Now Is Never Soon Enough
Each course arrived faster than expected as Loki and Sylvie talked and flirted shamelessly.
They talked about how they’d each grown up.
Loki regaled her with stories from his childhood, learning magic and playing games with Thor. Sylvie laughed and told him about ways she learned to trick the TVA agents, Loki beaming proudly.
As they finished their main entrees, the conversation slowed comfortably.
“This reminds me of a dish on Xandar,” Sylvie said idly as she speared a piece of grilled octopus.
Loki smiled for a moment then looked slightly confused, “Wait… when were you on Xandar? Did something happen—Ronan…” his eyes widened with realization.
Sylvie looked at him a little sadly, “Ronan apparently tried, but it was Thanos who ultimately decimated the planet. They kept the Power Stone from him until the end…”
“Thanos…” Loki murmured bitterly, eyes distant and unreadable.
“He’s dead.” Sylvie reminded him, “Thanos is dead. Your brother killed him—in no small part I’m sure as revenge for what he did to you…”
“Another me… a different us,” he smirked at her and Sylvie rolled her eyes.
“The you from this timeline, who knows how drastically different my timeline might have been… maybe I would have killed him,” she grinned mischievously.
“Mmmm, that’s a lovely image,” he smirked, “the woman I love destroying the most hated being in this universe or any other…”
“Mm, I did decapitate a ‘Time Keeper’, afraid that’s probably the closest image you’re going to get,” she teased.
“That was quite visual, the resulting despair did kill the mood somewhat,” he chuckled.
“Somewhat,” she shrugged.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the noise in the restaurant became twice as loud. Loki and Sylvie looked around curiously as the number of people around them had suddenly increased. People were comforting each other and hugging complete strangers who had reappeared after being gone for the last five years.
“Looks like it worked…” Loki quirked a smile.
“All these people were…?” Sylvie looked around with wide eyes.
“Extinguished from reality… Thanos told me he would bring balance at any cost. I was perhaps the first test for Earth, yet he came here all the same, even after I failed…”
Sylvie took his hand gently, “You helped them fix this… these people are back because of your help.”
Loki smiled faintly, “And I’m here because of you… I never could have escaped the void without your help…”
Just admitting that felt terrifying, but the look of validation on Sylvie’s face was more than worth it.
“You are my reason, Sylvie. I hope you know how much you mean to me… it’s more than love,” he looked nervous as he bit his lip, “you give me such… glorious… purpose,” his brow drew together as if pained, “you aremy purpose.”
Sylvie’s pupils dilated further as she stared heatedly at him.
“And what purpose is that…?” She asked softly.
“Making you happy, keeping you safe… finding a new path with you, discovering what life may hold for us—together,” he smiled looking completely heartsick.
“So long as you want me,” he said softly, “I’ll always be by your side… and I’ll follow you to the end of the universe, beyond the void, till my very heart ceases to beat, till that day—it beats only for you.”
Sylvie’s breath was coming quicker now and she stared at him like prey she meant to devour.
“I think it’s time to go,” she whispered huskily.
“Did I say something wrong…?” Loki asked a little nervously as he took another sip of champagne.
“Only if you wanted to keep me from tearing your clothes off,” Sylvie’s eyes danced like flames as she watched him hungrily and ran one foot suggestively up his leg under the table.
He nearly choked on the drink and lifted his napkin to pat the little bit which spilled on his chin before signaling to the waiter for the check.
“I—ehem, I’ll just sign this to the room—then we can—ahkeh,” Loki coughed and tugged at his collar.
“Mmmm, can hardly wait…” Sylvie purred, immensely enjoying how flustered he looked.
Their server brought the check which Loki signed to their room. He awkwardly thanked the man and downed the last of the champagne in his glass.
Sylvie smirked, finished her glass as well and stood as Loki helped to pull her chair out for her.
“Thank you,” she breathed low and sultry and Loki cleared his throat again.
“My pleasure,” he murmured back, hand brushing the small of her back as they left the table.
They walked briskly to the elevator, Sylvie leading Loki with their fingers hooked together. He followed her obediently afraid his heart might burst from exertion on the elevator ride down.
As they approached an elderly couple was just getting in and urged them to step inside and join them.
“There’s plenty of room,” the older man said politely.
“Er, thank you, but I actually think I forgot my phone at the table…” Loki lied, patting down his jacket, “you two go on ahead, I’m sorry darling, I’ll just go get it,” he kissed Sylvie’s cheek and turned as if to walk back to the table while the elevator doors closed.
Sylvie shook her head with an amused smirk, “you know you really are a ridiculous man, couldn’t manage a short lift ride with those two?”
Loki laughed a little self consciously, “I don’t think I could, the thought of standing beside you in this dress, trying to make small talk with them, sounds simply too interminable to bare.”
He pressed the down button, now certain it would be empty, then turned to run the back of his finger slowly up her arm.
Sylvie shivered at the touch feeling her breath come a bit heavier as he looked down at her seductively.
The elevator dinged and a noisy group of diners exited brushing past them on either side. Loki and Sylvie still stared at one another, not moving as the people milled around them, then once the elevator was empty it was like a starter’s pistol firing.
They rushed into the elevator, Loki hitting the button for their floor then moving to press Sylvie into a mirrored wall urgently. He panted against her lips, hand coming up to cup her cheek but tangling in her hair instead.
Sylvie arched her back against the wall, one hand grabbing desperately at his lapel and the other cradling his neck. She gasped as he ran his other hand down her side and slid to her lower back. One of her legs moved to hook absentmindedly behind his calf as her body melded against his.
The ding announcing their floor came far too soon and they reluctantly pulled apart in time to see two dressed up women waiting to enter. Loki smiled tightly as he gestured for Sylvie to exit first and adjusted his jacket over his front. The two ladies bit their lips not to giggle at the scene, one even winking at him as he passed.
As soon as the doors closed Sylvie fell into a fit of laughter at the sight of Loki awkwardly adjusting himself.
“What exactly is so terribly amusing?” Loki deadpanned, placing his hands on his hips, trying his best not to grin.
Sylvie shook with laughter and grabbed one of his hands, “come on, I’m not sharing any more of you tonight.”