The leisure we have

It would NOT have mattered, seriously, not really, a lot of crap happened in the last years of Tony Stark's life. Kidnappings, torture, Nordic gods appearing out of nowhere, alien invasions, again a Nordic god in search of his crazy brother who wanted to destroy the earth, civil wars, other aliens... and so on. This does not mean that the earth did not have its crazies that they had to deal with. Uh, never a free day for the avengers or what remained from it, you know what, let's leave it for later, they are still working on the stability of the members.

The idea was that there was always a lunatic who would come up with some well-planned shit and mess up the peaceful course of things.

Like this guy. Tony was just watching a tape of a drug deal, something simple and shady, under a bridge that he can say it has seen better days. However, Tony can praise the graffiti work, very detailed for some vagabonds. He has nothing to say.

Yes, it seems that he has all the conditions for an illegal drug sale.

Now why is this fact important to him? Well, maybe the big, angry man with a patch, hiding a part of his handsome face and holding the remote from the billionaire's digital screen can explain.

”Sooo, since when did we go from saving the universe to the fight against illegal sale drugs? Not, that it's not important, but I think there are guys less lethally armed who can handle this stuff.” Tony seemed unimpressed, although he knew there had to be something behind these simple images or he wouldn't have been called into the meeting room.

Alone.

With Furry.

 ”The reason why this has come to our attention, Strak, is that this guy does not sell drugs, but rather over-evolved technology, unearthly I could say." The SHIELD director nodded, keeping his expression neutral, he eyed the inventor and then added.

”Over the past few months, our agents have observed certain small group formations, mostly made up of homeless people, vagrants or teenagers with too much money and free time who don't know shit about what they're dealing with. S H I E L D has been monitoring their movements during this time period, at first thinking they were just normal gangs popping up around town doing all kinds of fucked up shit but this issue came into our custody after the last footage captured by our secret cameras around New York."

“Wait, you mean I could just happen to fuck with someone in an abandoned alley at the end of some forgotten streets of New York and I'd be free porn for your agents?”

Furry just looked at the inventor with a stoic look, the approval at Tony's statement echoing from the director's expression.

 "Cool, I want fifty percent of the profit."

"Stark, focus. However, since the last recorded video, our cameras have been discovered and destroyed."

Tony's eyes winded. "They found hidden cameras from S H I E L D? Ha, they're better than I thought." said he, crossing his arms and leaning back on his seat.

"It was not they who found them, but rather the goods they were selling that found them." The agent saw the recognition written on Tony's face and gave him a lopsided grin knowing now he had all the attention of the billionaire.

"Ok, it's getting interesting and maybe a little creepy, but I am all ears."

If there was something that Tony wanted to hear, was something like freaky ass hidden secret unfolding around him without his knowing, alright. So he was more than willing to get the details from the director, who appears to have already set up a screen half the size of the meeting room to show the footage’s circumstances which Furry said it caught the alien technology in action. 

In the images presented, it is clear that several SHIELD agents were struggling to keep up with only four individuals who, by their appearance, appeared to be homeless, three of them, one still looked well-dressed and much younger than all of them. "more than sure one of the teenagers Furry was talking about." Thought Tony.

And as the footage continued to roll with the agents trying to keep up with their adversaries, where it was clear they were losing the fight, Tony noticed that the oldest of them was holding some kind of broken glass vial and began to say something in a language Tony would have bet his billions on was unfamiliar to their dear planet Earth . After one of the three homeless people finished his monologue, strange blue lines began to cover his face and hands and basically almost every visible piece of skin under his torn and dirty clothes. Suddenly, long blue tentacles of pure energy shot out from his back and wrapped around each agent's neck, lifting them off the ground and strangling them as they struggled to break free from its clutch, their legs swinging through the air.

”Holly shit, what was that?”

Tony wanted to ask what happened to them after, but filming stopped there the denouement being only one, the image turned black and a cracking sound was heard. It was clear that the surveillance camera was found and dispossessed by. Although Tony knew the risks of working as an agent, he still couldn't stop the feeling of deranged and hatred towards the way the agents met their end at the hands of these bastards. Damn it.

“In this video, they show how one of the vials containing the merchandise broke due to the seller's negligence and it seized him. Not knowing what we were looking at the first time we watched the recording, we came up with some theories. That in the end, following detailed analyzes of the footage, it proved to be correct.”

”And that is..?” Tony asked after only getting half the explanation of what he just watched.

”Alien technology. Small chips infused with the ability to give the user power far beyond human limits, others have even shown evidence of using... let's call it magic, shall we? Given the fact that we have encountered something like this before, haven't we?” he added” "Some of them were detained and stripped of these chips by the organization, but still there were quite a few causalities in the attempt to capture them.” Tony felt that there was still a lot to come so he kept the questions for now and let the man in black continue his presentation.

” These are the coordinates where you will be able to find a seller who could be a potential right-hand man of the head behind everything. Although, I warn you and the others not to underestimate him, even though he looks like that, he killed enough agents and always escaped our eyes; we want to believe that he himself is a user of this technology.”

"Isn't it always like that? Anyway, I will... wait, did you say us, which us?" He said didn't he? "us" means plural, so more, as far as Tony knows, he was alone, so well, dang it.

It is true that after the great reunion of the gang and Thor's return to earth with a ship full of refugees including their dear friend, the God of Mischief , with whom he may or may not know in more of personal terms. Long story short, they tried to get over the old wounds and contribute to saving the universe from the hands of the mastermind behind the New York attack. But that doesn't mean that the team is back together , sugar and smiles and now they organize a picnic every weekend and talk about their love lives and what else do they have cooked during the week. No, although it would seem so in Furry's opinion.

"I already have the approval of the black widow and Hawk Eye. Doctor Banner was already involved in the matter and Captain America also gave his consent to be present in the matter, so only Thor and you remain.” Nick pointed out.

”Why do I have this felling that you still have something more you want to say.” He didn’t really wanted to hear the rest though.

 "In order to detect an activity of the use of technology, the agents used a wave signal that resonated with it when they was in operation, so we could find its exact location, but now it seems that they have realized this because we can no longer we use this method. Any trace of their activities or use being masked or even non-existent." He explained, as if breaking all the chances of finding these criminals again, however in director’s voice didn't seem like they were left without options as his statement made it seem.

"Then how..?" Tony asked, sudden anxiety spiking in his chest.

Nick cut in smoothly, before Tony could ask more. "Fortunately, the devices are not completely invisible, as I said; they are also capable of using the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.”

The realization of what the director of the organization was hinting to, caused a heavy feeling in his stomach.

”So you want me to bring Reinder Games.” Stated Tony.

”So I want you to bring him.” Nodded Furry.

Tony really didn't know how, but Furry always managed to have this air of confidence in his ideas of being flawless, but sometimes he wondered from where he came up with them because some of them were crazy as shit.

"He is not a pet, you know that?" Tony exhaled loudly and in no small frustration. " And from what I experienced in my meeting with him, he kind of threw me out the window if you don't remember? So what makes you think that I of all people could even suggest this to him?"

 "Remember when I said I had cameras all over New York, right?"

No.

No way.

NO fucking Way.

"No way, are you serious?" Tony said gapping at what just heard. "You actually filmed us when... you were the last person I thought was into voyeurism." He scrunched his nose up at him with a raised eyebrow, thinking about the new and completely unwelcome discovery he had made about the guilty pleasures of the cold and stoic person named Nick Furry.

"I didn't watch you two, Stark! But this is a substantial asset. I don't care what kind of relationship you two have, but one thing is certain. You represent one of the few things on his list of priorities, so he will help you if the matter involves you.” The agent raised his voice in frustration at the playboy's accusation, and began to gently massage his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Always being a specific characteristic of his meetings with Stark.

"I'm glad that my sex life helps you in your work, director Furry. Anyway, to call me a priority is a bit like the top, I'd say more like a mutual agreement. That would be more accurate.” He poured himself another glass. If the conversation was going to derail from super-tech-wielding lunatics free to roam the city streets into who is the person Tony Stark is sharing a bed with these days, then he wasn't drunk enough for that, especially if that person is Nick Furry.

