"So how did it go?" Steve waited in the hall, flagging Tony down as he exited.
"I'd say it went well. I'm still in one piece so that's a plus. It's a happy family reunion." They fell into pace with no clear destination in mind.
"I'm glad." Steve smiled, hands deep in his pockets. "So, why did you leave?"
Tony waved his hand dismissively. "They needed their moment. Plus you know me and emotional stuff." He made a pinched face.
"Don't act like you're not happy for them." Steve elbowed Tony. "I'm kinda jealous actually."
"How so?"
"Well, Loki's got his kids back and now you guys are one big happy family. I don't know Tony; I miss family and old friends. It's just still hard after all this time for me to get used to living in this era. You do realize you just got an instant family, right?" Steve said quickly not wanting to get lost in the past.
"Well, I'm not in this mess alone, Rogers. You're a part of this craziness too." When Steve's brows pulled together in confusion, Tony rolled his eyes. "Come on Steve, we are practically, you know, family anyway. Just think of us as the ragtag misfit cousins you never wanted." Steve smiled and shook his head. "You're stuck with us Spangles and you know we are going to mess up every holiday and special occasion possible."
Steve gave a hearty laugh. "Thanks, Tony. I appreciate that. I think."
"So hey, mind if I bunk with you tonight? I'm gonna give Loki and the kids some time to themselves. It'll be fun. You can tell me stories about the ancient technologies of long ago that helped win the war." Tony teased.
Steve shoved Tony and laughed as the genius stumbled to keep himself upright. "Of course you can and I'll try not to bore you with my 'once upon a time' war stories and how we did things in the olden days."
Tony chuckled. "Where's Thor? I haven't seen him the last couple of day."
"He's out with the Warriors Three on a hunting expedition. He asked if I wanted to tag along, but that's not really my thing." Steve shrugged.
"So what is your thing Capt. Bedazzle Pants? You guys spend a lot of time together. There's clearly some type of bromance going on here." Tony provoked wiggling his brows.
Steve turned seven shades of red when he realized what Tony was getting at. "There is nothing going on with us Tony! He's my friend and we happen to have a lot in common."
The engineer laughed himself into hysterics at Steve's indignation. "Take it easy Cap. I'm just messing with you. It's cool if you two are BFFs."
"Stark—"
"Ok, ok. I'm sorry Steve. I couldn't help myself." Tony clasped him on the back. "But seriously, we are all in this together, so don't even think about backing out now."
Steve sighed and smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. And before you ask, no, you cannot sleep in my bed. Matter-of-fact, you can sleep on the floor."
Tony's loud cackle bounced off the palace walls as they wandered down the hall.
Tony hung out with Steve for a couple of days while Loki's brood became acclimated to their new form and surroundings. He'd poke his head inside Loki's chambers ever so often just to see how things were going. That and he simply could not stay away for long.
On this occasion, Fenrir leapt on him as soon as he spotted the inventor, knocking him to the ground. Tony laughed it off appreciating the kid's enthusiasm. Jormungandr sat quietly in the study reading ancient tombs, while Slepnir ran plats through Loki's hair. The god really wished to cut it, but it seemed an endless source of entertainment for his son and lover. Slepnir was getting restless; keeping his hands busy quelled the need to break free and just run. None of them were ready to venture out just yet.
Tony picked himself up off the floor after testing to see if Fenrir was ticklish or not. Childlike laughter filled the room and everyone smiled.
Plopping himself across the mammoth bed he stretched as Loki came to sit on the edge, one leg propped up on the side. He smiled down at his love as the engineer rested his head in the god's lap. Tony reached up to finger one of the small braids that fell over his shoulder. "How is the good Captain?"
"Doing good, although I think he's getting tired of entertaining me." Tony smiled at Loki's smirk. He cocked his head. "Did you know, Capt. Fancy Pants talks in his sleep?"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, you can actually have a full blown conversation with him, but its borderline ridiculous." Loki entwined their hands together. "Me thinks he might liketh the fair Lady Sif." He raised his brows suggesting scandal.
