A/N: I think I'm becoming attached to fluffy scenes. This goes against my whole writing being, I live for angst, and torture... Huh, maybe I have more in common with evil Loki than I thought... Not that that should worry any of you lovely people. :D Anyway, things won't stay this happy for long, and there shall be plot progression! And more Tony/Loki interactions.
I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head, and Kaia, Gabby, and Nathan. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.
Steve groaned a little as Tony fixed his tie for him. Loki was sitting on the couch with Kaia and Nathan watching with interest. "I still don't know why I'm doing this."
"Because you two need an honest to goodness date," Tony told him and adjusted the black jacket Steve was wearing. "Also, I think Clint might kill you if he sees anything else between you two." Tony took a step back. "You clean up well, Rogers."
Steve looked down a little. He was wearing black trousers, with a cream colored button down shirt, think black tie, and a black blazer jacket.
"So, here are the rules," Tony leaned against the arm of the couch by the trio. "You're not allowed to come home before 11, unless it's to come home for- Oph!" Tony fell onto the couch when Loki hit his side.
"The rules are to go and have a nice night," Kaia filled in. "And get some of the most expensive stuff on the menu since it's on Daddy."
"And Happy will take you anywhere else you two want to go." They glanced over to see Pepper and Phil coming down the stairs. Pepper looked at Steve and smiled. "Tony, you actually did a good job, he looks really good."
"If I'm good at something it's making someone look good," Tony had pushed himself up to sit next to Loki. "What about you Potts? You and Agent get the girl looking good?" Phil rolled his eyes a little.
"Can I change to the flats?" Gabby's voice called down the stairs. "I'm really not comfortable in heels like you are Aunt Pepper."
"No, not get down here," Pepper looked up. They could heard the slow, slightly unsteady, click of heels and Gabby came down the stairs, gripping the railing with one hand. Steve looked up froze when he saw Gabby coming down the stairs. She wore a knee length cream dress that flared a little at the waist, with a high neck and no sleeves. She held onto a small purse in her other hand as she tried to walk down the stairs in cream ankle boots. Her blonde hair had been gathered into a messy bun with hair sticks.
Gabby let out a breath when she reached the bottom of the steps and relaxed a little. She looked over at Steve and smiled, trying not to blush. Kaia scrunched up her face a little and Loki suddenly wrapped his arm around her head, pulling her face into his side to keep her from talking. He missed Tony.
"If you two don't have babies the world will be deprived of the second most good looking children ever," Tony said. Steve and Gabby looked down as Pepper glared at Tony. "What? The first is obviously any kid that comes from Loki and me," Tony grinned.
Loki let go of Kaia as she started to laugh. "I often wonder to myself why I put up with you and your father.
"Because one day you looked at Daddy and said, 'That's the one I wanna spend the rest of my life with,'" Kaia smirked up at Loki and Nathan snorted once.
"And then you two got romantic," Nathan continued. And for some reason you decided that you would bring a child into the chaos that is your lives. Not that I'm complaining," Nathan smirked a little.
"You have no one to blame but yourself."
Pepper had pushed Gabby over to Steve and he held of his arm for her. She smiled and wrapped her arm around his. "Now just remember to have fun," Phil was telling them. "I promise that only Pepper or I will call if there's an emergency."
"We won't let Tony get near the phone," Pepper promised. Steve opened the door for Gabby, ever the gentleman, and they left.
Tony groaned and let his head drop on the couch. "They are the slowest moving, best looking, straight couple ever!"
Much to Steve and Gabby's relief, Happy had decided to not bring the limo and used the black town car. When Happy pulled up to their destination Steve looked out and grinned. "Mrs Potts had decided to pick out the destination," Happy explained. They sat outside of an authentic looking 40's Diner. Gabby chuckled a little and smiled.
Steve got out then hurried over to the other side and opened the door for Gabby, taking her hand. "I feel we might be a little over dressed."
"It's not about what you wear, but what company you have," Steve smiled at her. "I am of the opinion that I'm with some of the best company to have." Gabby bit her lip a little and they walked inside.
