Inked

Before

“Heimdall!” He thought for sure that it wouldn’t work, but sure enough the rainbow slammed down around him before yanking him up into the sky. Traveling via Bifrost felt like having his insides ripped out and spun around in a blender, only to get shoved back inside him with a hot poker. 

When he landed on the famed rainbow bridge it took every ounce of strength he had to not hurl over the edge of it. 

“Captain Rogers, is it?” 

“Heimdall. Thank you for answering my call.” He stood straight, not wanting to show any weakness in front of the giant of a man with the ridiculously large sword. 

“You are a friend to Thor and Loki, my princes'. I will always answer if you call.” He bowed his head politely. Steve was still in awe that he was there at all. 

“It is because of Loki that I am here.” 

“Walk with me, Captain.” Heimdall hefted the sword over his shoulder and walked the bridge. Steve took a deep breath, reminding himself why he was there and he followed the taller man. 

Now

At times his teammates were nosy beyond belief. But sometimes, sometimes they were actually quite good about personal space. That explains why none of them said anything when he went from tight workout shirts to baggy ones. When he went from showering on the gym floor, to showering back in his room. Why he always made sure to suit up before he got on the quinjet to whatever mission they were off to, and didn’t strip down until he was back in his room. He knew that eventually one of them would crack and ask, but for now, for now he was reveling in this one thing that was his. 

He stepped out of his bathroom, the steam following him out. He had a towel wrapped around him and his hair was still dripping. He had no reason toe expect anyone to be in his room, so when he heard a soft gasp come from behind him, he immediately reached for his shield, which was stupid as it was hanging on the wall in his living room, where it always was when he wasn’t using it. 

“Steven...” Thor murmured, one hand raised as if to touch. 

“Thor, uh, what are you doing here?” He hadn’t even known Thor was planet side, so this was a complete surprise. 

“I arrived moments ago and Anthony told me to come and get you for an impromptu feast. The Jarvis let me in.” His eyes fell, shame showing across his normally jovial features. “I am sorry, for invading your space. I do know that you prefer to keep your rooms to yourself.” 

“It’s fine, Thor.” He takes the three steps over to tilt up Thor’s hangdog face. “I mean, I sure don’t want a party up here or nothing, but you popping by to get me for dinner? That’s fine. Let me get some clothes on though.” 

It didn’t take him long to get dressed, he was pretty simple unless he was being forced to dress up for some PR thing. He dragged on track pants and a henley. Pushing the sleeves up his forearms, he slipped on a pair of boat shoes that Tony still made fun of him for liking, and met Thor in the living room. 

“Ready?” He asked. Thor was looking at Steve’s bookshelves and well, clearly the big man knew Steve’s secret now, so seeing what he liked to read wasn’t that big a deal. Plenty of people loved romance books, it was the biggest selling genre after all. There was no shame in liking a happy ending.

“Indeed. I should tell you that Loki is here as well. He had mentioned wanting to ask your opinion on something. I had been curious before, but I feel as if I understand now.” Thor shrugged but did not say anything else. Steve shouldn’t be surprised, for as jovial and boisterous as Thor was, he was also kind and honest. Steve felt pretty certain that he would not tell anyone his secret. 

“Oh, it's been a while since he’s been around. I hope all is well with your family.”  Steve pressed the elevator button and then stepped in besides Thor. 

“Oh, mother and father are well. Loki has been on Alfheim doing some court things for our parents. It is there I believe he was goaded into his latest piece of body art.” 

“Yeah? Cool. I always enjoy talking to him ‘bout art.” The elevator opened and sure enough Loki was lounging on one of the couches, chatting with Clint, and flipping a rainbow colored dagger in one hand.  A look flashed across Thor's face but it was too quick for Steve to figure out what it meant. 

“He quite enjoys it as well. In fact he spoke to mother about it before we arrived here.” Thor offered. 

“Ah, Steven. My friend I have missed you these past few moons.” Loki stood and pulled Steve into a bear hug. Steve laughed and patted the other god’s back. 

“Lokes. How’re you? Been causing mischief across the nine realms?”

“Most assuredly.” Loki tells him. “Now come, there is something I must speak with you about before the feast Stark is planning.” 

