Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 39: Ghosts of Deeds Past

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Ghosts of deeds past

Milky Way Orbit

'Again,' Loki said.

'No, come on! We've been at this for hours now.'

'Because you are so hopelessly incapable of focusing that it's pathetic.'

'You say the sweetest things, dear,' Stark answered with a smile. 'But seriously, I need a break.'

'You need to train and strengthen your mind.'

'My mind is pretty damn strong, thank you.'

'I'm not talking about your intellect,' Loki told him with a sigh. 'You are using your mind in ways you have never done before, it's like a weak muscle you keep overexerting.'

'I was not overexerting anything,' Stark argued. 'I am handling all the tech very well.'

'You had a headache for three days after Aakar,' Loki said and this time his voice hardened.

'The hacking system was still in testing phase. I've worked on it a lot since then.'

'Why do you argue about this?' Loki asked finally standing up from the bed. They pushed the two together not that long ago and they both sat with crossed legs on top of it for their now regular sessions.

'I'm just saying...'

'And I'm saying that I will not let you fry your stupid brain when it is perfectly avoidable. You know the risks, you know you need this, why are you arguing with me?'

Stark looked at him for a moment and sighed. 'I'm just tired... this is exhausting, like all-nighter in the workshop exhausting. I'm human, I need a break once in a while.'

Loki crossed his arms and he knew he was glaring, but then he took a breath to get his temper back under control again.

'Fine,' he grit out then.

'Thank you,' Stark said and flopped down on the bed right away. Then he reopened his eyes to look at Loki before he raised an arm invitingly. 'Come back down here?'

He should be able to resist this man a lot more. He did not argue though and sat down again, only to be tugged down by Stark into a horizontal position. He was not against being close to his lover, so he did not object.

'Sooo... Milky Way, we almost reached it,' Stark spoke after they settled down comfortably next to one another.

'Indeed.'

'Juyu and Bee didn't make any noise about leaving. I think they're gonna stay.'

'Stay?'

'Yeah... all the way to Earth.'

'You might want to ask them about that instead of assuming,' Loki said.

'I guess. It's just a hunch. Drongo's staying though, him I did ask, he's coming to Earth.'

'Hmmm.' There was really nothing to say to that, Loki presumed as much himself. Also, Stark decided to start stroking his hair, which was not a good way to keep him invested in a conversation. He even closed his eyes.

'Soo...'

'So?'

'What about you?'

'What about me?' He didn't have to look at the mortal to know that he rolled his eyes.

'Will you stay?' That made him focus on the conversation again. He opened his eyes.

'We talked about this before,' he said.