Notes: Sorry for the lack of updates. I forgot my laptop AND my flash drive at work the other day. :c


Chapter 29: A Visitor from Midgard


Sometime after Taure finally left them to go teach a lesson, Tony and Loki found themselves sitting on a blanket on his balcony with their lunch. Loki mostly just stared off into the horizon seemingly anywhere but on Alfheim. Tony, however, knew that he was deeply in thought about where Amora might have learned how to cast Linwe's original soul bond. After a good half hour of intensely staring at nothing, he finally turned back to Tony, knowing he'd been watching him the whole time. Wordlessly, he picked up an apple and bit into it.

Tony fidgeted a bit, but kept his mouth shut. Compromise. He reminded himself. Nothing drove Loki batshit more than when he chattered pointlessly to fill any kind of silence. He hated silence, though. It just reminded him of being trapped in that damn cave, and came with a almost tangible sense of oppression. But it was easier now, because there was never truly silence. Loki was always thinking about something, and if he was asleep he was usually dreaming. It was strange at first, but he was getting used to it quickly enough.

"You have nothing to be apprehensive about. If Taure had even the slightest doubt that he would be able to remove the shrapnel, or the smallest concern for any complications, he would have told you. He is also the best at what he does, even he if will never admit that. There will not be any pain." Loki finally said, breaking the oddly comfortable silence.

"Why wouldn't he want to be recognized for being the best?" Tony asked, raising his eyebrows. "A man needs his ego, you know."

"Taure feels that the arts of healing are constantly changing, as surely as disease and the weaponry that cause injury evolve. A healer must always be willing to learn new things each day. Admitting that he is the best would mean he felt that he could no longer learn anything new and it would be time for him to retire. At least that was what he told me ages ago." The trickster replied with a bored sigh.

"Anyway, I am going to teach you some things you will need to know before you begin trying to use any kind of magic. Meditation, specifically. Which is useful in itself because you will not be able to do much else while you recover after the operation." Loki told him pointedly.

"Meditation? Magic is a science, you even think of it in that way, so what's with the priestly bullshit?" Tony said rolling his eyes. Sitting still was never his strong suit. This is going to be a nightmare.

"Mental control is necessary." Loki told him. "Magic is a science in the sense of being able to harness and control your body's natural energy in order to manipulate objects and forces around you. They are very real, tangible energies. Magic cannot create something from nothing, only change things that already exist. It takes discipline and patience to master even simple spells. Elves are one of the only races that can use it with little or no training. Obviously, it also requires immense intellect. You already can use the Allspeak and read texts that are foreign to you, so I do believe you will have the mental capacity for wielding magic as well." He said aloud and picked at a piece of discolored skin on the apple he was eating.

"All right. Where do we start?" Tony asked, recognizing that Loki's comment about him having the right 'mental capacity' was probably as close to a compliment he was going to get from the god in regard to his genius. "And uh, you do realize sitting and doing nothing is something I suck at, right? So this probably isn't going to end well for either us. It'll probably just end with a lot of childish whining and bitching at each other."

"To the contrary, mediation has to do with focus and awareness of your surroundings – not doing nothing. I also think you will do just fine. When I told you to relax and focus on your breathing this morning during our lovemaking it was a test of sorts. One which you passed spectacularly." Loki replied and tossed his apple core over the edge of the balcony. Tony just shrugged, deciding to take his word for it. Loki was nothing if not manipulative. He'd already realized that the ability to share thoughts was next to useless during sex, assuming he was too wrapped in it. He must have been thinking about his 'test' while he was going to town on Tony's cock with his unreasonably skilled mouth.

The thing that freaked Tony out, was that he didn't really mind being manipulated by Loki anymore. There weren't any intentions to try and change who he was or what he believed in. It was Loki's way of giving him a shove in the direction he wanted without having to ask, because he was very uncomfortable actually asking for anything. Help, or comfort least of all. Tony was finally starting to understand Taure's comments about Loki's utter lack of trust for others, which was something he had not seen in the slightest before the soul bond. It wasn't easy for either of them, but the walls were starting to slowly crumble – both Loki's and Tony's.

