmed JARVIS to know how to run the ship and its programs. So recalibrating and such was quick. There were a few things left still getting fixed but the Avenger was ready for flight and minimal combat. Apparently, once she was stable enough for flight, they'd landed the Avenger on a class M planet with friendly locals. A particularly kind starfleet registered species.
Tony was finally getting tired of waking up to the sick bay. So he made a deal with Loki. If he let him go back to the Avenger, stay on the bridge for a few hours for the initial departure and such, then he'd be good and head back to his room for some more rest. Loki had reluctantly agreed to this, if only to get Tony to rest some more and not completely stop resting the way he should be.
Tony and Loki walked back to the bridge of the Avenger together. For the first time since the battle the crew of the Avenger were all together at their stations. There was still the obvious feeling of loss from the two that hadn't made it, but there was also a sense of determination to continue on.
"Captain and Commander on the bridge," Natasha said in her normal smooth russian accent when Loki and Tony walked onto the bridge. Loki went over to his station and settled in. Tony dropped down in his chair and looked around at the bridge. This was his crew now. "Sir, incoming transmission from Starfleet, putting them on screen," Pepper spoke up.
"Admiral Archer, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Tony asked when Admiral Archer appeared on screen, leaning back in his seat. He maintained a calm but not quite relaxed composure. He didn't know how this conversation was going to go so he wanted to be careful about how he acted and what he said. At least for now.
"Captain Stark," Admiral Archer said, "It's good to see your up and about. Hopefully you'll be more reasonable than Captain Kirk. We received reports on the events from most of your crew, and while the Enterprise jeopardize the mission we would like to thank you for your service in accomplishing this mission and we are sorry for the loss of lieutenant commander Frigga and Ensign Maximoff," Somehow he made it seem so bland, like it wasn't that big of a deal. "You are to return to Earth where you will wait for your next mission."
Tony looked taken a back, "I'm sorry?" He tilted his head to the side slightly, "I thought our mission was a five year mission with the Enterprise. Am I right?" He looked to the bridge crew and everyone nodded in agreement, "So, we don't need to head back if we already have a mission. Thanks for this chat Admiral, but we should really be leaving," Tony waved a hand and Pepper cut off the channel just as Admiral Archer was starting to protest. "Alright everyone, the Enterprise is ready. We're ready. Let's go," Tony said with a grin.
Natasha and Clint worked together and navigated the Avenger into the air and into space. They settled her right next to the Enterprise and after some discussing they were finally on their way for their five year mission. The actual five year mission. Not just a cover for something else. It was going to be a long five years with lots of adventures at this rate.
A couple hours later, just as promised Tony got up and left the bridge to head to his room. Loki got up and hurried after him, to make sure that he actually rested and didn't do anything else. Tony noticed Loki come up next to him and smiled, "I was going to have some dinner before getting some sleep. Would you care to join me?"
Loki nodded, "I would," He said, clasping his hands behind his back as they walked. It wasn't a long walk before they reached Tony's quarters and Tony let them in. Loki sat down and waited while Tony got something made really quickly. He glanced around and noted that the room hadn't been touched at all since everything that had happened. Maybe he would help Tony clean up while he was here.
Tony had the replicator make a couple of bowls of beef stew. It wasn't much but it was warm and hearty. He set one bowl down in front of Loki before sitting down with his own bowl. "I know it's not much, or anything fancy, but its good. Dig in," He said, taking a spoonful of stew and eating it. He hummed a little. He hadn't had beef stew in a while. This was good.
Loki tried a bite of the beef stew and hummed in delight. He had actually never had beef stew before. He found it surprisingly delicious, "This is wonderful Tony. Thank you for allowing me to have dinner with you," He smiled ever so softly. He really was enjoying this meal. Though that may have been partly due to the fact that he hadn't eaten since… he couldn't remember when he'd last eaten actually. Had they made him eat at all while he was on the Enterprise? Or had it been since before everything that happened.
Tony smiled happily when Loki said he enjoyed the stew. And when he saw Loki's soft and gentle smile, barely noticeable, well his heart might've just melted. He'd never seen Loki smile, not that he could remember, and he honestly thought it was one of the best things that he had ever seen. He wanted to see Loki smile more often. Heck, he wanted to wake up to that smile. "I'm glad you like it."
The rest of dinner was in mostly silence, and then Loki did actually help Tony clean up his room. Tony was glad Loki helped. It had been a mess before the Avenger had been attacked and it was even more of a mess now. It took them about half an hour to take care of everything. Loki was finding that he was getting tired. After work and good meal, the effects of having not slept in a while were starting to weigh on him.
