Chapter 24

It was a few hours later that the two were summoned to the dining room. Tony wasn't too happy about being forced to wear Asgardian clothing again, but Loki had managed to persuade him regardless with dirty promises Tony would make sure to hold him to. Didn't mean he had to like it though. Loki walked with a charm cast on himself that anyone other than Tony and his family would not see the baby bump.

"Stop slouching." Loki scolded, swatting his lover's arm.

Tony grumbled incoherently, but then followed his order and straightened up. "How much farther?"

"A while, but I know a short cut." He grinned as he pulled Tony into a small doorway and into what must have been a servant's corridor. After a few metres they turned a sharp right into a Maid's dorm room, causing her to shriek in shock. Before Tony had a chance to apologise, Loki was opening a door into the kitchens and pulling Tony through.

Tony barely managed to twist his body from side to side to avoid the various food prep stations and what looked like cookers but weren't as Loki weaved past them to cross the space. "Short cut?"

Loki grinned and pulled him through one last doorway which opened up into the corner of the great hall. "How do you think the servants get in?" Loki straightened Tony's shirt, tilted his chin up and kissed his temple before he felt satisfied Tony was presentable. "Shall we?" Loki linked their arms and they walked out of the shadows and into the light of the torches dotted around the walls.

Odin, Frigga and Thor were already seated, and Tony got the feeling that if they hadn't taken that little short cut then they would have been even later than they should've been. Frigga and Thor looked delighted when they saw Tony and Loki enter, but Tony couldn't help but gulp in unease as he saw the slight glare on Odin's face.

"Would you prefer to sit with Thor or Frigga? Decide quickly." Loki whispered.

"Um-" Tony said and tried to think quickly but as he couldn't decide, he ended up opening and closing his mouth without a sound passing. As they'd entered the room, it was the first time that evening that the nerves had overcome him. Thankfully though, he didn't have to decide as Frigga stood up and walked over to them, taking Tony's free arm and telling him that he 'simply must' sit by her. Not wanting to argue back, Tony glanced at Loki quickly them followed Frigga round the table as she pulled him.

Loki sighed, knowing he'd have to sit by Thor, dragging his chair back loudly.

Odin kept up his glare but kept it fixed on the end of the table opposite him, purposely not looking at anyone as Loki did so. Tony could see that his annoyance was not entirely put on him, so he eased up a little. Only a little though.

"So, how are the both of you?" Frigga asked, breaking a few seconds of awkward silence that passed between them.

"Erm, tired. But good. Tired but good." Tony said, shooting Loki a look as he said 'tired'.

"Keeping him busy brother?" Thor asked on a low chuckle

Loki didn't turn to look at him, but Thor noticed a smirk grace Loki's lips. "Please brother, you're making him nervous."

Tony's reddened slightly. "I um, that's not what it sounded like." He tried to say, but they all knew it was a lie. Loki looked way too smug.

"Oh don't be shy about it Anthony, may I call you that?" Frigga chuckled lightly at his embarrassment while Tony shot Loki another look.

"I prefer Tony, if it's alright?" Tony said, and then gulped slightly as he noticed that Odin's gaze was on him now instead of the table. "Erm, I don't think we've met yet... Sir?" His voice went up slightly at the end of the sentence as if he was asking whether it was the right name to go with.

Tony saw Loki's smirk through his peripheral before Odin's bored voice cut through the silence. "No."

"Erm, I'm Tony Stark. The, er, father." He said unsurely, wondering whether he should mention their baby or not. By the way Odin's eyes seemed to darken slightly, he guessed not.

"Yes." Odin replied tersely. "I know who you are." His gaze turned on Loki and he glared.

"Come father. This is to be a time of celebration." Thor said, looking around and grinning.

Odin's eyes narrowed as he held Loki's gaze but then shifted over to look at Thor and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. "Of course." He said calmly, but in a tone which sounded as if he didn't mean it.

"Odin." Frigga sternly said, sending her husband a warning glance. Tony looked between them all as this all went on, feeling a little more uncomfortable than before. It was a weird atmosphere.

