- Part 3: The Gift -

"Do you find it wise to continue?"

"I do not believe I require your blessing, spirit."

"You are correct, Mr. Laufeyson," JARVIS answered automatically. Loki nodded. "I was merely commenting on your lack of continuance."

Loki paused, head still pressed back against the head of Tony's plush swivel chair. He had been spinning slowly, eyes fixated on nothing on the ceiling. The god rarely found his time spent lost in thought the past year, yet here he sat. He couldn't quite bring himself to continue the findings he had stumbled upon.

Loki had ended the last video and strolled upstairs. He was tired of tea but in need of something he couldn't quite place. It wasn't a hunger or a thirst, but not really a dire need, either. He had roamed the cabinets, searching each cranny. Before they traveled here (Tony had insisted on taking a plane instead of having Loki teleport them), he had placed a grocery order online to be delivered upon their arrival. Loki had been quite surprised by Tony's thoroughness, especially once he found the same exact tea in the Malibu mansion as he had in the penthouse.

The cabinets weren't as stocked as the penthouse, but there was plenty to choose from. Loki had settled on one of Tony's favourite snacks and a staple during some of their movie nights. As he stared up at the ceiling spinning slowly above him, Loki managed to catch each popcorn kernel in his mouth without much skill.

"This is merely a pause, spirit," Loki drawled, popcorn crunching lightly against his teeth. Barton had once argued with Tony on the act of popping popcorn. He claimed Tony never let the bag pop all the way and lost several kernels; Tony always shot back that he preferred his popcorn 'medium rare' as opposed to Barton's 'burnt', not minding if he lost a few pieces along the way. Loki began to smile, rolling one of the hard kernels between his fingers. Tony had taught him well. "I shall continue in a moment."

"Perhaps a comment, Mr. Laufeyson," the AI began. Loki nodded. "Your character displays stubbornness and hard resolution in the face of turmoil. What will you do once Sir discovers your digging?"

"I have decided that if Anthony wanted to keep this from me it would be far better hidden than in a shoebox beneath his bed," Loki drawled. He began to spin lazily again, tossing popcorn into his mouth.

"Perhaps he had never intended this to continue," JARVIS answered.

"Hardly. He updated these files merely moments after ending communication hours ago," Loki scoffed. "He intends to keep this fairly routined. I believe because it concerns me, I am granted right to know."

Loki set his bowl on the work table and rolled the last few inches to be flush with table. "On that note," he said, tapping the next icon. "We shall continue."

The next video was dated for nearly two weeks after the one with Thor. Loki thought back - he really had spread that one out, hadn't he? After the incident on the bridge, Loki needed the time to think. He couldn't understand why the hero would land and simply watch without engagement. Loki had purposely ignored him, waiting on the Iron Man to make a move. When he had not, merely watching, Loki had pushed further. He had nearly the entire bridge full of cars above them, several including school buses, and yet the man never made a move. Loki had not understood, instead doing what he did best - antagonize.

Loki had expected anything, especially with the man's team closing in, but yet Iron Man still did nothing. Loki replaced his toys, never intending harm, and disappeared. Later, in his own abode and surrounded by his own thoughts, Loki became enraged. Why had he merely stared? Did Loki appear a joke to him? That thought alone almost sent the god to his doorstep with daggers drawn. And yet, he did not move.

Loki had then compared the mortal's actions and speech to his own, drawing a rather startling conclusion. Perhaps that first encounter in the park had not been a distraction, but the Iron Man just not expecting Thor to pursue. What would he have said in the forest had Loki given him the chance, but why wouldn't he say it on the bridge as well?

"Sorry for the lateness, but I've been busy." Tony's voice cut through Loki's thoughts, drawing his eyes to the screen. The genius sat in his usual tank top, sans chest binding, and Loki couldn't help his flood of relief. There was a worn leather package on the table that Loki immediately recognized. "This took a little longer than I thought it would to get."

Tony dropped his hands to the package, pulling the thin leather strap free. Loki watched his expression as he folded the cloth back - anticipation, excitement, and trepidation. He never showed any of that when facing Loki.

"After talking to Thor, I started doing some research of my own," Tony said, staring down at the contents of his bundle. "There was this guy from the eighteen hundreds who was pretty fascinated by the writings and beliefs of those before him. His name was Thomas Bulfinch, just an ordinary Latin-speaking banker, and he believed everyone who could read deserved to know these origins. I remember a British nanny reading a few of these to me at night. Once Howard found out she was fired, but she left me her copy." He dropped a hand to the item, worn and faded over time, caressing gently. "I'm sure I have it around here somewhere or at the mansion, but this one is way too special to be a simple hand-me-down."

