Going to Asgard
He woke up to the soft sound of Jarvis’s gentle alert and the shivery feeling of someone touching his feathers. He lifted his head and bearlily found Thor, leaned on his side with one hand propping up his head and the other trailing over the feathers on his right wing.
“Mornin”
“Good morning Steven. You seem much rested. Did not wake at all when I removed your shirt to sleep more comfortably.”
“Ah, Bifrost must have took more outta me than I thought. Time is it?”
“It is around eight. I had Jarvis get us some food delivered. You did not eat before you fell asleep and I am aware how you need more food than most. He has just alerted that it has arrived.”
As Thor was talking, the lack of dinner made itself known by an angry growl from Steve’s stomach.
“Ah, yeah. We eatin alone?” Normally Steve ate on the common floor with the others. Even though he couldn’t touch them, it was still important to spend time with them, sometimes. When he could handle Tony.
“I believed you might continue our break before we had to talk more about what we do next. If I overstepped-- “
“No, no this is good. Thanks.” Steve spun around on the bed, sitting cross-legged and trying to not smack Thor in the face with a wing as he rolled his shoulders and let them open up in a stretch. He felt, rather than saw Thor reach for him, working to smooth out feathers, help them sit properly.
“This is okay?” He asked, before getting more sure of his fingers and how he was all but preening Steve. It made him smile. He’d watched enough bird documentaries to know just how domestic the act was.
“Yeah, a’course.” In truth, it felt amazing. It was almost right up there with the way the hug from Frigga felt. Safety in the form of touch.
“I will continue to ask about touch until I am sure that you have gotten completely used to it again. To go from no touch, to a lot of touch could be a hard transition. Even if you do like my, what did you call it ‘maniacal touch therapy?’” He leaned over to pull the tray from the rolling cart onto the bed. “Here, I chose waffles and fruit. Easy to eat in bed.”
“Thanks.” With his shoulders looser, and his wings folded back up, he lifted the lid and found a plate of steaming waffles. Grabbing one and rolling it up, he stuffed it in his mouth, doing his best not to groan in pleasure at how perfect it tasted.
They were quiet as they ate for a few moments. Steve watched Thor nibble on the fruit as well, but the bigger man was fidgety.
“What’s up?” Asked after finishing the last waffle on the plate. Before Thor answered, he switched the plates out for a new one, also laden down with waffles.
“I am...concerned.” There was hesitancy in Thor’s voice and that was not at all what Steve was used to.
“About?”
“How you are handling all this new information.” He pushed the plate away from them and sat himself directly in front of Steve, taking one of his hands. “You have learned much in the last few days and I do not wish you to buckle under the weight of these things. You will tell me if you need something, won’t you?”
Steve could tell that Thor was sincerely worried about him, so he didn’t try to brush it off like he normally would. “I know that I’m not the best about admitting I need help.” He started and paused at Thor’s amused snort. “Yes, I know. But if we are doing this, trying to date or court or whatever you call it, I will be honest with you.”
“Thank you.” He pulled Steve’s hand close enough to lay a kiss across his knuckles. “I know it is not easy to be open about things that you would normally keep close, but I want nothing more than to be able to help you.”
“A’course Thor. And thank you too, for caring and for bein’ willing to help me through this.” Getting up on his knees, he leaned forward to brush a kiss across Thor’s lips, just a soft one. He felt Thor’s lips turn up into a smile under his ministrations. Before he pulled back, he let the kiss deepen just a smidge, but then he was sitting again.
“Now, let us finish this food and perhaps bathe before we go back to the other’s. I know they still have questions, and we really should make sure they understand what is going on.” He popped a strawberry in his mouth and chewed then swallowed before going on. “I am aware Anthony will be saddened to not be able to bring his machines with him, but if they want to help, I will be glad of it when we visit the planet of your birth. I am not used to going somewhere so blindly.”
“Yeah, but do you really want Tony loose on Asgard with tools to try and steal your tech?”
“It would not bother me, I do not believe. But my father would be cross. And it is never a good idea to make my father cross.”
“Yeeaaah, I definitely don’t ever want him angry at me. He’s all big and mean looking.” He huffed out a laugh at Thor’s silly grin and knocked their shoulders together. “He’s nice though. I was really expecting him to hate me on sight. And to be much more serious.”
“In the past he has been quite serious, it seems he’s loosening up in his later years. He does love us though, my brother and I, and he has always wanted us to be happy. There is no reason for him to not like you elskan, you make me very happy.”
