Starting Over - Loki (COMPLETE)

12) The Malibu Mansion

"Platypus!" Tony yelled on seeing his friend.

"Tony," Rhodey grinned, pulling the shorter man into a bear hug.

"It's so good to see you!"

The two pulled apart and simply grinned stupidly at each other. Loki felt a tad out of place.

"We meet again, Colonel Rhodes," he said instead, proffering a hand.

He'd done his research.

"Please, call me Rhodey," the good-humoured colonel replied. "I remember you very well."

"What can I say?" Loki grinned. "Mechanical engineering is clearly something I excel in."

Rhodey laughed.

"That lecturer was so confused when you never showed up again. He was distraught when he heard you were just a visitor. He'll be extremely pleased that you joined the engineering industry."

Loki smiled.

"I'll have to pay him a visit."

"Definitely, it'll make the old boy's year."

"Anyway, what have you been up to?" Loki asked politely. "The military clearly liked you," he nodded at the colonel's badges.

"What can I say?" Rhodey smirked. "I belong in the military."

"I still think he should have joined us here," Tony pouted, holding onto the man's arm like one would an older brother.

Rhodey gently shook his friend off.

"The mansion life isn't for everyone," he replied. "California sun is too hot, anyhow."

"You don't have to go outside!" Tony pointed out.

"No, I can tell that from you and Alden," the colonel answered with a laugh, looking pointedly at their pale skin.

"This is bullying!" Tony stated, turning his back on Rhodey and crossing his arms.

"Should I show you to the bar?" Loki offered. "Tony will need all of ten seconds to recover from this grievance."

"Tony was right, you do talk funny," Rhodey commented. "Very posh, very... British."

Loki sighed, glad there was no barb about Shakespeare.

"Don't mock the British. We're a temperamental group."

*

Ten minutes later the party was in full swing. Tony had swiftly recovered from his slight and lay draped over one sofa, swirling brandy around in his glass. Rhodey was perched in an armchair, cheerfully chugging a bottle of beer and Loki took another, delicately holding a glass of Tony's ridiculously expensive chardonnay. However, Loki couldn't deny that it was very good. Mortals had succeeded in some areas more than others.

"We need to do this more often," Tony declared.

Loki laughed.

"The man's barely been here ten minutes - no scientist would make a judgement on this as you just have."