A/N: Baby talk with the Avengers! I thought I knew where I was going to end the story, but now I don't, because I have so many Daddy Tony/Loki scenes in my head, and you all seem to agree that Hovering Tony is adorable.
And because I don't think I covered it before, yes you are all indeed correct in thinking that Hela is Loki's daughter, (I'm actually using that fact in one of my other stories) but I thought for this one I would use my creative license and change it. Having her be Thor and Loki's sister just works better in my mind for what I have planned. But yes, dear readers and reviewers, you were right. Hope this clears up the confusion.
I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.
When Thor came back later that night, Tony did notice that Loki was gone, and he hadn't come back with his brother. "Worry not, brother Tony," Thor had greeted him with a dulled smile. "They are actively working to remove the spell, and Loki had suggested that I come back down here." Tony raised an eyebrow. "He said that I was hovering."
"I'll take it as a good sign if he's able to get annoyed." Tony sighed a little. "So any idea of what happened, and why?" He'd seen a lot of things in his time, but this was something entirely new. He hadn't even heard about it from Loki in any of his stories.
"I am not quite sure," Thor shook his head. "It is hard to know what the spell does, or even how to remove it, if they do not know who cast the spell."
"Isn't there some kind of magic specialist up there?" Tony thought there must be someone up there.
"Yes," Thor admitted. "Unfortunately that would be Loki, and he is unable to track the spells' caster with the spell afflicting him at present." There were some days that Tony really wished that Thor and Loki would really embrace Midgardian speech.
"Awesome," Tony breathed out.
"Do not worry Brother Tony," Thor clapped his shoulder with his large hand and Tony stumbled under the weight of his hand. "I know my brother and he isn't one to lie still for too long."
"No, no he isn't," Tony muttered under his breath. "Now I just need to find a way to tell the others about this."
Clint and Natasha sat next to each other, looking tired from one of their latest missions, while Steve was sitting next to Banner as they stared at Tony, pacing back and forth before them. Tony never called meetings, and he had insisted that it really had nothing to do with the Avengers, but they had never seen the man so nervous.
"So, anyone want a drink?" Tony stopped pacing for a second and looked up. No one answered and he let out a puff of breath. "Right, I called this little meeting."
"Tony is something wrong?" Steve asked, watching the man. While it was true that the two would never be best friends, Steve had come to see a new light to Tony over the past few months.
"Yes, and no?" Now they knew something was up, Tony never questioned himself. "So something is kind of wrong with Loki, and that's where Thor is. Took him back to the healers and what not in Asgard." Tony found that part to be the easiest.
"I don't think I've ever seen you like this," Natasha spoke up. "Tony Stark, are you worried about something?"
Tony took a breath. "Gotta treat this like a bandaid. So, Loki is kind of pregnant, and it's my kid, obviously." Tony puts his hands on his chest for emphasis. They didn't miss the hint of pleasure in his voice.
There was an audible silence in the room, so much so that Tony could swear that he heard the mechanical hum of JARVIS around him.
"Pregnant?" Banner was the first to talk. "I'm not claiming to know anything about the different physiology of an Asgardian, but-"
"Loki can shape shift," Tony offered up. "And unless you would like to be regaled with the detail of what happened the night, that's really all you need to know."
Clint watched him then raised an eyebrow. "Had to prove your title as playboy?" Tony shot a look at him and tried to hide his smirk.
Steve looked to be the most confused out of all of them. He thought that he was just be able to get a handle on the modern day and suddenly felt so very far behind again. "Loki failed to inform me that stuff like this could happen, and really, why would I have reason to think about it? But, it happened several months ago-"
"And you're just now telling us?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"We weren't exactly sure how you were going to handle the news," Tony explained. "It took a while to get used to having Loki around at first, and not having Fury break down my tower to lock him back up." Tony sat down on a chair, desperately wishing for a drink. "And he's been pulling illusions whenever someone comes around. We were searching for the right time?"
