Some love stories have happy endings but others have horrible, sad, crash-and-burn type endings. Can you guess which Tony Stark got? Yeah, if you didn't guess the second one, you might have to check yourself into a mental ward right now because seriously… It's been a grand total of almost two fucking years since Tony had last seen Loki Odinson and he was starting to suspect that the kid just up and disappeared off the planet. Tony wanted to hire someone to search for Loki but as it turned out, his father cut him off from his trust fund until he graduated college.

So here Tony was, loading all of his shit into a big trailer with his best friend Rhodey, getting ready to move onto the next big adventure: college. These days, Tony barely thought of Loki anymore or at least, that's what he told himself.

"Is that the last of it?" Rhodey called from the back of the U-Haul, hand on the handle to pull it closed.

"Yeah, that's everything," Tony said, grabbing his duffle and slinging it over his shoulder. He threw a backward glance back at the towering, dark house that he spent his summers and holidays in and felt a wave of satisfaction for leaving the shitty place behind. Half of the time his father wasn't there anyway.

Tony felt a smile tug as his lips as he once again thought of himself as Harry Potter going back to Hogwarts and spending another year figuring out a way to defeat Lord Voldemort. And, as usual, those thoughts brought up fond memories of Loki and how he used to rant about the books to him for hours, telling Tony to read it. Well, Loki would be happy to know that he'd read all seven of them since Loki disappeared.

"Okay, let's get the hell out of here!" Rhodey yelled, rounding the trailer to the passenger side of Tony's spanking new car. It was even better than the one he had back in high school with its bright red sleek exterior. It was something that caught the attention of his paparazzi where ever he went, but now it just kind of looked goofy with the U-Haul hooked into the back.

Tony chucked his bag into the back of his car and got in. It was time to make the four hour trek from his mansion just outside of New York City to MIT in Massachusetts. It could be long and boring but God, Tony loved to drive.

"Hey, you'll let me drive part of the way, right?" Rhodey asked just as Tony revved up his engine, listening to the baby purr.

"No way in hell," Tony shot back with a grin. Rhodey rolled his eyes and threw his head back against his seat in defeat. "Now let's get the fuck out of this hell hole."

The drive didn't feel very long, but judging by the way Rhodey had fallen asleep upright, it really must've felt like hours to him. "Rise and shine, ugly," Tony hollered.

Rhodey jolted, accidentally smacking his head against the window, and turned a glare at Tony. "You need to stop doing that," he said, rubbing his head.

Tony laughed, but turned his head back onto the city they were entering. The place looked ancient. Every other building looked like it was built out of the Colonial days and maybe they were. Tony didn't mind, really, except for the fact that this was the last place he wanted to go to school.

Their apartment was right down town, apparently, in the classier, more expensive section of the city. "Whoa, Tony. Stop here!" Rhodey said, pointing to a coffee shop, just off the intersection. "I need a little caffeine."

Tony cast an unsure look at the coffee shop and the very little space for parking. "Let's at least park this thing at our apartment first and then come over when I don't have to parallel park a U-Haul."

Rhodey rolled his eyes but relented, just as excited about seeing their new apartment as Tony was. Their apartment wasn't too far away and it was pleasantly located in a tall, elegant building. Tony only wished it was close enough to walk to the coffee shop; it would've been nice to just walk a few blocks to get his morning fix. Tony parked his car at the front and paid the doormen a substantial amount to bring all of their stuff up to the apartment.

"Okay," Tony said to Rhodey when they were finally standing outside their apartment, holding the keys to their brand new place. "Let's see this piece of shit my Dad rented for us." Tony knew in reality that the place was going to be nice, judging how this was a huge building but there was only two apartments on each floor…

"I got the door," Rhodey said. He went to the door and unlocked it, swinging the door open to reveal the nicest fucking apartment Tony had ever seen his eighteen years of life. It was like Howard had made sure that the place was so nice that he would never leave. "Holy shit!"

"Holy shit is right," Tony said, stepping onto the pristine hardwood floor. He didn't even notice as Rhodey raced past him down the hall. Tony was too busy staring at the view from their balcony; it overlooked the expanse of the city and the river and Tony could just imagine what the sunsets would look here. Tony felt his heart constrict. He wished Loki could be here to enjoy it with him.

"I call this room!" Rhodey's voice echoed from down the hall.

