(I know some of you have already read but I realized I didn't like the Darcy ending)

Anyways...Steve is smitten~ and a dork. But he's a cute dork. Lol. I gave everyone a break in this chapter, they've had enough outside drama. Well other than Tony but he'll be important later.

Disclaimer: Do not own Marvel Universe

Warning: This one's pretty tame

Comments/critiques welcomed!

Not many students from Steve's school went into the city to hang out on the weekends. There were a lot of restaurants and hang outs and parties in the area that no one ever felt the need to go into the city unless they had something specific they were looking for that the mall didn't have. Needless to say Steve had a bit of trouble maneuvering around the city at night. The address Loki texted him was hard to find, it was in an apartment complex and after spending ten minutes just to find a place to park Steve was having second thoughts about the party. He wanted to hang out with Loki but he got nervous around new people sometimes and once he walked into the party he realized he didn't know anyone. There was a large group of people dancing when he first entered that were in tartan uniforms whom Steve assumed were from the local Catholic school and there were multiple people he recognized from Northend—a rival high school. Steve decided to play it safe—grab a beer, hang out in the corner and see if Loki shows up…not that there was any doubt. This was way outside his comfort zone especially since it was an event where he didn't know anyone there. The guys in the kitchen with the kegs were wearing fraternity shirts, the girls doing shots were sorority, a majority of the Northend students looked like they frequented tattoo and pierce shops, and most of the Catholic school girls were so wasted they couldn't stand up straight. Steve found a wall and stuck to it, sipping his beer casually. Loki was nowhere to be seen. If he didn't show up soon Steve was going to take off.

A girl in a tartan skirt with striking blue eyes bumps into Steve, laughing and looking up at him with a toothy smile. "Sorry…" she laughs, her friends pulling her along.

"Come on, Sigyn!"

The girls laugh, running around the corner. Steve smiles shyly to himself and looks at his feet. It had been a while since he went out with anyone—girl or guy—and homecoming was coming up soon. All of his friends were going to have dates. From what Steve could tell Thor was probably going to ask Jane, Clint and Bucky would both be with Natasha—if they weren't in the dog house—and all of his other guy friends would find someone. Guys were guys after all. Steve didn't really feel the urge to ask anyone though. There were a lot of pretty girls at his school, quite a few that he hung out with, and he knew a lot of them would want him to ask them out but he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

Someone slaps Steve's ass. He turns around, confused when no one's there but when he turns back around he jumps when Natasha appears out of nowhere, smirking at him. She had a knack for showing up in unexpected places. Natasha laughs lightly, taking his beer. She was wearing a dress that usually meant she and Clint were fighting. They'd be back together Monday. "What are you doing here? Kind of an unfriendly neighborhood for you to show up in, don't you think, Mr. Rogers?"

He grins and tries not to laugh but to no avail. "I was invited, but I thank you for your concern…what are you doing here?" She spits out some of his beer, laughing.

"What do you mean you were invited? Steve…there's literally no one here except for college students and junkies—you're neither of these."

"Oh? And what does that make you?" he smirks, taking his beer back.

"Hey, I have friends here. And there's nothing wrong with getting a little hit now and then—still doesn't explain what you're doing here. I know you're not doing drugs, you're not into that…not on a date, you don't go out with sluts like these…is Loki here?"

Steve smiles and shakes his head, sipping his beer. "Not yet—he's supposed to meet me…who do you know that-"

"Clint's friends from Northend—Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne?" Steve nods. He'd only met them once but he knew who she meant. Natasha flicks her hair over her shoulder, cocking her hips and looking around. "So Loki just…invited you? He literally hates half the people here, he must be in a wicked mood."

"I don't know…I think he just needed somewhere to vent out everything that's been going on."

Natasha snorts. "Well keep an eye on him." She grabs a beer from one of the girls stumbling by, taking a sip. "Anyways, what's with you two? You friends now?"

Steve sighs. He had no idea. Loki liked him but then it felt like he didn't like him. Half the time Steve wasn't even sure if he liked Loki—some of the thoughts he had around him were weird—and besides Loki wasn't always "textbook nice" to him but he was like that with Darcy too so…he had no idea. It seemed like Loki didn't have a censor on him when it came to social interactions, he usually said just about whatever he wanted but in the politest way possible which didn't make any sense. When Steve thought about it though he really liked spending time with Loki. He was funny and honest—brutally sometimes but who wasn't?—and oozed this unnatural kind of confidence that seemed to keep his head above everyone who was trying to demonize him. And he was different. Strange different. But different. He didn't act like a guy or a girl he just acted like a person and for Steve who was tired of guys and girls Loki was a kind of relief.