Loki let out a short bark of laughter. "Surely you jest?"
"Nope, true story. We had an in-depth heart to heart that he has no recollection of."
"Hmm, there is to be a great feast once Thor returns from the hunt. May tell we should set something in motion?" Loki's smile was laced with mischief.
"Oooh, I like the way you think babe." Tony pulled the god down for a quick kiss.
"Father, when will we be returning to Midgard?" Fenrir asked quietly, and a bit off topic.
"Whenever you are ready, my son." Loki attempted to smooth down his unruly hair. "Do you wish to leave now?"
"Not yet, but soon I think." Fenrir crawled onto the bed and snuggled up next to Tony.
Loki reached over and cupped his cheek, "You have only to say the word and it shall be done." He smiled lovingly at the pair as his son settled into the crook of his lovers arm. He was so incredibly in love with this man and how much he cared for his children.
"If you want to make a trip down there and pick up one of my pads we can get some designs set up on how the boys want their rooms." Tony yawned and noticed how Slepnir had quietly made his way onto the bed.
"I love you."
"Yeah, yeah."
Moments later Jormungandr approached the bed with scrolls in his hand. "Father, do you think it would be possible for us to have the ability to change form at will? More so for defensive purposes, if needed."
While Loki engaged his eldest in conversation and discussed the longevity of their 'mortal' form, Tony noted that Fenrir had passed out and Slepnir was on a fast track to dream land himself. Nudging the former steed with his toe, he beckoned him to come lay down next to him and his brother. Slepnir gave a slight hesitation before the mortal's invitation won him over.
When Frigga stopped by hours later, she smiled lovingly at the sight of her son, his mortal, and children all cuddled together. It was a moment she wished she could put on parchment and savor forever.
Magic was a blessed gift. Leaving a copy on Loki's desk, the queen quietly slipped out the chamber doors.
Over the next few days Tony had completely designed the boys rooms to their liking and sent the pad back with Loki to hand over to Pepper to get things rolling. Loki brought back the Captain's shield, upon request, and a different Stark pad, this was more so at Pepper's insistence, allowing Tony to keep tabs on the remodel and communicate with Jarvis as needed.
Steve was currently sparing with the Lady Sif. She did not accompany Thor and the Warriors Three on their expedition and they had taken to spending quite a bit of time together. Loki walked onto the sparing field after watching from the shadows and noting that the Captain was holding back as was Sif. Both for different reasons; he because she was a woman, she because he was human.
"My good Captain, it would serve you well not to go easy on the Lady Sif, for she will not afford you the same courtesy." He presented the shield and bowed slightly to Sif, who in turn did the same. "She is a formidable warrior and for a lack of a better term, will most certainly kick your ass."
"You've definitely been around Tony too long." Steve smiled and shook his head.
Loki leaned in closer. "I know your upbringing tells you to treat women as delicate creatures, but this is no ordinary woman. This is the goddess of war, Rogers. To give anything less than your all is an insult. You will not win her favor by holding back." Loki gave Steve a secret wink before turning towards Sif and engaging in some light banter; which of course was jovial in nature. He held his hand out for Sif's weapon. She handed it over, only because of his princely stature. They spared momentarily before they were face to face in a dead lock. Loki's eyes connecting with the warrior goddess. "This one favors you, My Lady. Do not let him slip away. He is a good man with a pure heart." Sif looked at him with disbelief thinking it was just another one of his tricks. He raised a brow. "Do not doubt me on this. And hold nothing back. He will prove himself worthy." Stepping back he handed Sif her sword, folded his hands behind his back and departed the field. They watched Loki leave before returning to their training with renewed vigor.
Returning to his chambers, the god pulled his mortal into a side room before pushing him against the wall. His lips descending upon Tony's in a hungry kiss. The smaller man pulling Loki flush against him tangling his hands in the god's hair. Briefly forgetting there were three 'children' in the next room, they began rutting like teenagers.
