A/N: I just remembered! Virtual cookies for anyone who can guess the fandom the title came from! :)

Pepper noticed how nervous the car ride made Loki and decided it was probably best to minimize their driving time. Heading to the closest store she could, she counted it as a miracle that she was able to get a parking spot. She helped Loki out of the car and led him to the children's section in the store.

He eyed the clothes carefully, unhappy with the bright colors and strange decals. He sighed in slight resignation and began to grab things he even slightly liked that were close to his size.

Pepper had to stop him when he started to try them on in the middle of the store.

"No! No-hahahaha!" The strawberry blonde burst into giggles. "No, Loki! Y-you don't change here. T-try them- heehee- on in one of the little stalls over there!" She gently gave him a push in the right direction. He looked confused at first, but instantly beamed when he understood and jogged over with the small bundle of clothes in his arms.

Pepper sat in one of the chairs outside.

"Done!" A call came from inside the dressing rooms a moment later.

"Umm, no. You're not. I want you to show me," the woman stated flatly.

"Oh." There was a small pause before a bright, "Okay!"

Moments later, a tiny Loki stepped out anxiously. A green and white striped, collared polo shirt and dark blue jeans were what he had chosen. Pepper sat up and stared at him for a long moment.

"May I?" She questioned, inclining her head towards him. He nodded nervously.

"Did I not do well? I tried to look like the pictures-" Loki gestured to some of the manakins and seasonal wall decorations.

"You did fine, sweetie," Tony's girlfriend mumbled as she fiddled with his pants. "I just think these are a bit big for you..." She glanced up at him. "What size are these?"

"An S," he answered automatically. She almost laughed.

"Well, okay, but I think you might be an XS," she responded. He nodded and went back into the dressing room, returning in the different pants. "Much better! Now, try on some of the other stuff!"

Loki beamed and did exactly that.

In the end, they had quite a few shirts and a couple pairs of pants. They still needed shoes, probably some toiletries, pajamas, underwear...

Pepper sighed as they got back in the car. Loki bounced excitedly for a moment, forgetting his previous nervousness. He remembered it all too soon when the engine started.

Loki squeaked quietly, gripping the edges of his seat. Pepper glanced at him with concern.

"Loki, it's okay. It's just the car." She thought for a moment. "You ride horses in Asgard, right?" He nodded shakily. "Well, the car is kind of like a Midgardian horse. It takes you were you want to go, and you can control it. Look, here," she grabbed the steering wheel. "This is kind of like the reins. I am in control of the car."

Loki took a deep breath and smiled quietly. Pepper returned the smile and pulled out of their parking space.

-{[(•)]}-

A few hours later, they had a pair of tennis shoes, two sets of pajamas, a few packs of socks and underwear, the necessary toiletries, some coloring books with crayons and colored pencils, a jacket, a box of Legos, and a set of action figures which may or may not be the Avengers...

Tony hadn't exactly been angry with their spending spree, more irritated that he hadn't come along.

"Well, I've got enough money," he sighed when he saw the seven year old talking to his action figures as though they would respond. The boy was smiling and talking especially animatedly with the Iron Man...

"Trust me, you didn't need to be there," Pepper sighed, taking a long sip of tea. "He was so difficult. I thought he'd be so easy..."

"Difficult how?" Tony asked. The strawberry blonde frowned and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"It was like he didn't want me to buy anything. I actually had to force him to pick out coloring books. And he never let me buy anything if he saw the price. It's sad, Tony. It's like he doesn't think he's worth the money. I almost cried for him when he refused some candy," she sighed.

"I think it's worse than that," the brunette scowled, eyes wandering to the boy who was playing happily. Loki glanced up then and smiled widely, green eyes glittering. Tony returned his gaze to Pepper after returning the smile half-heartedly. "When he talked about his parents discipling him, he said he needed Thor to help with the bandages. I think they beat him, Pep."

The woman gasped.

"And Thor mentioned once that magic was used primarily by women in Asgard. So he was probably ridiculed for that," she frowned angrily. His magic was beautiful; she had seen it in action.

"I remember that too. I also heard him say something about Loki being the odd one out for his intelligence," Tony replied in hushed tones. Loki was starting to get curious about what they were talking about. Pepper shook her head sadly.

"So he was abused and bullied his whole life, add neglect and torture... I'm surprised he wasn't worse off," she whispered. "I probably would have gone insane."

"He did go insane, Pepper. He tried to take over the world," Tony smirked slightly, though it was tainted by anger and bitterness.

"I'm starting to think he was pressured into it by the Chitauri. Didn't they torture him too, and put him under the scepter's control? Thor's always talking about how Loki was once so sweet and kind, always looking to please others," Pepper looked highly concerned. "Did you read those Norse mythology links I sent you?"

"Yeah, the whole team did," Tony winced. "That had to suck, having a bunch of kids and then having them stolen."

"And the Asgardians treat the frost giants like dirt. They were raised with a mind for conquest over them. And for Loki to grow up like that and then find out he is one?" Tears formed in the woman's eyes and she quickly took a sip of her tea.

"Are you alright?" Loki asked suddenly, appearing next to them and tugging gently on Pepper's shirt. The woman sniffled weakly, offered a sad smile and nodded.

"I'm gonna go email the others," she addressed Tony. He nodded silently and watched her go.

"What's wrong? She was so sad," Loki wondered. The dark eyed man just shook his head.

"Hey, you want to play together?" He questioned, gesturing to the action figures. Green eyes lit up in wonder, and a dark haired head bobbed excitedly.

They sat down on the floor together.

"You're this one," Loki grinned and held out the Iron Man to Tony. The brunette laughed heartily and agreed. "A-and... I want to be this one." Loki cradled the Thor.

"Why do you want to be that one?" Tony asked as they made the figures fly around and defeat the 'evil, mind-controlled' Avengers. The Hulk was playfully thrown through a Lego building.

"He's strong, and handsome," Loki smiled. The smile faltered after a moment. "And he's a great warrior and everyone likes him and he's a real man." He sat down with a 'plunk.' "Basically, he's everything I'm not..." His gaze returned to the action figure.

"I don't know about that!" Tony laughed, internally devastated by the implications of Loki's words. Emotional abuse as well, how cruel. "You're pretty cute, too, and I'm sure you'll grow up nice and strong! And I know plenty of people who like you!"

Loki just sighed.

"Why don't we eat now?" The brunette suggested. The boy nodded sadly and stood. He cleaned up all of the action figures and Legos and placed them carefully back inside the correct boxes. "JARVIS, can you take care of the bags?"

"Certainly, sir."

Tony held out his hand. Loki stared at it for a long moment, and the man could see a desperate conflict in his eyes. Without a word, he reached up and gently took Tony's hand. The brunette resisted the strong urge to pull him into a hug.

A/N: Poor Loki! I'm making everyone so mean to you! :'( Come here, let me give you a hug. *hugs Loki* Here, if you review, you get to hug him too! *holds Loki out towards reviewers*

Loki: But I don't want a bunch of strangers hugging me...

Me; Hush now, child. Everything will be okay. Maybe not today, but eventually. *pets head*