"I do not understand, so, electricity is not a tangible object, same as magic, but it is not magic at all?" Loki huffed, aggravated by the concept. He did not understand why Midguardians did not simply learn magic. Magic did not short out; magic did not cost large amounts of money, "Midguardians are incredibly daft."
"As a Midguardian, I resent that!" Tony called from behind his welding mask. He found the God's egotistical outlook on life amusing and enjoyed listening to him rant.
"Once my magic returns, Anthony, I shall teach you magic and you will come to understand," Loki said, frowning at the 3D holograms of electrical waves Tony had pulled up for him to study.
"Sounds like a plan," Tony laughed, switching off his welder and flipping his mask to rest on the crown of his head.
"Can you even do that?" Bruce asked suddenly intrigued, looking up from his computer. He tilted his head slightly as he waited for the god to answer.
"Of course I can!" He grinned, straightening the collar of his green button-down, "I am Loki, god of mischief; it is my job to mess with the natural order of things."
Tony laughed while Bruce shook his head slightly, returning to his work.
"Sir," Jarvis announced, "you asked me to remind you that you have a meeting in twenty minutes."
"Thanks, Jay," Tony replied, distracted slightly by the way Loki's head swiveled around as he tried to locate the source of the disembodied voice, "Lok, he's not here, you can stop looking."
"I was not looking!" Loki whined, making a grin break out on Tony's face.
"Well, I have a meeting to go to. Not that they need me there," he grumbled, surprising Loki by leaning down and kissing his forehead lightly, "I'll be back soon, behave!"
"I am not a child, Stark!" Loki said, the pink blush that painted his cheeks betraying his condescending tone.
"Bruce, don't kill him while I'm gone!" Tony grinned as the elevator doors closed behind him.
The two men sat in silence for a while, unsure as to what they were supposed to say. What was there to talk about? Of course, both men had a hundred questions they could've picked from, but seemed to draw a blank every time.
The silence was growing steadily uncomfortable as they shuffled their feet. Then, a question that had been nagging at Bruce's mind ever so slightly came floating up to the surface like a cork.
"Mind if I ask you something?" Bruce asked as he pretended to work.
"Ask away," Loki replied halfheartedly, unsure as of what to expect from the man.
Bruce played with the words in his mind for a second, unsure as to how Loki would take it, much less answer it. After several uncomfortable seconds, however, Bruce decided to just blurt it out, "Why Tony?"
"Are you suggesting someone else?" Loki smirked, masking his slight surprised at the question. It definitely was not what he had expected.
Bruce laughed, happy that the god was joking with him, even as a cover, "Not at all."
Loki chuckled, then stopped, thinking the question through, "I supposed, Dr. Banner, because he is a fool," Bruce looked at him with raised eyebrows, "Only fools love monsters, Dr. Banner," Loki explained, watching Bruce's eyes as they searched his own.
"There are no monsters here, Lok," Bruce smiled quietly "not a single one. Only a God a mischief and a very temperamental green man."
Loki chuckled slightly at the statement. He paused as he looked at Bruce, his head tilted. He decided to respond with his own question, one that had been pestering his thoughts, "Tell me, Mr. Banner, were you always good?"
Bruce let out a laugh that did not reach his eyes, "Loki, I'm still not good, my power is fueled by anger. I go green for the wrong reason and I'll crush everything in my path, friend or foe."
Loki stared down at the man, his eyebrows furrowed.
"What?" Bruce asked, seeing the look on the gods face and feeling undeniably uneasy under the quizzical stare.
"I was very wrong about you, Dr.," Loki said quietly, "Very wrong indeed."
The men stayed silent for a bit, minds reeling. It seemed almost funny to them how similar they were realizing they were. The self-loathing, the hatred, the past that weighed each shoulder, seemed to be mirroring traits.
"If I am not a monster, what does that make everyone else?" Loki asked the floor boards, "Where do I stand on that fine line? What about everyone else?"
"As far as I can tell, we have a mansion with a God of mischief, a temperamental green man, an egotistical genius, a soldier, an assassin and... A bird," Bruce said, letting the corners of his lips curl.
