Reluctantly Loki made his way downstairs, where a very angry Odin was waiting for him.
"What have you been doing? I called out for you ages ago! You've left your poor mother and dear Jane to do everything! I hope you realize how selfish you're being." Odin exclaimed, ignoring Frigga's reassurance that it was fine.
"I was talking to a friend." Loki replied indignantly.
Odin snorted. "You don't have friends, Loki."
Loki just ignored him, and walked on into the living room, where Thor and Jane were now cuddling together on the couch whilst watching a movie.
"Brother!" Thor greeted enthusiastically. "We have not spoken recently."
"Yes, I know." Loki replied absently. "Do you have any idea about what time the others are coming over?"
"Around six, I believe. Are you as excited as me to see the family again?"
Loki scowled at the question, and at the fact that Odin had lied to get him downstairs. It would be another 45 minutes before anybody arrived. "If you're so excited that you'd rather partake in a week-long defence course than see them again, then yes, I am. I think you're forgetting that they're not even my family."
"Loki…" Thor started.
"Thor…" Loki mocked. "They never have been, and they never will be. You have fun with Jane, I'll be in the gym." He said, storming out of the room.
Jane turned her head so that she was looking up at Thor. "Is he usually like this at home? He's different at school."
Thor sighed, and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. "Yes, I'm afraid he has been. He was like this at school, too, until he met Anthony."
"They're good for each other." Jane stated, her small body surrounded by the warmth of Thor's.
Thor made a sound of agreement, before kissing Jane's forehead and watching the movie.
After hearing Frigga call out for him once again, Loki descended the stairs as slowly as possible, dreading the moment when he would find himself seated at the table, surrounded by family members he despised (Frigga and Thor being the sole exceptions to this rule). Odin's parents Borr and Bestla were joining them for dinner, and everyone – Jane included – was expected to sit and dine with them.
Loki jumped down the last three stairs, landing without too much noise and then proceeded into the kitchen to help Frigga set out the plates.
"How much longer?" He asked in an undertone as Odin, Thor and Jane entered the dining room.
Frigga turned and frowned disapprovingly at him. "Loki, you could at least pretend like this isn't some huge trial to the death," She admonished, but without conviction. "They'll be here in ten minutes."
Loki grimaced inwardly as he fetched the salt and pepper shakers from the pantry and gathered a bunch of cutlery to lay out on the table, then made his way through the door-less arch that separated the kitchen and dining room. He laid out the utensils without incident and then retreated into the kitchen for the few remaining minutes he had until he would plaster a charming smile on his face and wait for the night to be over
The doorbell clanged suddenly, and Odin went to let in his parents with shouts of "Mother! Father! Welcome!" as he opened the door for them.
Loki dipped his head cordially when they entered the dining room, and offered them seats before taking his own which happened to be as far away from his grandparents as he could physically be.
The meal progressed quite well with Thor carving the roast chicken and Jane making polite conversation with the family until Bestla decided it was time to acknowledge Loki.
"You've gotten skinny," she announced, chewing a mouthful of chicken with particular relish. "Nothing like Thor over here in fine health. It's a wonder you get anything done like that… Speaking of which, what are you doing with your life?"
"Aye, last we heard you had some ridiculous notion about going to Thor's college – as if!" Borr scoffed, laughing with Bestla. Odin chuckled nervously, and Loki took great enjoyment in correcting them.
"Actually, I am also an attendee of SHIELD College. I was selected for an intellectual scholarship, and was pleasantly surprised to find that Thor had passed his entrance exam."
Borr's expression soured, and he stabbed a piece of asparagus with overt aggression. "Lucky. If it were me, I wouldn't be paying for any of your school fees you've got no plans for your future anyway. What was it you said you wanted to be?" He looked to Bestla for help, not quite being able to remember.
"A psychologist," She supplied with a smug stuffing-laden grin.
"Exactly, a pansy psychologist." Borr shook his fork at Loki, who silently clenched his fists under the table. "There's no money in psychology! You'd end up on the streets, or come crawling back to your good family for forgiveness."
