viceverse

Loki actually blushed, and for a moment, Thor felt a little guilty. Maybe he shouldn’t have. Catching Loki off-guard, making him red in the face, making him defensive, that was almost an accomplishment. He seemed to pride himself on always being the one unaffected, the one in control.

He hadn’t been unaffected back in that stall. Neither had Thor, but Loki had known the whole damn time that Thor was as far from unaffected by him as it was possible to be, so there was no change there. 

“You just don’t like being the one getting made fun of,” Thor replied as he slid into the back seat beside Loki, not hesitating to shuffle closer, shoulder pressed to Loki’s. “But yes. You had been drinking. Wouldn’t have followed me in there to - “ He lowered his voice to a whisper so the driver couldn’t eavesdrop, leaning in close enough that his lips brushed Loki’s ear. 

“To kiss me? Drag me into that stall to do what you liked with me, if you hadn’t been drinking? Is that it, Loki? Because I rather hoped it was due to you wanting to…”

Loki gave Thor a look that blatantly said ‘of course I don’t like being the one getting made fun of’. That wasn’t really a difficult thing to figure out. The next look he gave him, though, was a warning. Don’t push things when a driver could eavesdrop on them. Not that he really was. The man seemed happy to listen to his news radio, but Loki wasn’t sure they could take the chance.

Thor, on the other hand...

Letting Thor in on how he was feeling had emboldened Thor, but when they were in Switzerland, Loki had hoped Thor would be emboldened and less hesitant without having to be pushed for it. Now, he was getting what he’d hoped for, and he knew he should be kicking himself for it, but he was too busy feeling goosebumps pop on his arms when Thor whispered in his ear.

Thor knew him. He knew him too damn well. That should have been an issue, rather than a turn on.

Reaching over to put his hand on Thor’s thigh, Loki nudged Thor with his shoulder, getting him to back off. Just enough that Loki could lean in and whisper in his ear.

The way Loki had very nearly given away his reaction to Thor’s touch shouldn’t have felt as good as it did. It shouldn’t have made Thor smirk with a certain touch of smugness as Loki found an excuse to leave with him. 

But it did. 

“And I’m sure you could easily have been heard back in that stall, making the sounds you were making,” Thor shot back with a grin, catching the wrist of the hand Loki was prodding Thor’s chest with. 

“Starting to think my predictions were spot-on, there,” he added, brushing his thumb over Loki’s pulse point before guiding him to continue walking. “Since I didn’t actually even touch you, and you were all…” Thor playfully imitated one of Loki’s groans, reaching to tug him in close by the shoulders. 

“Anyway, I couldn’t help it,” he continued. “And it seemed only fair. You got a good handful while we were in there, and I’ve never really even touched…” With next to no hesitation, Thor slid his hand down, palming Loki’s ass for a second time, this time letting himself linger as long as Loki would let him get away with it. 

Thor imitating his groans in the bathroom had Loki feeling put on the spot, red creeping up his neck and into his face lightning-quick. Thor had him by the wrist, and he was calling him out for having been correct all along.

Loki hadn’t known, hadn’t even thought. Yes, Thor’s texts during that breakfast date had been racy and had put thoughts in his head, but he hadn’t realized how right Thor had been. He hadn’t actually touched him, and Loki had been whining, needy. He was sure that wasn’t a bad thing, but it made it a little difficult to keep up his aloof act.

“I was drinking.” Loki hissed, glancing around. No one else was coming around this area, and there was little chance of them being overheard. “No, you haven’t ever really touched.” Thor’s hand slid over his ass, and Loki let him have a few seconds before he was slipping out of his grasp and heading down the stairs and around the corner to where the cars would be waiting to take patrons home. 

Turning around so he was walking backwards, he looked Thor over. “You never will, either, if you keep making fun of me.”

Glancing down, Thor felt a little swoop of dread when he noticed his own tie. It only took a few seconds to fix it, but it had taken less time than that for it to be noticed. 

“Uh - not too late yet,” he replied, forcing himself to laugh. Thor supposed that if he really had been off somewhere fooling around with - what was her name? - Anna, he would have been a little awkward about it anyway. Maybe it was best if he just their parents assume that was what happened.

