One Day Down, Chapter 151

"I was even told that Loki used to be very angry with you and with others. That even without his magic he is incredibly strong and could hold you out over the roof if he so pleased." Nelim brought it up.
Tony nodded, though a shiver went down his spine at that thought.
“Yeah, he’s done that to me tons of times without magic. See, the magic wasn’t the only thing that made him scary. Everyone thought that because he’s so thin that he wasn’t strong. Never making that mistake again.”
Nelim giggled.
“What happened?”
“I think it was one of the times I pinched his ass and called him sexy.” Tony tried to think back on one of the times he was dangled off the roof. It was usually for his vulgar jokes, but sometimes it was the only way Tony could get the god to talk to him.
“He’s always been really shut in about his feelings. He’s loosened up a bit now, but back then it was bad.”
"What about the others?" She asked how did they react?"
Loki shifted a bit in his sleep making himself comfortable. Little be known to him his mother was having a dream about fish.
“They were surprised. After that, they stopped picking on him so much. Except Clint. He stayed angry with Loki the longest, so we tied for getting thrown out the window.”
“Did you defend Loki?”
“I did. Everybody thought I was crazy and they actually stopped talking to me for a while. But I couldn’t let them keep treating him like an animal. Not after what he went through.”
"With who?" Nelim asked. "With Fury or the Chitauri?" Nelim questioned. It was no wonder Loki was so guarded around new people and why he kept his Jotun form hidden.
“Both. And then his time in Asgard wasn’t exactly all roses either. I just thought he deserved a second chance already.” Tony ran his fingers through his hair. Loki had been so pale and gaunt back then. He hardly ate and rarely ever spoke.
“He used to just sit by the window and stare out at the world. He perked up a bit when I started buying him books. But he didn’t actually trust me until after we started dating.”
"So you saved him from himself." She clarified. "What is the attraction? What draws you too him?"
Tony thought for a moment, trying to put the words together carefully.
“I know what it feels like, I guess. You put your best foot forward, and you always give your best effort for the things you do. But the people that are supposed to care the most don’t notice you. Nothing you do is good enough. And then when you call the world out, you become the bad guy.” Tony looked at Nelim then away. “I know what it’s like to hit the bottom and think that’s where you deserve to be. I didn’t want to see Loki like that.”
Nelim nodded and looked at her hands.
“That is why you trusted me too?”
“Yeah. When you get so close to death, you realize life is too short to distrust everyone around you. And there was something about Loki that just made me feel…whole.”
Nelim listened and nodded. She admired their relationship. That they were always there for each other. She hoped she would be so lucky to find one to spend her life with as well.
“You two are very lucky to have each other.”
“We are. I don’t know anyone else that would want us as broken as we are.” Tony chuckled a bit and finished his drink.
“What drew Loki to you though?”
“I like to think it was my charming good looks.” Tony grinned. “I think he just liked the fact that, for once, someone was willing to accept him the way he was. I didn’t judge him because he was Jotun or because of what he’d done on earth.”
"You forgave his mistakes as he forgave yours." She nodded. "Eight years is something to celebrate. You relationship has been very fruitful." She smiled.
Tony hummed in response, a little smile on his face.
“It is.”
After some time, Tony went to check up on Loki. The god was still asleep, and he seemed to be doing a bit better. Tony went over to Loki and pressed a kiss to the god’s temple.
“I love you.” He whispered then slipped back out of the room.
“How is he?”
“He’s still sleeping, but he looks okay.”
"Nelim smiled. Good. I am glad he is feeling better." She said. "He looked so pale this morning." she noted.
"So what other stories can you tell me?"
Tony thought for a moment. There were so many stories, he couldn’t pick one. Of course, a lot of them ended with him getting thrown out a window or across a room. He smiled suddenly.
“Our second date. I was finally on good speaking terms with everybody again. Guess they figured out that I wasn’t going to leave Loki. So they decided to stay at the tower for Christmas. And of course, I invited Loki.” Tony paused to laugh a bit. “I bought him these felt reindeer horns and a little red nose; I told him it was a custom here to wear them when you’re invited to a party. And he did. I don’t know how he didn’t realize I was lying.”
Nelim laughed a little, imagining Loki wearing such a thing.
“I take it he wasn’t happy with you?”
“No, not at all. And then I caught him under some mistletoe and kissed him. I think the only reason he didn’t kill me was because of the amazing sex we had that night.”
Nelim blushed and looked away, smiling a little.
"Sir what you told him was the truth. People did wear such hats to parties. Those parties just happened to be those involving little kids." Jarvis explained. "The avengers had great fun and Mr. Loki Stark's expense in the beginning." He added.
“Did they bully him?”
“No; I never let them hurt him. But they did have their fun when we started dating. You know, getting him to eat weird food and making him do stuff.” Tony smiled. “Like the time Natasha actually bought Loki a book of swear words and insults and told him that was how people greeted each other.” Tony burst out laughing at the memory.
