Chapter 2
He was content. To be honest, he loved his life right now. Here he was, with great people, drinking some great booze and feeling just.. great. The good liquor was nothing new, really, but the people, they were special. They weren't just people, or associates, or clients or, whatever, no, they were friends. It shouldn't be that exceptional, but it was. His only friends – except Pepper and Rhodey of course, but they weren't around all too often, so that left these group of special people.
They were all broken in their own ways and that just brought them all closer. They somehow understood each other better than anyone else ever could. They understood Tony and accepted him with all of his flaws and faults. He had never thought that they would become a team, but now they were his family. Tony watched the others and sighed happily. He really liked how much they were doing together these days. But not only their little team parties or movie nights, but also just talking with Steve, showing him all the “technical” things, doing science with Brucie, flying around with Thor, talking about his world and anyway who didn't like Thor – except Loki, maybe... Then there were Tasha and Clint, most badass spies in existence and they didn't even try to kill him any more. He even could always be his sarcastic self around them and that was just the best and anyway, today they even had brought some friend with some false name who was staying at the SHIELD base for a while and he was really hot, like, really really hot? He wasn't the tallest, maybe, but who was Tony to complain! Dark blond hair, a bit shorter than Clint maybe, and those blue eyes, ohmygod Tony just had to see them dazed with pleasure and lust and need.
Tony then realized he had been staring and shook his head slowly. “Sorry, what did you say?” he asked hot-guy – as he called him for the lack of a name. Surely, Tasha had introduced him, but it hadn't been his real name after all, so why bother, Tony had thought.
But still, here he was, talking to the handsome spy.
The other just chuckled at Tony's clearly intoxicated state. “Never mind. What did you even-”
“Want another drink?” Tony interrupted him. “I know it's rude to interrupt but honestly, I need more alcohol cause, come on, it'll be even funnier and it's already pretty great but there can never be too much booze and it can never be too funny so what do you want cause on my watch no one stays sober, like ever, I even got Steve to-”
“Tony. Breathe.” hot-guy grinned, somewhat amused. “You're drunk already, shouldn't you be home, by now? Thought you said something about your boyfriend? Come on, I'll-”
“No, no, no, shuuush!” Tony struggled for a second to keep his balance, then he went on. “First, we drink another round, then we can talk!” the genius decided and went over to the bar, where Tasha was talking to Steve and Bruce.
“Barkeeper!” Tony grinned and almost stabbed Bruce with his fingers. “I want another round for me and hot-guy over there!” Tony demanded, looking expectantly up at his friend who apparently just promoted to barkeeper.
While Bruce hesitantly went to made the two ordered drinks, Tony caught Tasha's eyes and shivered, he wasn't entirely sure, but it she looked kinda.. pissed? He turned to Steve, he also looked at Tony, but more irritated? Why did they look at him? Was it something he had done? Or said? Tony couldn't remember, and his drunk brain somehow found it way too funny to really care about it. So he just shrugged it off, took the two glasses with a “Thanks Bruciebear!!” and went to return to hot-guy, who was now looking out of the big panorama window.
“Got you something, too.” He gave him the drink. Shaking his head, but still amused, the other accepted and carefully sipped on it.
Tony let his hand slide up hot-guys well muscled arm and stood a bit closer in his personal space. He rubbed his shoulder and then let it linger on his back.
“Uhm, Tony? What exactly are you... doing?” hot-guy asked.
Tony just wanted to answer this totally philosophical question, when he was interrupted. “Never mind, why is Tasha looking like she wants to kill you?” Hot-guy asked instead.
Tasha again, huh? That was strange... she had stopped to judge him months ago! So what was her problem? Was it... ? Oh I couldn't be because of Loki, right? No, that was absurd and stupid and anyway, he had asked Loki if he wanted to come! And when his boyfriend was too good for this, for their little gatherings, he had at least the right to flirt with Hawk and Tasha's mysterious friend from who-knew-where, staying with them this week doing who-knew-what. Well, Hawk and Tasha probably knew where he came from and what he was doing here but... that wasn't the point! What was important, was that it was none of her damn business! “Just ignore her, we're probably out of Vodka, or I don't know..” He took another big gulp of his drink, before he focused his whole attention on him again.
His hands wandered down hot-guys back, dangerously close to- that ass, dammit! But before hot-guy could even react there was a slightly-on-edge voice behind him. Tasha, his drunk brain provided.
“So, where's Loki?” she asked. False smile in place. Tony registered hot-guy looking at her, but if it was relieved or accusing, he couldn't see.
“Loki didn't want to come.” Tony slurred, somewhat accusing. What kind of a boyfriend let his partner go to parties all alone, anyway?
“Well, did you even ask him to accompany you? Cause you know how insecure-”
“Of course I did Tasha, what do you think, hm?”
Well, he had told Loki he was going. And when he still didn't have the courage to ask Tony something as easy as this, if he could go with him, it really was his own fault, when maybe a drunk Tony might get a bit handsy with hot-guy here. Seriously, what did Loki expect, hm? He wasn't a cheater, but he certainly wouldn't run after Loki to accompany him to everything, when there were other hot people to look at around. Steve slowly made his way over too and hot-guy just looked uncomfortable.