Loki stared silently at Tony after the genius had revealed everything he and Milton had found out about Amy and her involvement with Odin's scheme.

They were sitting in Tony's communal area; Loki sat on the edge of the sofa, Tony was perched on the coffee table across from him. Tony had woken up before Loki, running into Jane as she tiptoed out of Thor's bedroom and gave him an awkward smile before running out the door. Tony continued his quest to keep his boyfriend as happy as possible until everything went to hell in a hand basket. He had slipped into the kitchen and toasted up a bagel for him. He had even cream-cheesed it and brewed Loki's favorite tea before the pale man had rolled out of bed and shuffled naked into the bathroom to relieve himself and splash some water on his face. He went back into to Tony's room and when he returned he was wearing Tony's Black Sabbath tee and a pair of his clean boxers. Tony smiled at him, thinking how much he enjoyed seeing Loki in his clothes. They ate their breakfasts, curled up on the sofa together before Tony realized he couldn't hold off any longer and dropped the bomb on him.

Loki had not moved for several long moments since, and Tony was starting to fidget under his harsh gaze. His knees bounced and he was snapping and clicking his fingers until Loki reached out and laid his hand over his to halt the movements.

"Loki?"

He blinked and inhaled, readying to speak. "You discovered this yesterday?" he asked, his voice quiet and tight as he pulled back his arm. Tony was relieved he was finally speaking, but found his tone curious. He nodded. "You were aware of it—all of it—when you arrived home last night?"

Tony's eyebrows twitched before drawing together over his eyes. "…Yeah…"

Loki's lips pressed together and voice became even quieter. "You knew of all this when we were together last night?"

Confused, Tony looked off to the side before returning his gaze to Loki. "Yes. Loki—"

"Did you make love to me because you felt sorry for me?"

"What? No!" Tony caught the sadness lurking beneath the budding ire in the green eyes boring into his and groaned behind his hand before placing it over Loki's. "Loki, believe me, you don't know how much it killed me that I had to tell you about this; that I had to give you one more thing to hate Odin for. I just wanted to ease that."

"So it was, what people so aptly call, a pity fuck." He yanked his hand back and stood abruptly. Tony grabbed his wrist and got to his feet as well.

"No," he said firmly. "You just looked so happy when I got home last night."

Loki avoided looking at Tony. Everything was coming crashing down on him again—like it had when he'd found out about the reasons behind his adoption. His eyes had begun to water; he was clamping down on his rising temper making his breath come faster. "I was."

Tony loosened his grip on Loki's wrist, not letting go completely in case he wanted to flee, and turned his body so they were face to face between the coffee table and the sofa. "And all I wanted to do was make that last a little longer. There was no pity involved whatsoever. I promise. I mean it's not like I didn't get pleasure out of it, too."

Loki gave him a barely perceptible nod before slipping away.

"Where are you going?"

"To speak to Odin."

"What?" Tony skidded across the room and blocked Loki's exit. "Loki, I don't think you should do that. Not yet."

The dark, angry look on Loki's face became even darker and angrier. "Why?"

"Because…!" Tony racked through his crowded brain to give Loki a plausible reason. "You…are…in no condition to drive or have a rational conversation right now."

"I don't want a rational conversation. I want to give Odin a piece of my mind. He cannot get away with this, Anthony!"

Tony's hands flew up when Loki tried to move forward again, and in a gesture of peace. "I get that, babe, and I agree with you. But maybe you should wait for Thor to come home. Talk it over with him before you do anything."

Loki scowled even more. "Thor? This has nothing to do with him! It is between Odin and me and his belief that he can interfere with my life and my relationship any time he damn well pleases. Now, move!" His arm went for the doorknob but Tony knocked it away with his hip.

"No! Loki, please. I know you're upset…"

"No, I am beyond upset, Anthony! I want answers! Answers that only Odin can give to me! And since he has banished me from his home, I will confront him at his office. Get out of my way!" He rushed forward, shocked when Tony shoved him back.

"No!"

