XXVII

Something must've been weighing heavily on Sherlock's mind. While the two did regularly go on "dates," Loki could not recall a time when his mortal had actually treated him to a formal dinner. Their dates usually involved either lounging about 221B or following Sherlock on his cases. Sherlock didn't even propose at any "traditionally" romantic venue. The mortal had merely pulled him into their bedroom. So as beautiful as the restaurant was, the Trickster couldn't help but wonder what was wrong.

Sherlock hadn't said much since the pair had arrived. The detective had mostly hidden behind his menu. Loki chose to ignore his, hoping the pointed stare would penetrate the flimsy plastic and make his fiancé look at him. "Sherlock." Sherlock merely turned a nonexistent page of his menu. "Sherlock…" Loki grabbed his hand, pulling it and Sherlock's attention from the menu. "Spill it, Holmes."

"Spill what?" Sherlock put the menu aside, finally looking at him.

"Whatever you're not wanting to tell me." The detective still looked confused. "Again I state, you are a terrible liar. And we never go out like this."

"I can't wise to treat my fiancé to a nice dinner? Isn't that what normal couples do?"

"When have we ever been a normal couple?" That got a chuckle out of Sherlock. "You only act normal when something's wrong."

"It couldn't simply be Mrs. Hudson nagging that I have not been properly courting you, your highness?" the detective asked, taking a sip of his wine. Loki chuckled, recalling such conversations between his fiancé and their impish landlady. "How she can possibly know anything about courting royalty is still a mystery to me."

"I'm sure Mrs. Hudson has had far more adventures than we know of, Sherlock," Loki assured. "She's always been quite the surprising young lady." As intended, Sherlock nearly choked on his drink. "I do believe you're not supposed to inhale wine, Sherlock."

"Then dammit stop trying to make me feel so infantile compared to you."

"You're not infantile. If we compare ages you're closer to an infant but you certainly don't act like one. Usually. Stop changing the subject," the god admonished. "Now. What has you and Lestrade so worried?"

"Lestrade?"

"Do you think I'm blind, Sherlove? I've noticed how much more the two of you communicate. Another lover would worry you were being unfaithful, beloved." Sherlock began to squirm in his seat, fingering the stem of his wine glass. Loki found that hand again and laced his fingers through the detective's trembling fingers. "You're trembling."

"It happens, even to me," Sherlock assured. "Nothing to worry about."

"You are such a terrible liar, Sherlove," Loki observed. "I'm no detective but whatever is troubling you and Scotland Yard I may be able to assist you with. I still have my ways." Sherlock shifted in his seat again, thumb reaching to twist the ring on his finger. The Trickster could not resist a grin at the sight of his engagement ring glinting next to Sherlock's in the candlelight. "What has you so terrified, my love?"

"Not so much terrified…" Sherlock finally admitted, watching the light on their rings as he spoke. "More… nervous. I suppose." Loki did not answer that, merely nodding his head to Sherlock to continue. He sighed. "I presume you've been reading John's blog at least?"

"And yours, of course."

"Good trickster. Then, of course, you read about… Moriarty." Loki merely nodded, struggling to keep his panic down. Sherlock nodded, not meeting his lover's gaze. "Well… We have reason to believe he has somehow returned." Sherlock admitted that so fast Loki was surprised he caught it.

"And you truly believe him to be a threat?" Sherlock chuckled at his fiancé's question. He knew Loki was going to say that. What harm could a human criminal mastermind do to an immortal intergalactic conqueror?

"Perhaps not to you, my love. But to others, definitely. I may be his intended target but Moriarty certainly has no qualms about casualties," Sherlock explained. "Not to mention now I have two more people I need to protect…" Loki grinned, and Sherlock wondered how many of the women around them just swooned.

"I cannot speak for young Miss Stark but I can assure you. I am quite capable of protecting myself."

"Believe me, Loki, I know you can. I have no doubt of that." Sherlock bean to twist his glass between his fingertips, trying to pretend he wasn't about to pour his heart out in such a public place. "Even so…" Carefully, he pulled out the wooden box he had kept hidden underneath the table. "I think I'd rest easier if you were carrying this."

Sherlock smirked at the confusion that crossed his immortal beloved's face. Loki's initial handling of the box was cautious fingering before his curiosity got the better of him. The detective smirked widened as Loki's eyes went from mere curiosity to lighting up with shocked excitement. There were certainly perks to his new double life as a SHIELD agent, such as finding the dagger of his beloved's mother, confiscated when he was first dropped on Sherlock's doorstep. The Trickster gingerly pulled the dagger from its case, still stunned by its presence. "… How did you find this…? It was taken…"

"Confiscated. And Mycroft pulled some strings. We were able to find it in an abandoned SHIELD base," Sherlock explained. It wasn't a complete lie. Director Coulson did find the dagger in an otherwise abandoned SHIELD base. "I know you could conjure all the daggers you need but…" Sherlock shrugged. "Humor a mortal."