If he didn’t say anything, it wasn’t a lie, so it couldn’t come back to bite him if they talked to her about it. 

“Plenty of fun, though,” Thor answered with a grin, nudging Loki in the side with his elbow. Keep up the brother act. Because that wouldn’t blow up in their face if anything ever got out…

“Though it might just about be time to be heading home,” he continued, sliding his hand across the small of Loki’s back, slipping up under his jacket for half a second, and letting himself squeeze Loki’s ass, quick and subtle as he took his hand back. “Before I get into any more trouble.”

Thor nudged him, and Loki snorted, crossing his arms.

This was easy, and fine. Their parents were able to swallow what Thor was feeding them with no issues, and it wasn’t just because Frigga had been trying to hook him up with a young woman. Before Thor had left, he’d had a bit of a penchant for having a good time - distractions from Loki? - and they clearly hadn’t forgotten that.

It meant they were safe. How outrageous would it be to think that Loki had been the one Thor was messing around with.

And just when Loki was thinking that, Thor’s hand slid over his ass and...

“Ah.” Covering his reaction with a cough, Loki nodded. “If that’s all right, mother? I don’t want to skip out on the end of your gala, but it’s probably better I head back with Thor, now, before I have the chance to drink more.”

Frigga seemed to agree, and assured them they had things from this point. A hug and kiss from her, and handshake from Odin, and they were heading out front of the building, Loki glancing around before he turned and prodded Thor in the chest.

“Thank - thank you,” Thor answered, tripping over his reply as he pictured what it might be like to actually mark up Loki’s neck. A teenage urge, the immature act of leaving hickeys on the neck of the object of one’s desire, but when it was Loki…god, Thor wanted to do it.

He blew out a slow breath as Loki went back out into the party, having been much quicker at putting himself back together. It took a few more minutes for Thor to look presentable again, hair smoothed back, shirt tucked in, general decency. The threat of their parents finding out what had been going on was more than enough to pour a bucket of cold water over his libido, so that was that problem taken care of. 

At least nobody gave Thor a second glance as he left the bathroom. He got a few smiles as he approached his parents and Loki, though, coming up behind Loki to put an arm around his shoulders. 

“No, getting into trouble is more Loki’s thing, don’t you think?” Thor asked with a grin, squeezing Loki’s shoulder. 

Thor’s timing couldn’t have been better, and Loki managed to throw in an eyeroll and shrugged him off. Keeping up the brothers and nothing more act. It was easier than Loki thought, but considering it was their parents they were talking to, that shouldn’t have been a shock.

“I’m a bit less likely to be caught getting into trouble though, brother, dear.” Loki said, and patted Thor’s tie exactly where it wasn’t quite tucked back into his jacket properly. He wouldn’t have brought attention to it, if Frigga’s gaze hadn’t already picked it out. Of course she had, because Thor had disappeared after dancing with the girl she’d tried to hook him up with.

Loki knew what their mother might have been thinking. He knew what their father was thinking, right now, taking in that tie.

Judging by the way this had gone - not at all as Thor might have expected - Loki may not have had as many hang-ups about the two of them actually taking things further with each other. If he was all right with Thor grinding up against him in a bathroom stall while someone else was in the room, surely he wasn’t feeling as shy as he had been at first.

That didn’t mean Thor was about to pressure him for anything, or bring it up again. It just meant that the ever-present heat under Thor’s skin flared up a little hotter with a new feeling of anticipation. 

“I should hope not,” Thor laughed, doing his best to seem calm and collected even while he felt nothing close to it. There was a tension, a knot of it in his lower belly that went along with the hardness in his own trousers, and he was going to have to go back out there in a few minutes like none of this had happened. “I know. We really should get cleaned up and - “

Need a hand taking care of that?

“Absolutely, but not from you,” Thor replied with a smirk, hoping the flush spreading up his neck wouldn’t be too terribly obvious. It seemed easiest, the best way to take back control of the situation, to turn it around and make a joke. “If you could just give me a bit of privacy, I can make due with my own…”

He slid his hand down, pressing a palm against himself, letting his eyes flutter shut, teeth scraping over his lower lip. It had been a joke, but the touch to a part of him that was aching for it did feel good. Still…this wasn’t the time.

