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No one threw a party like Tony Stark.

Unfortunately, it also meant that no one had hangovers quite like Tony Stark.

Loki said he should be immune to them by now, and God, wouldn’t that be nice? Sadly, he wasn’t. He had a headache and was horrified to learn that there wasn’t enough coffee in the house for more than two cups.

He was very grateful his roommate and best friend (don’t tell Rhodey) only drank tea. It meant that he could lean his head on the kitchen counter and give Loki puppy dog eyes until he gave in.

“Please, Loki?” He asked, trying to look even more pitiful.

Loki was staring him down. His arms were crossed and he looked unimpressed. Some people would wither under that stare. Tony was not one of them, he knew Loki would give in eventually.

“You are the one who decided to host a party until three am.”

“But, it was for a good cause!”

“Bruce Banner isn’t even in the country. You didn’t need to host a birthday party for him.”

“Lokiiiii,” Tony whined. He even widened his eyes and jutted out his lip. He held out the coffee mug and shook it. “Please?”

Loki drew in a long, deep breath, and let it out. His exasperation went with it to be replaced by fond amusement. He stepped forward and placed his hand in Tony’s hair, rubbing through it softly. Tony closed his eyes and leant into the touch. Loki ran a thumb over his temple, soothing the lingering headache.

“Fine,” he said gently. “I’ll go get you a coffee.”

Tony relaxed. “You’re the best.”

“I know,” Loki answered smugly. “I’m taking your card.”

“Buy yourself a pastry,” Tony insisted.

Loki snorted and removed his hand, Tony leaned after it, already missing the affectionate touch. He didn’t know why people thought Loki was cold and callous. Tony had never met anyone more affectionate, loyal and willing to put up with Tony’s shit.

Clearly, everyone else were just idiots.

Tony stayed against the counter as he heard Loki bustling around their penthouse apartment. He came back a few minutes later and dropped a pair of sunglasses beside Tony.

“I’ll be back in ten minutes. Don’t try and synthesise coffee while I’m gone.”

“That was one time,” Tony whined while grabbing the pink sunglasses and putting them on.

“One too many,” Loki drawled.

Tony tilted his head to look after his friend, but he only saw Loki’s back as he disappeared towards the front door. Tony was disappointed Loki hadn’t brought him a pillow—then again, if he fell asleep his neck and back would kill him. Best to get up. The couch wasn’t far away and he was pretty sure it was clean—the rest of the apartment, not so much. It had been a hell of a party.

Tony was just starting to push away from the bar when he heard Loki shout, “Tony!”

Tony stiffened before jumping from the seat and hurrying after his friend. Loki had sounded alarmed. Loki never sounded alarmed and that meant something was very wrong. What the hell was wrong? It was an expensive building in the heart of New York, and okay, security was always a bit lax during a party but there shouldn’t be anyone by the penthouse door. It was a private elevator that entered a private foyer before reaching the locked door. So, why was Loki alarmed?

Tony reached his friend who was standing by the door. He stopped just inside and looked around the foyer but couldn’t see anyone.

“Loki? What is it? What’s wrong? Hey, what’s that in your hand?”

Loki wasn’t staring at the piece of paper he was holding; he was looking down at his feet. Tony did the same and blinked. It was a basinet. There was a sleeping baby in the basinet. Okay, Loki had a right to be alarmed.

“What the fuck is that?” Tony asked, or well, whispered. It was a baby and Tony sure as hell didn’t want to wake it.

Loki didn’t look away from the baby. He handed Tony the paper and Tony frowned but took it.

Tony,

I don’t know how to tell you this, but this is your son.

“No, no, hell no,” Tony hissed. He didn’t read any further. He stared down at the baby with shock and horror. “No fucking way-”

“Quiet,” Loki hissed, glaring at him. “Do not wake the child.”

Tony swallowed and forced himself to lower his voice. “This is a hoax, isn’t it? A practical joke or, or someone trying to get at the Stark fortune. No way is this my kid.”

Loki frowned. “Tony, did you read the full letter?”

“What? No! I’m not reading some whack jobs-”

“Tony,” Loki said, his voice clipped. “Read the full letter.”

Tony scowled mulishly, but he dutifully did what Loki demanded.

Tony,

I don’t know how to tell you this, but this is your son.

We spent the night together a year and a half ago. I tried, but I can’t do this. I never wanted children. I don’t want this, or you. I’m sorry.

Please, find a good home for him. Or keep him. I don’t know. He’s yours, I know you’ll do the right thing.

I’m sorry.

His name is Peter.

That was it. There was nothing else. No name, no return address. Nothing. Tony turned the paper around, hoping for something, but there was nothing.

“I don’t suppose you remember who you slept with a year and a half ago?” Loki asked.

Tony scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He was a playboy, and he drank a lot. How was he meant to keep track?

Loki let out a heavy sigh. “Maybe you’ll remember her when you see the security cameras.”

Bending down, he carefully picked up the basinet and gestured Tony get out of the way. He stood to the side numbly as Loki brought the baby inside.