“He came back home all pissed off because he’d cussed some old woman out and got hit by her umbrella!”
"He also cursed out agent Barton." Jarvis added. Nelim chuckled as Tony told her more stories. She eventually had to make them lunch and even went to check on Loki to see if he needed anything else.
Tony cleaned up after they’d eaten then looked at Nelim as she returned to the kitchen.
“How’s he doing?”
"Sound asleep." She replied. "He's finished off the pot of tea." She said holding it up to him.
“It’s weird for him to get sick like this. I hope it was just the food.” Tony looked towards the bedroom worried. The last time Loki had been this sick was when he was pregnant with Remus, but the god hadn’t said anything about pregnancy. Could he have caught something from the kids? Was it even possible for Asgardians to catch diseases from humans?
Loki came around a bit later feeling much better and well refreshed. He ventured out to the kitchen and smiled at Tony.
"Hello."
“Hey there Beautiful. You look better; there’s more color in your face. How do you feel?” Tony wrapped an arm around Loki’s waist and pulled the god close. He kissed Loki’s cheek softly and smiled.
"Much better. I didn't mean to sleep as long as I did. I guess I'm just still tired from last night." Loki replied.
"Well we're glad you're feeling better." Nelim smiled.
“Hey, as long as you’re feeling better now. Oh, I think we still have some tea. Do you want a cup?”
“Sir, it’s about time to pick the boys up from school. Ms. Potts is also on her way with young Remus.” Jarvis spoke up suddenly. Tony looked up then nodded.
“Gotta get the boys.” He sighed a bit; he wanted to be with Loki.
"We'll both go get them." Loki replied.
"Are you sure that is wise?" Nelim asked. "You've only just woken up perhaps you should take it easy."
“Yeah, are you sure you’re feeling up to it?” Tony knew Loki hated it when people fussed over him, but the god didn’t get sick very often. It worried Tony when Loki wasn’t well.
"You're right." Loki sighed. "I'll stay here." He smiled. "Go bring our boys home."
Tony nodded then kissed Loki softly on the lips before pulling on his shoes. He got into his car and went to get the boys only to be stopped by their teacher.
“Hello, are you the boys’ father?”
“Uhh, yeah.”
The woman smiled and handed Tony an invitation.
“We’re having a little party here at the school so all the parents and teachers can get to know each other better. If you’re interested, here’s all the information.”
Tony looked at the invitation but didn’t take it. He wiggled his fingers and opened and closed his mouth.
“I don’t…” Before he could finish, Toki took the invitation and looked at his teacher.
“He doesn’t like it when people had him things.”
“Okay! Time to go.” Tony quickly took the boys and left before the teacher could comment.
The teacher watched them go and cocked her head to the side.
"I see where they get it from." She stated before going to speak with another parent.
Loki was at home waiting for the boys when they finally made it.
Tony was looking the invitation over curiously as he walked into the tower.
“What do you think?” He handed it to Loki. “It’s a get-together for all the parents to meet the teachers.”
“You should go Papa! They’re going to have snacks, and Mr. Fuller is really funny!” Toki grinned excitedly as the idea. Fenrir nodded and hugged Loki.
“Will you go? Please? Ms. Lopez really wants to meet you two!”
“That would be fun, wouldn’t it?” Nelim walked over and smiled. “Getting to know the boys’ teachers.”
“I guess it would be okay.” Tony said, though he wasn’t exactly one to go to schools like this without being asked for a donation. Not that he would mind; a few hundred thousand wasn’t that much.
Loki looked back at Tony and shrugged.
"I guess we could go. See who some of the parents are to the boys friends." Loki said.
"Really?" Fenrir asked perking up.
"Yes. We'll go." Loki smiled at them. The boys jumped up and high fived each other.
Tony smiled at the boys then set the invitation on the counter.
“All right, both of you go do your homework.”
The boys nodded then ran off, clearly happy about the news. Nelim chuckled as she watched them go.
“Will you be taking Remus with you?”
“I don’t know, maybe? He behaves pretty well in public.” Tony shrugged. Other than the baby’s obvious flirtation, Remus did behave surprisingly well. He didn’t throw tantrums very often.
Loki smiled at him.
"Looks like we're going." He said. They could take Remus with them that way Nelim would only have two crazy children to deal with.
"Papa, are you feeling better now?" Toki asked.
"Yes I'm feeling better. I simply had an upset stomach." Loki explained.
Toki smiled and hugged Loki, pressing his face into the god’s stomach.
“Good! Oh, I made you something in school!” Toki ran off suddenly then returned with a drawing of what looked like a reindeer wearing Loki’s old helm.
“Daddy said that you like reindeer a lot!” Toki grinned proudly and Tony quickly scooted out of arm’s reach of the god. Tony didn’t think Toki would remember the little he’d made about Loki’s helm looking like reindeer horns.
Loki glared darkly at his husband.
"Anthony." He narrowed his eyes. Nelim started laughing as she went about help Fenrir with a question on his homework.
