Chapter Text
The sleepovers become a regular event at Stark Tower. Almost every weekend sees Loki and Fenrir joining the little Stark family for games, junk food, and the occasional movie. It is almost perfect for Tony’s schedule; he has Pepper come in once the kids have run off to play with Loki supervising, and all the week’s paperwork gets done without Tony having to worry that Ellie will interrupt in boredom. Pepper loves it, Fenrir and Ellie love it, and Loki just goes along with it, seeming ambivalent at best.
Tony’s even extended the party invites to Loki’s brother, Thor, and all his family. It seems only right since it was Thor’s interference that started this whole thing. The Borsons don’t always make it, but they come over often enough for Tony to actually learn all their names. The three that had showed up to the field trip turn out to be triplets – Bailey and Brandon, the boys, and Svana, the girl of the group. Despite knowing their names, though, Tony still can’t tell them apart.
Jane, Thor’s wife and the triplets’ mother, comes over a few times as well, though that was mostly at Loki’s insistence. It turns out to be perfect, as she’s a well-respected astrophysicist, and Ellie goes wide-eyed the moment Jane is introduced as such. Ellie recruits Jane to help them work on the simulator’s programming, and they end up with a simulation that mimics travelling through a wormhole. Jane only comes over a few times, though, as she’s pregnant again, much to her dismay, and likes the downtime when their house is ready to rest.
Once, Tony even takes all of them out on the town, hitting up the L’Atelier De Joel Robuchon at the Four Seasons. The children all enjoy themselves, coloring away and laughing as they play with the free Beany Babies given to them by the staff. Thor and Loki take the ritzy atmosphere in stride, not looking out of place at all, but Jane is almost squirming in discomfort. It takes a while for her to settle in, and it isn’t until Tony starts asking about her recent work that she really lets go. The whole night is phenomenal, and with the exception of a few paparazzi waiting for the group to leave, there are no complaints whatsoever.
Tony finds himself enjoying the company more than he ever expected. The penthouse apartment has never felt quite so lived in, and now Tony has a small network of people that he can rely upon to watch or help with Ellie when something comes up. When an emergency business meeting in California calls Tony away in the middle of the week, Loki can take care of Ellie for those few days, and Tony doesn’t have to worry. He knows Loki is a good dad, and he’s more than capable of watching her for a while.
Things between Tony and Loki are a little stiff, though, aren’t nearly as good. There hasn’t been a repeat of that first night and their little fling. Loki seems absolutely uninterested even in making conversation, and they have fallen into a pattern of slightly uncomfortable silences or sly insults. It’s not terrible, and it’s certainly better than their original meeting and the blatant hostility that radiated off of Loki, but Tony doesn’t really care for it. He actually likes the guy, and how clever he is or how he smiles around the children.
At the very least, Tony would like to think they’re casual friends.
Loki doesn’t seem to agree, though, so things keep on for the rest of the school year in the same manner of sleepovers, slightly acerbic banter, and play time with the kids. With summer coming up soon, Tony has a whole new set of worries; normally, he and Ellie spend the summer in Malibu, but that means no time spent with Fenrir or the triplets for months. It would be cruel to take Ellie away from her friends for the three months of summer vacation, but he needs the time in California for business – multiple board meetings, going over the past year, preparing for the next year, and touching base with the many divisions in Research and Development. There is at least two months’ worth of work that is waiting for him, but that is far too long to ask Loki or Jane and Thor to watch Ellie. He spends most of April puzzling over an answer with little success, but then something far more shocking diverts his attention.
Loki cancels.
It comes out of nowhere, just a phone call Saturday morning from Loki where he briefly states that he and Fenrir will be unable to spend the night. Then, he hangs up with no time for Tony to question him at all, leaving the engineer frowning at nothing. It’s disappointing for sure, and Ellie mirrors that unhappiness when Tony lets her know. To himself, Tony can’t help but worry that something has happened in Loki’s life – the younger man’s position as a single father is precarious – or that he has done something to ruin their acquaintanceship.
“But why?” Ellie questions, and Tony just has to shake his head. He doesn’t know.