“Come on,” Thor said softly, reaching behind Loki to unlock the stall door and pass by him. He moved over to a sink, splashing cold water on his face in the hopes that it might help, glancing up in the mirror to meet Loki’s eyes through it. “Get yourself cleaned up. You’re a complete wreck, darling.” Thor winked.

Was Thor blushing? Loki couldn’t be sure, because, regardless of that, Thor had already been flushed from what they were doing. Still, at had Loki grinning and, at the same time, nearly self-sabotaging.

Because, for a moment, he thought about it. He thought about Thor in front of him, Thor in his hand, Thor having to keep quiet while, Loki was sure, one of his longest hidden fantasies came true. The idea wasn’t repulsive to Loki, which was one thing. It didn’t have him thinking but only if he got me first, either, which was another.

Loki was a selfish person, and he knew that. But, knowing that he would gladly do that for Thor, to see Thor lost in it, to have Thor at his mercy, to give Thor what he’d so long wanted? Maybe it was still selfish, but Loki didn’t care. He wanted all of that for himself.

But, not right now. Not here. Even if the thought meant he needed to clear his throat and look away from Thor when Thor palmed himself, he couldn’t give into it. It was far too much for a fundraising gala bathroom. Eventually, it may not be too much for one of their home bathrooms, but, right now?

Stepping out of the stall, Loki watched Thor splash water on himself. That might help. So might the distance. But Thor was kind of a mess. Not that Loki was any better, and he knew that without looking in a mirror.

“You’re one to talk. Who did this to me, again?” Loki asked, quirking his eyebrow, before stepping back into the stall and locking the door again. Inside, where he couldn’t be seen if someone else walked in, he could straighten out his clothing, redressing himself and adjusting so that nothing looked out of place and everything was covered that may be a problem, though, the critical thinking and problem-solving had made his body lose interest fairly fast.

Stepping out of the stall, again, he moved over to the mirror and fixed his hair, amusing himself at how easily he’d put himself back together. Hopefully, Thor would manage the same.

“I’ll... cover for you.” He said, assured they were still alone. “Find mother and father and distract them if they ask about you. You’re just lucky you didn’t mark up my neck, by the way.” 

Finding his way back into the party was easy. He’d done a good job of fixing himself up, and when someone did call his name, it was his mother who, apparently, couldn’t find anything remiss about him, only congratulated him on being so entertaining with Thor.

Loki hadn’t expected this. Thor knew he hadn’t, because it was a bold move, even for him. However, instead of protesting a move that was bound to put Loki at risk of giving them away, Loki whined - softly, but Thor was sure he heard it - and pulled him in closer. 

Pulled him in closer and let Thor really feel just how much he didn’t mind. 

Thor knew everything showed in his own expression. Their faces were so close, Thor’s eyes locked on Loki’s, Loki surely able to catch every flutter of Thor’s eyelashes, the way his mouth fell open when he felt the hard line in Loki’s suit trousers, the way he just barely managed to bite back a groan, free hand moving to cover his own mouth even while he kept his other hand over Loki’s. 

This was dangerous. The door to the party had just swung shut again, and Thor realized the one person that had come into the bathroom was gone. That opened the opportunity for Thor to move, sliding one hand up into Loki’s hair - grip and tug, tip his head back, so Thor could kiss up his neck - and moving the other to Loki’s waist, pushing right up under his shirt.

The bare skin of Loki’s stomach was warm and smooth on Thor’s calloused palm, and he grunted against Loki’s neck, rocking forward once more. “Fuck,” he growled, nipping at Loki’s ear, pulling back just enough to kiss him properly once more before backing off entirely. 

Thor pushed both his hands over his own hair, smoothing it back and staring at Loki. “Jesus Christ,” he breathed, feeling his breath only just starting to settle, heart still pounding in his chest. “Can’t keep going or I’m going to - I can’t. Feels too good.”

