Becoming My Home
“I still can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I.”
“I still think he is pulling our leg with this one.”
“Nope!”
Tony’s voice too enthusiastic and loud carried from the bathroom to pull all present Avengers into the same emotional range as the engineer currently found himself in. However, they were all still pretty shocked and puzzled, not sure what to say or do, just like they’d been two hours back when Tony had first approached them with the news.
“So you really… with Loki… damn… and today… you and Jane?”
However funny it was to listen to Barton and his half coherent questions, Tony was really busy with getting his naked ass into the clothes provided for him, and therefore, he let others deal with the archer.
Tony had brought a whole new armor with him just for this particular event of Jane’s introduction. While he couldn’t imagine wearing a suit looking like it came out of the King Arthur’s movie in normal circumstances down on Earth, here it wouldn’t look so out of place. Maybe it would even win him some points with Papa Odin.
He’d whimpered and groaned in frustration more than few times while putting it on as the suit wasn’t fully automatized yet. But then after half an hour of torment he looked at himself in the mirror, and a cocky smile appeared on his lips. He hoped Loki would like it.
“Everyone ready, my friends?”
Tony’s grin even widened as he heard Thor open the door and give his greetings because that meant that the trickster was most likely with him. Tony made a few attempts to listen to what was happening in the room, but all he managed to catch was Thor’s thundering laughter over Avengers’ confessions about how they’d accepted the news of Tony and Loki being together.
Okay, time to rise and shine.
Tony stepped out of the bathroom and suddenly everyone went deadly quiet while all of their heads turned his way, most of their mouths left agape while starring shamelessly.
“That bad?” he joked, but then his eyes found the one he was dressing nicely for, and a soft expression slowly appeared on his face as a silent reaction.
Tony didn’t look away from the god when he raised his arms into the air making the long red-gold cape spread around his sides. His armor was shiny and polished with a blue light emerging from the front, and gold rune cravings at all possible places catching Loki’s eyes and bringing them back to Tony’s face.
“What do you say?”
Loki was deadly quiet, his mouth opening a few times but with no outcome.
“Very well, friend Tony,” Thor took the situation in his own hands, “I’ve never seen my brother lost for words.”
Jane in her long elegant robe matching Thor’s own outfit nodded excitedly and playfully scolded him in a next second.
“You weren’t supposed to be prettier than me, Tony!”
Everyone burst into amused laugher. Loki finally came to himself and made a step towards his lover, taking both of Tony’s hands and bringing them to his lips for a quick kiss.
“You look stunning, my love.”
A blush rose over Tony’s cheeks, his heart jumping up and down from hearing a love confession thrown at him casually like this in front of so many people. That was something he had to come in terms with, but he loved it all the same.
“Thank you, so do you, Loki.”
“If everyone is dressed and prepared, we shall go. It’s time.”
Thor pointed towards the door and Jane wrapped her hand around his arm, just as she was supposed to. Tony knew what he should do as well – they had quickly run over the formalities before – so at the moment, he fell in the rhythm with Loki’s easy step while keeping his hands at his sides. No touching for him.
They briefly stopped in front of the dining hall where the feast and introduction should be held and which was all too familiar to them by now. All the guests were already waiting inside, and Avengers were just entering one be one through the doors to be formally greeted. Tony found himself nervous even despite the fact that everything has ran smoothly until now.
“Anthony.”
Loki’s steady voice and smile met his slightly panicked eyes, and a hand was being outstretched next to him. Tony hesitated.
“We aren’t supposed to…”
“I don’t care.”
The engineer’s face lost some of its tension, and when their hands connected, his lips formed a small smile on their own.
“You’re gonna piss your father off and we aren’t even dining yet.”
Loki hummed mischievously, leaning closer.
“That was the plan.”
Now, Tony was grinning like an idiot. He noticed Thor taking shuddering breaths in and out and saw Jane doing the same comforting gestures to him, sufficiently killing any panic attack at its birth. Then there was Loki’s palm on Thor’s shoulder and his own reassuring words whispered silently into his brother’s ear, and suddenly the doors were opening, and Thor walked in, his big form without any indication of the emotional turmoil inside.