Steve accepted the sliced melon Thor offered him, glad to stuff his face instead of saying all the ridiculously sappy things he was thinking. And if Thor’s cheeks went a bit red when Steve’s lips grazed his fingers, well, Thor was the one offering to feed Steve. He couldn’t do anything about that.
They continued to eat the food sent up until both platters were empty and they’d devolved from sitting next to each other to Steve leaning against Thor’s shoulder. The bigger man had an arm around Steve’s waist, settled up under where his wing met his back. Steve didn’t want to leave the comfortable spot he’d found himself in, but he knew that if they didn’t move soon Tony would come looking. He’d already missed team breakfast, Tony wouldn’t hold off much longer.
“I guess we gotta head down now. I’m gonna grab a shower, meet you at the elevators?” He almost invited Thor to share the shower, but that might be moving too fast for him, and if there was anything he knew about the god, it was that he would never push Steve to do anything he wasn’t ready for.
“Aye, it might take me a minute, I believe my hair is unusually tangled this morning.” Steve pulled back to look up and let out a chuckle. Reaching up, he pulled a white feather from the mess of Thor’s hair.
“Sorry ‘bout that.”
“If the downside to spending time in your bed is a feather in my hair, you shall never hear me complain.” He leaned down to steal a kiss before scooting off Steve’s bed. “I shall see you presently.”
When Thor left, Steve rotated his body so he could land face down into his bed and silently scream. He was being ridiculous, he knew that, but he was allowing it. He had Thor as a boyfriend, maybe? Or a partner, however they decided to label themselves, and they’d spent the night together. Just sleeping, but still, that was more than he’d ever thought he’d get and it filled him with a joy he didn’t know he was capable of feeling.
He didn’t waste much time squealing his happiness into warm bed sheets. Eventually he pulled himself up and stripped as he walked into his bathroom. Here again Tony had been more than generous. Dealing with cold baths as a kid, and then cleaning himself in a river while in the war, the shower that Tony had built for him was a study in opulence. Steve could stretch out a wing at a time, just enough to make sure that his feathers got as clean as his body. The shower head was really a row of them that came straight down from the ceiling, which meant Steve didn't have to twist and turn just to fit himself inside the shoer.
He’d thanked Tony so much the man had actually told Steve he’d take it back if Steve didn’t stop. It had been amusing for them both after that and the first time that Steve really accepted Tony as a friend instead of just a co-worker or the benefactor he started out as. He got through the shower quickly and then moved over to the dryer he’d asked for so he didn’t go around with wet wings.
Once dry, he got dressed quickly, trying to time it out to see if he’d met Thor or be early. Leaving his feet bare, he left his rooms and found Thor walking to the elevator bay from his own apartment, deftly twisting his hair into a quick braid.
“Hey.” Steve leaned in to grab a quick kiss, but Thor slid his hands around his waist and made the kiss last longer, warming Steve to his core.
“Hello. Let us go before I drag you back to bed.”
“Hey, I went for a quick one that time, you’re the one who had my toes curling in the hallway.”
“Was I then?” Thor asked and Steve winked before dragging him into the elevator that had been open and waiting for them.
“To the common floor Jarvis.” Steve said and the elevator started to move.
“Morning Captain, Your Highness.”
“Good morning Sir Jarvis. Thank you again for ordering breakfast for my Steven and I.”
“It is my pleasure to serve you. And please allow me to warn you that Sir has not slept but for a few minutes at his work table.”
Oh great, Tony without sleep is a whole different beast and Steve briefly considered just going right back upstairs. He didn’t though, he did actually want to make sure they had a plan for how they would travel to Asgard and who would be here to protect Earth while they were gone.
The doors opened and they walked out into the common room just as Clint was plopping onto the couch with the coffee pot. Nat was sitting on one of the chairs with her cat in her lap and Bruce was talking to Tony by the windows. It was business as usual in Avengers Tower, with the glaring difference that Thor was holding his hand and just before they sat down together, Loki walked out of thin air, making Tony scream and drop his coffee cup.
“Brother!’ Thor called out over Tony’s swearing.
“Good morning brother, Avengers, Steven.” Loki sat right next to Steve, leaving him bookended by Asgardian princes. It was an absolutely insane thing to think about.
“Reindeer games, you wanna explain where the hell you came from? People don’t just appear out of thin air.” Tony sounded equal parts annoyed and fascinated.
“I am not ‘people’ Stark. I am Loki and I do what I please.”
“My brother is well versed in the hidden doorways in our universe. He has often walked between worlds, Anthony.” Thor always sounded so proud of his brother and Steve couldn't help but notice how pleased the younger prince was by his brother’s words.