"Thank you again for the meal," Loki said, clasping one of Tony's hands in his in thanks, "It has been wonderful, but I am feeling tired so I am going to retire to my quarters. Thank you Tony," He couldn't seem to express his gratitude for everything enough. Tony had done so much for him as he thought about it. Tony was certainly someone special.
"You're welcome Loki, and thank you for helping me get me room back in order," Tony smiled. His heart raced a little when Loki held his hand. He wasn't entirely sure, but it wasn't a bad thing. When Loki turned to leave he acted on his heart feelings and grabbed Loki's wrist. Loki looked at him with a slightly surprised look. He swallowed a little, "Wait, Loki, would you maybe, care to stay here, for at least a little while longer."
Loki was admittedly surprised when Tony grabbed his wrist and asked if he wanted to stay longer. It had caught him off guard. Something he hadn't been expecting. He wondered why Tony as asked that, "But you need to rest. I need to rest. Why would you like me to stay longer?" He asked, tilting his head to the side slightly.
Tony swallowed again, "Loki… I like you, a lot. And after everything that happened," Tony buried his head in his hands for a moment, "When I didn't know whether you were okay or not while we were captured I was terrified. When Chekov rescued me the first person I wanted to know where they were was you. When I saw that you were in pain I wanted to kill that woman that was hurting you. When she hurt you on the Avenger my only thoughts were on getting rid of her and saving you. I had to save you. Even if I didn't make it. I only slept on the Enterprise because I knew that you were close by and safe. Now, thinking that if I lose sight of you I might lose you is scaring me. Loki… please stay… for me."
Loki took Tony's hands gently and held them in his, "We may not have known each other long Tony, but I have noticed we have grown closer. Through every trial we endure we become a little closer," He said, "I will stay for you," He concluded. Even if he was reasoning with himself that it was just to get Tony to rest properly. But he knew he had other reasons. He liked Tony as well.
Tony sighed in relief and smiled, "Thank you Loki, I mean it," He said, "We could stay up for a little while, watch something, or anything like that. But I might crash and head to bed now, as long as I know you're here and okay. Feel free to have at any of my books, though most of them are engineering books so I don't know how interested in those you would be," He started rambling without intending to.
Loki placed a finger to Tony's lips to make him be quiet. Because he was rambling and Loki wanted to talk. Not that it was annoying. He actually didn't find it annoying, "I am tired as well Tony. You are right in wanting to head to bed in sleep. Might I remind you, we both need rest," He was going to try to rest at least. Hopefully Tony would be able to rest well at least. "I can sleep on the couch."
"No, no, you don't have to. I mean, I wouldn't mind if we slept in the same bed. Nothing intimate of course," Tony tried not to ramble again. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling a little awkward. Wow, he apparently really liked Loki if he was getting like this. Not like any of the flings he had had in the past. And certainly not like Pepper had been.
Tony was sweet, a lot sweeter than he often seemed. Loki found it nice to see this sweet awkward side of Tony. It made him better than just someone that often seemed pretentious. He grabbed Tony's hand and pulled him over to the bed in the room, "Not a word. I want you to rest, and I want you to rest well," He stated.
Tony smiled and hugged Loki. For someone who hid most of his emotions he was very kind. Slowly the settled in, back to back. Tony was out rather quickly, admittedly needing the sleep. Especially if he wanted to get back in his captain's chair anytime soon. Loki didn't even have any troubles falling asleep. Something about what Tony has said… no, it was probably nothing.
The hours passed and it was some time passed before Tony woke up. He felt well rested and much better than he had in a long time, before all of this, before he became captain. If he thought about it… he hadn't slept this well since… since the incident, the explosion. Tony sat up and shook his head slightly. He placed a hand over his arc reactor to hide the light peaking through the darkness. Those were not the events he wanted to be thinking about right now.
Tony glanced at Loki and smiled to see how peacefully the mysterious and amazing commander was sleeping. He doubted he'd be able to fall back asleep, but he'd let Loki sleep and rest more. Tony quietly and carefully got up and went about getting ready to take a shift on the bridge and be the captain like he was supposed. When he was ready he went over and kissed Loki's cheek. Loki was asleep, he wouldn't notice, right?
Loki blinked a little, opening his eyes slightly to see Tony's blurry form standing over him, having just placed a kiss on his cheek. He closed his eyes and smiled softly. Tony was just being sweet. Five more minutes of sleep then he'd get up as well. Just five more minutes…
Tony smiled, seeing that Loki hadn't minded the gesture and seemed to be going back to sleep, "Take as much time as you want off and get as much rest as you need," He told Loki quietly, moving his hair away from his face. He was very quiet as he walked out of the room, taking light and careful footsteps. With a content smile, he made his way to the bridge.