The Breakup Breakdown

Chapter Three

Present

Loki stood at the front of his apartment building, absently tugging at the sleeves of his black suit jacket. He had never felt this uncomfortable in his own skin, and it didn't help that he was also wearing a ridiculously confining three piece suit.

A loud honk startled him from his fidgeting and he turned to see Stark's town car pull up in front of his building and stop. The passenger side door swings open and Stark steps out, holding a glass of amber liquid that Loki was almost afraid to identify.

"Damn, you look good in that suit." Stark said with a loud chuckle as he paced over to Loki and slung his arms over the other man's shoulders.

Loki slowly started to dip his shoulder's, trying a subtle attempt to get Tony Stark out of his personal space, but his efforts proved fruitless as Stark began pulling him over towards the car.

"Look, I've been thinking that maybe I should skip the party. I'm not really feeling up to it." Loki stammered quickly and Stark rolled his eyes as he continued to pull Loki towards the car.

"Are you insane? You aren't going anywhere except to that party because you look to damn good not to." Stark repeated and Loki bit his lip, unsure if Stark actually meant what he was saying, or was it just from the all the alcohol he had consumed before he got here.

Loki swallowed and stared at his reflection in the town car's window. His fitted jacket hung open revealing his black long sleeve dress shirt and over it an emerald green colored vest, with a tie that matched.

His slacks were pressed and stylish, while his shoes shone brightly in the dim light of the street lamp that sat at the street corner beside Loki's apartment building.

"You didn't happen to invite Clint did you?" Loki asked as he allowed Stark to gently push him into the town car.

"Of course I invited Clint. He's my hommie after all; actually I invited everyone that took part in the Avengers project." Stark stated proudly as he playfully punched Loki in the arm.

"I really do not feel like I was…" Loki started, but was quickly interrupted by Stark.

"Of course you did. You played one of the biggest parts. You got Thor involved. You have no idea how long I've wanted to work with an Odinson." Stark slurred and Loki pressed his lips together into a thin line.

"Yeah, great it's nice to be the one who brought all you guys together, now can we please get this over with." Loki mumbled as he turned away from Stark and stared out the car's window.

"I thought you'd be more excited than this. I mean this party is more or less for you because you brought all of us together. You are the reason we have the Avengers project in the first place." Stark said sounding completely serious and sober for the first time that night, and Loki turned back to look at him.

"Great." Loki sighed as he turned away from Stark once more, to gaze out the window.

"Maybe this will be your chance to win Thor back." Stark said trying to sound cheerful, but deep down Loki knew that Tony didn't believe that he could.

"I cannot compete; I'm the bad guy, remember?"

After that Tony remained silent for the rest of the drive back to the tower.

Past

Loki shook his head and Thor gave him a devastated look.

"Come on Loki, you said you'd be okay with this." Thor pleaded and Loki looked at him, his lips pursing in thought.

"I know, but I have a feeling that in the end all the responsibility will end up on me, and this is a big commitment for both of us." Loki muttered as he voiced his insecurities before he looked away from Thor.

"I promise I'll always do my share. And if you think that I am not, and then call me out." Thor stated proudly, with his fist raised up into the air in a determined pose.

"Okay, but I get to pick which one and you get to pick the name." Loki said as he stuck his hand out for Thor to shake, in order to cement their deal.

A wide grin spread across Thor's face as he reached out and grabbed Loki's hand, and pulled him closer, their chests now touching.

"Deal." He mumbled as he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to Loki's.

Slowly Loki wandered around the pet shop searching for just the right pet. At first he thought a lizard might be the answer, but quickly shook the idea out of his head because he knew that he needed to find a pet that represented both him and Thor, not just him.

"Are you sure you don't want to weigh in with one of your very strong opinions." Loki teased as he looked over at Thor, who was standing by the pet shop register, where the employee was giving him a suspicious look, but that might have been the flippant comment Thor had said when they had entered the pet shop in the first place.

There was no way in hell Loki was going to get something big enough to ride. Where the hell would it even stay in their apartment anyways?

"No, I already told you that you got to decide on the actual pet and I get to bestow it with a name. And Loki, no matter how much you detest the name we have already decided this." Thor teased back a wide bright smile spread across his face, made Loki blush and turned around in order to avoid having Thor see him.

Abruptly Loki's gazed locked upon another's and at that moment he fell in love.

"This one." He stated brightly as he held out a large fluffy black cat out for Thor to hold. Thor blinked at like he was seemingly confused by it, then reached out tentatively and stroked behind its ear. It began purring almost immediately at Thor's touch and Loki was sure that that was the moment Thor fell in love with the cat, and that was the moment Loki fell in love with Thor all over again.

"I like him." Thor mumbled as he reached out and took the cat from Loki. Gently Thor held him, a wide grin spreading across his face as the cat began purring even louder. Loki laughed and nodded.

"Good, I was hoping that you two would get along. Now, tell me, what are we going to call him?" Loki inquired and Thor chuckled lightly as his free hand not holding the cat came up and absently stroked the hairs on the back of Loki's neck.

"Mjolnir." Thor whispered softly as he brought the cat up closer to his face, so that they were looking each other in the eye.

Loki nodded once more, a grin spreading across his face as he watched Thor and the cat bond, "I like it."