Notes: Oh god, I'm sorry this took so long to get out! I recently started watching Torchwood and got sucked into it which, unfortunately, cut into some of my writing time. On top of that I got hit with writer's block. I'm not sure how long I can keep up a 'post every other day pace' but I'll still try to keep the updates as regularly as I can.

I hope you guys continue to enjoy this and don't be afraid to drop a comment! I don't normally reply but I love any and all.

Tony stood staring in the direction Loki had gone for a long time while his brain attempted to process what had just happened. He thought back to that first meeting and just how similar this was to that time. Loki was impossible to get a read on. One minute he was bantering back and the next he was embarrassed and offended without any sort of warning. He couldn't possibly be so thin-skinned, right? Of course, Tony had assumed Loki would have laughed at his obvious playful flirty retort, but instead he'd lashed out.

And this was the person he was living with. Shaking his head, Tony grabbed a rag and attempted to clean up some of the spilled wine, patting away at it until nothing more would come up. Unfortunately, not much could be done about the stain at this point, meaning that he'd have to alert Pepper to it so she could hire a cleaner, which also meant that he'd have to bring up the reason why it happened in the first place, which now circled around and brought his mind back to what had greeted him when he'd gotten home early from the office.

Tony had considered Loki beautiful from the moment he'd first set eyes on him, but over the past week he was learning that there was a lot more to him than just a pretty face. Of course, he'd figured as much, but now it was so much more obvious. The shift in moods, little things setting him off, detachment, and dislike of physical contact despite his occupation; all of these indicated some sort of past trauma. It wasn't like Loki would tell him what that trauma was and, as the man had reminded him so many times now, it wasn't any of his concern.

"What the hell did I start…?" Tony muttered as he tossed the rag into the sink and the broken glass into the trash. As he walked past the counter again he noticed a paper sitting on it and out of curiosity, he picked it up and read over it. It was an application from that coffee shop. So, Loki was actually going to go through with it then? Color him surprised. Honestly, Tony thought Loki would have found a way to back out of it.

Tony looked towards Loki's room, teeth tugging at his lower lip in consideration. Should he go talk to him? Or would it be better to just leave him be?

In the end he decided to leave Loki to his own thoughts and instead went to his shop to work on his projects, all the while his mind whirled around Loki, feeling frustration building. Eventually Tony tossed his tool down on the table with a clang and dragged a hand over his face with a curse. Why the hell couldn't he get that man out of his head? The way he moved, the way he spoke, that sly little grin on his lips, it played over and over like an endless reel.

'For fuck's sake, I've only known the guy for a week!' Tony thought with frustration, switching off his music and cutting it off mid-chorus. No one had ever dug this deeply into him, not any of his one-night stands or even his brief relationship with Pepper. And it had happened so quickly too. Loki was an addiction just from his very presence, made him so undeniable with natural charisma that he tapped into. There was something else to it, Tony had returned to that train of thought, and he wanted to know what it was.

Pepper had been right about Tony's tenacity when it came to his need for knowledge and whenever something caught his attention, either it be individuals or his work. He was determined to learn all he could about the thing in question. Loki was now that project, a riddle to be worked out. A walking contradiction with striking green eyes that he was now going to study. Pepper wasn't going to be thrilled about this; in fact she had warned him against doing this exact thing. Not that her warning had ever stopped him and, in fact, it only made him want to do it more.

Tony was pulled from his thoughts by the buzzer going off that alerted him that someone was at the door and he spoke through the intercom in a sing-song voice, "Who is it?"

There was an amused sigh on the other end, "Who do you think?"

Tony grinned, "Ah, Bruce, just the man I wanted to see."

"Should I be worried?" Bruce Banner asked with good reason, wondering what Tony's sudden cheer was all about and particularly concerned about the way he was addressed. He looked at Tony's grinning face through the small screen near the speaker. Yes, he probably should be worried. "Should I, uh, come up there then?"

"Obviously." Tony hit the button that allowed visitors in, and in a minute Bruce appeared at the doorway, looking just as anxious as he always looked, glasses perched at the end of his nose. "So what brings you to my humble abode?"

"Is humble what you call this now?" Bruce chuckled, looking at all the gadgets that would make most tech-heads cry out of jealousy. He pushed up his glasses with a finger as he spoke, "I heard that you have…a guest staying here now."

"News travels fast as usual, I see." Tony plopped down in his rolling chair then gestured at another one for Bruce to take a seat in, which the man did with only a small amount of hesitation. He really needed to loosen up a bit before he burst something. "But yeah, you heard right. He started staying with me a week ago."

Tony watched as Bruce raised a single eyebrow, "He? How did this happen?"

"I met him in a coffee joint then later found him drunk off his ass walking around in the rain. Poor bastard caught one hell of a cold. He's been here since then." Tony shrugged and replied, deciding to keep his more private reasonings to himself for why Loki was still there. "It's actually not that big of a deal."

