HUD: What can I say? I'm feeling festive. It's a two parter. Enjoy!
~:Part 1:~
Now, listen boys and girls. This is the kind of Christmas story that happens once a year, once a lifetime - full of lessons and love, warmth and happiness, and humor. The sort you curl up with by the fire, hot cocoa cup on the table and a warm chocolate chip cookie in hand, buried under a blanket with your significant other. This is the story of how Tony Stark saves Christmas.
"Babe, I'm home." Tony's large pack dropped to the floor by the door - holy hell, that got heavier every semester. He shrugged out of his overcoat, the kind he wouldn't pick for himself but was told on more than one occasion that he made the coat look good, and hung it by the door next to a second. His shoes were soon to follow; snow was already melting from the nice warmth of his house, so he was quick to leave them in the shoe box. Tony knew he wasn't home alone, so he poked his head around the corner to peek into the living room.
"Hey, there you are," he said warmly, his lips pulling into a soft smile. "I'm home."
"I heard," was the reply, but Tony wasn't upset by the shortness. They had been together for three years now, and, besides, Loki Laufey was always kind and warm where it counted.
"Do you want some help?" Tony asked, walking into the living room proper. Loki had his back to him, arms up, and stringing gold garland around the only thing taller than him in the room.
"You may, if you wish to," Loki answered, voice distracted. "I pulled out your step stool."
"Ha-ha," Tony drawled, rolling his eyes. He heard a soft rush of air and knew it was Loki chuckling at him. The stool had been with Tony since he moved to town, and it was certainly bittersweet to have to put it away when Loki moved in. It was all worth it, though, when he couldn't reach something and Loki would just swoop in and drop a kiss to Tony's temple before moving on his way. Tony swore he put shit out of his reach on purpose.
Tony dropped the stool beside the tree on the side opposite of Loki and grabbed the gold garland. Together, they worked out a system to get the shiny rope between the lights and ornaments as they passed it between each other. Tony leaned back a bit, still on his stool, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Have you been working on this all day?"
"Yes," Loki said, coming to stand beside Tony. "I needed a distraction."
"Well, it looks beautiful," Tony said as he turned to smile at his boyfriend. Being the taller one for once was nice, he decided, when Loki smirked softly as he titled his head back to catch his eye. Loki was only a half a foot taller, but Tony enjoyed the few times a year he had the six inches up.
"I thank you," Loki answered, looking back to appraise his work. Loki worked from home, which Tony loved, because it always meant he was here when Tony left the university. He wasn't very domestic by any means, but he cooked the nights they didn't order Chinese and he took decoration very seriously, especially for the holidays.
"Oh, man! You put up the ornament Steve got us!" Tony grinned, reaching for a personalized ornament near the top (hell yes, stool!). It was two penguins dressed in scarfs and a Santa hat; one was offering the other a gift, and the second was blushing cutely. "'To Tony and Loki - Penguin Love Forever'. Where did you find it?"
"Mixed in with the holiday plate sets," he answered. "I had counted it lost."
"So did I," Tony said, grinning as he pointed to the blushing penguin. "This is you, you know."
"Yes, yes," Loki answered, rolling his eyes. "I regret every moment of it."
"Oh, please. I know you don't mean it," Tony teased, throwing his arm around Loki's shoulders. The taller man scoffed but leaned into Tony's embrace. "That was the best trip to London I ever took."
Tony had been selected to teach a class in London on engineering and developing complicated code and AI technology, along with another teacher at the university, Steve Rogers, the American history professor. They became fast friends, and the trip overseas helped solidify their friendship. They had been leaving the school one day and dipped into a nearby cafe. Loki had been there before Tony knew him, and Tony was feeling himself and rather clumsy that day, so due to Murphy's Law (that he had just written a lesson plan for) they collided.
"And the worst trip I took to that particular cafe ever," Loki drawled. Tony laughed, pressing his cheek to Loki's temple.
"Whatever! I replaced the sweater, didn't I?"
