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]

Not like Loki much minds the immaturity- he's not really any better, as illustrated by scooping a handful of water and suds to dump over Steve's head in retaliation.

"I started with water not suds!" He sniffed, though the offended air was ruined by laughter.

[shieldborne]

Splash, flail! So much for drying dishes. Steve is quickly lost in laughter, himself, and even more so when his feet slip on the slick floor and he has to grab the counter for balance. The grace of a super-soldier, laties and gentlemen.

"Aah! Shit! Goddamn it, we just got dry a few minutes ago. Why did we do this?" He's almost teared up laughing, though. Which probably answers his question in itself.

[magpiemythos]

Loki reached without thinking to help steady Steve when he slipped, unable to help continued laughing at the same time.

"Honestly Steve, you expect me to pass up a chance for mischief?" Even if the laughter and delight they were both taking from the moment were definitely what he was happier about here.

[shieldborne]

Steve gathers his feet under him, held up more by Loki than by his own grip on the counter. "I guess not. I kinda like the sound of your laugh, though."

What the hell. It's more familiar than he would normally be, but he puts his other arm around Loki's shoulders and leans a little, aware he can take his weight easily enough. "I think we're done here. You want to go back to bed?"

And then he snorts. "I'm going to go back to the Tower tomorrow and tell them I stayed the night because you got me wet twice." He smirks at Loki; the innuendo there is completely intentional. Even better, if he says it that way to the other Avengers, they likely won't know for sure whether he knows he's told them something that can be taken the wrong way.

Steve isn't above using peoples' assumption of his innocence for amusement.

[magpiemythos]

"Yeah, bed sounds good." He didn't know if he'd sleep yet, but at the same time, snuggling up on Steve sounded just right.

And he couldn't help the small, amused sound of surprise when he moved his hand and noticed the big, wet handprint right across the front of Steve's shirt.

"Oops. Looks like we'll have to hang this up to dry too." Plucking lightly at the fabric, he didn't even sound remotely contrite. More amused than anything. "All wet and not even anywhere near the bedroom, my word Steve you are the adventurous sort."

[shieldborne]

That's fine. If they just lie there together making bad innuendo at one another, that'll still be fun. Like a sleepover for grown-ups.

Steve looks down at his shirt, which is sticking to his chest a little now. He has, since his reemergence from the ice, heard of wet t-shirt contests, and isn't quite sure he gets the point. "You forgot 'reckless'" he tells Loki and then peels the shirt off, wringing it out over the sink carefully. "Guess I better hang this up too."

[magpiemythos]

Oh Steve, he's starting to think you're just a good time all around. A good time who is absolutely the reason for wet t-shirt contests whether he realized or not.

"You mean that doesn't go without saying at this point?" Not that it was always a bad thing. He'd worry of course, as strong as Steve was he was still human, but here and now a little recklessness didn't hurt anything. It was part of the quintessential Steve Rogers charm after all, for all Loki was somewhat convinced it would leave him with grey hairs.

Not that he would admit that. That spoke to a level of caring that he had a hard time accepting he felt.

But for the moment that wasn't something he was concerned with, slipping in under his arm to tuck himself at his side with a content-sounding hum.

"Can do it on the way."

[shieldborne]

A lot of people think Steve looks like a good time, it's just few are willing to put in the effort it takes to get past his defenses. Sooner or later someone is going to get the bright idea of asking him to pose for a pin up calendar for charity or something, with or without a wet t-shirt. Actually, it's possible people have already contacted Tony's PR team for the Avengers, and been firmly rebuffed. Or asked to try back later.

Steve smiles at him and lets him slide in close, only to realize bare skin is more sensitive and shiver a little at the touch. He bites his lower lip, nodding sheepishly, and heads back down the hall. He doesn't see any reason to be too meticulous with the t-shirt, so he ends up just draping it over the side of the sink.

[magpiemythos]

Loki is more surprised than anything that he'd somehow gotten past Steve's defenses. Not that he minded it in the least, finding the idea pleasing in equal measure. Not that this was surprising, Steve was ridiculously attractive even without taking into account his personality and playful sass.

He's also well aware of that little shiver lips quirking to a small pleased sort of smile as he deliberately nuzzled in a bit more securely, though clearly that wasn't on purpose it was just that he was so enjoying how close they were.

Which was true too.