Loki sighed. "Anthony. I am not upset with you. Please, don't do anything to change that."

"Fine, then—for me—don't go anywhere. Stay here with me and wait for Thor."

Loki's head cocked to the side, his green eyes narrowing slightly, and he moved closer to Tony, stopping just in front of him. "Are you under the impression that I am unable to take care of this myself?"

Tony frowned in confusion again. "No, of course not."

"Good. Because I am not a damsel in distress to be rescued by Thor or Natasha, or you! As I said, it is between that wretched excuse for a man and me. I need to do this. Myself. Do you understand, Anthony?"

Tony pleaded with his eyes at Loki but he knew he had already lost this battle. Relenting, he relaxed his shoulders, threw up his hands. "What am I supposed to tell him?"

"You tell him exactly what you told me. You tell him exactly what kind of a man his father is. Perhaps now, Thor will finally knock that man off of that damn pedestal he has had him on all these years." Loki moved around Tony and was about to reach for the door. But he stopped and returned to Tony, turning him around to face him.

Tony let out a little noise of surprise, followed by a quiet one of pleasure, when Loki gently cupped his face and gave him a long, tender kiss.

After he pulled away, Loki kept his hands on Tony's face and leaned his forehead against the shorter man's. "I am sorry I was cross with you. I appreciate the predicament that you found yourself in and I understand now what you did for me. Thank you." He captured Tony's lips in a short, soft kiss once more. "I love you."

"You, too," Tony said quietly as he watched Loki leave for his own room. He stood where he was for a few moments, feeling helpless, and unsure what to do next.

Loki drove a little faster than normal to Odin's office in the senate building, his anger growing with every mile passed. Once inside he walked into the outer office and headed straight for the door to Odin's personal one.

"Excuse me!"

Loki came to a halt and eyed the young brunette woman behind the secretary's desk. He walked back toward it and frowned at her as she smiled up at him. He remembered Odin's secretary as a much older, gray-haired, bespectacled woman in her sixties. "You're new," he said condescendingly.

The young woman grinned politely. "I'm a temp. Is there something I can help you with?"

"No. I have a need to speak with Od—the senator."

"All right, well, do you have an appointment?" She glanced down at the opened calendar book in front of her.

"No." Impatient, and his irritation growing even further with this stranger, he started to move away but she threw out her arm, a pen with pink fluffy feathers in place of an eraser in her hand. She wiggled it at him.

"Ah-ah-ah! I'm afraid the senator is a very busy man. I can't just let you go in, but if you would like to set up an appointment—"

"By the gods, woman, just pick up the damn phone and tell him I am here! He will see me."

Affronted, she stared at him with big eyes and pressed lips, but still she picked up the phone, and asked tightly, "Your name?"

Still clenching his fists at his sides, Loki gave her his name, and cocked an eyebrow as the glare was replaced by a look of surprise. She pressed a few buttons on the keypad and put the phone to her ear.

"Sir, I have a Loki Odinson here to see you."

Loki watched her face, grinning smugly when whatever Odin's response was had her looking very embarrassed and a rose tinge blooming across her cheeks.

"Yes, sir." She placed the receiver back down very carefully, cleared her throat, and kept her eyes lowered to the desk. "You may go in."

"Thank you," Loki said with a tilt of his head. He took a deep breath and entered the office.

Odin was sitting behind a massive desk, smiling at Loki when he came into the room. Loki wasn't expecting that so he stepped even slower toward the desk, closely eyeing Odin. "Well, this is quite a surprise, Loki. But I must say I am happy to see you. I've not been feeling well lately—elbow deep in laws, by-laws, bills and the like. To what do I owe this surprise visit?"

"Your insatiable need to make my life a living hell."

Odin's smile disappeared, his one visible white eyebrow drawing closer to his silver eye patch. "What?"

Loki grinned disdainfully and shook his head. "Did you really believe you would get away with it? How stupid do you believe Anthony or me to be that we would not figure out the situation?" He had the satisfaction of seeing Odin's face fall. He set his fists on the desk, leaning menacingly forward. "You underestimate me, Odin, as well as my friends. But mark my words: you will pay for this."

