[ Instead of brushing her away, his hands slide up to cup her face and he closes the distance to press a firm, quieting kiss over her frantic lips, thumbs curving around her temples and black-nailed fingers sifting into pink hair. Loki huffs an understated laugh, green eyes bright and fond as he ignores the passers-by tutting at the two of them in the middle of the street.
In a low voice intended to be as steady and reliable as a mountain, he barely moves his lips away from hers. ]
The only reason I want you to stay out of harm's way is that I am not that resilient. If anything happened to you I would raze this city to the ground to discover the truth. [ Realtalk is happening. ] I am not a hero, my dearest friend, and if you believe I am strong enough to brush you away then you underestimate how lost I would be without Verity Willis in all her fleet, high-heeled glory.
[When her hands slip up to his, she's flared up enough in her rant that she almost moves away herself despite her own plea. But he's soft and honest, the very thing that Verity Willis needs, so her fingers curve over his wrists keeping him there as noses brush, nudging at his with her own.]
I can't do any real razing, but you underestimate the amount of fierce rioting and ass kicking I can do if I get pissed off. [Which she can most certainly do if a certain god were to disappear. She has a faint laugh of her own before sighing against his mouth, shoulders dropping.] We're in this together, Loki. I don't need to gain control over my ability if it were to mean losing you along the way somehow.
I'm sure you'd give them Hel ... and I would know, I used to hang out there in a different life.
[ One hand slides down to reel her in at the waist and he shakes his head. ]
When have I ever cared that you weren't a god, or magically inclined, or a shapeshifter, or swift as the wind? I don't think you are weak, Verity. You're so strong that you would put yourself forward and willingly break for me but I couldn't handle that, so you must allow this selfishness of mine a while longer. [ Resting their foreheads together, the pad of a thumb grazes one of her cheeks. ] Besides a bunch of cryptic omens and an even less reliable father, you are all I have left. I'm the brittle one.
The Aesir have nothing as fine as your kind, brave heart that has somehow turned itself toward me. Let me keep it safe?
[I am not a hero, he had said, but he fails to realize that he's her hero. That brave heart he sees is more fragile than she ever wants to let on, years of lies and loneliness breaking her down beyond the tough face. But he provides support and a strengthened friendship that gives her renewed confidence, believing for once that she could have more than what she's permitted herself. If she's reading books, if she's opening herself to stories, if she's allowing herself to laugh more openly — he gets credit for giving rise to that.
Though she's still not capable of admitting as such, not out loud, but she does leave a lingering kiss over his lips, possibly exposing herself more than words could do in any case.
Warming a cheek with a palm, fingers curling loose strands, she snickers under her breath.] You? Selfish? That's new.
No. [She smiles when she says it, leaning in to nip him lightly at the corner of his lip, nothing seductive, merely a playful gesture before she takes hold of his hands. Squeezing the fingers, she pulls herself away while keeping a hold, dragging him along as she steps backwards to force him to walk with her along the sidewalk again.]
I still want to help. But I'll step back for now. For now. Either way, there's something I need to give you, before I forget again, so — come on.
Don't overestimate the degree at which I'm willing to spoil you, Loki.
[Pursing up her lips at him in a pout, she twists on a heel, loosening her hold on one hand and interlocking their fingers with the other, shifting to walk forward beside him. The direction they travel should become vaguely familiar soon enough as the route leads directly to her apartment.]
Some things only qualify as one-time offers. It's not Christmas every day. [An offer he so blatantly rejected. Taking their relationship for what it was, she wasn't making any plans to cross that line again.
Finding her own building, she leads him through the front door, dragging him through the lobby to the elevator.]
And you're exactly right, but it's no fun if you reveal my intentions before we even get there. Then again, it is a bean bag chair that I intend to so skillfully tie you to, so the fun's still there.
[ Brows raising up his helm, he remains far more interested in that offer being swept off the table than anything else (even if a beanbag chair is amazing news). ]
[Releasing his hand once they're within metal walls, she leans against the back of the elevator as it moves upward. Surprise comes at his question, mainly because he's the one doing the asking, pausing for a brief moment before she shrugs.]
[ In the elevator, he cocks his head as her as if to say Go on, all the while letting his attention shift bit by bit more centrally to her expression and body-language, trying to read as much as he can without being overt. ]
[Narrowing her eyes a bit at his response, she shakes her head as hands grip on the railing behind her, a bit uneased that she's being asked to answer. Rolling her eyes, the shrug returns.]
Because ... it's us. And you get all weird about it.
[ Oh. That's not something he'd hoped to have been obvious about, but then again she's far from unobservant. Humming non-committally, he's saved from answering by the elevator arriving at the correct floor. ]
We should probably talk about that later, after gifts and things. Whatever is it I'm being taken to see?
[Verity's smart, but she doesn't need to be to catch on to the way Loki had sidestepped every close encounter after that first night. Practically jumping out the window as soon as things got intimate, plus drifting away from the topic so casually after she vividly described a potential blowjob, by talking about rainbows. And now he's asking, why was it a one-time thing.
