A Date
There's a soft knock on the door, and Barton answers it with curiosity.A smile appears on his lips when he sees that it's Loki. "So, are you here to finally accept my date offer?" he asks, his eyes twinkling with hope. Loki chuckles, feeling a pang of sympathy for Barton. "No, I'm not here for that," he replies, shaking his head slightly. Barton sighs, trying to hide his disappointment. "Well, what brings you here then?" he asks, leaning against the doorframe as he attempts to mask his lingering hope with a casual demeanor."I'm here to get Tony so we can walk to class," Loki explains, glancing past Barton into the room. "He promised he'd share those notes from last week's lecture," Loki adds, hoping to shift the conversation away from the awkwardness. Barton chuckles softly and points with his thumb towards the bed where Tony is fast asleep, snoring lightly. "He's still in dreamland," Barton says. "You might have to wake him up if you want those notes anytime soon." Loki nods, grateful that his little white lie has diffused the tension. He steps inside and looks around the room, taking in the cluttered desk piled with papers and the posters plastered on the walls. He notices a half-empty coffee cup next to a stack of textbooks, evidence of Tony's late-night study sessions. Loki's gaze shifts to the opposite side of the room, where Barton's taste in decor is evident. There hangs a collection of posters featuring scantily clad women, sleek cars, and football players in action. He raises an eyebrow, amused by the contrasting personalities reflected in their choice of wall art. He chuckles softly, thinking about how their shared space is a perfect blend of Tony's studious nature and Barton's carefree spirit. The room feels like a testament to their unlikely friendship, filled with both intellect and adventure. He's been here so many times and had barely noticed these details before. It was as if the room itself had taken on a new life, revealing layers of their personalities that he had overlooked. Perhaps it was the comfort of familiarity that had allowed him to see it anew.
He moves to nudge Stark awake, whispering, "Hey, rise and shine, genius." Tony hears Loki's voice and groans, throwing his blanket over his head, clearly in no mood to leave the comfort of sleep. Despite the intrusion, he mumbles something incoherent, signaling his desire to stay in the blissful realm of dreams a little longer. Tony burrows deeper into his pillow, pressing his face against it in a futile attempt to block out Loki's persistent presence. His muffled voice emerges again, grumbling, "Five more minutes," as he clings to the remnants of sleep. The sound of Barton's annoying snicker reaches Tony's ears, cutting through his sleepy haze and making him groan in annoyance. He knows that ignoring it won't make it go away, but he stubbornly clings to the hope that maybe, just maybe, they'll leave him alone if he stays still.
Tony smiles slightly when he doesn't hear anyone for a moment, thinking perhaps his tactic has worked. However, seconds later, he suppresses the urge to shiver as he feels his blanket being snatched away, leaving him exposed to the cool morning air. Tony frowns and looks over his shoulder at Loki, who is standing there with a mischievous grin. "Really, Loki?" Tony grumbles, pulling his arms across his chest to ward off the chill. "Can't a guy get a few more minutes of sleep? "Why are you here, and what do you want?" Tony groans, eyeing the steaming cup suspiciously. Loki doesn't answer immediately, instead raising an eyebrow as he shoves the cup of coffee from Starbucks into Tony's hands, a silent peace offering for the rude awakening. Tony suppresses the urge to smile as he sits up and crosses his legs on the bed, the warmth of the cup seeping into his hands. Despite his annoyance, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is enough to soften his demeanor, and he can't help but appreciate the gesture. He looks at Loki, thinking about how it's been two months since they met, and every Tuesday and Wednesday morning, Loki has been in his room, waking him up for their class with a coffee in hand. It's become a routine, one that Tony secretly enjoys, even if he'd never admit it out loud.
He wonders why the raven-haired bothers with him so much, especially since they talk every day and hang out more than he ever expected. He's even noticed Barton's jealous looks thrown their way. They weren't dating; they were just friends, and he was content with their friendship, but there was something in the back of his mind he couldn't quite shake off.
He couldn't deny the flutter of excitement he felt whenever Loki was around, and it confused him. Tony began to wonder if there was more to his feelings than he was willing to acknowledge. He remembered the first day he met Loki; his heart had raced, and he'd felt an inexplicable urge to impress him, hoping that the enigmatic black-haired would want to stay in his presence. That same nervous energy buzzed in his chest even now, making him question if his feelings ran deeper than mere friendship. Tony found himself mentally rehearsing conversations, determined not to sound foolish in front of Loki. He even began dressing more sharply, hoping to catch Loki's attention and maybe earn a compliment or two. "Thank you," Tony says softly, his heart skipping a beat when Loki flashes a rare smile in his direction. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches Clint's envious glance, fully aware that Clint had hoped to be the one to capture Loki's attention. Clint had known for a while that Tony liked Loki, and his envious glances were a testament to that. Tony sighed as he took a sip of his coffee, contemplating the day ahead before crawling out of bed to get ready for school, determined to make an impression.