Ignoring the stares and shocked voices around wasn’t anything new for Tony. He’s been doing this kind of stuff his whole life. The room was full of people more or less looking human, eyeing the two pairs and whispering around, and it was okay because they had no say in whether his relationship will be formally allowed or not. One-zero for a kingdom with a king to decide in such questions.
Loki squeezed his hand when they were about to stop. That was a sign for starting to pay attention to the front. There on the golden thrones sat the king with his mild scowl and the queen smiling on all four of them. The bustle around ended with both royals getting up on their feet while Tony, Loki and Thor kneeled on one knee, heads bowed down in greetings.
“Rise,” the king said before he settled his gaze on each one of them finishing with the engineer. Their eyes met and Tony could swear he saw the king smile for a nanosecond while clearly checking out his outfit. An approving gaze confirming that Tony did good. Okay, one green point for Loki-Tony team. That was a good start.
Now just don’t screw the rest of it, Stark.
Tony went over all of the remaining formalities in his head while Thor and Jane stepped closer to the throne turning to face people. Odin recited his part like it was all a big play and it probably was. Then it was Tony’s turn and shockingly he managed not to do an idiot out of himself.
The royals were pleased as far as he could say, and Loki was radiating waves of utter fondness each time they caught each other’s eyes.
It seemed that the hardest part was over, but that turned out to be a big understatement. Tony noticed Loki tensing at his side at the next moment. Soon he noticed a man at the corner of the throne pedestal walking out of the shadows and privacy which the big curtains had provided for him until now.
“Who is it?” Tony asked quietly, watching Loki’s face going pale and then immediately drawn into anger.
“Brother,” Thor bounced excitedly and went to give this man a bear hug, while Tony remained at the place, puzzled. Loki probably understood his own mistake and turned towards Tony with an apology ready on his tongue.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect him to be here.”
“No one expected that, my son,” the queen stepped down as well, taking stand next to Loki’s other side like some kind of a barrier between him and this new brother of his.
In the next few seconds Thor introduced Jane to the unexpected guest and then Tony appeared in the center of the attention once more.
“Baldur,” the god pronounced his name slowly, on Tony’s great surprise offering his hand.
“I’ve spent some time on Earth before so the customs are quite familiar to me. Nice to meet you Tony Stark.”
Oh. Tony recalled what he should do and accepted the firm handshake. So the god-Baldur… he had to heard about Tony then knowing his full name and all.
“Perhaps it was a very long holiday when you call Earth Earth, Your Majesty.” One corner of Tony’s lips went up. He had to wonder what problem Loki had with his brother that he was glaring daggers at him even now.
The two of them didn’t greet each other in any other way than with a pointed look and Loki’s heated stare. That seemed to be just the right time for the queen to end this uncomfortable starring session.
“Dinner is about to be served, we should join your father, boys. Please, my dear Jane, Anthony.” She gently nudged Loki forward first and Tony went with him despite that their hands weren’t connected anymore.
All Tony wanted to do was to ask Loki what the deal was, but that wasn’t really possible with everyone taking their seat around a small table – rich, but hella tiny for a few gods with broad shoulders and for Loki’s emotions turning into a silent storm.
They started to eat in relative peace. Loki’s tension started to slowly descent while Tony’s hand rested on his thigh. He even managed to draw a small smile from the god, and so they survived until the dessert came. The dessert seemed to be the breaking point.
Baldur’s attention turned from Jane towards Tony, and suddenly all the progress with Loki vanished into the thick air.
“I heard some interesting stories about you, Tony, can I call you Tony?”
The engineer nodded, gripping Loki’s hand under the table. Don’t start a fight. I’ve got this.
“Sure. Uhm. What kind of stories?”
The king seemed interested in the sudden change of the topic as well, leaning in and folding his hands on the table.
“I heard that you have quite a journey behind you. Being held a prisoner, then making armors, fighting alongside gods. That is really impressive.”
