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]

Loki wasn't sure what to make of things. He appreciated Steve, and the friendship he offered, especially given proof that he genuinely did care about the god as a person. It was something he needed more than he would ever admit, even if the implication was still in some ways frightening. But he couldn't bring himself to pull away. He did like Steve, and enjoyed the time they were able to spend together.

He noticed Steve's efforts to reach out to him, those little things that while maybe easy, simple, were enough to make him smile when he saw them. Grand gestures were one thing, but the little, daily things just seemed to stick with him more. So he often replied, with conversation, or some silly meme he'd found to share, or selfies taken in strange and unlikely places. If he did notice the other's concern about them, he didn't let it show. Pretended not to notice a thing off about it. He couldn't blame them, not really. Not with this reality's version of him and all he'd done. They'd have to be insane to not at least be wary.

It was only a few minutes later before Loki did reply though, no matter that this time of night he was usually in the middle of something.

Sounds like there's no reason for you to not give it a try then.

Seemingly normal, if not for the fact that it was... too normal. No missing punctuation, no 'u' or other silly little textspeak things that he'd often play up just to tease Steve.

It's going. Just got home.

A long, uncharacteristically long pause no indication other than the ellipses that indicated he was typing, but nothing more seeming to come.

Loki just stared down at the screen for the moment, finger hovering just over the 'send' button.

I'm in a bad place.
Please come I need your help.

But instead of sending the text, he just huffed a low sigh, letting the phone drop onto the end of the counter that divided the kitchen from living room, without turning the screen off. Turning instead to move further into the apartment, disappearing into the bathroom not even bothering with turning on any lights. Not like it mattered.

[shieldborne]

Steve has not been to Coney Island since 1939. From what he's heard, it's been through some changes: a long period of disrepair and neglect, and now a kind of Renaissance of pseudo-respectability. But Steve remembers the beach, and the parks, and clinging white-knuckled to Bucky's sleeve on the Wonder Wheel, and moving from stand to stand spending money he really didn't have, and eating junk food that would make him sick later...

Really, some of the best times of his life.

He brings it up to Loki idly over coffee, and he's only a little surprised when the other man takes up the idea with enthusiasm. He offers to do the driving, or spring for a cab for them both, but Loki insists on meeting him there.

So, he arrives at the gate to Luna Park a little early on the appointed day, with a single flower in his hand. It's sappy, but he couldn't resist. It's a tiger lily, and chances are it won't survive the park, but it's the thought that counts.