It was on a Friday afternoon when Loki first noticed that Stark seemed ill. The industrialist had come up from his workshop for lunch, and he noted that Tony looked more disheveled than normal, ghosting a hand to his lower left stomach, looking pale and haggard, as he sat himself at the table.
"Tony, you don't look well." Bruce looked up from his plate to him.
Stark just waved it away with a wave of his hand, "I'm fine Bruce. Just hit a snag with a design for SHIELD's new security operating system. Haven't really had time for food or a nap."
That seemed to be the end of the conversation, but at the end of the meal it was obvious that Stark hadn't eaten very much.
Grimacing, Tony rose and muttered, "Oh well, back to the grindstone."
When Stark had exited, Clint said, "Yep, something definitely wrong with him. No jabs, no sarcastic remarks at all from him during lunch."
"Are we not going to speak with him?" Thor inquired.
"You've lived with him for over a year, Thor. Do you really think that he'll admit to being sick?" Natasha replied with a shrug. "If he gets too sick, JARVIS will tell us, though Tony's got it rigged so that it's careful not to divulge too much." A few eyebrows rose at this information and she shrugged, "S.H.I.E.L.D. does work with Tony Stark. It's not like getting information is a one way street."
On another day, nearly two days later, Loki found himself practically alone in the tower. Stark had remained in his workshop. Thor was with Jane for the day, Natasha and Clint and Steve had been on a mission the last two days and would be getting back later, and Bruce was at a scientific conference about Gamma radiation research.
Loki was in the kitchen drinking a glass of juice when he heard the footfalls of Stark on the steps that lead to the engineer's personal lab. He was taken aback at how pallid and even more ill Stark looked now than he had three days prior. Sweat was causing a few strands of messy dark hair to stick to his forehead, and more sweat was making the t-shirt to stick in places.
"Norns, Stark, you look a sight!" Loki breathed.
"Nice to see you too, Lokes." Stark returned with less annoying vigor than normal.
"Do not call me that, Stark." He returned with a hiss, but drew in his breath when the inventor all but collapsed on a stool.
"Damn it all, Stark. What ails your puny mortal body?" Loki groused.
"Takes one to know one." The industrialist muttered, before half doubling over with a grunt of pain.
Loki went to his side, noting that Stark was gripping his lower stomach.
"By the Nines!" Loki said in a whisper. "JARVIS? What is wrong with Stark?"
"Sir has all the symptoms of appendicitis." The A.I. answered smoothly.
"And what exactly is that?" Looking from the ceiling to the stricken industrialist with some alarm, but keeping his voice level.
A pause and then the A.I. answered, "It is the inflammation and subsequent rupture of a tiny organ in the lower digestive track-"
"Alright, alright." Loki stopped JARVIS mid explanation, "He needs SHIELD or a healer."
"Mmmm...not a hospital...not sick. JARV is wrong. It's...just…." Tony protested, trying to stand. The billionaire swayed on his feet, nearly hitting the corner of a counter. Loki pulled him away in time, guiding the engineer to the ground, feeling the heat of a fever radiating from the ill man.
"JARVIS, call someone! Stark is in need of medical attention!" Loki ordered "With all do haste!"
Within moments, the A.I. spoke again. "Done sir. S.H.I.E.L.D. medical personnel will be on site in five minutes."
Loki strode to the freezer, pulled from it an ice pack which he rounded the corner with it, and placed it on Stark's forehead, then went to the couch for a pillow to place under the industrialist's head.
"C'mon Stark." Loki growled while sitting on his haunches next to him and ran a hand through his own hair, not knowing what further he could do.
Within minutes, a team of three men and a woman dressed in deep green garb appeared with a gurney and several pieces of medical equipment he could not name as he backed up to allow them to work. Oxygen was administered while the medical staff bounced off vitals. Loki shuddered, remembering the day when he had been badly injured by the beating Hulk gave him when he had invaded New York.
"Sir?" The lanky flaxen haired man shook him from the memory, "Would you like to come with Mr. Stark?"
"I-" he hesitated, wondering if that would be most prudent given his past with S.H.I.E.L.D. "Yes. I had better do so. Will the Avengers be informed as well?"
"They will." The shorter brunette haired woman answered without looking up from her patient. Stark was lifted into the gurney and Loki hesitantly followed, feeling as though he were going into a dragon's layer.
