Loki was putting the finishing touches on the dinner he had prepared when he heard the front door open and Stephen dashed to meet him with all of his exuberance, causing Bruce to smile despite the exhaustion. Dropping his bag, he knelt down to scratch the dog behind the ears and accept the slobbery kisses that came with the excitement. Loki came to the hallway watching the two with a small smile, "Good evening Bruce. You look exhausted."

"Aw thanks, is that a polite way of telling me I look like utter shit?"

Loki smirked, "Well you said it, love, not me."

Bruce's head snapped at the term of endearment and Loki blushed a furious red when he realized what he had said. Clearing his throat he murmured, "Sorry about that but, uh, I've made dinner if you would like some."

Bruce slowly stood, while at the same time trying to work some of the kinks out from work, responded, "That sounds lovely Loki, thanks. I'm starving." The two men sat down to dinner, Bruce looking appreciatively at the meal before him. "This looks divine Loki, what's the occasion?" he asked while taking a fork full and putting it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and moaned as the food made contact with his taste buds. Loki had been about to respond when Bruce had eaten the food, causing the God of Mischief to go a bright red.

Bruce, realizing the sound he had made, blushed a bright scarlett before responding, "I am going to blame the double shift for the sound I just made. I am so sorry. Clearly I appreciate the food you make. No wonder your farmers market stall was so popular. Have you thought about what your next step would be in your chef career?" Bruce continued to eat as he waited for Loki to respond. Loki took a moment before responding, "Well, yes I have. There is a small shop that is up for lease that I thought of taking over. It became available yesterday, so I went in today to begin the process."

"Loki! That's wonderful! This is a meal to celebrate then! I am so glad I get to be the guinea pig for your restaurant! Will Bucky and Natasha be helping as well?"

"Well, Bucky more than Natasha since she helps so much with the Avengers adventures but she will help as well. But that is not why I made this meal."

Bruce slowly put down his fork, "Loki, what's going on?"

Loki looked down at his hands which were now interlaced and twisting in his lap, "I want to be more than your roommate, or your project" he murmured.

Bruce looked at the man sitting across from him, unsure how to respond. "What do you mean Loki? I am not a mind reader. Help me."

Loki looked back up at Bruce, "I am unsure of how to express what I am experiencing. My feelings for you have developed over time, since I first started watching you from the Bifrost."

Bruce, seeing Loki floundering, said, "What, you have a crush on me?"

Loki shook his head, "No, Bruce, my feelings are stronger than that. They have been developing into something more, you are someone I trust wholly with my life. Which I have never done in the entirety of my existence. My adopted mother is the only other person I trust but even with her I would not be without my powers. I find myself missing you when you are gone for long shifts or on some world saving adventure with the Avengers. I find myself worrying if you will make it back whole when you are with them. I wish to be by your side more often than not. I find that I desire your presence. When I wake in the morning, I crave your closeness. I care for you Bruce." By the end of his little speech, Loki was again looking down at his hands, this was the best he could do and he could only hope it made sense to the man sitting across from him. He couldn't bear the thought that Bruce didn't or couldn't reciprocate his feelings.

Loki lifted his eyes to look at Bruce again, unsure of what to expect but he did not expect what he saw. Rather than a thoughtful or perhaps even a disturbed reaction (which in all honestly a small part of Loki expected Bruce to be utterly repulsed by the feelings he held for him) he was met with a bright shine in those chocolate brown eyes and a grin on the scientist's face. There was a bashful expression on Bruce's face like he had never been spoken to like this before, which Loki knew to be false because Bruce had dated and been in a couple serious relationships before - with women. Which was why Loki had been somewhat hesitant to bring up his own feelings and the terrifying idea of being rejected. How could Loki know if Bruce felt that way about men at all? However, it seemed as though he wasn't entirely repulsed or bothered by the idea that another man felt that way about him.

"Loki, beautiful Loki, I believe I know what you are trying to say" Bruce said, that grin still stretched across his face. He looked divine, and Loki was the expert on divinity. He reached across to grab Loki's hand. "There is a made up word we mere mortals have used here on Midgard for thousands of years. It's called love, Loki, and I feel the same way about you."

Loki's eyes widened as he started directly into Bruce's face, trying to read the emotion there. He was having a hard time believing he had heard those three words. Bruce felt the same? Loki was not alone in these emotions and desires? He was weak with relief and disbelief that this man could possibly love him.

