Tom woke up feeling terrible, his head ached and his mouth seemed to contain mud. Why the hell would he eat mud? He asked himself as he closed his eyes hard and put a hand to his forehead. He opened his eyes slowly and thank God that the blinds were closed, he didn't think the light was very helpful with the pain. Perhaps it was for this reason that it took about two minutes to note that these weren't the curtains of his room in the tower or the room Loki; Tom got up quickly and almost groaned at the nausea that brought the movement, he breathed deeply several times to settle his stomach and after a while, he noticed that he was in a hotel room, the lack of personal items gave it away. Tom pulled the sheet a bit to get up and almost jumped when he noticed that he was naked. What the hell happened yesterday that he was now naked in a hotel room? At least he seemed to had his kidneys with him and he wasn't in a bathtub. The door to the room opened and a rather disheveled Patrick entered carrying a tray and using only a white hotel robe.

"Good morning, I thought you could need this" the man said with a smile as he handed a glass of water and some pills for the pain. Tom took them automatically, without lifting his eyes from the man and tried desperately to remember what had happened yesterday to end in this hotel room with a man he barely knew "With those pills, soon you'll feel better, I brought breakfast but I wasn't sure if your stomach was well enough to eat" Tom thought it was a great decision because his stomach hurt and he felt that if he moved just a little, he'll vomit.

"What... what happened yesterday?" the dark-haired asked insecurely, Patrick smiled again and Tom noticed that some wrinkles formed around the downright adorable eyes.

"After dinner, I invited you to dance, we drank a little, you more than me, you did a little show dancing on the table in the bar, we came here and just when everything was getting quite interesting, you fell asleep" he finished telling, releasing a small laughter.

"Oh" Tom replied feeling his face hot "Sorry"

"Why? I had a great time and it seemed you didn't have a date like this, I bet that despite the pain, you're right now very relaxed" Tom had to accept that this was true and smiled sincerely. Patrick looked at his watch and sighed "I have a business meeting in an hour almost across the city" he shook his head and smiled again "Do you want me to take you home?"

"Yes, please"

Tom took a quick shower and put on the same clothes as yesterday, Patrick was waiting and ready, wearing a blue sui that the dark-haired had to admit that highlighted his eyes. They left talking animatedly in the way, Tom was having a nice time and he felt slightly disappointed when they got home; both got out of the car and walked slowly to the door of the house.

"This has been a great date. How about we go out to dinner tomorrow?" asked Patrick, Tom nodded excitedly. The man bowed slightly and pressed his lips to he dark-haired's, Tom tensed in surprise but eventually responded, shyly "See you tomorrow" Patrick took his hand and kissed it before leaving, Tom looked at him leave.

Chris close the curtains of the house.

Loki moved his coffee cup in his hands, insecurity wasn't something normally seen in him but this time he wanted the earth to swallow him. Hogun was sitting before him with his arms folded and frowning, staring at the raven-haired, angry, confused but mostly hurt. He was a married man, by God!

"I suppose I should start to explain things" Loki said at the end, breathing deeply then controled his emotions and lifted his face "I can't explicitly explain why I gave you a different name than the one Thor introduced me today because it isn't my place nor my decision" Hogun looked a little less annoyed and more worried "There are many... many factors involved and..." he sighed "I really like you" Hogun was silent.

"Is that all?" Loki tried not to cringe at the man's coldly tone and looked away, Hogun sighed and leaned forward, putting a hand under his chin to lift his face, Loki bit his lip and blushed slightly "I hate being lied to, there was always lies around my family and is what I hate most in the world "he took a deep breath "... I don't know what were your reasons, it seems to be important but... it doesn't changes the lie" Loki wanted to look away but Hogun had caught him with his hand firmly, without actually harm him "However... however..." he smiled slightly "I like you, Loki, Tom, whoever you are... I really like you" he leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips, Loki sighed lowly, and almost moaned as Hogun separated but managed to stop just before being ridiculous.

