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[st_ratagem]

Usually the increasingly-regular lunches with Stark started with at least a pretense of Stark coming into the clinic for a reason. It was actually funny that now, when both of them had injuries that might benefit from being looked at and checked, it was almost like they'd silently agreed to meet in the café area instead. Or at least, Stark hadn't turned up in his usual timeframe. It seemed entirely possible that Thor had communicated their break, and Stark had entirely reasonably decided that there was no further need to play nice.

Whatever the reason, Loki had gotten used to taking a break in the middle of the day, whether or not he actually spent that time eating. The café was as good a place as any.

Comments

[st_ratagem]

Intentions meant very little in the grand scheme; Loki knew that better than most. But it seemed clear enough otherwise: if he wanted to find out what Stark’s agenda was, he’d have to at least pretend to play along.

Fine. “Say that I’m not one hundred percent disinterested. What of it?”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Who says that." Tony went in for his last mouthful of the fruity salad, chewing it and swallowing it down. "You say that?" He scraped up the rest of the morsels quickly. Loki's sandwich was making him hungry for some proper protein.

[st_ratagem]

“If you know anyone who thinks they can speak for me, I’d love to kill them.” In other words, who else would say that?

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Ease up those claws there, Caca. Just making sure." Tony patted his mouth, pushing the bowl away.

"If this is really you considering the offer, then maybe you'll consider that I'm not just asking for me. Existential threats, ergo, existence with a period at the end."

[st_ratagem]

Humans always thought existence was at stake, as if change and annihilation were the same thing. Loki shrugged. “I’m provisionally willing to accept that you believe that’s the case.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Suddenly, Tony could empathize with Thor's frustration. Just a little bit.

"Do your powers include precognition or can I continue?"

[st_ratagem]

“I can’t see the future, I’m not a witch.” He’d been the one to stop talking, so really his annoyance was his own doing. “Do go on.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Neighbors gossip, right? Swapping intel, if you prefer." If there were any circumstances to which Thor would be amenable to the truth being shared, it was if Loki came to some kind of understanding with the two of them.

All this, of course, was hopelessly optimistic and tremendously unlikely. Even so, the weight on his shoulders was enough to keep Tony talking, just a little more.

[st_ratagem]

“Ah, the pure hypothetical.” That was disappointing, but at the same time something of a relief. If there was nothing to swap at present, this was just Stark tryingvto tie his hands later. He didn’t realize that there was nothing Loki wanted from him or his precious Earth. “Fine, whatever. I don’t mind making meaningless promises.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Far less hypothetical than you'd think. Haven't done any gossiping with you yet, neighbor." Leaving it at that, Tony placed his second order for a tuna avocado sandwich on gluten-free toast. No need to get sluggish today.

"Thanks for the inspiration, by the way. I forgot how much I liked fish. Maybe I'll go pescetarian--saturated fats are bad at my age."

[st_ratagem]

“I’ll count the minutes.” If Stark something to tell, he would have. If there was something he wanted to know, he’d have hinted. There was no need for elaborate meaningless ties when actual substance was present, unless you wanted to keep the substance to yourself.

Which returned this entire thing back to the hypothetical.

Ah, well, it had been an interesting enough conversation, if pointless and annoying. “I used to be rather good at fishing. A thousand years ago or so.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"That right?"

'God, kill me.'

Leaving it on such a banal note made Tony's stomach churn and robbed him of the appetite he had been trying to cultivate.

Even after suffering Loki's insufferability, his conscience wouldn't stop rattling about. He had gotten as far as he could by revealing nothing. Even if he revealed everything, it would likely earn back a net zero. And yet, he had to say something. It went beyond an itch, it was a stinging pain that arose from somewhere in the heart of him.

With all that buzzing inside, Tony quietly rapped his fingers on the counter, awaiting his order.

[st_ratagem]

“Yes.” It was unimportant now, so Loki didn’t elaborate. Besides, the finger-tapping felt like a tell of some kind.

Sometimes the best thing to do was nothing.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

A long stretch of silence passed while Tony waited for his food to come out. With the clatter of the dish being set in front of him, Tony sighed.

"I can do the whole talking in circles thing. I just don't like it." He re-assumed his fork, picking out the bits of tuna that were flowing over the sides.

[st_ratagem]

"Then don't. No one's making you." That probably qualified as a whopper, since Loki knew better than anyone what a bad idea it was, usually, to be direct with him. But it wasn't as if someone had a knife to the man's throat, either. Say something other than what you mean or die!

...That would be rather entertaining to do, at some point. Loki made a mental note, in case the opportunity ever presented itself.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

'Incorrect.'

Tony's waffling was beginning to sicken even him.

"I do come from the future, be it ever so slightly."

'Do you want Thor to never speak to you again? This is how you get Thor to never speak to you again.'

[st_ratagem]

Considering that Stark didn't know exactly when Loki came from, That might or might not be true. But Stark believed it, and that was the only relevant point. "I'm entertained by the thought I may be from the earliest point in time, here. Being entirely without context is my favorite thing." It was not. It really was not.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"I get it. More than you know. That's why... .. ..."

Tony pounded the counter.

"That's why I need a box. Gonna get this to go."

[st_ratagem]

A tell, followed by running away? So ‘substance not to be shared’ was the version of meaningless to this agreement after all. And since the substance could only have come from Thor....

He’d dwell on it later. For now, time to take a risk. “Things to do, of course.” French fries were an incredibly useful food. So easy to be casual with! “For the future, Tony,” given name for maximum discomfort value, “if you’re going to make agreements to trade substantive information, it might be best to wait at least a few minutes before showing bad faith. Call it professional advice.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"No bad faith here. Just a meeting with the other stake-holder." Tony pressed the fresh sandwich into its box before sealing it.

"And there was no agreement to trade, Loki," he stood, "but I'll make this worth your while. No expectations."

[st_ratagem]

“I doubt it. Your other stakeholder and I have cut ties.” It got easier to think the more often he did it, so Loki ran it through his head a couple more times. “It’s no longer in his best interest to assist me in any way, and we are not on speaking terms. I simply wanted to see if there was anything I could get from you on the off-chance.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"C'mon, now. All that energy and you spend it on constantly being contrary?" Tony flashed him a grin, though there was little to grin about.

"There's a lot of things you could get from me if you weren't so shy."

[st_ratagem]

“You are neither as interesting nor as cute as you think you are.” Partial lie, it wasn’t difficult to see what Thor saw in him. But all that meant was ‘more hands off than usual’. “And i’m Not sure anyone has ever described me as ‘shy’.”

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Excepting me. Also, for the record, I am adorable." Tony pushed his seat in.

Maybe he came out of this with a better read on Loki, but to what end? There wasn't any more confidence there that the man would be willing to work together in the long term, especially when it was made clear that this was a life or death (slanted death) scenario. But he was foolish enough to hope that Loki would have enough sense in realizing the power in numbers. Or at least the power in not fucking over the super powered individuals trying to make friends.

If wishes were horses...

"Same time tomorrow?"

[st_ratagem]

“Unless I get a better offer!” Unlikely. So, probably!