Odin still said nothing. Not a shred of guilt was on his face, only contempt. He watched Loki, idly rubbing a finger across his bearded lip.

Loki straightened, held out his hands. "Have you suddenly gone mute, dear father? Have you nothing to say for yourself?"

After a beat, Odin lifted his hand from his mouth and crossed his legs. "Was she successful?"

Loki breathed out a sarcastic laugh. He shook his head again, but mostly at himself this time, for letting himself think Odin would feel apologetic for what he had done. In the end, he had only set himself up for disappointment again. "Well…it was Anthony who discovered your little game." A wicked smirk curved his lips as he met Odin's one-eyed gaze. "Though considering upon his return home, information in hand, we had the most satisfying night of pleasure I have ever experienced, I'm going to say that no…" he moved his head from side to side slowly, "…she was not successful."

Odin glared at up at Loki, tiny beads of sweat forming across his forehead and at his temples. With a disgusted sound he looked away, going so far as to lower his leg so both feet were planted on the floor, and turned his swivel chair away.

"You're despicable," Loki muttered, his voice pure venom.

Odin's head whipped around, his one blue eye flaring. "Oh, am I? I am not the one boasting about nights of debauchery with other men."

"One man!" Loki slapped his hands on the desk again, the sound echoing in the quiet that followed. "I am with one man. And I said nothing of debauchery, you senile fool." He turned away, walking from the desk, only to turn back, sneering at Odin. "Why is it so difficult for you to believe I could find love with another man?"

"It isn't," Odin said matter-of-factly, facing Loki fully again. "It's difficult for me to believe anyone could find themselves loving you." His hand went to his tie, tugging at it, feeling a bit like he was being suffocated. "You are an immature and selfish individual, Loki. You think of no one but yourself."

Masking the hurt Odin's previous statement had filled him with, Loki grinned. "I certainly did not learn that from Frigga, now did I?"

Odin pushed out of his chair, his jaw working as he moved around his desk. Loki didn't back down, but faced Odin head-on. "Ungrateful! You're an ungrateful little boy! I gave you everything an abandoned brat could ever ask for and you repay me by putting my career in jeopardy!"

"I don't give a damn about your career!" Loki yelled back in Odin's face. "You mean nothing to me, you vain, decrepit old man! If it was not for Frigga and Thor I would have walked away from you years ago." He paused, gritting his teeth to fight the emotion building, clogging his throat, stinging his eyes. "You forget, Odin, I never asked for you to take me. And I was grateful…once upon a time. The least you could have done was show me a fraction of the attention you showed Thor. You were supposed to be my father, too…" He looked away then, embarrassed at the heat that flushed his face and the tears threatening to spill. His voice was thick and soft when he spoke next. "Do you have any idea how hard I have tried to win your approval?"

Odin had faltered back when Loki screamed in his face. He stared at the taller man in shock and fell against the desk at his final question. His mouth moved, as if to speak, but there was nothing he could think to say in response.

Loki did his best to blink back the tears. "Just once, I wished for you to look at me with the same amount of pride that you bestowed upon Thor. I did nothing but try to please you from the moment you took me into your home." His fists clenched again and he now spoke through his teeth. "But nothing was ever good enough for you, was it?"

Odin lifted his one-eyed gaze to Loki and moved to the nearest chair. "Loki… I'm…"

"None of my accomplishments ever matched Thor's, did they? I was too small for the sports he excelled at; I was too weak to defend myself against the bullies that hounded me relentlessly and that he easily fended off for me. I didn't bring home the pretty girls like Jane. I was just too different, wasn't I?"

Odin, finding it more and more difficult to breathe in the stifling room, reached for Loki, but the younger man stepped out of his reach, turning his back on him.

