#lokitony

He found him on the roof. It was an odd place to be, especially when Loki had expected to find him in the workshop, if not there, then in the penthouse.

He was sat on the ledge, his legs dangling over the side of the building as he looked out at the city below. From behind, his posture was a mixture of both slumped in defeat and stiff.

“Stark?” Loki asked carefully, taking care to approach slowly.

“I’m not really in the mood, Loki.” Stark’s voice was plain, but under it, there was a current of exhaustion.

“For company? I am yet to state my reasoning for visiting.”

“I’m guessing it’s the same reason you always come and like I said, I’m not in the mood for it.”

Something in his tone didn’t sit right with Loki. He took the final few steps between them slowly, carefully taking a seat to Stark’s left. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“Yeah, right,” Stark snorted. “Look, I’m really not in the-”

“Mood, yes, so you’ve said. And I say again: that’s not why I am here. May I ask why you are sitting here overlooking the city- on a chilly night I might add- in the middle of the evening? There are warmer spaces to let your mind wander.”

“Me being here is none of your business.”

“Must you be so short with me?” Loki sighed. “I told you-”

“Look, I told you I don’t want to have sex tonight, so will you just go already? Leave me alone.”

“And I told you that is not why I am here; if you’d stop rebuking me for just a moment, you’d know that I am actually here to try to check on you.”

Stark scowled, looking greatly frustrated, but underneath that, there was something else to his expression that Loki couldn’t quite name. “Look, I told you that I— you what?”

Grief. That was the expression on his face that Loki’d been unable to identify. “I saw the final moments of your battle today; it did not appear an easy battle for you,” he said quietly. “So I came here to check on you, and to offer support, if I can.”

Stark went through a range of emotions that Loki couldn’t quite name before he seemed to settle on surprise. Judging by that, he seemed unsure of what to say, so Loki offered carefully: “Do you wish to talk about it?”

A full minute passed in response to his query; most of it was spent with Stark studying him carefully before he finally turned his gaze away. “Not really,” he muttered.

A strong breeze pushed between them and in its aftermath, Stark shuddered forcefully. His expression was miserable; a collection of pain that Loki had never seen from him before.

“Were you significantly injured?” Loki asked, frowning. “I can offer aid, if you need.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Loki watched him carefully, trying to decide his next course of action. “Would you rather I left?” he asked, a touch hesitantly.

Their relationship- if it could be called such- mostly involved banter, a fair amount of bickering, and some of the best sex he’d ever had. Sharing emotions wasn’t his strong suit; he’d long ago learned that when he spoke, very few listened. From that, it was only a natural conclusion that there wasn’t much point in him opening up to someone. He suspected Stark had been taught the same lesson- but that was not something they had ever attempted to speak on before.

Nor was it customary for him to come after a difficult battle to check on Stark’s well-being, which was likely the reason for Stark’s confusion to his presence.

They were both out of their element, it seemed.

Nearly a minute passed.

Stark sighed. “No,” he admitted wearily. “You can stay.”

Loki found himself surprised by the answer; he’d been expecting a demand to leave. And yet, he found himself grateful- but just a touch more concerned than when he’d shown up.

He also found himself unsure of what to say next.

“Fourteen people died today.” Stark’s voice was heavy with a weight that words didn’t seem able to describe. “One of them…she was four.”

A child.

Loki closed his eyes briefly; no child should ever be caught up in battle. In the aftermath of his destruction in New York, once he’d been free from The Other, he’d resolved to himself to keep his “battles” (his mischief, really) far away from children. He’d provide annoyances for the New Yorkers and he’d prove a fun and challenging (and always, superior) foe for the Avengers but never- he’d promised himself- never would a child be caught in the middle of his games.

“She was four, she was just a fucking kid, she shouldn’t have-” Stark cut off, shivering. Loki thought it was just as much a result from grief as it was from the cold. “She was just a kid.”

With no words of comfort to offer, Loki procured his cloak with a wave of his hand and carefully laid it over Stark’s shoulders.

Stark turned to look at him, his eyes red-rimmed and surprised. Loki offered no explanation, and he didn’t ask for one. After a moment, Stark nodded his gratitude silently and adjusted the cloak, so it was more securely wrapped around him.

Loki hid a small, pleased smile; admittedly warmed by Stark’s acceptance of his cloak and all the offer represented.

They sat there in silence for some time before finally, Stark said softly, “Thanks.”

Loki turned to look at him, a touch surprised. “What for?”

“Checking on me. Sitting here with me.” Stark fingered the edges of his cloak with a small, melancholy smile. “For this. You didn’t have to, you know.”

“Of course, I know,” Loki huffed. “I’d hardly spend my time doing something I didn’t want to, now would I?”

Stark’s smile became just a little more genuine at the snarky response.

“I thought,” Loki began after a moment, “that you could use some company. I wasn’t sure I would be welcome, given that the nature of our relationship doesn’t offer extend to...this, but I am glad I could offer some companionship.”

“Our relationship…it doesn’t just have to be sex.” Stark looked hesitant, but still he continued, “This, I don’t know…spending time together, talking…it could become part of our relationship too, if you want?”

“I’d like that,” Loki answered softly, “Tony.”

Tony offered him a tired but pleased smile. “Not ‘Anthony?’” he teased, with a semblance of the energy he usually had.

“You prefer Tony,” Loki said simply.

