Chapter Nine

(AN: The 'in-famous' Doctor-Dark OC returns)

Apparently teleporting straight into the restaurant would be rude and terrify the patrons, and so Tony had insisted they travel by more... Conventional means. Loki linked arms with the shorter man as they walked from the car to the large double doors of the restaurant.

"I've known the owner of this place many years. I'm one of his best customers." Tony said proudly as he held the door open for Loki to walk trough, both ignoring the many flashes of cameras behind them. Loki just rolled his eyes, used to Tony's ego by now.

They other walked up to the front desk, where a small, elderly Italian man was standing. His face lit up when he saw Tony approaching and walked around with an outstretched hand.

"Tony Stark! There's a face I haven't seen in a while!" He said softly, as Tony took his hand and grinned back at him.

"Hello Harry, I would've visited sooner but... As you probably know, I've been busy."

Harry nodded. "Yes, but having Iron Man in my restaurant is more that a privilege." His eyes shifted to Loki and he smiled kindly at him. "Your usual table?"

"Please." Tony said.

Loki raised his eyebrows in amusement and they followed him to their table.

After they were seating and handed a menu each, Tony placed it down and hooked his hands together, resting his head on the as he looked at Loki.

"So what's it like being 'king of the gods'?"

Loki sighed. "Exhausting. I had no idea there would be so many duties to fulfil. Or so many fat disgusting men of the court to please. One of them I am convinced had fleas in his beard." Loki scanned quickly through the menu. "You will order for me." He put it down neatly beside his plate. "I am lost when it comes to the foods of Midgard."

"Sure thing." Tony chuckled softly and took the menu away from him. "Surely he wouldn't be allowed into the palace with fleas though?"

"I don't think even the boldest of the guards would have the Gaul to send a Lord to wash his beard."

"Ah, well, money of the famous pays for privilege and privacy I guess." He shrugged.

"So what usually happens when two people go out to eat food together?"

"Um... Well... You've never done this before?" Tony gestured between them.

"I do not often spend time with mortals, no."

"I'm a special exception then." Tony grinned smugly.

"Take it as you will." Loki looked around indifferently. "I definitely did not picture this as your 'scene' as such. I was rather picturing a sticky pizza joint."

"Hey, I can be classy sometimes." Tony brushed his hands down the front of the suit he was wearing and snorted. "Just because it's the only, if any, food I eat when at home."

"You eat it because it is convenient. Just like I have you, because you're convenient." Loki teased.

"You make me sound like your private whore." Tony answered back, lifting a glass of water that had been poured when they sat down, up to his mouth.

Loki shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous, you have to pay for whores."

"True." Tony muttered, just as a waiter came along to their table. "Going back to your earlier question, what usually happens, we talk, make conversation, eye fucking while thinking about all the stuff we could be getting up to later,' he winked, 'uh, eat? That kind of stuff."

Loki laughed as the waiter tried to keep a professional expression and ask if they were ready to order.

Just as Tony opened his mouth to speak, Loki began to rub his ankle up Tony's leg.

Tony raised an eyebrow in Loki's direction but carried on ordering anyway. "Hey, uh, I'll have the steak, so will he, and whatever wine you suggest."

"Red." Loki told the waiter without looking at him. His foot rested at Tony's crotch and began to rub him slowly. He must have removed his shoe because his foot was surprisingly nimble.

"U-uh... Yeah, yeah that'll do thanks." Tony said, trying to squirm away from Loki's foot as inconspicuously as possible. The waiter didn't notice and just nodded as he walked away. As soon as he was gone, Tony narrowed his eyes at Loki. "What're you doing?"

"What was it you said we should do. Uh... 'eye fuck' while thinking about all the stuff we could be getting up to later.' I think those were your exact words. I'm just moving it on a little bit."

"O-okay," Tony said while discretely pushing Loki's foot away, and very grateful of the long tablecloth that covered the table. "That's not really the sort of thing we do here..."

"Oh?" Loki replaced his foot. And quirked an eyebrow and pulled an innocent expression. "What if I simply can't control myself?"

"Uhh..." Tony drawled, having to gulp to suppress a small moan. "Then I'm gonna have a hell of a time explaining to Harry why I've come under the table..." He said in a lowered tone.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to let you come." Loki smiled charmingly when the Waiter arrived and asked Tony to taste the wine.

"Thanks." Tony said, taking the glass and narrowing his eyes at Loki while he lifted it to his mouth. His hand grabbed the table next to him as he tried not to concentrate on Loki's foot.

