2 Sleepless Jotuns

2. Two Sleepless Jotuns
With Christmas a few days away the boys and even little Remus were excited about it. Remus knew something was up when lights were put up about the tower and his father was wearing a red hat.
"Ta Ba." He would say pointing at Tony.
“You want one too?” Tony grinned and put a smaller pair of the antlers on Remus. The boy squealed excitedly and bounced around, clapping his hands. He ran over to Loki, a big smile on his face.
“Ba! Ba!”
Toki and Fenrir ran into the room, also wearing little antler hats. The bells rang as they ran around the tower.
“Are we having a big Christmas party?” Toki asked Tony, who nodded as he put up more decorations.
“Yep. Everyone’s going to come over and we’re going to get drunk and laugh.”
"You are all still going to bed at nine tonight." Loki told them.
"Awe." The boys whined.
"But we want to have fun and stay up too."
“You guys can’t be up too late, you know that.” Tony looked at the boys then finished putting up the decorations. The boys pouted but didn’t argue anymore. Remus squealed happily; it would be a pain trying to get him to sleep tonight. He had just woken up from a nap and was still energized.
"I regret letting your father give you that cookie." Loki sighed. Loki had wanted to humor the boys that Santa was real and that they would leave cookies out for him.
Tony just grinned at his husband and let the boys set out the plate. Fenrir and Toki each placed cookies on it then set out some milk.
“They’ll grow out of it.” Tony whispered to Loki then smiled at Remus. The baby giggled and bounced about.
"Don't forget carrots for his reindeer." Loki told them. Fenrir nodded going to get them.
"But there are reindeer in Asgard and in Norway." Fenrir stated. "Reindeer taste good."
“Yeah, but we don’t eat these. They’re special reindeer that fly and pull Santa’s sleigh.” Tony spoke, hoping Fenrir wouldn’t stay up and try to eat the non-existent reindeer.
Fenrir’s eyes widened upon hearing this.
“Really? But how do they fly?”
“Umm, magic.”
"Do you think Santa will let me eat one?" He asked.
"No you can't eat them."
"But now I want one." He pouted.
"I promise we'll go to Asgard and you can eat all the reindeer you wish." Loki smiled.
"Yes!"
"Ew." Toki made a face.
"No ew was when you used to eat moldy food." Fenrir replied.
"No fighting or Santa won't come." Loki said.
Toki pouted a bit.
“It didn’t taste that bed back then.”
Fenrir smiled playfully and the boys both giggled and grew quiet.
Tony smiled at the boys.
“Everybody should be coming over in a bit. Fury’s not coming this year though.”
Fury hadn’t been over for the Christmas parties since Loki turned him into a deer.
"Good to know that deer thing stuck with him." He smiled.
"What are you talking about?" Toki asked.
"Many years ago when I was still partially a prisoner your father had a Christmas party and I was there. Fury said some things that made me very angry so I turned him into a deer."
Both boys looked at each other then at Tony as if waiting for approval. The man nodded and both boys started laughing.
“A deer?”
“Yeah.  A big, scary deer.” Tony chuckled, remembering that event.
Toki giggled.
“I wanna see!”
“I think I still have video of it, actually.”
"We do still have the video Sir." Jarvis started the video and Loki couldn't stop smiling. By the end of it the boys were laughing.
Tony laughed also, reliving the memories of that night.
“Good times.”
“He should come over again! It would be funny!”
"He's never going to come back as long as I have my powers." Loki chuckled.
Tony smiled and nodded.
Sometime later, the guests began to arrive for the party. Pepper and Steve arrived first. Natasha and Clint arrived soon after and then Bruce and Lizbeth.
Loki smiled at them. He was finally starting to show that he was actually pregnant. He was even back to his maternity clothes.
Everyone greeted Loki and the boys and soon enough, helped themselves to the snacks. Pepper and Steve sat together, smiling and chatting with each other. They were still giddy about their wedding, planning everything.
Bruce and Lizbeth were making plans too, blushing as they stole a quick kiss under the mistletoe.
“You remember when I tried to kiss you that first Christmas?” Tony grinned at Loki.
"Yes I do." He chuckled. "How did it end again?" He asked.