Tony's coffee had ended up all over Loki's grey sweater. Tony barely stammered out an apology, and it took all of Steve's strength to stop him from running out after the enraged man. Tony felt horrible, so for every day after, he stopped by the cafe. He hoped to see Loki again, to apologize, and offer to replace the sweater. Tony always went the same time every day, and ended up spending so much time there waiting for Loki that he often found himself grading papers. After the first week, the staff took pity on him. His waitress told him Loki started coming earlier to avoid him after nearly running into him again the very next day. So Tony left the school early and managed to catch Loki the following afternoon.
Loki had been expressionless and almost acted as if he didn't remember Tony. The professor fumbled his apology, and Loki had accepted and left. Tony came by a few days later at the earlier time, but was told Loki had stopped going to that cafe. Tony was devastated.
"You did," Loki said with a soft smile. He wrapped his arm around Tony's waist tightly as they both stared at the ornament, lost in thought.
Steve, of course, saw all of this and knew that Tony was smitten. He had happened to run into Loki at their local grocery store and convinced him to see Tony again. Steve didn't think he would show, until they were both leaving and Loki was leaning against the gate to the school, familiar coffee carrier in hand. They dated until Tony had to head back to America, and it wasn't a month later that Loki was visiting.
Tony smiled again, resting the ornament back into place. "So why were you digging in the plates?"
Loki sighed, turning his nose to rest in the crook of Tony's neck. It was cold and gave Tony shivers. "Parents."
"Parents?" Tony echoed, pulling back to look down. Loki was reluctant to meet his gaze. "Your parents are coming to visit?"
"Along with my brother, yes," Loki muttered. Tony blinked.
"So do I need to hide or are we playing roommates?" He joked. When Loki didn't answer, Tony's heart sank. "You didn't tell them about me."
"Not correct," Loki said immediately. "They know about you, but they are...not very receptive."
"Why the hell not? I'm cute as a button," Tony scoffed. He pulled away from Loki and stepped off of his stool.
"I did not tell them why I left London," Loki answered. "They assumed it was because of work." Tony rolled his eyes - even when Tony met him, Loki had been an author. He stayed home and did whatever he wanted, whenever. A big reason he could leave Britain was because his work was so versatile.
"So they thought you moved to America to write? Do they even know what you do?"
Loki laughed, and Tony's heart thudded. God he loved this man. "No, actually. I use my pseudonym, and they never cared enough to ask." Tony nodded, recalling the hardback novels that line his shelves under the name Lance Norse. Imagine his surprise when he discovered his boyfriend was his favourite suspense and horror author.
"Why do they want to visit, then?"
"It is my mother. She cares and wants us to be closer. Even when I lived in London, she tried, but my father would have none of it. My brother is, for lack of a better phrase, the golden child. It was only worse after I discovered I was adopted."
Tony's jaw dropped - Loki was adopted? "Dude, why didn't you tell me?" Tony demanded, kicking his stool back so he could stare up at Loki with his best professor expression. The author actually managed to look sheepish.
"It was of no importance until now," Loki answered, scratching his neck through his turtle neck. "Would you care any less?"
"Of course not, babe. It's just important, you know?" Tony sighed, dropping his hands to Loki's slim hips. "I told you about my parents."
"I know, Anthony," Loki muttered, eyes downcast and looking anywhere but at Tony. "You deserve the same curtesy, but I become...emotional. Speaking of the lies and torment for my entire adolescence becomes trying. All I can do is apologize and allow it to slip through in passing. You shall see, when they arrive, how difficult it all is and how foolish I was for believing I was a part of something as trivial as a family."
Tony shook his head and pressed his face against Loki's throat, feeling the muscles working as his boyfriend fought back whatever emotion he was feeling. "It's okay, babe. Tell me when you're ready. You know I'll wait for you."
Loki released a shuddering breath, stirring the soft tufts of hair around Tony's ear. "Thank you, Anthony," he whispered, wrapping his arms around Tony's back and weaving his fingers through his soft hair. Tony rested his arms loosely around Loki's waist, and they just stayed that way for a few minutes. Tony waited until he felt Loki's breath evening out until he spoke again.