Tony paled in the face and moved to the other side of the couch.
“Wait, I can explain! He saw your helmet in the closet and asked me what it was! I swear, I thought he’d forget that I even mentioned the reindeer thing!”
Toki looked at his parents curiously then pouted at his father.
“Daddy, what did you do this time?”
Tony huffed as he looked at Toki.
“Why is this automatically my fault?”
"Because it's always your fault." Loki said. Loki took off his slipper and threw it at his husband's head meeting the mark. Fenrir couldn’t help laughing at the reaction from Tony.
Tony yelped as he got hit by the slipper and frowned at his husband, rubbing the side of his head.
“It’s not like I did it on purpose!”
Toki just grinned then went to his room to do his homework.
Pepper arrived shortly after with Remus.
“How was he today?” Tony asked as he took the boy.
“He was good, as always.” Pepper smiled and tickled Remus’s chin.
Loki smiled at his current youngest and took him into his arms.
"Hello Pepper. Hello my little one." Loki smiled nuzzling his baby.
Pepper smiled.
“Hey Loki. Are you feeling better now? Tony told me you got sick this morning.” Pepper looked at the god slightly worried. She certainly hoped it hadn’t been from the party last night. Nelim walked over, nodding her head as she greeted Pepper.
“Hello Pepper.”
Hi Nelim. Oh, we’re going dress shopping this weekend.”
Nelim smiled and nodded happily.
“Very well then!”
"I'm fine now." Loki smiled. "Thank you for asking. Something I ate last night just didn’t agree with me last night."
"I'm sorry to hear that." She said.
"Quite alright." Loki waved it off.
“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better.” Pepper smiled at Loki then left. Remus was suckling on his fingers then grinned when he looked at his fathers.
“Uh-oh, I know that look. What did you do?” Tony looked at his son skeptically. He had an oddly cheeky gleam in his eyes; the same look Tony often got when he’d gotten away with something.
Remus started to clap his hands and Loki handed him over to Tony.
"You can change him this time." Loki replied.
Tony groaned but took his son anyway. This was the worst torture he’d ever endured. He took Remus to his room and set the boy on the changing table.
“You’d better not start wiggling around either!”
Remus just giggled, looking up at his father with big, innocent eyes.
Loki got the boys a snack and made them get started on their homework. He and Pepper talked for a few minutes before she left for the night.
Tony had finished changing Remus, but not without a struggle. He eventually got the boy into his pajamas and was in the bedroom telling him a story. Lately, it was the only way Remus would fall asleep.
“And then a big, scary worm burst out of the ground and threw itself at your daddy.”
The baby stared up at Tony wide eyed.
Loki chuckled as Jarvis showed him the video feed of Tony reading to their youngest.
"Papa, when are you and Dad going to have another baby?" Fenrir asked, as he climbed into bed.
"We're working on it."
“Is it going to be another boy? Or a girl?” Toki chimed in as he curled up on the bed with Loki and Fenrir.
Tony kept telling the story and eventually, Remus dozed off. Tony looked down at his son, touching his forehead gently before he left the room. He walked into his bedroom and smiled when he saw Loki and the boys.
“Are you guys taking my spot on the bed?”
"No." Toki answered. "We wanted to know if the next baby was going to be a boy or a girl." Fenrir replied.
"I explained to them that I do not know and that it will simply have to be a surprise."
Tony smiled as he went over and sat on the bed.
“We’re not having another baby just yet boys. Your papa still has to get pregnant.”
Toki pouted a bit.
“Can it be a boy?”
“We can’t pick if it’s a boy or a girl Toki.”
“Then can I pick the name?”
Loki arched a brow.
"If it were a boy what would you name it?" He asked. They all looked at Toki waiting for an answer.
Toki paused for a moment, thinking this over before answering.
“I like Herbert.”
“We’re not naming anyone Herbert.” Tony immediately responded; it was such a strange name! Toki pouted at his father.
“How come? You named me Toki! Papa said you just named me that because you were being funny!”
“What? No! I named you that because it’s a mix of my name and your Papa’s name.”
"Herbert is a terrible name. The poor boy will be made fun of without mercy." Loki stated.
"Even I don’t like that name." Fenrir said.
Toki huffed and crossed his arms. It was scary how much he looked like Tony. The inventor laughed then pulled Toki into his lap.
“Come on, don’t pout. You can name your pet that.”
“I can have a pet?! Can I have a hamster?” Toki looked at Tony excitedly and Tony immediately regretted having suggested that. He opened his mouth to argue but couldn’t say not to the look on his son’s face.
"No pets." He replied. "Maybe in another year or so we can revisit the subject." Loki explained.  Toki pouted.
"Not fair."
"Life's not fair." Loki replied. "Now off to bed."
The boys nodded then gave their fathers a hug goodnight before going to bed. Tony watched them go then lay on the bed next to Loki.
“How’s your stomach?”
"Much better." Loki smiled. "I swear it had to be what I ate last night." He said.