Tony catches on late that all the fuss is about Loki, he catches on late that apparently Loki'd accompanied them. Because Loki they never let him go on ops unless he's there too. Because Loki detests them all and listens to no one but him. Loki gives no actual damn about Earth and its inhabitants he's only in it for the fight, the thrill, and Tony's pestering persistence to have him join the team, the team that he'd had to pester persistently to accept. When quite honestly he needn't anyone's approval – he was Tony Stark, and Tony Stark was the only one able to keep Loki in line. Often everyone still wonders why, even him sometimes.

But it matters not he demands: "Let me talk to him," as Banner probs and pats at his marred body. Natasha looks back at them over her shoulder from the Quinjet's threshold and states:

"He won't answer – he probably threw away his earpiece." In the clearing outside Steve ceaselessly mumbles. If Loki's unresponsive who's he talking to?

Clint and Thor aren't here he registers. Logically they were likely searching for Loki. Loki who wouldn't just up and leave surely. No, not now. Not while he's like this. Loki wouldn't do that.

"Just let me try," he insists.

"They're back," she says standing upright, and now Steve's silent.

Tony catches their silhouettes approaching, and as near they come, his eyes gradually widen.

Loki steps onto the platform donning the lightweight armor Tony'd crafted for him some time ago,

drenched in blood from head to toe.

Gaping as all else, Loki's quiet and serene almost, his eyes that Tony's draw up to, still yet of intent. That promptly Tony placed, and now he can't look from them.

A long minute after he barely senses, before Loki retreats to the washroom, the silence in his wake loud.

XXX

Loki ignores all of them their prying eyes, but he cannot ignore the protests from within the med-bay's closed doors, that loudened so Tony's agitation growing along with his refusal to sit still and be treated.

Loki shoots to his feet, pushed open the door silencing all promptly. Seated top the examination bed Tony's wincing frown plains as their eyes lock, browns curious, and relieved even.

"Banner. Step outside for a moment," he says calmly.

"I can't – I gotta clean him up."

"Just a moment."

"Why?"

"Bruce," Tony calls. "S'fine. Go."

…Uncertain just what'll transpire in his absence, Bruce is certain at least, as certain as them all now. That Loki wouldn't in any way harm him. So he leaves, stepping past the bloodless and casually-fitted god that had mere minutes ago slaughtered two dozen Hydra agents single-handedly.

Loki shuts the door behind him. And he turns to Tony, who can't quite read his eyes but there's a hint enough of concern in them shrouded, he feels more than sees, quips with a weak smile dryly: "It's worse than it looks." Loki's apparent frown tightens. Those eyes they always had a way of seeing through his lies and he's never quite sure due to magic, or that Loki knows him so well, better maybe than any.

He does not speak but approaches, a foot away, then, promptless pale hands rise, timid as they press against his bruised face their touch cooling. Confused for a second Tony feels sooner an intrusion, unintrusive but instead, soothing, like soft waves, bone-deep, and so relieving – his eyes shut he sighs long and slackens.

Now hardly coherent as this feeling recedes, along with all aches, he finds himself pressed against the god's taut chest he can tell when he hears a thudding heartbeat. And Loki's arms, strong and resolute around him. He finds himself panting for some reason, a lump growing in his throat his eyes welling fast and he gasps, purses his lips squeezed shut his eyes, but then, softly, Loki tells him: "It's alright," and the dam breaks. Streams roll down his cheeks he snivels and clutches Loki's shirt, gasping and burying his face in the god's shoulder, hiding. Lowly Loki hushed him rubbed firmly up and down his arched back, and Tony cried, lost all restraint he cried hoarsely.

Loki's heart ached with every tremoring sob – he held him tight and close, a fire searing within him thirsting for more blood, but it was done.

Now, a promise to heal and protect goes unsaid, a murmur of thought but he'll enact it unprompted.

Tony isn't unheard no matter his attempts to muffle these cries against Loki. Bruce pushes lightly open the door peeked in concerned. The sight he finds leaves him gaping for a moment long, but as Loki's head just shifts to shoot him a heated glare likely, Bruce retreats. And when quietly Clint asks:

"What's going on?" He can but answer:

"…Nothing. He's fine," so they settle silent, waiting.