HUD: This has been floating around in my head for a week or so now, and I'm really liking how it turned out. I discovered while writing that this is more than a one shot but not a novel. I'm thinking three or four parts, but we'll see.

Enjoy!

- Part 1: Discovery -

It was well past noon before Loki Laufeyson awoke, eyes tired and puffy. He sighed, blinking through the soft rays of the sun that managed to fight through the tint JARVIS kept on the window walls. The god pulled the blanket tighter around him and pressed his face further into the pillow. He knew he was alone in bed, which had become something he was no longer used to, but still he swatted widely behind him. After discovering what he already knew, he pulled an extra pillow over his face with a huff.

"Mr. Laufeyson, would you like an update?" JARVIS called, voice filling the too empty room.

"Certainly," Loki mumbled, voice muffled by the pillows. The AI prattled on about the weather and the location of the other Avengers, but Loki wasn't exactly listening. He was suddenly far too distracted by the overwhelming scent of his lover from the pillow over his face.

"I care not, spirit," Loki drawled. JARVIS immediately paused. "Speak of Anthony."

Loki had been involved with Tony Stark for several months now, the actual number lost on him. He knew Tony knew, but neither really spoke on it. Time wasn't as important to Loki as Tony, and that fact was enough of a glaring factor in their relationship that it was better left unspoken. Tony was happy with the time they did have, and Loki was more than willing to keep him that way.

"Sir has landed and met with Miss Potts. I expect a call within the next ten minutes," the AI answered.

"My thanks," Loki replied, inhaling deeply from the pillow. He would never admit aloud exactly how important Tony had become to him over their relationship, but it was easy to let his guard down when the genius wasn't there.

Loki thoroughly enjoyed Tony's scent. Some days it was thick with oil and metal after hours working on his suits; others it was dusted in a warm cinnamon when he was annoyed from the others or the company; the smell on the pillow was the god's favourite, though. It was Tony's natural smell that Loki could only describe as fresh print and spices mixed with his almond shampoo. It was intoxicating, to say the least, and Loki could only openly enjoy it when the mortal was sleeping with his head buried under Loki's chin.

Loki sighed, taking another deep breath. Tony had suggested they take a vacation from the Avengers Tower for the week. Pepper was taking care of the company and he figured Fury could suck it up for seven days without him, so Loki had agreed. Tony left Bruce head of household at the Tower, had JARVIS block all calls from Fury, and they left for the Malibu mansion.

After only a day away from the world, Pepper called Tony to come survey a new project breaking ground in Britain. Loki was proud of his mortal - Tony actually told Pepper to fuck off. She, of course, wasn't having it and managed to convince - blackmail - Tony to take the flight. Loki sighed again, holding the pillow tighter.

"Incoming HUD from Sir," JARVIS announced, making Loki throw the pillow aside hastily. He quickly sat up and smoothed his hair down, schooling his features into total nonchalance.

"Proceed," he answered. The television on the opposite wall turned on and displayed a waiting message. After a few more seconds, Tony Stark popped up.

"Hey babe!" Tony called, lips spreading in that smile that only Loki could cause.

"How was the flight?" Loki asked, feeling his lips quirk in a soft smirk.

"Boring," Tony moaned, head falling back on the car seat dramatically. He was in a limo, seats dark from the tint on the windows. Still he wore his Aviator glasses, but Loki never minded. Tony had a unique sense to him, and the god would be lying if he said it wasn't attractive.

"Perhaps had you not left me," Loki began, hands folded neatly before him. "I could promise your boredom staved."

"You know I don't want to be here," Tony answered, tone soft. "Pepper was pulling all the punches for this one. There's a few big people I have to meet or the project is terminated."

"So I was told," Loki answered cooly. Tony's eyebrows rose over his glasses, but he did smile.

"I'll only be gone for, like, two days," Tony said. "I'll see these people, stay the night, and you'll see me Wednesday. I promise."

"Today is Sunday, Mr. Laufeyson," JARVIS supplied.

"That's my boy, J," Tony grinned.

"My thanks," Loki answered. He kept his eyes glued to the television, a surprising feeling stirring within him. "Anthony?"

"Yeah babe?" Tony answered, that soft smile back again.

"You are aware this is the first we have been apart," Loki said. Tony paused, head turned slightly as his genius ran through the time they have spent together in its entirety.

"Wow, yeah," he said after a few more seconds, chuckling slightly. "I'm surprised you've tolerated me this long."

