I know there hasn't been much plot lately but bare with me, it's coming. This chapter is basically more fluff because I never write it and I thought we should all make the most of it while we can (the happiness won't last forever) But for now, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 16

It had been almost a month since their first date and everything had remained perfect. Well as perfect as you can get when you live in the Avengers tower with the team and have Tony Stark as your boyfriend. Still Loki wasn't complaining. He was far too happy to complain. The weather was also lovely too. Summer was actually starting to show its true colours with increasingly warm days and no clouds to be seen in the sky. He and Tony had spent increasing amounts of time just walking and talking outside, finding any possible place in the sun that was also away from prying eyes of the public.

He loved to watch the light brighten his face especially when he smiled. His smile became Loki's new sun, it was the thing his world now revolved around, making that smile rise and never letting it set. It wasn't a hard task to complete because Tony already seemed to be so ready to smile when around Loki. Maybe Loki was his sun too.

On this day, late morning was creeping towards early afternoon and Loki had just laid down his book after reading the last page. Feeling slightly hungry and hearing noises emanating from the kitchen, he headed that way and came across Tony with bowls strewn everywhere across the work surfaces.

"What are you doing?" Loki asked, walking over to him and peering over his shoulder.

"I am baking, what are you doing?"

"Watching you, why are you baking?" He reached over and swiped his finger through the bowl of some kind of soft mixture before popping it into his mouth and sucking.

"Taste good?" Tony asked, watching Loki with an appraising look.

"Mmm yes, what is it?" He hummed, turning so his back was to the kitchen island before hoisting himself up so he was sitting on its surface, dangling his legs off the side.

"Cookie dough, I'm making cookies because Bruce is bringing Betty round later and I thought it would be nice and I was totally bored after Pepper dropped off loads of paperwork that I apparently have to sort through and sign."

Loki raised an eyebrow at the mention of Pepper but chose not to comment after Tony sent him a warning look. They had silently agreed not to bring up hers and Tony's conversation from before he went to Asgard. Sooner or later they knew the topic would be breached again but for now they were both happy to remain silent about the whole thing.

Opening a draw to his side, Tony pulled out a spoon and began to scoop the mixture out of the bowl, then, using another spoon, he scraped off the mixture and arranged it in neat rows on the baking trays. Once they small mounds of dough were arranged to a standard he liked, he picked up each tray and popped them into the oven that was already heated up. After setting the timer he moved away and relaxed against the island next to Loki, who was still sitting on its clean surface.

Tony sighed, resting his head against Loki's arm. Loki brought up his other arm and brushed Tony's hair with his hand, working on a knot or two until he could easily run his fingers through the soft waves. Tony hummed from the pleasant feeling that washed over him, allowing it to consume him and take him to another world where this feeling never went away.

Before he knew it the oven timer was beeping announcing that the cookies were ready. Reluctantly he moved away from Loki and over to the oven where he removed the baking trays, checking first that the cookies were perfectly cooked. They were. Then he set the trays down and began to set their contents on the cooling wire that was ready to the side. While he was passing some over, Loki reached over and nabbed one, Tony only noticing after he had taken a bite.

"Nice?" The genius asked, slightly exasperated.

"Perfect," Loki replied, smiling at Tony's disgruntled look. With the other half of his cookie, he offered it to him who sent him a look. Loki just raised an eyebrow at him in return, almost like a challenge, and moved it even closer. No longer being able to refuse, Tony opened his mouth and accepted the cookie, chewing and swallowing then leaning over and shoving Loki.

"Don't touch the cookies!" He warned.

"Oh and what are you going to do about it?" Loki challenged.

He didn't even bother to respond, instead just pulled him off the kitchen island so he was on a level that Tony could capture his lips in a kiss. Loki responded immediately, wrapping his arms around Tony's waist and bringing him closer, the thing he always did, while Tony placed one hand on the curve of his neck and letting the other bury into his jet black hair.

Loki believed that he would never get tired of this, of having someone close, of having someone there that cared and wanted the same things. Though they hadn't talked about what they wanted or about their future he still knew that they wanted the same. He trusted Tony when he said that he liked him and he wasn't ready to throw that away on something stupid like questioning their future. Trust had always been his big problem and yet he let Tony in, he let himself get invested, he let himself get lost in him, he let himself trust without a second thought. That was something coming from Loki, that was something very special and important. From being so broken, he had come so far, he had learnt to trust again, he had learnt to respect again and he had learnt to love again. Yes, he loved Tony but just like the genius, he wasn't ready to admit it. He also knew that this was an issue, maybe not yet but soon it would become one. It would become their undoing, it would become their curse and yet he couldn't stop even if he wanted to. It felt too good.

"Ah love is in the air, everywhere I look around. Love is in the air, every sight and every sound," Clint sang, appearing out of nowhere.