Pulling Thor in closer had resulted in exactly what Loki had wanted, and even though he knew Thor wouldn’t be able to see it, he had to smirk, fingers squeezing gently where they were pressed against Thor’s ass. That was nice, in its own way. He had the opportunity and the chances, now, to touch Thor like this whenever he wanted.  

Loki was so caught up in how those things felt, how good it was, that he hadn’t heard the other person leave the bathroom.

They must have, though, because suddenly Thor was moving, again, grabbing his hair and pulling his head back, his hands sliding under Loki’s shirt. If the other person wasn’t gone, Thor was risking them being caught for certain, because Loki gasped his name, and then, immediately after, a soft “oh” when Thor rocked forward again.

For so damn long, Loki had thought this, and expected it to just go away. The way he felt about Thor, though, wasn’t something he was just going to be able to let slide off like a towel after a shower. That became more obvious every day, and right now, he knew that his fears about getting more intimate with Thor were being crushed and he was just fine with that.

Abruptly, Thor backed off, and Loki sighed, putting his weight against the stall door, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “Feels bloody amazing.” He corrected. He was a mess. He was sure his hair needed fixing, now, and his clothing needed to be put back in order. Not to mention that he was hard in his trousers, which was going to be difficult to play off. 

They were going to need a few minutes.

“Don’t worry, love. I’m not letting our first time be in a loo.” Straightening up, Loki looked Thor over, taking in the flush to his skin, his slightly askew clothing, his dark eyes. “As tempting as you look right now... Someone is going to notice we’re missing soon enough, and it’s not going to be great if we’re spotted like... this.”

Loki wasn’t stopping Thor, and Loki was groaning when Thor took control like that, pinning his hands. Loki was gasping and looking at him like that and pressing forward against him, and telling the truth - “you want me” - and goddammit, someone else was coming into the bathroom. 

They couldn’t be heard. Neither of them had been being particularly quiet, and this was dangerous. Sure, that was adding to the rush, and the way Loki moved against Thor, sucked at his lip, had that fire racing through his veins, but now, Loki was half a second away from getting them caught messing around in the bathroom with their parents hardly a room away. 

Thor brought a hand up, covering Loki’s mouth, meeting his eyes, bringing his other hand up, index finger against his own lips in an unmistakable shh gesture. He followed that with a slow roll of his hips against Loki’s, hand not covering Loki’s mouth moving to press flat on the door beside Loki’s head, eyes never leaving Loki’s, teeth digging into his own lower lip as his eyelids fluttered.

Christ that felt good. This was a very, very bad idea, but the pressure and friction was delectable, not to mention knowing that Loki would have to stay completely quiet or risk them getting caught.  

Of course someone had to come in now. Now, they were going to have to stop, which, really, was probably for the best, but Loki wasn’t thinking about that right now. He was thinking about how robbed he felt, because once the metaphoric cold water was dumped over his head, he wouldn’t be able to get back to this point.

Again, maybe a good thing. This whole experience was giving him a lot to think about, if nothing else, and part of Loki knew that, but most of him wanted to sulk about being interrupted.

He didn’t get a chance to, because Thor was covering his mouth, making a ssh gesture at him. Loki’s eyebrows knit together, and if Thor hadn’t been covering his mouth, he would have seen the way Loki was frowning. He wasn’t an idiot. He wasn’t about to give them away, certainly not right now, here, where everything could blow up in a terrible way. It was almost insulting that Thor thought so little of him.

All that indignation was wiped out of his head when Thor moved his hips like that.

Loki knew he was supposed to be quiet. That had been the whole point of the hand over his mouth. The problem was, this was Thor, looking at him like he was, and doing that while they were so in danger of being caught. Loki thought it was a damn miracle the only thing that could out was the barest hint of a whine, eyes closing in torturous bliss while his hands moved down, without consulting his brain, to press against Thor’s ass and tug him in closer.

It was so obvious Thor liked that, and of course he had. Loki was very thankful for their suit pants, right now, rather than jeans, while he watched Thor and pulled him even closer, feeling everything, and letting Thor feel exactly how much Loki was loving this.

Loki knew exactly what it was doing.

It couldn’t have been more clear that Loki knew Thor couldn’t stay annoyed with him. Whether or not he had a good reason to be, as soon as Loki kissed him, every bit of annoyance was forgotten. 