“I’m pretty sure I got tossed. But hey, you have to admit it was sweet of me.” Tony grinned at his husband and held the god’s hand.
"You kissed me without permission." Loki replied. "Serves you right if you got tossed."
“Whatever, you liked it. I know for a fact you’re the one that kept putting up mistletoe around the tower after that.” Tony grinned. At first he’d thought he was just forgetting to take it all down, but after a few days, he’d asked Jarvis for some video footage. And there he saw Loki, sneaking around and putting up mistletoe.
Loki blushed.
"Shut up." He called at him. Loki set Remus down and let him wander about for a little longer.
"Papa! Dad! Look it's snowing outside."
Tony looked over and stood, going to the window.
“Oh yeah, look at that. They said on the news we’ll be getting five inches.”
“Of snow?” Toki looked up at his father wide-eyed.
Tony smiled and nodded.
“Yes, of snow.” He looked out at the snow then ruffled Toki’s hair before going back to his husband. “It looks pretty nice out there.”
Loki smiled up at the balcony up at the sky. He wondered if Helblindi had anything to do with this.
After the dust had settled from his coup and he'd been beaten and broken he went to Jotunheim to see what was left and if he could fix it. He was surprised when he found that he was forgiven for it. Seems a hot temper ran in the bloodline.
Tony wasn’t sure where his husband had gone, but he could tell it was personal for the god. When Loki kept things secret from him, it was usually for a good reason. He sighed and looked out the window then smiled as Remus went over to him. Seemed the boy wouldn’t be sleeping that night.
Bruce walked over to the inventor.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, I’m good. How are you and Lizbeth?”
"We're great," He smiled at him. "We've been getting things planned out for the wedding. We plan to have it in June." Bruce smiled at Tony. Lizbeth was across the room chatting with Natasha and Pepper about the ideas she had. She would glance at Bruce with a loving smile and blow a kiss.
Loki looked down at Remus and wondered if he should take Remus to Jotunheim with him.
Tony chuckled at the small signs of affection between the two, although mostly, it was Lizbeth. Bruce would just smile sheepishly and his cheeks would get pink.
“Aw, aren’t you two so cute?”
Bruce chuckled and shrugged.
“How’s Loki been?”
“He’s doing a lot better now. He’s been pretty quiet lately though.”
“Has he told you why?”
“No, you know how he is. When it’s personal stuff he doesn’t like to tell me anything.”
"How has he been doing as far as his pregnancy?" He asked. Loki was on the other wise of the room in a chair big belly and all with a glass of cranberry juice.
“Well, no more morning sickness.” Tony made a face of despair. “Now he has late night cravings. Do you know what he asked me for two nights ago? Powdered donuts and hot sauce.”
Bruce cringed and shook his head.
“Why?”
“He said it’s what the baby wants to eat.” Tony shrugged. “Still better than pickles and ice cream.” Tony gagged a bit.
Loki frowned as he found himself stuck in the couch.
"Help me up." He called to Tony.
Clint was on the other side of the room laughing at this.
"Now please I have to use the loo."
Tony chuckled and pulled his husband up. Though his belly wasn’t too large, it was certainly large enough to start getting in the way.
“There, you’re up.” Tony smiled at Loki then looked down as Remus grabbed his leg.
“Ba! Eee!” Remus pointed to the tree happily. He’d been kept away from it ever since it was put up so as to avoid him breaking any ornaments.
Loki smiled as he waddled on away to the bathroom.
"Oh my God he's a duck." Clint laughed. Loki turned around glaring at the other. He snapped his fingers and where the archer once stood a duck was in his place.
The duck quacked loudly, fluttering its wings and began knocking things over. Tony had a good hard laugh before duck-Clint flew at him and began attacking his head.
“Agh! Get away from me!”
Everyone laughed even harder and of course they made sure Jarvis was recording this too. Tony eventually grabbed Clint and held him still.
“Knock it off! Loki, turn him back! He’s shitting on the carpet!”
"Just shove him in the bathroom and let him cool down." Loki said.
"Turn him back Loki." Natasha called.
"Fine." He rolled his eyes. Clint was back to normal a moment later.