The sound of his voice knocked Tony out of his trance and he made his way down the hallway to stop in front of Rhodey's door, looking inside. The room was huge and it was pre-furnished like the rest of the house. Rhodey spotted Tony in the doorway and said, "This room has its own bathroom, a walk-in closet, and its own balcony. A real step up from our dorm room, don't you think?"

Tony smiled. "Yeah, I finally won't have to get stuck smelling your stench in all hours of the day." Tony left the doorway to enter his room on the opposite side of the hall. The room was identical to Rhodey's but the only difference was… "Rhodey, you ass, you gave me the room facing the goddamn slums!"

There was a laugh from down the hall and Tony shook his head, going to the French doors and stepping out into the warm air. There was a road down below, but across the street was an old, crumbling building. The thing really was ugly and Tony now knew that he would probably keep his blinds shut from now on. It was just one hideous building!

Tony turned away and re-entered his room, yelling, "So did you wanna get that coffee or what?"

"No way, man," Rhodey said from his room. "I need to unpack. This room is way too nice just to leave for coffee."

"Well, I'm going to get some. Did you want anything?"

"Yeah, just get me what ever you're having," he replied, opening random drawers in the dresser to see what was inside.

Tony left his U-Haul at the front so the guys could finish unloading. He paid another to take the U-Haul away when he was done. Tony knew that he really shouldn't spend this much on the first day, but his father had finally put some money into his account and he wasn't going to waste that opportunity.

Just as Tony pulled his car onto the road, Tony's phone rang. He immediately grabbed it, pulling it to his ear. "Hey, Pep," he said fondly. "Are you all moved in?"

"Well, I'm definitely not in a fancy apartment like yours, but I am moved in. I think I'm a couple of blocks from you. Oh and Natasha says hi."

"Hi Natasha," Tony said, turning onto the next street, slowing down for the stop light. Natasha and Pepper were both attending MIT and even rooming together. Their other friends like Clint, Steve, and Bucky were going to the University of Massachusetts so they wouldn't have to be so far from each other. Thor and Jane were going to NYU and Tony didn't really care where Thor's other friends went.

"So I was thinking that once you get unpacked, Tony, we could head out as a group and check out the campus," Pepper said.

"Well, I'm getting coffee now, but after that we can go right away. I don't feel like unpacking my stuff right now." Tony pulled into a parking spot right in front of the shop.

"Yeah, that sounds pretty good," Pepper said. "So does this mean that I finally get to meet Rhodey?"

"Without a doubt," Tony said, entering the shop. The bell rang overhead, announcing his arrival. "And I bet he'll be mooning over you just like every other girl he meets."

"Oh please. Not every guy that meets me is in love with me, Tony. That is just the delusion you're stuck in."

Tony laughed just he reached the front counter and he glanced up at the menu, trying to remember what drinks he did like. "Hold that thought, Pep. I've got to order. I'll call you back when I'm done." He pocketed his phone and turned to the kid at the register. "What do you have here that's good?"

"Holy shit, you're Tony Stark," the kid said. His words instantly sent heads turning in Tony's direction.

"Yes, that's me," Tony said impatiently. "Now what's good here?"

"Don't mind Peter," a girl with white blonde hair said, scooting in front of the starry eyed worker. "He just worships the ground you walk on."

"Gwen," he hissed, looking away from Tony to nudge her.

She grinned. "What I would suggest is the Caramel Macchiato. It's a personal favorite of mine."

"Yeah, fine I'll get two of those," Tony said, handing the girl his credit card.

"Two Caramel Macchiatos," she called out. Tony turned to look around the small shop and immediately the patrons looked away, avoiding his gaze. It wasn't a big chain coffee shop like Tony was used to going to in New York. Instead it had kind of a small-town feel. Again, Tony was hit with a sense of wistfulness for Loki.

It sucked! It felt like every little thing reminded him of Loki, driving the knife even farther into his already wounded spirit. You would think after two years some of Tony's feelings would fade… They hadn't though and that was what killed Tony the most. After all, he really did love Loki.

Tony turned away from the shop to watch the workers make his drinks, silently brooding. He focused especially on Peter, enjoying the way his gaze made the kid squirm. "Order 346," a voice rang out.

