IM BACK! After that long break I'm finishing off some stories. (Hooray)
as it has been a while, you might need to reread this one from the beginning. Shouldn't take you long, it's only a few thousand words. Anyway, enjoy.
When they reached the plane, Tony introduced him to the pilot where only a simple 'hello' was required. Loki did well. Baby steps.
Loki's eyes filled with wonder as he looked out the window of the small prop plane. Below him he could see the desert stretch on for miles until it became lush grassland and then a concrete city.
It wasn't until they reached the larger airport that they were first spotted.
Loki whirled round at the "mister Stark!" to see a couple of tourists pointing and waving. Tony just kept on walking, pulling Loki along with him.
"Tony, those people were calling your name. Do you know them?"
"Shush, just keep walking. Don't look around." Loki shot him a confused look but kept his mouth shut. "Lo, there are things you're gonna find out about me. A lot of people know who I am."
"So you're famous."
"Yes."
"Like a rockstar."
Tony chuckled. "Yeah, like a... Rockstar of science."
"And that makes me... A groupie?"
Tony smiled again, swinging an arm round Loki's waist. "That makes you Loki."
They were yelled at twice more and stopped once. Tony obliged to family with a selfie before pulling Loki along again. Loki had never been to an airport before, but it still took them less time than he expected to get on the plane. "It's my plane- it leaves the time I get there."
"But all these people are waiting."
"Honey, I told you. I'm rich."
It was a long plane ride and they got through two movies and a bottle of champagne between them on their way home. Tony had assured him that Pepper (who he had heard an obscene amount about) would be there to meet them, and he wouldn't have to meet any other people but her today. He didn't want Loki to feel anxious, and he thought it would help him to have more than just him to talk to. When Tony thought of this, he felt a strange twinge of jealousy at having to share Loki with someone else, even if it was his bride to be.
The touchdown in the larger get was more comfortable for Loki. Partly because he'd experienced it before and also because the ride was smoother. He was still recovering from the ear popping when the door lifted open and Californian sunshine busted through. Tony was still explaining how the ear popping was due to the pressure change and relativity to the in-ear pressure when the Stark industries attendant led them out of the plane onto the deserted runway. Ahead of them were two figures standing beside a long black car.
Loki followed Tony close to his side, wondering whom the man was who stood next to whom he presumed was 'Pepper'. The man was tall and stout, he wore a smart black suit and tie and well polished shoes. He didn't seem surprised to see Loki there so Tony must have told him about him. That did not change the unsettling way he was looking at Loki.
As they got closer, Loki noticed the small pin badge on the man's chest- head of security. Was miss Potts worried he'd be a danger? The name tag under his breast pocket identified him as one 'Happy Hogan'. Loki wondered if that was the result of another one of Tony's nicknames.
Tony put a hand on Loki's back as he brought them to a halt in front of the two figures. As reassuring as the silent comfort of Tony's hand was, Loki could not help but feel intimidated by this primly dressed woman that Tony had talked so much about.
Despite this, Loki took the opportunity to exercise the social etiquette he had learned and plastered a pleasant smile on his face, holding out his hand. "I am Loki."
The following silence was both awkward and deafening as Loki wondered what he had done wrong. These were the rules Tony had taught him about when meeting new associates. Surely Tony had not been teasing him. It was when he began to withdraw his hand that the chuckling started. He began to withdraw his hand further when Happy took it, shaking it with an apologetic smile.
"No need for that formality. From what I hear you're part of the family."
Loki smiled in return. "I'm Happy, I'm head of security at SI, and I'm also head of keeping you safe. Also I'm back to chauffeur duties for one day only." The man looked at Tony pointedly. "So make it last."
"Uhh," Tony butted in in his usual fashion. "I think head of keeping Loki safe is actually my job big guy." He poked Happy in the chest while his hand on Loki's back moved round to grasp Loki's waist possessively. "And Loki, I would like you to meet the beautiful Miss Pepper Potts."
This time it was Pepper who extended her hand, an effort Loki noticed to make him more comfortable, an effort he greatly appreciated. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles delicately. "Miss Potts."
Her blush was pink and subtle, and suddenly Loki understood her appeal to Tony. Beautiful, sweet, strong, and efficient. Like Tony made his machines but more... Human. Loki wondered if he counted as human or not. It was something he'd pondered on quite a lot over the last few days, wondering if Tony's friends would treat him differently because of his origins. He was brought back to the present by Pepper's chuckle as she withdrew her hand from Loki's.
"Tony are you sure you didn't just clone yourself? He seems to have inherited all your mannerisms."
"Hey!" Tony objected immediately. "Loki is his own man. I mean, he doesn't even look like me."
"He looks how you wish you did you mean. Tony, did you cut his hair? It looks like it's been done with a pair of kitchen scissors."
"It was a pen knife actually. Did you miss me? Shed a few tears for your boss while I was away?"
"It's not like we haven't spoken, besides, I'm the boss now."
"Just come here and give me a kiss."
Loki and Happy both looked away at the brief reunion, both feeling the sharp pang of jealousy in their chests. This was a feeling Loki often had around Tony and was something he intended to ask him about. Not now though; when they were alone and he would look less of a fool.
The car ride back took about an hour, and was somewhat awkward. There were clearly things Tony and Pepper wanted to say to each other but not hi front of Loki. There were things Loki wanted to say to Tony but not in front of Happy and Pepper. Most of the conversation centred on Tony telling Pepper how well Loki was developing and learning, and Happy pointing out Landmarks for Loki in what he recognised as an attempt to make Loki feel more comfortable. It was working.
Loki had never seen anything but the small mid-desert town they had stayed in. California was luscious and green, and more so the further they traveled from the local airport. For the first time, Loki could see the great expanse of water Happy called the 'Pacific Ocean'. Loki remembered it from the Atlas he had seen when Tony had showed them where they were. For the first time, Loki began to understand the scale of the earth. To say he was fascinated by his surroundings was an understatement, and Loki was more than excited to see Tony's Malibu home.
