Chapter Text
"Okay." Tony takes a deep breath. "You ready?"
Loki raises an eyebrow and offers him his arm. "As ready as I'll be."
"Well, that makes two of us." Taking Loki's arm, Tony reaches up for a brief kiss before stepping to Loki's side. Loki waits courteously until Tony is ready before teleporting them to the front entrance of the SGC branch in New York, the one Tony picked for their testing because he's the most familiar with the staff there and has made the overall best experience with them. Yesterday he and Loki did their blood tests, sent the pertinent results over and were cleared, so now only the testing remains.
It's just before six in the morning so neither the streets nor the Center are particularly busy, but there are still some people about. They both take a moment to adjust to that – strictly speaking it's the first time they've been in public since they met, but they did move to Tony's Manhattan apartment two days ago to test how they were dealing without miles of unpopulated space around them. It had gone well, no problem at all – though Loki had needed some time to adjust to all the noise – but that was still vastly different to this, being properly in public.
There's no problem, though; Tony tightens their shields around them, feels Loki's senses settle, and then they're ready to go.
Of course people recognize them immediately. Tony is a pretty distinct figure and his face is seen often in all sorts of media, but nobody behaves inappropriately; they get looked but not stared at, nothing more, and there aren't many people about anyway. It's a pleasant side-effect of their appointment being set so early.
They walk up to the reception where Tony registers them with just his ID, Loki not having one yet. That's something they'll probably also take care of today; Loki will at least need a Sentinel ID. The receptionist smiles at them politely and professionally, logs them in and directs them to take a seat in a cornered off seating area. "On behalf of the SGC I must apologize if you have to wait a little, we have had an emergency earlier today and due to the reduced number of staff during night hours, we're a little overloaded right now. Dr. Marco, your usual doctor, Guide Stark, as per your request will be ready for the preliminary talk within the next thirty minutes, though. In the meantime, can I bring you anything? Some snacks, coffee, tea, anything else to drink?"
"Coffee would be awesome, thanks," Tony replies, sending a questioning look towards Loki who just nods. As directed they then go sit on one of the admittedly comfortable sofas, not quite pressed against each other but close.
So. Tony doesn't think the receptionist was dishonest, but he does believe that the Center is taking the opportunity to show them off a little by having them sit in the waiting area instead of a private waiting room. He's more amused than anything by it and doesn't care to make a fuss about it. Next to him, Loki looks regal as anything, all haughty prince, entirely unimpressed with anything and honestly? It sort of makes Tony want to get on his knees and make him lose his composure. Having done that more that more than once in the past week, he knows exactly what Loki looks like all flushed, sweaty and demanding, but remembering that right now isn't conductive to anything so he takes a breath and thinks about the upcoming tests instead.
And they wait. And wait. After ten minutes the receptionist still hasn't returned. A couple of people, mostly Guides, who entered the Center are waiting at the reception with confused frowns and Tony really wants his coffee, thank you very much. He does know for a fact that in the staff break room on the ground level there is a coffee machine, so he eventually decides to just go get the coffee himself and let the next SGC representative’s flustered apologies amuse him later when they realize their colleague's lapse.
"I'll go get some coffee," he tells Loki, patting him on the knee, and gets up to do just that when Loki shows no opposition to the statement.
Tony makes it about halfway across the room when there is some commotion in one of the hallways opening into the reception area – a rather big hall made of white walls and steel doors – and a disheveled figure bursts out. The guy – clearly a Sentinel, Tony can tell immediately, and just as obvious is the fact that he's disturbed somehow, that there's something off about him – spots Tony and immediately changes his course, striding towards him.
Pausing, Tony puts his hands in his pocket and raises an eyebrow as the guy comes closer.
"Sweet little Guide," the Sentinel grins in a way that's more a baring of the teeth than anything. "Your Sentinel is not doing a good job at protecting you, is he?"
And he reaches out to touch Tony. With perfect calm – his heart doesn't even skip a beat – Tony watches his hand come close until it suddenly freezes in mid-air. The Sentinel frowns and tries to move it but it's suspended, kept still and in place by an invisible force and he gets more and more agitated trying to get it free.
"I don't know," Tony drawls lazily. "Looks to me like he's doing a brilliant job."
The Sentinel looks up at him and, realization dawning, then turns to look at where Loki sits, perfectly calm with his legs crossed and hands folded in his lap, halfway across the room but with his full attention on Tony and the Sentinel. His expression is deceptively placid.
A couple of people have already been watching the not-quite-confrontation between Tony and the Sentinel, but now the silence spreads until the three of them are basically the center of attention in a very drawn-out triangle.
"I would not recommend," Loki speaks up, not raising his voice at all; the only reason Tony can understand him is because of the silence in the room, barring the Sentinel's cursing who is still trying to tug his hand free. Tone deceptively silky, almost sweet, Loki finishes, "doing that again." Then he smiles and crushes the Sentinel's hand without even moving a muscle. He literally crushes it, Tony sees it crumble out of the corner of his eyes before the Sentinel shrieks and pulls his hand into his body, suddenly having no problem at all moving it, and curls protectively around it, Tony – the Guide, rather, for that's all Tony is to him – completely forgotten.
Loki says something else but Tony can't understand him over the Sentinel's screeching, and then a couple of people from the SGC are there to collect the Sentinel. "Everything okay with you?" one of them asks Tony, looking genuinely concerned which is sweet, because wow, did her people screw up just now. Even sweeter is that Tony isn't sure whether she's just concerned about him or about what Loki will do if Tony is not okay.
"Yeah, yeah," Tony waves her off lazily. "Seriously though, why is he running around without an escort?" That the Sentinel is unbalanced is pretty much plain to see. If Tony had been in Loki's place he might have been a little kinder, at least not crushed the guy's hand, but Loki isn't particularly kind to other people and really, Tony doesn't care. In fact, it's sort of, well, hot. Because Tony had noticed how people had noticed how long a (less figurative than Tony would like) leash Loki was giving him despite the fact that they've been bonded for less than a month, and he had known what they were thinking – that their bond wasn't as deep, that Loki didn't really care about Tony, poor Stark, unbonded for so long and now mated with some guy from outer space who treats him like dirt – and, despite all efforts at uncaring, it had bothered him. And of course Loki had noticed Tony noticing, and here they have a nice, very public demonstration of one, just how possessive and protective Loki is, which, ridiculous or not, among Guides raises their status to some degree, and two, just what Loki is capable of really. People will still underestimate him until there have been a couple more demonstrations like this, but this was a very good start, if you ask Tony. It's no doubt already making the rounds and everybody who was here will spread the story of how severely Loki punished some Sentinel who was trying to touch his Guide. Tony really does like that, even if it's silly and petty.
