Chapter 28
"It will be the same."
"No it won't," Loki insisted.
"Okay so it won't be exactly the same but it's not like we're suddenly not going to be friends," Natasha replied.
"Yeah we're not that easy to get rid of," Clint chimed in, a wide grin on his face as he brought his arms up around Natasha's shoulders and pulled her closer. She responded in kind, resting her head on his shoulder, an unusual display of public affection from her. Loki rolled his eyes at them.
"Oh so you can make out with your boyfriend in the middle of lunch but I can't even be slightly affectionate with mine without it being weird," Natasha joked.
"It's because we make a much cuter couple than you two," Tony said, joining them on the grass outside the science block.
It was the last day of school. Their last day of high school. And none of them were quite ready to say goodbye. Exams were over so there wasn't really any need to come into school but they all felt obligated, for the last time, to get up early and drag themselves through those gates for one final time. For old times' sake. Seeing as they had no lessons they'd taken to hanging around their favourite teachers' classrooms, helping them tidy up ready for the summer or else just talking to them about the highlights of their classes that year.
Now, however, they had all gathered outside in the warm sun to share one final hour together before the final bell rang signalling the end of their high school experience. Loki had been ranting for some time about how terrible it was that school was over and how there was no way they would all keep in touch. Though the rest of the group were making jokes about his dramatics and reassuring him in carefree tones, they all felt the exact same way but just weren't brave enough to voice their concerns. Instead they remained silent. Their own anxieties ran free inside them. Not a hint of these feelings were shown on their faces where each had fixed a carefree smile.
"There's no way in hell you are cuter than this face," Clint said defiantly. "Hey, hey, Steve," he called over to the blonde.
"What?"
"Aren't I cuter than this idiot?" He asked, gesturing to Tony.
"One hundred percent. It's a daily struggle just to keep my hands off you," Steve deadpanned, turning back to Thor and carrying on his conversation while Tony huffed indignantly.
"He clearly isn't in his right mind," he muttered childishly.
"Don't worry darling, I still think you're adorable," Loki cooed.
"Don't patronise me. You have to say that, you're my boyfriend."
By this point most of the group were laughing at the childish display. It was nice not to feel responsibility or like they should be doing something. It was nice just to sit with friends and have a laugh without having the worry of school work and exams impeding on their fun.
"Are you actually going to miss it here at all?" Loki asked Tony. The bell had rung and their group had dispersed, each going their separate ways until they would reunite that evening. "It's just that you don't even seem slightly bothered."
"Yeah of course," Tony replied distantly. He continued to walk forward leaving Loki a few steps behind.
"Well that was convincing."
"Just because you can't fucking read my feelings like a book doesn't mean I'm not feeling anything. Maybe you're just not that good at figuring them out," Tony snapped at him. A second later he stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Loki who had frozen mid-step. His expression was a mixture of shock and hurt. Tony sighed and ran a hand across his face and through his hair. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Loki said coolly, brushing past him to get into the passenger seat of Tony's car.
Following, Tony got in on the driver's side and started to engine. He backed out of his parking space, careful to check for any other cars, and then he pulled out of the school car park and drove off in the direction of Loki's house.
Clearly still unhappy about his unnecessary outburst, Loki resolutely stared out of the window his head completely turned away from Tony. It was only when Tony parked up on Loki's drive and the man didn't get out straight away that he realised he was waiting for an explanation or else a more convincing apology.
"Seriously Loki, I am sorry about having a go at you earlier. It was unfair of me."
"So are you going to tell me what it was about or are we going to pretend it never happened and act as though everything is perfect later."
Sighing, Tony shifted round to face Loki taking the man's hand from where it rested on his knee. He absently played with his fingers for a while, entwining their fingers before pulling them apart, giving himself time to think about what he wanted to say.
"It's complicated," he began. Then he stopped, realising he sounded ridiculous. He wasn't going to get anywhere with a beginning like that. Taking another breath, he thought for a moment before continuing. "I am going to miss high school, really I am despite how unconvincing I sounded earlier. It was a great experience and I know not everyone gets to say that, for some people school is shit and remains shit until the day they leave. Well for me it was good and so that kinda gives me more hope that university will be even better. I think that makes sense. I'm just trying to be more positive about this whole thing. I know it's going to be hard especially as we won't see our friends very often but to me that's exciting, not scary. Okay?"