Loki moved his foot quickly, causing Tony to splutter the wine all over the table.
"Is it not to your liking sir?"

"No. It's fine. I just... Had something caught in my throat." He shot a harder glare to Loki, who merely gave him back an innocent smile as the waiter proceeded to pour out two glasses.

Loki slipped his foot back into his shoe and it tied itself up. "Tell me what you are working on." When Tony looked surprised, Loki continued. "It is a reasonable topic for conversation, and I am genuinely interested. A little."

Tony smiled, feeling both released that Loki had withdrawn his foot, and happy that he wanted to know about his work. That surprised him a little, that he cared about how Loki viewed his life as Iron Man. Pepper hadn't, and had tried to distance herself from it as much as she could.

"Well, it's another suit. I assume you've heard of Iron Man?"

"Yes, I am well aware of your little... Hobby."

Tony narrowed his eyes. "It's not a hobby. It's who I am."

Loki raised his eyebrows sceptically, but gestured for Tony to continue anyway.

"Well, anyway, since you appeared in my home unexpectedly then forced yourself on me that first time, I thought it would be useful to have a suit that I could summon, using wristband recogniser tech so if I'm ever stuck without my armour, I can call on it." Tony said, sitting back and giving Loki a smug smile, feeling proud at his idea.

"I did not 'force myself' on you Stark. And as I recall, you rather enjoyed it." Loki picked up his glass, giving it a smirk before taking a sip. He gave an approving smile before he returned it to the table. "Would it not be simpler to have a more biological and permanent way of summoning the suits should you be without your jewellery? Such as the parts of the suits latching to your body parts and forming around them. They could attach when they find your DNA, you could use a fluorescent probe for them to identify you. You may glow in the dark for a while, but your chest does that anyway. You'd look ever so pretty."

Tony narrowed his eyes slightly at the 'pretty' part, but then rubbed his chin thoughtfully and leaned forward in his chair. "That's not a bad idea you know. If I use that and that, then inject that in these points..." He started to mumble to himself incoherently, staring off to the side and nodded occasionally.

"Well a genetic probe would cover your whole body, but implants may be easier." Loki gave a frustrated sigh as Tony's rambling continued. He could see the thoughts moving around Tony's head and they weren't directed towards him. "Darling, as interesting as I'm sure that conversation you're having with yourself is, it is one you can have when you are alone."

"Hm? What? Oh sorry." Tony snapped from his trance and smiled apologetically. "Were you saying something?"

"No actually." Loki leaned in closer. "You were about to tell me how wonderful I am and how much you adore me." Loki smirked, challenging Tony to say otherwise.

"Um..." Tony said, faltering for a moment. For once, he didn't have a comeback, seeing as he wasn't the type of guy to say things like that. His attention was momentarily diverted as he noticed someone familiar entering the restaurant. He groaned and rubbed his forehead. "Ah shit..."

"What is it?"

Tony looked up through his fingers and glared over at the door. "Justin Hammers."

Loki held a confused expression, waiting for him to elaborate, but Tony didn't say anymore other than a frustrated sigh when the man seemed to spot them. The man's expression brightened as he walked over, leaving the blonde Loki would later discover was a reporter whom Tony had slept with on several occasions.

"Tony, my old friend!"

"Justin," he said, then added under his breath: 'my least favourite person', "how are you?" He smiled falsely and extended his hand out.

"Ah, you're such a joker." Justin said, ignoring the hand and clapping him on the shoulder. "Isn't he funny?" He said turning to Loki.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Loki said, amused. "You dress very colourfully Mr. Hammer. Quite refreshing."

Hammer smiled, taking pride in the compliment on his appearance. He thought he wore the turquoise shirt with his white suit and tie quite well. "And who is this charming acquaintance of yours, Tony?" He asked, never taking his eyes from Loki's.

"Uh, this is Loki." Tony said, taking his hand away from him and wiping in on his shirt and pulling a face while Justin wasn't looking.

Justin did a weird little bow to Loki before turning his attention back to his 'old friend'. "I didn't expect to see you here Tony. Me and my date," Justin gestured to the Blonde he had almost forgotten about, "were just here for dinner. How's the new suit going? You are working on an upgrade aren't you?"

Like hell Justin didn't expect him to be there.

"Yeah, it's going great. Listen, uh, it's great catching up and all but I got a date of my own so..." He motioned his chair and smiled again.