It was replaced with heat, swift and overwhelming, and Thor all-out groaned into the kiss Loki pulled him into. This was more than what they’d done on that bed in Switzerland, more than anything they’d done since. It couldn’t go anywhere else; they were in the bathroom of a ballroom, with a rather large party happening outside, a fancy to-do thrown by their parents.

It couldn’t go further, but that didn’t stop Thor grabbing both of Loki’s wrists and pinning his hands above his head on the back of the door, pushing forward against him and biting at Loki’s lower lip. 

“I can stay mad,” Thor breathed, hearing the roughness in his own voice. “If I wanted to. I’d have good reason to, if you weren’t doing…this…oh…”

Thor groaned, Thor kissing him back. Thor touching him, making it so, so very obvious that he wasn’t really mad at him, he wasn’t annoyed with him. Loki couldn’t help grinning into their kisses.

This was the natural progression of things, wasn’t it? The kiss in the kitchen, the good-morning and good-night-kisses, the kisses in Switzerland, and now...

This was a bad idea. They were in a very fancy bathroom that anyone could walk into and hear them, in a very upscale place, at a charity fundraiser that their mother had spent months spearheading. It was a bad idea for Loki to encourage Thor, it was a bad idea for Thor to keep kissing him, it was a very bad idea for Loki to groan when Thor pinned his arms above his head. That groan echoed around the bathroom, along with the gasp when Thor said ‘oh’ like that.

That. That did things to Loki. That had him tipping his head back against the door, getting distance to look at Thor. Oh, but he was gorgeous. A work of art, in every way, and he wanted Loki. He wanted Loki above everyone and everything else, even that girl who he’d danced with, even Jane, even the tart he’d brought home that night, even Tobias.

Thor wanted him, and Loki wanted Thor. So very badly.

Not that he would act on that here. Even leaving aside the situation, Loki wasn’t going to do that with Thor for the first time in a damn bathroom stall.

“But I am doing this, love.” Loki shifted against the door, pressing his body against Thor’s slowly, as best he could. “So you can’t stay mad. You don’t want to.” He kissed Thor again, slow, teasing, sucking his lower lip. “You want me.”

It was Loki. Thor was almost surprised. Knowing his brother, he might have expected him to stay out there, tormenting Thor by reminding him that he’d missed his chance and Loki wasn’t about to give in just because Thor was annoyed. 

Why was Thor so annoyed? Because Loki is an utter drama queen? Because he’s so used to getting what he wants when he wants?

It didn’t matter, because Loki only waited long enough to ask if Thor was really mad at him before he grabbed him by the tie and kissed him. 

Thor didn’t hesitate for a second, once Loki started backing into one of the stalls. He crowded Loki straight back into it, pulling back from the kiss just enough to suck in a breath before slamming the stall door behind the both of them. It was easy, then, to push Loki up against the back of the door, pressing against him, taking over his space and surrounding him. 

“I’m very mad at you,” Thor growled against Loki’s neck, kissing a line down it before he moved back to his lips, licking inside his mouth and sliding a hand under his jacket. There was a fire starting up inside him, now, and Thor couldn’t be bothered to keep it under control. 

No, Thor wasn’t mad at Loki, and Loki knew that. Thor couldn’t have stayed angry at him, the second Loki kissed him.

That was a ploy Loki never should have been given, but now that he had it, it was wonderful to use. It was wonderful, period. Loki liked kissing Thor. He liked kissing Thor a lot.

And he liked Thor pushing him up against bathroom stall doors and pressing against him. He liked Thor kissing his neck, he liked Thor trying to say he was mad at him. He loved Thor kissing him, and touching him the way he wanted to. He couldn’t stop himself from a sound of pleasure, moving his hands from Thor’s tie to his jacket lapels, pulling him in closer, pushing off the door from the shoulders up to kiss Thor back.

“No, you’re not.” He breathed against Thor’s lips, using the hands on Thor’s jacket to hold him off just enough. “You can’t stay mad at me, at least. God, come here.”

