For magpiemythos

[shieldborne]

((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?

Comments

[magpiemythos]

Steve is absolutely being invited to look; especially as his efforts definitely do make sliding the pants off much easier. The kiss offered earns a slow smile from Loki, unable to help but let fingers graze through his hair in response. And of course he has no problem whatsoever with sitting naked, sorry Steve, you get to blush for the both of them on that count.

"A towel might not be a bad idea..." Better to dry off a bit more before he started pulling on dry clothing after all, and he could only guess that Steve might be a bit more comfortable if he wasn't cold and wet to cuddle up to as well.

[shieldborne]

Steve gives a little sigh and a slow-blink at the touch to his hair, but now that the clothes are available to be hung up, he feels like that's his primary duty here. He nods, giving Loki a lopsided, content little smile, and slips out of the room.

It doesn't take him long to hang up the clothes, and he checks the door locks and gets a glass of water and a couple towels before coming back. The former he sets on whatever flat surface it seems least likely to fall from, but then he tosses the towels at Loki lightly. "I'm gonna take my jeans off, too, okay?"

Because they're still a little bit wet. He knows saying it that way leaves him wide open for teasing, but at this point pretty much everything does and he's made peace with that.

[magpiemythos]

Loki caught the tossed towels easily enough when Steve returned, turning his attention to drying off properly. Air-drying had taken care of most of the wet, but being able to towel off was nice in general, and meant he could get his hair a little less bedraggled in the process.

And at the clarification from Steve, he just flashed a smile from under the towel, pretending like he wasn't going to admire the view.

"Well you certainly won't hear me complaining..." Good thing Steve knew it was coming because it was a safe haven to avoid rough conversations and by god was Loki going to take advantage of that.

[shieldborne]

Unfortunately for Loki, perhaps, Steve hasn't been quite soaked to the skin. The t-shirt he has on, and his boxers, are still perfectly dry. He gives him a look anyway, but he strips off his jeans without a fuss and wanders off to hang them up in the bathroom, which probably gives Loki a pretty decent view of his retreating backside as well as his legs.

"You know," he says when he comes back in. "It's still a little weird some days, to look in a mirror and not see short, scrawny me. You'd think I'd have gotten used to it by now."

[magpiemythos]

Boo. Oh well, he'll still admire what he can see of him when he heads out of the room again. Because goodness but Steve is nice to look at, especially with his perchance for tight t-shirts.

"It makes sense." Once Loki felt he'd gotten dry enough, the towels were tossed aside carelessly, focus going for the moment to kicking the damper blankets aside. One bonus of so many blankets meant that even without those there were plenty for them to settle into, happily enough. "Just because the outer wrapping changed doesn't mean you did. You're still the same you under all that muscle. Steve Rogers of Brooklyn, scrappy, too damn stubborn to admit defeat, and alarmingly lionhearted for such a scrawny thing."

A small shrug. "Same with me really. No matter what form I take, at my core I'm still the same as I always was. I just have the advantage of being able to change what I see in the mirror more easily."

[shieldborne]

Well, if asked nicely he might lose another layer of clothing. Or at least the shirt. He's anticipating further cuddles, though, and that kind of physical closeness could get a little awkward when combined with total nudity. There's no diverting some physical reactions.

Meanwhile, though, Loki just hit a nerve, in an awfully good way. Steve's expression softens noticeably. "Y'know," he says softly, "I'm not sure sometimes. But thank you. You didn't even know me back then, but thank you."

He clambers up onto the bed beside him again and kisses his temple.

[magpiemythos]

Dry and much comfier for the fact, it was simple enough to slip into pajama pants and tie them to stay before shifting himself up to settle properly. Steve following after was met with arms slipping around him as Loki shifted in closer, lips quirking to a soft sort of smile at the feel of that kiss.

"It's just the truth." Rare as it might be out of him at times. But he did find it easier to be honest with Steve more often than he did anyone else. It was definitely a nice change, and one Loki wouldn't pick at too hard out of fear of somehow spoiling it. "Though you're quite welcome."

[shieldborne]

Steve has a sudden urge to ask if Loki would still want this with him if he were the small, frail man he used to be, and not the living sculpture the serum's made him into. It's a moot question, though. Chances are he won't look like that ever again, and Loki just said he thinks he's the same inside. Maybe he just...misses himself.

But that's not the problem at hand, and he's quick to pull the other man in close and gather blankets around them. "Sometimes you're sweet," he tells him quietly.

[magpiemythos]

If this was some one-night fling, the answer might not be so nice. But then those tended to be more about looks than anything on both sides of things, and this? Definitely wasn't that. Loki wasn't sure just yet what this was, but he knew that while the tall strong element of things was nice, that wasn't what made this so good. Tall and strong, or scawny and frail, Steve was still... Steve in that way that just delighted the trickster.

He's more than willing to cuddle into Steve's grasp with a quiet, pleased sort of hum, resting his head against his chest as the other man was bundling them securely into the blankets.

"Yeah? Good... falling for all of my clever schemes." Gentle teasing more than anything, almost a habit at this point to poke fun at Steve for falling into his traps and tricks, for all there was none of either, aside from small harmless games that either had the man laughing along with Loki, or at the worst, blushing and flustered.

