Mjölnir drops to the ground.
Blood rushes fast and loud, roaring in Thor's ears as Loki presses a kiss ever so gently against him. He can see the way Loki's eyes drop closed, bits of snow drifting into dark hair. He can feel the way Loki's wrists twist in his grip, softly—not trying to break free— just slowly turning, like a compass finding north. Loki's lips catch against his own slowly, careful, warm.
Loki always kisses opposite to how he acts.
Thor's awareness of himself comes afterwards, an afterthought. He finds his hand has slid under Loki's neck, thumb pressed into the tender underside of Loki's sharp jaw, tilting his head up. Realizes his other hand is upon Loki's arm, holding tight.
Thor scarcely registers much else until the moment Loki ends the kiss and looks at Thor with those wide green eyes and then away, as if he can hide their glassiness. Loki's mouth falls open, the tip of his tongue pushing against that perfect row of bottom teeth. He takes a shuddering deep gulp of air, fingers curled overtop the rim of Thor's breastplate, wrists still lined up together as though bound as he rests back on flat feet.
It's so confusing, watching war play out on Loki's face. He looks like he's struggling against a foe he can't see and—
It's me, Thor thinks in shock. I'm the one who's always stopped you.
"Alright," Loki says then, breaking the moment with his voice, deliberately light, joking. "Okay," He blinks rapidly, his shaking fingers curling into fists upon Thor's chest. When Loki looks up again, the city lights catch his face and the side of his mouth pulls, like he's trying to smile viciously but can't seem to get his face to cooperate, "That's okay, Thor."
But it's not okay. Not when Loki's just standing there, stock-still, breath streaming out in warm gusts that tinge the air between them. Breath like smoke from an invisible fire, stamped out somewhere inside. It's in this moment Thor realizes Loki's waiting for rejection.
Do you truly see me as such? Thor thinks forlornly, almost disbelieving. Don't you know how highly I think of you? Me, who has lived in a shadow of your greatness?
It has always been of Loki whom Thor has been jealous— but now he knows. This jealousy is a flame that has burned them both.
I promise I will not turn away from you again.
Loki waits for a beat longer before he leans back just enough for his weight to become an anchor in Thor's arms. Panic rushes through Thor lightning fast. It's as if Loki moving away pulls a feeling straight from Thor's chest. It's as if Thor is finally going over the edge of a mountain after struggling through years of holding on. The shields come down in the freefall and all that's left is the swirl of dread and resignation flying away to reveal a deep resounding relief.
Thor bands an arm around Loki's back firmly and they're pressed together. Loki seems confused, but Thor reacts immediately, feels the closeness to his brother he's missed, all the way down to his toes. He remembers hugging Loki close like this before, the gem-like memories clustered closer in childhood and spread thinly in more recent times. He remembers the way Loki would keep him warm and happy whenever he was feeling down.
Thor can't believe he's turned away from this for so long. He's pushed Loki away just because he didn't understand. Wasn't ready to. Thor hadn't accepted himself, not fully, until now. He had been so busy holding onto the guilt he'd carried for so long he never realized he could let it go.
It's only when you let go of everything that hurts you there's room for freedom in your hands.
"Thor, let go—"
Thor touches a gentle thumb to the corner of Loki's temple and the reprimand dies in the air. Thor's heart is pounding, the blood pulsing so thick and painful that it's difficult to tell if the feeling lancing through his gut is fear or excitement. He needs to say it. Loki has to know.
"Loki, please," Thor sees himself reflected in Loki's eyes. They're more alike than he'd thought. "You were right." He allows the sentiment to pass between them, unable to speak of it lest it be twisted into something else.
"It's you." Thor says, the words sounding as if they have crossed an immeasurable divide, "Always you. More than anyone else."
"Then show me," Loki nearly groans, a fast burst of words hot against Thor's face in the winter cool. As if the relief has rushed up like ground to meet Loki too. His hands come alive, searching across Thor's chest and face, quick and nimble. "Show me, Thor. The real you."
"I want to," Thor confesses, gripping Loki's neck fiercely.
Loki's fingertips are soft against his collarbone, walking up to touch his throat, the curve of his jaw, lightly sticking to the chapped skin of his lower lip.
"I want you to," Loki whispers, voice dipped low and Thor sucks in a cold gulp of air. Doesn't even realize he's squeezed Loki closer still until the sides of their noses brush. Thor is throbbing all over as a rush of heat wraps around his neck, desire choking him. Loki's fingers curve around Thor's chin to tip his head down so Loki can slip words slowly into his mouth, "Let me be the judge of what... I... like."
"Come here," Thor breathes.
And then everything is a soft mash of lips, full of uncoordinated affection and maybe even a bit of competitiveness. That's the way everything Thor does is. But Loki doesn't fight it, just tilts his head back in Thor's grasp, allows Thor to kiss however he pleases. Thor knows he is acting too swift, too desperate with the short sharp kisses he cannot help peppering all over Loki's face, but love is a feeling that pours. Once you overflow it's impossible to stop.
"Mmpff! Thorfff—" Loki squirms under the attentions, sounding too amused for it to be a complaint.
