II

"You are absolutely terrible at this game, Loki."

"Shut up, Sherly."

"Don't call me Sherly."

"Don't mock my skills, Mortal."

"You mean your lack thereof?"

"I have many far more valuable and necessary skills. This is pointless."

"Are you surrendering, Mischief God?"

"You know I never surrender, Mortal."

"You did last night though."

"Shut up! I can't focus." BZZT! "DAMMIT!"

"Now, now, Loki. You have to be gentle with the patient." Loki shot Sherlock a venomous glare from across the Operation board. He then proceeded to throw the funny bone which had caused the buzz at Sherlock like a dagger. "That was mature."

"You made me lose."

"I did not! You just have no talent for medical operations."

"We have no need for such procedures in Asgard. Healing magic is far more efficient."

"Is your little freak homesick already, Sherlock?" If Loki's glare could get any icier or more furious, Mycroft's taunting voice certainly did the trick. The elder Holmes brother sauntered into the room, seemingly ignoring the god's ire. "He should have thought about that before he tried to destroy a planet."

"I tried to take over rule of this pathetic planet. Not destroy it," Loki hissed. "It's good to see you as well, Ass."

"My name is Mycroft, freak. It's not that hard to remember."

"Neither is Loki, Mycroft, which is his name," Sherlock interjected before the god could murder his brother. It was times like this when he was glad Thor had confiscated all of Loki's daggers. "Now did you have something of importance for invading my home other than antagonizing my boyfriend?"

"I merely wanted to be sure you were still alive, Little Brother. Is that not allowed?"

"I'm a big boy, Mycroft. I can take care of myself." The detective snuck his hand behind the game board to grasp Loki's trembling fist. "Since when are you so caring about my safety anyway?"

"I always care in my own special way."

"I have a few scars that say otherwise."

"I couldn't blow my cover. And you weren't wooing a criminal."

"Mycroft, enough."

"I have not, nor do I ever intend to harm Sherlock," Loki rebutted, eyes turning a scalding emerald. Mycroft just gave the seething god a condescending smirk, leaning on his signature umbrella.

"Of course you don't… God of Lies. But then you never do, do you? Or so you say. It's simply in your nature to destroy everything you touch." At that, the mischief god knocked his chair over standing up, an emerald flaming fist aimed at Mycroft's face.

"Loki, DON'T!" The fist stopped just short of Mycroft's cheek, close enough for the enchanted flames to lick dangerously at his skin. "He's not worth it." It was a tense moment as they waited for Loki's decision. Slowly, the flames fizzled away and the fist lowered despite still trembling with censored rage. "Loki…" The god stormed out of the room, intentionally slamming into Mycroft's shoulder as he passed.

"Touchy fellow, isn't he?" The elder Holmes asked as he rubbed his smarting shoulder.

"You should expect such a reaction when you insult someone, Mycroft."

"I merely reminded him of the facts, Sherlock. Facts you yourself should keep in mind. He's dangerous."

"No more than you or I. As I recall you did intend to allow the terrorist bombing of a jet."

"We had plans in place to avoid any serious losses."

"Ah of course you did. Now in all seriousness, did you have an actual meaningful purpose for coming? Because if you don't, I have a much more serious and far more handsome matter to attend to."

"If you mean Loki, I still say you should throw him out. You're only going to get hurt and I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D. can find another hole to bury him in."

"Is that fraternal concern I hear? I had no idea you cared." Mycroft glared at his little brother as he leaned farther on his umbrella.

"I would hate to lose an important asset. He does not love you, Sherlock. Men like him cannot love."

"If you are truly concerned about losing an 'important asset,' then you will stop. Bullying. Loki." Sherlock spoke in a soft voice but the last phrase dripped with venomous warning. The detective could easily allow Mycroft's harsh words to bounce off his mind. He had been doing that since they were children. But he absolutely could not stand by and let his brother abuse Loki to his emotional breaking point. Not with how fragile the god's emotions and mind actually was. "Loki is an important part of my life now. You can either accept it and move on or get out."

