Chapter 3 – Birthday wishes.

(14 years old)

"HEY! LOKI! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!"

Tony ran forward and then straight through what he thought was Loki stood near a tree. He stopped and looked around until he saw a smirking Loki, the real one, sat on the log.

"What just…" Tony began before shaking his head. He'd come to learn that it was easier to ignore things like this, when Loki was acting all strange. He sometimes didn't even understand what was happening.

"ITS MY-!"

"Birthday. Yes you have already shouted it multiple times on your way here. I could hear you from three miles away."

Tony pulled a face and flopped down on the grass in front of the log and crossed his legs.

"So what have you got me?" He said smiling.

"Got you?"

"Yes. A present. For my birthday. Don't they do that in Asgard?"

Loki shook his head.

"For one I didn't even know it was your birthday todayand even if I did, I wouldn't have gotten you anything anyway…"

"Oh. How very nice of you."

Loki scowled, "You know I'm not like that."

"Do I?"

Tony matched Loki's scowl but broke it quickly by laughing when Loki deepened his, like some sort of contest.

Tony sighed; "Can we actually DO something today? I'm bored of just sitting."

"Well. What is there to do?" Loki raised an eyebrow.

Tony frowned and the corner of his eyes creased in thought.

"I dunno. We could just go for a walk and see…"

"No."

"What, why!?"

"Because…" Loki crossed his arms.

"But Loki…"

"I said no. I'm not going for a walk around this dreadful planet especially with people staring at me because I wear better and more fabulous clothes than them."

Tony huffed out a laugh and stopped abruptly when he saw how serious Loki was.

"Why would you care if people were staring anyway… I thought you'd quite like all the attention actually."

"I think you're thinking of yourself actually. And I don't care about them staring, it's just annoying."

"Come on, Loki. It'll be fun. I promise."

Loki sighed and then nodded his head hesitantly.

"YES!"

Tony grabbed Loki by the hand and pulled him up quickly before dragging him off in a random direction.

Oh boy did the people stare. Tony was even feeling uncomfortable and normally he could deal with staring. He watched Loki from the corner of his eye whilst they walked, the boy hadn't said anything since they had left and actually looked quite scared.

"Come on Loki. Let's go in here."

Tony dragged Loki into a clothes shop nearby and grinned widely at him.

"We'll get you some new clothes, yeah?"

"I don't need new clothes." Loki gritted through his teeth.

"Of course not… but I can't be bothered with all the staring ruining our day."

"Our day?"

Tony ignored him and picked up a pair of slim fit jeans. He smiled to himself realising how much fun it was going to be dressing up the god.

He thrust a handful of random jeans, trousers, shirts and tops at Loki who caught them in his arms and then was lead to the changing rooms by Tony who was pretty much bouncing with excitement.

"Tell me when you have something on!"

Tony restrained himself from pulling back the curtain when he was met with dead silence.

"Tony…"

"Yes, are you done?"

"Not really… I'm not sure of…"

"Of?"

He heard Loki sigh, either in frustration or annoyance.

Tony couldn't resist any longer and peeped his head through the curtain. He blinked and then blinked again and then nearly died.

"Holy shit!"

"What? What's wrong?" Loki said turning to the side as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"No… nothing's wrong! You look… you look."

Loki smirked at him through the mirror and smoothed his hands over the tight, denim jeans and purple shirt, which was as equally tight.

"Yeah?"

"Nice."

"Nice?"

"Uh, yeah." Tony hid his blush in the curtain and then shut it.

"Should I try some more on or…?"

Tony stared at the curtain as he listened, his heartbeat that was like a thousand drums in his ears. His face felt red hot and burning.

"Tony… you still there?"

Tony saw the curtain begin to move and it sprung him into action.

"Yeah, yeah!"

He heard Loki chuckle and he frowned.

"I'll just get these then…"

They strolled out of the shop a good twenty minutes later after Tony had bought the clothes and asked nicely if Loki could put them on now. The shop assistant looked unimpressed but finally let them after Loki gave her what he called his 'promise a slow death' look. Tony quickly chose some shoes that he thought went with the outfit, even if Loki did turn his nose at them. 'They weren't leather so therefore not worth wearing.' Tony had rolled his eyes and bought them anyway.

Despite claiming he hated his new clothes and that they were too mortal like for his taste, Loki looked happier then when they had first come out. Tony couldn't help but smile as well.

When they rounded the corner, Tony remembered the flyer he had seen about the funfair and an idea struck him.

"Oh my god! Yessssss!

Loki frowned. "You know that I'm a god and I find it weird when you…"

"Yeah, whatever! I just had a great idea!"

