Just a few more chapters, I think, but I promise something interesting will happen within the next two ;)
A closeness had grown between them that needed no words. Where before Loki might have broken a silence with a comment, or Tony with a sarcastic quip, they now find a small gesture or smile might suffice, when they were together. Where before they might have asked each other how they were, they now saw it in each other's eyes. A bond stretched between them, meek and quiet, but unbreakable. Unyielding. They still had nightmares, but somehow, with the knowledge that the other was just a room away, they seemed no worse than any other, and they did not scream at the memories that tried to shatter them. Because holding them together was a love so strong no pain could break it, nor torture force it to yield. Perhaps it had been the torture which had made it grow, forcing them together until past grievances could be ignored, until they fought with every shred of their being to protect the other. And perhaps also it was that there was no other, not on this Earth, who could look at them and understand what they had been through, and how deep they had come to love each other. Barely a week had passed, yet somehow it felt like they had been in love for centuries. That love, it… It belonged between them. It felt right, so right, to both of them, and now they had finally seen it, realised it was there, they would be unable to live without the other. Tony had been considered a playboy, before, but now… He was Loki's only Loki's, and Loki was his. And they had not yet done anything more than kiss, just a few times. It was not something Tony or Loki found unpleasant, nor something they wished to change. All they needed was each other, for the time being.
When they had looked up from the kiss on top of Stark tower – gods, Tony had never felt such feeling in a kiss before – there had been no regret, no pain, no shame in Loki's eyes. He had just smiled, slowly, before turning himself into Tony's embrace. Exhaustion had weighed both of them down – they had both slept a mere few hours, and even though they had both gone with less sleep for longer, there was something tiring about releasing their pain. But satisfying, so satisfying, to see the lightness in Loki's eyes, and feel the same in his own. He had felt that he might fall asleep there and then, but instead had flown back to his room so they might sleep more comfortably. They hadn't exchanged words, but Tony could feel a… Almost a thread of sorts, stretching between them. A bond. He'd just stepped back in when Fury had stormed in, and demanded where they were. Tony had told him they'd gone outside, for a while. Fury's face had softened, just a little, as he'd gruffly told them to go wait in the common room for the others, they'd be having breakfast together. They'd gone, both of them dragging their feet and Loki looking like he might collapse in exhaustion. Tony hadn't even cared what the others might think when he had laid down across Loki's chest as soon as they'd reached the sofa, an arm around him. Never mind that he still had no shirt. He didn't think Loki would have minded, anymore, the others seeing his scars. They'd both been asleep within seconds of lying down, and had been deeply unconscious as Fury and the Avengers walked in, the former somehow managing not to curse after he had asked JARVIS just how much sleep they'd gotten. They hadn't seen the faces of the Avengers as they'd seen Loki's scars properly for the first time, nor as JARVIS had told them, briefly, that they had been speaking late into the night about what had happened. None of them had asked JARVIS what they had talked about. Fury had drawn a blanket over them and let them be.
And after that, they were near inseparable. More silent than ever, but not for lack of recovery: the opposite, in fact. They found they simply didn't need to talk so much, so they didn't, sometimes spending an entire day without words, just smiling or gesturing. The Avengers seemed to note this, and slowly stopped asking them how they were, as they noted the brightness in their eyes, the fact that Loki's limp had almost disappeared, that Tony didn't scowl or frown, or let a darkness slide over his eyes if he was lost in thought. Perhaps they realised that what was between them was now deeper than mere cell-mates, perhaps not. They certainly had suspicions, and Tony was near-certain Fury knew, or had at least guessed. He looked oddly smug every time he saw Tony with hair slightly ruffled, or Loki with a pale blush dusting his cheeks, usually after they flew down from the roof. It was their spot, Tony supposed. They sat there together, read there or designed gimmicks there together, and one night, Tony had even dragged out some sleeping bags and they'd gazed at the unusually clear night sky.
Loki had even set himself up a few plant pots with strawberry plants, and was thinking about building a small rail along one side of the roof. He was measuring it now, sun sparkling off his black hair, and Tony couldn't help but admire this stunning creature that had given up so much for him. "I want it to be iron," Loki said, eyes sparkling as he tapped Tony's suit. Tony hummed in agreement – something he must have picked up from Loki. "But not red and gold." Loki shook his head and pursed his lips, looking at the edge. He reached to Tony and felt through his pockets until he found his phone, which he took out and snapped a quick photo of the edge, before standing up and extending the phone to Tony. He took it and smiled. "And here I thought you wanted me," he quipped, eyes crinkling. Loki smiled right back. "Oh, I do," he murmured, voice low, and then his mouth found Tony's. The kiss was no less passionate than their first, and Tony relaxed into it, drawing the god closer to himself. After a while, a gorgeous while, Loki withdrew and murmured, "Let's go." He stepped backwards towards the far corner of the building and cocked his head at Tony. He rolled his eyes and sighed before he stepped into his suit and let it close around him. As soon as the mask flickered into life and he saw Loki, the god stepped backwards right up to the corner, raised his arms slightly, and let himself fall backwards. His low laugh stretched behind him as Tony dived off the building behind him. Loki would love extreme sports, he thought to himself with a smile on his face, as he neared Loki and for a time just fell alongside him, enjoying the smile on the god's face as the wind whipped around them. He would have to cut Loki's hair, he decided, and brush it out, too. As they neared the earth – though still a few storeys up – Tony wrapped his arms around Loki and flew them back up the tower to his rooms, from where they would no doubt be going to the workshop to build those railings.
