Open Stripper!Loki post (human AU)

[you_have_heart]

[The club is dark and the pulsing strobe lights are sure to overwhelm any who come in from the dark of the outside. There is a main stage where a lithe man twists and turns around a metallic pole, moving with the beat of the music. Surrounding the stage are patrons, some watching silently in rapt attention, other being more vocal in their appreciation of the dancer.

Should you approach the stage you will come up just as Loki sinks down to accept tips tucked into his strangely still-present thong.

Should you wait, Loki comes out into the club about 20 minutes after a platform takes him below the stage. He starts smoozing the crowd.

Comments

[you_have_heart]

[Loki pulls on a leather vest that is little more than some glorified studded straps and buckles. Still standing he dawns stiletto boots that give him even more of a height advantage over Tony.

He saunters over to Tony and grabs his tie. Hauling him up to that their noses are almost touching he says:]

Are you?

[maninatincan]

[Tony smirks] For you, always.[Shifting to stand on his tip-toes, he moves to nip at Loki's nose.] Shall we?

[maninatincan]

Oh my god. Of all of the people that could have been there tonight it had to be her. [Tony flops dramatically on the couch.] You remember that girl I told you about, the one that keeps hitting on my during office hours? [Tony shivers in a "that's so creepy' way.] That was her....

[you_have_heart]

Yes, I could see how uneasy you were. [Loki flops on the other end, their legs tangling together in the middle of the couch.] Thus why I took her and gave the bridesmaid to you. You know you might have to switch classes now though.

Wouldn't want things to get awkward.

[maninatincan]

It's only two more weeks, and of that only a two more lectures, and I can avoid her during office hours. [Tony shifts so that he is snuggling into Loki's side, using him as a life-size teddy.] Hmmm....I need to shower. [His eyes start to droop and he unwillingly lets out a jaw-cracking yawn.]

[you_have_heart]

[Loki gently places an arm around Tony. They were not in a relationship, but both enjoy physical contact, so he doesn't mind snuggling up to Tony]

Yes, you do. You wreak.

Perhaps in the morning though? Tomorrow is laundry day so sleeping dirty will not hurt anything.

[maninatincan]

[After the word wreak, closet-cuddler Tony became dead to the world, shifting slightly and giving an occasional mumble.]
Can we send the pony home, jgahaphguie....cats...jlkghiosh....

[you_have_heart]

[Loki sighs but smiles, picking Tony up in a display of strength that one might not expect of him. He puts his roommate on his bed as gently as possible and goes to work stripping off Tony's shoes, pants and shirt, knowing the man likes sleeping in his boxers.

Poor guy still isn't use to the late nights.]

[maninatincan]

[Tony shifts, curling around the first thing he can find, which is was a all of the pillows on the bed.]
Loki?

[you_have_heart]

[Loki's just removed his pants when Tony speaks]

Yes, dear?

[The term of endearment was something Loki did not invoke often. They had made it very clear between the two of them that they were not in any sort of romantic relationship, despite all the physical intimacies they may indulge in from time to time. Still, Loki couldn't help but let the term slip in the more quiet moments such as this.]

[maninatincan]

[Tony uncurls himself from the pillows and makes grabby hands towards his roommate. Seeing that student tonight had awoken an old memory that he didn't want to think about yet, and noted to himself to bring it up with his therapist later that week.]

[you_have_heart]

Tony, use your words.

[Loki teases as he strips off his shirt and pants. Even though he's teasing him he sits on the bed anyways.]

[maninatincan]

[Tony makes grabby hands again, trying to drag his roommate into the bed.]
Lokiiiiiiiii, come to beeeeeeeeeeeeed.

[you_have_heart]

[Honestly, Loki doesn't know why they just don't move into a one bedroom apartment. They hardly ever sleep apart and it would save them money.

Still he crawls under the covers, enveloping Tony in his long arms.]

Better?

[maninatincan]

[Tony hums in contentment, snuggling into Loki's side, falling back to sleep in moments.]

[maninatincan]

[Several hours later Tony awakes in a cold sweat, memories blinding his sense of reality. Blindly groping about he makes his way to the bathroom, on the verge of dry heaving.]

[you_have_heart]

[Loki wakes with a stat when he feels Tony suddenly spring from the bed. Quickly he stumbles after him, instinct taking over as he follows the other into the bathroom.]