"We were lured here on the pretence of there being a feast?" As Loki spoke a trail of footmen entered from where Tony and Loki had emerged, all bearing large trays of food. "At last, something to distract us from this truly riveting conversation."

"Loki." Frigga scolded. "Can we not have at least one nice family meal?"
Loki snorted again.

"Hey, uh, not to sound like the Midgardian food noob here but uh, what're we eatin'?" Tony said in an attempt to change the subject.

Loki pointed at the tray furthest from him and made his way around. "Sweet rice dish, that one's similar to pancakes, than ones like a curried carrot, that one is Bildgesnipe, a berry sauce, a leaf salad, that big one's poultry, that's a trout-like fish, those are wine soaked biscuits, that's a fruit trifle, and that last one is a selection of meats and vegetables wrapped in vine leaves. In Asgard we have only one course, but we eat sweets alongside savoury." Loki sipped from his wine, gauging Tony's reaction over the top of the glass, who looked a little overwhelmed to say the least.

"Right..." He said, taking in the information as he looked around the various dishes.

Once they were all placed, the servants left and an uncomfortable silence washed over them again. That is, until Thor started to reach out for his food, with Frigga following mili-seconds behind, and Tony tentatively reaching for the thing that Loki had said was poultry. Odin didn't make a move though

Loki looked at him challengingly. "Do have some food father. Judging by Thor's appetite, I believe it is quite good." He threw Thor a disgusted glance before turning once again to Odin. "Or are you feeling unwell? Perhaps I should ask a servant to fetch you some water."

"I'm quite alright. No need for your concern." Odin looked at Loki and narrowed his eye further.

"You look pale, are you sure you don't need to lie down?"

"Boys." Frigga scolded, looking between the two. Loki ignored her and looked to Tony opposite him.

"He disapproves of me having the child of a mortal, and even more of you being brought to the dinner table, even though it was he who summoned us. There is also the matter of your gender. While it does not pose a problem in itself, the possibility of conception between us is proof of a heritage not strictly Aesir. This is why he has been scowling at you all evening." He turned his head to face Odin pointedly. "Now that my lover is aware of your problems with him and your displeasure at him being here, perhaps you can stop trying to bore your eyes into the back of his head."

By now, Tony felt really uncomfortable being there. He'd already known that Loki and Odin's relationship wasn't a healthy or strong one, but he hadn't imagined them to act like this in front of their family. It brought back bad memories from when his father was still alive. He shuddered as he forced himself to refuse the memory and tried to pay more attention to the scene playing out in front of him.

"Why do you always do that, Loki? Accuse me of things, twist my words?"

"So you deny it then?"

"Loki-" Odin started off sharply but then consoled himself and spoke through gritted teeth. "You know my feelings on the matter. I accept your life choices and... This." He gestured to his stomach and Tony. "But that does not mean I think it to be the best for you."

"Ha." Loki sat back in his chair. "This." He made quotation marks in the air, something Tony was pleased to notice he picked up on earth, and something that went right over the heads of everyone else in the room. "That is exactly your problem." Loki stabbed his fork at Thor's plate, preferring to steal his food than reach over to pile it on his own plate.

Thor would've complained, if not for the tense atmosphere around them so he let Loki get away with it. He looked almost as uncomfortable as Tony did, although a little more as if he were used to this, which he probably was. Frigga was glaring at the both if them, looking as if she were about to snap at any given moment to stop them from arguing.

"Am I not entitled to an opinion?" Odin growled out.

"No. Not unless your opinion is to let me carry out my sentence of Earth." Ah. There it was, Loki's ulterior motive.

"You know full well why your punishment is postponed. I will not allow you to give birth in the prison cells of Asgard."

"But surely it would be better for my sentence to be carried out on Midgard?"

"No." Odin answered firmly. "We need to keep you locked up where we can keep an eye on you, not send you to the very planet you tried to attack and enslave, just so you can flirt around with this mortal who will probably die in about 50 years, as well as age!"

