Warning: Sexual Content

Chapter 5- To Asgard and Beyond

Loki leaned his head back against the wall, feeling like screaming, destroying something, anything. It wouldn't even be that hard to tear the furniture in the room apart. He could just let his magic loose for a moment, a second. It could be cathartic, easy.

The elevator pinged, footsteps echoing down the hallway as someone came onto his floor. He closed his eyes, a dull throbbing starting behind his eyes. He could still hear Amora screaming obscenities at him, the shock and anger reflected in her eyes. Destroying Anthony's furniture wouldn't be satisfying.

"So, you know," Anthony's voice said, soft and anxious and barely a foot away. "This doesn't exactly make it into our top ten plans."

"I don't know," Loki answered. He raised his head off the wall, forcing himself to focus on Anthony. His eyebrows were furrowed, worry that Loki wasn't sure he completely understood etched across his face. Loki wasn't going to screw this up. He didn't need Anthony's worry about the situation piled on top of his own. "Maybe you just can't see the genius behind it?"

"Babe," Anthony said, leaning against the wall beside Loki with his shoulder brushing Loki's, warm and solid. "I invented genius." Loki bit his lip, the snicker still coming out in a startled breath. Maybe he should have been less surprised that Anthony was the one to come and check on him. He probably should have expected it the second he'd bailed, Thor basically dragging Amora kicking and screaming toward the roof. He'd just needed a minute.

"You don't have to do this," Anthony said. He shifted his weight, leaning against Loki, warm and comforting, and he sounded so sure. Like Loki could really just bail out, leave Amora as everyone else's problem when it had been his idea to make the problem in the first place.

"But I've been so looking forward to going back to Asgard," Loki answered. "Perhaps Odin will welcome me back with open arms and beg me to stay." It was unlikely, but he'd known what he was doing when he promised to stop Thor from taking Amora back to Asgard. He'd said nothing about taking her back himself. Not that bringing a dangerous criminal back or warning them about Thanos' plans would be enough to absolve him of breaking his banishment in Odin's eyes.

"I'm going with you," Anthony said, somehow completely sidestepping Loki's sarcasm.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"If you're going, I'm going," Anthony said, and he keeps talking when Loki opens his mouth. "Besides, there might be something there that can help us track the mind stone. Isn't Asgard supposed to be all magic advanced library cool time?"

"They could have something," Loki admittedly reluctantly. "I'll look while I'm there."

"We'll look while we're there."

"It's a bad idea."

"Those are my best ideas," Anthony answered. He smiled, his lips curving arrogantly and his eyes serious. He reached his hand out, his fingers hovering over Loki's arm. His hand was warm even from inches away, the heat of his shoulder pressing against Loki's seeping into his skin. He shouldn't need Anthony's comfort so much. He could still remember Amora's words, her smug smile when she'd called him weak. He wanted to be strong. He wanted to be equal to Thor, powerful enough to make Odin proud. Anthony sighed and let his hand drop back down to his side, his fingers barely brushing Loki's arm, and Loki felt so cold.

Leaving for Asgard was annoying. Thor kept shooting Loki concerned looks, his face scrunched up like he was afraid Loki was going to start screaming or something. Anthony didn't say anything else about it, but he kept his determination to come, even through Thor's questioning and Amora's pointed accusations.

When Thor raised his hammer to call Heimdall, Loki half expected nothing to happen. Loki had his hand around Amora's arm, her glare prickling on his face. Anthony stood on his other side, standing strangely still. He wouldn't have been surprised it Odin refused them access. That wasn't what happened.

They landed on the rainbow bridge, Heimdall gripping his sword and looking down at them with a dull expression that could have been any kind of disapproval. Three guards stepped into the Bifrost, their amor shining a familiar bright gold that shouldn't have made Loki's chest ache. Two of them took Amora from him easily, not reacting at all as she yanked on their arms, twisting around to look back at him.

"You'll pay for this, Loki," she said. "I swear you'll pay for this."

"Good luck with that," Anthony answered, his smile self-satisfied as they drug her away.

"The Allfather wishes to speak to you," the third guard said, gesturing vaguely toward the palace like they didn't know where to find Odin.

