What were you expecting? (for call_4766626)

[gloriously_purposed]

[ooc: Continued from here]


It was a dance of sorts, silence proved to speak louder than words as Loki knew exactly what was going through his betrothed's mind at the moment. He would have betted money on it, if Midgarian money was of any value to him or if the large ammount he'd soon own didn't belong to his future husband.

"I need to build up a little energy for it," he lied, aware that conjuring something as simple would barely take any effort. Did Stark realize that though? The man is smart, as much as enjoys patronizing him.

Reaching out for the glass, he didn't even spare him a glance before taking a sip. Loki's brows furrowed, insulted. He held the glass out for Tony to take back. "What is this?" 

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[call_4766626]

"Hmm, I can see that's what you're doing," he looked Loki up and down. In truth, that could be what he really was doing. Preparing himself for it. But he'd seemed so keen to get it done with when they were messaging, his pride surely wouldn't have let it go undone by the time Tony got home.

"It's apple juice. Just like cider, but without the alcohol."

He sat down, wondering if Loki would understand the reason he was being given juice or not. Was it a thing that Asgardians knew about?

"... Do you know anything else about them, apart from them being two?"

[gloriously_purposed]

He had been pushing Stark's buttons, that as much was clear for them both now. But could he be blamed for it? It was one of the few pleasures he had left, having been sold to Midgar as some excuse to unite their realms. Wouldn't children come as an advantage then? If Stark's people changed their mind, as they seemed to be struggling not to given what he'd seen on the news and television, well.. Surely they would be all melowed by these news.

"Why not give me alcohol?" He pushed the other man, marking his book with a finger and closing it, resting it neatly on his lap. He was very well of what Anthony was doing.

At the question, he stared right into Stark's eyes, almost defying him. Did he truly want to know?

"They're two. Definitely yours. Both would grow to be as smart as their fathers and would also master magic." Loki glanced away, down at the thick book he was holding. "I can't see further than that." Divination wasn't his forte, despite of how talented his mother was at it.

She had always warned him about trying to figure the fate of beloved ones. It made him wonder if she knew he'd end where he is now.

[call_4766626]

He could lie, he was sure. He could push it and say that if he had to drink less, so did his betrothed, and hope that Loki didn't know the truth. But even if he didn't, he knew that Loki was smart. He would see through Tony and know it for the lie it was.

"You shouldn't have alcohol when you're pregnant," he replied, electing to leave the rest of the explanation why out. It didn't make sense after all, did it? Not when they'd both agreed to get rid of them.

It seemed mostly obvious, that with Loki and Tony as their fathers the babies would intelligent, and that Loki would teach them magic. Even if it wasn't divination, though, there was still something more in those details: It wasn't about their sex or what color their eyes would be, it was about a future spent with their parents.

"Of course. Do you know what sex they are?"

[gloriously_purposed]

Huffing in clear annoyance, Loki took another sip of his drink and placed it down on the table by his bowl of olives. "Well, not for long, am I? There's no point in keeping a good drink from me." It was clear that this conversation was not to end any time soon so, picking his bookmark from the random spot where he had slid it into the book, Loki marked the pages where he'd abandoned his reading.

"Boys at first. But it'll change from time to time for at least one of them." Perhaps them both. It was too early to tell, they were not even close to being individuals yet.

"Why are you making all these questions?" They both know it. "Are you finding new ways to torment your beloved?"

[call_4766626]

For all his protests, Loki hadn't demanded that the drink be replaced, or go to replace it himself. In fact, instead, he'd taken another sip of the drink. Tony wondered about this, wondered why Loki had bothered to tell him at all.

And then it hit him like a blow to the chest. For a moment he thought that he'd actually been winded, completely lost for air or a response. He'd already known he was looking to torture himself asking for a gender, but this was more than that. More than chromosomes making an excuse for a gender reveal party. This was talking about a living, thinking, feeling child that would feel more at home switching from one sex to another and everything that that entailed. And sure, some of that Tony struggled to understand, but he wanted to.

"Loki." He sat forwards, hands clasped in front of him, as he asked again: "Are you sure that you don't want them?"