But Thor's kisses are messy, childish, and perhaps that's why Loki lets loose a tiny snicker after Thor smushes his lips against the side of Loki's nose. Why Loki gets a palm against Thor's mouth and pushes his face away just enough so Thor is forced to relent. Annoyed, Thor squints down at Loki who has the gall to laugh outright, cheeks red and eyes bright.
And then Loki leans close to rub his nose against Thor's, hand dropping to rest against the deep rise and dip of Thor's chest. The press of Loki's hand is heavy against the flutter in Thor's heart, a flutter so fast it feels like he could disappear at any moment. Thor finds himself panting, wanting with more fervor he's ever known, as Loki presses answering warm kisses to his cheek, nose, upper lip. Unthinkably patient. A feather-light drag of lips against the apple of Thor's throat. A shallow lick to the spot just under Thor's ear.
"Slow down, mighty Thor," Loki whispers into the bristles on his chin.
Thor swallows thickly. Only has the chance to take a rough draw of air through his nose right before Loki is back on his toes, cupping Thor behind his head and kissing him back soundly. Thor's mouth falls open at a soft yank to his hair, Loki's got Thor's braid wound around his hand and then everything is warm and wet. Loki's tongue is slick and hot and armed with smooth licks that he slips across the broad of Thor's tongue, slow but powerful and just right. Thor's chest gets tight as the onslaught continues; the pressure heavy on his lungs to the point of where he's breathless, lightheaded, dizzy. It's only then when Loki lets up.
Loki's eyes are dark, his teeth scraping slowly along his bottom lip which falls open, red, wet. Then Loki smirks, a deliberate self-satisfied curl that does something to the pit of Thor's stomach. A hook that always slides in deep and makes Thor reel.
"Loki," Thor groans against Loki's lips, squeezing his eyes together. Thor takes a shuddering breath and clenches rolls of smooth leather that stretches across Loki's slender back. It feels so good.
"Mmhm?" Loki hums and lifts one eyebrow. Thor only knows this because they're so close he can feel it, because Loki decides when the breather is long enough. He kisses Thor again until the movements are long and sweeping, deep and languid, back and forth. Loki's hands copy his tongue, gliding up and down Thor's bare arms like a hot shiver and—oh—
A crack of lightning splits across the sky overhead, opening it up to send a rush of snow careening around them. Flakes pour through the air, riding the wind as Thor's bright red cape wavers in the current, curling around them and then whipping back out.
Thor gasps and breaks the kiss, panting. He swallows thickly, feeling flushed all over. Hot. His mouth keeps falling open and it takes Thor a second to get it together, but Loki is no better. His face is a mess of pale skin rubbed red, glistening with sweat, eyes dancing. His breath unfurls across his face like a length of lace and a tuft of black hair on the side of his head stands folded out, like a wing.
"Look at you," Loki says, sounding almost in awe. But that's madness, really. Loki is the only one Thor ever saw.
There's the call of ravens in the distance, the hum of the city, the whistle of the wind. He's thrown back to when Loki used to taunt him, encourage the sort of attention Thor was ashamed of giving. Blow kisses. Thor is nearly afraid of where it all goes from here but Loki dispels Thor's thoughts by linking arms around his neck. Their closeness pushes everything else away.
Loki presses a chaste kiss against Thor's lips and then fall back to his heels, pulling Thor down those extra inches. Thor follows. That same expression paints Loki's face, the one where it's obvious to Thor he's in between making a joke and being genuine. Always skirting a line. If that's where Loki must be then Thor accepts it. They'll meet somewhere in the middle and call it even.
Thor is forehead to forehead with Loki when the storm comes in. Then he's got Loki's hand in a grip, firm and resolute. He's pulling Loki with him, running down the pathways and the trees through the flurrying snow, Loki's wide eyes shining sea green in the night. Thor runs so fast that Midgard becomes a blur and they could be anywhere, any time. Everything's relative, even them. All Thor knows is everything starts with a bang.
"Where are we going?" Loki gasps from behind.
Thor grins to himself, bites his lower lip, heart wild as a flock of birds in the brush go bursting into the air. He's always dragging Loki along.
"On an adventure!" He yells over the rush as Mjölnir comes hurtling into his hand.
When Thor looks back over his shoulder Loki's features are flicking through a myriad of expressions, morphing in between the whips and flips of Thor's red cape. Loki catches Thor watching and then smiles with the sort of mischievousness that has always made him look sweet. It's a lie and a truth all at once. Thor feels the same smile mirrored upon his own face. There will always be ups and downs, right and wrongs. But they just are. This is them and there's only one way to go from here.
Stop running and just fly.
They must, anyway. Son of Coul says SHIELD's new base is called a Helicarrier, but Thor figures that's Midgardian for flying ship.
There's a buzzing through every inch of his skin distracting Thor. The hair on the back of his neck is standing on end, a shiver running through his limbs. Overwhelmed with the intensity, it makes his heart pound and clothes feel too small. Lightheaded.