"Very well, let us begin." Loki said calmly. "Find a comfortable position. It doesn't really matter where or how, though many cultures believe only certain positions are appropriate. You can experiment with that later if you care to. I personally find it makes little difference."

Tony obeyed and found himself sitting with his legs crossed and his back resting against the white stone wall beside the door to Taure's study. Loki settled about two feet across from him in a similar position and folded his hands in his lap.

"Okay, now what?" Tony asked, already bored. Loki smirked knowingly and shook his head.

"Close your eyes and do as I tell you for now. Technically you do not need to close your eyes, but it will help you focus." Loki explained.

"Because I can't see you and be aroused by how adorable you are, darling?"

"Idiot." Loki said sarcastically. "Focus on your breathing like you did before and let your body relax. Take deep, slow breaths and try to keep them as even as possible. Do not try to ignore your surroundings, like things you hear, smell or feel. But try to stay still and do not linger on them, simply observe them – your focus needs to stay on your breathing. Begin." He told Tony aloud.

Skeptically, Tony did as he was told. Momentarily he was surprised how easily his breath fell into the controlled pattern. Keeping his focus was difficult, though. The sound of a bird singing, and a cramp forming in his right leg were distracting. Loki's mind was a total blank. The only thing he was vaguely aware of was that Tony was being horribly distracting with his... distractions.

"How the hell do you do that?" Tony asked dully. Loki twitched slightly and decided to go with a different approach.

"Focus on my breathing, and breathe with me. Try not to think just observe things that pass into your consciousness." The demigod responded telepathically. Tony felt rather than listened to the sound of Loki's breathing and fell into the pattern easily.

Loki was completely stunned by their ability to function in perfect cooperation. He knew some of it had to do with the soul bond, of course. Regardless, it really did feel like they were two halves of one whole being as they breathed together. Strangely, he doubted he had ever felt more peaceful before in all the years of his long life.

Observing things without thinking about them, Tony decided, was hard as fuck. Being a scientist by nature, he over analyzed every little detail. He got the hang of it, though. Like the slight cramp in his leg – it was there, yeah. But he didn't to think about why, if he should move or that it was because he was sitting on hard stone. Just that it was there. Notice it, don't analyze it. He told himself. He could sense Loki's approval of his mental reminder that the demigod took as a sign that he understood the concept. ...Even if it was easier said than done and he found himself losing focus constantly.

"That is enough." Loki said, breaking Tony's concentration. "For today, anyway. Spending too much time doing this while inexperienced will just get you frustrated and it will be even harder to accomplish rather than easier."

"So, how did I do? How long before I can shapeshift myself into Steve and run around New York butt naked with an American flag as a cape?" Tony asked with a chuckle as he stretched his stiff muscles. Oddly enough, he felt pretty good. He was clear-headed and calm in a way that was wholly unfamiliar to him.

Loki's lips curled into a smile at the mental image of Steve naked with nothing but a flag cape.

"Very well for your first attempt, and perhaps in at least a decade. My shapeshifting is something I possess naturally, but I also had to learn to use it. Even if you inherit that power, you will need a solid understanding of some relatively advanced magic and sufficient confidence in using it before you attempt something like that." Loki told him, and smirked. "...As much as I would enjoy seeing our prudish friend frolic through the city naked." Tony laughed and shook his head.

"I'll give you a blowjob if you do it when we get back." He quipped, grinning like an idiot.

"A tempting offer. I may consider it." The awesome thing was that Tony knew he actually was considering it.


The following two days passed relatively uneventfully, aside from Tony getting progressively more antsy about his impending surgery. He practiced mediation with Loki twice a day, and Taure as well on the second afternoon. The healer was good company as usual, and had some useful suggestions to help Tony keep his focus. Tony was still thrown for a loop as to why he felt so at ease in his presence, hell he hadn't even given the elf an obnoxious nickname yet. Loki, on the other hand, trusted and respected Taure in a manner he wouldn't have believed the Demigod was even capable of before. Tony eventually attributed his own trust of Taure to Loki's feelings seeping through their bond. Either way, it was a good thing. Taure's acceptance of Loki, in spite of his past mistakes which he was more than aware of, was really helping Loki let go of some of the deep-rooted mental scars from Odin's shitty parenting.