Tony reluctantly pulled away from Loki and eyed Clint dangerously. "Shut up Legolas," He called over but it was already too late. The archer was off and couldn't stop.

"And I don't know if I'm being foolish, don't know if I'm being wise." He swayed over to them occasionally doing a little twirl. "But it's something that I must believe in, and it's there when I look in your eyes." He batted his eyelashes at them once he finished that line and just managed to dodge to the side as Tony threw a hit at him. He danced off away from them, just managing to nab a cookie off the cooling rack before heading off to one of the sofa's, still singing. "Love is in the air, in the whisper of the trees. Love is in the air, in the thunder of the sea."

As if on cue, the doors to the lift opened and Steve stepped out accompanied by Bruce and of course Betty. Her and Bruce wore huge smiles and walked over hand in hand to greet Tony, Clint and Loki. Though probably feeling nervous of meeting the god, Betty didn't show it and just sent him a warming smile just like the rest of them. Loki himself seemed taken away by this gesture and so returned it a second later as best he could.

They all greeted eachother politely and moved over towards the living room, each taking a seat and arranging themselves into comfortable positions. At first Loki hung back, not knowing if he was welcome and not having the confidence to just walk over and take a seat, but then Tony took his hand and pulled him over so they sat together on one of the smaller sofas. Tony left his arm resting around Loki's waist, though the god did try to pull away. The genius just pulled him in closer and relaxed against him, answering Loki's unasked question with no he did not care what anyone else thought.

"So how is the wedding planning going," Tony asked, directing the question towards the still smiling Betty.

"It's almost all sorted, just the last few details now which is sort of the reason why we're here," She answered, glancing up at Bruce who sat next to her. He met her gaze and nodded and smiled.

"Tony, I have a question for you," Bruce began.

"Oh god what? You're not going to ditch Betty and propose to me are you?"

Chuckling, the doctor answered, "No that is definitely not what I was going to ask. What I was going to actually ask is...will you be my best man?"

A shocked expression crossed Tony's face that caused Betty's smile to grow wider. Bruce just waited for a reply while Clint just rolled his eyes at the genius because he just sat there like an idiot.

"What, really? Are you sure?" Bruce nodded. "Well yes then, of course, it would be an honour."

He stood up and moved over to give Bruce a hug that the other accepted. They separated quickly, both moving back to their seats and Tony sitting even closer to Loki than before as though making sure he wouldn't escape.

"I'm still invited right?" Clint asked, faking a serious tone.

"No you can't come," Bruce joked back, sending the archer a look.

"Oh you're all coming!" Betty cried happily, seemingly unable to contain her excitement much longer.

Loki shifted awkwardly against Tony, wanting some space, not from him personally, but the whole room. He felt far too out of place in the group who were all celebrating a joyful event that he obviously wasn't involved in or wasn't wanted or needed for. It was just very uncomfortable to sit in a room where he believed not to be welcomed. He always found it hard seeing other people, outside of the Avengers team after the events of New York. Though it was his fault, he still hated all the stares and shouts of abuse, the unwelcome eyes, the mutterings and whisperings. He hated being in focus even though he had strived for that his whole childhood. It's funny how times change.

The conversation had carried on long after Loki had zoned out meaning when he came back to himself, it took a moment to work out the conversation.

"The fitting for your suit is in a couple of hours if that's okay? I'm sorry it's a bit rushed but asking you was one of the last things on the wedding to-do list."

"It's fine honestly, I only had plans of procrastinating with Loki here," Tony smirked. "I'm sure he won't miss me for an hour or two."

"Actually that brings us to one of our next points," Betty said, turning to look Loki straight in the eye. "There might be no need for you to leave him when he might need his own suit because we were going to ask, Loki would you like to come to our wedding?"

Stunned. There was no other word for it. Loki was utterly and totally shocked that he couldn't even form words to answer. Where had that come from? They had invited him to their wedding. One of the most important days of their lives and they were willing to share it with him.

"I know you probably think this is so out of the blue but I think it's sad if everyone is there and you're stuck here and now you and Tony are a thing we thought it would be nice. I know we have never spoken or anything but I believe in second chances and this is me giving you one," She finished, her voice getting softer as she grew more serious.

Loki had no idea what to say. No one had ever said something like that to him before and he didn't know how to react. What was he supposed to say to something so kind and meaningful? He didn't believe words would be enough.

"Em...thankyou I would love to come," Loki said, regaining himself enough to smile.

"Great, well we should probably head off to get the suit fitted for you and Tony, I'm not sure if you have a suit so you can come if you don't," Betty beamed, getting to her feet.

"I can sort out a suit for myself but thankyou for the offer."

"No, no it's fine." She turned to the others. "Come on, we have to move. We haven't got time for this stalling, get up, get up, to the door now," She cried, ushering Tony and Bruce towards the lift.