"So, there's going to be a baby around?" Steve finally voiced his thoughts. Tony nodded once. "to be honest I thought that Natasha and Clint were going to give us the first Avengers baby." Tony blinked a little then started to laugh.
"Oh, Spangles, I needed that." Tony leaned back against the chair a little.
"I'm more interested to see how long it takes for you to corrupt the child," Clint said to Tony.
"Have you had any check ups?" Leave it to Bruce to ask about the science part of it.
"Not with any real doctors, I mean, how do you explain that?" Tony leaned up again. "But, I've taken some ultrasound scans."
"You have baby pictures?" Natasha sat up.
"Can we see them?" This time Steve had asked, and he looked to be the most excited when Tony nodded.
Loki let out a slow breath, trying to meditate through the pain. Maybe if he could ignore the pain he could find the course. The pain had started to get worse when they arrived back in Asgard, so he had a feeling that the spell was closer than he thought. It had been almost two months time on Asgard, even though he knew it would have been only a couple weeks back on Midgard. It was still too long for this spell to go undiscovered.
Frigga was a constant visitor, next to Thor, fussing over her exiled son, and future grandchild. He would be lying if he wasn't worried what the spell would do, but he had to keep the thoughts from overwhelming his mind. He needed complete concentration.
"Brother," a voice purred close to his ear. His eyes shot open and saw Hela come into view. "My, my, our mother informs me that you are not well at all." She brushed her fingers over his arm and Loki groaned in pain. The runes on his arm had spread to cover most of his upper half and most of his neck. "I do so hope that this doesn't affect the health of your halfbreed child."
Loki growled and tried to push away from Hela. If the spell suddenly thrumming through the runes didn't alert him to the spell caster, the hatred seething through her voice would have tipped him off. "I don't see how casting this spell works in favor for you, Hela."
"Oh, it's not a plot that I'm looking to advance," She leaned over his bed and he could feel her anger feeding the spell. "No, dear brother, this is revenge, long awaited it has been. I had to wait for just the right time, wait for when it would hurt you the most."
Loki narrowed his eyes at her, trying to keep his breathing even. "What have i done to you to incur your wrath?"
"You fell in love," she hissed, grabbing his arm. he yelled out as the pain shot through his entire body. His back arched in pain as Hela placed her other hand over his mouth. She would be heard. "Somehow, you managed to change your fate. You were to start Ragnarok, and my realm would have flourished, I would have gained immeasurable power over the Nine Realms!" They could hear the footsteps of running guards coming closer. "should you manage to overcome this spell, do not think that I am done with you, or your mortal. This little family that you're starting, I'll be watching you all, very closely."
She disappeared in a swirl of smoke, her cackle ringing through out the room as the guards burst into the room, Thor and Frigga right behind them. Frigga ran over, her hands starting to glow as she tried to ease her youngest sons pain.
"Hela," Loki breathed out, he had to let them know. "It was Hela." His body tensed as it fought against the spell and the pain. Frigga placed a hand on his stomach and the other on his forehead.
"Do not worry brother, I will-" Loki reached out his hand and Thor blinked.
"No," Loki shook his head a little. "Go back and watch Tony." He took a deep breath as his mother worked the spells to make him sleep. "She will attempt to go after him, he knows nothing of the dangers that could follow."
Thor walked forward and clasped his arm. "I will go and watch over Brother Tony, be not worried." Loki nodded once before his eyes slipped shut, letting the sleep claim him.
Tony stepped off the elevator and blinked when he saw a woman with long brown hair and bright green eyes standing the lobby. She turned and smiled at him. "Tony Stark? Oh good, I've come with news about Loki. I am the sister of Loki and Thor."
"Sister?" Tony blinked a little. He thought he remembered Thor mentioning something about a sister that was in a different realm, but Loki never talked about her.
"Yes, my name is Hela. I thought I would come down to give you a report since Thor would like to spend more time by his side." She smiled at him and Tony decided that he saw a hint of Thor's smile on her face.