Bruce stared back, with a slightly worried expression coming over his face, "Loki, I just told you I loved you, are you going to say something?" Letting go of Loki's hand, he brought both of his to his lap, saying sadly "Loki, I am sorry. I just thought - never mind, let's just finish dinner and forget I ever said anything."

Loki got up from his place and came around the table and dropped to his knees by Bruce's side. "Please don't shut me out," Loki pleaded, "You are right Bruce, I feel the same way about you. I love you. More than I thought possible. I just feel so unworthy of your love."

Bruce brought his hands to Loki's upper arms and slowly brought him up. He then took his hand, interlaced his fingers and led him to the couch. Cupping his face with his free hand, Bruce murumed, "Oh my beautiful love, you are worthy of every good thing that comes your way. You are worthy, beyond worthy, of the love I hold for you. I will spend the rest of my life cherishing you and showing you just how much you are loved."

Sitting for a moment in silence, Bruce murmured, "May I kiss you?" Loki, for once, was incapable of speech so merely nodded his consent. Bruce leaned forward, moved toward him, an invitation, and then patiently, carefully, waited for Loki to move as well. "A little closer, love," Bruce teased with an encouraging tug of their hands. "Don't make me do all of the work." He gave Loki a sly wink, causing Loki to smile and sway forward, angling his face so that their noses wouldn't collide.

"There you go baby," Bruce murmured, then brought his mouth close enough for Loki to feel the warmth of his breath. Bruce's eyes drifted closed, his fingers twitched around Loki's and then gently pressed forward. Loki drew in a sharp breath, his mouth opening just slightly under Bruce's first, tentative touch as his own eyes fell shut. The kiss was so incredibly soft. Loki was no shrinking violet but this felt so very different. Bruce made a small, pleased moan before moving to adjust and refit them together so that his mouth closed ever so gently over Loki's lower lip in a soft, fleeting kiss before pulling back to repeat the action with sweet tenderness on his upper lip.

Loki had forgotten how to breathe and had to take a shuddering little breath. They had only touched in two places - their hands and mouth but his entire body seemed to be on fire, waking up from a hibernation he hadn't known he'd been in.

Bruce pulled back again, just enough for both of them to catch their breaths. He was seeming to wait again for Loki to make up his mind, as if he was scared of chasing the God of Mischief away. Loki smirked, as if that would ever happen, he had found love and was not letting go. "Bruce," he panted, "You're mine and I am yours. I love you." While he spoke, his hands had somehow wandered to Bruce's chest and he could feel the change in Bruce's breathing pattern, could feel the effect of the kisses, small as they were on Bruce's body. This gave him courage, even though his hands shook from nerves. Experimentally, even as his hand shook ever so gently, Loki allowed his mouth to fall open before leaning back in. When their lips met, his tongue brushed against Bruce's lower lip, just briefly, and Bruce sighed, slipping one hand away from Loki's hip to wrap around the back of Loki's neck. Bruce pulled him gently closer, this time tasting Loki's tongue with his own. Loki groaned, but the sound was muffled as he opened his mouth a little more, allowing Bruce greater access.

Their kiss deepened, tipping into something hotter and wetter than before. Bruce's tongue stroked against Loki's, his hand wandering up into the hair at the back of his neck. The other hand found its way to and gripped Loki's thigh, kneading at it before sliding down to his knee and back up in long, soothing strokes. Somewhere in his kiss induced haze, Loki realized he had taken fistfuls of Bruce's shirt, gripping him tightly below the shoulders as if he wanted to bring the man into his lap. Loki groaned then, at the thought of Bruce in his lap, grinding down on him until they both came from the pleasure of it. Bruce, after hearing the moan, kissed him harder, his body shuddering in pleasure as he sucked Loki's tongue and nipped at his lips.

Loki let out a small whimper as Bruce's arms wrapped tightly around him and trapped his clenched fists between their heaving chests. Bruce mirrored the sound as his arms squeezed Loki tightly, once, before he softened his hold, gentling the kiss and pulling away.

Loki pressed his forehead against Bruce's before muruming, "Thank you Bruce, for loving me. For taking me on. I cannot imagine life without you now." Bruce began to stroke Loki's upper arm in comfort and responded "You are worth everything Loki, I love you." Loki, whose hands had been shaking now began to have full body trembles, Bruce looked at him with concern in his eyes before starting to sooth the man, "Hey now. It's alright love." His hands tightened around the bits of Loki they touched. " Are you alright? You're shaking baby."

"Yes," Loki managed to say, "I've just never done this with someone I've actually loved. It's all so new and overwhelming."

