HUD: Not dead guys! The holidays were just very, very busy for me. I appreciate all the favs and follows while I was away. Thank you so very much.

- Part 5: Planning -

Loki was a fool, such a fool.

He waited, eyes locked on the screen, as the next video loaded. It had been weeks, he knew this, literally weeks. The park, the forest, the bridge, and then the roof top. All encounters over the course of five weeks. Then another two weeks after the book! Two months. Loki shook his head again, gaze steely - what a fool.

"Oh man, okay - deep breath, deep breath." Tony was grinning, teeth flashing pearly white and glistening, and his eyes the brightest shade of honey Loki had ever seen. He was excited, and Loki knew why before the genius even spoke. "He's here. It's November eleventh and he's here."

Yes, two solid months. Loki had kept his promise, for within those extra weeks he had not done anything dangerous. No, there were no attacks or pranks. He had stayed in his dwelling, slowly restoring Tony's precious gift with magic (which, despite Loki's unmatched skill, took several days) before spending equal time reading. The gift had been amazing, and Loki loved it.

"Oh fuck, I forgot how to breathe anyway," Tony laughed. His tone was nervous but his eyes were excited. He was wearing another button down as opposed to his tank top, but still black and cuffed at the elbows. Loki felt himself smiling as Tony clicked away on his transparent keyboard. "Hey, J. Record this entire encounter from the cameras in the penthouse."

"Yes, sir."

"Awesome, you're amazing," Tony murmured as he clicked a few more things. "Do you think I should offer wine?"

"Thor spoke highly of Mr. Laufeyson's distaste for ale, sir."

"Wine it is, then. Red or white?"

"Due to the time of the year, red would match the weather. However, white may match his sharp personality - "

"Red it is, J. He's bold, and I know just the bottle." Tony was spinning from the chair and rushing from the lab. The video feed was interesting - it followed Tony to his elevator from the corner, giving a ceiling angled view. The genius entered the elevator, then the feed cut away to appear from another corner as Tony exited and dipped into a closet. He popped back out with a black bottle capped with red ribbon and sauntered down the hall. The view adjusted with him as he traveled, and Loki shook his head with affection.

"Hey," Tony called. "I was beginning to worry if you could find the place." The view Loki had was wonderful - he could see all of the penthouse's lounge area as well as most of the balcony and bar. He could see Tony's bright smile, tamed slightly from the nearly manic grin from earlier, as well as the dark stature of himself near the window.

"I admit, the lettering on the side was a challenge," he heard himself drawl. Coming back to the tower so late had not been because of the outward markings, no - Loki dared to say he had been nervous. "However, I also see you have changed quite a bit inwardly, as well."

"I ripped up some tile and added hardwood and a few rugs, but not too much," Tony answered with a shrug. "I needed a change. No big deal."

"I imagine," Video Loki answered, still facing the window. Loki knew then and now (if Tony's spreading grin were anything to go by) that they both had known Loki was referring to that rather impressive crater the green beast had left using Loki - as Tony says - for a 'rag doll'. Loki grinned behind his hand.

"So," Tony began again. Loki still gazed out of the window, but his posture shifted ever so slightly towards Tony. "How have you been?"

"Preoccupied," Loki answered quickly.

"Oh, alright, then," Tony answered. His grin had begun to dissolve to a soft smile, and Loki hated that he was making his love feel unsure of himself. But at the time, how was he to know everything was more than genuine?

Video Loki had noticed the tremor of dejection in Tony's voice and finally turned. "No thanks to you."

"Huh?" Tony's jaw hung open for a moment too long as his eyebrows creased in confused worry.

Video Loki sighed in a put-upon fashion and turned back to the night skyline. Loki remembered having to turn to hide his smirk. Oh Anthony... "I have been preoccupied with the gift you bestowed to me. It has been a rather fond pastime."

Tony's smile lit up the room again. "You actually read it?"

"Of course," Loki answered, turning back again. "Should I have not?"

"No, no! I'm just...surprised," Tony breathed. Loki blinked and shifted his stance. Loki remembered the confusion setting in clearly; he had felt that he had grossly underestimated the intent of the book. Was it meant to be a shelf piece, only to be brought down in reverence and glory? Had he made a large mistake in restoring it to its former beauty, again lining the pages in gold leaf and the scent of fresh ink?

No, the surprise had been good. Perfect, even.

"Honestly, I thought you would just throw it away," Tony admitted sheepishly. He shuffled slightly, bringing his free hand up to scratch his goatee.

