HI! I like reviews. Let's me know which way to take the story so feel free to criticize the story all you want. :D

Will continue later.

Loki expected Happy to drive them where ever they were headed, but Tony informed him that he'd given him a well deserved break.

"I'm the one driving us there," Tony had announced smugly, opening the door for Loki. "Feel special."

"Oh really?" Loki asked amused, "I hope your driving skills are better than your dance moves."

Loki was referring to the event Pepper had arranged in order to clear misconceptions about the Avengers and improve their image with the public. Towards the end of the night, Tony had taken to dancing a piece with every Avenger, much to the amusement of the guests. With every drink he had, he steadily lost the ability to dance and Pepper had to take him to his room. Pepper would never admit it, but she missed leading a drunk Tony back to his room. It was nice and brought back happy memories.

"I wasn't really trying and you know that," Tony said between laughter. "Plus, the Hulk is a terrible dance partner."

They laughed and chatted animatedly about nothing of importance. Armament designs, gossip, secrets of national importance and Fury's weird obsession with almond milk and his bitchy-er demeanor when none was provided at meetings. They jumped from subject to subject, always dancing around what they really wanted to know, but weren't quite ready to ask.

Tony pointed to a bright blip on the street. "We're getting close, Lo."

They were well away from the hustle and bustle of the city and had entered a less populated street. The shop had the look of an antique parlor. Bright red stripes decorating the outside of the shop brought attention to the sign that read: Tom's Ice Cream Shoppe. The shop looked out of place; in a nice way. As if Tom had simply said, Fuck it, I want an ice cream shop and I want it here. I do what I want.

How Tony had managed to find the shop wasn't clear. Not yet anyway, but he smiled as he made a mental note to ask before the day was out.

Tony parked the car on the side of the street and stepped out. He'd noticed Loki's smile and resisted the urge to kiss him then and there. On one hand, had he'd gone with his instinct, he would have crashed the car and he wanted to show Loki his driving skills were un-match. On the other, there was the not knowing of how Loki would react. There was always the possibility that the all powerful god would snap his neck and make a jump rope out of his intestines. Or worst, maybe he'd never talk to him again.

"Everything okay Tony?" Loki asked from the other side of the car.

"Umm, yeah." Tony answered, locking the car and joining Loki on the other side. "It just appears I've reverted to my teenager self is all."

"Oh dear, I can barely handle the adult Tony Stark, let alone a pubescent genius," Loki laughed.

"Oh like you were all cupcakes and rainbows." Tony snapped with a grin.

They entered the shop and were greeted by slender man with a wide smile above a trimmed goatee. He was wearing a white apron and a red bow tie. The name tag read Tom, and Loki was certain this was who the shop was named after.

"Tony! You haven't been here in ages!" Tom's smile reached up to his bright blue eyes. He gave them a hug and led them to a more secluded part of the shop. "Glad you're back."

His warm English accent was a change from the rushed tongues and jargon they were used to at the tower. The tone he used was that of a person greeting an old friend.

"Glad to be back Tom," Tony said as he pulled the seat for Loki (much to both Tom's and Loki's surprise). "Got any new flavors?"

"Bacon and Earl Grey," Tom said not missing a beat.

"Great," Tony exclaimed eyeing Loki. "We'd like a scoop of every flavor."

Loki's eyes went wide, but Tom nodded solemnly. "So the usual?"

"Yea- what no, shut up."

Tom left the table chortling and left them in comfortable silence.

Loki observed the other people in the shop. There was a young mother with twins, a boy and a girl. Boy was trying to suck the ice cream from the bottom of the bitten cone while his sister was shoving napkins under her brother's chin. Two tables over, there was a young couple in what seemed like their first date, his hand over hers and a shy smile on both of their faces. So normal. So natural.

So frightening.

"Coffee or tea?" Tony asked, studying Loki.

"Tea."

"Summer or winter?" Tony continued.

"Spring," Loki answered.

"That wasn't an option," Tony said laughing.

Loki placed his elbows on the table and rested his chin on the back of his hands. "What are you doing?" He asked quietly.

Tony looked back confused. "I'm asking questions."

Loki rolled his eyes, "Obviously, but why?"

"Because I want to know more about you?" Tony answered.

"But why?" Loki pressed on.

