Childbirth
A single scream of pain sounded in Avengers tower just as Tony arrived.
Odd, because it was supposed to be empty. Tony had taken every single precaution known to man so that the building would be absolutely completely safe. Some of the enemies wreaking havoc out there fed on electricity, so he'd turned all of it off. Lights, computers, everything except for the things that kept him safely locked in there, mostly mechanical instruments that had made Avengers tower a bunker.
Because it was not his problem anymore. There was a new generation of Avengers, and it was theor concern. He and Rogers and the others had retired, and he had just come back to New York from Austria with Pepper in case things got too absolutely horrible and he decided to use some drones to help his new Avenger friends. But he wasn't going back in the battle, he was only tech support. He had promised he wouldn't go back.
Some minutes later, there was another scream, more agonised, more desperate. Someone was in a whole world of pain, and the voice sounded familiar. In fact, it sounded like someone Tony cared about. Three floors and there he found him, all sweaty and disheveled, blood under his legs, his face a mask of pain.
“Loki?”
It was indeed Loki, but he was different. Rounder, bigger. In fact, his usually flat stomach had increased about twenty times its size. And Loki was holding it, with a pained expression and... oh gods, was Loki about to give birth? But there was clearly no time for being shell shocked at such developments, Loki was in fairly bad shape and had probably been alone all this time while doubling over in pain.
“Hey buddy, it's me.”
Loki's bright pale eyes focused on him.
“Anthony... sorry about... the mess. Just thought this building... would be a safe place... to....” the words died out in Loki's mouth. He closed his eyes. He was so extremely tired.
“Just so we're clear, what's going on here, is that you're in labour, right? We're expecting a kid to appear shortly.”
Loki nodded with his head, not having the strength to even open his eyes.
“And how shortly?” Tony asked, and tried to think of every medical drama, every health class, every gross webpage and every baby conversation he'd ever heard. “Are the contractions far apart?”
“... yes. I think.”
“You think?”
“I thought I was gaining weight, Stark. I know as much as you about what is happening.”
Shit, he did remember Loki asking Pepper some tips about workouts, because he was feeling kind of swollen. And he remembered making jokes, like haha, god of pies instead of lies. And all that time Loki had been pregnant. It was... odd.
“When did you realise it wasn't that?”
“When it started...kicking.” Wow.
Did labour include the level of pallor and exhaustion Tony could see in Loki? It really looked bad.
“So you don't know if all this blood is normal, right?”
Loki shook his head, breathing loudly. He looked awful.
“You don't need to... stay with me. I now this... is... not a pleasant.... situation.” Loki said. He'd meant to give birth alone – no need to burden anyone else with such a ghastly experience.
“No way, buddy. I'm not leaving until I'm sure that both you and that kid are a-ok.”
He planted a soft kiss in Loki's forehead to prove his point further. After many Avenging shenanigans, some chess and lots of magic-tehcnological experiments, Loki had become one of his closest friends. They really understood each other, in their highs and their lows. There was absolutely no way he'd leave him alone when he was in such a tight spot.
“Let's get you to the infirmary, ok? At least, there's a bed, you'll be way more comfy.”
Tony helped Loki up and realised that apart from being drenched in sweat and blood, Loki was shaking like a leaf. How long had it been before he had arrived? And Loki had been completely alone, going through all those terrible contractions, hearing the fight outside... No. Better distract him from the pain while they got to the medbay.
“So, who's the other dad?”
Just then, another contraction hit Loki, who doubled over, hands clutching his enormous stomach, and let out an ever louder scream. That... looked painful. They waited for a few moments before Loki could walk again.
“I don't... know. If you... remember.... nine months ago.... there were a lot of celebrations....”
It was true. Roughly nine months before they had officially retired, prompting many farewell parties. Loki had slept with just about every Avenger and Guardian willing. Including....
“Shit! It could be mine too! That threeway with Pepper!”
“It could be yours.... but that's just one... possibility.”
