Looking for home

The next couple weeks were quiet after that. They visited a couple planets, but otherwise laid low. Tony worked on his suit, and now the gauntlets had an additional vambrace to them. It was the same color as the gauntlets, the color of dark metal, embellished with runes and crescents that reminded Tony of Loki's true skin. It looked more like an actual armor, like the medieval or Lord of the Rings kind, but Tony didn't mind.

Loki and Tony were doing good, by the way. The same as earlier, maybe a little more touchy feely nowadays. It was kind of nice. Except for the feeling that Tony had. Like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop, or some shit like that.

Anyway, now they were heading in the general direction of home, Loki piloting in the cockpit and Tony studying the starmaps to find a shortcut. Even though Loki had visited this part of the universe earlier in his life, he'd never had to use the portals as Heimdall (or whoever) had always been the one to zap them around. Thus, he couldn't help and they had to do it manually. Tony'd been at it for hours, and that was only for today, as they had both been looking through the never-ending maps for god knows how many days already (no pun intended. Well, slightly intended).

He sighed in boredom. He was just about to swipe his hand over the hologram to move the map around, when something caught his eye; it was a picture. He zoomed into it. A picture of a massive archway and a ship entering it.

He scrambled up, almost dropping the device and nearly falling himself, but he somehow got to the cockpit in one piece.

"Loki, darling, little Rudolph, my sweet Lokes, Lokipie–"

"Cease your rambling and do not ever again attempt to call me with those obnoxious names, Anthony," Loki interrupted him with a stern glare. "What is it?" Tony shoved the map device into his hands and sat on the edge of the copilot's seat.

"What does this one say?" he asked, pointing at the picture like a little child in a candy shop. Loki's eyes brightened for a moment.

"Oh, yes, Anthony! This is very good!" the god said, zooming into the location, reading the data and smiling toothily. "I'll enter the coordinates."

And with that, they were on their way towards the portal, which presumably could get them closer to their destination.

They hadn't really talked about it, what would happen once they'd reach Asgard or Earth or whatever. Actually, Tony wasn't even sure where Loki was planning to go, being a fugitive war criminal and all that. And maybe that was a problem, but neither one of them were willing to acknowledge it. Not yet. So, they just kept going in the general direction of 'their realms', according to Loki, at least.

So. It took them about a week and a half to get to the portal, and when they finally reached it, if Tony's counting was correct (which it always was), it was his 101st day off Earth. And wasn't that just depressing. Anyhow, they were closing in on the portal, and Tony was piloting the ship (yes, he had learned how to fly the thing) away from the mass of space crafts, but not venturing too far. And as usual, they had a minor problem.

It appeared that they would have to identify themselves in order to get through the portal.

Yup, yikes. Tony really wasn't looking forward to meeting some Chitauri soldiers again, if they were recognized as 'Thanos' property', as that one alien dude had so prettily put. A shiver wracked his frame at the thought.

"So, what are we gonna do now? Should we just try and sneak in?" Loki glanced at him, but Tony kept his eyes on the portal before them. So close, yet so far, he thought bitterly.

"I believe that to be our only course of action. If we wish to go through the portal, that is."

"Well, I didn't come here for nothing. I vote for dangerous and risky at best." Loki rolled his eyes at Tony's antics. The fucker probably knew already that the engineer often said the opposite of what he really thought.

"I could perform an illusion to hide our ship," he offered, instead of pointing out Tony's bluff.

"Great!" the human exclaimed, relieved, but then frowned, "You sure you're up to it, though? I mean, I know it's already been a few weeks since you used up all your juice, but you kinda took a hard hit and I don't want you to–"

"Cease," Loki interrupted his rambling. Tony was kind of grateful for it. "I shall fare just fine, Anthony. I will perform the spell and you'll guide this ship through the portal. Steadily, if you would."

"Alrighty, if you're sure, Lo. Just don't pass out on me." Loki tsked and got up from his seat, stalking over to the back of the ship. Tony waited, piloting and trying to attract as little attention as possible. He lowered the ship behind a large cargo ship to hide it from view, and after a moment of waiting, felt a cold current hit his skin.

"You ready back there?" he asked.

"Yes, you may proceed." With that, Tony flew their ship beneath the belly of the cargo ship.

"All set up, moving towards the portal." Loki didn't answer, but Tony was positive that he'd heard. The engineer kept his eyes on their destination and at the same on the rear view monitor to see if someone was about to fly through them, as they couldn't be seen nor sensed by any gadgets. Or, that's what Tony hoped, at least. But again, he had faith in Loki.