The employee who's been tasked with placating him if necessary is making some excuses about how the Sentinel got away from them, an accident, never going to happen again, sincerest apologies, and Tony waves her off. "I wasn't worried."
Every Sentinel in the room knows the truth of it; Tony's heartbeat might have elevated a little when the Sentinel approached him, but it was nowhere near as fast as it would have been had he been scared.
Another member of the clean-up crew has approached Loki and appears to be asking him the same questions as they did Tony – it's too loud now for Tony to have any hope of understanding the words being spoken at the other side of the room. The guy looks nervous even though Loki appears perfectly calm and relaxed, if focused solely on Tony. Good instincts; the next person to try to touch his Guide won't come out of it with just all the bones in their hand crushed.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" The employee who spoke to him asks, eyes wide and a little pleading like she's hoping he'll say yes and let her do it, so he'll go back to his Sentinel and everybody can breathe a little easier.
"Well," Tony starts. "We've been promised coffee but it's been over fifteen minutes by now. I was trying to get some myself. What is it with this evaluation being scheduled so early?" Six in the fucking morning; without Loki's teleportation Tony would've had to get up even earlier, so early in fact he just might have not bothered going to sleep at all. But that wouldn't have been good either, he's supposed to have his normal baseline during the evaluation and sleep-deprivation isn't that common for him, especially not since Loki came in his life. He's never slept so much as he has in the month since they bonded.
"Oh! Of course," the employee says, "I will take care of this right away, and I will find out who has been slacking."
And probably reprimand them, Tony hears her unspoken words. It sounds harsh but everyone knows how important it is to keep newly bonded pairs content and comfortable, especially the first time they're in public since bonding, which generally is for the evaluation. Also unspoken is her less than subtle herding him back to his Sentinel.
"You do that," Tony drawls and returns to Loki.
"Again, we are very sorry," the employee is saying nervously when Tony gets into hearing range. Throughout their whole conversation Loki has barely said a word, though now he's staring unblinkingly at the employee. The guy looks like he's a moment away from a nervous breakdown.
"Hey darling, coffee's on the way," Tony says.
"I know," Loki replies and without looking at him, reaches out. Taking the offered hand, Tony lets Loki pull him down next to him on the sofa gain. Just as Tony takes a seat Loki's gaze shifts from the employee, who has taken a nervous step in the opposite direction of Tony to minimize any chance of accidental touching, to his Guide. It's as clear a dismissal as any and the employee takes the hint and more or less flees.
Well-aware that everybody can and is probably trying very hard to hear anything they say, neither of them says a word. Three minutes later the employee returns with a tray containing a can of coffee and anything they might need to make it to their tastes, including two types of sugar and three kinds of milk. As soon as Tony starts to pour the first cup the smell lets him know that this isn't your cheap office coffee; this is the good, expensive kind. So the sucking up continues; he certainly approves.
He and Loki barely have enough time to fix their coffees before the employee returns. "I must apologize for Miss Bertine's failure," he says. "She encountered Sentinel Roberts on the way and was rendered unconscious by him."
Tony frowns. "Right. What's the deal with that guy?" Though of course he knows. The only Sentinels who go crazy are ones who haven't found their Guide yet – those that lose their Guide either go suicidal or catatonic. The madness is not a necessary consequences, some die by their own hand or otherwise, some wither away or go catatonic, but some also go mad.
Knowing this as well, and knowing it to be common knowledge at the very least within Guide and Sentinel circles, the employee doesn't bother to explain that part. "Sentinel Roberts managed to break away from his care facilities and was retrieved earlier this morning. He was brought here because this Center was closest to his location, but managed to escape before he could be properly secured. However, he has now been sedated and will remain so until he is safely confined once more; you need not worry that you'll meet him again."
Tony shrugs. "I'm not worried, Loki had it under control."
The employee glances at Loki. "Yes, quite."
"Should that person make another attempt at touching my Guide, he shall not live to regret it," Loki says. "And I won't refrain from touching him next time."
"...right." The employee clears his throat. "Suffice to say, the Center will endeavor to make sure that won't be necessary. In here," he opens a door for them and steps aside. "Doctor Marco will be with you in a moment."
This is a room Tony is familiar with; it's Dr. Marco's office at the Center and during every one of his mandatory tests, he came here. He doesn't know if that's the case with everyone, but the SGC has always made sure he had the same doctor when he came to the New York main Center. Tony gets along well enough with her; she's a no-nonsense woman who doesn't fuck around and doesn't treat Tony like he's anything special. As much fun as that can be, it's not something he'd want in his doctor, and he feels more or less comfortable with her.
They wait no longer than two minutes before Dr. Marco enters the office. "What a mess," are her first words to them. "I haven't seen the Center in such an uproar since a pair started mating in the entrance hall."
"By mating you mean fucking?" Tony clarifies, unnecessarily so. "Why didn't they just scoop them up and herd them somewhere more private?"
"The Sentinel was a member of the SWAT team that just cleared the bank down the street; she came in to seek meditation, her Guide is standing at the reception and bam, she's gone. So, there the Sentinel goes, in full armor and armed, and her Guide was completely incoherent, no one home there anymore, they were both a little unbalanced because they were in their mid-twenties already. The Sentinel whips out her guns and every time somebody gets too close she snarls and starts to shoot. At the floor, so she wasn't completely gone yet, but nobody was willing to risk testing that." She raises an eyebrow at Tony, who is snickering at the image. "In full view of everyone. They made it into a couple of newsfeeds before we managed to nip that in the bud."
"Pixelated, though, I hope." The mental image is funny, yes, but the thought of one of the most intimate moments between a pair splayed in some lurid newspaper for all the world to see isn't.
Marco crinkles her nose. "Not enough, if you ask me. We cleaned up and sued some people over that, they know the laws. Which brings me to the first point, do we need to sue anybody else on your behalf?"
Tony blinks. "What do you mean, anybody else? Who have you sued?"
"Your personal lawyer has been informed more comprehensively and I don't know many details, but here's what I know." Lifting her hand, Marco starts to tick off her fingers as she lists, "A couple of people, newspapers, blogs and websites for disrespectful language and disrespect to the sanctity of your bond, the USCIS, the director of some secret spy agency, and we reprimanded Thor Odinson of Asgard as representative of Odin Borison of Asgard only for lack of frame of reference to actually sue him. In correlation to that, the US government now owes you as a pair and us as the Sentinel/Guide Center a favor."
