Rootless Tree Falls

[ TXT ] : why are you still awake?

[ TXT ] : hey, where did you go?

[ TXT ] : it's getting bad again.

[ TXT ] : guess i'll just sit in bed. alone. by myself.

[ TXT ] : you can't ignore me forever.

[ TXT ] : i can't stop thinking about you.

[ TXT ] : just saw i called you last night. how'd that go?

[ TXT ] : i really need someone right now.

[ TXT ] : we need to make plans asap.

[ TXT ] : have you seen the news?

[ TXT ] : you were blackout drunk.

[ TXT ] : testing to see if you blocked my number...

[ TXT ] : do you know anything about doing stitches?

[ TXT ] : just please let me know you're okay.

[ TXT ] : did you forget we had plans?

[ TXT ] : i know you see my messages, your read receipts are on.

[ TXT ] : meet me at [ location ], it's important.

[ TXT ] : do you need comfort, to vent, or a solution?

[ TXT ] : is there anything i should bring?

[ TXT ] : call me. please, it's important.

[ TXT ] : i can't sleep.

[ TXT ] : have you eaten today?

[ TXT ] : you are always going to be my priority.

[ TXT ] : i haven't seen you around in awhile.

[ TXT ] : i had a dream about you last night.

[ TXT ] : the names are gonna get mean if you don't text me back.

[ TXT ] : at the risk of sounding cliche, what are you wearing?

[ TXT ] : just say the word and i'll drop everything.

[ TXT ] : do you seriously not remember?

[ TXT ] : come to the front door.

[ TXT ] : have you been drinking?

[ TXT ] : how do you feel after last night?

[ TXT ] : are you up? please be up.

[ TXT ] : you looked beautiful today.

[ TXT ] : i have so much to tell you.

[ TXT ] : no one's heard from you. are you okay?

[ TXT ] : who is this?

[ TXT ] : are you taking care of yourself?

[ TXT ] : thought i'd reach out and see how you're doing.

[ TXT ] : i miss the taste of your lips.

[ TXT ] : that kiss was really nice.

[ TXT ] : stop acting so high and mighty.

[ TXT ] : i left my [ item ] at your place.

[ TXT ] : are we still fighting?

[ TXT ] : i need help and i can't go to the hospital.

[ TXT ] : are you thinking about me too?

[ TXT ] : call me, i wanna hear your voice.

[ TXT ] : i don't want to talk to you.

[ TXT ] : what do you have to lose?

[ TXT ] : you don't have to ask, i'm already on my way.

[ TXT ] : i want to take a nap on you.

[ TXT ] : even if you called 6 months later at 3am, i'd answer.

[ TXT ] : what's my name in your phone?

[ TXT ] : how's trying to forget about me going?

[ TXT ] : i have nobody else to ask.

[ TXT ] : what do you mean you're at the hospital??

[ TXT ] : sorry, i think you have the wrong number.

[ TXT ] : good morning! you up yet?

[ TXT ] : do i sense sarcasm in your tone?

[ TXT ] : you start your day at 2pm?

[ TXT ] : you need MY help?

[ TXT ] : stop texting me.

[ TXT ] : i'll leave that up to your imagination.

[ TXT ] : are you asking me to sneak out?

[ TXT ] : when will i see you again?

[ TXT ] : if you come over, i'll order us a pizza.

[ TXT ] : are we ever going to talk about it?

[ TXT ] : can you come get me out of here?

[ TXT ] : you mean like ... a BODY - body?

[ TXT ] : it's just been one thing after another lately.

[ TXT ] : forgiving and forgetting is harder than it sounds.

[ TXT ] : i want your legs wrapped around my head.

[ TXT ] : call me when you wake up.

[ TXT ] : what are you doing that's more important than me?

I keep thinking, like, Loki knows how to cook — he’d learned to follow recipes because he dug deep in potion making as well (at least my Loki did), and it’s a different sort of skill than Stark’s. As Stark always invents new ways and tries to find his own path, he seems to have a difficulty following ‘guidelines’. I’d imagine stuff including steps is actually annoying him. Probably has the mindset of I’m sure I can do it better on my own, alone. He’s like the Doctor in Doctor Who: had a manual and threw it in a supernova because he didn’t agree with it. XD

Situations keep popping in my head that Loki spends the afternoon cooking in the kitchen because he’s actually interested in the way Midgardians cook while Tony is totally lost inventing something new for his suit. And Loki comes down to tell him to come and eat and then:

“Where did you order this food from?”

