The declaration was followed promptly by a string of threats and warnings.
Come then a point of rather import.
"One more thing," Nick spoke on addressing Loki. "You made quite a name for yourself that last time. Someone's bound to recognize you at some point-"
"We know," Tony cut off assertively. "Give us a few days. We'll come up with something. A story-"
"I can get-"
"No. Let us talk it over. We've got some ideas of our own."
"…Fine." Loki takes in a strenuous breath readying for a wearing discussion as out the door Nick leaves. When browns meet him he hasn't a single coherent perspective on the subject to voice – instead the latter says:
"I'm starving. Let's find something to eat," getting up to his feet.
Loki hasn't a clue to when Tony's decided to suspend the topic and can only think right now to evade it because he hasn't the will neither to agree with Tony's previous suggestion nor to look for another, nor to eye the reason the whole notion disturbs him – he just follows Tony upstairs to the kitchen.
The latter pulls up his phone scouring various menus thinking what to get as Loki toggles on the kettle.
With a pack of pop-tarts in hand Thor approaches. Grinning widely, he speaks: "I'd say congratulations are in order," patting Loki on the back. Tony glances and he knows irked by the contact Loki'd grow. He'd move but Loki moves himself past Thor opening cabinets getting a cup and tea. There's mock in his tone responding:
"Oh, yes. I'm so looking forward to being a part of your wonderfully dysfunctional little team of brute-force." Tony smirks at the satire but he's not blind. Like the rest he knows Loki is non-too eager to being on the team, more than anything he believes this due to the feeling being mutual, excluding himself and Thor here.
And yes Loki'd thought it ridiculous initially but it's why the subject had been brought up, indeed. It was Tony's certainty in knowing of his inert despair with more or less the bleak lack of purpose, and maybe this isn't what he'd ever thought nor would want to work to but just as well Tony's confident it will make a significant change in the matter, in this pointlessness.
Perhaps Loki cannot see this now, and Tony wonders for a beat why at all he'd consented, insisted in fact.
…He knows somehow to the reason he's related, if Loki's giving it all a shot because he'd convinced him that day in the park,
or because of what he'd said that night…
"Do not be so negative, brother," says Thor chidingly. "It'll be just as the olden days, you and I, taking arms, fighting side-to-side."
"Hey, Thor," Tony interrupts because damn does he know the past is talk that Loki despises and the latter's so grateful he'd interjected for so close to snapping he comes just at that short, plain phrase. "What do you think we should have for lunch?" Loki puts his readied cup to the kettle's side and moves himself to Tony's, their arms touching in full as he leans back against the counter like him, though his arms fold crossly.
"Whatever suits your fancy, my friend," Thor beams. "Your quest against the enemy was surely wearing, but triumphant; you should treat yourself," he pops a tart into his mouth, crunching audibly, annoying Loki incredibly as that always does but Tony speaks distracting him.
"I agree there. What do you say?" They face one another and on Tony's lips a sly smirk plays. "Lasagna?"
How is it, Loki wonders, that with the so intricate and undecided conflicts of his mind abruptly it settles and like a young man new still to love all thoughts concurrently revolve about one topic, one person, so occupied smiling over the fact that somehow of all the foods he's had the pleasure, and displeasure, of tasting on this planet of an endless variety of cuisine, just that one they'd had all but five times Tony's determined – correctly and in spite the fact that this Loki's never verbally confirmed – he's liked the most.
It's so touching he knows not why and upon him it dawns there's things of each other they know so insignificant yet make such a difference knowing, as he does that despite his love for the band AC/DC and the guitarist Santana, Tony's actual favorite song is Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. As Tony takes note whenever Enigma's playing Loki pulls his headphones down. As Loki registers that no matter how many times Tony'd opt to leave on a Star Wars movie he favors still the original trilogy, though never puts it on, because the graphics are too old. Just as however many times Loki's ridiculed the sitcom Friends that whoever would play when they eat in the lounge, secretly he finds it amusing. That donuts to Tony were a fundamental dessert but that he'll only eat those sugar-glazed, or that if someone's brought a box of mini cakes Loki's already claimed all the red velvet. That every two or three hours Loki has to get up and walk, or that once or twice each week Tony has to climb to the roof at night.
Little things that speak in volumes how Tony beams when Loki's retort is a canny: "What? No cheese burgers?"
"I don't see a problem with having both."
They were subtle before with their eyes, their bodies. There's no subtlety nor discretion in the way they lean towards and gaze upon each other now, affinity and attraction so unrestrained and obvious Thor can all but take notice.
Such tremendous joy it brings him seeing this because there it is. What more proof would he need to be made more certain that Loki was not lost he was right where he wanted to be, he was not villainous when so adoring to another he can be, he was not broken nor hurting he was smiling wholesomely, genuinely. He could never for him have picked a better match than Tony,
and could never have guessed that all along this was all he needed.
The kettle clicks off breaking that hypnotized eye-contact. Loki moves to pour his cup as Bruce steps in from the lounge.
XXX
In his posture something's off, cautious. The expression of apprehension on his face as he approaches. "Hey, Tony?"
"Yeah?"
"Um, I was just, uh. Wondering where Pepper went." Thor's irked greatly by the mention whilst Tony's confounded by the question and Loki's anticipant to the reference.
To Bruce as it seems Tony's unaware of her departure he explains: "She's, uh. Not here. All her stuff's gone." [Oh.
Really?
…
Huh.] Loki looks at Tony in turn, searching his reaction. There is none.
"And Nat, uh. Went to. Meet up with her. Is…everything okay?"
A beat then Tony speaks, quite casually: "Well, we broke up. Last night." To his phone he looks back and Loki can't help tracing the lack of shock on Bruce's face, that then he tries to fake, crossing his arms and pinching his chin as he asks in a manner of concern:
"Why? What happened?"
"Just wasn't working out," Tony tells briefly. "I'm sure that was glaringly obvious." Off the counter he pushes after making the orders, pocketing his phone.
"No, actually. It hasn't," says Bruce with certainty that Loki scoffs and Tony doesn't comment, making for the candy cabinet. Bruce looks but Loki isn't looking back, stirring his cup and heading for the sink.
Oh it's well and clear what's long been implied and unsure why himself at this Bruce snaps – he turns to Tony. "So you're just gonna let her leave?"
"She's a grown-ass woman, Bruce," the latter bit back. "She can do what she wants." For the lift he heads with a pack of blueberries in hand. Midway he stops when in a rather scolding manner Bruce asks:
"You're not even gonna try and work things out?"
"Because that went so well the couple hundred first times?" he keeps his cool and ends with saying: "We're past trying," walking past him with Loki following closely.
"But-"
"But what, Bruce?" It's at his tone that Tony's snapped because what was with the abrupt contempt? Many times he's fought him and her and Bruce for most would sit and speak, calm, quiet advice just as well light not to pry he doesn't push.
You'd think this time maybe it's the finality of the situation and that she's left. No matter this parental tone of disapproval Tony's never received well.
Then Loki's hand is on his shoulder, squeezing gently where he speaks next knowingly. "Why don't you just ask what you really mean to, hm Doctor?"
For a second Tony's confused as slowly Bruce's features resolve the vexation in them then with dull discontent he's glancing between the pair, and Tony can hear the question coming.
"…Are you together now?"
"Yes," promptly he finds he's said and stunned greens at him glance. "Is that a problem?" firm voice dares for rejection, that Bruce at this point knows better than to give, shakes once his head. Tony nods satisfied but feels the need to point this out: "Not that it would've mattered if it was." For a beat he glances at Thor who's been silent and cares not venture through his thoughts, turns to leave and Loki wordlessly follows.