It took about a half an hour until they were at the front of the line, only two ships before them. It would be a tight squeeze getting through the portal, as the ship they were using as their Trojan Horse was flying kind of low, thus their own ship was very near the horizontal border of the archway. Luckily, their craft wasn't that big, so it should fit. Hopefully.

"You doing okay, Big Blue?" he called, and was answered with a strained, but an affirmative grunt. "Not long to go anymore, you just hang in there." It was probably pure torture for the god to be keeping up this level of a spell for so long. But he had to do it, otherwise they'd be toast.

Their turn soon came up, and Tony flew, as evenly as he could, underneath the cargo ship. He stopped when it stopped, right before the portal, waiting for it to continue moving. It was a long minute, as two small pods rounded the larger ship, and the captain was probably having a radio connection with some authority. Sweat beaded Tony's brow as the pods passed them, never noticing anything weird under the larger ship's belly.

Tony heard an alarm blare and the cargo ship begun advancing. He sped up gingerly and followed under the ship, only touching the portal when he saw the other ship's nose transfixing through it. Their ship touched the eerie, slightly luminous surface of the portal, which was displaying another set of space on the other side.

The alarm blared again, harder and repeatedly this time around, and orange spot lights were flashed on. His hands froze on the controls

They had been noticed.

Hastily, he accelerated and – thank fuck – they got through the portal. He kept speeding up, staying down for cover. He saw two ships, armed, following them, and quickly maneuvered their craft to the mass of ships leaving the portal. He followed them, ducking beneath them and passing them, until he saw their pursuers no more. Tony sighed in relief. Thank god for lousy alien security workers. Still, he didn't let himself relax yet. He couldn't be sure whether they were safe or not. And now they seemed to be visible again, so he wanted to stay attentive.

"I thought I said steadily," he heard Loki commenting dryly, as the Jotun staggered to the cockpit with him and took a seat. Tony spared him a glance, taking in his pale and slightly sweaty face and exhausted eyes, and quickly turned his attention back to the traffic.

"Sorry, had to make some very quick decisions. I think we're okay now though. Can you see them?" Loki eyed the rear view monitor.

"No, I cannot. Still, let's stay with the crowd for the time being."

"Yeah, I was thinking the same," Tony replied, finding a somewhat secure spot between a group ships in the forking queue. He let out a slow breath to will his muscles to relax a bit. It didn't help. He let out an involuntary, and a little hysterical giggle.

"What do you find so amusing, mortal?" Somehow that made him cackle even more.

"We made it through the portal." He heard Loki chuckle next to him, and turned his head to look at him once more.

"Yes," the god said, but not without flashing Tony a brilliant, toothed smile, "that we did." 

Tony slapped a particularly persistent leaf out of his face, slightly irritated.

"Again, why are we here?" Loki tilted his head to glare at Tony briefly, before continuing on his path through the rain forest-y vegetation. It was hot and humid, and there were alien animals and insects all around them, although never in sight, eliciting a constant background noise as they shuffled through the large leaves and dangly branches.

"Because we need water and fresh sustenance, and because this was the only planet with living organisms on our route for days to come. Now, cease your jammering and please, be of use."

"I am of use. I'm keeping you decent company and I'm carrying containers for the water..."

"I don't know about 'decent'..." he heard Loki muttering before him, and reached to kick the guy's shin. All that got from him was a low chuckle and a sore toe. Damn, alien physique.

A few days ago they'd managed to continue their journey peacefully, leaving the portal behind them and beginning to explore the new galaxy. They'd soon decided their route and were now advancing their destination rather smoothly. But of course, they had to stop to refill their stock.

Fortunately, they had found this (god-awful) planet, and the two were now headed towards a some sort of a lay-by, where they could get water and perhaps, if they were lucky, some fuel. Other than that, the planet was uninhabited, so hopefully the place would be also empty. But who knows, maybe this place was a common recreation spot for alien 'truck drivers'. He hoped not, but had anyway put on his gauntlets and the pieces of armor, and Loki, too, had slipped around a dozen daggers in the hidden pockets of his tunic and worn a slightly thicker leather vest than needed for the planet's warm climate.

Well, better safe than sorry.