Tony managed to dodge out of the way of her flailing arms, almost tripping over in the process but regaining his balance at the last moment. Betty didn't seem to notice and just carried on shunting Bruce towards the lift, only turning back when the lift arrived and Tony wasn't with them.

"Come on, come on, there's no time for this!"

"Yeah coming," Tony called over.

Just before he hurried over to join them, he bent down and kissed Loki for a few seconds on the lips. As he pulled away he whispered, "See you later." Then he walked over to the others and they disappeared as the doors slid shut.

"You know, you two are so gross," Clint commented, helping himself to the cookies that had been forgotten about.

Loki just rolled his eyes, still too happy and stunned by Betty's words and Tony's open affection to think up a good response.

It was almost four hours before Tony returned to the tower with Bruce, Betty having gone off to see her friend about her dress. They burst through the lift doors panting, hauling two long packages with protruding coat hangers that obviously contained the suits. After looking round for a good place to hang them and deciding on the convenient hooks on the walls, that were there in case anyone wanted to hang up their coats, they collapsed onto the sofas and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm tired. I think I might just head off and get an early night," Bruce sighed, climbing slowly back to his feet.

"Yeah okay," Tony mumbled, pulling himself to his feet so he could walk to the kitchen and prepare himself a cup of coffee.

It was when the mug was steaming in his hand that Loki ambled into the room.

"You're back then," He said, starting to make himself a cup of tea.

"Yes, why? Did you miss me?"

"I won't deny the peace and quiet was nice."

"Hey I'm not that loud. Do you know where all the cookies went?"

As the kettle boiled Loki answered, "Ask Clint."

The genius huffed in annoyance. Why did Clint have to eat his food? He had his own kitchen. He could have made his own. Chuckling at Tony's frustration, Loki moved closer to him and pulled him close so his lower arms were resting on the genius's shoulders and his fingers were toying with his hair.

"Why don't you just make more, dear?"

"That means a lot of effort and I might just be too tired for it."

Neither of them seemed to notice what Loki had said, how he had slipped in a pet name so simply and without care. It felt so normal to say it. It felt right. It rolled off the tongue so easily. If they had both picked up on this change, this advancement in their relationship, they didn't comment. They were both so comfortable that it didn't make a difference. Everything felt right.

"But you can teach me," Loki urged, wrapping strands of Tony's hair around his fingers before unravelling them gently.

The thought of being Loki's teacher, of showing him something new and something totally Midgardian appealed to Tony far more than he thought it would. A second later he had broken away from the god's grip and began to collect together the necessary ingredients for the recipe that he knew off by heart.

He directed Loki through the steps, telling him when to add each ingredient and when to mix the mixture. Soon enough the dough was prepared to a standard that matched Tony's. They both shared the job of separating the mixture into the near enough equal quantities on the baking trays. Well Tony did a better job of distracting Loki by messing up his neatly arranged blobs of dough, just for the joy of watching the frustrated expression cross over his face and for him to let out a sigh before moving back to sort them. After Tony did it twice more Loki lost his patience and picked up one of the balls of dough, from the tray he was working on, and threw it straight at the genius who wasn't quick enough to avoid it. It hit him in the chest and splattered out before crumbling to the floor, though some was left on his t-shirt.

"Hey that's not fair!" Tony grumbled, wiping as much of the mixture off himself as he could.

"Don't mess up my cookies then," Loki replied, carrying on sorting the other balls of dough back into their neat rows.

Tony rolled his eyes but then an idea struck him. He reached into the bowl, which still had some of the cookie dough in it, and picked up a handful. Before Loki knew what was happening, Tony pressed his hand into his face, smearing the mixture all over his pale skin. The god gasped in surprise and wiped off some of the largest lumps that he threw straight back at Tony. This time the genius was prepared and managed to jump out of the way so the mixture splattered across the work surface instead.

Both of them looked up at eachother with straight faces before collapsing with laughter. They laughed until there was no breath left to form another word. Once recovered they surveyed the mess they had made, the crumbs all of the floor, Loki's face, Tony's shirt and the worktop. Neither felt much like cleaning up yet so they finished off arranging the cookies then put the trays into the oven.

By the time the alarm went off, the kitchen was clean enough that no one would guess that there had been mixture everywhere. Loki had cleaned his face and Tony had just given up on his shirt, knowing the stain would come off easily in the wash. They removed the cookies from the oven and set them on the side so they could cool briefly then, just like the first lot, they transferred them onto the cooling rack.

"So, I've been thinking," Tony began, lifting up two cookies off their tray and placing them down on the rack. "We really need a second date."

Loki looked over at him. "I thought this was our second date."

Their eyes met and Tony smiled and nodded. "Yeah I thought so too."

Aww bless them! Please review?!