"Please, take it outside!" The host begged the two who were beating on each other. They went stumbling towards a window and fall against it with enough force to shatter through and land in the yard. "Thanks..."

Loki pushed past everyone milling about and found Thor with Tony, arms around each other's waists. Loki's face showed irritation.

"Look who found me," Tony let a smug smile shape his lips. He turned and started walking away with Thor.

"Thor, wait!"

"Please. Do not address me in public." Thor looked nearly disgusted with his brother.

"No, wait. I need to tell you something!"

"Look, I am busy enjoying myself, so run along and do the same, would you?" Thor frowned sourly. Tony had a look of sheer enjoyment on his bastard face. "Bye bye," he waved Loki away. They left Loki standing there fuming, and someone paused by Loki wielding a tray full of shot glasses.

"Want one?" He offered. Loki wordlessly plucked one off the tray and drained it, a look of dislike crossing his face.

"What's this?" Clint came up behind Loki.

"Right on, brother!" The dude with the shots verbally applauded Loki.

"I've been looking all over for you," Clint didn't bother to mask the concern in his voice.

"I'm, like, getting trashed, bro," Loki spoke with irony. "Is that not what one is supposed to do?"

"I dunno. I say do what you wanna do," Clint shrugged.

"Funny, you are the only one." Loki stepped away and pushed into the crowd again. "Later."

Bruce was in the living room, dancing like a dork and sincerely trying ot attract the attention of a girl on the couch.

"Lord of the Dance," he smiled. "Hi, Heather."

"Bite me," she rolled her eyes. Bruce didn't miss a beat. "Maybe I should have worn the tie."

"Hey, have you seen Thor?" Steve asked Bruce from behind. Bruce swept the area and spotted Thor and Sif coming down the stairs. "Over there," he directed, signifying the stairway. "Just relax. Follow the love," he spoke like he had consumed a few drinks himself, though he had not. Steve approached Thor.

"Hi, Thor."

"Oh, hey Steve." Thor half smiled. "Do you know Sif?" He quickly covered up whatever he was thinking to push Sif between himself and Steve.

"Uh, yeah, I think we have art together?" Steve offered.

"Great," Sif wrinkled her eyebrows and spoke with no trace of enthusiasm.

"So, um, Thor, you look fantastic," Steve's cheeks started to pink and his lips pressed together in a line. Sif looked at Steve with disdain.

"Thanks," Thor replied halfheartedly.

"We all know I look fantastic," Tony piped up, seemingly out of nowhere. His hand snaked around Thor's waist again. Thor and Sif let out noises of agreement, something like a laugh. "Well, we're all getting together around the Cuervo," Tony led them both away from Steve once more. Tony turned and gave Steve a smirk and a thumbs up.

Thor was growing tired of Tony as more time passed. Tony just went on and on about being in magazine ads and modeling and his father.

"I'm up for a hemmorhoid cream ad next week," Tony sounded overexcited. Thor was losing interest faster and faster. Tony placed his empty beer can on top a growing pyramid of cans and struck a pose. "See what I did there?"

"Um, yeah, uh-huh." Thor sighed under his breath. Tony relaxed and took the same stance again.

"See the difference?" Thor didn't answer at all this time, agitation apparent on his face. Tony turned to someone else. "Here, let me show you." Thor slipped away unnoticed, fed up with how narcissistic Tony turned out to be.

Thor walked around somewhat aimlessly and came across Sif and Steve in the same general vicinity. He avoided Steve, who looked pretty down and out, and instead went to Sif, sliding his arm into hers.

"Is it me or does this party suck?" Thor led her somewhere else, leaving Steve once more. Steve looked after them with disbelief.

Clint had become frantic in the last few minutes of his search for Loki. A girl on a chair stood up and leaned against him, pulling his face down to hers. "I want to kiss you,"

"Kiss him," Clint gently pushed her away and turned her to face some guy standing close by. His face lit up as she nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thanks, dude!" He called to Clint.