Loki returned the squeeze, but otherwise controlled himself. Hardly, but controlled.
“Yes, that is true. Some bad things had to happen first to set me on the right path. Can’t say it ended bad for me.” Of course, he meant the current situation – Avengers as his family and Loki as his partner.
Baldur scratched his beard thoughtfully. His tone was easy going, but there was a mischief in his eyes so similar to Loki’s and at the same time totally different.
“And you have one of those armors even here. I haven’t had a chance to see it on my own eyes until now.” He took a deep breath, and then something malicious swiftly ran through his face. Tony swallowed hard.
“What is that blue light in the middle? What does it do precisely?”
Fuck.
Noticing Baldur’s intense stare, the god knew exactly what the reactor was doing. So why was he asking? Why to point at it out here and in front of Loki’s family?
“You do not have to answer that, Anthony.” Okay, so this was the end of Loki’s patience as it seemed.
The two brothers looked at each other. It was a miracle that no one died from that stare alone.
“Let him speak for himself.”
Tony took a deep breath looking at both the king and the queen and then his gaze stopped at Baldur.
“It runs the suit and it keeps me alive.” Yep, he said it. Just like that. Hooray! Let’s make some fun from the invalid here. It came all painfully clear to him now.
Was Baldur’s aim to make Tony look weak? Not deserving Loki’s affection or the royal blessing? Was he hinting on that Tony was being calculating in this relationship?
“Oh,” the queen’s face softened with this new information and Odin sat up a bit straighter. Thor and Jane only sent a supportive glance his way probably feeling uneasy from the questioning too.
“Isn’t it dangerous to fight in such a condition then?” The queen looked honestly worried, but her question froze Tony’s blood in his veins.
“I can assure you Anthony is perfectly capable of any fight he chooses to engage into,” Loki answered stubbornly.
“Is he?” Baldur cocked a smile and sipped from his drink. “One could say that with such active lifestyle and old wounds standing in his way he would like the idea of immortality you can offer, Loki.”
Tony was distantly aware that he should keep quiet and let Loki deal with his brother. This was the court after all. Everyone knew how to talk in riddles just on the verge of insult and easy chat. Tony had some experiences, but not like this.
“Are you assuming that I’m trying to win Loki’s favor in order to get more power? To become immortal?” he asked in the end, a bit of annoyance hiding behind his tone.
“Well,” Baldur looked at him nonchalantly. “You are something like a king in your own world. Not officially, but behind the curtains? Of course.”
“Baldur,” Loki growled, “stop it. This is not an interrogation. Don’t insult my guest with such bold assumptions.”
Baldur sighed. “I’m merely trying to prove my point, brother. When I first heard that Tony Stark, the Earth’s greatest defender, would be in Asgard, I knew that I wanted to meet the man. And now I learn that he’s here as your mate, Loki. The man who could have anyone he sets his eyes upon. You can’t wonder that I’m a bit suspicious.”
“Tony is a good man,” Jane spoke up glancing at Baldur with fire in her eyes, ready to protect her friend. “He’s kind and brave. He cares about those he loves, and I don’t think that he has any side intentions with Loki.”
“That’s right,” Thor said, “they kept their closeness a secret for a long time. Why would Tony agree with being discreet if he had side motives?”
“That is a right question,” Baldur nodded, “maybe because he made a mistake to choose the least popular of the brothers?”
“Enough!” the queen called out after that setting her cutlery on the side. “We won’t speak about this any further. Anthony is our guest, as Loki said, I won’t let you accuse him without any evidence, Baldur.”
Tony gazed at the god, and the bastard smiled back at him.
“Sure, mother, let’s get to more joyful topics then…”
The rest of the dinner was pure suffering. Tony ate his portion and drank his wine but inwardly he felt sick. Baldur wasn’t speaking to him anymore, but he was sending a glance his way from time to time. It was both annoying and disturbing. Tony used the first opportunity to steal Loki away, and only once they were far away from the royal table, he let out a relieved sigh.
