Chapter 10

OOoooOOooo

As soon as Darcy heard that Steve had offered up a room in his apartment,she ordered Luke to take full advantage of his hospitality. Actually, the more precise statement was 'pack your shit and get out.'. She had such a way with words.

"Is that really all your things," Steve stood at the waiting cab as Luke plopped a single suitcase and his guitar into the trunk.

"This is all I require," Luke responded matter-of-factly.

Steve just shrugged as he followed him into the back of the cab and they where off.

"If I may inquire," Luke began,looking down at his lap almost in embarrassment.

"Thor's back at the apartment waiting for us," Steve informed,not needing Luke to finish his sentence. Everyone could clearly see the attraction the two held for each other. It was definitely more than brotherly love and Steve had to remind himself constantly that A: It was not 1940 anymore and B: Luke was adopted. "I told him I was bringing home a surprise."

"Steve Rogers," Luke chided,now eying him with eyebrows furrowed disdainfully. "I am not a gift."

"To him you are," Steve returned simply.

Luke's furrow melted to one of surprise at the other man's knowledge and his cheeks flushed slightly before he quickly turned to look out the window.

Outside Steve's apartment,Luke placed a staying hand on his arm.

"Wait," He spoke quietly as he set down his suitcase and unshouldered his guitar case. "Perhaps you should hold my belongings."

"Good call," Steve chuckled as he deftly grabbed Luke's few items and opened the door, gesturing for Luke to enter first.

"And perhaps the phone number of a valued chiropractor."

The body that hit Luke was built like a freight train and the only thing that kept him on his feet was the massive arms now wrapped firmly around him.

"Thor," Luke wheezed,not even able to return the embrace as the larger man had his arms pinned. "We have had this discussion before. Air is important."

Thor just chuckled as he relinquished his hug only to grip Luke firmly by the arms and hold him at arms length.

"Brother," Thor began cheerfully before clearing his throat. "I apologize, Luke...friend...it is going to be so good having you here."

Luke eyed him a bit suspiciously. "Thor, you may call me brother if you wish."

"No no," Thor disagreed,finally releasing his forearms only to wrap a single trunk like arm around the slender man's shoulder and, snatching his suitcase from Steve with his free hand, began ushering Luke off to his new room. "Steve Rogers has informed me about how others may view such a statement. So I will call you friend." Then leaning in conspiratorially he added "It is not easy, but I have been practicing."

"I can tell," Luke replied with a chuckle.

Thor showed him easily to his room,then continued hanging about regaling him with tales of all the fun they would now have as Luke put away his few items. Before then following him back into the kitchen where Steve was making grilled cheese sandwiches.

"So Luke," Steve greeted,only turning around briefly. "Do you have to work today?"

"No," Luke replied sliding into a chair next to Thor at the small breakfast bar. "I believe my orders where 'Take the God dammed weekend off and get a life...dude.'" Luke paused before adding with a half grin. "Not my words I assure you."

Steve and Thor both chuckled at the known stout woman's language.

"Great," Thor beamed clapping the leaner man on the back hard enough to push him forward into the bar. "Then you will be joining us down at the arena this morning."

"The arena," Luke questioned raising one eyebrow to Steve to clarify.

"The gym," Steve supplied. "And Thor, I don't think Luke would enjoy spending his morning off wrestling with us."

"Nonsense," Thor's exuberance was not to be squashed "Inside this lean form hides the heart of a warrior." As if in emphasis, he patted Luke gruffly on the chest.

"I highly doubt that," Luke corrected with a grin. "But it appears that I currently have no other plans. So I will accompany you to this arena. But I doubt I shall be doing any of this wrestling you speak of."

"Oh, you will so enjoy this," Thor gloated enthusiastically.

"I doubt it," Luke replied slyly. But either Thor didn't hear or didn't care as he went on to regale Luke about all the 'fun' things they did or have done at the gym in the past.

OOooOooo

Luke wondered around the gym area eying all the machinery curiously as Steve worked out on punching bags and Thor lifted weights...then weight machines. They appeared to be the only ones there that morning,but Luke had never been in a gym before,so he did not find that odd. Before long, Thor bored of lifting things and, spotting Luke dragged him off towards a large matted area in the center of the gym.

"Come Luke," Thor announced loudly "Let us Spar."

"Oh no," Luke disagreed just as loudly,but was unable to break the larger man's grip on his arm as he was drug out onto the mats. "I do have to still be alive in order to return to work on Monday."

"Nonsense," Thor chuckled finally releasing his grip when they where in the center. "You're just being modest. Let us see those moves of yours."

Luke turned instantly to retreat off the matts. "The only moves you will see are the ones that will get me out of here."

Thor roared and leapt at the lean form,but Luke could read this move a mile away and easily sidestepped the attack. But now Thor was in front of him blocking his path of escape, and approaching him slowly crouched with arms out to either side to grab the smaller man should he try to rush past.

"Thor," Luke began backing away with his own arms held out before him in defense. "I do not think.."

Thor cut him off by rushing forward again, Luke turned to run, but the larger man's arms wrapped around his chest pinning his arms. Luke instantly ducked forward,kicking out his hip as he did and Thor's own forward momentum carried up and over the slender man,where he landed on his back upon the mat.

"Huh, would you look at that," Luke eyed him with raised eyebrows,suddenly seeming all to pleased with himself.

Thor just chuckled as he got to his feet before announcing "Again!" and rushing forward.

