PS:
Tony's thoughts are in [Italic Square Brackets.]
Loki's thoughts are in {Italic Curved Brackets}
XXX
Loki finds him opposite the mirror, shirtless. The smith's face furrowed jaw cupped in one hand as he turned this way and that dissecting his features.
"What are you doing?" the mage demands – Tony yelps whirls around.
"Nothing, Loki," irritable hissed. "Fucking knock every once in a while," paced towards the bed for his strewn shirt – forth Loki hastes by the arm takes him.
"What's wrong?" he asks, like he always does like he always knows when something is, even when no one else does. And if there's one thing Tony appreciates, it's that Loki doesn't push and Loki, should understand what aggravation sudden contact can entice especially when one's vexed.
"Nothing," he jerks away, brings up the shirt to dress – Loki steals it tossed it away – Tony exclaims: "Hey!"
"My unannounced intrusions neither bother nor really ever catch you off guard," a fact true because Tony's learned to pick up the signs the subtle drop in air pressure the soft hum and then, Loki. But he'd been too distracted. "Your soured mood's the result of someone not something," just as well can often Loki deduce of his own accord, exactly what's wrong. "I want to know who it was and what they said that had you scrutinize your own reflection." And still near everytime the accuracy stuns Tony, yet he gets over it quicker as months pass between them. But he wonders 'why' just as he knows,
just as he cares, that some part of Loki cares, for him and only him.
So he resigns. He could tell him off – lying's off the table and [that'll never not be annoying.] But something, in the way Loki's eyes were set, spoke the god'll not leave with no answer – And honestly? Tony's pissed.
"It's nothing, okay?! Just that fucking asshole Aldrich whose had the hots for Pepper basically ever since he'd met her and now that she's left he rubs it in in the most childish, stupid way like we're in fourth grade! Calls me a narcissist, says she and anyone who bothers with me ain't on for my shiny personality or good looks; for money, prestige – he fucking makes fun of my height, can you believe it?!" Loki's nose scrunches in that cat-like way, lips curling as they do when he deems something ridiculous or repulsive.
"…What I can't believe, is you reacting at all to the words of a mere child."
"I'm not!" he shouts and rarely does he ever, stomps away rounds the bed for the shirt at the other end thrown. "But you know I mean he isn't wrong!" Loki storms after him. "She did leave because being with me is unbearable!" shirt's yanked again away and he screams: "Loki!" who's a mere foot away – the shirt's gone and those veiny, cool hands perch top his bare hips – one rose to his chin. "What are you doing?" he asks much quieter – as quiet Loki bit:
"Shut up," eyes and face illegible save for a soft, exasperated huff from his nostrils that Tony feels across his cheeks – that's how close the god was. A glint in those jade eyes then he's grinning chuckles. Tony scowls demands:
"What?"
"I very briefly considered complimenting your every feature in rhyming poetry." Dumbstruck, Tony stands silent a fast blush heating his whole face. Loki's hands come top his shoulders and squeeze, his expression calmer his smile light, his voice. "Anthony. You are, infuriatingly beautiful." Tony's lips part startled. "And anyone who says otherwise is either blind or senseless. And your persona, is wonderfully layered and complex for weren't it I'd not incessantly seek out your company – only those who fail to comprehend it, you, cannot withstand being in your vicinity, because your brilliance is overwhelming." He is overwhelmed, and the gravity, the truth in Loki's eyes force his to well – Loki doesn't stop and he wants him to, and doesn't. "You'll rarely find one appreciative of feeling inferior and make no mistake they are," those greens are sharper, colder for a beat, and Tony wonders, if Aldrich had said the things he'd said and Loki was there, what he would have done. The Loki that has his back in battle, the Loki that heals his cuts from the workshop, the Loki that snaps at Cap when he's reprimanding.
The, warmth, that he feels in those moments, he feels now tenfold, under the weight of Loki's fond gaze. The way his heart skips eight beats when Loki all but smirks and addresses him in that low tone: "…And I like your height just fine," takes his chin again leans in and Tony tilts instantly closer,
underlines alas in bold, the extent of affection he feels, has felt for long, and denied because: "I did always hate her," Loki says clear just whom he refers to, and Tony could tell always could and had always waved off the blurred reason, unveiled then. "Just as well I've grown to despise most of your team and anyone, who'll have you undermine or doubt yourself. Keep at it, and bodies might start dropping." Tony worries for his own sanity when that warms him to the brim and his lips quirk up. Loki's eyes decline to them, another smirk drawling his features. "Or, I'll have to resort to more, felt methods, to elevate your self-esteem." A shuddering sigh slips from him as Loki danced fingers down his arm raising goosebumps, to his wrist index stroking at his inner-palm, intimately. Browns fall lidded Tony absently inched closer. Lowly Loki speaks breath ghosting across the smith's wantonly parted lips. "The latter does seem the more adequate resolution, doesn't it?"
"Mm," slowly Tony presses his mouth to the god's, in a surprisingly chaste kiss, brief. Loki smiles at him warmly, before cradling the back of his head wrapping an arm round his waist and pulling him in for a proper kiss.
Their lips slide against and tug at one another, slick and warm and Tony moans – Loki exhales at the sound, whispers: "I should warn you…I won't do with just, this," strokes a hand up his bare back voice falling softer but firm. "Your body alone will not suffice – I want all of you Tony. Body, heart, mind, your shimmering soul," Tony aches shakily exhales. "…All of you…Mine," Loki says, so painfully sweetly Tony can't but nod helpless.
"Yours."
It stuns Loki, the sheer wave of content that befalls him. He'd underestimated alike, the extent of affection he feels, has felt for long, and denied because: "Only if you'll be mine back," because he couldn't be sure, if Anthony would ever want this.
Tony locks their lips to assert it.