"One more word and I'll drop you!"
This exclamation resounded in the evening sky over downtown New York.
"You wouldn't dare! You are a superhero, remember?" replied another voice, slightly agitated.
"Do you think that will stop me?" said the first.
"No, not that, but the fact that you love me!"
Tony Stark soared into the air, holding Loki in his arms. God was holding on to his neck. He knew he was safe. The city below them glowed with a thousand lights, but Tony never took his eyes off the trickster's face.
"What are you thinking about, Stark?" Loki asked, noticing his dreamy expression.
"I'm thinking how fucking sexy your ass looks when you're walking around the Tower in your panties!"
Loki laughed.
"Seriously? We're on a date here and you're thinking about my ass! You are so romantic, Anthony!"
God felt Stark's hands grip him tighter. He knew Tony loved it when he called him by his first name. From the first days of his stay in the Tower, this has become something of a code word for Tony. In everyday life, during work and missions, Loki would simply say "Stark". In response, he received dozens of different nicknames.
Long gone are the days when Tony was limited to just one "Reindeer Games". Over the past year, Loki has heard every possible joke about horns.
When they were alone, Loki called him "Anthony". No one but Loki called him that. And Stark liked it, it even turned him on.
But none of the Avengers had ever heard Loki say the name "Tony".
It was too personal. Loki didn't even remember how it all started. This tradition appeared at the very beginning of their acquaintance, when there were much more quarrels and abuse, when the trickster was not yet considered as one of the Avengers team.
Everyone has moments of weakness sometimes and everyone copes with them in their own way. When Loki needed support, he didn't know how to ask for it. But when there were really bad nights, Loki could just call Tony by his first name. There was no need for explanations or complaints. Just a whisper and just one word: "Tony?".
That meant no jokes or nicknames. This meant that God needed a breather. He was strong, the strongest one Stark had ever met. And, at the same time, the most traumatized. Stark knows all complexes and injuries of his God.
Tony also knew the importance of support, and he did for Loki what he himself lacked so much before.
They flew over the roofs of the houses, the wind tousled the god's hair. Stark held him very tightly. Loki had his own suit, but he almost never used it. God once said that each of the Avengers has their own abilities and the place of a flying superhero in armor has long been occupied.
Tony then replied:
"You have so many superpowers that it will be difficult for you to decide which one to choose. If you want, we can come up with a sonorous superhero name for you ... But I will still make armor, just in case."
Loki looked at him incredulously and replied:
"But I'm not one of the Avengers."
Stark touched his cheek.
"You just have to try, Bambi. You're already part of the team."
Loki just pursed his lips. He reluctantly admitted that he trusted the inventor. This was a huge improvement, given that even a year ago he had tried to kill Stark.
But trust the Avengers? Captain and Hulk?!
"Faster!" asked Loki. And Tony flew down, made a dizzying turn and soared again under the clouds. Loki screamed, then laughed.
"Anthony, you're faster than Thor!"
"Of course, my suit is a creation of a genius! And his hammer is only good for hammering nails!"
At that moment they were happy. No bad thoughts or bad memories. Only flight and freedom. They were just playing, but in those moments, Loki trusted Stark with his life. Height and speed. And only the hands of the inventor, reinforced by the armor of his suit, protected Loki from falling. And Stark, meanwhile, tried his best to impress him and flew as fast as he could. Loki knew Stark could be trusted. He would not pay attention either to scolding him, or to indignant demands to immediately return him, the great god, to earth. If anything went wrong, if Loki felt even the slightest danger or discomfort, he could use his magic word.
All he had to do was say "Tony..." and Stark would stop immediately.
Loki smiled as he thought about it and Tony took off into the sky again.
"Stark! You'll drop me! Hold me tight if you care about your iron ass!" yelled Loki.
"Don't be afraid, Bambi!" Stark smiled back.
"Don't you dare call me a deer!" snapped Loki.
Loki snarled derisively. Tony kissed him on the cheek and Loki tried to dodge.
They both knew it was a game. And Loki knows that he has his magic word.