The ride back to Tony's house was silent for the most part, due to a very drowsy teen falling asleep halfway before their destination. No radio, no words exchanged after they got into the car, only the wind seeping through the black the window and Loki's thoughts. Another rare slightly peaceful moment ruin by another parent-child quarrel and once again Thor his so-called brother refused to intervene with their parents' crossfires.
He had sought him out afterwards to apologize, trying to say the same old overused excuse of not wanting to make the situation worse, but the damage was already done long ago. Year after year, arguments escalating out of proportion. The constant practice of favoritism made their relationship more distance than ever before. He felt like an unwanted stranger in his own home, a plague that consumed the entire household, or was it the opposite? They were the plague affecting him while everyone else continued on with their own lives. Who knows? He just wanted his own life after the school's semester ends. He'd yet to break the news to anyone except his manager Mr. Heimdall.
"Oh God, how am I going to tell Anthony," he exhaustively whispers to himself before parking outside the mansion's gated driveway a few moments later.
Peeking at his phone's clock, he still has enough time before he's scheduled to come in at 7:00 AM (an hour early for prepping the store). Loki looks over the knocked-out passenger before turning his attention back on the empty calm streets of the upper-class neighborhood. Every yard perfectly mowed yard with decorated hedges. He remembered a past conversation with Tony saying that everyone on this block were always in a constant competition over who has the best looking front yard. One the neighbors even came up to him, questioning on why their yard wasn't up to par and even offered to pay his personal gardner to upkeep their yard. 'Jesus you think rich people at would have better things to do.'
He yawns, still exhausted from the night before. Knowing it's probably a bad idea, but still he declines his seat preparing for a much-needed power nap.
(KNOCK) (KNOCK) (KNOCK) (KNOCK)
Loki was the only one that reacts to the loud beating noise outside while Tony barely even budge. "Excuse me sir!" the uniformed personnel exclaim through the driver-side window. Sitting back up to roll down the window, Loki hadn't even gotten a chance to speak before the officer interrupts him.
"Sir this is a No-Parking Zone between Thursday from Saturday6A.M. to..."
Tony's voice cuts him off startling both Loki and the officer. "Cut the shit Carl, he's just dropping me off!" The his security officer's authority façade drops and turns to dread within milliseconds. Clearly not noticing the son of the wealthiest man in the neighborhood dozed off in his car.
"Uh...sorry M..Mr. Stark but those are the rules and..."
He cuts him off again. "Look dude, we're not the only ones parked in this area so why don't you go harass someone else or better yet, how about you go do your favorite activity and stalk 10 year olds at a playground ya creep."
The look this guy was giving him was beyond angry, Tony nonchalantly glares back with a 'you can go now' hand signal.
Carl's face twisted up into the most uncomfortable forced customer service smile Loki had ever seen in his life. "Sorry to bother you sir, please enjoy the rest of your morning." He said before leaving with little professionalism he had left.
They both watched the guy pull off around a corner before Tony flops back down while he mumbles 'fake wannabe cop' under his breath.
"That was uncalled for Tony, there was no need to insult him." His disapproval tone and expression puts younger teen in defense mode. "Fuck that guy.'' Points in a direction the departed officer went. ''He was prejudging your car."
The statement made Loki stop and look around his black Nissan Maxima. Barely any wear or tear on the inside, no scratches or dents on the outside, and it had a traditional novelty tree air freshener hanging on the rear view mirror.
"There's nothing wrong with your car Lokes." Tony mentally smile at the older teen's reaction (adorable). "The guy's a jerk, if you ain't driving the latest BMW or Mercedes you're automatically a suspect here."
There's a hint of disgust in Lori's voice as he speaks. "Are you serious? Just because I refuse to take handouts from a man that would uses anything and everything as a leverage against you. Now I'm a criminal?" Even though it was a rhetorical question Loki looks to him for some type of validation. Tony hesitates with his answer knowing full well where the conversation would lead. "Well no, there's nothing wrong with that per-say." The angry teen foils his aim to lighten the mood by sounding even more hostile than before, "I've worked for everything I own, I study all night to qualify for colleges joining the track team to guarantee some type of scholarship so I don't have to ask anyone to help pay for ANYTHING...and,'' he wearily slopes over the steering wheel and sighs. An awkward hand appears from the side and pats him on the shoulder signaling a 'let it all out' gesture. Controversy has never been Tony's strong suit, but minor outbursts like theses he came a custom with.
