Tony went through several stages of grief: Anger, depression, self-loathing, survivor's guilt; he was completely heart broken and self-destructive.
Finally going back to Malibu simply because he couldn't take the 'I'm sorry for your lose' bullshit and 'time heals all wounds' load everyone was spouting out, he was firmly set in self-destruction mode.
The first couple of weeks back he spent curled up in a fetal position in his oversized bed, arms wrapped around Loki's pillow. Then he had taken to walking the halls in his too big home aimlessly. He drank himself into a stupor more than once and knew he should either be alarmed with the fact that he didn't succumb to alcohol poisoning or damn proud of his tolerance.
He woke up one morning to find Dummy hovering over him. It had been a while since he had been in his lab. Tony immediately immersed himself into making modifications for his suit. Even started a new prototype. Anything to keep his mind from wandering back towards that dark place.
He began taking the suit out on night runs, pushing it to the max, testing the new improvements he had made. Several times he had passed over a large orchard of trees. A life changing event happened in that cluster of tall redwoods. Taking pause, Tony hovered near by. "Jarvis, is that grove vehicle accessible?"
"Yes sir. Shall I download the coordinates to the GPS in the Shelby?"
"Save it for now Jarvis. Not quite ready for that yet." Engaging the thrusters, he had the sudden need to destroy something.
Two weeks later, Tony finally made his way to the forest oasis. He sat in the Shelby, hands gripping the wheel tightly. He could do this. Taking several deep calming breaths he grabbed the duffle in the passenger seat and exited the car.
It was the late in the evening; the sun was setting and had cast a beautiful glow around the grove. Sunlight still streamed through the trees painting them in gentle hues. The smell of the redwoods took him back to the first time he had stumbled across this magical place.
Stark flew this route many times, but had never noticed the redwood orchard below. Maybe because it had never been lit up as brightly as it is now. Green and gold lights danced upon the tree tops. Deciding he'd check it out, he had Jarvis scan the area. However, the AI could not get a reading because the wooded area seemed to be protected by magic. 'Magic? Is that so?'
"Ok Lok's, let's see what you've been up to." Tony mumbled as he landed outside the area. Cautiously making his way through the trees he heard music and the random sound of a dog barking and horse whinnying. Coming into the clearing, Tony Stark was not prepared for what he saw.
This place was indeed magical. He was grateful his face plate was down as it hid the stupefied expression on his face. There was a lake set in the middle of the trees with the clearest blue water one had ever seen. Its depth knew no bounds, in the small meadow off the right he saw an eight legged horse and the largest wolf he had ever laid eyes on having some sort of standoff. The horse would rear up on its hind legs while the wolf hunkered down ready to pounce. The enormous canine leapt at the horse and took off running. Only after the horse charged the wolf did he realize they were playing. When the pair trotted off further into the woods he return his attention the lake and what was protruding out of its crystalline water. It had to be the most—it was the—Tony couldn't think, but the creature was tremendous. It was a serpent, crossed with a dragon. It was the closest thing his imagination could conger to relate. Its coloring was magnificent. Deep blue, rich gold and emerald green scales wrapped smoothly around it. And the creature was speaking, yet he could not understand it.
Apparently, the Norse god it was addressing could though as he spoke back. To Tony it just sounded like a series of hissing, but Loki communicated to the snake in an old forgotten language. The god stood on a flat rock that jutted out over the water. He spoke calmly and lovingly to the beast as he caressed its scaly snout.
He had never seen Loki like this. He was relaxed; happy. Dressed in leather pants and a dark green tunic, he looked every bit of the mythical creature he was as he conversed with the serpent. Tony stood there dumbfounded, unable to do anything besides watch the interaction between the two.
"You have a visitor, Father." The great serpent hissed, not at all trusting the new comer that had invaded their time of bonding.
"Jormungandr, be calm. He is of no threat. He is a friend." Loki spoke to his son peacefully as he continued to pet his son's smooth head.
"A friend? Then why does he wear armor? His is a warrior, no? Does he not come barring arms?" Large green reptilian eyes narrowed and flicked towards the metal man.
