Chapter 8 - All Night Long.

Tony had waited a year. It was an uneventful and tiring and he was overjoyed that it was nearly his 18th birthday. He was going to see his Loki again soon! It was so hard not seeing him and when you are away from someone for so long you realise how much they really mean to you. Tony had come to realisation that he loved Loki. Like proper love. He was so excited and nervous at the same time to tell him and he felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

It was also hard with Loki just leaving after they had just had sex for the first time and Tony was no longer a virgin and then having to wait a whole year to be able to do it again. Tony couldn't even think of having sex with anyone else, it seemed wrong.

He had, however, tried to make new friends. It hadn't gone as well as he had thought it would. He had been called big headed and arrogant and so he gave up pretty quickly and decided to make things up with Rhodey and Pepper.

They were more annoyed then he actually remembered but when he invited them to get coffee with him like they used to do when they were younger they had agreed and soon they had been acting like old friends again.

Tony hadn't realised how much he had actually missed them. He soon found himself chatting to them about everything and before he knew it he was telling them about Loki.

It felt good to tell someone, he had kept it to himself for ages and he quite liked that it was something that was only his but now whilst telling Rhodey and Pepper he realised he has bottled it up for too long and so he told them everything, about the clearing, about the day at the fun fair and others like that. He told them everything except them having sex, which would have been too awkward.

He wasn't sure what their reactions would be but he at least expected some small drama from Rhodey and frantic worrying from Pepper but he was pleasantly surprised when all he got was small questions like 'So, that's where you were going every day?' and 'Making friends without us... how did you manage that Tony?' Soon after the subject was dropped all together and they started talking about school and parents instead. It made Tony suspicious from their lack of reaction and wondered if they had already known somehow...

He sat on the log, which he hadn't been to in a few months. Even though he knew Loki wouldn't be there he still went there to use it as an escape from home like when he was younger; before Loki. The thought of the times before he knew Loki was strange to consider, he felt like he'd always known him and he couldn't imagine life without him.

Tony stared impatiently up at the darkening sky, it was finally his birthday and he just couldn't keep still whilst waiting for Loki to arrive. He noticed how cold it had gotten and that it was quite late, where was Loki? Tony sighed in frustration and sat down on the log. What if he didn't turn up? He promised he would be here and Tony trusted that. He will turn up, Tony reasoned with himself, he will.

Tony woke with a jump and focused his eyes on the something small in front of him, a snail, and it was right next to his face.

"Ewww." He complained loudly and got to his feet, rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands.

He looked around and saw the clearing; he must have fallen asleep... Oh.

Tony frowned as his eyes searched around and when they didn't find slick black hair or green robes he sat on the log heavily. He shivered from the chill from sleeping on the damp floor all night and wrapped his arms around himself.

A wave of sadness washed over him as the clearing started to blur. He would not cry. Loki might still turn up; he was probably just running fashionably late or something. He wouldn't leave Tony waiting, right?

Tony decided to wait for the day regardless if his parents started to worry where he was. He would wait because Loki would come.

5 hours later

Tony had taken shelter under a tree as it has started drizzling about an hour ago. He slouched against the bottom of it and wished for the millionth time he had brought food and water and blankets, oh and his mp3. All he wanted to do was drown himself in ACDC and Black Sabbath and wrap himself in blankets and definitely not cry.

Questions kept circling his head and were slowly driving him mad. Why isn't Loki here? Did he do something wrong? Was he bad at sex? Maybe he had hurt Loki and the boy hadn't said anything. Shit, what if that was the reason. He couldn't bear the thought of hurting his Loki. He hugged his knees to him and rested his head on them. He wouldn't leave until he turned up. He would not.

It was dark again and Tony had been here for two days. No one had come looking for him yet, or maybe they were looking and they just hadn't found him yet. He'd take a bet on the latter, his clearing was pretty hidden.

Where the hell is Loki? The one thought dominated Tony's mind. Tony felt like screaming and shouting but he knew that he was just overreacting, especially if this was Loki's way of telling him he doesn't want to see him anymore.

Tony finally gave in and felt the start of steady streams of silent tears fall down his cheeks. He let them fall freely and only moved to wipe them when they made his eyes sting. He curled up against the tree and put his arms around his knees. It was a while before Tony fell asleep.

Tony woke when something nudged against him and he heard the sluggish noise of someone talking but he couldn't hear what they were saying.

"Tony, Tony! Wake up!"

"Loki?" Tony said, half asleep and uncurling his body slowly.

"No, It's Pepper."

Tony's body stiffened and he couldn't stop the tears that suddenly burst out of him like a waterfall that had broken through a dam.

"Tony! Shh, it's okay."

He felt Pepper shift him into an upright position and sit next to him, curling an arm around his shoulders and tugging him close.

Tony buried his face in his hands and told himself to stop being so stupid. He took a big sigh and tried to wipe his eyes clear but found it hard with only his hand to do so with.

A tissue was suddenly pushed in his face and he looked up to see Rhodey crouching next to him, a soothing smile on his face. He took the offered tissue and dabbed his eyes with it.

"Alright, mate?" Rhodey asked.

Tony nodded shakily and took another sigh.

"Where is-." He tried but his throat croaked and he coughed dryly.

Pepper quickly handed him a bottle a water and Tony took it and gulped it down.

"Better?" Pepper asked.

"Yes, thank you." Tony nearly whispered. "Where are my parents?" He tried again.

"They are looking for you, in the city. We said we would go off on our own and look and of course we came straight here. We didn't think you would want your parents knowing about this place." Pepper said as she looked around the clearing, "I can see why you would come here; it's very calming and beautiful."

Rhodey moved and sat down on the other side of Tony so the three of them were rested against the base of the tree.

"Yeah." Tony sighed sadly.

"So, want to tell us what's going on?" Rhodey ventured hesitantly.

Tony looked at the sky and then back at the ground. He felt like crying again but he would try and hold it together, for everyone's sake.

"No." He finally answered.

A silence passed over them and Tony began to feel a bitter anger twist inside him. He needed to get out of this place, like right now.

He abruptly stood up and Rhodey and Pepper quickly followed.

"We should go, need to tell my parents I'm alright."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it, Tony?"

"Yes, Pepper. I'm fine."

Pepper and Rhodey shared a look.

"What. I'm fine, I promise." Tony scoffed and began walking out of the clearing.

Pepper and Rhodey looked worriedly at their friend but followed him in silence.

Tony walked briskly and never let Pepper and Rhodey quite catch him up. He ignored their small talk that they made to make it less awkward but frankly it was getting on his nerves. All Tony wanted to do right now was go to sleep in his nice, cosy bed and never get up again. Ever.

He vowed that day to never go back to the clearing again.