[shieldborne]

"Mhm. You're clever scheme to get me into your bed seems to be working," he says, sliding down until he's almost completely reclined, with Loki leaning on him.

He says nothing more for a little while, then, adjusting to the warmth and intimacy, and stroking Loki's hair. It's so nice, so sweet, and he could just...let things go for now. Just enjoy this, and make it easier on them both.

But he can't do that, really, because they both know this has to stop. So after some time to organize his thoughts and gather his energy, Steve says, "I want to know who it was this time. He got way under your skin. I don't like that."

[magpiemythos]

"Yes, perfect." He managed to drum up a lazy chuckle to go with it, but otherwise was starting to relax there with Steve. Basking in the warmth of him, and the simple pleasure of fingers in his hair.

At least until Steve started to speak again. A soft huff slipping from him, but at the same time he wasn't entirely surprised that the man wasn't willing to let things slide. Just shaking his head with a faint grimace before replying.

"Not like a name really helps, it's not anyone you know. Met him at one of the clubs, saw him a few times."

((just ignore my typos))

[shieldborne]

"Maybe not, but I want to punch his lights out," Steve actually growls a little. "And maybe warn the club they've got a predator hanging around."

Huff. "But I don't want to embarrass you, either, I guess. What..."

Sigh. Once again, Steve reminds himself that Loki's weaknesses and flash points aren't entirely his business, and his sexual liaisons really aren't his business. He's overstepping. But then, he's also in bed half-naked with him, so overstepping might be a given at this point. "What did he say to you? That's what's got you tied up in knots, isn't it? He picked you apart psychologically, not physically."

[magpiemythos]

Something about Steve getting protective over him? It was nice in some way, and did serve to make Loki feel a bit better, a little more secure. And he had to admit, the man did have a point. Better the club know and keep the guy from sinking claws into anyone else like this.

"It'd take more than this to embarrass me." And really if he'd wanted to completely keep Steve away from this he'd never have opened the gates by showing up the first time anyways. "He's just... perceptive. Skimmed things until he found the ones that were sensitive and then honed in on them pretty pointedly. Nothing I haven't told myself a million times, not that it helped much in that situation."

[shieldborne]

"Sweetheart," Steve sighs and squeezes him tighter. In fact, if Loki were human, this hug might be a little too tight. Steve's strong, and feeling protective right now.

"And people call me reckless. You told me you were made of stories. Don't let people use words against you." Okay, so maybe Steve is misinterpreting how all this works, or maybe he's just naive. But judging from how shaken Loki seems to be by this experience, he doesn't think he's 100% wrong.

"Tell me," he goes on. "Whatever it is you've been telling yourself so much. Tell me, and then let it go and stop repeating it."

[magpiemythos]

For Loki, that tight, secure sort of hug was just what the doctor ordered. He certainly didn't mind how tight it was, and it wasn't like Steve would hurt him on accident.

"Letting it go..." He paused, grimacing faintly before he shook his head, lips quirking to a small, almost sad smile. "Not as easy as you might think in this case. And I'm pretty sure telling you about it won't be endearing myself to you in any way."

And yes, he was terrified of that idea. That he might tell the truth of himself, the whole truth, and Steve might rethink whatever it was they were. Not that he would blame him in that case, he'd done awful things, but the idea of it still hurt.

[shieldborne]

Steve isn't sure what to say. He's not certain he can truly promise whatever Loki's done won't change anything. He wishes he could. Still, Steve knows he's biased toward forgiveness for the people he loves best. He'd spend the rest of his life trying to clear Bucky's name from the crimes the Winter Soldier committed. There's a good chance no matter what Loki tells him, he'll want to care for him and forgive him regardless.

"I don't want to force you," he says softly. "But you're going to keep torturing yourself, aren't you, if you don't let it out in some other way? I think you might be going about penance the wrong way."

His grip doesn't relax, since it seems Loki doesn't mind the tight hold on him. "But either way, I'll take care of you as long as I can."

[magpiemythos]

"...Are you sure you want to hear it?" Said softly, some of that fear slipping out despite himself, a fear of what the truth might change here. "I spoke this truth before you know. To Thor. My Thor anyways."

A slight wave of his hand lightly as if dismissing that line of thought before he continued on in a cautious sort of manner.

"The only thing that kept him from killing me was a promise to someone far better than I am. But he left me to Asgard's justice with that truth, and the only thing that stayed their hands was the idea that murdering me would be beneath them. Are you still sure you want this truth Steve?" He could likely hear the bitter hurt in Loki's tone as he spoke, something deep and biting that likely would never fade.

[shieldborne]

Steve knows Thor has a temper. The god of fucking thunder is bound to. Still, it both disappoints and frightens him to hear Loki say this. As far as he can tell, the Thor he knows has done anything and everything possible to avoid killing the Loki of this world, and given the terrible things he's done, that says a lot.

Of course, he did also take him back to Asgard for punishment, and Steve isn't clear on how severe that could have been.

