Step Three

"The official announcement"

Pepper was skeptical, as she was sitting in Tony's living room with a latte in her hands. The latte was made by her ex-boyfriend, who didn't even rely on FRIDAY to make it. He did it by himself from scratch and admitted that he had to learn how to make a variety of coffees ever since he and Loki become friends.

"So, how long is it going?" Pepper asked as Tony sat across her. "You and Loki."

"Well, we've been friends practically from the first day he got here with Thor and I started to have feelings for him about four months into our friendship. But we're official boyfriends for a little over three weeks." He replied with a wide smile on his face.

Pepper looked at him in wonder. She never saw him smiling like that before. Not even when they were together. The happiness was radiating from every fiber of Tony's body. It's like he couldn't contain it in himself. Pepper should be jealous, maybe even she was in a small bit. She loved him after all and he claimed he loved her as well. But it was obvious their love wasn't as strong as this one.

The way Tony spoke about Loki… it seemed that he was his other half. He matched him in ways Pepper never could.

"I'm sorry," Stark spoke, biting down on his lower lip. A tick he used whenever he was nervous. Yes, the great Tony Stark was nervous in several aspects of his life. "It must be weird for you."

"A bit," she admitted. "But Tony, before we were together, we've been friends for years. Just because we've broken up that doesn't mean we need to stop being friends, right? I can see you're happy with him and I still care for you, Tony. I want you to be happy. And if the ex-villain gives you this happiness than I'm ok with it. Really."

"Thanks, Pep," Tony grabbed her hand in his and squeezed. "It'd suck if I'd lose you as my best friend. I still love you."

"I love you too, Tony." Stark opened his arms widely and looked knowingly at his friend. Pepper gave him a quizzical stare. "Won't your boyfriend be jealous?"

"Nah, he knows I'm faithful to him." Pepper gave him a small smile and leaned into his embrace. The hug was nice but different than what they used to share. It was truly friendly and lasted a few seconds. When Tony pulled away from her he had a shark's grin on his face. "I need your help, Pep."

"Ah yes, the announcement… what do you want to announce?"

"You see, Lokes is a prince and Thor explained to me how this whole courting looks like in Asgard." Tony started. "It's kind of complicated and has a few steps. I already gifted him with something of great value and proved myself to be able to protect him and give him a good life. But now it's like the next big step. I need to announce our courtship to the public, as to prove both how serious I am about him and my loyalty to him. It's kind of middle age, but I want to do good by him, you know. He's so worth it."

"You truly are in love with him."

"You know me, I never was good in love and relationships but...with Loki… I don't know," Tony went silent for a moment before he added. "It's different. I'm different around him, I can tell. I never felt like this before and it's crazy but so good. I don't know how to properly explain this, Pep, especially to you."

"It's called being in love, Tony." She stated with a wide grin. Tony was so gone for Loki. It was fun to watch him like that. "You have it bad for him. Oh dear, the media will go crazy."

"Yeah, about that," the engineer. "I need you to get the biggest media in the city to SI lobby for a conference. I know you're the CEO, but I'd like to announce it."

"Should I alert the media you'll about to blow their minds?"

"Nah, let it be a surprise." Pepper nodded to that. "Organise the conference for introducing the new idea for Stark Industries. We start an internship program for youngsters, for kids in high schools to get the most prominent minds. And I'm going to introduce the first three in the program. Peter, Michelle, and Ned."

"Peter Parker?" Tony nodded to that. "Isn't that a bit biased of you to get him an internship?"

"His mind is brilliant, Pep. I haven't seen such a gifted kid in… like ever. And Michelle...she's brilliant as well and this Ned… he's great in technology… I daresay in a few years those three could easily rival with me." Now that was something Pepper thought she'll never hear. Someone could rival Tony's skills and intelligence and Stark was admitting it himself. Dear lord, it was the end of the world. "Those kids deserve to get help to expand their skills. We need more smart people like that to help this world. Who knows, maybe one day we'll get to have some intern who will fix the global warming problem? Or discover a medication for cancer that is one hundred percent sufficient? Maybe those interns will find answers to every problem that we will face in the future? Who knows?"

"Wow… that's… did you write it down or just speak your mind?"

"You know me, Pep, I never write it down to read later." they both laughed out loud. "So, what do you think, Miss CEO?"

"The idea about the internships is great and we have different departments of SI so I think it would be wonderful." Pepper agreed with him. "And about you and Loki?"

"Oh, after I do this with you by my side I will smoothly move to my love life."

"Ok, give me three days and I'll arrange the conference."

"Three days."

