Buzzing like an excited child at Christmas, Tony refuses to stand still whilst Loki finishes his preparations for their journey. He bounces around the bedroom, humming and clicking his fingers, as Loki sits by the window with a book in hand. He is searching through the little resources he has within his reach to find a reason for his newly found biological change, but nothing is revealing itself to him. Tony's pacing is doing nothing to help the situation.

"Anthony Edward Stark! Stand still or I refuse to journey with you!" Loki's patience is wearing very thin indeed as he snaps, and Tony can see the fear in his partner’s eyes. He sits down on the edge of the bed, lips pursed to stop himself from retorting, making things worse than they already are. A twinge of guilt tugs at his heartstrings and it hurts, he has even less knowledge than Loki does in this.

Tony does his best not to be annoying, he really does. It takes a lot, because he spends so much of his time being an inconsiderate dick. If he is going to incorporate Loki into his life, in a we're banging, back off, he's my mate kind of way — which he sincerely hopes is true — he's going to need to change a few aspects of himself. Mostly so Loki won't kill him. He won't put that past the God sat at his window, he knows it's true. When he sees that he's near the end of the book he's reading, Tony stands up and sits behind the God, pressing light kisses to his shoulder and the base of his neck. Loki all but melts in the engineers hold. He lays his head to rest on Tony's shoulder, enjoying the calming effect the small touches bring.

He takes a deep breath and sighs, closing the book, "Okay, let us get this over with.”

/

Even though Loki had been the brains behind the rebuild of the Bifrost, Heimdall and he still do not see eye to eye — on anything. It is much to Loki’s displeasure that he has to resort to calling for Heimdall, his own magic is still not back to full strength after the heat. It takes a hugeamount of magic to transport himself to Asgard, even more for two people, energy he just does not have at this moment in time.

Tony stands by Loki's side under his instruction, subconsciously snuggling into his side, as the taller man’s arm pulls him close. Loki had already explained everything Tony needs for what he's about to experience. It won't be harmful or painful, it just won't be all that pleasant either.

Loki calls loud for Heimdall, and the ground below them begins to glow. Twisting towards Loki, Tony buries his head in the crook of his neck, a sudden wave of terror striking him. Knowing how he felt the first time he travelled by the Bifrost--he was terrified--Loki humours the mortal, pulling him into a tight embrace.

Whether it was minutes, or more likely seconds, Tony felt like they'd been in the Bifrost for hours. Twisting and turning, his stomach lurching with the abnormal gravitational pulls acting on him all at once, he squeezes his eyes shut almost painfully, as he latches onto Loki. The God is accustomed to this means of travelling after his long existence, and no longer feels the adverse effects of the Bifrost.

Tony breathes a sigh of relief when he feels solid ground beneath his feet, he wants to drop to his knees and curl himself into a ball, sleeping off the out of body experience. Loki has other plans and hauls him to stand on his own two feet, his arm still supporting him.

He bends his head forward to whisper in Tony's ear, "Now behave. Things could become messy very quickly."

"You fill me with little hope of coming out of this little escapade alive," Tony grits through his teeth, his head finally clearing from the wooziness brought about by their journey.

"It is not my wish to fill you with false-hope. I need you prepared. I do not want you dead."

Tony can't decide whether to reply in a similar way to Loki, his message full of heavily disguised devotion, or to reply with a trademark snarky comment about sentiment being his downfall. He doesn't have to make the decision in the end, a loud cough cuts off his thought process. He turns carefully to see a man, if that's what you can call him... He is as tall as Loki and emblazoned in even more gold. Every so often he has to squint, the shiny metal reflecting into his eyes.

"Heimdall," Loki nods to the gatekeeper, a strained smile on his lips as he pulls Tony by the arm, towards what really is a freaking rainbow bridge!" I assume the All-Father is aware of my arrival."

"He is," Loki receives in return from Heimdall with a curt nod if the head.

"What understanding does he have of my visit?" Loki enquires cautiously.

