Tony never wanted to let go of the soft fabric of Loki's shirt, he wanted to keep the god in his arms until the day he died. He breathed soft breaths into the god's neck, allowing his lips to brush the smooth skin. Loki clung to the man, savoring the warmth the human provided. Never in Loki's life had he felt quite so content.
In that moment, nothing outside mattered, but it was not like during the silence, it was not a frozen nothingness of dread, because this nothingness was as warm and as beautiful as the sun.
The men wanted to stay there, never moving, never leaving the safety and warmth of the other. Nothing mattered. Neither Pepper nor Odin nor lineage nor past seemed to matter as they lay there. As long as they lay there, not talking and not speaking, it didn't matter that Pepper had come, that Odin had lied of all Loki's life, that Loki was a Laufeyson and Tony was a Stark, it didn't matter that Loki had tried to take over the world and Tony was responsible for most of the advanced weapons their enemies possessed.
All that mattered was that they were there in the warmth and comfort of only the other's company.
Suddenly, a loud crash and the shatter of glass jolted the men from their thoughts.
"Dammit, Thor! Why'd you do that?" An obviously annoyed Clint asked right outside the closed-door.
"My apologies, Bartonson, I neglected to recall how fragile Midgardian glassware is," Thor huffed.
"I think we had eavesdroppers," Tony said, rolling his eyes.
He pushed up so his hands were placed on either side of Loki's head.
"Nosy quims," Loki grumbled, albeit half-heartedly. He wasn't angry, not even close. How could he be? There was no doubt in Loki's mind that, in this tower, with this asinine team, he could be happy, and with the idiotic god and the impudent genius he loved and who loved him, the hope that had been fragile and transparent seemed to solidify and bloom in his chest.
"I am no quim!" Thor's voice called, followed by the sound of hands on flesh as Thor undoubtedly received several smacks.
How could Loki be angry when four of the people who had despised and fought him, now concerned themselves with him, encouraged and engaged him in their lives?
"Forgive me, Thor, you are an oaf," Loki said, making Tony chuckle.
No, there was no anger, for the first time in what seemed like forever, no anger resided in his being. With these people, these Midgardians, it did not matter if he Aesir or Jotun, because never had Loki felt so at home.
"Your friends are strange, yet, most amusing," Loki whispered into Tony's ear, smirking at the shiver that traveled down the length of the playboy.
"Our friends, Rudolf," Tony whispered back, once again wrapping his arms around the god's neck and breathing in his scent. The words sent a jolt through Loki; it was an alien and unknown phrase, a foreign concept. Friends were a thing Loki had never acquired since his only acquaintances had been the obligated friends of Thor or children hired (to the small prince's shame) to act accordingly.
"Come, brother, Man of Iron, let us drink and feast, for today we have evaded disaster!" Thor's grin was almost visible in his voice as he stood outside the door with his joy and elation practically radiating through the wooden barrier and crashing into the men in pulses.
"I think that's a great idea, Point Break!" Tony grinned, always ready to drink. He looked down to see a stupefying grin displayed openly on the perfect mouth, "Don't you, Rock of Ages?"
"I see we have resorted to the petty nicknames once more," Loki chuckled, knowing Tony required no answer. Loki let out an involuntary moan as warm lips captured his own, this was finality at its finest, and the purest and simplest way to confirm what needn't be confirmed. With that kiss, before they would have to unwillingly return to their comrades on the opposite side of the little world, Tony verified the truth of every word he had spoken. Not that Loki needed verification.

---

"I must say, Midgardians have an extreme lack of tolerance for their alcohol," Thor grumbled, attempting to pull an unconscious Clint from the car. He gave up before realizing the man was still strapped in his seatbelt.
"Agreed," Loki huffed while supporting a teetering Stark, "I would not suggest they attend any festivities on Asgard"
"I want to go to Asgard!" Tony said, but the words were slurred and sounded more like "Ai anna oh ou Asgerd" Loki shook his head at the intoxicated man.
"Brother, what shall we do with them?" Thor asked, staring lamely at the small pile of unconscious bodies that were three of his teammates while Clint still hung halfway out the car door with his seatbelt under his arms.
"I suppose the chivalrous thing to do, would be to deliver them each to their own bedchambers and leave them be until morning," Loki said, staring at the heroes, "Are you feeling chivalrous, Brother?" A mischievous glint shone in the trickster's eyes, something that would've worried Thor in the past, but liberated him now.
"Not particularly, Brother," Thor smiled with a grin matching Loki's.