"No problem," he turned and saw Loki with another drink in his hand despite being visibly drunk. "Why don't you let me take that one?" He carefully put his fingers around the small glass, but Loki pulled away with a vicious look on his face.

"No! This one's mine," he glared before zipping away. Tony clamped a hand on Clint's shoulder.

"Man, how did you get him to do it?" Tony was impressed.

"Do what?" Clint wrinkled his nose.

"Act like a human!" Tony and Clint both turned to see Loki climbing up onto a table and getting to his feet. "Alright!" Tony whooped and entered the room to watch up close. Clint isn't far behind as Loki starts to rotate his hips and lift his shirt suggestively. He threw his head back and clashed with a chandelier, a soft pained whimper falling from his lips. He wavered before tipping backwards off the table and into Clint's arms.

"Are you okay?" He asks instantly.

"I'm fine," Loki slurred, trying to free himself from Clint's grip.

"You are not fine," Clint started to pull Loki back, his legs still on the table. "Come on," he spoke in a calm tone as Loki stood on two feet again. They walked down the hall and outside, one of Clint's arms around Loki's waist and the other hand on Loki's upper arm.

"I just... I just need to lie down somewhere," Loki insisted he knew what was best.

"Uh-uh. You lie down and you'll go to sleep," Clint kept walking with Loki, worry almost seeping into his voice.

"Sleep is good."

"Yeah, no, not if you have a concussion." Clint led Loki to a cement bench outside the house, guiding him to sit down. "Sit down." Clint stayed on his feet after Loki lowered himself onto the bench. Steve came out of the house moments later.

"We need to talk."

"Maybe later, I'm busy right now," Clint looked at the dark haired guy half slumped on the bench.

"Just a minute? Please?" Steve won, Clint moving to his side. "It's off. All of it. It's over."

"What're you talking about?"

"Thor never wanted me. He was after Stark this whole time." Steve was starting to sound self pitying. Clint had bigger problems to worry about.

"Rogers, do you like the guy?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah? And is he worth all the trouble?"

"Well, I thought he was, but-"

"Well nothing. He either is or he isn't. Okay? First of all, Stark isn't half the man you are. Second, don't let anyone make you think you don't deserve what you want. Go for it!" Clint smacked Steve on the arm enthusiastically before returning to Loki's side, holding him up as he started to teeter off the bench. "C'mon," he put an arm through Loki's and stood him upright and led him away. Steve thought about Clint's words as the two went farther and farther away. Clint guided Loki up a hill towards a swing set.

"You're so patronizing," Loki growled, annoyed at needing someone's help to do something as mundane as standing up.

"Leave it to you to use big words when you're smashed," Clint laughed. Loki pushed him away to walk on his own but quickly landed on the ground again.

"I don't so," Loki muttered as Clint offered him a hand.

"Whatever you say, princess." Clint may have been mocking a little, but he still had his hand out and ready to assist.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I told you. You might have a concussion."

"You don't care whether or not I ever wake up again."

"Sure I do," Clint smiled broadly.

"Why?" Loki questioned as they stopped, the swingset in front of them.

"Because then I'd have to start taking out someone who actually likes me,"

"Like you could find anyone."

"See? Why do I need affection when I've got blind hatred?"

"Let me sit down for a while." Loki twisted his pale hands into the ropes of the swing and lowered down onto the wooden seat. Clint was sure to stand behind him, and it was a good thing because Loki was seated perhaps fifteen seconds before he tipped backwards, Clint's arms saving the day again.

"Jesus," Clint helped Loki sit properly before taking a sit in the other swing. "Why d'you let him get to you?"

"Who?"

"Stark."

"I hate him."

"Well you've chosen the perfect revenge. Downing tequila like water."

"Well, you know what they say!" Loki exclaimed cheerily.