"None, my Prince," The Gatekeeper assures, surprisingly pleasant. "There are horses waiting if you require transport to the throne room."

"My thanks.” He goes to leave, but has one final request, “I know you owe me nothing, but I would be grateful if you would prevent Thor travelling here until I have spoken to Odin.”

“Of course, I understand the importance of your business here, have no fear.” Heimdall finishes with a slight bow that Loki returns. Once finished with their pleasantries and Loki continues to guide Tony forward.

Putting up resistance, Tony stops at the edge of the rainbow bridge before him. His mouth drops open in awe, never did he think Asgard would look like this, so beautiful. Loki scoffs, unhappy to see the wonderment on his partner’s face, "Stop gawping, Anthony, it is most unbecoming for a warrior of Midgard.”

Loki strides away from him in a huff, allowing Tony’s eyes to sweep across the landscape. Everything is so pretty here! One of the horses catches his wondering eyes, it looks and sounds far too happy to see Loki. It takes Tony a moment to notice, but it recognises him. He's read all the tales and all the myths, and his eyes automatically drop to check the number of legs the horse has. Eight.

"Hey, um, Loki? So there's this thing I read on the internet about, um," He jogs over to the God and his eyes shift back to the eight hooves dancing on the bridge. His voice drops, like his question regards highly sensitive, top secret information, "Did you really give birth to a horse?"

The information may be vaguely sensitive, but not top secret, and Loki laughs aloud, "Does that rumour still circulate on Midgard?"

Assuming the answer to his question is yes, thanks to Tony's silence, he can't help but shake his head, a smile still on his lips. That rumour had been started by Thor an eon ago, and he has long since let go of the bitterness he felt. "Anthony, I did not bear an eight legged horse, and despite laying with you, I do have standards!" That earns him a snort of derision from Tony. "In my earlier days I was a little more promiscuous, I suppose, and gained a reputation that is far from the truth. But God of Mischief and all, I couldn't let an opportunity like that pass me by.”

“You willingly let people think you gave birth to an eight-legged horse?” He pauses before shaking his head, “Of course you did, you’re you… I’m not surprised.”

Loki steps forward, running his fingers through the horse’s mane, a fond smile on his lips as he reminisces, “I found Sleipnir on a hunt with Thor. I separated from the group to search for myself, there is only so much boisterousness I can tolerate from his friends, they are ghastly! He had been abandoned in the forest, only a few hours old. I nursed him once back in Asgard, he would have died without my intervention. He has remained in the royal stables ever since, even accompanying Odin into battle on more than one occasion.”

Tony closes in behind him, his arms enclosing around the taller man’s torso, Loki leans back into the hold, his hands grasping onto Tony’s. He can’t explain it, but after Loki’s story, he feels even closer to the God. The story, no matter how short, felt incredibly personal and intimate, and he appreciates being let in.

Before this whole situation began, they were friends — could even be considered best friends. They would opt for each other’s company more than any other Avenger on the team. Tony would even choose Loki over Pepper nowadays, especially since she mated with Rhodey. Their intelligence and quick-witted tongues were on par, they could, and would, challenge each other: it was basically impossible for them to insult the other. Tony was the one to introduce Loki to Midgardian customs, to prepare him for his new life. He even took the time to teach Loki science, and in return Loki taught Tony about magic. He couldn’t do the spells, but at least he now understood and appreciated it. On the whole, they made each other better. One had to wonder, what would have happened if Loki was never hit by Doom’s spell, would they ever have discovered what their relationship has on the horizon?

"So my dear, what experience do you possess with horses?"

"Uh—" Wait, he was actually expected to ride one of these?! "Not a lot! You're joking right? I live in New York! We don't have horses!"

"If I were a crueller man, I'd force you to ride solo," Tony's face drops significantly as Loki mounts Sleipnir. He really doesn't want to make a complete tit of himself on his first visit to Asgard. The God's eyes sparkle, as he holds out his hand, "But today, I suppose I should behave."

