Hello!

This is my first time posting on this site (still learning the process). This is going to be a long story of love, angst, and how our pasts do not define us. It is a completed work but I am in the process of editing and will be posting chapters as they are reviewed. All mistakes are my own. All questions and comments are welcome! Enjoy.

Chapter 1- The Best Worst Meet Cute

Loki is purposefully running late; not that he would admit this to anyone. He smirks to himself, knowing his friends will believe his excuse of a last-minute client call. Checking his watch, he determines that everyone should be at least two drinks in. Just enough for them to be slightly unfocused; for them not to notice. It isn't like he doesn't want to join them. It is more a desire to keep everyone from being too observant. A trait Loki typically admires, when it is directed at others and not himself.

Walking into the bar, Loki takes a moment to survey his surroundings. The bar isn't crowded, although 8 pm is probably still early for a Friday night. Loki feels himself relax as he takes in the soft lighting, gleaming off the dark wood of the bar. The bar has an assortment of bottles and glasses lined-up behind the bartender. The floor layout is tidy, with high round tables for people to stand around and low cushioned benches around rectangular tables for groups. The walls are covered with what appears to be hand-drawn sketches and pictures.

"There's the Ice Prince!"

Loki is abruptly drawn out of his assessment by Tony's loud boisterous greeting. He smiles as he spots his friends seated around one of the lower tables.

"We started to wonder if you had forsaken us all," Tony continues with a snicker, "though, I wouldn't blame you after I learned dear Black Widow here didn't bring her riding crop and CFBs."

Loki lets out a quiet snort as he sits next to Natasha, aka Black Widow. He gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. She graces him with a small smile before turning her glare on Tony. Bruce, sitting on her other side, chokes on his beer, trying to hide a laugh at the look. Jarvis glances around before turning to Tony.

"What are CFBs?" Jarvis asks confused, eyes inquisitive and earnest. He unknowingly just saved Tony, at least for the immediate future.

"Oh! My sweet Vision, how you have been at our firm for over a year, and still be so innocent of the world I will never know. Alas, CFBs –"

"Are not something you need to know about at this moment," Bruce almost shouts out as he cuts Tony off, "especially since we have yet to let Loki get a drink." Bruce adds in before Tony could corrupt Jarvis any more.

Natasha stands, smoothing her black skirt as she gives Tony a dazzling smile, "Just remember, since the Ironman here won his last case all drinks are on his tab."

"Well, they would be if I had remembered my wallet." Tony chimes in with a grin, "I guess that means all drinks are on Natasha with the second closest win."

"Tony, I wonder how you ever win with your terrible lying skills. Your Mastercard has been with the bartender since we got here." Natasha bats her eyes at the man with a smirk.

She blows Tony a kiss, grabs Loki's arm, and saunters over to the bartender. Tony grumbles and checks his pockets while Bruce laughs. The whole exchange is nothing new, any time it's Tony's turn to buy he pretends to not have his wallet. For no other reason other than to annoy Natasha. He'd always pay at the end of the night, but now it has turned into a game they always play. One that Loki still hasn't figured out all the rule, if there is even any rules.

The bartender, a young woman with dark hair and bright lipstick smiles as they approach, her shirt reads: 'I drink coffee … for your protection'. Loki likes her at once.

"Loki, this is Darcy the genius mixologist who is helping me put a dent in Tony's bank account." Natasha turns to her, "his drinks will also be on the Stark tab."

Darcy gives a finger wave, "What'll it be? Beer, wine, fruity froo-froo, prune juice?" She runs her eyes over Loki while putting her finger to her lips, "Wait, I know what you'll like. Just a moment."

Loki watches Darcy as she turns and grabs a glass. Natasha laughs next to him, "I'd let her go. She decided on all our drinks and so far, the only complained was from Tony. He claimed his was watered down. Darcy handed him a glass of water for his next round and told him that's what complaints got. He's yet to return to the bar, sending Jarvis up instead."

Loki is not terribly thrilled about letting a stranger choose his drink, but he doesn't want to make a big deal over it. He once again looks around the bar, noticing more people have entered the bar. His eyes land on another bartender who has stepped behind the bar. Loki finds his eyes traveling the length of the new bartender. He is tall and BIG, well over 6'4" with imuscles/i. Casually dressed in dark jeans, a red tee shirt and boots, does nothing to hide his physique. His arms flex as he reaches for a bottle on the top shelf, Loki can see the play of muscles along his back. His blonde hair is in a messy bun with tendrils framing his face. Loki's eyes zero in on his backside as he reaches under the bar before standing back up. His face lights up with laughter at something one of the customers say. Loki feels his face heat up when the bartender's eyes seem to lock with his own.

He flushes even more as the man smirks at him. Quickly, he turns back to Natasha and Darcy as a pint glass is placed in front of him, "Coffee Stout with a hint chocolate. Tips can be added to the tab at the end of the night." She gives a flirty wink before moving to help another customer.

"She nailed that one," Natasha bumps shoulders with Loki, "Come on Ice Prince, we should go back before Tony starts any other antics. Besides Jarvis is drinking, and I want to see how many it takes for him to remove his tie." She walks back toward their friends, high heels clicking, as Loki grabs his drink and turns … right into a solid wall.

He spills his drink on himself … and the other (gorgeous) bartender.

"I am so sorry!" He exclaims with no small amount of mortification.

"Whoa, you okay there?" A rich, slightly accented voice asks.

They both speak at once. The bartender's voice is deep and even, with just a hint of an Australian accent. Loki feels his face heat up again as the bartender places his hand on Loki's arm, to steady him. Loki tries to swallow as his mouth goes dry in such proximity to this Adonis. This close he catches the scent of fresh earth and rain. He's probably making a complete fool of himself as he gets lost in eyes that are a clear, bright blue, shining with obvious amusement.

Loki quickly grabs some napkins from the bar, "Here, let me. I am so sorry. I swear I'm not usually so clumsy."

"Oh no worries. It's getting a bit crowded." The bartender smiles at Loki as he reaches down to pick up the pint glass, "It's better to have a spilt drink than a broken glass."

Loki meanwhile, reaches to blot at the man's damp shirt, unfortunately that is not the part of the bartender's anatomy he encounters.

Loki's eyes widen as his hand brushes over the man's firm backside.