"Curse you, Odin." Loki wiped the tears from his eyes, breathed in, sniffling, and let out a long breath. "Curse you, for never making me feel accepted and for trying to ruin the one thing that has truly made me happy." Loki spun around to face him again, not seeing that Odin seemed to be struggling. "Again you have nothing to say?" He scoffed, shaking his head in derision. "You are a horrible excuse for a…"

Loki looked up and his words trailed off. Odin was clutching at his chest, leaning heavily on his left arm, gasping for air. "Loki—…"

"What is wrong with you?"

"I don't kn—…" He gasped again, once more reaching out for Loki and fell to the floor with the effort.

Loki's fear grew as Odin lost color in his face and he went frozen when the older man reached for him and consequently fell to the floor because Loki couldn't move fast enough to help him. "Oh, gods." He knelt next to Odin, a hand resting on his chest, the other resting on his head. "Odin…?"

Odin lifted a hand to Loki's face. "Loki. Help…"

Panic skittered up his spine when Odin slipped into unconsciousness. "Help! Somebody help!" His fingers trembling, Loki tore open Odin's shirt, tilted up his head and began to administer CPR. "Don't you do this to me, Odin. Not now. Somebody!"

Both entrances into Odin's office opened at the same time. The temporary secretary screamed at the sight of Odin on the floor and ran back out; Odin's security team rushed in, moving Loki aside, and called in emergency aid through their radios before starting CPR themselves. Loki stumbled back, falling against the desk after they pushed him aside, and stared in shock. Everything had started to move too fast, as if he was watching it in a movie. Paramedics arrived quickly and set Odin on a stretcher. Someone asked him if he wanted to ride in the ambulance. Not really thinking clearly yet, Loki declined and said he would follow in his own car. Somehow, by some miracle, he made it to the hospital, and was told to wait while they worked on Odin.

The first person he called was Tony.

He was in a waiting room again. Only this time he was alone and the situation was far more serious than a few bruised knuckles. He sat forward, elbows on his knees, head in his hands, mixed emotions causing him to flip-flop between a variety of feelings, from scared for what could happen to angry that he hadn't gotten the answers he had wanted, to sorry for Odin for having had the heart attack and remorseful because he thought it was very convenient for this to happen when he was confronting Odin. Then he remembered his threat that Odin would pay for what he had done to him and Tony, and he had to fight back the tears again.

It was nearly an hour before anyone else arrived, Frigga being the first. She was already crying and panicked, and it took Loki a good amount of time to calm her down before she could form coherent sentences.

"What happened, Loki? Why did this happen? I thank the gods you were there, but…why were you in Odin's office?"

Loki took Frigga's hands—clutching at his sweater, pawing at his face, mistaking his tears for something else—in his hands to keep her from touching him. His lips were in a thin, tight line, and he spoke through clenched teeth. "I will tell you, mother, but I need to ask you something first."

"What? Why won't you answer my questions?"

"I will, I promise. But I need to know…" he lifted his reddened eyes to hers. "Were you aware of any plans Odin had to sabotage my relationship with Anthony?"

"Of…what…?" Frigga's face fell into a frown, but Loki wasn't sure if it was from concern, shock, confusion, or anger. "Of course I didn't, Loki. I don't know what you're talking about. Tell me, has Odin done something?"

Loki sighed and calmly began to explain the whole story to Frigga. He could see her grow more and more horrified by the second.

"Oh, no, Loki." She shook her head, shamed for her husband. "I swear to you, I had no knowledge of any of this awful idea. If I had I would have stopped it, you know that. I don't know what he was thinking. You went to his office to confront him, didn't you?"

Loki nodded and the guilt swept back in. "I thought…I thought he was feigning the…" His hand went to his mouth; he was shocked at himself and his thoughts. The grip on his other hand tightened around Frigga's fingers. "He could have died, mother, and I wouldn't have—" He met Frigga's gaze again, green eyes brimming with tears. The soft, warm feminine palm on his cheek did nothing to calm him.

"You couldn't have known, sweetheart. Did you ask him? About this…woman…?" He nodded. "Did he give you any explanation? What did he say?"

