A/N: Yeh... I tried to be fluffy... with mixed results. There's definitely some fluff in here... but my intention was to make this a lot sweeter... Anyway. Hope you like it, and thanks once again for all the support through this increasingly long fic - hard to believe this was originally just a one-shot floating around my head. :)
Tony was warmth. Tony was safety. Loki nestled himself more fully into Tony's arms, enveloped and happy. Tony was protection. Tony was love – a love which he'd never thought he could feel, never thought could be his, and was everything to him.
Tony was wrapped around Loki's sleepy form, just breathing in Loki's beautiful scent, and feeling the firm softness of his body. Tony wanted for there to be nothing but this – this moment, where they were both so happy, and so in love.
"...Tony?"
"Uh-huh?"
"I have to pee."
Tony laughed, and moved to help Loki up.
"You missed a call from Bruce."
Tony looked up from his coffee at Steve, "Mr Smashy-smashy have anything interesting to say?"
Bruce was in Nepal. He was travelling between remote villages, offering medical support and education. He didn't get much cell-phone reception – or internet – in the Himalayas, and he was pretty busy, so he only kept in touch with them every few months or so. Tony sometimes missed having someone he could talk geek with.
"He was very interested in the whole Loki-thing," Steve replied, "but, you know Bruce, he'll be perfectly polite."
Tony nodded, "I hope so," he murmured, "I think it would be good for Loki if they got along – another friendly face, kind of thing."
Steve nodded in return, "How's he doing?"
Tony sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Exhausted," he answered truthfully. "Currently though," he said, "he's curled up, fast asleep, around his teddy bear."
Steve smirked at the look on Tony's face, "Anyone would think you're in love Stark."
"And they'd be right – I've never loved anyone as much as I love him, Cap. And I don't care who knows it."
"Then Tony, you're a lucky, lucky, man."
By the stove, flipping eggs, Thor just smiled gently.
"No, no, no!"
"Loki? Loki baby, it's a dream, wake up."
"THANOS PLEASE! NO!... ALPHA PLEASE! I WON'T!... I WON'T!... I won't obey, Thanos, please... I won't... Stop, PLEASE!"
Tony threw his arms around Loki, holding his thrashing form. Thanos, the big-bad-Chitauri-leader-type-guy, was Alpha? Tony'd file that away for future analysis.
"I won't," Loki whimpered, "Please... it hurts."
"Baby, shhhh. Wake up, I'm here, I've got you baby. I'm here Lokes, I'm here," he rocked Loki gently in his arms.
"...Tony?"
"Yeh babe, you're safe – I promise."
Emerald eyes looked up into his, wet with tears and wide with terror. Tony squeezed him more tightly.
"You ok Lokes?"
"I... There was... I can't remember Tony... when I was... everything's mixed up... it's all mixed up in my head..."
"Shhh, baby, I'm here, I'm here. And I'm not gonna let you go. You're not alone Lokes, I'm here."
Tony held Loki close against him, letting the Omega sob, while stifling his own tears.
"You sure you're ok for me to go down to breakfast?"
A sleepy nod, "Yes Tony, Jarvis will call you if I need another coupling... which after the three last night wouldn't be overly-welcome – you're a... divine lover, Tony... but I'm more than a little... sore."
"Divine, huh? I might have to quote you on that Lokes!"
"Shut up Tony," eyes a bit wider, mouth curled in a frown.
"Sorry baby, I couldn't resist," he leaned across from his side of the bed to kiss Loki on the cheek, caressing the back of the Omega's head, smoothing his tangled hair, "but," his voice softened, "how sore are you baby? You need a painkiller?"
Loki nodded. Tony looked at the pale, drawn, face in concern.
"I don't have to go down for breakfast – I can stay here and eat with you Lokes," he looked pointedly at the huge bag of muffins Jarvis had had sent up – no way was Loki going to finish them by himself, there was plenty for Tony too.
"I don't want to keep you from your friends."
"You think I'll be able to relax if I'm worrying about you?"
"But, why would you worry about me?" a tiny voice, and one that made Tony's heart ache.
"Because I love you," Tony said, accepting no argument, "I really love you Lokes, ok? In fact... I... I was wondering if you wanted us to leave the tower – to leave this life – the Avengers, Stark Industries, the publicity, everything. We can go anywhere baby, anywhere you want – seriously, you don't have to decide now, but just say the word. I want you to feel safe and happy – and if it weren't me you were... with... then those Anti-Omega bastards-"
"Tony," Loki interrupted quietly, "this is the closest place to home that I have – maybe that I've ever had. And yes, you are the biggest part of that – if you wanted to move, I wouldn't argue. I couldn't be anywhere without you, but... my brother is here... and I like Dr Simmons – and my Support Group is... I need it, Tony," he looked down, embarassed, "and I... I sort of like Phil, and Steve, and even Agent Romanoff... though I'm sure that they tolerate me rather than anything..."
Tony laughed, "No babe, you've kind of won everybody over – even Nat."
"...be that as it may... I don't want to be chased away from here Tony, and certainly not because some... foul creatures... have decided to use me as a pawn for their own ends. Let them hate me, Tony, but don't let them control me; that's never going to happen again. I don't belong to them – I belong to you."
"Loki, you don't belong to me – you belong to yourself."
"But..." his eyes were wide, "you're Alpha. I'm your Omega, Tony – that's my place."
"Loki..."
"No," Loki gasped, tears creeping into his eyes, "You are Alpha. My Alpha," he started sobbing, "Aren't you?" he pleaded, clutching softly at Tony's T-shirt with his slim fingers,"Aren't you?"
"Shhh, Loki," Tony pulled his lover to him, "of course baby, of course. I'm your Alpha. I should've been more clear baby, I just meant that I don't own you – your decisions are yours. If you ever wanted to... leave me..." a deep breath, "it would break my heart... but I'd let you. Because you're your own person. And I'm completely in love with that person."
Loki sniffled and gave Tony a faux-slap across the chest, "Be more fucking careful about what you say to me!" he scrubbed a tear from his eyes, "My stupid fucking hormones are everywhere, my entire body wants nothing more than to belong to you and you made me think..." a deep, gulping, breath, "... you made me think that I'd done something wrong! You made me think you didn't... want me."
Tony pulled Loki's face up gently, his hand under the Omega's chin; his Alpha side was roaring his dominance, his claim, over the beautiful Omega in his bed. At that moment, he would tear someone apart for making Loki cry, and it hurt that he was the reason behind Loki's tears. Loki kept still, comfortable in Tony's soft grip, entranced by Tony's eyes. Tony ran his thumb along Loki's jaw.
"My Omega," Tony snarled quietly, "You are my Omega," his tone was primal, coming from that deep and ancient part of his nature, rounded with the growl of a virulent Alpha, "I love you, Loki. You. Are. Mine."
"My Alpha," Loki whispered delicately, a sensual shiver running over his skin as he melted into Tony's arms, his body surrendering to his Alpha's touch and scent, "I love you Tony – I do. You're mine."
Tony leant over his lover's body, and slipped a soft kiss between Loki's sweet lips. Loki's mouth moulded to his; Loki's hands stroked Tony's face. They felt the rightness of their closeness, each trying to show the other the extent of their love.