"And I’d say that I don't give a shit. We need Loki to detect the energy of the devices, so it’s a must he is to be present in the mission. "

Furry finished his statement heading for the exit and stopping before the elevator doors closed "You will receive an email with all the information necessary for the mission as well as the arrangements for its progress." And with that, the elevator doors closed with a light click.

"How does he do that? I mean how does he know just how much to talk to synchronize with the closing of the doors so that he has those seconds of heavy silence left for a dramatic exit and no space for argument." Tony said walking over to his own bar to pour again himself another shot of whiskey.

Taking his glass and drink in one gulp, the amber liquid burning his taste buds, Toni sighed and said "F.R.I.D.A.Y.?"

"Shall I put you in touch with Thor from New Asgard, Norway, Sir?”

”Nope, be a sweetheart and cancel my entire schedule for this week. And get the private plane ready, I have to take a trip to Europe."

"But sir, you have two most important meetings, one of which is for the future development of the new devices that was to be presented within the next week, in which your presence was strictly specified by Miss Potts."

"Although I don't want to face her anger, if I have to convince Lokes to join us, I need more than a phone call. Believe me.”

Of course, at first he was not pleased with the presence of the wandering prince on planet Earth, again.

But Thor promised them that his brother had changed and helped him save all those people from the ship and helped save the universe by defeating another secret sibling who was apparently even more destructive than the mage, who would have thought.

 In the end it seems that Loki behaved properly and had no delict since the confrontation with Thanos, in which he helped by the way.

As for the predicament they are in now, well Tony wouldn't know how to categorize it either. He wasn't lying when he told Furry that it was a lot to say that he was a priority on Loki's list, although he would have liked let it be so. Even if the start of what they had now was from a simple half-hearted and joking invitation from the inventor, he did not expect for the jontun to accept his proposal.

So they started having sex about eight months ago, and it was fucking great, having sex with a God it is something else, that’s for sure. Only Tony enjoyed a bit more than he thought the lonely prince's company, a bit too much.

”Very well, Sir. I will take care of your requirements immediately.”

"Thank you dear, and now, how should I dress for my date."

New Asgard, within the nation of Norway. / Tønsberg.

Deep valleys and wide landscapes. The people who live there, let their gaze wander at their leisure at the paths wind along rushing rivers, and through steep gorges. Anyone'll wonder if someone lives there at all. In the valleys, through beautiful cultural landscapes, along old roads and past mountain, nature follows its course. Nature in the valley is different from that in the high mountains, because the valleys are better protected from the weather.

It was breathtaking and peaceful.

 "You son of a bastard , you wouldn't know the difference between trap nets and drift nets even if I wrote them on your forehead!"

Well most of the time.

"I wouldn't stop to your level of knowledge! Unlike you, others have learned something else in life, not just to catch fish!"

” What did you just say you Ragr?

”Okay, okay, that’s enough !! Really, want it to be necessary for me to draw my sword?” shouted the exasperated valkyrie, intervening between the two.

”My apologies, my lady.” .”I have no excuse, mighty Valkyrie.”

”Believe me, you don't want her to draw her sword." said Thor from behind Brunnhilde, approaching the two with an amused expression on his face.

The Valkyrie looked at the god with a look of "it's not funny" and "do something, you're the king". Thor sighed and straightened his posture, any trace of amusement leaving his facial features.

”And what may seem to be the problem here?” asked he.

” YES, your majesty if you allow me, this incompetent sucker managed to destroy the catch of day, confusing the fishing nets. This after I told him exactly what to do and how!” said the man called Truls. He was a fairly well built and robust man. He had long brown hair on his back and a beard to match its length.

"This is not true, my king! This blockhead wouldn't even know how to explain to an infant how to breastfeed, let alone give lessons in fishing. He lacks the gift of teaching another being, an uneducated brute!” A man dressed in typical Asgardian armor fought back, but still not as well built as his friend, and he seemed to be even a little younger than him.

 "Come to the training camps and I'll show you educated, you suckling!” Truls shouted hearing Osgor’s embarrassing excuse to defend himself.

” "My pleasure, you lunkhead!” shouted back Osgor.

"Quiet! Have you no shame in the presence of your king?!" The two bit their tongues at the harshness that had come out of the mouth of the God of Thunder, both falling to their knees with a hand on their chest and bowing their heads as a sign of humility.

"Please forgive this lack of respect, our king" said the two in unity, realizing that they acted like fools in front of their leader.

"Better, now, I have largely comprehend the reason for this quarrel, but what I want to know is how we can solve it so that we can understand each other and be satisfied with the outcome. Good? Ok then, we ..” Thor was interrupted from his conversation by the sound of some engines and a certain private plane very well known to him , appearing in the clear sky of their settlement, and landing right in the empty green space that they had at their disposal especially for visits spontaneous of the billionaire.

Brunnhilde and Thor looked at each other with a questioning look, but from their expressions it was clear that neither of them knew about the so-called visit of the inventor.

The Valkyrie, knowing that it would be a long argument, sent the two away, with a small warning that they would taste the steel of her sword if she heard anything like the two of them continuing the argument in their absence.

Thor nodded amused at the valkyrie's method of solving problems but she just shrugged her shoulders saying that a small cut never killed anyone and after all these assholes deserved it.

Both laughed lightly and directed their gaze at the figure that was slowly approaching them with a broad smile typical of the philanthropist.

”Ponit Break, how are you doing?! I missed you, you know. How is the running of the kingdom and all of that royal thing going? Tough? I imagine, still I say , I’m in love with the food at your banquets, especially the mead, that's one hell of a drink.” Tony said.

”Tony, what are you doing here? Why didn't you announce your visit? I would have prepared to meet you if you had" Thor answered with a wide smile in his turn, pleased to see his friend, shaking his hand as a sign of friendship.

“Don't be ridiculous, point break, there's nothing to prepare, and besides, I can't visit my old war and apocalypse friend? And you would think that the end of the world would bring you closer to a person.” grinned the inventor, returning the handshake. He made an exaggerated gesture with his hands to empathize with his words, shaking his head in mock disapproval.

” So you crossed the ocean just to see how the weather is in Norway?" grinned the thunderer, putting a hand on his hip and looking suspiciously at the billionaire.

 "Got it, and for your information..Oh my bad, didn't see you there, drunk rose. How are you doing, still breaking bones and all that?” Tony asked, taking off his glasses and making a small bow in front of Brunnhilde.

 "We all need to have a hobby, Stark, do you want me to practice it on you if you keep using that nickname?” Brunnhilde looking unimpressed, said to him with a clear expression of annoyance on her face, losing the little patience she already had with the two earlier.

”Still the same, good to know."  Said he, pleased he got to another person nerves for that day. He turned to Thor and kept going. "So what do you say, busy with some royal decrees to fulfill, people to please? Not? Great because I was just wondering if I could have a few minutes, maybe hours of your time?”

Before Thor had a chance to answer, Brunnhilde jumped at the opportunity to get revenge for the nickname Stark gave her, taking advantage of a piece of information she happened to come across.

"You are already throwing yourself into asking for his hand? Quite bold of you Stark, I will give you that. Unexpected truly, but I wish all the happiness from the nine realms. May the Norns grant you with their blessing."

Tony took a moment for processing the meaning of her words and then stared at Thor with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide, shouting, "Did you tell her too?!"

"I didn't tell her... she found out on her own." The god tried to avoid the genius' gaze, feeling a little guilty knowing exactly how the valkyrie found out that piece of information.

"Yes of course, if in my own it means you pouring out your frustrations and thoughts on me when we both decided to get drunk." The warrior scoffed, thus sealing the fate of the God of Thunder. After which a grin appeared on her face as she returned to Stark and the hot topic of the day. ”Which, as I say, congratulations, you have my merits, what a good deal you made, I don't know how but you managed to enter the personal space of someone who the only person whose he is fond of is his own brother.”

"I'm not the only person Loki holds dear, Val." sighed Thor. "There are a lot of Asgardians that he values, as well as Bruce, Heimdall and of course, even if you find it hard to believe ,you too."

 "You mean that merely tolerates us.” She answered half-heartedly, half lying, knowing very well that the relationship between the two had improved since their first meeting, but that did not mean that he would recognize her new sensitive side in front of the two, especially in front of Stark.

