Sorry there haven't been updates in a while, I've been on holiday... Which has given me plenty of time to think about this, mwahaha!
Um, so... Most likely I'm never going to get around correcting grammatical errors. I might. Try. I mean, time solves everything. So, eventually I might get around to it. Maybe :3
When Tony finally awoke, it was to the scent of fresh coffee – delicious – and to Loki poking him repeatedly in the shoulder, a half-smile on his vaguely amused face. Tony swatted him away, grumbling, though he couldn't stop a smile from breaking out on his face as he noticed Loki's good humour. He blinked as he remembered what happened yesterday. And scowled at the memories as he gulped down the strong, hot coffee that Loki had set before him. The god was now sat across from him, watching him. Tony set down the cup and asked him, "You all right, Loki?" Loki nodded and brushed a hand through his hair, the action almost weary. The god's face tightened somewhat as he withdrew his hand and gazed at the manacle-marked wrists, but his eyes were clear and he looked, for the first time in perhaps even years, hopeful.
Tony rose and embraced Loki soundly, whispering into his ear, "I'm glad," as the god slowly relaxed into him and leaned his head into Tony's shoulder. After some time, they withdrew, and Tony gave him a fond smile, before frowning at him. "When did you change your clothes?" he asked, noting Loki's clean tank-top. The cloak wasn't around his shoulders, though it was next to him on the shoulders. Tony cocked his head, understanding what it meant for Loki to bare his injury to the world. To show pride at what he had survived, rather than shame. A big step – Tony assumed Loki had been thinking about everything for a while. He seemed… More sure of himself, somehow. More alive, almost.
"I had my wounds dressed and asked JARVIS where I might find clean clothes once I awoke – perhaps a few hours ago. Rogers made me aware that you could only be awoken with coffee," the god replied to him, nodding to the mug in his hands. Tony nodded in agreement and raised the mug, bowing his head to it as if in worship. Loki laughed, a genuine sound, and Tony could have sworn he'd never heard anything better than that. He was about to offer some to Loki when Steve walked in, heading, presumably, to the gym. Loki waved at him in greeting, and Steve gave him a hearty, "Morning!" in return, before heading right to the kettle. Apparently discovering it was still hot, he didn't bother boiling it as he made himself a mug. Loki was watching him, then asked Tony, "Do you have here a training room? I wish to see how far my loss of magic has affected my body." Tony blinked at Loki's question, then quickly downed the rest of his coffee – hot – and motioned at Steve. "Steve, you heading to the gym?" Steve turned. "Hm? Oh, yes. Why?" he asked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Take Loki along with you, I'll be down in… A while, I need to change," Tony replied, nose wrinkling as he thought about how long it had been since he'd had a nice shower and clean clothes. Not long, really, but he'd never take them for granted again, that was for sure. Steve bobbed his head in a nod, then picked up his mug and motioned to Loki to follow him, not seeming fazed at all.
Tony yawned when they left, tilting the empty mug in his hands and staring at it for a few seconds, still sleepy, before walking over to the sink and dumping it there. He headed to his rooms, rather surprised when he met nobody on the corridors. Fury was pretty much omnipresent these days, so not running into him was… Probably a relief, as Tony was in a hurry for a hot shower and a set of nice, clean clothes. He was in the shower with remarkable speed, letting the hot water run over him as he absent-mindedly drew smiley faces on the fogged-up glass surrounding the shower. Idly, his thoughts turned to Loki. His face after he'd came from Asgard – even though he had been asleep – hadn't been… It had been awful, and Tony had been terrified for Loki's sake. He dimly remembered seeing Loki and Fury at some point in the night, and he remembered falling asleep next to Loki, and though he had no clue what had happened, Loki had seemed relieved and happy to see him. Tony had no clue what had happened to give Loki back that hope – perhaps he'd realised that not every damn person wanted him dead or suffering. Because Tony found that he really, truly cared about the broken god that had nearly killed himself – worse – just so Stark wouldn't suffer. But that flicker of hope in Loki's eyes – that was reassurance enough for Stark that finally, Loki was healing his mind.