Bruce didn't look convinced that it was that simple but he smartly didn't call Tony out on it. "I have to say I'm kinda surprised."

"Why is my kindness such a surprise to everyone?" Tony groused with a shake of his head, typing in a few more codes into his computer. Once finished he looked over at Bruce, "Would you like to meet my mysterious house guest? Just as a warning he's a bit…blunt."

"Well, alright I suppose. I am curious on the type of person who wins Tony Stark over."

Loki looked up from his book as someone knocked at his door with a scowl. It had been a few hours since their encounter and he'd long since gotten dressed with every intention of going out that night, but the motivation had been lost soon afterwards, leaving him with only the want to sit around in quiet while his mind came up with interesting ways to play his decided game. He tossed his book aside and called out in a voice that didn't bother to hide his irritation, "What do you want now, Stark?"

"To introduce you to someone so get your boney ass out here." Tony replied through the door, jiggling with the knob and finding it locked.

Loki swore under his breath and slid off his bed, going to the door and unlocking it. Once it was opened he found Tony standing with another man with dark hair and glasses who looked slightly uncomfortable. Loki looked from one to the other with his hands on his hips. He found Tony had changed out his suit and into a pair of jeans and a sleeveless shirt, showing off toned arms. It was all he needed to know that he'd been working in his shop. Loki felt something coil in the pit of his stomach. 'Attraction' his mind whispered. It was a similar feeling that he'd felt before.

"Loki, this is Bruce Banner, he's a professor over at the college. Bruce, this is Loki, my live-in moocher." Tony smirked, as he introduced the two in question and watching as a vein in Loki's temple twitched at being called a 'moocher'. It wasn't really true considering Loki hid himself away in his room most of the time and only really came out for food, usually complaining about all the take-out that Tony had a habit of ordering since he couldn't really cook.

Bruce held out a hand to shake and Loki took it long enough for a single movement before pulling it away, "Nice to meet you."

"You too."

"Okay, now that we've gotten the introductions out of the way, how about we order something to eat? I'm thinking pizza." Tony announced, wandering down the hall as his voice carried behind him.

"We just had pizza…" Loki complained with a scowl, following Tony, and Bruce trailing behind him. "You may be able to digest it, but I do not have that luxury. I've told you this before, Stark. I would appreciate if you'd listen to me. "

"And as I've told you before, you need the extra pounds. You look like you could be caught by a breeze and blown away." Tony retorted, tossing his phone casually from one hand to the other. "We're having pizza whether you like it or not. Besides, you aren't the one that's buying the food, so you don't get an opinion on the matter. When you buy it, you get to choose."

Loki's scowl deepened but he didn't bother with a response, staring at Tony like he wished for him to drop dead at that moment, and if looks could kill, the billionaire probably would have. Bruce noticed this and shifted away from the younger man just in case the violence turned in his direction. He had his own share of anger problems; he didn't need everyone else's too.

The interaction between Tony and Loki was an interesting one, he thought, and it didn't take his intellect to see the similarities between the two of them. Stubborn and proud to a fault had been the right assessment and exactly as Pepper had said. She hadn't gone into detail on their meeting but he was seeing enough to get that feeling. He'd known Tony for over a year and Loki for only a few minutes, but that was plenty to form an opinion. There was something there, and he doubted neither one were aware.

Bruce stood back and watched the two housemates bicker back and forth over other things such as what show they'd put on over diner and what drinks to have and who got what seat. It was like he'd been forgotten in the background. He wasn't upset about it but just took in the scene before him with morbid curiosity before, finally, Tony turned his attention back on him.

"What's been happening over at the college lately, anything interesting?" Tony snatched the remote out of Loki's thin hands.

"The same as usual I suppose. There are the students who work and the ones that don't." Bruce replied, taking a glass of wine Tony handed him then and sat down in an unoccupied chair as a science program played in the background. "Selvig is lucky that his group is much better behaved. I can't quite say the same for Jane."

"I find it hilarious that all the smartest science people in the area are all working at that place. It's not even that good of a school." Tony downed his scotch and poured himself another glass, chuckling. He looked at Loki who'd pulled his legs up to sit on them, leaning to rest his head in his hand. Flexible bastard. If Tony tried to sit like that he might pull something. He settled for sitting in a normal position. "I feel sorry for Jane having Darcy in her class."

"Miss Lewis isn't too bad when she focuses. Astrophysics isn't exactly her area but she's very perceptive and inventive."

"Right, right. I guess I should give her more credit." Tony admitted, handing a glass of the wine to Loki. "She's just a pain in my ass whenever I have to talk to her."

"As much as I hate to say it, I agree." Loki spoke up, sipping the white wine with a practiced elegance that made Tony wonder how he'd learned to do so. "She's irritating."

The conversation continued on between the three until the pizza arrived and the small group of men ate, huddled around the flat-screen while they discussed if the theories on the program where bullshit or not. Loki was the quieter member, watching the other two have a friendly rivalry that seemed like Banner gave most of the wins to Stark. Loki found he preferred the soft spoken man's presence more than Tony's. If only because he didn't make him wish to shove the remote down his throat.