Loki snorted. "With his drinking habit, he'll be lucky to get thirty. Our child however..."

"Hey! I'm already at thirty, thank you!" Tony huffed, then jumped as Odin's voice suddenly boomed.

"SILENCE! You wish for this child to have the same fate as your others? Then be quiet and accept what I give you, boy." He growled and darkened his gaze, banging a fist on the table and nearly knocking over his goblet in the process.

Loki disappeared in a golden glow, leaving Tony there on his own and Frigga glaring at her husband.

"Um, I should probably go..." Tony said while standing, gulping nervously as Odin's harsh gaze turned on him.

"I am so sorry, Tony." Frigga placed her hand comfortingly on his upper arm and smiled at him apologetically before turning a harsh glare on Odin. "That was uncalled for. You know this child is not even mentioned in the prophecies, so you cannot use even that misguided excuse to hurt my son. Surely you know what that must have been like for him, and you just throw your comments around like the mildest of insults." Tony was frozen in his seat while Frigga shouted at Odin, and that did not change when she turned back to him with a slightly softened expression. "Tell Loki I would have words with him in private. If you speak to a servant they will bring you some food and show you the way back."

"O-okay." Tony said, glancing to Thor and nodding slightly before he stood and left the room, out of the main doors this time, in search Of a way back.

-Page break-

"Loki?"

Tony had eventually found his way back, after talking to a kind servant named something Asgardian which Tony regretfully forgot. She had first taken him to the kitchens and handed him a small silver tray, before directing him back to his and Loki's chamber.

When arriving there, Tony hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should just barge in or not, then decided against it then knocked and entered, speaking his name softly so he knew it was him entering.

He found Loki asleep on the bed, blankets and furs pulled up to his neck and his dark hair pooling around his head like a halo.

Tony sighed and placed the tray down, pulled his shirt and boots off, then gently slid in behind him.

A few minutes later he felt Loki's arms wrap around him and him bury his head into Tony's neck. "There's a conversation we haven't had yet, and I'd rather it wait until the morning."

Tony looked down on him and placed his arms around Loki too, before nodding and placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Okay."

-Page Break-

Loki hadn't slept much that night, but when Tony woke he felt damp spots on his neck where Loki had been crying.

"Mm, -oki?" Tony mumbled as he forced himself to wake up. Loki was still lying next to him but his face was hidden from view, so Tony couldn't see the current expression.

"Loki? Look at me..." He tried again, softly, stroking his side gently to let Loki know he was awake.

"Hello." Loki didn't move.

Tony shuffled down the bed so that they now lay face to face. Tony reached up and gently caressed Loki's cheek, his eyes searching his face. "Loki."

"Tony." Loki smiled softly and genuinely despite his red rimmed eyes.

"This is probably a stupid question, but, are you okay?"

"As okay as I ever am."

"Loki, don't lie to me." He looked into Loki's eyes and held his gaze. "I know what it's like to have a... dick for a father. And what he said was uncalled for. I'm sorry."

Loki kissed him softly. "Not your fault."

"That was more for sympathy than a genuine apology, I know it wasn't... well, to a certain extent I guess..." He looked away sheepishly.

"Ah, and who was the argument about?"

"But if I hadn't of gotten you pregnant, you wouldn't be in this position in the first place. You'd probably be sitting in a prison cell, not having to listen to that one-eyed bastard's words... Wait, that makes me sound regretful- which I'm not! Loki, I love you, and the squirt, I was just saying that in an attempt to cheer you up, uh, sorry I'm bad at this kind if thing." He smiled shyly.

"You're a nutcase, you know that?"

"A sexy nutcase." Tony corrected with a cocky grin.

"Whatever you say."

"But you agree?"

Loki smirked and rolled onto his back. From this position he could see the unwanted tray of food by the bed. "Did you eat last night?"

"Not really. Wasn't hungry." Tony shrugged. "You want me to get you something fresh?"

"You should eat." Loki said, ignoring him.