"Well actually I was wondering if I could help. I mean, I am the leader in weapons technology know, I have several military contracts. You could use my help after being out of the weapons trade for so long."

"It's not a weapon. I'm done in with that line of business now. And I'm pretty much a do-it-myself kind of guy." He ignored the faint snort that came from Loki. "So, uh, I should probably get back." He gestured to his seat again and took a step back.

"Well if you change your mind." Justin smiled in a sleazy businessman kind of way and handed Tony a card. "I think we'd make a great team." He winked and then bowed oddly at Loki again before turning away and leading the woman from the restaurant. No doubt she'd be interviewing him somewhere that Hammer would actually be able to get a table.

"Would you like a heavy object to fall on him on his way out- The sign above the door perhaps?"

"Gladly, but I don't think Harry needs the press in his restaurant for a story like that." Tony sighed then sat down and smirked at Loki with his chin rested upon his hand."Let's just forget about him. I'm here with you after all."

"Pity, it would have been nice to see a splattering of brains on the sidewalk, and some blood to hide that hideous shirt." Loki let a smirk play on his lips at the thought. "Who is he?"

"Justin Hammers. A weapons manufacturer, and owner of Hammer Industries, aka world shittest business. He likes to think he's better than me or at least an equal but that's really not the case." Tony said with a shrug. "Oh hey- foods here."

The two halted their conversation as the waiter arrived at their table and placed down the two steaks, bowed, then left them to enjoy the meal.

Loki smiled, if he couldn't see Hammer's blood pooled around his head, and then at least he got to see a nice pool of it when he cut into his steak. "This really is very good, Stark." He said after his first mouthful. It rather took him back to the Asgardian feasts of his youth, when he would sit between Hogan and Fandral, listening to Thor's exaggerated tales of their past and recent quests.

"Yeah?" Tony smiled. "Glad you like it. I told you I don't always eat junk."

"Just sometimes." Loki smirked again. "Although, I do rather enjoy churros and those sugared donuts."

"Mm, I bet you do." Tony said with a smirk and a cheeky raise of his eyebrows, unable to stop the implication of an innuendo from slipping out.

"I... Don't understand."

"Think about it Reindeer Games, churros are long sweet treats..." He licked his lips subtly and leaned forward slightly. "And those sugar doughnuts have holes, don't they?" He waited for it to sync in.

Loki leaned in and lowered his voice so Tony had to strain to hear. "Well, I would terribly enjoy eating one from around your cock. It would stick through the hole like a beautiful kebab, and then, when the donut it all gone, I would lick the sugar from around it, and then... I'd eat your cock itself."

Tony initially had let off a small moan and liked the idea Loki was proposing... Except for that last bit. "Then you'd what?"

Loki rolled his eyes. "It's an expression. Seriously, I have been on Midgard far more briefly than you."

"Huh?" Tony blinked then blushed slightly. "Ah sorry, it's just with that expression and uh, the way you were talking about Hammers, I thought you were seriously suggesting to actually eat it..."

Loki chuckled then mock bit the air, laughing again as Tony's eyes widened. "I warn you Anthony, I do bite."

Tony chuckled nervously as his blush increased, remembering the times when Loki had bitten him before (playfully of course, not in a cannibalistic way).

"Oh, I know." He said after a moment, slipping back to his usual flirty self.

"Although," Loki joked "I could bring a whole new meaning to the term 'finger food', perhaps a 'spotted dick' or a 'cock au vin'?"

Tony snorted, nearly choking on a piece of steak he'd popped in his mouth. "Yeah, that's very true." He said after he'd recovered, taking a sip of his water, then wine.

"Are you okay darling, you seem to be choking a lot this meal. Is your steak okay?" And just like that, Loki had changed completely again. His mood swings were beginning to give Tony whiplash.

"Yeah, nothing to do with the food." He shook his head. "It's just you keep catching me when my mouths full."

"Purely coincidence I assure you." And there, mischievous Loki was back

" 'course it was." Tony smirked back at him.

Loki faked pain in his chest region, his hand flying to cover his heard dramatically. "Oh how you wound me dear Anthony."

"So sorry." Tony tipped his head, still keeping the smirk up. "I'd be more than happy to make it up to you later."

Loki drew back a little, looking at him sadly. "I am not sure I will be returning with you to the mansion. I have neglected my duties to come here, and I cannot leave Asgard without a king for too long. You may have to save your idea 'til when I next see you again."

"Aw." Tony whined playfully, pouting a little. "Surely you could spare a few more hours? It's been a while since I've seen you properly." He paused, then added, "no physical meaning intended there."