"Always, Sherlove…" Loki tucked the dagger into a hilt hidden on his belt. "This Moriarty must have you truly… nervous? You don't seem the type to feel fear."

"Not true," Sherlock quickly countered. Loki's eyebrows knit together at that. Sherlock swallowed the considerable lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. "Fear is a natural side effect of being human, Loki. And while it has not been the case often… I am no stranger to the emotion."

"I thought you abhorred emotion, love."

"I also think love is a chemical defect found on the losing side."

"Yes, I've accepted-"

"So I suppose I've lost then." A pin drop could have been heard between the engaged men had they not been in a full restaurant. While he did often allow those certain three little words to escape his lips to Loki's ears, this was perhaps the first time Sherlock actually verbalized just how much his god meant to him. "I suppose there are worse ways to lose…" He whispered, rubbing his thumb along Loki's hand.

"Sherlock…" A smirk crept onto Loki's face – because Mischief God – but his emerald eyes betrayed just how moved he was. "How long have you been sitting on that one?"

"Since I thought I would never see you again." The detective knew Loki's question had been rhetorical but the admission was well worth melting the smug smirk off his face. "One year, three months, four weeks… Well, I'm sure you're well aware how long you were gone…" Sherlock rested his chin on steepled fingers.

"You know this isn't necessary…"

"It is. For me at least." He didn't have to open his eyes to know the god's gaze never left his face. "I still see love as a defect in the losing side. That hasn't changed. But clearly I have changed sides and… I don't regret one minute of it."

"Sherlock…"

"Please let me finish." Sherlock met Loki's gaze, hoping to ensure his lover did not mistake his admission for flattery. "I… I knew love for you had somehow wormed its way into my heart. Please don't make a joke. But… I don't think I could have ever imagined – hell I don't think even John could have imagined – just how deep you've managed to entrench yourself within me. Not until I thought I had lost you." The "no joke" request was more out of reflex than necessity. For once, the Silvertongue was stunned silent.

"Your disappearance made two things abundantly clear. One: the possibility of having a life after you is virtually zero. And two… you have made me intimately aware of just how… human, I really am."

"You…" Loki had to clear his throat before continuing, "You have the means to change that, Sherlove." Sherlock sighed, pulling the small potion vial from his shirt pocket. The detective had made a habit of keeping it on his person at all times despite being unable to reach a decision on taking it.

"Immortality… If I've understood your explanations correctly, that is the only thing it grants me. Which is certainly very tempting. But… it still leaves my ability to protect you limited." He tucked the vial back into his pocket.

"Our relationship is public knowledge now so there is no doubt Moriarty knows about you. Or if he doesn't yet, he soon will. And I'm certain if anyone is stubborn enough to try and kill a god, Moriarty would be. My resources to keep you safe are far too limited for my comfort compared to yours. You may be an immortal warrior god and this… whole matter may be moot… but if you were to be hurt again or killed by my enemy then I'm not sure I could ever forgive myself…"

A tense silence fell between the two men as Loki processed Sherlock's admission. The detective was very tempted to break the silence after a bit but, for whatever reason, felt that Loki should be the first one to speak after such a heavy admission. He wasn't quite sure what he would say anyway. "This… Moriarty must be quite the threat if you feel the need to make such a speech," Loki finally said softly. Sherlock shrugged.

"To a certain extent… yes. But as I said… I've been sitting on this for some time," Sherlock answered. He began to chuckle. "Perhaps this is that big speech I meant to give when I propo-" The detective was interrupted by the sudden presence of a mischief god glued to his lips.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you Sherlock Holmes?" Loki asked softly when he gave Sherlock a chance to breathe.

"I would say… enough to not care about being indecent in a public restaurant… but you've never cared about that…" Sherlock breathed with a chuckle. The god smiled at him for that. "But you know there are people who would call me foolish for thinking you are not using your Silvertongue on me."

"Most people already think you're foolish, love. In fact, I'm thinking you are right now."

"Oh really. How so?"

"You are far too overdressed in this chair rather than nude in my bed." As per intended, Sherlock's face turned bright red at that.

"Loki, I don't think you're supposed to say things like that in public…"

"I do what I want. And currently you're what I want to do." Sherlock's jaw dropped. "Let's go, handsome."

"W-we haven't had dinner."

"You're wearing mine."

"Loki!"

"Really, Sherlove. You would not have so much problems with drawing attention if you were not so damn loud. Just pay them for our drinks and let's go."

"I put too much effort into this date, Loki Holmes," Sherlock chided, trying to distract the god from the pink in his cheeks by addressing Loki with his last name. "I am more than certain you can wait a bit still." The god pouted but sat down. "I promise. I will make it up to you." Loki began to smirk evilly.

"Oh I know you will, love." If Sherlock had known that Loki's comment combined with the evil smirk would get them kicked out of the restaurant for public indecency, he would have just left with his fiancé when it was first suggested.