"Do I come across as such a vile creature as to dishonour such a thoughtful gift?" Loki snapped. Tony's hand lowered slowly and settled in the pocket of his jeans.

"Absolutely not," he answered, smile growing. There was a pause where nothing could be heard except the occasional flicker of the video feed. It wasn't the longest moment between them, but Loki still remembered it clearly. That soft smile and even softer eyes, aimed only for him, and for a moment they were alone. There was no prior bad blood, not a Jötunn prince and genius mortal, not a villain and hero, not the God of Mischief and Iron Man - just Loki and Tony.

Perfect.

Loki had thought all this then and again now. He remembered the small flicker of hope that he refused to show, the slight chance that his curiosity had brought him exactly where he needed to be.

Tony was talking, and Loki laughed.

"Pardon?" Video Loki asked. He had been lost in thought then and again now - for the second time he had missed whatever it was Tony had said. Apparently he would need the watch the video a second time.

"Wine?" He offered again, this time holding up the dark bottle in show. Loki nodded quickly.

"Ah, yes," he said. Tony grinned and nodded, setting off towards the bar. He dipped out of the line of the video briefly and reappeared at the centre of the bar. Loki crossed over slowly, coming to stand around the bar just as Tony uncorked the bottle.

"Why have you invited me here, Stark?" Loki asked. Tony poured a small amount of wine into the glass and slid it over.

"Try it," he said, ignoring Loki's question. Loki remembered being slightly put off from being blatantly ignored, but he instead quirked an eyebrow. He lifted the glass, not unaccustomed to the steps, and swirled. After a moment, he took a small sip.

The aroma was woody and fruity, and Loki could faintly taste what Midgardians call plums. Asgard had a similar fruit by a different name and it was one of his favourites. Loki thoroughly enjoyed that wine, and Tony still made it a point to serve it to him.

"What do you think?" Tony asked. He was leaning slightly forward on the bar with a soft smile, waiting.

"It is wonderful," Loki answered. Tony grinned and reached for the glass. Loki passed it off, and to the viewer it was just as it looked. But to Loki, he remembered the slight spark from where their fingers had grazed.

Tony filled the glass properly and passed it back. Loki took another sip as he filled a second. "The bottle started off as a gift from when I took over the company. Even for my young age I enjoyed it. It's the only wine I drink."

"It is certainly delightful," Loki murmured. Tony smirked and took a sip himself.

"I hoped you'd like it."

"I do." There was a pause where they both took a sip. Loki set his glass down gently, long fingers tapping down the stem. "I suppose I shall ask again uninterrupted. Why have you invited me here?"

"To get to know you - you know, out of the field," Tony answered. He still held his glass to his lips. "Like I said, Thor isn't much help."

Video Loki scoffed. Loki rolled his eyes, too, mimicking what he remembered doing during those minutes. Thor and he have gotten closer, that is true, but there is still a wall. Tony has tried to help him overcome it, but a year in peace after a millennia without is difficult to bypass.

"Again, he knows nothing," Loki answered dryly. "Do not believe treasured gifts and supple wine will earn you any knowledge."

Loki shook his head. Again, he was too caught up in himself to realize his mistake, but Tony caught it. As soon as he had, Loki did as well.

"Treasured, huh?" Tony asked, sipping his glass. Loki watched his own back stiffen and shook his head at himself.

"...so it seems," Loki answered. "It is...enjoyable."

"What's your favourite part?" Tony asked. Loki looked down at his hands, again tapping at the base of the wine glass.

"Should I need to choose, it is the story of Mordred and the final act called by Arthur," Loki began. "The seizure of Excalibur's scabbard sealed his fate to the death of his own son, but still the king attempted to return the sword to its rightful owner. A noble last deed, indeed."

"You know, some believe he's still on that island," Tony answered. "Like he's waiting for the right time to come back."

"Perhaps. For us, he would have passed into Valhalla. That is where all noble warriors lay."

"I find Avalon to be a more realistic end that some never ending nirvana," Tony said. "Just hanging out somewhere to be healed sounds better than some streets paved in gold."

"What is your Valhalla, Stark?" Loki asked. Tony took another sip and set his glass down.

"It depends on who you ask, honestly," he said. "Some believe in a nirvana ending, of no pain or cruelty that has been waiting for them since birth. Others believe if you fuck up, you start over worse than you were before. Some people hope there's some big guy in the sky pulling strings and watching your every move to decide if you go to paradise or an unending inferno. But for me, I believe in what I can see. I know I'm a fuck up, so all I can do is fix whatever I did and move on. I believe in science, and science says there's nothing after this except a rotting hole in the ground or sitting in an urn on someone's mantel."

