"It's official."
Tony shut his locker to find Clint staring at him, a smile plastered on his face. "What?" Tony blurted, more a deer caught in the headlights than a supportive and brain functioning friend.
"Me and Tasha," Clint pronounced, as if talking to a very small and very stupid child. Which was more or less the case considering Tony was having trouble with higher brain functions. "Official."
Tony blinked, the words finally sinking in. He wasn't being outed already. That was a relief. "Oh," he simply stated.
Clint's smile faltered slightly. "Oh?" he repeated.
"I mean great!" Tony sputtered. "That's great. I'm just a little… spacey today, I guess." He flashed a grin, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and putting his other arm around Clint. "So things went well, huh?"
Clint shrugged off Tony but didn't lose his happy attitude. "Better than well. I'm gonna meet her at her locker in a bit."
Tony nudged his elbow into Clint's ribs, a mischievous glint in his eye. He even nearly said, "That makes two of us," but restrained himself, instead opting for a "Look at you. Beaming and being generally happy in your state of relationship."
"Speaking of which," Clint couldn't resist. "Your boyfriend show up today?"
The other boy blinked in confusion, not sure how to respond. It's a joke, Tony. He's joking. He doesn't know. "Not my boyfriend," Tony answered, half biting his tongue as he did so. "And I think he is."
He pointed at an open locker hiding the t-shirt of the day but giving Tony full view of long legs in dark jeans and Tony couldn't help but admire his boyfriend's ass. Honestly, how could he not? Loki could work those jeans.
"If you don't mind…" Tony started, slinking his away from Clint and towards the boy hidden by his locker. Clint waved him away and Tony threw him a thumbs up before crashing into the lockers beside Loki.
"Hey."
"Stark," Loki replied coolly, not taking his eyes off the contents of his locker.
"We're gonna have to work on this, aren't we?" Tony asked, prompting Loki to turn his attention onto him, eyebrow raised.
"I'm sorry?"
Tony sighed. "To-ny," he enunciated. "Toe-Knee. Think of the body parts. It's not hard, Loks."
"Quite difficult, actually," Loki smirked. "I don't think I could say it."
Tony took a step so he and Loki were barely a hands width apart. "Wanna bet?"
"Hmm," Loki breathed through his nose, eyes cast down on Tony who looked up at him, a devious grin plastered on his face.
"No one's looking you know," Tony offered, deciding to screw his ego and go up on his tiptoes because damn why was Loki so tall. Loki just shook his head and grabbed a book from his locker, shutting it closed and letting the opportunity pass. "I don't like you," Tony grumbled.
"Don't lie," Loki told him as he put on his backpack. "Until later, Anthony," he said, waving auspiciously as he left Tony standing at his locker, wholly unsatisfied and slightly frustrated.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Despite missing an entire week of school, Loki had not fallen behind. If anything, he was far more informed and educated than any of the other students. Not that they could be blamed, after all, what did Loki have to focus on and what did those other kids blow their time on? They had their social lives and Loki had his television. It's much easier to focus on things when the distraction can be turned off.
So when Bruce started explaining what he had missed last week, Loki threw him a dismissive glare before ignoring him completely and doodling in his notebook. Rude? Most definitely. But Loki didn't need Bruce pretending to like him just because – well technically Bruce didn't know. That is if Tony kept his word and Loki was going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
So just because Bruce thought Loki needed a friend. Or decided to be nice because Tony might have told him to. The point being, Loki didn't want to be nice. He didn't want to be friendly. The last time he was even remotely approachable two girls got into a fist fight and Fandral made several moves on him.
Fandral.
Loki had completely forgotten about him. Loki planted his head onto the desk. How could he have forgotten about that Neanderthal? Ok, so Loki did know how he forgot but that didn't change the fact that Loki was still, technically tutoring him.
Just because he had been AWOL for a week meant absolutely nothing. Fandral would find him. And corner him. And, if his intentions were pure, demand math knowledge. But Loki knew Fandral's attentions weren't pure. So in that scenario he'd probably do something obscene like kiss him or try to shove his hands down his pants and Loki really didn't want that. Loki would rather gouge out his own eyes and sell his record collection than let that happen.
"You ok?" Bruce whispered.
Loki rolled his head slightly and opened an eye to better look at Bruce who appeared genuinely concerned. Interesting. "No," Loki blurted. "I'm going to die."
Bruce tilted his head at his lab partner's response. A bit extreme, Loki would admit, but doom (and not that Doom) was upon him and there was no end to the suffering. "Do you need to see the nurse?"
"No," Loki mumbled into his notebook.
Bruce nodded his head absently. "Are you sure?"
"It's more a death of the impending future than a disease or malfunction of basic human programming," Loki told him, which surprised Loki very much. Aside from Tony, Loki had never felt comfortable talking to anyone. But talking to Bruce was simple. Things just spilled out of his mouth without any prompting. It may not have been very practical or reasonable but the thoughts in his head spilled out. Maybe it was the fact that they were both nerds. And liked science. Not to mentions they both had strong feelings about Quantum Leap.
Bruce chuckled. "You've been spending way too much time with Tony."
Loki blinked. "What?"
"Tony always talks about people like they're robots or some type of machinery," Bruce explained.
