Chapter Text
"We are here, today, standing outside the Royal Palace of Valaskjalf as King Odin steps down and passes the crown to his eldest son, Prince Thor. What is meant to be a joyous occasion between Prince Thor and his people, is an occasion the Prince has elected to share with the whole world. And, boy, was the whole world willing to share it with him. Not only is today the coronation of Prince Thor but today also marks the first time Asgard has ever opened to neighboring countries. You can imagine the crowd such an occasion brought in today. If not to celebrate the Prince himself, to just get a glimpse of what goes on behind Asgard's permanently closed door.
"'It is no secret that Asgard is the last kingdom in the Yggdrasil Nation to completely open its borders,' Prince Thor remarks in an interview conducted just last week. 'Our closest allies, Vanaheim and Nidavellir, have opened their borders decades ago. Way before my father ever sat on the throne. To continue so shut off from everyone else is just childish. Which is why I want to knock down all metaphorical walls keeping Asgard preserved from the rest of the world; this is my first order as King.' Prince Thor continues to explain his plans for the future. Such as: securing trade deals, building a few tourist spots, and working with schools to start up their own exchange program.
“When asked for his opinion, Prince Loki, Thor's younger brother, had this to say: 'The only reason Asgard has continued shutting people out is because of our technology. Father didn't want it falling in the wrong hands. I can't say I blame him.' Prince Loki goes on to talk about Wakanda, who also just recently opened their borders and announced themselves to Africa, and what they've hidden. 'Could you imagine what would happen if Wakandan Vibranium and Asgardian metal fell into the hands of someone like [Tony] Stark? Need I remind you of Sokovia?'"
Tony Stark snorts as he clicks off the tablet and sets it on the leather seat beside him. He leans back and rests his head against the tinted-black window of the limo his adoptive father, Edwin Jarvis, rented for Tony, his date, Pepper Potts, and Tony's personal chauffeur/bodyguard, Happy Hogan, to take up to the Palace of Valaskjalf. He watches the trees as they drive past; most just become billowing green blurs. Tony can't tell if it's sunny or grey outside but it doesn't quite matter; he'll be stuck inside the grand palace anyway. He huffs, fogging up the glass, before turning to face Pepper. Her strawberry blonde hair is all pinned back in an elegant updo, only two perfectly curled strands left out to frame her face. She's wearing the purple dress Tony gifted her for her birthday (more like Pepper bought herself with his credit card) when they were still together. It's just as beautiful on her now as it was then. His expression softens as he watches her type away on her phone. And because Tony is a grown ass adult, he's not going to comment on how totally unfair it is Edwin let Pepper keep her phone but he confiscated Tony's for the weekend. Something about Tony needing a break from work or something. Which is totally true but so unfair!
"You're doing it again," he admits softly.
"Doing what?" Pepper asks without glancing up. A crease forms between her eyebrows as she focuses on something on her screen.
"Doing that little frown you always do when you're zoned in on something." Pepper hums. Tony rolls his eyes. "Earth to Pepper, come in Pepper." She hums again.
Tony waves his hand in front of her face a few times. She finally, begrudgingly , looks up from her phone, flashing Tony a forced (and rather angry looking--if you ask Tony) smile. He gestures to the phone. She glances between it and him a few times before groaning. Nevertheless, she turns it off and slips it into her pocket before turning her undivided attention on him, glaring with her arms crossed the whole time.
"There. Happy?"
"No, Tony." He points up front. " He's Happy." Pepper rolls her eyes. Tony grins. "Hey, you dated me."
"And I regret it every day of my life." Tony frowns. Pepper continues glaring at him for a moment before sighing. She leans over and kisses his temple. "Did you actually have something important or were you just being clingy?"
"I am not clingy!" He protests.
She shoots him a look. "Honey, I dated you," she reminds him. He goes into what Pepper and Edwin affectionately call 'Tony's toddler mode': an overdramatic pout, crossing his arms, and looking away. "What was it you wanted to say?" she asks softly.