Of the two, Tony was most animated, gesturing around with his hands and sitting at the edge of his seat as he spoke passionately. Bruce sat back and threw in a word or two when he could, his wine forgotten as brilliant minds went to work. Loki wasn't stupid, and he followed the words well enough, but he had no urge to join into the discussion. When asked about something, he shrugged and gave an opinion, which resulted in more debate, and it continued on like this, the pizza getting cold. The only reason it stopped was because Pepper showed up and cut it off as she handed Tony a stack of papers.

"You have to look over these regarding the new patents and catering for the party next month. There's also a list of possible musicians to perform. Please try to sign these within the next day." Pepper told Tony primly before she turned to Bruce with a smile, "It's nice to see again, Mr. Banner. I wasn't sure if Tony would be paying attention enough to invite you in."

"It's nice to see you as well, Miss Potts." Banner returned politely with a smile of his own.

Pepper turned her attention to Loki, "Any luck with getting an application?"

Loki was suddenly pinned under three pairs of eyes, and he sunk down deeper into the chair cushion in the hopes that it would swallow him whole. His fingers jittered as he swallowed down more of his drink. "Yes. I did. I am to fill it out tonight and return it tomorrow. I hope that it's suitable."

"I'm sure it is." Pepper reassured him before she looked at Tony again, "You should help him fill it out later to make sure it's correct. You do remember how to do it, right?"

Tony muttered something under his breath but nodded, "Sure, yeah."

Pepper rolled her eyes at his uncommitted tone, "That is reassuring. Well, if that's figured out I'll be back later with a guest list."

Bruce made his exit shortly after Pepper did, saying goodbye to Tony and Loki, and leaving them on their own again. There was a tense silence that followed until Tony opened his mouth and words followed, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier." He said honestly, finishing off his drink in one quick gulp, "You should just relax. Seriously, you make me nervous. I'm not going to lash out and hurt you, you know."

Loki stared at him for a moment then let out a deep sigh, holding up his glass, "In my line of work, I'm used to being ogled. I get it from every client I meet before and after. When I'm not on duty I'm not interested in sex. It's as simple as that. Including sex with you, not just because of your reputation, but in general."

"You told me before that the reason you do it is because its good money and hours, but I don't think it's the whole story. You only told me a small point. You can't really blame me for wanting to know you." Tony looked at how Loki shifted in his seat at the directness of the comment then promptly stood up to loom over Tony. "Come on, I wouldn't tell anyone."

"You just do not get it, do you? I do not want anyone to know, not you or anyone else. I'm not sure how many more times I have to remind you of this fact." Loki moved in closer, leaning down over him and taking Tony's chin into his hand.

"If your intention is to scare me off…" Tony swallowed, staring up into deep eyes that could probably swallow him whole and parted lips, Loki's brows drawn downwards, "This isn't exactly helping your case any. Just FYI."

Loki leaned in more so that his mouth nearly met Tony's ear while his free hand ran down his chest, ghosting across it just enough that Tony could feel it through his shirt and using his good balance to not fall over, "You think that by using your wit and charm that I will fall at your feet as so many women have, that you'll have me squirming under you, whining for attention so wantonly…."

Tony felt a distinct pressure in his pants along with the sweat beading up on his forehead from being so close to Loki. He could feel just how cool the other man's skin was; even the breath that blew against his lobe was slightly chilly. He was seeing why Loki had such an adamant following that he'd build up a reputation of being a beautiful and seductive creature. What they probably didn't know was that there was cruelness too, in the way he teased with his words and that touch.

"I've had men, Tony Stark, more men than I can count." Loki's hand on Tony's chin went up and curled into his hair, running nails over his scalp in a way that made goose bumps rise on his skin. The one running down his chest had reached between Tony's legs and firmly gripped the bulge there, watching as Tony's eyes grew wide. Slowly, he massaged it skillfully. Not enough to help lessen the pressure but enough to make him want more.

Tony groaned while his mind went blank from pleasure. There was a tidbit of logic still left there that told him that this wasn't going to end as he wanted it to end, but he tuned that little voice out and ran his own hands up Loki's arms to those shoulders, fingers gripping them. He pulled Loki down into a kiss, teeth grazing his bottom lip. He deepened it slowly, testing the waters. He felt Loki return the kiss with equal skill as his hands.

However, before anything more could happen…

Loki pulled away and Tony could see the darkness of his pupils spreading out over the green. He let out a yelp as the hand on his crotch suddenly tightened to painful levels, "And you won't be one of them."

Tony gaped as Loki let go of him and stepped back, a slow, wicked smile spreading his swollen lips. Tony continued to stare as Loki walked over to his table, picked up his glass and refilled it, taking a drink of it. "When you've regained use of your mind, Mr. Stark, I wouldn't mind your assistance with that application."

Tony knew that the only way this would happen was if he took a shower. A long, cold shower. Now.