Tony pulled his eyes to the monitor, his honey irises dancing in the harsh lab light. "I bought it from a museum in need of some funding. Now, the copy I have was a collection of his writings. This one is the first published copy of Bulfinch's 'The Age of Chivalry, or Legends of King Arthur' from eighteen fifty-eight. It was part two of my collection, and my favourite part." He ran his fingers down the browned cover, grazing the slight carving of the title. "Thor said Loki loves history and enjoys learning about other realms. Maybe this will pique his interest."

Loki watched Tony turn the book over in his hands, touch as gentle as ever. He was gazing fondly at the antique, as if it were the most precious thing to him on the entire realm. Loki's heart raced as he pictured the book, now restored with his magic and sitting on his bedside table back at the penthouse. Tony had jokingly asked for a bedtime story a few weeks after Loki had officially moved in. Loki had agreed, much to Tony's surprise, and now he read to Tony whenever the engineer asked. They had gone through the novel hundreds of times, and yet the mortal never tired of it.

Neither did Loki.

"It's kind of a selfish gift," Tony said, setting the book back down and beginning to fold the leather back over it. "I want it to be an excuse to see me again. He may not care, he may never read it - but this means something to me. Sure, King Arthur is one of the most well known fables, but his story was important for more than face value. It gave me courage in myself when even my parents didn't believe in me. It's as much a piece of history for me as it is for the entire realm. I found my Excalibur by my own means, and now I even kinda have my own round table. Just like Arthur, though, I still haven't found my true happiness." Tony tied off the leather strap and smiled faintly. "This will change that. I just have to get it to him."

The video ended. Loki blinked rapidly, again staring at the list of files. Were he to be walking, he would have surely stumbled over himself as he clicked the next icon.

"This is going to be a little different," Tony said; which was the understatement of the century. Loki was staring from the view of the Iron Man suit. Buildings were whizzing by, covered in a soft white. It was winter, and the snow natural; a snowflake stuck to the corner of his view. "I found him. He isn't doing anything. Actually, Loki hasn't really been around much at all since the bridge, let alone terrorizing the city. I'm surprised he's even out."

In the upper left of the recording, Tony's face was displayed. He turned his head as if looking, and the action struck Loki as odd. In fact, the entire display was peculiar. He had always imagined those thin eye slits useless, and was pleasantly surprised that he was able to see all of Tony's surroundings. It appeared that the image was pulled through JARVIS and displayed directly before Tony as if the mask wasn't even there.

"Sir, less than five hundred meters away and to your left."

"Thanks, J," Tony answered. Loki assumed from the slower pace of the background that Tony had begun to descend. A few seconds later, his feet were landing on a tall building covered with snow. Loki wasn't surprised to see himself standing on the other side farthest from Tony and leaning against the railing. Tony hesitated for a moment. "Here we go, I guess," he muttered.

Snow crunched under the heavy boots of the suit as Tony walked over. Loki remembered that day well, suddenly enthralled at watching it play over again before him. "Hey, Reindeer Games."

Video Loki turned, arms still crossed over his chest. He was wearing a long fur cloak, one he still had to this day, that stirred with his hair in the wind. "Do you have a death wish, mortal?"

Loki wasn't surprised to hear the venom in his own tone. At the time, he was still confused by the previous displays with the mortal; that thought still didn't temper his guilt. Tony was unperturbed, of course, smiling brightly even behind the mask. "I might. You aren't the first to ask, and I doubt you'll be the last."

"Depending on my mood, I very well may be," his recording snapped. Loki rolled his eyes at himself.

"Hey, I just want to talk," Tony said, holding both his hands up in an act of peace. Loki stared, expression guarded, but he made no move from his position.

"Then speak before I grow bored."

"Uh, okay," Tony said. "What have you been up to?"

Loki blinked, eyebrows raising slightly before he schooled his features back. "I...pardon?"

"What have you been up to? I haven't seen you in almost a month."

"That is none of your concern," Loki snapped, turning to look over the city. Snow had begun to fall again, drifting lazily around them. Tony's gaze softened as the snow fell, never looking away from video Loki.