Sighing in relief, Tony accepts Loki's hand and struggles onto the horse. He sits close behind the God, his arms wrapping around Loki's body; his hands grasp particularly tightly into the material at his waist, as Loki kicks Sleipnir into action. He buries his face between Loki's shoulder blades to protect himself from the wind whipping past him. Tony never would have thought a horse could reach the speeds of his fastest car. Eight legs, he reminds himself.

After what feels like a decade to Tony, the horse grinds to a halt. He doesn't know what it is about travelling with Loki, but what seems like hours is in fact mere minutes. Unable to enjoy the scenery with his face buried in Loki's back, Tony's eyes blow wide as he takes in the view of Asgard. The palace shimmers in the light, and it almost blinds him. In his stunned awe, he doesn’t notice Loki dismounting Sleipnir. To gain the whirring mind of his genius, Loki places a gentle hand on Tony’s knee, drawing his attention back to the raven haired God. He holds out his hands to aid Tony in climbing down from Sleipnir, successfully hiding his amusement at the human’s inexperience.

With a purposeful stride, Loki advances to the throne room with Tony in tow. He knows Odin will be there, and hopefully his mother. He really would like to see her, despite that nature of his visit. In his haste, Loki refuses to let the guards announce him to the room and strolls right on in.He's also a massive drama queen, but Tony keeps that thought to himself as Loki tugs him along.

Tony hurries alongside him, completely forgetting to ask this question back home, "Do I bow?"

"You do as any good mortal would do, bow to one knee. You are not getting killed here today. I, on the other hand, refuse indefinitely." Well thanks for clearing that up, Lo'. He already knew the route Loki would take, there is little respect for the man he called father for years.

Once they reach the throne room, they do just as Loki had said. Tony bows fully, his right knee against the floor, his head stooped. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see both of Loki's legs still standing straight, rigid and unmoving. A booming voice stabs through the room, "Rise, mortal."

Tony doesn't realise the term mortal could irk him so much, especially used against him like that, in that tone of voice, like he's scum. He doesn't mind Loki or Thor using the term, they don't make it sound so derogatory. Tony grits his teeth and follows the instruction. As he stands his eyes fall upon a man, a God he reminds himself, stood at the top of the stairs leading to the throne. He radiates authority and superiority. He thinks himself above those in the room, and Tony is sure that doesn’t end within these walls. He totally gets why Loki despises this guy now, Thor had always painted such a pretty picture.

“Loki,” Odin finally acknowledges after what seems like a slow motion sweep of the room, seriously where are the wind machines and the singing angels? It's not a movie, Tony narrates silently to himself. “What brings you before me today?”

Loki's jaw clenches, only relaxing to enable speech. Tony can see the effort he's putting in to stay calm. "I merely seek the truth I am due. I know you did more than just take me from Jotunheim that day."

“I am afraid I do not understand." The All-Father visibly tenses, body tight and uncomfortable. A nerve clearly struck. "I have provided you with the truth, Loki, and I have apologized profusely for my wrongdoings.”

Stalking forward, the trickster stops at the foot of the stairs, "But it is not only my skin you altered all those years ago, how else have you deceived me?”

“My son, I—” Odin begins, but is cut off before he can spout more untruths.

“Do not lie to me again, father,” Loki spits through his teeth, “I need the truth and I need it now. After everything you have put me through, you at least owe me this.”

“What has lead you to this sudden revelation of yours?" Track record, immediately comes to mind, but no one, especially Tony, dare say that aloud, despite the truth in it. He continues to stand back, his eye trained cautiously and carefully on Loki. The answer to Odin's question in fact involves the human and Tony doesn't know what Loki will divulge to him.

“It matters not to you." Loki's eyes flick to his right, to the mortal that accompanied him on this trip, the man that has changed everything. He doesn't want Odin knowing about their how close they have become, the intimacy they have shared. That is sacred between mates, and Tony is his mate. He just wants to know how. "That information is private.”

