About an hour (and 18 rounds of Candy Crush!) later, Thor heard a stirring in the bed. He turned to see Loki with his head in his hands, groaning.
"Brother!" Thor yelled
Loki sat up and his head snapped towards Thor. "What happened? Asta! I need to get back to her!"
"Loki! Calm yourself. She's right next to you."
Loki's head whipped the other direction. "Asta? Thor! Why is she unconscious?"
"Do you remember what happened?"
Loki slowly turned back to Thor. "We were getting the captives out. There was an explosion. After that, no."
"You got the last of them out and the building collapsed. Partially on you. You managed to magic it all off of you (and away from the rest of us, by the way), but the force of it all made you fall unconscious. We got you to the jet and you woke again. But you were inconsolable and yelling for Asta, so Wanda put you into a slumber."
"The Witch hexed me?" Loki asked with anger in his voice. "Did she look into my mind?"
"Watch your tongue, brother. She did nothing but save you from yourself."
Loki grumbled. "Fine. But what of Asta? Is she going to wake?"
"Of course. But as far as we can tell, she exerted her powers while healing you. It wore her out, but we are confident that she will be with us again soon."
Loki took her hand and stroked it with his thumb.
Thor grinned at the sight of his hopeless romantic of a brother. "Well, I am going to tell Stark that you are awake. Hopefully Asta will be soon and you'll both be cleared to get out of here."
Loki merely nodded, not taking his gaze from his fiancée. Once Thor left, Loki lowered his head to the pillow again.
"Asta, my darling, please open those eyes. I need to see that you are well. I am so very sorry that you did this for me. Please… please wake soon."
Loki closed his eyes and gently leaned his head against hers. The coconut smell of her shampoo comforted him, if just a bit. A few minutes later, Asta's eyes began to flutter.
"My love?" Loki whispered.
"Loki?" she rasped.
"I'm here, darling. How are you? Please say you're ok."
"I… I think so. Are you?"
"Asta, my love, my foolish girl, why did you do that to yourself?"
She rolled her eyes. "It certainly wasn't Plan A."
Just then, Loki noticed her IV. "Why are they giving you something intravenously? What is wrong?"
Asta lifted her arm just a bit. "I don't know."
"Because you don't know how to take care of yourself," Tony said from the doorway. "FRIDAY said you probably hadn't eaten in a while. When did you eat last?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I went to the lab and got so busy that I forgot."
"For over a day?"
"I got distracted!" Asta yelled.
Tony held up his hands. "Ok, settle down. I get it. I do it all the time. But I don't have magic powers to support or a boytoy in constant need of healing."
"I beg your pardon?" Loki snapped.
Tony ignored him. "But this time it went a little far and we had to help you take care of you. We're just glad that you're both awake and doing better. You both had big jobs today and did great work."
Asta tilted her head and smiled. "The great Tony Stark is doling out compliments?"
He pointed at her. "Don't let it go to your head. FRIDAY, how are our patients looking?"
"Both appear to have made a complete recovery, boss," the AI replied.
"Way to go, Doctor Reindeer!" He paused and scrunched his nose. "I need a better couple name for you guys. My Doctor Romance? Hmmm. Anyway, we'll get you all unhooked here and then you can get some food. Actual food, Asta."
"Oh, by the Norns, Tony, I'm sorry! I screwed up and I'm sorry!"
Tony walked over to her and put a calming hand on her shoulder and then began to remove the IV. "Hey, I don't want your apology. There's nothing to forgive. But you scared the shit out of us and I want to make sure you never do that again. And I want to make sure you're ok now. So, since Rock of Ages here seems to be alive and well, I'm leaving you in his capable and overprotective hands."
"He's probably the worst of you all," Asta sighed.
"Hey!" Loki said, but was once again ignored.
"Exactly," Tony agreed. "Now, we're going to get a huge shawarma delivery for a successful mission. I'll order your usual. Should be here within the hour, so get up, put on some comfy clothes and get ready for a family dinner/movie night. Yes?"
Asta nodded. "Yes. And Tony?"
"Hmmm?"
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
He winked before he left. Asta rested her head on Loki's shoulder. "How angry are you?" she asked quietly.
"I'm not angry, at least, not with you."
She put her chin on his shoulder to look at him better. "Please don't turn this on you."
"I'm sorry, my love. But if I hadn't have gone, I wouldn't have been injured and you wouldn't have exhausted your powers healing me."
