Notes: Mornings after... Kind of. :P
Thor had followed them after the party. He had seen how Loki had clung to Svadilfari and how Svadilfari's arm never left his waist. His uncle. How couldn't he see it before? The subtle comments about his parents, his own likedness to his father, how much he knew about the Royal Family and the familiarity with which he talked about his king. He shouldn't have followed them. He was now listening to everything, hands balled into fists, his whole body trembling. Outside a drizzle started to wet everything. But still he could hear them. He could hear Loki pleading Svadilfari, asking for more, moaning in pleasure.
The weather got worse, the rain falling stronger and stronger. But still he could hear them. Thunder struck nearby, drowning their voices for a blissful moment but after it passed, he could hear them. The worst part of it was that in a way he wanted to hear. So he listened, holding his breath.
"...stop. Don't stop!" Loki's voice reached his ears and Thor bit his lip. He could also hear Svadilfari saying impossible things to his uncle. His. Thor's uncle. When he couldn't take it anymore, he turned around and went to his room. He didn't know if the thunder that followed him hid the sound of his boots against the floor, but he couldn't care less.
Part of Thor hoped that Loki was with Svadilfari just in the same destructive way he had went to fight the shark. He remembered. He remembered Loki being upset that Thor had called him The Sea Witch. Of course, he thought bitterly, he would have preferred to be calle uncle.
00000
As promissed, Svad was giving everything that time. Loki had been teasing him too much these past days and now he seemed quite smitten with the resoults. He kept asking him for more even when it was clear he was about to pass out.
"Keep fucking me, even if I am unconscious!" he had demanded after pushing a small vial into his hands and telling him to drink. And that... The contents of the vial had invigorated him in a way he didn't know that existed. It didn't matter how many times he had come already, his cock was still up for a next round. It was frustrating and pleasing at the same time. Loki bit his neck and he responded in kind.
He knew that Loki was in one of his moods. He was escaping through sex. If he was lost in the sensations of his body he wouldn't think about the troubles in his mind. With a growl, Svad pulled out and turned Loki over his stomach to then push in one go and stayed there, motionless, for a few seconds. They were both panting. Loki's body was shaking under his.
"Is this what you want from me?" he asked, not knowing from where the emotion was coming. "Am I just your toy? A human with a life so short that will be just a faint memory for you the moment you blink!" Loki didn't say anything, he just squeezed him with his internal muscles. "Fine, I will be your toy for today. But tomorrow you can find another place where to sleep."
With that, he resumed his brutal pace. This time after he came there was a loud ringing in his ears and he could se dark spots. He could feel himself panting. When he could see again he realized he had slumped over Loki's prone body. He rolled off, feeling unbalanced. He wanted to break something.
"You are not a toy," Loki mumbled, still laying on his stomach, head between his arms. Svad flinched. "If you were a toy I would have discarded you long ago," he said then, looking up at him. His eyes shone with unshed tears, his cheeks were red and his lips swollen by how hard he had bit them. At the sight of the tears Svad felt his stomach drop but then Loki moved and he could see the mer was still hard. Loki rested half of his body over his, head leaning over his chest.
"Then... What am I?"
"You are my very special human lover, Svadilfari," Loki whispered to his chest while his hips stared to move. He was rubbing against Svad's side. "I had never shown my vulnerable sides to my toys," he mumbled against his throat, hot breath making him shiver. "I need you more than at a physical level," his teeth grazed Svad's skin and the pirate couldn't help the throaty moan that escaped his lips. "But right now, what I need from you," his hand grabbed his half hard cock. "Is for you to fuck me into oblivion. Because if you don't do it I might do something stupid like transform my nephew into a dog just to annoy my brother," his voice hitched near Svad's ear, still rutting against his thigh. "And as much as I loathe to admit it, I can tolerate him now. I might even like him," his voice became a seductive purr. "It can only be you, Svad. I'm thirsty and your nectar is the only thing that can sate me."
Svad rolled over Loki then, and the man adjusted him between his legs, humming his desperation and pleas, ondulating himself against Svad's body.
"You enjoy the torture you inflict upone me, don't you? Cruel, cruel creature."
"We are made to consume humans. And even if I don't devour your felsh..." Loki bit his lip invitingly, rolling his hips in a way that positioned Svad's cock over his hole. "Please, Svadilfari."
"You are going to kill me if you keep this up," he answered before taking his lips.
In the end, he didn't sleep at all that night. And it wasn't the storm outside's fault, exactly.
00000
Come morning Loki didn't move much. His legs were sore. Not only his legs, though. His whole body felt sore. When Svad woke up he curled around him and kissed his mouth, then nibbling down through his chin, throat and chest he ended up with his membre deep in his throat. The only thing Svad was able to do was moan helplessly, hand messing further Loki's hair while the other gripped the bedsheets. When he finished, Loki only kissed the head and retreated, licking his lips.
