Supervision

Just past 8pm, the sun almost fully set, Loki sits on the bed of his now four-year-old son, finishing up his bedtime story. Tonight Loki is telling Peter of the glorious days he spent on wild hunts through the Asgardian planes with Uncle Thor. The previous night, Tony recounted the time he built Dummy and all the numerous accidents he had had because of him. The young boy laughed until he yawned, falling asleep on his father’s shoulder. Tonight he doesn’t fall asleep immediately, he isn’t as tired as the previous night — it had been a lazy day around the tower.

"Mom, remember, don't close the door," Peter states matter-of-factly, as he shuffles under the bed covers.

"Of course, darling," Loki doesn't protest. He doesn't understand why Peter likes to keep his door open at night, but he's sure he'll grow out of it. Tony assures him that will change when he gets to be a teenager. Midgardian teenagers, he'sheard the rumours of their troublesome ways, the terror they strike into some parents. He silently prays to whatever merciful God there is out in the nine realms that Peter will not rebel against them, at least not like he did.

Standing from the bed, he tucks Peter in and kisses him on the forehead, "Goodnight, son."

Stretching up, he pulls Loki into a hug, "Night, Mom. Love you..." His voice tapers off into a yawn as he shimmies under the duvet, curling onto his side, eyes falling closed.

Loki presses one last kiss to Peter's temple, before making to leave the room — remembering to leave the door open. Before he can get far, a gentle prod nudges his foot.

"And how could I forget you, Mischief," he whispers to the cat, as to not wake Peter. He spends a few minutes crouched to the floor, tickling him under his chin and on the back of his neck, just how he likes. When Mischief has had enough, he makes Loki aware. Tonight he shakes off his fingers and moves to his usual spot. Loki stands, proud as he watches the cat he has raised from a kitten curl up on the floor beside Peter’s bed. From the day Mischief returned home after Peter’s birth, he has been found either at the door when Peter was still in his crib, or beside his bed as he grew older.

When Loki gets to his own room, Tony is already asleep in their bed. Smiling, he’s glad that the genius is finally getting the sleep he needs. Over the last week, he’s been spending more and more time in the lab on his latest suit modification. The further he got with it, the less amount of time there was for sleep, he was fixated on getting it finished quickly and perfectly. Now it was finally complete, Tony can relax, and sleep. Once ready himself, Loki slips in between the covers and snuggles himself into Tony’s side. Breathing in the familiar scent of his partner, his eyes close immediately.

Loki doesn’t know how long he’s been asleep, but he gets awoken by the panicked screams of Peter from down the corridor. Loki shoves Tony awake, who immediately springs to life from his almost comatose state. They both frantically run to his room, through the door within minutes and ready for a fight since they had no idea what was going on. When they get there, they find him no longer crying, but laying on his side, Mischief curled in tightly to his chest. Peter strokes Mischief, sniffling slightly, his eyes red and puffy, cuddling him close. Both parents, although still worried, breathe a sigh of relief. At least no one was attacking. Tony is the one to step forward first. Peter raises his eyes to look at his father, but soon focus back on Mischief.

“Hey bud, wanna talk about it?” Tony asks, crouched beside the bed. Mischief decides that it’s probably best to move and not interrupt family time. He jumps from the bed and moves to sit by the door.

“No…” The small voice is hesitant, still scared. But maybe Dad can help? He can, Peter decides, “It was a bad dream. A huge spider with horrible fangs was trying to bite me!”

Tony smiles sadly, his thumbs brushing away the tears, “Spiders always freak me out too, buddy. Gotta remember though, whatever scares you, Iron Man could totally kick its ass!”

Peter giggles lightly, knowing Dad used a bad word. But he shakes his head, unconvinced that anything could save him from the savage creatures. “Not caught in a spider web, you couldn’t…”

“Well maybe not, but that’s what Mom is for,” Tony nods back to Loki that is stood just behind him. “You know with his magic, he’s way too fast for any spider to catch him. He’ll always save us.”

Kneeling beside his lover, he kisses him lightly, his hand taking a hold of Peter’s, “I promise I will save you, Peter. Where you are, whatever has you, it matters not. I will always find you and I will always save you.” He turns his head back to Tony, “Both of you.”

Peter sits up and hugs Loki tightly. Loki sits on the bed beside his son, running his fingers gently through his brown wavy hair, as he holds onto him tightly. Tony kisses both their heads, before turning and leaving, always knowing that Loki is so much better at really dealing with the emotional side of Peter. He also gives great hugs! Tony never really liked to cuddle in his younger days, but then Loki happened, and his entire view on cuddling changed.

After 20 more minutes, Peter feels calm and safe enough to go back to sleep. He’s tired and his eyes hurt, he just wants to close them. Loki senses the uncomfortable shifting, so releases his hold, laying Peter back against the bed, rearranging his covers.

Just as he stands, the bed creaking at the shift of weight, Peter’s voice quietly speaks, “Mom, can Mischief stay on the bed with me?”

Smiling to himself in the dim light of the room, Loki picks Mischief from the floor and places him back in his place beside Peter. “Of course he can, love.”

With one last reassuring kiss to the forehead, Loki heads out of the room, leaving the door fully open behind him. Once he’s far enough away from Peter’s room, Loki stops, his back pressed up against the wall. Tony steps out of their bedroom to stand in front of him, his arms wrapping around Loki’s shoulders. Drained, Loki’s head falls forward onto Tony’s shoulder, standing together as their minds settle.

Tangling his fingers in the sleek, black hair, tony holds Loki close. “You handled that so well, I have no idea how you do it. Seriously, I feel a million times safer with you here."

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Stark.” Loki all but purrs.

Tony catches on pretty quickly, grinning wildly, “How far will it get me tonight?”

“Tonight, nowhere.” Loki didn’t want to be preoccupied with something Tony-related if his son needed him again that night.

“Tomorrow though…” His voice low, seductive. Walking by, Loki drags his nails lightly over Tony’s exposed collar bones, the other man visibly shaking with anticipation. “Don’t make me wait.”

Notes