Chapter 70

The red head nodded and gripped Tony’s shoulder comfortingly as they went inside.
“It wasn’t your fault.” She didn’t have to ask to know that’s what he was thinking. Tony had a bad habit of thinking he could save the world and that thus it was his job alone. But he couldn’t save everyone. They walked into the medical bay and Steve wasted no time in wrapping his arms around Pepper and holding her close.
As they made their way to the medical bay, Fenrir did all he could not to run and see his papa.
Loki had turned over on his side to be more comfortable. Hearing the sound of feet on the floor, extending an arm he held Fenrir tightly as the boy rushed over to him.
"Shh, shh, shh. It's alright now." Loki started to whisper to the boy in Norse which made Fenrir visibly calm down.
Remus started to fuss again when he realized where he was.
Toki had rushed forward to see how Loki was doing, hugging him and whispering to him.
Remus didn’t want to wait anymore and outright screamed.
Tony handed Remus over to Loki quietly, a little smile on his lips.
“He was quiet until he heard your voice.” The inventor gave a weak chuckle as Remus immediately calmed down and snuggled up to Loki. Pepper giggled a bit at the sight and looked at the god.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“I’d be surprised if he wasn’t. Tony brought him back here and patched him in no time.” Steve smiled at Tony, trying to comfort him if he could at all. Tony looked at Steve and his smile grew bit more, though he still felt drained. It was going to take all the strength he had before he could let Loki fight and not want to just hide him away. He didn’t want the god to be out on any battle fields; Tony wanted him safe and happy. And seeing him get hurt so badly today was just adding to that tension he felt.
Loki smiled as he held Remus against his chest. Kissing the dark head he smiled softly.
"I doubt this would be a good place for him to recover Tony." Pepper pointed out.
Fenrir sat on the end of the bed his head on Loki's calf and Toki had curled up at the god's back with Remus against Loki’s chest.
"You should take them upstairs. Loki will be fine in a few days." Steve assured.
"Thor said Loki's magic would return with sleep once he'd finished healing." Bruce said.
Tony nodded and looked at his husband then went over and unlocked the bed he was on, rolling it into a cleaner area.
“Come on boys, Daddy needs to rest.”
Fenrir and Toki both grumbled but did as they were told and went upstairs. Remus was another issue. As soon as Tony got the boy in his arms he started crying and fussing. This was going to be a long night.
“We’ll let you rest.” Steve looked at Loki then took Pepper and headed off.
“Take care.” Pepper smiled at Loki and waved as she left with Steve, both of them happy to be with each other again.
Bruce watched them go then did a quick check up on Loki before smiling.
“No signs of infection. Hopefully you’ll get better soon; otherwise we’ll have to deal with Tony back at SHIELD.” The doctor chuckled and stuck his hands in his pockets.
“I’m surprised he didn’t say anything to you yet though. He’s probably waiting until you two can be alone for a minute.”
Tony got Toki and Fenrir into bed and got a bottle ready for Remus. The baby was refusing to calm down, though it seemed he was about ready to fall asleep.
Loki couldn't seem to get comfortable in the medical bay. Something told him he should go upstairs. Forcing himself up to a stand Loki slowly made his way into the elevator and up the main floor. He could hear Remus fussing about. Anthony would be mad with him but he could risk it if it meant holding the child he thought he'd never see again.
"Give him to me." Loki plucked the child out of his husband's arms and cradled the child to his chest. "That's enough of that now Remus. I'm here."
“You should be resting.” Tony used every ounce of self-control he had left in him not to toss Loki back into the medical bay. The inventor avoided looking directly into his husband’s eyes, lest he start a fight. That was the last thing he wanted right now. Remus calmed down and nuzzled close to his father’s chest, falling asleep very quickly in the god’s arms.
"Anthony, I need to be sure it wasn't a dream. I think it best if we all sleep tonight. I'll be fine. I am fine." Loki needed the reassurance as well. He wanted to be sure that his baby was safe. That his sons still had both parents and Remus would know what he was when he got older. That he would be able to see him walk and run.
Setting the boy down in his crib Loki stood and watched him for a moment. As he left the room he took Tony's hand in his and pulled him towards their bedroom.