Now it was Loki's turn to chuckle. He would never know. "So it seems."

Tony grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I won't read into that while I'm overseas. It'll be hard enough to sleep."

Loki had opened his mouth to answer, but snapped it shut. Tony would have difficulty sleeping as well? It had taken Loki hours to sleep the last night. He tossed and turned, subconsciously searching for a ridiculously warm genius that was usually always there. When he wasn't, Loki would wake to find him in the lab and stay with him; Loki knew he wasn't in the lab, so he had no choice but the stay put. On more than one occasion he made a cup of tea and meditated, hoping to push the discomfort away, but nothing helped. Had Tony become as accustomed to him as Loki had?

"Are you blushing?" Tony grinned, pulling Loki back to the present. The god scoffed, tucking a few errand hairs behind his ear.

"Absolutely not," he answered, glaring at the image of his partner. Tony's grin only grew.

"You so are! You miss me, don't you?" Tony teased, tone going soft. Loki snorted again, this time feeling his face flush hotter.

"Enough," he said sharply. Tony's laugh reached his ears as he kept his eyes on his hands.

"It's okay to miss me, Lo'," Tony teased. "You're right - we've never really been apart. If it helps, I miss the hell outta you."

Loki coughed, hand flying to his mouth. Shit, he was suddenly far too warm and Tony was clear across the globe. Loki wasn't sure why he still tolerated this behavior, but he decided not to read into it.

"Sorry to do this, but I have to go," Tony said suddenly. Loki looked up, seeing the genius pulling out his Mach V phone. "Pepper has been on my ass since I landed, and now she's trying to set up a HUD with these idiots. I'll call you later. JARVIS, keep him entertained."

"Yes, sir," the AI answered. Tony smiled, blowing a kiss to Loki before the screen went black. Loki blinked, releasing the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

That surprising feeling from earlier came back full force now that he had a name for it. Loki was missing Tony. He missed the too warm and clingy mortal, and it was all his fault, dammit. Loki sighed, shaking his head. It appears even he could fall under another's spell, and Tony had weaved a very delicate one.

"The tea kettle is ready, Mr. Laufeyson," JARVIS said. Loki nodded, tossing the comforter aside and slipping from bed. His feet sank into the plush white carpeting as he took slow steps from the room and into the kitchen.

The kettle was ready, steam pouring from the small nozzle. He pulled down a mug and a box of the tea Tony had ordered from China for him. After a few teaspoons of honey, Loki poured a bit of water over the green tea bag, allowing the cup to steep for a few minutes. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he just watched the steam rise.

Loki sighed. He was usually accustomed to solitude, but all this time with Tony had made him into a social creature. He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about it just yet, but he knew he missed Tony. That thought was enough for him to seriously consider.

How long had they actually been together? Loki closed his eyes, thinking back. He understood the Midgardian time counts, but that was only because of his proximity to Tony. Perhaps...

"Spirit," Loki called, stepping back towards his tea. "Is there a date for when Anthony and I began this...relationship?"

"According to Sir's personal files, your anniversary will be this week," the AI answered. Loki paused - Tony had made it a point to be back this Wednesday. Could that be the day?

"Anniversary is year, correct?" Loki asked. He filled the rest of the mug, dropping in a spoon. He waved his hand and the spoon began to stir slowly.

"Yes," JARVIS answered. Loki nodded, knowing the AI wouldn't be able to see it anyway. He removed the spoon from his mug, dropping it into the sink. The tea was a little too hot, so he lowered the temperature with a bit of cold magic and took a - wait.

"Spirit, did you say there are personal files pertaining to me?" Loki asked. JARVIS actually hesitated.

"There are," he said, tone apprehensive. "They are classified."

Loki snorted, heading to the stairs that he knew led down to Tony's lab. "We shall see."

The god took the stairs two at a time, feet leaving carpet and dropping to tile. He looked through all the glass walls, taking in the dark lab. It was bittersweet, seeing the lights off. Tony was always such a whirlwind of energy; to see his precipice empty and silent was odd.

Loki snapped his fingers, his Avengers clearance keycard appearing before him. It swiped over the pad, and the light blinked red then green as the door slid back. Loki smirked and waved it back to the room, stepping over the threshold. The lights turned on for each step he took towards the centre, where Tony's actual computer was. Loki had learned quite a bit over his year, apparently, with Tony, and this was something he had come to understand.

"Spirit, log me in," Loki said, sitting in the plush swivel chair. The screen lit up, entirely transparent, as Loki took a small sip. Perfect.

