Chapter Text
Loki sent the mortal crashing through the window.
It was almost gratifying.
Tony’s shirt hitched up slightly, just as gravity took hold and then Loki saw it—a glowing green swirl on Tony’s hip.
It looked like the manifestation of the start of Loki’s spells.
Loki jolted forward as metal pieces flew past him. When he reached the edge, a levitation spell on the tips of his fingers, Tony flew up and blasted him.
Loki went flying backwards, a mixture of surprise and relief overtaking him.
He opened his mouth to say something, but no words he could utter would be believed, not after all he’d done.
To meet his soulmate like this… the Norns had woven him a cruel fate.
There was nothing he could do, but teleport himself to the roof and close the portal. He let out a sigh of relief as the monsters he’d unleashed on his soulmate’s home fell to the ground.
Another blast hit him, knocking him into the Tesseract machine.
He twisted around and saw Tony.
Loki knew he had no excuse. He hadn’t been mind controlled. His hatred towards Odin was a poor reason to attack another realm. His anger at Thor for finally changing on his own despite Loki’s countless years of trying to help him be better would only make him sound petty.
Nothing he said would make a difference.
He spotted Thor and in an instant he knew what he had to do.
Loki teleported away.
He didn’t want to burden Tony by letting him know he was bonded with Loki.
*
Loki kept his distance, not even allowing himself to see Tony.
He couldn’t bring himself to leave Midgard, even as months passed and the Avengers still looked for him.
The news of Tony dying and the news of him actually being alive reached Loki at the same moment in the form of a newspaper.
He collapsed in on himself, feeling the weight of over nine hundred years of yearning for his soulmate crash down on him.
He couldn’t even keep the one person who was destined to be his other half from nearly dying.
But he couldn’t go to him either.
The rejection—the hatred. It would be too much even for Loki. He’d shatter.
Besides, Tony had Pepper.
She was… good for him, a stabilizing force for Tony, from what Loki could garner of their relationship online.
Tony deserved better than Loki, and she easily bested him on nearly every front.
But she was clearly incapable of keeping him safe.
Loki had to do something—and that’s how he ended up in the form of a wounded cat amongst the ruble of Tony’s Malibu home.
It only took two days for Tony to appear, and it was like some of the pain that always hung over Loki melted away.
He let out a pathetic mewl and instantly regretted it when Tony’s eyes landed on him. They became mired in guilt.
“Fuck.” Tony pulled out his phone. “J, where’s the nearest vet?”
“Seventeen miles south. Shall I direct you there?”
“Give me a sec to catch this cat and get in the car.” Tony glanced around while putting his phone in his pocket. His frown deepened before he looked back at Loki. “I really hope you’re not going to scratch me. I should have brought a coat or something.” He mumbled the last part and Loki let out another pathetic meow and stepped forward in answer.
Tony’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but it was clear that he still felt guilty.
Loki held in a flinch at his stupidity. This was a terrible plan. He was already revising it so that instead of having a broken leg to heighten his chances of Tony taking him in he’d just pretend to be bruised.
If Tony left him at the veterinarian’s, Loki could only blame himself for making such a stupid plan that made his soulmate feel guilty.
Loki was scooped up and he began purring and rubbing his face against Tony’s chest, finally coming in contact with him in a manner that wasn’t violent.
Tony’s posture became rigid, but quickly relaxed.
Loki half wondered if Tony was feeling as good as he was.
“Alright, Colonel Meow. Let’s get you to the vet.” Loki only purred harder, despite the strange name.
When they reached the car Tony tried to put him on the floorboard of the passenger’s side, but Loki was quick to crawl into his lap, curl up, and purr.
“Whatever,” Tony sighed out, putting the car in gear.
Loki knew he was tricking Tony, that he was once again abusing his power, but in that moment he couldn’t care less.
Tony was absentmindedly petting him when he wasn’t changing gears.
Loki was taken off guard when Tony stopped his car.
Had he really been that lost in being in the presence of his soulmate that he lost track of time completely?
“You’re not half bad,” Tony said while scooping him up. Loki purred louder and gave Tony’s hand a small lick. “Cute fucker, aren’t you?” Tony chuckled and Loki looked up at him with wide green eyes.
“Name?” the woman behind the desk asked without looking at them.
“Tony Stark.”