"You do not believe in a higher power, as you say?" Loki asked. Tony shook his head.

"Nope. Just humanity," he answered.

"Very interesting," Loki said, smirking. "You do not believe in gods, yet you stand in the presence of one."

"I said I believe in what I can see," Tony corrected. He smiled. "And I can see you very well."

Loki's stomach flipped. The nature of their conversation had been morbid, but still incredibly deep. Even now, time and endings weren't things they spoke about. Tony knew he was living in a limited window, and Loki pointedly ignored it. After all, they have only been together for (now) a year. A year is nothing to Loki, merely a blink of his eye. But for Tony, a year means so much more.

Loki tries not to think about what life will be like without Tony. He knows that, should things go well, he will watch Tony age around him. He will continue to appear the same for many thousands of years. Thor will begin to grey before him, and even then his magic will keep him the same as he as always been. For, as Thor stated, as long as there are energies for Loki to feed off of, he will never cease. But Tony...

Forever is a long time. Would he possibly entertain the idea -

"You are a most cunning wordsmith, Stark." His own teasing voice pulled Loki back to the video and away from his own darkening thoughts.

"We'll say I know my way around," Tony answered. He held his glass up and out, towards Loki. "Toast?"

Loki quirked an eyebrow but raised his glass as well. "To what?"

The video zoomed in, much to Loki's surprise. It fixed on the bar, and Loki could clearly see the folds in his black cloak and the low light shining from the honey in Tony's eyes. The genius smiled and spoke:

"To us - for me finally giving you that drink I offered, and for you enjoying my favourite stories."

Loki smiled as he watched their glasses clink, eyes locked on each other. He remembered the heat from that gaze, remembered wondering if it had been a trick of the light or if Tony couldn't hold his wine (because he has drank Thor under the table on more than one occasion, so he can handle quite a bit). Loki's glass came down first, clinking softly on the marbled counter.

"I must depart, Stark," Loki said. Tony's expression was quite adorable.

"But you just got here!" He almost whined. Loki smirked slightly.

"Would you like me to return?"

Loki remembered asking that question before he could stop himself. It had slipped out, and he had been far too hopeful. He wanted nothing more than to explore his curiosity with Tony. There was no trap, no ruse he needed to be wary of. It was simply exactly what Tony had asked him to - to get to know him outside of battle. To see who he was.

"Yes," Tony breathed, smiling brightly. "I would."

Loki looked over at the forgotten open bottle of wine. He ran his finger down the neck and tapped the label. "I expect this here as well when I return."

"It's yours," Tony said quickly. "I'll even get you your own to take back to...wherever you stay. Where do you live?"

Loki smirked coyly and waved a finger. "Perhaps on the third meeting, Stark. My secrets are not so easily obtained."

Then Loki was watching only Tony. He disappeared, leaving behind that same soft whoosh as the air filled his void. Tony stood still for only a moment before throwing his arms across the bar and groaning.

"Dammit. Two weeks of nothing, and then he leaves after twenty minutes. J, did I do something wrong?"

"You were most agreeable, sir. I think it went well."

"Yeah? You know, I think so, too."

There was a lull as the camera shifted, and then Tony's living room disappeared. The screen went black. Suddenly Tony was back, sitting in his chair back in his lab. His grin was manic, and Loki couldn't help but feel pulled in as well.

"Oh my god. That was awesome. So fucking awesome," he breathed, turning slowly in his chair. "It was totally worth the wait." He grabbed his wine glass, which Loki just noticed he brought down with him, and took a long draw. "I'm so glad he liked this wine. I'll have a crate shipped in tomorrow. The CEO owes me a favour or two. Maybe I should get a few crates, then? J, what do you think?"

"Mr. Laufeyson did find the wine agreeable. Perhaps it could be a common ground for your meetings."

"Three crates it is, JARVIS. Go ahead and put the order in."

"Already done, sir."

"You're such an enabler, J."

"So I have been told, sir."

"You make me proud," Tony said, raising his glass towards the ceiling. "Here's to you, pal. I know that when all others fail, you'll always have my back."

"Indeed, sir. Thank you."

"Damn, J. I think you'd like this wine if you could try it."

"Screaming Eagle is one of the top California brands, sir. I do believe whatever suits your tastes are indeed suited for mine."

"Maybe I could write some code - "

"I shall pass, sir."

