Authors Note: Yes, I did promise an update on Tuesday but Monday is better right? (◕‿◕✿)
Actually, I wanted to spend longer with this chapter than I did with the first in hope there weren't as many mistakes as before but I found out one of my best friends would be going back to Korea permanently on Wednesday. Therefore, Tuesday is booked all for her but I also didn't want to leave you guys without an update since your response to this story has been so positive. (◡‿◡✿)
I hope you like the chapter. (✿◠‿◠)
"Thor, No. I said no." Loki said firmly resisting the urge to sigh. He, however, ended up rubbing his temples in frustration.
"Brother, please?" Thor continued to beg, pacing the room once more.
"No, I am not going anywhere with the merry fools you call friends." Loki snarked and Thor looked torn between defending his friends and trying to not get on the bad side of Loki by angering him.
"Come along, Loki." Thor said, after a moment, giving his best puppy dog eyes. Loki internally scoffed. It was funny to even think that would work on him. "It is Fandral's day of birth."
"And I do not care." Loki replied.
"It shall be fun and you as my brother must be present. Come now, Loki, do not hold childish grudges." Thor said and Loki just wondered how the oaf even managed to think saying such a thing would change his mind.
"No." Loki replied calmly. "And now, if we are done, I would like to get back to work."
Thor was silent. Loki would have believed he left if it weren't for the loud breaths he was taking.
Loki peered from the paperwork that he had used to appear busy with. Thor looked like he was about to pop a vein with the contemplative face he was making.
"Brother?" Thor said finally and the triumphant tone within it didn't please Loki one bit.
"Yes, Thor?" Loki asked, disinterestedly.
"You know the 'Asgard' project that Father gave me?" Thor said and Loki could feel a little ire burn. Loki had tried so hard to get that project for himself the moment he had heard the Odin & Odinsons had landed a contract with Asgard Corps. But no, Odin had simply handed the project to Thor without any questions asked.
"Yes." Loki said, gritting his teeth. He was still very bitter about it after all. If Thor was now just going to rub his victories on Loki's face, he would prefer if Thor just left and went back to his own bigger office with a better view.
"Come out with us tomorrow night and I will have a talk with father for the project to be transferred to you." Thor said simply and from the way Loki's expression had changed from angry to confused to suspicious, it seemed Thor thought the battle was won.
"Such a huge project for just a night out?" Loki asked, suspiciously, there must be more catch to this.
"Not just any night out, brother but to the Alcove!" Thor exclaimed and his voice boomed louder as the blond grinned.
"So, a strip club." Loki deadpanned.
"A gentlemen's club" Thor corrected.
Loki raised an unimpressed eyebrow, not amused.
"What is the catch? You are surely not letting such a big fish come to my pond for a single night out. This project is worth millions. And don't forget that father would be 'oh so proud'." Loki drawled the last bit sarcastically. "And don't give me the flimsy excuse of Fandral's day of birth or the Alcove. There have been 30 of those unfortunate events already and you have been to Alcove on more than a several occasions."
Thor looked back sadly at his brother.
"I just want us to spend more time together, brother." Thor said softly. "Like old times, like when we were younger."
"So, you want to reminiscent with strippers and unidentified smells?" Loki deadpanned.
"Loki, please?" Thor begged. "You will have the 'Asgard' papers on your desk by tomorrow morning."
"Goodbye, Thor." Loki stated with an air of finality and a nod. Thor looked deflated as he turned to leave.
"Talk to my secretary and tell her to put in a slot for you." Loki called at Thor and Thor turned, a moment of confusion slowly turning into a huge grin. "I better see those papers by 10 am tomorrow." Loki warned but Thor was already out and Loki could hear the big oaf shout for his secretary.
Loki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache coming. The Asgard project was worth it, he promised himself. It better be.
Alcove was situated in the west side of the town; meanwhile the Odin & Odinsons building resided in the east side. That meant an estimated 2 hour drive from his office to the Alcove- that is if the traffic was being generous.
Since, Thor's own personal assistant had waltzed in with the Asgard project folder in hand and slapped it down on his desk 10 o'clock sharp; he had to keep his side of the bargain.
So, here he was now, in a pair of tailored pants and pressed white oxford shirt, and his navy blue coat hanging over his shoulder in a blasé manner, outside the glowing red sign reading "Alcove", his mood sour for it had taken him 3 hours to get here because some moron's car had broken down on the bridge and successfully blocked any traffic behind him.
Loki growled inwardly and marched forward. Might as well get this over with.
The guards at the front nodded at him respectfully as the doorman pulled open the door for him. Loki surveyed the area once he was in.