A tear escaped, rolling down his cheek, and Loki quickly swiped it away. "He wanted to know if she had succeeded in breaking us up."

"Gods, Odin…" she muttered to herself. "I'm so sorry, my love."

Loki gaze fell to the shiny hospital floor, but he wasn't really looking at anything. "Why is he like this?" he asked mostly to himself. "Why can he not let me be? Why am I so different from Thor to him and not to you?"

Frigga smiled softly, brushing Loki's hair back from his face. "You have always been more drawn and attached to me, my Loki…even more so than Thor. And Odin…he believes he is helping you, that he is doing this for your own good."

"He is not helping!"

"Shh…" Frigga shushed him, to calm him, continuing her soft brushes to his hair and face. "I know."

"Mrs. Odinson?"

Frigga and Loki looked up as a man in a white doctor's coat and a lavender binder in his arms interrupted them. He sat on the other side of Frigga and she turned in her chair to face him.

"Yes, that is I."

"I'm Dr. Atkins. Your husband has survived the heart attack…"

"Oh! Thank the gods." She turned toward Loki, squeezing his knee in excitement. He smiled marginally at her and they returned their gazes to the doctor when he spoke again.

"But I'm afraid he has slipped into a coma."

Loki's hand went to his mother's again when she blindly reached for it. "What…? Is he…will he wake from it?"

"Unfortunately, there is no way to tell at this point. We will keep him on the machines; it doesn't look like he has a DNR on record." He flipped through the binder, sent her a questioning glance.

"No. No, he wanted—" She had to pause, to swallow back her tears, pressing the backs of her fingers to her lips. Loki's arm came around her shoulders and she leaned back into him. "He wanted to fight."

The doctor smiled politely, closed the binder. "Then that's what we'll do. You can come back to sit with him, if you like. Talk to him. A lot of people believe they can hear even when they're under. No more than two or three at a time, okay?"

Frigga nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Atkins." The doctor turned away and she immediately turned into Loki's arms, weeping silently.

"I'm sorry, mother."

"It's not your fault, Loki," she said against his shoulder. She pulled back to look up at him, her eyes wet, tears dangling from her lashes. "I'm just not ready to lose him yet."

Loki pulled her close again, holding her, letting his mother's tears soak his sweater as she sobbed. He wanted nothing more than to leave, to escape this place; to, gods forgive him, escape his mother's fear and worry. He could feel himself wanting to break down but he wasn't sure why and he didn't want to do it in front of his mother. Something heavy landed on his shoulder and relief washed through him when he looked up and saw Thor peering down at him, his breath coming quickly, like he had been running.

"Brother."

Frigga felt Loki move, heard Thor's voice, and lifted her head. Fresh tears filling her eyes seeing her eldest son, she jumped up and into his arms to hug him. Loki sat back and turned his head seeing Jane and Tony through he window, running down the hall. He bolted up this time and reached Tony before Tony had fully entered the room, wrapping his arms tightly around him.

"Get me out of here. Please."

His hand running over Loki's hair, Tony signaled with the other to Thor, motioning that they would be leaving. He nodded and sat his mother back down, kneeling before her. Jane sat next to Frigga, wrapped an arm around her. Knowing Thor and Jane were settled Tony slipped his arm around Loki's waist and led him out of the hospital. On the way home they didn't speak, no music played and Tony didn't stop Loki from falling asleep. At one point, while waiting at a red light, he turned to look at the sleeping man and ran the back of his hand over his face, knowing Loki must have been exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the day. Upon reaching the campus, he parked and shut the engine off. He ran a knuckle over Loki's cheek. "Hey. Babe."

Loki stirred and opened his eyes.

"We're home." Tony got out and went around the car to help Loki out of his seat because he seemed dazed. They walked hand-in-hand to the dorm building and when they reached their floor, Loki went straight into Tony's dorm instead of his own. Tony laid a hand at the small of his back. "Go to my room. I'll be in, in a second."

His green eyes, bloodshot and weary, aimed at Tony but Loki didn't say a word.