"Yes, he is a warrior, but his also mortal. The metal suit is for his protection. He is armed, however, will not attack lest face my wrath." The serpent refused to budge. "Do you not trust me, your own father? He will not harm you, Jormungandr. Or your brothers."
"Very well." The serpent of Midgard sank down into waters below. Loki sighed; he knew Jormungandr would not be satisfied until he came face to face with the Ironman.
Tony watched as the shadow in the lake drew closer. 'Don't freak out, don't freak out. It's only a snake. A giant snake that can swallow you whole. No worries.' The serpent raised slowly out of the water, towering over, the now very small, Tony Stark. It was a show of dominance. Gradually he leveled his head with that of the man so they were eye to eye. A lesser man would have lost complete controls over their bowels by now. But he was Tony Stark dammit!
Glowing green eyes peered at him watching his every move. Tony slowly, as to not startle and become a 'snaky snack', removed his helmet and set it on the ground. This drew Jormungandr closer. Eyes were the windows to the soul and right now his were locked with Loki's son.
Jormungandr cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. It was only this close did Tony realize he was glowing. Even with the death glare (ah, he knew he recognized it), did he still want to reach out and touch the serpent. The sound of guttural hissing came from his throat.
"The mortal has feelings for you."
"Yes, I know."
"Is he aware of yours?"
"That I am unsure of. Why all the questions, my son?" Loki gave a small chuckle. "I thought I was supposed to be the over protective father."
The serpent turned his head slightly to glance at Loki. "Forgive me Father. Is he worthy of the affections of a god?"
"You tell me." The god of mischief stood on his rock; hands clasped behind his back, watching the scene unfold.
Jormungandr returned his attention to the metal man. Tony had removed the gauntlets from his hands and was itching to touch the being before him. His scientific mind going into overload.
Reaching a tentative hand out towards its gargantuan head, the creature spoke to Loki again. "Is he always this foolish?"
The Liesmith laughed heartily. "Yes. The Midgard expression, 'curiosity killed the cat' would apply with this one."
Tony reached out, his eyes still locked with Jormungandr. The skin was warm, not the icy cold he thought it would be. The scales were smooth to the touch; there was an iridescent to them. Smoothing his hands over the serpent's mighty head, Jormungandr let out breathy hisses, eyes wary but just as curious.
"He's laughing at me, isn't he?" Tony deadpanned.
"Yes, he is." Loki's voice held the hint of a smile.
"Fantastic." He quipped.
Loki commented to his son and the serpent smiled. However it resembled a sneer. Tony took a quick step back as rows of sharp teeth greeted him. Seconds later he found his nerve and stepped forward again. The conversation between father and son continued.
"Uh, hello. Lowly human that doesn't speak god or snake here." Tony was feeling a little left out.
The god chuckled lightly. "Forgive me Stark, you had interrupted a rather rare and private moment." And as if on cue, the wolf with the horse fast on his heels burst through the clearing. The wolf b-lined it towards the serpent, jumping on its back at the base of its neck, tuning quickly to challenge the eight legged brute, whom was reared up on its hind quarters, front hooves pressed against Jormungandr trying to reach the wolf.
"These are my children." Loki came to stand near Tony. Gesturing at each one of them in turn he called them by name. "Jormungandr, Fenrir, and Slepnir." The latter two were still playing, Jormungandr growled at Fenrir as his claws cut into his flesh. "Boys! Where are your manners?" The last two looked rather sheepish for mythical creatures as their father scolded them. "Fenrir, come down from there." They came to stand by their father's side. "This is Anthony Stark. A friend."
Fenrir sniffed the air towards Tony never leaving his father's side suddenly becoming very shy. "Hi." He said quietly.
Tony was in shock that he could understand the wolf. It dawned on him that Loki had been speaking in English. Fenrir could easily look Tony in the eye, as they were almost the same height. Yet at the moment, he looked like a little lost puppy. He leaned into Loki's reassuring hand running down his back.
"Hello." Tony said with a small smile.
Slepnir snorted and shook his mane. The god cut his eyes at the steed. Speaking once again in his native tongue, he reprimanded his child for his behavior.