[gloriously_purposed]

"You want to keep them," he sentenced, not finding a reason as to why continuing playing a game, he told to himself, he was finding boring by now.

Did he want to be a mother here though? It would certainly secure his position. Maybe the Allfather would even pretend that the bond they once shared was once real and still alive. His mother would be delighted, no question about it. Finally having grandchildren on their image, despite of their Jotunn inheritance. A spell like the glamor that 'protected' him from his own nature was something he could easily pull these days.

Even Thor would be happy about this.

But would he? Would this only remind him of his new position as a tool?

"I won't be a whore for you to breed."

[call_4766626]

He wasn't going to get an answer from Loki, he realised, until he was honest himself. It wasn't an easy thing to be honest with himself about, though. He hadn't woken up with a desire to be a father. But then the day he was given Loki he hadn't had any plans whatsoever to get engaged either. Maybe a couple of light dates with Pepper, see how that went...

... This was going to completely blow any chances he had left with Pepper out of the water.

"I don't know for sure. It's a lot to process. But, yeah, I think I do."

It was too much of an incredible thing to discount and get rid of. Not just because of the scientific curiousity of it. But, he already felt a connection to them, maybe because of that.

"No. I'd never ask you to be. And this is up to you as well, you get a say in what you want. The last say in it."

[gloriously_purposed]

It was surprising, to say the last, to think some genuine words had finally escaped Stark's lips. And since when did he care as much about the truth? No, it wasn't that. He did apreciate, however, that the other man did not shy away from showing his own vulnerabilities.

"So you've changed your mind about me, huh? I'm no longer your tart?" Loki had definitely not been coy in the slightest, deciding to take what he wanted the very day the Allfather announced his punishment. But that little number Stark had pulled off after the public conference? Loki was not exactly known for letting go of his grudges.

And yet here they were.

"I've been though this before," he reminded Stark, a hand coming over to rest on his belly. "And this is what is expected of any successful union, is it not? Heirs."

[call_4766626]

"I was drunk and I've said my apologies," Tony's eyeroll was nearly audible. It had been Loki telling him that he might have just signed a death sentence for his ward that made him do the right thing and go back out to admit his mistake, though. "It was implied that through marriage I would have those rights, but no one ever suggested that I would make you into breeding stock."

That still wasn't really right, but it was the closest he was going to get to retracing old ground and saying he was wrong, again.

Loki's hand moved to his stomach in what could only be considered a maternal way and Tony's eyes followed the action. It was true that under traditional circumstances, arranged marriages came with the expectation of offspring. But who, well who on Earth at least, would have expected this from two men?

"In general, around these parts, the guy doesn't need to think about getting knocked up." He scrubbed his hand thoughtfully over his stubble. "Is it something you'd want again? We'd keep them, raise them. They'd be our sons. Or daughters."

[gloriously_purposed]

Indeed, Stark had apologised profusely for his words. But what other options did he have? He was the very center of attention and the weight of a possible war between Asgard and Midgar, detonated by Loki's execution, was something he'd have to carry for that mistake. He would have been a suicidal fool not to comply. "Did you mean it, though?"

Loki finally had a bargaining chip of sorts now. And now that Stark had recognised his vulnerability? keeping the twins proved to be a wise idea.

It would probably soften the opinions of both Asgard and Midgard in regards of Loki himself too.

"A glorious purpose, huh?" He pointed out in barely a little more than a whisper, his hand indeed careful as he stroked his own belly. It was for the show and Stark was surely eating it up. "What about your woman? Will she be inclined to raise my children too?"

She was stubborn, unwilling to leave the side of Anthony's bed that was rightfully his.

[call_4766626]

No surprises that Loki wasn't ready to let this one drop yet. Tony couldn't blame him: It had been embarrassment after embarrassment, and although Tony didn't need much reminding that there was a good reason that Loki deserved it, he did feel for him as well.

"Yeah, I might say asshole-y things, but I don't say apologize for things unless I mean it. Otherwise I'd have spent the whole of my twenties saying sorry."

Pulling his lip into his mouth, he stayed thoughtful a minute, chewing on it as he looked at Loki, sitting there. Pregnant. So they were going to do this? He got up and moved to sit next to his fiancé. Should they rush the wedding? It probably wouldn't read well in the media if they had the kids first.