“In the meantime,” Loki said, “we’ll need baby supplies. We’ll have to book you and him in to get DNA tested to prove whether or not he’s yours.”

“What?” Tony hissed. “What do you mean supplies? We’re not keeping him!”

Loki paused and looked over his shoulder, frowning at Tony. “He might be your son. Surely you don’t intend to just discard him?”

Tony opened his mouth, but didn’t quite know what to say. He closed it again and shifted on his feet.

“As I thought,” Loki said, taking his silence as confirmation. He placed the basinet on the ground and stood over it pensively. “I’ll start making a list. We’ll order a few things online, others we’ll have to get immediately. He’ll need food, and diapers, a proper bed, and-”

A small gurgling sound made Loki pause and glance down. Tony felt like a deer in the headlights as the basinet started moving. However, where Tony was frozen in place, Loki immediately bent down and gently raised the baby from the basinet.

The boy was in a blue onesie and had brown eyes, but it wasn’t the baby who held Tony’s attention, it was Loki. His expression was soft in a way Tony had never seen before.

“Hello there,” he said gently, holding the baby in a way that looked natural and comfortable. He patted the babies bottom. “Well, you don’t need a change. You aren’t hungry. Is your nap time over? Are you curious about who we are?”

“Loki,” Tony hissed, not wanting the baby’s attention. “Can it even understand you?”

“Of course not,” Loki answered, not looking away. “But that’s beside the point. We’re strangers and this is a strange place. A calming presence will help him feel comfortable.”

It was very sensible logic. It just begged the question: “How do you know so much about this?”

Loki’s smile turned a little sad. “Children liked my mother, she often babysat.”

Tony tried not to wince. Loki hadn’t had many friends growing up and he’d spent much of his teen years alone or with his mother. He’d probably been roped into babysitting duties over the years.

Yet, at the same time, there was something else in the way Loki was holding him.

Tony edged closer, peering at the baby who was reaching for Loki’s hair and trying to tug on it. Loki was patiently untangling the baby’s hand while darting his eyes around the room, likely looking for something to give the child in order to entertain it.

He was so natural like this, so relaxed, so… peaceful?

“You like kids,” Tony said, the realisation sudden and surprising.

“Yes, of course I do,” Loki answered, not seeming bothered by the statement.

He eventually started walking to his bedroom. Tony trailed along behind him.

“How did I not know this? You like kids! Do you want kids too? Do you want to be a father? Do you-”

“Tony,” Loki interrupted, his expression bordering on irritated. “I never saw a reason to tell you. We’re not a couple, and I don’t have a boyfriend whom I’m considering adopting with. Right now, we have a more pressing matter than my desire for a family. We need to do something about Peter. He’s entertained for now, but it won’t last. We need supplies.”

Tony winced. “Right, okay. Supplies. What do we need?”

Frowning, Loki turned back to the baby. “Ideally, an exact age and a list of any allergies.”

“Wait. Allergies?”

Tony didn’t like the sound of that.

“I think we might need to go to a hospital, get him checked out. You should call Pepper, see if she can get the Stark Industries lawyers to locate, if not the mother, then a birth certificate and medical history. We’ll book the DNA test to confirm if he’s yours. I don’t want to put him in social services, but if he’s going to stay with us for the time being, we need to know how to take care of him.”

Tony could feel his headache getting worse. He needed more coffee if he was going to deal with this.

“I’m going to find him something to play with,” Loki said.

Loki turned towards him and held out the baby. Tony’s eyes widened and he took a step backwards. “Oh no.”

“Tony,” Loki said, sounding amused. “It’s a baby, not a cobra.”

“I think I’d prefer the cobra.”

Loki rolled his eyes before stepping closer and offering him. Tony could refuse, he knew he could, but the baby was looking at him with wide brown eyes and somehow Tony went from not holding the baby to having the child in his arms.

The moment he realised, he sent Loki a panicked look. Loki’s amusement only grew. He also didn’t give a word of warning, merely turned and disappeared into his room. Tony was left standing with a baby in his arms (his son if the letter was to be believed which, hah, Tony wasn’t going to believe that until science proved it.)

He looked down at it—Peter, his mind supplied—and gave an awkward smile.

“Erm, hi?”

The baby continued to stare at him. Tony could feel a cold sweat breaking out.

“So, um, I’m, er, Tony. The other guy was Loki. He’s um, good at this. I’m really more of a machine kind of person.”

Tony swallowed nervously. He was wracking his brain for something to do when the child surprised him by lifting his arm and trying to reach for Tony. It took him a moment to realise what the child might want. When he understood, he carefully rearranged the baby before taking off his sunglasses.

“You want these? I guess they are kind of cool.” He held them out and the baby grabbed them. He gave a toothless smile and pulled it close, mouthing at the frame. Tony’s lips twitched. “Well, I suppose that shows you have good taste.”

He dared to look away from the kid in his arms before calling through the apartment. “Hey, I found him something to play with.”

