Having spent most of the day in the lab while Thor and Steve looked after a feverish Loki, Tony decided to visit with news. He met Pepper as he came from leaving Bruce.

"Anything?" she asked.

"We're almost sure it's the sex," Tony replied. "Bruce is trying to isolate what it could be."

"Maybe it would have been easier if we'd gone with your first suggestion then," Pepper said as they stepped into the elevators to the private levels.

"If only you'd said that earlier," Tony replied and they smiled a little at each other.

He was feeling more relaxed now they had had a vaguely sensible explanation. If he was being honest with himself, something he was trying out these days, he liked Loki a lot and he had been worried.

"How long do you think it will take Bruce to figure out what Loki needs?" Pepper asked.

"A day or so, probably," Tony replied. "Bruce likes to double check his results."

He didn't have to say why.

"And until then?"

"I'd have said purchase some professional help," he said, "but I can visualise SHIELD's reaction to unsanctioned personnel and Fury would probably order Natasha to take one for the team."

"So?"

"Well it's not like he hasn't bitten me before," Tony said as various things he had been thinking coalesced inside his brain.

Pepper didn't look remotely surprised; she knew him so well.

"With me," was all she said.

"And he has to wake up for more than five minutes first," Tony added as they reached the correct floor.

That was it, they were agreed, and Tony took the lead as they walked to Loki's room.

"Welcome, friends," Thor greeted, "I'm afraid there has been little change."

"Well, we're sure it's the sex," Tony said, deciding that definite was the best way to go where Thor was concerned.

Thor immediately brightened and Tony was loath to admit it, but it was really a bit like the sun coming out from behind clouds. He could sympathise with Loki wanting to kill his brother if it happened a lot.

"Then all that must be done is to find my brother a willing partner," Thor said, standing. "I shall attend to it immediately."

"Hold up, Blondie," Tony said, "yes, but no, because Loki's a secret, remember?"

"But surely this is of more import than..."

"We can't risk it," Pepper said, and the way that stopped Thor said a lot about what Pepper meant to all the Avengers.

"Then how?" Thor asked.

"Well I," he turned and looked at Pepper, "we are willing to volunteer."

Steve who had been listening to the whole conversation looked shocked.

"Is that safe?" Steve asked.

"He bit me before and he was in worse shape," Tony replied, because he had actually thought it through.

"You are willing to do this for my brother?" Thor sounded just a little choked up, which really should have been some kind of warning.

However, Tony still wasn't fast enough to get out of the way and found himself on the end of a very enthusiastic hug from a Norse god, with Pepper sandwiched right next to him. It was quite hard to breathe.

"Thor," a tired, but coherent voice said, "unhand them before they expire."

Tony had never been gladder of Loki's sarcasm.

"Well, Sleeping Beauty," Tony said, doing his best not to see spots as he was freed, "you're looking like shit. So, did you hear all that or have you just woken up?"

"I heard," Loki replied and he really did look pale and like death warmed over; "your voice is quite piercing."

The room was dim and the demi-god clearly didn't have the strength to maintain his glamour, but Tony smiled. If Loki had enough energy for sass they were doing okay.

"So," he said, "what do you think? Can you handle me a second time?"

For once Loki did not quip back as had become usual between them and the demi-god's gaze flicked between him and Pepper.

"You are sure?"

"You mean you missed all the flirting, I'm hurt," Tony replied.

"Perfectly," was what Pepper said and that was so typical of both of them that Loki appeared to take both at face value.

"Then I would be pleased to accept your gracious offer," Loki said, almost as if they were forming some sort of treaty; maybe in the head of a prince they were.

There were layers to Loki and Tony was all too aware he had not been exposed to all of them.

Being that he was Tony Stark he didn't do nervous, but he was just a little bit excited. His stomach fluttered with anticipation.

"So, you look like you need a good meal and you've probably been starving since you got here," he launched in. "Like they say, there's no time like the present. Personally, I've always been a man of the future, but you get what I mean."

Loki smiled just a little and pushed himself up in the bed. There was strength there, probably greater than any human, but for Loki the movements were weak.

"As much as I am ravenous," Loki said, "I fear I am somewhat disgusting. I must make use of the toiletry facilities before we can engage in any arrangement."

Tony immediately saw possibilities and gave Pepper a quick look. She simply raised her eyebrows slightly, which was a tentative agreement.

"Well, no offense, but you look like you'll take a header in a light breeze let alone a shower," he commented; "how about some help?"

"That would be welcome," Loki said while moving to the edge of the bed.

