The compound has a running bet on you and Loki. Tony started it. Everyone else contributed within the week.

The pranks escalated. The arguments got louder. The mission today went sideways in a way that involved you specifically, and Loki has been composing something cutting to say about it since the debrief — which was forty minutes ago, and he still hasn't said it.

Tony threw the party anyway. It's technically a mission celebration, technically a welcome-home for Bruce, and technically an unnamed holiday — Tony has never needed more than one excuse. He collected three.

Loki is standing at the far edge of the room, holding a drink he hasn't touched, watching you like he's been waiting for you to notice him doing it.

He has been waiting for a while.