The party was as Tony said, dull, lifeless and pitiful. Even the music was agony to listen to. Loki was not a token of beauty in Asgard, he was seen rather the opposite in all cases. On earth however, it was a different story all together. He and Tony couldn't get five minutes of peace without someone coming and starting convocation with him, even though years older they saw themselves bedding Loki by the end of the night, he gave none of them that token or Howard had decided to make a speech nearing the end of the night. Loki was able to slip away, finding himself on the balcony of the house. It had a beautiful view of the ocean and sand, the smell of sea salt heavy and fresh to his dulled senses.

"I told you it would be lifeless." Tony stepped out of the shadows, sneaking up on his friend. His suit was worn out, the bow tie undone and his shirt stained with a purple water mark.

"…not many people can sneak up on me." Loki smirked softly.

"Yeah well, I'm not most people." Loki noticed in his hands he held two glasses of a golden substance, he held one out to Loki, which Loki took politely with a smile. Tony held his glass out, "To psychology." Their glasses chimed lightly at contact before the two drank. The substance was thin and alcoholic on Loki's silver tongue. Tony sighed loudly, dropping the glass over the ledge of the balcony, the distant smash hardly breaking the sound of the waves.

"You drink regularly?"

"As regularly as I can." Loki didn't say anything; instead he bit on his tongue. "Do's it bother you?"

"If I say yes would that make me a bad friend?"

"…not at all."

"Then yes, it bothers me that you want to drink yourself into an early grave." Loki placed his glass on the metal balcony.

"Ouch, talk about the truth hurting and all." Tony held his hands against his chest, mocking Loki with his words. He shrugged his arms heavy with untold grief.

"…I'm sorry you're just very complex Stark. You're my first friend I don't want you dying on me." Tony smiled drunkenly,

"I'm your first friend huh?" Loki blushed uncontrollably. "I guess your mine too…" Loki scoffed, pushing his friend away slightly, Tony staggered, the alcohol heavy in his system.

"You're popular enough…you don't need to lie to make me feel better Stark."

"Loki, shut up. I act like I do for…" Tony thought long and hard for a moment, the concentrated look on his face unbearable to smile at. "…attention I suppose, to be liked because I'm a huge nerd at heart and no one…is accepted when that's the truth..." Loki smiled softly, patting his friends arm.

"Tony, you're terrible at self-psychology…and you're beyond drunk." Tony practically fell into Loki's arms.

"I love you Loki." He smirked, smacking Loki's cheek as his legs failed him. Loki smiled back.

"Yes I'm sure you do Anthony." Then he passed out in his arms.

-

"How is he?" Loki looked out from the doorway of Tony's room. It was Maria; she was smiling at him, removing her earrings slowly for the party was over. Her dress zip was undone, showing the spine and sharp shoulder blades of her petite body. Loki shook his shoulders, smiling to her politely.

"He's terribly drunk, but with enough sleep and painkillers in the morning, he'll be just fine." Her cold hand pressed against his forearm, rubbing softly with encouragement against his exposed skin.

"I want to thank you for being such good friends with my son…he's not had an easy life." She sighed looking in on her sleeping son. "Like father, like son they say." Her laugh fell broken.

"It can't be easy on you…" Maria's hand stilled, her head snapping towards him and her black curls fluttering softly. "…competitive, broken family members. You don't have anyone to turn to, your husband being an aggressive drunk and your son following the same path of destruction it can leave you without personality…It can leave you broken, invisible, shattered inside..." Loki trailed off, his voice becoming weaker with every word he spoke. Maria smiled softly regardless of his impolite attitude.

"It sounds like you're speaking from experience Loki…" The demi-god looked to the older woman; she was smiling sadly with large grey eyes. She leant forward, placing her red lips onto Loki's cheek and softly kissing his skin. "Thank you Loki. I'll show you the door if that's alright." He nodded, too confused to reply and followed her to the front door. The night air was bitter across his skin, piercing him like a blade as he moved the scarf tighter over his exposed neck. "Loki…" He turned back towards Maria, whose shadow was dancing in the light. "It's Tony's birthday soon and we would be happy if you could visit him, would you mind?"

"Of course I will come, thank you again Mr's Stark for your hospitality and give Tony my best wishes in the morning." He smiled genuinely before guiding himself down the stairs, staff in hand.