"I mean, it's…an idea," Snow says uncertainly.
"No," Loki states firmly.
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" Tony insists.
"Okay. Even if we do, he can't go out looking like this," Snow notes. Loki cocks an eyebrow at her. She quickly corrects herself. "I mean, the armor, and. Someone might recognize you," she says. Tony smirks at the slip. Loki eyes them both disbelievingly.
"I am not going anywhere," he says.
"For god's sake, Malfoy! You have nothing to wear!" Tony shouts tiredly. Loki glares at him irritably, wondering why he insists on calling him names. He then unwilling considers the Stark's words.
He sighs.
Wanting this conversation over with, Loki does something neither of them would expect. In the blink of an eye, the God of Mischief alters his look, to something more…
human.
Snow and Tony's eyes widen. A new man stood across them, bearing Loki's face, but skin tanned, hair shortened, and brown. Wearing a suit that looked designer-made.
A full minute passed with the two just standing there, eyes wide and mouths hanging in shock.
Snow's heart hammered madly in her chest. She dismissed it, furrowing her eyebrows and grateful her mind had picked up on something more important than how attractively distracting Loki could be.
"You can use magic?" she asks in confusion. "How?"
"Odin can't take everything," he cocks a mischievous eyebrow.
"Holy hell…
That is a killer suit!"
exclaims Tony. Snow turns to him in shock.
"Tony," she calls. He turns to her in confusion, then gets it.
"Right. Magic. So? He's smart enough to know not to use it against us. Right?" Tony states suggestively.
"Only if you don't annoy me," Loki replies. She exchanges disbelieving glances between both of them. Tony grins.
"That can be arranged."
"Does…"
"No one knows," Loki answers her unspoken question, giving a look that requested not to say anything.
"…Okay…" she replies, nodding firmly.
"Yeah. No worries. We can keep a secret," Tony winks. Loki's eyes linger on Snow for a moment, then turn to Tony with disinterest.
One would think Snow and Tony were being irresponsible, knowing something so dangerous, and letting it slide. But they knew better.
If Loki had wanted to hurt them, he would have already. They'd unknowingly reached a sense of acceptance,
and peace,
between one another.
"So, is it real, or just another…illusion?" he asks.
"Not real," Loki replies.
"Perfect! Now we have to go tomorrow!" he exclaims.
"If we're done here, I'm going to need my energy if I am to spend all of tomorrow with the two of you," Loki states, altering back to his armor and heading to leave the library. Snow unwillingly baffles at how unbelievingly handsome he seemed in any form.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!" Tony asks in annoyance. He glances at Snow, who held a bright smile on her features.
"What're you so happy about?" he asks suspiciously.
"It's just,
he made fun of us.
I'd say that's a work in progress," she states. At that, Tony smiles as well.
XXXXX
"Sir, master Loki refuses to leave his room," Jarvis tells. Tony flips the last pancake with an irritated sigh.
"Then tell Snow we're having breakfast in his room," Tony tells.
"Very well, sir."
"If you drop that plate, Dummy, no extra arm for you," Tony warns his one-armed robot.
He picks up the other two and makes his way to the elevator. He reaches the required floor and bounces out, making his way to Loki's.
He expertly places the other plate on his arm, freeing one hand to knock. He does so twice. "Ready or not, here I come!" he shouts in warning, barging in.
Tony and Dummy waltz in uninvited, to find Loki glaring at them from near the window. "Morning, princess," Tony grins.
"What are you doing here?" Loki asks irritably.
"Me? Why I've spent the last fifteen minutes making you your first ever plate of pancakes. Wasn't gonna let it go to waste," he states, placing the plate on Loki's bedside table, then flopping onto the bed. Loki eyes the plate warily. At least what Snow made the day before was familiar. What in the world's name was that?!
A soft knock sounds on the open door, and they turn to see Snow standing there, eyeing the situation in confusion.