---

Tony woke up with a start, an unwelcome noise piercing his eardrums like a knife. His head was pounding, eyes burning from the light seeping through the window in his bedroom. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the hangover to disappear.
"Loki! Thor! Bastards! Come back here!" Clint's voice seemed to be drilling its way into Tony's skull, almost distracting him from the words. The sound of jubilant laughter that could only belong to the Norse brothers eased his nerves slightly, if Thor was laughing, it couldn't be too bad. "I will kill you! Natasha, tackle him, tackle him! Dammit, Steve, stop messing with your pants and catch them! Shit, Loki, get off the ceiling fan! Thor, get down, flying is not fair!"
Ok, he'd been wrong before.
Tony groaned as he made his way out of bed and towards the door, "It's too early for this, Jay," he muttered before flinging the door open and racing to the living room.
The scene before him made him skid to a halting stop.
Clint was yelling orders, waving a pink plastic bow and had a quiver of pink arrows with heart-shaped tips strapped to his back, and yet somehow managing to still look livid.
Natasha was running, following Clint's frantic orders, plastic clown shoes slapping against the floor. An orange tutu and rainbow shirt was pulled over her clothes, hair sticking out perfectly horizontal like a deranged clown, which was (Tony assumed) the idea.
Bruce was standing in the corner, obviously brooding, skin dyed a bright green color, but a glint of amusement in his eyes betrayed his irritated demeanor.
Steve stood, his face bright red, in a white t-shirt with a red maple leaf, and a pair of white-wash daisy dukes displaying thighs, pasty as all hell.
"Good morning, Anthony!" Loki's voice sounded as innocent and sweet as Tony had ever heard. He looked up to see his god, perched atop a ceiling fan like a throne. The alabaster skin seemed to glow as he grinned down with more jubilation and amusement than a child at the circus.
"Morning, Tony!" Thor's voice boomed, drawing Tony's attention to where Thor was floating stoically on his ceiling. Tony was now certain he had never seen a stranger sight in his life.
"What, pray tell, did you two do?" Tony asked, rubbing his temples and walking calmly passed several objects Clint was currently attempting to chuck at the gods.
"Simple Brotherly bonding, Anthony, what better way than through mischief?"
Tony heard Loki grin and something dangerously close to a giggle escaping the god.
"I can think of several ways!" Clint fumed, "Dying sounds like a real good one!"
"Calm down, cupid," Tony sighed, grabbing his new mug of coffee and walking over to the raging archer.
"Maybe you should look at yourself first," Clint said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Tony rolled his eyes and pulled his phone from his pocket and turned on the front camera and immediately let out a chuckle.
His hair was died red and gold with 'Property of Loki' scrawled across his forehead.
"I'm impressed, you dyed my eyebrows and beard too," Tony laughed, admiring the gods' handiwork.
"The writing was Thor's idea," Loki smiled, sounding like a proud father.
"Was it Thor's idea to make Captain Yesterday look like a stripper?" Tony asked, grinning when an embarrassed squeak escaped the soldier's lips.
"No, that was me," Loki grinned, no shame or remorsefulness in his voice, but why should there be? It was brilliant.
"Perhaps the five of you should learn to tolerate your alcohol. The amount you all drank would not intoxicate an infant on Asgard," Thor let out a hardy laugh, clutching his stomach.
"Alright, you've had your fun," Clint said, rage radiating off him in pulses, "Where is our stuff?"
Loki and Thor exchanged a look that made the team's faces drop, "I am not positive, Brother, what was that place called?" Thor grinned, enjoying the game.
"I dare say, Brother, I am not sure if I recall exactly which place you speak of, we have been to so many," Loki smirked, barely repressing laughter. He was proud that his brother was playing along, it was a rare occurrence which he always treasured.
