Chills and Cuddles. (For Loki)

[shieldborne]

Something about the attention he's getting from Loki seems to agree with Steve. Usually his asthma becomes nightmarish as fall turns into winter, the cold air inflaming delicate lungs. His back, too, suffers the cold and damp, but this year it's not so bad. He's half inclined to wonder if Loki's using magic to help him and just neglecting to mention it, but if that's the case, Steve is disinclined to mention it, too. He knows when his loved ones are trying to preserve his dignity, for one thing. For another, he might jinx himself out of his current good luck.



Anyway, it might not be magic, per se. Maybe it's just the affection, not to mention the sex, lowering his stress levels and boosting his strength a bit.

The upshot is that he's able to take on a few more hours at the printing press, and has a little extra money. He tucks more of it into savings than he spends, always mindful that there may come a day he literally cannot work at all. But he does buy a few little things for Loki, and for his and Bucky's convenience.

Meanwhile, the air turns cold, and he and Bucky tack fabric around the windows to seal out as much of the draft as they can. They get frugal in the winter; heat is essential to the health of both men. But Bucky is away for a few days to visit nearby family, staying at his sister's house, so Steve eagerly invites Loki to stay. (Not that Loki needs an invite by this point; he is always welcome as far as Steve's concerned).

He's got some kind of soup cooking on the stove when Loki is due to arrive, and a cake cooling on the counter. Steve is a mediocre cook, but as long as he keeps it simple, he can make a meal worth eating.

Comments

[shieldborne]

Steve excels at devotion. He is a small, skinny candle that burns at both ends and still somehow keeps lasting the night.

"I didn't ask 'em to, but who am I to argue?" He jokes, closing his eyes and humming contentedly at the kiss.

He has yet to recognize he's straying into dangerous waters with this talk of capturing the moon, and gives a gentle laugh at her explanation. "Just an ordinary jar? That sounds risky. What if it fell and broke or something?"

[magpiemythos]

Whatever the case, Loki can't help but be delighted by Steve, by how secure she felt in the knowledge that he cared for her, something she wasn't entirely used to.

"Ordinary until it's inscribed with anti-shattering runes. You'd just have to remember not to open the lid..." She replied, tone considering as she ran a hand idly through his hair. Maybe a bit more serious than Steve realized she was. If she thought it would make Steve smile, she'd absolutely snatch the moon right out of the sky for him.

[shieldborne]

"Sure," he says mildly, gearing up for another joke, but then something about her body language catches at his attention and makes him realize wait, she sounds serious and wait, she might actually be able to do a crazy thing like that.

"Uhh...sweetheart? We're still just joking around, right?"

[magpiemythos]

"Joking?" Loki tilted her head, a faintly amused smile crossing her face as she realized what Steve had thought, and his expression when how serious she might be hit him.

Gosh but he was too cute.

"Nope! Just say the word, stealing celestial bodies is surprisingly easy once you know the trick to it. And you're absolutely worth it."

[shieldborne]

"Loki!" He manages to look shocked, but he can't quite manage horrified, because as much as he should disapprove, there's something deeply flattering about all this. That, and she's far more endearing than she has any right to be when she's being incorrigible.

"...that'd throw off the physics in whatever, um, solar system you took a thing from, wouldn't it?" He can't believe he's having this conversation. "I mean, if the moon left orbit around the earth we wouldn't have tides or anything, so..."

This is his life now, he realizes. One moment cuddling and sharing sweet nothings, the next moment getting caught up in concern that his lover might actually throw off the balance of physical forces in the cosmos to impress him.

"You're crazy," he tells her, but he can't actually muster any kind of sternness or even annoyance. His eyes are sparkling with laughter, and he kisses her firmly on the mouth.

[magpiemythos]

That shocked response just earned a laugh from Loki, green eyes starry with mischief as she pretends to consider the issue.

"Well, maybe a little..." She mused, tilting her head in a thoughtful manner. "But alright. I'll just have to find an especially pretty star to surprise you with."

She certainly wouldn't argue with his assessment, not with how amused Steve seemed by the fact, how bright his gaze was. Instead she'd just return the kiss with a pleased hum.

[shieldborne]

She won't, really, he tells himself, because to believe otherwise would mean he has to actually discourage some of this attention and--well, he has his selfish moments. He doesn't really want a star in a bottle, but it's awfully nice to hear she thinks he deserves one.

"You're all the pretty anything I need," he tells her, and it sounded smoother in his head, but he thinks it came out all right either way. He sinks into the kiss, evidently in no hurry to leave it now that it's begun.

They'll want to get up and have dinner eventually, but there seems to be no rush.

[magpiemythos]

She absolutely will. Granted with Steve's concerns she'll make extra sure that taking said star won't wind up hurting anyone, as it's not a very good surprise if it actually upsets him.

His compliment earns a small pleased chuckle against his mouth before the kiss is continued, one hand trailing up his back, nails skimming over fabric. Nothing smelled like it was burning so dinner would absolutely keep for a little bit while they enjoyed the moment.

[shieldborne]

He's happy to linger in the impromptu makeout session, and the worry about her snatching stars from the sky fades away in light of the opportunity to kiss and cuddle and breathe in her scent. The light outside is fading by the time he realizes he's gotten lost in the moment, and he draws back breathless and blushing.

"You're the nicest distraction I've ever had," he tells her. "Don't you want dinner, though? And I'll get out the watercolors and paint you afterward?"

[magpiemythos]

A worry for another day. Not for when he has Loki nestled in close as she was, warm and soft and inviting against him as the kiss lingered on. When Steve drew back she finally relented a bit, lips curled on a smile, fingers still curled in his hair as she admired just how pink he'd turned.

"Hmm... that does sound like a nice plan." Question would be if they got distracted again between dinner and paints. Not that Loki minded. She didn't have anywhere to be other than right here.

[shieldborne]

"I love your eyes," he tells her impulsively, sounding like any smitten young man talking to his best (only) girl. "When you look at me like that, I swear you can see what I'm thinkin'."

He nuzzles her cheek lightly, then gradually sits up, reluctant to let her go, but also very much liking the plan he's just come up with and got her agreement on. "I set the table earlier. Do you want something other than cocoa to drink with dinner?"

Damn, he should have thought to buy wine. Then again, wine with beef stew? He wouldn't even know what to pick.

[magpiemythos]

"You flatterer." She murmured in reply, a pleased curve to her smile at the compliment, pressing a kiss to his cheek before allowing him to move so they could both get up.

"Whatever you've got is fine." She wasn't terribly picky if someone else was making the meal typically, unless she was trying to be difficult, and seeing how that was the opposite of what she wanted here? Cocoa was a-ok with her.

[shieldborne]

"Can't help it. You bring it out in me," he says cheerfully, and rising. He holds out both hands to her to help her up, perfectly aware she doesn't need the help. And then he leads her into the kitchen with his hand resting gently on her elbow, and pulls out a chair for her, like a gentleman.

Okay, so he likes Loki in any shape, but chances are he wouldn't be laying on the good manners quite so thick if he were in his male form.

"Do you have any favorites I could try and make sometime?" He asks. "Not that I'm that great a chef, but I'd give it a shot."

Careful, Loki. Don't ask this man for anything fancy.

[magpiemythos]

"Well, I can't say I don't enjoy it. Not one for that blatant a lie." Loki didn't need the help sure, but she accepted it all the same. And she liked it either way, just basking in the attention with absolutely no complaint. She took the offered seat, smoothing her skirts over her knees as she considered her options.

"You can never go wrong with breakfast." She replied with a smile, brows lifting slightly. "You midgardians have all sorts of interesting food options for the morning."