Once Tony has entered his toddler mode there's only two ways of getting him out of it: letting him talk about himself (this is his favorite option) or giving him enough space that he starts hyper-fixating on a new project and forgets all about what upset him in the first place (this should only be used as a last resort; Tony hyper-fixating on a new project can lead to a plethora of bigger problems--many of which can be solved with cheeseburgers). Today seems to be a first option kind of day.
Tony uncrosses his arms and turns to face Pepper again. She greets him with a smile. "I thought this weekend was for us to get away from work?"
She shakes her head lightly. Once Tony has entered toddler mode for the day, it is much easier to set him off again. "It was for you to get away. Hence why you don't have your phone." He huffs and rolls his eyes. Pepper quickly adds, "You've been spending too much time in the lab anyway. You need sunshine." Tony raises an eyebrow. She rolls her eyes. "You know why we're here, Tony. Stop pretending like you don't."
He sticks his tongue out. Pepper watches him carefully. Sticking his tongue out is also a symptom of toddler mode. He eventually sighs, resting his head on her shoulder. She pats his head and smooths out his suit. He curls further into her chest once she's wrapped her arm around him and fixates his gaze on her window. She presses a kiss to the top of his head.
Not only does the year make history with King Odin stepping down, Prince Thor's coronation, and Asgard opening its borders, but it's also the first Stark Expo since Howard and Maria Stark died in a mysterious car accident a few short years ago. A lot is riding on this one event. A lot is riding on Tony . So, yes, maybe Tony has punched in a few more hours down in the lab so he can focus on his project for the Expo. And, yes, maybe some days have turned into all-nighters have turned into three days without sleep (and eating. . . and showering). But Tony's worked with more and succeeded with less; sleep is a social construct. If he's going to pull a show-stopping exhibition out his ass, he's not going to accomplish it by getting the required eight hours of sleep every night. Have Pepper and Edwin even met him?
"Can you try to have fun tonight?" Pepper whispers in his ear. He buzzes against her chest. "We're making history tonight, after all. This is one thing your father could never accomplish." Tony shifts so he can look up at her. She smiles and strokes his cheek. "This is good for you. New scenery. New time zone. No phone." She nods. Tony isn't sure if she's trying to convince him or herself. "Go back to being your playboy-self." He snorts. She nudges him. "Hey, who knows, maybe you'll even bag a prince." Tony hides his face in his hands. Pepper continues laughing. "That Prince Loki is awfully handsome."
"And apparently hates me! Haven't you heard what he's been saying since Prince Thor announced all his new policies?" Pepper only shrugs. "Sokovia was an accident," he mumbles. "Ultron was meant to be a safety net." She nods. He rubs at his face as Happy stops the limo. He sits up from where he's fallen into Pepper's lap.
"We have arrived, Sir," Happy informs them from the front seat.
"Thanks, Happy, can you, uh. . . Can you come get the door?" Happy nods before stepping out of the car.
Pepper glances at Tony, squeezes his hand and smiles brightly, before climbing out of the limo. Cameras immediately snap off; paparazzi trying to get every angle of Pepper making her entrance. Tony rubs his face once more before putting on his signature Stark smiling. Wide. Fake. Revealing brilliant white teeth to blind the fangirls (so they never notice how it doesn't reach his eyes). Happy peeks his head in. Tony nods and starts sliding out. Tony waves at all the adoring fans and winks a few times at the cameras. He extends his arm to Pepper who takes it. They linger outside for a moment, posing in all different ways, for paparazzi to get them together. Tony's already noticed Vogue, People, and Vanity Fair. All, he's sure, will have the same cover and headline after this weekend: Tony Stark and Pepper Potts Back Together?
He gives all the cameramen one last wave and wink before pulling Pepper inside the Palace of Valaskjalf, where more cameras and reporters await.