"At least you'll be more comfortable here though, and you can tell me how it differs from what you were used too," Gabby smiled. They sat in a booth near the back so that everyone who walked in wouldn't look at them because they recognized Steve, or were eying their clothes.
"You know what we should do sometime," Gabby pointed at him while she sipped on her strawberry malt. "Walk down along the beach, no shoes or anything, no people around, it is the most relaxing thing."
Steve raised an eyebrow with a smile on his lips. "Do you do it often, yourself?"
"All the time," Gabby nodded. "There aren't many beaches in New York, but when I come here with Uncle Tony and Uncle Loki I try to go every night."
"Well, why don't we go tonight then," Steve suggested. "I'm always up for trying something new."
"You didn't used to be," Gabby chuckled a little. "You're starting to fit in quite nicely Steve Rogers."
"Well, everyone loves Captain America," Steve shrugged a little.
"That's true, but I'm not talking about the Captain." Steve raised an eyebrow. "I'm talking about you," she poked his chest lightly. "The man that is Steve Rogers." She smiled and leaned over placing a kiss on his cheek. "I'm gonna go use the powder room, then we can get sand in our toes that will never go away."
Steve blinked as she walked away, then smiled. The waitress came over and he paid her, tipping her generously and leaned back waiting for Gabby to come back. When she came walking back towards the booth a man had suddenly gotten up from the bar and almost ran into her. She wobbled unsteadily on her shoes and almost fell into the man, him grabbing her arms at the last minute. She started to apologize when her face went blank. Steve furrowed his brows as he watched.
"Gun!" Someone from the booth by them screamed and the diner erupted into chaos. The man pulled Gabby around as he pulled out the gun he had been trying to hide. Some diners started to run for the door as others sunk to the floor or under tables. Steve leaped from his seat and over to the counter where one of the waitresses was ducking.
"Escuse me ma'am, if you could just hand me one of those plates?" She looked up at Steve with wide eyes then nodded, handing him a plate with shaking hands.
"Hey! You!" Steve looked over and saw the man looking at him. "What do you think you're doing? Get down with the others!"
"Son, just put down the gun," Steve held up his hands, leaving the plate ont he counter, but still within reach.
"I didn't want no trouble, you think I wanted trouble?" The man was talking very fast, and was incredibly twitchy. Steve had to think that he was either drunk or on drugs, and knew that the situation could deteriorate very quickly. "This broad here," he started waving the gun towards Gabby and she flinched back, hoping it didn't discharge, "had to go walk into me."
"We can make it so there is no trouble," Steve tried again. Some of the people started to whisper, a few people picking up that Captain America was there, he was actually in the diner. This didn't sit very well with the man.
"I ain't going no where, I just wanted to get out and- Quit moving!" He jerked Gabby's arm. She hadn't been moving and Steve could see how on edge he was. He made a snap decision and grabbed the plate, throwing it towards them. It his the guys head and fell, crashing on the floor. The man seemed to blink before collapsing in a faint, taking Gabby with him. She squeaked when she fell, trying to grab onto one of the stools.
Steve ran over and quickly kicked the gun away as he grabbed Gabby's hand, the people of the diner starting to clap and cheer. He helped her up and she sat down on the stool, Steve crouching in front of her. "Are you alright?"
Gabby nodded, blinking a little. "A little flustered, but I'm okay. Although," she lifted her feet and pulled the boots off, "there are going right in the trash." Steve blinked then started to laugh. Gabby smiled at him as she held up the boots. Steve suddenly put his hands on her cheeks and moved forward kissing her. She blinked then smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, shoes still dangling from her hand.
When they pulled apart she started to blush when the diner seemed to cheer even louder. She knew that people were taking pictures. "There are going to be some pretty interesting headlines in the morning," she said quietly.
"I don't care right now," Steve smiled at her. They heard the sirens of the cops as they pulled up and Steve helped Gabby stand up and walked over the unconscious body. "I think I'd rather take a walk. Gabby started to laugh and held onto his arm.