"Thank you for the breakfast," he purred before nestling in the bed and sleeping some more. He heard Svad huff and rise. The next time Loki was conscious of his surroundings was late afternoon. Svad was sitting on an armchair, reclined back with one leg completely stretched. He was looking without seeing towards the fireplace. He looked as handsome as always, if a bit tired. Or maybe fed up. Yes, he was most surely fed up.
"I want to leave this place," he said, then.
"So leave," Loki answered, stretching under the sheets. Svad chuckled and rose, walking towards the bed. He knelt on it and crawled until he was over Loki.
"You make it sound like it's easy."
"It is easy. I'm telling you, an ex-crown prince," Loki winked and using his arms propped himself up to meet Svad's lips in a soft kiss. "What's for dinner?" he asked as he let himself fall over the pillow. Svad followed him down and kissed him, answering against his lips.
"I think some leftovers. There was a lot of food made and not everyone ate," he sighed, resting his head over Loki's naked shoulder. "All that food... They wanted to dispose of it. I asked what they meant by that. Maybe they would be giving it into the local villages but no. They were going to just throw it out. So we are going to be eating leftovers until they rot or we finish them," Svad mumbled against his skin. Loki could feel his breath and lips. It was a relaxing feeling.
"Tell me the bath is ready," Loki whined when Svad started sniffing against his throat.
"It could be. You smell delicious." Svad acompanied his statement by licking a long stripe of skin from his collarbones to his jaw. Loki let the shiver run through his body.
"Playful, aren't we?"
"You have been sleeping most of the day."
"I am sore," Loki pouted. "It would have been completely unadvisable for me to leave the bed without proper rest. Help me up, pup," he demanded. Svad laughed against his chest, but helped him out of the bed. "Ouch!"
"You asked for this yourself," Svad admonished him without real heat. He was smiling warmly at him.
"You are not angry at me anymore," Loki commented while he sat on the bed, while Svad called for a servant to prepare the bath.
"No. Are you surprised?"
"A bit. I thought that I really had crossed a line here and broke you," he answered, brushing his hair with his hands. "After all, you are my favourite toy," he added with a vicious tone, smiling at the pirate, all teeth. Svad blushed, frowning.
"Do you blame me? I cannot help but to be very aware of my mortality compared to yours."
There were several seconds in which they regarded each other in silence.
"I could..." Loki started, breaking the stillness that had befallen the room when the servants entered and set to prepare the hot water and utensils for the bath. Once it was done they left, trying not to throw glances at Loki's naked body. Instead of finishing what he had been saying, Loki lifted a hand waiting for Svad to take it. And the pirate did. Loki really needed a bit of help walking that day and was more than happy to share it with Svad. "You can leave me soaking in the tub, if you have other matters to attend."
Svad said nothing to that and instead took a soft rag and dipped it in the warm water. He washed Loki reverently, in silence. None said a word.
"I don't think I would survive that," Svad said at last.
"Mm..."
"No. Really. I am too possesive of you to live centuries upon centuries worrying whenever you run off with a new lover. Because you would do that. Your spirit cannot be contained by just only one."
Loki remained silent while he felt Svad's hands rinsing his body. He let the pirate help him out and dry his skin, not looking at him.
"I once had a mate... A... I had my one true love," Loki whispered in the darkening room. The sun was setting already.
There was nothing else said.
Instead of joining the rest of the people at the dinning room they had their meals brought to Svad's chambers. That night, after eating, they slept tangled with one another, only exchanging soft kisses and light caresses.
When morning came, Loki left the bed –and a still sleeping Svadilfari–, dressed with a pair of dark breeches and a brown shirt, took his favourite leather boots and his cane and went to take a stroll around the villa. The morning had a crisp quality to it and the breeze was gentle and cool still. His steps led him to the entrance of the labyrinth. He loved riddles, even if sometimes he got impatient and cheated to resolve them. He had yet to crack this one and since his mind was still in turmoil, maybe distracting himself from it would help.
He was very fond of Svadilfari, he thought, as he stepped inside. He was very fond of his smile, of his scowls, of his acidic humor and his little regard for other people's lives when they didn't suit his purposes. Svadilfari was almost everything he wanted in a partner. Almost. He had been stupid enough to get attached to the pirate. He had wanted to play the affectionate creature with the mortal for a few years, but now... Would it be so bad to turn Svadilfari into a mer? He wondered. It was a taboo. It was worse than mer going into the surface to live as humans for a short period of time until they died. It was easier to take away greatness than to rise a little fly to it.
