TWO MONTHS LATER

"Oh… Hi uh I uh um where's the door?" She stumbled, tripping slightly over the rug into the bathroom. Her long figure hugging a man's blue shirt and a mini skirt hung just over her thighs. She crossed her legs, blushing scarlet when she saw the tall lean figure, black hair hanging down his bare back with shaving cream covering his mouth area. Loki wore only a small towel from his stomach to the tops of his own thighs, seeming slightly embarrassed by the intrusion. She hung her head, looking at his feet rather than his face. Her ash blonde hair fell around her face, covering it to prevent any future recognition in the ideal Starbucks. Loki sighed recognising yet again what was going on.

"Take a right, you'll see an adjacent wall, around the corner you'll find the corridor leading to the front door. Have a nice day Jessica."

"Right thanks, how… did you…?" But Loki smiled politely, re-closing the door to the bathroom shutting her out. How would he not know her name, it had taken her three times to repeat it before Tony could remember it. He was sick of this. Ever since things had ended between him and Steve, Tony had returned to his previous self. Drinking extensive amounts of alcohol and enjoying over-night 'stays' with anything in a pair of heels. Not to mention becoming even cockier than usual.

"Hey sweet cheeks, how'd she take it?" Tony slapped Loki's back, whom had just walked into the living room. He expected him to be still asleep. It was half nine on a Sunday. Loki scowled before turning around. He knew it was said in jest but for crying out loud, almost every night some new drunken idiotic mule had fucked him into outer space, and now it was his job to look after them when they couldn't remember where the exit was. Tony stood confidently in a pair of boxers, pouring out some coffee from the machine on the counter.

"Just because I may be your best friend Tony does not mean you may dump your female friends on me the morning after. Think of the consequences of sleeping around! You could get diseases, or even worse knock one of them up! How you remember what a condom even is by the time you get back here is extremely puzzling!" Loki through his arms up, face flushed but not angered. It was so bloody hard to get mad at him with a head of hair like that. What was it even doing? It was like the daughter from those yellow cartoons. What was it… the Simone's? Those huge eyes were of no assistance either. He should discuss tactics with Pepper.

"I didn't mean to bother you... sorry…" Tony looked round eyed over the coffee mug. Pretending to be innocent won't work you little…

"Well… don't let it happen again." But it came across like a scolding from an upset mother than the strong shouting match he had imagined in his head. He folded his arms, staring straight at Tony. Tony shifted, starting to feel bad. He knew what he was doing was a little unorthodox… but this was the first complaint he received from his rather cold looking roommate.

"Coffee? Cereal?...p-p-pair of pants…?" Tony's jaw dropped a little when Loki's towel dropped heavily onto the floor. Loki jumped instinctively to covering himself with his hands, blushing bright red and running to his right.

"Wrong way dear" Tony put his hand on his head, not laughing but smiling in embarrassment. A small 'wow' was running in the back of his mind…

"Right yes of course" Loki cleared his throat, walking past Tony to his bedroom, leaving the towel on the floor. His door slammed as he walked inside, shutting Tony right out. Tony stood for a second, trying to banish and remember the incident at the same time. After about five minutes he put the cold coffee down and walked into his own room, going back to bed. It was Sunday why one earth was he even awake in the first place?

Loki sat on the corner of the bed, pulling on a pair of boxers and a green t-shirt. His jeans were waiting to be worn on the side of the bed. Pepper had asked him to go Christmas shopping, she needed a new outfit and so did he apparently, along with some incredulously over-priced gifts for the small group she had to buy for. Oh the joys of Christmas… It was his favourite time of year, like many others, but he would prefer to be somewhere near a frozen lake with a huge hearth in the middle of a small stone cottage. Of course he was to stay in New York, he wasn't too fond of his parents, in fact it was only really Thor who visited them for Christmas. He sent his love and a few custom gifts, but family reunions were never really his forte. Especially not at Christmas. He was far better off on his own anyhow.

He tried to distract himself over his future 'mall' day plans with Pepper, but the look on Tony's face was enough to knock anyone off course. Embarrassed, for him. The slightly ajar mouth, the smug surprised look on his face. His face flushed thinking back to it. It wasn't that bad really… most guys should be used to being surrounded by naked guys by now, right? Locker rooms… after football games… high school? Well… it's not like he was exactly sporty or anything. He wasn't one for contact sports, preferring to keep along the lines of badminton and tennis. But surely Tony… ugh this wasn't getting better by thinking about it. There was something… strange. He was attracted to men and all but… not Tony... Unfortunately that's the only reason I can come up with for being so embarrassed. He would never have just come out with only a towel on… but he had been so annoyed by yet another one of those putrid girls that he forgot. That is until the towel hit the floor.

Loki shook his head, forcing himself not to think about it or he'd make himself sick. He quickly threw on his jeans, grabbing his wallet and a laptop bag that'd be good enough for shopping with. Taking a deep breath he opened the door, walking out into the room. Tony was absent, thank god. Wait, why am I being so paranoid? It's just Tony… And with that he walked confidently out of the apartment, heading down to Pepper's building.

What am I going to do? Ugh this is so stupid, I'm not fifteen years old. Get up and say it. But how do I even know if I really do? Oh shut up you fool of course you do. A new girl every night, pretending like they're going to be special when you buy them a drink at the bar. Whatever, I always did that anyway? No I did that before so I had time to get over Pepper. Stupid stupid stupid. It's not right! Why not? Because what if you don't like him? And then you've told him and you've led him on and broken things between you because he is not like any girl you've ever been with. He's a bit more sensitive in that department. Plus he only just got over Steve and it's just too soon. Lies, you're only saying this because you're finding ways to back out of being somewhat courageous. What if he finds someone else? What if it's too late? What will you do then?

Tony had been having this conversation with himself ever since Loki left the apartment. The last three questions replaying in his mind, someone else… too late… what then? A pang of jealousy struck him when he thought of that person who could be his next relationship. And then what would he do? Never being able to tell Loki felt worse than actually plucking the courage to tell him. But what was this? Was he straight, gay, bi? Or did it really matter? He was Tony Stark, he could do whatever he wanted. The last few weeks, he tried distancing himself. Nevertheless he still managed to hop right back into his mind. The amount of times he had come close to jumping on him and kissing those lips… the lust was there alright. He didn't try to think about it anymore. This was stupid. They were as close now as he was with Pepper. Why ruin that for some infatuation? Loki didn't share those feelings, he was sure of it. Best to just keep it under wraps and wait for it to pass through his system like the alcohol was beginning to do now. His eyes closed, eventually he drifted off, a little after half twelve.