Loki laughed, which something Bruce had not expected to hear, "I believe you neglected Thor."
"Ah, my bad, we also have a giant puppy," Loki let out a laugh, light dancing in his eyes that Bruce had never dreamed of seeing.
"You are the most comical of men, Dr. Banner," Loki snickered, trying to control himself.
"I try," Bruce smiled, "but seriously, stop talking like that, it won't help anybody."
Loki nodded and stood from the office chair, "I appreciate the concern, Dr. Banner. I'm going to go see what Thor is doing."
"Okay, and, um Bruce, Bruce is fine," Bruce said sheepishly.
"Bruce," Loki nodded and smiled before walking to the elevator.
"Hey Lok?" Bruce asked.
"Yes?" Loki asked as the pressed the down button.
"You never did give me a good answer for my question."
Loki smiled at the man "Like I said, Bruce, only a fool loves monsters. If he is fool enough to love one, who is that monster not to love back?" Loki gave him a half smile before stepping into the elevator and letting the doors close behind him.
Bruce shook his head, staring after the god.

---

"Hey, Brucey-Boy," Tony exclaimed as the elevator doors opened to the lab and looked around, "Lokester's not here? You kill him? Bad Bruce!"
"Tell me how you took the title genius again," Bruce sighed at his friend.
"I entered MIT at the age of fifteen and build up my good for nothing father's business into a billion dollar corporation," Tony grinned.
"I was hoping you wouldn't answer," Bruce shrugged.
"Sorry to disappoint," Tony chuckled, "Jarvis, where is Loki?" Tony asked with a glint in his eye.
"In his room, sir."
"See ya Brucey," Tony winked and turned on his heels, "I just had to sit through a boring meeting and I need a pick-me-up!"
"Tony, don't strain him, Tony listen to me!" Bruce called as Tony began his brisk pace towards the elevator.
"I can't hear you!" Tony exclaimed childishly.
"Tony, his body is-"
"Bye," Tony waved, grinning maniacally as the doors closed. Tony chuckled to himself as he waited in the elevator.
Bruce shook his head at the closed doors; he would never understand Tony.
"Jarvis, I want you to report any and all changes in Loki's vitals as soon as they happen, understand?" Tony grinned, almost jumping in place as he watched the floor number dwindle down to Loki's.
"Yes, sir," Jarvis replied as the doors slid open, releasing Tony from their confinement. Tony nearly ran to Loki's bedroom door, but knocked softly once he got there.
"Come in," the voice behind the door said.
"Hey, Rudolf," Tony smiled as he entered, running a hand through his hair calmly. Loki was lying on his bed, a book in his hands.
"Good evening, Tony," Loki smiled slightly, setting the book aside. Tony quickly read the cover 'A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe' before turning his attention back to his favorite Norse god.
"How was Brucey? Didn't smash you into the floor again, right?" Tony asked, walking up beside the bed, a grin plastered on his face. Loki just shook his head, unsure as to how exactly he found this particular man endearing. "That's a shame, I might like another Loki shaped indent in my house" Tony sighed jokingly, leaning down and pulling the god into a rough kiss.
"Sir, Loki's heart rate is increasing," Jarvis interrupted, which resulted in a hungry growl escaping Tony's chest, "Sir, Loki's blood pressure is rising," Jarvis informed, causing Loki to blush and another growl to escape the depths of Tony.
"Getting excited?" Tony teased as he straddled the god, deepening the kiss.
"Shut up," Loki quipped before letting out a moan as Tony nipped at the base of his neck.
"Make me," Tony chuckled, reclaiming Loki's mouth.
"Audacious mortal," Loki smirked, releasing a growl as he grabbed hold of Tony's hips and pressed the shorter man as close to him as humanly possible. Tony let out a strangled moan at the friction, causing the god to smirk.
"Sir, I hate to interrupt but, Mr. Loki's vital signs are reaching dangerous highs so I suggest that you do not proceed further."
Tony sighed, pressing kiss-swollen lips on Loki's neck, noting how flushed the god had gotten, "Sorry," Tony frowned into the pale skin.
