(I'm sorry these are so late you guys thanks for being patient)

Merry Christmas everyone!

This Christmas I give you...TWO CHAPTERS! I hope you like it because there are no returns allowed.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee Steve you're such a dork. And I really like making him a dork in this story because while he's also this strong golden-hearted hero he's also a major dork when it comes to dating, especially as a teenager, let's be honest. I mean no disrespect to his character (LIVI lol) because I fucking love Steve but he is a MAJOR dork. But Loki's okay with this.

And I like him that way. ;)

Disclaimer: Does not own Marvel Universe

Warning: Language

Comments/critiques are welcomed!

Steve pulls up in front of one of the neighboring homes like Loki had told him to do, waving shyly at the man shoveling snow in the driveway. He understood why Loki wanted to meet so far away from his house but Steve still felt guilty that he couldn't pick him up at his house. Of course Thor was probably home and Frigga was probably there and Steve agreed with Loki about keeping what they had a secret…at least for now.

At least the snow was pretty. Calming, really…since his stomach felt like it had been wound tight and stuffed into his throat. Steve wasn't exactly good with dating…at least he didn't think so. He always tried a lot harder than he needed to and ended up making a fool of himself.

It didn't help that this was his only chance to prove to Loki that he was worth having a relationship with. He'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't nervous.

Things could go well though. They could have a really good first date and Loki would see how much Steve really liked him. Although Steve's track record so far seemed to prove that once good things started happening Loki ended up hitting him and they'd go a while without talking. He wasn't so sure he could go without talking to Loki anymore. Now that he had him Steve's infatuation had only grown stronger…he had to trust that was all it was, it was a little too soon for anything else. But Loki was attractive. Confidence was sexy and Loki—unfortunately for Steve—had a lot of it. Steve sort of lacked in that area. His self-doubt was what usually made his dates a disaster but picking Loki up where he wanted to be picked up seemed like a good start. Loki couldn't get mad at him for that right?

Steve turns the heater back on when he spots Loki trekking down the street in the slush and snow, Steve sliding across the seat to open the door for him. He was wearing a trench coat with a scarf wrapped around his neck and up to his nose. He was even wearing a hat. Loki climbs into the truck, rubbing his arms and unwrapping his scarf. He gives Steve a small smile. "I appreciate you not pulling up near the house," Loki sighs, setting his hat and scarf aside. "Thor's been outside helping Frigga decorate for Christmas." He runs his hands through his hair to flatten it down the way he likes it. Steve quickly looks away. He hadn't realized he was staring until Loki gave him one of his crooked smirks. "So…I suppose you have a plan for today?"

"W-well, I…I guess we could—we could—yes, I-I have a plan," Steve turns red. Loki gives him a nod though and returns to straightening his hair. Steve swallows the lump in his throat. He did have a plan but the moment Loki actually showed up it flew out of his head like a saucer and he wasn't quite sure where he was or what he was doing.

What if things didn't go well? What if they went the opposite of well? What if they went bad? Steve didn't want his only chance with Loki to be his only chance. First dates generally either went really well in a clumsy sort of fashion or they sucked. He wasn't exactly off to a good start. Steve couldn't get two words out without stuttering all over them. But if things didn't go well—if Loki wasn't impressed—would he keep to his word and cut Steve off or would he give him another chance? Part of Loki had to like him otherwise he wouldn't be wanting to lock lips as often as they had been this past week and wouldn't be giving Steve any kind of chance to get to know him at all.

He shifts the truck into gear and it lurches backwards, Steve stopping it short and trying to ignore the heated blush on his face. "Sorry," he mumbles and shifts into drive, pulling away from the curb. Loki gives him a small smile and turns to face towards the window. Steve twists his hands on the steering wheel, attempting to ignore the lurching anxiety in his stomach. He clears his throat. "So, umm—want some m-music on?" Steve turns on the radio and they both jump when it comes on blaring, Steve quickly shutting it off.

There's a small silence, Loki breaking it with a chuckle. "You…like AWOLNATION?"