Steve leaned in closer to his friend, and whispered in his ear, “We should call you Skywalker, like that movie Bruce and Clint love so much. Have you watched it?” Clint must have heard him, his hearing aids probably turned to the highest setting, cause he let out a snort.
“Yeah, that is much better than Tony’s nickname for you. Good one Cap.” Clint put the now empty coffee pot on the table and leaned forward, balancing his elbow on his knees, alert as always.
“I have not seen this movie. I fear my knowledge of Midgardian entertainment is lacking. With the exception of your opera. The Italians make beautiful music.”
That perked Nat up, a gleam in her eye. “If you like opera you should try the Russians. Queen of Spades is unparalleled in my opinion.”
“Well little spider, perhaps we shall make a night of it when the opportunity presents itself. Sadly that is not now, I come with news.” He turned a bit to look at Steve, taking his wrist in one long fingered hand. “My friend, father and I have arranged a meeting with the minister of the Soros.”
“I thought they were pretty reclusive. The Allfather was pretty sure it would take longer?” He made sure to phrase it as a question, so as to not hurt Loi’s feelings.
“Yes well, I may have snuck onto their planet and did a bit of creative discovering.”
“You spied on them.” Tony said plainly.
“Yes alright, I spied on them. And what I found was fascinating. With the new piece of information, father was able to send a message that got their attention.” Loki had a smirk on his face that had Steve desperately curious as to what he had found, but he wasn't sure if he should ask outright or let the prince draw it out longer. It didn’t matter, because suddenly Clint and Tony were talking over themselves.
“Long lost prince!” Clint shouted.
“Last baby born!” Tony added.
“All the genetic information was stored with him when he left the planet!”Clint added, and they all turned to look at him.
“This isn’t a Superman movie, Clint.” Bruce added with a slight laugh.
“Well,” Loki huffed, crossing his arms against his chest, “if you’re going to guess, there doesn't seem to be a reason for me to be here.”
“Oh shit, lost prince.” Clint and Tony said together, voices soft.
“No.” Loki said, making Steve stare at him.
“Steve was the last baby born?” Bruce asked. Steve kept starting at Loki, watching his face to see any tics.
“Yes.” He finally sighed out. “Good Job ruining my carefully planned out discussion.” He glared at Tony.
“Oh wow, Steve.” Nat slid off her chair to come sit cross legged on the table in front of him. Close but not touching.
“Do they know why?”’ Bruce asked, always with science on his mind.
“I do not know. We arranged the meeting and I left to come here. Father had said a fortnight, but you only have two more evenings. Their minister will be on Asgard on the third morning.”
“Thank you brother, for coming to tell us. Are you staying until we leave, or will be home again soon?”
“I shall return home with you, if Stark does not mind playing host to me.” He all but sneered, right as the elevator doors opened again.
“Of course you’re welcome to stay the night, Your Highness.” Pepper’s heels clacked across the floor as she came around the couch to nod her head at the group. “You are always welcome here.”
Loki stood and held out a hand, “thank you Miss Potts. And it is Loki. There is no need to stand on ceremony here.” He sat after Pepper let go of his hand.
“Tony, you have an investor meeting in the morning, do not forget. Jarvis told me you didn’t sleep last night, you cannot do that again tonight.”
“Pep, I’m going to Asgard! Who needs investor meetings.”
“SI needs investor meetings. You can go to Asgard after it is done.” She turned back to Loki, quirking an eyebrow. “And why is Tony going to Asgard?”
“Ahh, that would be my fault Miss Potts. It appears that I am sorta important, I guess, to my people.” Steve rubbed the back of his neck. Pepper reminded him so much of his ma, she was a bit intimidating.
“Oh yes, Tony mentioned something about you learning more about your past. That is good, I am glad for you.” She tapped her tablet a few times before looking back up at him. “The meeting tomorrow morning is the last of the quarter. If he makes that, you can have him for a month. A month, you hear me Steve?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Pep, you’re acting like my mom.” Tony whined. And oh, Steve would not want to be Tony with the glare that his wife was levering at him.
“No. I am acting like your wife. And the woman who runs your company. So, tomorrow. Wide awake for that meeting, and then you can go star hopping for exactly one month.” She kissed his cheek before saying a quick goodbye and disappearing as fast as she’d shown up.
Everyone looked at Tony, who was staring at his hands. “Right. Leaving in two days. I’ll see you tomorrow after my meeting.” He left, and Steve looked at the rest of the group. He’d have to talk to Fury about them leaving, not that the man could stop them. It was a courtesy though, and one Steve would make sure to take care of. But before then, he tapped Nat’s booted foot with his toe.
“So, what do you want to know about Asgard?”