"Okkk, so now there's three of us that know now, yeii" Tony glared at Thor for a few seconds. He shrugged and gave a guilty look but didn't seem to feel bad at all, so Tony decided  to get over it continuing" So back to what I was going to say, yes, would you mind if you could spare a few hours to hear why I flew for six hours at full speed with no meal break?"

" I must?" said Val with her arms crossed.

"Val.." exhaled Thor, feeling that being king is more like dealing with children than anything else.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it." Val apologized without really apologizing.

"You couldn't, could you? Anyway, the point is, this is coming straight from SHIELD, so don't think I'm more happy than you are. Furry wants us to get the gang together for a mission, he's already contacted the rest , and uh-uh my lightning friend, I know what you are thinking but Furry said everyone, so I suggest you notify your kingdom to put your complaints in the comment box for now. You have something like that, right?"

"That wouldn't be a bad idea." Murmured the Valkyrie, partially already considering making one.

"There's no need for that, Loki will take my place while I'm gone, along with Heimdall. It shouldn't take very long, should it?"

"Yeah..., funny thing, you see, they are some kind of slippery bastrads, so in order to be able to locate the target, we somehow need …..his help.” Said Tony with a nervousness in his voice and finishing the last word with a wince.

…

”…We are fucked.” Brunnhilde concluded.

"Norns, Val please...you know very well that it is not as bad as it seems. Don't  just assume that Loki won't help us ." Thor said encouragingly, siding with his brother. Thor knew that Loki would help him if needed, especially if Thor was the one who asked him to, being king and all, but he didn't want Loki to help him out of obligation, their relationship was already way past that point . Still he couldn't deny his brother's distaste for SHIELD missions and, well, SHIELD in general.

"So you mean you're sure that he won't refuse if he finds out it's a SHIELD mission?" Val asked with a raised eyebrow, eating some grapes now that Thor couldn't understand where she got them from in the first place and leaning against some boxes of merchandise placed for moving.

"I didn't say that." Retorted the king, knowing very well the prince's reaction to hearing this news.

"Your girlfriend is wrong Thor, you can't give up, he will listen to you, he likes you. You are his favorite brother!" exclaimed Tony.

"I'm his only brother." Thor replied unaffected to Stark's wryly encouragement.

"Exactly my point, he wouldn't want to emotionally hurt his only brother." OK here Tony knows he's really wrong, Loki loved (and still loves to some extent) doing this to Thor, it's like breathing for the mage.

"Believe me, he hurt him in more ways, mostly physical." Val said.

Thor tried to distract the two from the great relationship that the two brothers have and said."Anyway, just because Loki and I understand each other better now that doesn't mean he does everything I tell him. He still Loki and does what he wants regardless of my influence on him."

"But he would obey you if you ordered him, after all you are also his king." Well that was mean from him, he knows, but they really need the wizard's help, (strange being unavailable at the moment, fight some monster to keep the dimensions in place, please you also need him once and quickly find himself an excuse) Furry will have his head on a sliver plate if he doesn't return with Lokes too.

"I will never..” started Thor but was interrupted by someone voice.

 "Oh , so you want Thor to order me something, Strak? As unpleasant as it is intriguing, I'm afraid that it sometimes has the opposite effect to the desired one. So why would you think of such a thoughtless and foolish action?" Said a soft voice from behind him, but which brought a hint of challenging as if dared him to continue.

"Reindeer Games! Hey, I see you're still teleporting instead of appearing like normal people, slowly approaching. so we can see you. not appearing out of thin air. Good to know you haven't given up on this sport." he said dryly, not too happy at the already appearance of the jontun, hoping to meet him later when they already established that Thor would be the one to convince him to help, somehow that was his ace up his sleeve…

"Get to the point, Strak, what did you want Thor to order me to do?" Loki made a faint noise of disagreement.

"He didn't make me do anything brother, calm yourself down, I would never have done this against your will, and secondly, you would have disobeyed me anyway if you wished to do so." Thor, sensing an argument emerging, wanted to put an end to it by making clear his true intentions, knowing very well that his brother is gifted at twisting the meanings of his words.

Knowing very well that in reality... whatever the two may have is something he doesn't want to get involved in. He is happy for his brother, indeed, but even he cannot understand how the two ended up together. Even if he asked the Norns themselves. So he understood why Stark wanted his help, but even though Iron Man was his good friend and financier of the New Asgard, he really didn't want to risk to get stuck in the middle for him. Unfortunately, this is something Tony will have to learn himself if he is written to become his brother's lover.

"I'm glad to hear that coming from your side, brother," Loki turned to iron man and said suddenly with a strange sadness in his voice "as for this so called request, you could  have simply asked me, you know?"

A heavy silence was left between the two, and Tony felt how all the conversation’s easiness from before departed the scene, instead a sense of restlessness filling him.

"Lokes…sorry , look I didn't mean it to sound like that, it was more like a joke, really , so.. you're really going to help us?" Now he felt like a big asshole for trying to hide the whole affair from him.

…..

"Of course not, don't be ridiculous." grinned the prince, any trace of hurt disappearing, instead the same look of mischief in his eyes took its place on his face.

"I fucking KNEW IT! Fuck, you really wanted to see me look bad for something that I was justified not being, didn’t you?"

"Brother..." Thor put his palm over his face, staring dumbfounded at the reason for Loki's broken-hearted pretending.

"I also need my daily dose of fun, so I could not die of boredom with all the chores assigned to me by my dear brother who incidentally is also the king.” Loki loked at the two with no remorse, reminding them that he is still The God of Mischief, so he needed fun to be able to live, even he was now by their standards somehow of good guy.

Ugh.

"And you decide to randomly build your fun on the feelings of anyone who happens to cross your path that day? Tony was going to count down the days until the moment they will reach a time Loki will stop teasing him. He will be dead long before that.

"It depends; it varies from day to day. Thor has the most to endure if it makes you feel better." For the first time Loki truly let himself tell a truth. His brother indeed has to put with most of his troubling behavior.

"It doesn't, really." they both said at the same time, looking at each other with mutual pity for having to endure the prince's torments.

"So what is the purpose of your presence here, Stark?" asked Loki, trying to suppress the strange pleasing feeling of being able to see the inventor in such a spontaneous way. Not he would admit it ever.

"Okay, so… maybe we should switch locations, you know, remember I said I had a direct flight with no lunch break? I could eat a sandwich and I definitely need a coffee, maybe even two."

Loki wanted to say something more but hearing the statement that as the  CEO he had nothing to eat choosing to fly directly to Norway, it did not sit well with the mag, so he took the initiative and led them to the large hall, used for celebrations and official asgardian holidays. It was not as grandiose and breathtaking as the one in their days, but Loki did not back down from the task of arranging it in such a way that it would meet the expectations of the asgardians.

When they got there and took their seats at a table of some sort, Loki made a gesture with his wrist and conjured from the official kitchen a plate with some sandwiches cut into triangles, some cubes of cheese and vegetables, all impeccably arranged and, of course, a large cup of black coffee, one sugar cube. Just the way Tony liked it.

 Val glanced knowingly at Thor and nudged him gently, a smirk appearing on her face, raising her eyebrows slightly.

Tony looked a little surprised at the sudden appearance of the food, but his eyes lit up when he saw the coffee and he immediately took a large mouthful, exhaling pleasantly. Then he took a piece of cheese that he threw into his mouth, chewing and swallowing, his stomach being grateful for the first piece of food in thirty-six hours. After that, he summarized his meeting with Furry to the details and essential information.

 "So according to Furry's words, this illegal traffic of unknown technology seems to be at a fairly high standstill. That is, to reach the threshold where it asks for our help, it seems that no attention was paid from the beginning, am I right?” Val cleared her throat and asked now they were settled in a better place.

"Yes, weeell, that's the SHIELD way of doing things, and from what I understood, they didn't seem to have any signs of having the so-called technology from the beginning, so they were labeled as simple drug dealers or similar shit.” Tony replied, swallowing a mouthful of the sandwich he started eating.

They were seated at a rectangular table, Tony sitting on the right side of the table while Thor and Val were seated parallel to him. Loki was not sitting in the chair and was leaning against the table on the inventor's side.

"So Lokes." Tony cocked his head to get the prince's attention, stating.

