Clint knew he was going to regret it. He really shouldn't. It wasn't like him at all. He hated him. He really oughtn't do this. This went against his very being. His very fiber.

"What are you doing over there?"

Loki looked up from his book and stared at Clint who was staring right back. Bruce held his chin in his hand, looking out the window and ignoring Clint completely, which Clint found terribly rude.

"Pardon?"

Clint grinned nervously. "We're not good enough for you?" Clint asked, feigning confidence.

"I'm sorry?"

Bruce made a face at Clint which he rightfully ignored. He was extending the olive branch. It has been extended and no one was going to make him reel it in.

"Suddenly too cool to sit with us?"

Loki stared at Clint. Confusion evident.

"Lunch is alright, but when it's homeroom, suddenly you're Mr. Snow Miser?"

Bruce barely shook his head, pleading with his eyes. Clint furrowed his brow, completely lost. Bruce invited Loki to lunch the day before, how is this inappropriate and frowned upon?

"I didn't realize it was an extended invitation," Loki stated, looking all the more uncomfortable.

What was wrong with everyone today? "Yeah, well it was."

"What is what?" came Tony, throwing his books on the table and sitting next to Bruce, going so far as to put an arm companionably around his shoulders.

Bruce turned his head slightly and whispered, "Clint's trying to get Loki to sit here."

Tony blinked.

"Tell your boyfriend to come over," Clint demanded. Bruce cringed, Tony stared, and Loki returned to his book.

Tony broke out into a smile. "Very funny, Barton. Not my boyfriend," Tony told him. He turned around in his seat to face Loki and said, "Clint wants you. Clint needs you. Clint wants you to sit next to him."

Loki smirked. "As much as I may love Barton, I'd like if you'd inform him that we could never be anything more than friends, if that."

Tony turned back to Clint and said, "Loki really appreciates that you want to get into his pants, but he'll have to decline your offer." Then after a moment's pause added, "Because he's saving himself for someone much classier and ten times sexier than you."

Bruce planted his head on the table. Clint grimaced at Tony, knowing that he was joking but he couldn't help but notice how Loki hid his head further in his book.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

He was going to kill him. Just because Bruce knew... Oh, how embarrassing. The fact that Loki didn't stand up and stab his favorite pen into Tony's trachea was amazing. Not that he wasn't imagining it, because he was. As far as fantasies involving Tony Stark went, this was probably his favorite.

What are you doing? – L

Loki pressed send and waited, nearly pushing his nose into the book. Any further and he and Arthur Dent would be one.

He watched from under his – actually he couldn't now that he thought about it. Damn this haircut. He peaked over his book and watched Tony animatedly tell a story while reaching into his pocket.

A few seconds later Loki's phone went off.

Oh come on. Bruce knows.

And that's an excuse? – L

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Attempt it. – L

You're upset with me.

I'm glad you noticed. – L

Tony visibly fidgeted in his seat. Loki could tell he wanted nothing more than to turn around and scream, "I'm sorry!" Smirking, Loki returned to his book.

It was a bit like animal training.

Except, you know, boyfriend training.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Coulson didn't understand the appeal Tony Stark had. Alright, so maybe he did. He completely understood. What he didn't understand was how he kept up the appeal. You'd think after a while the kids would just stop caring.

Not the case. If anything, they cared more.

It was just a hickey. They've seen hickies before. What hormone crazed teenager didn't come to school with a hickey?

Phil really needed to find a new job. One that didn't have him worrying about who Tony Stark's newest fling was. Maybe Vice Principal Lewis had a point. Teaching dance had to be less stressful than dealing with teenagers all day.

He sat down at his desk and scratched a few names off his list. For some strange reason, he had put Loki on the list. The top of the list. And underlined it. Then circled it. Before scratching it off and then adding it back to the list.

This was ridiculous. Coulson had no proof that either boys were gay. Or in Tony's case, bi. Was he allowed to think of these things? If Fury found out would he get fired?

Phil leaned back in his chair, biting his pen as he stared out his window. He really needed to find a hobby. One that didn't involve high school gossip and the Stark kid's hickies.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Bruce and Loki walked quietly side by side. Bruce could think of a million reasons why this was a bad idea. Not that he didn't like Loki, because he did. He had come to appreciate the oddness that was Loki Odinson; it was the knowledge that he and his best friend were a thing. An item. Dating. In a relationship.

Bruce may have joked along with the rest of the guys about Tony's little guy crush but it being true was tough for him to wrap his head around. Maybe if he was told yesterday and had a day to fully comprehend the situation. Now he had to talk to someone he was trying to be nice to, knowing all the while that he had been making out with his best friend not a few hours earlier.

"It bothers you," Loki said as they trudged up their second flight of stairs. Bruce nearly tripped up a stair, catching himself at the last moment. "Stark informed me that you were… informed."

"I guessed," Bruce blurted. "Honest."

Loki nodded. "I assumed as much. I promised physical and emotional harm if he so much as told a soul."

