Chapter Two
"That child is pure evil!"
Pepper Potts sharply removed her reading lenses, placing them rather offhandedly upon her desk. Her billionaire employer, one Tony Stark, loitered at the helm of the doorway with his hands thrust theatrically into the air. Having thrown together yesterday's casual Black Sabbath shirt and khaki pants, the man looked a bit of a shambles. "Evil," he whispered menacing.
"Hmm," Pepper bit the tip of her pen. "I wonder what Loki would say to that," There was some satisfaction to be had in watching Tony squirm. His face drooped and he spun on his heels, as if expecting to see Loki standing behind him.
The strawberry-blonde didn't attempt to conceal her smirk. "Loki's out, remember? He wanted Hela to have a brand new wardrobe, as I recall you let him borrow your credit card. I hope you know what you're doing, I have a sneaky feeling Loki only buys designer,"
"That doesn't mean there isn't a Loki shade or two lying in wait, to spy on my every movement. Three words Pepper, total control freak," Tony gave the hallway one last, fleeting glance before prancing away from the entrance. "I never got designer clothes when I was eight,"
"Oh dear," Pepper groaned. "And here I thought this relationship would be a healthy exercise for the pair of you. Don't tell me there's trouble in paradise already?"
Tony protested and then started to grin sheepishly. "Trust me we're fine in that department. Better than fine, best partner I've ever had in fact!"
Despite the ups and downs of their turbulent relationship or rather the ups and downs of their turbulent relationship becoming common knowledge and to some extent accepted, it had been an incredible six months for the love life of Tony Stark. It was probably the longest he had been monogamous.
"And obviously Loki agrees with you," Pepper bridged her fingers and smiled reassuringly. "Maybe this is his way of telling you it's serious,"
Tony gasped melodramatically. "Are you suggesting Loki is nesting? Is he in mother hen mode?"
A depleted Pepper gave a gesture of surrender. "You could at least try to take this seriously Tony. I mean did you even stop to consider the consequences of getting into bed with Loki? What exactly do you think will be the ramifications if things don't work out, if you hurt him, purposefully or accidently? Last time I checked Loki and negative emotions are a recipe for disaster,"
"Wow you're starting to sound like Fury," Tony magnificently darted Pepper's icy gaze. "Got it, the future of the world depends on my relationship. Must keep Loki happy at all costs, mustn't push him away over something so trivial,"
"Precisely, see you're learning!" Pepper beamed and reached for her glasses. "You should try to get to know Hela, maybe even bond with her,"
The invincible Iron Man scoffed at that. "No bonding is out of the question. Have you seen her? No, no, there will be no bonding," A pause. "You've not meet Hela yet, have you?" A gleeful twinkle was in his eyes.
Pepper cocked her head to the right, trying to make sense of Tony's declarations. "No, I've not left my office all week. I might have, if someone else had taken up his share of the workload,"
"And you don't know how lucky you are,"
"Tony you're being mean about a little kid. This cannot be your shining moment,"
"And again I must remind you that you have not physically laid eyes upon her," Tony rubbed his hands together impishly.
"I already know the myth-"
"She's got these big bug like eyes, larger than her face, that are like shoved back a good few inches into her head! And her skin is all white and waxy and stretched thin across her body! You can totally see all her bones, its creepy," Tony faked a shiver.
"Tony-"
"Sure Loki can pull together his awkward attractiveness, it's one of his finest asserts. But his daughter is a different matter entirely. Paper bag job if ever there was one!"
"That's enough, Tony!" Pepper was on feet in a flash, her hands clutched in tight fists at her hips. "Can you really be so insensitive? And to a little girl no less? What would Loki think if he overheard you mocking his daughter! This is specifically what I was talking about barely a few seconds ago! You just don't get it,"
"Geez Pepper, aren't you supposed to be on my side by default?"
Pepper sighed and shook her head. "No, you really don't get it, do you? I am on your side, that's why I'm concerned for you. If you continue like a perpetuate spoil brat it won't end well…"
It seemed to sink in, some of it at least. Tony felt defensive, but only shuffled his feet. "Loki will be back soon, maybe I'll go wait for him in the den,"
Pepper murmured in agreement.
000
Approximately forty minutes later, Tony lay on his back with one arm cushioning his head whilst trying to watch daytime television without being reminded of how much more enjoyable this was with Loki's running commentary. He stifled a yawn and rubbed his eyes. Maybe he should have offered to go with them after all.
He didn't have long to reflect however as Loki gilded into the apartment, carrying more than a dozen stylish shopping backs. All with a smug look on his face.
"Well hello darling, did you have fun spending my money?" Tony made no effort to move, or to conceal his irritability. Loki didn't seemed to notice as he breezed up to him.
"I want one," Green eyes glistened intently.
"Huh? Want one what? Oh! You mean a credit card right? That's do able, get a job,"
Instant pout.
"Hmm, we'll see then," Tony knew he was too soft but relented anyway. Loki moved to kiss him only to rear back as Hela squeaked lowly.
"Hela, why don't we show Uncle Tony your wonderful new clothes?"
Yeah, considering Uncle Tony paid for them. Tony grumbled internally.
Oddly Hela said nothing. She only stared at Tony. With those big bug like eyes…
This time Tony shivered for real.
0000
Reviews are nice.