Tony, it's okay. It was only a dream.

[He gently rubs circles into the other's back]

I'm here, don't worry. It's only Loki.

[maninatincan]

[Tony takes several deep breaths, hanging his head over the toilet.]
Sorry, I just....fucking dreams. [Tony wraps his arms around himself, trying to physically protect himself from the emotional turmoil coursing through his system.]
I thought I was over that guy.

[you_have_heart]

[Loki sinks to the floor and wraps himself around Tony, doing his best impression of a protective octopus]

It's alright, you can't control your dreams. But you're here, and you are safe, I promise you that.

[Loki hated whoever did this to Tony. The other was normally so vibrant and full of energy and life, seeing the other like this killed him.]

[maninatincan]

[Tony leans into the embrace, letting Loki's warmth and smell pull him back into reality.]
Sorry, sorry. I'm here. I'm....here.
[He takes a few slow, deep breaths, closing his eyes to block out the stinging light.]
Thanks. I just...wow okay, I can do this. Seeing that student tonight just kinda triggered an old memory from undergrad. I'm okay now. I think I just need to take some Vistaril. Could you grab it out of the cabinet? I just..I just need a minute.

[you_have_heart]

Yes, of course. Head into the living room and I will get it and some water for you.

[Loki stands and moves to the cabinet hidden behind the mirror. Locating the correct pill bottle he gets Tony's usual dosage out and fills a small cup with water.]

Here you are, make sure to drink the whole thing.

[Once Tony takes the pill he curls himself around the other man once more]

[maninatincan]

[Tony relaxes into Loki's embrace, finally feeling firmly grounded in the present.]
We can go back to bed in a minute, I just....I just have to wait for the meds to kick in.
[He curls into Loki's body, clinging like a small child to its mother during a storm.]

[you_have_heart]

[Loki simply strokes his hair gently.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[It's about a 50/50 chance that Tony does. Loki doesn't mind either way, anything that will help the other to feel better.]

TW: mentions of drinking and self-harm

[maninatincan]

[Tony sighs, clinging onto Loki to remind himself of where and when he is.]
It was like my second year of undergrad. I, ah, managed to get in good with one of my professors the year before and he found me a spot in his robotics lab. I worked pretty close with a couple of his grad students and made a couple of really good friends, but one of his students...I just....he was two years from finishing his dissertation when we met. I fucking idolized him. He was really into my work, even helped me with the designs for a couple of AI programs.
He was flirtatious and I was a dumb kid just barley out of puberty. He was my first big crush and I wanted to impress him so bad. I did everything I could to impress him and at first he gave me all of his attention. I guess after Howard and Obie I would take any attention I could get. He used to mock me for my mistakes and after a while when my professor started giving me more attention, he turned real mean, with names and shit. The bastard even hit me a few times. But I was convinced that I was in love with him and just tried to make him happy. It wasn't until a few years after he dropped out of the program that the other lab techs told me that the prof had caught him trying to pass my work off as his own. I also learned that apparently I wasn't his first victim; he had tried to get into the pants of the other girls and guys in our lab.It wasn't until he started making advances on me that they realized he had been harassing the others too.
I had always wondered why my prof took me aside right after that guy left and asked me about my relationship with him. At the time I had been super depressed and under a lot of pressure from Howard and my crush leaving was the final straw. I went home that night and had a nervous breakdown; drinking, cutting, whatever I could do to get my mind to stop working. One of my friends from the lab just happened to to come by and check on me that night and took me to the hospital. I don't know where I would be without Pepper. They kept me for a few days and when I got out she kept an eye on me and helped me get the scholarships and shit I needed to get away from dad after graduation.
[Tony took a deep breath, running through his mental check list of healthy coping skills for painful emotions. As it was, cuddling was at the top of that list, so he molded his body into his roommate as much as physically possible, eyes starting to droop from the emotional strain and medication.]

[you_have_heart]

[A flare of anger burns white hot in Loki. His more destructive side rarely came out anymore, but in moments like this, when one of his was hurt or threatened, Loki could feel it, threatening to over come him.

Not now. No, Tony needs him now. Anger can wait. Pushed back to the back of his mind he gently kisses the top of Tony's head.]

Thank you for telling me.