"Haha, alright." Loki's slow smile spread into a large grin as their banter carried on. He loved listening to Tony prattle on to his adored AI companion. Loki was still curious about several aspects of Midgardian technologies, but having the leading expert as his lover helped quell several of his curiosities. Tony enjoyed his craft as much as Loki did his, and Loki would listen all day to simply see that spark fill his gaze and that tremor of excitement lift his voice.

"Oh, J! I have to go tell Brucey. He needs to know that I'm not going crazy and that Loki was actually here - "

"Sir, dare I say that it is nearly two ante meridiem and Dr. Banner is - "

"I don't care, J! He has got to hear this." Then Tony was spinning around a few loops in his chair and up and gone from the lab in a flash. The feed lasted an extra few seconds before the screen went black.

Loki leaned back in his own chair. He gazed up at the ceiling, eyes tracing the small lines in the tile. "He thinks highly of you, Spirit."

There was an answering silence, but Loki knew he was listening. The god smirked and pushed himself away from the desk. He stood gracefully, arms stretching over his head. Once he heard a slight pop, he lowered his arms and turned for the door.

"Shall I put the kettle on, Mr. Laufeyson?" Loki smiled.

"That would be wonderful, JARVIS," Loki answered, exiting the lab and padding slowly up the stairs. The was another pause, another moment of hesitation.

"Thank you, sir," the AI answered. Loki nodded, knowing very well that JARVIS could see it, and crested the second floor.

Loki moved into the kitchen, listening to the gears of the tea kettle filling with water and then the soft click of the heat turning on. He crossed to the fridge, finally feeling the slow burn of ignoring his hunger all the day before. Tony wasn't exactly the best cook, but he tried and Loki always humored him. There was several dishes Loki could make, and judging from the stock of the fridge, Tony had anticipated Loki being willing to cook. He pulled out a block of parmesan cheese and moved to the cabinets.

He located two pots and filled the largest with water. The god wanted something quick, and as much as he enjoyed cooking with his magic, he had a rather odd craving to do things the 'old fashioned way', as Tony called it. So Loki began a dish of pasta and red sauce, the kitchen turning silent after the kettle whistled its end.

Loki leaned against the counter as the water boiled behind him. He waved a hand to begin his tea absently fixed itself. Loki gazed out of the large window wall, eyes staring at nothing. The sun was raising over the sea, light catching on the soft waves cresting. The light twinkled like thousands of jewels and bounced off what seemed like hundreds of different hues. Loki could see silver and light green closer to the mansion, and oranges and reds and purples near the sun. The display reminded him of the ceiling in the ballroom back at the Tower, all crystalline structures catching every shade of the cooler spectrum and shifting to warm. Loki loved to watch the transition; it reminded him of mornings on Asgard, which mirrored the exact image he was watching now.

Loki turned to add a handful of dried pasta and stirred his warming sauce. "Spirit."

"Yes, Mr. Laufeyson?"

"What is Anthony up to?" He asked absently. There was a pause, then:

"Playing solitaire on his Mach III tablet."

Loki chuckled, turning back to his dish. "Interesting. Were he to catch someone doing that at one of his meetings, the soul would be publicly bashed."

"You are correct, sir," JARVIS answered. Loki noticed a hint of fondness in the AI's voice but didn't comment on it. He instead chuckled again and turned all of his attention to grating a bit of cheese for his pasta.

Ten minutes later, he was sitting in front of Tony's monitor again with a steaming mug of tea and an equally warm bowl of pasta. After getting himself situated comfortably, he took a long sip of his tea and sighed. "Play the next video, JARVIS."

"You may enjoy this one, Mr. Laufeyson."

"Oh? I am certain I will," the god answered. He smirked as the screen moved on its own and pulled up the next video.

Tony was again in his lab, eyes fixated to something on the screen before him. Loki almost felt like he was watching him. He shuffled slightly.

"I'm working on something a little...secretive," Tony said. He tapped his keyboard a few more times before pushing it away entirely. "Actually, its super secretive. It'll be worth quite a pretty penny once I perfect it, but I need a lot more info. But anyway." Tony waved his hand, dismissing the topic. "So, two days ago Loki came by."

"I'm sure you remember, right? Randomly appeared on my balcony, had to call off J's alarm - speaking of, if Loki turns up again just tell me, JARV - but it was really, really awesome," Tony sighed, leaning his elbows on the table. "Bruce says it was a good thing, even though he didn't stay for very long. I really don't care, I'll take anything I can get from him."

Loki smiled softly. Had he known the entire time all Tony wanted from him was his company, he possibly would have came by far more often. He remembered it being another week or so before he saw Tony again, and it was not within the penthouse.