"Loki." Corrected the sorcerer.

"Snow flakes" Loki growled at the nickname given by the inventor, Tony unaffected by the murderous looks sent his way as usual added  "Furry wants you to locate the magic energy or whatever it is, so we can put the plan into motion, can you do that?"

"Of course I can, who do you think I am? That second rate charlatan who has the impertinence to call himself a wizard?" Loki answer is a snarl, outraged by the accusation that he couldn't do something. These mortals don't even know that they host one of the most powerful sorceries in the universe. Their foolishness knows no bounds. Perhaps equaled only by their unconsciousness.

"Great then..!" Tony hastened to continue, he wasn't stupid, he knew it was too easy for Loki to agree to help.

"But I won't." Loki finished, with a bored face, looking at his nails and making a mental note that they needed to be trimmed.

"Oh hell, why not? Do you mind helping a little?" Okay, here the inventor choose the wrong way of action, usually pushing and getting annoyed didn't help much in dealing with the God of Lies, but in Tony's defense, it was already starting to irritate him.

Loki was barely masking the smile on his face. "Plenty, it usually comes with a terrible pain in the chest and a headache, sometimes even lasting for days, so that I refrain from aiding someone to accomplish something by offering my services or resources."

Brunnhilde *facepalm*.

A frown has taken house on Thor face while thinking about this problem. He left his fingers touch the Stark pad Tony brought with him to show them also the footage.

“Brother, perhaps you should give this subject a second thought and make a decision based on it later. It seems to be quite a concern given the high security of the S H I E L D.” declared Thor, trying to save his friend from the pit he was sinking deeper into. He has decades behind him in dealing with Loki's antics.

"If you want to imply that now or in a few hours I will change my mind about the matter at hand, then I don't want to be the one to destroy this beautiful illusion of yours Thor." said Loki and parting through a green and gold curtain, leaving behind three stunned individuals and a stark tablet.

”I hate when he does that.” Tony spoke first, somehow don't really surprised that it came to this following.

"I.. I'll try to talk to him,..later, for now let's get back on topic, Tony tell us, Furry wants us to regroup at..." Thor was cut off by Val saying "Your Highness, maybe I should find myself on this quest, now that I've looked better I think I recognize some of the way this equipment works from my scraper days."

"Really? What can you say, do you know how it works or where it could come from?" he said quickly, wanting to know a bunch of information about what the hell is going on.

"Easy casanova, all I said that it is possible that the operating mode of this technology may be similar to something I have encountered before. " her eyes narrowed, the felling of irritate following near. Why were all midgardians so hot headed?

"But this is one more than we have, which means zero, so you come with us. Well, we solved this, the next one, let's see how we can bring Mr. disappears dramatically in a critical situation!" Tony heard what she insinuated but couldn't help raising his voice an octave higher, horrified that they really didn't have a plan yet.

Thor wanted to intervene, explaining how this would not be a very good idea because it would leave the kingdom exposed and with no one from the command line in case a problem arises in their absence.

"It's alright Your Highness, Heimdall can take my place, he's more than capable together with the council." after assuring Thor she continued turning back to Toni. "I don't know, why don't you try to convince him with your dexterity, who knows it might work. I heard you are skilled given your reputation." Brunnhilde finished saying with a winning face, knowing that what she said could not be contradicted by anyone.

”Oh by the Norns..Brunn,please.” Begged Thor and grimmaced a bit at the thought of what the two could do in their privacy or the said methods by which his brother could be convinced.

"Hey, you know something, you might be right, that's good one, rosey, I mean you should know of its efficiency if you've experienced so many times when Thor wants something from you, right?" said the millionaire with a genuine face drinking his last mouthful of coffee.

From outside the great hall, many bystanders, with surprised but also horrified faces, looked uncertainly in the direction of the building, as from inside the venue they could hear the battle calls of a valkyrie, who is ready to tear her enemy apart with her sword.... May the gods have mercy.

Loki was making tea in the kitchen he shared with his brother, the king's house being quite large and respectable, (compared to the other citizens, appearances and all) nothing to say. And so Loki insisted that he could live in another area, but Thor would not hear of such a thing. Saying that he is as royal as Thor and worthy of the same conditions as the king. That big hearted oaf of a brother.

So he made himself some tea and waited for a certain person to come. He wasn't a fool, he knew that Tony would come after him to talk him down and try to convince him after he was done talking to Thor. So why not enjoy a good book and a hot cup of tea while he awaited the impending impact. Of course, he wasn't going to agree to Stark's ridiculous proposal, but that didn't mean he didn't miss the inventor's presence, that is, get bored without someone to tease, just that. Val would most likely murder him if he pissed her off, Thor is already an old joke, Heimdall is too serious and the other Asgradians, well they look at him with too much puppy eyes to try anything with them. If he were to be more sentimental, Loki longed for the days when his title wasn't just a title.

Sensing the presence of someone behind him, Loki turned around with a cup of tea in his hand and saw how Stark was just making his appearance in the kitchen, approaching and resting his elbows on the top of the kitchen island.

Loki just hummed and took a sip from his berry and honey tea. It needed a little more lemon.

"No remorse? nothing? Disappearing when things don't suit you and that's it? Very mature of you Lokes I must say.”

"Thank you, I also try to improve myself every day, believe me, but sometimes my sedhir doesn't react the way I want, so I have to work on this matter."

"You think you're funny, don't you?"

"No way, my dear Anthony, comedy is not one of my talents, unfortunately, not that I want to be one, but in irony, I can say that I have years of practice behind me, yes."

"Oh come on Rudolph! Do me a favor, Furry is going to drive me crazy if I don't bring you, not to mention we can't find these guys without you in the first place. You can't leave me like this, you know that."

"A favor, I will think again. No. And first of all, it's not that I wouldn't offer help you, but I don't like being the backup weapon."

"To be what?"

"Furry sent you, he could have sent any agent or one of the avengers, but he sent you for a specific reason. He knows about the link between us."

"Really, Link? Is that what you call it?"

"And as you know very well, I hate to do what others tell me. And if that mortal thinks  I am his ”yes man” and can come and order me when and what to do, then he would have found his end long ago in the burning pits of Muspelheim if Thor gave me permission."

"It's good that our friend keeps you in check huh?"

"No one controls me, Stark, but Thor is the king and I count myself among his people, my bad reputation is his bad reputation, so whether I want to or not, I have to refrain from killing certain persons even if I deeply dislike it."

"I'm sure it's a huge injustice for you, no doubt but, here is some news for you sweet cheeks, here on earth ,we don't just get rid of people we don't like."

"So I heard, very impractical in my opinion."

” Look Lokes, I really need your help, can you look within yourself and find some kindness to understand this? Or not, do it for lack of fun, I'm just really desperate right now."

"Desperate….I like how that sounds. In any case, I'm not going to give my aid in this mission even if you're the one who's asking for it."

"If I am the one who hmm? Well, I can't convince you, you're right there, butt…. I can beg." Tony approached the mage with a look of want pleastered on his face, making sure to pay attention how the look on the prince s eyes changed.

"….What do you want to insinuate?" He asked, but his heart beaten a little faster at the the implication of Tony words, his body tingled in interest.

Tony reached into the magician's personal space, positioning himself behind him and placing his hand on his hip, he began to stroke him slowly.

"Stark, stop" Loki gasped and tried to pry the billionaire's hand off him, though his mind wasn't agreeing with him at the moment. Damn, it's been a long time since they met.

"Not Stark, Tony…" Tony purred "And let's just says that I'd like to show you how far I'm willing to go to have you join our little group of friends." Added he with a small kiss to the sorcerer cheek, Loki mind starting to get foggy and suddenly all he wanted is the Iron Man.

"If you think I'm just going to yield myself at the concept of s…”said Loki only to be interrupted by Anthony.

"Fuck, yield, I like the sound of that." Tony gently touched his abdomen, His hand going under his leather shirt while the other cupped his chin and whispered in his ear. " Hey Lokes.. yield to me."

Hell, that was bad.

Loki was really fighting with his last shred of reason not to give in to the inventor's persuasions, but Norns, it was really hard.

Loki couldn’t help a soft moan and titled his head to give his captor more access to his neck. Tony smiled against the jontun’s ear then went back tracing small kisses to the young prince’s neck. One of his hands moved back to grope one of Loki’s ass cheeks.