"I wonder if I told him how beautiful he looked if he would throw me off the building?" He mused. Loki furrowed his brow - he never remembered hearing that.

"You can always try, sir," JARVIS supplied. Loki had forgotten that there was a speaker output for the suit. He was having an internal conversation with his AI.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me," Tony said with a shrug. "I'm just curious about how you spend your time."

"And of what concern are my hobbies to you, Man of Iron?" Loki drawled, lowering his arms beneath the cloak. He continued to look over the building, but his posture had changed to curiosity. Tony grinned, vocally making the note himself.

"So he's curious. That's a good start," he whispered before speaking out again. "I'm pretty interested, actually. I tried to ask Thor, but he wasn't much help."

"That oaf knows nothing of me," Loki seethed, looking over at Tony for the second time during the exchange. "Whatever questions you hold are better left held than spoken."

"I disagree," Tony said, grinning. "He may not know a whole lot, but he was able to help me a little bit."

"Oh? Pray tell," Loki said with a smirk. He folded his hands behind him, cloak exposing his tunic. Loki saw Tony's gaze flicker down a moment before pulling back up. The god had begun to cross over to him, but Tony held his stance. Loki felt proud of his lover, even if the adversary was himself. "What could that barbarian have of any consequence about my person?"

"Oh, just the basics. You like daggers, magic, stealing, lying - you know, the usual," Tony answered, waving his hand. Loki frowned, watching the video of himself do the same. That had bothered him then and all over again now - he did not like stealing or lying, per say. He enjoyed his ability to influence and direct others to his own biding. If stealing and lying became a part of it, well...that was merely a side effect.

"I grow tired of this exchange, mortal," Loki snapped. "Why are you here?"

"Honestly? I missed you," Tony said, expression turning serious. Video Loki's expression became guarded again.

"Surely you jest," he scoffed. Tony shook his head.

"Nope. Now I get to ask you something," he said, pointing slightly. Loki enjoyed when Tony spoke with his hands; even in the suit, the added weight never slowed the man down. "What were you doing on the bridge?"

"I may ask the same of you," Loki answered.

"Well, I asked first so you answer first," Tony shot back. Video Loki smirked, shrugging slightly.

"Very well, then," Loki began, staring into the sky. "You had said something irritating in the park that has traveled with me. I never gave you the chance to explain in the forest, nor did I expect you to even find me. Yet you had, and then again on the bridge before the others. I was giving you a moment to speak freely. You never did, so I raised the stakes. Still naught was spoken or done."

"I knew you weren't going to hurt anyone," Tony said. "That's why I didn't do anything. I knew you weren't out for blood."

"How are you so positive?" Loki asked, looking back at Tony.

"I'm not," he said. "I just know. Just like I know you aren't going to try to hurt me now."

Loki smirked, locking his gaze with Tony despite the helmet. "Why are you here?"

"I have something for you," Tony said. "I know asking an exchange with the God of Mischief is a pretty big stretch, but I don't really play by stereotypes either."

Loki tiled his head, obviously interested. "What is it you request?"

Tony paused, and Loki could see a second of uncertainly flash across his features. He worried his bottom lip a moment as well, stretching his pause a bit longer. Finally he nodded. "JARVIS."

With that small command, the chest of the suit retracted. Loki could see the soft light of the winter around them reflect slightly on Tony's chin, casting a soft blue glow. Loki remembered watching the armour pull back to reveal his jacket beneath the suit. Tony had reached in and pulled out which was then only a foreign leather bundle. In the camera, he saw his own recorded surprised expression.

The suit closed back with Tony's hand slightly in view in the image. He took a few steps forward, stopping still several feet before Loki. Tony paused again, as if losing his courage, before finally holding the package out. "Take it."

One of Video Loki's thin eyebrows rose as he gently reached out. His fingers found the leather, and Loki remembered being surprised by its softness and warmth. Once Tony's hand fell away, he began to unravel the leather strap. Tony's expression was one of extreme anxiousness, and Loki couldn't help his chuckle. This had meant a lot more to Tony than Loki had originally known. When the leather cloth fell away, Loki heard himself gasp quietly.

"Thor really had helped," Tony began. His eyes were crinkled from relief as he watched Loki run his fingers over the cover as he had previously. "He told me you like learning about other realms. We have something like that here, too, except it's about culture. That's a small collection of fables from European culture spread out over centuries, and arguably the most famous. It also happens to be my favourite."