Maybe this babysitting stuff wasn’t so hard after all?

They got a rush on the DNA test. Tony threw his money around and they got the results as fast as humanely possible.

The kid was his, there were no two ways about it.

He was healthy and just over nine months old. They didn’t have the birth certificate yet, but there was nothing to indicate any major allergies.

Tony had no idea who the mother was and even when he was sent a copy of the security footage, Tony recognised her but didn’t know her name.

When they finally returned to the apartment it was to find Pepper had ordered a number of baby supplies on Loki’s command. Tony had drunk three cups of hospital coffee and taken some advil, but he still didn’t feel remotely prepared for what any of this meant.

Loki was holding the baby—his son—who was asleep in Loki’s arms. His friend was the only one who seemed even remotely happy about this. Pepper had sounded resigned, concerned and as if she was getting a headache too. But Loki was holding Peter like he was a precious treasure that Loki was lucky to see, let alone hold.

Loki was the one to direct him to build the crib.

Already growing used to following Loki’s orders when it came to things like this, he pulled everything out and started constructing it on autopilot. Loki had taken a seat on the couch with Peter in his arms. Tony was doing his best not to think about what any of this meant.

Loki wasn’t letting him get away with it.

“What are you going to do with Peter?” Loki asked. “He’s your son.”

Tony tensed and didn’t look at Loki.

“You can’t ignore this,” Loki insisted, seeing right through his head in the sand plan. “I can help you, Tony, but you’re going to have to decide on his future.”

Tony didn’t answer, focusing on putting the crib together. Loki didn’t make a comment and Tony completed it in silence. When it was finished and secure, Loki passed Peter to him without any ceremony.

Loki had done it to him numerous times throughout the day. It didn’t leave him feeling like a deer in the headlights anymore. He still felt awkward though and entirely unprepared for having a son. He’d never thought about kids. He’d always assumed they’d never happen or if they did, they would be a long time down the line and at the pressuring of a wife.

An accidental fathering was very much not in the plan.

And yet, as he stood with the sleeping baby in his arms while Loki bustled around getting blankets and toys and rearranging the crib, Tony was forced to think about what he would do now that Peter was here.

The truth was, he’d no doubt be a shit father. He couldn’t keep a plant alive, let alone a child. Howard was a terrible role model and the kid would probably be better off adopted by a family who wanted him.

And yet, Tony couldn’t get the image of Loki holding Peter out of his head. His friend had looked so happy.

Who was he to squash Loki’s chances to play Dad? It would take a while before they could do anything about Peter anyway. Even if his lawyers did find a nice family and he gave Peter away for adoption, that would take time.

“We’ll keep him for now,” Tony said, making Loki look at him.

His friend’s expression was unusually guarded and Tony couldn’t hold his gaze. He found himself looking at Peter instead.

He might not keep the kid forever (all the better for Peter, really), but he supposed… this was his son. The least he could do was try his best to look after him for as long as he had him.

Tony did start to regret that decision as the hours ticked by.

Sure, he was mostly on construction duties, but Loki wanted him to understand the basics of parenting. That meant feeding, diaper changing and learning how to calm him down when he started crying.

Tony’s headache was already coming back with a vengeance. Loki, by comparison, found his flailing and confusion amusing. He was a wizard. He merely picked Peter up and cooed at him and suddenly Peter was smiling, laughing and behaving.

It was the complete opposite with him. Tony was certain he would do something wrong or make it worse if he so much as sneezed near the kid. He preferred to hide in the kitchen making coffee and cleaning up the remnants of the party. He’d used the latter as an excuse to avoid bathing duties.

“Isn’t he precious, Tony?”

Poking his head up from behind the couch, Tony felt something in his heart twist. Loki was standing in a water-splattered shirt and with the ends of his hair wet. He was smiling so wide his dimples showed as he held out Peter. His son was in a blue dinosaur onesie and even Tony had to admit… it was kind of adorable.

They were both adorable.

“Yeah, he’s um, cute,” Tony muttered.

Loki rolled his eyes and rearranged Peter to lie comfortably in his arms. He looked around the apartment and nodded approvingly.

“Good. The room is becoming more habitable for a child, but we’ll still need to baby-proof the apartment. I’ll make a fresh list of items for Pepper to purchase.” He started turning away. “We should clear a space in your bedroom for his crib.”

“Woah, woah, woah!” Tony stood up, raising his hands and warding Loki off. “No way.”

Loki glanced back at him. When he saw Tony’s position, he rolled his eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It makes the most sense that his crib remains close at night.”

“So, put it in with you,” Tony insisted.

“You are his father,” Loki argued, sounding annoyed. “He should be with you.”

“I have no idea what to do! You keep him!”

“No one knows what to do when they first start,” Loki rebutted. “I’ve explained that. You’ll learn.”

Tony was still shaking his head. “No. No way in hell. If he comes into my room, you better be coming with him.”

Loki blinked and a strange expression crossed his face. “Share your room?”