"I'm sorry I lied to you" Loki murmured, leaning his forehead against Hogun "maybe... maybe someday I would be able to tell you what happens..." Hogun held him close, silent and trying to ignore the concern that caused him not knowing why Loki was forced to lie about his identity.

"Oh, Pepper" said Steve, surprised when he saw the blonde woman, she shot him a dirty look and turned away.

"Tony's not here" she snapped, the blond sighed wearily and stepped closer.

"Why do you hate me so much, Pepper?" The woman let out an incredulous smile as she turned to face him.

"Why do I hate you? Really, isn't it obvious? People like you disgust me, getting into marriages that way, ruining the lives of people"

"Tony and Tom don't want each other" Steve replied forcefully.

"Because they have never had a chance to do it!" replied Pepper "You got between them since the beginning of their marriage. Tom is a good, sweet, fragile person and I only see him tired and sad all the time and this is yours and Tony's fault. I thought you were a good person, a soldier, that you respected the vows that were made by both of them before God..." Steve stepped back and Pepper smiled sarcastically "I see you're just like everyone else"

"Pepper!" they both turned to see Tony standing at the door with an unusually serious face "Apologize"

"Apologize?" Pepper repeated, raising her eyebrows in disbelief and her eyes flashed in angry "I won't apologize to you bitch!"

"Pepper!" shouted Tony, moving next to Steve and wrapping an arm around his waist "Steve is my partner and he deserves respect"

"Oh, Seriously? Why don't you tell the world?" Tony pursed his lips and the blonde smiled victoriously.

"Apologize to him, Pepper, or we can no longer work together" Steve and Pepper gasped with shock, not believing what he had just said; everyone knew that it was virtually thanks to the blonde that this company was still the best.

"Are you going to fire me for your lover?"

"Only if you force me to do it" Tony replied flatly. Pepper looked surprised few moments before putting her face in white and leaving the office without a word.

"Tony... Tony, you cann't do that, Pepper is the soul of this company!" said the blond, Tony turned to him, still keeping him in the circle of his arms.

"She's my employee and I thought my friend too, I love you and I will not let anyone treat you that way, Steve" Tony kissed him gently "You're the only good thing that has happened to me since I got married, you're who I chose to be with. If it weren't for my father..."

"I know" cut him Steve gently before kissing him "I know..."

"Pepper will be fine, I'm sure" he said without looking at him in the eye and then smiled a little studiously "Let's eat!"

"You like him" Hogun turned and looked at Sif.

"What are you talking about?" the woman looked at him sternly.

"I've known you for years, Hogun, you can't lie to me"

"I still don't know what you're talking about, Sif"

"I'm talking abou Thor's brother, Hogun, and I know you know him, I saw you go together in your car" Sif let out a exhausted sight and sat the best she could with her eight months belly "You like him?"

"... It's not what you think, Sif"

"It better isn't what I think, Ho, because that man is married to Anthony Stark and if he finds out, he can bury you without having to lift a finger"

"He has nothing to find out because nothing is happening" replied the dark-haired, staring at her "Lo... Tom and I talked about the church, he told me he wants to join as a teacher replacement for the choir" Sif raised her eyebrows, studying him intently.

"Tell him he's welcome any time" she stood up and walked towards the door, Hogun was about to release a sigh of relief when the brunette turned "That you know that lying to me, doesn't work, Ho, I just hope for you to be careful and know that we will always be for you, okay?" Hogun nodded, Sif left and he was alone.

Hogun released this time the sigh and lay back on his bed. He wasn't sure what to think of this whole thing... Loki or Tom... or whatever he's called. The raven-haired was attractive, handsome, funny, the sarcasm used almost as a second language and he could be very sincere given the time, he could quickly notice those bright green eyes, also that pale skin and slender body that only served to compliment his beauty. Hogun was lost, he hadn't had a chance from the start. Loki (or Tom) had bewitched him and he wouldn't let anyone take him away, especially a husband, that it was notorious, that he was absent in the life of the raven-haired.