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It started, Thor believed, one Midgardian month ago. Owing to the Mind Stone’s influence over Loki during the invasion, his sentence for his actions against Midgard was set to nine years service in protecting the realm rather than death. Thor’s brother was to join him and his shield brothers in the realm’s defense, and the elder prince was nothing short of elated.
Until recently, when he began to notice things. Frequent touches and lingering glances, words spoken with double meaning. Thor had lain with many a maiden, as had Lady Sif and his Warriors Three, and so Thor knew the signs well, only he never expected to see them on his brother.
As much as it pained the prince to think of his brother that way, the fact was that Loki was a conquered enemy and Stark and the rest of Thor’s avenging shield brothers the ones whom had vanquished him. Many on Asgard would consider Stark and the rest entitled to take Loki as they wished, yet still, Loki was a prince and Thor’s brother and the Thunderer would not stand by as his brother was hurt in such a way. Really, out of all of his shield brothers, Thor had not expected Stark to be the one to act in this manner. He and Loki had grown close in Loki’s years on Midgard, and Thor had thought they were friends and kindred scholars. Apparently, Thor was wrong.
It was a quiet day in the tower when the he made his move. Loki was conferring with Lady Wanda and Dr. Strange at the sanctum, Lady Natasha, Barton, and Rogers were on a quest, and Banner was attending a conference of scholars. The only ones in the tower were himself and Stark, no one to come to the dishonorable bastard’s aid.
“Lady Friday, please ask Stark to come to my floor, inform him that it is a matter of utmost urgency” he asked the AI somberly. He loathed to turn the unseen servant woman against her employer (creator? Thor was not certain), yet he knew that Stark would not be drawn from his workshop otherwise.
When the man arrived, Thor was waiting. He beckoned Stark from the hallway and into the leisure space, the one where the not-magic picture box was located, closing the door behind Stark and placing himself bodily between Stark and the exit.
“Alright point break, what’s goin’ on here?” Stark asked, as if he was not facing down the brother of the man he had defiled.
“You have hurt my brother. If you do not cease at once, I swear I will kill you. I give you this warning, this chance to cease your dishonorable conduct at once, because I consider you my friend, and because you are a warrior and a hero. However, no deed nor title will save you should you disregard my words, Stark.” Thor put forth a great effort to keep his tone steady. He was a man of his word, after all, and so for now, he resolved not to rage at Stark.
Stark, it seemed, did not comprehend. “What do you mean? I haven’t hurt Loki, honest, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Do you honestly believe what you have done has not hurt him?” the Thunderer growled, and Mjolnir flew unbidden from its place in the corner to its wielder’s grasp.
Stark raised his hands in placation, saying something, no doubt more ignorant drivel. Thor had met men like Stark, men who shrug off taking as a triviality, no different from the other spoils of war. To them, a man’s dignity the same as his gold or weapon. Those men, Thor found, quickly changed their minds when they found themselves on the other side, not that Thor would do that to Stark. Thor had honor, even when Stark had none.
Rather, he would put his former friend down like the dog he had revealed himself to be. It was mercy, Thor thought as he swung Mjolnir.
Loki did not know what was happening. One moment, he was engaged in an animated discussion over the finer points of intertemporal translocation with Stephen, the next he was enveloped in his own magic and transported to the Tower just in time to save Anthony from Thor’s wrath. After a quick glance at Anthony’s terrified form, Loki noticed that the promise band he’d given the mortal had been broken, which he’d instructed his partner only to do so in emergencies. That explained the impromptu sky walking at least, and Loki felt vindicated that his precaution had proved necessary, though at the moment he was too furious with his brother to even think of telling Anthony ‘I told you so’.
“Brother!” The younger prince shouted, “What in the Nine is the meaning of this?!”
Thor’s expression of rage softened minutely, “Brother, it is alright, you needn’t defend this dishonorable quim. I will not allow him to harm you any longer.”
Loki gave his brother a look which told the elder prince that he was being a complete moron, a look which had practically become etched into the younger prince’s face since early childhood.
“Clearly, Anthony is in fact in dire need of defense,” Loki scoffed, “Put that Norns forsaken hammer down and see that he is no threat. Whatever dishonor he has done you is most likely a misunderstanding of some sort.”
“A misunderstanding?” the elder brother questioned, stepping in closer and lowering his voice to a soft whisper “He has been taking you, do not think I have not noticed. I can make it stop, brother, you need not suffer any longer.”
Owing to the mage’s pale complexion, Loki’s flush was quite pronounced. He brought his fingers to the bridge of his nose, taking a moment to gather his words.
“Thor, you know of my… proclivities , yes?” Loki began, voice just as low, and his brother nodded, “And so when you became aware of my… association with Anthony, your first instinct was not to, I do not know, speak with me about it , but instead to attempt to kill your shield brother? Am I correct?” the younger prince accused.
“I… well, I just-“ Thor stuttered out, but Loki was having none of it.
“Honestly,” the mage continued, laughing slightly, though without mirth “did you truly believe that a mortal was capable of forcing me into his bed? You are more foolish than I ever thought possible.”
“Regardless, you may rest assured that everything I do, I do of my own volition,” the god hissed, “as the mortals say, back the Hel off!”
And with that, Loki spun on his heel, taking a bewildered Anthony by the hand and skywalking away.
When Tony and Loki arrived in Tony’s bedroom, the god flopped down on Tony’s- really both of their- bed, but Tony just had to know, “What’s going on Lokes? Why does Thor think I hurt you?”
Tony’s partner looked away, blush still painting his cheeks an adorable shade of rosy pink, “Somehow, Thor has become aware of our relationship. You must understand, relations between men on Asgard are more often than not of a… we will say, less than consensual nature. He thought he was protecting me, when if he’d only taken the time to exchange a few words with me this entire debacle could have been avoided.”
Well, Tony wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but it sure as hell wasn’t that. He took a seat next to his parter on the bed, who rose to meet him.
“He thought I was, what, raping you ?” Tony asked with incredulity.
“Precisely,” Loki sighed, “You are a member of the force which defeated me in battle. On Asgard, it would be considered your right to have me, regardless of my opinion on the matter.”
Loki smiled, finally meeting Tony’s gaze, the inventor’s eyes having gone wide in utter astonishment and disgust.
“I am quite fortunate that you are much kinder than most Aesir,” Loki whispered, leaning in and taking Tony’s cheek in his hand, “and much more beautiful” he murmured, and if that silky smooth voice didn’t make Tony want to lean up and kiss the everloving daylights out of the god…
Still, as clear signals as Loki was sending, Tony knew the god well enough by now to know Loki was only distracting Tony. Besides, the thought of, well, all of it was disgusting enough to kill any arousal he might have been developing. Part of Tony was offended that Thor would think so low of him, the other part was glad that at least the thunder god was looking out for his brother.
Tony placed his hand on Loki’s chest and gently pushed the other man away. Loki, not used to having his advances rejected by Tony, got this look on his face like a confused puppy.
“Not right now Lokes,” Tony muttered.
Loki nodded, leaning on Tony’s shoulder instead, eventually migrating to his lap. Tony ran his fingers through the god’s inky hair, this comfortable position having become familiar over the course of their whirlwind romance. As fearsome as Loki was- which was very- he was also quite sweet when not actively trying to murder Tony and his friends.
That was the crux of it, wasn’t it? Loki of Asgard: equal parts bloodthirsty chaos god and affectionate cat. If that wasn’t Tony’s dream come true, he didn’t know what was.