Chapter Text
Perma Link for Art Work - The Trouble with Tricksters Two
Chapter 1 - It’s Been a While
The New York City skyline was ablaze with lights, and rainbow flames still flickered in a complicated knot pattern behind him, as Loki stepped towards the penthouse’s terrace doors. “Good evening, Prince Loki,” Jarvis said as Loki strode across the living area’s polished expanse of marble. “Sir is already down in the reception area, with Ms. Potts. He asks that you join him immediately.”
“Jarvis.” Acknowledging the AI with a slight nod, Loki paused a moment when he got to the large mirror in the entry hall. Deft fingers erased the slight disarray that being flung across the galaxy caused to his up-swept ponytail. Quicker than sky walking it might be, but traveling via the Bi-Frost was not without its downsides if you wanted to make a good appearance. At last satisfied that his hair and finely tailored suit was restored to order, Loki adjusted his tie. A soft chime from the now open elevator doors was Jarvis’ gentle reminder that Tony was waiting for him to arrive at his precious gala. Since he didn’t believe that another few minutes was going to kill Tony, Loki glanced towards one of Jarvis’ cameras.
“Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?” Loki asked, making small talk with the AI, partly because he did want to know, but mostly because it was just never too early to start teasing Tony. Who had, no doubt, been alerted the minute that he arrived, and if he knew his mad engineer, Tony was desperate for him to relieve the tedium of this evenings event. And the engineer would most likely also be pestering Jarvis for minute by minute updates on Loki’s progress down to the ballroom.
“Several items that might be of interest, but nothing that can’t wait until later.” The elevator chimed once more, drawing attention to the still opened doors. “As I said, Sir asks that you join him immediately.”
"Jarvis, patience is a virtue. A virtue that Tony desperately needs to practice more, as well you know." Twitching his cuffs into place as one last delay, Loki winked at his reflection.
"Admittedly, yes. And normally, I would gladly join you in attempting to impart that lesson to Sir. Not that I feel it would do the least good, but hope does spring eternal. However, it does not do so tonight. Sir has been very much looking forward to your return, and thus our attempt would be wasted." Jarvis replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
Oh well.
If he played his part right, soon his mere presence would not be the only thing Tony was desperate for.
It had been an interesting five years since he had staked his claim on Tony. Not that Tony had aged in the slightest, since he’d unknowingly stolen an apple smoothie Loki had made with one of Idun’s golden apples. Something that Odin still brought up almost every time Frigga was out of ear shot. Odin, of course, did not believe for a moment that Loki had not set Tony up for what was to the Midgardian only a retaliatory prank. Fortunately for Loki, the All Father might be all knowing, but he had no hard proof. So no matter how Odin picked at the topic, Loki regarded it as ancient history. What wasn't ancient history, were the women, plural, he would no doubt find circling like sharks around his Stark.
At last standing in the elevator, Loki reflected wryly on how several years ago, in a moment of weakness he had signed an agreement not to hex, injure, or psychologically harm any of Tony’s old flames. He consoled himself that it was most likely just sentiment on his part, since the agreement had occurred almost immediately after he and Tony had come to an understanding on their relationship. During the warm glow and intoxication period actually, when he was arguably a little bit possessive. Not that he regretted the incident that occurred; that blonde reporter had it coming to her. Ms. Potts was not, however, very understanding, explaining that she had managed to put up with the same annoyances without major incident. Still, she was willing to give him an incentive to follow her lead. To wit, the decent sized block of SI stock that Ms. Potts had given him in exchange for his signature. So now, instead of taking out his frustrations on the various old flames dancing around Tony trying to re-ignite his passion for them, he instead had to console himself with the amount of dividends being deposited in his bank account. Not that he minded the money, because he really, really didn’t. But not being able to have all the stitches in some annoying mortals garments dissolve… it did make for a rather boring evening.
OoooO
Everything in the reception area either glittered or shone except for the long white falls of fabric that masked off the service area behind, and on either side of the stage. In front of the soft white curtains, a small band, fronted by two chicks with electric violins, played soft background music that blended with the murmuring conversations of the crowd.
