Stark put down the welder that he had been working with and pulled off his goggles with a look of triumph on his face. "That should do it," he said happily, picking up back piece of his suit that he had just adjusted the boosters on.

"Is there any way that you could test it before putting it into effect?" Loki asked as Stark refitted the piece to his suit.

"We could go out and do a test run. There's just the fact that I would have to go completely limp and fall from a really high height and allow it to land me. I will have to be extremely quick if it doesn't work."

"Even if you do crash, which is quite unlikely given my calculations, I can heal you," Loki said, standing up from the chair that he had been sitting in to observe Stark as he worked on the suit. Loki had not felt the need to help out on the welding and mechanics part. That just wasn't his thing.

"Sir, I would like to inform you of the party tonight," JARVIS chimed in.

"Party?" Stark asked. "This is a new one on me."

"It is a large clean energy campaign and they are hosting a gala tonight, downtown. You are expected to represent Stark Enterprises, as Pepper is not available, sir."

Stark grumbled to himself. "Why is this the first I am hearing about this?"

"It is not, I told you a month ago, sir. You elected to ignore me, and when I told you last week you nodded, but you must have forgotten."

Stark grumbled some more, and then he turned to Loki. "Well, I know the last time we were out with the reporters it ended quite badly, but this time they will have plenty of other big-shots to bother. Would you like to be my date?"

Loki really wasn't one for lavish parties and large crowds, as he had had many of them when he was a child, being son to the throne and all, but he had to admit that the idea of accompanying Stark to this event sounded quite nice. And he expected that Stark had learned his lesson from the last time that Loki had been in public with him. If he hadn't learned his lesson... well, Loki would see to it that he did.

"I accept your invitation and shall accompany you to this event," Loki said, nodding slightly.

"JARVIS, what time is this thing?" Stark asked.

"It starts at eight o'clock tonight, sir," JARVIS responded.

Stark checked his watch. "Well, that totally gives us time to test the new software!" Stark said happily. "Come on, Reindeer Games, let's see how precise your calculations were!"

XxX

Loki was currently standing on the roof of Stark's mansion squinting up into the sunlight, trying to keep an eye on Stark in his suit from where he was standing. Come to think of it, this was the stupidest idea ever. At least Loki had communications with Stark, having had a little communicator shoved into his hands by the grinning billionaire.

"Tony, let's get this over with. Stop fooling around up there and do what you need to," Loki said irritably over the comm.

"Alright, alright," Stark responded. "Now usually to trigger the auto-pilot the suit would have to read my vitals and see that I am unconscious, but I am going to trigger it manually today since I am perfectly conscious."

"Obviously."

"Yeah, yeah, so, here goes nothing," he said, and with that Loki saw the shining gold and red suit start falling from the sky. It had fallen only a few meters when the blasters took over, slowing his decent to a safe pace. If one didn't know that Stark was supposed to be unconscious one would think that he had full control of the suit. The system landed him gently on his back a few feet away from where Loki was standing.

"See, Stark? My calculations were perfectly correct," Loki said, walking over to Stark who was still lying on the ground. Loki kneeled down next to him. "Now, now, Tony, no pouting," he said, tapping on the mask of Stark's helmet. There was no response whatsoever. "Come on, Tony, stop fooling around, we have to get ready for the gala, remember?" Loki began to get worried. What was Stark doing, or was he really hurt? Could there really have been something wrong with his calculations? "Stark!" Loki said, shaking the metal shoulders of Stark's suit, trying to get him to wake up, or whatever it was this was. "Get up, you fool!"

He was about to summon magic to do something when the mask of his helmet lifted up to reveal a laughing Stark. "I totally got you!" he snickered as he pulled himself to his feet.

"That was not in the least bit funny," Loki said, crossing his arms and pulling his best pouting look, which was very good, if he said so himself. "And I knew that you were playing dead, Stark."

"You fell for it, hook, line, and sinker," Stark said matter-of-factly as he walked, still in his suit, to the door that led inside from the roof.

"How dare you play a trick on the Trickster God?" Loki hissed, walking faster to catch up with Stark. "You could have just started a war that you have no hope of winning."

"No hope of winning, eh?" Stark said, halting in his walk for a second to turn and look at Loki with an eyebrow raised. "What makes you so sure of yourself?"

Loki made a face that suggested it was obvious why he was so sure of himself. "Stark, you may be blind, but I am the Trickster God. Doesn't that explain everything in itself?"

"Well, that's just a title. All that other mythology is wrong about you, right? You do not have children, right?"

Loki huffed. "The children thing is a lie, yes, but I am still the God of Lies and the Trickster and a Frost Giant. There is nothing that can change that. You have only seen just a taste of the horridness that I possess, and it still lurks somewhere within me. Those were not myths; I can still teeter off of that edge, Stark." He really didn't want to teeter off of that edge, but it was there, waiting to turn him back into a hateful villain, the creature that had been so disliked. He sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

Somehow their simple little argument had turned to something deeper than either had been prepared for. Green eyes looked deep into brown and both knew that all of this could blow up in a second, one wrong thing said, one step taken too far.

