Chapter 5

The bell rang clear throughout the school and all the students jumped out of their seats, smiles blossoming on to all of their faces. That was the sound that meant freedom. It was the loud clang that told them that they could all go home and forget the stress of school for a few hours before heading off to bed. For others, however, it was the sound of impending doom.

Instead of standing up, Tony sank further into his chair, unwilling to get up yet. As soon as he did he would know he would have to leave the safety of his classroom and go and face Loki and the rest of the group for another meeting. After the events of the previous evening, Tony had spent a lot of time mulling them over in his head. He had come to think that what he had said and done had probably not been the best way of getting Loki to break out of his shell. Unfortunately, Tony also knew it would likely be impossible to try and apologise to him.

Tony begrudgingly got to his feet, tucked in his chair and left the room, heading for the English classroom that served as their meeting room. Luckily he wasn't the first to arrive, or maybe that wasn't so lucky because Loki was one of the few that were in the room. He looked over as he heard the door open but his eyes quickly dropped down to the papers in front of him as soon as he saw who it was.

Clint called him over and he went willingly. It took about another ten minutes before they were all there, including their leader/support staff Mr Logan. He did a small introduction, saying how they had all done very well in the auditions and he was very impressed, before he went on to explain how Loki and he had met up in lunch that day and discussed the giving of parts. Then he fumbled inside one of his pockets, producing a crumpled piece of paper with all their names and roles written on.

"Without further ado, let's reveal who will be the main stars of our show." They all rolled their eyes and suppressed groans at his choice of words. Mostly they stayed quiet, secretly eager to find out who was playing who, or rather, who they themselves would be playing. "So ladies first, and the part of Juliet goes to...Natasha Romanoff."

Everyone turned to stare at her, where she sat next to Loki towards the back. She had turned her head and was staring dumbfounded at her friend.

"Are you serious?" she hissed.

He smiled and nodded, "You were the best out of them all." She tried to protest so he interrupted. "We'll talk about it in a minute, everyone else still need to find out which role they will play."

"Thankyou," Mr Logan said, having been waiting patiently for them to finish their short conversation. "And Natasha, who will be playing your Romeo? I can now tell you that it's...Clint Barton."

Tony let out a whoop of laughter, clapping his friend hard on the back, grinning as Clint sent him a horror-struck look. There was an unmistakable groan from somewhere behind them before a heaving thump followed as Natasha's head fell against her desk.

"I cannot be Romeo," Clint insisted, turning to address Loki.

"And why not?" Loki asked, ignoring Natasha's continued moans of annoyance.

"Well...because...because," He hesitated, then nodded his head at Natasha. "Because of that exact reaction."

"I'm sure you'll both get over it," Loki smirked, patting his friend lightly on the shoulder in mock comfort.

She raised her head and glared daggers at him.

"Alright, alright, settle down so I can read out the rest of the names."

They all lapsed into silence, once again eager to know who they would play. To be honest most of them were relieved that they would not be playing the lead. It meant a hell of a lot less work and they could make fun of who were playing the roles.

Tony was next given the role of Mercutio, Thor as Tybalt, Steve as Benvolio, Bruce as Friar Laurence, Pepper as Juliet's Nurse etc. Most were given more than one part to fill in the smaller roles but everyone seemed generally happy with the results. Well at least there were no arguments. Except for when Steve rounded on Loki.

"How come you don't have a part?"

"I am directing."

"Still, this is about acting. Shouldn't you have a small part or something? Some of us might not want to act but they don't have a choice unless they quit."

"You do have a choice bu-"

"Come on guys, don't argue now. You'll kill everyone's buzz and they've finally all started to get into this whole thing."

Loki sent Tony a glare but did step away, moving back over to Natasha. On his short journey Thor somehow managed to intercept him and he was soon drawn into a mundane conversation with the man. Meanwhile, Steve was berating Tony over his interruption. He held nothing against Loki, he just didn't understand how a new kid could just come in and an important school project without even explaining himself. Tony knew that Steve was just kidding himself. The man was a natural born leader and it didn't sit well with him that he had to sit on the side while another took charge. Over the weeks that followed, his temper over the matter calmed and he soon became as invested in the group as he would have been if he was leading.

Pleased that he had managed to avoid an argument, Tony sat on the desk that Clint was occupying, starting up a conversation with Bruce who sat beside him. It was around that moment that just about everything in the world seemed to hate Tony. Well this is how he felt anyway which meant it was probably an exaggeration. Still, it was the moment that Pepper plucked up her courage and went over to talk to him.

For some minutes he pretended to be in deep conversation but this facade could only last so long when he was discussing what they were all having for dinner. Admitting defeat, he slowly turned to face her head on, keeping his expression passive.

