It was a little funny, Tony remarked. That it was first now he realized he hadn't seen his own reflection in ages.
Not since the day he had left earth.
Often Tony had noted how shit Loki looked at their prison stay, but now Tony had to admit… He looked way worse himself.
Tony tried to take in his image, he had lost weight… a lot. He honestly just looked skin and bows.
His beard turned out to be scraggy when grown out.
He knew his hair would normally be slightly curly when long, but it was so filled with pure grim and dirt that no one would be able to tell right now.
Rest of him was covered to, he was this weird gray and brown color he knew wasn't his own skin color but just all the dirty covering all of him… He hadn't had a bath either since the day he left earth.
Sweet baby jesus, a bath to soak up his poor abused body.
All the little space craft had was one shower everyone had to share. Tony, Loki and Nebula had been offered first priority for being their saviors.
Loki had not taken one single moment to object or even act like it wasn't needed, he had just declared first picking and went to the bathroom to emerge half an hour after with damp hair and newly conquered clothes.
Now Tony was in here second, he had offered Nebula. Then she had asked if her new limps were waterproof and… well. They weren't… So yeah.
Water felt so good, trying to wash all the sweat and grime away. Tony wished he could just stay under the shower head forever.
But his better self told him they needed to at least try and safe the water.
Next Tony was back in front of the mirror now able to actually see his own skin and… god dammit, he had never been so pale in his life before. He didn't even know he could be so pale.
It knocked slightly at the door. "Tony, it's me." sounded Lokis voice. Loki didn't even wait for a confirmation before the door opened and the demi god stepped in carrying a few items. "I would assume you would prefer clean clothes." he commented.
Tony sighed deeply as he saw the black garments in Lokis arms.
"God yes." Tony stated.
"I think you also need these." Loki commented showcasing two items.
A pair of scissors and an old fashioned barber knife…. Really old fashioned.
"Errrh." Tony looked at the old fashioned nice. "You wouldn't happen to have an electrical beard trimmer in your little magic cabinet or something?"
Loki looked at Tony. "You're telling me your beard was always so well kept and you can't even use a barber knife?" he asked.
"I didn't need to. Again, electrical beard trimmer!" Tony exclaimed. Then he looked at the knife… damn it would be so nice to get rid of this beard. But he was also seriously afraid he was going to cut himself up, something told him that thing in Lokis hand was stupidly sharp.
Loki sighed deeply. "Fine. Sit down." he asked gesturing at the small stool inside.
"You're going to fix my beard Loki?" Tony asked amused.
"I've done it for Thor on occasion." Loki informed. "When we were on long hunting trips with no mirrors available. Have you ever seen Thors beard? Asgardians would always care a lot about their beards and hair."
"Seriously?" Tony asked as he sat down.
"Indeed." Loki replied moving to the cabinet finding some soap. "People would grow out big beards so they could braid them in as elaborate ways as possible and spend hours combing them."
"Thors hair always was silky smooth." Tony chuckled.
"Exactly, he too would brush it every morning and every evening. And well… Also every afternoon before dinner. Always needing to look presentable." Loki stated turning back to Tony with the soap. "Lean your head back." he asked and Tony did allowing Loki to work.
"So it's not just you huh Lokes?" Tony asked amused. "Good to know other men knows the value of good looks." he halted. "You don't have a beard." he couldn't help but point out.
Loki sighed. "No, I was never able to grow a beard." he admitted.
"Is it because you're a frost giant?" Tony asked curiously.
Loki shrugged. "So it seems." he commented starting to soap Tony in and soon started work with the knife.
Tony was almost making jokes about how Loki had a knife all the way up his throat, but was smart enough to refrain… barely.
It only took a few minutes and Loki was done. As Tony got a glimpse in the mirror he couldn't help but whistle. It was his signature style. Mustachio and goatee, perfectly trimmed. "Loki if you ever need a job, feel free to call any time."
Loki rolled his eyes.
Then Tony quieted. "Erhm Loki… Do you. Have any idea for how long we were at that place?" he asked turning to the god.
Loki looked at Tony. "In your earth time frame?" he asked. "About 13 months since we first met in that heat cell."
Tony gaped. "That long?" he asked.
Loki nodded.
"So… Over a year?" Tony asked and he swallowed.
Loki quieted and he glanced down. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay. I just…" Tony halted. "I don't even know. I can't even imagine… What earth is like now." he looked up. "Who… Who's even there anymore? I…" he halted.
"We'll find out when we get there." Loki informed. "Get some rest, Kilas planet is far closer to us than earth. We shall drop both him and the other slaves off there. It has an inter galactic space station where they can contact who-ever they know."
Tony nodded. "Yeah.." he swallowed. "Thanks for the help with this Loki." he gestured at his face.
Loki shrugged. "I also like it when people around me look decent." he stated and finally left.
When the ships door opened again… Tony was lost for words.
True, it wasn't the sun of the earth. It wasn't his sun… But it was a sun.
The sun hitting Tony's skin felt like something from another world… Well it was another world. As it turned out Kila hadn't been kidding about the sand.
It mostly looked white, but the way the sun was hitting it. It was glittering in all the colors of the rainbow, like snow on earth but sand and the colors far brighter.
Kilas eyes were filled with tears as he stepped out. "I never thought I would lay eyes on this again." he gasped.
Tony nodded as he swallowed. "I hope your son is still around."
"Thank you." Kila breathed. "Even if he isn't… because of you. I got to see this, one more time." he turned to Tony. "I owe you everything…. I doubt I will ever be able to repay you. But at least, I wont forget." he swore. "The first time we met, you were nice to me. The first nice thing for so long at that hellish place, and you never stopped being nice. I wont forget."
Tony nodded. "Just… Do your best out there all right?" he asked padding Kila on the shoulder. "Be good and stuff."
Kila nodded an amused smile on his lip. "Come on." he gestured at the other slaves. "We're free now, I'll show you where you can go."
And everyone nodded as they started following and together they started to wander across the dessert to the city in the horizon.
Loki laid a hand on Tony's shoulder. "Come on, we have a long way to earth."
Tony swallowed as he nodded. "Yeah." he agreed, then he quieted. "Loki I… I'm scared." he admitted. "What if we go there and there's… Nothing?" he asked.
Loki sighed deeply. "I know." he admitted. "If… If there is any Asgardians left, they should be on earth. But what if there isn't?"
Tony swallowed. "I guess if we don't go we'll never find out." he closed his eyes.
Nebula stepped out. "You have to go." she informed them. "Both of you, you will never know true rest before you know for sure. Come on. We will be going."
And both men nodded as they turned around allowing the door to close, then the spacecraft took off.
According to Loki and Nebula it would be a while before they reached earth. A week or two, even with this alien space craft.
It was going to be torture for sure. Nebula was right, Tony wouldn't be able to rest… until he knew for sure.