Sorry for the wait, my life has been hectic! Also, tomorrow I'm going to England for the duration of my September holidays (I love living in Australia) so I obviously won't get a chance to update/post anything else for few weeks.

Anyway, enjoy!


Tony, Natasha, Bruce and Clint were at Steve's house that night. Thor would be there later, but he'd called Steve and told him he had a 'family issues'. They were all lounging in his bedroom, with Clint lying on his desk, Natasha and Tony competing for room on his bed, and he and Bruce on were beanbags in front of the TV, trying to pay attention to the movie they had all agreed on but no-one was actually watching.

"So Tony," Clint said casually. "When are you going to admit you want in Loki Odinson's pants?"

Everyone froze as Tony sat up immediately, eyes wide. "What? No! What?"

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's not what I heard from 'Tasha."

Tony turned to the girl, who was glaring at Clint. "You traitor!" she cried. "You know that's just a theory!"

"A theory?" Tony asked, still internally freaking out. "Guys, what the hell? Just because I talked to him a few times it doesn't mean I want to sleep with him!"

Natasha shrugged, trying to look apologetic. "I just got that vibe this morning."

Steve frowned. "What happened this morning?"

"We stayed at Thor's house last night," Bruce offered. "Loki came down in the morning; Tony flirted with him, and made a comment about Loki going on a date when he said he was going to the library. The guy looked terrified. Thor told us it was because he'd told Thor he was gay years ago, and Thor, um... Reacted badly."

Clint narrowed his eyes. "Loki's gay? I knew it; no straight guy wears those sorts of pants that confidently. Oh, and how badly?"

"Didn't say," Tony cut it. "But we sorta figured it was really badly. And Bruce, we weren't supposed to tell them!"

The guy shrugged. "Oh well, they would have found out eventually. Anyway, so Loki left after Tony made that stupid comment, and when he found out why he was so upset, Tony got all moody and weird then left not soon after."

Tony buried his face in his hands. "I just felt bad for him! His own brother rejecting him like that! That shit is important! I mean, he said Loki was fifteen, so that wasn't long before he found out he was adopted? That must be one of the reasons they hate each other so much or something."

He looked up through his fingers a bit. Natasha was staring at him with that look she got, like she knew exactly what he was thinking. "Where did you go, anyway? You said you had something urgent."

Tony felt his face go bright red, and didn't take his hands away. He mumbled something under his breath, and she leaned forward. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that?" She raised an eyebrow.

Tony raised his head. "I, uh, may have gone to the library."

The whole group groaned, and Clint started pelting Tony with every cushion and pillow he could find. Damn his perfect aim. Natasha smacked him on the back of the head.

"Why did you do that? Did you say anything to him? Why are you so interested in him, if you're not trying to get into his pants?"

Tony didn't meet her eyes. "We just talked a bit. I don't know. Maybe I just want to be his friend? He looks like he needs a friend. And he's cool enough. I mean, he's smart. Can keep up with me in conversation, from what I've heard, recently, at least. Okay, don't say it; I know I'm rambling again. But this thing happened last year at Thor's party, and he helped down some stairs or whatever, and maybe I've sorta had the tiniest crush on him since then, because I remember him having really nice hands, and anyway, you have to feel sorry for him, because he's stuck with us this year and I'm trying to make it more bearable for him because maybe I want to do something for someone else for a change?"

He took a deep breath while his friends looked at him like he'd grown a second head.

"You do have a crush on him? Because of his hands?" Clint asked incredulously.

He rolled over and buried his face into one of Steve's pillows, giving his friend the finger and ignoring them all until Bruce hesitantly brought the conversation to his history class, and they let him be. For now. Thank God for Bruce.


Loki was lying on his bed, tired and emotionally drained from the fight he'd just had with Thor.

His brother had stormed up to his room, demanding to know if anything was "going on" between him and Stark (where did that come from?). If that wasn't enough, he'd gone on to say he was frustrated because of the way Loki had acted when Stark had made that comment about him being gay, to which Loki replied that how was he supposed to know Thor felt bad about what had happened, and he had no right to tell them about Loki's sexuality anyway.

Things had progressed until they were shouting in each other's faces about God knows what, then Thor had stormed out the door saying something about Steve's house, and had left Loki fuming.

Then, the anger had drained away and he felt tired, and he couldn't fucking sleep.

His phone buzzed, and he stared at it a few moments, confused, because the only people who had his number were Thor, his parents and his childhood friend Sif, who hadn't spoken to him in nearly a year, and hadn't seen him in longer.

He opened the text and stared.

I stole your number off Thor. He walked in complaining about how evil you are. Now he's raiding Steve's fridge. I figured you got into a fight. Are you okay? – Tony

Tony Stark was going to be the death of him.