"What are they doing out there?" Tony stood at the window and looked out at Steve and Gabby walking along the waters edge.
"If one were to guess," Loki spoke up from his book, "walking in the sand, and being stalked by a crazy man."
"I'm not crazy," Tony defended. "They are, it's midnight and they're by the water. Do you know how cold that water is?"
"I'm guessing you do, and no I don't want to know How you know," Loki could feel Tony's devious smirk.
"It's cold," Tony said turning back to look out the window. Gabby was starting to push Steve towards the water, his back to the it, and she smirked and started to run when a waved hit the shore, getting him up to his knees. Steve jumped forward, away from the water and ran after her, quickly catching her around the waist. Gabby started to kick her legs, laughing while Steve headed back for the water.
"Anthony," Loki called out and Tony's head turned sharply. "Are you jealous?" Loki smirked and looked up over the top of his book.
"What?" Tony's eyes widened a little. "Jealous? Of what? Two crazy straight people? Psssssht," He waved his hand.
"Of young, albeit mortal, love," Loki raised an amused eyebrow. "We didn't necessarily get the chance to go 'romping' through an ocean-"
"Not that I could see you romping anywhere, actually," Tony commented. "Unless it was in bed.
"Not my point," he pointed at the man.
"I for one think that we are still spry, and young, enough to do anything that those two can do," Tony said as he walked away from the window. Loki had gone back to his book, trying to ignore the way that Tony was approaching.
"Hmmm, yes, perhaps I am," Loki smirked a little and turned the page in his book. "You should get some rest though, all that working late at night had made you very sore, and un-spry like."
"You torture me so," Tony sighed and flopped on the bed on his back.
"No!" Gabby shrieked. "Put me down!" She laughed as she struggled in Steve's grip. "I don't wanna get wet!"
"And I did?" Steve said through his grin. "I'm not walking around this beach as the only one wet." He watched the waves and walked a little deeper into the water, dropping her as a wave crashed up and into the shore, drenching most of Gabby's body. She shrieked and started to run back towards shore, right behind Steve, who had managed to miss most of the water.
Steve had pulled off his, mostly dry, jacket and wrapped it around her suddenly, using it to pull her closer to him. She huddled into the jacket, and into his side and laughed a little. "Now I'm really going to have sand that will never go away." She smiled up at Steve, then reached up and flipped some of his hair back in place. Steve leaned down and kissed her gently and she put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'd say this was a successful date," she grinned. They started to head back towards the mansion, noting that Tony and Loki's lights were still on, but no longer did the see the shadow standing there watching them. "It only took, what, almost 3 years to happen?"
"I don't think that's going to happen again," Steve smiled down at her, keeping an arm around her waist.
"Sir," Tony rolled over in bed, pulling the blankets up over his head. "There is a phone call for you sir." Loki kicked Tony's side when he tried pulling the blanket away from him. "It's Director Fury."
"You're not making a good point, JARVIS," Tony muttered.
"He requests to talk to both you and Captain Rogers." Tony blinked open one eye. "Just you two."
"Oh this should be good." Tony groaned and pushed his face into his pillow.
"Please talk to the obnoxious man in some other room," Loki said from his side of the bed.
"I heard that," Fury's voice growled over the speaker system.
"Pity," Loki snorted a little.
"I didn't say take the call JARVIS." Tony still refused to get up.
"I'm sorry sir, Captain Rogers answered it." A poor excuse in Tony's eyes.
"I need to talk to both of you, now," Fury said again, his tone brooking no argument.
Tony groaned then rolled up and stretched. He looked out and saw the sun was just above the horizon. "Oh, it is way to early for this. It's two days til Christmas, I didn't do anything wrong." Tony slipped on an undershirt and his sweats before leaving the room. He figured if Steve was up he'd be in either the living room, or the party room.
He saw Steve sitting on the couch in the living room, looking at the paper, with three others sitting on the table. They could see Fury glaring face on the screen on the wall. "What is so important, this early in the morning Fury?" Steve looked up then threw a paper at him. He blinked and grabbed it, then unfolded it and his eyes widened a little.
