"I'm in the coffee shop across the street from the library.
Don't take too long."

Tony discarded the note from his door. He felt uneasy. It was uncomfortable around Loki, but he had to formulate a plan before Steve became too comfortable with the idea of him. He slid into the shower, quickly washing his hair, using Loki's conditioner. It smelt like Loki, magnificent as it filled the hot steamy air. He dried himself quickly, changing into some dark blue jeans and a clean black t-shirt with white sleeves. He threw a sweater on over it. It might be sunny but it was December, and he wasn't the warmest blooded person. He legged it down to the library, and after ten minutes he arrived, shadowing Loki as he stood behind him in an attempt to scare him.

"Do not try it Stark it will end painfully." Tony rolled his eyes, taking the seat next to him. He ordered a Frappuccino from the tall waitress smiling down at him. She looked familiar to him, maybe she'd been back to the flat. She hurried away, giggling.

"You don't remember her do you?"

"Refresh me."

"Last week, about four am. You came steaming into the flat, with next to no clothes on and giving her a piggy back to your bed. Where was your shirt by the way?" Tony tried to remember, but could only manage a hazy memory of what had happened. He had stormed out that night, something Pepper had said to the 'oh-so-happy' couple, got slammed and came back with a pretty little brunette. Wow, how had he forgotten that? He lost his clothes on his way up from the club, the girl had ripped them off when he became drenched to the skin.

"She wasn't the gentlest… In bed that is." Tony quickly explained when Loki raised his eyebrows.

"I understood the reference Tony. What I don't understand however, is your actions over the past few weeks. What on earth is the matter with you?"

"If you are referring to last night, in my defence I was just drunk and not… exactly functioning brilliantly" Tony was angered by Loki's accusing tone, how would you know anything, he thought. He paused for a moment, trying to keep his sentence flow smooth.

Another waiter brought him down his coffee, he barely acknowledged him and took a quick gulp. It was so sweet, not the best topper for this mornings breakfast.

"Excuse me Tony but you have been in a horrible mood for a while now and since I have to live with it, I demand some sort of explanation!" Loki threw his arms up expectantly, waiting on a reply, grunting when Tony seemed to grimace at the table.

"I'm just…not…"Tony was frustrated, not knowing what to say, but so angry at the same time. Here was Loki, trying to help him, when it should be the complete opposite. He should know by now! He should, he couldn't keep it from him and he couldn't take the pity from his eyes.

"What! Tony you can tell me anything, it can't be the bad…"

"Don't try and understand, Loki! Like you know anything. I'm fine. Stay out of it. Okay?"

"Tony. I'm trying to help you"

"I don't need your help! How can you even begin to understand when you spend all your time with Steve anyway?" Woah, where did that come from? But no, this was good! Good Tony, good. Maybe he could prevent Steve from entering the flat? It was a long shot but worth a try…

"What! I am so sorry, Tony… for ever being in a relationship. How dare you? When you dated Pepper I said nothing! And you're not even dating and she's around all the time, you're barely even there! So how can you even say something such as that I ask? Honestly!"

Tony looked at the table, wishing he hadn't drank the coffee. He could feel it turning, tying knots in his stomach. A few minutes past, Tony continued to stare at the table, the veins in his head pulsing.

"Uh, in case, you haven't remembered, I'm still here!"

Tony moved his eyes up slowly to Loki, truthfully, it wasn't just the food and sweetness of the coffee that was making him act up. Tony cared for his friend so much… the words were throwing themselves into the mixture too. He couldn't think straight, was he seriously going to throw up? How can he tell Loki when he seems so hell bent on helping someone else. His green eyes innocent, round and big with confusion, hands upraised. What was he going to tell him… oh shit tony oh shit oh shit oh shit…

"Tony? Tony, a-are you alright?" Loki lowered his arms, moving his left one to Tony's shoulder. The touch was too much, Tony couldn't take the contact. He brushed it up, furrowing his forehead grabbing his hands on the table. He put his hand out flat in front of his face, asking Loki to have patience with him. I'll be okay in a second, shit, I swear, oh holy fuck what am I gonna do? Loki looked hurt by the cold sweep of the hand, and the now very same one staring him down, but he was still worried, what on earth had gotten into him?

Is he ill? Seriously ill? That would explain a few things… but not the coldness around Steve, the general cold shoulder to Steve when he was around. How his moods changed completely when Steve was there at all, when Steve was mentioned. If I say I'm staying at Steve's he huffs for an hour like a small child. Loki's head was like a windmill. What was he not seeing here?

Tony legged it to the bathroom, crumpling to the floor and letting his bowels rip as it all came up. The taste was vile, disgusting, it burned the back of his throat as it climbed up his throat. He had forgotten to lock the door and Loki was there in an instant, kneeling down behind him when he was done and wiping his forehead as he slumped against the cubicle wall, then his mouth. Loki didn't bother to look at Tony really, but Tony had no problem with staring at his friend, whose long black hair draped over Tony's clean face. His green eyes were so deep, charred with the black pupil. He was really rather beautiful… Loki flushed the toilet and grabbed Tony around the waist, pulling him into him as he stood up. He leaned on his shoulder for a second as Loki's long fingers helped him into an appropriate posture, his body tingling at his touch. Tony seemed to waver for a moment before being caught again by Loki to prevent a nasty concussion induced by the toilet seat. He brought him to the sink, staring in the mirror with him. He looked a mess, tired, broken. Tony banged the mirror, Loki quickly locking the bathroom door, giving the two some privacy. Loki was too angry and completely frustrated with him to notice any other feelings that Tony seemed to spew out.

"W-what are you not telling me, what c-can be that… that bad that you feel you have to bottle it all up and tell me nothing." Tony leaned on the sink, looking away from Loki and the mirror. He couldn't take this. Here was his chance to tell Loki, who was allowing him to tell him anything, and he would understand, he knew he would. But whatever else was going on was only adding to the pressure. What was he doing… what had he just felt? His mind flashed back to Loki's intense contact… they'd never even hugged before… he had to get out. Now, before he did something stupid. Loki took an inch back towards him, reaching his hands to him cautiously but warmly all the same. Tony shied away from him, backing up against the wall. Loki dropped them again, bewildered, pained by Tony's depressed state. He quickly brushed past him, swiftly unlocking the door and exiting the bathroom, exiting the coffee shop, out into the open air again. He could breathe, at last. His head wouldn't allow him to even revisit the immediately previous events, so he focused his mind on working his way back to the flat. He had to think, though. But he needed somewhere quiet, alone.