"Princess number two! Care to join us?" Tony offers as Loki eyes her as if in relief. "Dummy, give her the plate," Tony tells.
Dummy gives a few beeps, making its way to her. She smiles at him in amusement, taking it from him and making her way next to Tony.
"What's going on?" she asks, taking a bite out, savoring how unbelievably delicious it was as Loki awaited an explanation from the Stark.
"Our Loki's about to have his first pancake! Yay!" Tony exclaims sarcastically.
"I'm not eating that," Loki tells.
"Oh, but it's really good," Snow says, then turns to Tony as Loki takes as seat across them on the chair. "How did you make these?" she asks in admiration.
"With lots of love," he smirks. Tony turns to Loki. "Eat!" Loki glares in reply.
"Mmm," Snow agrees, swallowing another piece. "I promise, you won't regret it," she tells seriously.
A moment passes as Loki debates agreeing. For some reason, hearing it from her was different, more effective. It was irritating. He turs his gaze to Tony, who looked like a young boy awaiting praise, refusing to eye away until he ate.
Loki gave an annoyed sigh, leaning forward and grabbing the plate. He'd been watching them eat, so he figured he knew what to do. Reluctantly, he brought a piece into his mouth, swaying it around till his taste-buds responded as if they'd found a jewel.
Though it tasted marvelous to the God of Mischief, he stubbornly refused to show, falling back into the chair with the plate and eating silently. Tony smiles brightly still, as does Snow.
"I'm gonna take that as a 'Wow! Tony, these are amazing'," Tony says. "Now pick up pace, we leave in thirty." Loki glares at him once more. Tony's too busy eating to notice. Snow does though.
"Isn't it a little early?" Snow says for him, relieving Loki.
"Well, we've got a lot to do. I mean, the dude needs shirts, pants, shoes, undies," he grins like a child. Snow rolls her eyes as Loki furrows his eyebrows at the word. "And maybe a haircut."
"You're not touching my hair."
"Okay. Easy, Rapunzel."
Loki dismisses the name. It seemed he would have to get used to it. No point in arguing.
"Besides. You know…Dinner," Tony said like it was an obvious necessity. "We're gonna take his highness out on a date," he grins. Loki pinches the bridge of his nose.
It would be a long day.
XXXXX
Tony made the drive to the mall quick, and not as awkward as they were secretly worried it would be.
In one of his Mercedes Tony took the wheel, Snow seated at the front beside him, and Loki in the back.
While Tony and Snow discussed which shops to visit first, Loki silently watched the world pass from the window.
Was this it?
Was this really it?
Was he truly to spend the rest of his life here? Amongst mortals, mortals he once deemed incapable, mortals even Odin deemed weaker.
Was he to become
one of them?
The question didn't linger long enough for him to see the truth, to feel it.
But how much longer would he be able to keep it all bottled up? How long before distractions ran out?
Pulling into a VIP section in the garage, Tony climbs out of the car, along with the others.
They use an elevator to get out of the garage, and Loki wonders why there were so many elevators in this realm.
Even though he was reluctant, and Snow knew, she was to pay a visit to the bank on the top floor while he and Tony shopped for undergarments. It would be even more awkward if she tagged along anyways.
After half an hour of Loki confused, annoyed, uncomfortable, and Tony laughing his breath out at the situation, they finally leave the shop, having bought what they needed.
Snow meets with them, unable, and unwilling to get used to Loki's disguise. She approaches in amusement, seeing the expressions on both their faces.
"What happened?" She asks knowingly. Tony let's out a short laugh as Loki glares at him.
"Oh my god! It was unbelievable," Tony says. Loki sighs tiredly. "You should have seen the look on his face, when he saw the boxers!" Tony laughs heartedly at the last word, gesturing with his hands in the wind, as if stretching a pair of invisible boxers, causing Snow to blush and smirk nervously at what Tony was implying.
"Yes, and you should have seen how much attention this jester's laughter drew to us," Loki stresses in extreme irritancy, causing Tony to laugh again.