He reached a forked path. Four different routes, mm, interesting. He took the second to the right. If Svadilfari wanted, Loki could turn him into a mer and they would live together longer. But then... What if that almost quality that he lacked got between them? He would be linked for life with someone who hated him or who he deemed unworthy. Then, again, he had his standars too high for that. He had not bonded ever since... Well. He had not bonded and he hadn't the slightless intention of bonding now.
"Mm... Right or left?" he asked aloud when he found his path blocked and only two options. The right one continued until it turned right again. The left one seemed to be divided at the end, presenting two corners instead of one. "Left. And then right." It was easier to bond with a human if you yourself became a human than to turn a human into mer and bond. And there would be need of bonding, since Odin, nor anyone on Asgard would let Loki keep Svadilfari at his side if it wasn't for personal reasons. Keeping a pet wasn't the same if said pet was sentient at the same level as a human. And it would be seen as an insult to all the other mer that had risked themselves to live with their humans for a short period of time –not that that worried him, but since the Crown Prince was in that situation he was sure he wouldn't be winning any sympathies– instead of kidnapping them and turning them into mer.
"How beautiful", he murmured. He had arrived at a circular path, wide enough to have a small fountain in the middle and four stonebenches. He surveilled it, circling the fountain. Four entrances, or exits, four benches, one fountain. The sound of water was relaxing. He sat down and materialized a book, opening it at random.
00000
He had seen Loki enter the labyrinth early in the morning. Instead of following him inside he concentrated on finishing his breakfast. At least he was not with Svad again. Yesterday Loki hadn't shown at all and he had been frankly worried. Summoning a courage he didn't have, he had asked Svadilfari where was Loki. Svad had answered with a shrugh and a "sleeping". A half-assed answer if you asked Thor, but beggars, as he had learnt recently, can't be choosers.
Thor had tried not to glare at the prince but it was difficult not to do it. Svad had Jane as his wife, if only in name, and Loki in his bed. He had come to the land to be with Jane and had discovered that what he seeked wasn't what the fairy tales told them all: True Love was horseshit at best. And after a long morning wondering what was what he really felt about Jane and concluding that she was more like kin than bond-partner he had wanted to smash his head on the wall.
In the end, the mocking advertencies that Loki had shot him what seemed to be so long ago had turned real and he found himself in a strange friendship with the woman that was supposed to be his true love and what seemed to be a crush on his recently discovered uncle. Now that he thought about it, there were some similarities between his dad and Loki. The way their lips were drawn, the hair was exactly the same as well as the eyebrows. There was a likeness between the noses but Loki's was clearly more beautiful and Loki's eyes were completely different than his father's.
He resolved to take a walk, unable to stay inside, where Svadilfari was, and not want to go to the man and threaten him. Who was he to ask anything of anyone? Svadilfari had everything Thor had wanted and was currently wanting, and it seemed that he had managed to get it withou any effort whatsoever. It was infuriating.
Thor saw Jane wearing what they called men's clothes, holding an iron sword. It looked blunt, though he couldn't say for sure from afar. She was speaking with Stark, Svadilfari's trusted advisor on security. She was frowning in concentration, listening to Stark's words. Then, they sepparated a few paces, stood in a strange way and started to fight one another with the swords. Jane lost her grip on her sword and Stark kicked her foot, making her fall down.
It seemed she was determined to learn, because she got up and went for the sword as soon as Stark finished giving some pointers. They went back into the stances and started fighting again. And again. Thor smiled fondly. She was truly a sight to behold, but his heart didn't skip a beat anymore when he looked at her. With a sight he went to the koi's pond to fed them and was scolded for fedding them.
He decided to join Jane and Stark on their lessons. He knew how to wield a trident and a bident all right and his spear skills weren't lacking, but fighting on land was different from fighting underwater. By the time lunchtime arrived they were all buised and tired but smiling. Stark was happy that they were such fast learners and Jane was happy that she had been able to kick Stark. Thor was simply happy.
Thor decided to wash a bit before eating and when he entered the room found that only one chair was empty.
"Where's Loki?" he asked as he took his seat. Jane looked around too, but she didn't seem worried.
"He went to clear his head, nephew dearest," Svad said between mouthfuls of his meal, while reading a newspaper. Thor had to fight himself from growling. "You know, blondie?" Svad asked, putting away the newspaper and looking at Thor. "Whatever happened in your homeland was fucked up. I don't know all the details, but I think it's an assholish move to erase a member of the Royal Family like that. And well..."
"What are you trying to say? What do you even know about us?" Thor grunted, not saying the "outsider" that he had wanted to wield as a knife.
"I know enough. I know that for Loki, being erased is a delicate mater, and that you, the Crown Prince, not knowing who he is is a low blow."
"And what do you want me to do about that? It happened long before I was born!"