“Cute cat name. My dog’s name is actually Hulk.” She began typing in the computer.
“No, I’m Tony Stark. Not the cat.”
She looked over at them and her mouth formed an ‘O’ shape.
“S—sorry,” she stuttered while standing out of her seat.
“It’s alright.” Loki could hear the smile in Tony’s voice and purred louder. “I found this cat limping near the coast. I was hoping I could get someone to look him over.”
“Of course! I mean—yes, of course, Mr. Stark.” She grabbed a corded telephone and clacked away at the numbers before turning in her wheeled chair. Her whispers were far from hushed as she over emphasized how big of an emergency it was so that one of the veterinarians would end his lunch break early. She spun back around, tangling herself in the cord. “Someone will be here in a moment to see to the cat.” She giggled nervously while untangling herself. “Would you like a pet carrier for him? A coke maybe? We have a vending machine in the back.”
“I’m good and this little guy seems pretty calm in my arms.” Tony scratched Loki’s chin and he leaned into the touch. “I’ll just wait by the fish tank.”
Tony sat down and Loki hid his face against his chest, becoming engulfed in his scent.
*
Loki woke up drooling and against Tony’s chest.
“No, he’s not getting his balls cut off, Bob Barker.”
“Sir, it’s good for their health, the community, and makes it less likely that he’ll urinate to mark his territory.”
“Nope, he’s mine. Made the decision.” Tony began petting him again and Loki relished it.
“As you wish. Please put him here so that we can take an x-ray of his leg.” Loki flinched when he touched the cold plastic.
“You’re fine, Salem cat.” Tony petted under his chin and Loki relaxed. “This will just take a moment.” Loki closed his eyes and settled down, still sleepy from his nap. He hadn’t slept that well in years.
*
When he woke up next, a thermometer was being put up his rear.
He’d had weirder things there before.
*
Loki was in a cardboard box with round holes in it. Tony had a finger sticking into the box and Loki was idly chewing on it, enjoying how Tony would occasionally flinch, but not pull away. The callouses on his fingers were an interesting texture on Loki’s tongue.
He forgot how much cat slept, or maybe he just hadn’t had any proper sleep in a long time.
He’d been unconscious the whole time Tony had been doing paperwork. Loki chalked up Tony taking him in so easily due to their soulbond.
He’d done plenty of research on Tony, and he never had a pet before.
Loki was going to be the first and he’d do everything in his power to be the best companion possible.
*
He let out a pained meow. Loki forgot how sensitive his ears were. The high altitude of the jet was making his inner ears feel an uncomfortable pressure.
It was completely insignificant, but it had been years—decades since anyone doted over him like this.
Tony’s hands kept fretting over him, occasionally dangling a blue toy mouse with a bell in it. He talked nonsense and played with Loki’s tail. He brushed him and rubbed the underside of Loki’s chin.
“Alright, I’m fresh out of ideas, Mrs. Norris.” Loki stopped whining and looked him straight in the eyes. They sat still, just staring. Loki purred and Tony smiled.
*
“There’s only two things in the world that I’m allergic to, Tony.”
“Strawberries and not cats,” he said hesitantly to Pepper. She gave him a waning glare. “Pep, he won’t be allowed in the bedroom. His litterbox will be on the other side of the penthouse. I’ll get the ‘bots to vacuum every day.”
“And who’s going to scoop its litter box?”
“I will.” The statement came out sounding like a question.
“Tony.”
“I will! Until I invent a ‘bot that does it 100% better than a human can. J, start looking up the schematic for the top of the line self-scooping litterbox.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“See, Pep, I’ve got this under control.”
“Is he fixed?”
“No.”
“When are you going to get him fixed?”
“Never.”
“Tony.” Loki was starting to get annoyed at how she used Tony’s name.
“He doesn’t have a voice, and I… I don’t want to take anything away from him.” There was a deep sadness in Tony’s voice. Pepper pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek.
“I’ll start taking allergy medicine. Don’t forget to feed him.”
*
Loki sat in front of the elevator, his tail swooshing back and forth over the marble floor. He could hear the elevator rising. He idly licked his paw then used it to clean his face.
He wanted Tony. He always wanted Tony.
It had only been three days, but Loki had adapted readily to this simpler life. It was such a relief after constantly having to deal with Thor, worming an army out of the Mad Titan, and then waging a war on a realm he didn’t care about.