And the trip up to the palace was just as annoying, tedious. He didn't want to see Odin. He didn't want to be reminded once again how much he wanted Odin's approval, how he was never going to get it. He didn't need to be told how he shouldn't have come home.

"Brother—" Thor started, wondering closer. Anthony flicked his eyes over, his lips pursed, his eyes scrunched.

"Save it," Loki interrupted, and they kept walking.

Fandral met them in front of the doors to the council chamber, the doors golden and grand and dreadful behind him. Loki had never hated the sight of them so much.

"He's ready for you," Fandral said, his gaze glancing from Loki to Thor to Anthony. "You'll wait here."

"What?" Anthony answered. "I don't—"

"I'd like to talk to you in any case," Frigga said, her voice breaking through Anthony's as easy as breathing. Her dress swept across the floor as she approached, elegant and beautiful. She turned her head and smiled at Loki, her eyes soft, and Loki bit his lip. He hadn't even had the chance to say goodbye when he'd left.

But the doors were swinging open, and Thor was heading into the council chamber, Fandral ushing them both inside, and Loki didn't have much choice but to follow them in.

Odin was on his throne, Gungnir clutched in his right fist and two guards standing at attention before him. He didn't look angry, but sometimes it was hard to tell before he started lecturing, before Loki had made him mad enough to really pull out the punishments.

"My sons," he said, sitting forward just enough that he had to shift his grip on Gungnir.

"Father," Thor answered, dropping to his knee easily. Loki hesitated, clenched his fist, and then followed Thor down. He wanted to stay standing. He wanted to never kneel before Odin again. It was probably a bad idea to start their meeting off on a bad foot when he was going to be asking Odin not to punish him for breaking his banishment.

"I have been watching your progress on Midgard," Odin said, and Loki tensed, his thighs feeling impossibly tight from the way he was kneeling. Thor seemed to take Odin talking as permission to rise, and Loki hesitated before following him up. Now, came the part where Odin told him how disappointed he was.

"You did well to bring Amora back," he said, and Loki had to bite his lip. "And I am proud of the help you provided when the sorcerer attacked Midgard. You could have disappeared, used your power to vanish from Heimdall's vision, but you chose to help instead."

"Loki was very brave," Thor said, stepping forward with his arm raised as if he was making a toast, and Loki felt off balance. He didn't know what to do with his father's approval. It had been so long since he had had anything but vague disappointment for Loki, and Loki didn't—He shook his head, squared his feet, and forced himself to focus as Thor rambled on.

"We've returned for more than just Amora," Loki said, interrupting Thor in the middle of a sentence. Thor closed his mouth, blinking over at Loki for a long second before nodding.

"So…" Tony started, feeling maybe slightly kind of at a loss. What did one say to a goddess, who was also the Queen of Asgard, who was also the mother of the guy you were dating, courting, whatever the technical term was these days. They were seated in a quaint room just down the hall from the council chamber, tea set out

"You're courting my son?" Frigga asked. Well, it really felt more like a statement, because apparently queen mothers liked to get straight to the point these days.

"I… uh, I am?" She raised an eyebrow, and he cleared his throat. "I am. Totally. Did he write you a letter or something about me?"

"No. Loki has never been one to write letters about his feelings," Frigga answered, picking up a teacup. Which one, yeah, Tony could totally believe that. Talking about feelings with Loki was like pulling teeth. "Heimdall has been keeping an eye on Loki, and I've requested to be updated."

"I didn't realize he was keeping an eye on his, you know, love life," Tony said, and Frigga just blinked at him. "That just seems… kind of, you know…" He picked up his own teacup, glancing up at the ceiling to avoid her far too knowing stare. "Like an invasion of everyone's privacy."

"He likes you," Frigga said, ignoring him completely. She took a delicate sip of her tea, her eyes never leaving him, and Tony was beginning to see the similarities between them.

"This is getting really awkward," he answered, taking a long drink. It was actually really good, full of warm spice. He wondered if Loki liked this blend. How many times had Loki and Frigga sat drinking tea together like this?

