A/N: Hi! As I said the first time these postings are going to be sporadic. I apologize. I am juggling grades and such. School takes precedence. Art is coming soon, I think.

I feel I need to post this. I do not own any of the characters.

Loki accepted the clothes and rose, with Tony's help. Leaning upon his friend Loki dressed. "How am I to get around the school?" He asked as he nearly fell in a failed attempt to get into his pants.

Tony held his friend. No snarky comments here. "I can carry your bags to and from class, and the nurse can give you crutches. Will that work?"

Loki nodded, and added, now that that was settled "I am famished. What is for breakfast? And then, how are we getting to school?"

"Let me get dressed and then we'll get some breakfast. As for transportation ... hmm... do you want to take the bus?" Tony said, returning to his room and dressing as swiftly as his hangover would allow. When he returned he said, "Let's try the shoulder leaning thing."

Loki leaned against Tony, swinging his left arm around Tony's neck as he tried to hop forward on his uninjured foot. He threw out his other arm out trying to balance as he wavered.

"Whoa," He cried, nearly toppling over. Tony instinctively bent to sweep him up. "No! Don't carry me. I've got this. I cannot baby my ankle anymore."

Tony looked at him and put up his hands defensively. "Just lean on me a bit, until we get you crutches. I promise I won't carry you."

"I am sorry," Loki apologized as they made their way (ever so slowly) to the kitchen.

"You've got to stop apologizing. Okay? I don't mean to sound sadistic or physcopathic, but your adoption and dislocated ankle were the best things to happen to me in a long, long time." Tony said, smiling a bit as they entered the kitchen and sat at the counter. He fetched some leftover muffins and poured them both coffees. In Loki's he put a sugar cube and a bit of creamer.

Loki gratefully accepted the food and drink. He took a long drag off the sweet caffeinated beverage. He then bit into his muffin, smiling at Tony and enjoying the breakfast.

Tony ran around as he was finishing off his muffin, gathering their books and such. After Loki had finished Tony helped him rise and prepare for school. "I'm assuming you don't want me to carry you all the way to the bus stop?" He said, smirking. It was amusing how sometimes they just would not let go of their pride and egos ... even when it was for their own good.

Loki spun around, slipping off the stool and grabbing Tony's hands for supports. "Exactly." He settled himself on Tony's shoulders as they began for the door. "And do you know where the stop even is? I didn't even think a bus came back here. I haven't ridden a bus since preschool."

"Hey, I have cars, lots of cars, lots of very nice and expensive cars. I know how to drive. I even know how to fly a plane. Unfortunately, Jarvis won't let me. He doesn't trust me enough. Hell, I don't trust myself enough to drive yet. The bus stop is right there." Tony said as they made their way down the driveway and onto the sidewalk. He pointed to an intersection only a few hundred feet away."

Loki stared. This corner was only half a "block" from his house. That wasn't the issue. The issue was the big, burly, blond senior standing at the stop. "Oh no. Let's beg your uncle to drive us. Please, Tony." He tried to turn around and make paths opposite of the blundering running back.

Tony grabbed Loki by the waist, holding him closely. "No, no ... come on. You have to do this sometime or another. Better now than at lunch." He said, looking at him intently. Tony hid his slight internal trepidation, for although he was more than willing to defend and protect Loki, he was not overly excited to possibly battle Thor.

Loki protested, trying to twist away. "What happened to his car?! It was perfectly fine Saturday! We have loads of other cars he could use!" Loki cried, preferring to go the coward route and deal with this at lunch.

"Loki ..." Tony said, his tone softening "I'm here for you, okay? You've overcome far more in much worse situations, and with less support. I'm here for you." He released his grip and re-assumed the leaning position to help Loki walk.

Thor spotted the two as they approached. His car had been driven into the side of an abandoned car wash on Sunday be a few of his drunk friends. Besides a few minor scratches, no one had been hurt. He was without a car and his father had taken his license. Having no other way to get to school Thor had been forced to take the bus for the time being. He pried himself from a gaggle of adoring girls and rushed to the approaching couple.

"No! Go away!" Loki moved his wrapped foot behind Tony. In vain, though, for Thor spotted the brace between Tony's legs.

"But, what happened to your foot?" Thor asked, his expression clouding in confusion.

"Hey Thor," Tony said, smiling charmingly. If there was one thing he had mastered, it was how to put on this particularly crowd pleasing and sociable façade. This façade had earned him his reputations, his respect, and that had helped him out of many a bad situation. Turning slightly to Loki, appearing to re-adjust the two book bags, he whispered, "Do you want me to tell him?"

"Yes, oh gods, yes," Loki returned, burying his face in his backpack.

Turning to the enormous running back Tony explained, nonchalantly, "Well Loki and I were in the woods behind your house. We hiked for a while and climbed up this rocky cliff. Coming down, he fell and dislocated his ankle. Don't worry; I treated him according to standard Red Cross protocol. When we get to school we'll get him some crutches."