"The tree really does look beautiful, babe."
"Thank you," Loki answered, his tone semi-normal again. "You are lucky I enjoy the red and gold together, otherwise it would be all black and emerald."
"Like last year?" Tony grinned, nuzzling Loki's neck and pulling the edge of the sweater back with his teeth. He pressed his nose against Loki's bare throat just as he chuckled as pay back for earlier. Ah, warmth.
"Yes. We received several compliments at your party last year," Loki answered. Tony's cold nose didn't bother him in the slightest, much to the professor's disappointment.
Tony and Loki's first Christmas together had been chaotic, at best. Every year, Tony hosts a Christmas party for his friends and favourite coworkers. Loki had just finished his move from London in time for Thanksgiving, and Tony was still nervous he would fuck something up and Loki would leave. So when Tony asked if Loki wanted to decorate the tree, to say he wasn't prepared was an understatement. Tony's salary as a professor was pretty much just fun money; his main income was from the patents and feats of engineering he reached. He lived very comfortably in a two story home, now not alone because of Loki, but he wasn't prepared to come home one day and find decorations...everywhere. The penguin toilet bowl cover had kinda put him over the edge.
"That tree was the best part, yeah," Tony grinned, pulling back. The soft gleam of mischief in his boyfriend's eye made his grin grow. "But it was my turn to pick the colours."
Pepper and Rhodey, his childhood friends, both were surprised Tony had actually allowed Loki to decorate. Tony wasn't a Scrooge, per say, but the party was about as much Christmas as Tony celebrated. Steve wasn't at all surprised, and Clint, the archery coach, had actually laughed at Tony. Natasha, the martial arts instructor, happily smacked Clint in the back of the head. She and Loki had become fast friends, and Tony still laughed at Clint for it.
"I kept to your outline," Loki sighed, pressing his lips to Tony's temple. "You smell like the university."
"I'm still in my suit, babe," Tony sighed. Loki pulled back, looking Tony up and down.
"You are," Loki agreed. "That must be uncomfortable. What do you want to have for dinner?"
"Have we had Chinese this week?" Tony asked, pulling his tie free. It was a gaudy Christmas tree tie, one Loki had purposely picked out for him. His students loved it.
"No. Shall I place an order?" Loki worked the suit buttons free, pointedly ignoring the heated glance Tony wasn't trying to hide.
"Yeah, if you don't mind. I'll go change," Tony said, clearing his throat when Loki pushed the suit jacket back. "Unless you plan to undress me here?"
"Perhaps," Loki teased, smiling coyly as he caught Tony's gaze. The professor grinned broadly.
"Maybe the couch would be more comfortable?" The jacket fell to the floor next to where Tony had dropped his tie. Loki's deft fingers pulled his belt free shortly after.
"Perhaps," Loki said again. His fingers paused on Tony's zipper, and Tony was practically panting. "However, the food must be ordered and this room must remain clear of clutter."
"Seriously?" Tony groaned. Loki smirked, dipping his head and capturing Tony's lips in a searing kiss. After he pulled back, Tony definitely was panting.
"Just this room, Anthony. Our room shall not be seen," Loki whispered, nibbling Tony's bottom lip. "I feel confident in your ability to clear this and be there in time for me to finish the order."
Tony pulled back quickly, ignoring the soft burn from pulling too sharply from Loki's teeth. "On it, babe. See you in three!"
Loki chuckled, stepping over the discarded clothing and moving into the kitchen. "I will be counting, Anthony."
Tony practically fell as he scrambled up the hardwood stairs.
Tony had some of the best students at the university. He was a hard professor, teaching advanced physics and engineering and demanding excellence. Half of his class dropped out in the first two weeks each semester, but for those who stayed, they were the cream of the crop. He knew most of those kids would go somewhere one day. He had been like that when he sat in those seats, ten years younger than the youngest he taught now. Tony was perhaps only seven years older than most of his students, but the respect was still very much there.