The screen displayed his image, a picture Tony had snuck of him when he was far too comfortable to fight it. Loki blinked at the picture of himself - he had been sitting in an armchair at the Tower, book cradled in his lap, and heavily engrossed. That was his favourite place to read. He had pulled a chair to one of the window walls on Tony's floor. It was perfect for gazing at the clouds and captured just enough sunlight, although he would never admit it to Tony. When asked, he always just said it was his way of marking the next window Tony would fly through should he feel the need.

Loki was staring at Tony's hot rod desktop and couldn't help from rolling his eyes. "Pull up the file." JARVIS rapidly pulled up several files, one leading to the other, until he was left with a bright red firewall screen.

"Explain," Loki said, sipping his tea again.

"It appears you are not cleared for this file," JARVIS said rather smugly. Loki snorted.

"Incorrect," the god answered. "I have been told on more than one occasion by Anthony himself that there is nothing I am not privy to. Get me in." After a moment, the screen fizzled from red back to the desktop as JARVIS surged through the files again. This time, there was no block.

Loki leaned forward, the title of the file catching his eye. "'Tony Stark's How To Guides' - is this another firewall?"

"No, this is the file you have requested," JARVIS answered.

"I do not see me," Loki said, eyes roaming the titles. Tony's stamp of approval was all over the place, in titles such as: Tony Stark's Guide to Stuffing Your Face, Tony Stark's Guide to Science with Bruce, Tony Stark's Guide to Hot Rods. Loki couldn't help his grin as he read more of the titles, seeing one that caught his eye.

"Open 'Tony Stark's Guide to Reading'," Loki said. After a few seconds, the file opened. Loki wasn't entirely sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't a video.

He was suddenly looking at the communal floor of the Avengers Tower. Clint was sitting at the couch, book held in his hand. The archer didn't realize he was being recorded, apparently, because he certainly wasn't fully dressed. He was laying in a robe that absolutely left nothing to the imagination; Loki had been feeling hungry, but not anymore. Tony popped up in the far corner of the kitchen, waving at the camera. He walked over to stand behind the couch carrying a large bucket in his hands.

"Hey Clint," video Tony said. Video Clint sighed, turning the page.

"What?"

"Wanna hear my How to Read Guide?" He asked. Clint never looked up, which Loki figured was a horrible idea.

"Sure," he said distractedly. Tony grinned, waggling his eyebrows at the camera.

"Tony Stark's How To: Guide for Reading," Tony said, holding the bucket over his head. "First rule - don't do it naked on my fucking couch!"

Clint looked up just in time to have the entire bucket of ice water dumped over his head. Tony dropped the bucket howling with laughter as Clint gasped and flailed on the couch. When he scrambled to his feet, the video cut off.

Loki blinked, staring at the screen. He selected another one at random, hoping this was exactly what he thought it was.

The video loaded the Malibu mansion's impressive swimming pool. The camera turned to each of the Avengers in turn, starting with Bruce, who waved at the camera in his sunglasses, white shirt, and swim trunks. Thor was in the pool smacking Steve with a wet noodle, and Clint was sitting beside Bruce under the umbrella.

"Okay, ready?" Tony asked, passing the camera to Bruce. The shot caught Clint grinning and standing up. Tony came into view as well as Bruce aimed the camera on them. Loki's stomach flipped at the sight of his lover in only his swim trunks and those Aviator glasses. Clint was dressed similarity as they both smirked at the camera.

Bruce was a steady hand, zooming in as the men scurried around the pool to where Natasha was sunbathing on a chair. She appeared asleep, not moving as both men stood behind her.

"This is Tony Stark's How To: Guide for Swimming!" Tony called, waving at the camera. "First rule - just go for it!"

Natasha started as Clint and Tony grabbed the ends of her chair. As she tried to climb off, they both lifted and tossed her unceremoniously into the pool. Even Loki could hear her squeaks of indignation as the pool cut her off. Bruce lost it, camera shaking, as Clint and Tony high-fived and held their guts from laughing.

Loki found himself smiling. Even though his lover was away, it was as if he had never left. Loki busied himself watching video after video, sipping at his rapidly cooling tea. Each video was only a few minutes long but they were hilarious.

"Tony Stark's How To: Guide for Pranking Thor," Tony whispered, camera facing him. He held a finger over his lips as he spun it around. Thor was standing in the kitchen, tossing blue boxes over his shoulder rapidly.

