𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦

chapter iii.

Loki woke up to the unfamiliar surrounding of his room in Stark Towers. He couldn't hear any noise, so that probably meant that all the children were still asleep. Deciding to check on Tony he pulled on his clothes and walked out into the huge hallway. Loki opened the door to see Tony,  fast asleep and laying on the pillow. He had a bed head and the covers rose and fell with his breaths. Loki was deciding whether to leave it or wake Tony up when his eyes flickered open and he took in the figure standing in his doorway.  After a moment of panic, he realised it was Loki and dropped his head back down on the pillow with a groan.

"How long have you been standing there?" He asked, looking slightly creeped out.

"Two seconds, I swear!" Loki exclaimed, holding his hands up and looking embarrassed.

Tony smirked, "Okay, whatever, you creep." Loki blushed and avoided Tony's eyes, feeling mortified. Then to Loki's greatest surprise Tony laughed loudly and then threw back the covers.

When Loki woke up this morning, he was prepared for many thing. His brother as a toddler, finding a cure and even Tony's bad attitude. But nothing had prepared him for a shirtless Tony Stark. Loki wanted to tear his eyes away, he did, but he actually couldn't. He was right about Tony being somewhat thin, but he didn't look bad since he had muscles covering his chest. Tony caught him staring and smirked widely as Loki internally cursed himself.

"Something bothering you, Loki?" Tony asked innocently, stepping towards the God, who was now staring determinedly at his own shoes.

"No." He replied quickly. Tony grins and walked over to his wardrobe while Loki tried to calm his red face.

"No?" Tony says smirking. "I don't make you . . . uncomfortable, do I?"

"I'll just— I'll just go." Loki said quickly, making a dart for the exit.

"Oh and Loki... It's pouring with rain outside. Find something for the kids to do that doesn't involve wrecking my towers."

Loki sighed tiredly. "Yes, Tony."

—

Half an hour later, the kids were rounded up and put around the cheapest looking table Loki could find. It was still well out of most people's price range, even so. He had given them some paper, and some felt tips he had found when he snuck down to look at the basement that Tony was so proud and secretive of.

"Draw whatever you want," Loki told them half-heartedly. Really, his mind was on Tony.  Where was he?

"I'm going to draw a picture of you dying!" Steve hissed in Clint's ear. They had decided to be slightly more sneaky on their teasing.

"There's going to be blood and bombs and guns and your dead body with people laughing at it!" Steve finished grinning.
This took Clint aback.

"If you're as bad at drawing as you are at reading it'll just look like a bunch of lines, you baby dork!" He replied looking smug.

Steve had just opened his mouth when Tony had entered the room. Even he was smart enough not to say something when Tony was around. Clint looked particularly triumphant.

"I've decided what I'm going to do today, for research on the cure." Tony announced imperiously. He clapped his hands together. "Are any of you afraid of needles?"

—

"Oo-ww!" Bruce whined as Tony jabbed the third needle into his arm. "You said this wouldn't hurt!"

"It doesn't, so be quiet." Tony told him, but he wasn't so interested. He was working away. "Okay...  but this might hurt a bit . . .  so try not to be too loud, okay, kid?"