Prequel Chapter 77

“Mr. Laufeyson, your library is getting quite full. It seems expansion is necessary.” Jarvis pulled up a hologram for Loki to see how the library would be extended.
"It’s full already?" Loki asked.
“You have quite the collection of books Sir. It’s also worth noting that the room is not quite as large not that it has been filled with shelves. A simple expansion will allow for much more space.”
Tony sighed relieved when the meeting was finally over. He loosened his tie and went towards the kitchen.
“Loki still in his room?”
"Yes, sir he is. We are discussing the expansion of the library." Jarvis said.
“Oh. How much bigger does it need to be?”
“Not too much Sir, though considering how quickly he is obtaining books, it would be best to expand now before he runs out of room.”
Tony nodded and grabbed a beer. “All right. You got plans for it?”
"I do, Sir." Jarvis replied. "He seems quite content with the size we'll be adjusting it to."
“All right. Go ahead and order some stuff for the expansion.”
“Already done Sir. It will arrive within a few hours.”
Tony chugged his beer and nodded. “Good! How’s my suit?”
“Doing well Sir. The changes have been implanted and I am updating software as we speak.”
Loki was still thinking if he should act on his feelings but didnt want to hurt Stark or himself.
Tony went over to Loki’s room and poked his head in then grinned. “Hey, Jarvis told me you need the library expanded.”
Loki nodded. "We were just talking about it." Loki said. "I take it your meeting went well?" Loki asked.
Tony shrugged and walked over, sitting on the bed with Loki. “It was a meeting. I hate doing them but Pep says I have to.”
“It’s good for the company Sir.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
"You sound like Thor." Loki chuckled. “He hated going to formal events that was until he was old enough to drink and bed women." Loki replied.
Tony chuckled and nodded. “I hate formal stuff. You have to be serious and I don’t like being serious, if you couldn’t tell.”
"I could tell." Loki replied. "But I prided myself on it for years trying to prove that I could be a good king." Loki replied. "I acted as a king should act."
Tony looked at Loki for a moment then nodded a bit. “You sound like Pep. She’s always really formal and presentable.” Tony shrugged a bit and smiled. “She hates it when I ask to ditch out on meetings.”
"It’s your company Stark and your livelihood." Loki reminded him.
“No, it’s all my dad’s. I just got it because he didn’t want to give the money up to someone else.” Tony sighed quietly then smiled. “It is nice to see your name on things though.”
Loki rolled his eyes. "I have my name on nothing. Well nothing good anyway." Loki replied.
Tony looked at Loki and felt bad for the god. To have nothing, not the smallest peace of something to be proud of. He knew the feeling. “But you’re going to change that.” He offered a smile. “Someday people here are going to remember you for the good things you did.”
"Oh yes and compare it to the bad." he said. "They'll remind me and themselves of what a disgrace truly am. The royal runt."
Tony frowned a bit, knowing deep down that this was true. Even after helping save New York City he was still often referred to as the Merchant of Death. There was more than tabloid floating around that called him a killer. The playboy sighed quietly then lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “Maybe. But you’re not just a runt, are you?” He gave Loki a little smile. “You’re Loki of Asgard, god of Mischief and Lies and I forget what else you always say.”
Loki chuckled at him. "When you think of it I'm Loki of Jotunheim, son of Laufey, God of Mischief and lies."
“Yeah well whatever, I’m not going to remember all that. You’re Loki, a god and one of the protectors of Earth.” Tony smiled then propped himself up on his elbows. “You know, there are some pretty good restaurants near the tower. You hungry? Cause I’m starving.”
"You mean go out?" Loki asked. "Aren't you afraid of people seeing me?" He asked.
“Nope, cause I have the perfect disguise for you.” Tony smiled and held up the sunglasses he’d let Loki borrow once. “Trust me, wear these, tie your hair back and wear some sweats, no one will know it’s you.”
Loki put on the clothes stat Stark said to put on and followed him. "Okay?"
Tony smiled amused as he looked Loki over. He handed the sunglasses to the god. “You look so different wearing sweats.” He chuckled a bit then put on his own sunglasses. “All right, let’s go.”
Loki chuckled. "I don’t like these as much.” Loki replied.
“When you get your magic back you can just shape shift.” Tony smiled and shrugged as they walked out. He’d changed into some sweats himself, though the agents following them stayed in their suits. Fury sure didn’t like being subtle.
"I still have no freedom." Loki sighed. "It's like Fury wants me to be exposed in public."
