Chapter 2 – The First Date

Pulling the card from his coat pocket, Loki frowned down at the address. He'd expected something a bit over the top, but he hadn't expected anything quite so extravagant. It was classy – which also surprised him. Tony Stark wasn't usually one who aimed for class – but loud and obnoxiously obvious. He checked his watch, reading 8:30, and decided that was sufficiently late.

The entryway was simple but again classy, the host waiting at a black podium.

"Hello, may I help you?"

Loki nodded, already looking past him, searching the dining room for the man he was meeting.

"I'm here to meet someone. Tony Stark." the host straightened immediately, stepping away from the podium and motioning for him to follow. He walked away from the main dining room, following a well-lit but not bright hall to a separate hall. At the end of the hall was another dining room, this one nearly empty but for a few tables, at one of which sat Tony, a decanter already in hand.

He looked up as Loki followed the host in, a grin splitting his face. He stood and Loki noticed the suit, so out of place on Tony Stark, and yet still modern enough with it's cut and colours to suit him. Loki walked up to the table, carefully unwinding his scarf and draping both it and his coat over the back of the chair. He sat across from Tony and watched as the other man asked for the wine list, picking a dry red, looking over for approval. Loki simply nodded, only looking away from his host to take in the surroundings. He'd dined at many fine restaurants, but never in one quite like this one. The wine was brought over and Tony tested it before motioning for the two glasses to be poured. When his own was filled, Loki lifted it to his lips, taking a careful sip before setting the glass down again.

"I wasn't sure if you'd show," Tony said, tilting his glass and Loki lifted a shoulder, never taking his eyes from his host.

"I wasn't going to." he admitted, "but that would be rude."

Tony opened his menu, not even looking at the words, watching instead as Loki followed suit. He watched his guest skim the options, eyes never resting long in one place. Obviously aware of the others' eyes, he took a sip another sip of his wine, acting as if he hadn't a care in the world, but the scrutiny was beginning to make him far to self-aware.

"Staring is also rude," he commented, but Tony only grinned.

"I can't help it. You don't even seem to notice."

"I always notice." Loki looked up, and for a moment there was something ice-cold in his eyes, but brittle instead of strong. Loki himself didn't seem to notice, but Tony saw it, and was unable to help wanting to reach out – touch this lonely man just for an instant. But then Loki looked away and set his menu down carefully. The waiter was immediately by the table, hovering just far enough away that he wouldn't intrude on conversation but could be called over with a word. Tony set his own menu down, and waved the waiter over.

"The usual," Tony stated, and Loki merely lifted a brow to which he was given a quick smile.

"Arugula salad, thank you." Loki said, hands folded in his lap so that the waiter could remove his menu.

"You're not a vegetarian, are you?" Tony asked skeptically, and Loki gave him a bland stare.

"Did you not read the menu?" he asked.

"Well of course I did,"

"Then you'll have noticed that the arugula salad has chicken."

Tony chuckled before taking another sip of his wine.

"Considering I told you to be here rather than asked, it wouldn't have been rude to not show." Tony commented, and Loki gave another half shrug, lifting the wine glass to his lips again, eyes locked on his host again.

"I couldn't think of a good excuse not to come." he finally replied, and Tony blinked in surprise at the honest answer. Not many people would admit to Tony Stark that they only met him because they had nothing better to do. Loki was watching him carefully, and Tony watched a hint of a smile pass over his features. It was a test, he realized, to see how the great Tony Stark would react.

"Glad I could provide you some entertainment." he said easily, and Loki lifted a brow, another smile flickering over his features.

"I dare say you just might."

The evening passed faster than either man expected, and Tony sat back after his full steak meal, glaring at the dessert menu. Loki glanced up, amused once again by his host. It seemed to be a common occurrence, and a pleasant surprise to be amused by rather than at.

"Dessert?" Loki enquired, and Tony's scowl only deepened.

"I shouldn't." he said, and missed another flicker of a smile.