It wasn't that Loki was trying to give Tony a hard time on purpose. He wanted an answer. A truthful one. He wasn't suffering some deep rooted self loathing or self esteem issues. Everyone had assumed that he would need tons of counseling when he joined the Avengers. It was well known (no thanks to Thor) that when he discovered his true origins, Loki had chosen another path.

Was it so surprising that he'd be a good deceiver? His caregivers had done such a good job their whole life.

While he wasn't too fond of his Jötunn appearance and had showed no one his true form, he no longer saw himself as a monster. Not anymore. Now he was simply Loki Laufeyson, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and secret cat enthusiast. He was simply a man starting over and he had no idea what to make out of Tony. His fame preceded him and although Bruce held him in high esteem, Loki wasn't about to fall for his charms like countless others.

Tony felt exposed and vulnerable under Loki's piercing stare.

"Look," Tony began, taking a deep breath, "the reason given you this stupid survey each day in the lab was because I wanted to have an excuse to take you out. I figured after a couple of questions you'd start to open up a bit and conversation would follow then we'd go out or something, but you'd give these short answers and I'd just keep making more questions."

He said everything in a rush and looked around the shop, his eyes landing on the couple, still holding hands. Yep, Tony thought, definitely reverted to adolescence. Without warning, he felt Loki's hand on his own. He turned surprised, and was faced with a concerned Loki.

"I'm sorry Tony," he began, "I just wanted the truth."

"The truth?" That word sounded foreign in Tony's mouth. "The truth is I like you. And I mean like you like you. The kind of like where I want to be around you all the time doing anything; whether it's sitting with you in breakfast, in the lab or in one of Fury's stupid meetings. I like you. A lot."

Loki stayed quiet, hand now wrapped around Tony's.

"So, I totally understand if you want to go home now tha-"

"Go home?" Loki asked surprised. "Why would I want to go home? I haven't tried this ice cream you're raving about. After all, this is an ice cream date."

Tony mirrored Loki's open smile and brought the god's hand to his lips; lightly kissing his knuckles. It was at that moment that Tom brought two ice cream laden trays to their table. Every imaginable flavor you could imagine was at their finger tips. That was also the moment a woman wearing a short skirt and deep cleavage sauntered through the door eyeing them curiously, she made her way towards them.

Going unnoticed by either of them, Heather Moskal sat in the table behind them. After Tom left the trays on their table, he went to take her order.

"What flavor meets your fancy, love?" He asked, whipping out a small note book.

"Vanilla," she answered sourly.

"Vanilla?" He asked making a face. "How boring, why not try something el-"

"I said vanilla now go," she cut him off rudely.

Tom left towards the counter, muttering about rude customers and not giving her any sprinkles. Heather turned her attention to the couple and leaned in as if reading to better eavesdrop. She took out her red leather bound notebook and made some notes.

Interesting, she thought as she wrote furiously, looks like Tony Stark is settling down, this is definitely news worthy.

Tom came back with her scoop of vanilla and all but threw the cup at her. He made to leave but stopped in his tracks when her claw like hands took a hold of his apron.

"Yes?" Tom asked forcing a smile.

"How long have those to been here?" She gestured at them discreetly.

"I do believe," Tom began while smacking her hands off and ironing out his apron, "that it's none of your concern."

"Fine," her hand shot up again but towards the spoon in her ice cream, "No sprinkles?"

"We're all out, have a good day Madame," Tom gave her a small bow and left. Unbeknownst to her, she was the cause Tom made it a point of adding as many sprinkles as physically possible on his next order, making a child's face light up with glee.

She took a mouthful and winced. The ice cream was so good, it hurt. Alternating between her treat and taking notes, she turned back to their conversation.

Now that everything was out in the open, they were able to get down to business. Their hands locked, they tried each flavor on the trays. It seemed that apart from an alcohol beverage connoisseur, Tony also had a refined palate for ice cream. He made Loki close his eyes so he could, as Tony argued; really taste the flavors and texture. Loki thought the idea was stupid, but played along with Tony, not mentioning that this was the first time he had ever fully trusted someone to spoon feed him anything.

After Loki had a taste of all the flavors, he had to choose which he liked best.

"Earl Grey," he answered, licking the spoon clean after he'd scraped the bottom of the cup. "Nothing in Asgard competes with this delicacy."

Tony bit his lip as Loki licked the spoon. Jesus, he has no idea what that does to m-

"Are you okay?" Loki asked concerned after he saw Tony's face start to redden and a thin sheet of sweat appear. "You look… constipated."