”T..Tony..” groaned Loki by the feeling of being fondled and bucked his hips against the other getting them both moan.

”Shit, that’s fool play Rudolph” Tony growled possessively, then bit down on the prince's neck, the need to mark that perfect, pale skin getting the best of him.

”Star..” but Tony shushed him gently, being aware of Loki's policy of leaving no sign or sign to indicate their previous actions, but damn if he cared now. He was so turned on right now and he didn't know why the hell caused this. Maybe the emerald-eyed, raven-looking beauty writhing in his arms has something to do with it.

Loki moaned so deliciously, Tony moved to kiss that beautiful mouth so he can claim that sweet moans for him and no one else. Loki found himself kissing back with as much desire and want as his captor.

They continue their make out session until Tony is the first to pull away, leaving a confused and red-lipped prince to look at him like a child in need of explaining.Breaking away suddenly from the figure that was frantically rubbing against him and letting him feel the lack of body heat, it caused the action of the genius to be watched with scorn by the little prankster. Sensing the protest in his partner's eyes, Tony said.

” "Ah -ah sweet heart, if you want more you know what I want to hear." Smiled the billionaire, after a few moments of lovingly gazing into each other’s eyes.

Suddenly, the pleasure that filled his entire being suddenly vanished, leaving Loki to wonder what in the Nine realms had happened only to find the cause of his pleasure a few steps away, and Stark speaking instead of using his mouth for more important matters at the moment and that being to kiss Loki. Until they both reached a compromising situation, preferably in the mage's bedroom, entangled in each other's limbs.

"You.. how impertinent! You want me to throw you once again from a suitable height Stark!? Because at the moment, for your gesture, I could do it almost without any regrets." Loki snapped, ready to freeze Stark for simply daring to stop after he was the one to initiate contact with the prince, much less having the audacity to ask for something in return for that feeling of warm touch.

"Ohh, don't be like that bamby, I would be more than happy to give you the thing you need, and the wait is killing me too. But first you have to promise me a small little thing, that you will offer your help.Not much, a small tiny location spell or whathever you call it, small price I dare say. So?" Tony knew he was walking on thin ice here (ha thin ice, got it? because he's a frost giant, anyway) but he couldn't turn back now, he almost got what he wanted, the desire in the magician's eyes saying that only with a little pressure he will surrender in the end. It kind of pissed him off that the valkyrie's words were true, but damn if he cared, he was out of options.

"You're mad, I could freeze you in a second and show you what you need after that, namely constant heat to melt the ice and not induce your body into hypothermic shock." Answered Loki.

 Tony was really proud of his partner slash lover slash not really knows how to name it, of how much he grown away from the villain side, even proving himself to the others. He has always believed that there is much more to the mage than others have labeled him and that is also one of the reasons for his relationship with the little jotun. No matter what others say Tony cared about Loki and no one really questioned him after that.

Tony took a few more steps towards Loki and stopped in his closeness so that only the tips of their noses touched. He wrapped his arms around the prince’s waist pulling him against him making their obvious erections brush against each other. Loki tried to bite a groan at the contact.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not saying this option wouldn't be possible also I'm not saying you couldn't, but then…who would be there to make you come until the last drop and after then come dry, hmm?" One of his hands moved from his tight embrace towards Loki’s ass, slowly circling his entrance trough his leathers pants.

”I said..” said Loki blushing hard, trying to look unaffected by Tony’s  choose of words, subconsciously wanting nothing more than the said promise. He just hoped he didn’t look so touch starved as he thought he did, needy, half erect and bulging from Tony's feel. 

”Just give up Lokes, let me worship your body and show you how good of a mortal I am, what do you say, just a little effort on your part, a little locating spell and Voilà,  I'm all yours." Added Tony then biting on his earlobe and sucking on the small wound he created there, the action eliciting a small whimper from Loki’s mouth. Tony seemed happy to keep his lips busy, kissing his cheeks and jaw, slowly going lower to lick and nibble in his neck. Loki enjoyed the attention, his body melted under Tony's ministrations but he still didn't want to surrender. And apparently neither did Tony because he continued his teasing without pause.

Weighing the options in his mind, which was filled with increasingly lustful thoughts, Loki could no longer endure the torture that the mortal was subjecting him to, thinking "To hell with it"

Suddenly Tony felt the soft mattress beneath him, noticing the scenery around him shift from the kitchen they were in, to the familiar bed of fine linens where the genius had spent some of the greatest nights of his life. Looking up, he noticed the culprit responsible for the change of scenery, straddling him, and taking off his top, leaving the bare bust, the perfect abs and lean figure in perfect view, making the genius already drool over at the sight in front of him.

 "It seems that I won, believe me, you won't be sorry." Tony said as he looked directly at the mage's, his blush showing more now as Tony's hands moved up his thighs and rubbed the sorcere'rs hard member that was bulging from his tight leathers pants he insists to wear. Tony proceeded to kiss him while his hand didn’t stop its action on his now full erect penis, and the other placed on the sorcerers toned chest.

Tony thoughts were interrupted when Loki pulled away from the kiss, his mind in a daze, he didn’t really understand what Loki said until.

"Shut up Stark, less talk and more worship, I think you said something about that didn't you?" Loki began to say while leaning more over the playboy, placing his hands on either side of his head, practically caging him. With a seductive look and half-closed eyelids, he started to reach into his prey underwear causing the billionaire to hiss in pleasure, his eyes closing and making him gasp.

"Fuck yeah". Tony breathed out, struggling to gather his words as the pleasure from the Loki’s motions struck him. He positioned the prince better in his lap as the urge to touch every inch of him was overwhelming. He reduced the crown prince to silence, which was no small feat. Tony felt his heartbeat speed up and his breathing go quick and shallow as his little prince was so responsive. Stark give him a lustful smile and silently prayed for the night to come faster.

Later in the night.

"A weekend at the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, without interruptions, without interventions, WITHOUT S H I E L D or any other distractions." Loki mumbled into his pillow, the pleasure he felt from the act of the two of them still lingering over his entire body.

Tony opened his eyes, not remembering closing them, being laid on his back and covered from the base down, he turned his head to his partner saying "What?"

"Do I have to repeat myself Stark? That's what I want in exchange, a weekend at the already specified location after we finish this charade and I suggest you make reservations now. I've heard it's crowded around this time." Continued Loki without bothering to lift his head from the pillow.

"Ah, no, there's no need, sorry, it's more of a reflex, you know the afterglow and all the stuff, yeah sure, it's like done. Anything else?" He didn't ask because he wanted something else to be added to the list, but because he knew that if he didn't do it, it would be more problematic later. His prince seemed to be a little demanding.

"No, actually no, that would be all, just make sure that the whole package is included in the reservations. And wipe that grin from your face, it doesn’t suit you. And for the record, I don't get a slightest pleasure from this assignment, I do it for my own satisfaction." Loki assured him, his emerald eyes gleaming with mischief. He was lying on his stomach next to the genius, his bottom half covered by the same blanket that covered the inventor, and he was relaxing with his hands clasped under the pillow where his head had sunk.

"And that would be?" Tony asked without any real curiosity, but wanting to make conversation, he never said no to a little pillow talk.

"I intend to crush Furry's expectations about the help I will offer the Avengers on this mission." Loki merely smirked still immersed in that pillow but Tony could see the troublesome smile he just thrown at Tony’s question.

"Wait, you mean you want to get more involved this time than a simple bad guy localization spell? What made you change your mind? I mean I know I'm pretty good." Said Tony flashing his eyebrow playfully at the mage "but still, you flatter me."

"You're flattering yourself, there’s not necessarily a reason, I am just constantly having mood swings" he teased Tony but continued  in a more tight voice " sometimes I feel more motivated to share my knowledge and sometimes I feel everything seems purposeless, thinking about all the failures faced along my long life.” The sorcerer watched as the black haired man look hardened and the hold he had on the bed sheets grew slightly firmer.

"Okay, that sounds ...way too deep for a little pillow talk. Lokes, has something crossed your mind while I haven't been here? I mean, not that I'm relevant in your equation, but seriously, you can share it with me." The billionaire pointed out, and Tony could almost roll his eyes at what the mage’s response could be.