Clint scowled and sat with Natasha, his arms crossed.
“And I hope those stains never come out!”
Tony frowned at the man then shook his head and looked away.
“Babe, that was very mean.” He smiled playfully and kissed Loki’s cheek. “But it was funny.”
Natasha shook her head and nudged Clint.
“You know better than to poke at him. You’re lucky he didn’t throw you out a window.”
Clint just looked at her.
"I'll throw myself from the damn window." He said.
"Then why don't you?" Loki asked.
“Girls, don’t fight. You’re both pretty.” Tony rubbed his husband’s back with a little smile. “Come on, it’s Christmas!”
Steve chuckled and nodded and even Clint relaxed a little bit. He and Natasha went for more eggnog and soon got back to laughing.
“There, one big happy family.”
Loki smiled.
“It is alright." He waddled off to the bathroom and Fenrir and Toki kept themselves occupied listening to Thor.
Thor told them stories of old battles he’d fought. Though Fenrir had heard most of them, he was interested nonetheless. They both listened, ignoring everyone else.
Tony watched his husband go then served himself more eggnog. Remus stayed with his father, babbling before trying to grab the cookies the boys had set out for Santa.
“Ah-ah, I don’t think so.” Tony picked the boy up, smiling.
Remus pouted and started to babble. He really wanted a cookie.
"Let him have one of these." Loki said coming over to give him one. Remus' eyes grew wider as he got started on them.
“All right. But when Toki asks who stole one of Santa’s cookies, I’m blaming you.” Tony smiled at his husband then looked at his son. Remus squealed then began chewing on his cookie, soaking it in drool.
"You spoil them Loki." Bruce called at him.
"Actually Tony spoils them more often than not Loki is actually the one that deals out the discipline." Pepper explained.
"One cookie never hurt. I'm sure Santa won't mind if he had one."
Toki walked over and gasped when he saw Remus chewing on a cookie.
“Those are for Santa!”
Tony laughed and patted the boy’s back.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s just one cookie. See, Santa still has a bunch.”
Toki pouted but nodded.
“Fine.”
“Come on, it’s getting close to your bed time.”
Both Fenrir and Toki groaned at this, but it was getting late.
"Want to put them to bed tonight?" He asked. Loki nuzzled Remus as he started to finish the cookie and fall asleep against Tony's chest.
Tony nodded, rocking the boy gently. Toki and Fenrir followed their parents after saying goodnight and got ready for bed.
Tony set Remus in his crib gently and took the nasty cookie mush out of the boy’s hand. He smiled down at his son.
“Merry Christmas.” Tony whispered then turned to check on the other two.
"Will Santa like the cookies?" Toki asked him. Fenrir asked the same question.
“Oh yeah, Santa loves cookies.” Tony smiled as he looked at the boys. He had no idea where that got started, but the boys liked it. Toki smiled at his brother excitedly.
“Go to sleep you two or Santa won’t bring your presents.”
Both Toki and Fenrir squeezed their eyes tight, smiles on their faces. Tony chuckled and went back out to the party with Loki.
Loki smiled at him as he settled back into a conversation with
Natasha. When Tony returned Ted went over to him and smiled.
"So have you and Loki thought of names for this one?"
“We’ve thought of a few. I still like Astrid for a girl.” Tony smiled a bit. “Where’s Meron?”
“She wanted to come but it was late already. I’ll bring her over tomorrow, if that’s all right?”
“Sure, no problem! Did you try the eggnog?”
“You didn’t make it, did you?”
Tony clicked his tongue and smiled sarcastically.
“No, Pepper did.”
“Oh okay. Good.” Ted chuckled then looked at Loki. “How’s the baby?”
Loki nodded.
"Just fine. Has the hiccups though."
"Awe." Ted chuckled. Loki had a plate of food and was about to go off and eat again.
On the other side of the room Clint was about to say something but Natasha elbowed him hard in the ribs.
Clint grunted a bit and frowned but didn’t speak.
“I’m not convincing him to change you back if he turns you into an animal again.”
“Fine, fine.”
Tony smiled at Loki then looked back at Ted.
“How’s the dating front?”
Ted smiled and blushed ever so slightly.