Loki’s hand cupped his cheek tenderly.
“I’m sorry. He’s always like this. I hate him.”
Tony laughed.
“It’s fine unless you think that any of that shit he said about me is true.”
Loki gave him a funny look.
“What do you think, Anthony?”
“Are you secretly preparing some mischief for your brother?” Tony grinned.
“Which brother?”
“Both,” Tony smirked and nuzzled Loki’s cheek with his nose.
They weren’t bothering anyone with the display of their affection since they were standing in the corner of the room and alone.
“The answer is yes, of course,” Loki smiled before placing a small kiss on Tony’s lips. It felt all new and magical when it happened in a big hall with all those people around who could spot the intimate gesture.
“Are we allowed to dance?” Tony asked after they parted with his eyes glowing.
Loki snorted. “Who would dare to stop us?”
Tony expected that Loki would take him at some spot aside from the curious eyes, but instead the god led him in the middle of the dance floor between many pairs who had been already swinging to a nice slow rhythm.
Tony blushed but obediently let Loki pull him close.
“Showoff,” he whispered into the god’s ear earning a small laugh in return. Soon Thor and Jane joined them, both looking delighted that Tony and Loki were having fun despite how their dinner had gone earlier in the evening.
From that moment Loki kept Tony busy pretty much for the whole night. Tasting Asgardian food, dancing, having a drink, then dancing again… Stealing few kisses here and there.
Tony had no time to think about Baldur again.
It almost felt like a fairy-tale and he wished the night could go on forever. However, Tony’s wishes were always tricky to fulfill. When he suddenly saw Cap walking his way with a grim expression, he knew that his fairy-tale was going to be over soon.
“Tony,” Steve stopped in front of the engineer who was momentarily alone and watching Loki dancing with his mom.
“What is it? I can tell it’s bad news,” he groaned.
“It is, unfortunately,” Cap agreed, “we need to go. They need us back on Earth.”
“Something serious?”
“It could be,” Steve looked worried and that was speaking volumes, “we need to hurry.”
“When?”
“Now,” Natasha and then Clint appeared at Cap’s side, all of them most likely already familiar with the situation.
Tony felt the disappointment sneak into his chest.
“Okay, let my find Loki and tell him we have to go.”
“Sure. We’ll be waiting outside. Odin already knows about us leaving. Don’t be too long, Tony.” The team stepped away and aimed towards the exit. Tony, on the other hand, looked around trying to spot Loki among the dancers.
“Looking for my brother?” The only face he really didn’t want to see right now appeared in his vision and Tony cursed inwardly.
“Yes,” he spat ignoring Baldur’s presence otherwise.
“Come on, Stark, I heard you’re the funny one. Don’t be like that. Are you still mad? You know it’s my job to protect my brother, I didn’t mean to take it so far though.”
Tony finally stopped to look around in a hunt for tall, handsome and raven hair and glanced at Baldur properly.
“What do you want?”
“Oh,” Baldur laughed, his tone having none of that bite from before. It sounded too sweet for Tony’s liking.
“I wanted to merely come an apologize for my earlier behavior.”
“No,” Tony shook his head, “you didn’t.”
Something in Baldur’s eyes told Tony that the god was very amused by the harsh reply. Tony was done with being polite.
“What do you really want? I need to go and find Loki,” Tony murmured, his eyes searching again, “I need to hu…”
“And if I knew where he is?”
Tony sent a suspicious look towards Baldur.
“You know?”
“Yes,” the god smiled all teeth and wrinkles in the corner of his blue eyes.
Loki had told Tony a lot about his brother during the evening, although he didn’t mention why Tony has never heard of him before. According to Loki’s words, Baldur was the court’s darling. He was loved and worshipped and thanks to his almost unnatural beauty he seemed to be quite vain. However, he was witty and knew his way around everyone. Simply, Tony should be careful when dealing with him.
“I will take you to him if you want.”
It was easy to spot some of those brains behind the nice façade. Although the way Baldur spoke, the way he assimilated to the way of speaking Tony was familiar with, had Tony guessing how good of a manipulator he could probably be.