Thor stared between his brother and his brother's friend. "Then how do you explain the ruined trellis outside your room? Did that collapse of its own accord?" Thor asked.

After his conversation with Loki, Thor had forced his father to explain Loki's adoption and he was rather upset over the matter.

Loki took a deep breath. "Believe what you want, Thor Odinson, but you will not call my friend a liar. I feel when we were hiking. I am fine." He hissed, stiffening his spine so he came just two inches shorter than the running back.

Glancing quickly between the step-brothers, Tony waited a moment to make sure nothing was going to happen. "So, Thor, we good?" He asked, outstretching his hand. He hoped it wasn't going to be broken or ripped off.

Thor tensed, before letting out a heavy breath and shaking Tony's hand. "I will believe you. Perhaps I should carry you between classes, Loki?"
Loki blanched. "No! Tony offered already and ... just no. I will take the crutches. I'm not a sickly child." He glared between them.

Tony seriously had to work to stifle a laugh. It was just as Loki had said it would be. And the mental images of Thor carrying Loki down the crowded school halls- absolutely priceless. But alas, he would not subject his companion to such a terrible fate. Smiling, Tony inclined his hands towards the bus stop. "Come on guys, the bus is here."

The yellow bus wheezed to a stop and Loki looked at it doubtfully. "Are you sure it will get us to school ... on time and in one piece?" Loki asked.

Thor considered skipping school.

Tony chuckled, helping his friend up the steps. "Yeah. Many a time I've annoyed Jarvis enough to compel him not to drive me. And although it's a rickety bus. I've not been injured. Yet." He added as they slipped into a seat.

Thor decided to attend school and followed the two into the bus. He came to a halt, looking down at the elderly lady driving. "Shall I assist you, my fair lady? I received my driver's license ..."

"Sit down and shut up, Thor." Loki groaned burying his head in his bag again.

Tony wrapped his arms comfortingly around Loki's shoulders, laughing quietly. "I feel sorry for you ... honestly." Thor and Loki had always been the odd ones out- their atypical accents, their formal speech ... that alone had always set them apart. Added to their interesting personalities it was a wonder that they blended in with the rest of the population.

Thor collapsed into the seat opposite the two friends. Someone in the back was either laughing or having a stroke from Thor's earlier comment to the driver. Either way Loki turned to glare at the Neanderthals in the back. This caused the entire line up to burst into laughter.

"They are why I hate school." Loki muttered turning to slink down the window and pull his legs onto Tony's lap.

Tony nodded, "yeah, but I've found that it's slightly counterproductive to want them all dead. My tactic is to just ..." He spread his hands out. "Blend in and silently rule over each and every one of 'em. Open attempts at subjugation are usually unsuccessful and tedious. But yeah, the rest of the human population mostly consists of imbeciles. By the way- I think you'll only need two or three days on the crutches. You're healing remarkably fast."

Loki smiled. "Thank you. I'm still not going home, when I heal, if you don't mind sticking with me." He tossed Thor a glare, who was trying to bribe someone to do his homework. Typical.

Thor finally noticed he was being stared at. "What?" he asked as the two looked at him. He immediately looked over his body.

Loki sighed heavily. "Nothing, my daft not-brother. Continue bribing the little freshman. I am done aiding you. And of course a thirteen year old would know calculus. I am done aiding you in your schoolwork."

Tony just shook his head. There were two Loki's (as there were two Tony's). There was the Loki the public knew, who was vicious and sarcastic and rather unpleasant. And then there was the Loki that Tony knew- the genuine, real Loki. That Loki was deep and emotional and brilliant. Lost in his thoughts, they stayed rather silent during the rest of ride. Finally the bus screeched to a halt outside the school. The three waited until the bus was clear, simply for ease of passage.

"May I assist you to the nurse's office?" Thor asked, reaching to take Loki's backpack.

Loki rolled his eyes before slapping Thor's hand away. "Don't touch. And, I guess you can come." He sighed as if the very thought would be the death of him.

As they were leaving the bus Loki turned to the driver, "I apologize for my brother's behavior. He is not supposed to be set in the wild. You may have seen him at the football matches. He is number seventeen. You are quite amazing, my lady." He took her hand and kissed it, bowing as best as he could, leaning from Tony.

Now it was Tony's turn to roll his eyes. "Come on Shakespeare." He said warmly as they headed for the nurse's office. They went in, and sat for a minute or so as she tended to other early patients in the tiny waiting room. When she was ready Tony helped Loki into the exam room and handed the nurse the forged doctor's excuse. They both proceeded to tell the hiking story, taking care not to overdo it. They kept it simple and believable and soon Loki was given a pair of crutches and ordered to stay off his leg for another week at best.

"I was being something called nice. You and Thor should try it sometime." Loki retorted, talking about the incident with the driver as they left the office.