He was reluctant to switch of the shower, but he decided he wanted to pay Loki a visit in the gym and see if the loss of magic had actually affected his strength – though he was weak, still, from his ordeal with Oriax and lack of food. He'd been drinking enough here, Tony had made sure of that, but he'd barely eaten anything. So he changed into a nice, clean shirt and pants and headed down to the gym, where he found Loki and Steve exchanging small talk while bench pressing together. Steve was lifting around a hundred and seventy pounds, Tony noted with admiration. Loki, in all his underweight glory, was lifting the same with fair ease. Tony raised an eyebrow as he sat down near them and stretched out his legs. "Looks like you're still pretty damn strong, then," he said, nodding to the weights. Loki smiled tersely, then set them down with a slight thump. "Not as strong as before, not nearly. But yes, it appears that I am still stronger than the average man, and I have been training for centuries longer, too." Loki stood up fluidly, examining his hand. His brow was creased, as if he were about to say more. Tony looked at him, silently encouraging him to say whatever it was that was plaguing him. Eventually, Loki sighed and looked up briefly. "I also believe I lost my immortality alongside my magic."
There was a sharp intake of breath from Steve and his own weights thumped down and he swung himself into a sitting position, staring at Loki with a slightly open mouth. Tony's reaction was much the same, albeit with a surprised blink rather than a gasp. Loki shrugged slightly. "It does not matter to me as much as I thought it might… After my magic vanished, I began to feel cold and… Weaker. I suspect the Jotun side of me, being a creature of magic, has disappeared. It is possible, if unlikely, that my mother is an Asgardian, and that is why I am alive. It is magic that grants us our immortality, however." Steve gaped further, then asked carefully, "How… how long did it take off your… Lifespan?" Loki shrugged yet again, continuing in his examination of his hand. "A few centuries, perhaps. Again, it does not matter to me too much. It was jarring when I realised, but it has always seemed more a blessing to me. At first, because it shortened my suffering. Now… I will be able to live alongside you, rather than watch you age and die. Should I have a choice, I… I don't think I would want my immortality back." Loki was a mortal. The thought struck Stark deep, and he realised just how much the loss of magic must have affected Loki. Yet the god had found the good in it, and that he would rather age with them, with Tony, than live on without them… It was something Tony might not have understood, had he not spent those week with Loki, missing his friends and family, wishing he could just see them for a few more moments. Mortality made every second count, Tony had realised. Loki probably liked that, having each minute mean something. Tony understood, now, why Loki had wished to test just how far the magic loss had affected him. Deeply, was the answer, but he still had a stronger body than most mortals, even in his weakened state, and had been trained in many fighting techniques.
Tony didn't offer any condolences, as Steve seemed half-inclined to, because there was some sort of lightness in Loki's eyes that showed he was rather relieved to have lost both his Jotun form and his immortality. Steve seemed at and absolute loss at what to say, mixed emotions flashing across his face. Tony couldn't hold in a snort at his confusion, and Loki followed his gaze, before letting out a smile and a small snicker as he noted Steve's poor countenance. Steve joined in with their laughter, realising how hopeless he looked. He motioned over to the punching bags – an invitation that Loki accepted, but Tony blew out an incredulous breath, puffing his cheeks out, and settled down on a bench to watch. Loki didn't look like he'd used a punching bag before, and watched Steve for a while, before mimicking his posture and trying a few punches, then relaxing into the stance and hitting the bag remarkably hard and fast. "Oldies are goodies – another few centuries and you might even outstrip Loki," Tony grinned at Steve. "You crones get better with age," he continued, a wicked light in his eyes. Steve feigned punching Tony from across the room, so Tony mimicked clutching his chest in a shocked and hurt and extremely overly dramatic gesture. Loki's low laugh, still hoarse, swept through the gym. Gods, even with a bad throat the god sounded divine. Fury, choosing that moment to insert his omnipresentiness into the gym, raised a quizzical eyebrow at the rather strange sight. "Careful, Loki," Tony warned, "your pretty voice has attracted some sort of strange creature of the depths," he carried on, smirking at Fury. Loki's laugh burst out again as he noticed an extremely unimpressed Fury standing by the door, though he appeared to be holding in a smile. "Behold," exclaimed Loki, sharp eyes looking over Fury, "was that a twitch of the lips? Surely this beast has not a sense of humour?" Steve wheezed, bending over as he failed to hide his grin. Fury rolled his eyes, gracing them with a slightly begrudging smile. Tony whooped and clapped.