"Yeah…" the corner of Steve's mouth twitches into a smile. "Wh-what about you? I mean you know who they are just by their music but I don't want to just assume…"

"Thor listens to them a lot," Loki draws his legs up onto the seat to cross them. "We have a tendency to both turn on music in our rooms when we don't want anyone else to hear what we're doing…they seem to be the fan favorite." He laughs lightly. Steve merges onto the interstate and Loki watches the other cars on the road. The silence wasn't quite suffocating Steve yet but it was still tense enough to make him more paranoid than he probably should be. Loki speaks up again. "So…am I allowed to ask where you're taking me?"

Steve chews his lip and turns of the exit he wants, glancing at Loki. "Umm…I uhh—was gonna take you to a movie. I hope that's okay…"

Loki shrugs, checking his nails. "That's fine I guess."

His stomach clenches itself as if Loki had sucker punched him in the gut. It probably meant nothing but…not meaning anything usually meant that Loki was indifferent. When Loki was indifferent it seemed to mean that he wasn't interested and the last thing Steve wanted for tonight was for Loki to be bored. If he was going to get Loki to consider actually dating him he needed Loki to be having fun. Granted it was a Tuesday night and it wasn't like there was a lot they could do on a Tuesday. At least nothing Steve could think of that they could do together without anyone seeing them.

They pull into the movie theater parking lot and Steve's pleased to see there aren't many people there and that he can pull right up in the first row of spaces. The snow looked great but it didn't make it any warmer outside. Loki gives him a small smile when Steve turns off the ignition, both of them subconsciously waiting for the other to make some sort of move.

"Thank you for picking me up," Loki turns to Steve and smiles. "I suppose I could have met you here though…I wouldn't have minded walking."

Steve stares at him. "You do know we had to take the interstate…right?"

"I've had to walk on the interstate before."

He shifts to get out of the truck, Steve opening his door in a panic. "No, no, I'll get your door—shit-" Steve catches himself as he slips on some ice. Loki bites his lip to swallow down a laugh and Steve walks around to his door to open it for him but Loki had already done so. He tries not to look disappointed. Being polite and courteous were all he knew how to do on a date…if he didn't have that he wasn't sure what to do. It wasn't like Loki was making this easy. Loki climbs out of the truck and Steve mentally kicks himself. He shoves his hands deep into his pockets and follows Loki up to the ticket stand, not realizing that Loki was staring at him expectantly until he clears his throat. Steve raises his brow.

"Did you…not have a movie in mind?" Loki cocks his head slightly. His hands were clasped together in front of him in an attempt to keep his fingers from turning blue but they were trembling ever so slightly. Steve furrows his brow. Was Loki…just as nervous as he was? "Steve."

"Hmm?" Steve blinks. "Oh! I uhh—I thought there would be something you'd—or something we could…you know...choose…"

Loki lets out a dry laugh. "I don't usually go to see movies. Darcy usually makes me sit through her horror films. Suppose it's not as bad as one of those romantic comedies."

Steve nods and sighs, walking up to the counter. He doesn't even bother to smile at the clerk. "Just give me two for the next showing of whatever horror flick you have playing." The kid behind the counter glances at Loki and then back at Steve, giving him a small smile. Steve wasn't a fan of the new age horror. He wasn't exactly enthusiastic like most people seemed to be about spewing body parts and buckets of blood and guts spilled out onto the floor. The clerk hands him their tickets. "Thanks," Steve mumbles, handing Loki his ticket and at least getting the door for him.

"Enjoy the movie!" the clerk calls nervously behind them.

Moping about this wasn't helping anything and Steve knew that but things weren't exactly going very well. Loki looked as though he was just going through the motions. He had no real interest in this or in Steve and he was making that very apparent. Steve wasn't sure why he was even trying at this point. He thought he'd seen something there, thought there was something that kept Loki coming back to him, but all that bullshit about enjoying his company and giving him a chance was making his stomach rot. Right now none of it seemed true and Steve felt foolish for being sucked into one of Loki's lies. It was just like Natasha had said…Loki gets his read on people and then uses them until their worth runs out. Steve felt like he'd been sucked in and toyed with.

