Loki slipped on Ms. Potts' coat, still disguised as her as they exited the charity ball. Tony was on the phone talking to investors on the other side of the world, but still had his arm draped around Loki's waist.

As the car door closes, isolating them Tony immediately pulls away from Loki- and just like that Loki's happy daze came to an end.

Months ago he had stumbled upon a movie about a girl who was hated by those who were supposed to be her family, then she met a prince with the help of her fairy godmother, everything went perfectly until the clock struck midnight. This was Loki's midnight- and he knew there was no glass slipper waiting to make him the apple of Tony's eye.

Loki's fairy tale was over before it could ever really begin.

He felt foolish and worse than that he felt childish. To be foolish meant he knew better, to be childish meant he'd been blindsided. He should have seen this coming. He should have known this is how it was going to be.

Loki was playing dress up after all, pretending to be the lucky princess, wanting to be her.

Oh how the Aesir would laugh at him if they knew he was playing at being a woman again. They never understood that he was male, no matter what form he appeared in, not that, that mattered anymore. He was hoping to never see any of them again.

Tony ended his call and tossed the cell phone onto one of the open seats, dropping his showman's façade.

"Did I…" Loki gulped away the tightness in his throat. "Did I do alright?"

"Don't fish for complements. It's unsightly." Tony said, his eyes fixed on the blurring outside world. Loki nodded mutely. He'd just have to hold onto the complements he got earlier from Tony. They would sustain him for now, or at least until he could retreat to his own room.


It had been two weeks since Loki last saw Tony and Ms. Potts.

The Avengers had been busy with some villain named Ultron. Tony didn't have time to come back to the tower and Ms. Potts was staying at their house in California to play it safe. Loki was left all alone, watching the news daily for any information about Tony. Apparently his company was under attack and Dr. Banner had been captured. Director Fury also made the news, saving the president's life. There was a new hero, Ant-Man fighting against Ultron with the Avengers.

Loki wanted to help, to end this whole ordeal so that things could go back to normal, but knew he'd only get in the way.

When Ultron was finally 'neutralized' as the reporters called it, Loki expected Tony to come back home that night or the day after, but it had already been three days.

Loki was sulking, buried beneath a pile of pillows and blankets on the couch.

"Sir will be returning shortly." Jarvis announced and Loki stuck his head up out of his nest of warmth and fluff. He used a quick spell to clean up the area, making it look the same as it did the last time Tony saw it. "You are to go to your room, close the door, and remain silent until told otherwise." Loki opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but knew he had no grounds to do so.

Glumly he did as instructed, laying on his bed, tugging the single sheet that made up his bedding over his head, hoping to fall asleep.

Sleep did not take him though. Twenty minutes later he caught the first hint of Tony coming home, but instead of hearing the engineer talking to Jarvis the voice that responded to him was female, and definitely not Ms. Potts'.

"Tina will be here soon. She had to catch a cab from the East side." Loki could faintly hear a woman say.

"That's alright. I'm sure you can keep my occupied until you sister gets here." There was the distinct clicking of two glasses being placed on the bar. "No, leave on the garter belt and stockings." The woman giggled and Loki felt sick. "Look at that, a perfect set."

"Are you referring to my breasts or me and my twin?"

"Your breasts, still haven't seen your sister yet. Come on, my room is this way. Jarvis will direct Tina up here when she arrives."

Loki covered up his ears, squeezing his eyes shut, not wanting to acknowledge what was surely going on. He retreated to the en suite bathroom and laid in the bathtub.

He wasn't enough, Loki was never enough. Of course Tony would get bored of him, possibly even completely forgetting about him. Of course he'd turn back to women, not as messy and didn't need to be prepared more than a bit of foreplay. All the old news articles Loki had read about Tony made his preference for women clear. He knew Tony considered him to be a woman despite his evident anatomy. Of course Tony would get bored with Loki coming all over his stuff.

He'd lost his usefulness. This was surely his last night- and then what would Loki do? If he wasn't captured again he'd be alone with nowhere to go.

He'd stay in New York! Yes, somewhere close enough to see Stark Tower and Iron Man take off from it. At least than he'd be close to where he used to be happy, make it easier to remember the good times.