"I know you want me to rest. I know you want me to do it undisturbed. I know you're angry with me and would prefer if I never saw the battle field ever again. But I promised to keep you and the children safe at all costs. I would do it again if that meant the world would be a better place for them and you. If you want to hit me or yell at me, do it now so we can go to bed." Loki told him.
There were so many things going through Tony’s mind, and you could see it in his eyes. His head was a mess of everything that had happened today and in the past and what could happen in the future but he didn’t say a word. He simply pulled Loki close and hugged him tight, squeezing the god against his chest.
“I’ve never felt so scared in my life. I saw all that blood coming out of you and I thought you were going to die in my arms.” Tony’s voice was quiet as he spoke into Loki’s shoulder before looking into his eyes. “I know I pull this stunt on you all the time, but don’t do that to me again please. I can’t…” Tony paused for a moment, swallowing back at the knot in his throat before he continued. “I’m not strong enough to go on without you. So just remember that you’re not fighting alone anymore.” Tony kissed Loki hard enough to bruise their lips, and didn’t pull away until neither could breathe. He wanted to make sure this was real, that his husband was really there with him.
"I'll try to remember that." Loki kissed Tony’s forehead. "Let’s go to bed." Loki slowly changed into pajamas as he got in the bed. Once Tony had gotten into the bed with him he settled for hand holding. He was in too much pain to go get up.
"Will you be able to handle the children tomorrow?" Loki asked knowing his husband would protest him leaving the bed.
“As long as you don’t get out of bed, at all, then yes.” Tony held onto Loki’s hand as if he were afraid the god would just start drifting off somewhere. He stayed up as Loki fell asleep, and try as he might, couldn’t get his eyes to stay shut. He just lay there watching Loki sleep.
The next morning came a lot faster than he thought it would. Tony woke to the sound of Remus crying and heaved himself out of the bed. Toki and Fenrir were already up and busy playing something like tag and tackle in the living room.
“All right boys, listen up!” Tony walked over to the two with Remus in his arms, and even the baby got quiet to listen to him speak. “Papa’s in a lot of pain so we need to behave today, all right? I want you two to watch Remus real quick while I make breakfast.”
“Papa going get better?”
“Yes, but we need to keep our voices down so he can rest, all right?” Tony smiled as both Fenrir and Toki nodded in sync.
Loki turned over in his bed and winced as he shifted. Sitting up he breathed through his nose. Loki looked for his stash of salves but couldn't find them.
Remus gurgled and cooed in his bouncy seat. He was hungry and wanted to see both his fathers.
"Sir Mr. Stark is in pain and can't find his salves." Jarvis informed.
Loki grit his teeth against the pain as he tried to find one of Tony’s standard Midgardian pain relievers.
“Oh shit.” Tony quickly finished with breakfast and served the boys before going down into the medical bay and grabbing the remaining salves. He hadn’t used as much as he thought he would the other day. He quickly took them back upstairs and rushed into the bedroom only to find Loki on his feet.
“I told you not to get out of bed.” Tony went over and got Loki back into bed before handing him the jar of salves.
“Now stay in bed, and if you need anything just tell me.” Tony looked at his husband worried and opened the jar of salves for him. “Do you want anything to eat or drink? The room isn’t too hot is it?” He was starting to go into worried-mother-mode, which was certainly a new thing for Tony.
Back at the table, Toki ate his food happily before looking over at Remus. The baby kicked about and made noises and bubbles out of his spit.
Loki relaxed once the pain started to ebb. Laying back he looked up at his husband the pain still evident in his eyes.
"I'm fine. Go take care of the boys." Loki told him. Looking into the jars he realized he didn't have much salve left and would have to use it wisely if he was going to have any chance of getting through the pain of this one. Loki sighed as he looked at his husband's patch work and smiled fondly.
"He did the best he could; the stitches will fall out on their own." Jarvis informed him.
Tony went back over to the boys, smiling as Fenrir and Toki worked together to try and feed Remus. But the baby kept giggling and splattering his food back at his older brothers.
“I’ll feed him, why don’t you two go wash up?” Tony chuckled as the boys nodded and went to the bathroom. The inventor sat with Remus and fed the baby, but not without getting some food splattered on him as well.
“Remus, the food is for you, not my shirt!” Tony grumbled as Remus got him again before the baby was finally in the mood to eat his food.