"…Well, I guess it's back to business as usual." Loki from his seat on the platform spared a pausing glance to the back of Tony's head before reverting again his eyes to his phone.

It'd been two days since Happy had been discharged. It's afternoon and Jarvis'd just notified Tony of the pdf forms Pepper needed revising, sent over without her personally coming or calling or even texting. ["So that's how it's gonna be between you?" It would seem.]

Again there was that urge to smile like something he found amusing,

much as there was in his chest a certain tension,

which intensified then when he turned caught sight of Loki, who behaved as though he had no reaction of his own to what Jarvis had said.

Though his and her relationship had ended and was at somewhat of an impasse, to get along still was a sure must because not only was it in thought near inconceivable but absolutely undesirable, that she no longer be in the business.

She would not quit not after so long and certainly not because of him. And he would not but ponder having someone else run things, however capable they'll claim he'll not trust them, not after Stane – he trusts her still and will.

So this needs to work.

"…Lokes." That tone, of caution, Loki knows.

"Hm?" Despite what Loki tells him of understanding, Tony acknowledges well his resent towards her, –

["Had it ever occurred to you, she merely charmed you into getting what she wanted?"]

["She hardly seems like your taste in company."]

["She doesn't know you…who you've become – she doesn't accept it, and you know."]

– from very early on come to think of it.

And he needn't ask why. Safe to presume it was as it was with everyone else – Loki's general disaffection towards everyone,

save him.

But it's that part that now is of clear reason that had likely been the why all along.

And of this he must be mindful.

"…Pepper's the," and Loki's looking at him now greens illegible but piercing. He speaks on. "CEO of Stark Industries. Our occasional, professional – strictly speaking – interactions, are unavoidable. Are you-"

"Alright with it?" Loki cocked an incredulous brow. With a light smile tilted then his head. "Now what kind of question is that?"

The kind Tony did not know the answer to, because Loki's indifferent façade he doubted sincerely.

As low Loki gazed, blinked, placed down his phone, said: "But that's not what you truly meant to ask." Forth he leaned elbows to knees green eyes grow distant, and he speaks. "To be transparently clear, Anthony, I despise that woman completely." [I can tell.] "Less as…your ex, and an unbearably aggravating character," Loki glared sardonic and at the humor Tony smiled, then greens fell denser as he added: "more as someone who'd within you instilled self-doubt; that's something I simply won't tolerate," at both the ferocity and the compassion in that gaze Tony's heart skipped a beat.

Then Loki's face softened, even smiled faintly. "…You are a difficult man," he says where Tony tenses. "You are…a gigantic, jumbled mess of thought and emotion, a loud, chaotic being – but you know what?" Loki held for a beat his gaze that was wary, searching; his was still, unwaning.

He tells him firmly: "I wouldn't have you any other way."

…And Tony wonders how that was the most romantic thing he'd ever heard let alone been told…

On Loki spoke, satire traced in the rhetorical question: "Would I rather you never spoke let alone crossed paths with her again? No, because that would imply," a pause Tony does not overlook. "…that I fear a reconciliation of any sort would take you back to her." Browns soften

and he wants to tell him that would never be, because he can see that of this Loki is fretting.

"However, let's be perfectly truthful, love. Your relationship had come to an end long before one week ago," [very true], "and I think we've numerous times established the reasons." [That we have…] "So to answer your question plainly: no. I don't mind at all your continued communication."

Tony doesn't believe that.

"That said," [his equivalent of a 'but'.] "I do expect her to behave in a less than forgiving manner for some time," [rest assured, she is], "denying every corner she'd turned wrong in a relationship that quite honestly never should have taken place." […

Yeah, maybe…]

"Do not let her harsh words or cold gaze faze you," browns snap back to greens that seek him, a tone that's stern yet placid. "It can upset you, fine, anger you, for a time," this phrase at paused though Loki in haste speaks on. "But you're not to hold yourself accountable, do you understand? She was leaving you. Remember that."

…

He does.

…

Back Loki rolled to his phone made busy, letting Tony think and he did, on every word, every phrase from Loki spoken, for a minute, then two, tracing, between the lines reading.

Loki's confident his words were of effect,

in secret hopes were enough,

in secret prays it's not of sorrow that Tony is silent,

not of her with questions, with asking

why she would leave him.

Because to ask that, implied he wanted her stay.

Damn Loki's mind to think this, fear this.

For all his claim on knowing him, seeing him so well, why always must in this the truth elude him?

The wheels of Tony's chair he hears rolling, looks to see his lover approaching with eyes wide and gleaming. He put his hands to the armrest on Loki's chair, pulling him,

smiled so bright, and asked him: "You wouldn't have me any other way, huh?"

…If from everything he'd said this is all Tony had out walked with,

…

then he needn't fear a thing…

The phone fades and Loki leans down meeting that gaze very closely, runs both hands up the sides of Tony's hair and with a smile to his lips whispered: "No."

Heart at his words pacing browns slid shut as dexterous fingers massaged his scalp and he moaned, half-conscious quite literally purred: "…You're just…perfect." Stumped but touched Loki smiled, with humor though a phrase of truth he said:

"I assure you, I'm furthest from." Shimmering browns fluttered open and not missing a beat grinning Tony told him:

"That's exactly why you are." Next Loki knows he was kissed so sweetly, parting brief for Tony to say lowly: "Perfectly imperfect. Just like me." His lips to Loki's he pressed again and Loki in this melted simply, bit down what would've come out as a whimper because what Tony had said was of such impact, he'll never know.

He thinks.

But he does. Tony knows.

He sees it. When he pulls away to look to those greens, how heavy at him they were gazing.

Thin lips parted, breathed in and Loki murmured: "…We're a recipe for chaos, you and I." Tony smiled reeled closer with eyes blazing.

"Then let's burn something down." Loki's greens fell dark in such desire.

Lines all blurred.

Anything was doable, acceptable, when they were together – it was fine.

No right, no wrong, just them.

Loki watched brown eyes spark up with a thought and he said in sudden spirit: "Seriously. I feel like blowing something up. Let's suit up and go for a fly. Find some bad guys and give em a really bad day."

Loki smirked.