“Why?”

“It’s a keeper. It’s scrumptious. I haven’t eaten such a good meal in a long time.”

And Loki’s embarrassed a bit because he’d been mocked back in Asgard for being interested in cooking up stuff with Frigga so he just shrugs while he’s anxious af because what if Tony would mock him too…?

“I made it.”

And Tony drops his fork. And his jaw. XD

“You???” It doesn’t make it any better for Loki who shrugs again, even more embarrassed. “This is literally— how? You’re so good at this! I love it! Teach me?”

What if they cooked together and Tony would keep thinking what if and switch some ingredients with others sometimes. And it wouldn’t always work but they’d find combinations which are actually better than the original recipe.

This results in an inevitable The Star(k) Cookbook.

“Oh wait, there’s sauce on your beard~”, Loki starts to wipe it off as gently as possible while Tony is just looking at him as Loki is concentrating and Tony’s mind just. Stops.

Loki’s helper in the kitchen is Dum-E. And Stark catches him talking to the robot saying things like, in his gentle tone, “that’s alright, thank you, you’re a big help to me here”, “it’s so good you’re here”, “I appreciate that, but it’d be better if you put it over there”, and it just confuses Stark because. It’s Loki? (Who actually unconsciously mimics how Frigga spoke to him when he was cooking potions with her.)

“No, wait, it’s too hot.” “I’m hotter~” “Stark, you’ll-” “Aaah!” “…burn your hand. 🙄”

Kitchen injuries? When one of them actually manages to get some, they’re not staying around because someone heals them with oh-so-gentle-touches. 💚

Loki having his hair up in a bun all the time because he doesn’t want hair to go in the food, obviously. 😏

Apron! Kiss the cook apron!!!

Tony looking at those slender fingers sprinkling dill. How can that make him feel hotter all of sudden?

Loki watching Stark put a glass baking dish, heavily loaded with only the good stuff. That arm. Is working. So. Hard.

Both of them enjoying good wine during cooking. Stark isn’t sure he got drunk on that or is it something else?

JARVIS, of course, records everything. The playful jests and flirtatious pokes, small ‘meaningless’ conversations which, after rewatching them, become so precious.

…it could also lead to an actual cooking show. 🤣

Stark had been tiptoeing around his own desires because he had been enjoying spending time with Loki like this so much… but at the triple chocolate cake’s cream, he really couldn’t resist.

“Want some cream?” He asked almost innocently and Loki beamed a smile at the mortal from the chair where he was sitting after they were finished with the cake.

“Well, yes, I am fond of chocolate.”

He expected Stark to pass the bowl. Which did not happen. Stark picked up the spoon and scooped up some from the cream instead. Now Loki expected Tony to playfully give the cream to him with the spoon. Which did not happen. The cream ended up in Stark’s mouth.

“That was rude”, Loki pouted.

Stark swiftly shifted over to him, cupped his cheeks and kissed him deeply. Loki was so surprised he didn’t even know what to do for a moment, and his unresponsiveness made Stark anxious. He pulled away, his dark eyes meeting the green ones.

“I mucked it up”, he breathed, panicking, “didn’t I?”

At first Loki didn’t know what to say, but the hue of his cheeks probably betrayed him. The always pale god was blushing. For some reason that totally went right over Tony’s head. He didn’t notice because he was panicking so much.

“You’re an idiot, Stark.”

Tony’s heart fell and he knew he’d never fix this, this would always be between them from now on and he screwed up a totally amazing friendship he’d built up with Loki in the past few weeks, the friendship itself was a miracle, he—

He was pulled back by his shirt into a proper, deep, passionate kiss. It went on for so long he felt like he was floating above the clouds and his feet didn’t touch solid ground. When Loki pulled away he was practically beaming with happiness.

Purring fox