St*rfucker

If there was one thing Loki couldn't stand, it was the bullshit of the entertainment industry. They'd gotten lucky. They knew that. They were reminded of it every fucking day. They kept telling themself that it wasn't something to worry about, to waste time thinking about, but people kept trying to discredit every single thing they did because they got lucky when they were a kid. Maybe they did, but that luck seemed to have run out the moment they grew up. 

What did people expect? That they'd stay a child forever? That they wouldn't make mistakes as a kid just because they had the world watching them? They grew up as a queer kid in a very queerphobic industry and people expected them to turn out perfect? Or even just to grow up in the industry in general. How many child stars had to go off the rails before people realised that there was a problem? No, because Thor got through it fine then the problem had to be Loki, right? That seemed to be what everyone thought. That was what Odin thought, at least. According to him, Loki was just an ungrateful brat who didn't deserve their platform. There were only so many 'holidays' Odin could pay for, after all.

Every day Mobius reprimanded them for their reputation. Every day they had to listen to a lecture on why they had to clean up their act. They knew that it came from a place of concern, but it didn't make it any less irritating. No one would ever change their mind about them. They were allegedly out of control, a diva, hard to work with and absolutely talentless. They'd contributed to some of that, sure. They did have a reputationfor going out to parties, being incredibly reckless and maybe lacking in the self preservation department, but they would never accept any criticism of their professionalism. They always did their best to be as friendly as possible on set, even bringing in coffees and cakes for everyone whenever they could. No one they'd worked with had complained about them to their face, but it was a competitive industry and they really couldn't trust anyone.

So they always listened to Mobius. Always. They said that they'd clear up their act - which they had, more or less. They stopped going to so many parties. Not that they had much choice. Mobius threatened to drop them after the last time they got arrested. That was good incentive to get their shit together. They started putting more work into their career. Taking more modelling opportunities, working with more charities, hell, they'd even set up their own. They were cleaning up their act, but no one cared. Their reputation stayed the same. 

Despite that, Loki kept their head up high as they walked onto the set of the day. The room was as dull as usual - grey walls with lights everywhere. It was enough to give them a migraine. They didn't even get three feet away from the door before a crowd of people rushed towards them. Hands started prodding them - touching their body, their hair, their face, just to make sure that if they weren't already perfect then they could be made perfect. Like there was ever any doubt.

They were rushed to their dressing room, and the moment the door closed the people got to work. First went the hair and makeup team, who pushed them down into a seat in front of the mirror. The mirror took up over half the wall, and Loki was just grateful that they didn't mind seeing themself with absolutely no makeup on and hair as if they'd just gotten out of bed. They tried to make small talk with the people surrounding them, but when one of them turned the radio on they got the message that they didn't want to talk. It would be a long few hours before the shoot started, they thought. 

Watching the artists work through the mirror was unlike anything else. They worked with total efficiency around each other, and were able to communicate without any words. So they focused on the music instead, just grateful that they weren't sat in silence. Some rock band were playing. They recognised the music, but they couldn't place it. They'd probably just heard it in a party. It wasn't bad by any means, just familiar enough that they didn't like the fact that they couldn't remember it.

"And that was Signals by the Avengers," the radio presenter said once the song was finished. They still didn't know it. "Frontman of the Avengers, Tony Stark, was arrested this morning for punching a photographer outside their hotel. Most people are saying that it was a good move against the increasing lack of privacy celebrities are given, but others say that it was just the act of a spoilt brat. What do you think?"

When Loki punched a photographer, it was stupid, an act of jealousy and a sign that they should lose their career. When Tony Stark did it, it was seen as a 'good move against the increasing lack of privacy celebrities are given'. What bullshit was that? Just because Tony was a huge name in the music scene he got given a free pass? God, they remembered when they met Tony Stark. It was at some awards ceremony - Loki didn't know which, they didn't pay much attention to that - and Tony was drunker than what should've been acceptable, performed drunk, accepted an award drunk and was completely passive to everyone else. He'd called Loki a 'fit thing' and said that they'd be an 'easy fuck considering their reputation', and Loki almost punched him. The only reason they didn't was because Fandral had dragged them away. So no, they had no sympathy for Tony Stark. They hoped to never meet him again, and he could rot in jail for all they cared.

They barely even noticed when hands dragged them up so that they were standing. It took everything in them to not push the hands away, but they knew better. They let the team undress them then get them into whatever they were modelling on that shoot. Gucci, they remembered, so definitely a suit. They were beyond sick of suits, but there was nothing they could do about it. Apparently it was all they were good for. They remembered the time they wore a dress on a red carpet because they were so sick of suits, but then they'd been banned from every red carpet for about three months. Mobius wasn't impressed.