"For starters you could go and call him uncle. And treat him life family, instead of just seeking him whenever you want a little bit of magic," Svad snapped, hitting the table with his hand. Everybody jumped on their seats, startled, except Thor, who was glaring daggers at the pirate. "And you could, I don't know, promise him you will restore his lineage and name as soon as you go back home. You aren't king yet, but that doesn't mean you cannot start doing things now."
Thor glared for a few seconds more before looking down at his plate. He finished his meal and left for the gardens.
"You are an idiot, Svad," he heard Jane say to the other.
To clear his mind he walked and walked and walked. Uncle? Family? How could he!? He had never seen Loki as family before. Not even when he first met him, wriggling his tentacles around. No. He had been intrigued by that shape and after the incident with Jane any other trail of another kind of feeling was erased form his mind. He had hugged Loki when he finally came back to his cave and had been reluctant to let go.
He walked without a real destination in mind and arrived at the entrance of the labyrinth. Shrugging, he stepped inside. Then, he let his thoughts wander around until he arrived at the most random of ideas: Loki's adorns for their bonding ceremony. Thor stopped dead in his tracks. And wasn't that a hilarious thought? Why would Loki, who still saw Thor as a pup, who saw Thor as his nephew –and not a potential partner at all– want to bond with him? Yes, Thor was the Crown Prince. Yes, he would become King and rule. But hadn't Loki had that same life before? Clearly that wasn't something that attracted Loki at all. Then, if not rank, what could? He was attracted to the pirate, that much was true.
He ended up entering a round place with a fountain in the middle. Surprised by the abrupt change in scenery he looked around taking in all what he saw: some flowers blooming on the ivy covered walls, the statue that was on top of the fountain looked older than the fountain itself, Loki sleeping over one of the stonebenches while the sunbeams bathed him, a book resting on his chest.
Thor almost yelled in surprise. He stood very still for what felt like hours, looking at Loki's form, the sound of birds and the water of the fountain making it impossible for him to listen to his breathing. He stepped into the sun and approached the sleeping man. Loki looked nothing different than he had had before. For a panicked moment, Thor though that after reviewing what he felt about his newfound uncle would have made said man to look stunningly beautiful. Instead he looked the same, which was nothing short of breathtaking, but still...
He kneeled besides him, resting his back against the fountain and looked at his face. It was turned towards Thor and a few strands of black hair were dancing over his pale skin. Without thinking, Thor reached and tucked them away behind his ear. Loki didn't even stirr, his breathing as even as before. Emboldened, Thor leaned in and pressed his lips to Loki's as softly as he could, lingering there, feeling the warmth of the other on his mouth. It was when he broke the contact when Loki emited a small groan. Thor's heart hammered so fast and loud in his ears that he was sure it was it what had awakened the sleeping man.
Loki mumbled a few more things before turning his head away and starting to stretch, eyes still closed.
"You skipped lunch," Thor said in a low voice. Loki's head turned his way, eyes bleary, and smiled at Thor. Thor swallowed. "Uncle, you souldn't sleep here. If you are tired there is a number of beds in which you can rest," he tasted the new word around his mouth. It was strange but the pure delight in Loki's eyes when he heard him say it was worth the strangeness of it all.
"You are right, dear nephew," Loki said, his voice slightly raspy. He sat up slowly, still stretching with every single movement. "Mm... Maybe we can beat the labyrinth and go get something to eat. Well, I will get something to eat," he winked at Thor and Thor couldn't help but smile.
Standing up, he offered Loki, his uncle, his arm.
"It will be my pleasure," he said.
"Oh, my! How chivalrous of you," Loki commented, taking his arm. The book morphed into his cane, but still he didn't let go of Thor's arm.
"Will you need to use that cane for ever now?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. It was stupid of me to let that shart sever one of the tentacles, mm? I thought that maybe my tail would be left untouched but as you can see..." Loki sighed. "This will teach me not to do anything as stupid in the future," he chuckled.
"Then we woun't be able to try that hide-and-seek game later on the labyrinth," Thor said, looking around to see if he recognized the path they were taking.
"Oh, no. We can. I can run and move. It's just a bit painful sometimes. But you needn't worry about this old man, pup. I will manage," Loki said, grinning at him. "And I will win."
Thor smiled then, a plan forming in his head.
"Then we should make a competition out of it," he suggested. Thor, surprised that it had worked, saw Loki's eyes shine in interest.
"Oh! Yes! And we should offer prizes."
They chattered the rest of the way out about the rules of the game and how many people should participate to make it interesting. Through all of it, the only clear thought that crossed Thor's mind was the warmth of Loki's hand on his arm.
More Notes: There is going to be a chase inside the labyrinth! Let's see who is it and who has to run ;)