"No, don't be," Loki said, allowing his thin fingers to rub circles on the man's back.
"You better get up and running soon," Tony smirked into the god's neck, "I don't know how much longer I can wait."
Loki chuckled, shifting his hands down so they rested on the genius' hips, "I can guarantee you, Anthony," he whispered, rubbing the sensitive skin from over the fabric of Tony's clothes, "it's worth the wait."
Tony let out an involuntary hiss and bit lightly on the base of the god's neck, "Better be."
Tony Stark was not a patient man and waiting made him antsy. Tony was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it. He could have anything and anyone because he was Anthony Edward Stark and he made sure everyone knew it. So being forced to wait, especially for something as gorgeous and tempting as Loki, was teetering on the verge of unbearable. But, it was the fact that Tony was, at that moment, perfectly content with sitting on the lap of said mischief maker that made the wait a little more bearable. They fell into a comfortable silence, Tony's head resting on the god's shoulder, Loki rubbing small circles on the genius' shoulder blade.
Suddenly a loud crash and the uproar of an argument intruded on their silence and made them chuckle.
"We should join the others," Loki smirked.
"Screw the others," Tony rebuked.
"Come on," Loki chuckled, shifting under the weight of Tony, "Thor has most likely broken something."
"Seriously, guys, the microwave?" Tony groaned as he and Loki walked warily into the makeshift living room and set eyes on the now gaping hole in the wall.
"I told you not to grab the bowl with your hands and what do you do? You grab it with your hands!" Clint yelled at the blond.
"What was I to use? Your hands?" Thor argued, receiving a general chuckle from the group.
"Can we go back to your room now?" Tony whispered to Loki.
"You would like that, Anthony," Loki smirked before brushing passed him to assess the damage.
"Guess that means no?" Tony grumbled, making a silent promise to himself that he would find a way to make the god wish he had returned with him.
"Let's have a movie night!" Tony said enthusiastically as he pulled Loki by the wrist from his place on the island counter.
"What he meant to say was, 'Let's give me an excuse to dry hump and swap spit with Loki', right Tony?" Clint grinned maniacally.
"I hardly need an excuse to do that," Tony replied simply.
"Stark..." Thor warned from his place on the couch.
"Don't worry, Blondie, I'll only hump him a little bit."
This earned a light smack from Loki, "Audacious mortal."
"As always, gorgeous," Tony winked, causing Loki to roll his eyes. How he was attracted to this over-active human would always be beyond Loki.
"So, movie?" Bruce asked.
"Right," Tony grinned.
"We should watch Terminator," Clint offered.
"I second the bird!" Tony said, watching all of them nod in agreement, while slightly bemused by the confused looks glazing the Norse god duo.
"I'll make popcorn," Steve grinned.
"I'll move the furniture," Bruce offered.
"I'll get beer," Tony said, rushing off to his many stashes.
"We all ready?" Tony asked, crouched in front of the large screen, poised and ready to push the disk in. He scanned the group, all crowded together and shoving handfuls of popcorn in the general direction of their mouth.
"Fire 'er up!" Bruce grinned.
Tony obeyed, pushing it in and bounding over to the couch Loki was occupying, where he managed to squeeze himself behind the god before the trickster had a chance to argue. To Tony's surprise, Loki relaxed slightly into Tony, not necessarily cuddling but not pushing him away, so Tony draped an arm around the god's waste as they laid on the soft cushions.
"Tony, try to limit the grunts to a minimum, okay?" Clint smirked as the previews began.
"I will, but I can't promise for Loki," Tony smirked.
"Oh, Anthony, I highly doubt you are even capable of extracting any vulgar noises at all from me," Loki said calmly, purposefully poking the bear.
"Oooo," Bruce smirked, "Loki, you shouldn't instigate him."
"I just don't want to get his hopes up," Loki grinned evilly.
"Keep in mind, Stark, you will be put in comparison to gods," Thor grinned, gladly patronizing him, and because he was unable to ignore an opportunity to tease Loki, he added, "many, many gods."