~~~
"Is this a welcome line or the line to see Mickey Mouse?" Tony whispers out the corner of his mouth. He leans over to count his place in line. There's over twenty people ahead of them. All standing around to do what? Shake hands with the Prince of Asgard? He's not even the one everyone came to see!
Pepper swats his chest lightly, careful not to make eye-contact with the reporter for People while doing so. "Will you stop?" she hisses.
"I just don't understand why we're standing around waiting for the Prince when we all really came to see the King."
She rolls her eyes. "It's polite."
"Wouldn't it also be polite to introduce yourself to the man you came to see?"
She swats him again. "It's customary ," she corrects. Tony rolls his eyes. "I don't see you having an issue when it's a line out the door to shake hands with you ." She leans forward now, too, to see where Prince Loki is in line. He walks alongside a tall, curvy, blonde who's got her arm wrapped around his but seems just as amused to be there as Tony is.
"Yeah, 'cause they're there to see me ," he explains. Pepper leans back and glares at him. "I'm the whole reason they come. They don't flock outside Stark Industries to meet Rhodey ." Pepper rolls her eyes.
"Will you just behave?" She flashes a charming smile Cosmopolitan's way as they start circling in on the line waiting for Prince Loki and wraps her arm around Tony, tugging him out of view. "Or do I have to tell Edwin you need the whole week off?"
Tony's eyes widen as he whips his head in her direction. Lights flash in his eyes and he hears the faint sound of the camera snapping. He forces a smile as he whispers (seethes, really), "You wouldn't dare."
She brightens her smile to match his as she turns to face him. "Watch me." A few more cameras go off. Pepper leans up, her lips brushing Tony's before she turns her head slightly, just catching the corner of his mouth. "We worry about you, Tony. When you get so deep--so lost--in these episodes. The last thing Edwin or I want is for you to push yourself too hard. The Expo is supposed to be fun."
"It is fun," he promises. "It's just. . ." He sighs. She pulls away, her expression soft. "You wouldn't understand." She sighs now, too.
It pains her to say, but Tony's right; she doesn't understand. She doesn't think she'll ever understand. So much goes on in Tony's mind that no mere mortal can ever make out. That's part of the reason they broke up. Pepper couldn't understand and Tony couldn't explain it. They've always made better coworkers-- friends --anyway. As Tony's personal assistant, she isn't expected to understand; just to make sure he gets to meetings on time. As one of Tony's closest friends, she's expected to pull him back from the ledge. A girlfriend is expected to understand and. . . Well. They've closed that chapter in their history book.
"Ah, finally, Mickey Mouse himself," Tony mutters under his breath as Prince Loki greets the person beside him, nudging Pepper with his shoulder. She rolls her eyes but smooths out her dress and plays with a few stray strands of hair to get them to play nice. Tony sticks his hand out with his paparazzi smile on full display; he's fully aware of the three different cameramen circling in on them. "Your Majesty," he greets.
"Your Royal Highness," Loki corrects, his voice cool and body language stiff. The blonde on his arm, Amora, his cousin through the belated Queen Frigga's side of the family, presses her hand to her lips in order to stifle her laugh.
Tony snorts and nudges Pepper again. "You hear that, Pep? The Prince thinks I'm royalty." He laughs and slings his arm on Loki's shoulder. "'Fraid not, Reindeer Games. America doesn't have royalty. I'm what America will call a 'genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist'."
Loki glares at Tony as he shoves his arm off his shoulder. "No, Stark." Loki spits Tony's name as if it's poison on his tongue. "I meant my title is Your Royal Highness ," he corrects again, sharper this time. " Your Majesty is reserved for the King."
Tony straightens and nods. "Ah, yes, my apologies."
Loki looks him over before scoffing.
Pepper sticks her hand out to save Tony from himself. She plasters a fake smile on her face as well. "Pepper Potts," she greets. "It's an honor meeting you, Your Royal Highness." Loki takes her outstretched hand in his before bringing it to his lips. Pepper's jaw drops and her cheeks turn the same shade as her hair.