Seductive red light basked the room in its glory. The main level had several circular raised platforms with erected poles at their centre, the platform enough for one maybe two dancers and tonight every pole had at least one dancer. A dip in the ground held a large ramp, several poles stood on the ramp and that too had strippers, some already nude some in the state of removing the little of whatever they were wearing. He glanced at the tables around it; subdued but still lush red and the dark carpeting gave the impression of something more gothic and sinister. Again, above on the main level were, leather lounge couches, booths, with heavy chocolate coloured drapes. Many of which were drawn close for privacy. He shifted his gaze to the other side where the bar stretched the entire wall, and mirrored shelves lined the liquor cabinets behind the bartenders. He checked the patrons perched on stools that looked like they were too much the effort to even climb on and none of them were Thor or his buddies.
Of course, Thor and group wouldn't dare be so common. They most probably had a private room.
And he was correct because as soon as the maître d'hôtel spotted him, he came rushing to greet Loki.
"Mr. Odinson. It is so nice to have you come. Your brother and his friends have already arrived. I will take you to them." The man said as he guided Loki up the spiraling stairs and gestured to a heavy oak double door.
"Sir, here you are." The man spoke and gestured the man guarding the door to open it.
As Loki entered he heard the booming voice of Thor.
"Brother! You have arrived!" Thor exclaimed, his voice thundering throughout the room despite the loud chaotic music that was already giving him a headache. A leggy blonde was sprawled over his legs and Loki saw him murmur something to her and even though she seemed put out, she walked off as Thor kissed her hand and handed her a healthy lump of cash. The girl didn't look too put out now.
"Yes, but do not expect me to stay long." Loki said, disinterestedly.
"Thor! Come over here!" A voice shouted from the small crowd and Thor turned to Loki with a grin and, "Well, enjoy yourself brother, I have been called. Do you want me to call someone for you?" He asked and Loki could tell it was half hearted as Thor sounded impatient to go back to his friends.
Loki waved his hands dismissively.
"Leave me be." He said and with that he gracefully planted himself on the black leather couch. The private room was unlike the one below. A circular stage was lighted with flashy neon lights and was that a throne? Yes, it was and on it was none other than Fandral. There were two women on either side of him and a third on the pole in front of the throne. There were several small couches upon which friends of Thor and some other associates sat, some merely drinking and some with scantily clad women atop them or on the poles that erected seemingly everywhere on the floor. Loki looked on to the scene in barely disguised disgust but withhold the scoff waiting to escape.
He wasn't disgusted by strippers. No, they were simply doing their job. The disgust came from the perversity of men in the room. He was no stranger to a strip club or gentlemen's club as one would say to make it sound more demure. Loki had taken many of his prospective clients to such institutions. People had no idea how easy it was to be persuasive when one was more engrossed in the scantily clad women serving them than in the business deal itself. But personally, he never saw the appeal.
He plucked a glass of whisky from one the rolling trays and took a quick gulp. He may as well drink for the next hour if he wished to get through the night.
Few dancers approached him as he knew they would but he turned them away with no more than a scathing glare. He must have scared them enough to spread the word because they stopped coming to offer him a show after the first 10 minutes. Loki smirked to himself, a little success at least.
Loki needed some fresh air. He didn't really wish to go out but at least out of the room. He made his way out discreetly, not that anyone would notice with their state of intoxication and the ample amount of distraction within the room. A quick relief at the lavatory would do.
He was by the sink, washing his hands and on the process of splashing his face with the cool water when he heard someone enter the lavatory, with a forceful bang of the door. He didn't bother to turn to see the culprit because what did he care about the defacement of the building. However, when he thought he heard a familiar voice, he cocked his head up to face the large mirror in front of him that gave him the view of the lavish restroom. The mirror, however, didn't allow him to see the face as it was turned away from him. He could only see the back and a head full of dark hair but he could garner a guess who it was from the voice alone.
"No, I am not marrying Stephanie!" The voice was exasperated and angry. There was a pause as the man waited for whoever was on the other end of the phone to reply.
"Why?! Well, because…" The man turned around and yes, as Loki suspected, it was Tony Stark. Stark looked frustrated as he gesticulated wildly in front of the mirror. "Because…"
That is when Loki assumed Stark caught sight of him in the mirror. Loki urged his reflection to raise an eyebrow in nonchalance but Stark kept staring at him in the mirror with an unidentifiable expression. Slowly, Stark's face changed from the scowl he was wearing to a shit eating grin. Loki looked back suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at the mirrored reflection of Stark.
"Well, because I am in love with someone else!" Loki heard Stark triumphantly state into the phone, still maintaining the eye contact with Loki in the mirror.
"No, not Pepper!" He saw Stark make an incredulous face at the phone, breaking the eye contact but quickly reestablished it. His eyes glinted in a manner that would never spell good news.
"I am in love with Loki."
End Notes: All I will say is, please leave a review. (◡‿◡✿)