"Is that reason enough to get you up?" Fury asked, his arms crossed.
Tony stared at the headline and the picture then started to laugh. "I fail to see how this is an emergency, and how this concerns me. This should actually be a good thing." Tony held up the paper to face Fury, pointing at the picture of Steve and Gabby kissing. "For one, it isn't me making headlines, and two, this is good publicity! Who doesn't want to see that the Avengers have found love?"
Steve groaned and dropped his head on the back of the couch. "Because, it's a story in every paper, even overseas!" Fury told Stark. There are pictures circulating in magazines, and the press are no doubt at your doorstep now, wanting to know just what the hell is going on. And that is an answer that I'm going to get before they do!"
"Ah, so you're upset that you weren't told first," Tony deduced, walking over and plopping down next to Steve. "So that you couldn't control the information yourselves?"
"We don't need this information out there for anyone to know about," Fury argued. "The Avengers aren't celebrities, they had enemies, and what they do is not for everyone to know about."
"Got that," Tony commented and threw the paper on the table. "So why are you calling us all in a huff if the damage is already done? There's not much I can do without causing a scene and making us look bad."
"I called to make sure that it doesn't happen again- You, Stay." Fury suddenly said, looking past the two men. They both turned to see a very shocked looking Gabby.
"She doesn't actually have anything to do with this," Steve started. "She didn't know-"
"She is the other third to this media triangle," Fury cut him off.
"How am I involved in this?" Tony raised a hand. "I'm not even in the picture!"
"They know that she's staying with you, they know she's the niece to the Vice-President of Stark Industries, you are somehow always involved in this Stark," Fury corrected him. Tony leaned back and pouted slightly.
"In our defense," Gabby spoke up quietly, "Steve was acting bravely to the crazy guy with the gun."
"Crazy guy? Gun?" Tony sat up and turned to look between Steve and Gabby, then to Fury. "That's something you should have led off with. I think I need the full story now."
"There will be no more public dates," Fury ignored Tony. "Not until this all blows over and we can make sure that our enemies aren't going to use this against the Avengers."
"Um," Gabby raised her hand like a child in school. "I still have classes after this holiday break. I have one more semester and I'm supposed to be getting two degrees."
"We're already working on that," Fury did not sound happy, but he wasn't yelling at her. "There's no doubt that the media already knows everything about you, and what you do outside of this house." Fury sighed a little. "I thought I only had to deal with Stark," Fury sighed and the line went dead.
Gabby bit her lip and started to pay with her fingers when Tony turned to look at her. "Wanna make a bet on when Pepper is going to call?" Tony smirked as he eyes widened. She let out a gasp and ran from the room, most likely to try and think of an excuse for Pepper. Steve went to follow her but Tony grabbed onto his arm and pulled him down onto the couch.
"I might as well do the fatherly talk thing while you're here," Tony said when Steve turned to look at him. "You won't want to be in the room when Pepper calls anyway, trust me. If you two are actually gonna get serious then who better to get the talk from?"
Steve stared at him. "I think I'd prefer Loki."
"Hey, since I only found out about this a couple days ago, I think I'm allowed to question what's going to be happening under my roof." Tony turned, laying an arm over the back of the couch. Steve eyed him closely, knowing what Tony was like. "I think I'm about to have a serious moment here."
"Should JARVIS be recording this?" Steve asked, now almost afraid of what could come. He'd seen Tony serious before, and he was a force to be reckoned with.
"So I know it's been a while, but I still gotta ask, you're not substituting anyone for Peggy right? Cause I mean-"
"No," Steve cut him off quickly. "No, that will never happen."
"Well, good, because I mean, I might have to play dad and beat you if that happened," even Tony's eyes were serious. Then he shrugged and pushed himself up. "Just don't have sex where I'll know about it. i want plausible deniability when it comes to Pepper. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if I can't get some early morning sex myself."
"Too much, Tony," Steve groaned.