Tony cupped his cheek. "I'll be quick."

Loki nodded and disappeared into Tony's room. Tony moved to the dining table and tossed the pizza he and Thor had chipped in together for dinner then abandoned after Loki's call, into the refrigerator, still in its box, followed by the liter of Coke that came with it. He filled their emptied glasses with tap water, left them in the sink, and started toward his room. He paused once he had entered because Loki was sitting on the edge of his bed, still as a statue, with tears spilling endlessly from his eyes, gathering under his chin, dripping onto his hands which were folded neatly in his lap.

Too exhausted to wipe at the tears, Loki could only sit there and let them fall.

Tony fell to one knee in front of Loki, and in a repeat of the night before, he removed Loki's shoes. Without speaking, with little nudges and flicks of his fingers, Tony helped Loki out of his clothes and into the bed, and quickly slid in behind him. Loki immediately wrapped himself around Tony, still weeping quietly. Tony held him close, unsure if he should say something, and if he should, what that something should be.

"Anthony?" Loki's voice was small and Tony was surprised he spoke at all.

"Hmm…?"

"…Wh-why doesn't he love me?"

Tony's arms tightened as Loki's body curled into him, trembling with the sobs he couldn't seem to control anymore. Tony had to blink back his own tears, cradling Loki's head, stroking his hair. "I don't know, baby. I don't know."

Loki tried to speak again, but his words were lost to whimpers and whines. Tony held onto him, rocking him as he cried. He made sure to stay awake until Loki quieted and his breath evened out as he eventually slipped into a deep sleep.

When Tony woke the next morning Loki wasn't in the bed. He sat up, rubbing at his eyes, looking around and wondering how Loki had left the bed without him being aware of it, since he was between Tony and the wall. He reached for his discarded jeans and fished out his cell phone and sent him a quick text. He rolled his eyes when the brief notes to Loki's text tone echoed throughout his room. He got up to pee quickly, thinking of who he might be able to contact that Loki might have met up with. He crawled back onto his bed and texted Clint, thinking maybe Loki went back to his room. Clint responded swiftly that Loki was with Natasha. Tony decided to call her.

"He's fine," she answered after one ring.

"Great. Where is he?"

"We're on the roof."

"The roof of what?"

"The dorm."

"How the hell did you get up there?"

"You know how Clint likes to be in high places? Well, he found a way to climb up here. We'll be down in second."

Tony yawned. "Okay, I'll meet you outside. I need food. But we haven't gone grocery shopping."

"Surprise, surprise."

Tony could nearly hear the rolling of her eyes. He was about to tell her to shut up when Loki mumbled something to her on the other line, but it wasn't audible for him.

"Tony, Loki wants ice cream."

"Uh…ice cream for breakfast?"

"Hey, look at that bird!" There was a rustle then Natasha's voice was low. "Tony, he feels like shit because he thinks he caused his adoptive father's heart attack. I don't think it's a big deal if he eats a little chocolate and vanilla at ten am."

Tony sighed, but smiled. "I get it. We'll go to Denny's. I can get pancakes and he can get ice cream. Natasha?"

"Yeah…?"

"Is he really okay?"

"Mm, better, but a little TLC might go a long way. You'll see. It'll take us about five minutes to get down there. Bye."

She hung up before he had a chance to respond. In the span of about seven minutes Tony managed to shower, dress, and snatched up his keys on his way to the door. He paused, snapped his fingers, and started back toward his room to grab his and Loki's cell phones. Someone knocked on the door and, thinking it was Natasha or Loki being funny, Tony yelled for them to enter. He came to an almost comical stop on his way out of his room when he found Amy standing in the open doorway.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Nice greeting, Tony." She stepped in further, her eyes roaming around the roomy dorm. "I figured we could have our session here today."

Tony frowned at her. "There's a ton of shit I really wanna say to you right now, but I'd like to start with how the hell did you know where I live? I never told you."

Amy smiled and slipped off her thin jacket. "You're not a hard person to find, Tony. And don't forget; I knew where Loki lived."