Now he got cuddles on demand.
His food was of the highest quality, cat food-wise.
Best of all, he was close to his soulmate.
The elevator opened and Loki jumped up. Tony caught him at the last moment, eyes droopy.
“That’s probably the most enthusiastic welcome I’ve ever gotten, and I’ve been greeted by naked supermodels.” Loki rubbed his face against Tony, even though there was a black smudge on his cheek. “Good cat.”
Tony kept cycling through random names, most often just calling him cat.
Loki didn’t mind.
*
Loki couldn’t bear to lay in front of the bedroom door at night.
At first he spent his nights in front of the window he’d thrown Tony out, not wanting to hear his soulmate having sex with someone else.
It became worse when he heard Tony scream one night.
Loki was a second away from shifting into his Aesir form when he heard Pepper speak.
“You’re alright, Tony. It was just a nightmare.”
“I was—I was falling. No one was there to stop the aliens. They killed you and there was nothing I could do.”
“Shh, we’re fine. The aliens are dead. Thor is looking for Loki. We’re safe.”
“I should have done more—I should have captured him!”
“Tony…”
Then Tony began sobbing and Loki felt his world shatter all over again.
He really was unworthy of Tony.
*
Pepper was away on a business trip and Tony was having a nightmare.
Loki was pacing in front of the door, crying out as loud as he could.
It wasn’t working though.
He was a moment away from shifting when the door opened. He froze.
“Please enter,” Jarvis said softly.
Loki flicked his tail in thought before hearing Tony’s whimper. He sprinted across the bedroom floor and hopped onto the bed. He hit down on Tony’s hand then jumped backwards as he bolted upright.
Loki meowed politely before he licked his paw.
Tony was breathing roughly. Their eyes met and Loki crept over on silent paws. He butted his head against Tony’s arm.
“Hey, cat. How’d you get in here?” Loki glanced up. “J?”
“You were in distress. My usual methods weren’t working. Your feline was outside your door, requesting entrance.”
“Requesting entrance?” Tony asked with a grin as he begin petting Loki.
“He was meowing. I believe he sensed you were distressed.”
“Thanks, Cat in the Hat.” Loki crawled into Tony’s lap. Tony sighed. “I guess you can stay here tonight. Just don’t tell Pep.”
*
Whenever Pepper was away on business Tony left his bedroom door open. Loki would cuddle up against his chest.
When they slept together Tony never had nightmares and Loki was at peace.
*
Loki could sense that something was wrong.
He walked the parameter of the penthouse, place protection spells.
That feeling was confirmed when Jarvis put the tower on lockdown. Pepper had scooped him up and sprinted to the elevator. It descended so fast that Loki accidently dug his claws into Pepper. She didn’t even flinch.
Her foot was tapping the ground incessantly and her fingers in his fur were almost painful, but he didn’t cry out. Loki was too tense to notice the discomfort.
The elevator opened and Loki started squirming. He could see Tony through a thick pane of glass. He looked agitated and was shouting, but Loki couldn’t hear him.
When it opened Loki flinched.
“—my fucking suit!” Tony’s eyes flickered over to the pair of them. “Pep! Use your override! Jarvis isn’t giving me access to my suits.”
“Ms. Potts, Sir’s suit would not be sufficient in protecting him from the missile currently targeted on him. His survival rate is less than 5%. The workshop is capable of withstanding a nuclear explosion.”
“I have to do something!”
“Tony…” Pepper said softly.
“Not you too! Damn it! Someone has to do something!”
“Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff are on the scene. They have found a new ally. I am currently attempting to go through all the active SHIELD agent files. Your assistance could mean the difference between life and death for many undercover agents.”
“They’re using my propulsion tech for a WMD! Three machines that could kill hundreds per second!” Tony started hyperventilating and crouched down. Loki was dropped as Pepper ran over to Tony.
“You have to trust your friends, Tony.” Pepper began rubbing Tony’s back. Loki ran over and pushed between Tony’s legs, getting right into his face. Tony lifted him and hugged Loki to his chest. His breathing slowed right away.
“What if they die?” Tony whispered.
“They know what they’re doing.”
Silent tears fell and Loki licked them away.
*
“You did well, Tony,” Maria Hill said while sitting down heavily.
