"Feeling well enough, I see." Tony got home to find Pepper on the couch with her laptop and Loki stretched at her feet, obviously looking to make himself part of the carpet. The TV was on some random cop show that he seemed to like and Pepper was busy with what Tony presumed to be work for Stark Industries. Strangely, he could think of this as life as usual.
"Is that Loki?" Natasha asked the genius.
"Why is he on the floor?" Bruce wondered. "What's the prince of Asgard doing at your CEO's feet?"
"He does that…" Pepper offered uncertainly. "He can get up if he wants to, and I've made sure he knows, but apparently he's fine as is."
"Indeed I am well, for now." Loki spoke from where he lay on the carpet.
"Did you eat?" Tony asked.
"I made a sandwich. Grilled cheese with tomatoes and pickles. It was quite delicious." The God of Mischief looked to Stark, as if seeking his approval, Natasha mused.
"To each their own." Tony replied smoothly. So he noticed it as well? Why was he indulging the boy? "There's certainly enough food to last for as long as you'll be here, and you can order whatever you want. How was your day, Loki?" Tony asked.
"Fine, for a lazy one. Law and Order was on all day so at least I had something interesting to watch. I've never been able to understand how Midgardians take pleasure in having their kills… even on Asgard they do not take such pleasure in actually killing; for all our stories, they are more about the fact that we escape with our lives and our honor than that we have managed to kill an enemy. The only ones who would dare take pride in such mass slaughter, let alone the mechanics of it, would be berserkrs, and they are no longer considered Asgardian because the practice is forbidden."
"Thems the breaks, kid. Serial killers are also considered… forbidden. We immortalize them to teach fear, and to let people know that they're safe. Has that never been done?"
"But of course." Loki scoffed. "It's hard to forget the monster under the bed when you're one of them."
"I'd drink to that if Pepper let me." Tony snorted.
"Death was not seen as overly cruel to those undeserving. The Merchant is there to guide souls to their destined afterlife, be that Valhalla or Hel. You keep the balance between the Realms more than the Allfather could ever dare to claim."
"And for that, I am revered as one of the most famous mass-murderers in history, written or otherwise, throughout the Nine? You are far too optimistic for your own good, Trickster. I wish everyone saw things the way you did." Tony smirked. Loki beamed, flashing a quick, embarrassed grin at the genius, before turning back to his marathon.
"Well, I can see one thing he and Thor have in common." Clint offered when Loki retreated to his floor. "They've both got that kicked-puppy look about them."
"Yes, but Loki's also got the whole i'm-right-aren't-i-please-tell-me-i'm-right look as well. I don't think I've seen such a look on any normal kid over the age of twelve." Bruce offered.
"Not entirely accurate age-wise. Loki was fifteen in Earth years, and Thor is what, nineteen, twenty? Is it any wonder things turned out the way they did?" Natasha snorted.
"Why'd you think we adopted him instead of throwing him in prison?" Tony snorted. "Kid needed rehab, not someone else throwing his insecurities back in his face."
"So that means you go and open your home to a megalomaniac who killed people?"
"How is he a kid anyway?" Bruce was more curious than angry now.
"Long story short, magic." Tony offered Bruce before turning to glare at Natasha. "That means that he needs to be repaired." The engineer hissed. "And I'm nothing, if not good at fixing things, Merchant of Death or otherwise. It will take time and effort, but we're doing fine so far. Can I at least trust you to try and keep any possible triggers to a minimum?"
The look Natasha gave him was enough of a response. She wouldn't actively try to hurt the boy but she couldn't speak for everyone.
"Merchant," Loki called when he got back to his room. A few seconds later, the device given to him by Lady Pepper (a tablet, mortals called it) showed his keeper's face.
"You rang," The inventor asked, eyebrows raised.
"Your friends think me a child." His charge scoffed. "How am I to prove myself worthy if all anyone will see me as is Thor's shadow of a younger brother?!"
"You've got a long way to go before that happens. Speaking of age, I got your mother to translate Asgard's calendar to mortal years and it looks like your birthday is on Saturday."
"And when is that? What occurs on this day of birth?"
"Normally, people throw parties or go out to eat, and you get gifts, but that's all up to you."
"Do any of the sagas I like to watch come on that day?"