"Wonderful answer, Charlie!" Tony praised, snapping his textbook shut. "Using that particular theory to answer my question was absolutely thinking outside the box. That's what science is about, people! Breaking that mold and trying something new. The process is just as important as the answer."
He stepped around his desk, grinning. This was what he taught for - that excitement, that immediate enlightenment of absolute understanding. Charlie, the youngest of the class, had an expression to match. "Now, to the next equation - "
Tony was interrupted by a rapping on his door. He paused and excused himself as he headed towards the door. "Everyone, read the next excerpt. I'll be right back."
Tony was surprised to see Loki there. He was wearing his usual black peacoat and emerald scarf with dark jeans and black boots. Loki's pale skin and emerald eyes stood out beautifully against his long, dark windswept hair, and his lips were nearly crimson from the chill December air. Tony had to remember to breathe.
"Hey, Loki. What's up, are you okay?" Tony croaked, clearing his throat after hearing how breathless he sounded. He leaned against the door frame casually, using his body to block Loki from the eyes of his class. Nosy bastards.
"I was hoping we could have lunch together?" Loki answered, flashing his teeth in a quick smile. He held up a takeout bag he had in hand, drawing Tony's attention. The professor pulled out his phone.
"Oh totally. This class is, wow, only a few minutes longer. Here, come sit inside and I'll end it early," Tony started to open the door further, but Loki stopped it with his free hand on the handle.
"No, I did not grab drinks. Take this and I shall be back at the end," Loki said, passing over the bag. The smell of Italian wafted with the movement, and Tony's stomach growled as he took the bag. "Preference?"
"Whatever you get is fine," Tony answered. Loki nodded and paused for a moment. Tony shifted his weight, not sure what Loki was waiting for. His boyfriend was careful to not display too much affection at the university, even though Tony insisted that he didn't give a fuck what Dean Fury thought. Tony was thoroughly surprised when Loki lifted his chin and kissed him softly. When Tony's mind caught up, he was too late to react - Loki was already smirking and pulling back.
"I shall return," he said, turning on his heel and heading down the hall. Tony stared for a moment longer at Loki's extra swagger (damn he was a fucking god) before remembering he still had a class full of people catcalling behind him.
"Jesus guys, shut up," Tony grumbled, shutting the door and heading for his desk.
"Is that your boyfriend?" Mary asked eagerly. The other girls in the class echoed her, and Tony rolled his eyes.
"Yes." Tony sighed when they all practically squealed. "His name is Loki."
"Ooo, so mysterious!" Heaven cooed from her seat next to Mary. "Is he from Britain? He sounds British."
"Yeah, London."
"He's pretty hot," Terry called. The class turned to look at him, and he just shrugged. "What, like you all weren't thinking the same thing?"
"Yeah, but, he's Professor's - "
"Still hot!" Another guy, Bill, called. Tony started laughing when the rest of his students chimed in on the conversation. Those kids really were the best students on the campus.
"Okay, okay! As much as I can talk about Loki all day - I really can, it's a problem - you guys need to get out of here. Tomorrow is the final, so I expect some serious studying," Tony said. He checked his phone again. "Go ahead and leave early."
"We would hate to interrupt your date, Professor," Mary teased as they all put their books away.
"Hey, me too," Tony grinned. A collective chuckle rose from the students as they began to leave. "Get some sleep, you guys."
His students filed out of the room as Tony held the door for them. Charlie was the last, pausing a moment. "Hey, Professor?"
"Yes, Charlie?" Tony answered with a nod.
"Have you read the new Lance Norse novel, 'Undertow'?" He asked eagerly. When the student had seen Loki's new book on Tony's desk and discovered their common interest, he brought it up anytime he could. Tony smirked.
"I did, yeah!" The professor answered, holding the door with his foot and folding his arms across his chest. "What did you think?"
"Oh my god, that twist? It was insane!" Charlie gushed. Loki walked up with two bottles in his hands, pausing in the door as he waited. "I never saw it coming, seriously. I thought for sure Pope would have caught the killer, but the fact that it turned out to be himself the entire time? Dude, Lance Norse is, like, the best."
