Not gonna lie-I really really like this chapter.

Steve's just awesome and Loki's awesome and everything is awesome and UGH! they are finally just going to go with it and Loki's not gonna care about labeling what it is they have and things will be nice. For a little while. Things between them will be nice.

(Also Amora's a bitch but I really have fun with her)

Disclaimer: Does not own Marvel Universe

Warning: Language and violence

Comments/critiques are welcomed!


Loki could feel an ache settling in his stomach. Steve didn't belong here. Hell, right now the way he was dressed Loki felt like he didn't belong here either. It was a rough crowd. Not one that Loki normally hung around with but one he saw when it came to parties and—well—stuff like this. At least no one here knew who either of them was and if they did it would be coincidence, not by association. Loki wasn't worried about being seen with Steve here so he supposed that was a good thing. He couldn't imagine anyone from their school coming to something like this. There were more people than he expected though and of course everything was loud. People were screaming and shouting everything they said in order to be heard over the cheering crowd around the ring.

Steve takes his hand as they walk through the crowd and Loki allows it. The gesture was sensible. He grabs them a couple of beers and leads Steve to the small set of bleachers that had been set up, pushing around people to find a place to settle.

It was a mistake bringing him here, Loki could sense it. The cheap beer, the rough crowd, the bloody fights…someone like Steve who believed in sportsmanship and a fair game would never take interest in something like this. Loki only came for the booze, the drugs, and the sheer violence of it all. What interest would Steve have? He didn't drink—excessively—and probably didn't do drugs…Loki could feel a migraine coming on. Loki turns to Steve who was looking around with childlike curiosity and pleasantly sipping his beer. He stares at him, Steve noticing his look and giving him a cheery smile.

"So do they have any rules or anything?" Steve nods towards the ring.

Loki stares at him a moment longer and looks away, furrowing his brow. This was not the reaction he was expecting. It was throwing him off. "They…they aren't allowed to shoot for the groin, they can't sweep the leg, and everyone's checked for weapons before a fight," Loki sips his beer. "Oh and a winner isn't named until someone is either knocked out or down for more than ten seconds."

"So it's like boxing?"

"Yeah, except there's no sportsmanship to it…just two men trying to beat one another to death with their fists."

Steve's eyes widen. "Has anyone…died during one of these fights?"

He had to think about that longer than he'd like to admit. "Well…not during. Someone's died in the hospital though—may or may not be related. Could've been stabbed…lot of scrutiny about that story…I guess the answer I'm looking for is no."

Steve nods and keeps smiling, turning his attention back to what was happening around him.

Loki sighs. Steve was very relaxed about all of this. He didn't know if that was a good or a bad sign. There were so many mixed feelings about this situation. Loki didn't want to give up getting to kiss Steve whenever he wanted and having a trusted intimacy with him was somewhat ideal to Loki's sadistic and sociopathic nature but he didn't like the idea of having to commit to the kind of relationship Steve wanted. He felt sort of honored that Steve would trust him enough to want to share something that was so important to him. Then again the heart wants what the heart wants and if it wanted to inevitably be smashed in Loki's cruel, unforgiving palm then so be it. Loki wasn't going to admit that he was most likely going to hurt Steve but he wasn't going to admit that things could work out either. So far his relations with others were few and only brought heartbreak and revenge. When it came down to it…Loki hoped for Steve's sake that it was he who hurt Steve and not the other way around. Loki knew that he was a vengeful person by nature. Being hurt and cheated and tricked was not something he took lightly and Steve was a decent guy—Loki didn't want that kind of fate for him. Part of him kind of liked Steve…he was charming in an adorable, dorky sort of way…reminded him of Thor. Nope, too weird…Loki shakes his head. Thinking wasn't helping his migraine any.

"Have you ever been in any of these?" Steve asks, grabbing Loki's attention.

He looks down at the two gorilla-like men fighting in the ring and laughs dryly. "Are you kidding?"

"I don't know you pack a punch when you want to," Steve rubs his jaw, reminiscing. "How'd you get into this then? Just something you stumbled upon?"

