Chapter 35
Sylvie took a seat on one of the high bar stools across from the other woman. She still looked slightly annoyed but most of her anger had begun to dissipate after punching Stark.
Natasha poured them both another drink with a small smile playing on her face.
“What’re you so pleased about?” Sylvie asked flatly.
“It’s always nice to see someone take Tony down a few pegs…” Natasha grinned a little harder, “only slightly more fun when it’s a woman protecting her man,” she said as she lifted the glass to her lips watching Sylvie intently.
The other woman huffed, “Yes well, I’ve been told I have something of a temper…” she lifted her glass to take a drink as well.
“What did Loki say…? Is he still upset?” Natasha asked quietly.
“He’s fine now, it just rattled him. He was more embarrassed than anything…” Sylvie said simply.
“Embarrassed? Of what, being able to lift a man off the ground with one hand?” Natasha teased.
Sylvie rolled her eyes, “of losing control of his emotions—he wanted to show everyone he’d changed, and he was afraid he had ruined everything,” she said sadly.
“Well, that’s certainly not the case now. You should have heard Thor defending him, he made a strong case… despite the rum breath,” she smirked.
Sylvie smiled softly, “he’s always been rather protective…”
Natasha looked amused as she sipped at her drink watching her friend mildly.
“What did Tony say anyway that got him so riled up?” Natasha asked casually.
Sylvie smirked absently, “he didn’t say exactly, just that he ‘spoke of me disrespectfully’,” she looked at her friend and they both chuckled quietly.
“Good for him,” Natasha murmured with a small smile.
A soft pink crept over Sylvie’s cheeks as she blushed faintly, “Well, I promised Loki I’d be right back with another drink…”
“Make Tony take it to him,” Natasha said raising a hand to whistle loudly as Sylvie tried to protest, “Hey Stark—! Front and center!”
“No, Natasha that’s not a good idea—“
“What’s not a good idea? Whatever it is I’m sure I beat it tonight,” Tony said casually as he sauntered over, “You rang, my lady?” He attempted a showy bow, nearly spilling his scotch.
“Yeah, Sylvie here was about to take Loki another drink, but I figure you can take it with you when you apologize,” Natasha said firmly, arms crossing over her chest with authority.
Tony sighed, “Well I suppose I can play errand boy, if she doesn’t mind me stealing this dance with her man?”
Sylvie rolled her eyes and huffed, “Only if you promise not to make an arse of yourself—any more than you already have, of course.”
“Spitfire, this one,” Tony said with some degree of admiration, “to be honest, you’re starting to sound a little like my wife—”
“Don’t you have a drink to be delivering?” Natasha said irritably.
“Of course, wouldn’t want his majesty’s ice to melt…” Natasha glared at him, “Okay, okay I’m going, sheesh!” He took the drink and walked off briskly throwing a look of confused mock fear over his shoulder at them.
Natasha shook her head softly and smirked, “For a genius he’s a bit of an idiot…”
Sylvie snorted nearly spilling her drink mid sip, “I certainly agree about the idiot part, catch me up on what qualifies him a genius?” she said with a dry grin.
Natasha laughed quietly, “Well he’s got the brains for machines and technology, but when it comes to people he sometimes has trouble seeing past his own reflection.”
Sylvie sighed, “Well at least he’s good for something, I suppose that’s how all this came to be?” she gestured vaguely at the building around her.
“Mm,” Natasha nodded, “his money, his company, his tech—it keeps the lights on,” she smiled softly, “for all his faults and appearance of self absorption… everything Tony does is for the people he cares about. A long time ago that list was limited to himself, then Pepper… then his friends, and now… his little girl.”
Sylvie’s eyes softened slightly as she sipped idly at her drink.
“He can overreact and be completely singleminded… but he does it because he has a good heart, and he does it for the people he loves,” Natasha explained softly.
Sylvie nodded absentmindedly, “I know the type…”
Natasha smiled, “I thought you might.”
After leaving the company of the two women at the bar Tony had walked briskly toward the balcony. Reaching the door he took a deep breath, steeling himself and using his elbow to push the door open.
Loki didn’t turn, continuing to watch the lights below not realizing it wasn’t Sylvie who’d joined him outside.
Tony whistled a quiet little sound to get Loki’s attention, “Special delivery—” he held the drinks up in his hands in surrender, “I come in peace, the womenfolk bid me bring you a drink…”
Loki scoffed and turned back to ignore him.
Tony walked over to join him leaning against the railing, taking a slow drink from his glass and offering the other to Loki when he turned his head slightly.
“It’s all yours, but if you don’t take it before I finish mine I can’t promise it won’t meet a similar fate,” Tony teased kindly.
Loki glowered but took the glass all the same, sniffing it for a brief moment before taking a drink.
“‘Aaaatta boy,” Tony murmured slowly as he looked out over the city.
“What do you want, Stark?” Loki muttered irritably.
“Ya know, it make shock you to hear, but I’m not actually good at apologies,” Tony said quietly.
Loki scoffed, “how would one have ever guessed?” he murmured sarcastically.
“It doesn’t make it any easier to apologizing to someone who’s done what you did,” Tony added honestly.
Loki looked slightly chagrined, but said nothing in favor of taking another drink.
“But I promised I’d make it right, so here goes,” Tony murmured before taking a deep breath, “I’m sorry—I wanted to prove you were still a threat, so I pushed until I found something that set you off…” he sighed reluctantly, “your past is your own, and it was a dick move to bring your girl into it—so, for that, I’m sorry.”
Loki looked him over idly, both men still leaned against the railing watching the lights flicker below them.
“Thank you, Stark,” Loki said quietly, “I thought I was ready to come back here… but it seems I may have been mistaken…”
Tony shrugged, “Had to rip the band aid off eventually, better to face it head on,” he paused for a moment, tone shifting, “—accountability is no easy thing… and it’s something I can respect,” he said honestly.
Loki glanced at Tony, “I couldn’t leave it the way I did…”
“Mm, a total shit show?” Tony asked casually.
“In disgrace—” Loki clarified, “I didn’t like the thought of dying a villain to this world…” he said absently, “that my legacy on Midgard should be limited to death and destruction—even with me gone, that stain might follow Thor—and I wanted him to remember me proudly.”
Tony smiled faintly, face more open than he showed most, “Legacy…” he said softly, “it’s more important than people give it credit for, especially when it’s inherited…” he took a large drink, “I always thought my father was the hero he made himself out to be, but he was just a man, and men make mistakes… I’m trying to leave something better behind for my kid.”
Loki watched him with distant eyes, “Fathers never stand quite as tall as they did in our youth…”
Tony scoffed, “I think I read that in a fortune cookie once…”
Loki gave him an annoyed look which made Tony chuckle warmly, eventually causing Loki to soften as well.
“My father had secrets too, ones which caused me great pain,” Loki said candidly, “they were an inciting factor in my path of reckless self aggrandizing and destruction…”
“Geez, you have to see a shrink for that kinda personal commentary or does it come naturally?”
Loki pursed his lips but continued on, “I thought I could prove myself worthy to my family, but in the end I only let them down…” Loki looked at Tony boldly, “The people of this world paid for my foolishness, now I only hope to help bring the other half of them back in recompense for my actions.”
Tony studied him critically, considering Loki’s motivations and coming to a decision. He gave Loki a small nod of approval.
“You’re here to clean up your mess, and lucky for you a bigger, badder fish came along and messed us up worse—this is your chance to be a hero, Loki, and you sure as hell better take it.”