Loki breathed deeply through his nose and focused on cutting up one of his potatoes, not able to look up and the apologetic expression on Frigga's face or the suitably pleased one plastered on Odin's face.
The doorbell ringing interrupted Bestla's intake of breath to find further faults in Loki, and he practically knocked over his chair in his haste to open it.
"Did you invite anyone else?" Frigga asked Odin, who shook his head.
"I'll get it," Loki called, having already left the room. Any respite from the barrage of criticism was welcome, and he took his time walking to the door.
When he opened it, his jaw was in danger of dislocating from having fallen open so fast. Loki glanced over his shoulder, out of paranoia, already knowing that there was no chance of any other relations following him to the door, and then stepped out onto the doorstep shutting the door quietly behind him.
"What are you doing here?" He hissed, eyes wide.
Tony smiled easily and placed a hand on Loki's hip. "Oh, thanks, I missed you too!" He chuckled quietly before kissing Loki. Tony leaned back and took in the expression of quiet horror that had set up camp on Loki's features. "I… I thought you'd want to see me…?" Tony trailed away, rejection swelling up in his chest.
"Of course I do, you idiot!" Loki smoothed Tony's shirt collar soothingly and kissed him to reassure him. "There is just the small problem of my family who are all stuffy bastards."
Tony grinned at this, and pulled Loki closer to him on the doorstep. "Then perhaps it's time to knock the stuffing out and tell them?" He suggested.
Loki scowled at him, and pulled out of Tony's grasp on his hips. "Absolutely not."
Tony quirked an eyebrow, "You'll have to tell them sooner or later-"
"Yes, but I'd rather it was later."
Tony huffed out a small laugh. "Well go back in and make your excuses – I'm taking you out."
Loki's face broke into his first genuine smile in several days. "Thank god," He sighed, opening the door a fraction.
"And make it snappy – it's freezing out here!" Tony whispered at Loki's back as the door swung to again.
Upon entering the dining room again, Loki was met by inquisitive looks, with everybody's eyes on him.
"Who was that, Loki?" Frigga asked, trying to get a look out the window to see who was there.
"A friend of mine." Loki answered. "And I'm about to go on a walk with them now, actually."
"This friend wouldn't happen to be a woman, would it?' Bestla cut in. "Or would that be asking for too much?" Both her and Borr burst out laughing at this
Loki didn't bother to grace them with an answer. "See you all later, then." He said stiffly, before grabbing his coat off of the back of his chair and making his way back towards the door.
"Wait a minute, young man. Who said you're going anywhere?" Odin snarled, standing up.
Loki glared. "I said."
"This a family occasion, Loki."
"Yes, but in case you hadn't noticed – I'm not actually related to anyone in this room." Loki pointed out as icily as possible.
Frigga buried her head in her hands and Thor sighed, whereas Bestla and Borr looked outraged.
"You dare speak to your father like that? After everything he's done for you?" Bestla exclaimed.
"Everything he's done for me?" Loki repeated, letting out a harsh laugh that sent shivers down Thor's spine. He'd heard that laugh many times, and it never had a good outcome. "What, like continually make me feel absolute shit about myself and not once bothering to compliment me? I don't know what sort of delusion you have in your head, but that's all it is – a delusion." Loki replied angrily, his voice ice cold and low.
"You-" Odin began, fuming.
"No, Odin." Loki spat. "We both know it's true, so there's no point in arguing with me."
"You really think you can just leave?" Odin seethed.
"You really think you can stop me?" Loki retorted. "I'm going out for a walk with one of my friends. Hardly illegal, don't you think?" He added.
"Loki-"
"No." Loki interrupted firmly. "We're done here."
He didn't bother listening to the other's responses as he threw open the front door and stormed out onto the street.
Thank you for your lovely comments! Also, if anyone has any ideas about what Loki and Tony should get each other for Christmas, it would be deeply appreciated. And who do you guys think should top in this relationship?