"We need to talk," She said immediately, not even bothering with a greeting.

Those four words seemed to cause a hush throughout the room. Though whispered conversations continued, they were no longer in depth discussion or loud shouts. Everyone was listening, or half listening. Even Mr Logan, who had been flicking through a copy of Romeo and Juliet, had stopped on one page and stared at it, not reading, just looking.

"Yeah, maybe we should go outside," Tony said awkwardly, trying not to meet the eyes of anyone else in the room.

"No, I'm good here and if we went outside you would probably make an excuse or run off again." She was angry. Great, he thought. Pissed of Pepper was almost worse than upset crying Pepper.

"Right...well..." His voice drifted away, unsure of what to say next.

It appeared, however, that Pepper did know what to say as the next second she launched into a rant that was so well perfected, he had a hard time believing that it hadn't been rehearsed.

"You have no right to do what you have done, you have no right to just ignore me and avoid me. We have...had been together for almost two years and you can't just blank me. I walked away, I ended it but that doesn't mean I asked for this. You treated me like I don't even matter when not so long ago I did matter to you, or was that just a lie? I didn't ask for this, I didn't ask for you to get it on with every girl you see, so why are you the one acting all hurt when you were the one that ruined it?" She paused for breath, angry tears causing her eyes to take on a glassy look.

Tony seized that moment of silence to speak. "But you said it yourself Pep, you ended it. I never asked you to."

"I was tired, I'm just so tired of having to keep you on a leash. You're an adult Tony so try acting like one."

"Sorry to interrupt this obviously deeply moving conversation but could you please take your lovers tiff elsewhere as we have work to do," Loki said, his words dripping with sarcasm. Tony whipped around to look at him and was surprised at his audacity to smile sweetly back at Tony.

"Shove off Loki, no one asked you to get involved."

"On the contrary, you are the one arguing in the middle of the meeting of which I happen to be the leader of."

At that moment Tony really wanted to hit Loki, to wipe that mocking smirk off his face. But he did admire his courage to backchat Tony when he was not in the mood for bullshit.

"Hmm, and who is joint leader? Or are you just trying to dominate everything...which is funny because rumour has it your the more submissive kind."

Loki's eyes widened. His mouth opened but no words came out. He just stared dumbstruck at what he had just heard. For everyone else in the room, they had no idea what Tony was insinuating, but, after their previous talk, Loki knew exactly what Tony was hinting at.

"Okay, okay, settle down. You two step outside for a minute and calm down, or have a fist fight, I'm not too bothered, just don't get blood all over the floor. Just sort out this tension and come back in when your heads are cleared and you're ready to work," Their teacher instructed, finally thinking it was a good time to cut in and stop this argument before the tension between them snapped.

Both Loki and Tony didn't look at eachother or anyone else as they exited the room. Loki stalked through first, slamming the door behind him, leaving Tony to reopen the door and shut it soundlessly behind him.

Those left in the room shared looks of confusion but made no comment. Pepper seemed as though she wanted to follow Tony out but thought better of it. She was just frustrated that the first conversation she had managed to have with him had been interrupted by Loki. Natasha still sat in her chair towards the back, absently worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. She was the only one in the room besides Clint who had any idea of what was going on between the two who had just left. Unfortunately, Thor assumed this and came up to her, asking quietly if she knew what their talk had been about. She shook her head, shrugging, knowing that if she told Thor anything then Loki would take far too much pleasure in ripping both hers and Thor's heads off.

Trying to take everyone's minds off what had just transpired; she got up and headed to the front desk, picking up the large stack of papers that rested on there.

"Okay, so these are the scripts, it would be a good idea for you all to take one and start reading through your lines."

They all blinked, as though being brought back to reality, before snapping into motion and each collecting one of the booklets. Everyone started to riffle through the pages, looking for where their character first makes an appearance.


As soon as he was outside the room and almost halfway down the corridor, Loki stopped and let his back thump back against the whitewashed wall, letting out a heavy sigh. Why did his life have to be so complicated? He thought. Why couldn't he lead a normal life that didn't involve being kicked out of school and sleeping with a total stranger from his new one?

To his dismay, Tony wandered over and settled himself against the wall opposite. After a few beats of silence, he started to tap his foot rhythmically against the floor while he stared at the ceiling above Loki's head. When Loki made no outward signs of frustration, he began to whistle while he tapped , looking all around Loki but never directly at his face. He was deliberately trying to wind him up. Pretending that the black haired man wasn't there seemed like a good idea and it was definitely working.

"Are you just intent on ruining my life or do you just enjoy making me look like a fool?"

"I dunno, both I suppose. It depends what mood I'm in."

Loki ground his teeth together angrily, watching as Tony continued to whistle the far too upbeat melody.