Bruce and Steve were just chatting, really, when the conversation somehow turned to Loki and Tony. Bruce was pretty damn certain they were in love, whereas Steve, ever the innocent, just looked rather confused. "Didn't you see them last week?" he insisted. "They looked so cute!" he continued. Steve rubbed a hand through the hair, before rather calmly deciding, "Bruce, they've known each other for barely a matter of months. There is simply not enough time to build up a suitable level of trust for-" Steve petered of and stared at Bruce. No, he realised. Past Bruce. "What?" he asked, turning, but he could see nothing outside the window. Steve near-ran to it and looked outside, mouth open. Bruce jogged over and looked. Loki was in free-fall, Tony cruising alongside him in his suit, catching Loki before he hit the ground. Bruce frowned, wondering what was going on, before they sailed fairly slowly past the window they were looking at and he saw that Tony's mask was up, and they were both smiling in a rather exhilarated fashion. Bruce grinned and waved at them as they passed, both of them replying with small waves before they passed out of view. Bruce turned to Steve and noted the look on his face, then burst out laughing. "Your argument is invalid," he cackled. "I'd say that takes a fair amount of trust!" Steve shook his head, seeming so confused, the poor man. Bruce clapped him on the shoulder, still smirking. "But…" Steve muttered weakly, then appeared to give up as he shook his head and raised his eyebrows briefly. He then crossed over to the kitchen and took out a pan. "More pancakes from our champion?" asked Bruce eagerly. Steve looked around, eyes wide. "Don't say that, Nat could be-" Natasha's head poked through the door. "Be what? Listening? I would never! And, Steve, pancakes would be great. Did you see Loki and Tony just then? I swear Fury had a heart attack when he saw!" She turned to Bruce and began chatting with him about Loki and Tony, leaving poor Steve to look at his pan in utter bewilderment, before seeming to give up and actually begin to make the well-anticipated pancakes.
Loki had kicked him out of his own workshop. Tony could barely believe it – he doubted he'd ever been kicked out of anywhere in his life (except maybe a few bars when he was younger, but that didn't count). But somehow, without Loki needing to even raise a fist against him, the doors were locking in front of him and he was walking away from the workshop, utterly bamboozled. He decided to wander up to the common room, noting a rather delicious smell floating through the hall. When he emerged into it, he discovered Steve with those awful pink floral oven gloves again, for some reason, making pancakes. A large pile of them already waited, and Bruce and Nat were already at the table, and Clint was making small talk with Steve. Tony shook his head, deciding not to question Steve's motives for wearing oven gloves whilst making pancakes. Maybe the pan was too hot or something, he wasn't sure. Or Nat had bullied him into wearing them, he had no idea. He sat down next to Bruce and looked quizzically at the oven gloves, deciding that in actual fact he was a little too curious not to mention them. Bruce leaned over and whispered to him, "Clint told him he wouldn't be able to make a perfect pancake – with flip – while wearing oven gloves." He was silent for a beat and then added, "where's Loki?" Tony gave a noncommittal shrug, hardly eager to divulge the information, then took pity on Bruce's curiosity and muttered, rather sourly, "He kicked me out of the workshop. Why?" Bruce didn't answer, staring at Tony for a few moments and then beginning to laugh, nudging Nat and repeating what Tony had said in a hushed whisper. Tony almost managed to hide his smile as she started laughing too. Soon, everyone knew it, and their laughter was only interrupted by a spectacular pancake flip from the oven-glove-wearing Steve, which brought about whoops and noises of approval.