But he had to keep his optimism. What if people were wrong? What if Loki using them was simply how they felt after Loki put up all of his walls? Loki looked genuinely uninterested in everything that was going on around him but that's how he was at school. Steve could only connect that he didn't want anyone to know how nervous he really was. Blocking people out was what Loki was good at and while blocking Steve out wasn't helping his chances, pushing at Loki's walls weren't going to help Steve any either.

He takes a deep breath and motions towards the snack counter, putting on his best smile. "Do you like popcorn?" Loki does his little shrug and Steve takes that as a yes. He walks up to the counter, the gentlemen behind it forcing a smile. "We'll have one large popcorn—Loki? Would you like a soda?"

"Get whatever you'd like, Steve, I'm not very hungry."

Steve tries to keep his smile up. Being as pleasant as possible might win him some points. "A medium Coke and…a box of cookie dough bites."

Loki slips up silently next to him. "What are…cookie dough bites?"

The clerk sets a box of candy on the counter and Steve picks it up and shakes it. "It's chocolate." Loki's eyes spark up a bit. "You…like chocolate?" He nods. Steve hands him the box and digs through his pockets to find his wallet. Loki pulls out his and offers it to him, Steve shaking his head. "No, no, I've got it."

"Are you sure-?"

"Yes," Steve pays the man and gives Loki a smile, collecting the popcorn and soda. He motions for Loki to lead and follows him towards the theater.

It's a box like sort of theater, the ones where movies that aren't doing so well are played in. They aren't the only ones there though—three or four other people are in the theater but it doesn't falter Loki in the slightest. He slips into the back row and sits down, Steve doing the same. The previews had already started which meant Steve wouldn't have to try and attempt to make awkward conversation or fight the urge to ask how the date was going so far. So far things didn't seem to be going so well. Steve sets the soda between them and places the popcorn in his right arm so that Loki can pick at it if he would like to. Which he does. Loki takes two pieces at a time and eats them very slowly, pausing and spacing out whether or not he wanted more. He hands the box of candy back to Steve. What seemed to be half had already been eaten. Loki liked chocolate—Steve would have to remember that.

"So what movie is this?" Loki asks between pieces of popcorn.

Steve turns bright red. "I uhh—I didn't ask…"

Loki snorts. Steve couldn't tell if that was a good or a bad sign but it still made him nervous as all hell. Too many mistakes were being made and Loki was OCD that much Steve could truly tell. Things not going exactly the way they were meant to be was probably pissing him off and Steve could feel the coil in his stomach twisting itself tight again. Loki's fidgeting probably wasn't nerves at all—it was probably irritation. Irritated that he ever gave Steve a chance. Steve sinks down into his seat and picks at the popcorn. He wasn't hungry but it was making him feel better.

He wasn't even paying attention to the movie. It must not have been scary though because Loki was staring blankly at the screen as if it were lecturing him. Steve's stomach sinks lower. He should've just taken him out to eat. At least then the only thing that could go wrong was Loki not liking the kind of restaurant he chose. It wouldn't exactly matter since Loki barely ate anything regardless. Steve figured a movie would be the best choice though. There wasn't much talking involved, no one could see them together, and they could've chosen something they both liked. Of course Steve had forgotten that Loki wasn't much of a movie person. He felt so stupid. Maybe this was just what Loki's relationships were like though. Loki wasn't interested in any kind of "getting to know you" bullshit he just wanted to make out and pretend that was his way of opening up. Steve was more interested in the mind than the body—though it was nice—but still. Offering up his body for limited access was probably the only thing Steve was ever going to get from Loki. This whole date had been a pointless, disastrous mess. He never felt more defeated.

The popcorn was nearly gone and Steve was considering getting another one simply to give himself some air. All this tension he was building up was suffocating. Loki reaches for the soda to take a sip and sets it back down. He glances at Steve and sighs, giving him a little nudge. Steve looks up and forces a smile. Loki shakes his head. "Come on."