"Well, I-" Loki pauses. He could remember watching Thor beat the shit out of people to blow off some steam and of course there was Amora. She was the only reason anyone ever got into this sort of thing. Thor had stumbled upon street fights when he was fourteen and at first he and his friends—and occasionally Loki—were merely spectators. When Thor met Amora he got more and more into actually fighting. Amora was fond of watching her toys beat one another bloody but Thor got wise before he was dragged any further into her web of insanity. She was so much like a spider—a wicked, nasty, cruel, conniving little spider—one that would sooner bite your head off than mutter hello. He was sure she was here somewhere, scurrying around and finding someone that was unstable enough to fight her newest toy. Loki shakes his head and forces a small smile. "Thor and I started coming through a mutual acquaintance. He was always angry, you know? Needed an outlet. Before football he had this."

Steve nods, casually accepting that as an answer. "What about you? You just kept coming?"

"I uhh-" he laughs lightly. "Sort of like the violence of it all."

"Not gonna lie that makes a lot of sense."

"How's that?" Loki narrows his eyes.

"Well…you seem to brush off all the crap you get at school," Steve shrugs. "I guess you know that it could be worse." He smiles and gives Loki's hand a little squeeze. Loki looks down at their hands. He hadn't realized they were still connected. "Besides…you wouldn't have mentioned this if you didn't enjoy it."

Loki pulls his hand away from his. "Yes, well, I—figured it was something you'd enjoy as well." He smiles to himself, sipping his beer.

The fight in the ring ends and the crowd jeers at the winner, a massive tattooed monster who barely had a scratch on him. There were a few bruises here and there but not much else. He seemed to be the champion of the night. Loki finishes off his alcohol and stares down at his empty cup.

"Need another one?" Steve smiles and taps the side of Loki's cup with his knuckle.

He smiles in response. "Yes, actually. Did you want another as well?"

"Might as well," he nods towards the ring. "Especially since they're taking a break for now…or are they just scoping out someone else to jump in there?"

"You catch on fast, Rogers."

Loki offers him his hand and Steve takes it with a grin, following him down to the floor. People were moving around more now that the match was over. Steve stays close to him as Loki gracefully leads him through the crowd towards one of the many tables holding kegs and cups of beer. Loki hands one to Steve and they toast each taking a sip and looking around. A medical table was in the back corner of the room where the more unfortunate of the fight got stitched up and patched if they needed to. Any more than that and their asses were hauled to the hospital by either whoever brought them or whoever got stuck with them. Street fighting wasn't exactly as toned down as Loki had put it to Steve. The competitors were certainly checked for knives but it wasn't as if the ref patted them down with care. A few stabbings got snuck in here and there most of them most likely rigged.

Steve's hand shifts against his, his thumb pressing ever so slightly against the small pulse in Loki's bony hand. Loki felt a strange sensation in his stomach. It wasn't the coil of heat that he got whenever Steve kissed him it was different. This kind of contact with Steve seemed to be making him an odd mix of nervous and anxious. There was no logical explanation for it though. How could Steve make him feel things he'd never felt before when he wasn't even sure why he was allowing him into his life? Loki was a person of science and creative thought but there was no reasoning he could deduce.

"What are they doing over there?" Steve tugs slightly on Loki's arm to motion towards a small table where some shady looking people in cheap suits were sitting.

"They're bookies," Loki replies, sipping his beer and eyeing them from a distance. "People place bets on the fights and someone needed to handle the money. Of course…they're a shady bunch." He gives Steve a small smile. "Let's just say I wouldn't put too much money on anyone."

"Not unless they're sure to win," a silky voice sounds behind them.

Loki turns to face the fate that had so graciously been bestowed upon him. Amora smirks at him and withdraws a cigarette from between her lips. Her golden hair had been tossed to one side and the dress she was wearing looked as though it were two bust sizes too small. But of course nothing was complete without the gold hoops she was so fond of dangling from her ears. She blows a stream of smoke in their direction, Loki barely flinching but glancing at Steve who'd let go of Loki's hand to cover his mouth and nose with his sleeve.

"Mind the smoke, will you?"