When they finally reached the spot, it was thankfully vacated. The whole place was basically just a small, treeless patch of scorched ground in the middle of the tropic forest, containing an underground well with a pipe and a manual pump attached to it above the ground. And that's it.

"Well, this looks promising, doesn't it?" Loki sighed at the brunet's quip, and walked over to the pump, disposing one of the three containers (they had six in total) he'd carried under the pipe's nozzle. He began pumping and luck was probably on their side for once, since clear liquid began flowing into the container. Loki continued until the container was filled to the brim, and then switched it with the another.

Tony walked over to the now full container. It contained about six gallons of water, which equaled around 50 pounds in weight. The route to their ship was approximately one mile. Tony could take that much.

"I'll just take this back to the ship, while you fill these here. I'll come back to help with the others then," he said and squatted to grab the container. He was stopped by Loki's hand on his arm.

"No, you're staying here."

Tony blinked in surprise and frowned at him. "You're not the boss of me," he snapped, shaking off Loki's hand. "I can survive a little trip trough a rain forest." Loki pursed his lips at him, disapproving.

"That is not what I meant. We should stay together. We do not know what bides in these woods. Also, travelers might come while we are separated and that knows no good, as I'm sure you're well aware of."

"We are more likely to bump into travelers if we stay here as long as it takes us to first wait until the containers're full, and only then carry them back to the ship."

"I can float them to the ship, if that ails you so much. That way we may carry them all at once." Tony frowned at the crouching god again.

"The hell you are. You're still exhausted from that spell you used on our ship the other day. I'm going now, if that's okay with your royal–" He begun to stand up, pulling the container with him, but Loki beat him to it. The asshat batted Tony's hands away from the container, and, standing up too, grasped his wrist. In an eye blink, Loki had slammed Tony up against a tree trunk and was now bending his upper body to snarl at his face.

"I tire of your mewling, mortal. Do you not understand how fragile you are? I could literally snap my fingers and you'd be dead by my feet! Do you not understand how easily any other could just–" He was cut off when Tony's repulsor beam clipped him on his armored shoulder. He instantly jumped back, shocked.

Tony had chosen that spot, because he knew it was one of the most well-protected parts on the god's body. Why, he had done it, was still a blur to him. For one, at least, was because he'd been outright terrified in that moment. Loki had been holding him down and spewing some shit about killing Tony, and that just didn't sit well with him. Secondly, he'd been furious. Not only because the asshole thought he was somehow in command, but also because he thought Tony was some damsel in distress. Thirdly, he wanted to prove that no, he was not fragile nor helpless and he had his armor and wit to prove it.

And it wasn't like it was something that could have hurt Loki. He had fired at minimum power and chosen the safest place he could reach, even then aiming slightly off so that the hit would only jar the god. He had just wanted to gauge a reaction. And boy, had he done just that.

Loki was standing a few long steps away from him, the look on his face so angry, disdainful and betrayed that Tony instantly felt his own anger bleeding away, being quickly replaced by nausea and pain upon seeing it, regretting his poor-ass decisions and impulse control. He didn't want to see Loki looking at him like that, like Tony had just shattered something very precious and tender. Which he probably had. He blinked and hid the pain Loki's face made him feel behind harsh words, as usual.

"Fuck you! I'm not fragile or anything you should handle like it was made of glass. 'Stark men are made of iron'–," reciting those words made his stomach turn, but he didn't even care at this point, "–and whatnot. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me in the past, but enough's enough, Loki." Loki's face had morphed into an impassive, cold mask, and he kept eye contact as Tony spoke. Oh god, Tony hated that look.

"Fine," he finally said coolly, backing up a few steps to the container still sitting under the pipe. "You go and take the container back to the ship." He had cast his eyes to the ground as he spoke, so that Tony couldn't see them, and now lowered himself again to continue pumping. Tony did, and as he turned towards the jungle with the water in his hands, kept blinking away involuntary tears.

When Tony had left the container and cooled his head, he regretted everything. He regretted ever letting Loki get this close, letting him get under Tony's skin, regretted snapping at him and regretted repulsor beaming him. But the guy had stepped over the line and Tony couldn't just stand there and take it.

Actually, Tony was pretty sure they'd been tiptoeing around each other ever since that one steamy moment on their bunk, looking for each other's borders and buttons to push, waiting for that other shoe to drop eventually. Well, now it had indeed dropped.

Tony sighed and kicked at some dirt by his feet as he walked along the narrow and barely there road back to the lay-by. He'd have to apologize to Loki for beaming him, and hopefully the guy would understand.