Typical too, the way he changes the conversation now after he'd been the one to ask, hinting at more of the idea that something was still off, despite his multiple apologies over the matter. But she doesn't push it. She's made her offers in the past and it isn't on her to keep dragging it back around if he wants to avoid it.
So instead she brings her focus back to what she was bringing him here for in the first place, leading the way as she steps out of the elevator and heads down the hall, taking out her keys to unlock her apartment door.]
It's a surprise. You know, the whole close-your-eyes, don't-peek ordeal. And you can't laugh about it either.
I don't want to close my eyes, usually that's when someone introduces their fist to my face. 'Surprise! Have some pain, you earned it!' See? Irony. They're all so clever and Loki isn't.
[ Rambling to fill in the brief silence between the door being unlocked and heading inside, he keeps his gaze on her and fails entirely at not thinking about what she's said, what she's noticed, and feeling antsy. Firstly because he hates being predictable, and secondly he just feels a bit shitty for giving her the wrong idea. ]
Well, surprise, I may be the only person who's met you who hasn't found enough of a reason to punch you. [Which is saying a lot because he's certainly found ways to piss her off in the past. She'll scream his head off, but she won't jump on the violence train. Not yet, anyway.
She gestures to the table at the center of the kitchen as she makes her way over there.] At least sit down and face away from me, okay? I'm not gonna smack you from behind or anything.
I don't know, there are some leery tea-towels close to hand.
[ Despite wheedling the point home, he wipes his smirk as he sits down wherever he likes, perching on the edge of the table, and does in fact close his eyes. ]
Someone threw a milkshake in my face at a diner here when I wasn't looking.
And I'm sure you gave them absolutely no reason to do that. [Poor wee baby.
Though since other Lokis have a tendency to get on other people's bad sides, she'd actually believe it if he hadn't garnered up a reason himself just yet. But he's been here long enough so she knows better.
Catching sight of his closed eyes, she smiles slightly to herself, opening the fridge to pull out a large plate consisting of the surprise. Making her way to the table cautiously, double checking for any peeking, she lays the plate down in front of him.]
Alright, so, go ahead and open. [What he'll see is a large apple pie dish, not quite the visual you'd see on a recipe, but at the very least, it appears edible and grants a pleasant smell. Pressing her lips in an awkward smile, she waves her hands up.] Surprise?
[ Snorting, he listens attentively and sniffs when something apple-y sifts like a hot airborne tang up his nostrils, eyes snapping open the second they're allowed. He blinks down sideways and shifts to sit around a bit more, getting a better look. His lips twitch, as if he can't quite visualise Verity actually handling ingredients and mashing them together to create anything of the sort (and it comes off a bit sorry, yes, but it smells good). ]
Aw, honey. You baked! [ He coos for teasing effect, tilting his head to the side with a sappy bat of his lashes. ] You shouldn't have.
[Not quite a punch, but she does form a fist that she presses against his cheek to give a playful push in retaliation for the tease.]
I said not to laugh. [Because teasing counts as part of the laughing territory. Her arms flail a bit in awkward annoyance (because she doesn't bake, not for anyone, though for good reason) before she crosses them.] Look, I've been taking a few classes. It's really the only thing I've gotten to practice so I'm not some Iron Chef or anything, but this is the first batch that didn't burn or practically blow up in the oven, so ...
[She huffs a loud sigh.] You're always cooking for me, so I just thought I'd give it a shot.
[ Leaaaning with the not-quite punch, aiiieee! His smile widens as he watches her huff and puff, and Loki traces a big slice out immediately. ]
I want this much, then. Burns and all! [ He won't shy away from those imperfections, nope. ] I'm surprised you didn't ask me to help you, everyone else around here does.
You're already being a help by volunteering to be the starring guinea pig. Your sacrifice will be remembered.
[Because she's definitely refrained from having anybody else tasting her trials, usually only getting into baking mode when her flatmates were out of the apartment.]
Did you make this for me, then? Is this my pie? Ah, wait! [ Fishing out his StarkPhone, undeniably the only phone that matters to him, he steps back to take a picture of the dish. ] Now we can cut it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
realistics) wrote2015-03-17 02:45 pm
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In a low voice intended to be as steady and reliable as a mountain, he barely moves his lips away from hers. ]
The only reason I want you to stay out of harm's way is that I am not that resilient. If anything happened to you I would raze this city to the ground to discover the truth. [ Realtalk is happening. ] I am not a hero, my dearest friend, and if you believe I am strong enough to brush you away then you underestimate how lost I would be without Verity Willis in all her fleet, high-heeled glory.
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I can't do any real razing, but you underestimate the amount of fierce rioting and ass kicking I can do if I get pissed off. [Which she can most certainly do if a certain god were to disappear. She has a faint laugh of her own before sighing against his mouth, shoulders dropping.] We're in this together, Loki. I don't need to gain control over my ability if it were to mean losing you along the way somehow.
