Author's Note: Thank you all for reading chapter 1! Some of you even followed and favorited and reviewed it, which means a lot to me:). I have to thank my lovely editor (her tumblr is the-doctor-to-my-tardis), without whom this story would be a horrible mess. Anyway, read and enjoy!

After school that day, Tony sat at home alone, as usual, and played Xbox. In the middle of an intense game of Modern Warfare 3, Tony's phone buzzed. He dug it out of his pocket,wondering what mess Clint had got himself into this time. Instead, to his surprise, he saw he had a text from Thor Odinson. He liked Thor, and they were reasonable acquaintances, but they didn't ever have the need to text each other. Curious, he opened the message.

Hello Tony. My brother would like to ask you when you would like to work on your project together, but he lacks both your number and the courage to contact you, so I am asking in his stead.

Tony laughed, replying quickly:

Give him my number and tell him to call.

A few minutes later, Tony received a text that read:

Hello Stark. It's Loki

Smirking, he added the number to his contacts and pressed the call button. After a few rings, Loki picked up.

"Stark?" he asked, his voice stiff.

"Hey Loki," Tony said, grinning.

"When would you like to work on the project?" asked Loki, clearly annoyed.

"Not so fast, Loki. You're making me think you're only talking to me because of our project," he said, trying not to laugh. It was so easy to mess with Loki.

"Do not flatter yourself, Stark. Not everyone worships you," Loki snarled. Tony chuckled.

"You can come over now, if you'd like," Tony said, ignoring Loki's comment.

"Now?" Loki asked, sounding flustered.

"Does that not work for you?" Tony asked, turning off the TV with his free hand.

"It is fine. I will be there soon," Loki said, and abruptly hung up the phone. Tony chuckled, briefly wondering how he'd find the place before remembering that Thor had probably come to a party here at some point and would know where it was.

Tony looked down at the old, ratty t-shirt he was wearing and pulled it off. He made his way to his room, tossing the old one in a hamper and grabbing a new one. He paused midway through putting on the new shirt and wondered why he was changing for Loki. It's not like he cared about what Loki thought of him. He bit his lip, then shrugged and finished pulling it on. He convinced himself it was nothing by keeping his worn grey sweatpants on. He pulled out his Chemistry notebook and set it on his bed before making his way downstairs to wait for Loki to arrive.

About ten minutes later, the doorbell rang, echoing throughout the empty house. Tony bounced up from the couch and pulled open the door, revealing Loki standing awkwardly behind it, clutching tight to a black binder.

Tony bowed dramatically, sweeping one hand in a grand gesture inviting him in. "Welcome, sir," he said, pulling the door open wider. Loki pursed his lips and strode into the foyer. He paused, staring around at the extravagant house with its lush, velvety furnishings and high, arching ceilings. Slightly in awe, Loki felt a push on his back. He whipped around to see Tony, pushing him along. "I know, I know, it's impressive. But we've got work to do, come on." Jerking away from his touch, Loki followed Tony upstairs to his room.

Tony flopped down on the bed, opened his notebook to the first page, and looked expectantly at Loki, who was hovering in the doorway. He patted the space next to him, "You gonna sit down or what?" he asked. Loki stepped carefully over to the bed and sat gingerly next to him, his back ramrod straight. Tony turned away from him to hide his smile and pulled out the packet that Mr. Wicks had given them. Loki copied him, flipping through the pages.

"Okay," he began, "I think we should start with—"

"How'd you get the name Loki?" Tony interrupted.

"What?" he asked, startled.

"I mean… It's not a very common name. Why'd your parents call you that?" Tony asked.

"Funny, I don't think that is any of your business, Stark," he said coldly.

"I tend to get involved in other people's business quite often, actually," said Tony, grinning. Loki rolled his eyes.

"My parents are really interested in Norse mythology. They gave me and my brother names of gods from Norse myths," he said.

"And what's Loki the god of?" Tony asked, intrigued. Loki's brow furrowed, wondering why Tony was acting like he cared.

"Mischief," he said, smirking as he turned back to the handout. Seemingly engrossed in his paper, he missed the spark dance in Tony's eyes.

"Mischief, huh?" Tony asked.

"Shut up, Stark," Loki said, reading through the instructions on the packet.

"But I'm curious!" Tony said, pouting. Loki laughed cruelly.

"You really think sulking will do you any good?" he asked. "Not everyone is madly in love with you, Stark. Contrary to your belief, many people do not like you at all. So stop being such an infuriating nuisance and shut up."

For once in his life, Tony did what he was told.

For the rest of the night they spoke only when absolutely necessary. They worked on their project until 8:30, when Tony announced thathis brain had had enough. He walked Loki downstairs.

"Well," Loki said as he reached the door, "I will see you tomorrow, Stark."

"Mm hmm," Tony agreed. Loki was turning the doorknob when Tony blurted, "What is it I did to you?" Loki turned back to him.

"What?" he asked sharply.

"Why do you hate me so much?" asked Tony. "I mean, you don't even know me. What did I do?" Loki's eyes narrowed.

"You did not do anything to me. I do not like you because you are an arrogant, self-centered, spoiled rich boy who thinks everyone loves him and who acts like he's king of the world," he said, pulling open the door. "Goodbye, Stark." Tony watched as the door slammed shut behind Loki and swallowed hard.

Tony leaned against the doorframe and took a deep breath. What was the matter with him? He usually kept his cool through any situation, but a little study session with Loki had jumbled his entire brain. Shaking his head, he hurried back up to his bedroom. He watched TV for the rest of the night, but his eyes were constantly drawn involuntarily to the shallow impression where Loki had sat mere hours earlier.

When Loki climbed out of his car and into his house, he was immediately bombarded with questions from Thor. "Did you have fun? Do you like Tony? He is nice, is he not? Are you two friends now?"

"Thor. Thor. Calm down," Loki said, hanging his black coat on one of the hooks along the wall. "Stark and I are not friends, we are simply working together on a project. Now if you will excuse me, I have other homework to do." Relentless, Thor followed Loki into his bedroom.

"Why do you not like Tony?" he asked. Loki sighed.

"Go away, Thor," he said, sitting down at his desk.

"What did he ever do to you?" Thor asked.

"Nothing," Loki sighed, exasperated. "I just do not like him, okay?" Thor crossed his arms.

"You are being stubborn. If you tried, I am sure you and Tony would be great friends." With that, he stormed out of the room.

Don't be stupid, he thought. Tony Stark will never be friends with you. Why would he be? Why would anyone be?

Angry, Loki blocked all thoughts of Tony Stark from his mind. He pulled out his Pre-calculus homework and began working. It did no good to dwell on Stark. They were lab partners, nothing else. They would never be friends. Never.