Amora quirks her brow and flicks her cigarette, stalking closer to them. "Oh? And why is that?" She pushes her way between them and circles Steve like a shark, purring. "My, my…I'd heard you'd found yourself a new toy, boo, but I did not hear he was so handsome. Tell me—does the rest of him have such girth?" Steve's face burns red. Loki narrows his eyes as she turns to circle around him.

"What do you want, Amora?" Loki sighs.

She places her thumb and forefinger on his chin to turn his head to face her, giving him a coy smile. "Why nothing, my little cherub…I hope I haven't interrupted anything important. Though I never imagined you'd bring such a standup looking gentleman with you. Careful though. Someone here could mistake him for a cop. Unless-?" Loki raises his brow. "I do hope you didn't bring him here to fight," she smirks. Amora flicks her hair over her shoulder and turns to face them. "He doesn't look like he'd last very long."

Loki snorts, crossing his arms. "Steve's not violent by nature. So tell me, Amora, which one is yours? I'm sure you have a pet skulking around here somewhere, yes?" Amora laughs, her earrings bouncing against her neck and her lips pulling taut into a wicked grin.

"Skurge!"

The large monstrous man who'd won the fight only minutes before walks towards them and places a hand in the crook of Amora's waist. He was nearly twice the size of Thor and there were tattoos running up and down his arms. Amora had a thing about choosing men of exceptional height and width. Loki keeps his face stoic though as he stares up at this monster that was towering over them.

"Ah," Loki calmly stares at the pair of them. "I would be worried if you were seen with anyone other than someone capable of crushing a man's skull between his thighs."

She laughs dryly. "Yes, well, you know how I love nothing but someone that can make me money. Skurge here has pulled in over five thousand dollars for me today alone. Though I'm sure you know what it's like to pull a lot of cash in one night, don't you, Loki? There's still a lovely video of your dancing going around my school. Most amusing."

Steve's fist clenches and unclenches beside Loki's hand. "Not a scratch on him," Steve marvels, crossing his arms. "He must be good." Loki gives Steve a look. For once he could see right through what Steve was trying to do and challenging Amora this way was not a good idea. Besides…Loki didn't want to take Steve home in a bucket.

"Good?" Amora cackles, her upper lip curling ever so slightly. "Good?! He's not allowed back in Iceland that's how good he is."

He smirks. "And how is it you came to make his acquaintance, ma'am?"

"He works in shipping on the docks—my father owns them."

"There's no need to impress me, ma'am, your presence has an aura that's impressive enough on its own."

Amora's eyes spark up a flame. She could see right through what Steve was doing as well. Loki grabs Steve's wrist in an attempt to stop him from going any further. "Don't attempt to flatter me, you little bastard," she sneers. "I have ten billion dollars to my name in stocks and bonds alone. The only thing you have to yours is a couple of war bonds your great granddaddy left to you that'll be worth twenty bucks in ten years." Amora snorts, looking Steve up and down. "You're white trash, baby, and that faux leather jacket and thrift store collared shirt isn't fooling anyone. Don't let them tell you otherwise." Amora smirks when Steve's face falls, taking a step away from her. She turns to Loki. "You really know how to pick 'em, Laufeyson, if it isn't a cheating drunk it's a dirt poor hick from the slums."

Loki grabs her arm as she attempts to walk away and hisses at her, twisting her arm slightly. "Such a pity, Amora, that you're still dressing like the dime-store whore that you are. A real tragic rags-to-riches story—the one about two sisters who were sold into child prostitution only to be bought by a wealthy European business man. That story could have gone so many ways, couldn't it have? Pity really that they were raised as his own. I would've much rather seen them work for their money."

She rips her arm away from him. "I don't think we ought to be sharing tragic stories, Laufeyson. I'm sure I can name off a few about the bastard of the Odinson family. It is a pity about your brother though—Baldur would be how old now…six? Seven?" He lunges for her and Skurge catches his shoulder, holding him back. Amora laughs and flicks her hair over her shoulder. Loki spats at her and she closes her eyes, wiping it from her face. "You know I don't think I should let you get away with that one. Skurge, if you will?"