"You can check to see." Tony offered.
"Would you be here that day, and Lady Pepper?"
"Sure, barring that nothing major happens, Pep and I can take the day off."
"But something always happens." Loki mumbled to himself.
"Hey, don't be like that, kid. It'll be fun, I swear! Even if one of us does have to step out for a while, there's at least five other people willing to celebrate with you."
"Your colleagues despise me, Merchant. They expect me to be someone I am not. I might as well go back to traipsing around with Thor and his ridiculous comrades."
"I'm not going to say that they like you, or even that they'll come around, because I swore that I wouldn't lie to you. You have to take the first step, to make them see you for who you really are, and if they can't accept that then screw them and find people who can."
"Lady Pepper has yet to object to my magic."
"Pepper is one in a million, Loki. I thank the Norns that I found someone like her to put up with my crap. Honestly, I'm glad I haven't run her off completely."
"When will you be married?"
"What brought that up?"
"You will marry her, won't you? You've got to, it's only right."
"What do you know about that?" Tony smirked.
"In all the stories Father told us, the hero always marries his Lady. It happens on Midgard too, right? So when will you get married?"
"We'll get married whenever she wants. I don't particularly care for that part of things. She's basically agreed to forever with me."
"Yes, but if it's not official then some bastard can sweep her off her feet and you'll have no say!"
"Hey, now," Tony chuckled as tears sprang from the boy's eyes. "What's got you so worked up?"
"I'm sorry." The boy muttered softly, wiping his sleeve over his face. "I meant no harm, honestly. It was only a dream."
"About…"
"Exactly what we just discussed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must now convince the Lady Potts."
Tony released the young God of Mischief with a stunned expression. Loki had a dream about him losing Pepper? What kind of fucked up world did this kid live in?!
That was when the boy's words caught up to him.
"Shit!"
"So now he thinks you had a dream that will convince him to actually marry me? Clever boy," Pepper laughed when the green-eyed Trickster bounded into the room and told her what had occurred with her fiance.
"Most lies are versed in truth." He replied cryptically.
"Well it's good to know that you approve." She smirked.
"You are more of a goddess than any I've ever met, and the Merchant is lucky to have your hand." The young god informed her. "That said, I believe he will have my hide if he ever does find me, so I shall take my leave."
"Good luck."
Loki slipped out of the room just as Tony came barreling in.
"You just missed him," Pepper snickered.
"Not a word, Potts." Her lover growled. "I know a plot when I smell one."
"Well I certainly wasn't involved in this one, so count me out. No idea what you're so upset about anyhow, I think it was sweet."
"That bastard damn near gave me a heart attack and you think that's sweet?" The inventor groused incredulously.
"Oh please!" She scoffed."If he meant any real harm then I wouldn't have let him go through with it. You of all should know when to appreciate a good joke, considering you play them so much yourself."
"Yeah, yeah. What do you think of his so-called prank?"
"What, that we get married? You do know that it's just a matter of when, right?"
"Of course!" Tony scoffed. "I didn't propose just for kicks, Potts."
"Why do you think he bothered then?"
"Well that one's obvious."
"What?"
"You don't see it?"
"No… what's the problem?"
"He doesn't want things to fall apart is all."
"What did he think would happen?"
"Guess." Tony offered.
"What, he thought we'd kick him out?" Tony gave her a look of somber knowing mixed with his own pain from experience.
"Oh Tony," Pepper sighed. "You know we're keeping him, right? I don't care what Odin says."
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Pep." The genius snorted. "It's a shame the kid thought he needed to interfere, honestly, but now that I think on it, he's kinda cute."
"Like you didn't completely adore him from Day 1." Pepper scoffed.
"I'll leave all the mushy stuff to you. Feel free to coddle him to your heart's content, and I mean that in the most non-feminist way possible." The inventor murmured through his future wife's strawberry-red hair.
"I know what you meant." The CEO muttered sleepily.
Loki peeked through the doorway, letting out a small eep! upon sight of his idol. Tony snorted and waved a hand to the couch. The current eight-year-old crept slowly toward the couch, as not to wake the now-sleeping woman, before dashing off. Tony raised an eyebrow as Loki came back with a giant comforter and spread it over the couple before burrowing himself into Tony's side.