A/N: Not gonna lie, this is almost a crack!fic. And because I don't have enough on my plate, but I blame my friend, Miss Fantastic, for feeding my muse. It started with a Facebook post, that led to some weird Loki/Tony conversations, and then led to this. It's (not so) loosely based on The Killers music video for Mr Brightside, which may or may not be based on Moulin Rogue. So needless to say, I own none of that. I've never written anything of this tone, and it's exciting and scary at the same time. Hope you like. In parting, it's gonna get weird.
As per usual, I own nothing but my imagination, that so far isn't making me much money. Mr Brightside belongs to The Killers, and I don't own Tony Stark/Iron Man, or Loki, or The Avengers. I do own the character of Megs, and half custody of Sparkles.
Loki stood int he center of the small stage and looked out at the venue that would be their new gig. His other band mates were setting up their own instruments, getting ready for some kind of sound check as the buildings inhabitants wandered around, preparing the "business" to open.
Loki jumped at the sudden crash of symbols behind him and turned to glare at their drummer. The brunette just grinned as she started a low beat without looking away. "Did I scare you, darling?" She purred and Loki's lips thinned as he pressed them together.
"Don't call me that, Sparkles," he hissed out and turned around again. "I'm not the one who decided to go out last night to get shit-faced. This will only exacerbate that hangover that you're all trying to cover up."
"Maybe you wouldn't be such a Gay Fienemy if had gone out with us last night," Sparkles shot back and smirked when she saw his long fingers curl into a loose fist. "Well, I'm ready- Whoa." She leaned forward when she saw a small group agents walking by. "SHIELD sure does have some lookers working here."
Loki rolled his eyes. "Please stop ogling the help, it'll only get you in trouble."
"Or, I'm sure we could out some kind of deal," a blonde said as she walked over to the band. She adjusted the cuffs of her silk jacket and smirked a little. "You are, of course, free agents that I signed to provide entertainment. The rules of fraternizing with the help don't apply, if you can pay." She smiled slyly and walked past Loki, letting two fingers trail across his jaw. "Would you like to meet some of my, hmm, agents before we open?" She glanced back at the others, but stood close to Loki. Despite the fact that he was several inches taller than her, she commanded the attention of the room like none other.
"Ah, Megs, I think-"
"Yes!" Sparkles stood quickly, sliding her drumsticks in her back pocket. "Loki and I say yes," She slid forward with surprising speed and wrapped an around around the raven haired mans arm. "The other can continue setting up."
"Splendid," the proprietor smiled and motioned for them to follow.
Loki let out a sigh and was answered with an elbow to the side. Megs, who looked no older than her early 30's, (Loki wondered that had cost her), led them around the main lobby and through a set of ornately carved doors that looked like they had been custom ordered. Multi-colored doors lined the hallway, and Loki imagined that behind said doors was a very spacious room containing at least one bed. A few girls walked down the halls, slipping into a room to prepare it no doubt.
Megs passed through a second door and the sound caught Loki by surprise. Here were the dressing rooms. Men and women dashed about, clothes, accessories, makeup, and, much to Loki's slight shock, hair were flying through the air between doorways.
"It looks a mess now, but this is where the magic starts," the blonde stated, obviously used to the chaos of the room. "But, my girls," she smirked as her fingers trailed along the side of one of the half-dressed girls running by, "and guys do me proud."
"Sooooo," Sparkles trailed off, peeking in some dressing rooms as they passed them, dragging Loki's stiff body along with her. She would never tell him that she was immensely amused by his uncomfortableness. "How many guys do you have working for you? And do they all cater just to men?"
Megs laughed, and Loki almost loathed that it sounded pleasant to the ears. She was trained well. "They all have their preferences, but we cater to our patrons with the utmost pleasure." She stopped in front of a door, leading to the obviously largest room and looked inside. Loki and Sparkles were too far to see who was inside as they waited in the hall. "Tone, come meet the new house band."
A man an inch or two taller than Megs stepped out and shot the woman a dazzling smile. She practically purred as she ran her fingers through his messy, spiked, hair. "I was entertaining the thought of getting dressed." Megs hummed a little and let her hand trail down his bare chest.
Loki and Sparkles knew they were staring, who would't, but couldn't stop themselves. Even though the man wore only a pair of black silk pants, he looked good, and he knew it. His brown hair, precision trimmed facial hair, and bright amber eyes paired with his tanned skin, lightly muscled arms, and trim waist and chest turned him into a god.
"Always waiting to the last minute, aren't we Stark?" A deep voice sounded. A taller man, bald with a plain black eye patch, which kind of unnerved Loki, stepped into the hall from a door at the very end of the hallway.
"That's when I'm my best, Nicky," Stark purred as the man grimaced slightly. Loki didn't fail to notice how the new arrivals hand settled on Megs side, facing away from the others.
"I told you, don't call me that."
"I was just showing the new band around," Megs interrupted, knowing where this could possibly lead. She gestured to Loki and Sparkles, of which her eyes practically glistened as she kept stealing looks at Stark, and Loki nodded his head politely. "This is Nick Fury, self proclaimed Director of SHIELD, the owners of The Tower."
"Uh, I thought you owned The Tower?" Sparkles asked and Loki elbowed her side.
"I own the business," Megs smirked as Fury watched them, his expression never changing. "He owns the building, and is my eternal benefactor."
'Ah, this makes more sense,' Loki thought to himself. He couldn't help but glance back at the man who was now leaning against the doorway and watching Loki. They locked eyes for a brief second before Loki looked back at who would consider the management he answered too.
"Well, it's a pleasure that we're able to play for both of you," Loki spoke up, polite to a fault. "And your patrons, of course. We should get back to make sure that everything is working properly." He pulled on Sparkles' arm as they turned around.
"I look forward to the show tonight," Fury called after them.
"Been a while since you showed up in the main room," Tony glanced over at Fury. "Gonna change your eye patch for the occasion?"
"You're lucky your her best," Fury turned back to look at the grinning man. "I'd have thrown you out on your ass years ago." Tony just flashed some teeth before turning back into the dressing room.
Megs let a hand brush over Fury's. "Sometimes it's fun watching you two fight," she said quietly. Fury merely grunted. "It's, exciting, to say the least."