"I know Bruce still doesn't fully understand, and I know I can't blame him. He's being a great friend, though. He didn't mind me busting into his room at two in the morning, was happy to come to my penthouse and have some coffee and just listen. I know this is weird, hell, even I still think I'm batshit crazy for pursuing Loki, but I need someone to bounce ideas off of," Tony said. He was twirling slightly in his seat, arms now crossed over his chest and the reactor. "He had some pretty solid ones, too."

Tony continued to spin as he spoke: "He suggested maybe a neutral location, like perhaps the park, to have a chat. It'll be hard to do it when the park is actually open, but I don't need sleep and he seems totally fine with coming by late. Or having dinner here. Bruce said he'd be more than happy to help me cook something, but I have to know what Loki likes, first. I know he likes that wine, so that's a no-brainer. But Thor doesn't really know the first thing about Loki, except that he likes apples. That's all so sad, man," Tony mused, shaking his head. "Hell, me and Howard had our huge differences and issues, but even he knew I hate mushrooms. How can two people grow up together, and they've been growing up together forever, and not know anything about anything? Blows my mind, literally."

Loki swallowed down a bit of his pasta and coughed. Tony was right - Thor and he knew nothing about the other, even now. Loki wasn't even kidding when he said Thor knew nothing of him. He knew things from their childhood, and that was the limit. They may be on better grounds since Loki and Tony have been together, but there will always be issues and withholdings. It was sad.

"But that's okay," Tony said, cutting through Loki's self musing. "I'll find it all out. I'll see him again and learn what he likes. Going based on that wine, I'll bet he enjoys plums. Those are easy to get." Loki's jaw dropped - Tony already knew he liked plums? Loki knew the man was a genius (even Heimdall could see it) but Loki hadn't officially shared that with him until weeks after the first night. Interesting.

"So I'll do something with plums. He's a prince, so I know my cooking is not going to be up to par with whatever he's used to, but I can damn well try. I think having Bruce have my back will help a ton, too," Tony said. He tapped his fingers on the desk top and rested his chin in his other palm. "I didn't think I'd ever say it, but I'm actually a little excited to cook for him. A way to a man's heart is through their stomach, or so I've heard. I'm sure it can't hurt, but I want to win Loki differently. I want to do something that's all about him - everything I can learn from him. His likes, dislikes, favourite foods and stories. He knows mine already, and I really can't say how fucking excited I am that he actually read it."

Loki was smiling softly, his food sitting forgotten on the desk next to his mug. Tony prattled on about everything he wanted to learn with the most beautiful far away look in his eyes. Loki recognized it. It was the same look Tony gave him before he left for London. The same look of adoration, of reverence. He looked at Loki like a gift - like he was meant to be treasured and held dear. There was a slight hint of fear, and Loki knew Tony always felt at the back of his mind that this was all too good to be true. Loki recognized it because he, too, felt it. He never wanted to wake and it to all be a dream; that Loki had merely been dozing and now stared at the other side of his cell on Asgard.

Many nights he awoke from a similar dream (he would never admit it being a nightmare) only to feel Anthony's soft breath against his neck and the very real weight of his arm around his waist, grounding him. He was always there to remind Loki that everything was real, and Loki knew not how to thank him enough.

"I have to get in touch with him somehow," Tony said. His voice drew Loki back to the video, which had continued on without him as he was lost in his own thoughts. "I found him that night totally by accident. I'm sure I could do it again, maybe even scan the city tonight. I'm sure he's around here somewhere." Tony sighed, pulling his keyboard back over. "I need to see him. Shit, as much as I'm so excited for all this courting bullshit, I can't wait for it to be over. I love planning things to do with him, but I want to skip it all and just hold him. Shit. Am I going crazy, J?"

"Well, sir - "

"No, stop - I change my mind. Don't answer that."

"Yes, sir."

"I think when I cook for him," Tony said, smirking as he tapped away on his keyboard. "We'll watch a movie. I bet he'd get a kick out of 'Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail'."

Loki couldn't help his chuckle as the video ended. He ran his hand through his hair, pushing back the extra strands from around his face. Tony was right - he had enjoyed that film. Loki finished off the last few bites of his pasta and rose from the seat. "Spirit, load up the next file."

"Certainly," the AI answered. Loki nodded and headed for the stairs.

"Oh, and JARVIS?" Loki called, taking the first step.

"Yes, sir?"

"You were correct - I did rather enjoy that one."

"Wonderful, sir."