It happens on a thursday of all days. Thor's day, Loki thinks darkly, yes of course.
There is a call, Avengers Assemble we got some more damn robots playing whack-a-mole the city. Whose day is it? Loki? ok fine, just get the damn robots, people.
Ever since the robot attacks started, they have been constantly ready for an attack. After one attempted to break into Stark tower and copy JARVIS (and the machine was miffed that such a primitive system could hope to even remotely begin such a task), someone had to be left behind to supervise the building.
Today it was Loki's pleasure.
What happens is this; Tony had made a new suit. The new suit implemented something none of his other suits did.
That being magic. From Loki. It was like christmas for the man, and Loki hadn't really attempted to be a push over about it all.
The man was just so damn happy.
After the first battle, however, the cord attached to one of the boots was torn and the magic tied to it spilled out. It didn't ruin the statue so much as liquify it. Tony was shouted at, Loki berated and the both of them threatened.
As a present, Loki made some better cords and attached them to the undersides of the bracers, as well as repairing the boot's and reinforcing those.
The call came and Tony ran by with a piece of toast being flung to the side as he decided against breakfast on the way. "Cord's fixed" Loki called out and he turned, "Made it stronger. Also…might find some new toys on your bracers" Tony groaned, leaned over and gave the amused god a peck on the cheek, and said something along the lines of , "Love ya, you're the best" before hurriedly running out to the rooftop and yelling in delight at the new additions.
Loki sat frozen for about twelve minutes.
The thing about I love you was that on Asgard it was not spoken in passing, or at a glance, or even really during courtship. In the arranged marriages, the couple was not even often expected to act - nerveless say - such things.
He mulled over it so much that a second robot nearly ruined a perfectly good (and newly replaced) set of windows, only snapping to attention when JARVIS initiated the alarm.
He apologized profusely to the artificial intelligence until he lamented.
"Tony said I love you to me" he doesn't mean to share his secrets with a machine that is supposed to share everything with the man in question. He also doesn't expect the machine to understand.
"I will not tell Mr Stark, if you insist, but may I suggest seeking out your brother? Perhaps he is more accustomed to handling…such revelations."
It is a poor word of choice, but it will do. besides. Loki did almost let the machine get hijacked. So he thanks him and is quiet for the rest of the day until the Avengers, tired but victorious, return. He is silent for the rest of the day, not trusting himself not to blurt it out and ruin it all.
Then he visits his brother.
Thor hums when he tells him and cryptically, cryptically, Thor answers cryptically, what is the universe coming to? He says, "Humans live much shorter lifespans, brother. They are not so reserved regarding what should and should not be said; there is not always a chance of being able to say it tomorrow, so they say it as often and they are wont to."
Loki storms away.
Long ago, if a suitor had spoken in such a way, with such blatant disregard for customs, his wagging tongue would have been cut out and offered to Loki as recompense.
Not that he would have let such a thing happen.
He wants to repeat it back to Stark, but the words get caught in his throat; even the one whom he loved without a doubt, who rarely if ever, wounded his heart, could not often coax the words out; and he loved his mother deeply, but he was loathe to be so vulnerable, even before she which had held him as a babe and in whose arms he had been rocked to sleep numerous times. He wants to tell Stark that he loves him, too. He entertains the thought that it was Starks complete and utter informality that stops him, because it is undeserving of the deep statement Loki wants to spin in return.
Really, he is just terrified that Stark meant it in a human way, not in an Asgardian way. That when he says it, Stark will laugh at him. He cringes away from it, bats it away.
So, only late in the night, curled around Stark because they discovered he was less likely to have his nightmares with Loki there, he presses himself close and whispers jaggedly in Tony's ear.
He does it night after night and sometimes he says more.
He says why. He wonders how. He says when and where it happened, the exact moments at the exact places.
He tells him that if he were not a coward, he would say it where the sun could see and pull it around the world in his light.
He tells him that Tony must instead settle for Lady Moon, for she is the keeper of secrets and she will not tell anyone and Loki is afraid so he will keep it that way.
Two months later, Tony mentions lightly that he hasn't had a single nightmare for a while. Loki is glad, but he would never outright say so. It is not in his nature.
"hmm? That is…good."
Tony rolls his eyes, "Yeah, I'd say so."
Loki makes small talk because that is apparently a custom on Earth. No banter, just small empty words. Usually he and Tony drop that for the word play, but they are joined by the rest of the Avengers (minus his brother, whom is still on his premarital honeymoon) and so is inclined to play the rules of social interactions.
"Do you know when?" He says, passing Barton the milk.
"Huh, If I had to say, probably…the robot attack where Merida over there did a backflip into a dumpster." He says with a grin waving his spoon at a scowling Barton. Loki pauses but continues picking up his spoon. The same day you said you loved me, he thinks silently. Tony had not repeated the statement since. Loki doubts he wants to retract it so much as he's forgotten. Which almost hurts more. He eats in silence, not feeling strong enough to take part in small talk at the moment.
"You gave me the enhanced cords" Tony says wistfully around a spoonful of lucky charms. The magic cords in question had been confiscated after the third battle where Tony had accidentally brought Steve's cellphone to life. As in, turned it into a sentient being. It had learned how to speak, and unimpressed with Steve's polite vocabulary, had started speaking in a uniquely vulgar manner. Steve, horrified but not having the heart enough to smash it, had glassily relinquished it to SHEILD. Loki admitted it was, as Barton had said, "Hi-fucking-Larious".
They continue eating in general silence after that.
Tony finishes and puts his and Natasha's (she finished at the same time) bowls in the sink, returning to nibble on some toast. Almost off handedly he adds, "I said I loved you."
Immediately the tension in the room sky rockets.
Everyone sees the odd way Tony is looking at Loki who looks like a deer caught in headlights and assumes it's an awkward lover's spat where Loki hasn't said it yet.
Everyone immediately vacates. Banner doesn't even attempt to come up with an excuse, he just slips off his stool with his plate of bacon and eggs and nearly runs into the elevator.
Never-less, the other three suddenly remember that they have to train somewhere now, right now at eight thirty seven, yes exactly, gotta go we'll be late, and the two are left alone. except for JARVIS, but at the moment, they've both forgotten him.
Loki eyes Tony warily, then puts his spoon down.
"yes, you did."
Tony nods, chuckling to himself. Then looks up, raises an eyebrow.
"Well?"
Loki does not feel prepared for this at all. But Tony is saying that like hello, yes he means it get your ass in gear and return the damn sentiment, so he slides off his stool and slips over.
"Tony-" He begins, but Tony is kissing him anyways, so he must not have to say it right this moment.
"I know" Tony murmurs to his shoulder after they pull apart. Then he adds,
"You can't shut up about it after you think I've fallen asleep."
Loki freezes. Because that means…
"Yes, you idiot" Tony mutters to his shoulder affectionately, "I love you, freaky god family drama and helmet antlers and all."
Loki just nods, because he doesn't need to speak.