He hardly notices touching down on the flying fortress, its surface bereft of humans. The icy winds viciously licks at them both, pushing the air away before Thor can breathe it in, yet Loki remains unfazed, his arms locked around Thor's waist. There's no one in sight to help them, but Thor hardly cares that he must make an opening of his own. A streak of lightning from the storm strikes the hull, punching a hole in its metal hide.
And then they're barreling inside, weaving through the Helicarrier's labyrinth, the utilitarian scenery creating a mosaic like dark rocks on a shore, all black and silver and gleaming. If there are any flabbergasted agents in their path Thor does not pay them any mind. Everything becomes shadows in the corners of his vision, until he and Loki are there. At Thor's chamber door.
Loki pushes him against the frame, nails curling into his sides.
Thor grunts in surprise, reaching out to cradle Loki's face in his large hands and the door opens on a hiss behind him without a word.
"Exciting adventure," Loki mutters as he walks Thor backwards, says it in sort of a mocking way but with all bark and no bite. Except when he does, crowding into Thor and clamping down on the side of his neck, rolling the thick skin between teeth.
"Ah!" Thor barks out in surprise, hits his head against the corner of a wall-mounted metal rack. It dents, spilling its contents to the floor. A few manuals, first aid kit, a photo of his friends from a physics journal, Darcy's iPhone. Small things Phil and Thor had found to make himself at home in the few days upon arriving at the base.
Thor drops Mjölnir somewhere to the side and it hits the ground with a loud clunk!
Loki snickers into Thor's flesh and then blows against the throbbing welt Thor can feel darkening on his own neck. Loki pushes some more— pushes out of his coat, the tails fanning out in black waves on the floor. Unhinges Thor's breastplate with fingers so quick it could be magic, how fast their armor gets lost. He's practically wrestling with Thor's cape until they've fumbled all the way to the simple bed, falling back against the sheets like they're just boys again. Like they've gone back in time.
That's the good thing about relativity— No matter what happens, no matter when it happens, you can always go back to any moment you want for as long as you live. Thor knows this is what he will always come back to, what he remembers best; Loki, the person-shaped reason why he is mighty.
"What are they to you? These humans," Loki asks between breaths, patience evaporating as he rolls atop Thor and kisses him without pretense. It's like he can't get enough, has to keep kissing Thor before he gets told to stop.
Thor shivers at the touch of Loki's hands gliding everywhere within reach, rumpling up his shirt, then everything coming to a charged stop on his stomach just before Loki rips it open. Thor starts in shock as Loki's cool palms smooth all the way up his bare chest, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Thor's heaving for air as fingers tunnel through his hair, gripping tight, pulling.
"Allies," Thor can barely answer between kisses with Loki's mouth against him. Thor can feel his blood running hot, feverous through his ears. It makes his voice sound distant, breathless. A red blush spreads along his skin as sweat collects in the hollow of his neck as he swallows and says, stronger, "Friends."
"As they are mine enemies," Loki's lips ghost across the shell of his ear, voice smooth and melodic and as sexy as Thor had ever dreamt. Loki reaches down and curls his fingers into the inseam of Thor's pants and then tugs, a chuckle bouncing in his throat at the sudden jerk that ripples through Thor's body.
"That's alright," Loki says amusedly into his skin, drags teeth down his chest, catching lightly on a nipple and making Thor go mad. "I've always hated all your friends."
"Loki," Thor groans, gripping the thin bed sheets and twisting.
"But what am I to you?"Loki unfurls his grip on Thor's pants, only to catch the fabric again, just a bit higher, unashamed.
"Brother," Thor cannot help but moan as Loki caresses his sensitive cock through the garment. But he knows it's not what Loki wants to hear the moment he says it.
"Shhhhsh," Loki whispers, letting go to put an index finger to his own lips, leaning close and smiling darkly.
His hand threads through Thor's hair, slack. Touch turning soft. Thor exhales in a stutter as Loki delicately skims knuckles across his brow, temple, ear. His eyes threaten to fall closed as Loki uses a thumb to tenderly graze his cheek. Their chests are pressed together, Loki's elbows digging into the bed cushions and Thor's collarbone as he stares down, hair curtaining his face like the dark of night reaching out, "I won't tell if you don't."
Thor feels like all of his muscles are drawn tight, ready to snap into action in a flash. Then Loki's mass atop Thor's abdomen shifts, a leather-clad knee boney on his thigh before it slips to the mattress. Loki twists his hips slowly as he gets comfortable. The motion could almost be lazy except not quite. Because there's a precision in the way Loki stares into him, penetratingly, just as the solid weight of his hard cock presses against Thor's belly.
Thor's blood ignites. He can't quite believe how much he's sought this, yearned, and now it's all on him at once. Under the drumming of his pulse, Thor hears his own childish voice like it was just yesterday. I don't want to lay with anyone! Ironic. He could almost laugh at his own obliviousness. He's always had Loki at his side.
Loki leans up, his hands slipping overtop each of Thor's wrists. His fingers sinking into the spaces between Thor's fingers. Linked, his voice is suddenly just a bit uneven, "Tell me what to do."
"What— " The words hitch in Thor's throat, "Whatever you want."
Loki smiles down at Thor, the kind of smile that pushes creases into the corners of eyes and makes cheeks seem fuller than they really are. Young.