"My apologies, I meant no disrespect." Slepnir bit out as he bowed his head.
"Eh, it's ok. I interrupted your play date. If anything, I'm the one who should be apologizing." Rubbing the back of his neck before directing his next comment at Loki, "Look, I'm sorry. I know you probably don't get to spend much time with your kids, but thanks for letting me meet them. I'll see you around Reindeer Games."
He turned to leave before he heard a small—"Can he stay Father? He seems nice?"
Loki met Fenrir's giant blue eyes. "Is that what you wish?" The wolf nodded his large head. His gaze wandered to his other sons. "There has to be a consensus."
Jormungandr nodded once, Slepnir mumbled, "Do as you like."
"Very well, Stark you may stay. However, if you offend or hurt my children I will end your life and you will meet my daughter sooner than you had planned.
"Noted." He said with eclectic eyes.
Loki smiled warmly. "Glad we understand each other. Now, let's make you a little more comfortable, shall we?" He stepped close to the smaller man with the wide brown eyes. Smoldering bright green locked with deep dark pools. Loki muttered softly and placed a hand over the arc reactor. A vibrant green glow spread from powerful fingers. The dark prince stepped back pulling Tony with him, minus the suit.
Tony stood breathless and in awe of what just happened. Finally snapping to, he looked back at the suit. "Wait a minute. Are you telling me you could have done that at any time?" His voice was higher pitched than normal.
Loki gave him a sly smile and walked away. Speaking to Slepnir, they walked along the bank of the vast lake, as Jormungandr joined them. Still in shock it took him a moment to realize the large black wolf with the puppy dog eyes sitting in front of him; round ice blue orbs staring inquisitively.
"Hey. Fenrir, is it?" The wolf thumped his tail a couple of times. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you are the biggest damn wolf I have ever seen. Are you, uh, full grown or will you be as enormous as Jormungandr?"
Fenrir howled a laugh. "I don't think anything can get as immense as Jormungandr. Father had to shrink him down to fit him in the lake. I won't get much larger than this."
Tony reached out to pet him. "May I?" Fenrir lowered his head as he ran his fingers through thick luxurious jet black fur. "Your fur is so unbelievably soft." He said with amazement.
"Stark." The god piped up. Tony glanced up at him, rather embarrassed and hoped to hell he wasn't about to die. "He likes it when you scratch behind his ears."
"Uh, thanks." 'As eloquent as ever Tony.' He sat down on the plush grass and encouraged Fenrir to get comfortable. He was unsure why Loki's youngest took a liking to him, curiosity he supposed.
"How did you meet Father?" The wolf practically purred as Tony hit the right spot behind his ear.
"Well we met and kinda got off on the wrong foot when he tried to take over the world."
Fenrir lifted his massive head. "Father, you tried to rule Midgard?"
Loki shrugged like it was common knowledge. "It was a half-hearted attempt at best."
Fenrir laid his head across his colossal paws. "Were you enemies?"
"At first, but we are friends now."
"How did you two become friends?" The wolf began to sound sleepy.
"That's a story for your father to tell." To be quite frank, he couldn't believe they had become friends at all. Except that he found Loki was incredibly easy to talk to and was quite the conversationalist. Hence the nik-name Silvertongue he assumed. The Trickster did have a way with words.
"So, let me ask you this, why do your brothers glow, but you do not?" Tony asked as he switched ears.
"They do not live here. Well, Jormungandr does, but Father has to use his magic to bring him to this place and make him small enough to fit in the lake, even though it is more like an abyss, he still wouldn't fit in there if he was his normal size. Slepnir resides in Asgard. The All-Father uses him as his own personal steed. This grove is my home. Father brought me here a very long time ago. Said it was safer for me. I did not question his judgment." Fenrir ended with a small voice.
"It's obvious that he loves you all very much." Tony said with a slight sadness. He had read the stories and hoped they were not true. He would not pry any further. Loki would tell him their tales if he wished for him to know firsthand.
The overgrown wolf sighed happily at that and fell asleep. Tony continued to stroke his fur, letting his mind wander.