“Yes.” Tony nodded. He was already coming around to the idea. “You’ll share the bed and the duties. I’ll do what you say and you look after him. Easy.”

For the first time, Loki actually looked like a deer in the headlights.

“I don’t think that’s wise, Tony,” his voice sounded off, but Tony was already sold to the idea.

“Why not? This way, we can wake each other when he cries. Or take it in turns. And I don’t have to run across the apartment when something goes wrong, I’ll just poke you.” Tony grinned. “My bed is big enough for two anyway. Hah!” He sniggered. “You’ll be the first person to actually share it with me, for longer than a few hours at least.”

Loki swallowed and his gaze lowered to Peter. He still didn’t look convinced, but he stopped complaining so Tony took it as agreement. He grabbed the crib and hefted it towards his room. It was heavier than expected and awkward, but he managed to get it inside without breaking anything. Loki followed along behind him, gently rocking Peter as he watched Tony work. He made the occasional comment about where to move things and what else to get.

Tony had to make three trips and on the last one he ducked into Loki’s room to grab his three green pillows. He knew his friend was particular about the firmness of them. He’d never hear the end of it if he gave Loki one of his.

When he dropped them on the bed, Loki got another strange look in his eyes, but he turned away before Tony could do more than frown. He looked down at the bed.

Sure, his red pillows and Loki’s green ones did look a little odd together. But it was no weirder than having a crib in the damn room.

“We should have dinner soon,” Loki murmured. “Babies rarely sleep through the night. We should retire early and sleep while we can.”

Normally, Tony liked to have an inventing bender after a party, but he doubted that would be happening anytime soon. His head already hurt imagining the crying that was going to be in his future.

“Right,” he said. “Whatever you say.”

Loki paused halfway out the room before turning around and coming back. He pushed Peter into Tony’s arms automatically.

“What? Loki-”

“You are a useless cook,” Loki explained. “You’ll take care of him while I make something.”

“But, can’t we just order in?” Tony insisted, following at Loki’s heels as he left the room. “Loki! Come on, what about pizza? You hold him, I’ll call. Pizza on me!”

“No,” Loki insisted. “We’re going to be looking after a child. We need to eat healthy, as does he.”

“But, he’s not even aware! He doesn’t know if we eat pizza or vegetables!”

“Beside the point,” Loki continued, undaunted. “I’ll be cooking us food. You will have to entertain yourself and your son while I work.”

“But… but what am I going to do?”

Loki paused and looked over his shoulder, Tony knew he probably looked as wide-eyed and pathetic as he felt as Loki’s expression softened.

“Read to him.” Loki suggested. “He may even fall asleep in your arms.”

Tony liked the idea of Peter sleeping.

“Okay. What do I read?”

“Anything you wish,” Loki said. “He won’t understand the context. Just keep the words soft and soothing. If it’s not entertaining enough, grab a toy and play with him.”

Tony really, really wished Loki would just take over, but he knew Loki had been the most hands on of them since this started. He supposed it was only fair he gave Loki a break.

Besides, it shouldn’t be too difficult. People had kids all the time. He was a genius. Surely, he could master keeping a baby occupied for a half hour?

It was actually easier than he thought.

Well, after the first terrifying ten minutes when he thought he was going to do something to permanently damage or traumatically scar Peter.

In fact, as he explained engineering concepts to the baby and pointed at his schematics, he found it kind of… fun.

Sure, the kid didn’t understand anything, but he listened avidly and reached out his hand to bat the schematics. It made him wonder what it would be like to explain them to an older child. It made him wonder if Peter wouldn’t grow up one day to like engineering.

He almost forgot about dinner. He only remembered when he finished detailing the finer points of the propulsion system and realised there wasn’t any sounds coming from the kitchen. He glanced up from where he’d been looking between the designs and the baby propped up on his thigh to find Loki watching him with a look Tony had never seen before.

He shifted self-consciously.

“What? You said I could talk to him about anything.”

“I did,” Loki murmured. He then blinked, cleared his throat and looked away. “Dinner is ready. I’ll bring you a bottle for him.”

Loki was gone before he could respond. Tony frowned and looked back at Peter. He had his fist in his mouth and was drooling.

“You know,” Tony said. “I think parenthood is already getting to him.”

Peter smiled around his fist and Tony grinned back. What could he say? If the kid already liked engineering, maybe he wouldn’t be so bad to look after. At least for a little while.

Tony fed him the bottle while Loki ate. Then he traded Peter for a bowl of stir-fry. Loki burped Peter and cooed at him softly until he started to fall asleep. Tony washed up their dishes as Loki laid him down in the crib.

“He’s sleeping,” Loki said quietly as he came back out.

Tony was on his tablet reading his emails but he glanced up at Loki.

“I cannot guarantee how long he will sleep for,” Loki continued. “I recommend a shower and sleep.”

Tony screwed up his face. “You know I don’t sleep much on a normal day, let alone one like today.”

“I am aware,” Loki acknowledged. “But you should attempt it.”