Loki nodded slowly, not making eye contact, or rather deliberately avoiding it as Tony guessed. "Okay," he said after a long pause that left Tony's nerves on edge. "I do understand that, I do. And in some ways I completely agree with you but...I guess...I just need to talk about it. I need to have time to be sad. You've been at this school for much longer than I have so it makes more sense for you to be ready to say goodbye, while I only came here at the beginning of the year and in some ways I suppose I still feel new. Now this comfort I've built throughout the year is being shattered and I'm finding it...I'm finding it a bit overwhelming and difficult to accept," he finished in a rush, staring down at their clasped hands.
Tony released a breath of relief. He was so worried that his statement would have escalated into an argument which would have been a terrible start to their prom night. Despite that scenario being avoided he was still unsure of what to say next. He understood Loki's point completely and even felt sorry for him because it was far harder for him to say goodbye.
"I don't know what else to say but I feel like I need to apologise again," he blurted out. Finally Loki met his gaze and smiled before he started to laugh uncontrollably. Tony hesitated, having no idea what was going on. "Eh, what's so funny?"
"You," Loki said breathlessly. "But not in a bad way," he hurriedly added after Tony frowned. "It's just that we are both so terrible in these situations, neither of us has any idea how to deal with emotions. We either bottle them up and explode later and it usually happens with me getting overemotional and you having absolutely no idea what to say or do. Come on Tony, it's kind of funny."
Tony still wasn't entirely sure he understood what 'funny' meant in this instance but he was pleased to see Loki laughing and smiling again. Without really thinking about it he leant forwards and captured Loki's lips in a kiss that started the other man enough to stop mid laugh causing him to hiccough as they broke apart.
"You're wonderful," he said softly, while Loki blushed from embarrassment.
"Stop being so sentimental," Loki groaned in protest.
"Says the one who cried over school finishing."
"Touché, now may I please be allowed to leave your car so that I can actually get ready for tonight?"
Tony sighed dramatically, pretending to contemplate the question. "Fine, if you must." Sending him one last smile Loki made to get out of the car. "Wait, aren't you forgetting something?"
Loki looked at the bag slung over his right shoulder, checking it was there before he glanced around him to see if he had forgotten anything. Feigning irritation at Loki's obliviousness, Tony coughed unnecessarily, drawing the man's attention back to himself, then he pointed at his lips saying, "One more for the road."
"You're insufferable," Loki muttered, shaking his head while leaning forward to grant Tony's request.
This time when he pulled away Tony let him go, waiting until Loki had closed his front door before reversing out his driveway and onto the road beyond.
He stared at himself in the mirror, awkwardly shuffling from side to side, turning this way and that, trying with all his might to rectify any flaw he came across. His tie was next to come under scrutiny. Tying it once, he contemplated his reflection before loosening it and retying it again, each attempt accompanied by a frustrated huff that got louder with each retying. In the end he reached his limit. Throwing his arms up, he let out his loudest sigh yet and collapsed onto his bed, not bothering to fix his tie that now hung untidily around his neck.
Everything was going wrong. First his suit was wrong and now his tie was wrong. In that moment his entire life was wrong. Groaning, Loki fell backwards against his bedsheets and buried his head into a pillow. He only lasted a few seconds in this position before remembering that he'd just sorted out his hair and burying it into a pillow really wasn't the way to keep it neat. Leaping up, he threw himself back in front of the mirror and hurried to flatten any hairs that had been dislodged. More sighs and groans followed as he attempted to fix his already perfect reflection.
To his surprise and dismay there was a knock on his door.
"What?" He called, hoping the person would hear in his tone that he really didn't want to be disturbed.
No one answered but the door opened. There stood Thor dressed pristinely in his own suit of rich royal blue. He stared at Loki for a few seconds who was still scowling at his reflection in the mirror before he moved to sit on the bed.