"You're good for him," Frigga said, still ignoring him. "Loki has always been mischievous, but it's been a long time since I've seen him do some good. You make him want to be more. I just don't want him to lose himself in the process."

"I don't want that either," Tony answered. Frigga smiled at him, and Tony was surprised at the burst of warmth that spread through him at her approval. She really did radiate motherly vibes. No wonder Loki missed her.

"What's going on?" Loki's voice asked, the door creaking open to reveal him poking his head into the room. Frigga turned her head toward him easily, her smile turning soft and loving, and Loki seemed to melt into it.

"Do come in, dear," Frigga said. "We were just talking about you." Loki's lips twisted as if them talking about him was absolutely the worst thing he could think of, but he did come in.

Tony shifted, the bed creaking under them. They'd spent entirely too long drinking tea and talking to Frigga, but as awkward as it had been for Tony, he could tell Loki had really enjoyed it. They'd talked about magic and gossiped about people Tony had no idea about and joked with each other, and Loki's eyes had shone with something suspiciously like happiness.

When they'd finished talking to Frigga, Loki had shown Tony back to his rooms. He still remembered them from when they'd stayed here after Loki first got banished, the fancy furniture and green and black tones and leather accents. Loki's rooms really were nice. That hadn't stopped the awkward moment where they'd stood in the middle of the living room, because Tony hadn't had any idea whether he was supposed to head to the guest room or if Loki wanted him to… would it be appropriate to sleep together? They were kind of in his parent's house, but like Tony really wanted to sleep with him. Even if they didn't have sex. Just sleeping would be fine. Maybe not as exciting, but fine. Better than sleeping alone.

In the end, Loki had just headed to his own room, leaving Tony standing in the living room by himself and still trying to decide. He'd stopped in the doorway and looked back, his eyes narrowed and his ass so entirely too fine.

"You coming?" he asked. Like it was really a question.

Now, they were laying next to each other on their backs, their knuckles brushing, and it wasn't awkward at all.

"So…." Tony said, shifted in the bed. He wished he was naked. Everything was easier when he was naked. "You weren't arrested."

"He was proud of me," Loki said, his voice twisting over the word proud like it was the worst thing he could think of. Tony figured it would probably be like Howard rising from the dead just to tell Tony how great he was. Unnerving. Wonderful. Confusing. Exciting. Fucking awful. He'd spent so long convincing himself he didn't need his father's approval, and then suddenly it was there, and what was he supposed to do with it?

"He wasn't even surprised about Thanos," Loki said. "I guess Heimdall told him what Amora told us. He gave us access to the library and whatever else we'd need to stop him."

"But he's not going to raise a finger himself."

"Of course not. That's what we're for."

"Fuck him," Tony answered, wrapping his fingers around Loki's and squeezing. Loki squeezed back, his eyes still on the ceiling, his expression gloomy.

"What did my mother want?"

"Nothing really," Tony said. "She just threatened me with bodily harm if I hurt you."

"Truly?" Loki asked, finally turning his head to look at Tony. His expression was amused, his mouth curling up ever so slightly. "That doesn't sound like her."

"No?"

"She's usually much more subtle."

"That sounds like someone I know."

"Does it?"

"Actually. no," Tony said. "You like to threaten pretty tactlessly."

"Excuse me?" Loki said, rolling on his side and pulling his hand out of Tony's. He propped his head up on his hand, his eyes crinkling as he smiled. "Nothing about me is tactless."

"Well, that's true," Tony answered, not so subtly tracing his eyes down Loki's body. Loki's smirk widened, tilting his head so his fingers twined further in his hair with the motion, and he looked so hot. Like criminally hot, and Tony really didn't care that they were totally in his parent's house. It wasn't like there was that high a chance they were going to get interrupted anyway.

"Is this the part we have sex?" Tony asked, and Loki's answering smile was infectious.

"Think you can handle that?" Loki answered, and there was really only one way to respond to that kind of challenge.

Tony swung his leg over Loki's hips, the press of their bodies so intensely intimate after holding back for so long. Loki laid back easily, his hands settling on Tony's waist. His fingers just barely brushed under his shirt, pinpricks of cool passion that were entirely too strong for such small points of contact. Tony rocked his hips, already feeling Loki's hard length press against his hip, and he rested his hands on Loki's chest, lining his own cock up with Loki's.