Bruce wouldn't put it past the teen. Loki looked like he was five minutes away from snapping. "I won't tell," Bruce practically squeaked.

Loki chuckled darkly. Bruce shivered. How did Tony find this attractive? Then again, the fact that Loki could kill him was probably an extreme turn-on. "You haven't answered my question."

Bruce entered the chem lab, Loki on his heels. He shrugged, setting his bag on the ground by his chair. He really wished they weren't lab partners. He also really wished that AP Chemistry wasn't separated by a fifteen minute homeroom. Life simply wasn't fair.

"I wouldn't say I'm bothered by it…," Bruce divulged. "I just need time to wrap my head around it."

Loki nodded, opening his notebook. "As do I."

"What?"

Loki turned his head, choosing to focus on the gas nozzles instead of the boy beside him.

He wasn't going to talk and Bruce wasn't sure whether he was glad for it or disappointed. Of course it'd be difficult for Loki. The kid didn't want anyone to know. He didn't even have friends, at least that Bruce knew of.

"I'm happy for you two," Bruce mumbled. "If that's any consolation."

Loki looked up at Bruce and offered a shy smile. It was honest and open and Bruce knew he had made the right decision.

"Thank you."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Clint honestly felt like he was missing something. There had to be something no one was telling him.

"They're not telling us something," Clint voiced to Rhodey as he started his fifth game of Bejeweled.

Rhodey tinkered away in photoshop, pasting dog heads to Disney princesses. Maybe not the most flattering, but he couldn't say it wasn't fun. "Who's not telling us what?" he asked, completely immersed in his little project.

"Tony," Clint said. "And Bruce. Maybe even Loki." Clint leaned close to Rhodey. "Now how weird is that?"

Rhodey shoved Clint out of his face. "You're making shit up."

"Am not," Clint pouted. "They're not telling us something."

Rhodey grunted, pasting a fox terrier head over Aurora's face. "It's probably nothing."

"I don't think it's nothing," Clint went on.

"They probably don't like Natasha."

Clint punched Rhodey as hard as he could. "Don't joke like that." He returned to his game. "But they're not telling us something."

"If you punch me again, I will bitch slap you."

"Whatever, Madea."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Thor wondered how he'd start that conversation. "Hello, brother." That was about as far as he got. The rest managed to spiral out of control involving fire and blood and for some strange reason, a garden gnome.

He could just say, "I know you and Tony Stark are dating." But in that scenario Loki ripped out his larynx before he could finish the sentence.

In the one where Thor offered pudding before inquiring, Loki beat him over the head with the pudding cup.

Thor's personal favorite was the one where he and Loki hugged it out. But that was more a fantasy than a scenario.

Thor sighed as he bit into his cheeseburger. Why couldn't Loki just tell him these things without the need of a confrontation?

Author's Note: *Gasp* An update nearly immediately after my last one! I literally had all the time in the world and was super inspired. This is what I loved about updating everyday. The mojo wouldn't dissipate over the course of a few days. So yay! I really love this chapter. Ok. Now...reviews!

Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape: I can only wonder what has caused your lol. Either way, it is appreciated.

Books-and-bones: But angelafarooq was so much more fun to type... I'd like to think it will. And I'm glad you also thought Loki needed a haircut. He was starting to look a little ragged.

gnrgirl221: Bruce is super awesome. I have too much love for him.

Bunnyshadow: It seemed many liked the ending. It really wasn't Tony's fault. He had to make it known.

cara-tanaka: Here's more! You didn't have to wait long. Look at that.

samiam13: It's not. It really isn't.

GreenLoki: It's one of mine. Although I'm not particularly frightening so most people don't take me seriously. They all did. They really did.

sexy blue eyed devils: My high school was not like that at all. Unless it really was. I never paid attention to the other students.

Doctor Maz: No waiting today! And that sounds awful. That might make things more complicated. And they're replacing the Thor Fandral with Zachary Levi cause of scheduling conflicts or something. So it's so difficult to imagine which Fandral to imagine.

Em: I think I have an inkling. And thanks. I just felt that I hadn't written as well as my other ones but every time I tried to fix it...blah. That's what happened. Blah. Loki has to be possessive. Tony is Loki's. Everyone needs to back off.

SoraLovesRainbows: He surprises people by that. And look. More. Don't cry!

Foxyperv: I had to make a hickey chapter. It had to be done. And my roommates have also become accustomed to my squeals. That's the joy of rooming with a fangirl.

Tomazine: I'm imagining you as the Doctor saying that... Glad you like the chapter. And if you knew what was going to happen, where would be the fun in that?

Guest: They are pretty bad at keeping it secret. Like really bad. But then Tony loves attention and Loki is kinda clueless when it comes to these sort of things.

Alright. Done. I'm super hungry but there's no milk. Plus I had corn for lunch. Pathetic. Sad face. I'll just continue to watch Pride and Prejudice over my friend's shoulders. Aardvark!