Radioactive Mirrors Chapter Eight –

Loki lay on his bed, feeling more than listening to the steady thrum of the music below. About an hour into the party, Bruce had come up to say hello, but promptly left when Loki screamed at him. Tony was late. He wasn't coming. Loki tried to be pissed off, but couldn't help but worry. Several times he had almost got up to check if Tony was okay, but knew it wouldn't be helpful for him to show up at his door.

He lay there for another ten minutes. Nothing. Then five- still nothing. Then finally after sixteen minutes exactly, he had been watching the clock like a hawk, the doorbell rang over the music.

Loki waited impatiently. The last fifty rings hand been Anthony. He wasn't coming.

He jumped up from the bed when he heard a knock on the door an Tony stepped through. "Hey Loki, what are yo-"

"Anthony!" Loki said in surprise. "I didn't think you were coming."

Tony laughed and leant casually against the doorframe. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of jeans. He had changed Ito a dark red t-shirt and underneath had a longer sleeved black on that was pushed up to his elbows. He didn't look like something had happened to him, so either he was a good actor, or Loki had been worried for no reason.

"'course I was coming"

"Took your time."

"Yeah." Tony looked away shyly. "Howard kept me for a while..."

"You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." he said quickly, flashing Loki one of his charming smiles.

"Please tell me Anthony."

"Really, I'm fine. He didn't touch me." he said as he walked over to Loki on the bed.

"That doesn't mean you're okay. What did he say?"

"He... Just got a bit... Cross with me staying over here last night. That's all, like I said, I'm fine."

Loki took Tony's hand and pulled him against his chest. He held him there while he pleasured Tony's mouth, drawing long moan from the boy.

Tony opened his mouth as he felt a Tongue probe at the entrance to his mouth, moaning a little more when he felt Loki's inside his, battling with his own.

Loki pulled away breathless, and rested their foreheads together. "Want to go downstairs? I think I need to apologise to Bruce."

Tony nodded then lifted a hand to wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth before grinning. "So, after what you said this morning, are we not keeping this secret anymore?" he smiled and raised his eyebrows.

"Not unless you want to."

"Oh no, I want to show you off." he walked seductively back over to Loki and placed his hands on his waist. "I want to dance too."

Loki kissed him quickly before allowing himself to be led into the crowd of people downstairs.

As soon as they reached the spot where most people were dancing, Tony pulled Loki close to him and started to move his body to the beat.

Loki raised his eyebrows in amusement.

"Come on," Tony smirked. "Dance with me."

"I really think I should find Bruce first."

Tony stopped and pulled a face. "Fine, come on then." He looked around until he saw Bruce then grabbed Loki's hand and pulled him over.

"Oh, hey guys." Bruce said as he saw the two approaching. He was standing with Clint, Natasha and Phil.

"Sorry for shouting at you earlier. Bad time."

"No problem..." He glanced down and smiles when he saw Tony and Loki's hands entwined. "So, you okay now then?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Good."

"I don't believe we've met." Loki smiled charmingly at Natasha, out stretching his free hand.

She glanced down at his hand then looked back up and nodded at him. "Hey, I'm Natasha. And you are...?"

"In my house without knowing my name, and not shaking my hand when offered to you. I see your manners have no end." Loki said not unkindly, withdrawing his hand. "You may call me Loki."

"Oh, Thor's brother!" Clint said from next to her, smiling at him.

"Actually no. I take more of an unpaid babysitter role."

Only Tony laughed at that as he used his free hand to touch Loki's shoulder.

"Yeah, he is. How are you guys?"

From the tone of his voice, you'd have never guessed anything had happened to him.

Loki shot him a glare as Clint spoke. "Oh yeah, great." He gave Loki a weird look.

Tony looked between the two oddly, all of them standing in an uncomfortable silence, until Phil broke it by asking the obvious.

"So uh, why are you guys holding hands?"

"Because it allows us to share a telepathic connection and have a secret conversation that none of you know about."

They all gave Loki an odd look.

"Uh, yeah, that and we're together. That should've been obvious Coulson." Tony said with a smirk.

"Anthony! Don't be so mean." Loki scolded. When he got funny looks back he held their hands in the air. "Telepathy." He explained.

"I'm sorry, I thought this was okay, seeing as Odin seems to know now?" Tony asked, sounding a little hurt.

"No, what you said about Phil and Clint."

"Yeah, I got that. But you didn't even back me up on my point there..."

"Well you distracted me."

"How?"

"With making fun of those two."

"I wasn't making fun of them- Phil, Clint, I wasn't, was I?"

"Not out loud."

"What? I wasn't even... What are you on about?"

"Don't play dumb, they already know about the telepathy."

Tony pulled a pissed facial expression then sharply pulled this hand away. "You know what? Fuck you. I've had a bad night as it is without you being stupid at a serious moment." He said before walking away from him.

"Anthony!" Loki turned and followed him.

But Tony ignored him and tried to run upstairs. He ended up going into Loki's room before cursing and trying to leave it but Loki was already at the door.

"Anthony." Loki put his hands on Tony's hips. "What really happened earlier?"