"He is quite fond of you." The god's silky voice washed over Tony as he settled himself in the grass next to the man of iron.
"He's a good kid." Tony smiled softly as he looked over at Loki. "You seem, I don't know, content—happy." The god gave a huff of laughter. "It looks good on you."
Loki watched over his children thoughtfully. "They bring me great joy."
"Sucks that you can't see them as often as you'd like." Tony hooked his arms around his knees and gazed up at the trees.
Loki nodded. "It's easier to see them separately. Getting them all together in one location is the hard part."
"Thanks for letting me stay. I feel really honored." Tony gave him a genuine and sincere smile.
The god smiled back, it was dazzling. He looked over the water to where Slepnir was standing in the shallow end and speaking to his 'big brother'. "You have earned my trust Anthony and now I am trusting you with my children's secret. Don't make me regret it."
"I think that's the first time you have ever used my first name." He looked down at nothing in particular then back up at the god of mischief through hooded lids. "I like the way it sounds when you say it."
Tony hadn't realized how close they were until the Trickster grazed his knuckles over his cheek, cupping the back of his neck. Loki whispered his name again. "Anthony." Their lips met in a light tender kiss. He began to pull away when Tony tangled his fingers through ebony hair pressing his lips a little more insistently. Loki smiled into the kiss and responded by gripping his chin, tugging gently until Tony's mouth opened granting him access. The kiss was exploratory yet held a hint of desperation from both men, with potential to turn heated and torrid if they weren't careful. The embrace ended too quickly. Their eyes searching each other before they both realized it was entirely too quiet and that three pairs of eyes were watching them intently.
Both of them looked at the magical beings that had huddled nearby. Tony averted his gaze suddenly finding the grass very interesting, not wanting to meet the inquisitive eyes of Loki's children. 'My God Stark, had to do that in front of his kids, didn't ya?' Loki merely held his broods curious gaze and lifted one elegant brow in a 'may I help you' fashion. He was greeted with three matching grins to which he rolled his eyes and shook his head. He got to his feet gracefully and extended his hand to help up his counterpart.
"So Lana Del Rey, Florence and the Machine, huh?" He referred to the music wafting through the air, anything to change the subject. "Didn't think they were your style."
"I like their voices." Loki smirked, quite amused at the tint that colored Tony's cheeks. "Are you embarrassed that I kissed you?"
"Just in front of your kids. It's not the first time you've kissed me, Lok's." Tony tried to sound nonchalant and failed miserably.
"True." It was the second. "And, I believe it was you who kissed me." Loki recalled, and it was none to gentle either. They were arguing in Tony's lab. It has gotten so heated that they were toe to toe with each other, when in mid-sentence Tony grabbed Loki by the front of the shirt and slammed their mouths together. It had to be the most violent lip lock either had experienced both suffering bruised and bleeding lips in the process. It had sent them crashing to the floor and would have more than likely escalated rather quickly had Jarvis not alerted them to someone's presents.
"It shut you up, didn't it?" Tony smirked.
Loki matched his grin. "Indeed."
Loki's brood continued to watch the exchange, looking between each other silently. Deciding that nothing else of interest was going to happen, Fenrir decided to start tousling with his brother again and away they went. Jormungandr watched them rough house from the safety of the lake, splashing them occasionally.
"I wouldn't have minded if it had led to something more." Tony said quietly, boldly licking his bottom lip.
Loki slowly turned his head, flashing a seductive smile. "Don't toy with me Anthony. I will take you here and now."
"Mmmm, wish you would. The sexual tension between us has been going on since you threw me out the window years ago." Biting his lip he eyed Loki, challenging him to take that next step but fairly sure the god of mischief wouldn't.
Boy, was he wrong.
AN: Sorry for such a long chapter. It will be a while before I am able to post the next chapter, which is half way written, but because of the holidays will not be posted anytime soon. Thank you all for reading. Please let me know what you think.. I wanted to give loki a softer side in this one and a little interaction with his kids.. Im just winging it with their personalities.. anywho, take care! ~sbed