"I'm sorry! Haha! I couldn't-hahaha!"
"Yes, well, thankfully, you never have to go through that again," Snow tells Loki with a smile, touching his upper-arm for assurance.
His gaze softens upon landing on her.
Since his powers weren't as they were, he was unable to deduced that she was also looking into his current state, uncertain why herself. He was stressed. Very stressed. And deep down.. sad? Why was he sad?
Tony exchanges glances between them mischievously, smirking knowingly. "Okay, lovebirds, time to move on," he says walking past them and patting Loki on the back.
Loki and Snow stand for a moment, glaring after him at the inappropriate comment. They exchange an awkward glance and follow the Stark to the next shop.
They enter, and Tony leads them to the men section. He then turns to Loki. "Okay, so tell me, Prince Caspian," Loki rolls his eyes at the name. "What look are you going for? Hm? What are we looking for? A dark mysterious, sorta vibe, orrr maybe a sophisticated 'I don't care about anything' kinda look."
"How about you just look around, and tell us what you like," Snow offers quickly, noting that Loki probably couldn't understand a word Tony was saying, and that he probably didn't like not knowing stuff. Loki turns to her as if gratefully for getting the Stark to shut up.
"Or we could do that," Tony nods, noting the agreement in Loki's eyes.
As Loki steps forward and browses, Tony 'oh's at something and heads to check it out. Snow jumps at the chance and hurries to Loki.
"Hey," she calls. He turns to her. "I know most of these really aren't your style," she starts, and he immediately reliefs that he wasn't the only one who thought so. "But think of it this way. You're only going to wear these in the tower. And there's so much to pick from, so choose whatever you feel most comfortable with, then we'll get to the good stuff," she smiles mischievously.
Loki weighs her words. He turns his attention back to the clothes stand, sighing tiredly. "You Midgardians have horrible taste," he cringed in disgust, causing her to grin in amusement.
"I know," she utters, recalling the gorgeous gown they'd made her wear back on Asgard.
Snow's eyes glance a piece behind him. She walks to it, a black, long-sleeved shirt, pulling it out from the shelves and unfolding it.
She walks back to him, placing it in front of him like she'd done at the tower. She smiles. "This will look good on you. The real you, anyways," she says.
"You don't like this look?" he asks curiously.
"Well, no. I just like the real you better," she replies nonchalantly, then realizes what she'd said.
Her eyes dart to his face, seeing what she'd expected, a 'you're busted' look. She laughs to decrease embarrassment, playing at his heart's broken strings.
She pulls the shirt down, turning her attention to the Stark who'd just walked back to them. He's holding up a bright yellow, button-up shirt, grinning at it.
"What'd you guys think?" he asks. Loki eyes it in utter disgust. Snow squints her eyes at it.
"Really?" she asks uncertainly, trying to decline politely. Tony furrows her eyebrows at her, then realization hits him.
"Oh, no. This is for me. This…" he pulls down the hanger, revealing another, black one. "For him? What do ya think?" Loki's face falls in relief, Snow's too.
"Yeah, that's not bad," she nods happily.
About forty minutes of picking, debating, and trying on, Loki changes out of the final pick in the changing room.
Tony's next to Snow, near a dress stand. "You're not paying for all of this on your own! I'll pay for half," she says firmly.
"No. You're not. Look, why are you making a big deal out of it. I'm not judging. I want to pay."
"What do you mean want?"
"I mean…I've been living alone for the past three months. I've got nothing better to spend my money on. So just, let it slide," he tells.
Snow sees a hint of desperation in his eyes. Something was wrong there. She couldn't put it together, but her instinct was not to push. She gave a sigh. "Fine," she breathes tiredly.
"Good. So…are you gonna try that on, orrr?" he asks. She furrows her eyebrows momentarily, then turns to the dress her fingers were brushing. She smiles, shaking her head softly.