“Why don’t you rather tell me?” Tony asked in return.
Baldur shook his head with a charming smile. “Follow me.”
Tony hesitated for a second, but Baldur didn’t look back or stopped and that made Tony step forward in a hurry so he wouldn’t lose him in the crowd.
“Where is he?” Tony asked, once more annoyed when he scanned the small balcony where Baldur had led him and didn’t see Loki anywhere.
His eyes moved back to Baldur. He took in the way the god was standing in front of the only escape route, blocking it with his body. Tony frowned and gritted his teeth. He had his suit, but if Baldur wanted to seriously hurt him, Tony had no idea how that could end since Tony knew nothing about the god’s fighting methods.
“Tony, relax,” Baldur suddenly placed his palms up in a peaceful gesture, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hurt you. I promise.”
Only then Tony realized that he was already unconsciously taking one of the fighting stances. One of his leg braced behind him and his hands ready - repulsors aimed towards the god.
“Then why did you take me here? This is clearly a trap,” Tony spat not relaxing at all.
Baldur tried to make a step forward, but Tony let out a disagreeing sound and so he stayed where he was.
“I merely wanted to talk. Alone,” Baldur explained, his smile - even though much smaller - still there. “Please, Tony, hear me out. I know that I didn’t make a good first impression, but my reasons were more personal than objective.”
“You hate me, that’s clear,” Tony added mock helpfully.
“No,” Baldur surprised him, “no it is quite the opposite.”
Tony’s suspicion deepened, but at the same time his brain started to work full speed to connect the dots.
“I’ve been fond of you, Tony, for quite some time. I have visited Earth a lot, just as I told you, that’s not a lie. It was very devastating to learn that you are no longer free, but what more – that you are with my… brother.”
Tony didn’t like the way Baldur pronounced the last word of that sentence. Like Loki was some mud on his shoe.
“What does it have to do with me?” Tony asked, losing his patience. “What about you stepping away from that door and letting me find the man I love?”
Baldur grinned.
“I will. I just want to make this one proposition to you and when I hear your answer, you’re free to go.”
Tony weighted his options. Leaving Baldur to say whatever he wanted seemed like the easier way out. The god soon understood Tony’s silence as an urge to go on.
“Tony, you may not see it now, but Loki isn’t the best option for you in this court. I know that you are an ambitious man. And that sits alright with me. I can help you whenever you want to get. You don’t even have to wait until Loki gives you the apple. I would give you one even right now.”
True to his word, a small golden apple appeared in Baldur’s hand. It looked beautiful and delicious, made to appeal to all of Tony’s senses. It was almost physically hard to look away from it.
“And what do you want in return?” Tony asked, his expression blank.
Something in Baldur’s eyes changed, but it was quick, and Tony had no chance to catch what it was.
“I only want you to be my partner. You can live your human life down on Earth and when you’ll feel like you no longer want to be there, you will come and join me here or in any other world you would like to. I can take you across the whole universe and feed your curiosity forever.”
“Why me?” Tony hummed. “Why am I so special to you? Why not someone from Asgard?”
Baldur sighed.
“I’ve been alive for a long time, Tony. I’m tired of people here. And believe it or not I’ve crossed a universe few times already but there aren’t many creatures like you, brave and bright and… so pretty.”
Tony shivered. His eyes unwillingly returned to the apple and then back to Baldur’s ocean blue eyes.
“No, thank you,” he pronounced slowly. “Now, please, move away from the door.”
Baldur frowned, clearly not expecting this kind of reaction.
“I could give you everything, Tony. Everything you desire,” he repeated like Tony was some particularly slow child not really understanding what was offered to him.
“And I tell you I want Loki. Move.”
Baldur laughed.
“You wouldn’t really consider that useless, broken bastard as a suitor, would you?”
And that was it. Tony lost it.
In a one moment he was demanding to be released from the balcony, and in the other his fist met with Baldur’s face and something in his hand cracked.