"With pleasure…" Skurge pounds his fist hard into Loki's gut, making him double over. He pulls Loki to his feet and throws a punch into Loki's jaw sending him sprawling backwards. Steve catches him and helps him to stand, the blood steadily pouring from his nose and mouth. Some of the people around them were gasping and muttering to themselves. A few help Steve drag Loki back towards the bleachers to set him down. One girl places a cloth filled with ice against Loki's nose and mouth. Skurge and Amora were laughing in the background.

"He went down like a rag doll," Amora taunts.

Steve stands with a scowl and takes off his jacket, setting it down beside Loki. He starts to unbutton his shirt. Loki furrows his brow and tugs on Steve's arm. "What are you doing?"

He nods towards Skurge, shrugging off his shirt. "I'm gonna fight him."

"What?!"

"Hey!" Skurge turns his head to Steve who nods towards the ring. "Let's go."

One of the people that had helped Loki to the bleachers climbs to the top of them and screams as loud as they can. "WE HAVE A CHALLENGER!"

The crowd cheers and raises their beers, swarming back around the ring and pushing Steve towards it. Loki stands in a panic and collects Steve's shirt and jacket. His chest was tightening up from the anxiety. This was stupid. Steve knew this was stupid right? It didn't matter. Loki pushes his way through the crowd to the front line and leans over the fence that was blocking off the ring where Steve and Skurge were both being patted down. He couldn't think. Loki was trying to find something to say to Steve that would convince him to get out of there but nothing clever was coming to mind. Nothing except the fact that Steve was about to die. Steve makes his way over to Loki with a smile. Why was he smiling? What about this was pleasant? He hands him his shoes and socks, Loki adding them to the pile of Steve's clothes he was already carrying.

"Steve, don't do this," Loki begs, his voice shaking slightly. "This is stupid, okay? I'm fine, you have nothing to prove to me."

Steve grins at him. "Don't worry he doesn't look so tough."

"This isn't funny, Steve, please—don't do this!"

The bell rings and Steve pulls away from Loki to meet Skurge in the middle of the ring. Loki closes his eyes. He would've liked to watch Steve beat Skurge to a bloody mess but the chances of that happening didn't seem very high…besides the noise of the crowd was giving him enough to go by. Loki shouldn't have brought Steve here. It was stupid and he should've known better. The date Steve had chosen was fine. It was boring and Loki wanted to bang his head against the wall but at least it didn't involve Steve going to the hospital. Loki had wanted to corrupt Steve, yes, that was his intentions with dating him but this wasn't corruption this was passing off his poor sense of judgment and it was what was going to be the death of both of them. Steve here and Loki at home after telling Thor what had happened. He could hear punch after punch, the cheering and jeering of the crowd, the panting, the gasps, the grunts, and the spitting of blood onto the floor of the ring. Loki could feel his sanity slowly leaving him.

One of the girls that had helped Loki to the bleachers gives his shoulder a little shake. "Hey, kid, open your eyes, your boyfriend ain't doing so bad!"

Loki opens his eyes. Steve was sort of hunched over, blood pouring down from his nose and mouth, and one of his eyes was slightly swollen—but other than that he was surprisingly standing strong. Skurge throws a punch that Steve dodges and another which was also a miss. Loki felt like he was going to throw up. He waves his hand at the man standing ref in the corner to call time. The ref rings the bell.

"Alright, alright, break it up you two, give the guy some air."

Steve stumbles over to Loki and gives him a bloody grin. Someone hands Loki a towel and he wipes some of the blood off of Steve's face. "You don't have to do this. Just take a dive, Steve, no one here is going to care."

"I dunno," Steve pants, looking back over at Skurge. "I think he's getting tired."

"Steve, listen to me," Loki turns his head back towards him. "I'm not worth it."

He pulls Loki's head to his and kisses him hard, Loki pushing on his shoulders but Steve holding fast to his neck and hair. When their lips part Steve utters out a small breath. "Yes, you are."