Thor said his goodbyes and rushed to class as the warning bell rang. The two stood in front of Loki's first class for a minute more. Tony sent Loki a devilish smirk. "Nice? No, I believe this," He leaned up and gave Loki a quick kiss, biting his bottom lip gently. "Is nice." He smiled already factoring the lack of cameras in the hallway and the fact that they really did have to get to class. "Now, get into class."

Loki blushed and nearly fell over his crutches. "That was ... that was ... risky." He panted, touching his lips before opening the door and entering his classroom.

Tony dropped Loki's bag next to his desk and whispered, "See you later, Loks." Before he walked off to his own class. The morning classes went painfully slow for Tony, who just wanted to get to lunch and see how Loki was holding up. At long last, the lunch bell rang and he rushed to the cafeteria and quickly sat in his usual seat to wait for his friend.
Loki tuned out the laughs and silently plotted Thor's death. "Put me down and you might yet live through the day." Loki seethed.

"You fell. I am only helping." Thor stated

"No!" Loki put a finger on Thor's lips. "I am only new to crutches. Now put me down."

"We are nearly at the lunch room now." Thor pointed out as they approached the doors.

Loki buried his head in Thor's chest as the oaf pushed into the large room, teeming with their schoolmates. "I will kill you, Thor Odinson. I know where you sleep. I know you're worse secrets." Loki seethed murderously as the room howled.

Seeing the strange sight, Tony muttered to himself, "Damn." And quickly strode over to the odd pair. He ignored the chatter he heard revolving around the spectacle as he walked through and when he reached Thor he looked at him wearily. "I got him from here Thor. Now- I'd refrain from doing that again, if I were you." He said, helping Loki to his feet.

Loki slid to his feet, refusing to acknowledge anyone but Tony. He let a smile ghost his lips when he was finally settled in Tony's arms.

Tony helped Loki to their usual table, ignoring the chattering; no doubt some of it about Loki's entrance. He had no idea where the crutches of Loki's bag were. He made note to ask Loki, after lunch.

Bad Mood radiated off the injured boy; if his scowl wasn't warning enough. Upon reaching the simple table against a wall, Tony slid Loki into a seat and leaned over his friend, preparing to leave him and go to the line.

"What do you want to eat?" Tony asked, deciding to put the topic of what had just happened aside for a later date. The next like seemed the proper time.

Loki looked up and glanced around at his fellow classmates. He laid eyes on what might have been meatloaf, but it seemed to have died escaping the gravy (which better resembled toxic sludge). The accompanying potatoes looked like the worse half of a baseball, with the red stitching still attached. The second entrée might have been chicken, maybe; if said chicken had been blown up in a sewage waste factory.

Loki had learned in Grade Seven to never eat the salad, unless you wanted a severe case of salmonella. He made a face, betraying his general dislike for school food. He normally packed a lunch, but of late things had been far from normal.

"Just a PB&J, for me thanks." He answered quietly. Tony had followed his gaze around the room and come to basically the same conclusion. He let his hand linger on Loki's cheek for a moment longer before leaving him and joining the mindless herd. He bought two sandwiches and Coke's before returning to the table.

Loki had sat patiently waiting, eyes scanning the room as his mind wandered beyond the four walls. He only broke from his drifting when Tony set lunch under Loki's nose.

"What you thinking about, Shakespeare?" Tony asked, recognizing Loki's look. Not often was Loki distracted.

"Hmm? I was just pondering many things." Loki said before unwrapping his sandwich. Tony smiled and moved to sit. The idea struck Loki suddenly and he pushed himself to his feet. Supported by the table Loki leaned over cupped Tony's face, before pressing his lips to Tony's. Carefully, for Tony had been Loki's first kiss, Loki experimentally prodded at Tony's lips as people began to look again.

Tony couldn't say he had really expected this. He had thought Loki would try to hide ... whatever they had going. He felt Loki's tongue and happily let Loki into his mouth. Tony was no novice to the kissing game but he was well aware that Loki was.

Loki kept one hand on Tony's cheek as his other hand began to slide down Tony's neck. His hand ghosted down Loki's chest, barely touching the shirt. His fingers touched the arc reactor. Tony gasped, jerking back out of habit. Loki lost his balance at the sudden reaction and fell backwards, dropping into his seat.

"I am so sorry." Tony said, realizing the cause and effect of his reaction. But Loki had currently had enough. He refused to meet Tony's eyes and seemed intent on his lunch.

A/N: I know this is long. OK, I've read longer. And I know like every other chapter is ending in a kiss. I think it's sweet. I don't think you'll have to worry about the same old ending for a while. I can't remember. I might not be able to post if my interim shows I've barely gone up in English. Oh and in a few chapters there will be a heavy make out scene. Otherwise this fic is pretty fluffy. It helps that I'm a freaking ditz. So if Loki is too babyish for you, we'll miss you but move along.

I think Shakespeare42 and I are planning on something more ... later. Maybe not. We talk about every way this fic could go.

Oh I'd like to thank her for the chapter names.