Tony knew by now that if he wanted to punch a god it had to be strong enough. Unfortunately, his ceremony suit hasn’t been yet adjusted to real fighting. That resulted into his eyes getting filled with tears of pain as he clutched his hand in the other and cursed loudly. Baldur was on the floor, and that detail alone made any discomfort totally worth it.
It took Tony a moment to realize that Loki’s brother was laughing,
“You know that you could be executed for raising your hand on the royal?” Baldur asked, amused.
“I’ve punched Thor and Loki already and I’m still alive. I think I will survive punching the last of the Odinson brothers too,” Tony huffed breathing through the sudden outburst of pain.
It took another moment after which Baldur was done with laughing and Loki appeared in the doorway glancing at his brother with rage and then hurrying to Tony’s side. One move of his elegant fingers and some green sparks later Tony’s bones popped back to their previous locations. He looked thankfully at his lover, who caressed Tony’s cheek in worry.
“What did you do, Baldur?”
“Why me?” The said god was already on his feet. “Your man punched me in the face, and you ask what I did?”
“Yes,” Loki growled.
Odin and Frigga took a spot behind Baldur, and Thor wasn’t far behind. The two males exchanged a quick glance he and Loki caught but had no idea what it meant.
“I was testing him, what else?” Baldur smiled. “And he passed, be happy, Loki.”
Loki wasn’t happy and neither was Tony or Frigga.
“Don’t be like this, I didn’t mean to anger you. I’m glad that Tony here showed me how wrong I was about him. Tony,” Baldur looked at the mortal smiling softly, “welcome.”
The engineer remained stunned.
“Did you know about this?” he asked Loki, who shook his head.
“I did not.”
“Was Jane tested like this too?” Tony raised his eyebrows. It was hard to imagine Baldur provoking Jane to punch him, but after this little stunt Tony would be hardly surprised.
“She was tested differently, boy,” Odin confirmed. Frigga looked like she didn’t have any idea about that, and that Odin will yet suffer consequences of leaving her out of his schemes.
Tony turned fully to Loki.
“Does that mean that Cap was involved too? He gave an order to assemble and return to Earth.”
Loki’s expression turned sad.
“No, Tony, unfortunately, this part had nothing to do with my father’s plan,” he briefly glanced at Odin. “The threat is real, and you need to hurry, that’s why I came to find you. Your team is waiting with Heimdall.”
Tony nodded, his hands squeezing Loki’s.
“I must go then. Will you walk with me to the bridge?”
“Of course,” Loki confirmed.
Tony was dismissed while Frigga tried to apologize both for his son and husband’s antics. Baldur himself smiled brightly like he was very pleased with the evening and Tony specifically. Tony himself knew one thing. Despite that all ended well, he really needed to be careful with Loki’s brother. Something of him reminded Tony of his Rhodey, but the rest was a big question mark.
“I must apologize again for my family,” Loki started as they stepped on the rainbow bridge.
“Please, don’t… it wasn’t your fault. It was… a mess, but nothing horrible happened.”
Loki nodded and they continued to walk side by side, hand in hand.
“Good evening, Heimdall,” Tony greeted the guardian while spotting his team further away.
“Good evening, Anthony. I heard we will see you more often from now on.”
Tony smiled.
“That’s right. I’ll bring you more of that cheesecake you liked the last time.”
Loki huffed.
“Why did we bother with this introduction when obviously you’re bribing everyone around already?”
Tony shrugged.
“Now we have Papa Odin’s blessing.”
Rolling his eyes Loki smiled softly and kissed first Tony’s forehead and then his lips.
“Safe travel, love. Remember, if you need my help, I’m just a call away.”
“I know,” Tony returned the smile hugging the god tightly. “Don’t cause troubles while I’m gone.”
“Me? Never.”
Tony grinned and sent an air kiss Loki’s way before approaching his team. His heart was swelling with love he had to no longer hide, and it felt intoxicating. With one last glance at the golden city and Loki waving at him Tony knew that he would visit again very soon.
And that this place will one day become his home.
Loki will become his home.