He could feel the eyes of his teammates on him as they walked out of the main room and headed towards the small library Tony, well, probably Miss Potts kept stocked. Once the door was closed behind them, Loki was loosening the ties to his leathers. 

“Thor caught me comin' out the shower. He saw.” He didn’t know what else to say, and he was pretty much tongue tied as Loki finished stripping off his shirt anyway. “Holy fuck.” 

“The light elves are proficient with their inks.” Steve stepped close, running his fingers along Loki’s shoulder blades, which were now covered in what looked to be a raging storm. A trick of the eye made him think the tattoo was moving. His fingers traced the lines, noticing they weren't raised at all anymore. Like him, Loki healed fast. 

“When’d you do it?”

“A fortnight ago. Thor hasn’t seen it yet. I’m certain he will think the subject matter is due to him when in reality it is a reminder of Sigyn and our tumultuous courting.” He shrugged his shirt back on. “You’ll come to the wedding, won’t you?” 

“Yeah, I didn’t get to spend much time on Asgard the last time, I’d love to go and spend more than a secretive few hours there.” He rubbed a hand down his bicep, thinking of the ink that laid there. 

“Very well. You will stand for me. Thor has many who would stand for him, but I have few I consider to be true friends. It would mean much for you to be there at my side.” 

“Lokes, of course. Just tell me when.” Steve was honored beyond belief that this man, this prince, thought so highly of him. And he also wanted to go back to Asgard and beat the shit out of every one of them who made him feel like he was a hard person to be friends with. He was a delight, all the time they’d spent together and he’d become Steve’s best friend this century. 

“And, perhaps when there you can tell my oaf of a brother who you feel about him.” Loki added. Steve choked on nothing. 

“Wha--uh, what do you mean?”

“Please, I am neither blind nor stupid. You think he is pretty to look at, and you think he is interesting to talk to, which defies all I know of him. There is no shame in your feelings, and I do believe that if you were to voice them you would not be rebuked.” 

“I, uh...I don’t even know what to say.” Steve took to cracking his knuckles, a tic that his ma had tried to beat out of him more than once as a kid. 

“Steven, do not fret. There is no wrong in liking him. He is an oaf, that is true. But he is kind and he has a huge heart. I trust very few, but you I would trust with my brother.”

“Uh, you are literally the only person alive who apparently knows that I think that way about men, so maybe let’s not be too excited. I ain’t sure I’m going to do anything ‘bout it.” His heart was racing. He couldn't believe he’d given himself away, though, none of his teammates had said anything so maybe they didn’t know. Maybe it’s a Loki thing or it’s just cause it was Thor Steve was looking at. He didn’t know, might never know. He was having a hard time breathing.

“Oh, Steven. I spoke out of turn. Forgive me. I shall not say another word, not to anyone.” Loki stood close, hands on Steve’s wrists, holding his tightly. “Just breathe. What can I do? Sir Jarvis!”  Steve heard him call out but it was all muted, he felt like he was back in the ice. Suddenly there are more hands on him, spinning him and crushing him into large, warm arms. 

“Steven, breathe with me. In then out, and again. I will kill my brother. What did he do?” Thor’s voice was indeed murderous and that was enough to pull Steve out of the panic attack. 

“Don’t hurt Loki, he wants me to come to his wedding.” Steve says into Thor’s shoulder. Now that he’s done freaking out, the embarrassment is a very real thing. He can feel that his face is on fire. 

“Yes?” Thor pushes Steve away to see this face. Steve nods. “Excellent! I cannot wait to show you my home!” 

“Ah, well, you see…” Steve floundered and looked to Loki for help. But his friend looked smug and that wasn’t going to be helpful. 

“Brother, I have already shown Steven our home.” Loki gloated. 

“Truthfully?” Thor asked Steve. He noticed the others crowding the doorway and this was not at all how Steve wanted to tell them, not that he wanted to tell them at all, even if he knew he should. “I thought that ink was familiar. Did you get that done on Asgard?”

“Yeah. Um, I tried here, but the ink doesn’t stay. I uh, my body pushes it out. And I saw that Loki had some, so I asked him to help and Heimdall was real welcoming. So was Bjod.” The blush wasn’t going away anytime soon. Not with the way that Thor was looking at him. Maybe Loki was right, maybe it wouldn’t end in disaster if Steve brought up his feelings. 