Acquiring an apartment wouldn't be too hard. He was well versed in schemes and cons. But after that, what could he do? Staring up at Stark Tower would surely just be torture, always seeing but never being able to touch or be touched.

Oh Norns, if Tony kicked him out no one would ever touch Loki again. His life would just be how Tony described it the first time they spoke: all alone with just his self-hatred and hard-on.

At some point during the night Loki fell into a fitful rest, his dreams undefined yet chilling.

"Sir has issued new instructions from his cellular device." Jarvis said, startling Loki awake. He almost hit his head on the water spout, feeling idiotic for having fallen asleep in the tub.

"Yes?" Loki asked, pulling himself up.

"You are to shape shift into a human dissimilar to your own guise, but not of an actual individual. Sir has two guests in his bedroom that he wishes to leave post haste."

"And he wants me to…" He couldn't get this wrong. There was still the chance that Tony wasn't planning to kick him out.

"Politely coax them from his bed and to the elevator. I recommend you take on a female form, as it can be quite disturbing for a woman to wake up naked and see a man she does not know." Jarvis said. Loki nodded and quickly changed into a short blond woman.

"Am I allowed to mention his relationship with Ms. Potts?" Loki asked while slipping off his jeans and tying his belt around his waist to make the oversized shirt into a laid back dress.

"That is acceptable. There are disposable coffee cups in the kitchen. Ms. Potts usually offers up a cup of coffee as she gets rid of last evening's distraction, in this case, two distractions." Jarvis sounded vaguely amused.

"This happens often?"

"That question is irrelevant. The coffee is roasted and waiting to be dispensed. Best not waste any more time." Even the AI knew he wasn't worth being polite to.

Loki took a deep breath as he poured two cups of coffee, fixing them the way Ms. Potts usual took hers. If this is what he'd been reduced to… the one who got rid of Tony's one nightstands Loki could live with that. At least he'd still be in his life, even if it meant Loki was left untouched.

The bedroom was wide open, with a trail of clothing leading to the bed. There were three occupants, Tony in the middle with a blond to his left and brunette to his right. The two women were still asleep while Tony was awake, leaning against the headboard working on his tablet. He glanced at Loki, nodding briefly.

"Hello ladies," Loki used that word loosely, "I'm afraid this is the end of the night for you two." The brunette was the first one to stir.

"Round three?" She asked, ignoring Loki.

"No round three." Loki cut in, imitating Ms. Potts when she was annoyed at Tony. "It's half past ten and Tony has many things on his schedule, none of which include a third round."

"Are you sure?" She looked at Tony with wide eyes, letting the bed spread fall off her, revealing ample cleavage.

"I'm sure you don't want to be done here when Ms. Potts, Tony's lover gets back home." Loki raised his voice and the other woman woke up.

"Mina, what's going on?" The blond asked.

"Lame-sauce. We have to go. Tony's girlfriend is going to be here soon."

"No third round?"

"No third round." She informed her sister.

"You need to hurry. She'll be here soon." That spurred the two women into action. They shamelessly got out of bed, nude save stockings on one and a pair of heels on the other. "I've made you some coffee. It's waiting by the elevator." Loki gestured for them to follow him.

"Bye Tony. Call us sometime." One of the sisters said, trying to be seductive. It made Loki's anger flare up.

"Mr. Stark does not double dip." Loki said, before he could stop himself. He thought he'd gone too far until he heard Tony snort. The women pouted, but followed him out, taking their cups of coffee before getting onto the elevator. Loki hesitated for a moment, before heading back to check on Tony. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" He tried to sound appealing, but his words just came across as awkward.

"Yeah, get out of that form. If I wanted a blond I'd get one. Cook me up something and then we're going to the lab." Tony waved him off while getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom, Loki took a brief second to admire his body before leaving.

He changed back to his usual form and into clothing that were less wrinkled. Mindlessly he made enough food for the both of them. Tony walked in just as Loki finished cooking and plating the hardy meals. Tony very rarely sat down to eat, so the few times he did Loki was always sure to cook plenty of food.

Breakfast was eaten in silence and Loki's thoughts teetered between worry and lust.