"Loki, sit down."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Everything is stupid and I don't want to go tonight."
Thor frowned. "And why does that prevent you from sitting down."
With an overly dramatic sigh, Loki plopped down on the bed beside his brother. "I'm sitting down. Are you happy now?"
"We could hear you groaning from down stairs, mother was getting concerned." Loki didn't reply, suddenly finding great interest in the back of his left hand. Thor watched Loki for a time, noting his unusually shy behaviour. He'd never known Loki to shy away from anything and yet now, here he was, fixedly avoiding Thor's gaze and doing his very best to pretend he wasn't in the room. "What's the matter?" No reply came. "I heard what you were saying earlier, about university and how everything will be different."
"Thor, I need to get rea-"
"Just listen," Thor interrupted and surprisingly Loki fell silent.
"I know everything over the past year hasn't been perfect." Loki scoffed but didn't say anything. "Things between us haven't been great and neither has your relationship with our father." Another derisive noise. "But," Thor carried on ignoring his brother. "I'm proud of you and I'm glad you came home."
Loki stared at him. "What?"
"Last summer when you came back from England, I knew you weren't happy and things with father were getting worse by the day. It was only a matter of time before the tension got too much. I know you think I'm stupid and I know you think I don't care or don't notice anything, but I do. I notice when you're happy and when you're sad and I can see how much happier you've become over the past few months now that everything is getting better. I'm proud to call you my brother."
"Even when I'm stubborn and awful and rude and-"
"Even then."
To Thor's utter surprise Loki hugged him. He responded after a moments' pause, wrapping his big arms around his brother's slimmer frame and pulling him close. It was such a rare moment of perfect peacefulness. That was until a bright flash caused them to spring apart blinking rapidly.
"Oh no, I forgot to turn the flash off," their mother cried from the doorway now staring daggers at the camera in her hands. "You weren't supposed to know I was there."
"Well that worked out really well for you."
"Yes thank you Loki. Are you both ready? I want to take some more pictures before you both leave."
Loki, seeming to remember all his anxieties about his appearance, sprang to his feet and started to smooth his hair again. Thor and Frigga watched him from the side with half exasperated half amused expressions on their faces. His frantic movements only ceased when the doorbell rang from downstairs. With a squeak Loki ran to his window swearing under his breath when he saw Tony silhouetted by the porch light. The situation only got worse when they heard Odin open the door and greet him.
"Mother, save him!" Loki cried, ushering Frigga from his room. "I'll be down in a minute."
Frigga didn't hesitate. She hurried off down the stairs and greeted Tony warmly with a hug and a comment that he looked very handsome.
"Can you help me with this please?" Loki pleaded, holding out his tie to Thor.
Thor took it and tied it neatly around his brother's neck, careful not to pull it too tight. When finished he stood back to examine his handy work.
"You look very nice Loki. I think you've kept Tony waiting long enough."
With a small smile, Loki finally left his room to join his boyfriend down stairs. As he descended their eyes met and twin grins blossomed on both of their faces. Neither of them spoke, they just stared at each other for a while, taking in the other's appearance and basking in the thought that they were going to prom. More importantly, they were going to prom together. As a couple. That thought still sent a thrill up Tony's spine. How did he manage to get so lucky?
Frigga once again ruined the perfect moment by insisting they pose for countless pictures before she finally allowed them peace. Thor had to leave to pick up Jane and so Tony and Loki were left to suffer her enthusiasm, smiling upon command for every flash of her camera.
As the clock ticked on and the sky began to darken, Frigga admitted defeat. Giving her son one last kiss and hugging Tony a little too tightly, she stuttered goodbyes with a tear in her eye and both she and Odin waved the pair off as Tony reversed down their drive and onto the road.
They'd agreed in their group of friends that they would each take separate means of transport to prom rather than all bundling together. Most of them were in relationships anyway and wanted their magical moment of entering hand in hand in hope that everyone else would turn and stare and think whoa. Tony and Loki, however, didn't care much for this moment. They just wanted a few precious moments together before saying a final goodbye to high school.