[shieldborne]

Steve doesn't say anything as they wander back to the bedroom, just tilting his head to give a light nuzzle to Loki's hair. He's acutely aware he's in nothing but his underwear right about now, and he's not 100% sure where this is going, but at the moment he doesn't feel like he needs to know in advance.

He pulls back the covers for Loki--or he tries to, anyway. There are a lot of layers of covers here, so many that he starts to look amused. "Just a little bit of a hedonist," he teases, and gives him a gentle shove as if to push him onto the bed.

"There's a mattress under here somewhere, right?"

[magpiemythos]

If asked, Loki isn't entirely sure. He wants contact and closeness and affection but beyond that he can't say for sure how far he might push for those things or what shape they might take. As it was he let himself be pitched back onto the bed with a low laugh, settling in under the covers and catching Steve's hand with his to tug him in after. Time to get comfortable!

"Only a little?" Said with a grin and a raised brow. "Honestly Steve it's like you don't know me at all."

He was only teasing though, clear in the playful, easy tone he spoke with.

[shieldborne]

"Oof!" Steve doesn't try to resist the tug after him, but he does make an effort not to roll on him, laughing. Once he's down, he slides a little lower, so he's at about the same level across from him as he would be if they were standing on the ground. Just a couple inches shorter, compared to the godling.

"Uh-huh," he says, and slings an arm across his waist companionably. "I bet you don't even make your bed ever. Are you a bad influence on me, or am I a good influence on you?"

[magpiemythos]

"Why would I? I'm just going to mess it up again the next night."

Steve would wind up with Loki snuggling right in on him once he'd settled, arms slipping around him to keep them close with a small, pleased hum somewhere low in his throat, nuzzling the man's hair in the process. This... this was good. He liked this.

"Maybe... a little of both?" Murmured with a kiss pressed to Steve's forehead, fingers stroking idly against his side.

[shieldborne]

"Because it's just the thing you're supposed to do," Steve grins. "You'd never get away with that in the army."

Oh. Ohh. There's a moment of awkward resettling as Steve adjust to being cuddled this intimately, and then he sort of melts, curling into the embrace and giving a sigh that seems to originate somewhere deeper than his chest. "Both sounds fair," he agrees softly.

The kiss makes him shiver a little. "Mmnnn." That's articulate. His fingers curl, brushing against Loki's skin in much the same manner, if somewhat less deliberately. "Well, I'm honored to be an extra pillow..."

[magpiemythos]

"Because I'm totally the sort to do things because I'm supposed to. That makes me wanna do it even less." He was a contrary thing at the best of times. "Good thing I'm not enlisting hm?"

He sighed quietly, pleased at the response his affections were getting, fingers splaying lightly to let his palm settle against warm skin in response as he chuckled, a soft sort of thing. Another kiss to his forehead then one in his hair to follow, a smile on Loki's lips as he did so.

"You're not just some spare pillow, you're my favorite pillow." Might as well keep teasing, right?

[shieldborne]

"I wouldn't recommend it," Steve agrees contentedly. "Enlisting, I mean. Food's terrible, they make you clean everything in the barracks twice a week...plus people try to kill you. Not much fun, overall."

He's capable of being flippant, especially lying in bed next to someone warm and just a bit handsy. In the nicest way possible.

"Your favorite, huh? Is that because I'm the only pillow who'll make you blueberry pancakes?" Ahh, literal pillow talk! Steve gives a muffled chuckle and then nuzzles up under his chin to give him a kiss of his own.

[magpiemythos]

"I don't know, it's not all bad..." He considered the idea, tilting his head playfully. "You do look awful nice in the uniform."

Flippancy was entirely alright. Loki did enjoy Steve's irreverent humor, just one of those things that made him so enjoyable to be around.

"Well, the pancakes are a very nice perk yes," Oh yes he is good with getting kisses. And his hands might just be moving over skin instead of staying in place, along sides, around to slide up Steve's back. "That and you are especially snuggly."

[shieldborne]

Well, tilting his head, playfully or not, is just going to encourage Steve to take advantage of the exposed skin of his throat. He's gentle, moving slow so as not to push his luck, but he also seems uncannily good at finding the pulse point to one side of Loki's neck and kissing softly there.

He makes a soft, low sound, evidently approving of the stroking he's getting. He arches his back a little to encourage it, then cuddles closer. "Snuggly, hm? Guess I'll take that if it gets me this kind of attention."