"Get undressed." Tony said when they were down in the lab. Loki complied, watching as the engineer adjusted some machine. Loki fidgeted once he was nude. "Calm down, Reindeer Games. We're here to work, not play." If anything that made him more anxious. Loki knew what to expect when it came to play, but work was something else all together. "Stand over there." Tony pointed to a circled off area surrounded by machines.

When he entered the circle there was a flash of light and Loki half thought that a picture had been taken of him, but dismissed that when he felt subtle rays of light ghost over his skin.

He looked to the engineer in question, but he was staring at a screen intently.

"Shape shift into someone else." Tony ordered, his tone distant. Loki changed into one of the women from earlier, hoping to get a reaction from Tony. He didn't even look up from his screen. "Good, now someone shorter." There was another flash of light. "Try something heavier, a gorilla or something." Tony clicked a few more buttons as Loki shifted. "Is there a noticeable strain each time you change? Loss of energy? Physical strain?"

Loki had to change back to his usual form before he could respond.

"It weakens my reserves, but I'm well versed in shape shifting so I know how to do so efficiently. The physical strain is minimal so long as I'm not confined." He answered, feeling less and less like a person and more like a bug being dissected. He wouldn't complain though. At least he was holding Tony's attention- and his state of undress could lead to more than just science.

"Can you change from a solid to a liquid or gas?" Tony asked, finally looking away from the screen and to Loki.

"That's a whole different type of spell. With shape shifting the closest I can get is by becoming a jellyfish or some other water based organism. I can turn myself into gas, but not a liquid."

"Sublimation… interesting." Tony hummed in thought. "Why can't you change into a liquid?"

"It is too dangerous to do so. Liquids require containment in order not to fall apart. Their fixed volume makes it so that without containment-"

"They go everywhere. And gas can be compressed and decompressed. You can control the gas' volume so it doesn't need to be contained the way liquids would." Tony said, cutting Loki off. He was once again impressed by the engineer. "With a liquid you're static, but as a gas you can change your volume and create movement."

"Exactly." Loki tried to hold back his smile, but couldn't help himself. He never had anyone he could really discuss the principles behind his magic with. It was very refreshing.

"Let me see it." Tony ordered and Loki changed to a dark fog that could easily be mistaken for a shadow if placed correctly. "Change back." The machines flashed as Loki became solid again. "Which type of transformation costs more energy when disregarding your personal efficiency in shape shifting? I'd assume the state change would cost more energy."

"Yes, changing to a gas cost substantially more. I could only do so half a dozen times in one day before I start risking my health."

"Fine. Switch two more times, twenty second intervals." The sigh was evident in Tony's voice, but Loki could feel his eyes on him, watching intently as he shifted back and forth. "Jarvis, put these readings under the Shifty Bastard file on my private server."

"Yes, Sir."

"Come here, Dasher." Tony called to him and Loki immediately complied, standing right in front of him, completely nude. "Turn around." Loki heard Tony stand. He could feel the engineer just a step behind him. Tony guided Loki's arms up, making him look like the Vitruvian Man. "Tell me, what have you been doing while Pep and I were gone?" Tony's words were accompanied by a single finger tracing the contours of Loki's upper back. His body came alive at the barest touch.

"Waiting." Loki answered honestly.

"More details." Tony's finger ghosted over the notches of Loki's spine.

"Reading, watching the news, and sleeping on the couch." Tony's finger dipped down to the small of Loki's back, making the god's breath hitch.

"I give you a perfectly good bed and you sleep on the couch?" Tony traced his way up, circling Loki's shoulder before moving to his outstretched arm.

"I wanted to be there when you got back." Loki could see Tony's reflection. His brown eyes were analytical, devoid of the lust Loki was sure his own eyes were shinning with. His heart was already racing under Tony's attention.

"And why do you assume I'd want you to be the first thing I saw once I got home after such a long fight?" Tony flattened his hand against Loki's arm, before wrapping his hand around Loki's wrist, pulling his arm back down to his side. After a moment he pulled the other one down too.

"I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to see you." Loki could hardly concentrate as Tony's hands grabbed onto his hips, before letting go and taking a step back.

"Turn around." Loki didn't meet the engineer's eyes, embarrassed by how excited he was while Tony was dispassionate. "Your eyes are rimmed red. Have you been crying recently?" Had he? Loki cried so often that it was hard to keep track.