Fenrir provides no answers either, when Ellie comes home Monday afternoon. She frowns, arms folded across her chest and sitting on the couch, “He says his dad just said they weren’t gonna come over that weekend”.
“Well, you can tell him he’s invited over this weekend too”, Tony tries, but Ellie continues to stare across the room in displeasure. “If his dad is busy, Fenrir can just come himself. I can have Happy swing by and pick him up”.
“I’ll tell him”, Ellie sighs, arms unfolding so her hands can fall to her lap. She picks at her tights for a moment, kicking her feet a little, but staying silent. Tony watches her from the corner of his eye, pretending to be looking at her homework. Ellie’s face is hidden behind her hair when she finally speaks again. “What if Mr. Ulfson says no?”
“I’ll invite Thor and Jane’s family, too, that way he can’t”, he offers, and Tony sighs inwardly when she nods, perking back up to talk about her latest discoveries.
Saturday finally comes around again, and this time, Fenrir steps off the private elevator with his cousins in a rush to reach the game room, Thor following them out with a very pregnant Jane on his arm. Tony immediately takes her other arm as he sees how she’s struggling, and they get her down the stairs and to the couch, where she collapses with a sigh and a grateful smile. Thor takes a seat beside her, and Tony sits to the side so he can see them both. The children have already started to shout from the other room about what game to play first.
“Wow, you’ve really expanded”, is the first thing out of Tony’s genius mouth. Jane glares, but Tony only responds with a cheeky grin, completely unabashed.
“Thank you, Mr. Stark”, she returns with a sigh, knowing well enough that he won’t back down. “That’s exactly what every pregnant woman wants to hear”.
“I’m not saying you look bad”, Tony tries to defend over Thor’s amused snort. “Just that you’re bigger than I would have expected”.
The corner of Jane’s mouth curls, a wry smile pulling across her face. “You aren’t wrong”, she admits, “I’m quite a bit bigger than a woman carrying one baby to term”. There’s a slow moment before realization sets in for Tony, but a quick glance over to the smile and look of pride on Thor’s face confirms it.
“How many this time?” the engineer questions, leaning back in his seat. “Are you looking to outdo Octomom?”
“Just twins, thank the stars”, Jane laughs. “After this, we’re finished, even if it means getting that one fixed”. She jerks her thumb at Thor, who feigns a look of utter horror just to make Tony laugh loudly. It works, and Tony has to turn away just to catch his breath. Jane looks pleased too, a hand resting atop her rounded belly in contentment.
A little part of Tony twinges with sadness, feeling the loss of something he never got to experience, a missing part of his own role as a father. The doting smile that sits on Thor’s face only makes the loss hurt more, vibrating in his gut before he pushes that from his mind. “I’ve got to say, I’m surprised you showed up today – thought you would prefer a day to yourself”.
“I will be having the day to myself’, Jane smirks. “But I’m going to having it in that whirlpool bath in your guest room”.
“I knew you only liked me for my money”.
“You’re wrong there, Mr. Stark”, Jane retorts, struggling up to her feet and waving away the hand Thor offers to help. “I don’t even really like you, money or not”. Tony chokes on a laugh, shaking his head with a smile as Jane walks off further into the penthouse, probably to do just as she said and spend the day in the bath.
Thor watches with affection as his wife walks away, and Tony lets his chuckles fade into silence. Now would be the perfect time to bring up the man’s errant brother, maybe get some information on what actually happened to their family, or just something personal about Loki. This is the first chance he has ever had to speak privately with Thor, after all. The other man beats him to it, though.
“I would ask something of you, if it is not too much, Tony”, Thor begins, turning the full weight of his gaze onto the engineer as all the warmth bleeds from his expression. All that’s left is something desperate and much older than Tony can know that hides behind narrowed eyes and lips pressed thin together. “I am hoping you would be able to tell me what has plagued my brother recently”.