"And at least 2 people would have died. Probably more without your help. But they're still alive and so are we. There's nothing to be upset with."
Loki sighed and turned to see her better as well. "I know you're right, darling, but—"
Asta put a finger to his lips. "Nope. We're not doing that. We're going to get off this bed, go upstairs, put on some sweats, eat obscene amounts of shawarma while watching some ridiculous movie with the family, and just be grateful that we're here. Does that work for you?"
He rolled his eyes. "I feel as though I don't have a choice."
"You don't."
"I remember a time when I was respected as a prince."
"Ah, but you're my prince. And of course I respect you, but as your future princess, I also don't follow those rules."
He shook his head and chuckled. "You never did, even before we were affianced."
She winked at him. "Exactly. You should be used to it."
Loki kissed her forehead. "Min prinsesse." (My princess)
Asta kissed his lips gently. "Min prins. Now, come on. There's a pair of soft yoga pants calling my name. You'll need some comfy pants as well. " (My prince)
"I fear I don't have any of these sweats you're referring to."
"Oh Loki, you certainly are no Midgardian."
"A fact I am most thankful for."
"Conjure something up. Fine Asgardian leather is not the dress code for tonight. Come up to my room, I'll help you see what you need."
He smirked at her. "Careful how you word things, my darling."
"You lecher. You know exactly what I mean."
He laughed as he stood and the sound made Asta feel worlds better. "Fine, my love. We shall go figure out what I can wear to this less than formal dinner."
Asta stood and wobbled a bit. Loki was at her side in an instant.
"Let's make this a bit easier, yes?" He scooped her up and teleported them to her room.
When they got there, he gently placed her on the bed.
"Now, where are these sweats I'm supposed to conjure?" he asked.
"Middle drawer over there," Asta replied as she pointed.
Loki went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of sweatpants. "These?"
"Yep. Can you get me the thinner pair in there? Those are my yoga pants."
After a bit of digging around, Loki found them and tossed them to her. He looked the sweatpants over and conjured a pair that was big enough for him. He also conjured two matching deep green sweatshirts.
"Aww, matchy-matchy tonight?" Asta asked.
"Yes," he replied, matter-of-factly. He turned his hand and was changed. "Do you think some more magic will bother you?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. One wobbly legged moment doesn't mean anything!"
"Nonetheless, I wanted to be sure." He turned his hand again and she was changed as well.
Asta had to admit, it felt good to change out of the clothes she'd been wearing for over a day and into the comfortable outfit. She sighed with content just before he scooped her up again.
She squealed. "Loki! I swear I can walk!"
"And I believe you. But I do like to make an entrance." And with that, he teleported them to the common room.
"Awww! Look at their outfits!" Natasha said when they appeared. "I didn't know it was twin night!"
Tony entered, carrying a huge box of takeout. "I think it's only for those who narrowly escaped death today."
Wanda plopped onto one of the couches. "Well, I mean, that's fair."
Loki set Asta onto another couch and sat as well, pulling her close.
Everyone smiled, but said nothing. Instead, everyone just ate and watched the cheesy 80s movie as they ate their shawarma.
When the evening was over, Loki teleported Asta back to her room.
"You know, keep this up and I'll forget how to walk," she said as he set her on her feet.
"I'll gladly carry you wherever you need to go."
"I know, but I promise that I'm better now. All full of shawarma and ready to go. I can feel my powers again too. No worries."
"Ah, my love. I shall always worry."
"Oh, I know. And I suppose I will too. What a pair we make!"
"Indeed, but mostly in the best ways, yes, darling?"
"Mostly," she agreed. "For now though, I suppose we need to get some sleep."
"Well, the Witch had me sleeping for most of the day," Loki grumbled.
"Oh, stop calling her that. You sound like a child. And she probably did it for good reason. But for now, we need some real rest."
Loki ignored her chastising. He deserved it, but certainly wouldn't admit it. Instead he asked, "Can I stay with you, my princess? After today, I don't want you away from my arms."
Asta smiled. So brave on the outside, but so needy on the inside. "Of course, my love." She climbed into the bed and he followed. They adjusted the pillows but she ended up putting her head on his chest.
"I can't wait until this is every night," she whispered.
"I agree. It's wonderful to hold my fiancée, but I cannot wait to embrace my wife as we drift off to sleep."
"Yeah," Asta mumbled. She leaned up and kissed him softly. "I love you, my mischief."
"As I love you, my precious one."
As they began to fall asleep, they both dreamed of their happy life together.