"Constipated?!" Tony exclaimed, "No, I just- all this ice cream, kinda gave me a brain freeze. I'm gonna head to the restroom."

Tony kissed Loki's hand as he stood, but then hurriedly added, "To wash my hands because their sticky," he shoved his hands for Loki's inspection, "definitely not because I'm constipated. I'll come back in a bit. You can time me."

Loki laughed and swatted him away. "Very well but hurry, I will be counting. 1, 2, 3-"

Tony stuck his tongue out but hurried of to the restroom. He was happy as can be and that was pretty damn cool.

Finishing her vanilla ice cream, Heather made her move. Half way through taking notes, she decided that she could kill two birds with one stone. She would turn in her story to the tabloid and get paid, plus, she could have a little fun with it too.

"Mind if I sit here handsome?"Heather asked sweetly, ignoring Loki's protests and taking a seat anyways.

"I'm sorry but my boy friend is sitting here." Loki said politely.

Heather tilted her head back and had a good laugh. "Oh you are cute!" She said between gasps of air, her small frame shaking. "Did he- Did he tell you he's your boy friend?"

Loki looked towards the restroom and then towards his hand. "Well no, not explicitly but he was very-"

"Sweet? Attentive?" Her face soured as she spit out each word. "Charming?"

She took at spoonful from the remainder of the vanilla flavor. "Look, my name is Heather and believe me, I know Tony Stark but most importantly, I know his bed and how he got me there." She took the cup and began eating. "He does this with every poor sap he wants in bed."

Loki opened his mouth to say something but didn't.

"He takes you out on a cute date, he fucks you and let's that robot maid of his show you the way out. Oh, and I've heard that know that Pepper is CEO of Stark Industries, it's that Jarvis thing that takes out the trash." She finished the ice cream and stood to leave. She reached out for Loki's hand but wasn't' surprised when he pulled back so she smiled instead "I know, he's a bastard, but now you know. Men like Tony Stark never change. He might be Iron Man, but he's still a liar."

Heather Moskal gathered her things and paid Tom at the cashier's, running into Tony who had bought a tub of Earl Grey ice cream.

"I thought you didn't like that tea." She asked with a curious smile. "You've changed in tastes."

Tony turned to her in confusion. "I'm sorry but do I know you?"

Her smile disappeared and she threw Tom the money. The fit of anger was short lived and before she crossed the door, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Tony shrugged and turned to Tom, "Your customers are weird."

"Says you? You're the maddest one of all."

"Not anymore Tom," he looked to Loki, "I think I found… ugh, what's a way I can say this without sounding cheesy?"

"I'm afraid there isn't one." Tom said laughing. "I figured he's important though, you've never brought anyone here."

Tony answered with a smile and left towards the table, not noticing Loki's cold demeanor or the hurt in his eyes.

"I boug-"

"How many of your marks have you brought here before me?" Loki asked cutting him off. His head was lowered, not meeting Tony's eyes.

"Mark?" Tony asked in confusion. "I don't understand-"

"Do you give all the people you bed the same survey you gave me?" Loki asked a bit louder, drawing attention.

"Loki I don't know what's going on." He sat down and reached for his hand, only for Loki to flinch away. "Lo, what happened?"

"Don't call me that!" He snarled, eyes brimming with tears. "My name is Agent Loki and I'm going home."

Before Tony can reach for Loki's hand again, he disappears, leaving Tony's hand capturing thin air.

After leaving Loki's ice cream in the freezer, he sprinted in search of his departed date. He was already thinking of something he might have done wrong and the apologies that corresponded to each. After knocking in vain on Loki's door, he slipped in a piece of paper.

Loki I wasn't constipated. My hands were actually really sticky and I got kinda really turned on when you were licking the spoon so I had to cool down but I'm not blaming you!

-Tony.

Without a word, he went to the kitchen and grabbed Loki's ice cream. Bruce had seen Tony come in and by the looks on his face guessed that thinks had ended badly. He grabbed two spoons and followed him to the lab. They sat under Tony's desk and ate it while Tony reminded himself what an idiot he was and Bruce thanked the God's there was such thing as Earl Grey ice cream.

Bruce also reminded Tony that he wasn't an idiot but he wasn't listening. He kept replaying the date over and over and pausing at the moment everything went wrong.