Frostiron

Chapter 3

Tony's POV:

A strange shifting made me jerk awake, panicking for a second when I realized I wasn't in my bed. When the dim light of my reactor caught Loki's face as he shifted again, still curled into me, I relaxed, tightening my hold on the weakened god. He's so cute when he's asleep. I thought, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his face. His head rested on my chest, his arms looped around me, and his knees curled up to his chest.

I was just beginning to drift off again when he let out a quiet whimper. It was barely enough to wake me, and for a second I wasn't sure if I had actually heard anything. Loki whimpered again, his face contorting in pain and fear, and his grip tightened on me as he squirmed. I ran my hand through his hair, the other one rubbing soothing circles on his back.

"Shh, it's okay Loki. You're safe here." I murmured. He cried out, jerking away from me and trembling lightly. "Please." He muttered. "Please, stop. . . Thor help me . . ." Tears rushed down his face as I reached forward and shook him roughly.

"LOKI, WAKE UP." I shouted. He jerked awake, falling from the bed and crying out in fear. I jumped down beside him, gathering him into my arms despite how he fought against me. "Loki, calm down, it's me, Tony. Wherever you think you are, you're not. You're in Stark Towers, after you showed up here with a knife in your back. I fixed you up, remember?"

He stopped fighting, instead gripping my shirt front tightly. "S-stark?" He asked, choking back another sob. I pulled him into my lap, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. "Yeah buddy, Stark." I murmured as he began sobbing into my chest, his entire body shaking with the force of them.

"Hey, sh, you're safe. What's wrong Lokes? How can I help?" I asked quietly, running my hand through his hair again. He surprised me by leaning into the touch, rather than jerking away. He stayed like that for a few minutes, before muttering, "Odin was cruel when I was returned to Asgard. He had me tortured and belittled, like nothing more than a common murderer. He managed to keep the knowledge away from Thor for about a year, before he came to visit me without warning, and saw the truth. He and Heimdallr helped me escape soon after." He told me, his voice soft and full of pain. Another sob escaped him, and I gave him time to continue. "J-just don't go, please. I-I don't want to be alone right now."

I brought us both back up to the bed, lying down beside him again. "Okay, I won't go anywhere. I promise. Shh."

Something in me broke at his mumbled words, causing me to squeeze him a little tighter, only noticing when he yelped lightly. I loosened my grip, murmuring "Sorry, got lost in thought."

We were quiet for a few minutes, before I asked, "Did he starve you? I noticed you weren't eating much." Loki hesitated before nodding. "I was declined every comfort. Food, water, any treatment for my wounds, even a simple blanket or pillow." He curled impossibly closer, his head now resting on my shoulder and the rest of him stretched out, half resting on me, half on the bed.

"Well, you're safe now. I doubt either one of us will sleep, so do you want to shower?" I asked, running a hand through his hair. I realized he probably hadn't showered since he'd left Earth after the battle of New York, and we hadn't had time to do it before, so he should have looked worse. Maybe magic had something to do with it.