AN: Okay seriously my fanfiction account is freaking out a bit I think….for all those who didn't get an alert that my story had updated: I'M SORRY! It didn't send me one either and I only now get a message that I have a review which has been posted like ten hours ago. So I'm very sorry for all that….I have no idea why it is acting up, but I hope it will get fixed so it will not happen with every chapter. Considering this problem I will answer reviews in the next chapter, or put in an extra chapter just answering reviews.
Where the other two gods were rather slow in learning how to use modern technology Fenrir was rapidly picking up on the process. Perhaps it was because he was rather young in comparison and very smart, but all Tony knew was that he was having fun showing the kid all the awesome things he could do. Fenrir was particularly interested in the design table and he couldn't help but show him all the incredible things he had made. He never denied that he loved being idolized. Currently the boy was playing with the designs for a Stark building that was going to be built in England, London.
"You know, I don't really like this one." That really wasn't what Tony was going for.
"What do you mean?" To him it seemed like the perfect building. Aerodynamic, shiny and not to mention running on clean energy.
"I've seen pictures of England, all those buildings look older…this looks to modern to fit there."
"I'll have you know that there are also modern buildings in London, but what would you suggest then?" He stood across from the boy as he contemplated designs.
"More stone and less glass. Lower the building and build a large garden on the roof just like this one has." Tony considered it for a moment and then started working at the program to add the wanted details. It was a rough design and he would have to configure some data to see how it would work when you considered the different weather conditions it should be able to withstand. The result was a twelve story building with a Zen garden on top. If you took the garden away it looked a lot like the Stahlman building in Nashville.
"You really think this is a better design?" Tony questioned as he let the 3D image rotate above the table.
"I think so, yes." It really wasn't terrible to look at, but so very different from what he was used to building. His usual was modern with a lot of glass.
"I'll forward it to Pepper and let her decide which one she likes the best." Pepper had requested a transfer after their break up and he had now appointed her as the official representative in England for Stark enterprise. They rarely had to speak to each other and even less time meeting up. Happy had followed her to England, which felt like a harsh betrayal at first. Now he was just glad they both were happy in their new country. He had the Avengers and Loki to fall back on.
"Sir there is someone at the platform." Jarvis informed them, as they shut down the table.
"Who is it exactly and what are they doing on my platform?" It wasn't unusual for the team to use the platform to enter the building if they came by plane, or in Thor's case by hammer, but Jarvis usually used their names instead of being so vague.
"I believe it to be Queen Frigga, sir." Wow, when invited she really didn't wait weeks for the meeting. He wasn't exactly sure how happy he should be with that. He was technically sleeping with her son, after all. Fenrir however seemed to have no hesitations about greeting the tall woman in the room. Queen Frigga was an absolute beauty and radiated royalty. Her long blond hair was in a braid and her figure was the perfect hourglass. Even with the small wrinkles, betraying her age she looked stunning. Tony felt a little peeved that she was actually a little taller than he was. She was probably just wearing heels.
"Jarvis, has Loki been…."
"Don't worry Stark, I'm already here." Loki commented as he entered the room and proceeded to bow for his mother. Tony felt rather foolish for not even really greeting the queen. He wanted to go and bow as well, but when he saw the look in Frigga's eyes decided that he should just keep quiet.
"My son, since when do you feel the need to greet me so formally?" Loki seemed surprised at her words.
"I…" Tony did not even blame him for not finding the words to express what he was feeling. If he had been in the god's position he probably would not be able to find any words either. Fenrir seemed rather lost, standing at Frigga's side after hugging her and now seeing his father so demure.
"You have repented for your crimes Loki, what has passed is history, I just want my son back." She spread her arms and in the blink of an eye Loki was hugging her. It seemed such a heart breaking family moment that he started to inch his way out of the room. They deserved some quality time together.
"And where are you going Mr. Stark?" Damn, he felt like he had just been caught by his teacher passing notes to another student. Loki and Fenrir both looked at him puzzled, but Frigga seemed to understand his intentions and when she smiled at him she was even more beautiful. "I want to meet the man who is liked so much by both of my sons. That is a rather hard feat to accomplish, you know."
"I don't think there is much there that would interest you….MyLady?" Lord, the day had finally arrived when he showed some humility. Somewhere hell must have frozen over.
"Please, call me Frigga. And if my sons adore you there must be something redeeming about you."
"There is! He really has very cool computers and he made Jarvis. He also has an awesome suit!" Really, it took him only one day to corrupt the boy's language. Thank god he had laid of the swearing for a bit or Loki would truly kill him once Frigga went back home. Frigga laughed at her grandson's enthusiasm and just like that the ice was broken.
They had lively conversation at the dinner table, which was actually used for a change, and Tony was regaled with tales of Loki when he was just a boy. While Loki showed signs of a petulant teenager with the embarrassing stories, Tony knew enough to see the man was happy. For once the focus was just on him and he felt no need to compete with Thor over who did something better. He could only imagine what it must have been like for Loki, a shy and timid child, next to the boisterous Thor. He probably was never capable of saying anything without Thor claiming the attention once again. It wasn't necessarily the brother's fault, as he just didn't know any better, but it must have been annoying for Loki.