Tony shakes his head, lips twisting into an unhappy smirk. “No”, he chuckles, “I was actually going to ask you the same thing”. Thor exhales in a long breath. He raises a hand to rub across his face as he frowns, and Tony looks away as he throws his arm over the back of the couch, forcing the casualness of the action. “Have you talked to him?”
“He will only say that it is person, and that he is handling it”.
Snorting in disbelief, Tony’s fingers twitch, clutching at the fabric of his seat before he determinedly lets go. He isn’t irked about what’s going on with Loki, not at all. “If it’s personal with Loki, than I’m certainly not going to know anything. We aren’t exactly close”. Thor’s incredulous stare makes Tony shift uneasily. It’s not as if he’s lying at all; he and Loki aren’t close. Still, Tony can’t quite meet Thor’s gaze and instead looks resolutely to the side.
“I know that you have slept together, possibly many times”, Thor begins, speaking lowly, but Tony cuts him off.
“Just the once. Just… just that first night”. Thor looks taken aback, and Tony still can’t quite look at him. He does risk a quick glance to confirm that Thor isn’t going to beat him out of familial concern, but instead the blond man looks troubled. “It’s not from lack of interest on my part”, Tony tries to defend. “He wants nothing to do with me”.
There’s a long pause where Thor folds his hands together, staring down at them. His posture is slumped forward and pressed down, all his boisterous energy gone. It’s unsettling to see Thor looking anything less than cheerful, and it makes Tony feel like he needs to comfort the man, but he’s not sure how to do that. Thor doesn’t give him a chance.
“I had hoped that he would find a friend or companion in you”, Thor admits. “That is why I gave you his phone number, so that Loki might have someone he could rely upon. He tries to do everything on his own, and it is not good for him, but my brother refuses to see that”. A growl rips from Thor’s throat as the man throws himself back on the couch. Tony raises an eyebrow at that but doesn’t comment. “I just wish to help him”, Thor exclaims, still trying to keep quiet enough that the children won’t hear. “But he treats everything I do like some elaborate trap to prove him a poor father!”
“I know the feeling, big guy”, Tony states, nodding sympathetically. “But there isn’t much we can do without knowing what exactly is going on”. Tony sits up a bit straighter, though, when a thought comes to mind. “Have you tried asking Fenrir?”
Now Thor nods, still scowling. “He said that Loki has received multiple calls over the week that have left him in a foul mood, but that Loki takes those calls privately”.
Tony falls back, not wanting to admit defeat just yet. Thor is right that they can’t do anything to help unless Loki lets them, but maybe if he corners Loki, he can talk the younger man around. “I’ll give him a call this week, see if I can’t get him to open up a bit”, Tony offers, and Thor looks over at him with obvious relief. It’s not that either of them expect it to really work, but at least it’s something that they can do.
“Please let me know what happens”, Thor entreats, and Tony agrees in silence.
Tony tries to call Sunday night, but Loki’s phone goes straight to voicemail. The tight knot of worry in his stomach squeezes tighter, and the engineer can taste bile in the back of his throat. Something isn’t right, but what else can he do?
That tight ball of concern explodes, though, on Thursday afternoon, just as Ellie is getting back from school. She sitting in the penthouse kitchen, sipping on chocolate milk and regaling Tony with her adventures for the day when JARVIS interrupts.
“Sir, Mr. Ulfson is calling”.
Tony perks up immediately as Ellie falls silent, staring at him with wide eyes. “Put him on my cell”, he orders, pulling the phone from his pocket and immediately walking to another room. Ellie tries to protest, but Tony isn’t going to have a conversation about what’s troubling Loki in front of her. He settles into his study just as the cell starts to ring, and he presses talk, questions ready and queued for him to ask.
Loki begins immediately, though, speaking over any greeting Tony could have said. “I need you to pick Fenrir up immediately, and then watch him for a few days”. It’s a demand, spoken loudly and quickly into the phone. Tony can hear Loki nearly panting, and there’s some sort of commotion in the background, but he’s already grabbing the keys to one of his cars and heading out to the garage past a startled Ellie.
“Loki”, Tony says, but gets no response from the other end. “Loki!” He’s close to shouting as he starts up a car – the Porsche, he absently notes. “Loki, tell me what’s going on! Are you and Fenrir okay? Did something happen?”