“It’s kinda hard to be a secret agent with your face all over the web.” Tony was staring at his cup of coffee. Loki was sitting on Tony’s bare feet, trying to keep them warm.
“You saved hundreds of lives.”
“I should have done more.”
“I’d like to become the head of security for Stark Industries and continue the effort to extract undercover agents.”
Tony nodded.
“Let Pep know.”
*
“Sir, you have visitors,” Jarvis said two and a half months after the fall of SHIELD. Loki was curled up on Tony’s stomach as he dozed off on the couch. Pepper was sitting across from them, reading a thick packet of paper.
“Whozit?” Tony asked groggily.
“Captain America and Falcon.”
“The fly guy from DC?” Tony sat up, pulling Loki into his arm. Loki rubbed against his cheek, enjoying his course facial hair. He molded against Tony’s chest, not worrying that Captain America would recognize him.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Cool beans.”
“You have a little drool.” Pepper pointed to the corner of her lip then handed Tony a tissue.
Tony sloppily wiped it away and Loki batted at the wispy tissue. Tony began whipping it back and forth. Loki jumped after it, letting out joyful hums. He could see how much Tony enjoyed bating him.
Loki heard the elevator open and he hopped up onto Tony’s shoulder, getting a better view. He shifted to maintain his balance as Tony stood.
Steve and Sam looked exhausted.
“Cap, Daffy Duck. What brings you to my humble home?” Loki could hear the frailness in Tony’s voice. He flicked his tail into Tony’s mouth. Tony squawked indignantly and Loki jumped onto the couch. He settled on the armrest of Pepper’s chair.
“If you call this humble, I don’t want to see what extravagant is,” Sam said, grinning despite being tired.
“Gentlemen.” Pepper stood, setting aside all her papers. “I’m Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries. Thank you both for your service.”
“It was a pleasure, ma’am.” Pepper shook hands with Steve, who smiled weakly. She moved to Sam to do the same.
“Thanks for supplying our boys with the best armor in the world.”
“Careful there. The military isn’t a boy’s club anymore.” Pepper winked, but Loki got the feeling she wasn’t joking.
“Pardon me. I’ve served with great men and women.”
“That’s better.” Pepper stepped back to Tony’s side. “How may we help you both?”
“It’s… a delicate subject.”
“Please, sit down.” Pepper gestured to the couches. Loki knew she loved playing host, so long as it wasn’t for wild parties.
“We have drinks and stuff.” Tony almost sounded uncertain.
“We’re fine. This is time sensitive.” Steve and Sam took up the spot Tony had been lying on earlier. Tony and Pepper exchanged a look before sitting across from them.
Loki positioned himself between the pairs, but was picked up by Tony.
“Bucky Barnes is alive. He—” Steve choked on his words. “I didn’t want to tell you, but he drew his soulmark all the time when we were growing up. It… It looks just like your arc reactor.”
Tony froze and Loki’s mind went reeling.
A second soulmate? It wasn’t unheard of, but…
It was a good thing, Loki decided.
Tony deserved a soulmate that hadn’t tried to kill him, someone who wasn’t scared to face him.
Loki still felt weighted down though. If Tony and Bucky got together Tony wouldn’t need Loki anymore.
“The same one who was in the Howling Commandos? He has to be at least ninety by now.” Pepper’s mixed feelings was obvious in her voice.
“He was captured by Hydra and made into the Winter Soldier.”
“The guy I’ve been running facial recognition for through every accessible camera is…”
“Bucky Barnes, your soulmate.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t know about your reactor until the end of the Battle of New York. I thought it was a coincidence because Bucky was dead. I had been so certain… And then I found out he was alive, I didn’t tell you because he wasn’t in his right mind and you have Pepper.”
“Steve, Tony and I aren’t married. We already decided we’d separate if we ever found one of our soulmates. I’m happy for him.” Pepper gave Tony’s knee a squeeze.
“Thanks, Pep.” Tony lifted her hand and kissed it. “I hope you find yours soon. You deserve only the best.”
“Damn right, I do.” Pepper winked at him and Tony chuckled. She looked back at Steve and Sam. “And you two, that was a shitty thing to do, keeping the knowledge of someone’s soulmate from them like that.”
Sam raised his hands in surrender.
“I didn’t know until Cap let it slip last night while we were three sheets to the wind.”