At that Bruce's eyes filled with tears as he leaned in to show Loki with actions how much he loved him. Bruce began kissing him gently and slowly. Loki reciprocated and began to tug at Burce's shirt. Understanding his meaning, he hummed into the kiss, tipping Loki back against the sofa cushions and covering the man's body with his own. He didn't break the kiss but, for a brief time, gave smaller kisses while he arranged their bodies and adjusted his weight so that he pressed Loki into the sofa but did not crush him, allowing Loki's thighs to bracket his hips.

Loki shuddered realizing that the hard line of pressure against his own hardening cock was Burce's own erection. He whimpered into the next kiss and pressed past the seam of Bruce's lips with his tongue, desperate to taste him again. Kisses melted, one into the next and Loki found himself taking in every tiny detail of Bruce when they would briefly break apart for air. Loki was aware that their hips were coming together in a disjointed rhythm, that if either one were to focus it would lead to a fully clothed orgasm. However, Loki didn't feel the need to do anything about it - he knew they would have the rest of their lives to have tender filled nights like this one. Tonight, their first night of many, the kisses and touches were more than good enough and overwhelming enough.

"Loki," Bruce murumed, "I could do this all night." Pressing a gentle kiss to Bruce's forehead, Loki responded, "I want you to."

They kissed until it was overwhelming. They kissed until it led to long moments of just touching each other and enjoying the contented silence. Eventually, Bruce shifted his weight to the side, wedging Loki up against the back of the couch so he could settle half beside him, tangled with him from the hip down. Loki, for the first time in his long life, felt safe, protected and content. He told Bruce so, and as he softly cupped Loki's cheek stated, "God I could kill Odin for all the things he's done to you."

Loki smiled and chuckled softly, "I would like to see you try! But don't you see Bruce? None of that matters now! I will always have to deal with the residual effects of the emotional abuse I dealt with at the hands of my asshat of a father and how neither my mother or brother would defend me or come to my aid but this past year has taught me so much Bruce. I have seen what genuine love and compassion is as I've served the people I once sought to destroy and enslave. I have learned, with Eir, how to cope in a healthy way with those feelings of inadequacy. I chose to learn and live with you Bruce because your ray of goodness has everyone naturally drawing themselves to you. I love you because you have risen above the horrific childhood you were placed in and given back to the world to make it better. I love you with my entire soul."

Bruce's eyes filled with tears as he snuggled closer into Loki, and gently kissed his head, words escaping him. They lay there entwined in each other's arms for several minutes in contented silence before Bruce quietly spoke, "I don't know about you but this sofa is starting to feel small, how about we move this to my bed? Not for anything we haven't already done, I don't want to sound presumptuous…"

Bruce could feel Loki smiling into his neck, "Ah you guessed my wicked plan - I'm after you for your bigger bathroom and bed." Bruce laughed as he untangled himself from Loki and held out his hand. "So, does that mean you're moving into my bedroom and yours becomes the guest room?"

Loki took his hand, and snuggled into his side as they began to walk towards the bedroom. "Yes," he murmured as they entered the room and he came around to Bruce's front embracing the man before blurting out, "I don't think we should have sex tonight." His fingers dug into Bruce's back, almost painfully, as if he was worried that Bruce would somehow reject him for not wanting sex right away.

Bruce smiled as he gently brushed Loki's cheek, "I agree."

Loki broke out into a face splitting grin, relief flooding his system. He couldn't explain why but wanted this night to be special, just about them discovering the love they had for each other. For the first time in his long life he wanted to take it slow, to make Bruce feel like the god he was. "However," Loki said with a smirk, "I really would kiss you all night if you'd let me." Bruce placed a gentle kiss on his lips before saying, "Of course love." He untangled himself from Loki to turn on a tableside lamp and set it to the lowest setting, "So we don't kill ourselves by tripping over something," Bruce explained.

Bruce came back to Loki, giving him a sweet kiss as his fingers brushed against the hem of Loki's shirt. "Can I take this off of you?" he asked as his fingertips skated along the edge of the shirt. "I meant what I said. Just to get a little more comfortable." Loki nodded and lifted his arms to allow Bruce to slip the shirt up and off. Circling one of Loki's bared wrists he brought it up to his mouth, pressing his lips to Loki's pulse point gently.

