Burning

The End

The next morning, there was a soft knock on her door. When she opened it, Tony was standing there, fully dressed. "Today's going to be a nice day," he said. "Thought it was nice enough for an outing in the park." Her entire face brightened and he grinned.

"Did you wake Loki up yet?" she whispered. He shook his head. "I'm going to do that then, okay?"

"By all means," he gave her a small, mocking bow, then retired to the bar area.

Catherine hurried across the hall and rapped lightly on her admirer's door. When he opened it, she was surprised to see him in his pajamas. Since she had first met him, she had never seen him with his night clothes on, he preferred to be fully dressed at most hours, even very early and late ones.

"Get dressed," she said secretively. "I've got a surprise for you."

He looked suspicious. "What is it?"

"I'm not going to tell you! You'll just have to wait and see."

He quirked an eyebrow, but closed his door again, assumedly to clothe himself for the day. Catherine gave a tiny, excited squeal, then dashed back to her own room to try and get ready before him.

A few minutes later, she zipped back out, pleased to find she was finished before her boyfriend. Tony was still at the bar, messing around on his phone. When Catherine started to get cereal out of the cupboard, he stopped her.

"Don't eat anything," he said. "We'll get something while we're out."

She spontaneously hugged him, startling the man. "Thank you, Tony. I really, really appreciate this."

"Please, don't mention it. Like, ever."

She giggled. "Will do."

Loki entered the room, half-smiling. "Now will you tell me what this is all about?"

"Nope! But you're gonna want to dress warmer."

"Are we going onto the rooftop?"

"Maybe. Just get your coat and boots." Catherine grabbed her own winter things, beginning to put them on. Tony and Loki followed suit, the billionaire shrugging when the mischief-maker sent him a questioning glance. They all crowded into the elevator where Tony pressed the button for the garage floor.

Loki raised an eyebrow. "Another trip to S.H.I.E.L.D.? Kate isn't usually allowed to come." The two siblings exchanged a look, but didn't say anything. When the elevator opened, Tony led the way to his white Cadillac, making Loki question him again. "And we usually take the reinforced Jeep thing."

Tony took the driver's seat, while Loki and Catherine slid into the back. When they pulled out of the garage, she took the man's hand, smiling reassuringly.

"First stop," announced her brother a few minutes later, parking in front of a cute little coffee shop. "Coffee and breakfast, the best way to start your day." He and the woman unbuckled, but Loki stayed still, prepared to remain in the car while they got victuals.

Catherine reached over and clicked his seatbelt open for him with a broad smile. "Come on." She opened her door, walking around to Loki's side when he still didn't move. She tugged his door wide open and reached in to pull him out. "Come on," she said a little more forcefully, but no less cheerfully.

His green eyes were wide, making them appear brighter than ever. "Really?"

"Really." The grin couldn't have been wiped off her face by anything in the world.

Loki stepped out slowly, taking in a deep breath of city air. When he released it, a cloud of mist materialized, evaporating a moment later. A smile spread across his face and his grabbed Catherine's hand to hold it tightly, conveying his gratefulness better than words ever could.