The tension between the brothers was so thick the knife would be broken in its attempt to cut it. There was silence between them as Mycroft considered the options presented. "Be careful, Sherlock. As I've said before, your loss would break my heart." Sherlock just glared as Mycroft made his way down the stairs. The consulting detective saw no need to inform his brother that he now sported black-tipped grey donkey ears and a swishing tail. He'd find out soon enough.

Besides he had more pressing matters in 221B in the form of a distressed trickster god. Wherever he was hiding, Loki was being far too quiet for Sherlock's peace of mind. That almost always meant trouble. "Loki?" No answer. Sherlock made his way towards his own bedroom, experience telling him Loki would be there. Since the two had made their relationship official, Loki and his belongings had been making a slow migration to Sherlock's bedroom. Not that Sherlock minded too much, he rather enjoyed have the powerful god snuggling into his side at night.

However, the current sight of his trickster lying face first on the bed, stock still and face buried among the pillows was not a sight he enjoyed. Closer inspection revealed a slight tremble to his god's shoulder, barely discernible to the human eye. Mycroft's words had clearly stung deep in Loki's heart and mind. "Loki love?"

"Go away."

"My bedroom," Sherlock pointed out as he sat beside Loki. "I can come and go as I wish." Loki shot a sharp rebuttal at him, but it was lost in the muffling pillows. Sherlock stretched himself out beside the god, snaking one hand up Loki's shirt to rub his tense back. The tension did ease a little beneath his tender touch.

"He's right about me, Sherlock."

"No, he's not." He tugged his god to him, only effectively turning Loki onto his side with his back to his mortal lover. "Mycroft is an idiot."

"Perhaps. But he is right… You're not safe with me… Or from me…"

"No one's safe from anything."

"I've killed."

"So have I."

"You killed someone who threatened your friends and family. I simply committed murder…"

"No one's perfect, Loki. If that really mattered to me, do you really think you would still be living at Baker Street?" The god grew silent as the detective's words weighed heavy on his mind. Sherlock kept rubbing Loki's back as he continued, "Loki, you are none of the things Mycroft accused you of being. You just made some very legally questionable choices sometimes." The Trickster scoffed.

"All the time you mean." A somber silence fell between them as Sherlock tried to plot how to ease his lover's mind. Loki had not fallen into this state of depression many times since arriving at Baker Street, so he had not discovered how to cheer him up completely. Rubbing the god's back did seem to help ease any tension in him but it wasn't always enough to clear the pain. And after the Horse Myth Fiasco, it was clear the Vikings were of no help to him.

"Loki… was I a questionable choice?" Sherlock knew the god would react in one of two ways (possibly both). He would either smack the man for making such a ridiculous inquiry (and possibly comment on him being an "insolent mortal"). Or he would be genuinely hurt again. As Loki finally turned to face him, Sherlock remembered he was an unpredictable god of chaos. He got his kicks from confusing the hell out of "his little mortal."

"Well…" Loki began, using what appeared to be one of Sherlock's shirts to wipe his eyes. "You are a pathetic mortal. Clearly it was a lack of proper judgment if you have to ask me that. And you're supposed to be a genius. Tch." And the arrogant god returns. Loki turned away from him again, muttering, "Only thing you are good for is warming my bed."

"First of all, it's my bed; you just steal it along with my shirts."

"My mortal, my bed."

"And If that's really all I'm good for…" He chose to ignore Loki's possessive quip. "Then I suppose you would not be interested in the tickets to that… dragon movie double feature you wanted to see that are in my pocket…"

"The Hobbit?" Loki turned to face Sherlock again, eyes wide with curious hope. "You said you saw no point in seeing those movies. That it was a waste of time."

"I know but you want to see them so I want to see them." The mischief god gave him a look that made it clear he didn't believe Sherlock's reasoning. Sherlock sighed. "And… John said if I really loved you… I would endure these stupid fantasy films with you…"

"Why, Sherlock. Your sweet honesty disarms me."

"Do you want to go or not? If you do then you'll have to return my shirt to me."

"Oh of course we are going and no, you are not getting your shirt back." Loki pressed a quick peck to Sherlock's lips before bouncing out of the room with a laugh, leaving the detective shaking his head at his mischievous lover.