Titel: aftershave
Pairing: Thor / Loki
Summary: Some midgardian products produce an interesting reaction.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters – they belong to Marvel ( and whomever else ). I gain absolutely nothing with this story except personal enjoyment.
"You smell ... different."
Loki looked up from his reading indifferently and threw his brother one of those glances that were reserved for lower life forms, then turned back to the text in his hands.
"That is the aftershave."
"Aftershave" repeated Thor, as if it were a completely unusual, new phenomenon – as it might as well be, for him at least – apparently trying to decipher the meaning of the word. Thoughtfully, he looked at his reserved brother and took one step closer to him, leaning over for a sniff of the fresh, slightly tart scent. "It smells good."
"That would be the point," his brother replied, tense, without interrupting his reading and slightly moved away to the side. Thor disregarded the subtle rejection. Always disregarded it, enough for Loki to begin to wonder whether that really was only boundless stupidity and lack of empathic ability, or if he witnessed a rare, improbable moment of tactical behavior on his brother's side. He pleaded stupidity.
"Should I -" began Thor, but he interrupted him before he had to endure the unnecessary question in its entirety.
"No." The last thing he and all the nine worlds needed was his brother, the god of thunder, crown prince of Asgard, Midgard's mighty protector and proudest warriors of his kind, wrapped in a cloud of ill-chosen aftershave. The mere thought of his divine brother with a touch of Bruno Banani for Her induced almost physical pain.
His brother moved in closer again and, with a sigh, Loki put the book back on the shelf, just now done with the last paragraph. Slowly his eyes grazed over the remaining titles, which he had brought back from his secret visits to Midgard. His eyes flickered to the side, mildly irritated, as a strong arm was placed around his shoulders and his brother's muscular body was suddenly close enough to feel the heat emanating from him.
"The midgardian habits seem to appeal to you, brother."
Loki laughed softly, just a humorless sound, but did not dissent, instead bowed his head slightly to grant his brother greater access to his delicate neck. Maybe he had been wrong about the empathic, combinative capability, but his brother did not grasp the whole truth. He rather liked, how his brother responded to some midgardian habits, but only a fool revealed his tricks.