"Oh" Loki gasped, as Bruce stepped forward to press kisses along Loki's decolletage. "My god Loki, you're flawless, and all mine." He nipped at Loki's neck, his fingers making contact with the bare skin at Loki's sides, both men moaning as their tongues met. Bruce walked them towards the bed and guided Loki to sit on the edge. Pausing, he took Loki's face in his hands before bending down and giving him several chaste kisses. He then dropped to his feet and Loki's breath hitched. Bruce looked up with a smirk on his face, "Naughty naughty boy. Not tonight love. Just going to remove your shoes."

"Banner, you're going to give me a heart attack at this rate."

Bruce chuckled, having already unlaced one shoe and starting on the other, "I hope not. I have so many wicked things I want to do with you."

Loki blushed and looked down. Bruce placed a gentle kiss on his knee before standing and making quick work of his own shirt. Loki sighed and slipped his hands over the expanse of the man before him. Bruce was fit, the muscle was firm and to the sides a bit of softness. With a mischievous grin, Loki squeezed causing Bruce to laugh and covering Loki's hands with his own. "Middle age," Bruce said wryly, "We don't all have the bodies of Norse Gods." Loki looked up at Burce, "I think your body is wonderful."

Smiling, Bruce placed a kiss on the top of Loki's head. "Covers?" Bruce asked and Loki shook his head. Soon the men were lying on top with Loki wrapped in Bruce's arms, kissing again. Bruce made a move to roll Loki on his back but Loki quickly turned the tables and soon Bruce found himself on his back with Loki hovering over him on his elbows dropping kisses on his face and neck. Eventually, he made his way along Bruce's jaw to his mouth, and their tongues met and slipped together while hands wandered over small patches of exposed skin.

Bruce gently flipped Loki onto his back, straddling his hips. The room was quiet except for the quiet moans and harsh breaths as they continued to explore each other's bodies. Bruce stroked his hand down Loki's chest, pausing just over the waistband of Loki's pants, hooking two fingers under the jeans, against Loki's skin. Loki's hips jerked and he attempted to swallow the desperate whimper spilling out of him, if only Bruce would slip his fingers down a little further….

With an evil grin Bruce slipped his fingers out of the scant space between pants and skin and traced them feather light down the hard line of Loki's clothed erection. Then, leaning forward, weight on his palms, he brushed his mouth against Loki's. By the time he pulled back, Loki's breath had quickened to the point of almost hyperventilation. Bruce's hips ground gently down and his body shuddered.

"My god this is torture" Loki gasped, his hands tightening around Bruces hips. "You realize that? I should call the Avengers on you for crimes against sex."

"You're wrong Loki, torture isn't fun," Bruce corrected. "Isn't this fun?"

Loki gasped out a "Gods yes" making Bruce chuckle before he leaned down to kiss the beautiful man below him. His hands roved over Loki's torso and simultaneously brushed both of Loki's tightened nipples. His entire body reacted to the unexpected stimulus, tightening and jerking under Bruce so hard that he nearly bucked Bruce off his lap. "Please," Loki moaned, "Please don't make me come in my pants."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, "Do you think you might?"

"If you keep doing that," Loki moaned, indicating the slow circling motions of Bruce's hands with his chin. "Ahhhh" he moaned, louder this time, "Please Bruce…"

Bruce retreated, with no resentment on his face as his hands slid back down. "Shhhh," Bruce soothed, "I won't do anything you don't like..."

Loki grabbed his hand and said, "I loved it, but tonight it's just too much. I am no blushing virgin but I have never done this with a person I loved before…"

Bruce's eyes softened as he said, "It makes you nervous, doesn't it?"

Loki averted his eyes, unwilling and embarrassed to admit it.

"Loki, look at me please." Loki slowly turned his head, and Bruce held up a hand that was trembling, "Me too baby. Don't ever hold anything back from me, please." Loki caught the trembling hand in his and brought it to his mouth. He brushed his lips over Bruce's knuckles and took a moment to just breathe. He then started to taste the skin of Bruce's fingers with the tip of his tongue, unaware of what he was doing and only realizing it when Bruce's lashes fluttered. Loki watched his face as he traced his tongue along the web of skin between thumb and forefinger. The image of Bruce's mouth falling open in pleasure burned itself into Loki's memory and he knew that he would replay this moment countless times in the years to come. He kissed Bruce's palm and counted his breaths with his lips pressed there. After about a dozen breaths or so, Bruce swung his leg back over and sat beside Loki. He gently brushed Loki's hair out of his eyes and asked, "Before you tempt me much more, I need to ask tonight do you want to be held or do the holding?"

In a small voice Loki responded, "Held please."

Bruce settled them between the sheets, gathered Loki in his arms, and within a few minutes both men had fallen into a deep sleep.