"Because they are," Loki reasoned.
"God, you two are perfect for each other," realized Bruce.
Loki didn't say anything. Perhaps Tony was right. Everyone seemed to think they were already in a relationship, or in Bruce's case, thought they should be in one. "Excuse me?" Loki asked, pretending that the thought of he and Tony in a relationship as the most disgusting thing that could ever happen in the universe.
"Sorry," Bruce stammered. "It's just that you and Tony… are just so…"
"So…"
Bruce furrowed his brow and took off his glasses, as if attempting to string words together might endanger them in some way. He sighed before saying, "Similar."
That was Bruce's big epiphany? Were he and Stark – Tony – that alike? "You have such a way with words, Banner," Loki told him.
"Thanks," Bruce mumbled, turning his attention back to Mr. Brewster who was giving an elaborate presentation on the history of the development of the modern periodic table.
Loki grinned into his notebook. Maybe Loki could try to be nice. Bruce wasn't that bad. And if his and Tony's relationship happened to get out, they'd at least have an ally.
Author's Note: Ok. So you guys are crazy stupid awesome. Like honestly. It's not even a week and TCOLO has 129 followers, 55 favorites, and 38 reviews. I can't even begin to comprehend this. You guys are ridiculously awesome.
So, since I'm back at school, updating won't be everyday like it used to be (unfortunately). It will be about a week between each chapter. Which is sooo stupid. I like school b/c I get to eat klondike bars and live on the couch. I don't like school b/c I have to do stuff. Real life stuff. College. It is a bitch.
Just like DODNTINT, I will respond to my loverly reviews by my loverly reviewers, but seeing as some were 'Yay! You're back! We have chapter!' while others were 'Another!' and my personal favorite (ITrustThyLove) 'WEEEEE! Sequel!' I most likely won't respond to those because like I said: 38 reviews. Crazy.
War and Ink: You timed yourself? Impressed. I didn't even know it was four second feel worthy. And aren't you glad the wait is over?
TheCapitalRose: Happiness can't last forever. If that wasn't foreshadowing and extremely daunting, I don't know what is.
GreenLoki: You! Ok, sorry about that, but I think I'm allowed to say I secretly love you. Honestly, while I was stealing internet for five minutes I would check my email and I literally had like a million emails informing me of your update for every chapter of DODNTINT. Your reviews were so nice and made me feel really cool. My already enlarged ego grew three sizes that day. I'm glad you're enjoying my stories and I also want school to disappear. Seriously regretting my sound class.
jenn: I think that reasoning is far better than my reasoning. And I'm so glad you love DODNTINT so much to reread it. I'm honestly doing that right now. I have somehow forgotten that I've written this because I'm not at all disgusted by my writing abilities. And thanks for the well wishes. I really want to be a screenwriter. Writing is my thing. Plus have you seen all these movies coming out? They are in desperate need of people with brains and imagination. Done with my rant. Lots of love.
Sir Lillith: Hello! I think I secretly knew it was your birthday. I was like, "I think it's Sir Lillith's birthday, I better post this chapter gosh darn it." So I did.
Tomazine: When I first read that sentence I honestly thought you chucked ice cream at the wall, not down your shirt. Excitement does strange things to people. And does ice cream stain? Like if it's a grape popsicle but if it's vanilla or pistachio ice cream? These are the questions that keep me up at night.
aardbeien: I am! I am back! And it is super official. Make out scenes everywhere! Ok. So they're not gonna be everywhere... And all these characters will be coming back. How can they not? I wish you luck right back. Boo! School!
Bazinga26: I admit, not my best work. It took forever and I've been out of whack. Hopefully I get my groove back. Thanks for letting me know, though. I'm sure you weren't the only one who thought it was choppy and disconnected.
FoxyPerv: I always adore the readers who have doubts about DODNTINT. Most don't like high school AU's or AU's in general or others aren't huge FrostIron fans, but I love how your doubts revolved around the whole Loki nerd thing. I know lots and lots of nerds (my school is nerdland) and they all range from like shut ins to social to nice to mean and so for me it wasn't odd for Loki to be a jerky, sarcastic, socially awkward nerd. And you have joined the ranks of others who love the lightsaber battle. And though you may not regret staying up till one thirty in the morning, I feel bad, so apologies.
Guest: DODNTINT, you can't have just one. I'm glad you've enjoyed it enough not to stop reading and aren't you lucky you didn't have to wait around for a sequel although technically you're still waiting for chapter updates so... and while normally I'd scold you (or anyone) for getting no sleep because of fanfiction, I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say I've done it before. And I'm glad you enjoyed it enough to attend school sleep deprived.
Lastelle: School and sleep is kind of important... kinda. I'm sorry I've spoiled things. Hopefully you will be able to find a stasis that balances my story with every other writer's stories. And I'm glad you enjoy all the nerdiness. My nerdiness has finally found a (slightly) healthy outlet.
Wow. Ok. So those that praised my abilites, thank you, and I'm sorry Creeper Face but you cannot steal my writing abilities. I need it. To write stuff. I hope this sequel won't be disappointing. You guys are so loverly. Honest. Ok. I'm done. It's 1 PM on a Sunday and I am still in my pajamas. Life. I am doing it right.
A(a)rdvark!
