Radioactive Mirrors Chapter Eleven –
A steady beeping noise woke him, but he didn't want to get up. He tried to stay asleep but that beeping was just so fucking annoying.
Tony opened one eye and looked around, annoyed. The ceiling was white, the walls were white. The lights were too bright. Okay so he wasn't at home. It took him a moment to remember what had happened, his body aching with the recollection.
Finally, Tony located the offending beeping machine and glared at it willing it to stop. He was just deciding whether to cover his head with the pillow or to throw it at the machine when the door opened. In came Obadiah with a steaming top cup of coffee that probably wasn't for him.
"Here, I thought you could use this." He said to someone who was apparently sitting at the bottom of the bed, though whoever it was hadn't noticed him open an eye. He was surprised when he heard Loki mumble 'thanks' softly, while shifting about to take the cup.
There was a few seconds of silence before Obadiah spoke again. "How's he doing?"
Tony guessed Loki shook his head or just stayed quiet a moment before answering. "The same."
Obadiah sighed then made a surprised noise as a buzzing sound came from his pocket. "Sorry, I gotta get that." He said before answering his phone as he walked out the door, leaving Tony and Loki alone.
Tony spent a few seconds deciding how he should inform Loki of his awakened state, but the other boy had started to talk to him.
"I don't even like coffee." Loki mused, "but it's warm." He sighed and Tony heard the chair creak as Loki leant forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "I never thought I'd see you again when we left. I always wanted to come back to you. I just... I never thought it would be like this."
"Don't be sad." Tony tried to say, although it came out as no more than a hoarse whisper, followed by a cough.
"Anthony. You're awake." Loki sat upright. "I'll get a nurse."
"Uh wait a sec." Tony said, attempting to sit up but failing from lack of strength and the various tubes in him. "How long have I been, uh, out?"
"Since yesterday morning. Mr Stane is here with you. He's stayed the whole time."
"Obie?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "Ah yeah, right." He added, as he remembered the event before he lost consciousness.
Loki finally let out the breath he didn't realise he was holding. "I'm just so glad you're okay."
Tony looked down at the various tubes inserted into him and then the bandages before looking back at Loki and raising an eye at him. "I'm not sure I'd call this okay, but I know what you're trying to say." He smiled.
Loki frowned again and slumped back in his chair.
"What about you?" Tony asked, coughing a little after he did.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" In truth, Loki felt like shit. His eyes were sore, his head hurt, he hadn't slept properly, he was tired. His back ached from this stupid chair and he had a crook on his neck. "You're the one we've got to worry about."
Tony narrowed his eyes thoughtfully for a second then shrugged and sighed heavily. He lay still for a moment before he lurched forward into a coughing fit.
Loki pressed the button for a nurse and stood to try and help Tony.
As soon as he stood, a nurse and Obadiah raced into the room. They both pushed past Loki in order to get at Tony to help him clear his airways.
It took a minute before the coughing died down and Tony lay down limply on the bed. The nurse informed them not to make him talk too much and advised to let him rest after a few minutes.
When she left, Obadiah crouched by the bed and smiled kindly at Tony. "How're you feeling kid?"
"In pain." Tony answered truthfully, but smiled anyway to show he could handle it.
Loki suddenly felt like he was intruding and took a step back towards the door.
"W-wait a sec." Tony said weakly and looked towards where Loki was trying to leave.
Loki stopped, standing awkwardly by the doorway.
"I err..." Tony stuttered then smiled at him. "Thanks for being here."
"It's okay. I'll come back tomorrow?"
Tony nodded
"I'll leave you to it then." Loki turned and left.
Tony looked up at Obadiah then glanced sheepishly around. "Um, where is, where's, he not here is he?" His tone rose in panic.
Obie put a comforting hand to Tony's shoulder. "He's in custody. He's in court in a couple of days. I presume he'll get bail, but there's still a restraining order. You're safe. I don't think Howard would hunt you out anyway, he has nothing personally against you, you're just... There." Obadiah looked at him with sad eyes and with shame for his lifelong friend. "Tony, I know your father well, and... He does love you."
Tony snorted and lay back on the bed. "Yeah, because beating the shit out of your son speaks love right?"
"Tony." Obie sighed and sat on the chair Loki had previously occupied. "Your mother was a wonderful woman. And she was so strong. When she died... Well, she was Howard's rock. She held everything together. He didn't know how to function, he didn't know how to look after a son. He put all his time into his company. And I was partly to blame for that." He looked down at his lap and took another breath before carrying on. "What your father did, well there is no excuse for that. But when you mix grief, anger, alcohol, and a self destructive personality, some things get out of control. I'm not trying to justify what he did, I'm just trying to tell you his reasons. He hated himself, and he resented your happiness. But he does love you, whatever that's worth. He's just spent so much energy still loving Maria that he doesn't know what he's got." Obie ruffled Tony's hair lightly and lightened the mood with a smile. "But I'm gonna look out for you now kid. You got nothing to worry about."
Tony looked down at his hands and clutched them together over his chest. "Yeah..." They both sat in silence for a moment before Tony sighed and ran a hand through his hair, or the half he still had. When feeling it, he sighed again and looked over at Obie. "I have a bald patch, don't I?"
Obie smiled and shook his head. "It'll grow back." He ran a hand over his smooth dome. "Unlike mine."
Tony laughed then coughed again. "So I've been here about three days?"
Obie nodded. "Yes. We were all worried, especially that young man who was sitting with you. Although we began to gain hope when you started to slip in and out of consciousness from this morning, do you remember that?"
Tony smiled at the mention of Loki, and Obie noticed his attitude change from him, but he then shook his head at the question. "No. All I remember is waking up here with Loki. Before that it was just darkness. And before that was what happened with H-Howard.
"Well, this Loki seems to really like you then. Are you sure he's the same kid I remember you running round with when you were no taller than my knee?"
Tony smiled again after shivering as he mentioned his father's name. "Yep, same guy."
"Well anyway, just remember the press are gonna be all over you once you get out of here. I'll try to keep them off as much as I can, and I don't want to worry you or anything, but you're going to need to decide what you want to say, and what image you want to give. This is important. One day you will be a very powerful man, and they're going to pick up on any little thing and they don't care how long ago it was. If you make a mistake now, they are never going to let you forget it. That's why I need you to be sure of this Loki boy before anyone finds out about it. You can tell the press that you're gay, or bisexual, or whatever, but you can't go back on it. That's you need to know if you are sure. Otherwise we need to think of a cover story why he's been spending so much time here. It goes beyond the bounds of normal friendship Tony." Before he had time to reply, Obie had stood and was making his way towards the door. "I shouldn't be loading this all onto you now. You need your rest."
Tony opened his mouth as if to say something but then shut it as he realised how tired he actually was. He nodded and yawned as he settled back down. As he drifted off, Obadiah left him to it.
So Tony is okay :) well, he's alive at least ;p No idea when I can update again so I make no promises.
