Tony and Loki's arrival at the Gala that night incited a frenzy, as it most often did. Camera bulbs flashed, journalists pushed and shoved to get closer, and the crowds around the red carpeted roared with excitement.
The chaos was deafening after Tony exited his white stretch limousine and gallantly held the door as Loki followed him gracefully.
Just as he always did when in public Tony took Loki's hand to walk up along the red carpet. Many other celebrities were ahead of them, being interviewed and photographed, and more were arriving behind them.
Tony was dressed in his usual style, expensive shades, (yes, even at night), a dark velvet smoking jacket, suit pants, and leather shoes. Loki, unable to dress in the way he most desired to, but still a fashionista, was suited up all in black, including his shirt, with a white fur stole and his long hair slicked back.
Tony smiled and waved at the crowds of fans, stopping to wink and be playful with them, from a safe distance, before drawing Loki close to him, putting him "on his arm" so to speak, as they posed for photos.
Loki forced an endearing smile onto his face and clung to Tony's arm, cooing over him, even planting an occasional kiss on his lips and cheek, doing everything the loyal spouse was supposed to do amidst a media scandal. It was his job to get their fans raving about their cuteness again and forget Tony's imbecilic words in England.
As they got closer to the museum entrance they became surrounded by film crews and overly tanned, plastic-faced TV and magazine personality's, all of whom had a microphone to shove in Tony's face, and an obnoxious question to ask him.
"Tony, Tony! Tony hi!" A high-pitched voice screamed at them from the body of a tiny but familiar looking reporter. Loki couldn't remember her name and he didn't care.
"Hello darling." Tony greeted, flashing his gorgeous smile at the camera behind her as he stopped to chat.
"Tony, can you tell me about England? Were you planning on insulting an entire country?" The woman asked eagerly, practically jumping up and down.
"Honey, I did not come here to talk about England, or its beverages, I came here to support this magnificent museum and its fantastic contributions to the advancement of science." Tony replied glibly.
"So you don't think England matters?" The woman asked slyly, making Loki inwardly sigh and wish he could just drop Tony's arm and walk away from all the bullshit.
"No, I just know what matters most to me," Tony answered deftly, not eve batting an eyelid. "And that's this beautiful man right here, and my son at home." Tony punctuated his words by turning and kissing Loki before turning back to the camera and calling out jovially. "Go to bed Peter!"
Loki managed a sweet reaction and followed Tony as he walked away. He remained quiet, smiling and looking perfectly friendly, perfectly gorgeous, perfectly loving, being everything he wished he could be naturally, until they finally entered the museum.
It was set up to accommodate the guests, waiters with drinks and food darted through the sea of designer gowns and expensive suits, and all of the exhibits were neatly roped off with red velvet.
Immediately Tony took two glasses of champagne from a waiter and passed one to Loki.
"Cheers." He said, offering his own glass towards his husband.
"Cheers." Loki agreed hesitantly, clinking his glass against Tony's as he desperately hoped his husband was being genuinely nice and that it wasn't just for the cameras.
Soon many of Tony's business associates and other famous people accosted them and with generous and drunken apologies to Loki, for stealing his husband, they dragged Tony off to celebrate their money, their egos, their women, and other shit that didn't interest Loki in any way.
He finished his drink and set it down in an alcove on the wall before heading toward an interesting looking exhibit.
"I saw that Mr." Natasha Romanoff's husky voice chided him playfully as she sidled up beside him and slipped her gloved arm through his.
"Well hello gorgeous." Loki gave her his first genuine smile of the evening and spun her away from him so he could drink in every inch of her glorious gown.
"Do you like?" She asked, striking an overtly sexual pose and sticking her tongue out at him.
"I most certainly do." Loki nodded fiercely, his eyes not drawn to her voluminous cleavage or perfect behind as most would be, but to the rich green fabric she was wearing. It clung to her magnificently, and reached all the way to the floor. The emerald green complimented her coifed ruby red curls wondrously, and she had matched it with silver shoes, a silver clutch, white elbow length gloves, a nude lip and a smoky eye, just as he would have.
"You taunt me so cruelly." He complained, his jealousy evident as she twirled for him one last time.
"I'm sorry, but I've told you, my wardrobe is open to you." Natasha apologised, hugging her friend and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You know I can't." Loki reminded her, his smile dropping away as he hugged her tightly before letting her go. Natasha could have kicked herself, so immediately injected some humour into the situation to smooth over her fumble. "Well if you had to endure this corset you wouldn't be as envious, trust me."
Loki chuckled, grateful to his friend for not delving into the shittier part of his life, and linked arms with her again. "Shall we go get drunk?"
"Yes, absolutely, and you can help me find a hunk to help me out of this corset later." Natasha agreed readily, making them both laugh as they strode off in search of a waiter with more alcohol.
The night continued as it usually did then. Tony had fun with his peers, at the forefront of the party, Loki and Natasha stole several bottles of champagne and hid away from the party, upstairs, in a strange galactic exhibit.
