A Twist of Anything and Everything || Extended Series

Aftermath

Tony cleared his throat, drawing Loki's gaze away from the door. "So then," he started with a menacing look, "what are your intentions with my Naomi?"

Loki raised a brow. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me, I wanna know your intentions with Hepburn out there." Tony gestured to the look, noticing how Loki looked back toward it all too eagerly. He would let it slide though, seeing as how the both of them spent the previous two days grieving her death. They deserved a bit of clinginess. 

"Well," Loki looked back toward him, straightening up in his seat. "Naomi is dear to me, and I intend to stay by her side from this point on." He finished, staring at Tony with an almost challenging gaze. Tony narrowed his eyes in response. He hadn't been intending on fully interrogating Naomi's boyfriend, she was smart enough to chose a decent person to spend her time with, but if Loki wanted to challenge him, Tony wasn't about to back down.

"Good enough answer. But you missed the point." Tony smirked, leaning forward. "You called her darling. I wanna know what thats about." He already knew fully well what 'that' was about. It was painfully obviously the two were romantically involved, the only one dense enough not to see it was Thor.

"You already know Stark, that Naomi and I are in a form of courtship. I fail to see why it would be inappropriate for me to refer to her with such titles, she has never protested against them." Loki smirked right back, refusing to be intimidated or back down from the blunt questions. The trickster was called silver-tongued for a reason. But Tony wasn't satisfied yet, and was growing more serious about the questions.

"Courtship? So then what, you wanna marry her?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

Tony raised his eyebrows. He couldn't decide at the moment whether or not he liked Loki. He respected him enough, begrudgingly, but the man was clearly rushing things. It made some sense, though, as Tony couldn't imagine too many people were lined up to date the guy that tried (and failed) to take over New York. He figured Loki was quite unused to being popular. That being said, him being lonely was no excuse to jump the gun.

"You've known her for what, a week? A little over, maybe? Do you really think thats enough time to decide your entire future with her?" Tony pressed, digging for the truth.

"A week that has been one of the most formative and chaotic times in both our lives. We have known each other in the worst of situations, and I refuse to let go of that." Loki spat, quickly growing defensive. Tony frowned, thinking he misinterpreted the meaning of this conversation.

"I'm not telling you to break up with her, jeez. I'm saying to take this slowly."

"Are you yourself not engaged?" Loki prompted, calmer but still tense.

"Yes, after knowing Pep for several years, even before we dated. I didn't put a ring on her after the first week, either." He retorted. "Look, I haven't known Naomi for much longer than you, so I get it. She's important to me too. That's why I don't wanna see her, or you, rush whatever the hell you've got going on. Okay?"

Loki stared at him, much calmer and visibly less defensive. Tony made a note that he was more responsive to opening up when others did it first. Likewise, the God tended to throw up defenses at the first sign of conflict. Tony knew the feeling. 

"I never said I wanted to wed her immediately, Tony. Even I can see the folly in that." Loki admitted, eyes glancing toward the door again, before returning his gaze to Tony. "I simply... want to stay with her. If she'll have me."

Tony was taken aback slightly at the confession. He hadn't expected his joke of a fatherly interrogation to turn into such a heartfelt conversation. But, he also appreciated the side of Loki that was willing to both defend his connection with Naomi, and to speak about it with honesty. Tony smiled at him, "she'll have you, I wouldn't be worried about that part."

Loki nodded, the trace of a smile on his features. After a moment passed between them in silent understanding, his brow furrowed, and he looked at Tony with hard, piercing eyes. "I intent to protect her, Tony. No matter what the cost. I trust you'll be with me on this?"

Tony thought of the past two days, her final words before disappearing ringing in his ears, 'It's okay.' But he hadn't been okay when she left. It wasn't okay. So he met Loki's gaze with the same ferocity, sticking his hand out.

"Do you even have to ask?" Tony said. Loki grasped his forearm and nodded once more, before releasing Tony and leaning back, content with the answer. Tony did the same. 

He opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off by a knock on the door. Subsequently, Naomi opened it and poked her head through, looking between them with a curious stare, before stepping into the room fully. "Pete wants to know if he can come over." She grinned, holding up Tony's phone, still displaying her call with the excitable teen. Tony rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

"Tell him he can stop by tomorrow only if he gets his homework done, and May gives the okay."

"YES!" Peter's voice rang from the phone. Naomi grinned at Tony, walking toward the couch and taking back her former seat next to Loki. He didn't hesitate to out his arm around her, and she leaned into him in response. Tony watched the small interaction with fondness, and he knew that they would be okay. They all would be.