Nearly two hours had passed from the time Stark had been rushed behind the emergency room doors while he was informed that he'd have to stay in the waiting room for the time being. Loki read outdated magazines and wondered what was the use of such things. He finally magicked a book from his own library to fill the tedium. A third of the way through it, Loki heard the numerous footfalls on tile, announcing the arrival of his comrades and Pepper Potts. He stood, snapping the book shut and setting on the table. Loki noted the hunched shoulders and concerned expression on each.
"Tony?" Steve asked.
Loki's glance told them all. "JARVIS told me that he was stricken with...appendicitis? I think that is what the A.I.'s scan told me."
"That would correlate with his symptoms." Bruce agreed with a sigh. "I don't think that we could have gotten him to go to the hospital no matter how we tried to persuade him until he collapsed."
At that moment, a rather young looking doctor (one that Bruce probably guess was no older than 32) appeared in green scrubs and surgical gear, looking rather tired. He greeted them with a pleasant smile, shaking each of their hands in turn, introducing himself as Doctor Powers.
"Ms. Potts, do I have permission to divulge Mr. Stark's medical status?" She nodded and he continued, addressing them all now with a grim face after affirming the facts on the chart he held. "Mr. Stark had all the symptoms of appendicitis. We did a blood count and cat scan of his abdomen and found that his appendix had burst. Unfortunately that means that peritonitis is more than likely. The paramedics that brought Mr. Stark in said that Mr. Laufeyson called for help, then tried to bring down the fever with an ice pack. It was a smart move." Doctor Powers had shown them the A.I.'s footage of the moment of Stark's near drop to the ground, followed by Loki catching him and doing just as the doctor had described him doing for the billionaire.
Most of the astonished looks swung to Loki, who just shrugged. "We knew he was ill, and I knew it was bad when he nearly collapsed. What is peritonitis, by the by?"
Doctor Powers spoke again, "It's an infection of the intestines by bacteria after the appendix bursts. We have a nasogastric tube (a feeding tube through the nose, Bruce explained), fluids and antibiotics to fight it off." Of course with his condition, he'll have to stay in the hospital for a few days. We keep him under sedation for tonight, but we'll wean him off it tomorrow morning. We'll allow visitors then. For now, you all can go home. I'll go and check on my patient." With a nod, the doctor went through the admission doors and the Avengers went back to the tower.
Over the next two days, the Avengers took turns visiting Stark in the hospital. The last to do so was Loki. It was not that he was unconcerned, but rather that he was uncomfortable at the prospect of being on S.H.I.E.L.D.'S territory again. Still, he could not refuse as Tony had asked finally for him.
So that same day, the Trickster found himself standing in the doorway of the hospital room. Stark was surrounded various machines that again reminded him of his post Hulk beating. The billionaire looked pale, but seemed attentive when he walked into the door but looked better than the day he found the industrialist nearly collapsed.
Loki nodded to him, then strolled to the stricken man's bedside, shifting nervously (albeit ever so slightly). He cleared his throat, Loki held out a mug that had a male figure with a bandaged head and leg with an arm in a sling. On the bottom it read I do my own stunts.
Tony looked from it to Loki, slightly puzzled. Finally it was Loki who broke the silence, "Barton told me this is the type of gift Midgardians give to one who is the hospital."
The inventor was silent for a moment, and then burst into laughter, "I don't think you should take advice from Barton anymore." He said between laughs, while holding his side in pain. "But thank you. Actually this cup really suits me." Between a quiet moment the two men looked away and this time, it was Tony who spoke up. "I-uh" wanted to thank you for er...saving my life." Loki waved a hand as to swat away the words but Tony interrupted, "You threw me out a window a year back, but you came to my aid when I need help. I just er..."
"You're welcome Stark." Loki interjected, cutting off the awkward conversation. "Though you should not conceal your illness from team-mates that obviously worry about you."
"I know, I know, I got that lecture from Steve and Bruce and Natasha." Tony groused.
A nurse entered and regarded the Asgardian for a moment, looking him up and down, "I'm sorry, you'll have to leave now, I need to check Mister Stark's stitches."
Loki nodded, "Of course miss." He said smoothly, sauntering to the door to capture her attention with a pleasant smile and tossed a smug look back at Stark.
TBC...
A/N: Thank you for the faves for this story! I'm glad you are all enjoying it. I was thinking of making Tony's condition an ulcer, but I wanted it to be a little more...interesting.
Can I ask for at least 5 reviews this time? I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you for reading!