"Shops of frugality, correct? Or am I mistaken?" Thor asked, scratching his head theatrically.
"Frugality?" Natasha asked, eyebrows arched, then her shoulder sagged, "Thrift stores?"
"The mortal arachnid had guessed correctly, Brother! What a glorious occasion!" Loki laughed, looking as though he would slip from the fan and plummet to the floor in a fit of hysteria.
Tony could only shake his head as Clint, Natasha and Steve trudged towards the elevator, Clint cursing all the way, "We'll be back," Clint grumbled.
"Rodger that, Schwarzenegger," Tony saluted, repressing a burst of laughter as Clint flipped him off before the elevator doors shut.
"I must say, that was brilliant," Bruce grinned from his place in the corner, eyes shining, "How exactly did you two pull this off?"
"It was not too entirely difficult; you all were intoxicated beyond reckoning," Loki chuckled as he took hold of Thor's outstretched hand, allowing him to lower him to the floor, "The hardest part was replacing all of Ms. Romanov's gun with these comical toys that hold water," Loki picked up a small plastic water gun from the place Natasha had flung it on the counter.
Tony and Bruce burst out laughing.
"Did you both really donate their stuff to thrift stores?" Tony had to ask and grinned when the brother's shook their head, "Brilliant, simply brilliant."
"The Canadian t-shirt was a nice touch for Steve. I'm guessing you two cleared out his wardrobe?" Bruce snickered, the irony of the pranks reducing him to a giggling child.
"They're on the roof with Mr. Barton's bow and arrows and Ms. Romanov's guns," Loki grinned.
Yes, Loki felt very much at home here.
"You are just so... perfect," Tony laughed, walking over to Loki and placing a hand on his chest, "But you don't need me telling you that," He grinned at the god as a subtle blush crept up his cheeks.
"No, but it is always appreciated," Loki smirked, running a hand through the vandalized hair.
"Please tell me this will come out," Tony chuckled, eyes pointing towards his scalp.
"Yes," Loki laughed, "It shall wash out with water."
"Guess that means it's shower time for me then," Tony said before smirking, "you want to join me?"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Loki smirked, letting his hands travel down to the man's cheek. He smirked at the blush that erupted across the playboy's face as Loki ran a thumb over his bottom lip.
"Yes," Tony said, cursing the way his voice cracked. The god was so incredibly close to him, he could feel the cool skin brushing lightly against his own burning flesh. He stared into the green depths of the god's eyes and felt as though his legs could no longer hold his weight. He was so close, so impossibly close Tony could feel the sweet breath on his face as his own came out in shallow, hot pants.
"Go take a shower, Anthony," Loki smirked as he pulled away. He felt slightly guilty as a look of, what seemed like, utter anguish passed over the man. But the emotion was quickly covered as Tony let out a chuckle.
"I'll go do that, then," He smiled, masking the way his heart ached inside his chest.
Loki did not miss the way the smile fell from his face once he turned towards the elevator. He stared after the genius as he boarded the elevator and averted his eyes from the god's. He waited a second before turning towards Thor and Bruce, only to notice that they were not there.
"Ghost, where is my brother and the doctor?" He felt strange asked thin air, but it was not unlike praying to his 'father' or speaking to Heimdall.
"They exited the room during your interactions with Mr. Stark. I believe they expected a romantic occurrence to ensue," The AI answered promptly.
Loki stood with the clogs and gears turning inside his well-tuned mind. He came to a decision, perhaps impulsively, perhaps not, "Were they wrong, celestial voice?"
"It seems so, sir," The AI answered, sounding almost bored with the obvious question.
"Perhaps not," Loki said before taking a brisk step towards the elevator doors and with each step the resolve of his decision hardened.
By the time he was stepping inside the elevator, he was absolutely certain that his decision was the right one.

