Peter had asked JARVIS to track Natasha's cellphone, and when the AI ensured him the spy –and her companion- were far out of reach of the Doombot invasion, he went along with rescuing civilians from tricky situations. He wasn't around to see Loki trash Doom, but when the bots all died down he knew they must have won. He helped a group of people out of a bus that was half crashed under a collapsed building, and then went back to the Tower. He was just in time to see Hela and Natasha arrive. Natasha was pissed because she had missed the major villain action of the week, and her Russian insults to the address of Clint –who hadn't called her- were quite amusing, but the real sight was Hela. She wore an emerald green silk blouse, and her legs looked delightfully long under a black leather skirt. On her feet she wore black pumps. Peter was sweaty and dirty from the battlefield, but he wanted to kiss Hela more than ever nevertheless. Just when he wanted to comment on the beautiful goddess's look, Justin beat him to it.
"Wow. Creepy, you look hot…"
Hela smiled shyly.
"Natasha said it was good."
"Good does not cover it, Creeps!"
Peter caught Hela's eye as well now, and the young goddess smiled more widely now.
"Peter… You have fought as well…"
"Well, yeah… err… I just helped a little."
"You are a worthy man, Peter Parker. I am joyous as well as sad to know I will never find you at my gates, for I don't doubt your worthiness of Valhalla…"
Hela had an odd way of complimenting people, but Peter knew very well that she had made him an enormous compliment.
"I… err… I should go take a shower…"
Hela giggled.
"Ah, good to see not all warriors run to the mead barrels immediately after battle…"
From the kitchen the sounds of victory resounded, so Peter knew very well what she meant.
"No, we're not all like Thor here. I… err… actually prefer showering before… err… mead."
Hela let out a dry giggle and Peter felt a blush creep to his cheeks. Feeling slightly awkward he made his way to the bathroom.
(Pagebreak)
"I can't believe you didn't call me, Clint. I thought we were friends!"
"And I can't believe Loki actually screwed Doom! Of all people! Brrr!"
"Don't go off topic Clint!"
"Tasha, seriously! You should have seen that, Loki just went berserk on that guy! Remind me to tell Tony never to break up with him!"
"I would have seen it, IF YOU HAD CALLED ME! And what is that about… wait… really?"
"Yeah. JARVIS recorded it, no?"
"Ah yes. It was on national television, Miss Romanoff."
JARVIS activated the television in the living room and the kissing scene of Loki and Tony filled the screen. Natasha grinned.
"I still don't really like the guy, but that is just really cute."
"They even had an epic run-towards-each-other moment. It was so mushy I almost suspected it was a hidden camera thing."
"Uh, if anything they deserve each other. They're both obnoxious."
"I thought you were all won over to the Loki side of the force these days?"
Natasha punched Clint.
"Certain weeds don't perish. He may be hurt now, but I'm pretty sure that the trickster is still in there somewhere. Not necessarily the evil-conquer-the-world-trickster, but definitely one that will match Tony in obnoxiousness."
"Never trusting, that's how I know you."
"You know I trust you."
"Yeah. To a certain degree."
Natasha quietly smiled. She trusted Clint far more than any other human being, and she knew that he knew. They just had the unwritten rule never to admit that.
"To a certain degree, yeah…"
(Pagebreak)
Director Fury was far less happy with the kissing scene on national television.
"Sir, Director Fury on the phone for you."
"JARVIS, hold your voice down, Loki's sleeping!"
JARVIS whispered now.
"My apologies, Sir."
"And tell him that I'm not at home. I'm in an ashram in India and I don't have my cellphone. Or tell him I'm on the toilet. No, say that I'm busy testing a special sonic device which makes telephone contact impossible, that's a good one, tell him that."
"Sir, he said, and I quote, that he'll blast himself a way into your motherfuckin' tower if you don't pick up your phone in the coming five seconds."
Tony rolled his eyes and looked at Loki. The god was restless in his sleep, but at least he was sleeping now. Fury yelling through the room would not do much good, but he didn't want to leave Loki alone.
"Fine. JARVIS, sound at 25 percent."
JARVIS made the connection, and Fury appeared on the screen, his one eye blinking with frustrated anger. Good thing Fury didn't have Bruce's condition, or Manhattan would not have one building standing anymore, Tony thought.