What Loki wanted to do was tease Thor more. What he was doing, instead, was pulling him against him, kissing him open-mouthed and dirty, hands sliding down his sides, and around to the small of his back.

“I said ten minutes,” Thor replied through his teeth, doing his best to keep his voice level, a forced smile plastered on his face for the benefit of the others nearby. “It was after five that I saw you leave.” With a nod toward the other couple - other couple? he asked himself - he pulled Loki a little further away, hand on his forearm. 

“You know perfectly well I wasn’t courting her,” Thor added. “You know - what?”

What, you still wanted me?

“Oh, give it up, Loki,” Thor huffed, rolling his eyes and pushing Loki’s arm away. Against most of his instincts, he turned and walked away, heading for the bathroom himself. 

After all that, after Loki pushing Thor into another dance with Anna - making it impossible for Thor to say no without looking terribly rude - Loki dared to imply that Thor was in the wrong for not coming and meeting him after five minutes. 

Thor let the bathroom door swing shut behind him, leaning on the counter in front of the sinks and staring at his reflection. He ran a hand over his beard and shook his head, telling himself he should just go back out there - and then the door swung open again. 

Apparently, Thor wasn’t pleased with Loki for walking away from the bathroom already. Thor, who had been spending more time than necessary with that cupcake of a girl. Maybe that was Loki being a handful, demanding more of Thor’s time than he had a right to, especially after Thor had gone ahead and found a way for them to dance together in front of everyone.

He didn’t really care. It was quite a bit rewarding to see Thor a bit worked up and not getting what he wanted for, perhaps, the first time in weeks. 

“Right. Bye, then.” Loki said, quietly, folding his arms and watching Thor go. Thor was put out, wasn’t he? Because Loki hadn’t been there, like he’d hoped. Thor was the one throwing a fit, for once, and Loki had to grin, watching his back, seeing him walk towards the bathroom himself. Turning back to the couple he’d been speaking to, he smiled.

“Thor’s feeling a little under the weather. Didn’t like that I suggested it was just embarrassment from needing his baby brother to show him how to impress a lady.” That got a laugh. Of course it did. Loki, the gay son, showing Thor how to impress a woman? Hilarious! “But, I think I should go apologize to him. Make sure his feelings aren’t to hurt. Have a wonderful evening.”

That handled, Loki wandered towards the bathroom, taking the long way so he wouldn’t seem too obvious. Walking into the bathroom, though, he knew his smirk was obvious, his glee. The bathroom was empty, and that was probably for the best. It made it easy for Loki to give in to what he wanted to do.

“Are you really mad at me?” He asked, reaching out to grab Thor by the tie, and tug him in so he could kiss him.

God, this was what Loki had needed all night. Thor’s mouth on his, the taste of champagne hitting his tongue when he swiped it over Thor’s lips. The brush of Thor’s freshly trimmed beard against his skin. Loki didn’t bother to hide his sigh, backing towards one of the stall doors. These damn fancy bathrooms, their ceiling to floor stalls, and Thor looking so damn put together in his suit and tie.

There were a lot of people watching.

The only appropriate course of action, Thor knew, was to let Loki go, and dance with Anna again. Dance with her properly, and not make it look so obviously like he wanted to get away.

The problem was, he had even more motivation to get away, now. Loki was headed for the bathroom. Because Thor had asked him to? Or just because he needed to? He was going to be waiting for that whole ten minutes, Thor thought, if he was going because Thor asked him. 

This was another waltz. It wasn’t going to be over in two minutes, as much as Thor wished it would be. He tried to smile and be polite to Anna, dancing with her, admittedly much better than before, but there was no denying that he was distracted.

Loki, waiting for him. Loki, alone in the bathroom, having been allowed to wait, and wait, and eventually he wouldn’t want to anymore - 

Loki, moving across to the other side of the room, after only five minutes, looking less than pleased. Thor stared. There was no way he’d lost his chance. Had he?

“Excuse me, Anna, I really must leave for a few moments. Been lovely to dance with you. I’m sure I’ll see you around sometime.”

Thor didn’t even spare her a second glance before going after Loki. He came up behind his step-brother, with a touch on his back as he leaned in to speak, low enough that the people Loki was hanging around with wouldn’t hear. 

