Tony thought it would take him about twenty four hours to plan the perfect date. Instead it took him a bit closer to three days.
That Friday Loki came home covered in a layer of flour, butter, and his fingers were tinged red with cherry juice. Luckily he only left a thin trail of flour in his wake with Jarvis opening various doors for him on the way. Once in his apartment Loki went straight to the bathroom to shower. As he closed the door Loki found a suit hanging there. With a smile he asked, "Jarvis what's this for?"
"Tony figured that once you had a chance to bathe you could change into 'some fancy pants new duds.' His words. Once you're ready he intends to pick you up and start your date."
Loki washed and dried quicker than he originally thought he would. Soon enough he was ready in the dark green pants and coat. He even had a matching vest and a tie which was the same shade of black that he tended to wear back on Asgard. Though it was all much softer than what he had been used to on Asgard. It was an outfit which made him almost look like a prince.
When Tony arrived he was in a mirror image suit with the colors juxtaposed; black suit and green tie. "Hey."
"Hey."
The energy in the room was different than before. The two men didn't seem to know where to stand or where to put their hands. But no matter what the two were smiling wide.
Taking a tentative step forward Tony reached out and took Loki's hand. "Alrighty, my Keebler elf, we are gonna have a night out on the town. First I found a cute little hole in the wall family restaurant which I've heard good things about. Well I certainly read plenty of good reviews online. And Jarvis verified those reviews. Then we are gonna learn how to make some chocolate which I figured you'd like because of your sweet tooth and how you might be able to bring some more knowledge into Tea and Potions. So if you're ready to begin our night I think I'm ready."
Jarvis made sure a cab was waiting to take them where they needed to go.
They climbed in and listened to the quiet music the woman driving had on the radio. Every so often they turned to each other and flashed a smile. Tony would gently rub Loki's knuckles. And soon enough they stopped in front of a restaurant which seemed to be hiding amongst the other buildings around it.
The restaurant took up the first and second floor of a red brick apartment. The only way it could be set apart from the other apartments on the block was the wooden sign over the door which read, "The Eatery." Inside it was a cozy, low lit place with a few dark wood tables per room. Couples sat across from each other and their conversations crescendoed with instrumental music which was playing through strategically placed speakers.
Tony and Loki were led to a round table next to a large painting toward the back of the restaurant. Loki chose his seat first and chose the seat which left his back against the wall. Tony helped push the chair in and then sat down on his own.
They shared some crab stuffed mushrooms as Tony sipped on a glass of scotch and Loki drank a strawberry smoothie. For his entree Loki had a vegetable lasagna while Tony tore into a piece of steak. In between bites they shared stories about their day.
Loki talked about how he needed to add more flour into some cake batter but the mixer sped up too fast. He had created more dust and blobs of batter on the walls of his kitchen then actual cake during the last three hours he was open. He ended up throwing the batter out and cleaning every surface and corner of his kitchen before he left for home.
Tony talked about how he spent his afternoon working on and with DUM-E. The robot had been trying to hand him another motor oil smoothie but his arm froze before he could put the glass on the table. But whenever Tony tried to fix the joint DUM-E rolled away as he beeped frantically. "I essentially had to have a whole therapy session with this bot before he finally let me get close enough to tinker with him. He's fine now at least but damn he's stubborn."
"Stubborn just like his father," Loki said with a smile.
"Hey, I'm not stubborn. I'm...passionate or strong willed. Something with a positive spin."
After a bite into his lasagna Loki said, "You are determined, especially when you set your mind to do something. Which is something I appreciate in you and your bots. Without that determination a lot of your inventions wouldn't have made it into the world. That stubbornness is a strength in getting things done."
"I guess but it would be nice if my boys didn't inherit so much of that aspect of me," Tony mumbled.
For dessert they ordered a piece of lemon souffle, flan, and carrot cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Together they practically licked the plates clean before they paid and left.
The second portion of their date was in a large kitchen full of state of the art equipment. Everything seemed to sparkle and shine. And it was just the two of them learning from an expert chocolatier. Most of the process of roasting the beans and mixing the ingredients went over Tony's head but Loki looked like he was mentally writing everything down. And when it came to sculpting they landed on almost equal footing. They each took a premade brick of chocolate and sanded it down into the rough shape of a heart.
When they arrived back at the tower Tony walked with Loki in the elevator but didn't step out when they stopped on Loki's floor.
Loki looked back, "Coming?"
"I um would but I was thinking about being a proper gentleman at the end of our first date. You know, walk you to your door, make sure no ruffians or thugs get ya. And then I'd call or text you twenty four-ish hours later to see if you want to go out again."
As he rolled his eyes Loki pulled Tony in. "That sounds a bit convoluted and rather a waste of time don't you think? Besides we've already been sleeping together and I'd prefer to sleep again tonight. So let's change into the comfy pajamas that seem to be pilling up in here and have the perfect end to a wonderful night."