Frigga had an even more lovely personality and Tony felt a certain regret at seeing her leave that evening, but no matter what he said she would not accept the invitation to stay the night. Fenrir had disappeared a little earlier to his room with one of Tony's tablets to keep himself company. He had not been send away in particular, but the boy understood that the "grown-ups" needed to talk. Frigga informed Loki of all the things that had happened during his imprisonment and the time he had spent on earth and Loki told her of the happier moment in those years, as few as there were. Tony felt proud that Prancer and him mostly starred in those moments. The pain on the queen's face when he also told her that he would never return to Asgard ruined the moment however. He was glad she understood and did not press Loki to come back, but Loki clearly seemed torn between hurting his mother and hurting himself. When she assured him she just wanted to see him happy and would visit often the tension drained from his face though.
"That went very well, don't you think?" Tony commented as he sat back down on the couch after Frigga had left.
"Better than I could have imagined….I thought I had no one left…" It took a few seconds for Tony to understand what the god had murmured under his breath.
"Hey, don't talk like that okay. You have me, Fenrir, Thor and now your mother." Really, after all these weeks Loki still thought he couldn't count on him?
"I didn't mean here on Midgard, I meant in Asgard. Thor spends most of his time here so he doesn't really count for that."
"Oh, I have been meaning to ask you about that. You don't have to answer this, but what happened to Sigyn? I thought that was a pretty happy marriage." He almost regretted the words when a heavy silence reigned between them, but he really wanted to know. Especially if Loki was still married to her, because technically he would be cheating then. Somehow Tony didn't think that the god would be the one punished for the infidelity.
"Sigyn and I…were indeed happy. As happy as one can get at least in an arranged marriage. When our sons however were punished for my actions things could not go back to what they were. She never truly could forgive me for it and according to what I last heard she is now happily married to one of Asgards finest. A true Aesir." Loki didn't really look at him and it must have pained the god to admit he was the reason for the broken marriage. They had torn the entire family apart for one mistake. A mistake he had made. The god clearly needed to be distracted from whatever dark place he was heading.
"Well that's a good thing, because it mean I can do this." Trying to keep his hands from wandering too much he kissed Loki. The god was clearly surprised as it took him a moment to reciprocate. "You know we really should try that tie thing again…" Tony mumbled against the man's lips, curling one of his hands in the black hair in the nape of his neck.
"Really Stark, should have known you were one to enjoy the perverted things." Those long fingers came up to stroke his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
"I'm only doing it for you, you know." He groaned as one hand fisted his shirt, drawing him in even closer to the tall god.
"Of course, no one could ever tell you you're not an altruistic person." Damn, that hair was really soft.
"I'm of a very, very, giving nature. I could show you if you like." Why were they talking so much?
"I think we should move to a little more private setting for that…" Tony pulled the god up, not even stopping the kissing and walked them over to the bedroom. Thank god he knew the route with his eyes closed, otherwise this would have gone very bad, very fast. When Loki fell backwards on the bed he took a moment to admire his own handy work. The hair was messed up and his lips were swollen. Those beautiful eyes were nearly entirely black by the blown pupils.
"Are you sure?" Really this was going very fast all of a sudden. Just a day ago Loki was barely able to let him kiss him without stiffening and now this.
"I'd like to try." And with those words he suddenly found himself on his back with the god on top of him, kissing away any protests he might have come up with. Their shirts were quickly discarded and the new skin was being explored by lips and fingertips. It took Tony a lot of willpower not to flip the god on his back and take control, because he knew how that would end. He didn't think he had ever spent so much time on just exploring someone's upper half of their body. With one night stands he did not need to know where there were small scars on the skin, which birthmark was slightly elevated and which caused a dimple in the skin. When his hands trailed lower though he got the reaction he had been waiting for. The legs beside him tensed and the god hesitated with what he was doing.
"Okay, you are not ready." Loki pulled back from where he had been spending some quality time with Tony's neck.
"Since when do you tell me what I can and cannot do?" Tony really, really did not want to stop, but now it felt like Loki was only there with half his mind while the other part tried to keep from clamping shut. He wanted the god to be able to enjoy this without reservations about what was happening. They had made enormous progress in the past few days really, but now was not the time to rush this along. This was something worth waiting for. It was funny that all this was based on the fact that he knew Loki wanted him, while it sounded as if they were in a committed and loving relationship. While that thought didn't seem as frightening as it had looked a short while ago, they were not in such a relationship. He wasn't even sure Loki cared for him any more than just friends.
"Since this is a double act and I do not want to worry about hurting you." For a moment Loki looked hesitant.
"Don't worry Stark, you will not hurt me." He leaned forward again but Tony stopped him. He had caught that fleeting moment in those big green orbs. Loki was afraid of failure.
"Look we will get there okay…just not tonight. Don't worry about this: I'm not angry, nor disappointed. Only very horny to be honest." He almost thought he had ruined the moment with those last words but thankfully Loki let out a startled laugh.
"You truly are a strange creature Tony Stark." Tony almost whimpered at the loss of contact when Loki got of his lap, but he realized the god was just going to get changed into his night clothes. Deciding to do the same, he grabbed a couple of things he needed and disappeared into the bathroom. When he came back out Loki was already in the bed with his back turned to the spot Tony usually slept. He frowned when the god didn't curl up against him as he had been doing since that night Tony had stroked his hair to calm him down. Apparently his words hadn't really hit home hard enough and Loki still felt the need to close himself off. Too bad he was dealing with Tony Stark. Wrapping an arm around the god's waist he pulled the man flush against him.
"Night, Reindeer games." And with that the lights turned off for the night.
AN: A little longer to apologize for all the mess fanfiction caused with the previous chapter. I hope you guys liked this one as much as I liked writing it. historicn ashville. wordpress 2009/01/26/ the-stahlman-building/ This is btw the Stahlman building.