They reached the medbay and Loki had another contraction. They were getting closer, but that was a normal thing, right? They were supposed to do that. Still, Loki looked like death (usually so clean and well groomed, not a hair out of its place, and now he was pale and clumsy, he had dark shadows under his eyes and his long black hair was plastered to his head and neck with sweat) and Tony kept trying to distract him from the pain and the blood.
“Think about the combinations. I mean, a kid from the two of us would probably be one of the most intelligent beings in the universe, which sounds awesome, but a kid with your power and Steve's moral compass? That could be the greatest Earth's defender in history.”
But Loki wasn't distracted by Tony's nonsense anymore. There was sadness in his eyes, a kind of quiet desperation beyond the pain.
“Something is wrong, Tony.”
“Hey, hey, none of that, okay? You're fine, your kid will be fine. Give me your hand, ok? And when it hurts, you squeeze it hard. You can do this, Lokes, I know you can.”
Loki's eyes were bright with unshed tears, but he took Tony's hand and nodded.
“Do you... do you want this baby?” It was a legitimate question. Loki had only found out a few months ago, and he could be voluble. But he'd been calmer lately, had found a place with Thor's friends, had found people that cared for him. And now that they were off the fights... it was a good moment.
“....yes.” Loki whispered, despite himself. “But I fear... it will not...want me.”
Tony's heart broke for the millionth time.
“Hush. You're going to be an awesome mum, I'm sure.”
And then there was another contraction and Loki's scream came out almost like a sob and god, why did it hurt so much? Why?
Then there was more blood and Loki's eyes closed, too tired, too... drained. He couldn't keep it up any longer.
“Loki? Hey Loki! Don't you dare pass out! Loki!” Tony frantically tapped Loki's cheeks, but nothing. His head moved from side to side listlessly. No, no, no! This was so bad, so so bad. He needed Loki awake to push, to deliver that baby!
After a couple minutes of full-on panic, Tony decided that he wasn't going to let a half Loki-half other Avenger kid die before it was even born, and much less take one of his closest friends with them. He found some 0 negative and managed to put Loki in it, hoping Asgardian/Jotun blood and human were compatible. Nothing happened.
Well, desperate situations called for desperate measures. He sank an adrenaline syringe in Loki's chest. Loki's eyes opened, and he breathed.
“You're back, buddy. And I got you some blood, so you should be okay. I'm so glad to see you, really.”
Another scream. Loki's face was a mask of pain – now the contractions were all the time.
“You're almost there. Can you open your legs so I can see?”
Loki sank his head on the pillow, took a deep breath and complied.
“Ok, I see it. You push when you feel you need to, ok?”
Loki pushed through the next contraction, his back arching, all of his body working to deliver the child, but nothing was happening. The little energy from the adrenaline was running out, and there were black spots in his vision.
“Loki you're almost there, come on!”
And so Loki weathered the next contractions and pushed, and suddenly his body exploded in white hot pain. He felt the life slide out of him as Tony in the background told him to push one more time.
And suddenly...
Tony held in his hands a perfect baby boy, with snow white skin and wisps of black hair. He cried for a bit and then opened a pair of bright blue eyes (odd, right? He'd heard babies didn't open their eyes until later). In that moment, Tony decided he would protect this kid for the rest of his life.
“Loki!”
Loki's eyes were closed.
“Loki!!!”
Fortunately, the baby's cries woke Loki. Tony breathed relieved.
“Meet your son.”
Loki took the baby in his arms and sighed, content. It had been worth it, all of it.
“Have you thought of names?”
“I wanted to see his face. Now that I have...He will be called Ragnar.”
“Strong name.”
“Ragnar Anthony Lokason.”
“Ah, Lokes, I'm honored.”
“He probably wouldn't have survived without your help. Thank you, Anthony.”
“Yeah, I'll lecture you about that when you're better, I mean giving birth on your own? Stop endangering yourself like that, buddy, my heart can't take it.”
There were smiles. Loki looked at his baby and glad to be alive to meet him.
Celebrations could be heard outside, as the last of the enemies had been defeated.
A new day.
A new life.