Chapter 23

Days later, in which Tony and Loki had mostly spent locked up in Loki's room making the most of their limited time, a message was sent to their chambers that during the evening of that day, both of them were invited to a private dinner with the All-Father, Frigga, and Thor too.

Loki groaned and rolled back under the covers, burying his head under the sheets. "I don't wanna go."

"Aw come on, this might be your final chance to freely leave this room?" Tony said, following him under it and placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. "You'll get Stockholm syndrome."

"Mmmm," Loki's head appeared from between the covers with his hair all over his face. "I might become completely infatuated with you." He grinned lazily.

Tony followed out and smirked at him. "Pretty sure that happened when you came back to do me a second time." He answered smugly.

A long hand pulled Tony down and Loki kissed him deeply. "So I did."

Tony grinned through the kiss, gently cupping Loki's cheek and leaning down further to deepen it. He tried murmuring something against his mouth, but he was too into kissing Loki to be able to form a recognisable sentence.

Loki pulled back eventually. "Do you want to go?"

"That's what I was saying, I think we should go. I need to meet your parents together anyway- I'm sure they're curious about the guy who got you pregnant." He paused a second and frowned. Since when did he become the guy who actually wanted to meet the parents? Before, the notion of it terrified him, as it signified commitment... Although he was pretty committed to Loki anyway.

Loki groaned again. "Fine."

"Good... So do we send word we're coming or just turn up there? I don't think I've ate with a royal family before." Tony mused, shifting into his side so that he faced Loki with his head rested against his knuckles.

"You don't think you've eaten." Loki corrected.

"Shut up." Tony groaned.

"Grammar costs nothing my love." He said, pecking Tony on the nose

"Whatever." Tony rolled his eyes, and then pecked Loki's lips firmly. "So how much time gone are we exactly?" He glanced down at their child's bump and caressed it gently.

"Not long now."

"Huh." He hummed in reply, his eyes not leaving the small bump as his mind wandered. He had no clue how he was going to raise this child alone- because he'd most likely have to, what with Loki's sentence. He just hoped that the trial wouldn't be immediate, so that the three of them could spend some time together as a family. And that Loki would be able to see him or her properly before his inevitable sentence.

"Mmm."

"Do you know how long you'll get after the birth before the trial?"

"A few weeks if we're lucky." He replied, stroking Tony's hair absently.

"I hope so." Tony shut his eyes and hummed pleasantly as he felt Loki's fingers through his hair.

Loki pressed a kiss to Tony's forehead. "Perhaps I will get you that apple today. I think I'm wearing you out, I've noticed a couple more wrinkles." Loki began to kiss the lines spreading from the corners of Tony's EYES.

"Please," Tony scoffed, about to say he never gets tired, but then paused and frowned. "You have?"

"Just a few." Loki teased, grazing his thumb over Tony's cheek.

Tony pulled a face. "Yeah okay then. How'd you plan on getting one?"

"Oh I'll just pop in, grab one, pop back here, shove it down your throat." He answered simply with a small smile.

"I like it." Tony smiled back but then raised an eyebrow. "Except that last little part."

"By all means, feel free to shove it there yourself."

"Maybe less violently." He shook his head but still smiled at Loki. "Sure you'll be okay to steal one? I'm not going to be prosecuted for eating it without permission or get your sentence longer by doing so, am I?"

"If I am spotted then my sentence will be increased, yes."

"Make sure you don't get spotted then."

"It would be but a small price to pay."

"But it might mean it'll be longer until we see you again..." Tony glanced away.

Loki smiled again at 'we', but continued anyway. "But when I see you, you will be as I left you."

"No, I won't." Tony shook his head. "I'll be tired, grouchy, and possibly a little stir-crazy because I'll have been a single parent for god knows how long. Sorry- the gods know how long."

"Asgard does have a visiting system. It is similar to holograms. You can still see me. Just, not touch me."

