shieldborne | For magpiemythos

((continued from here))

After a confusing, worrisome evening spent together, Steve seems to feel he and Loki have hit some kind of new level in their friendship. He's less wry and cagey, a little more overly solicitous and warm; still, in the cold light of day he's a lot more awkward about both physical and emotional intimacy, and if Loki reverts to his usual teasing banter, Steve will fall into the same comfort zone.

He thinks about him often when he's not there, though. Hoping he's found a safer, kinder way to fight his demons. Fearing he hasn't, and feeling helpless to do anything more about that than he already has. At least now, Loki won't have to initiate all their contacts. He'll get occasional texts and calls from Steve, asking if he wants something at a store, if he's seen x or y movie, whether he's all right.

The others are a little bemused about Steve's increasingly less subtle interest in their otherworldly acquaintance. Some of them are openly skeptical, afraid he could be being played, but since no one has anything against Loki, it remains a topic of quiet, civil debate.

It's early in the evening this time when Steve texts Loki. Just a brief note, and he doesn't entirely expect a response: They're trying to convince me to get a tattoo of a bald eagle with a tear running down its face. It's a conspiracy, they're all in on it.

I doubt it would last long with my healing factor even if I did.

How's your evening going?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Downright un-American is what it'd be." Loki replied with a laugh and a teasing little wink as she ducked in closer to his side, hand leaving his only to slip around his waist instead.

"Lead the way." For the moment she was perfectly willing to follow him, at least if it meant staying tucked in beside him, which had the added bonus of him being able to get a whiff of the perfume she was wearing. A long day of teasing was in Steve's future, that much is for sure.

He huffs a breath, rolling his eyes in good-natured resignation at the tease. Except she's putting her arm around him now and that more than makes up for it. He lets his rest across her shoulders in response, breathing the sweet scent of her hair briefly.

He looks blissfully content.

As they walk, he glances up at her and says, "You know, I always figured after the serum I'd end up being taller than the gals I went around with. Guess that failed, huh?"

Loki was trying not to just be frustrating today. She liked Steve after all, and wanted him to have fun too. So teasing might happen but so did soft little affections to go with them. Enough to ease potential frustration so they could both have a good time.

"Hm?" She tilted her head slightly to peer at him as they came to a stop at the end of the line for the ride, red lips quirking to a small smile. "Well I don't know, I think you lucked out. Makes things like this real easy for me."

What things? Well, things like pressing a kiss to his forehead, as she happily demonstrated.

Steve is actually drinking in the attention. He's long been comfortable with playful banter; teasing like this isn't too big a step away from that. The only difference is the potential need for a cold shower later, and the fact that the tease is coming from an expert.

He raises an eyebrow at her, but grins when she kisses his forehead, closing his eyes briefly. "I wasn't complaining, actually. But you can take advantage of my relative shortness like that any time."

The line for the Eagle is on the long side, although chances are the newer coasters have more of a wait time. It's moving fast, though. They won't be at it long.

Even the idea that he'd be stuck dealing with things alone was a bit of a tease too- not that Steve would know that for a little while. Making him squirm was just a bit too fun to pass up, after all.

"Oh can I?" She laughed at that, resting her forehead against his. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

Loki didn't mind the lines for now. It was more time to stay all snuggled up with Steve after all, just keeping arms around him for now. Sure the line was moving fairly well, but that still left plenty of time to keep him in her grasp.

This is actually ridiculously, delightfully sweet, by Steve's standards. He suspects the same is true for Loki, even with the teasing. He leans back into the touch of forehead to forehead, smiling, eyes going half-hooded.

In case there was any doubt before, he's clearly thrown himself into the moment, taking reassurance from the break, the companionship, the old, aching memories being replaced by shiny new ones. "Please do," he tells her softly, and keeps his arm around her when the line moves on, like he can't get too much cuddling.

When they get to the front of the line, he moves back a little, more gentlemanly than clingy, and helps her into the coaster seat even though she's perfectly able to get there herself, kitten heels or no.

It's downright saccharine to Loki. Which would usually drive her up the wall, but this time? Didn't seem to bother her one bit. In fact it was... nice.

She stayed nestled right in where she was, quite happy to be in Steve's grasp and cuddled in against him. He wasn't the only one who craved contact, those soft, sweet moments that never seemed to come to her other than with him. He was practically addictive in that way, not that Loki would ever be caught dead complaining about it in any seriousness.

And while yes, she is able to get into the seat herself, the chivalrous assistance earns Steve a smile and a quick peck on the cheek once he'd settled in at her side.

The kiss makes him grin like an idiot at exactly the moment the ride operator comes over to make sure the lap bar is in place. He's another teenager, like the girl running the game, and he smirks as he tugs on the bar to make sure it's locked, then gives Steve a little nod as he moves on, like a silent congratulations. Steve's blush levels up a notch, but he puts his hand over Loki's anyway, choosing not to be abashed by getting caught in the public display of affection.

"In the interest of full disclosure, I feel like I should warn you I threw up the last time I rode a roller coaster," he says wryly. "But that was before the serum."

And now he routinely jumps out of airplanes without a parachute, so he's probably fine there.

Amused as she is by that intense blush, Loki is especially pleased that Steve seems happy with continuing to be affectionate even with the notice they'd gotten. She wasn't about to get excessive with things, but still liked that she wasn't some 'guilty pleasure' in this case.

"I would hope you're not going to puke." She commented mildly as the ride shuddered into motion, around a bend before it was hooked onto the chain to drag up the first big hill with a loud clink. "Definitely would put a damper on getting funnel cakes later."

She's sure he'll be fine though- it's a roller coaster after all. And if he's not okay and does wind up sick, she might tease a bit. At least after making sure he's okay.

And for all the drop isn't anything scary, not after everything she's done, Loki still catches hold of Steve's arm with a delighted squeal when they finally do drop off the precipice. It's all for fun after all!

Well, he doesn't want her to think he's ashamed of her. He's not the kind of guy who's comfortable being too physical in public, but at the same time, he knows he's got a very pretty person by his side. There's a sliver of machismo in him that's a little pleased by that, and by the fact that people are taking note in a non-intrusive way. Plus, it keeps the attention off him. Win-win.

"Geez, I don't think I can eat a whole funnel cake, even like this," he laughs and bumps knees with her. "I could about murder a caramel apple, though."

He doesn't dare promise he won't get queasy, but the first drop just makes him whoop and laugh a little, holding onto her in return. The successive sharp corners and loops throw them around a bit, but he's handling it without issue, and by the time the ride lurches to a stop, he's only a little bit giddy.

Loki couldn't help the laughter as they finally came to a stop, definitely feeling a bit more energetic for the shot of exhilaration. When the lap bar lifted, she all but bounced to her feet, grasping Steve's hands in hers to gently tug him up after.

"Come on slowpoke!" She wasn't even sure what she wanted to do next, but she was still having fun, breathless and windblown as she was.

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