Step Eight

"The final decision"

Ever since the first time fiasco, Loki was nervous. After his little talk with Thor and discovering his little mischievous tactic, Loki wondered how long it will take Tony to figure it all out. He was surprised, truly surprised that his genius believed Thor so easily. Although he had to give that to Thor, that he could pass any stupid pseudo-tradition on his - their - mortal friends and they would probably believe him anyway, seeing as both, Loki and Thor weren't so keen on talking about everything in Asgard. That, and even though Loki could tell the truth, they would not believe him at all. They all saw him as a liar. All but Anthony.

His darling Anthony… the mortal Loki gave his heart up to. He was a beam of light in his dark world. It was a marvelous thing that out of everyone in Midgard, Tony decided to return his feelings. Well, it took him a bit more time, but Loki was still beyond happy when Tony finally understood his intentions and offered him a courtship. Loki will deny it to the last breath, but after their first date, he danced happily in his room and skywalked to talk with Kiera, the maiden of his mother and his friend from childhood. She was ecstatic for him and made him promise to introduce his Anthony to her when they will come to Asgard for Thor's wedding. Loki agreed immediately. He will show off Anthony to every Asgardian, to show them how much loved he is and how wonderful man he had founded for himself. Oh, all of his...Thor's friends will be so jealous that he's courting a Midgardian equivalent of a Prince. With Tony's influence and wealth, he will be considered a prince in Asgard anyway. They will be so jealous!

Of course, this is not the main reason he wanted to take Tony to Asgard. He wanted to show them that he had founded himself a new home where he's accepted, appreciated and looked up to for who he is. A god of mischief, a powerful mage, and a good man. Tony keeps reminding him of it almost every day.

Yes, this is why he wanted to take Tony to Asgard. And thankfully, Thor's wedding was to be held close, so Tony was invited there anyway. However, the slight surprise was to take James earlier with them. Loki agreed to it, of course, knowing perfectly that James is the closest family to his darling. And let it not be forgotten, Loki Friggason is smart, he can add two to two. And so, a moment later when he left his love for a night, Loki reached for his cellphone.

"Hello?" groggily voice answered a call. "Who is this?"

"You oaf, you know who calls," Loki replied. "It shows on the phone screen. Tony installed your contacts with photos of people. Don't play dumb, Thor."

"My darling little brother," the Thunderer drawled. "How can I help you?"

"I think Tony wants to ask father for my hand in marriage." Loki was known for his bluntness when the occasion required it. "He asked me if we can take James Rhodes with us earlier to Asgard. You know that he and James are like brothers and he has no other family left. Did you tell him about how the marriage offerings look like for real? Did you tell him he has to bring up gifts for father? Did you tell him he has to fight with another suitor if there is any?"

"I did not," Thor answered after a second. "I only told him that he has to stay pure until the wedding night. You should be thankful to me, brother, at least now he will be your husband. Isn't it what you wanted? You desired to be wed to Anthony. How to mortals say it… it's a win-win situation."

"But you do realize that his hastened marriage will be only because he wants to have sex with me." Loki heard his brother groan through the phone. "He didn't even kiss me until I initiated it. And it only lasted a moment or two, Thor. Then he ran out of my room. I tried everything that was in this Cosmo paper and nothing… he didn't even touch me. I… I think he wants to get married only to have sex, not because he really wants it."

"Then tell him the truth, Loki," the other man advised. "Tell him I made this stupid ritual up. Or I can admit my mischief to him. We will all have a good laugh."

When there was silence on the line for a long moment, Thor spoke again.

"Unless you don't want to tell him the truth and you truly want to be wed to him soon."

"I am lost, Thor."

"Loki," suddenly there was a female's voice heard. "Tony loves you, he won't be mad for this. Sure, he did all those things that weren't necessary, but in the end, he's so deep in love with you that he won't mind. Wait and see how things go for now. When you're ready, tell him and then I won't stop him from small revenge on Thor."

"Hey!" his brother shouted in the back.

"Really, Loki, wait and see. Maybe Tony figured it all out already and simply wants to marry you. He's a genius after all. I wouldn't be surprised if he had it figured out already."

"Thank you, Jane," he smiled, even though she couldn't see him. "I am truly happy you will be my sister soon."