He scoffed. "You think you're really smooth, don't you?"

With a slick smirk, Amy sashayed toward Tony, closing the distance between them. "I can be if you like."

Tony back away from her outstretched hands and glared at her, more disgust in his eyes than anything. "Don't touch me."

Amy giggled softly. "Oh, Tony…you don't have to play hard to get with me. I know you like me. But don't worry. I won't tell Loki." She puckered her lips, tried to kiss him, but Tony ducked away from her. He was quite literally afraid of where those lips may have been.

"I'm not playing at anything, Amy. I actually don't like you, but I would like you to leave." He moved backwards through the apartment, Amy following his every move, until he found himself backed up against the counter in the kitchen.

"Tony, Tony, Tony…" She ran her hands up his chest, ignoring it when he flicked them away. "Loki isn't here. You don't have to lie to me."

Tony's face crinkled. "I'm not. I don't want you near me." He kept shoving her exploring hands away and she rolled her eyes.

"Please. I've seen the way you look at me. I know the affect I've had on you."

"If you mean making me want to throw up everything I've ever eaten in my entire life, then yup! You're right about that."

Her blue eyes narrowed, but she continued pressing on. "No, silly…I meant like that night in the library before Loki interrupted." She reached down between them to brush her fingers over the front of his pants, snatching her hand back when he slapped at it. She thought he was still toying with her and bit her lip. "Did you miss me when you left?" She moved in close, a finger trailing up Tony's shirt. She tried to take a nibble on his goateed chin, but he turned away, and her tongue flicked over his cheek. Her mouth moved to his ear, even as he winced and tried to curl away from her. "Did you think about me when you were alone in your bed that night?"

"He wasn't alone in his bed that night," Loki said from the open doorway, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorjamb. Amy jumped back from Tony. He put his hands together and mouthed 'thank you' to Loki, relieved at his presence. Then wondered how long he had been there.

"Ah, Loki," Amy planted a hand on her hip and grinned at him, "Always in the way of a good time."

Loki cocked a brow. "Am I?"

"Hmm. Tony and I were about to have ourselves a really good morning."

Tony's head turned sharply to her and his mouth fell open. "No, you weren't," Loki answered for him. He pushed up from the door and stepped into the room. "Amy, you should know we have discovered everything about you." He smirked when he saw her falter and glance at Tony. Tony smiled cheekily.

"What do you…mean?"

"We know all about your…occupation, I suppose is the nicest way to put it. And we know that my…father," he added with a roll of his eyes, "hired you and sent you here on a, frankly, stupid mission."

Amy had started to nervously tap her fingernails together. "I don't know what you're—"

Loki lifted a hand, waving it to cut her off. "Don't bother. We have seen your police record. I could recall a few of your greatest hits if you like, though I feel it rather necessary to tell you that, in about thirty seconds, my very good friend will be walking through that door. And if she sees you in here—well, I can't guarantee your safety."

Amy cocked a brow, lifted her chin defiantly. "Are you threatening me?"

Loki shook his head. "No." And smiled. "I'm warning you."

Tony, who had been watching Loki with a certain gleam in his eye, leaned toward Amy. "I'd run if I were you."

Amy rolled her eyes and shoved Tony away. "Shut up, Stark."

"What's the hold up, boys? I'm—" Natasha came to a halt when she spotted Amy, her body immediately taking a defensive stance. A small smile spread across her lips, making her look even more dangerous. It grew when she saw Amy visibly blanch. "Starving."

"Oh! Where are my manners?" Loki chimed in. "Natasha, Amy. Amy…this is my very good friend, Natasha."

Amy swallowed, backing away from the kitchen slowly as Natasha took a step toward her. "Tell her to stop, Loki."

Loki pretended to be examining his nails. "Can't."

Natasha's green eyes centered on Amy, never wavering, following the hooker's every move as her eyes searched wildly for a quick exit. "Loki!" she complained. "Pull on her leash or something."

