Chapter Text
Tony had to get the missile away from the city. He had to protect the millions of civilians currently trapped in a warzone, surrounded by aliens and oblivious to the nuclear fate the government had sentenced them to.
“JARVIS, full power to thrusters.”
The missile in his arms tilted up, up, up until it was aimed right for the portal in the sky. Tony shot through it, his call to Pepper ringing out.
Silence.
Ahead of him was an alien warship, countless alien beasts streaming out into the vacuum of space, undeterred by the lack of air. The missile slipped from his hands and rocketed towards them.
Tony’s HUD darkened. There was a bright white light, a blossom of flame from the mothership, blinding him.
It was cold. He couldn’t breathe. JARVIS was gone, his power was gone, and now…
He was falling, tumbling out of control.
Above him space, below him sky.
He was falling, falling, falling…
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Tony shocked awake, clutching at the blankets tangled around his legs. Ever since the Chitauri invasion three months ago, the nightmares had been reoccurring. Every time, he was staring up into the oncoming alien horde, falling back to Earth as the portal closed.
He had never once landed.
Sighing, Tony rubbed his eyes and sat up. Now that he was awake, there was no sense laying prone in his bed, since there was no way he would fall back asleep. He never could.
Slipping out from under the covers, Tony threw on a pair of sweatpants and a Black Sabbath T-shirt before travelling from his room to the kitchen. What he needed right now was some coffee, preferably so caffeinated that he wouldn’t need to sleep for a week.
Tony reached the kitchen and dumped the coffee grounds into the filter. While he filled the pot with water, he allowed his mind to wander to his newest suit upgrade.
If he were to change the direction of energy flow from his arc reactor, he could probably increase output to thrusters by fifty percent. However, that would require a recalibration of his repulsor settings, which meant creating a new algorithm. It wouldn’t take more than a few hours, provided he started on it now-
Falling into an empty void, no control, darkness encroaching…
The coffee pot clattered out of his hands and into the sink, splashing water both on the counter and Tony.
“Shit,” Tony muttered, snatching a roll of paper towels to attempt to clean up the mess he had made.
It took a few minutes to dry off the countertop sufficiently, and finally, the coffee began to brew. The scent of sweet, glorious coffee began to waft through the air, making Tony more alert to the Asgardian approaching from the balcony area.
“Hey, Point Break,” Tony greeted. “How’re things in Asgard?”
“Loki has been put in a holding cell and awaits the verdict on his punishment. After what he did on Asgard and later, Midgard, I do not believe the Allfather will be lenient with his sentence,” Thor replied. He paused, cocking his head to study Tony. “Does something bother you?”
“Nah. It’s all good.” Tony plastered a smile he wasn’t really feeling on his face. “Just wanted to get an early start, y’know?”
Thor raised an eyebrow. “Stark, I am not blind. I can tell that sleep evades you, and I only wish to aid you to the best of my abilities.”
“Really, I’m fine-”
“Then you would not mind returning to your quarters to rest further?”
Tony froze, and he could see Thor’s eyes widen in concern. He couldn’t go back to his room, to the dark, to the dreams of falling, a never-ending drop-
“Stark?”
When Tony didn’t respond, Thor grasped Tony’s shoulder and gently shook him. Still nothing. Tony only loosened when the Asgardian wrapped his arms around Tony’s torso and held him close to his chest.
“Um… Thor? What are you doing?”
“You seemed to require physical comfort. Lady Jane informed me that a hug is appropriate in these circumstances. Did that aid your panic?” Thor released his hold just slightly, pulling away so that he could see Tony’s face.
Tony smiled, a small, sheepish smile. “A little bit.”
“Wonderful! Now, shall we sit?” Gently, Thor took Tony’s arm and tugged him towards the sitting area. Tony got the sense that he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
“Now, Stark.” Thor settled himself and Tony on the couch, close enough that Thor’s knee was pressed against Tony’s – an anchor point. “We do not have to discuss matters, if that is what you wish. However, I desire to know how I may help.”
Tony realized he was tapping his fingers on his leg, and made a conscious effort to still himself. Taking one, two, three deep breaths to calm down, Tony stated, “I don’t think- I don’t want to be alone, now.”
Thor smiled. “Very well!” he announced. He wrapped an arm around Tony’s shoulders and pulled him flush to his torso. Tony released a muffled “oof” as his face was pressed into the Asgardian’s chest.
“Rest well, Stark,” Thor murmured, gently cording his fingers through Tony’s hair. Tony, much to his own surprise, found the gesture soothing.
The fleeting thought of Pepper’s reaction to finding out he had cuddled with a god quickly faded as Tony dropped into a dreamless sleep.