"Awww… I'm glad too, Loki. Don't hesitate to call me, especially to gang up on your big brother."

"I should never introduce the two of you!" Thor grumbled.

"Yeah, yeah, we love you, Thor," Jane replied and Loki could swear he heard the sound of a kiss. "So, we see each other soon? You still pick us up so we could all go to Asgard?"

"Yes. Have a pleasant night, Jane, Thor. I will see you soon."

As Loki ended the call, he decided to take Jane's advice into his heart and stick to it. He truly hoped Tony wouldn't be mad at him.

He was about to find out.

Loki was pacing in front of Tony in his old chamber. The engineer was sitting on the bed, looking confused at his lover.

"So? what is it, Lokes? What did you want to tell me?" he asked.

"I hope you will not be angry with me, my love." he finally halted and turned to the mortal. There was worry written on his face. Loki took a deep breath and quickly calculated that it'll be better to be blunt about it. "It's about those courtship rituals."

"Yeah? What about them? Have I done something wrong?"

"No… you are perfect, my darling," he quickly reassured him. "Everything you did was perfect and wonderful, Anthony."

"Then?"

"However, there was no such need to do them."

"Pardon?"

"When you asked Thor, how courting looks like in Asgard…" he looked down on his slightly trembling hands. He couldn't help it. He was almost certain that Tony will call everything off and dump him, as Midgardians says. "My brother… he decided to play a bit of mischief on you, dearest. There are no such things as Asgardian Courtship Rituals. Everything… well… almost everything Thor told you to do was a lie. The only truth in his words was the blessing of a father and a quick wedding. However, all the steps you took… they were made up by Thor."

Tony was silent. He was thinking about Loki's words. The mage could practically see how the wires in his brain work. The clock was ticking. Soon, Anthony will flee from his chamber and maybe even from Asgard. Loki will not stop him.

"So… for this whole time… I was making a fool of myself?" When Loki didn't reply to him, Tony huffed loudly. "Why didn't you tell me? You could have told me from the beginning. Why didn't you?"

"I had no idea about this ordeal, my love," he admitted truthfully. "I had a vague idea of how courting looks like on Midgard. The only things I know are from observing Banner and the Widow or movies. And as it was pointed out to me by spiderling and his girlfriend, movies are not good examples of Midgardians. I believed that this is how it should be on Midgard. That, and I was too astonished that you have finally returned my feelings… Anthony… I have been in love with you for months before you decided to court me. And when you finally returned my interest… I was in heaven. Then you were doing all these romantic gestures that made me fall more in love with you, although I had no idea it was possible. Suddenly I was living in this perfect, lovely world… and I didn't want it to stop. The only thing that was strange to me was that you did not want to bed me. I was living in a conviction that it is simply a rule in courtship, to have sex soon. But you weren't making any move. You didn't even kiss me properly… as much as it was chivalrous… it also frustrated me. All those movies said that sex is so important, yet you didn't try anything. Even when I was almost bare in front of you, you restrained yourself. I was so frustrated that I sought answers within younglings! Peter and Michelle and this Ned… I thought that all teenagers have sex and they will tell me what I'm doing wrong so you're not having sex with me…"

"Wait… you asked kids to give you sex pointers?"

"Yes…" Tony laughed at him. "But then they introduced me to this wonderful thing… Cosmo… but even this didn't help me. Until the night you flee from my bedroom, all flustered. I sought you with my seidr and found you on James's floor. I turned myself invisible and decided to spy on you. You were talking about screwing the rest of the rituals and going to Asgard as soon as possible. When you left James and Carol, I was still there and James was explaining to Carol what was it all about. I went to Thor the very next day and demanded answers as I connected all the dots. I must admit… that I had no idea whether to tell you the truth immediately or, as Jane advised me, wait and see… but then you decided to ask for my hand in marriage the moment we found ourselves in Asgard… I wasn't entirely surprised, I thought you'd do it anyway… but I did not expect a ring. It all seemed so real to me and so romantic that I couldn't break it with the truth of Thor's mischief… but I know you want sex and this is why you think we should get married. So… I will go to mother and father and tell them that our wedding won't be held now. Then if you still wish to be with me, we can finally take the next step, that's how you mortals say it, right?"

