A life together

Life At The Lake House

"This was a terrible idea."

"I told you, we should've kept them away from him."

Tony and Loki were sitting on the porch watching Thor and Rhodey keep Harley entertained. James was teaching him how to aim the target, using the potato gun against the god, who then destroyed the flying munitions with his hammer.

"Look how much fun he's having, it's not fair. We've been invisible since they arrived," the genius said with a frown.

Loki chuckled, "Your jealousy is showing, love."

"I'm not jealous," he replied with a huff. "I'm just saying, we are cooler than the two of them. Yeah, Thor is the god of thunder and he has a magic hammer, blah blah blah. You are a god too, and you have actual magic. You don't need no hammer to be cool. And look at Rhodey-bear. There's no way War Machine is better than Iron Man. Besides, I made both suits! What the hell is wrong with kids these days? "

"You sound like an old man."

"I'm not the old one in this relationship, Lokes."

They both laughed and looked back at the kid, who had just thrown one of his potatoes at Thor and hit him on the forehead. "Did you see that? Did you?" Harley asked excitedly looking at his guardians.

"Look at you, Harls! That was awesome," Tony congratulated him with a huge smile. "One of these days we can start on the Potato Gun Mark II, what do you say?" The kid nodded quickly, bouncing on his heels.

"Oh that would be wonderful. Just promise to target Thor again. I believe a few hits to the head will do wonders," Loki said with a smirk. Harley widened his eyes and looked between the two brothers.

"This should be good," Rhodey whispered. "Pay attention, kid. This is gonna be your new normal."

As if on cue, Thor ran up to his brother and in a quick movement carried him on his shoulder only to then shoot out into the lake and throw him there.

"You oaf!" shouted Loki coming out drenched and with a murderous look. "You are going to regret this. You are not going to know when or how, but when you least expect it you are going to learn not to mess with me."

Tony was wallowing with laughter at the scene, while Harley and Rhodey were trying to be more discreet, not wanting to summon the god's fury on them.

"Honey, you look like a freshly washed cat," said the wheezing billionaire.

"Uh-oh, he shouldn't have said that," Harley muttered.

With a flick of his wrist, green mist enveloped Tony. "Wha- No. No, no, no. Sweetheart, love of my life, my beautiful husband, I'm sorry. I swear I'm never going to laugh at you again, but please don't. The water must be fu-freaking cold."

Thor cackled, "Friend Tony, you should know by now that he is not going to take your words into account."

"You should not sound so happy, dear brother. You do not know when I am going to strike."

In a second, the genius was being thrown into the lake and everyone else was bursting out laughing.

It was an hour later, when everyone was sharing lunch amidst anecdotes and jokes that Harley blurted out a soft, "This family's awesome," making both adults' hearts leap for joy.

Loki felt his husband take his hand from under the table, intertwining their fingers and whispering with a smile, "Clearly we're doing something right."

"Dum-E, you have to pick that up. You dropped it, it's your duty to pick it up," the bot let out a sad whir. "Don't worry, U is gonna help you. You weren't playing alone." Both robots began to order the workshop, "Butterfingers, you're in charge."