"So should you." Tony answered, ignoring him back. "You're the one eating for two."

"I wish it would hurry up already. This big lump's getting in the way."

"How long left?" Tony asked, smiling down at the bump fondly then curiously back to Loki.

"There is no way of knowing, it could be any day now. I think it's big enough." Loki mused, "We should get someone to make some clothes. I know mother will gift us a blanket, she has with all my others." Loki's voice broke but he did well to cover it up. "I suppose Pepper will have already been shopping for us, so you will have plenty when you go home."

"You have- I mean, I didn't want to ask last night because of the situation but- and I've heard about it a little before, from mythology and the research I did on you when we first met but... Can you tell me about your children?" He rambled then asked tentatively, sensing it was a sore subject but still wanting to know.

Loki nodded. "I knew we'd have to have this conversation eventually. Yes, okay."

Tony sat and waited patiently, letting Loki speak in his own time.

"I don't know if you are aware, but there is a prophecy, a fate laid out centuries ago by the Norns. The prophecy states that I will bring around Ragnarök, the end of the Gods." Loki spoke dramatically, the way this story had been told many times before. "My youngest, Fenrir, is told to be the slayer of Odin. I myself am told to be in battle with Heimdall until we both fall at each other's hands. You will now understand why he is particularly hostile with me." Loki let out a long breath. "In attempt to prevent the outcome of a prophecy that he thought was inevitable, Odin sought to take my children and lock them away. He believed that a parental bond would never form between us and they would never come to my aid in battle. What he did not realise is that he had only made enemies of my children and rather fulfilled the prophecy in his misguided attempt to prevent it." He sighed again. "But that is beside the point. My children have been either killed or locked away at the farthest corners of the nine realms for their crime of their own existence."

Tony's mouth had dropped during the tale as he stared at Loki in disbelief. He'd known Loki's children had been banished, but he hadn't known the reason- or rather the lack of reason- behind it. It made him burn with hatred, and it was similar to the one he'd felt for Howard when he'd been alive, except this time it was stronger.

He shuffled closer to Loki and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug. "Loki... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry this has happened. I..." He trailed off in a growl, fisting his hands against Loki's back. "He's going to pay."

"No he's not, Tony." Loki pushed him back to smile at him sadly. "Don't you think I've done what I can?"

"I know you have, Loki... Just... Fuck!" Tony's bawled up fist hit the headboard hard, causing him to pull it back and curse a second time. "I can't imagine what that feels like, so I can't sympathise, but I can empathise."

Loki smiled and cupped Tony's neck gently. "Thank you."

Tony smiled back and leant forward for a quick kiss. "So what are they called? Unless you don't want to talk about them...?"

"I have four illegitimate children; three children by a Jötun, they are Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungandr and also I have Sleipnir, though I do not care to explain how his birth came around. I also had two legitimate children by my ex wife sigyn. They were Narfi and Váli. Narfi is dead and Váli is gone forever. Hel rules over the kingdom of Niflheim, Fenrir is chained to a rock on some far part of the nine realms, Jormungandr is banished to the deepest of the Midgardian oceans, and Sleipnir is charged with the task of serving as the 'royal mount'. However humiliating, it is seen as a great honour and I am grateful at least to catch the occasional glimpse of my son. For this is the way Odin works. He knows I cannot attempt to disobey him lest I lose the privilege of Sleipnir's occasional company."

"Jeez..." Tony sighed and ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath of air. "Was it Sleiphnir you gave birth to?"

"It is. And believe me it was difficult, especially when you've got eight legs getting in the way."

Tony winced comically. "Eugh, did not want that mental image, though to be fair I shouldn't have asked then..."

"No, you shouldn't." Loki shifted uncomfortably "be kind enough to sort us some food, my hunger is catching up with us."

Tony nodded and smiled before getting up and re-dressing himself. "Anything you want particularly?"

"Mmmm, a nice warm bread roll." Loki pulled the sheets back up and pretended to go back to sleep.

Tony smiled, and then leaned over to kiss him quickly before leaving.