"Oh, really?"

Tony took Loki's hand in his and pulled him through the streets until they turned a corner and straight in front of them was the funfair. Brightly coloured and full of screaming kids. Tony couldn't think of a better way to spend his birthday.

"What…?"

"It's a funfair! Have you never seen one?"

"Well no. Why would I have? I'm a god and a prince from a different world…"

A guy walking past them gave them a funny look but continued on his way towards the fair.

"Shhh, you can't say things like that in public."

Loki glared at him and then began walking towards the funfair with lightening speed.

"Hey! Wait for me!"

"Yum, I love candyfloss. Here, try some!"

Loki looked wearily at the pink fluffy mound that Tony was holding under his nose.

"Umm…"

"Come on man. It's just candyfloss. Sugar and that."

Loki looked at him and back at the candyfloss before taking a tiny bite and chewing slowly before swallowing.

"Guess it's alright." Loki said shrugging.

They had already been on the Ferris wheel, which was dull according to Loki. Then they went on the spinning tops, which was absolutely horrifying, again according to Loki. They also had been on the dodgems, which Loki had been a boss at and made about five kids cry and claimed it was the best thing ever.

Now, they were waiting in line for the bottle throwing thing. Tony knew it was a fix and that the bottles were probably stuck down with glue but Loki didn't know that.

They got to the front and Tony paid for five goes. He missed the first three, Loki insulting him each time about how his aim was horrible, and then the fourth time he hit the bottles but none of them fell over. He heard Loki tut loudly before the last ball was being yanked out his hand.

"Let me do this."

Loki pulled his arm back and with all his strength threw the ball right in the centre of the bottles. Tony heard a loud crash as he watched the bottles smash and fall over. Loki had the biggest smile on his face that he had ever seen.

The other people in the queue behind all cheered and clapped and Tony actually swore he saw Loki's face go red for a brief moment.

"Which prize?" Tony heard, being pulled down from his thoughts about strong, purple shirted arms.

"Uh." Tony looked at Loki, who gestured for him to choose.

"That one." Tony pointed after analysing each one in detail.

Loki chuckled as the big, snow white tiger was handed to him and Tony could barely even carry it.

"He's beautiful." Tony breathed whilst watching Loki's hair sway as they walked through the crowds.

"He is." Loki replied and then stroked the white tigers head.

"What? Oh! Yeah."

Tony glanced at the white tiger in his arms and blushed but Loki didn't see, he was already walking through the crowds in front of Tony who struggled to keep up with his prize in his hands.

It took him a while but he realised Loki was walking towards the exit.

"Are we leaving?"

"I want to go back to the clearing, I've had enough of being around all these stupid apes."

Tony frowned; "Are you not enjoying yourself?"

"Hmm, what?" Loki manoeuvred through the crowds with ease as he neared the exit. Tony stumbled along after him, very nearly tripping over several times but he didn't repeat what he had said.

The walk back to the clearing was quiet and Tony was stuck in his thoughts of the fact that his birthday was nearly over and Loki was going to be gone soon…

"Tony?"

"Huh, what?" Tony shook his head as he focused on the god in front of him. He looked around and wondered when they had arrived at the clearing. He could swear they had only just left.

Loki frowned in what could have been concern and gently pulled the white tiger from Tony's arms and stroked its head.

"I had a really good time today, surprisingly."

"You did?" Tony said his eyes locked on the hand stroking the tiger.

"Yep, though I can't wait to put my normal clothes back on."

Tony smirked at the whinging in Loki's voice.

"Yeah, although you look good in these clothes, I prefer you in your 'normal' clothes."

Tony voice got quieter and quieter as he spoke. He frowned when he was done and wondered what the hell was wrong with him. He's never quiet.

Loki seemed to notice too.

"What's the matter?"

"Why do you care Loki?" Tony suddenly snapped.

The look of hurt that flashed across Loki's face made Tony immediately regret his outburst.

"Uh, S-Sorr…" Tony stuttered.

"I think it's best if I go."

Loki turned around and slowly began walking, his shoulders held back like he was walking with his head held high. Like he hadn't just been hurt.

Tony was going to call him back so he could apologise when he saw Loki throw the white tiger that he had still be holding at the nearest tree. Then he disappeared.

Tony drew in a shaky breath, when did the day turn sour? It was his entire fault. Man, what was wrong with him?

He walked slowly to the tiger that was lying in a prickly bush and picked it carefully up. He brushed the debris off it and then pulled it into a tight hug. He didn't even know when he would see Loki again, IF he would see him again.