[magpiemythos]

Not that Loki seemed to mind this attention in the least. In fact, the brush of warm lips against his throat just earned a quiet, pleased sort of hum from him, as he let his head tip a bit more deliberately in invitation.

"Oh it does." Hands continuing to move, letting short black nails scrape gently over skin, until his fingers were moving up through the short hair at the nape of Steve's neck.

[shieldborne]

Steve kisses and mouths gently, unhurried, but when he feels the light scratch of nails his draws his breath in a soft hiss of approval. It's anything but painful, just a prickle of sensation that contrasts to the pleasant soft all around him.

"That...that's really nice," he sighs, going still for a moment to enjoy the stroking through his hair. "God. Don't do anything you're not feeling up for, okay?"

Because Loki has definitely had a rough evening. Steve is up for anything that will make it a bit better (especially this; if he's honest with himself, the thought of cuddling and lovemaking hasn't really left his head since they started shedding clothes); he just doesn't want either of them to overdo it.

[magpiemythos]

The nails definitely aren't meaning to hurt; he doesn't have it in him right then to be rough or sharp, and he can only guess that Steve wouldn't really be interested in that sort of thing at this point anyways.

"Mhmm..." Loki's assent was more a lightly throaty purr than a confirmation as he enjoyed the feel of Steve's mouth on him. Soft and gentle, not something he'd normally go seeking out but it seemed to be working to help further soothe those ragged edges he always seemed to have. "I... want this. You."

Quietly said more than anything, but true all the same. He knew Steve would be worried about him, decided that some clear confirmation would help keep him from getting too worried about the idea of this. Besides, if there was anyone he trusted to be good to him in this moment, with that vulnerability still lurking so close to the surface?

It was Steve, hands down every time.

[shieldborne]

Steve is surprisingly okay with pain when it does crop up. Somewhere deep down he's got a masochistic streak, at least for physical pain. Emotional pain, not so much. He prefers not to dish out as much as he can take, though, and delivering gentleness is much, much easier for him.

"I do too," he murmurs against his skin. "Just take it easy and don't let me go too far, 'kay?"

He's pretty sure he can trust Loki to say stop if he wants him to stop. He strokes up and down his back a little, lazy and affectionate. He's been given a lot of concessions tonight. A lot of leeway, from a surprisingly private and defensive man; that's an expression of tenderness in itself.

[magpiemythos]

Pain has it's place. And it can be used to lovely effect as a counterpoint to pleasure, especially when for a change one doesn't have to worry as much about the durability of their partner. They can just cut loose, sink into sensation and just be in that moment. But here and now wasn't about that. It was languid, gentle and sweet in a way that Loki couldn't rightly say he indulged in often, if ever.

"Can do." Agreed in a casual sort of tone, but it was true. If only because he knew how important it was to Steve that he do so. But he didn't think he'd be needing to call a stop, not this time. Unable to help but shift against him, almost as if he was uncertain if he wanted to stay nestled in close, or lean into the hands running over his back more.

Either one sounded good.

[shieldborne]

Some nights lend themselves more to one mood or another. They've been playful tonight, and tender, and Steve is ready to let go and be as affectionate as his instincts tell him to be. His caresses are lingering, lavish, and after a moment he rolls over a little so that he's lying halfway on top of Loki.

"I kinda like the excessive pillows and blankets," he tells him, leaning in to nibble the shell of his ear. "It feels sort of Arabian Nights or something. Opulent and cushy and warm."

Which is not the kind of thing Steve goes for, normally. He's all about the tidy double bed with hospital corners tucked into the sheets. Maybe the contrast to the norm does something for him.

[magpiemythos]

Loki has no patience for sharper dealings tonight. He's tapped emotionally, and would like nothing more but to sink into the affection that Steve was lavishing upon him. It's not his usual preference, but with his mood as it was, Steve's sweet behavior was just what he needed.

"Do you?" Murmured around a soft sigh for the attention to his ear, hands sliding down his back again when Steve moved over him, nails trailing lightly down his spine. "Might not be able to bounce a quarter off it, but when winter rolls around all these blankets are amazing."

He knows Steve's more about the neat and in it's place aesthetic, whereas Loki is in for casual chaos. Nothing too undone or messy, but more in the realm of... cheerfully hectic. Between that, and him being a hedonistic thing at best, it was little surprise his idea of the norm was a king sized bed with ungodly amounts of blankets and pillows.