Notes: Not much to say on this one except brace yourselves~
Tony rolled his eyes as he straightened his tie and grabbed his mask off the bathroom counter, calling, "Are you done yet?"
There were the sounds of shuffling and Loki stuck his head from around the corner with an annoyed frown, "Are you certain I'm required to go to this party too?"
Tony shrugged, content with his appearance, as he walked out of the bathroom. Loki was half-dressed, hair still hanging loose around his face, dress shirt unbuttoned and tie draped over his shoulders. There was a look of reluctance on his face as he plopped down onto the end of the bed, staring at Tony. Tony sighed and moved to stand between his long legs, "You aren't 'required' to go no, but if you want to make me happy then you should. It's my party after all and you don't want to hear me complain."
Loki's arms looped around Tony, pulling him against him, "You complain anyways."
Tony smirked and chuckled, "Yeah, I guess I do but I'll complain more if you don't."
"How horrible a concept." Loki replied dramatically as he slid his hands down Tony's ass, cupping it firmly enough to make him jump, "We could always stay here and occupy our time with better things than socializing. I know a few new tricks that have not yet been tested. How flexible are you?"
"No, no sex." Tony sputtered, putting his hands on Loki's shoulders and pushing, "I'm expected to be at this thing. As appealing as it sounds to uh, experiment with you, I can't. Wow, that's painful to say."
Loki sighed and let Tony go, "Oh, very well then. Afterwards. You'll have to make me forget this whole thing. There's hardly anything I loathe more than mindless social events."
"It won't be that bad. There'll be wine, a whole catering table, a live band, and we'll be wearing masks. We could always pretend we're two strangers meeting at a masquerade and then sneak off to a room somewhere. It's being held at a hotel so there'll be plenty of places." Tony coaxed, trying what he could to make Loki feel better about it. Since Loki had come back to him the two had spent as much time as humanly possible in each other's company, more often than not, that included in bed.
Not like Tony had anything against mind-blowing sex, he couldn't help but feel that the whole thing was one big distraction. Loki had yet to fill him in on things but Tony had agreed to not ask anymore and Loki had promised to tell him soon. It had been three weeks and nothing had been said, not even a hint, and when there was opportunity for it, Loki used it to drag him into bed. It was frustrating. And it didn't help that the distractions worked on him. All Loki had to do was give him that coy smile and he was practically throwing himself at him.
"I'll hold you to that." Loki replied, buttoning up his shirt only for Tony to take over and do it for him, letting calloused fingers skim across smooth skin.
"I know you will." Tony leaned over to the nightstand and picked up the ornate mask Loki was going to be wearing. It was molded out of ceramic and would cover the entire top portion of his face, painted gold and adorned with curving horns at the temples. Tony carefully placed it over Loki's face and tied the three straps required to hold it on. Green eyes lined slightly with black blinked back at him and lips pulled into a smirk.
"How do I look?" Loki asked, running fingers over the horns in a much more seductive way then was entirely needed. "Do horns suit me well?"
"Yeah they do. Very sexy." Tony pressed a kiss to the corner of Loki's mouth before taking a step back and holding out his hand, "Grab your coat and we'll head out. I should have been there an hour ago. Pepper's going to be annoyed with me."
Loki took his hand and grabbed his suit jacket that was draped over a chair, pulling it on and adjusting it so that it was comfortable, "I'll apologize to her on your behalf."
"I'm sure that'll make her feel better." Tony laughed, grabbing his own jacket as they left the room.
The drive to the hotel was fairly short and they rented a cab for the trip, arriving there in less than 15 minutes even with thick traffic. Loki stared up at it through the window when they'd stopped and Tony came around to open the cab door for him. He didn't want to be here. Really, truly, didn't want to come to a party but there had been no way of getting out of it, not after he'd ran away and hurt Tony like he had. This was him making up to him for it, just as Tony had smartly not brought up any topic regarding his past or what happened when he'd gone home.
Loki felt that familiar nervousness in his chest as he thought about meeting Tony's friends. He'd met Pepper of course and Natasha, Clint, and Bruce who'd all be there but then there were others, including police officers and one military. This in itself made him uncomfortable, considering his last job. Would they arrest him if they found out? Or would the recognize him? If that happened what would Tony think? Yes, Tony knew what he'd been as did Pepper but…what about everyone else? What would their reaction be if they found out Tony was sleeping with an ex-prostitute and the press? They'd probably have a field day.
Feeling worse and worse about the situation, Loki adjusted his mask and followed Tony inside to the ball room. He stopped dead. There were people, many of them. Milling about, talking, dressed in expensive suits and dresses, all adorning masks of various styles and colors. These were people who worked for Tony and acquaintances. As they walked in, Tony was immediately greeted with smiles and waves, even a few hugs and all the while Loki lingered behind him, fiddling with his hands and feeling cold sweat beading under his mask.
Tony noticed this and stopped, "You alright?"
