Shattered Reflections | Tony x Loki

Loki lingered in the kiss, slower this time, more deliberate. It wasn't just hunger—it was something deeper, something Tony couldn't quite put into words.

When they finally pulled apart, Loki didn't step away. He stayed close, his forehead barely brushing Tony's. His breath was steady, but Tony could feel the tension in his body, the way he was still waiting for something to go wrong.

Tony sighed. "You keep looking at me like you expect me to pull away."

Loki exhaled sharply, pulling back just enough to meet Tony's gaze. "Perhaps I do."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, you've got a nasty habit of expecting the worst."

Loki's lips twitched, but there was no amusement in his expression. "Experience has taught me well."

Tony studied him, frowning. "Yeah? Well, maybe it's time to get a second opinion."

Loki shook his head, stepping back fully now, putting space between them. Tony hated the loss of warmth, but he let him go—let him breathe.

"This is dangerous," Loki murmured, repeating words he had already said before.

Tony folded his arms. "You keep saying that like it's gonna scare me off."

Loki looked at him for a long moment, unreadable. Then, finally, he sighed. "It should."

Tony smirked. "Yeah, well, I've never been great at self-preservation."

Loki let out a breath, shaking his head. "You truly are impossible."

Tony took a step forward, his expression softening. "Maybe. But I meant what I said. I'm not going anywhere."

Loki didn't respond right away. His hands twitched at his sides, like he wasn't sure whether to reach for Tony again or push him away.

Then, quietly, he said, "You should hate me."

Tony blinked. "Wow. That's a hell of a mood killer."

Loki didn't smile. "I am serious."

Tony sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. But here's the thing—you're not the guy who showed up in New York with an army anymore."

Loki let out a dry, bitter laugh. "You think so?"

"I know so," Tony countered. "I've seen you fight against this. Against him. You think I don't know what it looks like to crawl out of a dark place? Newsflash, buddy—been there, done that. And yeah, maybe I should hate you. But I don't."

Loki exhaled, shaking his head like he didn't believe him. Like he couldn't believe him.

Tony stepped closer. "You wanna know what I do feel?"

Loki hesitated. "...What?"

Tony tilted his head. "I feel like you've got more weight on your shoulders than one guy should have to carry. And I feel like maybe—just maybe—you don't have to carry it alone anymore."

Loki stilled. He was staring at Tony now, expression unreadable.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, finally, Loki let out a slow, quiet breath. "...You are a fool."

Tony smirked. "Yeah, well, I've been called worse."

Loki huffed, looking away. But this time, when Tony reached for him, he didn't pull away.