Chapter 2
Loki awoke the next morning exhausted and went to breakfast. He hadn't bothered looking in the mirror but if he had, he'd have seen that his eyes were still bloodshot, face still slightly puffy. He was a pitiful sight. Much to his horror, Tony was already at the table, alone, eating. He tried to slip away unnoticed, but was too late.
"Hey, Frosty. Oi! C'mon, have breakfast with me," the billionaire called.
Loki's shoulders slumped and he lowered his head, shuffling back to take a seat at the table, shoulders hunched. "Morning," he said quietly, not looking up, reaching for the cereal box.
"Hey...you alright? You've been quiet lately. I can't even remember the last time you magicked live snakes into my drink,"
That elicited a small chuckle from the trickster. "Haven't been sleeping well," Loki said thickly, his voice breaking slightly.
Tony looked at him with genuine concern. "Nightmares? Maybe Bruce can give you a sedative,"
Loki blinked several times against the tears that were threatening. "I'm just so tired," he sighed wearily.
"Hey, hey, it's alright, don't worry. Finish your breakfast, then you can lay down. I always sleep better after I've eaten," Tony suggested with kind eyes.
Loki slowly finished his cereal, finding it difficult to eat with the lump that had formed in his throat. The food tasted like nothing, and he hadn't been hungry in the first place. He forced the rest down so's not to arouse suspicion, burped softly, and rose to put the dishes in the sink. He yawned tiredly, eyes closing heavily of their own accord. "You done?" he asked, moving to put Tony's coffee mug in the sink, as well.
Tony looked up from his paper. "C'mon, Frosty, let's go,"
"Could you not call me Frosty?"
"Otter Pop? Icee? Jotun Ice? Ya gotta gimme something here..."
Loki pouted. "How about Loki?" he asked softly.
Tony nodded and followed the god to the couch, handing him a blanket. "Comfy, Fr-Loki?"
Loki pulled the covers up to his chin and nodded. "Very. Thank you. But..." he gazed at Tony curiously. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Tony sat on the coffee table and looked at the god earnestly. "You've been through a lot. I know it's been really hard on you, and...I know how that feels. It sucks. Especially when you're alone. I just...don't want you to suffer like I did. Before I found Pepper,"
Loki flinched noticeably at the mention of her name, sitting up, suddenly agitated. "I don't need your pity!" he said angrily.
"It's not..." began Tony defensively.
"I-I..." Loki struggled for a cover story to explain his outburst and failed. "I'll always be alone," he sighed.
"Why?" Tony asked, curious. "You don't have to be, Loki. If you are, it's by choice,"
"Not by mine," he slipped, blushing furiously once he realized he'd said too much.
"Not...by yours," the genius repeated. "When I mentioned Pepper..."
"Please let it go," Loki implored, closing his eyes, swallowing hard.
"You haven't been sleeping well. Especially last night. We were..."
"Stop! I know what you were doing last night, Tony. I heard," he whispered.
"Yea. I know," he said, shoulders slumping at the realization. "There something you wanna tell me, Loki?"
The god drew a deep breath, bracing himself for the bitter sting of rejection but he had to take a chance; otherwise he'd never know. "I'm in love with you," he whispered shakily, closing his eyes.