Screams.

Loud, shrieks shrilling.

Pain, hot, searing.

Pain.

Pain.

Ebony Maw's sinister, grinning face.

Pain.

Pain.

Pa- He jolts awake eyes slam open, body jerks like he were shocked wakes Tony startled. Dread, agitation Loki paints over swiftly as browns alarmed to light adjust then worried Tony asks him: "Hey, you okay?" touches softly Loki's face.

"I'm fine, my love," he nods, smiles weakly plants over Tony's hand his. A beat browns studied those weary greens that told him otherwise clearly, firmly so when away they'd dazed and for a second Loki stilled beneath him, next took his hand brushed to his palm a kiss then sat up briskly.

Tony follows, looks at him sat there his eyes below averted, static,

lost.

In what?

…He acknowledges now's made certain, the nights to come will be of tremors and restless.

So be it, in no way does it deter him. He'll do whatever he must, weather with him the storm,

till it passes.

Looks away now will not have Loki catch him staring, fall distressed or uneasy – he pats his knee says evasive: "Let's go eat." And Loki nods faux conscious, makes to move though any motion felt dragging, followed Tony to the lift in the corner hiding camouflaged.

He'd never so often used it. Pepper when he did used to hate it, said it startled and scared her when silent from the wall he came emerging.

Then with Loki with him always he couldn't show him, on a level mulled over the thought with fleeting concern of Loki into his room sneaking, into his bed…a musing that too fiercely would arouse him that no he wouldn't show him. That even with the fact that Loki couldn't actually use it.

He was right in presuming he'd find some way to regardless…

Because that's Loki, always somehow prepared and he loved that about him, loved how he seemed always in control,

longed for the idea, of being as in control,

despite knowing, always knowing, it was a play, a mask, a face that wavers

and when it does, when it shows how their minds, their lives but spiral,

and control is not but a fictious notion.

XXX

Alone together in the lab they'd eaten, sat then Loki was reading and Tony busied himself would not hover indulge his buzzing worry, worked the mechanics of Loki's suit without conversation. The suit and when and where it'd be used was not a favored topic at the moment, the team, what being on it had cost, had done – it's done, they'll not speak it.

But the aftermath they must face…

He wants to give him space signal not his own distress that'd surely be contagious, but precisely that is what Loki is feeling, he sees nothing else everytime he steals a glance on his face it's uneasy, eyes don't blink a book they weren't even seeing look through, through to where – did it matter?

What matters is what Tony knows, that his thoughts for flee were wailing; he'll answer and guide them unfailing, on the screen runs a process automated says aloud: "Okay. This'll take an hour or so to calibrate." To him turns comes to mind an idea. "Hey," taps a finger mid the open book's pages, up at him Loki looks. "Why don't you read to me till it's done?" at the novel he nods, and like coming to Loki at the suggestion smiled faintly, said patent then:

"You won't like it."

"What's it about?" Aside Tony arced his neck read the cover's title. The Charterhouse of Parma. He grins sheepish. "You're right. I won't." Loki smirks. "So read something I will. Something interesting. Crime-fiction. Sci-fi. Mystery – Oh. Sherlock Holmes?" Loki ponders very brief and vaguely why Tony was insisting; he knows he dislikes reading. Gives it not much thought consenting at him smiles.

"Fine. But I pick the story." He gets up for the library making. Tony after him calls:

"Not another crime of passion! Please. So cliché." Loki chuckles, over his shoulder then tells him:

"Be a doll and make me a cup of cherry tea while I retrieve it then."

"Cherry?"

"Upstairs. In the cupboard."

"…I didn't even know cherry tea existed."

XXX

On the cushy, leather couch they resided, Tony lie head in Loki's lap as to him Loki was reading. Tony'd never truly realized how much he loved hearing him speaking. His silver, song-like voice was no less than to him enchanting, leveled and serene, so soothing the way he was playing with his hair, kneading his head he'll almost have him sleeping that Tony had to find a way to stay his eyes open, dexterous hands worked an old Rubik's cube kept his subconscious active tireless.

Then he was actually enjoying the story.

"I bet it's the butler," said that hours later. "Is it? You know, don't you?" Loki smiled down at him.

"Do you want me to spoil the ending?"

"No…A little. No, no," shook his head promptly; Loki chuckled lighthearted. Tony changed again positions sitting up once more with his cube he still fiddles.

"Calibration complete," says Jarvis. Tony nods.

"Kay," on the cube gaze fixed he remained unmoving. So Loki resumes reading.

Half hour after he'd just but mentioned the discovery of a third body then fell silent that Tony faced him, and at him Loki was smirking.

"Why'd you stop?" The smile swells, of mischief he found he'd missed seeing sorely.

"I'm out of tea," from the table beside he waved his empty cup and Tony laughed in earnest.

"Alright. Hint taken," he got to his feet. "Cherry?"

"No. Mint's fine."

"Think we have that here." For the pantry in the room then he's making, thinks to note: "If you're bored you can tell me," behind he looks where Loki'd risen and now follows. "We can pick it up later."

"No, I'm not. Are you?" Tony toggles on the kettle, fixed a cup smirking answers:

"You kidding? I've never enjoyed reading so much." Glad Loki smiled, quipped then:

"Technically, you're not doing any reading." Tony grinned cheekily.

"Technically, that's true." Strong arms from behind embrace him. Loki smooched him on the cheek and beaming Tony turned, pecked his lips climbed onto the counter sat pulled Loki to him closer, cupped his face on the temple kissed him, his cheek, brought to his heart his head wrapped arms and legs around him. Loki stayed as the water was boiling cloaked there in Tony's firm, warm embrace listened to that heart beating sighed quietly breathing, relaxing too much almost he felt he'd come undone, wanted to, and Tony sensed it frowned grip tightened. The kettle went off snapped their closed eyes open. "Hey," muttered Tony pulled away grasped again Loki's face, smiled lightly lowly said: "How about we skip the tea and make some cocoa. Take it up to the roof. I'll get Barb to set up some cushions and blankets, how does that sound?" Thin lips tugged up in a small smile he responded:

"Sounds nice."