"You think you can last for a couple of hours? Sounds a little over ambitious even for you, mister stark." He said, popping a perfectly square piece of steak into his waiting mouth and licking his lips teasingly.

"Hey! I lasted okay earlier. And who knows when I'm going to see you again anyway? Seeing as you're now king and all..." He blushed when he realised he sounded like an overprotective boyfriend... Wait, boyfriend? Is that what they were?

"Hmm, but you were too tired for that last one though." Loki noted.

"Sh-shut up." Tony glanced away, embarrassed.

"I'm sure you will be lost without me. Alas, I cannot stay, nor can you come with me."

Tony, despite the blush, pulled a face then shrugged. "Fine. But would you at least spend an hour? I need to stretch my legs, they've been in cramped positions most of today." He raised an eyebrow at Loki.

Loki sighed in fond resignation, "how could I say no to that childish pout?"

Tony smiled, then glanced down at both their empty plates and waved down a waiter for the bill.

-Page Break-

"It's a nice night." Tony commented, craning his neck up to the sky. After leaving the restaurant, Loki and Tony drove back to his mansion, and then took a stroll down to the waters edge on his private beach. The two of them held hands loosely interlinked as they walked slowly.

"The constellations here are different to Asgard." Loki pretended not to notice Tony's hand moving to his hip. "That galaxy right there," Loki pointed to a patch of white stars in the distance "can no longer be seen from Asgard. The last stars died hundreds of years ago, but Earth will continue to see them for near a millennia. Not everything lasts longer on Asgard." He looked down at Tony's profile and the stars reflected in his irises, momentarily breath taken at the sight. He quickly looked away, pretending to find interest in the skies again.

Tony's eyes had remained glued to the sky so he didn't see Loki watching him. He glanced at Loki when he went quiet for a few moments and frowned. "You okay?"

"Wonderful." He leaned into Tony's side smiling. "Hmmm, I wish I could take you back with me. I could keep you in a side chamber of my rooms. In fact," he turned to face Tony, effectively wrapping Tony's arm fully round him. He rested his palms against Tony's chest and looked him in the eyes. "As king of Asgard, I can grand right of passage to visitors from any realm. Of course I don't know if a Midgardian would survive the Bifröst, but with enough magical protection, it's a risk I'm willing to take."

Tony's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you... Inviting me to Asgard?"

"It is not uncommon for a king to take a mistress. Or pet." He smirked.

"Oi, I'm not your pet or your mistress." Tony said with an annoyed expression, pushing himself away from Loki's hands.

"Anthony." Loki pleaded, catching Tony's hand and pulling him back into his chest. "Would you not do this one thing for me? You could have your very own God at your beck and call. And a rather handsome one too I might add." Loki gave him a half smile, silently begging Tony to agree.

"I... I don't know." Tony said honestly after a moments pause. He sighed ran a hand through his hair. "I have my life here, and I can't just leave Pep like that. It wouldn't be fair to just run off with you to another world. Who knows if I'll even be able to survive getting there, or survive living? Plus, what you're asking... It's... It's kind of a big deal."

"One week." Loki said, tilting Tony's chin up with a finger to look him in the eyes. "That is all I ask." And how could anyone refuse those deep emerald eyes, looking at him with all the fondness in the world.

"I..." Tony trailed off as he was momentarily mesmerised by Loki's gaze. His eyes darted over his face as his mouth opened and closed, searching for the words to answer. "I'm sorry, but not yet."

"What?" Loki asked, a little taken aback by Tony's answer. Tony looked sheepishly down at the ground and drew circles with his ankles.

"I can't. Maybe sometime in the future, I mean you have all your life and it's not like I'll be going anywhere soon. And besides, while you're off doing your kingly duties, what does that leave me to do? I'm not just going to sit around, locked up in a room waiting for you when you have the time to drop by... I'll be bored to death. And I know we've... Done it quite a bit, but I've only actually seen you on four occasions... I've only known you a couple of weeks- oh my god. Why do I sound so sensible here?" He rubbed his face tiredly then looked up at Loki's face. "I'm Sorry."

Loki turned and continued to march down the beach, at a speed too fast for Tony to keep up. After a while he disappeared. Sadly, not it a puff of smoke or a flash of light. Much to Tony's dismay.

He stopped when he realised that following him would prove futile, and swore while kicking the sand beneath his feet. He looked out at the ocean, sighed in defeat then slowly started walking back to his house.