“Just get here now, please”. Loki responds as if he hasn’t even heard Tony speaking, no longer demanding but pleading, and it brings a chill to Tony. He speeds up a little, then more, taking a more circuitous route to avoid the worst of traffic.
“I’m on my way, Loki, just hold on”, he tries to soothe, but it seems to have no effect, Loki still breathing heavily on the phone, not speaking anymore. “Are you okay, though? Are you or Fenrir hurt?”
“No”, Loki says, “no one is injured”. It might only be Tony’s stress, but it sounds like there is an unspoken “yet” at the end of that statement. He has no comfort to offer over the phone, though, so he focuses on driving and lets that hold his attention until he’s screeching to a stop in front of Loki’s apartment building. He leaves the car on the curb, throwing some random bills at the doorman coming to stop him before pushing his way in.
“I’m here, Loki. I’m on my way up right now”. The call goes dead in response, and Tony growls before punching the button to call the elevator, shifting from foot to foot with uncontained anxiety. He’s almost tempted to take the stairs despite that Loki lives on the twenty-third floor, but just as he is seriously thinking about it, the elevator arrives and he leaps in. The ride up to Loki’s floor makes Tony wish this was Stark Tower, where the elevators don’t take hours just to go up a few stories. When the elevator doors finally open to the right level, Tony doesn’t even need to exit as Loki and Fenrir are already in the small elevator lobby, waiting.
“Have fun with Mr. Stark, sæti”, Loki is saying to his son, shuffling the boy into the elevator with Tony. Tony barely has time to note that Fenrir’s carrying a backpack and duffel bag both stuffed full of things before Loki is hitting the button for the ground floor and stepping back. The doors start to close, but Tony gets his hand in quickly to stop them, leveling Loki with a suspicious glare.
“We’re going to talk about this”, he demands, and Loki looks like he wants to argue before hesitation sweeps over his features, and then he nods.
“Yes”, Loki agrees, “but not now”. Tony accedes, letting the doors slide shut and holding Loki’s anxious gaze all the while. He stares forward quietly until Fenrir shifts nervously at his side, and then Tony forces himself into a more cheerful disposition to ease the kid’s palpable distress.
He gets them both to the Tower on autopilot, and then to bed and school the next morning, letting his parental instincts have full control so that he doesn’t have to worry about Loki. He holds back on questions; he plays games and plays his part as a dad until it’s Sunday morning and there’s no word from Loki. Only then does he let himself worry, and finally he sits down with Fenrir to see if there is something he can do.
It started, Fenrir says to Tony as Ellie is a room away in the kitchen preparing snacks, with the phone calls almost two weeks earlier. “Papi got the first one, and he looked so scared, like when he found me after I got lost in the mall”, the boy explains. “Then he got really angry, and that’s how he was when he kept getting them. He would go in the other room, but I could still hear him saying angry things”.
Tony stays silent, trying to look encouraging without making this into an interrogation. Fenrir looks to him, perhaps searching for reassurance, because when Tony nods, he keeps speaking.
“It was scary, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want Papi to think I was listening when I wasn’t supposed to”. Fenrir shifts in his seat, peaking up at Tony before staring at his lap again. “Then a lady showed up outside my school on Thursday. She tried to talk to me, asking me questions, but Papi showed up and yelled at her in his first language. I didn’t know all the words, but some of them were bad ones that Uncle Thor says sometimes. The lady went away, but Papi was still afraid; that’s why he called you, Mr. Stark”.
Tony sighs, hiding his face behind his hands as his mind whirls. What the hell had Loki gotten mixed up with if someone was actually going to go after Fenrir? No wonder he had called for Tony to take the boy away; there is no place safer in New York than Stark Tower. There are only questions, though, and Loki isn’t around to provide immediate answers, so Tony just thanks Fenrir with a smile. He guides the boy into the kitchen, hoping Ellie and food will enough of a distraction for now as he tries to get a hold on Loki and figure out what the hell to do now.