Loki remembered feeling shocked, to say the least, standing on that rooftop and holding a book he could feel great age from. He had remembered being speechless as he listened to Tony, unsure how to feel. Loki had been torn between fleeing or blowing up the entire building. He still couldn't decide, and only the fact that Tony's body heat still clung to the leather kept him grounded.

Tony's expression never changed as he watched Loki running his fingers down the bindings and cover. "Maybe you'll pick up on a few things from it. We can be pretty amazing if you aren't trying to rule us," he teased. Loki remembered allowing an actual smile through at that, too disarmed to fight it like he normally would have.

"...what is it you request?" He asked, looking up at Tony. Tony's expression softened again before he spoke.

"To see you again, like this, outside of battle, and not as enemies," he said, tone soft but serious. Loki stared, expression suddenly unreadable, as he cradled the book to his chest under his cloak.

"Consider it granted." Then he was gone. It was odd for Loki to watch himself teleport away, for him to see as others did - there was a sudden absence as his being disappeared, as if the matter rushed to fill the void. He always knew there was a faint whoosh as the air closed in, but the entire display was unnerving to watch.

Tony sighed, his smile growing. "He agreed, J, and he smiled! That's good, right?"

"Absolutely, sir." Tony laughed.

"Well, that was definitely worth all the effort. I never would have thought he'd agree, but I can't be happier. I'm glad I didn't mention how amazing that snow looked in his hair."

"Yes, certainly could have ended differently, sir."

"Good thing you're here to keep me in check, J."

The video ended. Loki stared at the screen, once again feeling lost. Tony had put so much thought and care into that gift, and Loki never knew. He had always thought Tony was humoring him when he asked if he would read to him, but all that effort had not been faked. It was a gift a month in planning, one that even Thor had unwittingly helped with, and Tony had done a wonderful job playing it off as something far less.

Loki suddenly needed to see Tony. This was the worst timing of his life; he wanted nothing more than to embrace the man, who happened to be halfway around the globe for their first time apart during their entire relationship, and thank him time and time again for the book -

"Mr. Laufeyson, incoming HUD from Sir."

"Yes!" Loki blurted; he felt antsy and desperate, unable to catch his breath. "Quickly, spirit."

The loading screen appeared before him. Loki jiggled his knee impatiently, willing the transmission to come through quicker. This would be the first time he'd ever thought Tony's technology was too slow.

He would never let the man hear him say that.

"Anthony," Loki breathed, breaking into a broad smile. Tony - real Tony, not a two year old recording of him - smiled back. The room he was in was dark, illuminated only by the screen of the tablet he held. He wore one of his black tank tops, the light of the arc reactor slightly muffled by the cloth.

"Hey babe. I didn't wake you, did I?" Tony asked, smile easy.

"Ah, no. Why would you?" Loki asked, distracted by his own train of thought.

"Well, it's...six in the morning here, which makes it ten at night there," Tony said, scratching the back of his neck. "I just - "

"Anthony, I need to tell you something," Loki said, moving to the edge of his seat.

"What's the matter?" Tony asked, expression shifting from tired to alert in seconds. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I - " Loki paused, mouth closing. He wanted to tell Tony everything; finding the files, learning the origin of his book, even that he had thought Tony was cheating. The god bit the inside of his lip to keep himself silent.

"Is everything okay?" Tony asked again, tone much more urgent. He paused, eyes leaving Loki to look behind him. "You're in the lab; why is the glass cracked?"

Loki spun in the chair, grimacing when he noticed he had forgotten the glass wall behind him. He waved his hand, and the glass reconnected with a low rattle. "Ah, it is nothing of consequence. All is right again."

"Loki." Tony's voice pulled the god around, again facing the screen. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, my dear," Loki said, smiling softly again. "I merely miss you."

Tony smiled. Despite the low lighting of the hotel room, Loki could see the faint blush across Tony's ears and neck. Tony always became mush (his phrasing, not Loki's) whenever Loki hinted to how he felt. He said it was rare, and something he never could tire of.

"I came down here to watch a movie," Loki continued. "Your lab is where you usually are; it seems to keep me distracted from the fact you actually are not near."

"I'm sorry, babe," Tony said, eyebrows knitting together. "I didn't want to come here."

"Yes, I understand," Loki said, still softly smiling. Seeing the man had calmed some of Loki's odd nerves, bringing the god back to the present. How could he have ever believed this man would betray him?