Tony looked warmed by the consideration. “You want to go in?” he asked, flushing a little. “Not to-”

“I know,” Loki interrupted quickly. “And that’s fine; I would still like to come in anyway.”

Tony grinned, took his hand, and led the way.

End.

In Restless Dreams by charocalwinter (WinterIron, WIP)

When he discovers what he believes to be the truth about his parents’ recent deaths, a powerful and morally ambiguous Tony Stark sets out to get his revenge on Steve Rogers. How does Bucky Barnes fit into this feud and why isn't anybody giving him a pair of socks?

“It isn’t often that Tony Stark finds himself unsure of anything, but this situation has him doubting his every thought, his every move … with Rogers comes James, and that boy is muddling Tony’s mind.” ~ interrupted excerpt from ch 4.

A Pound of Flesh by jellybeanforest (Stony)

To save Bucky, Steve volunteers to work off his debt to the Carbonell crime family. Unfortunately, he is unsuited for the role of enforcer, unable to beat and murder those in the same position as Bucky. He is brought before the mob boss, Tony Stark, who demands his pound of flesh in the wake of Steve’s failure. But upon seeing the attractive blond, Tony proposes alternative employment, one that won’t require him to harm others: Becoming his kept man.

“This isn’t an offer I make often, so you should be flattered – count yourself lucky, even – that I am extending you this rare opportunity.”

“To be raped repeatedly?”

“To have a second chance to work off your debts after you failed so spectacularly the first time. But I don’t have to. I could just use these knives I’ve brought along, carve up that pretty face of yours like a Thankgiving turkey, which would be a shame, really. Then I suppose I’d have to pay a visit to your little friend. This entire exercise has been a waste of my valuable time… perhaps I’ll take an arm for my trouble,” he muses. “So, tell me, Rogers, is Barnes right- or left-handed?”

It’s an offer Steve can’t refuse.

Take Away (everything I am) by salytierra (WinterIron)

“Everyone I kill deserves to die.”

“True. But try to explain that to Captain Justice and Faith.” He takes a gulp of the scotch right out of the bottle and flops down on Tony’s lap, straddling his hips. “He cares too much. You and I? – We do what needs to be done.”

Tony circles his waist with both arms and pulls him closer, opening his mouth when Barnes offers him the bottle and swallowing the bitter liquid dry.

“Nobody ever believed I was able to care. So why should I?”

“Coming from somebody who is expected and probably should care more but doesn’t really give a fuck? – I’ll drink to that.”

Operant Conditioning by dracusfyre (WinterIron, Series)

In which Tony is HYDRA and Bucky’s handler.

in another country (people die) by pprfaith (FrostIron)

“The world is not your playground, Stark!” Fury yells at him one time, after he maybe brings down a building or two and Tony just laughs because, seriously, yes it is. 

on the bleeding edge by esama (Pepperony, WIP, abandoned (still good tho))

Tony Stark goes back in time and becomes a super villain. 

Almost Perfect by One and Five Nines (Obani) (Stony, Comic)

A powerful enemy invades from an alternate reality, but the only thing he really seems interested in is Steve Rogers

Eventually by One and Five Nines (Obani) (Stony, Comic, WIP)

Tony is godking of the wasteland. Steve is not.

Victim!Tony fics

Deliver Us by romanoff (FrostIron)

Loki comes back for revenge. Tony Stark is his captive.

“Why,” he tries, voice failing “do you want me.” He coughs into the ash.

“A king needs an advisor. A king needs concubines. A conquering king must learn the ways of the natives or risk expulsion,” he wipes blood from the sceptre with the end of his coat “and I’m rather fond of you, I think. Even in the face of death you use your wit, you charm with your tongue. It reminds me of myself, maybe, one or two millennia ago.”

Terms & Conditions by Penned (WinterIron)

Tony Stark is desperate and trusts too easily. Bucky Barnes takes advantage of that.

A mob AU with no powers, featuring a very dark, very off-kilter Bucky.

(reverse) Kidnapping by AngeNoir (WinterIron)

Tony Stark is wallowing. He has a right to - he's just finished the funeral preparations for his parents in New York. He didn't expect them to live forever, but still...

And then he falls asleep from his bender.

And wakes up in a nightmare.

(Is it a nightmare?)

Anything (and Everything) - remix by Penned (WinterIron)

The Soldier will do anything to make Tony happy, with or without his explicit consent.

Heavily inspired by Shi_Toyu's  IronWinter Holiday Exchange fic "Anything." This is a much darker version of that story.

like flowers soaked in monochrome by deathsweetqueen (Stony)

Steve Rogers woke up to a world where everyone he loved and knew had forged on without him. But this world, it's nothing like he's used. It wants something brutal from him, something unforgiving. There are so many compromises to make. There are too many monsters behind kind smiles.

But if it means keeping Tony safe, if it means protecting him, he's willing to do whatever it takes.

He can't be soft.

After all, the weak are meat; the strong do eat.

Sins of Omission by Kiyaar (Stony, WIP (tbh I still haven’t started reading this story, but the tags and summary sound perfect!))

A Post-Civil War, Pre-Secret Invasion AU where Steve is dead, Tony's a mess, and everything sucks.

In which Tony deals poorly with Steve's death, falls off the wagon, sees ghosts, and misses a lot.

Oh, and the Skrulls are about to invade.