On the third day, and the morning of the operation, Thor showed up. Taure was in the middle of explaining the procedure in detail when Thor burst into the study. Taure fell silent and raised his eyebrows. Loki glared daggers at him. Tony noticed he looked worried out of his mind - like he'd been ridden hard and put away wet.

"It hasn't been a week yet. You're too early to rescue us damsels in distress... Or does time pass differently here?" Tony rambled, his old habit of chattering like a squirrel worming its way to the surface due to his nerves.

"It does not." Loki confirmed. "Thor... What is wrong?" Something was definitely wrong; they could both tell.

"I am sorry brother, and Man of Iron for coming early. But there is something you need to be aware of." Thor told them wearily.

"Out with it, Point Break. I'm kind of on a tight schedule today." Tony quipped.

"It is Amora. She is working with the Doctor of Doom. Or, rather she freed him from his imprisonment." Thor explained bitterly.

"This is my fault." Loki growled and looked at Tony hopelessly, feeling more than a little lost as far as how to remedy it.

"So, what're they doing now?" Tony asked. "I need details, Blondie."

"We do not know. Man of Fury lost their trail, but nothing is amiss at the moment. …Heimdall cannot see them, either." Thor replied and sat in the empty chair on the other side of Loki.

"Fine. Come back in another week. I won't be able to fight until then, and I'm not changing my plans for that bitch if the earth isn't burning to a crisp and we don't even know where in fuck's name she is." Tony said flatly and with no room for argument.

"...Very well. I will inform the rest of the mighty Avengers." Thor replied and glanced uncertainly at Loki who was being uncharacteristically quiet. Tony knew he was seething with rage at Amora, but would rather stay in Alfheim to have the shrapnel removed from Tony's heart. ...Which was a combination of him honestly caring about Tony's health, and being terrified by the knowledge that all it would take to kill both of them was someone wrenching the arc reactor out of his chest.

"How are you faring otherwise?" Thor asked pointedly.

"Pretty well, I think." Tony answered sheepishly. Loki nodded in agreement. "So, uh, who all knows about this since I'm sure the cat's out of the bag because that's just our luck."

"Everyone." Thor said simply. "Lady Natasha thinks it is rather adorable, though she pities Loki because she believes you to be a poor lover." Tony laughed so hard his chest hurt, both at the irony and imagining the widow's reaction. "The others... Man of Fury does not believe it – he thinks you to be 'compromised'. The Captain of America is worried about both of you. I believe Amora may have more to fear from his wrath than Loki's."

Tony couldn't pretend that didn't surprise him. Steve was selfless, yeah, but they couldn't get along if someone paid them. Thank the powers that be he was bound to Loki and not Captain Steve Rogers. He'd be completely fucked and on his way to hell in hand basket with a pink ribbon tied around his cock. Still, he was oddly happy in a way that the Capcicle actually cared about his well-being. He must, after all. He and Thor both wore their hearts on their sleeves. Well, Thor more so than Steve, but still...

"I would not make a wager on that." Loki snapped icily. "Either way. You should return to them in case something happens. We cannot assist you at this moment." Even Thor sensed the newly found calm in Loki's words and his face broke into a grin. He threw his arms around both Tony and Loki who were sitting next to each other and vowed to return in a week.

"We should begin the procedure now, unless you have any other questions." Taure said to Tony once Thor had left.

"Yeah, all right. Let's get it over with." Tony said, trying to sound confident. He didn't even like being prodded at by doctors on his own planet save for Bruce who he tolerated, so this was... well, a little terrifying even if he'd rather die than admit it. He followed Taure and tried not to panic.

"All will be well." Loki said reassuringly and patted Tony's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.