"How is this possible!?" The god demanded, tossing another box back. "They were all here! I understand not!"

Video Tony began to giggle, turning the camera back around. "So, Thor just had me get, like, a hundred boxes of fucking strawberry poptarts. In retaliation, I bought the boxes, but he never said he wanted the poptarts actually in them." He winked and pointed the camera at a nice sized pile of silver wrapped squares in the far corner. Tony snickered quietly as Thor's shouting continued behind him.

Loki chuckled, exiting the video and hovering over the next. He would have to remember that for when he got back to the Tower.

"Spirit, load the most recent," Loki said, standing. His hunger had finally gotten the best of him. "I shall return - "

"Request denied," JARVIS answered. Loki paused, turning back slowly.

"Pardon?" Loki asked.

"I do not believe it wise for you to watch the most recent, Mr. Laufeyson," the AI answered. Loki crossed to the computer, hunger forgotten.

"It is not that I am blocked, but that you wish not to?" Loki demanded.

"...yes. In your interest and Sir's," JARVIS answered. Loki huffed, sitting back down and scrolling through the files himself.

"Tell me the name," Loki demanded. JARVIS hesitated - twice, now! - before answering. Perhaps he had been correct - perhaps he was trying to protect Loki, because the answer made his blood run colder than usual.

"Seduction."

Loki's eyes rested on the file. All the others had been merely a video icon, but this was another file within the main file. Loki continued to stare.

"How recently updated?" He asked quietly.

"An hour and fifty minutes ago," JARVIS answered. Loki looked at the time. That was minutes after Tony had ended their HUD communication. Loki slowly sat back, eyes still glued to the file.

This was the first time they had been apart in almost a year, and Tony had actually been very insistent on Loki not accompanying him. Actually, thinking back, Tony had all but openly told Loki not to go. The god froze, pieces sliding together.

"Anthony is cheating on me," Loki whispered. His first instinct was to be angry, but all he felt was pain. He was so certain that he had some sort of bond with Tony, and he would have bet anything the mortal felt the same. But of course Loki was unlovable - a monster and a deviant for all millennia, loved and accepted by none. Even his own family had abandoned him to die, and his adoptive wasn't much better.

Loki was suddenly on his feet again, the chair spinning wildly behind him. The pain was washed away by anger. All Loki could picture was the look on Tony's face when he appeared, destroying whatever foray the man was attending to. Oh, new project for the company, alright. The god bet it was a woman, too.

"Mr. Laufeyson - " JARVIS began. Loki didn't answer, moving swiftly towards the door. The glass shut quickly before him, hindering him for only a moment.

"Do not think your glass will keep me here, spirit!" Loki roared, throwing up his hand. The glass cracked right as JARVIS spoke again.

"Sir is not cheating!" Loki paused for a moment, hand still raised to shatter the glass.

"What proof have you?" Loki asked quietly, turning back to the screen. The Seduction file glared at him, mocking him from across the lab. JARVIS didn't answer, instead opening the file.

Loki watched as Tony came to the screen, sitting in his lab in the Tower. His heart fell at the sight of him, wondering if he could still call him his lover. The date in the corner was marked over two years ago, fully grabbing the god's attention.

"This is Tony Stark," the video Tony said, face serious. He wore the same black tank top he always did in the lab, his arc reactor shining through. "I've been doing these prank 'How To' videos lately, and as much fun as they are, I want to do something productive. JARVIS, bury this file deep with those pranks, just in case this back fires and S.H.I.E.L.D. feels the need to get involved." He paused, running his hands through his artfully styled hair. "This is the first of - hopefully - many, as a video log. This will be elaborate, and possibly the biggest undertaking since I started the Iron Man suits. Hopefully I won't die, but that's a very real possibility. I've recently discovered I can't help it, though." The genius grinned, pulling Loki closer to the screen.

"I'm Tony Stark," he said proudly, hands clasped before him on the table. "And this is my How To: Guide for Seducing Loki; subtitled, 'This May Be Batshit Crazy.'"

JARVIS paused the video, the screen freezing on Tony's breathtaking smile. Loki sank back to the seat, eyes fixated on the screen.

"Shall I start the kettle again for you, Mr. Laufeyson?" The AI offered.

Loki merely nodded, leaning back in the seat. He figured it wouldn't hurt to stick around.

A/N: So now we start Tony's video diary. I am so excited. This is going to be fucking awesome. That's my opinion, but tell me what you all think! :)