My Love, He Keeps Me Warm

Tony climbed out of the cab, slamming the door as he got out. He had decided to get out of the tower for awhile and go down to little cafe he liked, but his morning (Afternoon?) hadn't been turning out as well as he would have liked. He walked across the pavement and opened the door, tugging his baseball cap down over his sunglasses as the little bell above the door rang. Practically stomping to a little one person table in the corner, he pulled out his StarkPhone as he sat down. A tall waiter quickly made it to his table and took his order, whisking away as soon as he did so.

Five texts from Pepper. Wonderful. He quickly responded to her, not too keen on pissing her off even more this morning. After he replied to her, he scrolled through a few emails to pass the time. After a little while, the waiter came back with his coffee and Tony finally took the time to look up at the man.

That's when his shitty morning went straight to hell.

The waiter..... he looked exactly like Loki! The only difference was that now he was wearing normal 21st century clothing, and his hair was much shorter and not slicked back. Definitely not the Rock of Ages he knew. He looked at Tony confusedly as he stared at him, but behind it was something Tony couldn't really place. Was it.... fear? No, not fear, not from Loki.

Right?

Coming back to his senses, he reached forward, taking his coffee slowly. He pulled it close to him and opened the lid, peering in at the steaming liquid. Although he seriously doubted Loki would try to get his revenge like this, he didn't feel like being poisoned by the god of mischief via coffee. He looked up once more, watching as he walked stiffly away, casting a worried glance over his shoulder at Tony.

Tony's eyes narrowed and he ran several possibilities through his head. If this was, in fact, Loki, why was he working in a cafe and not storming the streets? Why did he seem so scared of Tony? If he was trying to hide, why here, where so many people would notice him? Pulling out his phone once again, he sent Pepper another text. "Might not be be able to answer for a while, don't worry. Just work." He sent. There.

Placing the lid back on and ignoring his coffee, Tony continued to scroll through and answer or delete several emails, text Jarvis, and otherwise waste time until he came back. Eventually, he did, and Tony immediately bolted to his feet and glared accusingly at the taller man. Loki shrank back, eyes shifting around to the other cafe-goers who were already beginning to stare.

Putting one hand on the table, Tony finally let all of his anger come out. "Enough games, Loki! Did you think your little magic tricks could fool me that easily?!" He raged, glowering at him. Loki pressed the empty tray to his chest as if to protect himself, eyes widening as whispers broke out and Tony grew angrier. "I-I don't know what you mean, sir," He stammered, backing away and hitting a table in his attempt to escape.

Tony left the table and Loki's arm, dragging him from the cafe and outside where he stood for a moment. Loki continued to squirm and attempt to pull away from him, but Tony just narrowed his eyes and gripped his arm tighter, pulling him to the alley next to the cafe. Loki tried to stutter out something, anything, to save him from Tony's wrath, but a simple glare from the other man quickly quieted him.

Loki's head hung, and his eyes were glued to the dirt on the ground as Tony shook him roughly. "Alright, Loki. What the hell? Why are you in my city again, hardly a year since your attack? I'm surprised you have the balls and brain cells to step foot on this planet again! And change back already, I'm tired of looking at somebody that's not you!" He growled. Loki looked up at him almost fearfully, biting his lip hard, but then a green shimmer covered his body, quickly fading to show the real Loki.

His hair was long, tangled and messy, and the green tunic and black pants he now wore were in tatters. He had no shoes, and the tray he previously carried was now a small book. Dirt and small cuts covered his body, and his eyes were wide and bloodshot, displaying his obvious lack of sleep. His cheeks were sunken in, and it seemed as if the man hadn't eaten in weeks. Closing his eyes tightly, Loki decided he did not want to see any more of the sympathy and pity Tony suddenly displayed as he staggered back, releasing his arm.