Okay. So a lot happened while Tony was out of the picture.
"You reprimanded Thor?" Loki repeats, sounding highly amused. "What for?"
"For interfering with the sanctity of total seclusion," Marco replies.
Which, wait. "Did you reprimand anybody else for that?" Because Pepper called them as well, but Marco didn't list her. Then again, she did say "several people"...
"No. Though we are suing two other people for that. I don't know the exact details, I don't have clearance, I was just told this much because I've been your primary physician for the past several years and will be your main contact during testing. Are you satisfied with that arrangement or would you like to change doctors?"
"No." Tony frowns. "Are you suing Pepper too?"
"It's my understanding that Miss Potts contacted you not once, but twice, since you went into seclusion, so yes, definitely. If you want to further discuss the legal actions being taken on by the Center on your behalf, you can talk to the lawyer employed by the Center heading your case." She raises an eyebrow and closes that line of conversation down completely by changing the topic. "Physically, how are the both of you feeling? Once again, I'm obligated to remind you that I am primarily a physician for single Guides. While I'm qualified and do have experience treating mated pairs, that is not my specialty."
That might be the case, but Tony has no intention of changing primary physicians right now, not after he's been with Marco for about ten years. He trusts her, trusts her secrecy, and respects her skills and professionalism. The thought of going to a stranger now for something as important as this doesn't appeal at all. He explained the situation to Loki who had no opinion either way, knowing neither Marco nor anybody else, and said that he trusts Tony and will follow his lead on the matter. "Yeah, no, not gonna do that. It's not like there's any point either way, what with Loki not being human anyway."
"Of course." Marco focuses on Loki, peering at him through her glasses. "This puts us in a bit of a dilemma, doesn't it? Especially since I can't establish a proper baseline with you today, so recently after bonding."
"I do not see the point in this physical examination either way," Loki returns, raising one eyebrow. "What is it for?"
Marco sits back. "Right, you have no frame of reference at all. How about I explain to you while I start the examination with Guide Stark?" She glances at Tony, who shrugs his agreement. Loki turns that over in his head for a moment before agreeing as well.
So Marco gestures them into the other room where two bundles of clothes are waiting for them; already having been through the procedure, Tony unceremoniously starts taking his clothes off until Loki makes a noise. Pausing with his shirt halfway off, Tony blinks at him. "Yes?"
Loki is frowning unhappily. "Will this test be done with you unclothed?"
"...no." Tony raises one eyebrow. "Only a suicidal person would ask a recently bonded Guide to take their clothes off in front of them. But they put me in comfortable clothes because parts of the medical exam will be done with me partially clothed, and also there are exercise bits." Tony frowns as he mulls it over. "I don't know, it's to put me at ease? I don't know. I don't take my underwear off anyway. Oh! Right, it might be because of the MRI. They do those regularly because unmated Guides are more likely to suffer from organ failure or get cancer and stuff. There can be no metal in the MRI. Though I reworked this one to work with my arc reactor and the shrapnel, so technically that's not a requirement for me anymore. It might be just standard procedure. It's no big deal. You'll see."
Tony did explain the past tests he's gone through to Loki, and his Sentinel did read up on the brochures they were sent by Kernov, but Loki truly has no frame of reference for that sort of thing. Apparently on Asgard they scan by magic, treat any issues literally magically as they appear, and people don't even take their clothes off unless maybe somebody were to spill their potion over them or something.
Loki watches with a tiny furrow in his brows as Tony puts on the scrubs provided, and as soon as Tony is dressed he's all up in his space, putting his hands all over Tony's body. Not that Tony minds, especially not since Loki takes care to distract him with his mouth, lips warm and gentle against Tony's. He leans into Loki, making sure to get his Sentinel's scent all over the blank, deliberately scentless clothes and sighs. Against him Loki gradually relaxes, slowing the the kiss down as the contact calms his instincts. Tony might not ever admit it out loud because he's something of a role model for every Guide who don't need no Sentinel for anything (except for how they do need them), but something about how protective and possessive Loki is makes him feel settled and secure. And if today is any indication, he's perfectly content having Loki fight his battles, or at least some of them. That's a potentially troubling thought he resolves to think about later.
Once Loki got his scent-marking in – and Tony delights in how comfortable he is with that by now, considering how restrained, awkward and ashamed his Sentinel had been about his needs at first – he grabs Tony's clothes and vanishes them. Tony raises one eyebrow at that but doesn't comment any further.
As they exit the room Marco is waiting for them and leads them into the examination room by her office, where she then proceeds to take Tony's data – pupil response, reflexes, heart rate, heat distribution in his body, that sort of thing. Throughout the tests when getting up isn't required Tony sits on the cot instead of the chair so that Loki can sit right next to him, unsubtly watching Marco's every move. Completely unfazed by the whole thing she doesn't let the close scrutiny make her falter; nevertheless she does talk a bit more, explaining the tests, their purpose and narrating her her every move plus giving plenty of warning before touching Tony. She also takes care to always wear rubber gloves, but that's normal, Tony is used to that.
"Very well," Marco says, clicking around on her computer as she inputs the results of the last preliminary test. Normally she'd have an assistant to do menial stuff like that but clearly nobody wanted to risk putting two strangers into a room containing a newly bonded mating pair, which pretty much forecloses an overly vigilant Sentinel. "Unsurprisingly, all your results are better, some significantly so. Your blood circulation seems to work better now, it looks like your hands and feet are warmer than usual."
"Can I see?" Tony interrupts before she can continue. He likes looking at his bodily heat distribution pictures, so sue him.
Gamely turning her monitor around so they can look at it, Marco points at the two pictures of Tony's body on there, one from nine months ago when he was last tested and the second from today, post-bonding. She's right; the colors are more evenly distributed now and yeah, his hands and feet are doing better. Tony doesn't think it's a significant change, but it's noticeable.
"What is this?" Loki asks, entirely fascinated. Once Tony explains Loki tilts his head, peering at the pictures some more. "Do you have a machine capable of such measurements?"
"Uh," Tony makes, because while yeah, Loki probably gained the impression that Tony owns all the electronics possible, he actually doesn't own this. "Not really. But I can make one."
