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.

Comments

[st_ormbreaker]

"You're the worst and the best brother," Thor counters. "You can be both, you know."

[st_ratagem]

“I’m comfortable being the worst, though. It’s my niche.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"You should get comfortable with being uncomfortable, Loki," Thor says, tugging his brother closer with the crook of his arm in his usual roughhousing way.

[st_ratagem]

“Hmmm... no.” Arm around the shoulders was... fine. Near-headlock, not so much. (Not from Thor, anyway. But lLoki decided to try words first. “Are you looking for a stabbing, brother?”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor grins. "Are you offering one?"

[st_ratagem]

“Only if it’s a deterrent to headlocking me.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor would be fine with a stabbing; he's accepted it as more or less an act of endearment. Still, he relinquishes his hold on his brother and gives him a few too-firm pats on the back instead.

"Maybe some other time, then."

Thor is trying to respect his brother's boundaries. Not everyone is as keen on physical affection as Thor is.

[st_ratagem]

“Thor.” Loki paused and put on his most serious face for a moment. Just long enough to get Thor to stop and pay attention to it instead of to Loki’s hands.

Which, of course, pulled a knife from over there and drove it into Thor’s side.

Loki had been stabbing Thor since they were seven years old. He knew how to miss all the vital organs and significant blood vessels. To an Asgardian, even this seemingly vicious stab wound wasn’t much more than a scratch. “I lied.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor had been completely caught off-guard; he hadn't expected it until his brother's knife slid easily slid past his skin.

"Ah!" Thor doubles over theatrically. "Betrayed by my own brother!"

[st_ratagem]

“I know!” Loki acted aghast, pressing one hand to his chest with one hand and banishing the knife back over there with the other. “Why oh why is it always the ones you most expect?”

[st_ormbreaker]

Grinning, Thor straightens up and tries to smooth out the tear in his shirt. He's more concerned about that than he is in the blood. He should be able to take that out with the hydrogen peroxide in the lobby first aid kit.

"It's like old times," he says, apparently resigned to living with a shirt with a visible rip in it. "I'd much prefer it if you did it as a snake, though."

[st_ratagem]

“I could probably arrange a spiked pit trap and a rug.” Or a real snake and some invisibility.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Snakes only," Thor says.

[st_ratagem]

“Can I interest you in a potentially poisonous lizard of some kind?” Conceptually withholding snakes was more fun than expected.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Lizards aren't snakes," Thor points out as they come up to the inn's entrance.

[st_ratagem]

“Are we not negotiating?” Obviously they were. “Learn to compromise.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Fine! But only if it has pretty patterns."

Thor pushes the door open to the inn.

[st_ratagem]

“I’ll see what I can do.” Loki followed his brother into the lobby. Were there any suitable lizards locally? Something to look for. Perhaps Valkyrie would know, she was more of a hunter.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor reaches up and tousles his brother's hair affectionately.

"You going to be okay?"

[st_ratagem]

“Of course.” It was true, for once, rather than any kind of cover for whatever seemingly insoluble problem was in front of him. “You?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Of course."

He directs a finger at the stairs. "I really should go check in on Tony, though."

[st_ratagem]

“Go. I don’t need to follow you.” Likely he’d check in later on, at some point, but with the overall calm came less need to constantly watch Thor. Quite probably that would be a relief.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor gives his brother a smile. True, it'd be some relief to know that his brother was not so preoccupied with his welfare that he felt the need to keep a watchful eye on him, but it was also nice having his brother so close by.

"You know where to find me if you need me."