It's interesting, the way Loki's tone has changed. Challenging, sharper, bitter and chilly. And as much as Steve wants to coddle him and pretend everything is all right and will be all right, he needs to hear that tone, needs to see that sharper side, needs to know, once and for all, if he can be for this man what he thinks he can be. What Loki needs.

But Steve is honest to a fault. "How can I be sure?" He says softly. "I don't know how bad it is, or how it will make me feel. But I do know we're all a mix of good and bad, and even if it hurts to hear about what's bad within you, I need all of it. I want you, Loki. Not just the bright parts. Let me see everything."

[magpiemythos]

"Very well." There was a visible shift in his posture, even curled against Steve as he was, as if a weight were settling onto his shoulders in that moment. But even still there was a moment of silence that stretched out, like Loki was trying to drum up the courage to actually say the words.

"I killed an innocent child." Voice carefully neutral, but the gaze that shifted Steve's way wasn't as flat as he'd like to think it was, not with the guilt all but screaming around inside him. "That it was a younger self, that I might as well have been the murder weapon matters not. He was good. He was good in a way I don't think I've ever been or ever will be after him, he was loved by everyone. He was better than I'll ever be, and my first moments as a whole being were with his blood on my hands."

His nerve for how coldly he could give this information, short and ill-explained as it might be seemed to falter, and Loki's gaze turned away again, a small, uncertain shrug accompanying the shift.

"Take that as you will."

[shieldborne]

The words by themselves make his blood run cold. But a story is more than the sum of its words, and Steve is listening with all of his senses. He can feel tension singing in the line of Loki's body, can hear how carefully even he's keeping his voice...everything in white-knuckled, ferocious control.

The details don't make much complete sense. A younger self? Steve understands the idea of a person being made to be a weapon, though. He's still looking for Bucky. The Winter Soldier.

More than that, though, he's looking into the younger man's eyes, and what he sees, rather than chilling him, just makes his heart ache. "Maybe instead of torturing yourself, you should honor his loss, and his sacrifice," he says, and his voice is low and even and sober. It's not a dismissal of the crime, not a platitude, but it's also not a condemnation.

He shifts his arms a little, cradling Loki closer with one while moving the other to stroke his cheek. "I won't pretend that's not terrible. But I'm not going to try to hurt you for it, either."

Not only that, he's not letting to or leaving, as evidenced by the fact that he's still holding him, and petting him.

[magpiemythos]

Loki wasn't sure what he was expecting. This was somewhere on the list to be sure, given it was Steve, but at the same time it was surprising all the same. He didn't feel he deserved a chance like this, a chance to be better.

"You'd be the first then..." Said quietly after a long moment, the cold, controlled mask he'd hidden behind during his confession starting to crumble as he tilted his head into that light touch, craving the offered affection. The reassurance in the gesture that Steve didn't seem to hate him for what he'd done. Disappointed sure, he could believe it, and honestly it wasn't the worst thing someone could feel about him. At least it meant they cared. And that they thought he could do better, be better.

Now it was just a matter of convincing him that being better was something he could do.

[shieldborne]

"Babydoll," Steve can see the mask cracking around the edges, and the aching self-loathing bubbling up beneath. He breathes the term of endearment quietly, sighs, and then murmurs again, "You're gonna be okay, doll. I'm still here, and I'm not going to leave you."

Eventually, he's going to want further details, probably, but it seems like Loki's been pushed enough tonight. "We'll figure it out from here. You can find a way of doing penance that won't leave you broken."

He kisses his forehead again. "I've got you."

[magpiemythos]

Even at the end of his emotional rope, Loki liked that. The little terms of endearment, the quiet reassurances that they'd get through this. The idea that he wasn't alone with it anymore. At the very least he seemed to be settling somewhat, easing back from that painful brink into something a bit more secure, with Steve's help and comfort.

He could tell that Steve was backing off, leaving the rest of the unpleasant details and questions for another time. Part of him bristled at the idea of being handled so delicately, but the larger part of him was comforted by that consideration, appreciated it, especially accompanied by the promises to stay.

"I... I think I'll be okay." Said quietly, a soft assessment to let Steve know in kind that his efforts were helping. "So long as you stay."

[shieldborne]

Partly it's for Steve's own sake that he's backing off. He can do this; he can reach out and care for a friend, can listen like a counselor and soothe and sympathize, but his emotional energy has its limits. He needs to think about what he's been told a little. He hasn't made any promises to Loki he can't keep, though, and he's deeply relieved to realize that.

It's a terrible, terrible thing he's just confessed, but even the simplistic way he's told it to Steve tells him there's more to it than he understands. He can be patient, and forgiving, and tender.

"I'm going to hold you to that," he tells him softly. "Because I'm staying. D'you want some water? Food?"

[magpiemythos]

Whatever the reason it does help. Loki can only handle being emotionally honest for so long, even with Steve. The idea that the man needs to process the admittedly heavy information he'd been given? Wouldn't surprise him either. And in some ways he did appreciate that he was trying, instead of going with knee-jerk horror and outrage.

It just cemented Loki's confidence in the man.

"I suppose something to eat wouldn't be amiss..." He didn't feel especially hungry, but he knew it was better to eat, and it would give them both a different focus for the moment. Something constructive to do.