Tony felt like one ginormous bruise. It was as if someone had hit every inch of his arms and legs and the back of his head repeatedly with a soft-headed rubber mallet. Nothing felt broken, not yet anyway, but everything hurt from being squeezed to nearly breaking. Was this what it was like to be given a bear hug from Bruce when he was hulked out?
He slowly worked his fingers and toes, the muscles of his arms and legs complaining at the effort. He grunted at the spike in pain and Loki's concerned gaze turned worried.
"You should lie still. Rogers can request medical assistance," Loki insisted but Tony shook his head, not interested in letting some punk doctor from SHIELD poke at him. He instantly regretted the move as a headache throbbed to life. He paled and closed his eyes. "Please Anthony," Loki begged softly. He felt the man's other hand rest on his chest as he still had Tony's cheek in his left hand.
Tony took a long moment before he opened his eyes again, the headache still prominent and overriding the pain from his limbs. He blinked up at Loki and then finally sighed, "You know I can't say no when you beg."
Loki's worried look shifted into a smile of relief. "Thank you." He bent and pressed the cutest little kiss to Tony's forehead. Even back to himself, Loki was fucking adorable.
Tony hummed and teased, "See? One kiss and I'm all better." He shifted to meet Loki's gaze as he stayed near. Loki's long hair fell forward and his eyes were magnificent even in the dim light of the tunnel. "I'm just a little sore. I'll be fine. Don't you worry your pretty little head, kitten." Tony shifted up the short distance to capture Loki's lips in a kiss. Loki nearly purred as he returned it. The kiss was sadly short lived as Tony broke it a moment later to rest his head back down. Loki was just all one happy smile above him.
"So we are both prone to falling for mortal hearts," Thor stated as he came up to them. Tony had only just glimpsed the demigod's appearance before things took a turn for the worse for him but somehow he wasn't surprised Thor was keeping close tabs on his brother. He wondered a moment where Steve was but he hurt too much to look around. Knowing the old prude, he was probably off blushing in a corner. Thor continued as he knelt to Tony's other side and looked to Loki. "I can now understand your drive for vengeance against his assailants."
Loki sat back on his heels and straightened upright into a regal pose. He took in his brother with a look that held so many undertones. Tony had never before seen the man look at Thor with respect and understanding, and yet there was an undercurrent of pride in himself and a hint of daring Thor to tell him he was wrong for his choice in partners. The two men took one another in for a long moment before Loki spoke, "Thank you, brother." His words were heartfelt and honest.
Thor smiled broadly and shook his head, "It was not my doing. You broke the spell and regained your powers by truly changing your heart and mind. It is not easy. I know it is a difficult road to travel but worth so very much once realized."
"I never understood your transformation or your devotion to Jane," Loki admitted. "It is… overwhelming…" Loki trailed off and Thor's smile only grew at Loki. Loki's expression melted Tony's heart but he knew the man was still learning to deal with everything. It would take more than today to patch Loki up.
Tony grunted and broke in on the family bonding, "Oh god please don't tell me we'll be having Shakespeare in the Park every time he visits, will we?" He cocked a grin at Loki.
The man blinked and looked down to Tony, clearly not getting the reference but his attention dutifully returned to Tony. "You still require medical care," Loki stated and moved to get up.
"No. Stay." Tony reached for the man but groaned as his right arm instantly complained and rebelled at the idea. He dropped it back down immediately.
Loki cast him an adoring look and promised, "I will merely get Rogers and return." He stepped away and Tony twisted his aching head back to watch Loki walk over to Steve who was inspecting something in the tunnel. Well at least he knew Loki could take care of himself just fine if SHIELD was stupid enough to try and capture him now.
"And you, Stark-" he heard Thor begin.
He closed his eyes and interrupted with a sighed, "Ya ya, the big brother talk. No cheating on him. No knocking him up. No hurting him or you'll wring my neck. Yes sir. I promise sir."
Thor gave a rumbling chuckle and countered, "No, I wished to thank you. I did not see the reasons for Loki's choice of exile when he made it but he was right to pick you. Regardless of what transpires in the future, you have done him much good in the short time he was with you. He is… himself. I was not certain he would return from the abyss of his broken heart."
Tony opened his eyes and took in the demigod kneeling beside him and thanking him for all this. "Ya, well… He's more special than he gives himself credit for. He still has a ways to go but I think he'll get there."
"With you at his side," Thor prompted. Then he leveled a firm gaze at Tony. "And yes I would find you if you dared to abuse his trust in you. It would not be pleasant."
"Noted," Tony chuckled nervously and brushed off Thor's firm gaze as best he could by changing the subject. "So how's dear old dad gonna take the news?"
Thor's look relaxed some as he allowed the conversation to shift, "He will be proud. He will wish to meet you but he is not well enough to travel as of yet."
Odin had been ill? Tony raised an eyebrow at the comment but let that slip for now. He'd ask Loki later. "You're gonna have to prep me for that conversation."
Thor laughed. "He is not so intimidating."
Tony snorted and knew that had to be a complete lie.
Loki came into his field of vision again and Tony turned his head to the man. Tony's features lit up just to see him near again. Loki on the other hand seemed confused and a little guarded as he came to sit beside Tony, holding his old cast in his hands. It was split open down the seam and some of the bandages were ripped off from where the ice that had torn the cast off Loki's arm. Circuitry was exposed and the dim light of a power source. "What is this?" Loki wondered, his tone guarded. Steve came to stand just behind Loki, taking Tony in. The boy scout must have been looking at it earlier when Loki went to speak to him.
Tony blushed some and met Loki's gaze, shrugging his shoulders at the question. "I had to keep an eye on you. I didn't know what was going on." Loki still looked puzzled and he continued to explain, nodding to the cast, "There's a GPS signal in it. How else do you think I found you in that alley the other night?"
"Do you ever build anything simple?" Steve wondered.
Loki looked down at the cast and stated softly, "I believe this is how the Chitauri tracked us underground."
"Damn it," Tony swore and winced at not thinking of the possibility. "I'm sorry. It was a rush job. I was busy worrying about the hurt ex-god that fell onto my roof."
He could see the hint of a smile on Loki's face and the tension faded from his shoulders. Tony made a mental note to always be as truthful with Loki as the man had become with him. He had a feeling fights with Loki would be one hell of a thing when they happened and he wasn't about to give them reasons to argue.
Loki tossed the cast aside as the sound of an ambulance siren rang from the street above. He met Tony's gaze. Tony ached to be able to pull the man close and reassure him that the added circuitry to his cast was not done out of malice, not even at the time. Loki seemed to read his thoughts and whispered, "It is forgotten."
A gurney was brought down and Tony felt a little ridiculous but seeing as he couldn't exactly move from his spot he gave into Loki's demands for medical care. "I'm not going to SHIELD. I've got a doctor. We're going there."
He was hefted over onto the board and Loki shot protective glances at the medics as he followed them out, distrustful of their ability to carry Tony up the rubble to the waiting ambulance.
Steve came up beside Tony as Loki looked ready to slice open the medics while they jostled Tony into the ambulance. "You have fun keeping him from killing the nurses."
"If they try and jab me with anything sharp and pointy, I might let him."