"No," she dismisses.
"Oh, come onnn. We're all buying stuff. Your turn," he tells.
Her phone rings. "I gotta take this," she says, walking off. He sighs irritably, heading back to the changing rooms.
He gives a knock on Loki's door. "You still alive in there?" he asks sarcastically. In the same second, Loki walks out, shoving the shirts into his arm. Tony inhales. 'I don't like being handed things,' he thinks.
Tony hands the clothes to the lady awaiting patiently beside him. He gives her his signature smirk, and turns to Loki once more.
"Hey. See that dress over there," he points, resting a hand on Loki's shoulder. Loki glances at it irritably, then turns his attention to the dress. "Snow's got her eyes on it, but out of humble courtesy, refuses to buy it," he explains. Loki intently listens, fully focused. "She's coming. Keep me covered," Tony says, snapping him out of it.
Snow's turns to them, smiling. "All set?" she asks.
"Uh, yeah. Just that small, little thing-we're not leaving until you try on that dress. Tell her," Tony says.
Loki sighs tiredly at him, then turns to Snow, who's folded her arms, awaiting his response to that. It seemed silly that she'd refuse to get herself something out of humility. He surprisingly agreed with the Stark. Now how would he say it subtly?
"If I have to endure this torture, so should you," he eventually says. Tony grins.
"Couldn't have said it better myself!"
"You guys are unbelievable," she smiles in amusement, honestly warmed by their persistence, especially his. "Fine. But I'm paying for it," she states firmly. Tony hesitates, then rolls his eyes.
"Okay, fine. You're the boss."
Snow heads to pick it up, along with another one that had caught her interest. She heads to the girls' changing room. They follow, waiting outside on the round stools. Tony checks his phone as Loki sits, lost in thought.
A few minutes later, Snow comes out in a wine-red, knee-length, ¾ sleeved drees, with a ribbon on the waist, and a V-neck.
"Well?" she speaks, grasping their attention. The two opposite her are speechless for a moment. Then, Tony grins.
"Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Right?" he nudges Loki with his elbow. Loki struggles to find a slim answer. He gives a slight nod.
"Fine," was his sole reply,
but
for some reason,
it put a grin on her face,
like she knew he was hiding more. Tony, however, thought he was being an idiot.
She turned back inside, coming out with a different dress. She places a hand on her hip expectantly. They eye it with less interest. "Meh," Tony utters.
"Noted," she calls, heading to change.
Alas, it was time for their pre-final stop, a suit shop. They head in, and immediately, Loki's eyes light up. "Welcome to candy-land," Tony spreads his arms, grinning, turning to Loki, content with his impressment, as was Snow.
They pick out a few suits. Loki heads in to try them. He comes out with the first few, and Snow found it extremely difficult to act neutral. Loki notices, so does Tony.
The Stark leans in near her ear as Loki changes inside. "You're practically drooling, White," he smirks. She turns to him in shock, subconsciously touching her mouth. She punches him in the arm irritably, and it actually hurt. He should be grateful she hadn't used her full strength.
Eventually, the three were done with quite the productive day. Now all that was left, was dinner.
Before heading off, Snow excused herself to the bathroom, leaving the boys waiting outside, where Tony handed one of the mall's staff members the bags to set at the car.
He then turns to Loki, who was staring after the departing White. He grins. Loki, feeling his eyes on him, turns irritably.
"What?" he asks.
"Could you want her more?" Tony asks, playing match-maker for the day. Maybe if he found it entertaining, he'd stop feeling that pinch of jealousy.
Loki widens his eyes at him. "I beg your pardon?!" he exclaims in annoyance. Tony rolls his eyes.
"Oh, come on. I've seen the way you look at her," he says. Loki turns away, refusing to give in to the Stark's game. "I mean, I get." Loki turns at the change in Tony's tone, studying him carefully. "Smart. Brave. Beautiful."