"What?" Steve furrows his brow.

"Come on, let's go," Loki stands, brushing off his coat and waiting for Steve to get up before following him out of the theater. Steve trashes his popcorn and soda and keeps up with Loki's pace, Loki now leading them out of the theater and back towards the truck. If things weren't bad enough Loki had decided he was done. Now Steve was really upset. He'd messed things up so badly that even Loki was sick of this date. Steve climbs into the truck and stares at the steering wheel, waiting for something to be said, anything, anything at all. Loki clears his throat. "Would you mind turning on the heat?"

Steve nods slowly and starts the truck. "It just—just needs a minute to warm up…" He felt like he was going to throw up. That would definitely make the perfect ending. "I'm sorry…" Steve fights back his voice from cracking. Loki blinks, turning to him. "I—I messed everything up and I know that—that this was my only chance but—I don't know how to prove to you how much I want this-"

"Why do you have to prove anything?" Loki furrows his brow. "I like the way we have things now."

"But I don't," Steve sighs. He wrings his hands on the steering wheel, not yet brave enough to face Loki. "You told me I had one chance and I've gone and fucked everything up. I knew you weren't fond of movies and like an idiot I brought you here anyways." His head hangs lower as he stares down at his lap, his hands slowly falling against his thighs. "Maybe…maybe I thought wrong about us…about you…"

"What do you mean?"

He looks up at Loki who was watching him rather intently, head cocked slightly to the side and brow frowning. "Because, Loki, I—I thought there was really a spark between us and I made myself believe that part of you actually liked me but…I guess I was wrong…"

Loki rolls his eyes. "God, Steve, this is why things didn't go the way you wanted—you focused too much on what I would want, what I would like. The whole point of dating is sharing a piece of yourself with the other, isn't it? You have no confidence, Steve, you worried yourself for nothing. When you're moping the whole time it's kind of hard to enjoy myself. I would've been happy with anything you would've planned."

"Don't you mean indifferent?" Steve mumbles. Loki scowls at him. "What? It's not like you've been exactly pleasant. I suggested the movies and all you did was shrug. I asked you what movie you wanted to see and you told me you don't go to the movies. Why do I have to have all the pressure to prove myself to you? I'd rather be miserable for not dating you than date you and have you be miserable. I'm sick of apologizing for having feelings for you, okay?"

"Oh, please, Rogers…I'm not asking you to apologize for having a fucking crush on me, I'm just saying that I can name a million things to do on a Tuesday night and you chose the one thing that even you didn't have an interest in. We weren't even halfway through the movie and you hadn't lifted your head once to watch it."

"I thought you'd be happy to be stuck in dark room where you didn't have to talk or look at me," he snaps. "That's what you want isn't it? To lock me up like one of your secrets—you know I get that you don't want people to know that we're dating but I don't understand why it has to be some sort of elaborate test."

"Because we're not dating"

"That's right, we're just fooling around." Loki stares at him. He doesn't say anything he just takes a clam breath and crosses his arms, looking out the window. "You know maybe…maybe it's best if we do it your way, Loki, if we just pretended like none of this ever happened. That's what you want, right? To just pretend like I never liked you and you never knew about it." Steve shifts the gears into drive. "I'll at least drive you home…" He starts to pull out of the lot when Loki calmly reaches down and pulls up on the emergency brake, the truck swerving slightly on the ice and Steve swearing under his breath. "Jesus, what are you-?"

"Why do you like me?" Steve looks up from taking off the brake and stares at him, Loki furrowing his brow.

He laughs dryly and shakes his head. "I don't want to play this game, Loki…"

"I'm serious…why do you like me? I suppose the only reason I'm keeping you at a safe distance is that I still don't understand what someone like you would see in someone like me."

"Well you certainly keep things interesting," he sighs, grumbling to himself as he pulls into another parking space. "But, you know, you…you don't exactly blend in with everyone else. I guess that's why I like you."