Loki let his gaze linger for a few seconds on the image of his partner as if from reluctance to move it and said "It's not what you think, Anthony, calm down, that was not my intent. I meant that was always been a part of me, I’m not always thinking just because there must be a problem, I think because I don't know how to not always think. Maybe it doesn’t make sense but racing thoughts—rapid, repetitive thought patterns about a particular subject—are a common feature of mine. It's always been there." He broke their shared gaze, looking off as if in troubling thought.

"I always thought you were a smart guy who was too cocky for his own good, but, hey, no, don't glare at me, you know it's true, anyway Lokes, you always were two steps before anyone ‘else but sometimes you really have to let it go, you know, all this thinking of yours will eventually drive you insane and I can barely handle the stage you are already at.” Joked Stark however, a trace of concern could be read in his voice. It was clear that something was bothering the young prince, but what could Tony do but lightly joke about it and pretend not to press the issue at hand, hoping that the mage would open up to him. If Loki wanted to tell him his thoughts, he would have done it already. Right? Sometimes Tony really wanted to believe those words, but he knew he was lying to himself.

"Don't make me change my mind already Stark, because I feel like I'm already regretting my decision." Loki said a bit amused by the light joke, his refference to the deal they had made. "And it's true that before I was preoccupied with my own expectations about myself, to exceed the limits imposed by my mind, but now all it's different. I have others expectations to live for." The silver tongue added, careffuly coming to rest his hand against the others chest without him taking notice.

"And so you want to say that today's hot topic that occupies your mind is Furry's expectations? Excuse me for interrupting your musing, but since when do you care what he thinks about you?" Still, he suuposed the prince had a point. Loki was not the type of person who would jump to the aid of other people just to fulfill their expectations of him. It was that he just couldn't fit the image of the Aesir prince no matter how hard he tried.

"It's not Director Furry's opinions that disturb me, although they also have their place, my meaning is other.” He remarked, hand moving in a slow pace all over the inventor’s chest and stopping above the arc’s reactor.

"How about you tell me too, so I can understand better, I want to understand Bambi, but even though I'm a genius, your mind has always been a minefield for me. You say that his expectations are not important but however, they are, so why don't you give them up altogether?” Tony’s voice dropped to a whisper as he grasped the mage’s hand and brought them together, slowly raising it to his mouth level and softly kissing it.

"Your expectations shape your reality. They can change your life, emotionally and physically. You need to aware of the expectations you harbor as the wrong ones make life unnecessarily difficult. As much as you might want to, it's impossible to live without expectations Tony. I have tried, it haven’t worked so good for me. But there are ways to stop yourself from setting unrealistic expectations." Loki quickly corrected the playboy’s view about the subject, withdrawing his hand from his partner's grip.

"I already have a feeling it's not about the mission or Furry anymore here.. it's about Thor? Did something happen between you two?" Tony questioned the wizard, already dreading the reply. He stood up on his bottom, his back against the bed frame. He brought one knee up, resting his elbow on it, letting his arm hang by his side. His abdomen, shaped from the many battles he had participated in, almost glistened in the dim light from a bedside lamp, the blanket barely covering a patch of bare skin.

"Although my relationship with my brother is one that requires ups and downs, luckily it's not about him now. The expectations that I strive to achieve belong to a completely different person." The aesir couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, much to the displeasure of the genius near his side. He didn't change his position lying on his stomach, but he kept moving around the bed a bit trying to get comfortable, a slight pain in his backside reminding him of their actions not too long ago. Tony certainly didn't hold back and Loki surely didn't want him to. Even though the side effects can be a bit annoying.

"OK, you're already making me a little jealous, I mean, it's not like I can impose any limits on you or anything like that, but" Sure enough Tony face drove into a troubled expression, unsure of how to answer. After all it didn’t matter whose opinion mattered so much to the mage, ’cause the two weren’t together or anything like that. Still it bothered him.

"It's about you Tony." The trickster gave him a blank look, his eyes looking emotionless in the dim room light, like a doll's. It was kind of creepy if he was to be honest. "Sorry ,What?." Tony asked dumbfounded, captivated by the look in the prince's eyes. How could someone's eyes be so devoid of emotions and still contain so many feelings that they would want to pour out tears. Recovering from the hypnotic state in which that look led him, he processed what his partner had just confessed, after which a state of incredulity struck him.

"Okay, so let me get it better, I come to ask for your help, you refuse me, play me with your words, refuse me again, make me beg and then you blackmail me with a weekend away and after all of this you come and tell me that you care about my opinion and expectations? Sorry for what I gonna say, Games, but WHAT THE FUCK? " he almost screamed unable to believe exactly what was happening right now, Loki was confusing him more than ever. It happened that sometimes Tony didn't understand the meaning of everything the god was doing, but he tried to levitate around them, but now the situation was really beyond him.

"I have experienced profound results personally and see great potential in how I can deepen my understanding and practice of my supposed feelings. Sometimes doing your life mission causes ripples throughout the world, tough the fulfillment of our personal wishes blends with the art of questioning, learning to both seek and ask deeper questions to facilitate an understanding of what transpires behind what appears. " Loki said, strangely resigned. His eye lids lowering, finally finding the perfect position for his aching body.

"Loki, seriously, what are you trying to tell me? I don't want to be an asshole and force a direct answer from you, but all these big fancy words are starting to confuse me.." The benefactors face contorted in befuddlement after listening to all of this, he didn't know exactly how to categorize it, it was definitely not your usually pillow talk, a strange and deep vision of the world was also out of the question because it was too light for what they were discussing right now, so he really didn't know exactly what faced here. And he couldn't even say that he was too eager to find out.

"What am I to you Anthony Stark?"

Suddenly everything started to make sense.

It was strange. That's what Tony wanted to bring up with each of their dates for the past few months, yes, never getting around to it. Also he knew the mage will no be satisfied with an half-hearted answer. But now faced with his wish, all he could think of was.

"The unique thing about humans is their ability to reflect on our future. We know the future exists Lokes, the thing is, we don’t know what will happen in that future. Uncertainty itself induces many different consequences, especially for humans. That also apply to me Reindeer Games but, as uncertainty increases, generated fear of losses turns into an obstacle and the outcome it can be an unwanted one, one that we could have avoided if we had kept our mouths shut." He knew that he was trying to avoid an imminent impact, but now that it was actually happening, out of the blue, he didn't want it to happen anymore. And for one, Tony wasn't ready to broach the subject yet, he hadn't thought about what he was going to say yet. It's not that he didn't want more with the young prince or that he didn't want to share his true thoughts about their relationship, but the moment was too spontaneous for the inventor's tastes. He and Loki are two entities that were sure they would never work together, but despite everything, they did, to the horror and surprise of his friends who know about it of course. Tony is pretty sure that Black Widow also knows about the two, she never said anything to Tony but she must know, she always knows.

"Generally speaking, the average person does not naturally think in such terms, Anthony." The shape shifter sent him a curiously innocent look.

“I suppose I got their share of worry, didn't I, so tell me, Lokes, if I told you what you mean to me, would I regret taking the risk or rather continue to live in uncertainty and keep all that I still have?” Tony was proud of himself that he managed to keep his voice from wavering as those pent up feelings tried to surface and drown him.

"This distinction between risk and uncertainty is meaningless in your theory because I have already applied all uncertainties as risks." The silver tongue just shrugged and relaxed into the soft sheets of the bed, the warmth surrounding him like a blanket.

"Well said Rudolph, but sadly I don't want a philosophical expertise, I want an honest answer." The CEO said firmly, anxiety joining the annoyance twisting in his gut. Tony didn't like that he was the only one riled up by this conversation. Loki didn't seem too bothered by the topic even though he's the one who started all this Who are we to the each other? It was annoying and Tony didn't know if he could withstand the mage's evasive answers much longer.

"Sincerity has a certain distinguishing luster about it which I can hardly grasp with my own hands. Which, unfortunately, is not one of the virtues granted to my title of God of Mischief." Loki defended himself, and looked away, muttering under his breath."..it never was." Tony ignored him.