"She's my PA, she's going to be involved. It'll make both our lives easier. Running out for diapers and baby food, baby sitting if we want to go out..."

She's going to take his balls.

[gloriously_purposed]

Impassive as he looked, Stark's words at least managed to earn an amused snort out of him. He could relate to that. at the very least. If he were to apologize for all his wrong-doings, he would have spent more than three-quarters of his first thousand years asking for forgiveness himself...

"I don't want her to," he spat. "She can take care of the little things, but I don't want your mistress taking care of my children."

He was still measuring things, testing how much Tony was willing to give, to kneel in a certain way.

"Do you have any idea of how that would look? Me, yoru husband that gives you children and yet you share the master bedroom with some woman who will still enjoy the perks of raising my heirs? Try and explain that to Asgard, Anthony."

[call_4766626]

That sentence made his stomach churn with a moment of anxiety. How did he come to this? Talking about Pepper being 'the other woman', the man-god-alien he was engaged to saying that he didn't want her in Tony's bed or looking after the twins he was carrying. He felt a little bit like he was in some drug induced coma in that moment.

The worse part was that it actually made sense.

"Fair," he nodded. "She doesn't have to have anything to do with them, and to be honest that will probably suit her as well."

It was over. His whole relationship with Pepper was in tatters, which probably had more than a little to do with his drunken outburst at the press event the other night. Not that that helped things between them anyway.

It felt like he was losing something before he even got the chance to know what it could be. But these two boys... It felt the same, but more. Living with Loki felt a lot like living with himself, which wasn't necessarily a good thing. But he could grow to like him more, perhaps. He was smart, and they could learn from each other, and his wicked streak was fun when he wasn't trying to destroy civilizations.

"You're saying you want her to move out of my bed for good, and you to move in to it? For appearance?"

[gloriously_purposed]

It was so easy to see, the fact that if Stark had even considered these factors he had not taken them seriously enough. Or that he considered Loki would be detached enough from this situation to even think he would bring it up to discuss it. What did he think they were doing?

"It's not just appearances. I'm not playing at being your roommate." He had been granted plenty of space, bed chambers of his own. All things considered, days could pass by and they would have been able to completely avoid each other, is that was what they wished for. "You have been promised to me as my future husband. Your bed shall be mine too, Anthony. I'm merely claiming what is rightfully mine."

It wasn't a throne, but a cage of sorts. But he'd make the most out of it.

Reaching out, his grip was almost gentle as he took hold of Stark's wrist. He was careful, as he guided him to place his palm over his belly. Still flat, there was no real changes yet. But Anthony would understand. "Don't you wish to claim what is yours?"

[call_4766626]

"Are you telling me you want me to be a faith husband? No one else but you?" Tony wasn't sure if he could do that. He hadn't even made that kind of promise to Pepper, and sure enough, he'd fucked Loki that first time even as they were arguing. Both he and Pepper and he and Loki, in fact.

Yet, though he'd not said it out loud, he had expected that kind of exclusivity from Pepper's side of the relationship. He knew it wasn't fair, but he couldn't deny that was how he'd felt. Was Loki taking his role in this now? "But you'd said that you would expect to have more than just me as a partner still. It has to be one way or the other.

Hypocritical much?

It was strange to have his hand placed in a suddenly so intimate feeling place. Even though he could feel no difference from how it would normally feel, Tony felt himself smiling. Everything, even this conversation, suddenly felt lighter.

"Yes," he nodded. "If we're doing this we should do it properly. Make it a family."

[gloriously_purposed]

Of course, even a lesser mind, one a fraction as keen's as Stark's would eventually make the same questions. Loki had pointed those rules upon his arrival, setting things straight from the very beginning. Now that their arrangement was finally settling down, feeling less abstract and more of a reality they would both be forced to live as a routine, things were also changing.

"I would be too naive to expect that of you, I'm sure." Marriage wouldn't keep Stark's cock in his pants. "But I can't have you parading yourself with your mistresses as if both our lives didn't depend on this arrangement." Stark's might not be on the line, but if he ruined this there would sure be consequences for him too.