"Wow you really have to think about it." He blinks. Steve realizes he still hadn't answered her, Natasha smirking and watching him. She sips her beer and looks around. "Loki's kind of hard to understand, so I get it. He's…well he's kind of like me."

"What do you mean?"

"Cold, distant, blunt, paranoid, overanalyzes people and uses their weak points against them; has very few friends and finds it difficult to keep relationships…" Natasha shrugs. "We're a lot alike. We don't like people but we know what they're like and it keeps us from getting hurt. I've learned how to control the different walls I put up in order to live out a more natural social life but Loki…well he's just learned to block everyone out." She stares at her hands thoughtfully. "You should be careful, Steve, when you hang around him." He furrows his brow but she stops him before he could respond. "He's not a bad person—not naturally at least. Loki has a lot of control over his emotions but sometimes they build up and sometimes he loses control…like he did with Harry."

"That wasn't entirely his fault-"

"I know, I know, Harry was being an ass…my point is, Steve, is that Loki usually walks away. All of this negativity is starting to cloud around him again and you need to watch out for yourself, okay? Loki may not always be physically aggressive but he can read people like a book and pull you apart piece by piece before you're left wondering why you should even go on. He can be unnaturally cruel-" she holds up her hand when Steve tries to interrupt again, "-but I don't think he always means it. Like with Harry's mom…"

"He didn't mean to go that far?"

"I don't think he knew she was dead," Natasha sips her beer. "He has only been here since junior high. All of us learned that in elementary school. Loki relies on his power of observation to tell him all he needs to know about a person before initiating any kind of contact. Something about Harry said he had a mother." She looks towards the living room where some of the girls had started squealing and narrows her eyes. "Turn your head."

"Huh?" She forces Steve to turn his face towards the kitchen, doing the same. "Ow! Nat, what are you-"

Tony Stark passes by with a few girls on his arm, laughing. He was probably the last person Steve wanted to run into…anywhere. They didn't exactly end on good terms as everyone knew since the infamous Tony Stark couldn't keep his hands—among other things—to himself and would drown himself in beer whenever he could. He was fun and charismatic but managed to create demons out of the people who thought they were close to him. They're passed by, unnoticed.

Natasha sighs. "You'd think going to college early on would party him out."

Steve tries to distract himself. He was starting to think that Loki was a no show when he catches a glimpse of him talking to a few of the guys on the couch. There was an exchange of some kind, Loki handed the one a few bills and they handed him something in return. Steve pretends not to notice. His left eye and cheek were still swollen and prominently black but it didn't seem to faze him. Loki catches sight of Steve and smiles. He approaches them chatting with a few people along the way and stops short when he sees Tony. Loki makes a face, turning before he was seen but he wasn't as lucky. Tony grabs him by the waist and pulls him in closer than comfort. Steve felt his stomach drop. Tony Stark was going to put him in a bad mood and Steve remembered what Darcy had said the last time this happened. Loki was only going to dig himself further into his hole and Steve wasn't going to have any chance to hang out with him if he did that.

"Don't get involved," Natasha mumbles, giving Steve a look. "Trust me…just don't."

He makes a face and opens his mouth to object. Steve looks back at the pair of them, obviously arguing back and forth. There was a familiar sickness to his stomach watching them. He couldn't believe he didn't know when he broke up with Stark that the other one was Loki…he also couldn't believe Loki was willing to talk to him after knowing Steve was his other one. Loki seemed like the kind of person to hold a grudge. Steve figured it was best not to ask though since Darcy had made it obvious that Tony Stark was not a subject Loki liked to bring up. Steve sips his beer casually, trying not to watch as their argument gets a bit more heated. But when Loki smacks Tony and Tony grabs his arm and gives him a shake, Steve hands his beer to Natasha.

"Steve, don't-"

"Hey, hands off, okay?" Steve smacks Tony's hand away from Loki, Loki giving him a sharp look but not as sharp as it could have been. It almost takes Tony a moment to realize who Steve was, giving him a charming smirk.