"You shouldn't trust me." There's defense in Loki's voice, an edge even on the curve of a smile, "What if I want to hurt you? What if I want to call it love?"
He tugs his hands, threatening to break the connection, but Thor holds fast. Pulls where Loki pushes, keeps him where right where he is. Finding himself anchored to the spot, Loki bows down and kisses Thor roughly, rocking his hips agonizingly slow into Thor's abdomen, lips warm and flushed and sticking. Thor gulps into the kiss, gripping through the beads of sweat between their hands as Loki murmurs into the side of his neck, "What if I want to make you come?"
A flash of heat plows up Thor's spine and back down again, settling low in his gut, throbbing, painful. Aroused.
"N-Nothing you have not done before," Thor admits on a swallow, shakily catching the back of Loki's messy head and thin waist as their slippery hands unlink.
Loki stops, sits so still atop Thor it's as if he's trying to disappear.
"Is that the truth?"
Thor nods, cupping his sharp jaw and Loki tilts into it, just a little. A muscle is jumping in his cheek, and Thor wants to use his thumb to stretch the corner of his mouth, make him smile. But Loki turns his face all the way into his palm, mouth pressed against the scar there. He asks, voice intentionally toneless, the way one asks for the impossible with resignation and hope, "How can you even stand to keep me?"
A fierce instinct goes rattling through Thor's bones. He can't tell if it's possessive or protective or brotherly or not, but does it really matter? What it all comes down to, when he thinks about it simply, it's—
"Because you are mine," Thor whispers.
Loki presses his lips together, forehead wrinkling as his brows turn up. Thor almost expects him to protest, but then the expression is gone as Loki reaches down and pulls his green tunic over his head, flinging it somewhere behind. His chest is thinner than Thor's, but still solid, attractive and real. Thor reaches out carefully, but Loki doesn't wait. Just grabs Thor by the hands and presses them to himself, curls into the touch the way he always has. Never shy, always searching.
Then Loki bears down, their pelvises pressed tight. The reaction is immediate. Thor groans and arches into the pressure on his cock like he's been struck by lightning. A pleased moan vibrates in Loki's throat in response. His chin digs into Thor's collarbone and Loki sucks, hard and languid and not the least bit contrite.
"Mnrrrgh," Thor groans pitifully, loving and hating the torture all at once.
Loki writhes in slow undulating motions, hips grinding in a curve around the hard bulge of Thor's cock. It makes Thor chew his lower lip to keep from losing himself in the back and forth, the lazy sway, heady like the surface of a sea. Making him drown.
"I've toyed with you all this time, but you never realized," Loki murmurs low and rueful as if he's recollecting the years of deception between them. His voice reverberates through Thor's chest, seems like he's everywhere, filling the entire room with his presence, the heat and their mixed sweat. "It goes both ways. You can play with me however you want."
"Loki," Thor swears and his brother catches the name with his mouth.
The charge powering through his body shifts into something like static shock, dancing across all his nerves. Thor easily falls into a sensation that's more desperate, more urgent, the atmosphere snapping into something dark and thick. Hot.
He keeps Loki pressed down against him with two hands on the back of Loki's head and neck, plundering Loki's wide open mouth with a deep kiss that's all tongue, slick and wet. Loki makes a weak sound of approval, trembling atop Thor but not fighting it. He stays right where he is, allows Thor to delve as far as he wants for how long as he wants.
"That's it," Loki moans achingly when Thor lets him up for air, as if Thor's the one in complete control here, "Just like that."
But one look at Loki's face reveals that he knows exactly what he's doing to Thor. Provoking, that knowing grin threatens to split his lips and Thor shoves a thumb against Loki's mouth, wiping it across his lower lip in a rough swipe.
"Oooh," Loki croons on a hot breath against the offending finger, entertained and not the least bit abashed.
"Quiet," Thor grits out, bleary through the haze of his arousal. It's getting so hard to think he can scarcely argue properly.
"Want me to shut up?"
Thor's gathering his wits to reply but it all gets flushed away when Loki licks a fat stripe up his thumb. Closes his mouth overtop, sucking. Thor cries out, bucking up into the devastation wreaked upon him with the simple action.
"Want that?" Loki murmurs, the tip of his tongue flicking against the finger pad.
Thor nods incoherently and Loki snickers at him. Thor would glare but can't seem to dredge up the energy to stay mad. He's in awe, really, that his brother can be so—
"Stay there," Loki tells him, slowly pushing a handful of black locks off his forehead, a drop of sweat carelessly rolling down from his temple. "I'll give you what you need."
Loki presses soft wet kisses down the midline of his chest, warm fingertips trickling over his ribs like beads of sweat. Loki groans as he sucks on mouthfuls of skin. It has Thor hissing, the suction moving from pleasure to pain in fast bursts as Loki exhales and moves to new, lower spots. He finds the small puncture wound from before and licks it, the sting of their salty sweat and his tongue burning.
Thor lets out a sharp moan, capping it off quickly with a fist in his mouth. But he can't help the smaller sounds that escape him as Loki touches him in measured movements through his pants, testing the boundaries already torn down. Thor clenches his stomach when he pulls the garment open and Loki slips his tongue through the course track of hair under his navel, the sensation hot and foreboding and very, very real.