He exited the bathroom fully dressed in nice jeans and a crisp polo shirt, his signature hairstyle perfectly in place. Around his neck hung what looked like an arc reactor necklace, complementing the sleek wristwatch on his right wrist and the stud earrings in both ears. Loki smiled and looked at his phone but did a double take when Tony leaned down to step into his Jordan shoes. The subtle scent of cologne wafted up as Tony focused on tying his laces. Loki's eyes scanned over his friend, impressed by how effortlessly Tony pulled off his look. He's really handsome, Loki thought as his eyes traveled over Tony's form. His gaze stopped on Tony's veined hands, appreciating the confident way they moved. Loki couldn't help but admire the way Tony carried himself with such charisma and style. When Tony stood, Loki's eyes followed suit, traveling up from his hands to his broad shoulders and finally stopping on Tony's face. Tony caught the black-haired man's gaze and smirked, causing Loki to blush. As Tony reached to grab his cup of coffee, Loki's heart beat faster, realizing how close Tony's hand was getting. He sighed with relief when he saw that Tony was merely reaching for the coffee, not intending to brush against him.
Tony grabbed his school bag and said, "Let's go, Lok." Loki quickly picked up his own bag and followed Tony, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in his chest. "Have fun, you two," Barton called behind them, trying to sound normal despite the jealousy in his voice. Loki giggled when he saw Tony flip him the bird, feeling a warmth spread through him as they stepped into the bustling hallway. Tony took another sip, sighing in contentment as he turned to Loki and smiled. "Thank you for the coffee," he said, appreciating the small gesture that seemed to bridge the gap between them. "I told you to stop telling me thank you," Loki waved his hands dismissively before tucking them into his sweater. "I've been doing this since we first met; it's like a habit I can't break, but I like it." His green eyes sparkled as he glanced at his brunette companion.
They exited the dorms building together, the crisp morning air invigorating their senses. As they walked toward their class, Tony couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, I guess I'll just have to keep thanking you, whether you like it or not." Loki chuckled as he glanced at Tony, whose eyes lowered towards the grass with a smile on his face. "It's been so long since someone bought me coffee," Tony admitted softly, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the drink in his hand.
"Okay, you're welcome," Loki said, smiling, causing Tony's heart to skip a beat. He lost his breath for a moment, wondering how a simple gesture could mean so much to him. He couldn't help but notice the way Loki's eyes sparkled with mischief and kindness, a combination that was both intriguing and disarming. As they walked together, Tony found himself drawn to Loki's effortless charm and the unexpected comfort of his presence. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "After class, do you wanna..." Tony paused, taking a deep breath, before finally finishing, "D-do you wanna hang out?" He held his breath, anticipating Loki's response, hoping his sudden burst of courage wouldn't lead to disappointment.
"It depends," Loki said with a teasing smile. "Is it a date?" Tony's eyes widened in surprise as they walked into the class building, turning down the hall to the right. His heart raced, but a grin slowly spread across his face as he replied, "Only if you want it to be." Loki chuckled softly, feeling amused by Tony's candidness. He knew Tony was openly bisexual and appreciated his friend's honesty. As for Loki, he never felt the need to label his own attractions; he simply followed his heart, whether it led him to a man, woman, or even a creature from another realm. "I suppose we'll see where the day takes us," Loki replied with a playful wink. It was clear to them that they were attracted to each other and often flirted, but it wasn't serious—until now. Tony couldn't let the opportunity slip away, feeling good about himself for finally asking Loki out.
Tony asked with a hopeful grin, "So, is it a yes or a no?" Loki nodded, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, "Yes, Tony, it's a yes. Let's see where this adventure takes us." Tony smiled warmly and looked at him, feeling a sense of excitement bubbling inside. Loki chuckled softly, "Can't wait," he said, as their hands brushed against each other while they walked side by side. "Don't try and hold my hand, princess," Tony said with a smirk, teasingly pulling his hand away. Loki laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "Who said anything about holding hands? You're the one who seems eager. Besides, I don't want to hold your hand; I don't know where they've been," Loki retorted with a playful grin, making Tony roll his eyes. "Touché," Tony replied, trying to suppress a smile. Without a second thought, Tony slipped his hand into Loki's, surprising both of them. "I guess we both know where they've been now," Tony quipped, earning a soft chuckle from Loki as their fingers intertwined. Loki's hands were warm, and the unexpected comfort made Tony's heart flutter. They continued to walk down the hall, feeling a strange sense of happiness as they held hands, both surprised at how natural it felt.
As they entered Professor Scott's class, the playful banter between them paused, and their hands reluctantly parted. They took their seats side by side, exchanging a quick, knowing glance that spoke volumes about the newfound connection they shared."I can't wait for today," Loki whispered with a mischievous grin, leaning slightly toward Tony. Tony chuckled softly, feeling the anticipation in the air as he replied, "Neither can I. It's going to be interesting, that's for sure." Tony's eyes flickered to Loki's lips as he watched him lick them, a subtle gesture that sent a ripple of excitement through him. He quickly looked away, trying to focus on the event ahead, but the moment lingered in his mind. "I'll pick you up at 7," Tony said, glancing at Loki. "I have something planned for us." Tony turned away from Loki as soon as Professor Scott walked in and started discussing their lesson for the day, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the evening ahead.
Loki, on the other hand, wondered what Tony could have planned, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious tone in Tony's voice. He found it hard to concentrate on Professor Scott's lecture, his imagination running wild with possibilities for their evening together.