"STARK! What the fuck did I see on my TV today?"
"Err… the weather forecast?"
"I'm not in the mood for games, Stark. You better have a damn good explanation for this! We have been lenient when you wanted to care for him, but this kind of publicity is EXACTLY what we feared for. Do you really have NO sense of responsibility at all, Stark? Don't you realize this kind of behavior can and will jeopardize the continued existence Avenger's Initiative? How on earth am I ever going to convince the motherfuckin' council you're not compromised?"
Fury's reprimand still sounded rather loud despite being at one fourth of the actual loudness. Tony wondered if Fury never had trouble with his vocal cords if he spent the whole day yelling like that. He frowned at the one-eyed man and said.
"May I remind you that Loki actually defeated Doom for us? He was on our side today and he totally overexerted himself for our safety!"
"I want a meeting with him."
"No. Not now. He needs time to recuperate and it's stress enough for him without you and that stupid council on his back."
"Stark…"
"Seriously, leave us alone for like… a week?"
"Three days you can get. Then I want a meeting, and you be damned I will get it!"
With that Fury ended the transmission. Tony sighed deeply. What did he do to the universe that it kept sending all its shit his way?
(Pagebreak)
The night was hard on Loki, several times he woke up crying and screaming. He was disgusted with himself at first, but when he felt the arms of Tony around him it just… faded into bliss along with the memories of what had him so frightened in the first place. He felt so safe and happy when close to Tony… those lips on his had been the best feeling ever, setting of fireworks in his mind and leaving him speechless with happiness. Loki still couldn't really believe it. What spell had caused him this? Normally it would have made him suspicious, but… the feeling was simply too amazing, and Loki knew he was addicted from the moment those gorgeous lips crushed on his. In the blue light of the arc reactor he looked at Tony's sleeping form, a deep sense of affection smothering all suspicions he harbored. Tony seemed to feel someone was staring at him, because he opened his eyes.
"Loki?"
A smile crept on Loki's face… just hearing Tony say his name did that. He softly whispered.
"You have cursed me…"
Tony looked sleepily at his bed partner.
"How do you mean?"
Loki sighed.
"I will never be able to alone again…"
Tony pulled the god closer, sending shivers down his spine. The reaction was physical, instinctual, deeper than any conscious level he had access to and he had no control over it. Tony softly whispered in his ear.
"I will never leave you alone."
Then he kissed Loki, who moaned in pleasure as that uncontrollable chemical reaction swept through his brain again. He succumbed to it, too happy to resist in any way. Entangled they fell asleep again, both smiling as their dreams were filled with each other…
(Pagebreak)
Hela looked gorgeous. The new clothes Natasha had helped her pick were perfect for her, the accents of green wonderfully complimenting her emerald eyes and the daring skirts accentuating the goddess's long legs and well-shaped ass.
"Pete, stop staring. You're gonna choke on your drool like this."
Justin poked his friend. Hela was helping Frigga with something in the kitchen, and she stood bent over, giving Peter full sight of her marvelous build. They still met in the library, reading together and listening to the old records, yet Peter often felt himself distracted by Hela now. It wasn't that she hadn't been beautiful before, but she seemed to have picked up some lessons from Natasha in how to flaunt her wares to get what she wanted. Perky little boobs teasing him through the silky fabric of one of her new blouses, a deliberate stroke from her foot against his leg while he was reading, a suggestive smile when she let her fingers glide over the piano keys… Peter was hooked, and actually quite afraid. He wanted nothing more than to take things further with Hela, but the fact she was A, a goddess, B, Loki's daughter, and C, immensely imposing when she wanted to were stopping him. Not to mention that it would be his first time. He looked desperately at his friend.
"I think she wants to… you know."
Justin's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Have sex? Lucky bastard! I'll most likely be old and grey before I get some…"
"You don't understand it…" Peter whispered embarrassedly. "I don't dare to…"
Justin's mouth fell open.
"You're such a Holy Virgin, Peter! How can you not dare that? It's what we are made to do! Nothing but mammals, remember?"
Peter's slight blush grew tomato red when both Frigga and Hela looked up tow ee what the commotion was about.
"Shut your trap, Junior!"
"Dude, don't call me that. And you know I'm right. Just go with the flow, your body knows what to do before you will!"
