Loki did not believe in ghosts.
It was an absolutely, positively ridiculous notion.
Unfortunately, his brother and his boyfriend did not agree with him.
After binge-watching paranormal shows for an entire weekend, Thor and Tony were not only convinced ghosts were real, but that Tony could invent something to catch them.
The only thing Loki was convinced of was his impending migraine.
For weeks, he had to endure those two chatting about the "ghost traps" and other equipment Tony was perfecting. Even FRIDAY seemed to be annoyed, if the amount of times she'd activated the tower's sprinkler system were any indication.
Loki had hoped that the inventions would be the end of his lover's latest obsession, but no...it was about to get worse.
So much worse...
***************
"Tell me again why we're doing this?"
"Because having a ghost trap is pointless if there's nothing to trap with it, brother."
"I get that, Thor," Loki grumbled, " I was referring to the part where I have to accompany you two morons."
"Because it's fun," Tony said as he walked up and put an arm around his waist, " and you love us...well me at least...never can tell what goes on with you and point break half the time."
Thor opened his mouth to respond, but a scathing look from his brother had him quickly shutting it.
"Just....indulge us for one weekend," Tony said as he looked up at the mage with the biggest puppy eyes he could muster," please Lokes?"
Loki let out a sigh and a few muttered curses before turning towards his lover.
"Ugh...fine...but I'm only doing this so you idiots don't hurt yourselves."
"Aww, you're the best, babe." Tony leaned up and gave him kiss before walking over to help Thor unload the rest of their stuff.
*******************
The house Tony rented for their paranormal excursion was the famed Lizzie Borden residence. He figured Thor would be excited about a fellow axe-wielder.
He was not disappointed.
"So who did the Lady Elizabeth kill?" Thor asked in a tone that was far too giddy when discussing murders.
"Both of her parents," Tony replied before turning towards Loki with a grin,"that's something you'll appreciate, Lokes, you and the ghost can bond over...."
"Finish that sentence, Anthony, and I will stab you directly in your daddy issues."
*****************
"Ok, I think if we put the monitors over here, then we can....Thor, what are you doing?"
They'd been setting up their equipment for their expedition when Thor stopped to take his shirt off.
"Is the removal of clothing not essential for the hunt? I saw it done on the program we watched."
"Pretty sure that only works for Zak Bagans, buddy."
Loki, who'd been reading a book in a nearby armchair, rolled his eyes and stood up.
"I think I'll head to bed and let you two get on with....whatever this is."
"Aww really?" Tony pouted, " but the fun stuff hasn't even happened yet!"
"I'm sure you and Thor have things well in hand," Loki said before kissing him deeply, "I'll see you in the morning, Anthony."
"Okay, but come get us if you see any spirits!"
Tony watched his boyfriend wave him off as he headed up the stairs, before turning to set up the rest of their gear(and get Thor to put his clothes back on).
*********************
Loki had been sleeping soundly when a scratching noise jolted him awake. He sat up and conjured an orb of green light, waving it around the room until it reflected off of a pair of amber eyes. A solid black cat was sitting at the foot of the bed, regarding him curiously.
"Hello, where did you come from?"
Loki had been certain that there was a no pets policy for the bed and breakfast. He got up out of bed and started to approach the animal, only for it to turn away...
And walk right through the closed door.
****************
Tony and Thor were monitoring the video feed for their cameras when a disheveled Loki apparated behind them.
"Jesus,Lokes, you scared me!"
"Anthony," the Trickster said shakily," Does this abode allow pets?"
"No, why?"
Before he could answer, the electricity flickered and went out completely. A maniacal cackling seemed to reverberate around them, and the temperature started dropping rapidly.
"Brother, are you freezing the room?" Thor asked through chattering teeth.
"Of course not, you oaf!"
"Guys, guys! Do you hear that?"
There was a low whistling sound coming from down the hallway that was getting closer by the minute. Loki had just enough time to pull Tony out of the way before a hatchet flew into the room and embedded itself in the wall right where the inventor's head had been.
"Ok that's it! We are leaving this hell pit right now!"
"But Loki....."Thor started to whine.
"NOW THOR!"
The thunderer pouted but decided not to argue as his brother grabbed him and Tony and teleported back to New York.
******************
Since his boyfriend absolutely refused to teleport them back, Tony had to arrange for their belongings to be shipped back to them. He also had to promise to get rid of all of the ghost hunting equipment, otherwise Loki would ensure that FRIDAY locked him out of the lab permanently.
A couple weeks later, they were cuddling in bed watching TV, when Tony landed on a paranormal program. He didn't get farther than the credits when a dagger flew into the screen and destroyed the unit.
"Geeze Bambi, what did the TV ever do to you?"
"No more ghosts," Loki muttered as he borrowed further into Tony's side, " from now on you're going back to nice, safe projects like explosions and weaponry."
Tony snorted before rolling them over and giving his boyfriend a leering grin, " I've got a project you can help me with right now."
"Hmm, I like the sound of that."
While the couple was busy exploring each other, a mysterious black cat gave a knowing look through the windows before fading away into the night air.