"The honor is all mine, Miss Potts." He winks at her.
Amora pushes Loki away with a short gasp. " The Pepper Potts? Of Stark Industries?" Pepper nods, confused. "Oh, I've heard so much about your involvement with the company since the passing of Howard Stark." Amora glances over at Tony briefly. "Sorrows, prayers." Tony's brow knits. "It's about time they had a woman in charge."
"I wouldn't say--"
"Nonsense. You're sticking with me tonight." Amora takes Pepper's hand in hers before dragging her into the grand ballroom and right onto the dance floor.
Tony smiles at Loki again. "Care to dance, Your Royal Highness?" Loki glares at him before scoffing and walking away. "A simple 'no' would've sufficed!" he calls after. The guest beside Tony raises an eyebrow at him. Tony shrugs. "I love it when they play hard to get," he teases.
The guest stares at Tony. He forces a short smile in turn. The guest walks away just as a server comes by with flutes of champagne. Tony grabs two, downing one immediately. He sets it back on the tray before making his way into the ballroom as well.
~~~
Tony stands on the outskirts of the ballroom, watching as everyone dances in front of him. His champagne flute has been swapped out for a scotch glass, for a wine glass, back to a champagne flute, to a few shot glasses of Asgard's fine liquor, before settling back on a scotch glass. He swirls the amber liquid around as he observes the room. Had he known Duchess Amora planned on stealing his date for most of the night, he would've dragged Rhodey into coming with them as well. At least then he would've had someone to complain to.
He gulps down the rest of his scotch just for Pepper to appear out of nowhere. Her updo is lower on the back of her head and her baby-hairs stick to her forehead with a thick layer of sweat. She's fanning herself as she adjusts her dress. Tony smirks. Pepper giggles softly as she accepts a champagne flute as they walk past the two.
"Having fun?" he teases.
"Her Grace is quick on her feet," she admits before gulping down the champagne. She presses the empty flute into Tony's chest who takes it without complaint. "But she's quite enjoyable." Pepper lets out a breathy laugh before collapsing against the wall. Tony watches her out of the corner of his eyes, the rest of him still watching the room. "She even offered me a position in the palace if I wanted to stay."
Tony's eyes nearly fall out of their sockets. "You said no, right?" Pepper hums, twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger. Tony grips his chest. "Right?!"
Pepper throws her head back and laughs. " Of course I said no." Tony lets out a breath, slumping forward. "I'm not done with Stark Industries." She leans up and jabs a finger in Tony's chest. "And I'm not remotely done with you yet, Mister Stark." They share a laugh. "Though it's nice to know I'm valued."
"You are valued," he assures. "I don't go around dating all of my employees." They laugh again before Pepper shakes her head lightly. Tony wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her close. "I'd be lost without you, Pep. You're not going anywhere." He presses a kiss to the top of her head for good measure.
"What have you been up to?" she asks, leaning into his side. Tony hums as he goes back to surveying the room. "While I was dancing with Amora?"
"Nothing."
Pepper leans back, her brow knit. " Nothing ?"
He nods. "Nothing." He turns his attention to her. "My dance partner was dancing with someone else." She rolls her eyes. "No, no. Not just you. I asked His Royal Highness about ten times if he wanted to dance and he kept ghosting me." Pepper frowns. “I think he’s racist.”
“What?!”
“Watch." Tony gestures with the bottom of the champagne flute to where Prince Loki is dancing with a woman in a long scarlet dress. "I’ve tried to dance all night and he’s avoided me like the plague. These Asgardians ask and he’s all over them. Women and men." He huffs. "Am I not attractive enough?" Pepper opens her mouth. "Don’t answer that. You dated me. Of course I am.” She snorts.
"I'm sure race has nothing to do with it," she remarks. "You just might not be his type."
"Bullshit. I'm everyone's type."
Pepper rolls her eyes.
"I'm going to talk to him."