When they looked in the mirror, they had to admit that it was better than they'd expected. The right side of their hair had been braided, and their side parting fell to the left. Their curls were as unruly as ever, but styled so perfectly. The makeup was barely there, completely natural, but black eyeshadow surrounded their green eyes, as smoky as they usually did it when they had creative control. The suit wasn't bad either. The three piece were all a dark green crushed velvet with black combat boots to top it all off. They didn't have a shirt on under the waistcoat, but they’d shown off more for less before. 

Not bad.

They walked out into the studio, where Mobius was waiting on the sofa towards the back of the room. He was typing away at his laptop with the look that Loki had come to learn meant not to bug him. Instead, another person caught their eye as he headed towards them with a to-go cup of what they assumed to be coffee. In a matching crushed velvet suit only in black, and instead of a waistcoat was a black shirt, his golden curly hair contrasted against the darkness of the outfit. They only wished that they could tear it off of him piece by piece.

"I didn't realise you were doing this," Fandral said as he handed Loki a cup.

Loki grinned. "I didn't know you were doing this either. Made my day ten times better."

"That easily pleased?" He asked with a wicked grin. "I was excited to finally work with Bucky, but you'll do too, I guess."

They snorted. "I guess you're sleeping on the sofa tonight."

"I take it back," he replied. "I'm really glad you're doing this."

"I'm glad to work with you again." They stepped closer to Fandral and their shoulders brushed together. "You look good."

He chuckled. "Your ego doesn't need any more boosting."

"Fuck you-"

"Gentlemen," a man said as he walked over to them. Loki had to bite their tongue. "It's so lovely to have you both here. Now, I have an idea for this shoot, but I wanted to check how you two feel about touching each other and being close? I want it to be sensual but not- you know- gay."

Loki had never regretted agreeing to do something so much in their life.

"Yeah, I'm fine with it," Fandral replied.

Loki just nodded. 

"Great! So- I'm thinking something like these." The man showed them some photos on his phone, of people with their arms around each other or standing so close that they were touching. Ever so creative. "Are you both ready to get started?"

No, but they didn't say that. They finished their coffee before they followed Fandral over to the space. They could feel Mobius's gaze on them but they didn't look. He was probably waiting for Loki to snap, and to be quite frank, if the man said anything else or misgendered them again then they absolutely would. Reputation be damned. The moment they got ready to start, Fandral wrapped an arm around their shoulder and onto their chest, and they couldn't help but smile. They leant into Fandral and rested their head on their shoulder, and considering the way the man started yelling for the photographer to start shooting they assumed that it wasn't overly 'gay'. 

The shoot went on longer than Loki wanted. Pose after pose, touch after touch. They didn't punch the director who's name they never learned, which they thought was a bonus. The moment it was over they rushed back to their dressing room, only to smile when Fandral followed them. Of course he did. The moment Fandral was through the door they closed it, and before they knew it Fandral had them pushed up against the wall next to it. 

"I'm so glad you did this," Fandral said before his lips were on theirs.

They kissed back without any hesitation. Meeting Fandral had been one of the best things to happen to them. Thor introduced them, weirdly. That was enough for Loki to shrug Fandral off completely, but then they ended up working together. Then Fandral had convinced Loki to go out for a coffee, and things built from there. He was the only good thing to really come from the industry, Loki thought. Fandral didn't like Loki for their money, their influence or their reputation. No, he liked them for them, and that was more than what Loki could say for anyone else. But Fandral wasn't ready to come out, and that was okay. Loki was happy to keep their relationship private, and it was probably for the best anyway.

Loki had never moved faster than when the door opened without anyone knocking first. Fandral rushed to look at something on the table, which turned out to be an eyeshadow brush, and Loki reached for the nearest book they could and flipped it open to a random page to appear as if they were reading. It was a book on how to change a camera battery.

"Smooth." They relaxed when they heard Mobius's voice. "Next time you might want to lock the door."

Loki set the book down. "I wasn't expecting you to be here today. I thought you were in Italy."

"Flew in this morning, we have an emergency meeting," he replied. "I need you ready to go in ten."

They raised a brow. "I have plans."

"Then cancel them." Mobius was the best manager they'd ever had. Loki couldn't deny that. It didn't change the fact that sometimes he could be a bit of a dick. "I really wish I could reschedule these, but they're urgent. I'll meet you in the car in ten."

Mobius didn't even wait for a reply before they left the room. Loki took a deep breath and reminded themself that they loved their job. They relaxed when they felt Fandral's arms wrap around their shoulders, holding them from behind. They couldn't think of anything worse than sitting in 'emergency meetings' while they were meant to be going out for lunch with their partner.