Steve set his pan down and turned around to them, letting the pancake sit for a bit. "Why was he in the workshop?" he asked, voice curious. Tony sighed. "He wanted to build a railing for his strawberries on the roof," he told him. Steve frowned and seemed rather confused, so Tony mirrored his expression. "What?" he asked Steve. "How did you get strawberries… On a roof?" Tony felt his own confusion was slowly increasing to the same amount as Steve's. "I… Flew them up?" he near-asked, wondering why Steve was asking. It seemed rather obvious. Though now, Steve looked less confused and more like he was trying to hide a smile. "You flew up to your roof in the iron man suit… Carrying plant pots." Tony blinked. "Yes…" he said slowly. Bruce snorted. "You carried a bunch of plant pots onto your own roof? The hell must the people down there be thinking?" Clint chuckled, too. "You must have looked so stupid!" he cackled, miming carrying a bunch of plant pots. Nat didn't laugh – she smiled at him. That made Tony nervous. "So sweet of you, to do that for Loki," she smirked, voice like honey. Tony spluttered and went slightly red, still absolutely perplexed as to what the others seemed to find so funny about iron man carrying plant pots. It wasn't exactly normal, but it wasn't as… Hilarious, as they made it out to be. And Nat – he had no idea what to say to her in reply. Loki had insisted? He certainly had… Mentioned it once. "He made me do it," he sulked, even though what Loki had actually said was that it would be interesting to try growing plants up on the roof. "JARVIS?" asked Steve, as if seeking confirmation. "Don't say a word," Tony growled at the AI, who replied, "Of course not, Sir. I wouldn't dream of telling them that Loki didn't have any part in the plants on the roof apart from mentioning – just once, might I add – that it would be interesting. I simply wouldn't dare dream of it, sir," he continued. Tony growled at the AI, feeling his cheeks going bright red. "So what?" he sulked, crossing his arms protectively. Every single one of the Avengers – even Steve, heaven help him – gave him a knowing smile in return. He fled the room.
Hours later and it was dark, and he was preparing to go to sleep. Loki hadn't even left the workshop to eat or drink – though JARVIS had assured him the god had drank a glass of water while working, after some reminding. "He's remarkable like you when he works, sir," JARVIS told him after he asked him what Loki was doing. "And he says I'm not allowed to tell you." Tony snorted. He must have skipped over a glitch in JARVIS's systems that allowed him to disobey his direct orders, but JARVIS had only ever done it for Tony's own good – most likely the AI knew Loki would want it to be a surprise. He had no inclination to remove the glitch. "Tell him to hurry up," he grumbled. The AI was silent a moment, then Loki's clear tones cut through the air. "Patience, dear Tony," he said, sounding vaguely exasperated. Tony heard the sound of something dropping and a not-entirely muffled Norse curse echoed from the hidden speakers. Tony chuckled. "When will you be done?" he asked. "Just go to sleep," was the answer, still sounding exasperated. "I'll let you know when it's done." Tony rolled his eyes. "Fine," he sighed, rolling into his bed. "Good night," came Loki's faintly amused tones, and the audio switched off with a slight click. Tony frowned. He'd have to get rid of the click at the end of the audio. Or at least make it optional, if only to ensure a degree of privacy should he doubt a person might switch off the audio and simply listen in. He was contemplating it for a while and had to fight the urge to scribbled it on a pad. He lost the fight and padded to the bedside table, writing it down on his stark pad with a few quick taps of his fingers. Done. He got back into bed and rolled around for a while, unable to sleep, mind buzzing with thoughts and almost missing Loki's steady breathing. Eventually, though, he managed to close his eyes and relax for long enough that he drifted into sleep.
And then, of course, when he woke up it felt like only seconds of sleep had passed. It was still dark, and he was momentarily confused, before realising it was Loki shaking him awake impatiently, eyes wide and excited and looking very much like he hadn't slept at all yet. Loki pulled him right out of the bad and he landed hard. "Oof," he grunted, getting up and shaking his head to clear it slightly. Loki already had the suit ready and pushed Stark into it. Still only half awake, he didn't resist, and almost automatically put his arms around Loki before flying them through the already-opened window onto the roof, where he stepped out of the suit. The bench had been turned to face the railing and Loki sat him firmly down on it. "C'n I got to sleep now?" he asked groggily. Loki whacked him on the shoulder, and he sat up a little straighter, blinking as the sleep slowly began to fade. He narrowed his eyes but couldn't make out much of the railing beyond quite elaborate swirls and shapes. The moon was behind a cloud. He turned to Loki in confusion, but the god put a hand on his face and shoved it away to look at the railing. He was about to ask what he was supposed to see when the moon came out from behind the cloud, and Tony could do nothing but gape.
The railing had been decorated with strips of polished metal on the top of every swirl, and in the middle of them hung small shards of metal and glass melded together into perfect spheres that caught and reflected the moonlight in spectacular ways, casting the cool light over the small rooftop area. The top of the railing wasn't flat – it dipped and curved, and when Tony looked carefully, he realised that the dips were in exactly the right places where sunlight would break through the city's horizon in the morning, and twisted slightly so it might reflect the setting sun's light. It was beautiful, and he could tell it would be stunning in the daylight too, but in moonlight… It was perfection. "Do you like it?" whispered Loki. Tony nodded, still gaping, and pulled Loki to him, only then realising just how cold it was and shivering suddenly as he leaned into the god's warmth. "You already put it here?" he asked, realising just then. Loki nodded. "I flew in your suit," he said. "JARVIS piloted, though." Tony nodded, astonished at the fact that not only had Loki taken it upon himself to craft and install the railing, but he'd also done it in around twelve hours, perhaps slightly longer, he wasn't sure of the time. "It's beautiful," he told Loki, awed. The god smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Thank you," Loki said, looking up at the moon. "You are, too," Tony continued, gazing at him with half-open eyes. A low hum echoed in response and the moon seemed to shine all the brighter, the railing sparkling away as they watched the sky together.