Steve looked at the ground.
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s done is done.” Tony stood, holding onto Loki. “All we can do is move forward!” Loki could feel Tony’s heartbeat. It was racing and Tony was smiling excitedly. Loki wished he could make him feel like that. “Find Bucky Barnes, Round Two!”
*
Loki was only with them because he’d whined his little heart out when Tony had been packing his bag.
It would have been embarrassing, but in this form he didn’t mind acting foolish. Besides, it had worked.
This time he didn’t complain about the high altitude as the jet flew to Chicago, the last place Steve and Sam had spotted Bucky.
Loki was tucked under Tony’s arm, half asleep.
“You never told us your cat’s name,” Steve said, shifting in his seat as he was prone to do every ten seconds. It made Loki’s ear twitch in annoyance.
“This bag of fleas? I call him whatever comes to mind. He’s a good cat.” Tony went back to his lightning fast typing and Loki purred happily.
“I didn’t know you were a cat person.”
“I didn’t either, until Kitty Galore came limping out from the wreckage of my Malibu home.” Tony paused to scratch Loki under the chin. Loki watched the screen, only having a slight idea what Tony was doing.
“We sometimes had dogs along with us in the war.” Steve smiled wanly. “Never a cat though.”
“That’s because my cat wasn’t born yet. My little Mufasa is fearless. He could take Hydra down himself, if he wanted to.”
“Glad he’s on our side,” Sam joked.
“And that’s with one paw behind his back.”
*
“I hate staying in the van,” Tony complained.
“You’re in a hotel suite that overlooks the whole city,” Sam said with just a hint of laughter in his voice. Tony clacked on his laptop loudly. “It’s your own fault for having such a recognizable face.”
“I will never apologize for my beautiful face. Steve, stop straightening your coat out. You look fine.”
“You can’t even see me.”
“I can see your camera shifting. Sam, turn towards Steve.” On the laptop Loki could see pair. “Cap, are you sure you’re not a male stripper? That uniform is a tight fit.” Steve shifted on screen. “Are you blushing?!”
“It’s illegal to impersonate a police officer,” Steve grumbled.
“Didn’t deny you were a stripper, though.” Tony wiggled his eyebrows even though Steve and Sam couldn’t see him. Loki laughed. It came out as a huff in his cat form. “My cat thinks you’d make a great stripper too.”
“We’re heading in. No more chatter.”
“Pff, just because you two can’t say anything back doesn’t mean I can’t talk. Actually, I prefer it this way. You know how much I love the sound of my own voice. Did I ever tell you about my Captain America phase? I swear, Howard had a perpetual hard-on for you, Capsicle. He had a room dedicated to your merc.” Tony took a loud slurp of his drink as Steve and Sam walked into the police station. “Anyway, he had this replica shield that I freaking loved. He bitched me out one night when I was seven or eight so the next morning I climbed onto his desk—did I mention the shield was hanging above his desk. It didn’t go with the design of the room at all. I had to jump to get it. Didn’t expect it to be so heavy. I fell backwards and almost cracked my head open—”
“Tony,” Steve said exasperatedly.
“Uck, fine. Just get to a computer and put in the flash drive. Can’t believe they still use VCRs.” Tony pulled Loki closer to him. “Jarvis, remind me to upgrade this precinct when I get home with my soulmate.”
“As you wish.”
“Sam, please help him. This embarrassing.”
“The stupid thing won’t go in.” Steve kept flipping the flash drive over after trying to plug it in.
“You’re just giving me ammunition.” Tony was holding in a smile as he leaned back. “Where’s the assassin twins when you need them?” An icon at the bottom of the screen flashed on. “Alright, Police Academy head back to base.”
Tony’s fingers were flying over the keyboard and Loki closed his eyes against the onslaught of light from the screen.
He buried his face against him and swore that he’d put a tracking spell on Bucky Barnes the second he got a chance to.
He was selfish, but not selfish enough to keep Tony from his other soulmate.
*
Loki was watching Tony sleep when Loki heard a rustling from the only other hotel suite on the floor. He perked up and sniffed the air. He couldn’t pick up anything over the scent of cleaning products and air fresheners.
He tried to move closer to the adjoining wall, but Tony reached out while asleep. Loki couldn’t deny him anything. He dug his way under arm and was rewarded with a relieved sigh from Tony.