"He just... He just said things." Tony felt his voice crack and looked away.

Loki took him by the hand and pulled him down to sit beside him on his bed. "What did he say?"

Tony groaned and placed his head in his hands before threading them through his hair. "He... Degraded me. Told me I'm worthless. Told me..." He trailed off and bit his lip as if to stop himself from saying something.

"Anthony?"

Tony took a deep breath and looked directly away from Loki. "He told me that you were only using me for Odin's leverage over his company... Blamed me for being gay..."

"You don't really think that?"

Tony shrugged. "Well you weren't exactly up for telling my friends about us a moment ago..."

"That's not true." Loki lifted his finger to Tony's chin and turned Tony's head to face him. "Anthony, I want to be with you." Loki brought their faces close together and kisses him softly on the lips.

"Then why didn't you take it seriously a moment ago? I haven't even come out to my friends yet, and you turned it into a joke."

"You... Anthony I had no idea." Loki pulled back, staring fine at his lap. "I'm so sorry, you didn't need this."

"No, I didn't." Tony looked down at the floor. "It's fine. They knew we were childhood friends so I guess they'll just think that we were playing around or some... thing..." he trailed off as he looked up to see Bruce, Clint, Natasha, Phil, and now, Steve too, at the door.

"Hey Tony, Loki, are you two okay?" Bruce asked as he walked into the room.

"Yeah, we're coming now."

Bruce smiled and looked at the others who paused a moment before all leaving to go downstairs, stopping when Tony spoke.

"Wait!"

They all turned to look at him.

"Loki has something to tell you." he turned to give Loki a look, but nodded to say that he wanting him to say they were together.

"I..." Loki looked at Tony in panic. It's not that he was embarrassed, or he didn't want them to know, it was just that for once in his life, Loki didn't know what to say. "Nothing. Let's go."

As he stood up, pulling an upset Tony with him, he whispered "wait" in his ear before leading him down the corridor after Tony's friends.

Tony nodded then blushed and looked down at the ground as he thought that even though he wanted to tell them, that Loki may not have wanted to. He pinched the bridge of his nose and cursed inwardly but followed them all the same. That was actually something else Howard had said to him, that he hadn't mentioned to Loki because deep down, despite all his efforts, he knew it was true; he always screws up relationships.

As soon as they were in the living room however, full of Thor's friends (so most of their year at school), Loki span Tony round, pinned him against the wall, and kissed him vehemently.

Tony's eyes widened in shock a moment, darting around the room to see that some people had noticed but he didn't care. This is what he was trying to tell his friends, so he may as well tell everybody at the same time. He shut his eyes and kissed Loki back quickly, wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him in closer.

"I'm sorry." Loki pulled back just enough to whisper in Tony's hair.

"Its okay." Tony said with a smile before flipping their position and attaching their mouths again.

Loki laughed into Tony's mouth and kissed him back until he felt Tony pulling away and saw his brother standing behind them.

"Brother? "

Tony just stood there like a deer caught in headlights, not really knowing how Thor was going to react, given that he had just seen him and his brother going at each other."Thor."

Thor wrapped an arm round each of them and pulled them both in for a tight bear hug. "Make my brother happy Tony. I know you will. I told you didn't i?"

Tony laughed nervously then cautiously patted Thor on the back. "I will... You're okay with us then?"

"Of course. It's just... I hope he's not a bad influence in you."

Loki snorted but Thor didn't hear. Tony noticed and smiled, pulling away from Thor and taking Loki's hand. "Oh I doubt that'll be a problem."

"Oh really?" Loki raised an eyebrow.

Tony winked at him.

"I'll have you know, I can be an absolutely terrible influence."

"I know that, I have been your friend since we were little Lokes." Tony rolled his eyes.

"Good. Just so you know."

Tony smiled then looked over to his group of friends who were either smiling At them or smirking at the reaction their kiss had had on everyone else at the party.

"Drink?"

"Love one." Tony smiled at Loki then he nodded at Thor and they walked off.

Loki wrapped Tony's arm around his waist and leant into his side

"So that went well." Tony said after they had walked in silence or a moment, though not an uncomfortable one.

Loki chuckled, pouring them both drinks. "I thought Thor was about to punch you at one point."

"So did I." Tony grimaced at the roughly then smiled. "Not that I would've minded. I'd have fought him for you." he added cheesily with an elbow nudge.

"He'd have beaten you."

"You doubt my fighting skill?" Tony mocked shock.

"I doubt your brawn. I'm sure if you used your amazing intellect to build some kind of... Super suit that shot lazers and blew stuff up, then you could beat Thor." Loki turned and leant against the kitchen counter, taking a sip from his red cup.

Tony seemed to think about that for a second before nodding to himself. "Yeah... That'd be quite cool. Then I could put Jarv inside and have screens in the helmet. And it would be made of Iron... No, a kind of gold titanium alloy would work better. Although I'd paint it red: my favourite colour."

"Anthony, you're not seriously thinking of making a metal suit just to fight Thor are you? And why would you want the gold in there? Why not just go for pure titanium. It would be lighter."