The demi-god was clearly stronger than his pallor would have suggested, because he managed to stand up, but his stance was nowhere near its usual perfect deportment. Tony didn't move in to help directly because he was all too aware that was more likely to annoy than be welcomed, but he did indicate the way into the bathroom with a dramatic arm flare and allowing Loki and Pepper to proceed him.

"We shall make this room tidy and leave you alone, My Friends," Thor said, eminently cheerful and apparently not in the least bothered by the fact he knew his brother was about to have sex.

"Thank you, Thor," Loki said from just inside the bathroom.

Once he had made it over the same threshold, Tony closed the door and for the first time Loki's demeanour changed. When Loki turned to look at him, leaning against the wall for support, Tony could see hesitation in the demi-god's eyes.

"You are aware that it is likely there is actually no requirement for real sex?" Loki said.

"Yes," Tony said and started to undress.

Loki remained leaning against the wall and looked to Pepper.

"Why take the risk?" Tony asked and smiled one of his winning smiles.

"What Tony is failing to say," Pepper stepped in before Loki could reply to that, "is we are here because we want to be, not simply because we need to be."

For a few moments Loki simply stood there, slowly considering them.

"Do you do this often?" Loki asked in a manner that suggested he was trying not to give offence.

"First time," Tony replied.

The why was written in Loki's face; the demi-god didn't have to actually say it.

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" Tony asked.

"I am not Thor," was totally not what he expected to come back at him.

"So?"

"I know what I look like," Loki replied; "I am not the epitome of a great warrior."

"And around here we stopped just going for the warrior type several decades ago," Tony replied. "Sure, Thor is smokin' if you like the type, but muscles aren't everything. I go for devilishly handsome myself."

Loki looked at Pepper still not at all sure. The fact a god, a strikingly handsome god for that matter, had self-image issues really was mind blowing, even if Tony had kind of known it before.

"I think you can see my taste," Pepper said and nodded in Tony's direction; "dark, handsome, slightly insane."

Tony laughed at that and Loki's face was a picture; as usual Pepper had hit the nail on the head.

"See," he said, "both here of our own free will."

At least Loki seemed to accept that.

"Now we just have to have the awkward conversation," Tony decided to leap in with both feet. "One hard and fast rule, no biting Pepper, because we don't know what her metabolic irregularities will do to you."

"The Extremis," Loki replied with a nod.

Tony didn't know how Loki knew that, because it was top secret and he definitely hadn't discussed, it, but then, mind meld, so anything was possible.

"Great, awkward point one, done," he said and grinned, "now awkward topic two: safe sex. From the scans it's pretty sure neither of you can actually catch anything and I know I'm clean, so that just leaves us with the delicate topic of conception."

He looked at Loki, because he knew Pepper was covered.

"If you mention horses, I may have to kill you," Loki said in a very dry tone.

"Look I don't know what's legend and what's real," Tony defended himself. "Two years ago I'd never met a god or an alien. I'd rather have one embarrassing conversation now than the patter of little hooves later."

"In this form I am completely, one hundred percent, male," Loki conceded.

"And is your godly mojo likely to bypass human contraceptive methods?"

He had to be sure.

"I do not know about Thor, but I found a spell many years ago that prevents me from being fertile unless I wish it," Loki revealed, which was the last hurdle really.

"Pep, we've found ourselves an enlightened man," Tony said; in his experience a lot of men left contraception to the ladies because they couldn't be bothered.

"I am more impressed all the time," Pepper said.

Before anything else was said, Loki turned to the sink, picked up the mouthwash and used it.

"That is better," he said when he looked back at Tony.

Pepper smiled and slipped out of her dress in one simple movement.

For a little while Tony forgot how to think; Pepper had that effect on him sometimes, especially when she was being particularly provocative. The fact she was wearing only a tiny thong under her dress had all of Tony's attention.

"Right," he said, shaking himself out of the momentary stupor, "wow, okay, let's get everyone naked."

When he glanced at Loki, the demi-god's eyes were as transfixed as his had been. Definitely no problem about attraction there, but then he hadn't thought there would be. He was already half out of his clothes and as he undressed the rest of the way, Loki removed the t-shirt and boxers which were Loki's only clothing and Pepper bent over to pick up and fold her dress, before slipping out of her thong just as daintily as she had removed her main clothing.

They were all naked.

If Tony had been the type, he might have felt a little inferior given that both Pepper and Loki were poster children for perfect bodies, but he wasn't and he was quite happy with his own physical form. Having a blue light in his chest for several years had actually been good for his own body image because after that, nothing was weird. The fact it was gone now and all he had to show for it was some interesting patterning hadn't really changed his mind set.

"Now aren't we an attractive trio," he said and grinned.

"Modest as well," Loki replied and there was an almost smile tugging at the demi-god's mouth.