Waiters circulated between the guests, as did Pepper. Or rather, Ms. Potts, CEO of Stark International. Who was, Tony had to admit, as sleek and glittering as the venue she wove through. Having released Tony over an hour ago, she still paused here and there to smile and say a few words before taking a half dozen steps and doing it all over again with the next set of attendees. Not that Tony felt the least bit guilty about that. Hell no. He’d spent two hours working the room with Pepper, easily visiting every single important contact. Tony might not like working a crowd, but after all these years he sure as shit knew how to do it efficiently. Hell, even drunk he could still charm, depending on their sex, the socks, or knickers off of his guests.
One item in Tony’s favor was that tonight’s crowd knew him. And they mostly knew that anyone could approach him while he was with Pepper. Once he’d left her side however, it was best to wait for him to come to you. If he wanted to talk to you, that was. Which Tony did tonight, trying to distract himself while waiting for Loki to appear. Already half way buzzed, he amped up his flirt mode and went looking for entertainment of the momentary sort.
Glass in hand, Tony surveyed the crowd looking for his next distraction.
“Jason, right? I heard about your new acquisition, nice price,” Tony shook the man’s hand. “Hey, Myron. I read your last paper, and whoa. You sure you don’t want to come work for me? No? Consult a bit maybe? No? Fine. Be that way,” Tony said, smiling charmingly before slipping away and opening his arms for a brief hug. “Josie, Josie, Josie. I swear you’re better looking every time I see you.” His smile grew wide as the woman just laughed, pushing him lightly away. Winking to her tittering companions, Tony made good his escape before one of them could do or say something stupid in an attempt to catch his attention.
Stupid because, while Tony still had the reputation of a playboy, he had toned quite a bit since he and Loki had come to an understanding. Oft times to the point of arranging to for his choice of the evening to head to Stark Tower in a separate vehicle, before getting in his own car to follow her. While this fooled very few people, it did make for a dearth of paparazzi shots worth selling. That had made the last five years of ‘Courting’ Asgard-style a little more drama free. If that was possible for anything involving Loki and, honestly, Tony.
Of course the petting also helped, as high school-ish as it was. Tony would have sworn it was going to totally get on his last nerve, but amazingly it hasn’t. Admittedly, there is a lot of individual bath time after a heavy "session", but he figures that was only to be expected. And of course, it does help that Jarvis is sworn to prevent anything from going too far. To the point of calling Steve, activating a fire extinguisher weilding Dum-E, or whatever it takes to break them up. One oversight on his part had been the time Jarvis had actually gotten Fury on Video Conference. Fury screaming, in pain or aggravation, Tony wasn’t really sure, was a complete boner-kill. It worked, but at the expense of scaring Tony for life. Loki, bastard that he was, had just laughed.
However, it has become something of a game for them, as they try to see which one can make the other ‘tap out’ so to speak. Having Jarvis call it quits is counted as a double loss, and takes a point off of each of them. And of course they are keeping score, that’s half the fun. The score sheet is stored in Jarvis, oh the irony. Tony would be lying if he said he didn’t kind of enjoy spending hours slowly, and totally, wrecking Loki. Even giving the god a last little peck on his forehead, when Loki gasped, ‘enough, stop’, before pulling back and gleefully and reminding his desperate Trickster, ‘We only have forty-five more years to wait, babe!’, before swanking off to a hot (or cold) shower. At least Tony likes it better than the times when he is the one that has been destroyed, and Loki is laughing over his shoulder as he swans away.
However, when Loki isn’t there, and Tony wakes up in the guest apartment a few floors below the penthouse after a one night stand, Tony does wonder if was Loki doing the same thing. That whole Loki being under the Asgardian age of consent, and technically restricted to age-mates to actually do the horizontal tango was starting to wear on Tony’s possessive nature. Despite what they had agreed to, he hated the thought of Loki possibly (probably, almost certainly) banging other people. Even if the god swore he never indulged so while on Earth. And when the asshole goes to Asgard? Who knows what he does with 'age-mates' once he’s fulfilled whatever stupid task Odin demanded? Tony just know Loki indulges a bit, and despite him doing the same thing, it makes Tony crazy to think about it.
Several people in the group he was currently standing with, yet ignoring, eyed Tony as he grimaced and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Gifting them with an insincere smile, he slipped away without saying another word. Okay, so he was bored. And horny. Nothing new there. Fortunately, Loki would be checking in soon, and he could look forward to the tiny eddies of mayhem the god amused them both with. And then later? Later, Tony’s week would at last take a turn for the better.
He tapped off a message to Jarvis, ‘For the love of Tesla, J. What's the hold up with my Godling??!!!’