"Well, hey there, Steve, m'boy!" Tony grins, shoving his hands into his pockets. He looks between the two of them and lets out a small laugh. "So uhh…what?" he motions between the two of them. "Are you two-?"

"No," Loki answers softly, glaring at him.

Tony smirks. It was a devious kind of smirk that Steve didn't particularly care for. It usually meant that something wasn't going the way Tony Stark wanted and for someone who had everything, he didn't like not having his way. "What about you, Rogers? You feel the same as the ice queen over here?"

Steve gives him a look, motioning for Loki to go towards Natasha. "Whatever you think is going on isn't. Goodnight, Tony." He turns away from him, following Loki back to Natasha and taking his beer back from her. Steve sneaks a look at Loki's arms where Tony had grabbed him. It was almost like he'd bruised instantly. Loki gives him a small nod as if to thank him and Steve takes it as a sign not to bring it up. He could stand by those terms.

"Loki," Natasha greets him, sipping her beer.

Loki and Natasha share a mutual silent hello. "I didn't expect to see you, Natasha. I guess Barton's in the dog house then?"

She smirks. "You could say that." Loki nods, Steve offering him his beer.

"I hope you weren't here long, Steve…"

Steve shakes his head and gives him a smile. "No, no, it's alright…Natasha was here."

He nods. Natasha watches a few girls fall off the couch and spill their beer everywhere, all of them laughing. She sips her drink and turns her attention back to Loki. "You know…Steve and I were just talking about your special powers."

"Special powers?" Loki snorts giving Steve back his drink.

"Yeah…you know how you're psychic?" she laughs to herself, sipping her beer. Steve looks from Loki to Natasha. He couldn't tell if they were friends or if they hated each other…there was always a tension but the banter was so similar to Loki's with Darcy… "Well, come on. How did you know Clint and I were fighting?"

Loki rolls his eyes. "Just like how everyone else knows, Natasha. You're at a party, in the city rather than in your school district, and you're wearing a short, tight, spaghetti strap, low-cut dress with a push-up bra to accentuate your body in order to attract attention." He sighs and looks around, running a hand through his hair. Steve could feel an uneasy tension and he wasn't sure if Natasha was trying to prove a point or if she was making fun of Loki—which wasn't like her.

"See?" Natasha smirks. "He's psychic."

Steve lets out a small laugh and rubs the back of his neck. He clears his throat and gives Loki small smile. Whatever this was…he didn't want it to go any further…especially after Stark. "I need some air…you wanna step outside?"

"Sure—I need a cigarette anyways."

Steve pulls away from Nat and gives her a small wave. He pretends not to notice when her look turns icy. Loki slips out onto the small balcony and Steve follows him, Loki shooing the couples making out back inside with an irritated frown. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, Steve watching him curiously. Loki could be an ass, yes, but there was something compelling about him that kept Steve from pushing away. He watches Loki gingerly touch the swollen part of his face, flinching slightly. Despite the black eye he looked good. His hair was tossed to the side like before, he was wearing those tight black jeans that Steve liked…wait—he did look good though. Confident good. And attractive…? Maybe. Loki was strangely good looking for a guy. Well not strangely because Steve liked some guys and Loki was just a very effeminate looking guy…not that that was bad, Steve kind of liked it but not like that because that seemed weird and it felt like he was betraying Thor's trust even though it wasn't like that since they weren't even doing anything… And Steve couldn't help that he thought about Loki sometimes when he was-

Shit, Steve realized Loki had said something but he didn't hear it and now he was staring at him like he was crazy. It was his fault. He was the one who had to dress up and look good outside of school…especially in those jeans-

Damn he said it again. He was lighting a cigarette and laughing now, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry…" Steve flushes, embarrassed. "I'm—distracted."

"I said I'm sorry that I was so late. The bus took longer than you'd think it would and I had to find someone who'd buy me a pack of Camel." He leans over the balcony and exhales, admiring the lights of the city at night. The way his pale face was illuminated by the city and how his body curved out the way he was leaning—Steve closes his eyes and lets it pass. He clears his throat.

Loki looked good.

"You're really quiet…I didn't scare you off too, right?"

Steve blinks. He leans against the railing and crosses his arms. "Scare me off…?"

"Yeah…" Loki exhales through his nose watching the cars drive by below. "No one's been bothering me since the fight but…Darcy isn't talking to me either. Although I don't know if she's texted me or not I left my phone at home so Frigga wouldn't call to bitch at me. These pants don't do very well with vibrations, you know?" Steve could feel his insides squirm.