"Fuck me," Loki's voice tremors, hot across the head of Thor's cock. He wraps long fingers around it, squeezing and then stroking, slack and dry. Thor convulses at the sensation, mashes his hands into his eyes to keep his head level. Loki presses his lips to the column of it, "Make me sorry for what I did. Make me worthy."
"You are," Thor gasps out, hitching up into the touch, but Loki shakes his head, dragging his cheek along the length and says nothing more. He closes his lips overtop.
Thor's head hits the bed pillows with a thud. Two. Three.
"Uhnngg," He moans, loud and drowning out the constant buzzing in his skin. He pushes the meat of his palms into his eye sockets, hips raising off the bed. He can feel himself sliding further into Loki's throat. Instead of pulling back, Loki gags himself on Thor's cock, moving up and down in slow smooth strokes.
"—Oh-Ohhnnggg," The nonsensical groan pours from deep within Thor's chest without abandon. There's a throbbing in his throat that feels like his heartbeat and when he sucks desperately for air he realizes he's thrusting roughly into Loki's mouth on the same tempo.
"Nggck," Loki pushes his hips back down hard, coughing, his mouth hanging open and raw and a line of saliva falling from his chin."Yeah, Thor," He growls, voice hitting a deep baritone, "Just like that."
Thor fists one hand in the bed sheets, the other wrapping around Loki's hair as he delves back down. Loki licks fatly over the length of his cock, smearing his face on it and sucking underneath the head. He pumps the shaft, sucking and letting Thor thrust desperately into his mouth until he's struggling to breath— and then even a little beyond that. Thor grimaces, turning his face into the pillows. Finally, Loki lets the cock slip from his mouth and gasps wrack his body.
Thor pants, looking down the expanse of his body at Loki, head arched back in Thor's tense grip. The apple of his throat bobs shallowly, the unyielding position forcing Loki into an angle that has him working for his breath, displayed. Loki's flushed; eyes black and hooded, he looks genuinely pleased that Thor not going easy. Determined.
Thor struggles to hold onto his tattered control, ease his grip as Loki wrenches the pants from his legs, the sweat making them sticky and tight. But Loki won't let him have reprieve, leaning back in and stroking Thor with both hands, slapping his cock against the flat of his tongue. Then Loki slides even lower, until he's kneeling on the ground at the edge of the bed, moaning appreciatively as he spreads Thor's thighs, pushing them up. Thor's abs clench at the crushed position but Loki trails his nose through the crisp hairs, mouths at his balls, runs his soft wet tongue up the crease of Thor's ass and— Thor freezes. Loki groans, presses close, and slides his tongue up and down hard on the exposed hole.
The sheets rip.
"Fuck," Thor bellows, quaking violently as he comes. Behind his eyes is a flash of red and black, like blood down a palm, a beautiful red promise. Like lightning bolt nerve endings, splintering through the dark. He's shaking, a quiver going through all his limbs on every slam of his pulse.
"Mmmnn," Loki rumbles, gliding his face down one of Thor's sweaty thighs and then licking away a thick white stripe from his belly. Thor's legs fall boneless to the bed, Loki patting him on the knee. "That's good, Thor," His voice is gravelly, used. He grins and starts rooting around with one hand for something on the floor through the debris from the wall rack.
"Br-Broth—" Thor tries to say, but his mouth feels slack and useless, like he's the one who's been worked in, his body like the strings on an instrument, pulled tight and played until snapped.
"Shhhsh," Loki shushes again, clearing his throat and rummaging through a white box, throwing items he deems worthless behind him. Then his hand closes around something and he grins. "I knew that human had an eye on you. You're certainly prepared." Loki's mouth quirks up, "I'm not. Yet."
"W-What?" Thor blinks blearily, sitting up on his elbows.
"Never mind," Loki tosses a small tube on the pillow and then slides up the bed, his long arms tunneling through the sheets on either side of Thor until he's stretched out on his side.
"You love me best," Loki says into a greedy kiss, as if this is explanation enough.
Maybe it is.
Thor shudders as another aftershock goes through him, like a spark jumping in the pit of his gut. Loki's arousal is thick and solid against his hip. Thor reaches out as Loki scrapes teeth over his bristled chin, but Loki snatches his hands, linking them by Thor's head once again and rolling him onto his back. Sits on top of him.
Thor groans is disapproval.
"What do you want," Loki asks as if he's in Thor's head.
"To—mngff—put you in your place," Thor replies, the half thought coming out guttural and intense.
"Oh?" Loki breathes expectantly, "And where is that? By your side?" He rotates his hips, stroking Thor's cock against one leather-clad ass cheek, leaving a smear, "Or underneath you?"
Thor clutches at Loki's lithe thighs and Loki squeezes his knees on either side of his hips and then they're rolling back and forth, over and under each other. There's a growl, and Thor does not know if it is he or Loki or both but they end up in a heap on the floor.