"Is there any reason why because by my reckoning, I haven't actually done anything to you?"

"I'd disagree..." Tony said, letting his head drop backwards to rest against the wall. Loki waited for him to keep talking but the man never elaborated.

"What did you mean the other day when you said it was too easy?" Loki asked, staring directly at the man opposite him. Said man continued to avoid his eye, much to Loki's annoyance.

Ah, Tony thought, finally he's asking the good questions. Now the conversation could start getting interesting. He replied with something simple that he knew would irritate Loki a little but more.

"Why don't you tell me what you think I meant?"

"I don't know," Loki said through gritted teeth. "Stop being so cryptic and give me some answers Stark. I don't want to play your games."

It was in that moment, Tony decided it was time to stop avoiding the others gaze and actually meet his stare head on. He also chose that moment to cross the corridor, crowding Loki until his back was pressed firmly against the wall.

"It's weird because I thought you'd love games," he said quietly, not breaking eye contact for a second. "You seem to play them with everyone. I've seen you around your brother, so much sarcasm and resentment when you're near him and it makes me curious as to why. Or how about the way you go from being cool to suddenly hating on me. I don't get it, I don't understand you Loki."

"Maybe I don't want you to," Loki replied, fidgeting uncomfortably at Tony's close proximity.

"And that just makes me want to know more," Tony muttered, somehow getting even closer.

"What do you want from me Stark?"

"I'm not sure. Why? Is there something you want from me?"

"The truth," Loki said immediately.

Though this probably wasn't the best time to realise it, but Tony found that he didn't mind being close to the man in front of him. His plan had been to lean in, make Loki squirm a little before stepping away. However, having seen the reaction he received when he got close, he really didn't want to pull away.

"Fine, if that's what you want. I'll tell you the truth." His voice dropped in volume again so now he was almost whispering. "I will tell you everything about that night, everything that happened. Every. Tiny. Little. Detail." He sounded every word out carefully, watching as each one had an effect on Loki. They were now impossibly close. So close in fact that as they took each breath, their chests brushed against each other.

Even their faces were close now, too close. And Loki knew this, he knew he should pull back, push the man away but he couldn't. These thoughts came before Tony reached down and took Loki's wrists loosely in his hands and pressed them by Loki's sides.

"It makes a change doesn't it, to have you pushed up against the wall instead of me. I'm tired of keep on being thrown against walls."

Loki was at a loss. He didn't know what to say or what to do. He didn't even know what to think. He wasn't sure he knew how anymore.

"Sorry," Loki managed breathily.

"Hmm, I'll have to think about forgiving you."

"Tell me what happened...please."

"Fine okay, I will tell you. So are you ready? You sure?" Loki just nodded. Suddenly Tony was so impossibly close that his lips brushed over Loki's. For a fleeting moment he thought the man in front of him was going to kiss him but he stopped short, instead letting his breath mingle with Loki's. "Nothing."

"What?" Loki asked, his eyes flicking up from Tony's lips to meet his eye.

"Nothing happened. We were drunk, we went to my room, we made out and during that time we stripped and then after that we just fell asleep. So yeah, nothing happened." Then Tony was gone, back up the corridor to the door of the classroom. "Happy now?" Not waiting for an answer he turned around and walked straight into the room.

Loki sagged against the wall, trying to calm his erratic breathing. So nothing had happened, well nothing serious anyway. That should have been good news and yet Loki couldn't decide whether he was relieved or disappointed. He remembered how he had felt with Tony that close to him only a moment ago. He had to admit he had been slightly uncomfortable but not to the extent where he wished to move away. It was definitely not good that he realised he hadn't pulled away when he thought Tony was going to kiss him.

Shaking his head, he used the heels of his hands to rub his eyes before he took a deep breath and followed Tony back into the classroom.


As Tony walked away from Loki, he had to fight the urge to turn around, to see the other man looking flushed and so innocent. It's not like Tony hadn't noticed the way he had started to lean into his touches, or the way his breath quickened and his eyes seemed to get a few shades darker as he drew close. This was not good. His plan had been to make Loki uncomfortable, to make him drop his facade, not cause him to respond to Tony's actions in this way.

This would have been Tony's biggest problem, but as he opened the door to the classroom he realised a problem that was by far worse. He hadn't minded being close to Loki. He hadn't minded seeing the other respond in such a way. He had wanted to connect their lips when they were so desperately close. He had even considered it. Okay, this really wasn't good.

Stealing himself, he fixed a wide smile onto his face and once again joined the meeting, acting as though nothing had just happened. Loki appeared about a minute later, with the same passive expression on his face as usual. They didn't argue for the rest of the evening but when their eyes met it was with a different expression than the usual frustration. Both of them were screwed and they knew it.


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