Not a stalker

[st_ratagem]

It wasn't the most subtle thing in the world, but it probably also wasn't the least subtle. (Probably._ Just, since Loki's trip into his own future (Thor's past), the god of mischief just tended to be around, wherever Thor happened to be. He didn't obviously follow. He didn't always speak. Often he didn't even acknowledge Thor's presence.

But, as much as possible, he was around. Even in Thor's room, on and off, albeit as a kitten keeping Stark company and creating tiny claw marks on the man's hands. (He insisted on wiggling fingers! He deserved what he got!)

There were, of course, times when it was impossible to be subtle. Such as this time, when Thor was working in the garden and Loki had opted to take up space on a nearby bench and read, occasionally glancing up to make sure Thor was still there.

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[st_ormbreaker]

Working in the garden was strangely therapeutic.

He'd never so much as watered Jane's plants, but when he sat out here pruning shrubs, tending to the garden's winter crops, or laying down compost, his mind was able to focus on new life instead of death.

"Would you care to join me?" he says, loud enough for his brother to hear. He wipes his hands off on the legs of his slacks.

[st_ratagem]

“Would I like to put my hands in literal mud? No, thank you.” Loki gestured vaguely with one hand. “This is as close as I care to get.”

[st_ormbreaker]

This time, Thor looks over his shoulder at Loki. "What other reason could there be for you following me?"

[st_ratagem]

Loki held up his book, as if it was a valid answer to the question.

[st_ormbreaker]

"This has been going on for days now." Thor had noticed. "If you're not interested in my hobbies, then there must be some other reason for your lurking."

Lurking was one way to describe it.

[st_ratagem]

Loki stilled briefly, then offered a uick smile that was only a little strained. “Are you telling me to stop?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I didn't say that," Thor says, standing. He wipes his hands off on his pants again; the front of them are a mess of dirt and grime now.

"Something is going on. Did Tony tell you something?"

Something. He might not know what is going on, but he does know what something Tony could have told him.

[st_ratagem]

“Stark hasn’t said anything to me that couldn’t be said in babytalk for several days.” Stark wasn’t actually much of a baby talker, but they’d mostly associated as man and pet lately. It was relaxing for both of them, or seemed to be. “Why, should he have told me something?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"No, he should not have told you anything."

Thor sits down next to his brother. "Why are you acting so weird?" He pushes Loki to one side with his body to make more room on the bench.

[st_ratagem]

That meant there was something to tell. Interesting!

It was easier to latch onto that than think about the question. It wasn’t like there was anything Thor could do, was there? And the likelihood of having anything like a rational conversation about the whole thing was low at best. Loki knew from the evening they’d spent finishing his staff that Thor didn’t see anything but his feelings regarding his recent past and Loki’s future.

Better to keep these things to himself. “I’m always weird, and I asked you if you wanted me to stop.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor casually slings an arm over Loki's shoulder.

"Weirder than normal."

[st_ratagem]

Loki didn’t even twitch, despite Thor’s hand being filthy. Which was definitely not normal, but nothing he could help, much; from Valkyrie’s physical touchy-feely to Stark’s kitten-manhandling, he’d been much more tolerant of touch than usual. “...fine. But it’s none of your business. I’m managing.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Well, I'll have you know --" Thor directs a finger at his brother. "-- I'm managing too."

[st_ratagem]

“Good for you.” Now Loki did try to push Thor’s hand off his shoulder, not because dirt but because he was well aware that Thor was managing. Somehow that seemed offensive rather that the pleasant it should be: managing Thor was at least not dead-faced future-zombie.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor'd expected his brother to dislodge from him eventually. He was frankly surprised his brother allowed the affection that long.

Thor pushes himself up off the bench. "Well, don't want to interrupt your reading." Thor heads off in the direction of the forest.

Thor knows exactly what he's doing.

[st_ratagem]

Damn it. Loki weighed his desire not to let Thor win versus his current need to keep his brother in sight as much as possible, and keeping Thor in sight won.

He got up from his bench and followed Thor.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor looks over his shoulder at his brother, walking blindly forward. "Thought you were reading."

[st_ratagem]

“I was. Now I’m not.” And since Thor clearly knew exactly what he ways doing, Loki added a waspish, “Thanks for that.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Still lurking, I see." Thor redirects his attention forward before he can plow headfirst into a tree or stumble over something in the path.

[st_ratagem]

“It’s not lurking when I’m moving.” Semantics!

[st_ormbreaker]

"Stalking?" Thor suggests cheerily.

[st_ratagem]

“Better! I’m not technically sneaking enough for it, but it’s better.” Best to just own it, until and unless he was asked to stop.

[st_ormbreaker]

"How long do you plan on following me?" Thor climbs up onto a fallen tree, then jumps over it and looks over at Loki behind him.

[st_ratagem]

“I asked if you wanted me to stop! Three times, now.” Loki reached the fallen tree and climbed up onto it, but didn’t jump down. He was following, not accompanying.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I don't want you to stop. I want you to tell me what's going on."

And since Loki didn't feel inclined to tell him and seemed intent on alternating between lurking around him and stalking behind him, he might as well make the most of it and have Loki follow him all over creation.