Chapter 37
The meal continued on smoothly as they all ate and drank their fill. Eventually Thor challenged Bruce to a contest of strength, resulting in them lifting various pieces of furniture recklessly.
Tony soon yelled at them for nearly breaking an expensive couch and Thor pouted, collapsing into an armchair. Tony heaved a put upon sigh and decided to call it a night. He bid them all good night, promising to return in the morning to strategize.
Bruce was the next to turn in, no longer wanting to indulge Thor’s various games and contests. The rest of the group sat on couches around an immense coffee table, drinking and sharing stories. Steve and Natasha sat on one side across from Loki and Sylvie, while Thor was sprawled in the arm chair between the two large sofas.
Natasha smiled softly, nudging Steve in hint to get the drunk Thor to bed, then saying goodnight to everyone. She got up and took Sylvie’s hand giving it a gentle squeeze as she said good night in a show of affection before heading for the elevator.
Steve nodded at Natasha before she left and watched the pair across from him kindly. He noticed the way Sylvie soon stifled a yawn, leaning into Loki tiredly, eyes growing heavy.
From the moment they had arrived Steve found he could more easily relate to Loki whenever he saw the familiar look on his face which he had now. It was an affectionate kind of longing, completely without self interest and wholly devoted.
Loki’s arm rested along the back of the couch behind Sylvie while his hand idly stroked her shoulder. His expression was soft and open, clouding only when Thor used the back of his hand to bat Loki’s other arm to see if he wanted another drink before he stumbled off to the bar.
“Feel free to turn in whenever you’re ready, I can make sure the big guy makes it to a flat surface,” Steve said to Loki with an amused smile.
Loki had an unreadable expression as he studied the first avenger.
“It seems your work never ends…” Loki said as he appraised him thoughtfully.
“I don’t think of it as work, I had a buddy who used to stay up drinking too much—I always slept better knowing my pal made it home safe,” he chuckled softly, “I guess you could say keeping an eye out for my friends at the expense of sleep just became something of a bad habit.”
“I can think of worse ones…” Loki smiled with a hint of mischief.
“I’m sure,” Steve chuckled as he sipped at what was now his fifth bottle of beer.
Sylvie had drifted half to sleep against Loki’s shoulder, one hand resting lightly against his chest. Loki looked back down at her fondly, using his free hand to brush back a stray lock of hair which had fallen over her face.
“Love certainly changes a man,” Steve said softly.
Loki looked up at him with a faint smile, “I hadn’t known anything like this ever could,” he glanced down with a faraway look in his eyes, “I don’t think I fully knew myself until I met her…”
“I know just what you mean,” Steve said gently.
Loki noticed how Steve’s eyes were tinged with something slightly sad yet he smiled still in spite of it. He knew there was a story there but chose not to pry having gained a sense of respect for the man.
“I’m glad you were the first to find us,” Loki said quietly, “your practicality and reason are admirable…”
Steve gave him a kind half-smile, “I’m glad you showed up… we were trying to come up with a plan for where to find all the stones and some of them seemed pretty dicey.”
Loki’s face drained slightly at the thought, “One of the two I brought you… I heard rumors of those who tried to get it… but none ever succeeded,” Loki said distractedly.
“Someplace dangerous?” Steve asked slightly curious.
“Not as such…” Loki replied, “but to acquire it, it is said one must sacrifice something precious at great personal cost—something too great to imagine,” Loki stared at Steve with conviction, “I can only imagine what it might have cost all of you…”
Steve considered his words, face serious and unreadable.
“Then how did you get it?” Steve murmured cautiously.
Loki smirked faintly, “I used a loophole, of sorts, I retrieved these stones from a place outside of time and space—a place where they were considered worthless—and I hoped I could convince you all of my sincerity, unbelievable as it all might sound.”
“Outside time and space…” Steve murmured softly to himself in a kind of dazed disbelief, “there was a time I would have laughed at the idea of something so outlandish.”
Loki looked amused, “As would I, had someone told me I’d one day be here, gladly sharing a drink with Captain America.”
Steve chuckled at that and held up his beer, “Amen to that,” before taking another large drink from the bottle.
Thor had passed out over the bar, hand clutching an empty bottle of liquor and mouth drooling on the counter. Steve finished his beer and stood up with a heavy sigh.
“Well, I might as well get Thor onto one of these couches before he collapses on the floor and hits his head,” Steve said resolutely.
“Would you like assistance?” Loki offered genuinely.
Steve smiled, “Nah, you just get that one off to bed safely,” he gestured to Sylvie who had fallen asleep completely, head resting on his shoulder.
Loki returned the smile and nodded thankfully, “Thank you, Captain Rogers,” he said softly.
“Please, call me Steve,” he said warmly, shaking Loki’s hand before heading off to collect the drunken God of Thunder from the bar.
Loki carefully maneuvered Sylvie off his shoulder, one arm supporting her head as he turned to scoop her gently into his arms. She stirred slightly at the movement but Loki hushed her softly placing a kiss to her hair as he stood up easily.
Walking to the elevator he nodded to Steve who tossed him a casual two fingered salute from the bar before removing the bottle from Thor’s grip and pulling his arm up over his shoulder. Loki shook his head softly with amusement and flicked his wrist gently to press the down button on the elevator with his magic.
Stepping inside he used the same move to send the elevator carriage to their floor.
As it descended, he looked fondly down at Sylvie as she slept in his arms, face peaceful and utterly beautiful. He kissed her forehead softly just as they reached the correct floor and then carried her to their room.
Inside he lay her gently atop the bed, disappearing her shoes easily and transforming her dress into the same silk pajamas she’d worn on Asgard.
Loki removed her necklace and earrings next, green light lifting it off her into the air. He collected them and placed the jewelry carefully on the nightstand beside her.
Once he’d prepared himself for sleep as well, Loki slid the blankets down the bed and climbed in beside her. Sylvie curled into his warmth in her sleep, contentedly making a soft humming noise.
Loki smiled, heart aching with just how much he loved her. He pulled her close and extinguished the last of the light in the room with brief gesture, then allowed himself to drift off into a blissful sleep.
In the early hours of the morning Sylvie woke with a pounding headache. She groaned at the pain and reached for her head. As she did she bumped into the warm body beside her and looked over in the dim light.
Loki made a small grumbling sound, not fully waking, and Sylvie smiled a little at the sight of his mussed bed head. She settled in a little closer, wincing at the pain in her head and gently brushed his hair back from his face.
Loki’s eyelids fluttered a little at the feeling and he made a sleepy sound as he stirred.
“Mmm?” He grumbled.
“Sleep,” she whispered softly, placing a gentle kiss to his brow.
Loki sighed at the feeling and opened his eyes slightly, a small smile tugging at his mouth. He tilted his head to give her a soft lazy kiss, still breathing deep even breaths from sleep.
His brows drew in mild sleepy confusion, “‘you okay…?” he asked softly, sensing her mind was elsewhere even only half awake himself.
“Mmergh, head is pounding,” Sylvie murmured.
“Mm, come here…” he kissed her with a little more intention and Sylvie sighed as the pain magically lifted.
“Thank you,” she whispered softly against his lips.
“My pleasure,” he whispered back with a small grin.
Sylvie snuggled in close to Loki and sighed contentedly. He hummed happily and kissed her temple fondly before they both drifted back to sleep.