(no subject)

[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_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!