"Don’t say, then why bother with the half-assed attempt at trying to short things out and give them a name when you can't even articulate what you want first?" Tony tried to sound reasonable, and not like an asshole, he tried , he really did but this as far as he can go with the patience. Loki tries to initiate something and then he wanted to retreat. It's always been like that with him. This time, too, Tony won't let him play his usual game. He wanted to talk, so they will talk.

"It's not fair what you're doing, Stark. I didn't ask for my questions to be returned."  Loki said, as he sounded so very profoundly….

unpleased?

"I didn't ask for this whole conversation if it's to pour our hearts out." He forced a smile and trying to keep his feelings under control. He saw how Loki got up from his lying potion, an argument already on his shiny lips and which Tony had kissed with such eagerness not long ago, and continued quickly "Take it as you will, Odinson, but I won't be the one who offers his heart on a platter and is full of sincerity here. It had to work both ways."

They stared at each other, throwing hard looks and hoping that one of them would succumb under the pressure of the other in the end. Communication was not their strong point that was clear. That's why there weren't many arguments in their relationship arrangement. And even if there were, Loki always won them over, sliver tongue and all. Although Tony could appreciate that skilled tongue on some occasions.

"When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. "Loki started, then cleared his throat and tried speaking again.  "That's what they all said after meeting me even once. Not that I blame them, I like to live up to their expectations. But because of that, even I tell the truth, you do not believe me." Loki sighed, glancing away. Running away is a beloved hobby of his beloved prince. Tony can already see the regret that he started this whole conversation and the wish to withdraw from the jontun's eyes. He also believed that the quote' Don’t fear moving slowly forward…fear standing still.' it couldn’t fit more for their situation. He wanted to say to his discouraged partner that the whole point of being with someone is so you can talk to them and let go of everything, and even when you're at your worst, they still like you, they still want to speak to you and care about you. Instead he said.

"The concept of everyone doesn't really apply to me if you haven't noticed Lokes. I got places to be., people to meet, all of that stuff and still come from New York to freaking Norway just to hang out other times, ignore this one, it doesn't count, but my point is.... being here, I couldn't be more sincere. How am I supposed to say this so you know I mean it?" Anthony said flatly, fully determined to clarify his intentions.

"What would you like me to say, Anthony? Would you wish for my consent to label the agreement we have at this moment?" Loki had the sudden, overpowering urge to bolt, though he remained still, watching the inventor facial features carefully.

"What agreement? And how about you? You are the one who started this whole discussion; Do you want this so-called labeling?" Tony said a little louder than he wanted but he couldn't help it, finally they reached clearer waters and damn if he wanted to go back into the fog. He straightened up, snapping his numb back from standing in the same position before leaning over his knee and peering down at Loki who was now back in his prone position as he propped himself up on his elbows to come closer to Tony's level.

"And if I said yes, how would you react then, Anthony?" said Loki turning his head in the direction of the billionaire, the small distance between them made it seem like their mouths were nearly touching.

"To begin with, I would raise my fist in the air as a success that I managed to get a clear answer from you in the last half hour and as a second fact,...I would be happy." Tony didn’t know how much tension had been holding in him until he released all of it. He finished with a with a resigned smile, finally disarmed before the God of Mischief, now at his mercy do what he wants with his proclamation.

"You ..would? " However, the tone in the deity's voice was not one of superiority or victory, as in the other times when he wins an argument. In Playboy's opinion, was it like pure … surprise and unexpectedness? That was getting interesting.

Tony has decided that enough is enough, and he's resolved that whatever the ending is tonight, he won't lose Loki, that's what he promises himself. So with that thought in mind, he gently grabbed Loki's shoulders and helped him up, making him sit on his knees to face him, the blanket falling completely off the two of them and leaving them naked in the cool air of the room. But this was not a concern for the iron man, the naked body of the asgardian prince not being something hidden from his knowledge.

Tony thought that If you were like most people, life’s inevitable uncertainties can cause tremendous anxiety. Will I get hired for the position? Will I be accepted in graduate school? Will I be rejected by an alien prince slash deity? Waiting for certainty can feel like torture by a million tiny cuts. Sometimes the brain prefers to know an outcome one way or another to take the edge off. So if Tony's brain has decided it wants to be on for the ride, who is he to stop it? I mean, it always helped him in most dire predicaments. It won't let him down now, will it? Screw it.

"Okay, fine, you know what? I'll say it first, I care about you Loki, a lot. To the point where I'm already caring too much for my own good, but to hell with it. It doesn't matter the circumstances that led me to this present, but fuck if I care about them. So? How about your part?" He said it. He was breathing like crazy but he finally fucking said it. Well half of it, but still said it. He hadn’t said the most important part.

Loki glanced down at his hands in front of him, playing with his fingers and said "I believe I heard this phrase somewhere "It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them." Because that what’s happening to me ,it must be true. " He affirmed, slowly chewing on the inside of his cheek. A nervous tic of his when he found himself in a tense situation.

"Are you saying I'm ridiculous?" Okay, that wasn't one of his smart moves, zero points for that brainy, but still he couldn't swallow the lump in his throat that formed at the implications Loki had made.

"I’m saying that I love you Anthony." corrected Loki.

It was most beautiful.

At the hearing of those words, it filled him with the kind of happiness that brought fulfillment..

and security..secure knowing that they now belong to each other..and that made Tony feel confident. Confident that his love will bring warmth to his lover..like a warm furry blanket on a cold day. And it is comforting to know that somene will always have your back…and that you not alone and ..and oh the list goes on.

It made him feelt safe…and content. Someone to share your life with . He chosen Tony too. He wanted him too.

For Tony it brought light into his life and made him feel like he can literally do anything. So why his brain chose to fail him this time too, he had no idea.

"If you want to play a prank on me, you can capture my reaction on a photo, it will last longer." God ! Why was he so stupid? Ok in his defense, Loki just emotionally blackmailed him just this afternoon so it wasn't entirely his fault, right? No? Please say no.

"I'm leaving, this was a mistake." Loki said,all the warmness from his voice from a few moments ago and soft features disappearing behind his usual mask, his expression changing to a cold and indifferent one, and suddenly he got off the bed without any hesitation. Tony grabbed him by the wrist panicked and ready to kneel for forgiveness so that the prankster wouldn't leave.

"NO! Wait, my fault, I'm a jerk, seriously, just don't leave... please." They looked at each other for a brief moment, and then Loki stood up abruptly. Tony looked like he was ready to object but Loki jus took the blanket that was now sitting at the foot of the bed and wrapped it around his hips, then walked around the bed, stopping at the genie's side. He crossed his arms and fixed with a look that could cleave him no doubt. In his eyes could be clearly read "You have one minute, don't waste it."

"Look, I'm sorry, and I'll say it a million more times, just, are you serious? You..like me?" What do you do when someone you secretly one sided love comes to you and tells you something shocking that you were not expecting to hear? Tony knew the worst thing you can in these situation do is to react inappropriately. Instead try to control your emotions instead of being controlled by them. He knew all these things so why was he so bad at applying them?

"I tend to mention that I used another word, Stark." Loki looked like received a punch in his gut or a knife in his heart. Feeling overwhelmed, helpless or hopeless, those weren't unknown feelings for the sorcerer, but he didn't expect to experience them all at once in one night and especially not with Anthony.

Ok, so apologies didn't help. The look on Loki's face didn't improve one bit. So he tried again.

"Back to the second names, we are on the right path. Sorry, again, you're right, that's what you did. So all this philosophy and spinning around the subject and people's expectations was your way of trying to say that you ..love me?" The trick is knowing what is needed at any given moment and finding the right balance of listening and asking. Those are the hard things for him but he wants to try. For Loki.

"If you find this fact repulsive.." The God gaze hardened more if it was possible, searching for something, apparently without a care except for a tension set of his mouth.

"Fuck no! Seriously, sometimes you say some things Loki." Tony nearly shouted, wanting to ask the little liar to stop putting words in his mouth and listen to the end. He could see what Loki was trying to do here. He wanted to make it seem like the wizard's words were the billionaire's true hidden thoughts, and if what they are doing right now didn't work with the desired result, Tony would feel guilty for his insinuations after all. Damn this skilled tongued prince and damn him for choosing that beautiful and treacherous bastard. Tony had to admit, his way around the words really helped in capturing the inventor’s heart.