"You taste like blood." The bell rings and Steve pulls away from Loki who was trying to hold back his arm, Steve turning and giving him a small grin when he lets go. Loki spits onto the floor and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Skurge was pacing around Steve and Loki could feel his heart racing in his chest. It was pounding against his sternum so hard that he could feel the vibrations running up his throat. "Steve, please, don't do this!" Skurge throws a punch that Steve barely dodges. "Steve, please, you've proven your point, okay?" The next punch sends Steve to the floor, the crowd jeering at Skurge. Steve props himself up on his elbows and raises his head to Loki. "Steve, stay down." He shakes his head. Loki felt exasperated. All of these emotions were trying to boil out of him at once and he couldn't focus on what they were. Too many voices were screaming in his head and his chest felt too tight. Steve tries to get up and he's shoved back down into the floor. "Steve, just stay down! I'll go out with you, okay? I'll date you, I'll do whatever the fuck you want just stay on the ground!"

Steve looks up at him with a grin. He pushes himself up on his knees and shifts himself around to face Skurge. In three swift moves Steve manages to grab the upper hand. He jabs his elbow into the crook of Skurge's knee, jumping up on his feet as Skurge drops down with a howl. Steve brings his elbow down onto his clavicle—disorienting him—and finally takes a shot just between his jaw and cheekbone, sending him down for the count.

The crowd cheers when the ref reaches ten and Steve raises his arms in the air with a grin. He walks towards Loki who was pretending not to be as relieved as he was. Some of the medics help Steve over the fence. Loki punches him sharply in the shoulder and he winces, laughing.

"You're an idiot!" Loki snaps, Steve grinning at him. He takes his jaw in his hand and observes his face, pulling him towards the bleachers. "Come on…you have a split lip, they need to stitch it up before you take me home." Loki sits him down on the first row and the medics crowd around Steve. They press some ice against his lip and start pulling out there supplies, Loki taking Steve's hand. Having morphine around a bunch of drugatics wasn't exactly a good idea so when they started stitching up his lip Steve squeezed down on Loki's hand. Luckily they only had to do two before they put the ice back on his face, congratulating him on his win.

"You mad?" Steve asks bashfully, smiling at Loki as best he could. Loki rolls his eyes. No, he wasn't mad. Not exactly. Mainly he was just relieved he wouldn't be taking Steve home in a garbage bag. Loki pecks the corner of Steve's mouth that wasn't stitched up and gives his hand a small squeeze. He doesn't say anything though.

Amora approaches them calmly, arms crossed and her hips swaying ever so slightly. She was pissed—Loki could tell—but like him she wore masks very well. Loki ignores her at first, helping Steve put his shirt back on and buttoning it up for him. She clears her throat. "I suppose I ought to congratulate you. Then again dumb luck isn't exactly a win, is it?"

"Jealousy isn't something you wear well, Amora," Loki smirks, holding Steve's arm defensively. "I do hope your dog isn't too badly injured though—Steve did go easy on him."

She snorts. "As I said…dumb luck." Amora turns on her heel and starts to walk away from them, Skurge waiting for her on the other side of the room.

"It was so nice to see you again," Loki jests, Amora turning to shoot him a look.

"I wouldn't come seeking me out, Loki," Amora hisses at him. Her eyes turn to Steve—a fiery twist of yellow and green—narrowing in on him. "You or this stupid pet of yours."

Loki glares at her and stands, his lips curled up over his teeth. A knot had twisted into his stomach. "Don't call him that," Loki snaps, Amora turning back around and quirking her brow. "Don't call him stupid, he's not stupid."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"He may be irrational at times and he may tend to act before thinking but his actions are sincere. Yours is only here being your little puppet because in his twisted fantasies you're going to give him a good fuck."

"Oh as if yours isn't attempting the same thing?"

"Steve's an honest person."

"Ah, yes," Amora's lips curl into a smirk. "An honest boyfriend is just what you need, Laufeyson."

He sneers at her as she turns on her heel and disappears into the crowd and he could swear the rest of her legs were crawling after her. Loki sits back down on the bleachers. Everyone was starting to clear out, the amount of people steadily shrinking in number. With Skurge out of the ring no one else seemed to want to fight. Steve sits down next to him. Loki had to admit—it was kind of exciting watching Steve do that for him. Besides this whole date could've been a lot worse…or maybe not. He didn't really want to stop hanging out with Steve like this. It was an interesting experiment—watching Steve attempt to impress him—and succeeding in doing so. That was the part that bothered him.

"I'm not your boyfriend."

Steve blinks and looks at him, giving Loki a small smile. "I know."