Why do you care? –L

I'm trying to be your friend. You could always make this easy on me? –T

No, I don't think I will. And we did have a fight, about you. Thor was under the impression we were secretly sleeping together, or something of the sort. –L

We'd be great friends. With our combined brainpower, we could take over the world. And he thought that? I don't know whether to be amused or scandalised. –T

I doubt either of us would be able to work together with somebody else for the amount of time it takes to take over the world. And I set him straight, don't worry. I assured him that the day I slept with you would be the day that I was best friends with Barton. –L

We could make it work. And ouch, that hurt. You sure you don't want a piece of this? –T

Why are we even having this conversation? –L

Hey, that's a good point, we're having a conversation! And you haven't even told me that you hate me yet! This is the first step to friendship. –T

Loki swore.

I hate you. –L

I love you, too. –T

Goodnight, Stark. –L

Goodnight, sweetheart. –T

Go die. –L


Tony grinned at his phone, pleased with the conversation. He felt Natasha lean over his shoulder, so he quickly closed his messages and put the phone away.

"Who were you texting?"

Tony shrugged. "Oh, no one."

She shot him a look. "Where did you get his number?"

Tony cursed the woman and her secret-agent ways of knowing everything. "Fuck. I stole it off the big guy, okay? I just wanted to see if he was okay."

She had the audacity to look amused. "A tiny crush, you say?"

He bit his lip and didn't try to deny it. As much as he wanted to be Loki's friend, because that was not an excuse, he couldn't deny that he had entertained the idea of dating him a couple of times in the last few months, particularly this week. Because he couldn't help but notice the way Loki's legs looked good in skinny jeans, or how his lips curved into those tiny smiles he didn't think anybody saw, and how nice his voice was, with that English accent that is like honey or something and oh dear Lord was Tony turning into a woman?

Natasha just gave him a knowing look, and one thing he had to admit he liked about 'Tasha is that she didn't need to ask, she just knew and she didn't bother giving her opinions where she wasn't involved. He liked that she was down to Earth and wasn't too judgemental but still didn't take shit.

"I talked to him the other day," she said, taking a seat beside him. They were in Steve's lounge room now, and the others were in the kitchen fighting over what pizza they wanted to order. "Tried being nice, but I knew it was a wasted effort. Got shot down. However, he did make a comment about our reputations, so obviously he thinks we care about things like that. He's okay, though. If you think about it. His sarcasm and attitude are obviously the effect of not really having friends since early middle school. It sort of makes me feel bad for him being right there, but we've always stuck by his brother, taken Thor's word for it that Loki's the one who wronged him."

"You guys aren't still talking about him, are you?" Clint groans as he walks in and takes the empty seat beside Natasha. "I am so sick of hearing about Loki and Tony's endeavours to get in his pants."

"You're a filthy liar, Barton."

"Whatever." The archer waved a hand vaguely in Tony's direction. "Stop talking about him, anyway. It's bad enough being around the guy in person, but thinking about him other times? Not on."


At lunch on Monday, the school was in a state of confusion and possibly panic. Everyone was whispering, like the volume of their voice would make it okay for them to talk about it, and nearly every eye in the cafeteria was trained on one table in the back corner, where Loki Odinson (loner, freak, emo) was glaring at Tony Stark (popular, rich, playboy) who had completely forgone his usual table with his friends, and had decided to spend lunch with the resident outcast.

Loki could sense the eyes on him, and hoped his glare was vicious enough to send the message that this was a very, very bad idea.

Their conversation was going something like this.

"What are you doing, Stark?"

"Eating with you, what else?"

"Please leave."

"No, I don't think I will."

"People are staring."

"Let them."

"Your friends are staring. I can see them. Thor looks confused and angry. Barton looks annoyed. I think Romanoff is smirking."

"I can imagine that. Good for them."

"Everyone is staring."

"That's nice."

"Stark, I don't want to eat with you, and face the inevitable questions from my brother. Please leave, makes this easier on both of us."

"Tony."

"Pardon?"

"Call me Tony."

"If I call you Tony, will you leave?"

"Sure, okay."

"Okay. Please leave, Tony."

"I lied. But hey, I like the way my name sounds with your accent."

Loki clenched his fist and wondered when this guy had gotten immune to his glares. Most people would have peed themselves by now.

Tony was digging himself a grave by sitting with Loki, and he knew it. There would be rumours flying around the school within an hour, probably everything from he and Loki being lovers to long-lost relatives to having killed someone together. He knew, because this was the way the school always reacted when somebody, especially somebody popular, did something that wasn't considered normal, or talked to someone who wasn't in their clique. Like when Thor had first started dating Jane, a science nerd, or when Clint had quit the football team.

He didn't really care what they thought, though. Yeah, he may not get as much female attention after this for a while, because of course there were going to be rumours that he was gay, but he didn't really care. He'd already casually dated all the interesting single girls in this place, so he wasn't suffering too much of a loss.