"Don't feel obliged by my confession and force yourself to add to what you have already said, because that was not my intention." Loki replied, and give a bitter smile, just because he could, and because it was all he could have managed at the moment. Neither one is right or wrong, better or worse. Loki knew that it wasn't Stark's fault he didn't share his feelings. It was his choice. He didn't want anyone to sugar coat their lies for him and offer him love out of pity. He would rather willing swallow one of his knives. So why did he feel so bitter inside at the thought?

 "Do you want to let me finish for once what I have to say until the end? Seriously, if we're going to be lovers, I feel like I'm going to lose when it comes to arguments, given the fact that whoever speaks faster in this relationship seem to win." Tony had given his best shot, silently praying for the sorcerer to believe him, if by some miracle he wouldn’t reject him now thinking that Tony was saying that just from pity. He shook the thought away. There’s no need for such dark ideas.

"What are you..?" Loki murmured, though he felt like a stone had sunk into his gut as he stared at Stark serious face.

Tony wanted to believe that if he just kept doing this,sidestepping the actual problem, eventually was it going to work it out, but that’s just not true. It just got worse. They needed to clarify it.

Anthony changed his position, throwing his legs over the edge of the bed and letting them touch the cold floor. He released the magician's hands from their firm grip on his chest and took them in his. With determination and passion in his eyes he declared.

"Loki, listen, I'll say it again, properly this time, given that now I seem like a coward waiting for you to take the initiative, anyway, Loki Odinson, prince of New Asgard, God of Mischief and former villain , I …do love you too."

The astonishment on the prince's face and the silence that followed seemed like a good sign in the inventor's opinion. After all, who else managed to silence the God of lies, The silvertongue. Not even his brother, of course, only if you had a magic gag, but let's not stir up painful memories.

"I left you speechless, good, I can brag about something in my life if that's the case." Tony joked, despite the relieved smile in his face.

"You lie.." Loki tried to say but was interrupted by a very annoyed and very tired Tony.
"If you dare say that I'm lying, seriously, I'm going to go out exactly in my naked state and I'm going to run around the village calling out your name and my eternal love for you. " threatened Tony, one hundred percent he would do it without any seconds thoughts.

"Since when?" said Loki if a bit breathless, trying to look composed but failing miserably. Instead he glanced down at the scientist in front of him, suddently aware his face was starting to slowly redden and that the genius could see him from this angle. He was showing to much of his weak side for one night, more than he is comfortable admitting and equally aware he will have to continue doing so in the future in his new found relationship with iron man.

"From this moment on, believe me, I will not back out from this, it will be forever imprinted in my mind and probably of those from the village .." Tony joked again, well aware that he was annoying his blushing partner, but he just couldn't help himself. This new vulnerable side of Loki was so captivating and desirable to him that he wanted to dig in for even more than he was being offered right now.

"Since when did you realize you had these feelings for me Stark!?" Loki snapped, prying his hands from Tony's ones, he threw himself over him, ending up standing over him with an angry but at the same time happy look, Tony not at all bothered by the new position. The millionaire encouraged him, he leaned a little on the bed and grabbed the bottom of his new, now official lover, raising it a little and helping him straddling the overjoyed avenger.

"There's no need to become aggressive snowflake, and regarding your question, well, can you tell me when you specifically knew about yours for me?" he answered calmly, now that the cat is out of the bag, all the nervousness left his body. Loki reciprocated his love. Stark didn't care about anything else.

And to Loki’s absolute frustration, the buffoon was right. He couldn't say for sure when exactly Stark started to be more than just a sexual enhancement to him. But he knew that wasn't the case for a long time, so he couldn't answer the annoying man who now had a shit eating grin plated on his face, which was even more frustrating for the mag.

"See? I have no idea the exact moment when I realized it, our relationship being undefined according to the laws of nature and the universe, but somehow we managed and it seems that without realizing it, we fell in love with each other like two idiots." He stood frozen for a moment, his heart thrumming in his chest, a sense of adrenaline filing his chest at the new knowledge regarding their hidden feelings. He shivered a little because he was kinda sitting naked all this time and the cooling air of the room wasn’t exactly helping.

"I hate to admit it, but it seems like your way of wording, it is the best explanation I could come up with at the moment.” The urge to correct the grinning man below him was tormenting for the jontun prince but he knew he couldn’t, it seemed that the brilliant mind of his partner processed the information better than Loki in the present situation, and found the explanations much faster.

"Yes! My first time being right. It feels good. Not gonna lie." Loki sighed and  closed his eyes with a look that indicated defeat, causing the inventor to stand up easily enough to steal a quick kiss from the prankster's cold lips, leaving him startled at his action but smiling softly in return.

Loki’s breath continued to trail by his ear and on the side of his face while his hand on Tony’s waist moved up slowly, not releasing any pressure, just caressing the strangely still hot skin in the chilling air. They were both still pretty naked, the blanket Loki had around his waist being disposed again when Tony grabbed him and manhandled the prince atop of him. Then Loki groped hard.

"Don't get used to it Stark, I said 'for the moment'." But Loki was still Loki, so he had to say something sarcastic to the playboy instead, so that it doesn’t get to his head.

"You know, it's not very nice to call your lover by his last name. I think something sweeter would be more appropriate. What do you think?” Tony said not moving from where he was pinned under the mages weight, not that the genius wanted to, revealing varying levels of excitement and happiness at Loki’s presence. He was comfortable even. Loki body warmness became somehow familiar for Tony Stark.

And the feeling of fondness only continued when Loki answered.

The word the playboy spoke caught Loki's attention, making him respond with a hint of honey laced seduction in his voice. "I think that the first night my lover became my lover, will also be the first night he will end up in the recovery room because of a stab wound." He finished saying, with the same soft and loving look as if he had just declared a vow to love the billionaire to their graves. And not as if he threatend to do a demonstration of how the anatomy of a midgardian is looking inside. But Tony knew that his pride is talking, probably, so he paid no mind to it. So instead making a remark about it ,he said.

"Knife play, a bit intense for me, but I'm in." Tony commented lightly, as his fingers shifted to trace the curve of Loki’s ass. Thought he said it more like a joke he wouldn’t be opposed in trying if the mage shown a proclivity to the idea.

"You are a buffoon." Loki smiled softly, glancing over his lover's head at the clock on the wall. It was rather late; they took their time, no joke. He wondered if this was how it felt, to feel at ease. Loki assumed that this sense of belonging he gained from being in the arms of inventors was something he could get used to. It was a foreign term for him, no doubt, but he was more than willing to explore it. Together with his avenger hero slash genius slash loved one.

"Your buffoon at least." Tony murmured against Loki's bare shoulder. With that he got up on one elbow and lightly planted a kiss on the now dry lips of the black haired prince. Loki kissed then back lightly, flicking his tongue against the spot he had bitten when they were hastier in their task of undressing each other; their rounds were always a bit wild if he was to be honest.

„Careful, I'm a possessive being." Loki smiled, lowering his eyelashes. His genuine pleasure couldn't be stopped from showing all over his face.

The rustling of the sheets as Tony pulled the mage down to him gilled the silence of the room as he replied, laugh audible in his smile. "Don’t say, do elaborate, I'd like to know more." His lips brushed the tip of Loki's ear and he smiled to himself as he heard the small muffled gasp coming from his lover.

Loki chuckled and looked at him with such love and warmth that it made the inventor's heart want to jump out of his chest. Loki's eyes were incredibly green from Tony's angle, making it look like a deity was descending upon him and blessing him with his presence. Oh wait, that was what was happening right then.

Tony really didn't think it would happen that night, learning about each other's true feelings and all, but he never needed much reassurance that what they had now, was indeed what he had been looking for all this time.

"Better, I could show you." Loki said, cupping the intellectual geniuses jaw and looking down at him with a predatory look.  The grin Loki gave him was one of the widest he had ever seen, making Tony want to brag that he was the one who caused it.

"Fuck, yes!" Tony almost breathed the response, the words stuck in his throat at the thought of what promises this night would bring and the implications of the prince's words.

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right words when you're talking about your feelings out loud.  Frequently both of them walked away without resolution. Good that they had methods way better to show their attraction. Some in which they both find great pleasure.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started" Mark Twain