Tony sighed. He closed down his tablet but nodded. He hadn’t had the best night sleep after the party anyway. He had a better chance of drifting off tonight than most others.

“Alright, I’ll be quick in the shower.”

Loki nodded and Tony left him to sneak back into his room. He paused with surprise to find pyjamas already laid out on his bed. He felt… odd about that. Sure, Loki had yanked clothing out of his closet before when he wanted Tony to get out of bed and get dressed. It wasn’t any breach of privacy that bothered him. No, it was the intimacy of the gesture. Loki had put his son to bed and lain out clothes for him so he wouldn’t have to try and quietly open drawers.

Almost like we’re a couple.

Tony quickly shook the thought off. He also tried not to think about it too much as he grabbed the clothes and went into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stripped out of his clothes. He stood under the spray and let the heat of the water wash away the stress of the day.

It didn’t erase the child in the next room or the decisions he’d have to make in the coming days, but it unwound his tense muscles. When he eventually finished and stepped out, he wrapped the towel around his waist and fingered his clothes. This time, he didn’t think about Loki laying them out for him. He thought about Loki. He would have been fucked without the man helping him.

He was damn lucky and he owed his friend a lot.

Slipping into the clothes, Tony smiled as he brushed his teeth and finished getting ready for bed. When he stepped out of the room, he found the man on his thoughts sitting awkwardly on the bed. He had pyjamas on his lap and was staring at his hands.

He glanced up, looking oddly wary.

“You still wish me to stay in your room?” Loki immediately asked, keeping his voice low so as not to wake Peter.

“If you try and leave, I’ll handcuff you to the bed,” Tony answered, trying to lighten the mood.

Loki’s grin looked strained and he glanced away. Tony frowned and stepped closer. He sat down on the bed beside his friend.

“Hey,” he said. “Do you not want to? I don’t want to make you. I just thought it would be easier.”

Loki sighed loudly. “No, it’s fine.”

Tony didn’t buy that, but Loki stood abruptly. “You had better not snore or hog the blankets, Tony.”

“Well, if I do, you have full permission to wake me up or steal them back.”

Loki huffed a laugh and this time, his smile looked more genuine.

“I shall hold you to that.” He turned back to Tony. “It might be easier if I use your bathroom.”

“Go for it,” Tony agreed. He wasn’t going to complain about Loki being in easy shouting range.

Loki nodded and stepped into the bathroom. Tony relaxed against the bedding. His eyes drifted to the crib and Peter’s peacefully sleeping form.

He couldn’t say he got the same kick out of this as Loki did and he still wouldn’t have voluntarily had children, but he would admit it was kind of… nice seeing Peter sleeping. Like he and Loki had achieved something. His kid was happy, healthy and at peace.

We’ve done good.

Tony shook his head, trying to dispel the thought. It was hardly rocket science and if Loki was to be believed, their current peace wouldn’t last. He was in for a number of sleepless nights, but, he’d have Loki at his side through them all.

Definitely lucky to have him with me.

Not for the first time, the thought slipped through his mind that it was as if he and his best friend were a couple. He chuckled under his breath.

Yeah, that’ll be the day. Me and Lokes, raising a son together. I’m sure Loki is just leaping to be the unfortunate soul dating my sorry ass.

He shook his head and pushed the thought away. Instead, he shifted up the bed and climbed under the sheets. He rested his head on the pillow and grabbed his phone. He went back to his emails. He was so absorbed; it wasn’t until the door opened that he looked up.

Loki was standing in the doorway to the bathroom, his hand on the doorknob. He had another unreadable expression. Tony frowned.

“Lokes?”

Loki shook his head, seeming to shake off his own strange thoughts. Tony wondered if he too was noticing the strange, domesticity of it. He almost wanted to make a joke about being husbands with a kid, but somehow, it felt like it wouldn’t fit the mood. So, he said nothing and watched as Loki went to the overhead light.

“Turn on the lamp.”

Tony complied and Loki turned off the light before coming over to the bed and climbing in beside him. They laid down in silence. The air was unusually awkward. Tony glanced back at his emails and saw one from Rhodey. He grinned and leant over in the bed to show it to Loki.

“Hey. Rhodey sent some new crazy cat videos.”

Loki smiled and leant close, and just like that Tony felt his tension receding. He didn’t know what he was worried about. Sharing a bed with Loki was going to be fine.

Two hours later, he was regretting the decision.

Well, actually, he wasn’t. It was just, Peter was crying and he’d been so fucking comfortable. He and Loki had ended up snuggled together and now Loki was climbing out of bed. Tony whined and opened bleary eyes. He then hissed as Loki turned on the lamp. Loki ignored him to walk over to the crib and pick Peter up.

Tony rubbed his bleary eyes.

“S’wrong?” he mumbled.

“I don’t know,” Loki answered, his voice sleepy but annoyingly precise.

Tony groaned. “Why not?”

Loki looked over his shoulder with a tired glare. “I am not a mind reader, Tony.”

