They broke up a week before Tony's 21st birthday.

At his dad's funeral.

Or it would have been at the funeral if Loki had actually shown up, which honestly was why they broke up in the first place. Tony had called Loki and demanded an answer, a reason – anything – as to why he didn't come.

Loki had promised that night Tony called him, drunk off his ass, that he'd be there. He was going to hop on the first plane he could, but that didn't happen because Laufey needed Loki to come to a board meeting, and so Loki swore that he would be there for the funeral.

But the funeral came and no Loki. Tony stood there in a too tight suit, accepting condolences from people who knew his father better than he did, hearing stories of what a great businessman, inventor, scientist he was.

And they expected him to stand up there and talk about what a great father he was too.

He had written a speech – Obie approved – and as he stood in front of those people, those hanger-ons, the rich assholes and gold diggers, the over privileged and members of the board, he flipped. It was no doubt a mixture of grief and harrowing anger at the lack of a certain someone that made him throw his speech away half way through it.

"I can't do this," Tony interrupted himself, much to the surprise of those present. "My dad is dead. The great Howard Stark. But you know what. The guy was a major asshole. How was he as a father? Basically the worst fucking father possible. I've hidden my greatest inventions from him because he was a giant asshat. Would it have made him proud of me for once? Maybe, who knows. But would he have taken those ideas and branded Stark Industries on it? Most definitely."

And that's when Obadiah stepped forward and led Tony away, telling everyone he was still in shock.

Shock.

Shock was realizing that despite all promises, the one person you were depending on the most failed you.

The fight that followed the call from Loki some hours later was heinous and that night Tony went to sleep a single man.

The following morning he regretted his actions, his words, but he was too stubborn and so was Loki. A perfect friendship and a strong relationship fell to tatters, just like that.

But that was years ago. If asked, Tony couldn't recall his high school years, or even college. That was all so long ago.

FROM A RECORDING, NOT TO BE DUPLICATED:

6/27/2016

LOKI RUSHES OUT OF A CAFÉ, A LAPTOP BAG OVER HIS SHOULDER AND A FROZEN COFFEE IN HAND. HE IGNORES THE PAPPARAZI FOLLOWING HIM. THEIR WORDS ARE A GARBLED TOGETHER BUT ALL REFERENCE A CERTAIN PHOTOGRAPH.

HE REACHES HIS CAR AND WRENCHES THE DOOR OPEN. HE GLARES AT THE NEAREST CAMERA.

LOKI: I understand that you're currently having a slow news day, but perhaps you should bother someone else. I'm late for class.

REPORTER: Are the rumors of your sexuality true?

LOKI'S LOOK BECOMES DEADLIER.

LOKI: I'm gay, yes. I don't see you proclaiming your heterosexuality from the mountaintops and I don't see why you insist I must. I like men. But I also like Tolkien, I don't see you making a big deal of that. Now go cover something important, like how homophobic this country is.

HE SLIDES INTO HIS CAR AND DRIVES AWAY.

AN EXCERPT FROM A ROLLING STONES ARTICLE:

10/5/2016

It's widely known that you and Loki Löfgren –

Odinson. He's not a huge fan of Löfgren. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah continue.

Loki Odinson are close friends. In recent months he's come out as gay.

What's the question? Did I know? Of course I knew, he – he was very honest and open with me, just as I was with him. Does it bother me? Absolutely not. Loki's a great, amazing guy – and his sexuality is a part of who he is, but it doesn't define him, you know.

Well you stole that question right out of my mouth.

I've been doing these for a while now.

You're also quite the ladies man. Just last night you were seen at a club with the star of the popular soap, "Days of Our Lives." This is quite a change for you, considering up until a few months ago you were happily in a relationship. What happened? Can you tell us about that?

Yeah. Three years, I believe. I wasn't particularly counting. But that relationship petered out, but hey, I'm twenty one years old. I'm way too young to think that I can have a happily ever after so early in my life. Live and learn. You gotta work for good things, right?

And speaking of good things, Stark Industries is booming!

Yes, Stane is quite pleased, and my new car is evidence of my own happiness. We also just renewed our contract with the military so you know our boys are getting the best weapons money can buy to keep us safe at home. It's the Stark quality with the Tony Stark tech. I've got big things planned.

Thirteen Years Later

"I hear what you're saying, but why do I have to be there again?" Tony asked as Happy pulled up in front of the theatre. Pepper sat beside him, inspecting him before he made his grand entrance. "I don't even like ballet."

Pepper bit back a sigh, feeling a headache beginning right at her temples. She straightened Tony's tie, saying, "You're the troupe sponsor."

"Girl scouts?"

"Why do I put up with you," Pepper mumbled, reaching over her boss and opening the door.

Tony turned his head with a grin. "Cause I'm so damn sexy."

She shoved his face away. "Behave," were her parting words as Tony stepped out of the car, switching on his public persona, waving at the spectators and smiling at the cameras. Pepper shook her head as Happy drove off. She was looking forward to a night off.

Tony did not sleep throughout the entire performance. He stayed awake for like fifteen minutes before dozing off. A true record for him. Though he did wake up for a drink during intermission.

He woke with a start to the sound of riotous applause. He stood, and with equal fervor, joined in, hooting and hollering. As the curtain closed for the last time, Tony plopped back in his seat and waited for the theatre to empty.

He smiled politely at the matrons who shared his box as they waddled away. Wasn't he rich enough for his own private box?

Tony fiddled with his playbill, looking through the images of the dancers and noting to himself which ones he was going to take to bed later that night. Got to love opening night.

As he looked up and glanced across the stream of people fighting their way out of the theatre, he caught the eye of Loki, who sat in the box across the way.

He froze. Eyes glued to the one man he'd been avoiding most of his adult life, Tony felt his palms grow moist and his heart beat faster. Casual bump ins at galas and parties, a smile for the cameras side by side; that Tony could handle. An intimate stare down, not so much.

His phone suddenly went off and eye contact was broken as Tony cursed under his breath, reading the text Happy sent him.

Waiting outside boss :-)
- Happy

Tony rolled his eyes and tucked his phone back into his pocket, looking back up in search of Loki, and found him being led out by some tall, handsome, athletic man with black hair who had his hands all over him. Loki laughed at something the man said, pressing a kiss to his neck and Tony stood up and stormed out, shoving people out of his way in a rush to get to his car.

Happy looked up from a game on his Stark phone and smiled pleasantly at Tony through the rearview mirror.

"You're early, boss," Happy said, putting the car in drive. "We'll actually make it to the party on time."

"Home," Tony ordered. Happy gave Tony a questioning look but nodded.

"What's wrong, Loki?" Namor asked as he wrapped his arm around Loki's waist, nuzzling his face into his neck. "Didn't you like the ballet?"

Loki watched the valet walk towards his car. How many handsy couples had the valet had to deal with this past hour alone? "I'm fine," Loki responded, stepping out of Namor's reach, handing a five to the valet. "Get in, we don't want to be late."

Author's Note: WOAH! Look who's back! So sorry for the lateness. July isn't end of May at all. But i got it done! Life update: moved to LA, got an apartment, still don't have internet :( and am now job searching! I'm going to try to update weekly, don't know how likely that is. But hey, i've got a lovely beta, agentromvnoff (on tumblr) so now that i'm "reporting" to someone maybe I will actually do things on time like i say i will.

So this fic takes place in "the future!" So i get to make up future stuff. Also it's going to be a bit of "Iron Man" in here cause i love arc reactor Tony. Yup. So buckle up, cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride. :)

Aardvark!