Pepper's eyes widen. "What? No. Absolutely not."
"Too late."
He shoves the scotch glass and champagne flute back into Pepper's hands as he slips away from her. Pepper reaches out to grab his shirt or vest or something to keep him from embarrassing himself in front of the Prince of Asgard.
"Anthony Stark, get your ass back here!" she seethes. "You're drunk. Don't embarrass yourself." He throws up a peace sign.
She groans, knocking her head back against the wall. Forget whatever headline magazines were going to publish about the two of them, if Tony so much as opens his mouth in Prince Loki's presence, the media is going to have a field day. A server comes around with more champagne flutes. Pepper discards the empty glasses before picking up two champagne flutes, downing the first immediately.
Tony waits until Loki and the brunette in the scarlet dress are done with the song before advancing on the Prince. Loki spots him almost immediately and rolls his eyes. He maneuvers around the crowds of people coming off the dance floor and walking on. Tony's eyes widen before he's doing the same. It takes Loki longer than he was hoping to find a clearing but he eventually does so in front of the six foot tall ice sculpture of his brother. Loki scrunches his nose at the sculpture before rolling his eyes as Tony catches up to him.
"Listen, Your Royal Highness , I have a bone to pick with you!" Tony barks, jabbing his finger in Loki's face. Loki simply smiles as a few passersby stop to listen in on their conversation. "You've been snuffing me all night!"
"Snubbing," Loki corrects in that same cool and sharp tone he had before.
Tony throws his arms around. "Whatever! Point is," he stresses, " point is ," he repeats. Tony pauses for a second, taking in the giant ice sculpture of King Thor. "Point is they should've made this sculpture of you . You're clearly made of ice." Loki scoffs and turns to walk away. Tony catches his shoulder before he can. "Oh, don't you walk away from me, Mister." Loki's perfectly manicured eyebrows shoot up. "You're going to be nice and have a conversation with me."
"I am, am I?"
" Yes . Because it's polite ."
Loki sighs as he steps out of Tony's grasp. "Very well then, Stark. What would you like to talk about?"
"Why have you been ignoring me?" Loki remains emotionless. "I don't know how many times I've invited you to the dance floor or just walked up to you trying to start a conversation." he whines. Loki opens his mouth. "And I don't want to hear about how you have two left feet or some bullshit. 'Cause you don't." He gestures animatedly out towards the dance floor. "You've been dancing all night with various partners. And it's not a gender thing or a sexuality thing because you've also been dancing with a lot of men. Mostly me. So what is it? Is it a-a race thing?" Loki guffaws. "Is it a personal thing? Have I done something to you in the past?"
"You honestly don't know, do you?" Loki's voice is soft but still remains sharp. Tony frowns. "Of course you don't, why would you?" Loki turns to walk away again. Tony lurches forward, bumping the corner of the pedestal. The sculpture starts to wobble. "Will you be careful?!" Loki spits, pushing Tony back some.
Tony stumbles and bumps into the pedestal again. The ice sculpture continues teetering on its feet. Loki slides forward to help stabilize it at the same time Tony stands up. They knock into each other, sending them both backwards. The ice sculpture begins tipping forward. Loki throws his arms out to catch it but Tony hip-checks him, unaware of the falling sculpture. Loki hisses. Tony turns around just in time to watch the six foot tall sculpture come falling down in his direction. Tony, this time, tries to push Loki behind him so he won't get the brunt of it but he ends up knocking Loki down instead. Loki, believing this to be his true intention, yanks Tony down with him. They look on in horror as the ice sculpture comes crashing down around them, shattering as soon as it reaches the marble floor.
The whole ballroom fills with gasps and shrieks while most cameras start flashing from all different angles. Tony glances over at Loki who's laying beside him. His eyes are screwed shut and his lips are pressed into a fine line. Tony lets out a breath as he lays his head against the cold floor.
If Pepper doesn't kill him before they get home, Edwin surely will.