"I am not underestimating you, Loki-Dokey, I was just joking around. Didn't mean to piss you off or anything," Stark said, and Loki deflated. Stark really hadn't done anything, was just telling Loki that he wasn't as evil as the titles suggested, but Loki didn't want Stark to let down his guard completely. Loki hadn't let down his own guard completely, just waiting to feel those hopeless, revengeful thoughts. He hadn't felt them in quite some time, but he was sure that one little trigger would flip the switch. Loki was on his toes, trying to watch ahead for said trigger.

"Sorry, Tony, I just...." He shook his head and followed Stark back inside the mansion, feeling less cheery than he did when they had made their way out. Stark used his machines to un-suit and soon was back to wearing just a t-shirt and jeans, leaning on one of his tables, rubbing his hand over his face in a weary gesture.

"Just to let you know, Reindeer Games, you may be the God of Lies, but I am Tony Stark," he said, making outward motions with his hand to suggest that this was a big deal. "And here on Earth that is a big deal."

Loki smiled. Stark did know how to cheer Loki up, and that was a feat in itself.

"You still up for partying tonight?" Stark asked, checking his watch.

Loki shrugged. "I think I could use for a little partying. And other people that aren't you. No offense, but your head is rather overblown," Loki said, not really meaning it, as other people bored him to death, but wanting to poke at Stark.

"Alrighty then," Stark said, rubbing his hands. "I may also be the god of partying," he said, standing up and dragging Loki along so that they could go get ready.

XxX

"This reminds me of that event that I attended in Germany," Loki said, examining the large crowd and the many expensive cars that the valets were parking. The people stepping out of these cars were expensively dressed, Tony and Loki among them. Loki had materialized an expensively tailored suit with a designer tie that really brought out his green eyes and black hair. Tony kept flashing looks at him, because dang he looked dashing.

"Yeah, but don't go beating people with a stick," Tony grumbled, remembering all too well what had happened in Germany. "And don't go beating up old men."

Loki laughed and allowed Tony to take him by the arm and usher him into the large, beautiful building that the event was taking place in. It was decorated stylishly and was already teeming with the rich, beautiful, and powerful. Tony was used to these events, having had to go to them all the time, but Loki was staring around with interest, never having been to a human event of such size.

"The music in Germany had been a little more tasteful," he muttered, listening to the more modern music that was playing in the background as people mingled and sipped on drinks that passing waiters were carrying before the actual proceedings began. A waiter dressed in a tuxedo stopped in front of the pair that was just entering. "Drink, gentlemen?" he asked, holding a tray of some sort of alcohol in fancy stemmed glasses.

"Yes, don't mind if I do," Tony said, taking two drinks off of the tray, and handing one to Loki, who took it hesitantly.

"You know, Tony, this could be poisoned," Loki said suspiciously, sniffing at the contents of his glass.

"You're right," Tony said, and then took a large swig. He smiled at the frowning god. "It's not poisoned, see?"

Loki just grumbled and took a sip out of his own glass. The two made their way back to the bar and dance floor, Tony having to stop now and then to shake somebody's hand or introduce his 'friend.' He had taken to telling everyone that Loki was indeed his date. He just loved the look of astonishment that graced everyone's faces, to be replaced with a glassy smile or quick goodbye. Some of the women stared at Loki with flirty looks until Tony took care of that with a peck on Loki's cheek or a comment about how Loki was one of the only people that was able to tolerate living in the same house as Tony Stark. And this time Tony made sure that Loki enjoyed it as much as he did. They made a game out of making comments of the people that they saw there, Tony mostly giving Loki all of the dirt he knew on these people, or about how they had gotten to as rich as they were now. Loki enjoyed knowing that all of these pretty faces had something to hide, much like he himself did.

The night went by in a whirlwind, Loki seeing more faces than he could ever remember or even care about. He had been dragged to all different corners of the large party area and had drank more than too many drinks that Tony had shoved into his hands. Tony really was the life of the party, he had to admit. He laughed at the right time, told the right jokes, and knew the right people. He introduced Loki as if he was the best thing ever, and people believed him, smiling friendlily at Loki and introducing themselves happily. The best part about it was when they left and Tony said something snarky to him about the people that had just left.

"You know," Tony said, looping his arm through Loki's. "The only think we haven't done yet is dance." There was something very appealing about the idea of dancing with the tall, graceful god, and Tony really wanted to try it out.

"Hmm..." Loki said.

"Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Not if you step on my feet. You seem to be a little inebriated." But Loki allowed Tony to drag him over to the dance floor, which already held many dancing couples. The song that was on at the moment was a nice, slower one, one perfect for an elegant dance with an elegant partner, which Tony had. As soon as Tony pulled Loki closer to him he noticed that Loki had a mischievous smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Tony didn't have to wonder what that meant for long, because Tony found out as soon as they started moving.

