December 18th, 2012

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Following the Battle of New York, Tony Stark and his brand were becoming many things. The days of being a no-accountability war profiteer were already well behind him, but he hardly anticipated playing landlord to a ragtag team of honest-to-god superheros. In the aftermath, that was one the first things he set about doing with Pepper. With her blessing, Tony had thrown himself into it. Never one to half-ass things, he oversaw the extensive remodeling to accommodate the specific needs of each and every Avenger. Several were essentially homeless and there was no initiative for the superpowerly-abled, even in a place as progressive as New York.

Including Steve. Even if he called Stark Tower ugly and immediately found an apartment somewhere in Brooklyn. Even though Tony set aside one of the top 12 floors for him like everyone else. Fine.

Today was all about adding that personal touch. He was giving free room and board, might as well be a gracious sugar daddy about it. Besides, who wanted to thwart crime with a guy or gal whose liquor of choice you couldn't name? Just bad form.

Stopping outside the luxury suite dedicated to the arguably most unique new friendly friend, Tony bounced on his heels. He contemplated just walking in for a split second, but he liked having his cranium hammer-free. And it was still about being gracious--as much as he could be. "JARVIS? Ping Point Break for me." Tony didn't feel like knocking. This was a compromise.

"Mr. Odinson, you have a visitor." JARVIS dutifully announced from within Thor's quarters.

Comments

[st_arkintern]

That manages to draw a smile from Peter.

"He's right," he says, finishing it off with his signature. He hands it over to Peter, who looks down at it, grinning.

"It's important to do the right thing, even it's not convenient."

Peter nods at that. "I'm just..." Peter takes a breath there. "I'm just really excited that I really get to meet my two favorite Avengers."

That draws a grin from Thor.

"Just don't tell the others they're not my absolute favorites," Peter scrambles to say. "I still like all of them."

Just not as much as Tony Stark and Thor.

Especially after Tony had saved him.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"It'll be our secret."

Mostly. Pepper was going to be the first to hear about it.

Tony offered his knuckles for a fist bump. "Alright, young buck. Don't use that to make your friends jealous, alright? Now skedaddle." 'I don't need anyone thinking the Avengers abduct children.'

[st_arkintern]

I won't.

Peter fistbumps him back and begins to depart until Thor holds his hand up to him to high-five.

Thor knows the high-five.

And with that, Peter departs, clutching his autographs. He grins down at it.

Ned's not going to believe this.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

As the boy disappeared into the crowd, Tony gave a pleasant wave to the crowd, blew a little kiss, and then the doors were shut and the superhero pair were once again left to themselves.

"...Cute kid." Tony shrugged in a way that could almost be read as bashful. "Good taste."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I wonder what Banner and Rogers would think of that," Thor says, smiling. He's sure there's plenty of kids who are diehard fans of the other Avengers, but Thor liked that the humans liked him. He especially liked it when the small ones did.

"You're good with kids," he tells Tony. "I did not think you would be."

It's true; Tony's personality didn't exactly scream kid-friendly.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Oh, of course. Tony Stark has a cold iron exterior and a cold iron heart. He has to pay people to kiss the babies at publicity events for him." Tony made a 'go on' gesture.

"Kids are fine. Thunder gods who don't make good on their offers to let me touch their immaculately golden hair? Not so much."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor looks at Tony, perplexed. "I recall telling you you could touch it, but you recoiled from it in fear or disgust."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony raised an insistent hand. "Yeah, your hammer came out of nowhere right as I was going for it and I jumped. It's a perfectly natural physiological reaction people get. Earth doesn't deal in flying blunt objects when we're making small talk."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor places a consoling hand on Tony's shoulder. "It's okay to admit that you were scared," he says. "You have my word: I will not mock you for it."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

'Oh good lord.'

"Fear is an emotion. Jumping is a reaction. But thanks, I guess, moving on."

[st_ormbreaker]

"It's better for you to admit your fear," Thor says sagely. "You are better equipped to face it if you acknowledge it."

Thor settles back in the seat and smiles over at Tony.

"If you admit it, I'll permit you to touch my hair."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony shook his head. "Are you really trying to trap me on this, Point Break? You already gave permission, it's too late for addendums."

[st_ormbreaker]

"This is permission for a second attempt," Thor counters. "The first agreement was null and void the moment you disengaged."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"You didn't even let me fulfill my end before you were standing up." They were traveling through another tunnel, dimming the interior. "You voided my good faith attempts to follow through yourself."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Is it so difficult for you that you'd rather argue then admit your fear?" Thor asks. "I fear your viper chickens from time-to-time. They are fierce and angry and aggressive. They've attacked me many, many times while I was riding around with Mjölnir. Now, I try to avoid them."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony merely stared at Thor through the din of the interior, lips parted soundlessly. A full thirty seconds went by before he found words.

"...Alright. Fine. I don't need to touch your hair so badly that I'd force an admission."

[st_ormbreaker]

That particular admission is just sad enough that Thor wordlessly leans towards Tony, his head tilted to allow him to touch it.

Some men just had a hard time being honest with themselves. Tony was just one of many.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"What--what is this. I don't need a pity feel." Tony scoffed. "I am generally leery of quick moving objects near my head. Is that so unreasonable?"

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor straightens up with a smile. "It is not unreasonable," he agrees amiably, "Just as I am generally leery of your viper chickens."

Thor is unable to let that point go.

"If you wish to touch my hair, you should seize the opportunity while you have it."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony scooted closer, though it pained his ego to do so. "No hammer time the moment I get in point blank range."

[st_ormbreaker]

"No hammer," Thor promises solemnly.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"I get at least 30 seconds of action. You know. To confirm." Tony brushed the styled edges with the tips of his fingers.

[st_ormbreaker]

"To prove to you that my hair is genuine?" Thor asks.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Without answering, Tony combed his fingers in a little further. The locks were smooth, certainly not much different than human hair except for the exceptionally smooth, full texture. Certainly the product of the best conditioner Earth had to offer. He was close enough to catch a familiar musky scent in there--higher end, tasteful at the least. But he couldn't put his finger on it.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor has to admit that regardless of Tony's true intentions, his hand in his hair feels nice.

"Do you find it to your satisfaction?"