"It's okay," Fandral said. "How about we get a takeaway tonight? Watch Scream or something?"

Loki smiled a little. "Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, don't apologise," he replied. "It's just how it is."

Loki got changed into the clothes they arrived in - a black lace undershirt with a black crop top and dark green cargos. They slipped their docs on with three minutes to go. They didn't even bother taking their makeup off - it was acceptable. They didn't even take their hair loose, not wanting to waste any time. They pressed a gentle kiss to Fandral's cheek before they headed outside, knowing that Mobius would absolutely do something petty if they were even a minute late. He once changed all of Loki's social media passwords because they were forty-two seconds late to a meeting. They learned to be on time after that.

They got into the black car without any hesitation. Mobius was sitting in the backseat next to them, typing on his phone. Loki had never seen anyone so attached to a phone. Hell, they only looked at theirs when they had to answer a text, and even then it was rare. 

"What's the meeting about?" They asked.

"Saving your reputation," he replied. "And I want to say now that you're going to hate it but it's for the best. Just trust me with this, okay?"

"If you have to tell me to trust you then I'm not going to trust you."

He finally looked up from his phone to look at them. "Loki, you know I love you, but we're desperate right now and so is someone else. So let's just deal with this, okay?"

Loki didn’t have a good feeling about whatever the meeting was. If Mobius had to say that then clearly it wasn’t going to be good. They trusted Mobius more than anyone else they worked with, btt it they knew that he’d do anything to make his clients look good. At the same time, he’d do anything to protect his clients, and that was something Loki respected. Their last manager didn’t care about their well-being, only their success, and that was something they were still getting over. 

The drive was short. They ended up in an office building that Loki didn’t recognise, but it had ‘Atlantic’ written on the front of it. They didn’t recognise the name, but they followed Mobius in. They headed straight for a lift, where Mobius pressed the button for the twenty-third floor. They didn’t say a word as they went up, but just before the door opened, Mobius said a quiet “I’m sorry.”

Then he walked towards a room with a glass door, but the room was hidden by plaster walls. Private. They followed Mobius, only to be greeted by a man in a black suit hovering by the door, and someone sitting at the conference table that was in the middle of the room. In contrast to the man in the black suit, this guy was wearing a tattered black t-shirt, blue jeans and sunglasses to hide his eyes. 

Loki turned to Mobius who’d closed the door behind him, clearly expecting their apprehension towards the situation. They clenched their fists as they took a step towards the door. 

“What’s going on?” They asked. 

Mobius gave them that look, full of pity. “You know I only want the best for you.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” they replied. 

“He wants us to get together,” Tony said. 

They turned to look at Tony. “What the fuck do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said, Princess,” he replied as he pushed some papers towards Loki. “PR relationship.”

They looked at Mobius, who looked at them with a frown. “I’m sorry. But- this could work. People love a love story, and you haven’t been in a public relationship in years. That’s not helping your image.”

“And you’ve just agreed to this?” They asked as they turned back to Tony. 

“It was either this or I didn’t get bailed out.” He shrugged. “Weirdly your company sounds better than canceling an entire tour.”

It had to be a lie. An elaborate prank. They picked up the papers Tony had slid across the table, and it was a contract. It detailed everything that they had to do, including dates, where to be to support each other, what to post on social media and when- it was all planned out. Signed by Nick Fury, who they assumed to be the man in the suit, Tony and Mobius. It was just waiting on their signature. 

“What happens if I don’t sign?” They asked. 

“You only got the job today because you happened to be in town. That’s not going to happen again,” Mobius replied. “I’m really sorry, Loki.”

They had no choice. If they didn’t do it then their career would sink. They’d have nothing. They’d rather die before losing their career. They took a deep breath before they looked over the list again, seeing that the first date was that night. In LA, so no traveling at least, to go to Tony’s concert. 

“I’m busy tonight,” they said. 

“If you can’t go tonight then the whole thing’s off,” Nick said. 

They raised a brow. “I canceled my plans to be here now. I can’t cancel them again.”

Mobius shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

So it was either their career or their relationship. Fandral was in LA for a week and Loki was meant to be there for two. They were meant to have a week together. Their schedules finally overlapped enough that they could spend time together, but it had all been fucked up. If Loki had to choose between their career and their relationship, their career had to come first. Always. They’d just have to make it up to Fandral. 

They held their hand out towards Mobius, who gave them a pen almost instantly, as if he was scared that they’d back out if he hesitated. They signed the dotted line and handed the pen back to Mobius. 

“Can I go now?” They asked. 

Nick shook his head. “You two need to get to know each other and we have a few months worth of photos to fake.”

Despite everything that had happened in their career, that had to be a whole new low.