"Please," Loki says, in that tone that means despite the choice of words, this is not a request. "I would be curious." He doesn't elaborate what exactly he's curious about, but whatever. If his Sentinel wants a heat scanner, then he's going to get one.
"From the blood results you sent me," Marco eventually continues her assessment, "I see that you're generally healthier. Your hormone levels have responded appropriately, and while the hormones responsible for bonding are still spiking, they're on the decline, meaning you're evening out. Your estimation of your being ready for assessment was perfect; you're right in the middle of the golden zone of when post-bonding assessment is deemed safe and appropriate to do. Other than that, I'd wager your response to stress is better now, your circadian rhythm has evened out and you're less prone to mood swings and depressive and or obsessive episodes, am I correct?"
"Well," Tony stalls, not entirely comfortable with this. "I guess? I mean hell, I'm still a little doozy from bonding, I don't know yet what will be normal for me. Though I really wouldn't say I respond better to stress."
"Really?" Marco tilts her head inquiringly. "Does it still take you hours to calm down after an adrenaline spiking event?"
Well. No. "Not really."
"Also, from the reports I received of the incident in the lobby, you in fact didn't respond to the stress factors present – and there were plenty – at all," she points out.
Huh.
Seeing Tony's thoughtful expression, Marco nods and continues, "The rest remains to be seen, of course. Your heart rate is better, your overall blood levels indicate you're healthier, all your reflexes have increased. I know you don't like to hear it but they used to be on the lower end of the scale pre-bonding. Now, I'd say you're in normal to upper normal range; we'll see how you do in a couple of months, once everything has evened out."
Tony nods. He isn't surprised about the results, which isn't to say he isn't glad about them, but it confronts him with how much he really needed Loki just physically speaking. As she said, he never liked acknowledging that, and post arc reactor he especially didn't like to talk about his heart, but the facts are undeniable now. At least it's all over now, he supposes, leaning a little into Loki who remains silent next to him, though he listens attentively.
"Well, then. Sentinel Loki, would you like to do these same tests now or would you rather first see the other tests?" It's really nice how she's giving him a choice about it; sure, people know to accommodate a freshly bonded Sentinel and Guide as much as possible but this isn't strictly speaking necessary.
"The other tests," Loki decides after a moment.
Marco nods and turns to Tony. "MRI or fitness test first?"
Tony grimaces. "Fitness test, I guess." Then he hops off the cot and takes his shirt off.
Loki immediately goes tense and rises as well. Even as Marco averts her eyes and turns away to busy herself getting the things necessary for the test Tony grimaces and puts a hand on Loki's thigh. "Sorry." He doesn't want to apologize for something trivial like this but that was probably a bit too fast for his Sentinel.
Huffing, Loki takes Tony's shirt and leans in to brush his mouth across his temple, one warm hand settling in the small of his back. He doesn't say anything, but he does breathe Tony's scent in and doesn't move away when Marco turns back to them and hands Tony a couple of round, stick-on electrodes. Normally she would put them on Tony but she probably, wisely figured that she'd better not touch his naked chest right now, even with gloves. "You know where to stick them?" is all she asks.
"Yep." True to his word, Tony starts attaching the electrodes to his body, mostly his chest but also his neck. Brushing his hand across Loki's he then walks over to the exercise bike at one end of the room and hops on. He can tell Loki is not exactly happy with proceedings by the way Loki hovers, so he decides to involve him a little. "Can you give me the wire?"
Without a word Loki takes the wires Marco hands him one after the other, giving quiet instructions on which electrodes to attach them to, ending with the finger stick-on thing that will measure the oxygen levels in his blood and the mask-like tube apparatus he has to use for breathing during the test. The last thing she gives Loki is the nose clamp, which Tony sticks on with a grimace.
"Alright," Marco says once all preparations have been done. "You remember how this goes? At first you won't have any problems and then slowly the resistance will increase. You have to try to always stay in the green range. If you get dizzy or start feeling anything else but okay, the test stops immediately. Alright?"
"Yep." Tony leans in to brush a kiss to Loki's cheek, then sticks the breathing tube thing in his mouth and gives Marco the thumbs up.
Okay, so he hates this test. Not because of the exercise – please, Tony has his own gym at each of his residences, he actually does exercise out of his own free will – but because it's so boring. He just sits there and pedals. Sure, it gets a little more challenging as time progresses but still, it's a pretty boring test overall. The only thing to distract him is the monitor Marco uses to track the data, which she, already familiar with his attention span, helpfully tilts so he can see how his heart and the rest of his body are doing. Loki remains hovering close by, though he relaxes a bit once he realizes that this is all there is to it.
Once the test is done with, Marco hands Tony one of the Center's standard vacuum plastic wrapped towels and a bottle of water before returning to her monitor to assess the data. After giving Tony a minute to relax she then sends him over to the heat scanner once more to compare post-exercise scans. As before, all of Tony's test results have improved; he processes oxygen better, his heart is calmer, less frantic, and his blood circulation system works better. All in all, Tony came out of bonding a lot better than he went in.
"Alright," Marco says once they've sufficiently discussed his data. "Time for the MRI, and then you're on lunch break."
"Phew." Tony dramatically rolls his eyes in between sips from his water bottle. Loki is hovering close again, brushing his fingertips over Tony's sweaty skin. His pupils are dark and intense and Tony is doing his best to ignore that because he does not need the distraction right now, especially just minutes before Marco will look at what's going on inside his brain. But then Loki's tongue flicks out to lick his fingertips, licking Tony's sweat off them, and just, no. Who would be able to stay calm and detached in the face of that? So Tony leans in and chases his taste into Loki's mouth, licks his tongue and makes it so Loki can really taste him.
When they pull apart, Marco has left the room, the door standing open. Tony can't bring himself to feel guilty about basically chasing her out of her own exam rooms.
After another mouthful of water Tony exchanges the bottle with his shirt, and then he forgets to put it on because Loki drinks from it like a sports drink ad, head tilted back, throat one long, seductive arch as his larynx bobs with each swallow. It's just entirely unfair how hot Loki is.
Eventually, he manages to focus on business again. Tony puts the shirt back on and they go back to Marco's office, hands entwined. She doesn't comment at all even though Tony had been half-expecting at least a raised eyebrow or a telling look over the rim of her glasses, but she's all business, gets up and leads the way out of her office and down the hall to where the MRI is. A nurse is waiting for them, a young guy who smiles without showing his teeth and apart from a greeting doesn't speak at all. He isn't the one who injects Tony with the contrast agent either, which is probably for the better because Loki is at least a little familiar with Marco and will be less likely to react unreasonably to her approaching with a needle. Though whether he'll be okay with that needle piercing through Tony's skin and injecting stuff into his vein is another matter.