Natasha Romanoff was one of the few A-Listers that Loki could stand. She was a singer, and a very talented one at that. She was also incredibly beautiful, inside and out, and she was silly, and sassy, and she didn't take shit from anyone. She didn't sing songs she didn't want to sing, she didn't wear products she didn't want to wear, and she didn't do anything anyone else told her to do. She marched to the beat of her own drum, which was essentially everything Loki himself aspired to.
And despite being somewhat glamorous, she was very down to earth, and very loving. Both Loki and Tony loved her, they invited her on family holidays, to Christmas, and she essentially part of their family.
She had long wanted children of her own, but she had one of the most unfortunate love lives ever, and thanks to the media it was all painfully well documented as well. She was however, Peter's godmother, and she visited him often. Peter adored her, and her presence was good for him.
Loki had event taken him with him to visit her at her recording studio, and little guys adorable, and surprisingly good attempts at singing along with his godmother had actually ended up one of her #1 hits.
Tony had been enraged at this, even going so far as threatening begin a lawsuit. It had taken hours of coaching with Pepper and a lot of apologising and sobbing on Loki's part to make him change his mind.
Loki understood that Tony didn't want their son in the spotlight, he felt the same way. But Peter wasn't even credited, (which Loki had agreed to at the time) and Natasha had since put more than half a million dollars of the songs profits in trust for Peter when he was older. And he'd only sung a few bars in the outro! He honestly considered it just a fun thing his son got to do that most kids don't get to, and thought of it as harmless.
Tony had clearly felt otherwise.
Natasha had forgiven Tony's reaction, because she was a friend to him as well as Loki. She had known them both long enough to know both of their goodness, though Tony's was harder and harder to see recently.
Away from the party, Loki and Natasha were tipsy and planning grand adventures.
"Should we go on a holiday? A weekend in Europe?" Loki suggested idly as they strolled the halls of the museum, swigging their champagne.
"Oooh yes please, let's go to London in stay in one of your family's castles." Natasha suggested enthusiastically. "I have to start recording again soon, which I love, but I want to get out and travel before I lock myself away."
"Darling, no. We can't go to England for a while." Loki reminded her with a shudder.
"Right." She licked her lips and thought for a moment before her eyes lit up with the excitement of an idea. "Let's go to Africa and Peter can see all the amazing animals and cultures."
"Natasha, you're brilliant. But not a weekend, a month." Loki was immediately on board. "Peter loves elephants so much, and he loved Tony's foundation for saving them. We could take him to our reserve, we could help a village, fund a well, make a difference while we're there."
"Done, and done!" Natasha clinked her bottle against Loki's. "Let's do it."
"Perhaps some time away will help me reconnect with Tony too." Loki continued quietly, stopping to lean against a wall.
Natasha stopped as well and looked up at him with concern. "Are things really bad?"
"I don't know. I really don't know if I'm being crazy and clingy, or if Tony really is being distant." Loki admitted, biting his lip.
"You're not crazy babe." Natasha argued, disappointed to hear him talking like this. "If he's making you sad, talk to him about it. He's your husband." She tried to be encouraging, Loki would never say it, he cared about her too much, but she was well aware her failed relationships were not good ground to stand on when giving out advice.
"I just feel so alone." Loki choked out, tears overwhelming him out of nowhere.
"Oh my god." Natasha rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Loki. "Shhh, shhh, oh honey." She rocked him back and forth as he let out his pent up feelings and cried on her shoulder.
Holding him was awkward since he was taller than her, so she sank to the floor, bringing him down with her, and just held him for a while.
"You know what's funny?" Loki asked after several minutes had passed and his eyes had dried a little. "We're usually in the opposite positions, but I think you do a better job of comforting."
Natasha laughed quietly and pushed him away gently. "Don't be such a sap."
She got up and dusted off her dress before offering him her hand. "And besides, you are much better than I am at making people feel better."
After a quick stop in a bathroom to touch up their faces and ditch their champagne bottles the pair returned to the party. It had quieted down somewhat, and people were leaving, most headed to after parties, some to their beds, and a few probably into places they shouldn't be going.
"Ah, I wondered where you two had gotten off to." Tony greeted them with kisses when he saw them arrive. "Ah we ready to go my love?"
"Yes, let's go." Loki offered Tony a smile, unsurprised that he didn't notice his red puffy eyes. They bid goodbye to Natasha fondly and Tony had their limousine brought around. They left together, hand in hand, though the red carpet was quieter on the way out. It was still bright and filled with journalists, but the fans had long left for their beds.
Once inside the car Tony dropped his pleasant demeanour as quickly as he dropped Loki's hand.
The drive was unpleasant, silence reigned as they drove away from the bright lights of the city, and into the moonlit seaside. Tony didn't look at Loki, who curled up sadly and pressed his forehead against the car window. Quiet tears dripped down his cheeks as he blindly watched the dark scenery flash by.
He'd never felt more alone in his life.