"No... What do they say?" Clint asked and turned to look at him for the answer. Loki's head was pressed against his hand, his eyes shut and his jaw tight against the crook of his neck and shoulder. Clint quickly moved to kneel in front of Loki. "No, no, nonono, wake up, Loki! C'mon, open your eyes!" Clint lightly slapped the side of his face. Loki's eyes fluttered open sluggishly. He smiled stupidly.

"Your eyes have a little gold in them." Clint smiled at the remark, Loki's gaze holding Clint's, sincere like nothing before. Loki tilted forward and vomited.

"I don't know if we should go," Thor spoke to Sif.

"Hey, a bunch of us are going to Rhoadey's house. Wanna go?" Tony slung his arms around Thor and Sif's shoulders.

"I can't. I have to be home in twenty minutes." Thor answered.

"Well, I don't have to be home until two, so..." Sif grinned at Tony.

"One more chance," Tony leered at Thor.

"Oh, man. I can't. Damn." Thor didn't even try to sound like he cared anymore.

"That's a shame," Sif looked at Thor with a glint in her eye. She turned to Tony. "Well?"

"You wanna go?"

"Yeah."

"Sif!"

"Hey, you passed," Sif's tone held something akin to menace. "Bitch," Thor hissed. Steve exited the house after Tony and Sif departed.

"You have a good time tonight?"

"Oh yeah." Thor frowned. Steve didn't stop, his feet kept moving. After a moment, Thor called to him. "Steve, could you... Could you give me a ride home?" Steve paused and didn't turn to face the taller blonde. He looked stressed and beyond giving a damn.

Clint drove down the streets, the grass glistening with dew. Loki's head rested against the window and the radio was playing softly. He lifted a finger and tapped the tuner.

"I should do this."

"What? Start a band?"

"No, install car stereos," Loki replied in a daft tone. "Yes, start a band. Father would love that."

"You don't really strike me as the type to ask permission."

"Oh, so now you know me?" Loki's tone hardened immediately.

"I'm gettin' there."

"The only thing people know about me is that I'm 'scary.'" Loki's voice had softened again.

"Yeah? I'm no picnic myself," Clint replied. He looked Loki in the eye for a moment before returning his attention to the street. "So, what's up with your dad? Is he a pain in the ass?"

"No. He just wants me to be something I am not."

"Who?" Clint pulled up to the curb in front of Odin's house and cut the engine.

"Thor," Loki sighed his name like he was naming a particularly yummy dessert.

"Ah. Thor. No offense or anything, I mean, I know almost everyone digs him, but... He's without." Clint's eyebrows raised in a way that seemed to confirm his statement as true. Loki looked at him with, dare I say it? Admiration.

"You are not as vile as I thought." Loki stared a moment longer before he started to lean in, his face inches away from Clint's. Clint wanted to close the distance more than anything, but he didn't. He pulled away.

"Maybe we should do this some other time." Clint looked apologetic. Loki was hammered. Loki fried Clint with a glare before throwing the door open, slamming it shut after stepping out, and stomping to the house.

Steve pulled up to the side of the house, the ride silent until then. "You never wanted to go out with me, did you?"

"Yes, I did." Thor lied.

"No. You didn't."

"Okay. No. Not actually."

"Well, then, that's all you had to say. Have you always been this selfish?"

"Yeah," Thor replied sheepishly, looking at the dash.

"You know, just because you're gorgeous and everyone fawns over you doesn't mean you can treat them like dirt. I learned French for you! I stood up for you when people called you conceited! I helped you with anything and everything you've asked me to help you with and-" Steve was cut off by Thor's hands going to his cheeks and Thor's lips pressing against his. Smiling, Thor pulled back and got out of the car, leaving Steve stunned in the driver's seat. His entire face seemed to become a neon sign as Thor walked up to his house.

I'm getting better at padding out these chapters. Hopefully the rest of the chapters will be this length if not longer!
Thanks again to everyone who's reading.