It's a little bit annoying, how they treat Loki a bit like a dangerous animal. Tony thinks about it while he watches Marco prepare the injection. On the one hand, yes, Loki can be very dangerous. On the other, so can a lot of other people. Besides, Loki hasn't been happy about proceedings, but he also reacts to other people's nervousness, making him more tense. If they stopped being so overly cautious Loki would relax some as well. It's dumb, but there's probably nothing to be done about it. Especially not with the incident of the hand crushing still being very fresh.
For Loki's benefit, Marco explains what the contrasting agent is for and then is very careful as she prepares Tony for the injection, swabbing the inside of his elbow with alcohol and patting the skin a little with one finger. Loki knows what she's going to do but it's still a tense moment for everyone but Tony who has to keep his arm relaxed when she pushes the needle through his skin. But, while he clearly doesn't like it and remains stiff as he keeps a close eye on proceedings, Loki doesn't jump her like a rabid zombie. If Tony had had the slightest doubt that Loki couldn't handle this, other people, he wouldn't have let them come out of seclusion yet.
Once the contrasting agent is all in, Tony has to use the toilet. When he comes back Marco is explaining to Loki in detail what it will be like with the MRI so he won't be surprised. As Loki nods, Tony hops onto the slim, padded bench that will pull him into the machine. Explanation apparently done, Marco then heads into the room next to the one containing the MRI machine while Loki walks over to Tony, carding his fingers through his hair as he leans in. "These people are nervous," he murmurs.
A laugh escapes Tony. "Newly bondend Sentinels tend to make most people nervous. And what with the hand crushing this morning, are you surprised?"
As he contemplates this, a self-satisfied expression takes over Loki's face. Oh, he isn't surprised, but he likes it. Chuckling, Tony leans in and kisses Loki, runs his fingertips across his cheek and neck. "Let's get this done with and then have lunch in my apartment, yeah?"
"Very well." Loki steps away and waits until the nurse – who on second thought is more likely to be a technician, actually – has handed Tony the headphones and made sure he lies the correct way before having the cot pull into the machine. Some people get nervous in these things and Tony gets why, they are a bit like coffins he supposes, and then with the noise that will come later, that's probably not fun for some people either, especially Sentinels. But Tony has always loved them, he doesn't know why.
"Can you hear me, Guide Stark?" Marco's voice is in his ear.
"Yeah," Tony replies. "Usual choice of music, whatever."
"You remember procedure, then. Try to move as little as possible, wait until you're pulled out but if you have an emergency, you can press the button and get pulled out immediately."
"Yeah, yeah, let's get on with this." Moments later a classic rock radio station comes through the headphones, and a little later the train tracks like noise of the MRI starts up.
Twenty minutes later Tony is pulled out and blinks his eyes open – he didn't quite fall asleep but maybe doze a little, these things are relaxing, okay – to Loki's face, lips pressed together tightly. "Hey, you okay?" Tony asks, still a little dazed, reaching out to touch Loki's belly because it's right there.
"I must admit, that was slightly unnerving," Loki says, a little tightly. That wakes Tony up completely – not that he was actually asleep, mind, he isn't a toddler who needs a nap in the middle of the day – and he sits up, leaning into his Sentinel who wraps one arm around him.
"It was very loud," Loki says after a moment, "and made it difficult to hear your heartbeat at first. Also, you smell a little strange."
"Must be the contrasting agent, I'm radioactive, literally." Tony grins at his own joke. It's amazing how Loki can actually smell something like that, it's not like they put that much of the stuff in him. "Think you can do it when it's your turn?"
"Yes," Loki decides after deliberating that. "Without the music, however. I would hear you."
"Sure, whatever you're comfortable with." Rubbing his cheek against Loki's chest, Tony spots Marco out of the corner of his eyes and turns to her. "All done?"
"All done, for now. I suggest we reconvene in two hours for Sentinel Loki's tests?"
"Yeah, sure. Your office, two hours. See you then." Tony tilts his head up to peer at his Sentinel, meaning to ask him to take them to the apartment, but Loki it seems needs no further prompting and does it all on his own, catching Tony with both hands when he's about to drop to the floor because he was still sitting when they teleported.
"Whoa," Tony exclaims, instinctively clinging to Loki. "Okay, just don't ever drop me, and don't do this in front of people."
"As you wish," Loki's eyes turn heavenwards, and then he's walking them into the bedroom.
"Hey, food's that way-" Tony starts to protest playfully, but suddenly he's horizontal and Loki is pulling his shirt up, putting his mouth to his skin and, okay, food can wait.
Food does wait until Loki is done thoroughly scent marking his Guide everywhere, and then Tony isn't really on board with moving so Loki goes to retrieve something to eat. Not overly fond of cooking or generally having the patience to stand by the oven and wait while food slowly gets done, he ends up throwing some frozen pizzas in the oven and then comes back to Tony.
"Nnn," Tony whines when Loki's tongue flicks wet and hot across his right hipbone. "Can't move."
"You are not required to yet," Loki replies, clearly very self-satisfied with himself and the situation as he slides between Tony's legs, knees pushing his thighs apart until Tony has no choice but to flop onto his back to accommodate.
"I really can't, again," Tony says, he is definitely not pouting, but seriously, twice in an hour is enough for now, right? Never mind that they've spent the past week having sex, and not even overly creative or athletic sex, no, because neither of them had the patience or wherewithal to use brainpower on things like that when they were too focused on just fucking each other's brains out. And okay, the memory of that makes Tony's resolve crumble, but he's serious, he isn't sure he can physically get it up again-
Ooh, shit, that's Loki's mouth, hot and wet around his cock and it hurts a little because he's still sensitive but somehow even that is electrifying, sets his nerves alive and then Loki hums thoughtfully like he's fucking contemplating the meaning of life with Tony's cock in his mouth and that just, that's too much. With a growl Tony pushes his hips up, and he's swelling, if slowly, Loki's mouth doing its best to coax him along. And shit, Loki is way too talented, he knows exactly how to get Tony going again, fingers digging into Tony's thigh, sure to leave bruises as if Tony didn't already have an entire new collection on his hips and liberally littering his chest.