"We should stop."
"—we should."
"Don't want to."
"Mmm."
Loki finally pulled away. "I will have you…soon." He panted then dove back in to ravish Tony's mouth once more. Abruptly pulling away with a slight growl of frustration, he took a few steps back before Tony could pull him in. They both glared at each other lustfully, before launching at each other again.
Tony grabbed the lapels of Loki's tunic, turning; he slammed the god against wall. Loki in return gripped Tony's waist, grinding his hips against his mortal.
"Is everything alright?"
"Leave them be Slepnir. They are having…a moment."
Which effectively killed the 'moment' and the mood.
"You know, this is bound to happen more frequently now." Loki caressed Tony's check, both more than slightly frustrated.
"Yeah, but it's ok. I know you'll make it up to me later." Tony smiled.
"In every way possible, my love." Straightening himself, Loki began smoothing out his princely garbs. "I have set our little plan in motion."
Tony smirked. "Yeah? I wonder how long it will take Capt. Chastity Belt to finally get to first base."
Loki laughed. "Sif will no doubt be the one to make the first move. The good Captain is too much of a gentleman to be so forward."
"Yeah, well I hope he's ready to be man handled. She looks like she would just take that shit. Might traumatize Steve." Tony snickered. "I can already see him clutching the sheets up to his chin."
Loki chuckled knowingly but said nothing.
Tony narrowed his eyes at him. Loki stared back at him with innocence, which looked completely wrong on him. The god admitted nothing, but that was enough to rouse suspicion. "No way! You and Sif? Get the fuck out of here!"
The god shrugged a shoulder like it was no big deal. "We were barely teens, in a mortal's eye. She needed someone to experiment with that she could trust and at the time she trusted me greatly."
"What happened to change her mind?"
"Many things. My disposition to mischief. As my knowledge of magic grew, so did my pranking. When I cut her gold spun hair, it grew back as black as pitch. Sif was always a striking girl, but quickly turned into a beautiful woman. She didn't understand why she was suddenly seen as an object of desire rather than a force to be reckoned with. The fact that her hair changed did not lessen the attention garnered her, but only made her more fierce.
Our tryst carried on for years, but there was no love behind it. It was merely a means to an end, a way to comfortably explore what we did and did not like.
We were going through our own individual trials and tribulations and dealt with those difficult situations in our own way. She would fight with her fists, I with my words. Both of us sought for some kind of control in our world wind lives. We were both exceptionally…moody and slowly became, what's the word, ah, 'frienemies'.
And then there was Thor." Loki shrugged again. "It was eons ago and something neither of us talked about. Until now. I do believe you are the only person who knows about Sif and I. It was a closely guarded secret. And I'm sure Sif would rather keep it that way."
"Babe who am I going to tell. Besides, it could be like an inside joke. Yeah, my man hit that, long before you did." Tony chuckled, "Plus, if Capt. Virginity manages to turn her into a blushing maiden, I would be surprised."
Loki laughed as well, "As would I. Lady Sif is quite—aggressive."
"Haha! She took that shit?" Tony bounced. "I knew it! Ha!"
Loki shook his head in amusement. "Yes, well, Sif gave as good as she got." As his current lover opened his mouth to ask more questions about past lovers, "Anthony, I do not inquire about you and Lady Pepper."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I won't ask any more questions."
"Moreover, all of Asgard would soon know if our darling Captain were not able to, how do you say it, step up to the plate." He took his lovers hand, a slight gleam in his eyes. "And I assure you, no one here can say that about me."
Before Tony could ask Loki to elaborate on his sexual history, the god quickly changed the subject and dragged his mortal into the main room. "Boys, it is time to venture forth."
AN: ok, major filler, but it sets up the next couple of chapters.. hope you liked it.. still cant figure out how to do a line break and make it stick on this site.. Bestitos!