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Loki was as beautiful as he was dangerous. He was unyielding and unwavering. The dominance rolled out of him in waves, and the team quickly learned not to fuck with him unnecessarily. For all he was the God of tricks and the soul of the party, he was ruthless if offended.
Loki needed no one, and he was the force to reckon with. Tony respected his obsessive attachment to independence, as he himself maintained the same principles.
After all, when all was said and done, you were left with you. Thus, when Loki let him see how distraught he was, Tony was perplexed.
“Prancer…” He called gently, touching Loki's slumped shoulder. Loki shuddered and turned, embracing him tightly. Tony's bones moaned but he ignored it to gently caress Loki's hair. “All of them would be dead. Thanks to you some of them are breathing. You have done well.”
Loki whined, tightening his grip. Tony grunted painfully.
“You'll break me, sweetheart.” Tony said amusedly. Loki loosened his vice grip but kept clinging to him. “We should relocate.” Tony suggested. It was not like he cared if anyone saw them together, only an idiot hadn't noticed the pull between them. However, vulnerability was not something they showed easily, so Tony didn't wish to spoil this moment, he rather Loki remembered it fondly than with angry embarrassment.
“Why? Afraid I taint your reputation!?” Loki hissed, still holding him close.
“No.” Tony said adamantly, tapping on Loki's shoulder. Loki grumbled displeasingly but granted his wish, watching him challengingly. Tony brushed his cheek lovingly, smiling at him tenderly. “Don't wanna share you, sweetheart.”
“Greedy.” Loki taunted, and poof they went.
Naturally, their cuddle fest quickly grew into something entirely different, not that any of them had a mind to complain.
In the light of the day, though, Tony was second-guessing; not his attachments nor his desire to make it last but Loki’s wish to participate in any of it beyond one night. However, when he tried to untangle himself from the God in question, he woke up immediately.
“No.” He whined, tangling them back. “Please, stay.”
Tony smiled helplessly at him and settled down. Loki hummed happily and fell asleep instantly, and that was how their romantic relationship began.
Loki for him, and Loki for others, were two entirely different vibes, and at first, he was struggling with adjustment.
Homely Loki, a nickname that Tony wouldn’t dare to breath to the God ever, was cuddly, needy and overall adorable. He demanded to be held, spoiled, loved, adored, teased, worshiped, and fucked. Tony delivered gladly.
It was heaven. Loki was amazing in every aspect – emotional, physical, intellectual. Cloud nine had nothing on their bliss.
Public Loki was as he always had been – commanding, eccentric and untouchable. Tony quickly figured out that lovely dovely stuff was off the table when others were present.
At first, Tony worried that Loki was pretending to be something he was not, for various reasons. However, the data he got from the observations begged to differ. Then he began to worry that Loki didn’t want others to know about their relationships. He was proved wrong in most spectacular way.
It was a gala. He was bored. Loki was untouchable, and he ached for something, anything. A drink too many and he failed to shoo the pretty brunette away. She was encouraged by his lack of focus. Loki was not amused. Between one giggle and another, he was plastered against Loki’s back. The God was holding him possessively. He giggled again, patting Loki’s arm lovingly. Loki though was glaring at the woman poisonously. “He’s taken, move along.” Loki hissed loud enough for the hall to hear. Tony found it sweet, Pepper less so when the news hit the papers.
A year flew by, and they went strong. Arguments were far and between. Silly squabbles made them laugh and they grew closer as the result. They clicked in bed, lab and on the battlefield. They, also, learnt to share space without inconveniencing the other, and Tony was obsessed with their quite evenings.
Which meant that Tony’s tolerance for bullshit became naught. It was not to say that he was ever accepting of slight towards anyone he considered close. He simply hadn’t interrupted unless told to. He respected his friends and family, trusting their process.
However, when Thor’s brainless friends came to visit, Tony snapped.
At first, it looked like any other interaction. Loki was sniping at them acidly, and they burned beautifully. Alas, their brains didn’t catch with the program, and they have crossed the line.
