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Tony had been in love with Loki for a long time.
Five years, three months, two days if anyone was asking. JARVIS could tell him down to the second, if anyone really wanted to know. Not that anyone probably would. Other than him.
Because, it wasn’t just about the length of time (that was a big thing though. Five years without any major fights or threats to pull the pin and get out? Tony hadn’t expected they’d get to five months let alone this long.)
It was about how happy Loki made him. Because he was happy, all the time. He only had to think of his lover and he was smiling.
And Loki had asked him the big question only a few months ago. Not in so many words. It wasn’t “will you marry me?” it was “I do not want to see you lost to time” followed by a golden apple.
So, yeah, they were basically married and very much in it for the long haul.
But see, the thing was, in Asgardian culture it was important to procure items for your beloved. Sure, most people weren’t smiths so they couldn’t make anything. But it was about getting something designed. It was about making the perfect blade or gauntlet or ring.
Loki had given him an apple and gifts from space. He didn’t display his dedication in bright script for anyone to see. Hell, Loki had kept their relationship on the downlow for three years.
Hell, there were probably vast areas of the universe who didn’t even know Tony existed. And Tony got that. He did.
Where he preferred the glitz, glam and bright indicators of exactly who his lover was – Loki was different. Sure, Loki was powerful as hell and could destroy most threats that came his way, but Loki also ran on paranoia and secrecy. It had been his lifelong mode of functioning and Tony wouldn’t even know how to break that. Nor would he want to.
It was who Loki was – it was part of what made him love his bag-of-cat’s reindeer.
Loki liked to keep things private. Or say, invisible. He put the Loki in lowkey. (And yes, Loki had smacked him for that pun the one and only time he’d used it.)
But, Tony’s point was that just because he liked things over the top, it didn’t mean his lover did.
It also didn’t mean, that deep down and hidden under a million masks and buried in the shadows, Loki wasn’t a romantic.
So, Tony had worked hard. He’d also hunted for rare metals by having Loki take him to Alfheim for a “vacation”. It had been eight months in the making, but finally, one night, he came into their bedroom in the tower where Loki was reading a book.
Loki barely glanced up and Tony did it without fanfare. He walked to Loki’s side and dropped the small, innocuous wooden box on the bed. Loki lowered the book and peered over it.
“And what is this?”
“Something for you. Well, us, actually.”
Loki raised an eyebrow, but suitably curious, he put down his book and picked it up. He opened it only to go still. Tony didn’t make a comment, he merely watched his lover carefully.
“Anthony,” Loki said quietly.
He placed his hand inside and pulled out two simple gold bands. They were handmade with durable material and yes, he’d used a special kind of gold that was a bitch to meld with but was frequented by magic users.
Loki dropped the box and ran his fingers over them. Loki would know in an instant that he’d crafted them.
“These are unspecific,” Loki murmured. “Plain. There are no markings or hallmarks. Any mage could be seen with this ring, no one would be surprised.”
“No one would know there’s a declaration unless they were told.” Tony took the ring that would fit his hand. “No one would know it’s there when it’s hidden by a gauntlet or slipped into a pocket.”
Loki’s gaze snapped to Tony.
“How unlike you.”
Tony smiled.
“Yeah, but how fitting for you, right?” His lips twitched. “Keep it secret, keep it safe.”
Loki realised the reference and rolled his eyes.
“I hope this will not glow with a declaration when thrown in fire.”
Tony laughed. He also took a seat on the bed.
“Nope. No words, no bold statement for someone to find. Just… something to call you mine and call me yours. Something no one will know unless we tell them.”
Loki smiled and when he slipped on the ring, Tony’s breath caught. It shimmered for a moment before disappearing from sight. It reappeared quickly, but Tony knew it would fade away in public as easy as Loki soft gaze and gentle kisses.
“It is well made, Anthony. Thank you.”
Loki shifted forward and Tony met him for a kiss. It was the kind of soft, intimate embrace that made Tony’s chest flood with warmth. It was a feeling that only deepened when Loki’s hand cupped his cheek and he felt the chill of the metal.
It represented everything Tony had wanted and as he kissed Loki, he slipped his own ring on, knowing that the only important person knew that it was there.