Chapter 9

Loki opened his apartment door late that night to see a very downtrodden Thor on his doorstep. Two suitcases in his hands, eyes dark ringed from weariness.

"Jane and I…" Thor began, pausing to recollect himself as he looked apologetically at the leaner man. "I'm sorry, I have nowhere else to go."

In truth, Loki's doorstep was the last place he'd seen himself on that night. Jane had been in a decidedly bad mood ever since Thor told her he wasn't going to ask Loki again to coach her. Jane had dogged him relentlessly until Thor finally just said No. Though he maybe had told her No a bit more firmly than he'd ever spoken to her before. He knew as soon as the word passed his lips that it would only go downhill from there.

They'd literally fought all day, back and forth until he simply couldn't take it anymore. By that point, neither could Jane apparently, as she very firmly told him to get out. Thor didn't argue, he needed a respite from the battlefield of their relationship as well, grabbing his bags and leaving to go wonder the streets for hours. He didn't know where to go. He didn't have tons of money for hotel rooms, and would rather save what earnings he had for a down payment on his next apartment. Next apartment, there was a sobering thought. He just couldn't begin to think that he and Jane were over. Not yet. Not after all they'd been through.

To his surprise Loki merely stepped aside and gestured for Thor to come in, closing the door behind him. "The couch is open," Loki said with an odd gentleness to his voice. He fortunately didn't make it sound as if Thor was imposing on him in any way, despite their earlier disagreement at the diner. "You know where the bathroom and kitchen are." He continued turning to go fetch a spare blanket and pillow.

"Thank you so much, Lo," Thor breathed in nearly relief. He'd actually expected to be turned away. " I swear I'll be gone by the end of the week. I'll start looking for apartments tomorrow."

Loki just hummed as he dropped off the blanket and pillow, it was then that he noticed the bowl of popcorn by the sofa and movie paused on the tv.

"Oh, were you watching something," Thor asked, setting down his suitcases and hoping he wasn't interrupting.

"It's nothing," Loki said with a wave of his hand. "Just some mindless Comedy."

"I could use a mindless comedy right about now," Thor mentioned looking to his friend with a soft smile.

Loki tilted his head towards the couch and they both sat down, Loki pulling his incredibly long legs up beside him to sit closer to Thor as they sat the bowl of popcorn between them. Munching idly as he restarted the movie. They both soon warmed up, laughing at the appropriate places and many inappropriate ones as well. Yes, this was just what Thor needed. To just get his mind off things for awhile and enjoy this time with his friend.

Loki sat close to Thor, not on top of him, but closer than he'd sat to him in the diner. This as well had a marked improvement on Thor's mood and he hadn't realized how much he'd grown accustomed to the leaner man being in his space. It was rather comforting, especially now. And when he shifted and their arms pressed together, he didn't bother shifting. Enjoying the now reassuring, familiar warmth of the other man's skin against his.

When he awoke sometime later, to the warmth pressing into his side, he thought at first it had all been a dream. That he was back home with Jane lovingly snuggled to his side. But as he wrapped his arms around the larger than Jane's form, and gave a squeeze, he was instantly reminded of his present surroundings.

"Ugh Thor, you're squishing me," Loki grumbled, pushing against the larger man's chest that he'd formerly been using for a pillow. As soon as Thor relinquished his hold, Loki was on his feet and stumbling away.

Thor felt instantly crushed. He had hoped for a fleeting moment that he was back with Jane again and it could all go back to how it should be. But here he was, on Loki's couch and it filled the pit of his stomach with lead.

Loki came walking by a few moments later with his skates slung over his shoulder. Thor was instantly pulled from his own pity party to sit up and look at him curiously. He glanced at the clock clearly showing it was only 5 am. "Lo, what are you doing?"

"Going skating," Loki replied as though it should be obvious and heading out the door. Thor shook his head and flopped back down, but even he knew that sleep wouldn't find him. So he got up and stepped out the door that lead down to the rink.

The overhead stereo was playing some somber music, much as when he had first witnessed Loki skate. He had decided at that first encounter that it was Emo music and not for him, but now found it oddly relaxing. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket made of music and emotion.

He found a spot on the deserted bleachers and watched Loki skate. The lean man was as graceful as ever, and he could freely let his mind wander just watching him dance on the ice. A spin here, a jump there. No, that was a Salchow. Thor knew that much, though most jumps looked the same to him. This one he knew, not just because of how it took off from the back inside edge of the foot, but mainly because Jane had such trouble performing them. Here Loki pulled it off with flawless ease.

He listened and soon came to realize that Loki likely played this song alot. His moves matching the different tempos of the music flawlessly. Such beauty and grace, such freedom in his movements. He suddenly felt incredably honored to have such a gifted person helping him. Him, a hockey player who was far from graceful on the ice. He was big, and hulking, and couldn't do a jump without falling on his ass, but Loki had chosen him. Out of all the other offers, and likely checks with multiple zeros, he had turned them all down. And now here he was, helping Thor now both on and off the ice. He suddenly felt incredibly possessive of that. This was a precious gift he was being given, and he didn't want to share Loki with Jane or anyone.

"You're here early," Steve's voice in his ear suddenly drew him out of his reverie.

"Oh yeah, I…." he sighed, not wanting to hide it this time. These were his friends, if he couldn't lean on them, who could he lean on? "Jane kicked me out."

"Oh, man, I'm so sorry to hear that," Steve said ernestly, and sat down next to Thor, clasping his hand together thoughtfully. "Are you okay? Do you need a place to stay?"

"Yeah, I mean no, I'm good," Thor admitted, offering his friends a small smile. "Lo is letting me crash on his couch until I get a new place."

Steve looked up at the figure gliding across the ice and smiled himself. "That's good. Well, listen, if you need anything, you just ask, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks. I will," Thor sighed getting to his feet and glancing at his watch. God grief, he'd been out here over an hour already. "I gotta get to work. Don't want to get fired on top of everything else. I'll catch you tonight?"

"Sure." Steve said waving him off, turning to watch at Loki a bit thoughtfully.