"On the plus side," Tony began, shrugging slightly as he shifted his position. "Today is officially Monday over here. I'll be stuck in meeting after meeting, but that just means it's one more day down. My flight leaves late Tuesday night, but I'll be back stateside early afternoon."

"Will you be well?" Loki asked. Tony hardly slept when he was on lab bingers and could fly for days within his suit, but for some reason the genius wasn't the best at dealing with long plane flights. Loki had, on more than one occasion, brewed a special elixir to help stabilize Tony after a particularly grueling trip.

"I'll be fine," the genius grinned, shrugging again. "Besides, it's not like I'm getting much sleep anyway, so I'm immune to jet lag."

"Did you sleep at all before calling me?" Loki asked. Tony shook his head.

"You can say whatever you want, but I'm used to you being beside me. I can't sleep without you," Tony confessed quietly. Loki felt himself smiling even wider; this was the genius who scoured for nearly two weeks to find the perfect ice breaker gift for Loki. Still, for all the years he has been living, that Midgardian book is Loki's favourite. Loki propped his chin up with his fist, eyes dancing with mirth.

"Perhaps this will help?" Loki twirled his left index finger in a tight circle, eyes fixated on the table beside Tony. In a small emerald flash, a steaming mug sat in its wake. Tony looked over, shifting the tablet to his other hand to take up the mug.

"Oh, Lo' - you made me tea!" He grinned, settling back against his pillows and taking a sip. "Oh man, perfect temp."

"Just as you like," Loki muttered. "Spiced vanilla chai with three spoons of honey."

"Holy shit," Tony breathed, sighing after a sip. "You're too good to me."

"Nonsense," Loki said quickly, adding heavy meaning to the word. "When is your meeting?"

"Not until, like, two or something," Tony said, taking another sip. "I was going to throw knives at the wall until then, but I may just get to sleep now."

"Wonderful," Loki said with a smile. Tony smiled back, and for a moment they were silent. Loki could feel their connection even through the screen, even over the thousands of miles of land and sea separating them. Knowing the initial chaos Tony had endured merely to come to him that late winter night over a year ago made Loki's heart stammer as the gaze continued. Again, Loki found himself wanting to confess; but, again, the god was silent.

"You know," Tony began, fighting a yawn. The elixir Loki had weaved into the tea was beginning to take affect. "I miss the hell outta you. This has been the worst thirty-nine hours of my life."

"Is that so?" Loki asked, chuckling behind his hand. Tony's answering grin was sloppy; he set his mug aside and adjusted the tablet.

"Yeah," he drawled. "...you drugged me, didn't you?"

"Possibly," Loki answered. The genius rolled his eyes.

"Well, sucks for you, 'cuz now I gotta go to sleep," he slurred, still grinning. "I'll call you...tomorrow."

"I look forward to it," Loki answered. Tony nodded. "Good night, Anthony."

"'Night, Mr. Sexy," Tony said, giggling at what Loki could only assume was his own answer. Even drugged the man found himself incredibly witty.

Loki watched him struggle with setting the tablet aside, eyelids dropping, before the feed ended. He continued to stare at the screen, now again loaded with the guide files. His chest felt hollow, as if a great warmth had been stolen. It had, ironically - Tony had become his warmth, and the man was surely drooling into his pillow half a world away. Loki took solace in the fact that he was not alone in his plight. Tony seemed to miss him just as much, if not more.

Loki sighed and leaned back against his chair. He needed to be off to bed, that he knew; staying up all night wasn't an issue for him, but he suddenly felt exhausted. He waved away his empty mug and popcorn bowl, hearing the dishes shut themselves away in the dishwasher as he took the stairs slowly. He stared into their room as the lights turned on. This was far too large a home to be in alone.

The god crawled into bed on Tony's side, burying his nose against his pillow. Tony's scent was as strong as ever, acting as if the billionaire had only just left the bed instead of nearly two days ago. Loki inhaled sharply and let out a sigh. JARVIS dimmed the lights for him, dropping him to complete darkness within seconds.

The first day was over, hours spent watching video recordings from two years prior. As Loki's own eyes drooped, he couldn't help but feel like his discoveries had only just begun. There were countless encounters he could name that involved Tony after the gift; Loki was incredibly curious about their planning and method.

Loki couldn't stop his grin as he thought about his pathological lover, plotting and scheming for his attention in the best of ways. Loki certainly had to admit - Tony Stark absolutely was a genius.