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[ One hand slides down to reel her in at the waist and he shakes his head. ]
When have I ever cared that you weren't a god, or magically inclined, or a shapeshifter, or swift as the wind? I don't think you are weak, Verity. You're so strong that you would put yourself forward and willingly break for me but I couldn't handle that, so you must allow this selfishness of mine a while longer. [ Resting their foreheads together, the pad of a thumb grazes one of her cheeks. ] Besides a bunch of cryptic omens and an even less reliable father, you are all I have left. I'm the brittle one.
The Aesir have nothing as fine as your kind, brave heart that has somehow turned itself toward me. Let me keep it safe?
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Though she's still not capable of admitting as such, not out loud, but she does leave a lingering kiss over his lips, possibly exposing herself more than words could do in any case.
Warming a cheek with a palm, fingers curling loose strands, she snickers under her breath.] You? Selfish? That's new.
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Does that mean you'll stop thinking I'm being a puffed-up godly ass about this?
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I still want to help. But I'll step back for now. For now. Either way, there's something I need to give you, before I forget again, so — come on.
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In the middle of the day? Kinky.
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[Pursing up her lips at him in a pout, she twists on a heel, loosening her hold on one hand and interlocking their fingers with the other, shifting to walk forward beside him. The direction they travel should become vaguely familiar soon enough as the route leads directly to her apartment.]
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[
Before rainbow bridge shenanigans happened.Squinting up at the buildings, because uh. ]You're going to tie me to a chair and ransom me off, aren't you? I knew it.
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Some things only qualify as one-time offers. It's not Christmas every day. [An offer he so blatantly rejected. Taking their relationship for what it was, she wasn't making any plans to cross that line again.
Finding her own building, she leads him through the front door, dragging him through the lobby to the elevator.]
And you're exactly right, but it's no fun if you reveal my intentions before we even get there. Then again, it is a bean bag chair that I intend to so skillfully tie you to, so the fun's still there.
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Why was it a one-time thing?
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You know the answer to that, Loki.
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[ In the elevator, he cocks his head as her as if to say Go on, all the while letting his attention shift bit by bit more centrally to her expression and body-language, trying to read as much as he can without being overt. ]
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Because ... it's us. And you get all weird about it.
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We should probably talk about that later, after gifts and things. Whatever is it I'm being taken to see?
[ Besides a convenient distraction. ]
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Typical too, the way he changes the conversation now after he'd been the one to ask, hinting at more of the idea that something was still off, despite his multiple apologies over the matter. But she doesn't push it. She's made her offers in the past and it isn't on her to keep dragging it back around if he wants to avoid it.
So instead she brings her focus back to what she was bringing him here for in the first place, leading the way as she steps out of the elevator and heads down the hall, taking out her keys to unlock her apartment door.]
It's a surprise. You know, the whole close-your-eyes, don't-peek ordeal. And you can't laugh about it either.
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[ Rambling to fill in the brief silence between the door being unlocked and heading inside, he keeps his gaze on her and fails entirely at not thinking about what she's said, what she's noticed, and feeling antsy. Firstly because he hates being predictable, and secondly he just feels a bit shitty for giving her the wrong idea. ]
Why would I laugh?
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She gestures to the table at the center of the kitchen as she makes her way over there.] At least sit down and face away from me, okay? I'm not gonna smack you from behind or anything.
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[ Despite wheedling the point home, he wipes his smirk as he sits down wherever he likes, perching on the edge of the table, and does in fact close his eyes. ]
Someone threw a milkshake in my face at a diner here when I wasn't looking.
[ JUST SAYING. ]
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Though since other Lokis have a tendency to get on other people's bad sides, she'd actually believe it if he hadn't garnered up a reason himself just yet. But he's been here long enough so she knows better.
Catching sight of his closed eyes, she smiles slightly to herself, opening the fridge to pull out a large plate consisting of the surprise. Making her way to the table cautiously, double checking for any peeking, she lays the plate down in front of him.]
Alright, so, go ahead and open. [What he'll see is a large apple pie dish, not quite the visual you'd see on a recipe, but at the very least, it appears edible and grants a pleasant smell. Pressing her lips in an awkward smile, she waves her hands up.] Surprise?
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Aw, honey. You baked! [ He coos for teasing effect, tilting his head to the side with a sappy bat of his lashes. ] You shouldn't have.
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I said not to laugh. [Because teasing counts as part of the laughing territory. Her arms flail a bit in awkward annoyance (because she doesn't bake, not for anyone, though for good reason) before she crosses them.] Look, I've been taking a few classes. It's really the only thing I've gotten to practice so I'm not some Iron Chef or anything, but this is the first batch that didn't burn or practically blow up in the oven, so ...
[She huffs a loud sigh.] You're always cooking for me, so I just thought I'd give it a shot.
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I want this much, then. Burns and all! [ He won't shy away from those imperfections, nope. ] I'm surprised you didn't ask me to help you, everyone else around here does.
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[Because she's definitely refrained from having anybody else tasting her trials, usually only getting into baking mode when her flatmates were out of the apartment.]
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