A high noise somewhere between surprise and pleasure wrangles from his throat when Loki's finger slides between his cheeks, unerringly finding and entering his still wet hole. "L-Loki," he gasps, weakly flopping his hands until one of them finds Loki's head, tangles in his unruly hair. "Shit!" A wave of pleasure crashes through him when Loki finds his prostate and it should be weakened, not as debilitating because this is the third time in less than ninety minutes but somehow it's only all the more mind-blowing, stealing Tony's breath and wits in equal measure.
And Loki hums again, lips a tight ring just below the head of Tony's cock as his tongue swirls around him, dips into the slit at the same time as his finger rubs rhythmically across that spot in him that makes him see stars. Tony has no idea what noises are falling from his lips but they're incoherent, the only understandable word being his Sentinel's name, and he should barely even be aware of Loki's free hand caressing small circles on the inside of his thigh but it's the perfect counterpoint to the pleasure Loki wrings from his body with the expertise of someone who knows exactly what and how they should do it. Suddenly, that gentle hand flexes and Loki's fingernails are digging into his skin, not painfully except in the way that's good and somehow that is the last straw and Tony comes down Loki's throat with a hoarse shout.
After that, he really isn't capable of moving again; his body feels heavy and warm, the echoes of pleasure slowly waning. It takes Tony a moment to become aware of his surroundings again and he recognizes an unmistakeable noise. When he does he opens his heavy eyes he finds himself blinking up to Loki, still kneeling between his legs and jacking himself, eyes wandering across Tony's body in a very possessive way. He's close, his expression says as much, and Tony sighs, stretches a little in a way that's entirely for show. "You gonna come on me?" he asks, voice rough. Reaching down, he slides a hand across his belly and thigh. "Mark me with your come from the outside as well?"
Clearly that's all Loki needed; with a gasp his body bows, goes stiff as he starts to come, hot spurts spilling white across Tony's skin. An expression of utter peace spreads on Loki's face and it makes Tony helpless to do anything but wrap both arms around Loki, pull him close and hold him for a while.
"Sirs," JARVIS says eventually, "My apologies, but the pizza will turn unpalatable if not removed from the oven soon."
Right. Unwilling but well-aware that they have little choice in the matter – they have to get up because they have to continue the tests; all this time with nothing to do but laze around with Loki has really made Tony lazy – Tony grumbles but rolls out of Loki's weakly grasping arms and off the bed. Under protest, Loki eventually follows him.
Forty minutes later finds them back in Marco's office, newly fed and freshly showered and Loki wearing the scrubs Tony had on earlier, nevermind that the pants are a little too short on him. Then again, it's unsure whether they actually make scrubs pants for people with freakishly long legs.
If Marco correctly identifies the afterglow written all over them, she doesn't comment on it; instead, she gives them a little speech about how for obvious reasons they can't actually compare today's test results with Loki's baseline pre-bonding, they never will. Nothing in her demeanor says that it's a shame because obviously that would be so interesting, what with Loki being an alien after all, so Tony remains relatively relaxed about the whole thing.
"What is the purpose for testing me, then?" Loki naturally asks.
"To compare with future test results," Marco readily replies. "These results are not quite post-bonding but will provide something of a frame of reference when you're tested again in presumably three months. They will help reflect changes in your body between now and then, because while the lion's share of the changes has most likely already taken place, you both are by far not done psychologically adapting to each other, and as a consequence further physiological changes are to be expected also."
That makes sense, but Loki tilts his head and says, "What if I have no wish to be tested?"
Tony has no idea if that's a rhetorical question or not; this is the first time he's hearing of it in any case.
Marco blinks, clearly surprised. "We can't force you, obviously. If you really don't want to, you're free to leave. It might be helpful not just for assessing you in the future, but also for treating you in case it becomes necessary, not to mention that it will help us assessing you as a pair." She tilts her head, thoughtfully. "Clearly, you are not the typical Sentinel we are used to dealing with, though every Sentinel is different in their own right anyway. However, despite this all data we receive can help us and, directly or indirectly, future Sentinels, Guides and pairs. It's rare for a Guide of Guide Stark's age to even still be alive, much less sane and relatively healthy, and while we have no data on your age, Sentinel Loki, you are apparently even older. It's very possible that there is a correlation between the two and that might be very helpful for helping other comparably old yet unbonded Guides and Sentinels find their mates."
"Wait," Tony says slowly. "You're thinking that I did relatively okay for so long because Loki's older, and an alien? And because there are other Guides and Sentinels around my age doing equally well you're thinking that there are other... Sentinels and maybe even Guides like Loki around?"
"It stands to reason," Marco says calmly. "After all, if your Guide is not from this planet, something which nobody would ever have considered a possibility until it happened, it stands to reason that the same might be true for others, correct? Certainly, it would explain the rather unequal ratio between Guides and Sentinels."
Tony's mouth drops open. He's not even certain why because he had those very same thoughts and speculations himself, but to have them speak about so openly, so nonchalantly like it's obvious (which it is) is shocking somehow. It's like he only realizes now the true extent of those speculations, of what his and Loki's being mates truly means. Though honestly he's a little surprised they so easily accept that he and Loki are truly bonded. "And what... does that actually mean?"
Marco shrugs. "Probably not much in the long run because it's not like we can actually do anything about it anyway. In a thousand years of Sentinel and Guides existing on Earth, this is the first time something like this happened, so it's just a theory for now. Besides, honestly, you would know: would it actually be comforting for an unbonded Sentinel or Guide to know that their mate might not be on Earth, but at least they're in space somewhere?"
Tony winces. "No. Absolutely not." Hope is the worst thing there is. As long as they can believe their mate is dead there at least will be some closure. If they have to consider that their mate might be somewhere out there and just hasn't found them yet? When in a thousand years just one such literally star-crossed pair has found each other? No. It would be an incredibly cruel thing to know, it would be debilitating. Because Tony well remembers what it was like, how being unbonded affects all aspects of one's being, feelings about oneself included. More than once he'd thought his mate was better off without Tony anyway, a thought that now, looking at Loki, almost makes him choke up.
Brows furrowing, Loki reaches out to take his hand. "I would wish to return to this possibility at a later date."
"Of course. Once your bond has further stabilize and if you agree, our scientists will want to question you on things like that. But that's for later. Are you ready for the first set of tests?" Rising, Marco snaps on a pair of gloves – the expensive, Sentinel-safe kind – and waits until Loki nods in agreement before leading them into her examination room again. There she tests Loki's reflexes, which are apparently faster than she's used to, uses a penlight on his pupils and is startled when the light is reflected back at a certain angle. "Tapetum lucidum," she mutters and makes a note about it. "Apologies, I didn't expect that."