"Like you have room for accusations, Brother," Loki grinned, "I do believe you were the one who challenged me in the contest to see who could lure the most suitable women in the kingdom into their bed all those years ago."
"Who won?" Clint asked, grinning at the brothers.
"Me," the pair stated simultaneously, and then glared jokingly at the other. That was a lie, but one Thor was willing to let Loki have. The brothers were much too aware of who had won that bet. While it was undeniable that Loki could most defiantly stand his ground when it came to his bed, no matter what the situation, when paired against Thor, Loki was always chosen second.
"The movie is starting," Steve said suddenly, his face red from listening to the argument.
The wheels in Tony's mind were turning, suddenly panicking. What if he really wasn't good enough for the god? What if Loki had standards that Tony simply couldn't fulfill? Tony felt, for the first time in a long while, a fear of quiet possibly being rejected. The sick, raw panic that was busy churning Tony's insides was making his head spin. He had to gain leverage, fast.
"You know, Loki," Tony said, his voice a hot whisper in the god's ear, "you really shouldn't tempt me," He was satisfied slightly by the shiver that passed through the god's back. But it wasn't enough, not yet, "If you do," he said, his voice morphing into a low, rumbling growl, "I might have to teach exactly why you should not doubt me," he ended the statement by grinding his pelvic region sharply into Loki, forcing the god to take a sharp intake of breath. Tony kept himself pressed against the god nonchalantly as the group eyed him warily.
"Anthony," Loki warned, promising a very possible death, but the way his face was burning and his body not moving told Tony otherwise.
"Yes?" Tony asked innocently as he ground against him agonizingly slowly.
"Anthony, do not..." Loki whispered but stopped to hold back a moan as Tony continued to grind against the god.
"Mind to tell me why our little god of mischief is blushing like a school girl?" a voice whispered right next to Tony's ear. Tony jumped slightly, turning his head to see a smirking Bruce standing behind the couch. In his panic and current enjoyment, Tony had not noticed that the doctor had gotten up.
"Don't mind me," Tony grinned maniacally, "I'm just proving a point."
"I see that," Bruce chuckled, "Loki, you're going to fry him once your magic comes back, right?"
"You do not know the half of it," Loki growled through his teeth.
"Looking forward to it," Bruce snickered as he returned to his seat.
"Stark, if you do not stop, you will regret it," Loki growled, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Don't patronize me then," Stark grinned, give one final thrust of his hips.
"I was simply trying to salvage dignity, I never doubted you," Loki said between barred teeth.
"Oops," Tony chuckled, placing a soft kiss on the god's shoulder. He didn't miss the warning glare from Thor, but he wasn't too worried, at least he wasn't attacking him.
"You are unbelievable, Anthony," Loki sighed as Tony pulled him closer.
"I know," Tony whispered in the god's ear before capturing his lips in his own. He could get lost doing this, melting into his god of chaos. What set his golden mind reeling was the fact that Loki kissed him back, the god of lies and mischief and chaos was soaking up Tony just as Tony was soaking up him. He pulled back and planted a joking kiss to the god's nose, which was met with the rolling of those emerald orbs. Tony stared at this god he called his own, with dark hair and pale skin, and he was struck with the realization that this was not his god. No, his god was blue with blood red eyes. This was a mask that his god had taken to wearing and he wanted it off. He wanted desperately to set his eyes on the rich blue skin with the etching patterns, to run his fingers over the skin that was as cold as ice.
"Loki?" Tony whispered in the god's ear, his heart racing with every breath.
"What?" Loki asked, smiling up at the playboy. Tony let out an uncharacteristic whimper and ran one of his hands through the god's silk black locks, "Anthony?" Loki asked, noting the blush that was slowly spreading across the confines of his cheeks to his entire face.
"I... I think.. Er... I know… that I... I lo-"
"Anthony!" a shrill voice made all of them jump and leap to their feet, ready for an attack. Tony would've preferred an intruder; he could throttle an intruder for interrupting him, "Anthony Stark!" Pepper screamed with her eyes fiery and dangerous.

Notes