“Don’t worry about it; everybody will probably think they’re my body guards.” Tony shrugged and walked into the small restaurant.
Loki rolled his eyes and they reached the restaurant. "What type of food to they make here?"
“A little of everything. Pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbeque, a little something for everybody. Now me, I always get their cheese fries.”
Loki looked at the menu and saw a picture catch his attention. "The loaded cheese fries look good." Loki replied.
“Those are incredible.” Tony smiled then looked up when the waitress walked over to them.
“Oh, Mr. Stark. Haven’t seen you in a long time. Who’s your friend?”
Tony paused a moment, thinking of an alias for Loki. “His name’s Roger.”
“Nice to meet you Roger. So, what’ll you two have?”
Loki glared at him. "Do not call me Roger. One drunken night does not mean my nickname is Roger." Loki said. "My name is Fenrir." Loki said. "I'll have a glass of water and the loaded cheese fries."
The waitress gave a little smile as if trying not to laugh at Tony and put down Loki’s order.
“And you Babe?”
Tony huffed a bit then ordered. “Chili cheese dog and a Coke.”
“All right, coming up.” She took the menus and gave the orders to a man in the back.
Tony watched her then looked at Loki with a little smile. “Quit pouting, it was the first name that popped into my head.”
"But I'm not captain Rogers." Loki replied.
“Oh trust me, I know. But it was either that or Barton so take your pick.” Tony gave a playful smile then glanced up as their drinks were brought out.
“Food’ll be ready in a sec.” The waitress walked off again.
Tony sipped his drink and sighed. “So, Fenrir huh?” He smiled a bit at Loki.
"Yes sort of a joke really." Loki smiled. "They let my brother name me and at the time my father had just told him the tale of the great wolf Fenrir."
Tony chuckled and shook his head. “They let Thor pick your name? I’m surprised he didn’t try to call you something really stupid.”
The waitress walked over with their meals and set them on the table. Tony grinned.
“Thanks Sweet Heart.”
“No problem.” She smiled back then left again.
"There are still people with our names." He said. "Many people still follow the old religion."
“Yeah but those people live in little villages.” Tony sipped his drink. “I don’t do religion. It gets tedious after a while.” Tony took a bite of his fries and moaned in his throat. “So good.”
"They actually don't." Loki replied.
Tony blinked at Loki curiously. “What do you mean?” He ate some more fries then took a bite of his hot dog.
"People still follow the old religion. Make offerings to Thor, Odin and Frigga."
Tony slightly surprised to hear this. He’d imagined there were maybe a handful of people that believed in the old gods. “Weird. So, what do they offer to you?”
"They don't." Loki replied. "I'm the god of mischief and lies what would they want with me?"
Tony looked at Loki a moment then nodded slightly. “Guess you have a point. But hey, who needs em?” Tony shrugged and ate more of his hot dog. “Want some?”
"No." Loki answered him looking at the hot dog.
Tony shrugged. “Your loss.” He finished off his hot dog then started munching on his fries.
"Hardly." Loki replied.
Tony rolled his eyes. “You like your fries?”
"Yes." Loki replied.
“Told you they were good.” Tony smiled then finished his fries and sipped his drink. “Oh, there’s a really good bakery down the street too. Remember that cake we had on my birthday? That’s where I buy it. Maybe we can go there next time.”
"Can't we get some to take back with us?"
Tony smiled. “All right.” He paid for the food and left a generous tip as well. “It’s not too far from here.”
"It's still in our range of being safe in the zone Fury gave me right?" Loki asked.
“Oh yeah, don’t worry about it.” Tony walked out with Loki then pointed to some brick buildings in the distance. “As long as we don’t go past those, we’re fine.”
Loki nodded. "Alright.” He smiled following Stark the rest of the way.
Tony walked to the bakery and went in with Loki. “Hello!”
“Oh, Mr. Stark!” An elderly woman greeted them with a smile. “How can I help you?”
“My friend here wants a little something to take home.”
"Of course." She smiled at him.
"I'd like some of the birthday cake you sent Stark for his birthday." Loki said.
“Certainly. Just a moment.” The woman went to fridge and pulled out the cake. She cut a large portion of it then put it in a baby blue box.
“Will that be all?”
“Actually could you send some of those carrot cupcakes to Pep?”
“Ah, is her birthday coming up?”
“I think so.”
The woman giggled and shook her head. “You should really know this by now Mr. Stark.”
"I'll have half a dozen sent over to her right away." She smiled at them.