"Hmm? Oh it wouldn't be just to fight Thor." He chuckled. "I don't need to, now that I have his apparent approval. But it'd be fun; a challenge! Something else to. Take my mind off... You know what..." He blushed slightly and glanced away.

"Hey." Loki nudged his side. "Forget about Howard and had some fun for a little wont you?"

Tony smiled but then it turned into a predatorial grin as we walked over to Loki, placing his hands on the counter behind him on either side so he was trapped within his arms. "I think I can do that if I have you here, babe."

An eyebrow twitched and Loki smiled. "Did you say something about dancing?"

Tony smirked. "That I did."

"Well then, shall we?"

"Hell yes." Tony grinned and, taking Loki's hand, pulled him to the main room.

Loki's dancing was not at all how Tony expected.

It consisted mainly of snake like hip movements, of which Tony could not take his eyes off, and other complicated dance moves.

"Holy fuck, you can dance."

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I am... Actually struggling not to have dirty thoughts about this." Tony said before blushing when he realised he said it out loud.

"What? Even when I do this." Loki pulled Tony's body flush against his and continued to move his hips to the music.

"Fuck..." Tony moaned then grinned and started to basically grind against him in time to the beat.

-Page Break-

"Wow, he's really going for it there." Bruce said, raising an eyebrow at the couple's dancing.

"Which one?" Steve had joined them now and was leaning against a wall with Bruce, both preferring to give the makeshift dance floor the widest birth possible.

Bruce laughed then looked away shyly. "Both of them really."

"I really have no respect for modern dance."

"Me too." Phil said, stepping forward with a smile aimed only at Steve.

Steve moved over so there was room for Phil between him and Bruce

"So do you think Tony's serious about this? I mean, he hasn't exactly had great runs with his exes..."

"I don't know. We don't really know this Loki kid. I mean, has Tony even mentioned him before?"

"Nope. Well... He mentioned a few time to me about a guy he knew as a kid who he was great friend with but he moved away so... That could've been him?" Bruce pushed his glasses up his nose and glanced back at the two dancing.

"Woah... This is weird."

"Agreed. Maybe we should.. Y'know, stop watching them?" Phil asked right before Clint came up behind him and Steve, making the two jump as he hooked his arms around their shoulders.

"So, what's up with Tony? Is he coming out or something?"

"Weren't you there?"

"Yeah, I just wondered if he was or if this is just a one night drunken attention seeking escape or something?"

Bruce and Steve both gave Clint a look.

"No, I'm pretty sure it's legit. They've been flirting all week."

"That's surprising." Clint shrugged. "And here I thought he was a Ladies man."

Bruce shrugged. "Maybe he's both."

"Could be..." they all thought for a second in silence. "Ah well, whatever he is, let's just leave him to it. I dint really want to sped my night watching... That." Clint pointed to Tony and Loki before pulling a face then walking away to find Natasha.

Steve sighed and took a sit of his drink.

"Why don't you dance Steve?"

"Well... I don't really know how to and..." he blushed slightly and smiled. "Im waiting for the right partner."

"You don't need to know how." Phil said

Steve smiled at him then shrugged. "I meant proper dancing, bit like..." he blushed as he pointed to Tony and Loki.

"It's not too hard. We could do it. Dance I mean. I promise it's not hard. Maybe a little."

"Uhh... Sure." Steve smiled at him.

Phil's eyes widened as Steve let him pull him into the centre of the crowd, leaving Bruce standing alone, watching in bemusement.

He had been standing there all of five minutes before a girl with long dark shiny hair came up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Is this space taken?" Bruce shook his head and moved up. "My friend made me come here with her. I guess you don't like the crowds either, huh?"

"Nah, I'm not really too fond of them. They make me... Anxious. I only came here to be with my friends but they're all kinda busy." he glance over at the two dancing couples and smiled. "I'm uh, Bruce, by the way."

"I know. I mean, not that I'm a stalker or anything, you just sit in front of me in biology. I'm Betty. Hi."

Bruce smiled shyly. "So uh, Who is the friend who made you come?"

"Oh, um Peggy. She's trying to get me to be more sociable."

"ah right. Cool." Bruce smiled then they sat in a moment of awkward silence.

"So, you're friends with Tony Stark."

"Y-yeah, since primary school." Bruce smiled.

"Peggy tells me he's a bit of a ladies man."

"Well... He was. Not so sure now though." He nodded towards Tony who was still dancing with Loki, although they had tone done of the sexual stuff and it was slower and more... romantic? Bruce couldn't believe what he was watching.

"I'd ask you if you wanted to dance, but I really don't think you want to." Betty smiled at him.

Bruce looked straight at her, a little shocked at her suddenness but smiled shyly. "I-I wouldn't mind, you know, if you wanted to I mean." he said while rubbing the back of his neck hopefully.

"Really?"

"Sure."


Not sure when the next will be up, but most probably either Thursday or a week on Tuesday... Unless something comes up in the mean time. Anyway, thanks for staying with this fic! I hope the long gap hasn't confused anyone who was reading it a while ago and forced to suffer the momentary hiatus.