Loki looked at Amy as if she had two heads. "I don't control her."

Amy stumbled and glared at Tony when he lightly shoved her toward Natasha as he walked around the room toward Loki and patted Natasha's shoulder as he passed her.

"Run. I dare you," Natasha said in a low voice. Amy tried to do just that, making a dash for the door. Her scream made Tony jerk back when Natasha fingers dug into her blonde hair and dragged her back. He watched with a grin on his face as he moved to stand by Loki as Amy threw her arm out, trying and failing to hit Natasha.

"Is it wrong that I am so aroused by this?" he asked lightly, puckering his lips when Natasha swiped her leg under Amy and pinned her to the floor.

Loki lifted his eyes from Natasha and Amy, now rolling around, hands slapping at each other, to meet Tony's eyes. His lips twitched. "No."

Tony smiled wider and Loki returned his attention to the fight. He leaned closer to Loki's ear. "Have you ever considered bringing in—?"

"We are not having a threesome, Anthony."

"O-kay. Doesn't hurt to ask." They continue to watch, 'oohing' when Natasha took a palm to the cheek and retaliated by socking Amy with her fist. An odd scent caught Tony's nose and he realized it was coming from Loki. He leaned in again to sniff at him.

Loki turned his head to him. "What?"

"Nothing." They both turned toward the door when Phil ran in and stopped instantly. He stared in confusion at Natasha and Amy—yelling out 'bitch' as Natasha pulled her hair—then looked at Tony and Loki.

"Really, guys?" He threw out one hand toward the women causing a commotion on the floor and used the other to text campus security. "Why aren't you doing anything?"

Tony frowned. "Why would we do that?"

"I'd like to see you try to stop Natasha, Phillip."

All three of them looked at the two females when Amy kicked Natasha off of her and once again tried to escape. Natasha managed to bring her down by running after her, wrapping her legs about the woman's neck and slamming her to the floor. All without using her hands. Natasha kept her trapped there and Amy squirmed beneath her.

She flipped her head back to look at Phil. "Camp Sec?" she asked out of breath.

Phil stared dumbfounded, but he could hear footsteps and jingling keys. "On their way."

Loki stepped forward and squatted down near Amy's head. "My apologies, Miss Armstrong. I forgot to mention that Natasha has trained in several martial arts."

"Asshole," she choked out.

Loki grinned, stood and took Natasha's arm when campus security came in. Phil instructed them to escort her off campus and to make sure she never returned. As they led her away, she stopped by Loki.

"Tell your dad he still owes me money."

Loki chuckled. "Good luck getting that."

"Nice moves, Natasha," Phil said as he followed campus security out. Still out of breath, she only nodded her head then moved into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Did that make you feel better?" Tony asked turning to Loki. He smiled and Tony could see how fake the ones he had given Amy were.

"Not really."

He pouted and rubbed a hand over Loki's back. "Are you okay enough to explain to me why you smell like marijuana?" Loki's lips parted but he only shrugged in answer. Tony lifted his brows.

"It was just a few puffs, Anthony. I have done it before but I don't do it often; in fact I haven't done it once since I left Switzerland. And you are not one to lecture me on vices."

Tony's bottom lip popped out. "I thought I was your vice."

"You can be." He smiled again, a little stronger than the last and took Tony's hand.

"Brownie points for you. But next time, invite me!" Loki chuckled weakly and sighed. "Is that why you want ice cream?" He shook his head no. "Will it make you feel better?"

He lifted his shoulders. "It might."

"Pancakes and ice cream it is," Tony decided with a nod.

"Mmm, pancakes."

"Jesus. Here come the munchies."

Loki chuckled. "Do you mind if Natasha comes along for breakfast? She may have the munchies, too."

"Are you kidding? After all that hot girl-on-girl action she just gave me? I'm buying!"

"You're impossible," Loki muttered. Tony laughed and turned toward the kitchen where Natasha was gulping down her second glass of water.

"Come on, Romanov. Breakfast is on me."

She set the glass down. "Excellent."