“Well, I’m getting there. I’ve met a few women but nothing serious yet.”
"There's one that I really like though, I was going to ask her out on a second date." He smiled.
"Good luck." Loki smiled at him.
“Hopefully this lasts a good long while.” Tony looked at the man and chuckled when he sipped the eggnog. Ted hadn’t been drinking much since he and his wife had Meron, so the kick was a bit sudden.
“This is strong stuff.”
“Talk to Pep.”
"There's a lighter one in the fridge." Pepper smiled at him.
"Thanks Pepper." Ted went on to get some.
Pepper smiled then looked at Tony.
“You could have told him it was in the fridge.”
“Oh, there was more in the fridge?” He smiled playfully then sipped his own drink. Pepper shook her head and punched Tony’s arm playfully.
Loki shook his head at Tony.
"Only you Anthony." He said.
"But you love him." Bruce chimed in.
"I do love my husband and that's the end of it."
Bruce and Pepper chuckled. Someone had to love Tony, and it seemed Loki was stuck with him. The inventor grinned then kissed his husband’s cheek.
"I love you too Anthony." Loki smiled.
"Hey look you two are under the mistletoe." Natasha pointed out. Loki grabbed Tony and brought their lips together in a heated kiss.
Tony kissed back, holding his husband close. Everyone in the room jeered and giggled at the happy couple.
“I love you too.” Tony smiled at Loki, stroking his cheek gently.
Loki kissed him again.
"Always." He whispered to him in Norse.
Tony’s smile grew and he kissed Loki again.
“Always.” He responded quietly. Everyone smiled and shared little glances before going back to their conversations.
“Steve, Pep, it’s your turn.” Tony turned to his friends and Steve blushed.
"One of these days my dear captain you are going to have to learn not to feel so embarrassed by a little bit of PDA."
Steve blushed even more.
Pepper smiled then looked at Steve and kissed his cheek. The soldier smiled and turned, kissing Pepper back.
“Aw, look how cute they are.” Tony chuckled.
"Many happy returns to you both." Loki said with a smile.
"Merry Christmas everyone it's midnight." Lizbeth smiled giving Bruce a well-earned kiss.
Everyone clapped and cheered a bit, raising their drinks. Nelim hiccupped a bit as she finished her second glass of eggnog.
“This stuff really is delicious.”
“It is, huh? I told you you’d like it.” Natasha smiled at the Skrull then took another sip of her drink.
“Wait till you try my Reindeer Rum.” Tony grinned. It was an old recipe his father had shared with him; one of the few things they did together. It was rum mixed with cinnamon and butter to add flavor.
"That one I actually like." He smiled at him. Loki looked down at his belly.
"Next year you'll be here and I'm going to have some of that rum." He chuckled.
Tony smiled proudly. Nelim looked over and chuckled.
“Reindeer Rum?”
“Trust me, you’ll love it.” Tony grinned.
Nelim looked at Natasha and the redhead gave a nod. Even she had to admit it was good.
“Did I tell you the time I got Bruce so drunk he turned into the Hulk?”
“Oh God. Tony, don’t tell that one!”
Lizbeth started laughing.
"Tell me, tell me, tell me." she said eagerly. Loki laughed as well.
"Tell us the story." He smiled.
Bruce frowned playfully at Tony but the inventor just grinned.
“It was a couple years ago on New Year’s. I made some of the Reindeer Rum and Bruce had never tried it. So I gave him some and he liked it. Well, got to drinking too much and eventually he got pretty wasted. And then for some reason, he just turned into the Hulk in my living room.”
Everyone laughed and Bruce hid his face in Lizbeth’s shoulder.
“What happened?”
“Surprisingly enough, he wasn’t mad. Hulk was drunk too.”
Loki gave Bruce a good pat on the shoulder.
"Oh come on it's not that bad." He said.
"He still tells stories about me too. Learn to laugh at yourself." He chuckled.
“Wait, he got you drunk on the stuff?” Bruce looked at Loki intrigued. Tony grinned and glanced at his husband.
“His first time trying it.”
“I wanna hear this.” Natasha leaned close to the edge of the seat.
