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

[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."