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He was unfaithful?

[Thor is genuinely curious when he asks. Steve, in any iteration, doesn't seem the type for that. His concern grows, but that Loki is here and not somewhere with a knife and a purpose is a good sign. For now.]

Was it.. explicit... that you were to be exclusive with one another?

[ Loki's shoulders hunch. It feels like a sting that they never really chose to define it. That they never gave it a title or made it more public. At first Loki enjoyed that because it was private and it was safe. No one needed to know more. But Thor's words make him feel like . . . he was some dirty secret. That maybe, despite everything, Steve was just ashamed of him.

But Loki pushes it aside for now. It wasn't the only part and Loki isn't here to paint Steve as the villain. It might be tempting, but it won't help the chasm in his head right now. ]

No. I suppose it wasn't. I doubt it ever will be. Why make room for me?

Don't take this the wrong way, brother, but are you being dramatic? [He quirks a brow.]

He may not have thought to slight you, merely he assumed he would be free to mingle while cultivating what he has with you. [He has no idea, though.] Do you know who he kissed?

[ Sadly, saying something akin to "do not take this the wrong way" already has his hackles rising. Suddenly Loki felt foolish and angry with himself — for believing that Thor could ever be helpful in this matter. That Loki deluded himself over the easy sentiment that had passed by them recently. The urge to lash out is almost volcanic in nature and he uncoils like a whip, bitterness filling his eyes as he rises from his seat. His back is ramrod straight. ]

I know.

As you say, Thor. Clearly I am being dramatic.

[ Maybe he should have settled for setting a forest on fire. He should have stuck with the basics. ]

[Thor has pushed Loki's buttons enough to expect certain reactions, but he's still a little surprised by the venom in Loki's response. He supposes he'd been feeling a little more vulnerable than Thor had given him credit for, though it's fair to say that Thor may not be taking it all seriously enough.

It's a little beyond his abilities. But he's not about to let Loki storm off, not when having him come here of his own volition is equal to that of winning the trust of an animal you've fed morsels of food.

He grabs Loki by the back of his shirt and tugs him down hard so he comes down onto the couch, then he wastes no time moving trying to pin his skinny legs down so he can't escape again.]

You look no less dramatic trying to storm off on me, you know. [He gives him a stern look.] Have patience. I'm no expert in these matters either, surprising as it may be. Elder brother or not. Now, tell me who it was.

Edited 2017-08-27 08:03 (UTC)

[ Loki snarls, trying to shift Thor's weight off his legs but to no avail. He settles for digging his fingers into the soft cushions for he knows that the urge to lash out, to hurt is high and he rather not start that kind of fight. Not when his head and heart was pounding. ]

What difference does it make? It's all in my head, is it not? My imagined slights, making up wounds and stories where there is nothing. No one owes me anything.

[ Even as Loki says it, his look grows more pinched. The last thing he wants is to know it is in his head. A product of his madness. ]

It makes no difference. It is for my own interest. [Although it's not necessarily true that it doesn't make a difference, Thor is trying to be honest. Context will shed some light on the situation, but he's honestly curious too. He hadn't thought of Steve as the sort for this sort of romance, let alone two of these sorts of romance. At once.]

It's not wrong to feel slighted if your expectations were not met, but it is not wrong to disregard expectations if you had no idea they existed. [He's trying not to play too heavily into Loki's self-victimization, he's just trying to rationalise. Odd, for him.]

I must admit, I'd not thought Rogers the sort of man you'd need to request exclusivity from.

[ Unconsciously, Loki relaxes minutely after Thor's response. He had feared greatly that Thor's response would come down like a hammer and Loki would simply feel worse. Like grime under his fingernails. Or responsible for the grime. Granted, he's always been a glutton for punishment. Asking for answers that have never served his peace of mind. ]

I feel like a fool.

[ It's an echo of his words back on Svartalfheim, tired and parched. ]

He kissed Stark. He told me he loved me and kissed Stark all in the same breath. It was like — [ Loki cuts himself off abruptly. It was like hearing Odin talk again. Of how he wanted to use Loki and be his son. One and the same. ]

I am a fool and I'm tired, Thor. So I let it go. Does that help your peace of mind?

[ Loki has no illusions that Thor will play peace-keeper. Hope his brother doesn't enact his revenge. He is not wrong and Loki has no problem affirming as such. ]

Everyone feels a fool in romance. There's no romance without some amount of.. [He gestures vaguely for the word.] ..vulnerability.

[Thor shrugs his shoulders at Loki's question, he's not sure what he expected his response to be.]

I can't say I saw it coming, but I've never been particularly good at predicting this sort of thing. [Apparently.] Did you feel there was no use fighting for it, then? Did Rogers make his choice?

I fought.

[ It comes out as a whisper, but still defiant. Loki fought and no one can strip that away from him. Not this time. ]

We will . . . as they say, play it by ear. Should he choose to pursue Stark completely, well . . . what I got is more than I hoped for.

[ It's been a whirlwind for them both. Loki isn't going to fool himself into believing that Steve would ever love him completely. Love him only. No one has been capable of doing that anyway. He'll always want more. That is his nature. But he can settle for scraps too. That much, Asgard has taught him.

Quietly, Loki runs his hand through his hair. He can't shake off the shade of foolishness and stupidity that hangs over his head. That his lackluster attempt at starting something new failed so badly. That it hurts even now, even when Steve and Loki settled it between them. That it is not ruined.

Perhaps he came to Thor because Thor always helped him believe there were other options. ]

I should go. I've taken up enough of your time with these matters.

You're a strange man, you know. You want for the best, but you hope- nay, expect the worst.

[Thor lifts his legs so Loki isn't pinned under him anymore. He's not as worried as he might have been a few months ago, he doesn't expect Loki will fly into a rage or scheme against Stark.

Although, part of him wonders if the fact that he doesn't expect is something to be concerned about in itself. Maybe because the defeated, downtrodden reaction is cause for deeper concern. Maybe because he should always be a little prepared for a sinister reaction.]

You're welcome to go, if you like. You're welcome to stay, too. I do nothing productive with my time, as I'm sure you know.

Your father made it clear my birthright is nothing, so such a contradiction is normal.

[ Loki rises, a sardonic twist to his lips. The sensation of being foolish hasn't lifted from his shoulders and he regrets coming here. Coming to Thor. He just feels worse than before. Perhaps it's time Loki took his own advice and let Thor go. He exhales quietly. ]

Goodbye Thor.

[ With that, he slips into the shadows, vanishing from sight. ]

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