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It took a long time to notice it. Too long, really. In his defence, he’d just been enjoying himself; enjoying have sex, kissing, being in a relationship again. He was so wrapped up in them that he hadn’t looked too hard outside and at the people around them.
It took Pepper to make him realise.
He’d been at Stark Industries for one of the rare meetings he couldn’t sneak away from. He’d barely paid attention (as per usual) and been on his phone texting (excitingly new in terms of the occupant) and ignoring almost everything.
It was only after they’d finally finished and he’d been signing documents in Pepper’s office that she’d brought it up.
“Tony,” she said softly, her tone enough to make him look up and pay attention. Her brow was furrowed. “It doesn’t bother you that I’m dating again, does it?”
“No?” He frowned. “Why? Are they being an asshole? Do I need to get the suit? Do I-”
Pepper rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t you dare.”
“Well, the offer’s there,” he insisted.
Pepper’s smile grew wider – yet, all too soon it faded, back to being pensive. He put down the pen and focused on her fully. Even though they were no longer dating, it didn’t mean he’d stopped caring about her or her happiness.
“Pep?”
“I just wanted to make sure. You didn’t have to ignore her because of me.”
Tony blinked. “Huh? Who?”
She raised her eyebrow. “The attorney in the meeting. The one from the other firm.”
Tony frowned, thinking back. She was brunette, gorgeous body, confident smile. She’d held his hand a touch too long, but not in a way that was annoying. Actually, she’d been making eye-contact with him every time he'd glanced up.
“Oh. Right. Her.”
Pepper sighed loudly. “Tony. We’re friends. I’ve seen you pick up a dozen women only to shoo them on their way come morning. It’s really not a problem for me.”
Tony blinked. He then blinked again.
“Er. Pep. Why would I be interested in her? I mean… you know I’m dating someone, right?”
Pepper’s eyebrows skyrocketed and her lips parted in pure, genuine shock.
“You are? Of course, I didn’t know! Why didn’t you tell me?”
But I did…
Yet, the words didn’t slip past his lips because, when he thought about it, he hadn’t told her about it. He’d just assumed she’d worked it out. She’d walked in on them a dozen times in the lab. She’d spoken to him when he’d picked up Tony’s phone because he’d been too busy.
She’d almost caught them making out for Christ’s sake.
And maybe it shouldn’t have made him suspicious, maybe he should have blamed it on his lack of communication skills that people always said he had when it came to relationships, but this…
“Pep,” he said slowly. “Has there been any indication at all that I was dating someone?”
“No,” she said, still looking a little hurt.
“No casual, lingering touches and looks. No rumpled clothes, kiss-swollen lips or even an accidental mistaken grabbing of the wrong tie?”
Pepper’s confusion overcame her hurt. “No. There hasn’t been. Should there have been?”
Yes. Yes, there fucking should have.
Because it had been almost a month since they’d slept together, and Tony had thought he was actually dating Loki, but apparently, he was the only one who’d ever seen it.
In hindsight, he should have realised. No one making a comment about him and the repenting trickster god shacking up? No one noticing the dynamic had shifted? The two spies might not permanently live in the tower, but they’d visited twice since the first time they’d had sex.
And then there was Thor. How the hell would he be oblivious to his brother reacting different around someone?
No, clearly Loki had been hiding their relationship.
He’d been so furious; he’d barely said goodbye to Pepper. Absently promising to finish the paperwork and explain later. He’d then stormed through the building and down to his car. He’d driven back, driving a little more recklessly than usual.
He’d then stalked through the tower, the cloud of frustration building until he could finally reach Loki’s room and fling open the door.
The mage was, predictably, reading on his couch.
He glanced up, frowning immediately. “Well, that is a worrisome greeting. Should I be planning the demise of someone?”
As he spoke, he unwound from where his legs had been crossed underneath him. He stood and came forward, smiling faintly and reaching out – probably to pull him into a kiss, maybe even a hug.
(Because Loki was surprisingly affectionate, surprisingly open with his gestures. But that made a hell of a lot of sense now since no one else could see them.)
He was so annoyed, so hurt that he flinched away from the mage’s hand. Loki stilled; his expression froze before disappearing. He was noticeably guarded as he lowered his hand. Tony cut to the chase.
“Pepper tried to convince me to date someone today,” he said flatly, watching the mage carefully. “Something I didn’t expect since I kind of thought she’d have worked out I was fucking someone.”
“Ah,” Loki breathed. His gaze flicked away. He lowered his arm and took a step back. “I hope her attempts did not cause you too much discomfort.”
“Discomfort,” Tony repeated flatly.
“Of course,” Loki said, “If a date with her intended choice would be of benefit then-”
“So, you want me to date someone else?”
Loki cringed. Violently. Yet, a second later, he pressed his lips together, seeming to remove all emotion from his face.
“If that is best,” he said flatly.
Tony stared at him. Trying in vain, to make any fucking sense about what was going on: Loki had hidden their relationship, Loki was telling him to date someone Pepper recommended, Loki looked the way he only ever looked when he was completely shutting down his emotions.
Loki was making no fucking sense.
“Okay,” Tony said, pulling in a harsh breath and trying to reign in his temper. (He deserved a fucking medal.) “Let’s start from the top. We’ve been,” dating, he wanted to say, but abruptly didn’t feel comfortable with the term, “sleeping together and… stuff, for a few weeks now, and you’ve been, what? Keeping anyone from noticing?”