And just as suddenly reappear upon the bed, completely divested by the magic that swirls away, Loki smirking up at Thor through a heavy glazed look. Then the smugness comes to a halt when his eyes land on Thor's intimate parts. Thor can feel his blush return with a vengeance at Loki's shameless stare, but Loki looks like that day, when he was pinned under Thor's hammer, mouth fallen open, saliva lapping at his bottom lip. Loki flicks his eyes up to look at Thor, his face transforming into a hooded gaze.
Slowly spreads his legs.
Thor's cock jumps at the sight. He's paralysed with the desire that surges through his body, the core of him burning up quick, like a candle wick.
"This where you want me?" Loki asks hoarsely.
Thor catches Loki by the jaw, holds him by his hollow cheeks tight. Loki inhales sharply, craning forward as Thor pushes him into the pillows by the throat.
"K—" Loki's voice catches, a flutter underneath Thor's hand, "Keep me here."
Loki reaches up to grab the tube from before, upends a generous amount of gel onto his fingers. His mouth turns into a wicked curl as he slithers his hand between their bodies, Thor's chin nearly touching his own collarbone as he watches raptly. Loki slaps the slick liquid against Thor's cock, shuddering in bliss as he coats it with firm strokes and then reaches lower. Sinks two long fingers inside himself.
"Loki," Thor rasps and Loki hooks an arm around his neck, pulling him down into a deep kiss. His knees slide up the bedding and Thor drops into the V of his legs, shivering, cock thick and heavy again as Loki pumps into himself, knuckles rolling against Thor's pelvis like nervous tingles, "You look so good."
Loki throws his head back and laughs, eyes dancing, "I know."
And just as quickly, his face goes soft and pleading, a deep compassion in his eyes laced with a thread of pain. "You're good too. So good."
Thor is shaking as he uses his free hand to yank Loki into a kiss by his hair. Thor gnaws hungrily at his mouth, sucking on Loki's clever tongue, rubbing his chin into Loki's cheeks. The shsk-shsk-shsk of Loki's fingers is loud and rousing as he catches Loki's bottom lip between his teeth and pulls. Loki makes a wonderfully frustrated sound, jolting in his embrace. Thor presses down hard like it's a fight he needs to win. Maybe if they get close enough they'll make something close to perfect.
"Please," Loki pants, mouth plump and insistent as they break for air. He swallows hard and painfully under Thor's grazing thumb and clutches at Thor's face, hands damp, the scar on his palm wet and sliding through beard scruff. Loki swings both legs up and around his middle.
"Thor— Thor, just fucking take me."
Thor buries his face in the corner of Loki's neck and with his help, sinks inside. The urgency is explosive. Loki pulls at Thor's hair, claws at his back. Thor yells at the streaks of pain and pleasure, leaves bites along Loki's shoulder to staunch the flow of his voice. A steady stream of yes-yes-yes from Loki curls around him, like a roots taking hold.
They can't stop moving against each other. It's always been that way. They've been pushed up against each other to the point of hatred, have tried to turn away and see something else. It never worked. They'd looked at each other like looking into a mirror— looking yourself right in the eyes. Why even turn away when you also love what you see?
"Harder," Loki snarls, low. His jaw rotates, a muscle jumping in his cheek, "Take what's yours."
Thor grips Loki by the arms and pins him flat against the bed.
"Be careful what you say, Brother," Thor says on a thrust that has Loki gasping, begins to pound into him with merciless force.
"Mmmmngg," Loki seems determined to groan and sigh in appreciation of it all, clenching his muscles and pulling deep shuddering groans from Thor as retribution.
The bed creaks on its metal frame and Thor's ready to scream at how good it is— How they both draw it out, soft and gentle, and then come back at each other with adrenaline, hard and ruthless. It's sweaty and hot, and like nothing he's ever known before, but wants to keep discovering. And then Loki's moans hitch higher, a sweet desperate sound that has his forehead wrinkling and brows turning up.
Thor kneels back on his haunches, slides his hands down Loki's sides. His thumbs slip into the sharp indents of his hips, drawing lines through the sweat. Loki is a pale figure in the darkness, struggling for breath. His skin is stamped red wherever Thor has kissed or hit, dotted with saliva and also small patches of blue. Bruises, most likely, Thor's got some too. Loki clamps his legs around Thor's hips, tight, and Thor takes his cock in hand, pumps him hard and fast.
Loki cries out, arching off the bed as he comes. Thor is positively fucked by the sight, rocking into him anew as he collapses back down. Loki hugs Thor around his shoulders, and then whispers in his ear. Thor comes with a slow pleased shock, covering Loki's body with his own until they are a panting messy heap upon the bed.
A soft kiss is placed on the crown of Thor's head as they lay together, tangled up.
"We could rule this world, if we really wanted," Loki whispers like it's dirty talk, perhaps because it's so close to the truth. He smoothes back Thor's hair, "We could create a new place, one where we can be who we want and do anything we wish."
"We could save it," Thor says instead.
"Hmmmm," Loki hums, pushing his forehead against Thor's. Thor takes a deep dragging breath committing this to memory. They're kissing again, slow, so slow, skin damp and sticking together, limbs entwined. Loki smiles against his lips, "Or we could fight each other for all eternity. That'd be a bit of fun."