Tony nodded, listening and smiling. He kept an eye on Loki, still by the doorway. The student continued, naming his favourite parts. Loki bit his lip to stop his growing smile, ducking his chin under his scarf.
"Yeah, I think this may be a close second for my favourite," Tony answered, winking at Loki. Charlie turned and saw him and grinned.
"Sorry for keeping you, Professor. I'll see you tomorrow," he said. Tony nodded.
"Study hard, Charlie," Tony grinned. When the student was gone, Loki stepped up before Tony. His cheeks were dusted pink, and Tony had to seriously fight the urge to kiss his breath away. "That kid is a huge fan of yours."
"So I heard," Loki muttered. Tony grinned and let the door close, pulling Loki into a deep kiss.
"I'm your biggest, though," he whispered. Loki smiled back.
"I dunno. There is the lady in New York - "
"Nope. I don't care how much fan mail you get, I'm still the one you sleep with," Tony joked. Loki rolled his eyes and moved towards Tony's desk.
"I am quite certain there are a few fans who would be willing to do the same," he said. Loki pulled up an extra chair and sat down. Tony sat across from him and scoffed.
"Willing, sure. As good? Doubt it," Tony winked. Loki smirked back, setting their bottles of soda on the desk.
"That I shall agree with."
Tony pulled their takeout containers out and set them on his desk. "This is a nice treat, by the way. Usually you don't come see me here."
"Universities are annoying," Loki answered; Tony nodded. "You had forgotten the party invitations today."
Tony groaned - he knew he had forgotten something. Tony was horrible at remembering things like that; Loki was the one who remembered every single detail. Loki always woke up with Tony and helped him get ready, laying out his bag and making sure all the papers and books were included. That morning Tony had woken up late and rushed from the house. Loki usually always picked and tied his tie for him, but that morning he had also called out something as Tony was bolting for the door.
"That's what you were saying," Tony mumbled, shaking his head. Loki nodded, cutting into his eggplant parmesan.
"Yes. They are in my car," the author answered.
"Well, it's worth it to have you come see me, then," Tony winked, biting into a breadstick. "Sometimes being here all day away from you sucks."
"I feel the same, Anthony," Loki muttered. "I merely want to give you this space so you shan't tire of me."
"Impossible," Tony answered immediately. There was something more to Loki's visit than he was letting on. Three years together and Tony could pick apart every single tremor in his calculated voice and each tense muscle in his posture. He swallowed his bite and set his fork down. "What's going on, Loki?"
"...they are flying in early," Loki answered.
"How early?"
"Tomorrow."
"Shit," Tony groaned, leaning back. "Tomorrow is the final. When does the plane land?"
"Late afternoon," Loki said. Tony nodded.
"Okay, that's not too bad. I'll just come straight home and go up there with you," Tony answered, taking another bite of his crusted veal cutlet. "You want me to go with you, right?"
"Absolutely," Loki answered immediately. "I would have them nowhere near me without you."
Tony smiled as his stomach did a flip. Loki wasn't a very outspoken guy, but when he let his feelings slip every so often Tony felt like the luckiest man on the planet. "I'm honoured."
Loki must have realized what he had said; he blushed deeply and cleared his throat. "How long will the finals take?"
"I'll be done by two," Tony answered, moving with the topic shift. Loki nodded, and the rest of the conversation was peppered with planning the party and who all would be attending. It was the one real Christmassy thing Tony did, and Loki was accepting. He didn't mind the party or the people, and was actually quite hilarious when he drank several cups of naughty eggnog.
"There's this new science teacher named Bruce," Tony began. "I'm going to give Cathy's invite to him. She pissed me off, and he's new to town. We've been getting along pretty well, though, so I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
"Cathy? From English Lit?" Loki asked, covering his mouth when he spoke. Tony loved how proper he was.
"Yeah, we aren't speaking right now," Tony sighed. Loki quirked an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
"Well," Tony sighed again, setting his fork aside. "I said something off handed and didn't think it through. I don't really remember what it was that I said, but she wasn't pleased. So she added a new book to her 'Worst of British Literature' list. It's 'Screaming'," Tony grumbled. Loki snorted.