Tony moved forward to retrieve his order from the hands of the worker next to Peter when he froze, just now realizing that he had heard that voice before. In fact, that voice haunted him in his dreams. He looked up at the worker's face and felt his heart race. Holy fuck, it was Loki.

"Tony," Loki breathed. He looked as shell-shocked as Tony felt. In fact, he almost looked afraid.

Tony frowned, about to answer him when Peter butted in, slinging his arm over Loki's shoulder. "Loki, you're a Tony fan too? This is awesome!"

Loki smiled weakly at his co-worker but immediately returned his gaze on Tony. "Yeah, something like that." Loki held the drinks out a little farther, pressing them into Tony's hands. "Enjoy your drinks, Tony Stark."

Removing himself from Peter's arm, Loki started to turn away, but Tony took a step down the side of the counter to follow him. "Wait, Loki, I need to talk to you."

Loki stopped, looking at him with a pained expression. "I don't get off till three," Loki said, glancing up at the clock over the back wall. It was a little past one.

"Well, I'll come back," Tony said eagerly, gesturing with one coffee in his hand. "I'll come back and we'll talk, okay?"

He looked hesitant but after a moment he nodded. "Okay, Stark."

"Alright," Tony said, backing away to the door. "Promise me you'll be here?" Tony backed into another person and he spun, apologizing to the guy.

When he turned back, there was a small smile on Loki's lips. The smile sent his heart racing and thumping like it was going to beat right out of his chest. "I'll be here," Loki called back.

Tony smiled, raising his cup to Loki before heading out the door. Holy shit, was he dreaming? He honestly couldn't tell anymore.

Loki lied. Tony showed up at the coffee shop a little after three and there was absolutely no sign of Loki anywhere. "Fuck," Tony hissed to himself, looking angrily around. He'd canceled on Rhodey, Pepper, and Natasha to be here. He didn't even tell them where he was going because he was so excited. He had just shoved Rhodey's drink at him, dragged some boxes into his room and left the apartment almost as quickly as he arrived.

But now, Loki had ditched him.

Tony spotted Gwen and Peter coming from the back room with their aprons folded in their hands, heading for the front doors. "Hey," Tony called to them, stopping them in their tracks. "Do you know where Loki went? He was supposed to meet me."

Gwen looked around the shop as if expecting him to find him there. "Hold on," she said, walking back to the front counter.

Tony was left awkwardly with Peter who was rocking nervously on his feet. "So, you know Loki then?"

"Yeah," Tony said shortly. He was growing impatient.

Thankfully Gwen returned just then, holding out a small notebook. "Looks like he forgot it again," she said, handing it to Tony. "If you hurry, you can catch him at the bus stop one block down to the right."

"Thanks," Tony said, taking the notebook without looking at it. He headed out the door and started pacing quickly in the direction Gwen had pointed out. Halfway down the block was when he got curious about the notebook. He looked down at the page that was already open and read, Meet Tony at three. Tony frowned at Loki's elegant scrawl before looking back up at the street.

Only a few more feet in front of him was the bus stop and Loki was there, leaning against the sign. The bus was just pulling in, slowing down right in front of Loki.

"Loki!" Tony yelled.

Loki jumped in surprise and swung to face him. His eyes were wide when he saw Tony. The bus door opened but Loki didn't even seem to notice, watching as Tony approached him at a rapid pace. The bus pulled away as Tony reached him.

"Loki," he breathed, finally standing in front of Loki after all of this time. Tony watched Loki's eyes dart to his notebook and Tony quickly held it out to him. "Gwen told me to give this to you."

"Thanks, Tony," he said. His tone was soft. He took the notebook and glanced down at it and the words on the page before looking back at Tony. "I'm sorry, I forgot…"

"It's okay," Tony said, overflowing with happiness. "Do you want to go somewhere to talk?"

Loki glanced behind him as if expecting someone to be standing there. "I only have a half hour," he told him. "I have to be somewhere."

Tony nodded, just happy to look at Loki's face. "That's fine. I'll take whatever you've got."

"Okay… Follow me."

Tony followed Loki down the street and picked up his pace so he was walking shoulder to shoulder with him. He had so many questions, so many things to say, but right now he was happy just to be with Loki again.

Hey, thanks for reading the first chapter of Part 2 to Nuisance Next Door. I hope you aren't too mad about the two year time skip, but I have a lot fo hopes for this story. Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed it.