"May I?" Loki asked, and Tony nodded, waving his hand in offering.

"Of course! Anything you like." he waved, and the waiter scurried over.

"I'd like the chocolate cake please," he said, passing the menu to the waiter. Tony returned to watching his guest, who returned the gaze this time with mild amusement.

"Tired of staring yet?" he asked casually, as if it were no longer a strange thing to question, and Tony smiled.

"Not a chance."

Loki gave a nearly dramatic sigh that had Tony's smile widening to a grin. Before Tony could comment, the waiter returned with Loki's dessert, a towering monster of a dessert, with four layers of different cakes, separated by rich icing and mousse. Both chocolate and caramel sauce were drizzled over the top, with shreds of dark chocolate shaved over the plate, and two chocolate covered strawberries on opposite corners of the plate. The waiter set the plate down in front of Loki before wandering away, and Tony stared in both awe and jealousy, wishing he had ordered dessert. Then he watched in surprised as Loki cleared the centre of the table, pushing the plate between them and lifting Tony's dessert fork to offer to him.

"You didn't think for a moment I could eat this on my own, did you?" Loki asked amiably, and Tony accepted the utensil, watching as Loki lifted his own fork, taking a small corner of the cake and bringing it to his mouth. His lips closed around the bite and he pulled the fork free, clean of the bite, and Tony found himself once again staring as Loki slowly savoured the bite. Loki closed his eyes as he swallowed, knowing what the other was seeing, and a smile played across his lips.

"Delicious," he said, opening his eyes, and watched Tony swallow, fork still poised above the plate. Loki's smile grew another fraction as he took another corner of cake. "Try it, I insist."

Tony blinked, eyes dropping to focus on his fork.

"Right." he mumbled, taking a bite. Loki watched him as he savoured his second bite, watching Tony's gaze get caught again.

"And?"

Again Tony seemed to snap out of a haze and swallowed his bite of cake.

"Delicious." he said, then looked down at the plate in amazement as if he'd said it before really having tasted it. "It's actually delicious." Tony looked across at Loki, an almost dazzled smile on his face, as if he'd just discovered a puppy under the christmas tree, and Loki found himself charmed. He was glad he'd decided to meet the famous Tony Stark for dinner, and more than a little glad that there was more to this man than portrayed in the press.

They finished their shared dessert and left together, and Loki turned up the collar of his coat against the light snow that had begun to fall.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? The snow." Tony said as he began to walk. Loki fell into step beside him a moment later.

"I don't have many fond memories of this sort of weather." Loki said simply, and Tony caught the sadness in the statement. He vowed to try and give this lonely man at least one happy winter memory.

They walked along with more friendly chatter, their footprints distinct in the first snowfall of the season.

"Come back with me," Tony said suddenly, and Loki stopped short.

"Pardon?"

"To Stark tower. Come back with me." he regretted the words the moment they'd passed his lips, and he felt his chest contract when Loki's smile dropped.

"I don't think that is the wisest of decisions." he said slowly, politely, all the friendliness from earlier in the evening back behind that cool, polite mask. "Thank you for dinner, it was quite the experience." he turned and walked away, coat swirling around his calves, and Tony just stood watching him go, feeling like the largest idiot on the planet.

Loki walked away feeling as if he'd just been duped and he kicked at the snow on the ground angrily. To think he'd almost believed that the famous playboy Tony Stark had been interested in more than just a single night – the thought cut off abruptly and he paused in his step, looking back over his shoulder to where Tony still stood. Could it have been a mistake? Those words being so common on his tongue that they were spoken before he could think. He thought back to the moment Tony had said them, the way he'd almost winced at his own words. Frowning again, though this time for curiosity, Loki continued walking, wondering whether or not to be offended, or to pity and forgive the man. He kept walking, tugging briefly at his collar again. He would make no decision until if and when Tony contacted him again. He nodded to himself as he continued walking, a hopeful smile turning up the corners of his mouth. He hoped it would be when, rather than if.