"Urgh, Justin. You sound like a crappy self help program."
"It's true. I mean, if it weren't the human race would be extinct. Also, I am the living proof that even the dumbest and most infuriating of all human beings is capable of reproduction."
Peter shook his head.
"Maybe I'm totally misinterpreting the signs, you know…"
"Then you should wait and keep your junk in the trunk for now. As I said, go with it as it comes!"
"You're probably right…"
"I am always right."
That got him punched, but not too hard. After all, Justin WAS right, most of the time, and Peter knew it.
(Pagebreak)
The three days of calm Fury had promised them passed before they knew it. Most of the time they had spent in bed, as Tony insisted that Loki would rest and Loki didn't want Tony to leave him alone, and the day JARVIS reminded them of Director Fury's deal was painful for both of them. Loki looked miserable at the mere thought of leaving Tony's vicinity.
"Please don't let them take me…"
Loki hates himself for being so ridiculously attached to Tony, but at the same time he can't help himself. His hate of weakness cannot contain the needs of his body…
"They won't take you. I will be right there."
It turned out Loki's fears were partially justified, as Fury wouldn't allow Tony to be present during the interrogation. Tony was left in some sort of waiting room with a Styrofoam cup of really bad coffee while two SHIELD agents led Loki to an interrogation room. The feeling was awful, and it was unlike anything Tony had ever felt. Something tugged on his heart, made his stomach clench together in an irrational sense of insecurity. It seemed that every step they took Loki farther from him made the feeling worse…
In the meantime, Loki was experiencing the same. He bit his teeth, because he had promised Tony he would behave, but the further the agents led him from the waiting room, the more painful it became. When they finally set him down in an interrogation room, he was so pale and shaky one of the agents asked if he was okay. Not wanting to open his mouth –he might sob- he nodded. Every second he was kept waiting the pain became worse. Of course there was the fear for Them, but most of all there was a sensation of pain in his mind, reminiscent of the mental burning They had used on him. It wasn't Them, he could feel it was different, but it was nevertheless breaking him apart. When Fury finally entered the room, Loki could barely stop himself from begging the man to take him back to Tony.
"Well, Loki. So we meet again."
Loki pinched his eyes to withstand another bout of pain and answered.
"Yes."
"Apparently you have convinced the Avengers that you're harmless, but I don't buy it."
Loki was close to tears, and Fury saw it.
"Well, well, the almighty god is in pain. What did they do to you in Asgard?"
"Not… Asgard."
"Ah. Some other party decided to have a go at punishing you. I must say that I'm not surprised you pissed off more people than just us."
Loki looked at Director Fury, clenched his fists, and said.
"I… I am trying to… atone for my deeds."
"Yeah, yeah, you can easily say that now, but what tells us you won't get back to your old destroy-and-conquer gig as soon as you have your things in order again? You'll have to convince me, Silvertongue…"
It was downright low to use Loki's old nickname on a moment he clearly had such trouble speaking, but the god couldn't bring himself to comment on it. His very soul hurt like hell, and the only thing that kept him from screaming was the promise he had made to Tony…
(Pagebreak)
Tony felt sick. Not as if he wanted to throw up, but worse. If he had had to explain how it felt, he would have said his brain felt nauseous. The coffee had gone cold without him even taking a sip, and now the cup betrayed his trembling hands. Where had they taken Loki? The mere thought of Fury possibly torturing him was enough to send another wave of pain through his mind. Tony knew that it was wrong, that there was something very wrong with him, because people don't get physically sick when they miss someone. Not when that person is maximally 500 meters away. Perhaps Loki had indeed somehow taken control of him… It was an unpleasant thought, and in a bout of anger Tony crushed the full cup of cold coffee, spilling it all on the floor and his shoes. Fuck possible mind control, he really needed Loki… Tony had the feeling his unexplainable illness would only get worse with the longer they were separated…
(Pagebreak)
Director Fury had the feeling something as very wrong with Loki. The god appeared to be in serious distress…
"What is going on with you? Better tell me the truth or I may have to use other means to get it out of you."
Loki looked tortured at the director and with a choked voice he answered.
