A/N: Ok, this is set in a human AU, just because it fit in with the plot better. Loki is still very much Loki – no worries there! I had an idea for a FrostIron version of Cinderella that just wouldn't go away.

There's some swearing because clearly I can't stop myself, but hopefully not too much. There's illness and stuff, but you'll like the fluff (I hope,) of which there is much.

Chapter 1 – Once Upon a Time

The invitation was beautiful. Glitter, sparkle, magic - all on one compact piece of paper. How much more beautiful would the event itself be? Loki sighed, tracing his fingers along the gold leaf. He would give anything to be there.

"I'm sorry little brother," Thor said, failing for the fifth time to fasten his bow-tie, "You're just not up to coming along."

He could argue more, could insist that Thor take him along, but it wouldn't do any good. Their father, Odin, had decided that Loki was not strong enough to go to the fundraiser, and so Loki would not be going. He knew his father was just trying to look out for him. But it still stung.

He had tried to explain to them, that he had to be there. They just didn't get it. They didn't understand that they were breaking Loki's heart. Ironic, really.

To see Tony Stark again, wouldn't that be something? His brother had always had good-looking friends but Tony... Maybe it was just a boy's foolish dreams; but what was the harm in that? Loki could do with some dreams, even foolish ones.

And Tony, in the years since Loki had last seen him, had turned Stark Industries around. It was a force for good now – no longer a vehicle of war. Stark's parties were legendary. Loki had never been. He had hoped when the invitation had arrived for Thor... it said he was allowed to bring guests...

But no, Odin had said no, and Thor had agreed. Because they forgot the worst part about Loki being ill – that this may be his last chance to go to a glamourous party, his last chance to catch even a glimpse of Tony Stark.

"Tony, wake up! You've got an hour to the fundraiser!"

"Pepper...? How did you get in here?"

"Jarvis let me in. You programmed him to."

"Yeah, sure, I remember that..."

"You are such a bad liar."

Loki gave up and fastened Thor's bow-tie around his brother's thick neck for him. He couldn't take watching him fail at it any more. His brother looked out of place in a formal suit. He looked like a cleaned-up barbarian, or a male Eliza Doolittle, anything but a successful businessman.

Loki's fingers fumbled a little, but when he was done, Thor's bow-tie was pristine. Loki couldn't resist stroking the red silk, just a little, as he let go of it. He'd always loved clothes, fabrics, colours, fine things – some people thought that made him shallow and selfish, but he knew that wasn't the case.

Loki found enjoyment in the little things – if the only thing to make you smile that day is a sparkling cufflink, then that sparkling cufflink is important. Ok, so he was a bit of a magpie when it came to shiny things. He appreciated beauty, that was all. When his father had insisted he wear a medical alert bracelet (which, in all fairness to the old man, had actually saved Loki's life on one occasion,) Thor had bought him the gold version – with little diamante stones – to make him feel better about it. It kind of worked; he had to admit, it looked stylish – though he needed to have a link or two taken off again: damn thing was too big on his skinny wrists.

"Father's flight is due back at midnight," Thor told him as he grabbed his car keys, "which means he should be home by about one a.m., give-or-take some traffic time. Try not to let him disturb your sleep too much – and don't let him catch you still up watching Netflix or whatever, you know he gets all pissed-off after he's been flying."

"I'm a grown man, Thor," Loki sighed wearily, rubbing his eyes with one thin knuckle.

"I know Loki, but we still care about you. Get some sleep, ok? That way Dad'll keep off your back and you'll feel better."

Loki doubted that, but said nothing as Thor swept him into a bear-hug, and then went out for an evening of fun and glitter.

"Tony, you can't even fasten a bow-tie!"

"That's why I keep you around, Pepper," a childish grin, to which she couldn't help but respond in kind.

"Oh, Tony," Pepper began, tying Tony's tie for him, "before I forget, Thor's coming tonight."

"Thor? Cool. I haven't seen blond-and-buff in years – be nice to get back in touch."

"Yeah..."

"Pep?"

"He needs to talk to you..."

Tony took a step back and looked at her, "Pep, what did you do?"

"Don't, Tony. I know you haven't been close in a while, but if one of your friends needs help then..."

"Help? Thor in some kind of trouble?"

"No," she gnawed her lip, "It's... do you remember Thor's brother?"

"Loki? Yeah, I remember him. Dark hair, slim, and a fabulous ass..." he paused, "is Loki in trouble? What did he do?"

"He didn't do anything. It's... he's sick, Tony. It's his heart. Thor called me and... well, we do have the best hospitals, the best medical research facilities... Loki's bad, Tony. Thor was... well, he was crying."

"Loki...? Goddamn... It's fine, I get the picture, Pep. Make sure Thor gets a chance to talk to me – and set up a meeting with him where we can plan in more detail. We'll get things started, see if we can't do something... jesus, Loki was always so... he's one of those people, Pep – or at least, he was when I knew him – that you can't help but look at. There was always just something about him..." Tony ran a slightly shaky hand through his hair, and laughed humourlessly, "I had a crush on him, you know? One of the only men I've ever... anyway, I'll see what I can do. For old times' sake."