"Darcy's still not talking to you?"

Loki rolls his eyes. "She's just being a jackass. She worries too much and then she gets mad at me for making her worry…she'll be fine." Steve laughs, scratching the back of his head. He wasn't sure what this was that was making his stomach twist but he was doing his best to ignore it. If he got nervous and started stammering Loki would think something was wrong and he couldn't tell if Loki was in a bad mood because of Natasha or having to deal with Stark.

"Listen—I'm sorry about Tony getting to you..."

He shakes his head, Steve's stomach doing a flip when Loki smiles at him. "Don't worry about it. I just turn everything off when he's around."

Loki flicks his cigarette and hops up onto the rail, hooking his feet in between the bars to balance himself, his back to the city. It makes Steve incredibly nervous since the last time he did something like that Loki looked like he was enjoying the thought of falling; this fall was a one way trip. Instinctively he grabs for Loki's arm, letting go when he stares at him. He mumbles an apology. Loki looks from Steve to the drop off the balcony and smiles lightly. "It's fine, Rogers, I'm not going to spit acid on you for touching me." Steve gets anxious when Loki leans out slightly, fighting the urge to grab his arm again. He's grateful when Loki takes the hint and gets down.

The crowd inside starts to chant. Two guys were on the table chugging down as many beers as they could. Steve turns back to Loki who was enjoying the feel of the updraft in his hair. He was being so casual around him and Steve wasn't sure what had changed. He liked this side of Loki…it was a relief from the usual uptight passive-aggressive personality he had at school but it wasn't just that. Loki didn't have his walls up. He was wearing clothes that looked more natural, he wasn't hiding behind a book or a scowl, he was more exposed and Steve sort of liked it. He wanted more of it.

"Don't you want to join the party? I thought you needed to purge out some stress."

Loki smiles, looking down at his feet. "I actually kind of like just standing out here…besides, I—I guess I'm just not in the mood." Steve nods. He leans over the rail slightly to watch the cars. It was nice outside despite it being October and Steve was rather fond of the idea of being out here rather than surrounded by people he didn't know. "Hey-" Steve looks up. "Did…Natasha say something to you? It's just…that…" He trails off.

"Can you do me?" Loki makes a face. "No, I mean…like you did with her. Can you look at me and just like…know stuff about me?"

He watches as Loki looks him over but there's a hesitation. Loki fiddles with his hands and looks up at Steve smiling sheepishly and somehow he looked so adorable and vulnerable smiling at him like that. Steve wanted to turn away desperately but he couldn't give himself away no matter how many butterflies were fluttering in his stomach.

Loki bites his lip and Steve felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

"It's…it's harder to do on the spot…" he tucks his hair behind his ear. "Also I know we haven't been talking for very long but you've been friends with Thor since we moved here so…I already know a lot." Steve nods, slightly disappointed. "Although…I knew your mom was a nurse because of how well you take care of yourself. Your hair and fingernails are clean and you have little to no acne but you're not mysophobic…and Thor's probably mentioned she worked at a hospital."

Steve grins. "That's really amazing though. You're like Sherlock Holmes."

"I'm not solving murders, Steven."

"Yeah, but…it's a lot like what he does in the show." Loki furrows his brow. "Have you never seen it? Sherlock on BBC?" Loki shakes his head. "You'd like it."

They both turn to stand side by side, looking out over the city and content with just being there. A girl opens the sliding door, laughing obnoxiously. She sees them and apologizes, giggling uncontrollably and stumbling back inside, shutting the door behind her.

"Steve?" He turns to face him. "Thanks. For…you didn't have to come here tonight so…thank you." Loki was inches from him. Steve could smell the slight natural scent of his skin mixed with the tang of the cigarettes. From so close he could see how big and green Loki's eyes really were and it made his heart skip a beat but he didn't know why. Maybe it was the way they were lit up by the lights or just that he'd never really noticed before. He wanted to reach out. He wanted to lay his fingers against his cheek and feel how smooth and soft and cool Loki's skin was but Steve knew better.

Loki would never like him that way.

Steve smiles, nudging him playfully. "Yeah, well…I'd feel bad if you came here alone. Rough crowd." Loki hums and closes his eyes, letting another updraft blow through his hair.

"Only when you're dressed like that," Loki smirks, giving Steve a nudge.