"I have a meeting I have to get to, but ride with me," Tony offered. "I've been waiting for a couple days for something, but I've been informed that if I miss the meeting my head will be mounted on the wall of my personal assistants office." She chuckled slightly and followed Tony out of the building to the waiting limo outside.
Thor quickly arrived at the Avengers tower and instantly started to look for Tony. He ran into Clint first.
"Have you seen Tony?" He asked without his usual greetings.
Clint blinked a little then pointed over his shoulder. "He left about ten minutes ago for a meeting. Pepper threatened his life if he didn't show up." Thor turned to leave and Clint followed him. "What's going on?"
"There is a chance that he could be in danger from my brothers attacker." Clint blinked then nodded.
"Then I'll drive you there, we might be able to catch him just as he gets there." Thor nodded to his friend and they jogged to the elevator.
The limo drove up to the back of the building and Tony stepped out first, holding the door for Hela. She stepped out and the limo pulled away. "I can call one of the other drivers to take you back somewhere if you want," Tony offered.
"Thank you for the offer but once I answer the rest of your questions I will be able to make it back to Asgard on my own." Tony nodded and they walked towards the building.
"So he should be coming back soon then?"
"Yes, they believe that they have found the caster of the spell, and are now working on lifting it. It shouldn't take too much longer, although the spell has taken it's toll on him, I am afraid to say." Hela reached her hand out and placed it on Tony's arm. She was about to speak again when they heard the squealing of tires stop a few feet away from them. Clint and Thor quickly got out of the car and Clint took his bow out, aiming an arrow at Hela. She narrowed his eyes and Tony blinked in confusion.
"Step away from him Hela," Thor growled in warning.
"Did Loki send you in warning?" She growled and her grip on Tony's arm tightened. He winced a little and she whipped him around in front of her, placing her elongated nails on his neck. "If Loki will not make a grab for the power that is out there anymore, then I will have to take his place. I can't afford having him, or you, or any of your pathetic team, ruining my plans. I will not be as foolish as our dear, adopted, brother."
"Have you learned nothing, Hela?" Thor thundered out at her. "There must be balance, and you must provide that balance in Hel."
"Hel?" Tony's eyes widened a little. "You have got to be kidding me right now."
"Tony, i think it'd be smart if you kept your mouth shut right now," Clint warned him. He could see that the marksman was itching to let the arrow go, and Tony motioned to the shoulder of the hand that threatened his neck.
"Balance?" Hela snorted. "You know nothing of my position Brother." Clint took the move and let go of the arrow. Hela had anticipated it and quickly moved, letting go of Tony and moving him, letting the arrow strike the billionaire's shoulder instead. He yelled out and fell to his knees, grasping at the arrow as she laughed. "I do not think that it will so difficult to defeat you. Loki was weak." Clint let loose another arrow and she disappeared.
Thor reached Tony first and pulled him up. He groaned a little and Clint grasped the arrow. "Wait wait wait!" Tony's eye widened a little. "You're just gonna pull it out? Just like that!"
"Would you rather I leave it there so that it can rip at your muscles and send you to hospital?" Clint stared at him.
Tony's eye twitched slightly. "Yeah, okay, go ahead." He growled out when the arrow was pulled. "How did you miss? You never miss!" Clint narrowed one eye at him, regretting having already taken the arrow out.
"I apologize for the pain that I have inadvertently caused you," Thor said to Tony. "Loki warned me that she might come here and it seems that I did not act fast enough."
"Not your fault, big guy," Tony said as he slowly rolled his shoulder. "Although I do have to wonder how much she told was true or not."
"When I left Loki they were healing him and working on removing the spell," Thor echoed Hela's words earlier. "It should not be too much longer, which I think you should be happy about. The day of birth quickly approaches!" Thor grinned and Tony suddenly looked a little panicked.
"Shit, I've gotta baby proof the Tower. I gotta baby proof the Avengers!" Clint and Thor blinked.