"Anthony, I am aware not everyone enjoys my work," he teased, lips pressing together to fight his blossoming smirk.
"Yeah, but she just did it on purpose! She knows that's my favourite all time novel, and she did it to get back at whatever the fuck I said," Tony whined, frowning as he stabbed the veal with his knife. "It's bullshit. That piece is flawless."
Loki's smile couldn't be contained anymore. He stood up and leaned across the desk, curling his fingers around the edge and pressing his lips to Tony's. The professor's tirade ended abruptly as he moved his lips against Loki's eagerly, who was still smiling. It turned from innocent to intense in seconds, and all Tony could hear was Loki's heavy breath and his own blood rushing his ears. Loki pulled back, keeping Tony's bottom lip between his teeth. Tony let out a low moan, and Loki grinned devilishly.
"Dammit, I still have two classes after this," Tony breathed when Loki released his bottom lip.
"I simply wished to show my appreciation for you defending my honour," Loki teased, sitting back down.
"I may have to skip class," Tony mused as he shifted slightly in his chair. Damn Loki.
"The day before finals? How rude of you," Loki answered, snapping the lid on his container and screwing the cap over his empty bottle. "I must leave, Anthony. I still need to prepare the guest rooms."
"Sure you don't have time to slip into my office?" Tony suggested, wagging his eyebrows. Loki smirked back as he stood.
"No, but you have time to walk me out," Loki answered. Tony checked his phone and nodded.
"Yeah, okay," he sighed, standing up next to Loki. The taller man smiled, dropping a kiss to the corner of Tony's mouth.
"You have sauce in your goatee."
"Thanks."
Tony wiped his mouth and grabbed his own empty container, taking the bag from Loki and setting it aside. He pulled on his coat and grabbed the bag and Loki's hand again. They walked down the halls hand in hand, and Tony made it a point to take the path that crossed in front of the Dean's office. Fury frowned when Tony waved, but said nothing.
"You certainly are cheeky, Anthony," Loki said when Tony pushed open the door to the parking lot. Tony grinned when he dropped the takeout bag into a trash can.
"Yeah well, I'd really love for him to fire me for being bisexual. If I wasn't already set, I'd sue for his job," Tony chuckled. Loki shook his head and chuckled as well. Tony pulled him towards the sleek black Camaro Loki had purchased within his first month of living in America. It stood out by itself, but parked next to Tony's Corvette it looked right at home. Loki pulled his keys out and unlocked the door, pressing another key to start the engine.
"Here is my stop," Loki said, grinning broadly when Tony leaned against the driver door and pulled Loki to his chest. "I appreciate you getting me home before eleven."
"Hey, as long as it means I get to see you again, I'll do whatever it takes," Tony winked and Loki rolled his eyes.
"You certainly have a way with words."
"I know," Tony grinned and pulled Loki into a kiss. "I'll let you go, though. I gotta get back in."
"Yes." Tony moved off the door so Loki could enter. The author rolled down his window and produced a brown paper sack. "Your invitations?"
"Oh, that's why you wanted me to come out here. I just thought you wanted my company in that back seat of yours," Tony teased, snatching the bag with a smirk.
"Of course," Loki said, rolling his eyes. "I shall see you tonight."
"Yeah," Tony said, smiling. He just gazed at Loki, sitting in the car and checking his mirrors. There was something more Tony wanted to say, but he was terrified. "Let's have cookies for dinner."
Loki snorted as his hand flew to his mouth to hide his snicker. It was an uncharacteristic slip that seemed to only happen when Tony really caught Loki off guard. "Whatever you wish, Anthony."
"Make those s'mores cookies, please?" Tony asked honestly, and Loki nodded.
"I shall. Have a good day," Loki said, smiling softly. Tony leaned into the car for another kiss, and then Loki pulled away and was gone.
Three years, and still Tony couldn't say it. What the hell was wrong with him?