True to her words, Pepper arranged a conference on Tuesday afternoon to announce a new internship program for gifted youngsters in Stark Industries. Tony was a bit nervous. First, he was to announce he's off the limits for anyone now and two, Loki was right beside him and did not have a single clue what Tony was going to say. At least not any more than the internship part. Stark looked to the side where Peter stood with his friends. He explained to the kid the second part of the conference and by extension to his friends so they wouldn't be as much surprised like others. The three kids were very happy when Tony along with Pepper showed up in their school two days ago and offered them the summer internship in the Stark Industries. Miss Potts explained to them how the program will look like and all of them were happy to participate in it. Tony never wanted to be a teacher, but he was looking forward to working with those kids.

"We're starting in a minute," Pepper came out from the room. "Come on, guys."

Tony let the kids walk in first, then he held the door open for Loki. The mage gave him a confused look.

"Come on, Reindeer Games, I need you in there with me."

About a half of hour later, when Pepper was done with explaining the whole program to the media. She gave the final voice to Tony, who wanted to personally introduce some people.

"Hey," he turned to the reporters, spotting a few familiar faces. There was, of course, Christine Everheart, Mike from TMZ, Lana from Rolling Stones, Justin from New York Times, Clare from channel 5. So many familiar people. "I haven't really talked to you in a while. But you know, I stopped being the CEO of SI a while ago, however, I'm still an active member of the board, despite me being also an avenger. But I didn't want to talk about it. I'm very pleased to announce the first three interns of the Stark Industries' program for gifted youngsters. Ladies and gentlemen, please meet, Michelle Jones, Ned Leeds, and Peter Parker. Stark Industries is very happy to have discovered these three young people. Their minds are beyond brilliant and it will be an honor for me to work with them."

A flash of lamps blinded him for a moment. In such moments he hated not wearing his sunglasses. However, Pepper forbid him from it today.

"So, as this part is done, I would like to announce something else," his words confused a few reporters. "As you probably noticed, I've been spotted with someone recently. And before you ask, no Pepper and I are done for good. We're still friends though."

"Friends with benefits?" someone in the back asked.

"No. Just regular friends. But, I wanted to officially tell the whole world that from a while now Tony Stark is off the limits. I'm no longer a bachelor to be taken nor a playboy."

A few gasps of surprise went through the whole room.

"I would like to officially state that I am taken and I'm very happy in a courtship with Loki Friggason, a Prince of Asgard." Tony beckoned at Loki, who was standing in the doorway with his mouth agape. It was crystal clear he did not expect to be introduced as Tony's partner in such a manner. Pepper pushed him a bit forward with a smirk on her face. Loki walked towards Tony with wobbling legs. The engineer grabbed his hand in his and brought it to his lips to kiss it slowly. "Ladies and gents, Loki Friggason, my beloved boyfriend."

The surprise and adoration painted on Loki's pale face were so astonishingly adorable that Tony wanted nothing more but kiss him softly on his lips. Day by day it was harder and harder to restrain himself, but Tony was nothing in not adamant in courting Loki properly.

"Mr. Stark, are you gay now?"

"When's the wedding?"

"Isn't that the guy who invaded Earth?"

"Isn't he Thor's brother?"

These and many more questions were dropping in the room, but Tony paid them no mind, as he got lost in the green orbs of Loki. The sparks of happiness were dancing in them in oh so beautiful way.

"Why?" Loki whispered after Pepper shushed the reporters out of the room, promising them a quick statement of Tony sometime later.

"I wanted everyone to know that I'm yours only yours." Tony smiled coyly. "And that's how I roll here on Midgard."

"I'm your too, Anthony. Only yours, you sentimental fool."

"But I'm your sentimental fool," Tony couldn't resist grinning at his god before he pressed his face into the crook of Loki's neck. His arms embraced the raven-haired mage and squeezed him. If he still couldn't properly kiss Loki, the hugs given by the god were the second best thing in his book. Tony felt Loki's body shivering with laughter, as the man kissed the top of his hair.

God, he was totally in love with Loki. And now the whole world knew about it.

Later that day, after Loki retired to his apartment, Tony was standing by the balcony and gazing at the New York night lights. The view was truly marvelous, just like Loki stated only a few minutes before. With a glass of scotch in his right hand, he was thinking about everything regarding the courtship so far.

However, before he had a chance to dwell some more about it, he was interrupted by his phone ringing. He fished the phone from the pocket of his jeans and spotted Rhodey's photo on the screen. He quickly pressed the green button and wanted to greet his best friend. Alas, the colonel did not give him a chance to do so.

"I'm your fucking best friend! Your brother! And I have to learn about your new boyfriend form the TV?!"

To be continued.