A chuckle escapes the sated depths of Thor's chest, "Stop."
"Never," Loki peppers kisses all over Thor's face, a reflection of what came before. Thor writhes under the attention, heart so full of love and happiness he could burst before Loki lets out a breathless laugh, eyes dancing in the way Thor remembers, like back in Asgard. Back when Loki used to whisper to maidens in the corners of the court. Thor had always wondered jealously, what he said to them, what Loki saw that made him shine so bright.
"You should see your face," Loki says smugly.
And Thor replies quietly, almost so quietly he does not say it at all, "Tell me what you see."
Loki looks at him then, blank-faced, pausing to cast his gaze down the entire length of Thor and back up. But it's a show more than anything else, just a little drama, because it's obvious he doesn't even spare it a thought. Loki shifts and his arms band around Thor's middle in a firmer embrace.
"My Brother."
He's such a liar.
Thor can't help but smile. Maybe it was always going to mean something different, something good. He doesn't mind. He'd never even considered that falling meant there might be something better on the other side.
More often than not, the one you love and the one who loves you are never the same person.
But there's no one like them.
Epilogue
Knock! Knock!
Thor groggily wraps the bed covers over his head.
The sounds of the base's activity begin to filter in, threatening to whisk Thor away from his sleep. It's all familiar now; the bouncing faraway din of conversations, the tinny rhythmic pulse of footsteps. Something you get used to after living for months on a flying ship filled with assassins, spies and superheroes.
The whine of the engines has died down though, and there's a too-warm spot on his back through the sheets that feels like the golden light of morning flowing in from the small porthole window. They've finally landed then.
The peaceful atmosphere shatters with Steve Roger's voice.
"Thor! Wake up!"
Thor grumbles and pushes his face into a pillow, one that shifts underneath his nose, "Nngh?"
"Move over," Loki pushes at Thor's face blearily, twisting up in the sheets and kicking Thor in the shin. "Or better yet, get out."
"This is my room." Thor grumbles, squinting and peaking out a crack in the sheets to confirm it. "Besides, you said you would leave before touchdown—" Thor jolts, flapping around under the sheets to grab Loki's ankle, "Your feet are like ice!"
"Let go," Loki bickers back, ignoring the fact that he's stayed the night at risk of getting caught, "Or I'll cut off your hand."
Knock! Knock!
"Come ON, Thor!"
Thor jumps at the shout, clutching the sheets close to his chest. And then he yanks the sheets over Loki too. But Loki begins to laugh, draping himself over Thor's lap with careless grace.
"Don't make me come in there!" Tony Stark adds helpfully. Is everyone outside his door?
"Been there, done that," Loki snickers madly, and without shame he smacks Thor on the ass.
Thor gasps and then scowls deeply, attempting to hide his blush. But judging by the look on Loki's face he's unsuccessful. Thor grunts and valiantly drags himself out of bed, made difficult with Loki yawning and rolling all over him instead of disappearing back to his own place.
"Away with thee," Thor struggles for an excuse, "I am... I am indecent!"
"Nothing we haven't seen before," Clint Barton says ironically from behind the door.
Loki lets out a pitiful fake moan of distress, "You have too many boyfriends, Thor. See, this is why I do bad things. I'm jealous."
Thor covers his mouth as a snort of laughter escapes, "You. Stop."
"No," Loki taunts grinning and hanging upside down off the foot of the bed as Thor scrambles to collect his clothes.
"Yes," Thor says, pulls his pants on backwards only to have them disappear with a whorl of gold magic.
"No," Loki smirks, curling his outstretched finger in and beckoning Thor back to bed. There's a series of knocks on the door again that has Thor storming around looking for new pants with haste.
"Thor, it's Loki!" Bruce Banner's voice follows, "He was seen cavorting around London!"
"A copy? Really?" Thor whispers under his breath in dismay, head stuck in a tunic's neckhole. His brother's a sort of career villain, spreading mischief wherever Thor goes. It's just the way he is.
Thor struggles with the garment and nearly falls over Mjölnir lying haphazard on the floor.
Loki sticks out his tongue and rolls again, watching with an amused smile. Thor stares back. The sunlight catches somewhere just behind Loki, making his pale skin glow. Tiny specks of dust twirl in the air, dancing around in the rays as Loki rests his cheek against folded arms and raises one eyebrow.
Knockknockknockknock—
"Why are you all standing around? Never mind—" Someone who sounds terribly like Natasha Romanov yells, "CLEAR!"
The door blows open.
"Things were getting boring," Loki says as a thick column of smoke plows into the room. He sounds far too amused for his own good, like he's lying through his teeth and happy about it. "Figured it was time your friends finally knew."
Thor eyes his brother in shock but it's too late, he's cut off from any reply by loud theatrical groans.
"Holy shit," Tony blinks, flabbergasted, "No way."
There is a long pause, and Thor can feel his face burning as Steve's mouth falls open and Clint's sunglasses slide down his nose. The prickling nervousness is only punctuated and drawn out by the heavy crackle of an open radio link.
"Call's off, Coulson." Steve says, numbly, "Target found."
