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AN: I am so sorry that you had to wait so long for the final update! Here is it :)
Awake my Soul – Part V
The clacking of Pepper's high heels were the first sign that told Tony he was in trouble. She had a much too high pace and Tony contemplated on escaping through his bedroom window. Then he remembered his room was on the second floor and he was not a planning on breaking his neck by falling on his neck. Facing Pepper was the better option of the two.
When she threw open his door – forgetting all decency of knocking – she threw Tony her best glare. Tony wasn't even sure why she was mad at him. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he had not left his bed for an entire week and that he had missed every important meeting in the process.
"What do you think you're doing?" Pepper demanded to know. She crossed her arms before her chest and pressed her lipstick-red lips together. "Why are you still in bed and what is that smell?"
Tony pulled his bedsheets higher up to his chest. "I might not have showered in a long time," he told her, "and I am still in bed because I don't feel like doing anything today."
"Like you didn't feel like doing anything yesterday or the day before that and before that and-"
"All right!" Tony threw his arms into the air and pressed face into his pillow as soon as he had rolled over. "I just needed some time off."
"Is this about Loki?" Pepper stepped closer and Tony heard the softness in her voice. It was rare for her to show any emotion since their relationship was strictly professional. "I know something happened between the two of you."
"You do?"
Pepper sat down on the bed and inhaled deeply. "It's not that hard to do the math. Last time you had trouble with him, you looked like a sad puppy for days. You have that same look again, only now you're a puppy that also needs a bath."
"I hate baths," Tony muttered.
Pepper completely ignored his comment and even had to suppress a faint smile. "What happened?"
"I did something incredibly dumb," Tony sighed, "and I'm not sure I can fix it."
That made Pepper frown. "Last time I checked, you are Tony Stark and you're a man that can fix anything because you always get what you want. Why would this be an exception?"
"Because this is Loki we are talking about and he doesn't realize it, but he gets what he wants as well." Tony momentarily closed his eyes and he could vividly picture Loki's bright green eyes. "I might have said that he sleeps around and that he's stupid."
Pepper's brown eyes widened and Tony could read the horror clearly in them. She leaned forward and forcefully punched Tony's shoulder. You would not think it, but this was a strong woman and Tony knew he would get a bruise from that.
"Aw!"
"You did what?"
"Do you want me to repeat it?"
"Tony, for once you are dating a good man – one that is exactly right for you – and you screwed up because you didn't think before speaking?" She waited for Tony to react, but he said nothing. "Really smart, Tony, I can see why people call you a genius."
"I know I messed up, Pepper, no need to rub it in my face."
"And can you explain this to me?" She pointed to the whole of Tony. "Why are you in bed all day? I don't think you have the right to act childish about this. If anything, you should be trying to fix this."
"How am I supposed to do that?" Tony asked, feeling irritated. "Loki won't speak to me."
"Have you tried?"
Silence.
"Go to him," Pepper said softly, "apologize. It might not be enough, but it will certainly set you two in the right way again."
Tony thought about her words and even though the advice was simply and not very original, Tony knew that she was right. Of course she was right and Tony couldn't believe that he hadn't asked her before. He pushed away his bedsheets and saw Pepper's face contort painfully.
"Don't worry," he told her, "I'm taking a shower first."
oOo
When the doorbell rang and Thor had gone to open it, he hadn't expected Tony Stark to stand before him. It had been over a week since he had seen the man and he knew the reason. He and Loki had gone through a fight and Thor wasn't sure what to do. He could ask Tony to leave. He could punch him in the face or insult him. Though Loki might not appreciate that.
Thor only wanted to be a good brother and therefor he had to place Loki's best interests first. That is why he decided to hear what Tony had to say before doing anything rash.
"Is your brother home?" Tony asked. He wore a plain blue suit and for once, no sunglasses. Honestly, Thor couldn't understand what Loki saw in the man. He was obnoxious and patronizing just by standing there.
"Maybe," Thor said, forcing himself not to smirk.
"I just want to talk to him," Tony said and the softness of his words surprised Thor, "I appreciate you're trying to protect him, but it's his choice whether he wants to talk to me or not."
Hatred. Yep, that was what Thor experienced when he realized Tony was right. He narrowed his eyes, took a long moment to contemplate about the words and then nodded. "Fine," he said, "I'll tell him you're here, but you will wait outside."