They continued like this for awhile, Thor trying to pin the agile man down and Luke easily dodging and flipping the larger man. Always using Thor's momentum and body weight to his own advantage. Even Luke was astonished at how his instincts where serving him so well. He wondered briefly where he had acquired such skills.
But he let his focus shift from his opponent just a moment too long and suddenly found himself knocked roughly against one of the concrete walls lining the back of the arena,with a formidable man now charging him down. Without thinking,Luke braced against the wall and kicked out with both feet, catching Thor squarely in the chest and sending him crashing to the matts.

Luke stared wide eyed for just a moment, realizing what he'd just done, before rushing to the fallen man's side.

"Oh my goodness," He wailed, sliding to his knees beside the him and placing a delicate hand upon his chest. "Thor, I'm so sorry. I did not mean.."

Thor suddenly grinned wickedly as he snatched Luke by the arms and flipped him over. Now straddling the leaner man as he held him pinned to the mat.

"Ha haaa," Thor crowed, still grinning broadly. Luke didn't even attempt to struggle under the massive form,only glared up at him with his best 'are-you-serious' face. "I have won!"

"Yes,yes," Luke returned,none too amused. "What do you want? A prize?"

"Luke,You are my prize," Thor announced,catching the leaner man completely off guard by his boldness as their lips collided.

Luke was so startled that at first he could do nothing,then as the heat from Thor's gruff lips reached his senses, his stomach knotting at the warmth now rushing through him, he closed his eyes and leaned further into the larger man. Thor's whiskers prickling against his upper lip, he was suddenly all too aware of the heat radiating off the masculine man's body poised far too closely to his own.

Thor found himself pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to finally cross the previously forbidden threshold . It seemed to just happen almost naturally. He was also pleasantly surprised by the softness of the other man's lips. Far more plush and velvety than any woman's and he finds himself pushing deeper,wanting more. He felt Luke's tongue glide across his lips and opened easily, their tongues just sliding against each other when..

The sound of Steve loudly clearing his throat,pulls them panting out of their reverie,but they only have eyes for each other as they lock gazes.

Steve chuckled,patting the large Asgardian on the arm and urging him to his feet. "I think you're giving Luke the wrong idea about wrestling."

"Nonsense,"Thor beamed,extending a hand and helping Luke to his own feet. "Luke has had a wonderful introduction to the aren. We shall do this again often!"

Luke just raised one eyebrow at him to clarify.

"Well..that as well," Thor stuttered,caught a bit off guard by his own brashness once he realized how his previous statement must have sounded. "But,Luke, you have real talent in the arena. We should practice and hone those skills."

"Let us not be so hasty," Luke admonished,dusting himself off.

"I have to admit Luke," Steve added smoothly. "Those where some pretty great moves.I think you may be wasting your talents waiting tables for a living. "

"You are correct," Luke replied grinning slyly. "Perhaps being a professional Thor tosser would suit me better. But I hear the field is limited."

They all chuckled openly at the jibe and spent the rest of the day exploring New York. By the time they had returned to the Apartment it was late and they all excused themselves to their separate bedrooms. Thor looking forlornly after Luke as he disappeared behind a closed door before retiring to his own quarters.

OOOooOOoo

Luke awoke around three in the morning,sitting straight up in bed. His skin immediately raising in goosebumps as the cool apartment air hit his sweat soaked bare skin on his chest and back as he only slept in bottoms. He had briefly hoped that perhaps the nightmares would not follow him to this locale, seeing as how the last time he had stayed, he was finally awarded a solid night's sleep. However, that did not appear to be the case.

Heart rate finally returning to normal he rose and headed towards the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. He often functioned on less sleep then this,so in all honesty,he had slept in. He just prayed the other two where sound sleepers. Well, he knew for a fact Thor was. A fond grin played at his lips as he remembered their previous sleep over on the couch. He certainly would not mind repeating that endeavor.

He sat at the breakfast bar idly reading through yesterday's paper to clear his mind. Steve awoke a couple hours later and instantly fetched his own cup before digging out several pans and starting the task of making breakfast. Thor,much to Luke's surprise, was not a late sleeper and rose shortly after Steve. Awarding Luke an all too loud kiss to the cheek before moving past to fetch his own coffee.

"Luke," He greeted in his normal roaring tone. "I have missed you."

"Seriously? Just overnight," Luke asked teasing the other man openly for his gushy show of affection.

"Well," Thor began rubbing his neck a bit hesitantly "I did prefer our previous arrangements."

"Thor!," Steve chided the large man for making such a suggestion. The two had just progressed to kissing for goodness sakes.

"Well, I am staying just a couple doors down," Luke replied,grinning far too slyly. "Perhaps you should visit sometime."

"Luke!" Steve now chided the other man,suddenly feeling as though he was living with a couple ruddy teenagers.

"I shall," Thor announced,grinning over at the lean man as they both completely ignored Steve's warnings.

"Guys,please," Steve snapped as he suddenly became far too focused on the eggs currently frying in the pan before him.

"Ok,fine Steve," Luke purred smoothly. "You may join us as well."

"No,that's not.." Steve began fidgeting uncomfortably,but the other two just erupted into open chuckles at the jibe. "Luke, what was that you said about pissing people off with your food." he aimed the spatula at the lanky man warningly.

Luke just held up his hands in surrender as Thor slid into the seat next to him and wrapped a single massive arm about his relishing the other man's closeness and wondering for the hundredth time that morning why they had never been this close before. It just felt so...natural.

OOOooOOOoo