Tony twitches and the mic flicks off.
It's not like they don't know about Thor's preferences. He's been determined to be himself from now on, start fresh— though there is something to be said about being found in bed with your evil little brother.
Thor twists the tunic behind his back, body thrumming with a restless destructive energy he knows well. Oh, Loki's definitely going to get it. But one glance at him shows he doesn't seem to mind.
It's Bruce who finally, asks slowly, gobsmacked, "Uh... so you two are...?"
"Brothers," Thor says just as Loki replies: "Lovers."
Thor frowns, searching for something in the middle.
"Friends?" He tries but Loki says: "Foes."
Natasha crosses her arms and very nearly sighs. Nearly.
"You all know what this means, right?"
"Welcome to the Avengers Initiative."
Director Nick Fury says this resolute and straight-laced.
"Thank you," Loki charmingly replies. The calm sea breeze combs through his hair like gentle fingers, the salty water smell clinging to the air.
"The paperwork's going to be a nightmare," Phil tells Thor as he walks past, but his face is kind, words encouraging as he says, "Good luck."
"He's your problem now," The Avengers laugh and roll their eyes. Shrugging and elbowing Thor, they infuse him with their friendships with each simple touch. One by one they leave the briefing atop the helicarrier, vanishing into the depths of the base. The Man of Iron rockets away into the air. The thing is though, Loki's always been Thor's problem. But some problems are really wonderful to have.
"I have never been prouder," Thor says finally, twirling Mjölnir, a sheepish nervous gesture, looking up at Loki as if seeing him for the first time, finally standing on the same page. "Now please do me a favour and not play any jokes on your new teammates."
"Need I constantly remind you?" Loki smirks widely, as though that's exactly what he was considering. "I'm not good, Thor."
Then Loki shifts. Looks to have the beginnings of an itch, of a need to get away. Sometimes the truth does that, and Thor knows what it's like. He knows his brother better than anyone, loves his brother better than everyone, and only has one thing to say before Loki goes chasing after a little bit of fun. Gives Thor a reason to run after him.
Joining the Avengers just might be a good adventure to drag him along on. Besides, Thor thinks with an unwavering fondness, with love.
It's only when they're loving each other no one else gets hurt.
Thor steps forward, presses his lips together. He's in between making a joke and being genuine as he places a hand against the soft spot between Loki's neck and shoulder. He says with all the truth of the world in his words, "You are a good Brother."
Loki meets his eyes for just a moment, one moment where Thor can see it all— The love, the denial, the fact that Loki doesn't care about being contrary. But he doesn't reply. He lets Thor have this sentiment before shooting a mischievous grin Director Fury who stands just to the side, watching with that one eye. He's a lot like father, in a way.
Thor nods and squeezes Loki's shoulder harder, only has eyes for his brother who stands like a silhouette in the glare of the sun on the deck. Deep oranges and reds and golds waver and wash over the water, a light so bright it burns Midgard whole, in a beautiful starry flame.
Then Loki steps back and turns on his heel. Grins over his shoulder. He looks like the Loki he's always been; that smiling, thinking Loki, blowing him a kiss.
Thor even feels its faint press as Loki disappears.
He can't stop the smile crawling up his mouth. It's a practiced reaction, one he's powerless against. He'll always smile when Loki looks at him that way, so endlessly in love with his multifaceted nature, even now.
They were together in breaking free.
"Don't make me regret this decision." Fury turns pointedly to Thor, staring evenly, like he's carved out of stone.
"I won't," Thor nods, the English sun pushing his eyelids low, the warmth nice and strong. "How long will we stay here?"
"Until the new mission's done. We can use Loki's skills against Doom." Fury says, crossing his arms behind his back and stepping next to Thor to watch the horizon. "In the meantime, I hear there are some fairly important physicists in town."
Thor's eyelashes flicker, his heartbeat fast.
"And don't listen to those idiots' griping. SHIELD is completely inclusive."
Thor blinks and turns to the one-eyed man, gold in the light. "To what do you refer?"
Fury clears his throat, bounces on his heels once, and then asks very, very seriously, "Well, you're gay. Aren't you?"
Thor is struck by the question.
There's a loose easy feeling in his chest as he thinks upon this, as if there used to be something whirled up tight inside that has now gone. Of all that has happened in his life, Thor knows he has grown like the tall twisted branches of Yggdrasil, wrapped around the good and the bad, tangled up in a knot he only knew as himself. A vain, angry little boy, curled up in a ball.
And he remembers the pain. The sadness and the anger. He remembers the guilt, the shame, and being so, so alone. But in this moment the feelings are so distant it's like he's become impervious. Strong. Everything that came before is obscured, like history carved into pillars, holding him up as he looks towards the sky.
There are storm clouds rolling in.
Thor has come so far, to finally know what he wants. He has waited so long— to be just the way he is. It feels like he's never known such breathtaking happiness before, but that cannot be. He lets out a soft burst of laughter, closing his eyes against the sun as the first few raindrops patter against his face. Happiness has always been there, within reach, and now he recognizes its shine as sure as home.
"Yes," Thor finally says.
"I am."
THE END