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Being a Revenger was a pretty easy role to play. He flew around the universe with a ragtag gang, saved a planet here and there and was otherwise left to his own devices. Like now. Tony was currently bent over his makeshift lab bench tinkering with a new bit of alien tech that Loki had… appropriated for him. Tony always turned a blind eye to the casual thefts that benefited him and, when applicable, supported Loki in his light-finger touches of magical tomes.
It mostly meant he didn’t react when they landed in his bag and pretended to be oblivious when Thor searched Loki for any wrongdoing only to find him completely free of anything incriminating.
It was why when Thor walked into his lab and asked to speak with him, Tony felt immediately on guard. He turned from the tech and gave his most winning smile.
“Of course, Point Break. What’s up?”
“I must speak with you about Loki.”
Tony’s poker face didn’t shift.
“Sure, okay. What about him?”
“I have heard words exchanged between the two of you.”
Well, fuck.
“Okay. Sure. We talk a lot.”
“This was a worrisome conversation, Stark.” Thor closed the distance and placed a hand on Tony’s shoulder. “I had thought you were becoming close. It grieves me to hear that he has become hostile towards you.”
Tony’s worries about being accused of theft faded for a deeply confused frown.
“What? Hostile? Do you mean-oh.”
Tony gave a half-hearted laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. He knew what Thor had overheard.
Loki had been talking about stabbing him. Only, he hadn’t been talking about that kind of stabbing. Loki had been flirting with him, heavily. Tony had been rolling his eyes and trying to concentrate on the alien tech he’d been gifted.
While he was attracted to Loki and wasn’t averse to slipping between the sheets, he’d known the mage was giving him word play not a serious conversation.
“I think you’re missing things, Thor. Loki wasn’t making a threat-”
“Nay, you are mistaken,” Thor said, shaking his head. “Loki’s words were in earnest. It was a warning Stark. I have often fared ill when not taking Loki’s words to heart.”
“Thor, I really think what he was saying to you and what he was saying to me were two drastically different things.”
“My brother has a reputation for lying,” Thor insisted, looking incredibly earnest. “I know this is so, but I assure you, when he speaks of his daggers, he does not speak lightly.”
Tony tilted his head, frowning heavily as he thought over the discussion. It was true that he’d only been giving Loki a portion of his attention, but he really thought he knew Loki well enough to discern actually threats of bodily harm as opposed to over-the-top innuendo.
But maybe he was wrong? Maybe Loki hadn’t liked being ignored.
Thor squeezed his shoulder and it drew Tony back from his thoughts. Thor looked upset and concerned.
“Please, take heed and take care, Stark. I do not wish to see you at odds with my brother. It has been enjoyable to see him with someone whose company he seemed to enjoy.”
“Right,” Tony said, still feeling uncertain. “I’ll go work on mending things then.”
Thor sighed with relief and nodded. Tony continued to feel perplexed as he left the lab. Thor trailed along behind him as he made his way deeper into the ship to the cargo bay. He knew Loki preferred to sit there and read atop the crates. He was exactly where Tony expected.
“Hey, Reindeer Games,” Tony shouted, uncaring of the Thunderer behind him.
Loki looked up from his book with a scowl. “What is it, Anthony?”
“Just confirming, the other week when you were talking about stabbing me, you meant with your dick, right?”
Thor made a choking sound behind him. Tony ignored it. Loki looked momentarily surprised before he chuckled. He also closed his book.
“Yes, Anthony. I was speaking about having you on the nearest surface.”
“Good, right, that’s what I thought.” Tony turned around to look at a mortified Thor. “Sooo, I guess I was right and we can end this little intervention about my health and safety?”
Thor made another noise, but seemed to decide he wanted nothing more to do with the conversation as he turned and high-tailed it out of the room. Tony snorted. He was going to tease the man a lot for that.
However, before he could say as much or even move, he felt someone behind him. He looked over his shoulder to find Loki had teleported into his space.
“Am I to presume that you are not averse to me,” Loki’s lips twitched, “stabbing you?”
“Am I to presume you’re being serious about it this time?” Tony countered.
Loki’s smile finally broke free. He also placed a hand on Tony’s hip.
“Why, Anthony, I would have enthusiastically stabbed you weeks ago.”
Tony laughed. “We’ve got to work on your flirting skills.”
“Why?” Loki asked. “They seem to work quite perfectly.”
Tony would have said something to counter that if the mage hadn’t bent down and covered his lips in a kiss.
And in the end, Tony figured Loki was right about his skill with words. He certainly couldn’t argue with the results.