Tony groaned again but pulled himself out of bed. He trudged over to Loki and, because he was so close and still warm, Tony dropped his head on Loki’s shoulder. Loki sucked in a breath.

“Wh’do ya need me t’do?”

Loki took a few moments to respond, in that time, Peter quieted down a little but looked no closer to sleeping.

When Loki did answer, his voice was strangely soft and hopeful, “Stay up with me?”

Tony’s eyes were only partially open, but he nodded. He wouldn’t go to bed until Loki did too. It was only fair.

“Yeah. We’re in ‘is to’gther, Lokes.”

Loki’s breath caught again, but Tony barely heard it as Peter decided to move from whimpering to all out wailing once more.

Loki might not be a mind reader, but Tony was certain he’d turn out to give accurate premonitions.

It was going to be a long night.

It took them forty-five minutes to get Peter settled again. They collapsed into bed and Tony let out a weary groan. Loki followed it with his own. Tony immediately curled into Loki who stiffened momentarily before relaxing. Neither of them said anything, but Tony repositioned to how they’d been lying before Peter woke them.

He fell asleep within minutes to the feel of Loki’s arms around him and his heartbeat in Tony’s ears.

An hour and a half later. He woke up to Peter wailing. Again.

“If he takes after your sleep schedule,” Loki muttered, already pushing out of bed. “I might finally grow to accept coffee.”

“If he takes after my sleep schedule,” Tony mumbled, “I’ll send everyone’s who had to deal with my schedule a fruit basket.”

“Substitute mine for unlimited caffeine,” Loki replied.

Tony yawned into his hand and stepped over to the crib. Loki picked Peter up and checked him over. He nodded.

“Diaper change. Get me the supplies.”

Tony nodded and stumbled out of the room and towards the living room. Loki had made sure he knew how to do everything and he grabbed the necessary items and took them to the changing table. Loki was already there. He almost fell asleep standing up as Loki got things sorted. When he picked him up again, Loki went back to the bedroom and started walking up and down beside the bed. After only a minute sudden, blissful silence occured.

Tony sighed with relief. He rubbed a hand over his face.

“You really wanted to do this, voluntarily?” He mumbled.

Loki, like him, had his eyes half-closed but at his question, Loki blinked and seemed to come a little more awake.

“Yes,” Loki said, his tone serious.

It woke Tony up as well. He focused on his friend who was staring at Peter.

“I want children,” Loki continued. “I want every disrupted night’s sleep, soiled diaper and worry.” He stroked Peter’s back. “I want to watch my child walk and talk. I want to watch him grow up and help him learn to navigate the world. I want to do all of it with a partner at my side. To share every step that he takes with someone whom I love.”

Tony blinked. Loki’s voice had been so quietly passionate, so filled with pure longing. He wanted it so much and Tony, for a split second, wanted to offer him Peter, but he knew it didn’t work that way. Loki wanted a partner and family, not a baby fathered by his best friend.

While Tony was trying to figure out what to say which wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate or inept, Loki questioned, “Have you never wanted children?”

Tony opened his mouth to outright refuse – a statement which would have been accurate until only a few hours ago. But, looking at Loki tenderly holding his son and watching the way Peter was dozing off again, Tony had to reconsider.

Had he ever wanted kids? No.

Was he hating it now that it was in front of him? Not… exactly.

“I never wanted kids,” Tony said thoughtfully. “But it’s not that bad, I guess, now that it’s here.” He looked up and smiled at Loki. “Now that it’s happening with you.”

Loki’s eyes widened and he looked like he wanted to say something. He licked his lips, but nothing came out. After a few seconds he looked back at Peter.

In the end, he didn’t answer, and Tony didn’t ask him to. They stood in silence until Peter was ready to be put down. Tony went back out to the living room to clean everything up. When they both finished and Peter was settled again, they climbed into bed and pressed against each other once more.

As he was drifting off to sleep, Tony had to admit, Loki’s idea of fatherhood didn’t sound that bad.

Over the next two weeks, Tony got used to handling parenting duties with Loki.

They actually got a good system working. Every second day, Tony would go into his lab. The rest of the week, Tony stayed in the main areas of the apartment and worked on less absorbing things while Loki read and worked on the scathing critiques that he would give upcoming novels. Not even playing father made Loki any kinder towards aspiring writers.

At night, Loki still climbed into bed with him. They still got up together and tag-teamed who would hold Peter and who would be on hand to get anything needed. During the day, when they were both together, they did the same. It got to the point that when Pepper came by to have him sign some contracts, he didn’t find it strange to hold Peter with one hand while the other skimmed the documents and scrawled his signature.

Pepper watched him curiously.

“You seem to be handling him well.”

Tony glanced down at Peter. He was holding onto a stuffed bear and sucking on its foot.

“Yeah, well, Loki’s good at it. I’m only here because he can’t destroy someone’s career with Peter in his arms.”

Pepper’s lips twitched. “You make a good parenting team.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Tony answered distractedly while shifting Peter in his arms and into a better position.

“Should I keep looking into adoption possibilities?” Pepper questioned.