"So Thor played me, and so were you," Tony spoke in a distant voice. "Was I a good laugh for him? Or for…"

"Don't you dare finish it, Anthony," Loki kneeled before him and placed his hands on top of Tony's lap. "Your attempts of courting, even if they were made up by my oaf of a brother were the most romantic and lovely thing that happened to me in my entire 1500 years of life. You were so lovely and gentle with me, like no one else before. Until the very last step, I truly believed it is how Midgardian dating looks like and I was in love with these antics. But I understand that you must be hurt by the actions of my brother, even though he only tried to help me. He knew I've been in love with you for a while and decided it will be good to do it."

"I don't know what to say… what to think…"

"It is alright, my love, you don't have to say anything," Loki assured him. "I will tell mother that the wedding is off. You do not have to fear the wrath of my father. I will take the blame on me."

Loki got up from the floor and made his way to the door. Just as he was to open them, Tony got up from the bed too and ran towards him. The mortal grabbed his elbow and turned him towards himself. The mage gave him a confused look.

"I love you," Tony said with a grin on his face. "So much, like… I've never loved anyone as I love you."

"I love you too, my darling."

"You don't have to call off the wedding."

"What? Tony I just told you that we can have sex without it and you don't…"

"I heard you loud and clear," he confirmed. "But my proposal wasn't just because I can't keep it in my pants, Bambi. Yes, sex is important, but… oh hell, I can't believe I'm saying this. This courtship rituals, whether made-up or not, they made our relationship deeper than any other I had before. Me wooing you, following certain rules and not treating you like most of my exes… it makes it special to me, it's something that I cherish. I felt really good in this whole courtship, happy and so light. It's something that I want to last forever… till the end."

"You're sentimental, Anthony."

"Only for you, Lolo, only for you."

"So you want to get married because you love me?"

Tony smiled and dropped to one knee. He took Loki's left hand with the ring on and placed a soft kiss upon the silver band.

"Loki of Asgard, son of Frigga and Odin, the second Prince of this realm, the Avenger, will you do me the honor and become my husband? For better and for worse, for health and sickness, until death do us apart, which probably be in forty years but still…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Tony," Loki replied as he got to his knees as well. "When we wed and you become my consort, you will receive the Idunn's apple that will prolong your life. Did you honestly think I would lose you to such a trivial thing as death? Forget about it, Stark. When you decided to court me, you decided on living with me for over three thousand years."

"Well then, who am I to say no to such an offer."

Tony leaned up and captured Loki's lips in a sweet kiss. The mage fell easily into the rhythm of Tony's lips and let the man lead their kiss. His hands found their way to Tony's shirt. However, when he started to open the first buttons, Stark's hands stopped them.

"We can't, Lolo."

"Tony, did you forget what I said to you. We don't have to wait."

"I know," Stark confirmed, placing one last kiss on the mage's flustered cheek. "But I want to. It was so refreshing to not jump into the bed at the beginning and now this whole anticipation will make our first time even more… meaningful to me and hopefully to you as well, Lokes. I want our first time to be on the wedding night. It will be something we will definitely remember till we both be old."

"You're sentimental again." Tony only shrugged his arms.

"But, even though I want to wait with sex, I won't say no to cuddling on your bed." Tony got up from the floor, pulling Loki up with him. "I assume I don't get my own room anyway, huh?"

"If you truly want, I can arrange you a chamber close to mine."

"Eh, I can perfectly keep my restrain, Reindeer Games. I won't jump your bones, just because we share a bed."

"And if I want you to?"

"What? Can't keep it in your pants for few more days?"

They fell on bed laughing and soon Loki laid his head on Tony's chest. His boyfriend moved his fingers up to Loki's long hair and started to stroke it, slowly lulling the god to the sleep.

"For the record, I'm so going to get revenge on Thor," Tony whispered, but Loki heard it nonetheless. He hummed in response. "So, God of Mischief, are you up to your moniker?"

The god in question raised his head and looked at his beloved face. His brown eyes flickered with something alluring, to which Loki only grinned.

"Always, my Man of Iron. Let's show him how the real mischief looks like."

The End.