You know, living in a confined tower with nothing but Alphas isn't as bad as one would think. In fact, it kinda made everything a little easier. You never had to wonder if someone was going to wash the dishes or take out the garbage because everyone wanted to prove themselves. They needed to know they were needed, and that is how this all started.

It was two years after Loki's impromptu visit to Manhattan. You know New Yorkers. Forgive and forget. So basically, everyone has forgiven Loki after they heard he was being mind controlled by the Mad Titan, Thanos. Even Clint has pretty much forgiven the trickster. And that is saying something. Back to the point, Loki is forgiven and so on and so forth. Everyone knows that.

What everyone doesn't know is Loki currently lives in Manhattan. Yeah, he actually lives in the place he tried to control. Strange. Or at least I thought so.

Wait. Did I forget to introduce myself again. God, Pepper would have my head. My name is Tony Stark. I just assume everyone knows me. I mean, is that wrong to assume?

"Tony! Where did you go?"

Crap, I forgot to throw another one out. Or, better put, have Pepper throw another one out. Eh, she'll get the point.

Anyways, wait where was I? Oh yeah, Loki lives in Manhattan. I would have never known if I hadn't let Pepper convince me to pick up coffee for the...um, other people I was having that huge, important meeting with. So I had to pick a different coffee shop to go to because the coffee at my normal shop is $12 a cup. Pepper would NOT accept that so I went to this off the street shop that looked reliable enough. I walked in and ordered while I pulled my wallet out only to look up and see the crazy green not blue eyes of none other than Loki. While I gaped, he put the order through and asked for the cash.

Sometimes I wonder what really made me go in that store. It had none of the usual requirements that allows me to eat at any given restaurant. As I look back, I tend to blame it on my Alpha instincts.

I mean, as I stated earlier, I live with some of New York's most eligible bachelors. Thor, Steve, Clint, and Bruce. They are all mated except for Bruce. Thor has Jane Foster and they have been together for about three years now. Steve has Pepper, yes Pepper, and they are a pretty new couple but everyone knows they'll be fine. Clint obviously has Natasha. I was, frankly, surprised when they mated because I thought Natasha was an Alpha. That leaves me and Bruce. Poor, poor Bruce. He's a considerate Alpha. No sex before mating type of thing. That's not my style. He's had to live with me being me for a while now.

So walking into that store that day, which happened to be Loki's first day working there AND it happened that Loki got a spontaneous heat just that day. Definitely Alpha instincts. As I'm sure you know, the only person that can smell an Omega's heat is their future mate. And by God could I smell it. It was the most fragrant thing ever. My mouth was watering and my instincts were screaming at me "Take him. Make him yours" but my reason was positively defining it. Sex while an Omega was in heat is something they crave usually but Loki looked fine. I figured at the time I had my signs wrong so I paid, took my coffee and left.

At the office, I greeted Pepper with the coffee and gave my usual smirk and she responded by lifting an exquisitely trimmed eyebrow and said "You positively reek of someone. Who's lawyers do I need to call?"

"What? What do you mean?'

"Oh, cut the crap Tony. I've known you longer than most. I can tell when you don't smell like you. So who do you smell like?'

"Um, no one. I don't know what you are talking about. I went to get your coffee and I ran into, believe it or not, Loki and-"

"That's who! Oh my God, Tony! Did you sleep with Loki?"

"WHAT! No! We exchanged like four words max and that's it! And how do you know what Loki smells like?"

"A good guess. Is it? And why do you have his scent wrapped all around you?"

"Probably. It makes the most sense. Good question Pep."

Later that day, after all the pointless meetings and sitting at my desk, signing contracts I don't even bother to read anymore, I went home and sat down with a glass of scotch and thought about something. Why do I smell like Loki? So I did the only thing I could think of. Ask Jarvis.

"Hey J, I've got a question for you."

"I'd be happy to answer that for you sir."

"Could you give me a quick lowdown on what happens between a newly discovered pair of mates?"

"Absolutely sir. According to several sites, when a pair of mates first discovers one another, they will not notice anything at first, but soon, there will be an insatiable urge to continue to see each other and once the Omega goes into heat, the Alpha will sense the smell and finish the new bond by having sex with the Omega. Does this answer your question sir?"

"Not necessarily, no. "

"I'm sorry sir. What is your question?"

"What reason would there be for me to smell like some other person's scent?"

"Well, sir. There are various reasons. The most popular reasons are intercourse, a bond, and desire."

"What was that last one?"

"Desire, sir. When there is a pair of future mates and they just met, the Alpha usually absorbs some of the Omega's scent to repel any other Omega's. After this happens, there is no Omega that is attracted to said Alpha."

"Great. Just fucking great. It had to be Loki that my screwed up body would be made to be compatible with."

Jarvis was right. Pretty soon, Loki was all I could think about. His eyes, his smile, his voice, his hair, his...well everything. I know it sounds cliche, but it couldn't be truer. It took four words and a look into his eyes and my world crumpled. It's been a week since the coffee incident and everyday got a little more painful. Mentally and physically, it felt like something was pulling. Until one day, the pain became absolutely unbearable. I went to the coffee shop to face my fears and talk to Loki only to find out he wasn't there.

"Hey, there's a guy who works here, Loki. Do you know where I could find him?"

"Um, there is no 'Loki' who works here. Sorry mate."

"Okaayy, sure. Thanks. Bye."

"Oh, hey To-"

"Hey Pepper. I need to borrow your computer now."

"Why don't you just use yours?"

"You see, my office is twenty stories up and I have neither the time nor patience to wait in an elevator."

"What's the hurry for?"

"Loki. I need to find where he lives now."

"Okay. I have to say I wasn't expecting that. Why?"

I turned from the computer currently using nine different satellites and various GPS systems to track a certain mischief god to look at Pepper in the face and sincerely say, "I have no idea," and then proceded to tell her the full story.

"Oh my God Tony that's great! Honestly, I didn't ever think you would find your mate. I wa-"

"Let's not use that word, okay? Okay."

"What word?Mates?"

"Yep. That's the one."

"Why not. That's obviously what you and Loki are."

"No. No we are not. We are nothing."

"Nothing. Got it."

The computer made a ding and I turned around, maybe a little faster than usual but that was a coincidence, and Tony wrote down Loki's home address and bolted out of the door and jumped into his Maserati. The house wasn't too far from the office. Somewhere in the back of his mind he said that that was convenient but he quickly shushed it.

He had to go find his ma- Loki. He had to go find Loki.