Tony brought up his and Loki's order of Thai food.
Loki had taken over the bed with books, magazines, and scattered pillows, and as Tony stripped down to a t-shirt and underwear, Loki quickly made room for him to join him under the covers. Tony turned down the lights; Loki had chosen a shark attack movie for them to watch, and they were soon absorbed in laughing at the absurd plot and gratuitous violence as they ate by the glow of the large television screen.
"Well, that was pretty good," Tony said approvingly as the end credits began to roll. "There's another one coming up, let's see—'Mega Shark versus the Giant Octopus'—how does that sound?"
Loki chuckled. "It sounds ridiculous. Very tempting, but..." He stifled a yawn. "I think I might just go to sleep. Feel free to keep watching, though, it won't bother me in the least."
"Nah, that's okay. I've killed off enough brain cells for one night."
Loki bit his lip before asking, "Are you certain you don't want me to move to another of your bedchambers?"
"Yes, I'm certain," Tony said in mild exasperation. "I like this arrangement—quit worrying. I told you, I want to wake up next to you for a change."
"Very well." Loki smiled. "In that case, good night." He scooted a little farther away from Tony, pulled the covers over himself and closed his eyes. Tony gave him an appraising look.
"How're you feeling?"
Loki opened his eyes. "I'm well enough. The pain is gone, for the most part."
"Let me see your boo-boo."
Loki raised himself on one elbow and gave him a bewildered glare. "My what?"
Tony gestured in the direction of Loki's belly. "Your ouchie, you know, where the space-rhino gored you."
"Oh! All right." Loki pulled up his t-shirt and turned on his side so that Tony could examine the nearly-healed wound. Impressed, Tony gave a whistle.
"Wow. You can hardly tell that there was a huge gaping hole in your tummy just twenty-four hours ago."
"Yes. I really think that with a decent night's sleep, I'll be fully recovered by morning."
"Damn! That's hard to believe, but good... Well, I'm beat, too. I think I'll join you in dreamland." Tony flicked off the TV and then got up to clear away their dinner tray before turning off the light and nestling in beside Loki. "Come'ere," he said, holding his arms open.
Loki gave him a dubious look. "I told you, I'm not a cuddler. This is a huge bed, you have plenty of room on your side."
"Okay, no cuddling. Fine, then let's talk shark movies. What'd you think of the production values on that one? I thought the cinematography was above average for this type of thing, but don't you agree the plot dragged a little in the third act? Oh, and could you tell when they shifted to CGI? I—"
Loki rolled his eyes. "I don't think there's enough substance in the entire shark film genre to support an in-depth discussion, and anyway, I did mention wanting to go to sleep, did I not?"
"All right, not interested in film analysis, no problem. Let's dish. What do you think Thor and Jane Foster do in bed? Think they get kinky? You're his brother, I bet you've seen his dick, is he huge?"
Loki shot a baleful expression at Tony, but took a moment to appear to give Tony's questions deep consideration. "Hmm, let's see—one, I don't care; two, I have no idea; and, three, yes, but not so large as you'd think, given his height. Now, please be quiet."
"Well, I wish I could, but I've got all these cuddling urges coursing through my veins, and I'm sorry, but if they go unsatisfied, they're going to come out through my mouth. It's a thing, look it up. So—"
With an exaggerated sigh, Loki rolled into Tony's arms. Tony gave a low laugh and pulled him closer. "Ah, that's better. I'll hardly have to talk at all now. In fact, if I could just get a kiss, I might even be able to go to slee—"
Now Loki was laughing, too. "Gods, you're a needy bastard. Here..." Loki gave him a deep, soulful kiss and then nestled against him. "Now, if you could possibly shut the fuck up, I would be very grateful."
"I'll see what I can do." Tony yawned luxuriously, and soon they were both sound asleep.
It was a miracle.
Tony woke up at dawn and found Loki still in his arms. He'd twisted and turned in the night, and now his back was to Tony's chest, but the length of his body was still pressed in close and their legs were tangled together. Tony managed to suppress a triumphant "Woo-hoo!" and just gathered Loki closer.
In the dim gray morning light he was able to study Loki more intimately than ever before, and he reveled in the little details. The way thick strands of long black hair had fallen aside, revealing an undergrowth of soft curls resting on his slender neck. The elegant line of Loki's arm, pale skin covering well-defined musculature. Tapered fingers, deft and graceful, just as capable of wielding a weapon as a paintbrush. Tony inhaled him, and listened to his steady breathing and felt the rhythmic beat of his heart. He hadn't been kidding when he told Loki he'd waited a long time to wake up next to him, and now he realized that, damn, it was worth every impatient moment.
Loki stirred. He gasped, startled, and then turned to see Tony beside him and the confusion in his eyes disappeared. A slow, lazy grin crossed his lips and he turned over to face his bedmate. "Hello, human," he said in a quiet rasp.
"Well, hello, beautiful."
"Hm, do you think me so?" With his forefinger, Loki traced a line from Tony's dark eyebrow down over his cheekbone to his lips. "You're a rather decent specimen, yourself."
