Chapter 9
Steve didn't see Tony until it was already pushing noon, he didn't question it as Tony doesn't really venture anywhere if he doesn't have to. What Steve did question was where Loki was. He tracked down Thor and asked where his sibling was. Despite Loki not causing any trouble yet, Steve doesn't fully trust him. I mean, who would? He killed people and tried to take over Earth. Thor said that he didn't know where he was but he did know where Loki slept so they could go check. Thor led the way.
When they arrived at the room they found Loki with his nose deep in a book, a leg carelessly swung over the other.
"Brother, it is near noon. Why are you still reading when you could be elsewhere?"
Without sparing Thor a glance, "Why aren't you reading?"
"I... Okay, you have me there. Just don't get into any trouble. If you would like food come to the kitchen."
Now that Thor mentioned it, Loki is rather famished. He won't give Thor the pleasure of knowing that he just convinced Loki to leave the room, though.
"I'll come down once I finish my book."
"Great!"
As they were leaving the room they literally bumped into Tony.
"Oh, hey guys."
"Hello, Tony." "Hey."
"So..." He went to move around them before a hand was on his shoulder.
Tony looked to see who it belonged to finding it was Steve's.
"Tony, where are you going?"
Tony shot him a confused and annoyed look. "It's my tower, why do you want to know? Why does it matter?"
Steve retracted his arm and held both hands up in surrender. "Hey I was just wondering."
"Well, if you really want to know I'm going to see Loki; to see if he wants some lunch or something."
"We were just in there he's too busy reading."
"Well, I'll see for myself. Bye." He walked in and almost immediately walked out with the room's occupant.
"What are you two still doing standing here?" Tony raised a brow.
Steve and Thor's mouths were dropped open. Tony and Loki didn't bother waiting for an answer.
Steve doesn't know if he should trust Loki but he trusts Tony, even if they don't always see eye-to-eye. And seeing how upset Tony was the previous month had Steve planning a public announcement about equality and rights. He had been researching and reading people's stories, he wouldn't out Tony during it that would be a terrible idea, but he was planning on doing a little coming out of his own.
He set up a camera getting ready to record and post it for all the world to see.
The new friends were eating shawarma that they had gone out and picked up whilst hanging out in Tony's room. At this point they had already exhausted most subjects so they were mainly focused on just eating. But that was when Tony felt a familiar feeling in his gut. He jumped up nearly knocking over a soda in the process. A confused "Hey!" followed him out the room as he ran to his bathroom.
In his haste he didn't bother shutting the door as he pulled down his pants and underwear to reveal what he had hoped it wouldn't be. A babble of no's followed and some tears. It wasn't long before Loki peeked his head in to find his host on the toilet looking absolutely broken. When Loki saw the unmistakable splotch of blood he gasped concerned.
"Stark, are you okay? Where are you hurt? What happened? How can I help? Who should I get? Dr. Banner, Captain Rogers, Thor? The other two?" He couldn't remember their names.
Tony shook his head.
"Do I need to call for healers? I can attempt to heal you myself but my magic only works in limited fields."
"Loki, don't worry about it I'm fine. I just need to get some new clothes and change."
"But you are bleeding!"
"It's... Normal. Have you really never seen this before?"
"Only when it's been a very bad thing and death almost always ensues."
"So females don't get monthly cycles in Asgard?"
"What monthly cycles? What are you on about? You could be dying!"
Tony sighed, "I'm not dying, Loki. Females here get monthly cycles where they bleed from down there. It's normal. Painful and messy, but normal."
Loki was confused. This was the first he'd heard of this. Midgardians really were in worse shape than Asgard.
"Do you wish for me to bring you a change of clothes?"
"No, I got it. I have to pick up something else while I'm at it." Tony realized Loki could still see his bare half. A blush rushed to his cheeks. "Could you turn away please?"
"Oh, right. My bad."
He looked away as Tony got himself dressed and tossed his clothes out.
When Loki heard him stop moving around he glanced over his shoulder to find him sitting down on his bed.
"So I guess I should explain what a monthly cycle is, huh?"
"Only if you want to."
"I might as well. Get over here and sit. I'm about to mentally scar you."