A few second goes by before Loki continues to talk into the steering wheel, "I barely have a social life let alone have the time to get in trouble, but I get treated like a criminal by my family and some fucking power hungry asshole with a plastic badge." Tony moves his hand to the older teen's shoulder blade in a circular motion, his best attempt to consul his gloomy partner-in-crime and for a brief period of time it worked. It's nice to have someone to vent out, but sometimes it's not enough. The more histhoughts ho on, the more pointless everything seems. Connecting a security guard to his family issues was only making his friend's face give off a fruitless vibes. Time to push all his emotional trash into a hole as usual. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little tired."
Tony sees this an opportunity to talk. "Hey man it's fine. At least you didn't basically call him a pedophile."
That comment brought a genuine smile to the older teen before turning his attention back out to the desolate road ahead to space out again. His friend's anxiety gave Tony an idea. "Why don't you spend the night at my place after work. Take a little break from home. And actually get a full night's night, we both definitely need it." Loki perks up to the proposal which encourages Tony to sweeten the deal. "We can order whatever takeout you want, watch whatever movies or TV you want, and maybe help me on my little project I got. If you want to. You don't have to, but if you want to go ahead I won't stop you."
Loki's perk levels goes down.
"Tony I'm not touching that machine again. I don't care how and where you found something like that. And how can it talk to you?" Flashbacks of past events during Tony's latest invention comes to Loki's mind like a war visions from a past life.
"No not asking for that, I promise it'll help you." Even if Tony put on the best salesman pitch voice the offer of giving him whatever he wanted was tempting enough as it is, but his father's demands he come straight home and help Thor fix the chaos left behind. And being the only one paying for the (not his party) damages the conclusion is a no-brainer. His head still on the steering wheel he talks into the object. "Fuckit, I'm already in trouble might as well come."
"That's right Lokes defiance at age 18, big rebel." His smart antiques earns him a dismissive look. "Alright get out I'm done with you," he hops out of the car to stretchs before Loki grab his attention again. "Might be working a little late so I'll text you when I'm on the way."
The engine starts before he shuts the door, access the front gate, and begins a long walk uphill driveway to one of the biggest pristine homes in the area. The main entrance door opens by a well dressed middle-aged man hired to the Stark's family personal assistant. He sees a familiar car
down hill and gives a courteous wave and a smile before closing the hand-crafted doors after the restless young male carries on its inside.
"Will you be needing anything this morning young Stark?" Mr. Jarvis ask before closing your door. "Nah, I'll just head upstairs thanks." Tony's whole demeanor had change for the worse when he entered his home. "Overindulged again sir?" The question was more like a statement to Tony's ears. A statement mixed with a familiar emotion wrapped around the sentence.
Disappointment
He could sense blood rising with blind anger. Of all the days, Jarvis choose today to comment on his behavior knowing full well the tragedy that occurred around this time. I think that's a good enough excuse to drink or smoke whatever the fuck he wanted! Could he ever imagine losing only important in your life. But no one truly cares about damage goods. Even his therapists were took advantage of his dire need of grief counseling by extending sessions over the past 5 years once they figure out who their client family's identity. And having an absent father who would prefer to through money at ever problem is just the icing on his dysfunctional cake.
Rather than take the offensive he walked past the long-term help with silence to his room.
Hangovers with a small mixture of migraines made his journey to his space more difficult. The side effects of binge drinking were degenerating Tony's stretch without proper hydration or nutrition to stabilize his condition. Best option now, make it upstairs and rest off or maybe use other substitutes.
'Maybe I should've let Jarvis help me.'
All most there, black shadows circles his vision. 'Fuck not now.' Tony hands were starting to shake while he held on intensely to the stair handles for better balance.
"Let me help you sir." Jarvis standing right behind the unstable young man. He almost yanked away his arm from the loyal assistant, but knowing the distance between where he was now and his room. Stubbornness almost got the best of him. It only stopped him from mumbling a thank you before they made their way up stairs in silence.
Year later I'm very sorry finally got my life back on track \\m/