A distant sound of an air craft stopped his musings. He twisted around, trying to catch a glimpse of the potential enemy through the thick leaves and branches many feet above him. He saw a ship passing over him, creating an air current and casting a shadow. Tony's eyes widened.

It was heading towards the recreational spot.

Panic flooded Tony's veins and he began running. He had to warn Loki that somebody was coming. Oh god, he needed to get there faster. It shouldn't take him more than five minutes at this point of the journey, but the ship above him was even faster than that, and all Tony could do was hope that they'd land some distance away from the spot.

He ran and ran and ran, and finally emerged through a bush to the clearing. Loki's eyes snapped towards him. He was in the process of filling the last container.

"Anthony? What is it?" he asked, alarmed.

"I saw a ship coming this way. Come on, we gotta–" Shots begun raining on their feet, leaving smoking, black dots to the dry patch of ground. Crap, it seemed that the ship's crew wasn't just a bunch of travelers, like he had childishly hoped.

Loki was by his side with inhuman speed and they ducked behind a large boulder for cover. It shook from the force of the blasts, but luckily didn't crumble. Tony peeked at their attackers from behind the rock's side, and quickly aiming, shot a couple times with his other repulsor at them. There were five armed aliens, bandits or bounty hunters from the looks of it. One of them took the hit to their side but the other was fast enough to evade his beam. The engineer ducked back to shield himself from the answering blasts. Loki grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait, we need to plan our actions."

"We don't have enough time. The gauntlets have your protection spell still on, right? I'll use the other to shield us and we make do with the rest. OK?"

Loki answered with a stern look in his emerald eyes, "Alright."

They surged to their feet, Tony bracing his left arm against the blasts and using the other to fire at the bastards. Loki was shooting magic from his hands and throwing daggers from behind his back, hitting his every target. The baddies seemed to be blasting away with electricity instead of deadly beams, so Tony figured they were most definitely bounty hunters or slave traders or such.

One of them had advanced pretty near to them, and Tony had to strike at the alien with his raised arm to deflect his close combat attack. He raised his other arm in its place immediately, but one blast from the bastards had still managed to slip through; pain flared up his right thigh as the ball of electricity hit it, and he choked off a scream, falling to his knee.

"Anthony!" Loki knelt right behind him, trying to stay behind the golden shield that erupted from Tony's raised vambrace every time a blast hit near it, or just wanting to stay near the human.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Tony hissed back at him, biting his lip hard. "See, I'm not even unconscious yet." He felt rather than saw Loki throwing a blade over Tony's shoulder, before the god grabbed him by the waist and hauled him back up.

"Just try to remain that way, please," he told the engineer, a bit strained. Tony settled for grunting as an answer, and aimed with his left hand to blast at one of the three aliens still standing. The masked alien dropped to the ground like dead weight.

The fight didn't continue long after that, the remaining two aliens getting beaten pretty easily. Still, they were sweaty and out of breath when it was over.

"Let us hurry," Loki interrupted their panting. "More may be on their way, and we cannot afford running into them."

Tony nodded. "Yeah, let's do that." His eyes flicked towards the luckily still intact containers on the ground. Only one had busted during their brawl. "What about the water? How many can you carry? I can take at least a couple." Loki tilted his head to frown at him.

"You're not carrying anything, Anthony. You took a hit. I shall levitate them to the ship."

"No way, Reindeer Games. And besides, I'm not injured, I just got shocked a bit. And yes, it did hurt like a bitch, but I'm good now. Not injured." He continued and raised his hands when Loki kept looking at him suspiciously.

"You're not carrying any."

"I'll carry two, you'll magic the rest."

"...You'll carry one, I'll take care of the rest." Tony rolled his eyes, but accepted the god's terms.

"Fine. Now, let's get going."

They swiftly gathered the containers, Tony carrying one and Loki another, levitating the remaining two in the air. They walked to the path they'd created, cautiously eyeing the either dead or unconscious alien thugs scattered on the ground, and continued through the forest.

"...Sorry about that blast earlier," Tony apologized a little later as they walked, keeping his eyes trained forward. He heard Loki hum near him.

"It's alright, Anthony. Do not fret, it is not as if your puny attempts at provoking me could actually work," Loki taunted, but Tony heard the lie and the humor in it. He scoffed and kicked the guy's shin again, eliciting a familiar, soft snicker.