A/N: Hey guys. So bit of a minor sex scene here between Tony and Pepper, but nothing too graphic, more emotions and feeling and stuff. I don't really know how to write the self harm part, and I don't want to glorify it because depression is a real condition, so if you have any tips or things you want me to change, just leave a review and I'll work on getting better! As always, I own nothing but the plot. :)

-ravenclawrose7

Loki stripped off his shirt, revealing his porcelain skin that shone with pale scars. Loki ran the blade over his chest, pressing slightly until a red bead of blood flowed out. He winced at the stinging pain, but it blocked out his aching heart, and that was all that mattered. Loki cut into his chest, slicing until he felt finally stopped, his chest looking like he had been clawed by a cat. Blood ran down his chest, pooling near the top of his jeans. Loki reluctantly put down the blade and grabbed the towel he kept for this purpose. He mopped up the blood and got bandages to cover up the marks. He felt sick with himself. Why did he like the power doing this to himself gave him? He really was a monster. No normal person would like doing this to themself, but Loki wished that he never had to stop. He was drunk on power, an abomination, a disgrace. Loki carefully walked to his bathroom and washed off the blade. He tucked it back into the box and surveyed his bed. The black sheets showed no blood and the green comforter had a few droplets on it, but nothing too noticeable considering the great flows of blood there had been. Loki got his shirt and put it back on. He stripped of his pants and climbed into bed. It took hours, but he finally fell into an uneasy sleep.

It was 1 AM when Loki woke up. He knew it was no use trying to get back to sleep, so Loki climbed out of bed, changed his bandages, and put on a pair of sweats and a worn old sweatshirt. It was still a week until winter break was done, and Loki didn't have classes until the Thursday after that. Loki quietly left his dorm and padded down into the common room in his socks. The common room was a large area with bookcases, flat screen televisions, foosball tables and a small kitchen. Loki immediately went over to the bookshelves and pulled out a book, Pride and Prejudice. He tiptoed over to the cushy couches and sat in the middle.

"Bit early for reading, Reindeer Games." Loki jumped up and turned on his was leaning against the doorframe in a Black Sabbath shirt and a pair of tight boxers.

"Stark, you do realize that you are currently missing an important article of clothing?" Loki questioned, forcing his eyes up from below Tony's waist. Tony smirked and walked to the mini fridge.
"Ladies love it. Don't knock it til ya try it." Tony said, shaking his ass slightly. Loki let out a bitter laugh.
"Well, I seem to have no trouble attracting females, but the prize I really seek is of the male gender." Loki said, diverting his eyes back to the book. Tony looked at him.
"You're gay?"
"Yet another thing Odin hates me for." Loki grimaced at the painful memories, trying to return to his book, all too aware of Tony's eyes on him.
"Who could hate you? I mean, maybe you're a bit hard to approach, but I can't imagine hating you." Tony sauntered over to the couch and sat by Loki. Loki lifted his eyes to meet Tony's.
"And I'm not straight as a bullet either, so don't feel bad." Loki stared in surprise at the playboy. Who would've thought that Tony Stark wasn't completely straight? Tony looked ready to say something else when a feminine voice rang from the hallway.
"Tony?" Pepper asked, covering her arms over her lacy nightgown. Loki and Tony looked up, and Tony stood up and walked over to her. "Hey, babe," he said as he kissed her cheek. Pepper looked satisfied enough and began to attack his lips, small hands running over his curved ass. "Ready for round two?" She purred in a seductive voice, looking up into his eyes while palming him through his boxers . Tony nodded yes, waved bye to Loki, and staggered out of the room, still entwined with his girlfriend. Loki cursed himself. He was not getting a crush on a taken playboy, and especially not Tony Stark. He let out a self-deprecating chuckle and returned to his book. Who would like him anyway?

Tony sloppily returned Pepper's kiss as she hurriedly worked off his t-shirt. She ran her long fingers over his chest, tweaking his sensitive nipples. Tony moaned into her mouth, then flipped her so she was below him on the bed. Pepper sighed wantonly as he slipped off his pants so that they were both naked. Tony got to work, groaning, as he felt the warm heat envelop him. He opened one eye, then gasped as Pepper's red hair morphed into unkempt shoulder-length black hair and her eyes morphed to Loki's. Tony closed his eyes again and tried to remind himself to say "Pepper", not "Loki". Why the fuck was he thinking about Loki during sex? Tony tried to hurry after that, finishing and attempting to separate himself from Pepper, but she demanded to be hugged, so Tony tried to get to sleep with her in his arms. It didn't work. As soon as her breathing evened out, Tony moved to the other bed.
Tony woke up feeling dirty, but he didn't know why. He groaned as he checked the clock: 5:00 AM. He had gotten 3 hours of sleep at the most. Tony stood up and stretched, then froze as her remembered his night with Pepper. Tony quickly wrapped up in a towel and crossed the hall to one of the shared bathrooms. Tony dropped the towel and got into the shower. It was just one little thing. It didn't matter, right? Fantasizing about one of your best friend's brother during sex was normal, right? Tony sighed, scrubbing at his skin, the warm water creating rivers down his back. He hurriedly shampooed his hair and toweled down. Tony cursed himself-he had forgotten clothes. Tony held the towel around his waist and left the bathroom. He was just about to go into his bedroom when he heard soft footsteps coming from the common room. Tony tiptoed to the edge of the doorway and peeked in. Loki was dressed in his sweatshirt and sweatpants with his feet dressed in soft socks, running his long fingers over the spines of the books in the bookshelves, oblivious to Tony. Tony smiled slightly and returned to his bedroom, where Pepper was still sound asleep and naked. Tony silently dressed back into pajamas (with pants this time) and walked back out into the common room. Loki was still on the couch, but this time he had a different book- Little Women. Tony sat down next to Loki and splayed himself out on the couch. Loki glanced at him and returned to the book. Tony sat up again, and stared at the rings under Loki's eyes.

"Ya know, Lokester, you really need to get more sleep. It looks like someone sucker-punched you," Tony said, taking the book from Loki and marking the page. Loki glared at him.

"Trust me, it's not by choice," Loki replied scathingly, suddenly gasping as Tony pulled his head down onto the edge of the couch, where a pillow was sitting, and tucking a blanket over him. Tony placed his hand over Loki's eyes.

"The fuck?" Loki asked, trying to move Tony's large hand off of his face. Tony (though Loki couldn't see it) grinned.

"I'm getting you to sleep. So shut up and try to get to sleep." Loki pouted and snuggled into the couch, wincing slightly at the pain on his chest. Tony noticed, frowning, but didn't say anything. He began to slowly run his fingers through Loki's hair with his free hand, smiling as his breath began to even out. Loki was asleep in minutes.