Tony’s head jerked up and he was surprised at how quickly and sharply something in him said no. Because, the idea of handing Peter off to someone didn’t sit well with him. But, more then that, the thought of Loki’s face as he gave Peter away hurt more than he wanted to think about.

His face must have shown his confliction as Pepper lightly touched his shoulder.

“There’s no rush, Tony. He’s legally yours and the mother has cut all contact. Whatever you choose and whenever you choose it, it’s your decision to make.”

Tony looked away and down at Peter. The baby was oblivious as he sucked happily on the foot of his bear.

Despite Pepper’s words, they both knew he needed to make a decision sooner than later. Peter needed a home and a family. He couldn’t keep the kid until he was two and then foist him into a new family. It would be cruel and bad for his development.

“Keep looking into it,” Tony murmured. “But don’t go any further yet. I’ll let you know when that changes.”

Tony didn’t admit it, but it was more an ‘if’ than a ‘when’.

“For what it’s worth, Tony,” Pepper said quietly. “I think you and Loki make really good parents.”

Tony jerked up his head, feeling uncomfortable for a reason he couldn’t quite pinpoint, because, they weren’t parents. Not really. They weren’t a couple. They weren’t a family. They were just friends who were taking care of his accidental offspring.

And yet, if that was the case, why did he feel a stab of something almost like regret?

Later that day, Loki declared it was time they left the apartment. Tony had been dubious, but Loki was adamant as he strapped Peter into a stroller, packed a bag and pushed Tony out of the apartment with him. They were going to go for a walk.

Tony shoved sunglasses on his head and burrowed down into his hoodie. He only perked up when Loki directed them towards a café. The call of sweet, sweet coffee made everything better.

Tony stood in line while Loki waited to the side, keeping Peter occupied. Tony didn’t realise he kept glancing at the two of them every few seconds until he reached the register. A tattooed woman with purple hair grinned at him.

“First one?”

Tony frowned, feeling confused. She nodded in Loki and Peter’s direction.

“I was so protective of my daughter for the first year. Couldn’t bear to look away from her. You have that same look.” She shook her head fondly. “Almost drove my husband up the wall.” She looked him up and down. “How’s your kid sleeping?”

Tony was so floored that he answered on autopilot. “He isn’t. Much.”

“Every couple of hours you’re up?” She asked with sympathy in her voice. “You and your man look like you’re running solely on coffee.”

Tony nodded wordlessly. He then added, still feeling thrown, “Loki used to hate coffee.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, kids do that to you. What can I get you both?”

Tony gave the order, still feeling like he’d walked into some bizarre parallel universe. When she handed him the coffees a few minutes later, she also slipped them both a cookie.

“You guys look like you need the sugar too.”

“Thank you,” Tony mumbled.

He took everything back to Loki who smiled and stood. He’d gained a small crowd of cooing women, but when Tony held out the coffee, they stepped back.

“Your son is so cute!” One of them said.

“Thanks,” Tony said, remaining off-kilter.

Loki smiled, but Tony noticed it was a little strained as he ushered them out of the shop. Tony still heard one of the older women say, “What a precious family they make!”

Tony glanced at Loki, noticing the way his knuckles were clenched tightly on the handle of the pram.

“Loki-”

“It was far easier to leave them to their assumptions,” Loki muttered. “Explaining the situation was not worth the hassle.”

“That’s, um, fine,” Tony said. “I didn’t correct the barista either. I mean, I didn’t realise what we looked like, I guess. But, hey,” he held up the bag, hoping to diffuse the tension, “we got free cookies out of it. Can’t complain about that!”

Loki’s expression remained pinched, but Tony didn’t push it. He knew this had to be hurting Loki. He’d all but admitted what he wanted: a partner and children. This was his domestic fantasy, only, instead of the love of his life, he had a best friend and a child that wasn’t even his.

Tony wasn’t surprised when Loki turned them back towards their apartment, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t disappointed.

Tony had to make a decision about Peter. It was weighing down on him. Loki hadn’t mentioned it since the first day, but Tony knew it couldn’t be far from Loki’s mind. Pepper was also sending him emails with options and potential pathways he could go down.

With a few quick sentences, he could have Peter on the road to adoption.

But, he kept hesitating.

After a month and a half with Peter in the penthouse, he knew it wasn’t just because of Loki that he did it. It was because of him.

Peter was his son. Peter had wormed into his routine and his heart.

It was normal to wake up multiple times a night to check on him (even if he was getting better. Peter was adjusting to them, Loki had quietly mentioned one morning, making Tony want to squirm with warmth). It was normal to buy baby formula, diapers and toys every week. It was normal to conduct phone calls while bouncing Peter on his lap or to smile when Peter gurgled happily while holding his bear to his mouth.

It was normal to do all of those things with Loki nearby and smiling at him.

He hadn’t realised until it slammed him in the face. He wasn’t just biologically Peter’s father. He’d become Peter’s father. And, if he was being honest with himself, Loki had become Peter’s father too.