He got a text just as he was about to speak again.

You, sir, have a lot of explaining to do to a lot of people. –N

He glanced over his shoulder at his usual table, and noticed almost everyone with their heads down, texting. Even Jane, her friend Darcy, and Pepper apparently had something to say. He braced himself, and received another seven texts in quick succession.

Loki raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything as the phone buzzed.

Clint says you're trying to sleep with Loki. I'll probably have to kill you. Stop. Now. Come back and sit with us. He's my BROTHER.–T

You're an idiot, but I know I can't stop you. Loki looks pissed, don't make him too angry. –B

What the fuck is wrong with you. The whole school thinks you two are sleeping together now. Also, I just heard a girl at the next table say something about how all the girls you date are cover-ups for your suppressed homosexuality. –C

You never were one for being subtle when coming onto people. I can feel the flirtatious vibes from here. It doesn't look like he appreciates it, though. –S

Thor can't stop going on about how he's going to kill you if you don't come over here right this very moment. Just a warning.–J

I never took you for gay. But hey, I can't blame you- Loki's ass looks great in those pants. The big guy's pissed, though. –D

Tony, I've known you for years, and this is possibly the worst idea you have ever had. –P

He closed his phone without replying and turned his attention to Loki again.

"Aren't you going to reassure them of your sanity, Stark?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. He seemed to have realized Tony wasn't going anywhere any time soon. Tony shrugged.

"Nope. They're all under the impression I want you in my bed."

Something flashed in Loki's eyes. "And do you?" it sounded like an honest question, so he decided he would, for once, not answer it with a joke.

"It sort of was my main aim, at the beginning." he admitted. "Well, not to get you in my bed. I wanted to date you."

Loki scoffed, obviously not buying it. "Oh, and now?"

"I just want to be your friend now, first and foremost. But hey, if 'I hate you' is secretly code for 'Tony, you're amazing, please be with me', I'd be more than happy to take you up on that."

"I hate you," Loki said, feeling uncharacteristically unsure of how to respond, so he went with snark. "Is code for nothing. And you can't expect me to believe you. People like you don't date people like me. Guys like me." He was aware that his voice sounded incredibly half-hearted, and his tone wasn't nearly vicious enough. In fact, he sounded... Well, unsure. God fucking dammit.

Tony noticed. He'd been paying attention for Loki for nearly a year. He'd stared at him subtly in class, he'd watched him when he'd visited Thor over the summer, and now, it was only the second week of class, and he'd been pulled in yet again by this guy, who was still very much a mystery. But if there was one thing he was confident in his analysis of, it was Loki's voice.

And now, Loki was unsure and slightly vulnerable, and he'd probably hit a sore spot. He wondered if the boy, who was nearly eighteen, had ever even been with someone before. Probably not.

"Well," he said, leaning forward a bit and resting his elbows on the table. "I'm not about to ask you on a date and declare my love for you loudly in the cafeteria." Loki felt his face go a little red, despite himself. Tony grinned. "But friends, yeah, you should let me do that. I won't even ask you to hang out with Thor and Clint and the rest. Just us? Hanging out? I want to pick that brain of yours. It seems interesting."

Loki raised an eyebrow, and found himself leaning in a little. "Oh, really? What if I say no? I hate you."

"No, you don't. And you won't say no."

Loki frowned. "What makes you say that?"

Tony smiled. "You don't hate me, because if you did, you would have walked away ages ago. You wouldn't have said 'Right' at the library and you wouldn't have had that text conversation with me last night. And you won't say no because I can see in your eyes that you want this chance to be accepted, be considered normal. You won't say no because you know I won't' judge you about your sexuality, because I pretty much just admitted to wanting to date you, and I won't judge you for being a little bit of a nerd- don't give me that look, you once came to school in a Harry Potter shirt- because you know I'm a nerd, too. I mean, I make robots and read science text books for fun when I'm not with my friends. We're just slightly different types of nerds, and I disguise it well."

Loki stared at him in disbelief. "You talk too much."

"You talk too little," Tony shot back. Loki realized then that their heads were really close together, and they were staring at each other, and it probably looked really bad from an outsider's perspective. Slowly, he sat up again, and watched the other boy do the same.

"Fine," he said eventually, after a few minutes of silence. "Fine, you can try to be my friend. Don't think I want to spend time with your little group over there, because I won't. And don't think I'm going to be suddenly nice to you just because I'm allowing you this opportunity." He stood up and grabbed his book bag. Stark was smiling at him like Christmas came early, and his mouth betrayed him by offering the billionaire's son a small smile in reply.

"Hey," said Tony, standing up with him. "It would just be weird if you were nice to me." He offered Loki his hand, and the other boy shook it hesitantly.

"Goodbye, Stark. I supposed I'll be seeing you at my house this afternoon for that stupid study group?"

Tony winked. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."


Thoughts?