"I think I'm going to be sick…" Loki muttered, wishing to whatever deity was listening that he could muster up his old self just for this occasion, the self that had been able to take command of a room with a few charming words and a smile. Having to lay low had cost him some of his charisma and confidence.
"You'll be fine." Tony reassured him, squeezing his shoulder firmly. "Just remember to breathe."
Loki nodded, took a deep breath and followed him towards the back of the room where a familiar head of red hair stood. When Pepper turned and saw them she smiled, gaze lingering on Loki knowingly. Ah, so she had something to do with this as well. Why wasn't he surprised? He had to give her more credit for that one. She was dressed tastefully in a deep blue dress with a low back that tied around the neck and held a small white and silver stick mounted mask with a bow on one side.
"You look gorgeous." Tony whistled, eyeing his assistant good-naturedly, and he looked over to see a tall, broad-shouldered blond man in a black suit and simple, plain black mask. "Hey, Rogers, you actually managed to show up?"
Steve Rogers straightened as he was addressed and smiled at Tony politely, "You invited me. I wasn't about to be rude and bail out of it. Who's your friend?"
"This is Loki Laufeyson. My date." Tony announced, looking at him and waiting for any sort of challenge from the other man. "Loki, this is a friend of mine, Steve Rodgers."
There was none as Steve held out a hand and Loki took it, shaking it, "Nice to meet you."
"You as well." Loki replied with equal politeness. He felt some of that anxiousness lessen as Tony got him a glass of red wine that held hints of fall spices and he sipped at it gladly, letting the alcohol warm his insides. The three of them chatted amongst themselves and while he had to make up a few things to avoid suspicion from Steve he found the conversations enjoyable. The man was mild-mannered and spoke respectfully to all involved, especially regarding Pepper. The two shared glances and smiles and Loki recognized it as the sign of budding romance.
Tony seemed to notice this as well as he tugged at Loki's arm, "Why don't we go find everyone else. I thought I saw Romanoff and Barton in the crowd somewhere."
Sure enough they easily found them at the food table, Clint heaping various pastries onto a plate and Natasha sipping a glass of wine of her own. She had donned a short, black cocktail dress with strappy heels and opera gloves, her red curly hair piled onto her head. Her mask was black and silver with peacock feathers at the top on one side. Clint wore a mask reminiscent of a jester's in purple and gold and had opted for a simple suit sans tie, leaving his jacket open. They both greeted Tony and Loki with a small wave.
"The catering's good." Clint supplied, taking a bite out of a pumpkin roll with enthusiasm.
"What's with the mask?" Tony flicked one of the bells that hung from the jester mask with a chuckle.
"Natasha chose it for you?"
"Yeah she did. I didn't come for a dress up party, I came for food. But she told me I had to wear something since we're supposed to be blending in and guarding your ass." Clint said around a mouthful of pastry and folding his arms over his chest. Every time he moved his head the bells jingled. He looked at Loki and smirked, "Nice horns."
"I like them." Loki grinned back, sipping more of his wine.
"So do I." Tony supplied, grabbing some food off the selection table for himself only for Loki to steal a piece off his plate. "Hey, get your own."
"I like yours better." Loki nibbled at his stolen treat with a self-satisfied smirk, being sure to flick his tongue against his lower lip in a way that Tony could notice it and watched as his eyes grew wide when he did. That was when a voice pulled him out of it from behind him and he sighed with mild annoyance, "Miss Lewis, why are you here?"
"Stark invited me. Love the horns." Darcy adjusted the straps of her form fitting black dress with plum colored lace at the neckline and her matching mask, shaped like a butterfly. "Hey, Stark, hand me some of those cookies."
"Yeah sure." Tony muttered in reply, shoving a pumpkin shaped cookie at the busty woman.
"Thanks, sweetie."
The rest of the time went well, as they met with other people, including James Rhodes, or Rhodey as Tony affectionately referred to him as, dressed in his military uniform but holding a silver and black checkered mask that Pepper had given him for the occasion. They also ran into Bruce again, wearing a simple suit and a Venetian plague doctor mask, and two other people who worked with Steve; Nick Fury and intimidating man with an eye patch and a black Phantom mask on the other side and a shorter man wearing a full white, red and blue mask. They all spoke for a while and were all strangely okay with his relationship with Tony just as the other's had been.
The music played from the corner of the room and Tony grinned at Loki, holding out a hand, "Would you like to have this dance?"
Loki raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you want to be seen dancing with another man in front of all these people?"
Tony shrugged indifferently, "Nah, let them stare. I don't give a damn. Come on, let's dance."
"Very well then." Loki took his hand and allowed Tony to take the lead as they moved into an open area to dance to the small band playing at the front of the room. As he thought, they did receive a few stares as the infamous playboy danced by with a handsome male in his arms. Still Tony didn't seem to care and that put Loki at ease as well, content to just follow his lover's movements with his own grace.