And it was also obvious that Loki expected that title to be taken away from him. It was in the way he sometimes looked when he held Peter: wistful, worried, regretful. Because if Tony had known from the beginning that Loki wanted kids, Loki had known from the start that Tony hadn’t.

Peter was an unplanned, unexpected, unwelcome guest.

Or he had been at the start.

Now, he was a son and Tony had spent the last hour staring at an email from Pepper about a family wanting a child while fighting with the gut instinct that wanted to shout: don’t you dare take my God damn son.

Running his hand over his face for the fourth time, Tony finally put down his tablet. He wasn’t due out of the lab for a few hours, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to concentrate, not if he was going to talk to Loki about the idea of Peter being… permanent.

Because, it was all well and good for him to decide, but what about Loki? What did he want?

It wasn’t until Tony had reached their living room and was avoiding a baby toy on the ground that he stilled as a thought whispered through his mind: what if Loki finds another family?

Tony didn’t expect that thought to ache as much as it did. He didn’t expect to feel hurt. But, before Tony could puzzle out those emotions, the man on his thoughts stepped out of the bedroom with Peter in his arms.

He wasn’t doing anything strange or different. He had Peter in his arms and was blowing on his stomach to make Peter laugh. His high-pitched giggle was bright in the penthouse. When Loki pulled back, his smile was wide and delighted. His face was lit up with joy and love. He hadn’t seen Tony; his attention was focused on their son.

Their son.

It hit Tony like a tonne of bricks.

Looking at Loki, he realised what the tugging and aches to his heart meant. He understood why he curled around Loki at night and was uncomfortable in the café. Tony also worked out why, for years, Loki had been a focal point of so much of his life.

“I’m in love with you,” Tony said.

The epiphany sudden, sharp and completely skipping his brain-to-mouth filter. Loki’s head whipped around, his eyes wide as saucers.

“Holy shit,” Tony continued, laughing a little hysterically. “Like, I really am. I’m so fucking in love with you and want to raise Peter with you. Oh fuck. When did that happen? Shit. I am so stupid.”

Loki continued to stare at him, looking completely blindsided. He’d never seen his friend so shocked.

He wished with sudden, desperate intensity that he could get completely drunk. But, with Peter around, he really couldn’t.

Well, now I need to clean up the utter mess I’ve made of keeping this.

Closing his eyes, Tony tried to pull his thoughts and emotions together. His feelings had leapt out of the shadows and now they were making it very painfully clear how much he cared about Loki and wanted to be with him. It meant that his impending rejection was really going to hurt.

“Look,” he said. “I can watch Peter for a few hours if you want to go and, I don’t know, deal with this and regroup. Hopefully not leave all together. Because, I mean, you’re my friend and you like Peter and you probably aren’t going to hate me so, maybe-”

His rambling stopped when he felt a touch to his arm. His head snapped up. He hadn’t heard Loki move. He had Peter in one arm and he was watching Tony with an expression it took Tony a few moments to process.

He looked happy. No, he looked overjoyed.

“Tony,” Loki said quietly. “I have been in love with you for years.”

It was Tony’s turn to widen his eyes.

“You have?” he asked.

“Yes,” Loki said, looking both amused and pained. “And I would have raised Peter with you, even if it meant remaining friends the entire time. I would have done it, because I love you and want to help you. Because I love Peter and I want to raise him as our son.”

Tony couldn’t believe it. When Loki lifted his hand, he watched it ascend until it cupped his cheek. Tony leant into the touch and Loki smiled. He ran his thumb over Tony’s cheekbone and Tony’s eyes fluttered shut.

“Tony.”

Loki’s voice had gained a hint of desperation and Tony’s eyes snapped open. Loki’s gaze was flicking to his lips with pure longing.

“Yes,” Tony said, answering the unasked question.

Loki immediately bent down and Tony closed his eyes at the first brush of Loki’s lips. They both sighed and Tony cupped his friend’s hips. Loki kissed him softly, tenderly. It was the gentlest kiss Tony had ever received.

Tony wanted it to last forever, but it ended too soon as Loki jerked back with a hiss. Tony’s eyes snapped open, but he quickly saw the problem. Peter’s fingers were tangled in Loki’s hair and yanking.

“Now, now,” Tony immediately said, feeling light and happy. He took Peter’s hand and started to untangle it from the strands. “That’s no way to treat your father.”

Loki sucked in a shocked breath and Tony’s eyes darted to him.

Oh, he thought. That's what it meant.

Because the strange looks and sudden inhales Loki had been giving finally made sense.

Tony smiled and with one hand on Loki’s hip and the other on Peter’s hand, he reaffirmed it, “I mean, Peter has to realise, a dad I might be, but if we’re going to get through this in one piece, it’s only because we’ve got his father showing us what to do.”

Loki swallowed and Tony was sure Loki’s eyes became a little watery. Despite it, his smile was blinding.

Not for the first time, Tony could admit to himself, fatherhood definitely didn’t seem like such a bad idea, especially when it was done with the right partner.