The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 46

Stark clasped his hands together in front of him. "Alright, now that we are all here, we can begin."

The Avengers had assembled in the spacious hotel dining area. Amid the congregation of heroes, Loki stood out like a sore thumb. He wore his Asgardian leathers, the folds of his long green cape, draping over his knees as he took a seat at the large round table between Natasha and Strange. Banner and Hawkeye sat across from him.

Hans, the sniveling little toad, oozed up to Stark with a coffee pot. "More coffee, Mr. Stark?"

After prying himself out of the wall when Excalibur rejected his touch, Stark had bought the hotel figuring it easier than having to answer for the hole in the wall.

Hans hovered beside his new employer expectantly.

Stark waved the ass-kisser off. "All good, but check on that breakfast order, would you?"

"Of course, Mr. Stark." Hans turned on his glossy black shoes to leave.

Loki raised a finger and Hans stiffened. "I'd actually like a fresh cup. Be a dear, Hans."

The other man paled and poured the steaming brew into Loki's mug with shaking hands. A little coffee splashed over the side, staining the pristine white tablecloth. "I-I'm sorry." Hans babbled.

"Oh, its alright." Loki began in a falsely warm tone. "You're just a fish out of water, aren't you Hans?"

The man gave up all pretense of professionalism and bolted for the kitchens. Loki smirked against the rim of his mug. Tormenting peasants always made him feel better when he was down. With Cassandra abducted, he wasn't in an exceptionally magnanimous mood.

Natasha gave him the side-eye. Loki raised his shoulders in a casual shrug and added a dash of cream to his coffee.

Stark arched his brows at the pair of them. "Is there something I'm missing?"

Natasha folded her arms over her chest. "Ask Loki."

Loki toyed with a lie, the words rolling over his tongue then decided to answer with the much more damaging truth. "Hans came to our room the other morning with breakfast and stared at Cassandra naked in bed."

Lines deepening between his brows, Stark closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "He's fired. Remind me to fire him when he comes back."

Natasha stared at Stark in suspicion. "Why is Dr. Pierce so important to you?"

Banner nodded. "I've been wondering the same thing. What's up, Tony?"

Stark cleared his throat. Loki was happy to sit back and watch the man squirm.

"Cassandra is my daughter."

Banner's coffee cup shattered in his fist. Even Natasha's blank mask slipped to show a trace of surprise.

Hawkeye whistled low between his teeth. "I did not see that coming."

Only Strange seemed unfazed by the revelation. The sorcerer used to wield the time stone so perhaps he already knew.

Stark let his friends absorb the news for a few minutes. Kitchen staff wheeled out an array of breakfast foods for the Avengers. Scrambled eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, and every type of syrup imaginable.

Hans oversaw the buffet set up. Despite his earlier declaration, Stark chose not to confront the man. Instead, he motioned for his friends to load up their plates.

Loki didn't have much of an appetite but learned long ago to eat while he could. With a battle ahead, fuel was important. He piled his plate with sausage, eggs, and a waffle.