"Doesn't mean you'll physically be with us though..." Tony said quietly, unaware he spoke it out loud. He then raised an eyebrow and in a second, the sadness of his expression was replaced with a mock horrified one. "Wait, you mean they'll deprive me of touching you?! Damn, I was hoping for some hot, kinky prison sex..." He stuck out his lower lip playfully.

"Won't be a problem for me, I can simply use my magic to make a clone of you. Not that I'd want the guards to see what is mine." Loki traced a finger down Tony's cock to leave no doubt as to what he was referring to.

"Well that's not fair." Tony pouted again. "Couldn't you send a clone for me too?"

"Don't be dense, my prison will block magic. I can only use it inside, it will not penetrate the walls." Loki pulled the furs up higher around them. "Just a while longer and I'll go get your fruit." He snuggled into Tony, getting comfortable. "You're so warm." He praised.

"You, not so much." Tony said with a small shiver, but still held Loki tightly against him regardless. "Is your natural body temperature in this form lower than mine?"

"This form does much to hide my naturally cold temperature, but I am still a little colder than Aesir."

"So how cold are you really?"

"Cold enough to give an Aesir frostbite. The affect would be much more fatal on you I dare say."

Tony hummed in thought. "Say... Could I see it? Your other form, that is...?"

"No."

"Why not? I'm curious. It's in my human nature." Tony smirked slightly then gave Loki a curious look.

"I'm not sure what effect it will have on the child."

"Oh yeah..." Tony said thoughtfully then frowned. "But isn't it because of your Frost giant-ness that you're pregnant in the first place?"

"I'm not doing it, okay?" He pushed up out of the bed and stood up, clothes forming around him. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Wait, Loki-" Tony tried to call out for him, but he disappeared before he could hear him call. "Damn..."

"What?" Loki asked from behind him, leaning against the doorframe and tossing a perfectly golden apple in the air. He caught it with excellent precision and threw it at Tony's belly in one move.

Tony, as it came unexpected, bent over and groaned, but then smiled as he picked up the apple. "So do I just bite it? It do you need some weird hoodoo magic?"

"Eat it all, just in case." Loki perched himself on the end of the bed and watched Tony impatiently.

"Okay then." Tony said with a shrug, then swung his legs around the side of the bed and took a bite. The moment the taste hit him, he grimaced and nearly spat it out.

"Swallow."

Tony gave him a look which said 'do I have to?' But then after Loki did not let up the glare, he swallowed begrudgingly. "That's disgusting..."

"If you do not finish it yourself, it will be a simple task for me to ram it down your throat."

Tony grimaced. "Think I'll pass on that." He said, and then begrudgingly took another bite.

"You're such a drama queen." Loki folded his long legs other the covers and leant back on the bed frame. "I'm bored already. I wonder when they'll be in with breakfast."

"I'd offer you this but..." Tony took another bite. "Can't you just magic something up?"

"I can make something look and feel like food, but my magic only produces illusion."

"Oh, okay." Tony grimaced again, having to take a few moments to stop himself spitting it out before swallowing. "Is this a one time only thing? I mean, will I ever have to eat another one of these so it keep me immortal or whatever?"

"I don't think so, no."

"Thank fuck." He said, then forced the rest it into his mouth and swallowed hard, coughing slightly and finding his eyes watering seconds after he did.

Loki snorted, "I don't quite think it is fuck you should be thanking." He grinned smugly and tapped his cheek expectantly, demanding a kiss.

Tony rolled his eyes then smiled and leaned closer. "You know what I mean." He said as he placed a sweet kiss on him, keeping his face close in a case Loki wanted more.

The god turned so his mouth was barely apart from Tony's. "I think I do." He whispered, their lips lightly grazing. Tony held his expression for a few moments before his eyes lowered to his lips then back up with a seductive expression.

"Good." He said before closing the space between them.

AN: Happy new year to those who celebrate it now, here's three chapters ;P