"It sounds to me like you're the one yearning for her affection, Stark," Loki states blandly. Tony eyes him plainly.
"I lost my chance when you came back, pretty boy," he tells. A look of realization crosses Loki.
Conflicted by both a discovery he'd already suspected, and the slightest of petty, or debt, for the Stark across him. He looks away again.
"Well, if it's any condensation, she never would have gone for you." Tony is about to retaliate, but realizes something of vast importance. Loki was trying to…comfort him? Maybe. Or mock him. He wasn't sure.
"You know, a part of me thinks so too," he says in slight disappointment. Loki spares a glance of observation. "The other part knows I'm too charming to resist," he grins. Loki rolls his eyes at him. "No point, now that you're here," he says, face falling once more. Loki listens intently, uncertain what to make of that revelation.
It wasn't easy, coping with all of this, and his feeling foremost. His feelings for her, the girl who'd saved him, time and again. But she was so much more than that, he was simply unable, and half-unwilling out of concern, to give in to anything.
"But, let me make something very clear," Tony speaks, a tone that seemed more serious than before. Loki turns to him curiously. Tony steps in front of him until they are a foot apart, glaring intently. "You break her heart; I will make your life on earth…a living hell."
Upon hearing the Stark's threat, Loki is unable to suppress a smile of both amusement, and slight impressment. Thinking he could take him, and would probably try, his respect for the Stark had grown.
Snow then returns. She is wary of their stance. "Everything okay?" she asks in concern. Tony turns to her, slapping on a smile.
"Yeah. Totally. Come on. Let's go eat," he replies nonchalantly. Snow turns her gaze to Loki, who was observing her as well. She tried to pick up the truth from his eyes as Tony walked off, but she couldn't.
Tony leads them towards the restaurant on the roof. Fancy, expensive. Of course. Snow didn't mind, neither did Loki. And she probably shouldn't even bother trying to convince Tony to split the bill.
The waiter hands them menus. He hands Loki one. He simply stares off, ignoring him. Snow hurriedly takes it for him, smiling in apology at the confused waiter. Tony doesn't notice as he flips through the pages.
"So, what are we having?" he asks.
"Mm, what do you recommend?" she asks, glancing every now and then at Loki. She didn't even need to touch him to pick up on the tension that seemed to be growing by the second.
He suggests a dish, and she takes it. He asks Loki, he retorts by not being hungry. Tony doesn't take no for an answer, and gets him what Snow's having.
He orders, his phone rings, he stands, and walks off to the railing to pick it up, leaving Snow and Loki alone.
She turns to him, quiet for a moment, weighing words in her head, what to say. She had to say something. She couldn't stand how stressed he was, and she didn't even know why! She felt an untamable need to comfort him.
"I know…this is all…too much," she speaks. Too suddenly, Loki places a hand on hers, his cold, yet warm, all at once. He eyes her intently, stealing all words, all thought from her mind.
"Snow, just stop. Please," he says.
His words seem to snap her out of her trance, but didn't help her racing heart, or creeping blush. She let his emotions flow through her, and they were as she'd expected, but with a small hint of…admiration, but mostly desperation.
It was clear words were not what he'd needed then, so she spoke no more, and nodded her head at him slowly.
Content with her consideration, he pulls his hand back, uncertain why he'd placed it in the first place.
Tony walks back. "So, it looks like our little adventure has to be cut short. After we eat, I'll drop you kids off at the tower, and head to the company," he explains.
"Is everything okay?" Snow asks.
"Yeah. Everything's fine. Just some paper work that has to be ready yesterday, sooo," he laughs, "yeah." Snow shakes her head at his silliness.
The evening passes somewhat gracefully. Turns out, their company to one another wasn't all bad. Tony seemed to get that humorous persistence was the only way to get Loki to do anything. And Snow understood that a little calm was the best way to keep him on their side, and somewhat calm himself.
She was determined to show, that he would not be going through this alone.
XXXXXXXXXX