Time passed as if in the blink of an eye after that moment.

Loki had been given his commendation by the governor that next morning, and the entire ceremony went off without a single incident or word of any looming threat, much to the relief of the entire team. Thor stood at his brother's side with as much pride radiating from him as you had ever seen, but you stayed back with the team as to not draw any attention from your new fiancé just because you were now engaged and the world had yet to know. Of course, they would want to know and they would make it their business for it to become their business.

When they did finally find out, Tony took immediate charge of how much the press would find out, which included a full lock-down on any information regarding your upcoming wedding. A fake date was "leaked", pictures were staged of the two of you out an about in the city to throw them off as to what plans you were making, and invitations to the event were scarce, as only the team would be allowed to attend. Neither of you wanted a large ceremony or party anyway, so letting Tony take over the game of sending the media on a wild chase was more than appealing when you had enough real work to do as it was. All in all, he actually seemed like he was enjoying himself with it, after so many years of dodging them and dealing with their intrusiveness into his own life; he gave himself full creative liberties with them and was doing some of his best work.

Loki had finally begun to feel at ease within the group, and he found himself taking part in more missions, carving out a home within the team and a role to be played when their efforts became dangerous and they're reliance on each other was crucial. He wanted to be an active partner to each of them, but if keeping his new teammates safe meant reverting back to a few of his favorite magic tricks, then so be it. No one seemed to mind when they all came home alive because of them, so he continued to enjoy the comfort of familiarity that he had been denied of for too long now.

With daily life for the two of you going so well, with Loki as an Avenger and with your work as busy as ever, the real date of your wedding practically snuck up on you as if from nowhere. The energy around the compound that day was hectic to say the least, all the while trying to keep a low profile to not draw in any unwanted guests. Anyone standing within feet of the building would have felt the energy emanating from it, the epicenter of it all being shared between the two most important men in your life.

"Have you written vows, brother?"

"Oh, dear...no. W-was I supposed to?"

"It might make for awkward silence if you haven't," Thor smiled, slapping a reassuring hand on Loki's shoulder. "Don't worry. Once you're up there with (Y/N), the words will come to you with ease, I have no doubt."

"At least that's one of us," Loki muttered under his breath. His shaking fingers fumbled with the knot of his tie as he tried to adjust it, even though it sat perfectly straight around his neck. It was a force of habit when his anxieties grew, making him remember readily exactly why he never really wore one before. "Thor, can I ask something?"

"Of course, always."

"Has Tony spoken to you at all about the wedding? Has he said anything in regard to (Y/N) and her choice of me as her husband?"

"No," Thor answered readily, cocking his head to the side in confusion, "should he have? Do you sense that he's no longer supportive of this? I can speak to him if you wish me to."

"No, it's not that. I just feel as if he gave me permission to ask for (Y/N)'s hand, but now that the day is upon us, he seems to be hesitant to agree with his own decision. He seems conflicted and I have yet to say more than a few words to him today. We've been able to build somewhat of a...dare I say it...a friendship and trust that I worry has been broken and I am at a loss as to how."

"I'm sure it's nothing to do with you, brother," Thor smiled gently. "We know that he's very protective of her, and I'm sure that it's his own feelings of nervousness that's setting him apart from the others. Tony wants to see her happy as much as you do, and he would never willingly interfere with something that is so obviously right."

~~~

"You still have time to run."

"Tony, stop."

"What?" he shrugged. "I'm just letting you know that if you need a last-minute getaway suit, I've got one right here," he paused, pointing to the glow at the center of his chest, bright enough to be seen through the coat of his tuxedo. "I can modify one of these for you in minutes if you want one too."

"I'm good, thanks," you declined readily, "but you're not. What's going on with you today? I thought you were okay with Loki now? He told me that he asked for your permission before he proposed and you gave it without much of a fight. Were you lying to him?"

"Of course not. Not at the time...anyway," he sighed heavily. Tony coughed quietly under his breath and turned his gaze away, trying to look out the window that opened over the lawn where your ceremony would take place, as if he were simply making sure that it was all set up to go. He knew that he wasn't skilled enough as an actor to pull it off, and he considered that maybe he was the one who should be making a run for it, but his feet were uncharacteristically frozen in place out of the fear of how you were about to react.

"Not at the time? Tony, are you kidding me right now?! Are you seriously pulling this bullshit thirty minutes before my wedding is supposed to start?"

Your best friend continued to stare out the window, and you weren't sure why; maybe he hadn't really meant it the way it had come out, or more likely, he did mean it and hadn't thought of a way to recover. He shuffled his feet nervously and pushed his hands deep into his pants pockets, if for nothing else but to still them of their tremor. "Honey, you know that I love you," he began quietly; so much so that you had to step closer just to hear him. "You know that if there's anything in this world that you want, I'll go to the ends of it to make it happen."

"Yeah, I know."

"You also know that if anything...or anyone...hurts you, then I can't let that go-"

"Tony," you interrupted, "that's not going to happen. If there's anyone in the entire universe who aims to hurt me in any way, it's definitely not Loki. He's proven that time and again, and you can trust him when he says that he agrees with you. I'm completely sure that I'm the safest person on the planet right now."

Tony finally took a deep breath and relaxed his posture, dropping his shoulders in relief and acceptance that you were right, and that he was once again overreacting to a perceived threat that wasn't even realistic. But that's who he was; always on alert and ready for catastrophe at every turn. "More than you know," he smirked, "but even so, I'm always going to be this guy. Even when this day is done, this isn't going to change, okay? You might have heart-eyes and feel all squishy when Mr. Perfect out there looks at you, but even he won't get in my way if you need me for even the smallest thing. Don't forget m- that...alright?"

Your heart flipped in your chest and it began to ache as you looked into sad eyes that could barely hold your gaze now, and when you realized exactly what he was saying. "Tony, you're not going to lose me, and there's no way that I could ever forget you," you whispered, reaching out to put a gentle hand on his cheek. The touch of your skin against his created a rush of emotions in you, and tears began to sting with the threat of ruining your carefully applied makeup. "You're my best friend, and that's not changing. I love you too, Tony. Even though on the day you hired me, you warned me in no uncertain terms that relationships inside the company are strictly forbidden. Apparently rules written by you don't need to be followed by you."

"Hmm, I forgot about that. I might have to fire myself."

"That sounds like a lot of paperwork."

"And one hell of a press release."

"Oh, no you don't!" you snapped, releasing your hold on him. "I don't care if you go out there and screw Steve in the middle of my wedding, I'm not working today."

Tony's face immediately paled and a few random beads of sweat formed along his forehead, his eyes widening in shock at your words as he took a precautionary step back. You had jolted him to his core and he now feared you and the power you held. "S-screw Steve? What...what do you...why would you say that..."

"Oh, no reason," you smirked, turning away to put the finishing touches on your appearance, and one final, quick pass by the mirror to be sure that your dress was just right before Tony could walk you out to your future husband. He didn't say anything more, and you worried that your admission that you knew more than he was led to believe shocked him into immobility when you needed him at the top of his game. "Sweetheart," you added, "don't worry. I've kept your secrets for years. There's nothing you can do to shock me anymore."