"Well I'd also had Asgardian mead that day as well the rum was what over filled the cup." Loki explained to him.
Tony chuckled and nodded.
“He’d stopped by Asgard for something earlier while I was making the rum.”
“What did he do?”
Tony’s grin widened and he looked at his husband.
“He was actually pretty funny. He put on his helmet and he stood on the couch, talking about how people would kneel and then he tried to swing his scepter and he fell off.”
"Holy hell Loki was being funny?" Clint laughed.
"No this is me being funny." Loki threw a spell his way turning him into a penguin. Natasha started cracking up at this and made kissy faces at the bird.
The penguin squawked loudly, flapping its short wings and waddling about. Tony shook his head.
“We warned you.”
Clint-penguin squawked again, charging at Tony. The inventor fast walked away, easily avoiding Clint and laughing hard. Natasha picked up the penguin.
“I told you not to say anything.”
"That cannot be healthy." Lizbeth replied.
"Well now he lives up to his title flightless bird." Loki laughed.
"Why are you so mean?" Steve asked.
"Why is he so stupid?"
“Both of those are great questions but right now, let’s enjoy the party.”
“You will turn him back before we leave, right?” Natasha looked at Loki with a little smile. As funny as this was, she was still sharing an apartment with the man.
"No, I think I'll leave him like that until New Year’s." He smiled.
"Loki, please turn him back." She said.
“Come on Babe. At least when the party’s over.” Tony put an arm around Loki’s waist, smiling.
Natasha chuckled, holding the penguin still.
“He’s annoying as it is. As a penguin it’ll just be worse.”
"Fine." He said. "But I suggest he learns who he is dealing with and when to keep his beak shut." Loki chuckled.
"Just change him please."
Loki snapped his fingers and Clint was once against to himself.
“Are you going to behave now?” Natasha looked at her friend and Clint crossed his arms, frowning like an angry child.
Tony chuckled and kissed his husband’s cheek. It was always so sexy when he did stuff like that.
“I think we’re gonna call it a night.” Pepper stifled a yawn and stood. “It was fun being here with all of you.” She smiled and she and Steve said goodbye before leaving for the night.
"Good night everyone." Loki smiled as they all left. Once everyone was gone Loki saw Tony let go of a yawn.
"Go on to bed." He said. Loki wasn't tired oddly enough.
“You’re not coming?” Tony looked at his husband and noticed the oddly refreshed gleam in his eyes. He heard Remus babbling in his room and went over.
“You’re awake too?”
Remus giggled and hid his face in his hands.
"I’m not tired and it seems Remus isn't either." Loki chuckled. "I'll handle him you go on to bed. Good night." He smiled at him.
“Good night Babe. I love you.” Tony kissed Loki then went to bed. Eggnog always made him so sleepy.
Remus giggled at his father and pulled his small blanket over his head, hiding from Loki.
Loki picked him up blanket and all.
"Yeah." he smiled at him. "Are you excited for today?" Loki asked. "All the gifts you'll get." He smiled nuzzling him.
Remus giggled and hugged his father then began to babble happily.
“Ba, tee?” He pointed to the tree, fascinated by the lights and spheres.
"Yes it's a very pretty tree and we have to put the gifts under it." He said.
“Ba!” Remus giggled and clapped his hands, wiggling his little feet. He babbled on some more, pointing at some of the ornaments as if asking his father what they were.
“Ba?”
Though Loki knew Remus wouldn't understand completely he explained it anyway.
Remus blinked as he listened then reached for the ornaments. They were so pretty and sparkly; they caught his attention.
"No, no. You can't touch them little one." He kissed Remus' forehead and went back to the couch.
Remus babbled disappointed but stared at the tree in wonder. He started chattering again, waving his arms and talking about nonsense.
"Merry Christmas my little one." Loki smiled giving Remus a kiss. Once the gifts were under the tree Loki picked up Remus and started to lull him off to sleep with a lullaby.
Remus smiled when he heard the lullaby and he started sucking on his thumb. He nuzzled his head against his father’s chest, sighing.
Getting comfortable Loki watched the snow fall outside as he held Remus. When they finally feel asleep it was well into the dawn.