Loki shrugs, seeming more amused than anything, and even smiles when she jokingly asks if she should expect two hearts before putting the stethoscope to his chest. (She shouldn't, and Loki's heart seems perfectly fine.) "Most of the differences are not measurable with these kinds of tests," Loki eventually deigns to inform them. "Though there won't be much of a point to the fitness test."
"Well, it might not be straining for you to do, but as long as it gets your heart pumping we'll get some data out of it," Marco replies. A couple of minutes later she stares, open-mouthed, at Loki's heat distribution image.
"What?" Tony asks, perturbed, and peers at the screen. Loki's body is completely red everywhere. "Oh, that's just not true." Both eyebrows flying up, Tony looks at Loki, who grins once. "Come on, we all know you're hot, quit messing around."
"Very well." Loki doesn't seem to outwardly be doing anything but a moment later the image on screen normalizes.
"That was more eventful than I'm used to," is Marco's judgment once they're all sitting again to hear the results of her assessment. "It would probably be pointless to compare your results to Guide Stark's, or any human's for that matter, but from what I can tell you seem healthy. Your blood chemicals are in a good range as well, though you seem to be lacking some nutritional minerals and vitamins there. Since Guide Stark isn't I'll have to conclude that this is leftover from before the two of you met, which might be an indication of- I see you know it's not." Loki's face has gone still and Tony doesn't know what his own face says but the memory of how thin and haggard Loki had been when they had found each other is anything but pleasant.
"Right." Not commenting any further Marco makes a short note and then continues as if nothing happened, "So you will have to watch out for that, try to eat lots of vegetables. You're on a good path though where that is concerned. Other than that, your bonding hormone levels are in the upper range of normal, higher than Guide Stark's, which hints that you might still have some difficulties coming out of seclusion. I would suggest you progress with this process very slowly, slower than the pace suggested by the Center. If there are set-backs, that's normal. Don't push yourself and listen to your instincts."
"We'll be fine," Tony assures her, taking Loki's hand in his. They will be. He let others interfere too much at first and he will not be making that mistake again.
"Apart from that, I can't say much." Marco shrugs. "Ready for the fitness test?"
Tony ends up being the one to attach the electrodes to Loki's body, getting some gratuitous touches in while he's there already. It's too bad that any mark he leaves on Loki fades relatively quickly, he thinks absently as his fingertips brush along Loki's neck. His own skin is clearly marked.
Loki hops onto the bike and then has to get off again because it's way too short for him. "How practical," is his comment as he watches Marco adjust the height of the saddle.
"No comment about how short I am," Tony warns, because he can just see the sass coming.
Turning towards his Guide, Loki smiles very sweetly. "I would never say anything negative about you, dearest."
Jesus fuck, and Tony actually blushes because what the hell is this, Loki is probably joking but he used a pet name on Tony, and he said it with such earnestness too. And Tony probably is Loki's dearest, that's the core of it.
"You better not," Tony grumbles, but it's weak and Loki's raised eyebrow tells him his Sentinel knows it.
Without comment, Loki gets on the exercise bike and starts the program.
"Right, this is clearly not working," Marco says fifteen minutes in, clearly frustrated. On screen Loki's heartbeat has only barely accelerated and he's on the highest setting possible.
Tony is confused, because he's familiar with Loki's heart beating fast, what with it happening every time they have sex (or emotional upheaval, but that's not a favorable scenario).
Which, actually, sparks an idea. "You just need for his heart to beat fast?"
Marco looks up and tilts her head at Tony's speculative expression. "Yes. What are you thinking?"
"That you might wanna take a coffee break," Tony replies meaningfully.
It takes Marco a moment and even then she doesn't seem like she's quite gotten it, but she nods, says "Good idea" and leaves. Loki, looking relaxed and far too hot (nobody should be allowed to be that attractive while sitting on an exercise bike, for heaven's sake), raises one questioning eyebrow at Tony.
Allowing a smirk to spread on his lips, Tony raises from his chair and drags it forwards, next to the bike. "Sit." He pats it.
Loki isn't too fond of being ordered around, it didn't take Tony long at all to learn that, but he apparently decides to indulge Tony for now and gets off the bike, mindful of the wires still attacked to himself. Smirk still prominent, Tony leans in to kiss him on the lips, lingering but not deep, before sinking to his knees right in front of Loki.
At first his Sentinel looks a little nonplussed but before Tony's knees touch the floor he catches on, eyes going wide with the realization. Tony smiles and slides his hands up Loki's thighs. "Come on, make some room for me." Immediately Loki's legs fall open and he leans back a little, licking his lips while he stares down at Tony.
"You're far too attractive," Loki says, reaching out for Tony's face. His thumb slides across Tony's lower lip, dark eyes tracking the motion. "Sometimes I wish I could make it so nobody ever dares cast their eyes upon you." He could, technically, could lock Tony away somewhere, but the closest he ever got was a complete disaster and they both learned from that. Hearing Loki say it would have made Tony wary just two weeks ago, but not now. Now, he just smiles and flicks his tongue out to lick across the pad of Loki's thumb, watches Loki's eyes go dark and his body go still as his whole focus turns on Tony's mouth. Loki is actually distracted enough not to notice Tony's hands as they slide further up his legs until they reach the elastic hem of the scrubs pants; he jumps when Tony's fingers brush against his skin.
"Let me," Tony murmurs, eyes half-lidded as his fingers hook into the elastic band, and as if under a trance Loki lifts up, lets Tony pull the pants down his hip and over his knees, freeing his swelling cock. He's already halfway there just from the anticipation, the image, and Tony smiles, nips at Loki's thumb before taking his hand, guiding it to the back of his head as he leans in. Loki's fingers curl in his hair as Tony lets his hot breath fan across Loki's erection.
The anticipation is palpable and Tony loves it, loves stretching the moment out a little. When he reaches out with his tongue and lets it wander down, contact just this side of too gentle, Loki makes a noise low in his throat, impatient and urgent. Tony grins and leans in closer, licks his hand and wraps it around Loki's cock, fully hard now, squeezing a little as he leans in again and finally sucks the head into his mouth. The groan Loki makes sends a shiver through his body; he just loves this, loves the way Loki is looking at him and the complete control over Loki's pleasure this position gives him.