“Hellooo. Anyone want to fill us in?” Tony called out from where he was leaning against the wall. “Panic attack? Ink? Wedding? Rogers sneaking to Asgard? I feel like I don’t know you at all, Captain.”

“Yeah, well, My name is Steve for starters, and yeah, you don’t know shit about me. Cause you never tried to. So...” Steve shrugged. Thor had one hand on his shoulder, right where the ink started. He yanked off the shirt. Behind him there were a few gasps, and at least one, ‘holy shit.’

“Steven, they are beautiful. Bjod did you a great service.” His giant hand was gentle as it traced the lines and then turned him to look at his back.  “This is your home, yes? From before?” 

“Yeah, Brooklyn. And uh, there's the Howlies,” he showed him the inside of his left bicep. “My ma,” the pin up nurse that Thor saw first.  And finally the ribbon across his right rib cage that said ‘til the end of the line,’ “for Bucky.” 

“Thank you, for telling me. They are lovely, just as you are.” He handed Steve his shirt, and Steve pulled it back on. Steve really hoped that was it, that was all Thor would comment on. It was. Tony, however, had no such tact. 

“Do you have your nipples pierced?” He all but shouted. 

“Yeah, I do. You got a problem with that?” Steve crossed his arms, but his anger diluted when both Thor and Loki flanked him.

“What is the problem Stark? Sad you're not the most interesting person in the room?” Loki sneered.

“As if. No, he’s all american flags and army fatigues and all that.” He waves at Steve’s general area. 

“Wow. Clearly not.” Clint drawled out. “I like your ink Steve. Much better than what I got.” 

“Thanks Clint. Means a lot. And I like yours. I don’t think I could pull off that Asian style, but ya know….I’m all american and shit.” He glared at Tony, who was still slack jawed. 

“I like this new Steve.” Natasha smiled. 

“I’ve always been this Steve.” He tells her. He’s done. “How funny that it was the alien that noticed.” He shrugs and Loki throws an arm over his shoulder. 

“You call me an alien again and I’m calling you Stevie at the next PR gig.” Loki cheerfully threatened. 

“Shit. Truce.” Steve grins at him. Loki gives him a look and then glances at Thor. Steve quirks an eyebrow. Loki gives him the look again. He can feel the others judging him and that is what pushes him to do what he does next. “Thor?”

“Yes Steven.” Thor is watching him warily, and Steve can understand that. His best friend is the god of mischief after all. And if anyone knows what Loki is capable of, it is his brother. Luckily Steve isn’t the mood for mischief. He’s got something else on his mind. 

“Don’t hit me.” He murmurs before hooking his hand on Thor’s neck and pulling him down to kiss him. It’s not the best first kiss, not right away. But oh, once Thor’s shock fades, then it becomes great. 

Thor’s hands land on Steve’s waist and pull him in. Steve goes willingly, changing the angle of his head to deepen the kiss. Behind him he can hear Tony losing his shit, but Steve could tune him out easily. And he didn’t have the brain for anything other than how good of a kisser Thor was. Maybe later he’d have a real talk with his team, but not yet. 

“Wanna go back up to my room? I’ll let you see the ink up close.” Steve offers when they finally pull apart. 

“Aye.” Thor’s eyes are blown black and it is a very good look on the god. 

“Loki?” Steve asks, knowing he doesn't want to try and pass the others. “Just this once and I’ll owe you.” 

“You won’t even owe me. Now I won’t have to hear Thor go on and on about the blue of your eyes any more.” Is the last thing Steve hears before he and Thor are blinking out of existence, only to land on his bed. 

“What about my eyes?” Steve asks, cheekily, but he doesn’t get anything else out. Thor rips his shirt off him, literally and then his hands are on the barbells through Steve’s nipples. They’re the same material as Loki’s favorite rainbow daggers. 

“We can talk, later. Right now I just need you.” Thor tells him, before proceeding to rip his pants off too. Steve would protest, but really, who doesn’t want their man to be so into them that the clothes get ruined?

Later they would talk. He and Thor and then he and the team. But that was later. Right then he was going to be glad he was wrong and Loki was right. 

Later. 

For now, for now he was going to enjoy this.