"Everyone seemed to like you tonight." Tony spoke and Loki looked down at him curiously, "Even Fury and he doesn't seem to really like anyone."
"I'm glad that they did." Loki let that relief wash over him. Knowing that Tony's companions, his friends, approved of the man that had been living with him. Although one thought returned, "I was worried about it. But what would they think if they knew that I'd been a prostitute?"
"They might not have liked the idea but the point is that you aren't one anymore. You've turned over a new leaf and as far as I know you're happy. I'd say they'd be alright with this. Aren't you?"
"I suppose that's true. I am happy. I'm happy spending my time with you. I'm happy with everything. I have hardly ever been truly content in life but I can honestly say that I am. Thanks to you." Loki pressed a loving kiss to Tony's lips and, regardless of the eyes on them, kissed him deeply.
"You're welcome." Tony said after Loki had pulled his mouth away. Tony was happy that Loki was happy and it had been amazing, watching him change over the extent of time they'd spent together from this night to the first time they'd met in the coffee shop. Loki was like a completely different person and even in the last few weeks he'd gained a bit of weight. Still pale as a ghost but Tony supposed there was only so much that could be done for color when it was fall and the sun was hiding behind grey clouds most of the day. Loki had put his foot down at the tanning bed idea he'd briefly brought up.
"So what shall we do now? Were you still considering finding a nice, quiet room for us to share for the evening?" Loki asked, leaning in close enough that no one could over hear them. "I'd love to get away from the crowd. I'm certain that I lost the ability to think with so much chatter around me."
"Soon." Tony laughed, wondering how Loki had gone from sexually closed off from him to pretty much a wild cat. Then again, Tony hadn't been really interested in men until Loki. Consider him Loki-sexual. "How about more wine? You aren't nearly drunk enough yet."
"I thought that you said I drink too much." Loki reminded him with a grin still in place. "I'd be happy to remind you that before I met you I hardly drank at all."
"It's a charming effect I have on people." Tony walked back to the table and poured him a glass of wine.
That was when everything went to hell in a hand basket.
Tony had had issues with people in the past, normally rivals in other companies and people who just didn't like him. It was the sort of thing that happened when you were in the business that he was and had been. Never before had a gun been involved though and when Tony turned to find a gun aimed it at him, it was a small wonder why all he did was blink and mutter, "Oh god, what did I do?"
The owner of the pistol in question was a tall blond woman in a red dress, face cool and emotionless, "Mr. Stark. Myself and the company I work for have issues with you and we'd prefer if you came with me quietly."
"Uh, first off, I don't take threats well, and sweetheart, you don't really think I'd be here without some form of protection did you?" As soon as he said it, Clint and Natasha appeared from nowhere with weapons of their own, aimed at the woman. "You might want to put the gun down."
The woman frowned, looking from Tony to his bodyguards as if trying to figure out what sort of action to take when Loki appeared behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He'd snuck up so quietly that Tony hadn't even noticed he'd showed up. The woman's reaction was one of pure reflex as she twisted around to face Loki.
And the gun went off.
Pain shot through Loki as the echo of the gunshot and the shrieks of partygoers filled the air. Everything in his world at that moment centered onto the searing, white hot, agony that traveled down and through his right shoulder and arm. His wide eyes stared at Tony behind the woman and his mouth opened and closed in attempt to say anything but nothing came out but a pained sound. He was only partly aware as Natasha apprehended the stunned, and horrified, woman, pulling her away and someone near him announced that they'd called the police. Everything just narrowed down.
Tony came to his side, catching him just as he began to sink to the floor, wrapping an around his waist to support his weight and spoke in a voice that had probably been thought as calm but didn't come out that way, "Loki? Loki, stay with me here."
"He's already going into shock. All the alcohol has thinned his blood." Bruce informed him, appearing out of the hoard of people with the others. "I need you to help me remove his coat and shirt so I can get a look at the wound. I can't tell if the bullet went through all the way or not."
Tony nodded numbly and apologized to Loki as he shifted him enough that his coat could be removed. Blood coated it and his hands as he did it as quick and as carefully as he could. Loki whimpered and gasped as his injured shoulder was jostled from the action, "I'm sorry, we need to get a look at it."
"Yes…I…understand." Loki finally managed to say as he shifted as much as he could, "You …really shouldn't piss off your…enemies, Stark."
"Yep, noted." Tony tried to keep himself calm as he watched Loki grow more and more pale as the seconds ticked by. He was mentally hitting himself for letting Loki drink. He just never expected something like this would happen. "How is he?"
"Well, good news is that it didn't hit any major arteries as far as I can tell and it went all the way through. Unfortunately blood loss and muscle and bone damage is not helping him."
They used his shirt to staunch the blood flow and Tony held Loki to him regardless of the blood until the ambulance showed. As they took Loki away he couldn't help but think this was his fault. If he hadn't have dragged Loki to the party he never would have gotten into this mess. He only hoped that Loki survived long enough for him to make it up to him.
Yet another thing on that list.