Life kept going the same except Tony started outright recommending Loki books. Loki liked almost all of them and would write back. They had a few mini flame wars over differences in opinions but what was that between friends? Tony's employees had to know by now what was going on, but Loki would guess they were amused. Tony was allowing it and Loki hadn't done anything harmful.
Loki hummed part of an opera he had seen that evening as he walked away from the bus stop that was only generally near his house. Buses had cameras and he didn't want to make things too easy for Tony after all. How would that be fun? He was not a warrior by Asgard's standards but any human stupid enough to attack him would live to regret it. As he came up towards his house his senses went on alert. He knew someone was close. He summoned his magic close but dropped it when he saw who was sitting on his front steps.
"Geez, Luke, it took you long enough," Tony Stark said.
Loki did not let himself get startled. He merely raised an eyebrow.
"If you could find me you could predict my habits. That makes sitting on my front steps a little overly dramatic," Loki replied caustically.
"Hey, that's me. Interestingly, Pepper said the same thing you did. You're smart and you're practical. Please tell me you're done playing hard to get," Tony replied with a wink.
Loki walked past him and unlocked his front door.
"After you," Loki replied with a smirk.
"Said the spider to the fly? You'd better not being going for an un-sportsmanship award," Tony retorted.
"No, that would be you with your Iron Man suit in your briefcase," Loki snarked back.
"Hey, I like you but I don't know as much as I'd like. Heck, except for the required documents you don't show up on anywhere except for recently. I mean anywhere and that's saying something for me."
Loki gestured to his couch and walked into the kitchen.
"So no to a drink then? I'm so disappointed," Loki commented.
"I never said that. I like living dangerously," Tony replied with a grin.
Loki frowned. Yes, Tony did have some Thor like characteristics. Then again, Loki liked living dangerously too or they wouldn't be having this conversation. At any rate, Loki could also make this sound like a date gone wrong. No one could be allowed to outmatch his snark.
"Then what would you like," Loki asked mischievously.
Tony laughed. "I like you I really do. I really hope you're the real deal because I've had too many of the other type."
"I've guessed," Loki replied dryly.
Tony grabbed a drink and raised an eyebrow. He looked at Loki for a while and Loki allowed it. There was so much he couldn't tell him, but for once Loki would take a page out of Thor's book. He would let his emotions speak through his eyes. Tony understood because he nodded: he knew Loki enough by now to see they were alike and was willing to give Loki a chance.
"At least tell me why you're hiding. Obviously you let me find you because I'm just that irresistible," Tony snarked.
"I don't understand why Rhodes doesn't smack you," Loki commented with amusement.
"Rhodey is real patient. Now more about you. You know more about me than I do about you. Start talking," Tony challenged.
"I am not hiding because I have done someone wrong. I am hiding because I wanted to begin anew. I had to get away lest I suffocate in the shadows. You told the world you are Iron Man partly because of that."
"Yeah, you definitely can tell me more than that. Give me more ground to work with," Tony stated.
"You will be in for a long night," Loki warned him.
"Hey, used to those L. Hmm, that doesn't work. You need a better nickname then that," Tony mused.
Yes, Loki did like living dangerously.
"Loki," he informed Tony seriously.
"As in the Norse god of mischief Loki," Tony confirmed.
Heimdall could find you if Tony calls you by that name. 'Loki' is used here, but mostly for fictional characters and amusing pets! Plus, it might Tony a clue eventually. Idiot! Yes, I definitely like living dangerously.
"Loki it is. It fits you," Tony agreed.
"Then you can hear the rest," Loki allowed cautiously.
He told as much of it as he could without revealing his non-Earth origin. He saw Tony's eyes freeze when he discussed Odin and fill with annoyance when mentioning Asgard in general. Thor got mixed reactions which made sense since Loki had mixed emotions towards Thor. Anger about how he had been treated. Love for their childhood and the residual fondness Thor had had for him. Sadness that they weren't, except for Loki's heart being stubborn, really family. Sentiment… Thor had to know Loki had left by now. He probably didn't care about Loki anymore. Odin had probably told Thor the truth and Thor had sworn as a child to kill all the frost giants. Don't think about Thor. That part of your life is done.
"I wouldn't want to go back to that either. Look, I've been through a lot of stuff lately but I'm going to trust you. Don't blow it and I'll have your back. Do you know what a bromance is," Tony asked.
Loki shook his head.
"It's when guys have a friendship so epic people wonder if it's a romance. You and I have the potential for a grand one. We'll make beautiful science, snark about stupidity and complain about our mutual daddy issues. Sound like fun?"
Loki smirked and then smiled the most relaxed smile he had in centuries.
"Tony, that sounds wonderful," he confirmed.