"Good. You should."

There's a silence, the people still walking aimlessly around laughing and drinking and carrying on their conversations. Steve glances at Loki. He was glaring down at his hands in his lap with a scowl. Steve smiles to himself, touching Loki's hand lightly. Loki shoots him a sharp look that was more a warning than anything. "Don't worry, I just—I wanted to thank you. I know how uncomfortable you were with the idea of going out with me and you could've called it quits after the movie so…thanks. This was a lot of fun for me."

Loki sighs. "Rogers—you had to get two stitches in your lip. I wouldn't exactly call this a success."

"I dunno, I've had worse first dates." Loki stares at him and Steve shrugs, still smiling. "Okay maybe not a first date—but I've had to leave in the middle of a date to go to the hospital because my appendix burst. That was an interesting night."

"Steve-"

"Okay, okay, so I get that—this wasn't exactly ideal but I honestly did have a lot of fun," he grins. "And I get that I shouldn't have jumped into the ring like that but-" he pauses, letting out a soft laugh, "-it was kind of nice having you worry about me."

"I was worried because I didn't want to have to call Thor to come get us!" Loki snaps. Steve just laughs and shakes his head, Loki scowling at him. "It's not funny, Rogers!"

He chuckles. "I'm not laughing at you, Loki. I just—it made me realize something," Steve blushes ever so slightly and brushes his hair out of his face. He wrings his hands together with a smile still plastered on his face. "I don't really know why I like you, Loki, but—I like seeing the little things about you. I like your smile and the way you laugh and the way you try not to laugh…you put up all these barriers to try and scare people off but you're so much more than that."

"What do you know?" Loki had said it defensively but he couldn't seem to get rid of that annoying smile on Steve's face.

"I know that you try harder to get people to hate you than you do getting them to like you. I know that so far my life has been pretty boring up until now and that getting to go out with you is going to be one of the most exciting things I've done in a long time," Steve runs a finger gently over the stitches in his lip. "I've had a lot of people telling me what to do with my life and I guess right now all I really want to do is spend time with you. I really like you, Loki, that's why I did that for you. You're so smart and fun and confident and you're just-" he bites his lip and winces, trying to contain both his smile, embarrassment, and pain. "You're beautiful, Loki, when I look at you, you just—glow and I love it. Not that I love you or anything I mean it's waaaaaay too soon for that and-"

"I'm not worth you getting hurt like this, Steve."

He stares at him for a moment before pulling Loki towards him and holding both of his shoulders. Loki had no choice but to stare Steve in the eye and there was something there that looked so bright and promising that Loki couldn't look away. It filled him with this light, airy emotion and while he'd normally pull away there was something so gentle and sweet about the way Steve was running his fingers through Loki's hair that wasn't making him want to push. "You're worth everything I can give, Loki…I'm pretty certain about that."

Steve makes a surprised noise when Loki pulls him into a kiss. He winces but Loki's gentle, moving his lips softly against his. Steve wraps an arm around Loki's waist to press him closer against him with a soft moan and snaking his other hand into Loki's hair. There's a spark, a flame, that ignites itself in Loki's chest, one he'd felt before when they'd shared a similar kiss that night at the dance. He'd seen it, that fateful spark in Steve's eye when he spoke of his true feelings for Loki, his reasoning behind this night and behind how much he really wanted him and Loki could feel it. He could feel the passion Steve had for wanting to spend every moment he could give radiate from his eyes and his words and Loki wanted it, he wanted the kind of raw emotion that Steve had for him and he wanted to keep it all to himself. Loki wanted no one else to make Steve feel in such a way. If Steve wanted this as badly as he claimed then Loki wasn't going to share him with anyone else.

Loki pulls away from him and places a kiss at the corner of Steve's mouth. He turns his head to spit, gagging slightly and laughing. "You still taste like blood."

He grins and runs his hands up through Loki's hair. "Apologies. I guess next time I'll taste a little better."

"You think there will be a next time?" he smirks.

Steve pulls him into another kiss, Loki making a small noise in his throat. The heat twists its way up Loki's spine as Steve's lips part from his. "I'm pretty sure there's gonna be a next time."