"I… I don't know… I… I need Tony… P-please…"
Only the pain Loki was in bested the embarrassment. Director Fury understood he wouldn't get much useful information from the god while he was in this state, so he sent for Tony. Suddenly a message came in for Fury.
"Director, it appears Stark has collapsed in the hallway."
That earned them a dirty curse word from Fury. Loki almost unconsciously knew what was going on.
"Please let me go to him! We… w-we can't be apart, it makes us ill! It… I don't know why this is, I don't know! Please!"
Fury practically dragged Loki –who wasn't too unstable on his feet himself- with him to the hallway, where there was a little fuss around Tony. The engineer sat up again, not unconscious but definitely not looking good. Loki pulled himself loose from the director and ran to Tony. He didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around the man in a desperate hug. Tony answered it with equal despair, much to the SHIELD people's surprise. He whispered in Loki's ear, voice slightly unsteady.
"It appears you have cursed me too…"
"Oh Tony…"
Sitting on the floor in the SHIELD facility, surrounded by completely dumbstruck people, Tony and Loki clung to each other as if the world would end if they didn't…
(Author's Notes)
So... yeah, I added a bit of an extra dimension to Loki and Tony's inseparability. Don't worry though, help is on the way and the solution is really quite simple. (I Leave it to you to guess xD)
Peter's in distress too, because his young male hormones start to play up and he has no experience in the bed department at all (not surprising, the guy's 16 year old and a tit bit of a goody-two-shoes)...
Then, this also featured quite a lot of Fury. In my opinion he doesn't curse enough here, what do you think?
Then... OVER 50 REVIEWS! The gift this time is dedicated to Lazy Kitty Hyuu, because she has brought the review count over a round number more often than anyone else so far!
- A loud sneezing sound resounded through the tower. It was actual sneezing, but far to loud to originate from a normal human being... -
Tony: Can anyone tell me if the Other Guy is having a cold? I would really like to keep my windows in one piece...
-There is thunder, and Thor appears, holding a pale looking Loki with a very red and swollen nose...-
Thor: My friends, I require your assistance! My brother is ill!
Everyone: Err... What does he have? Is it contagious?
Thor: It is a mysterious illness that causes sneezing and a dripping nose and headaches and mild fever! It is unknown to all of Asgard and I fear it might be deadly!
Steve: That sounds a suspicious lot like a common cold, Thor. It's not dangerous. Just put him in bed and give him some tea and cold medicine, it will pass.
Thor (uncertain): Well, there is also the matter of...
-Whatever Thor wanted to say is interrupted by Loki sneezing really, really impossibly loud. It totally knocks over several chairs and cracks the windows. When everyone looks up, they see... they're all wearing different clothes. Tony is wearing a red flamenco dancer's dress, Steve the tiny uniform of one of those silly waitresses on roller skates (including the skates), Bruce a pompous green victorian ball gown, Clint a yellow glittery stripper's bikini, and Thor... a very ill-fitting pink ballerina leotard -
-insert collective scream of agony here-
Thor: His magic is affected by the illness.
-Loki looks sick and sorry, but manages to grin nevertheless when he sees what his sneeze has caused.-
Steve (embarrassed): Then why bring him HERE? We can't do anything about this! Please give us our clothes back, please! (pleads, moves carelessly, slips on his roller-skates and flashes his butt to everyone when falling on the floor)
-Loki isn't done sneezing. At all. A second time the impossibly loud noise resounds, and this time some windows actually break. Tony wants to lash out, and then notices... Everyone has antlers. Tony carefully feels on his own head, and yes indeed. A nice pair of big deer antlers.-
Loki: I... T-they... w-will come off... b-by themselves... end of s-s-season...
Bruce: End of WHICH season!? (looking pretty agitated already...)
-Loki doesn't answer, instead he sneezes again, big time. All the windows in the room are done now. Nothing has changed though. Everyone is rather surprised... until an urgent phone call comes in. JARVIS puts it on screen, and the whole group gets to see Fury, yelling angrily-
Fury: WHO DID THIS TO THE HELICARRIER!?
-Fury is wearing a santa outfit, and sits in what appears to be an extra-extra-extra-large sleigh, together with Agent Hill, who has grown extra large elves ears. From the noise on the background, she is far from the only SHIELD agent in this condition... The antlers and girl's clothes are all forgotten now, and the whole team doubles over in laughter...-