Tony frowned thoughtfully. "I guess that's your idea of a compliment?"
"It is." Loki kissed him and then pulled back, something primitive shimmering in his dark green eyes. He slid a hand down Tony's back, holding him in place as he pressed his groin against the swell of Tony's morning erection. "Well. It appears we're both waking up in a similar condition."
The friction Loki created was delicious and Tony's cock got even harder, straining against his silk shorts. "Ah—damn it, man, what're you doing to me? I'm not so good at the whole delayed gratification thing, and—"
"Who said anything about a delay?" Loki chuckled and moved to take off his Hello Kitty sleep pants. "I have no intention of postponing a tryst with you any longer. Come along, mortal, drop your knickers and let's get on with it." Loki pulled the t-shirt over his head and lay back wantonly, giving Tony a lascivious grin as he spread his knees apart.
Tony felt like a dog being served a steak dinner, but he forced himself to take a deep, calming breath. "Okay, let's discuss. Day before yesterday, you almost died, remember? And you were in so much pain yesterday morning you couldn't dress yourself. And now you're all ready for a little sexy-time action? I don't think that's a good idea."
"I'm fine. Look." Loki pointed at the scar from his injury; this morning, it was nothing but a faint line, barely noticeable. "See? I'm healed, there's nothing to worry about."
"But—"
"We gods heal quickly. If you'll recall, I was tossed around like a rag doll by your gigantic green beast, yet I was on my feet asking for a drink mere moments afterwards. Which you never did get for me, by the way." Loki had a teasing tone in his voice and he reached out to cup Tony's chin in his hand. "I promise you, I'm perfectly well, barring my magical abilities which are still unstable. But, that has nothing to do with this." He kissed Tony again. "Please don't worry. I'll tell you if I feel any discomfort. All right?"
"Do you know how dead I would be if I hurt you with my dick and had to explain that to your big brother?"
"I seriously question how much damage that minute little organ of yours could actually do, so it's a moot point."
"You know, you're hot, but your sex talk could use some work."
"You seem to like it just fine," Loki purred, sliding his hand into Tony's shorts and gripping him tightly.
Tony made a choked sound and with supreme effort took Loki's hand and pulled it away. "Yeah, okay, I kind of like the abuse, but really, Loki, I'm just afraid we might—"
A thunderous expression crossed Loki's face.
"Why must I always romance you into fucking me?" he exclaimed bitterly. "I know my own body, Stark. If I say it's all right, it's all right. Now, shall we do this, or should I take advantage of whatever means of transportation you Midgardians employ to depart from an inhospitable host's bed?"
"Now, chill out, Shakespeare," Tony said soothingly. "I'm just trying to take care of you." He caressed Loki's face and then took him in his arms. "I just want you to be okay."
Loki allowed himself to be held and his momentary irritation subsided. "Oh. Well. I... I appreciate that." He pulled back and looked into Tony's eyes. "I'm well, Tony, I promise you. Please... I want you."
"I want you, too."
"Then, have me." Loki's wicked smile was back and he pulled Tony on top of him.
This time, it was gentle.
Tony refused to hurry, pointedly ignoring the initial onslaught of Loki's goading insults. He shushed him and concentrated on nibbling his neck, laving his nipples, and caressing his back and the taut lines of his belly with faint brushes of his fingertips. He kissed Loki slow and easy, dipping his tongue between his lips and licking the warm slickness he found inside them. He murmured soft little endearments, words Loki had heard rarely in connection with himself, and the god found that his sharp tongue had somehow been stilled, given over to breathing soft moans and whispering Tony's name.
For Loki, sex had always been a cerebral business, his mind always calculating, even down to which particular movement would bring the most pleasure to himself while at the same time bestowing whatever effect he desired onto his partner. He always held tight control, determined not to allow himself to make the stupid mistake of trusting another with his mind, his body, or his heart.
How funny that all that power, all that control, could be stripped away by one cock-sure little human.
Tony's hands were strong, and he seemed to know just where to touch, to stroke, to probe to make Loki lose himself. Loki felt like a drowning man pulled out of the water, gasping as he filled his lungs with air. For the first time in his life, he didn't care what would come later. As Tony entered his body, Loki felt like weeping, because Tony was careful. Because Tony asked "You okay?" when his breath hitched, because Tony stopped to hold him and kiss him even when he'd been fucking into him hard and fast, and because Tony made him feel like he was the only thing in the world that mattered, the only thing that he loved.
Loki knew he was a fool, but he didn't care. Whatever Tony was willing to give, he would take. Even if it all ended tomorrow, he wanted this, wanted these memories of being held and loved, memories of a time when someone cared enough to call him "sweetheart" and to whisper "You're my angel, my baby," in his ear, even if he didn't really mean it.
He'd need those memories for those times ahead that were sure to come, when he would be left beaten and broken and alone.
He'd need to remember that, once, there was someone who'd cared enough to be gentle.