"Oh, god, yes," he groaned, his voice breathy, and his body buzzing. He was so affected by this. Tony Stark, playboy was coming undone just by a little over the clothes rutting.

"You can just call me Loki," Loki answered, his hands tightening on Tony's hips. Tony forced his eyes open, not even really sure when he'd closed them. Loki looked entirely too composed, his hair spread out elegantly around his head, his eyes half-lidded with desire, and his cheeks barely dusted red. Yeah, it was time to change that.

"Sure you don't want me to start calling you Your Majesty?" Tony asked. He reached for Loki's shirt, and Loki shifted easily, letting him pull it off without fuss. Tony couldn't stop himself from just looking for a long moment. He was beautiful, all lean muscles and pale lines, his abs easily visible and yet much more subtle than Thor's or Steve's.

"Your Majesty is nice," Loki answered, stretching his stomach like a cat. He was preening, arching his back and smirking under Tony's gaze, and he kind of had every right to. He fingered Tony's shirt, and Tony pulled it over his head, throwing it on the floor next to Loki's. He added his pants and underwear to the pile next, tracing the line of Loki's and waiting for his nod before adding his too.

"It's very quaint," Loki continued, his voice turning a touch strained as Tony draped himself over Loki, their lengths brushing against each other. "A proper title."

"Hmmhm," Tony answered. He pressed a kiss to the corner of Loki's mouth, wrapping a hand around both of them. His thigh brushed Loki's hip, his other leg settling between Loki's legs as he tried to get a good angle on stroking them both. Loki's hand ran up his back, his nails just shy of painful, and Tony tightened his grip on their cocks. Loki squirmed, one hand sliding up to clamp down on Tony's shoulder and the other reaching between them to close around Tony's and begin helping jerk them off. Tony moaned, pressing his mouth against Loki's. Somehow it felt so much better with both of their hands on them.

Loki tilted his head, parting his lips, and Tony was beginning to realize he had a serious problem with denying Loki anything, because before he even really knew what he was doing, he was sucking Loki tongue in his mouth, licking into his mouth, speeding up his hand and turning the kiss absolutely filthy. Loki's fingers dug into Tony's shoulders, and he was humming into Tony's mouth, his hand following Tony's movements easily. Tony gasped, breaking away from Loki's mouth because he was still human and he did need to breath, which was so unfortunate.

He did lower he head though, mouthing at Loki's jaw as his heart hammered and his chest heaved. Loki immediately tilted his head back to give Tony more room, and fuck, that was hot. That was so hot. He traced one hand down Loki's thigh, and Loki spread his legs more, lifting his thigh like…

Oh… Tony pulled away from Loki's neck just enough to look down at him. His face was flushed, the red seeping down his neck and onto his chest. Even his ears were red. Sweat stuck to his forehead, his hair sticking to his face, to the pillow. Tony traced a finger down between Loki's ass cheeks, and Loki twisted his head into the pillow, his fingers digging into Tony's shoulder.

"Yes, Anthony, yes," Loki muttered.

"You're so hot," Tony said, stroking along their lengths again. Loki groaned. "And I'm so totally in love with you."

Then Loki was arching his back, his fingernails digging into Tony's shoulders so hard it actually really did hurt, but it wasn't enough to stop the burst of pleasure that ran through him when Loki cried out, his hand tightening over their lengths, and Tony was coming right along with him.

It took a long minute to come down. When he did, he rolled off Loki, sticky and satisfied. Loki raised his hand, making some complicated move with his fingers and then they were both clean again and Loki's hair was perfectly styled, which seemed unnecessary since they were sleeping.

"That was…" Tony trailed off, his eyelids heavy and his body so, so relaxed.

"On second thought," Loki said. He rolled over, his leg draping over Tony's hips and his hand resting on his stomach. "I think I prefer Your Royal Highness. It has a much nicer ring to it."

"I'll keep that in mind." Tony laughed, pulling Loki closer.