"Ready to put everyone to shame with how gorgeous we both look?" Tony smiled.
He had just pulled into one of the last parking spaces available. The engine was off and the only sound was the distant thump of music.
"If we have to," Loki said, feigning exasperation.
Taking Tony's hand in his, he kissed the centre of his palm before closing his fingers around it.
"What was that?" Tony murmured.
"A gift," Loki whispered back, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on his lips.
As they pulled apart Tony pressed his lips to Loki's cheek then moved further until he could whisper in his ear.
"Loki, I think I-"
But he was prevented from finishing by a heavy pounding on his windows. Turning round in alarm and rage he came face to face with Clint who was grinning at him from the other side of the glass. Muttering a series of swears under his breath, Tony swung the door open fast enough to send it crashing into his best friend.
Clint let out an indignant cry. "What was that for?"
"Sorry, didn't see you there."
"What? Tony that was a bit harsh. Have I done something wrong?"
Tony just ignored him, instead walking to the other side of the car and opening Loki's door before stepping back to allow him to get out. They shared a brief look as Loki brushed past him. After greeting Natasha, who was standing by the bonnet of Tony's car, they ambled inside to meet the rest of their friends.
Thor and Jane arrived after them but Steve and Darcy were waiting just inside, having been waiting for them to arrive. Though their brief relationship had fallen through they had agreed to still go together as friends. Pepper stood beside them, also without a partner. Out of all of them it was shy Bruce who had actually acquired a date for prom. Having been plucking up the courage for almost two years, he had finally asked Betty out to which she had thankfully said yes.
They all looked wonderful, all the men in pristine, well fitted suits and all the women in dresses of varying lengths and colours from periwinkle blue to honey yellow. Sharing complements and smiles, no negative words could be uttered. Everyone was just too happy.
It wasn't the time to think about the future. In that moment it was about friendship. Love. Nothing else mattered in that moment as long as they had each other and they had the best night they possibly could.
The night was nearing its end and the music was slowing down, making way for romance to blossom between those who had partners. Betty had happily accepted Bruce's offer of a dance and Loki had willingly taken Tony's offered hand as well.
As the lights dimmed around them, Tony's hands cupped Loki's neck while Loki's hands settled themselves on Tony's hips. They revolved slowly, keeping in time with the beat and easily dodging other couples that weren't quite so coordinated.
"I suppose I did lie a bit earlier," Tony said quietly, pulling Loki closer so that he didn't have to meet his eyes. Loki stiffened but didn't interrupt. "I know I said that I'm not scared for university. But that's not true, I am terrified."
"Why are you only saying this now?" Loki asked, mirroring Tony's quiet tone.
"Because I didn't realise it until tonight. What with prom, everything feels so final now while before it didn't. It's only just hit me that tomorrow, or next week or in a months' time we won't be coming back here. We'll all be apart and..."
"What?" Loki questioned, pulling back slightly so he could see Tony's face.
"And I won't get to see you."
For the briefest second their eyes met. Then the connection was broken. Unconsciously, they tightened their hold of the other.
"No, we won't get to see each other so often. It will be hard but we'll figure it out."
"I hope so."
Falling silent, they continued to hold each other close. Though they didn't know what the future held for them, they knew in that moment they were happy. And they were content to enjoy it as long as it lasted. Even as the lights dimmed to blackness and prom came to an end, nothing could spoil their happiness. They left hand in hand. Together with their friends. And unspoken words of love in their hearts.
THE END.
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to everyone! To those that have favourited, followed, reviewed, and those that have just read. I am so so grateful that you have stuck with me over this past year and a half (or more). Life hasn't been easy and it still isn't but I promised this story would be finished and I fulfilled that goal and I am very proud of that.
I hope that you have enjoyed this final chapter and will join me again on another adventure (whenever that may be). I still have plans for the sequel so keep an eye out for it in the future, it will be called Free Fall. For now, though, I would like to say and final goodbye and a final thankyou to all you wonderful readers! Without you I would have given up a long time ago! Untill next time...
~ Haggledore :) xx