Letting go of Tony's hand, Loki reached up at the black towel wrapped around his head. He slipped it back, heavy soaked locks, fell down his shoulders. But after drapping the towel at the back of the couch, it took a single wave of his hand over his hair to dry it properly.

His attention shifter towards Anthony then. "You've never been a father before?" It was a genuine question, even though he saw no signs of children in his fiance's life.

He pinched his chin,the nail of his thumb catching on the short, carefully designed beard. Steering him down, Loki craned his neck to kiss Stark's lips.

A family.

[call_4766626]

It didn't exactly clear up where they both stood on this topic, and Tony could argue that no one would ever know if he still slept with Pepper, that she had been discreet for him for years. But Loki was agreeing to keep his kids and wanted to sleep with him more than they were already doing. Tony couldn't really complain.

He watched as Loki dried his hair with a single wave of his hand. The amount of time that he would save getting ready for an evening function over any female date he took! It probably wasn't the time to point that out, though.

"Hmmn? No, I don't think so. Not that I've been told, any way." There was always a good chance of some bastard Starks running around out there somewhere. One day they might turn up on his doorstep and it'd be his turn to be accused of being the absent father.

He blinked in surprise as Loki guided his face and leaned in to kiss him. It felt good though, right, as he closed his eyes and leaned in a little against Loki, his hand still on the god's stomach.

Eventually, he pulled back. "How long should we expect the pregnancy to last? With humans it's normally nine months..."

[gloriously_purposed]

Of course, he couldn't expect any less. Midgarian lives were fleeting and someone of Anthony's status of course had wasted no time seducing as many partners as possible, just as the Asgardian prince had a reputation for being very welcoming towards the monarchs and lords and ladies that visited the court. Among others...

Who would have thought, that he would eventually find himself expecting children from a simple mortal, one cuddling him as they share a tender kiss whilst having the first actually amicable conversation regarding their shared future.

"About a year, give or take a month or two." Twisting his wrist, the back of his fingers stroked Anthony's jawline. He cocked his head. "Are you done for the evening? Is the woman coming over tonight?"

She often did, considering the tower her home too. But that was not always the case.

[call_4766626]

"Plenty of time for the wedding, then." At least it wasn't going to be a magical thing that was over in a week. Time for the wedding, time for him to get used to the idea as well. So many ideas to get used to... "We should look at the plans and think about the timing. Should anyone know that you were pregnant before we were married? How much might you be showing... But let's worry about that another time."

If they got married in the next three months, it'd look like Loki had fallen pregnant during the honeymoon, at least by Earth terms. Not that Tony cared, but the press would lap that up.

He stroked his hand over Loki's stomach again, trying to let the thought sink in that he was carrying life. Life that Tony had had a hand in making. It was a mind blowing thought.

"She was going to, but I'll let her know not to. It can just be me and you. Anything you want, let me know what you need."

[gloriously_purposed]

"Yes, well, 'plenty' is not a term I'd use." It was a true short span of time in his eyes, but it was hardly surprising to see he and his husband-to-be had such a different perception of things. They would have to speak to the counsellors, push the date of the wedding even though it was also imminent in Loki's eyes as well. "The Asgardian court won't be particularly surprised, I suspect that neither will be SHIELD or your people. But we ought to keep appearances."

He was glad to drop the subject though, simply nodding his agreement. His mother would probably click her tongue in fleeting disappointment, reminding him not to rush things, but Loki was also sure she'd be the first one to embrace the situation and show her excitement for what the path that was unfolding before them.

"Anything I want?" Well, look at that, the perks to the situation were starting to show off. If was played his cards right it wouldn't take much to wrap Anthony around his little finger. Keeping this children was already proving itself to be useful. "Well, I suppose this calls for making the evening a special one." He leaned in to press a kiss to Tony's shoulder before pulling away. Leaning forward, he placed his book on the coffee table before getting up on his feet.

"I know I cannot leave the tower." Unlike Tony and Pepper did, so freely. How many events had she attended with his fiancé? Dinners. "But I'm sure you can set something up for us."