"No, not today. I just didn't sleep well."

"And why is that?"

"I slept in the bathtub." Loki cringed as he spoke, not sure what sort of reaction he would get.

"You must really hate your bed. If you're not going to use it I might as well have it removed, donate it to someone who would be grateful to have it."

"I'm grateful- Tony I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me-" The god sunk to his knees, begging for Tony to understand.

"I know, I know." Tony crooned to him and Loki calmed down, feeling silly for overreacting. "You need to remember that I know you better than you know yourself." Tony pushed back a tendril of Loki's hair behind his ear, letting his hand linger on the kneeling god. "I always know what you need, how to keep you out of trouble, and keep you from hurting yourself or others. You know that, right?"

"Yes." Loki whispered.

"I'm risking a lot by allowing you to stay in my home. Clint would kill me if he knew I was shielding you." Tony softly cupped Loki's face and the god leaned into the touch.

"I'm sorry." He wasn't sure he'd actually spoken aloud until Tony responded.

"I know." Tony continued cradling Loki's chin, randomly thumbing his high cheekbones and moist lips. "You poor affection starved creature." Tony sat down in his chair, just a few feet away from Loki. "Two weeks of relatively no physical activity and you haven't lost any muscle mass or definition. Color me impressed." Tony stroked his goatee in thought. "Come here, sit on my lap. I want to look at you closer."

Long limbs and pale skin filled Tony's vision as Loki straddled his thighs. Once again Tony traced Loki's contours, a single finger slowly glided over his collar bone, circling his pectorals. He brushed his thumbs against Loki's nipples, causing the god to let out a whimper of need. Tony ignored him, a hand dipping lower to touch Loki's tense abs. He ignored the place Loki wanted him to touch the most and Loki did his best not to quiver under his soft caresses. Tony finally rested his hands on Loki's hips, idly reaching backwards to touch the dimples on the small of Loki's back and spread his legs further apart.

"Lovely, absolutely lovely. Such a contrast with who you are on the inside though. If it was effortless to look this good the concept of making one's self look good on the inside must be odd. It's common actually, a good looking person having a shallow, terrible personality. Not many have gotten so bad as you though."

"How did you avoid it?"

"Look at you using that silver tongue of yours." There was a glimmer in Tony's eye that almost looked proud. It made Loki feel bold.

"I've been told I have quite the talented tongue."

"And you're flirting? You must be really happy to have me back home."

"I'm ecstatic." Loki admitted and Tony's eyes brightened as he laughed.

"Sir," Jarvis interrupted, "there is a disturbance on the roof."

"On screen." Tony leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on Loki's thigh. The god tensed up when the screen flickered to life showing the crown prince of Asgard. The blond was hitting the lone door on the roof.

"He is requesting access and wants me to warn you of Loki's presence. He has tried contacting SHIELD, but I have blocked all outgoing communications."

"No, please… Tony don't let him take me back!" Loki curled up around Tony, burying his face in the crook of the engineer's neck. "If I'm captured I don't know how long it will take for me to escape again- They might decide to just execute me-"

"Shh, calm down Bambi." Tony crooned to the god while rubbing his back soothingly.

"Please, Tony! I don't want to go! I don't want to be alone again!"

"Hush. I need you to be strong and confidant."

"Confidant?"

"Yes, confidant, if not in yourself than in me." Tony glided his hand up until it was resting on the back of Loki's neck, massaging it gently. "Can you do that, for me?"

"Yes, I just-"

"I know. You need to get dressed." Tony pulled Loki down until their lips met. "J, let Flash Gordon in and direct him to the penthouse."

"Yes Sir."

"I don't want to be alone again, please Tony-"

"I won't tell you again to be quiet. You're acting childish, which is really disturbing considering you're sitting on top of me naked with an erection." Tony patted Loki on his thigh. The god bit down on his tongue, silencing himself. "Good, go get dressed. Wait down here until I call for you. I know you're not usually strong and confidant, but that's exactly what I need you to be when blondie sees you. I have a plan. Okay?"

"Okay." Loki took in a long breath before untangling himself from Tony.

"And Loki…" The god turned away from his neatly folded pile of clothes, looking at the engineer questioningly. "Everything is going to be okay."