---

Tony walked into his bathroom, both anger and frustrations pounding inside his chest like a drum. He was tired of being teased by the god. He had been good, he had been considerate, and he had controlled every burst of want that had exploded inside him every time the god moved.
Tony Stark was a lustful creature and lustful creatures do not appreciate being teased by a gorgeous god they have every right to attack in a fit of ecstasy.
He stripped of his clothes in a haze as he marched across the tile floor.
"Damn him, damn him to hell," He fumed as he turned the glass knob and scalding water shot from the shower head.
Under normal circumstances, he would've taken a cold shower, but he was tired of controlling himself. He stepped into the shower and closed the glass doors behind him.
"Damn him," he repeated, stepping into the boiling stream of water. He cursed the unbearable heat, which had nothing to do with the water, as it pulsed through his body. He stuck his head under the water and watched as the red and yellow dye ran down his face and body, creating orange puddles on the smooth floor.
Tony watched as his god's handiwork swirled down the drain and dared a glance down to the other 'handiwork' of his god that twitched and pulsated hungrily, painfully. It had become painful, how aroused the god made him by simply being in the same room. He hated it. Tony was not accustom to being reduced to an equivalent of a high school boy with an unrequited crush, jerking off in bed at night, alone.
He sighed, irritated as he leaned against the wall of the shower, no longer trusting his legs to keep him upright. He barred his teeth as painful amounts of heat turned his body into a quivering mass held up solely by the glass wall. He sucked in a breath as his hand lifted from his side, setting itself shamefully on his stomach. His breath grew labored as he led his hand down to the twitching result of his frustration.
His breath hitched as his fingers brushed the sensitive skin, sending waves of pleasure washing through his body like a storm. His mind went blank as he gripped the offending organ, throwing his head back as blinding sensations coursed through him. Strangled moans escaped his lips as the first pump of much needed friction sent his senses reeling.
He was so engrossed in his pleasure that he did not notice when the door to his box of shame opened and the very source of his shame entered as naked as the day he entered the worlds, however long ago that was, and it was not until cold hands found his shoulders did Tony's eyes shoot open and his hand cease the fervent motion.
"Hi," The god said simply, his hands remaining on the man's shoulders.
Tony's eyes were wide, his mind rebooting from its shut down. He half expected the god to not actually be there, that this was some kind of sexually induced hallucination, and only the cool hands against his burning skin told him that Loki was very much there.
"What, here to tease me again?" Tony asked, unable to hide the malice in his voice.
Loki frowned at the jib, rubbing his thumbs across the man's collar bones, "Forgive me," Loki said, taking the man off guard, "I did not mean to anger you," the sincerity in the god's voice made the genius forget any negative feelings he had ever harbored against the god, but he wasn't letting him off that easy.
"What are you even doing in here?" Tony asked, scowling, letting his hand drop back to his sides. He was painfully aware of the heat shooting through him, screaming for the friction he longed for.
"I was hoping," Loki said, leaning closer so their lips were mere inches apart, "that your offer still stood."
Tony looked down and was hardly able to contain his bliss as he set his eyes on the god, who was aroused as he was.
"How do I know you're not going to suddenly step away and say 'just kidding'?" Tony asked, but there was no conviction in his voice now.
"I will show you," Loki said before closing the space between them.
Tony groaned as the god's velvet tongue drew across his lower lip and eagerly allowed entrance, but Tony was too far in for simple kissing to be enough. With an animalistic growl, he thrust up and against the aroused god and grinned when a less than manly gasp escaped the god's lips.
In one swift motion, Loki grasped Tony's waist and turned him so his chest was against the cool glass.
"Jesus, oh Christ," Tony gasped as Loki ground against him and took hold of the organ that was starting to seem slightly less shameful and a lot more honorable. He threw his head back as the most beautiful heated friction racked his body like a hurricane. Tony cursed when he came, painting the glass after only a few strokes, "Fuck, Loki," he gasped as he felt Loki prod at his entrance. "Are you sure? Are you sure you're ok?" He couldn't help but remember that the god was not at the peak of health.
"Oh, I'll manage, Anthony. The better question is, can you?" Loki growled and he continued to prod at the man.
"Yes, god Dammit, yes!" Tony choked.
Under normal circumstances, Tony would've asked to be prepped, or at least lubed before the full nine yards, but technicalities could be reserved for later, Tony needed this and he needed this now.
"Oh fuck!" Tony cried through barred teeth as pain and pleasure like he had never experienced crashed through him.
"Oh, oh gods," Loki squeaked as Tony's muscles clenched against him. In a blind wave of ecstasy, Loki grabbed Tony's hips and pulled out before sharply sheathing himself back within the man and by some miracle of the gods, Loki hit the bundle of nerves that set stars in Tony's vision. With a strangled growl, Loki repeated the motion, quicker and sharper, lifting the smaller man with every thrust.
By the time both men were sent reeling over the edge in blinding heat, Tony's feet were off the ground and was being held solely by his god.
Once both men's breath was caught and pulses slowed, Loki pulled out of the man, leaving him with an empty feeling he was not accustomed to. They slumped against the glass wall, legs splayed unceremoniously across the tile floor, Tony's head rested on the god's heaving shoulders, trying vainly to still his reeling mind.
"Worth the wait?" Loki asked, smiling slightly as he looked down at the man.
"Oh yeah," Tony breathed heavily against the bare skin, surprised when cool fingers reached underneath his chin and lifted his face.
He couldn't help but smile as the god placed a chaste kiss on his lips. The tender gesture was something Tony was not used to; never in his life did love follow sex, but he suddenly wondered how he had ever lived without it. How had he survived without the warmth that was not lust, but love that seemed to flow freely in his bloodstream?
"I love you, Anthony Stark," Loki whispered softly, a blush painting his cheeks.
"I love you too," Tony smiled, kissing the god once more, conveying every raw and unfamiliar emotion that had invaded his usually sealed heart.
As Loki returned the kiss, Tony knew that the same thoughts were crashing through the prized mind of his god.

Notes