It was the day before Loki's trial. Fandral came up to his room after work. They were both too nervous to talk much of anything besides the trial all through dinner, particularly after Loki had shown Fandral the pleas he had submitted to the court. Fandral hated them and thought Loki had basically signed his own death warrant with them. It had taken two hours for Loki to explain his reasoning sufficiently for Fandral to settle down enough to actually eat something. By then, the food was cold.

Unfortunately, they had completely opposite thoughts on how to deal with their nerves. Loki's eyes were attracted to the book he had been reading before Fandral's arrival, A History and Cultural Appreciation of Jotunheim, which still lay open on the couch next to him. Reading it had been helping him stay focused all day on why he wanted the trial at all. In contrast, Fandral's hand was attracted to Loki's legs.

Carefully, Loki lifted Fandral's hand away from his thigh and squeezed his fingers. "Not now. You and I are both too anxious."

"That's why I want you tonight," Fandral said, unable to keep the strain from his voice.

Loki winced, closed the book in order to pay proper attention to his partner, and kissed him tenderly. "This is not our last chance!" he said as the kiss broke off.

Fandral leaned into him and sighed, resting his cheek against Loki's shoulder. "I don't really believe it is either. But that's how it feels..."

"I sympathize, I do. But I can tell you right now trying to bed me tonight would be disappointing for both of us."

"It's been so long," Fandral complained.

"I know," Loki said, feeling a little guilty, not for keeping Fandral out of his bed exactly, but for monopolizing Fandral's free time. He was perfectly aware that Fandral turned to lovemaking for comfort, exactly as Loki had when they first commenced this relationship. Normally, if that comfort was denied him from one partner, Fandral would readily seek it elsewhere. The only thing stopping him right now was his concern for Loki, which Loki of course appreciated... "Perhaps you should leave early tonight."

"Don't throw me out! I swear I can keep my hands to myself."

Loki laughed. "I'm not throwing you out, but I was thinking it might do you good to spend the night with someone else. Someone who can readily give you what you need to relax."

Fandral chuckled. "I appreciate your being understanding, I do. But I don't want to leave you tonight, not with the trial starting tomorrow. It's okay. I can withstand another night or two or seven of fully-clothed nail-biting."

"Fandral, I know you. You're always seeing multiple people. It's who you are. I do not expect to change you, nor do I want to."

"That's very kind, but..."

"Really, Fandral. Tell me about the, say, last two lovers you were seeing before me." Still Fandral hesitated. "I mean it," Loki warned. "And I might end up throwing you out after all if you don't."

"That's not fair."

"Well, it's also not fair to put all your robust sexual pressure on one man who is currently unable to satisfy your desire."

"Er, touche. Fine. For the month or so before you came back, I was spending time with Oleg, a sergeant in Sif's command. Just recently promoted. We met at his celebration."

"I imagine there was a fair amount of mead flowing at the party."

"Quite a lot, yes."

"Handsome?"

"Oh yes, and very much a man's man. Picture Thor but much, much darker. And he grew up on Vanaheim, so we had a lot in common to talk about."

"I'm sure you spent most of your time talking," Loki said sardonically.

Fandral snorted. "You got me there. It was a very, ah, carnal relationship." Loki very slowly traced a finger along the side of Fandral's neck and grinned when the other man shivered against him. Loki lowered his voice. "Think of the last night you spent with Oleg, Fandral."

"It was over lunch break, actually," Fandral corrected, blushing. "The same week you returned, as soon as I got back from visiting you in the Healing Chambers but before Hogunn found me to make me return to duty."

Loki raised his eyebrows. "How risqué. Very well, picture that fair noon. In the barracks or wherever you were."

"His barracks."

"Barracks of a noncommissioned officer," Loki nodded knowingly. "Narrow bed. Very... tight... quarters. And with only a limited lunch break, very... urgent."

"Loki..." Fandral murmured, his fingers clenching around the edge of Loki's tunic.

Loki grinned, unreasonably pleased with Fandral's reaction. "Who else were you seeing?" he asked. "I'm sure it wasn't just one. Even this shapely Oleg would be challenged to hold your attention exclusively."

"No, only you can do that," Fandral said, nuzzling his neck.

"That's only because I have the added distraction of danger, near-death, and other drama."

"Heh. There is that. Well, I had also been seeing a dress designer I met in the city. Natya. She, well, she's both beautiful and an amazing artist. I met her about fifty years ago, and I never get tired of watching her work."

"Mmm. You are a sucker for a well-sewn frock."

"You know it. Especially if she's the one wearing it, and it has buttons all the way down..."

"You have fun unbuttoning them, I take it?"

"Norns, yes. Undoing a woman's buttons is like unwrapping a present."

"I gather you don't tear the wrapping off like a normal person. When was the last time you saw her?"

"Two weeks before you came back, I think. I had a whole day and night off and spent it all with her, hanging around her workplace like an annoying puppy. She closed her workshop early. We had dinner. She came to my apartment. Her dress was one of those with all the buttons. And the body underneath! I'll never get tired of that either. I meant to see her again sooner, but..."

"Oleg was distracting, and then I was distracting?"

"Pretty much."

"It sounds like you owe the lady a visit and an apology for neglecting her, then."

"She does have a job and a life outside of me, you know."

"Yes, but most of the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in the city would cancel any preexisting plans if it meant a night with you."

"I know what you're doing, Loki."

"You should, since I said what I was doing." He traced the edge of Fandral's ear. "Is it working?"

"Too well."

Loki snorted. "So, who will it be? Oleg or Natya?"

"Can I bring one of them back here?" Fandral said hopefully.

"No."

"Damn."

"The handsome sergeant or the lovely dressmaker?" Loki whispered huskily into Fandral's ear. "A military man's bed or feminine bower? Strong, taut muscles or soft, yielding breasts?"

Fandral moaned softly and smiled, turning his head to gaze hungrily into Loki's eyes. "Well, I guess since it's comfort we're talking about, I should probably talk to Natya."

"Oleg isn't the comforting type?"

"I don't know. Maybe he is, but I don't know him very well, and that isn't exactly what we had going on at the time."

"At the time, what you had was fast, hard, hot, and rough," Loki surmised.

"Exactly."

"Sounds fun. But I agree, you should probably seek out Natya."

"Fine, you win." Fandral took Loki's head in his hands and kissed him. His mouth was open, and his tongue was aggressive, pursuing Loki's. At the same time, he ground his hips against Loki's thigh. The very obvious bulge was almost enough to make Loki regret sending him away. Somehow, Fandral managed to climb into his lap and get his hands under Loki's shirt before Loki remembered to break off the lengthy kiss and push him away.

"Off with you. And get her flowers on the way. She deserves them."

Fandral smiled. "She really does. Even if she decides not to deal with me tonight and I end up seeking out Oleg or someone else after all, she always deserves flowers. She's precious."

"I see your love for her has faded not even a little bit," Loki said.

"Never. Same as my love for you. And for so many others. It is forever and always." He bent forwards and kissed Loki's forehead. "Alright, I'm going. Wish me luck."

"As if you need it. Good luck, Fandral, and goodnight."

"Goodnight, sweet prince. I will see you on the morrow."

Author's note: just a short little transitional chapter. Hopefully a decent demonstration that Loki is, in fact, a good partner for polyamorous Fandral, despite his doubts about himself. Trial is next, and that has been difficult to write. I shall try to keep updates approximately weekly, but it might end up dragging longer, sorry.