Remus was asleep on his father’s chest, his cheek pressed against Loki’s collar bone.
Tony woke soon after and stretched then looked around, surprised not to see his husband there. He walked out of the room and smiled when he saw Loki and Remus asleep in the living room.
"Sir I would let them sleep a bit more; they did not go to sleep until only two hours before." Jarvis explained.
Tony nodded and crept quietly into the kitchen to get breakfast started. The boys were quiet that morning so their father could sleep.
Remus started to come around when he heard something going about in the kitchen and Loki started to wake up when he felt Remus start to fuss.
Tony flinched when he saw Loki start to move. Had they been too loud? He went over and whispered to his husband.
“Why don’t you go sleep in the bed?”
Loki grumbled but didn't get up from his position. He was comfortable for once and Remus was starting to settle down one more.
Tony smiled and went to get a blanket for the two of them. He set the blanket over Loki and Remus then had Jarvis adjust the temperature for them. He finished getting the boys ready that morning and told them they’d have to wait to open presents.
Finally Loki and Remus woke up for the day and they were up and about.
Tony smiled when he saw his husband and son awake.
“You two ready for gifts?”
Toki and Fenrir were waiting by the tree anxiously.
"Yes, yes." Loki yawned.
"Papa you and Remus are turning blue." Fenrir pointed out.
"Yup we were blue last night. Two sleepless Jotun's.” Loki chuckled.
Tony smiled at his husband then kissed his cheek, getting a little frost on his lips.
“Well, go ahead and tear in guys.”
Toki and Fenrir reached for their gifts and ripped them open.
Loki picked up a gift and brought it over for Remus to open. "Come on open your gift."
Remus squealed and began ripping away at the paper, less interested in the gift and more bent on making a mess.
“Remus, I think you’re missing the concept here.” Tony looked at his youngest then reached for a gift and handed it to Loki. “Here. Hope you like it.” Tony smiled.
Loki chuckled as he watched Remus rip open his gift.  He smiled at Tony as he was handed a gift. "Thank you, you didn't have to get me a gift." He kissed Tony's cheek.
“You know me, generous, kind, supportive.” Tony smiled playfully and opened up Remus’s gift for him. “Here, play with the toy, not the paper.”
Remus squealed happily and began throwing his new toy around.
Loki chuckled. "What did you give me Beloved?" He asked.
“You’ll see. I hope you like it.” Tony had gone through a lot to get this, though it wasn’t really that amazing. During the first few months Loki had been staying with him, Tony had become worried Fury would try and force Loki back with SHIELD. As a precaution of sorts, Tony made a panic bracelet for the god. It was thin and made of gold, and had a series of buttons that would allow them to communicate if Loki was ever in trouble.
Loki leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Anthony." He smiled at him. He nuzzled him a bit before putting it on. He had put it on his other wrist since he had the one Pepper gave him for his birthday on still.
Tony smiled and held Loki’s hands in his.
“I found it when I was going through some old stuff. I almost forgot I’d made it.”
Toki and Fenrir were busy playing with their toys and Remus was ripping up the rest of the wrapping paper on the ground.
"You could have ended up dead all the buttons you were pushing." He said.
Loki had nearly killed Tony a number of times but he saved him more often than not.
“It was worth it.” Tony smiled. “I’d do it again. I actually do push your buttons all the time even now.” Tony shrugged.
"Yeah but it took you forever to find out which one you could and couldn’t poke."
“Hey, I had to find out somehow, right? I mean, you don’t come with instructions.” Tony chuckled. “Besides, I think you did a pretty good job with me too.”
"Nor did you and it wasn't easy trying to reprogram you."
Tony chuckled and nodded. “I think we did pretty good.”
“Ba!” Remus went over to his fathers and showed them his new toy, already covered in drool.
"I'm glad you enjoy it." Loki smiled. Remus had a few other gifts tot open from the other avengers and his grandparents but what would be the point in it right now?
Remus continued babbling then ran off to the other side of the tree, giggling. He threw his toy around some more then began tearing open the rest of the boxes.
“Hey, those aren’t for you!” Tony went over to grab the boy but Remus took off running again. He laughed and hid behind Loki’s legs.