“Of course,” Loki said quietly, focusing on some point behind Tony. His jaw twitched. “I should have factored in the wish for others around you to encourage your future happiness. I had thought your reputation as a so-called ‘playboy’ would minimise such matchmaking.”
Tony was getting more confused by the second. It wasn’t a feeling he was familiar with, normally, things made sense after he had more data. This did not make sense at all.
Thankfully, because at least some inhabitants of the tower were geniuses, (and because his A.I. could probably read the ‘what the fuck?’ painted across his face) JARVIS decided to chime in.
“I believe that Mr Liesmith is under the impression that disguising your relationship is an action you both wish to take.”
Tony had to try very hard not to lose his temper. Frankly, if it wasn’t for the way Loki closed his eyes and seemed to look resigned, he probably would have. Instead, that expression was so sad that it pulled at his heartstrings. It also made guilt gnaw at him as if maybe, somehow, he’d done something to put that idea in Loki’s head.
“Right,” he said, still not completely able to sooth his frustration, “well, I’d like Mr Liesmith to explain how the fuck he came to that conclusion.”
For the first time since he’d learned of the reason for his appearance, Loki looked puzzled. His eyes had opened and he was finally looking at Tony.
“It was obvious.”
“How?” he demanded.
“You propositioned me when we were alone.”
“That is how most propositions happen.”
Loki’s frown deepened. “I am still disliked by your team. Despised, in fact. Even the man you claim is your ‘best friend’ loathes me. Being seen in my presence, in my… affections, would never be a wise or preferred choice.”
Tony wanted to snipe back, but he didn’t for one simple reason: Asgard.
He’d been getting to know Loki over months; long before he decided to kiss and sleep with him. They’d been growing close, friendly even. Sure, no one had liked it and everyone had warned him at least twice, but he’d always had the immediate clap back: he’s here repenting. What am I supposed to do? Ignore him and all the knowledge he has? Let him brood and discover ways to kill us in our sleep?
Thor had been the only one supportive of Loki. The one who'd dismissed everyone’s dislike and distaste and even said, ‘Loki has always been hard to grow fond of. But do not worry, he will enjoy speaking with Stark. A fine thing to have time with one such as Stark.’
And Loki had been the one to respond when Clint had angrily asked how he liked being in a tower with people who couldn’t stand him. He'd raised his eyebrow at the archer, shrugged and calmly remarked, ‘I am used to it.’
It meant that finally, Tony had the data that was making it all fall into place. Landing with heavy smacks into the battered organ that was his heart, because, Loki had run the odds. He’d figured a lifetime of being disliked, unwanted, and hidden in the fucking shadows, was going to play out here.
And where exactly had they proven him wrong? He was surrounded by people who disliked and distrusted him. Like Asgard.
His only defender was his brother and even they didn’t always see eye-to-eye.
Tony had kissed him away from everyone else and Loki had kissed him back. And yeah, okay, Tony had spent the first few days making sure people didn’t know if only because he hadn’t wanted to deal with the bullshit. But then he’d slipped up, then he’d been too keen to kiss and touch Loki. Then Loki had started to touch and kiss him back.
And he’d been a little too excited to experience that so he hadn’t been looking at the bigger picture - but Loki had seen what he hadn’t. Loki had compensated and that meant…
“You hid us so that I’d keep dating you.”
Loki blinked, seeming surprised he’d actually called it that. In fact, he almost smiled as if him giving their relationship that name overrode every other shit part of the whole situation.
“I quite like you, Stark,” Loki answered softly. “And I enjoy touching you outside of your rooms.”
There was good and bad in that sentence. Good in that Loki had confessed he liked him. And bad because it really highlighted that Loki thought hiding himself was his only shot at continuing that. It really was more than he could stand. Tony closed the distance and touched the man’s chest.
“I like you too,” Tony said just as gently, watching Loki’s earlier smile grow. “And I was angry because I hadn’t realised that you’d been hiding our relationship. I thought Pepper knew. I thought everyone knew. Or well, maybe a few people hadn’t caught on but I thought it was just a matter of time.”
Now, it was Loki’s turn to look at him like he’d just spoken a foreign language.
Tony offered a small smile. “Babe. I was never planning on hiding this. When I date people, I don’t do it in the shadows.”
Loki stared at him for a long moment, clearly computing everything. Tony half wondered if he’d need JARVIS to chime in too – but then Loki ducked in a kissed him. It was soft and slow; tender. Loki cupped his neck with one hand and pulled him close with the other.
They ended up slotted together and when they pulled apart, they breathed softly. Tony opened his eyes but Loki’s were still closed. Tony started rubbing his thumb over Loki’s cheek, just waiting for the mage to collect himself. Eventually, he spoke, “They will not be happy.”
“They’re rarely happy with either of us anyway.”
Loki smiled faintly and opened his eyes. His thumb traced Tony’s jaw.
“I am used to illusions.”
I’m used to having to hide, Tony translated. It hurt, but it also made him more determined.
“We won’t have to leap out all at once. Slow and steady is fine by me, I’d just rather not fight off hook up attempts. I’m kind of taken, after all.”
“Oh, are you?” Loki said, looking and sounding so thoroughly pleased.
“Absolutely, and when we’re ready, everyone is going to know it.”
Loki smiled again, a brief glimpse of his dimples showing before he kissed Tony. It successfully ended the conversation – but then, Tony hadn’t needed to keep talking. As long as the air was clear, they could take their time letting the rest of the world find out about them.