And he knows how to use it. Knows how to tease, how to give Loki just enough to push him along but not so much he'll lean back and close his eyes; he wants his Sentinel's eyes on him, wants him to see Tony's lips wrapped around his cock, wants for him to watch as Tony takes him further and further into his mouth. Loki, Tonny has learned this over the past week, loves sex, he does, and what he especially loves about it is how much it makes Tony his, how much it proves that to both them and everybody else. The position Tony is in right now has to especially sate his possessiveness and Tony loves being the one to initiate, control that. Loki is putty under his hands and mouth, one hand in Tony's hair and the other balled into a fist, resting on his thigh while he watches Tony suck his cock, drawing him as far into his mouth as possible before pulling back again, tongue swirling. At one point Loki starts to whine Tony's name, music to his Guide's ears, and it's not long after that that his hips twitch involuntarily, out of his control, and he comes, salt flooding Tony's mouth.
Tony pulls off only once Loki is done, lips a little numb and throat a little raw but very self-satisfied. Loki is looking down at him with wide, adoring eyes, still breathing heavily, eyes tracking Tony's tongue as he licks his lips, swallows.
"You-" Loki starts, reaching for him, but Tony shakes his head even though his dick is so hard it hurts in his jeans.
"Next time I come will be in you. Tonight." That makes Loki's hand go slack for a moment as Loki bites his lower lip, eyes fluttering shut for a moment as he pictures it. When he opens them again they're dark and intense, and he nods.
"Very well."
Tony smiles and plucks at Loki's boxer shorts and scrubs pants, starts to pull them up again; once they're up to his knees Loki rises to his feet and does the rest himself, carelessly hitching them up before holding a hand out for his Guide. As he pulls Tony up he doesn't stop once he's on his feet, just continues pulling until Tony is pressed all up against him, until their lips meet. The kiss is thorough but slow, not really passionate, soothing Tony's raging libido somewhat. "You are marvelous," Loki murmurs once they pull apart, cupping Tony's face with both hands and leaning their foreheads together, closing his eyes.
"I try," Tony jokes, closing his eyes and breathing deep as he tries to think unsexy thoughts. He'd really rather not sit there with a tell-tale bulge in his jeans when Marco comes back.
It doesn't quite work out but Tony is standing with his back to the door and when she returns, way before she actually opens the door, Loki hears her approach and tightens his grip on Tony, pulls him close into his body. After knocking briefly she enters the room.
"All good," Tony says, trying to peer at her but he can't turn around properly because Loki keeps his arm firm around Tony's waist, watching Marco's every move with glittering eyes.
Pointedly ignoring the byplay, Marco moves to the computer and looks at the results. "Very good. I really don't want to know what happened, but this will be helpful. By next time we'll have to have something else figured out though."
No need, Tony thinks, he really doesn't mind, but Loki is a little more vigilant right now about keeping Tony close and protected, which is either because Tony just blew him or because Tony was still half hard when Marco came in. He's fine now and Loki's grip on him is relaxing somewhat, so that might be the correlation.
"Are you ready for the MRI?" Marco asks, and Loki is, so they do that. Tony is a bit nervous about it – those machines are loud and also Loki will be in an enclosed, tight space that it won't be easy for him to get out of. Not difficult either, but he'll feel the barrier between him and Tony keenly and they have no idea how he'll handle that. Still, Loki said he'd be alright and Tony trusts him to know himself well enough to make such an assessment.
"You're hovering," Loki says with some amusement, holding his arm out and not reacting at all as Marco injects the contrasting agent into his veins.
"Am not," Tony protests feebly, plucking at Loki's shirt and frowning.
"I'll be alright." Kissing Tony's pursed lips, Loki leans in to rub his nose against Tony's cheek. "Just stay relaxed. As long as your heartbeat stays calm, so shall I."
"Right." Frowning, Tony leans in for another kiss before stepping back and watching as they pull Loki into the MRI. Feeling a little stupid and fussy, he then follows Marco into the other room and takes a seat on a chair she indicates having been put aside for him, literally in a corner. The nurse slash technician completely ignores him, which is probably for the better.
As the machine works he watches the image appear on screen, cross sections of Loki's bod, and it suddenly occurs to him that Loki never had a medical, he has no idea if his Sentinel is even healthy. "Is he okay?" he asks, leaning forwards a little and frowning and the images in varying shades of gray.
Marco and the nurse seem a little surprised to be addressed, like they forgot he's even here while they exchanged comments full of medical jargon about whatever they were seeing, or the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy for all that Tony knows. "So far, he appears perfectly fine," Marco replies after a moment.
"These things are fine enough to show anything, right? Blood clots? Tumors? Anything that might be wrong?"
Now Marco turns her full focus on him. "Yes. The Center uses newest technology. But from what we've seen so far, Sentinel Loki appears to be perfectly healthy, apart from the bloodwork we discussed earlier. In fact, it's unusual how healthy he is, but a lot about Sentinel Loki is unusual."
At that, a smile steals onto Tony's face because yes, that's very true. "Yeah."
"Of course, I can't possibly draw any conclusions right now, much like I couldn't with your results. It takes time and careful analysis; I expect to have both your results ready within the week, however, and should something concerning come up, I'll let you know immediately. Would that be alright?"
"Yeah." Tony nods. "That's good, yeah. Thanks." He sits back in his chair again and waits. Once the machine is done and Marco goes to let Loki out Tony trails her and paws at Loki's ankles as soon as they appear, then his shins, his knees, wanders his fingers up his thigh and then smooths down some invisible creases in Loki's shirt above his belly and chest. He wouldn't have thought he'd be this clingy, but everyone has told him to stay true to his instincts, so that's what he's doing. If he wants to touch Loki anywhere, he's gonna do that. Even if right now he wants to touch him everywhere.
Loki is blinking at him, a slight smile playing around his lips and Tony touches that too, but with his own lips, a swift peck before pulling away again, nevertheless a little embarrassed at his neediness. Nobody comments on it in any way, though, not by words not by looking at him strangely, though Loki, once he sits up, casually slings one arm around Tony's waist and keeps him close as he listens to whatever Marco is telling him. Something about his results and tomorrow, or something. Tony couldn't care less right now.
Then Loki hops off the cot and leans in for a kiss, and by the time Tony's eyes flutter open again they're in the apartment. In the bedroom, to be exact.
"I seem to remember you saying something about coming in me," Loki says with a sly smile, and yeah, Tony did say that. So, without a word – he's feeling a little beyond words right now, not that Loki appears to mind – he gives Loki a push so he lands on the mattress and crawls on top of him.