"Fine by me," Tony replied.
"That's because I desperately want to smash this door into your face if Loki allows it." Thor did smirk this time and then turned on his heels. He hurried upstairs and found his brother laying on his bed, a book in his lap and the music blaring from the stereo. Not hesitating, he switched of the device and focused on his brother. "Tony is here."
Loki's eyes widened, but Thor could read the meaning behind it. Shock? Horror? Relief? Happiness? It could be anything.
"Really?" Loki breathed.
"I can send him away if you want," Thor quickly said. The prospect of that idea satisfied him, but Loki shook his head and rose from his bed.
"That's fine," he said, "I'll go talk to him."
"If there is anything-"
"I know," Loki smiled, "I'll call you."
oOo
When Loki came down the stairs, he instantly saw Tony standing in the doorway. He looked well, but Loki had expected anything else. When their eyes met, both of them smiled, but then Loki remembered the words that had hurt him and his smile vanished from his lips. Carefully, trying to think of anything to say, he walked towards Tony.
"Thanks for seeing me," Tony said, still smiling, "I wasn't sure I'd still be welcome."
"Well, we are both adults," Loki said, "I should at least give you a chance to say what you want to say."
Tony fiddled with his hands and inhaled deeply and Loki could see that this was difficult for him. "I came to apologize of course," Tony said, looking straight into Loki's eyes, "and I hope you can forgive me for my stupid behaviour."
Loki remained silent.
"I shouldn't have said those things," Tony continued, taking Loki's silence as a good thing, "and I have cursed myself a million times for it. Loki, I am incredibly sorry for hurting your feelings and I am prepared to do anything to make it up to you. I care about you, very deeply, and I don't want to lose you because my stupidity."
It was actually very nice to hear that and Loki understood what Tony was talking about. He didn't want to lose Tony either because of his stupidity. At least the man had enough courage and dignity to apologize for it and that should count as well. Besides, Loki thought, he cared for Tony just as much as Tony seemed to care for him.
More than that, Loki realized, he loved him. A smile filled his face and he stepped forward, placing both his arms around Tony. "I forgive you," he whispered and when the words left his mouth, it felt good, "I have missed you."
Tony buried his head in Loki's hair. "I've missed you, too," he said.
Loki released Tony and gently took Tony's face into his hand. With as much as he could, he kissed him. When he stopped to look at Tony's expression, he found him chuckling softly and Loki enjoyed that sound.
"It's all right, Thor," he suddenly called, remembering that his brother had to be around somewhere, "you don't have to kick him out!"
Thor, while nowhere to be seen, shouted back, "Are you sure?"
"Fairly sure, yes," Loki replied. Tony needed all his self control to keep him from bursting into wild laughter. "But thank you!"
"Okay then."
Tony placed his forehead against that of Loki and wrapped both his arms around Loki's waist. "You actually have a cool brother," he said, "he really looks after you."
"I know," Loki agreed, "I'm a lucky guy."
"I am going to take you out tonight," Tony said, "to celebrate this."
"You don't have to-"
"But I want to," Tony grabbed Loki's hand and guided him to his bedroom. There, he threw open Loki's closet and began to search his an outfit. He settled for a black pants, a grey button-up shirt and Loki's favorite green sweater. "Wear this," he said, "and come to my house at seven. I'll make dinner and we'll watch a movie. It will be fun."
Loki laughed and lowered his voice, "Oh, it will be."
Tony stopped dead in his tracks and frowned before looking at Loki. "I sense amusement in your voice," he accused, "a tone which I haven't heard before."
"I only use it for special occasions."
"You should use it more often," Tony said, continuing to pick out a pair of comfortable sneakers, "it makes you very mysterious."
"Tony?" Loki became very serious suddenly and he could see the concern flicker across Tony's face. "I'm glad we are back together and I like the idea of where this is going."
"Me, too," Tony smiled.
Loki only returned the smile. He couldn't wait for tonight and he couldn't wait for tomorrow. He couldn't wait for any of the days to come as long as Tony was at his side. Together, everything would be better and Loki looked forward to sharing his future with him. Yes, he thought happily, he had made the right choice.
oOo
The end.
oOo