He could make a physical double of himself, but the idea sickened him. Tony needed him right now. Loki had been the cause of his nightmares and refused to let them harm him anymore.
Loki stayed alert throughout the night, only giving in to his overwhelming need to sleep when Steve woke.
*
Loki was laying in Captain America’s shield just to screw with him. Every time Steve approached to get his shield Loki would let a low growl.
Tony was practically wheezing from laughing so hard.
“You have to show him who’s boss,” Sam said. His grin was blinding. “Are you going to be pushed around by a cat who’s not even ten pounds soaking wet?”
“I don’t need to show him who’s boss. I am the boss.”
“Okay, Roy. Whatever you say.”
“Siegfried and Roy?” Sam asked and Tony chuckled in response.
Steve was slowly edging towards Loki.
“Who?”
Loki showed his teeth and Steve hesitated.
“J, add Siegfried and Roy to Steve’s ever growing list of wiki-pages he needs to peruse through.”
Steve moved an inch forward and Loki sat up, hissing.
“Alright, Binx. Enough of that. Come to daddy.”
Loki eyed Steve a moment longer before trotting over to Tony and wrapping around his leg.
*
Loki was in his litterbox, doing his business. Steve walked by and their eyes met.
Loki maintained eye contact.
Steve froze.
Loki narrowed his eyes.
Steve ran off.
*
They were in Champagne, Illinois when Loki heard the rustling again. It was too consistent to be a breeze.
Each footstep was placed deliberately not to make noise. Too deliberate to be an animal.
Loki hopped onto the windowsill of the rented apartment and gazed at the moonlit area below him.
The rustling was too close to the building for Loki to see the source of.
He glanced behind him. Tony was sound asleep.
Sam was following another lead out of state.
Loki could hear Steve. He hadn’t moved in a few hours, but was still awake.
It would have to do.
Loki spelled the window open and crept out onto the ledge. It was easy for him to hop from one window ledge to another, making his way down. He made no noise.
When he was close enough he jumped onto the branch of a pathetic looking tree. It was too thin to support a normal cat, but he was far from normal.
Leaves fell loose and Bucky Barnes was barraged with yellow and orange.
Loki made an inquisitive noise as he met Bucky’s hunted eyes. Loki settled on the branch, his eyes drooping low. Bucky’s posture became more relaxed.
When Bucky began reading his book again Loki cast an invisible locator spell on him.
A few hours later he sensed Tony waking and he retreated back to his bed.
*
They were heading in the wrong direction, but Loki knew it didn’t matter. Bucky was tracking them.
He was very good at it. The only reason Loki had noticed was because of the locator spell he had on Bucky.
Loki knew he could direct the others to Bucky, but he could sense that Bucky wasn’t ready yet.
During the nights, if Loki could manage it and if Tony was sleeping soundly, Loki snuck out to Bucky.
At the start Bucky was very hesitant towards him, even backing away when Loki approached. He didn’t want to think about what could cause such a reaction.
Bucky became calmer as nights passed, even allowing Loki sit with him as he read.
Bucky tended to read almost childish books. The print was needlessly big and over-spaced.
It took Loki a while to understand why he gravitated to those books. It was heartbreaking when he realized that Bucky read them because they always had a happy ending.
On that night Loki put in extra effort to keep Bucky warm.
*
Bucky pulled out a laser pointer from his pocket. Loki was immediately on alert, his tail flicking agitatedly.
Bucky let out a throaty chuckle. It made Loki purr in return.
The red dot appeared and Loki went racing after it, performing hair raising turns and jumps.
At one point he clawed his way up a tree, knocking an empty birdhouse out of it. Bucky caught it before it could crash.
Loki leapt to the ground and watched Bucky as he hung the birdhouse back in place.
Bucky settled in his spot on the ground again, looking a thousand years older.
Loki batted halfheartedly at Bucky’s shoelace before moving closer. In a calculated move he bent down and licked the tip of one of Bucky’s metal fingers.
Bucky flinched before his eyes became wide and watery.
Loki butted his head against his metal arm, begging for pets.
Bucky’s hand clenched before Loki was swept up in a hug. He was clutched tightly as Bucky sobbed against his fur.
*
The door to the apartment swung open, revealing Tony Stark.
Bucky was holding Loki in his arms.
“I, uh, found your cat.”