“No wonder you haven’t presented him to court.” Sif hissed. “Rightly so. He is a catch. It is wise of you to keep him unawares of much better options than you could ever hope to be.”
Tony frowned at the accusation. The hell she thought he was!? He wouldn’t cheat on Loki, and not because there was literally no one who could tempt him at this point, so fucking lost to the God he was, but simply because Loki could give anyone a run for their money.
Unfortunately, Loki didn’t share his sentiment. The idle observer wouldn’t have noticed the minute tension in Loki’s body, that indicated doubt and fear, nor the glimmer of hurt that entered his eyes. Tony, though, saw it and snapped.
“Who the fuck allowed you to slight my beloved!?” Tony growled.
“Friend Tony, forgive Sif’s artless words. She is unaware of Midgardian courting customs, so she finds it strange that Loki hadn’t allowed others to offer their suit before solidifying his c…your relationship status.” Thor said, smiling sheepishly. Tony’s eyes narrowed. Loki tensed and his eyes filled with malice.
So, as a rule, Tony didn’t mix in their talks nor he ever suggested anything involving Asgard, but this was a step too far.
“Bring ‘em then. I will gladly tell them to fuck off.” Tony growled. Loki grimaced. Sif grinned sharply. Thor sighed heavily.
“I pray to Nornes that you will.” Thor finalized.
Tony scowled, crossing his arms. Who the fuck they thought he was!?
When they hit Asgardian feast, and Tony saw a line of suiters, he got Thor’s concern and Sif’s glee. The godly folk looked, well, godly, and Tony was curious. His eyes glimmered, and he talked with everyone admiring the looks, the smarts, and vast experiences.
He enjoyed the fuck of this feast, but by the end of it, he stayed true to his first assessment: he was Loki’s, period.
Loki was not happy about any of it, and Tony could see a nasty prank in his future, but he would live. Loki needed it, as did he, if he was honest with himself.
The party ended. The hall felt silent. Tony thought it stupid, but his ego was feeding of this big time.
“Dear suiters,” Tony said sweetly. “You are impressive, each in your own right, but you fall short. Loki is and was the only one I want. Sorry, not sorry.”
The hall frowned at him. Asgardians didn’t approve. Tony didn’t give a fuck.
Loki relaxed, but still didn’t look impressed.
“What!?” Tony inquired. He chose him, didn’t he?
“We are betrothed now.” Loki announced chirpily. Tony gaped at him.
“Why haven’t you said something!?” He shrieked.
“I told you not to get involved. You decided not to heed my warning.” Loki shrugged, looking completely unconcerned about it.
The minute panic Tony felt subsided, gradually melting into delight, because he knew Loki. Loki didn’t do things that he didn’t want to.
“You could have just asked.” Tony complained.
“I was planning to before you spoiled it spectacularly with your unneeded intervention.” Loki grumbled. Tony rolled his eyes.
“Sorry, betrothed, but kinda comes with the package.”
Loki sighed sufferingly, as the asshole that he was.
“I suppose, I would have to make do.”
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t push yourself, I’m quite sure there’s someone in the hall who would gladly mend my broken heart.” Tony teased, and expected to be snarked at, but instead Loki grabbed him and held tightly, like in the beginning, when he thought it might end at any second.
“Please, don’t go. I was jesting.” He pleaded beautifully. Tony shuddered, his eyes darkening dramatically.
“Not fair.” He whined, absently kneading Loki’s sides. Loki smirked at him triumphantly. “Yeah, yeah, got me wrapped around your finger.”
“A miracle that I won’t take lightly.” Loki promised solemnly.
“Love you too, sweetheart.” Tony murmured, admiring the awed look he created on the God’s face. “Tell me how the Asgardian wedding works, don’t wanna stay in the dark.”
Loki features softened. He smiled gingerly and led them away from the crowd, excitedly relaying the plans he made, and Tony finally got how happiness felt like.