"Why?"

Steve mouths the air like a fish. What did he mean why? Was there a rational reason for Steve's attraction? He didn't really have one…at least not one that would make sense to someone like Loki. The thought drifts through his mind again that maybe Loki wasn't ever going to be impressed by him and maybe this was all just a lost cause—but something made Loki show up and something was making Loki want to talk about this. He'd proven so far that the only person Loki listened to was Loki and Steve wanted to know what was going through his mind about him. But what if there wasn't a reason? Sometimes things just happened and with Loki…one day it just sort of happened.

He bites his lip. "I don't know…"

Loki sighs and gives him a small smile. "I sort of expected that…" He brushes some bangs out of his face. "I've said it before, Rogers, but—you do intrigue me. I'm not sure what it is about you but you are an interesting person."

"So let me have one more chance," Steve frowns. "Look I get that you haven't had much success dating in the past but I'm not trying to force anything on you, okay? You can tell me no whenever you want but so far you haven't. You've explained why you think dating me won't work out and you've explained that you're not looking for anything binding or long term and I get that—I do—but I don't want to just give up on trying to get you to understand that I'm not looking for anything but a chance to try and show you that for me this is real and that all I want is to spend a little time with you." He closes his eyes. "And you're right…I don't have any confidence in myself but…didn't you say that was what you were trying to do? Give me a little confidence?"

"I knew that would come back to haunt me-"

"Please, Loki? I don't want to just be strictly benefits with you and—and if you feel like it's not working out I'll understand, okay? I won't fight you anymore on this. It'll hurt, yeah, especially if I still think it'll work but I'll be happy to just go back to being friends—if that's okay with you?" Loki grumbles to himself and rubs his temple, muttering something in another language under his breath. Steve waits patiently for an answer though. "And you can't break up with me for a superficial reason."

"Dammit," Loki mumbles. "I don't know why this means so much to you, Rogers, I'm not worth this kind of effort. But I suppose you'll realize that soon enough."

Steve shakes his head, smiling. "You're worth all the effort I can give."

Loki stares at him and cocks his head slightly to the side, observing him. "I don't understand you."

"The feeling is mutual," Steve shrugs, laughing a bit. "But I guess that's why I want this to work out so badly…I want to understand you." He can see Loki start to give in and smiles to himself. Yes, this date was a disaster but Steve could feel a 'so far' somewhere in there. It was still early—maybe Steve could still salvage tonight. He'd spent all the money he had though. A typical date was clearly not the way to go…so maybe doing something Loki liked would be more ideal. "The night is still young, you know."

"Hmm?" Loki was tucking his scarf down inside his coat.

"Well…I messed up with the movie so—so maybe we c-could try something you like? Maybe?"

He laughs dryly. "You wouldn't want to go anywhere I'd want."

"Try me."

Loki watches him for a moment before sighing and pulling out his phone. "Most of the guys I went with took me out to the places I go in the city—clubs, parties—but there's nothing like that going on that I know of. I know there's a street fight going on but you wouldn't be interested in that…"

"A street fight?" Steve holds back a laugh. "You actually go to those?"

"Like I said, you wouldn't be interested"

"I didn't say that." Loki gives him a concerned look, Steve smiling pleasantly. "If that's what you want to do let's go. It doesn't sound too bad…more exciting than this anyways."

"Steve, really, you don't have to-"

He starts the truck up again. "I want to, okay? Just tell me where to go." Loki ran with a rough crowd, Steve knew that, but he couldn't lecture Loki about compromises if he wasn't willing to make some of his own. This wasn't ideal—it was far from it—but Steve had handled everything Loki could throw at him so far. Besides…he didn't exactly live in the Garden of Eden. He had to bolt his windows shut at night and the landlord had recommended getting a gun to his mother when they first moved in. Steve wasn't as sheltered as Loki assumed he was. He gives Loki a reassuring smile.

Loki stares at him as if he'd grown a second head. He furrows his brow. "Okay…if you insist."