Loki must have learned a thing or two about dancing during his childhood as prince of Asgard, because he was twirling Tony around the floor with ease, weaving in and out of the other couples and stepping in perfect time to the music. He didn't even need to watch where he was going; his eyes were locked tightly to Tony's, and Tony marveled at the twinkle that he saw there, those bright green eyes standing out so marvelously from the pale skin and dark hair, and shining brightly in the mood lighting that had been placed about the room. They were easily the most skilled pair there, and that was saying something when in the midst of this rich crowd. Nobody noticed them though, and Tony almost suspected that Loki had put a spell on them, keeping unwanted eyes off of their strangely intimate moment. He would have also thought he would get dizzy with the amount of spinning and twirling they were doing, but Tony just felt electrified by the feel of Loki leading him this easily. He suspected that this also had something to do with magic.

The song ended all too soon, and Loki easily transitioned from one song to the next. This song was more of a slow dance than the other one, and Loki pulled Tony tightly against him in a fluid motion that still kept in time with his now gentle rhythm.

"I didn't know you had such a flair for dancing," Tony said softly, still staring up at the magnificent god that he was pressed against.

"The one princely thing that I bested Thor at," Loki said, a smile still pulling at the corners of his mouth. He easily maneuvered them around a couple that had definitely had too much to drink and continued his small, elegant steps.

Whatever Tony had just been about to say left mind as those eyes pierced him. Why had he never looked so closely at his eyes before? They were downright dazzling now. Tony leaned up to kiss Loki, but before he could do so Loki twirled him under his arm with ease, pressing Tony back up to his chest in one smooth movement. Loki was barely suppressing a smile, and Tony just knew that he had done that on purpose. So Tony tried to kiss him again, with the same result.

"Ach, you!" Tony complain. Loki laughed and kissed Tony sweetly to make up for it. And Tony couldn't stay mad at him.

Suddenly something that had been bugging Tony for a while came to the forefront of his mind, especially after seeing how vibrant and gorgeous the god in front of him was. And now that they were here in the middle of this dance floor, so utterly alone in the crowd, he decided he would bring it up.

"Loki, you're immortal, right?"

Loki seemed a little startled by the question. "Yes, if somebody doesn't kill us we live forever," Loki answered, searching Tony's eyes for the reason behind this new questioning.

"Well, I'm very mortal and am not getting any younger," Tony mumbled, breaking his eye contact with Loki. Then he heard Loki chuckle, and his gaze snapped right back to the god.

"Tony, do you really think that I wouldn't have thought of that?"

"Uh..."

"Tony, I am far too selfish to allow my possessions to... move on, shall I say?"

"What are you talking about?"

"It's comical that you haven't noticed yet," Loki said, and kept explaining at Tony's death glare. "Ever since I knew that this would last longer than a few days I put a spell on you. As long as you are with me, Tony Stark, you will not age. I can't believe you think that I am so daft as to have not thought about that dilemma."

Tony was speechless. He was not aging, was immortal as long as he was with Loki. It hit him hard. He could be with Loki forever if he wanted to. Geez this was commitment. But Loki hadn't said that he was bound to Loki forever, he had just said that however long that Tony wanted to be with Loki, he could.

"That's some magic you got there," Tony mumbled. Loki laughed in response, but Tony silenced that laugh with a kiss; a kiss that became deeper and more urgent, and they clung to each other tightly. The combination of their close bodies and the leftover euphoria of the dance was overwhelming. They pulled away so that they could catch their breath, and Tony realized that what he wanted to do right now was so not acceptable in a crowded room.

"Would you like me to teleport us back to your mansion?" Loki asked, obviously on the same wavelength as Tony. Tony nodded, not caring that people might see them disappear, not caring that his car was here. All that mattered right now was Loki; Loki pressed so deliciously against him.

And then they were in the bedroom at the mansion, and Loki was shoving him down on the bed, climbing on top of him, his dark hair framing his face as he stared down at Tony and his thin lips curving in that dangerous smile of his. He straddled Tony and leaned down so that his face was mere inches from Tony's. God, Loki's breath smelled delicious, despite all of the alcohol that they both had consumed that night. The smell of alcohol just drifted over top of the amazing smell that was Loki. Loki closed the distance and kissed him in a slow, tender way that elicited a moan from Tony who was barely hanging on to his lust. He had twisted his fingers tightly in the god's raven hair and had used the other hand to pull Loki tightly against him. But Loki was playing this his way. After making Tony's shirt and coat disappear he slowly traced a slim finger down from the bottom of Tony's chin south, ghosting over the arc reactor and down his stomach, his toying fingers doing crazy things to Tony's mind.

Tony moaned, needing more than Loki was currently giving him, and needing more fast. Loki's eyes snapped up to Tony's. He must have seen the desperation there, because he stopped being slow and teasing. And Loki must have been wanting too. There were soon no clothes to be seen and it was rather hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

Tony didn't even think about the expensive suit that had just been immaterialized, or the expensive sports car that was left in the parking lot at the gala. No, there was no room for thoughts with Loki; nothing but Loki. Afterwards, they both fell into a comfortable sleep, still twisted together, nothing waking them until the SHIELD agents came bursting into their room the next morning.

AN: The smut chapter is taking longer than I thought.