"How are you?" he asked them, voice as serious as always, though Tony couldn't help noticing the relief and humour in his eyes as he looked over Loki. "Good," he muttered, Steve nodding in agreement. Fury turned to Loki, eyebrows raised. "I am well, my thanks, Director." Fury nodded, grunting in approval. Steve leaned over and whispered something to Loki, who frowned but nodded. "Director, I would like to discuss with you, if I may." Fury narrowed his eyes, then nodded, and motioned to Loki to follow him. He went, lifting a hand in a quick wave to Tony and Steve as he left. As soon as he was gone, Tony turned to Steve and opened his mouth quizzically. "I told him," Steve said before Tony could ask him anything, "just to trust Fury, and tell him. Everything." Oh. Tony closed his mouth. Steve motioned towards the punching bags in a silent invitation, but Tony shook his head in mock horror, deciding it was time for some breakfast. He was hungry, damn. So, he waved good-bye to Steve, telling him, "Breakfast awaits." Steve nodded. "I might join you later," he replied, before turning back to the punching bags as Tony quietly opened the door and left.
He decided on waffles for breakfast, popping two into the toaster and waiting idly. He set the kettle off, to make another cup of coffee, and pulled down a mug from the shelf. Thinking that Loki wouldn't take too long with Fury, he pulled down another mug and decided he may as well acquaint Loki with his dear friend, Coffee. He could smell the waffles. Delicious. He waited a little longer until the toaster finally finished, and quickly pulled them out, jiggling around a little as the heat burned his fingers. "Ow, ow, owww…" he muttered, hopping from one foot to the other, and sucking his fingertips before the water finished boiling and he poured it into the waiting mugs. On his waffles… He thought for a while, before pulling out some chocolate sauce. Why not? He drizzled it generously over the waffles and set them on the table, swinging himself onto a seat and immediately attacked the waffles, ignoring the heat in favour of the feeling of food in his mouth. The chocolate sauce was delicious – he'd have to get JARVIS to order more of the same type. The waffles, too. Heavenly.
He was just about to start on the second one when Loki poked his head through the door, eyes immediately narrowing at the sight of the waffles. He slipped in and sat next to Tony, who gazed at him innocently. "Weren't you ever taught to share, Stark?" Loki asked, sidling closer to him with a slight mischievous smirk on his face. Tony grumbled incoherently, but tore a small portion off his waffle and dipped it in chocolate sauce. Loki watched with bright eyes, and held out a hand to Tony. Who bypassed Loki's hand entirely and just dumped the chocolatey mess on Loki's nose, who immediately brought a hand to his face and peeled of the waffle, scrunching up his face slightly. Tony snorted. Loki paused with the waffle poised to be eaten, before narrowing his eyes and lunging at Tony with it. Tony tried to protect himself, but Loki dodged his raised arm and got a nice streak of chocolate down Tony's face – before innocently shoving the waffle into his mouth. Tony tried to dead-eye Loki but didn't manage to hold Loki's gaze for more than a few seconds before smiling. Instead, he dipped his finger into the chocolate on his plate and held it up between them as he might a weapon. Loki kept eye contact, until Tony suddenly realised his hand had slipped past Tony's guard and was stealing half the waffle from under Tony's very nose. He let out a yelp and made a grab for the waffle, but Loki was too quick. Tony gave him a half-hearted whack on the shoulder before turning to his remaining half-waffle and eating it as quickly as he could manage. Just as they finished, the doors to the elevator slid open.
Mixed feelings swung through him as Pepper Potts stepped out, but Loki, ever the gentleman, was immediately standing up and walked towards her, extending a hand in greeting, managing to look graceful despite the chocolate tipping his nose and covering the hand he was holding behind his back. Pepper took one look at his wrist and, limply shaking it, stared at Tony. "Tony… We… We need to talk."