“To help, I need an indication to what ails you.” Stubborn, old fool, Loki avoids saying, but huffs in frustration when he realises he'll have to give a little to get anything back.

“I was caught unawares by a Midgardian sorcerer and since no one has yet to pale at my appearance," Loki tilts his head dangerously, Odin taking a step back at the curl of his lip and the venom in his voice, "Your glamour, Odin, is still very much intact, but I have not been the same. My body… is not the same. Something deeper has been awoken, and I know you have the information I seek.”

Both watch as Odin's shoulders drop, that earlier superiority dampened somewhat by the obvious deception he has held over Loki's century’s long life. “I am sorry, my son. I truly am sorry for not revealing the whole truth to you. I have no excuses, what I did was to please my own ego, nothing more.”

“What have you done to me?" He hates the shake in his voice, the fear. His throat constricts tightly, not really prepared for what is to come. A new part of him wants to run, run back to Midgard with Tony and get on with it. He doesn't actually need answers, not really. But it's too late now, he demanded the truth, and that's what he's going to get. Whether he likes it or not.

“I returned to Asgard much later than the army I lead in the battle on Jotunheim. In that time I sought help from the Norns, but they refused. In my continued search I found a disgraced member of the Vanir, who had the knowledge I required and was easy enough to persuade into aiding me. She was strong, her magic dark. She weaved a long-lasting incantation, a charm to hide your true biological imperative. If you were to be my son, and I wanted an Alpha.” If the shame on his face wasn’t evident before, it was after his next confession, “I wanted you to be the same as Thor, I didn’t want an Omega son and the shame that would bring.”

The room stills, silence throughout, albeit the shocked gasp from a woman stood off to the side. Tony hadn’t even noticed her beforehand, she must be Loki’s mother. He’s not sure if Loki, or even Odin, had noticed her presence, but it doesn’t look like that matters right now. The tension is thick enough to suffocate and no one’s presence, hers or Tony's, will make any difference. They stand still waiting for his reaction.

Truth. The truth hurts, Loki knows that already, so why wasn’t he expecting the horribly familiar pain in his chest? His glare falls from Odin, his body all but collapsing under the pressure of his father’s new lie. Bursting into action, Tony rushes to his partner’s aid, catching him before his knees crash into the hard, marble floor below him. Loki grasps onto the arms around his waist, his eyes look up, desperately boring into Tony’s, the genius trying his best to convey some form of comfort with his understanding facial expression. You’re not alone in this. He helps Loki stand again, not letting go until the taller of the two is stable on his feet again.

Frigga notices the carefully gentle exchange between Loki and the most curious Man of Iron. Only a few minutes previous, her heart was breaking, her son had been lied to again, but now, a smile twitches at her lips, a wave of relief washing over her. He’s not alone this time.

"You two are bonded?" She questions softly, as she steps forward. Loki's eyes shine at her, yes, he reveals silently.

"Mortal!” Odin roars, standing forward from his throne, “You have mated my son?"

"I am not your son anymore." Loki seethes through gritted teeth, his voice dangerous, not loud. His arm pulls Tony behind him, moving himself between his mate and the King.

"Odin." Frigga becomes another obstacle, stepping between her husband and the couple, her voice just as dangerous as Loki's. "You have lied to both me and to my son for his entire life. You have no say in who his mate is. You may be the King of this realm, All-Father, but you are no father to him."

"My Queen…" He pleads, only to be cut off by her raising her hand.

"No, Odin," Her voice strong, tired of his lies and the pain that follow, "I have nothing more to say."

She steps further forward placing her hands on the two men’s shoulders, smiling wisely, "Come, let us rejoice your union."

Loki and Tony exchange a look of disbelief. Neither of them, especially Loki, thought Frigga would ever stand up to Odin like that. They quickly gather themselves and follow her out of the throne room, leaving Odin standing alone, belittled and ashamed. Guilty.