Chapter Text
Just in case anyone was wondering what Fitzgerald looks like...
~*~
Loki woke to his head pounding, mouth dry, tongue covered in fuzz. He let out a groan and burrowed closer to whatever warmth it was he was lying on. He could feel Fitzgerald, his fat orange cat, purring, lying in the space behind his knees. As his senses began to return to him, Loki knew where he was, and who he was with. His makeshift pillow was Arthur, his best-friend-recently-turned-boyfriend. Judging by the deep breathing, he was still fast asleep. Cadyn’s back was pressed to his own, and he could hear the usual whistling she made while she was sleeping. The last thing he could remember clearly was arriving at the party. Arthur had driven them there in his Mom’s car, and they had been invited by Cadyn’s older cousin, Amber, who was in the Phi Mu sorority at her university. They had mixed drinks pressed into their hands upon arrival, and he could vaguely remember making out with Arthur in a dark corner while Cadyn did shots with Amber and the other sisters.
All Loki knew for sure was that he felt like shit. He was hungry, thirsty, and he needed some sort of painkiller for his throbbing head. Also, maybe some cuddles with his dads and little brother. He might have been a teenager, but he still loved cuddles, and probably always would.
“I can hear you thinking,” Arthur mumbled, and a hand rubbed at Loki’s back. “Are you feeling better, princess?”
Loki blinked his eyes open and hummed for a moment. “Artie… Artie, I feel like fucking shit.”
“Well, you did have a lot to drink last night, baby,” Cadyn replied, turning over to press herself to Loki’s back, “and we couldn’t get you to eat much pizza. Luckily, you did drink quite a bit of water. It could be worse.”
Loki shimmied around until he could grab Cadyn’s hand, intertwining their fingers. He blinked a few more times at Arthur and then looked down at where Fitzgerald was curled up. The cat was staring back at him, as was usual, and they had a silent conversation that consisted mostly of Fitzgerald judging him.
“I could make pancakes?” Cadyn suggested, nose pressed to Loki’s hair.
“Chocolate chip?” Loki replied.
“And blueberry?” Arthur added.
Cadyn sighed, smiling wide. “I suppose that can be arranged.”
~*~
When Bruce and Tony finally made their way to the kitchen that morning, they found a usual scene before them. Cadyn had on Bruce’s apron over her clothes, Loki’s slippers on her feet, and she was flipping a stack of perfect pancakes on the griddle. Loki was sat in the booth, large mug of coffee in hand, glasses sliding down his nose. Harley was sat on Loki's lap with a cup of juice, talking quietly. Arthur sat beside them both, rubbing Loki's back and scrolling through his phone. Early morning magic, as Tony always called it.
“How are you feeling, squirt?” Tony asked, moving to pour himself a cup of coffee.
Loki snorted. “I feel like shit, Daddy.”
“Watch the little ears, bug. So, what did you learn from that experience?” Bruce questioned, leaning over to press a soft kiss to Cadyn’s forehead before grabbing his water bottle from the fridge.
“... Don’t drink excessively?” Loki said slowly, unsure if that was the right answer or not.
Tony and Bruce glanced at each other before nodding in agreement. “I guess I can accept that,” Bruce said, “for now. Do you need any acetaminophen, honey?”
“I, uh, gave him some when we got up, Papa Banner,” Arthur explained, looking up at them and smiling. “And he had a full glass of water before I let him have any coffee.”
“You’re such a good kid, Art,” Tony said.
“Thanks, Dad Stark.”
When Bruce slid in beside him in the booth, Loki immediately curled up to him, eyes fluttering shut. Harley somehow managed to stay in his exact position, and Bruce smiled softly before running his fingers through Loki's messy morning curls. Cadyn allowed Tony to flip the pancakes while she gathered plates, knives, and forks, and within a few minutes they were all crowded in the booth together and eating.
“Do you have plans today, kids?” Tony asked, looking between the three of them. Harley had relocated to Tony's side, watching carefully as the man cut the stack of pancakes into perfect squares. He had whispered a soft thank you and dug in, watching those around him intently.
Loki shook his head. “Not that I can think of… wait! Fitzgerald has his check up this afternoon.” He looked between Arthur and Cadyn. “Do you guys wanna come?”
Having heard his name, Fitzgerald came padding in from the living room, stopping by the end of the booth seat and looking up at Tony. The cat let out a loud meow and waited until Tony had rolled his eyes and raised up his arms, letting the cat jump smoothly from the ground into his lap.
“Just admit that you love him, Daddy.” Loki said.
“I will never,” Tony replied, already petting Fitzgerald’s head, the cat purring, “ever admit that I love this cat. Never.”
Bruce smiled. “He is a good cat. Loki, honey, did you want me to come with you?”
“If you want to. I don’t think Dr. Samuels is going to have anything new to tell me.” Loki shrugged. “I’ve been brushing FG’s teeth every day like he told me to, and he seems to be a happy boy.”
Arthur looked at Fitzgerald and tilted his head to the side in thought. “He is the weirdest cat I’ve ever met, that’s for sure.”
“Peter is coming to dinner tonight with Ned, so try to be home by six-thirty, alright?” Tony said.
“Okie dokie.”
~*~
After breakfast the teenagers prepared to leave the apartment again, Tony and Bruce having waved them away when they offered to clean up. The trio shouted their goodbyes as they left the penthouse, Fitzgerald hooked up to his harness and leash, and then it was quiet again, with Tony and Bruce stood side by side at the kitchen counter, washing and drying.
"He's growing up too fast," Bruce commented, voice soft. Harley was still sitting at the counter, headphones on, fingers tapping away on his StarkPad. He was homeschooled still - he was more than likely working on a math assignment, his favorite subject. "I don't think I ever want him moving out."
Tony smiled at that, handing him another dish. "That'll mean letting Arthur live here too. And maybe Cadyn. Not that I would mind - good kids."
"Best kids," Bruce replied. "But... time. Moving too fast."
Tony had nothing he could say to that, because Bruce was right. Peter was already gone, moved out of the penthouse, married to Ned, who was an amazing addition to the family. One day, more than likely, Loki would be married to Arthur, and he would fly the nest too. "Hey ace," he said, voice raised a bit.
Harley looked up, blinked twice, and reached up to pull off his headphone. "Yes, Daddy?" he asked.
"Never grow up, please."
"Okay!" Harley grinned toothily. "I'll try my very best."
Bruce smiled and nudged at Tony with his elbow. "Smooth move."