“You left already? Really?”

Ten minutes wasn’t that long of a time, but it wasn’t going to be an issue, for Loki. There was no way, knowing that Loki was waiting, that Thor would go the length of that waltz. He would find a believable excuse, a good reason to run away to the bathroom, and then...

Then what? Loki didn’t know but there was a current running under his skin like he was connected directly to an electric wire. Anticipation and desire. It wasn’t a feeling that Loki was used to, he’d never had to become settled against it, or accepting of it, because it hadn’t been a problem. It wasn’t a problem now, either. It was delicious, and Loki spent most of his time in front of the mirror smirking, checking his reflection and making sure he looked good when Thor came through that door.

But he didn’t. Not in the amount of time Loki had expected. Stepping out of the bathroom, curious, Loki had seen exactly why. Thor wasn’t making excuses to get out of the waltz. He wasn’t even trying. He was moving around the floor with Anna, smiling, talking, and Loki felt something in the pitch of his stomach clench and twist.

Thor wanted him, but he wanted as much attention as possible, too, didn’t he Was that it? Yes, Loki could be accused of that, but when the chance had come, he’d put himself in a bathroom to wait for Thor while Thor...

Huffing, Loki strode across the hall, looking to distract himself. And he did manage it, getting grabbed by a couple who wanted to congratulate him for teaching Thor so well. It was they he was with when Thor’s hand pressed against his back.

Smiling, amicable, Loki looked at the people he had been speaking with. “Excuse me, just a moment. Hopefully this isn’t another impromptu dance lesson, mm?”

That got him a laugh, and he turned, moving a few steps away with Thor.

Loki didn’t seem to be upset anymore, and Thor liked to consider himself an expert at telling whether he was. There had been no mistaking the look on his face, earlier, when Thor had brought Anna on to the dance floor, but now?

Now Loki was laughing, smiling, and none of it was fake. Thor let him take back the lead - not that he had much of a choice, once Loki set his mind to it - and found he was hardly even aware of the many gazes on them as they practically took over the dance floor.

“If you meet me in ten minutes, you can do both,” Thor replied quietly with a wink, before spinning Loki out, and back in, close and tight, showing off just a touch, because as much as he’d pretended he didn’t know how to dance, he knew he could, especially with Loki.

He knew just how Loki moved.

“Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?” Thor murmured, using their finishing pose as an excuse to speak close to Loki’s ear again, glancing up as he heard applause from those who had been watching their little performance. “I don’t want to let you go. I want to tell every one of these people that you’re mine.”

“Wonderful, darling.” Loki answered. Ten minutes. He could meet Thor in ten minutes and he wouldn’t have to be in front of all these people, trying to pretend he didn’t want to kiss Thor, and be in his arms. He could give up this act, and that would be, as he’d said, wonderful.

Thor was doing a better job charming him than he’d been doing charming that girl, but Loki wasn’t complaining, spinning out from Thor and back in with an easy smile. They couldn’t keep doing this forever, but they’d done it for long enough to settle Loki’s annoyances and jealousy.

You’re mine.

Thor didn’t know how much Loki loved hearing those words. This was becoming harder and harder to keep a leash on, with every day that went by. If anyone else said that, Loki would laugh in their face. For Thor? He squeezed a little tighter, and hummed, and did nothing but make it sound like he was just fine with that.

Shifting out of Thor’s arms, Loki nodded at the people who had been watching - many more than he’d thought - and gestured to Thor. “The boy can be taught yet, ladies and gentlemen.”

Ten minutes. 

“Warmed him up for you.” Loki said to the girl, as he walked off the floor, and waved his hand grandly at Thor. “I can’t promise he’ll be as good as he was with me, because I’m me, but he should at least not stomp on your feet.”

“You’re supposed to be teaching me how to lead,” Thor muttered, returning Loki’s grin. This felt good. Too good, really; it was a surprise that they were even getting away with this. Dancing together, in front of everyone at a party like this?

The circumstances had been too perfect. Until they figured out a way to just be open about what they were to each other, this was as good as it was going to get. Thor was damn well going to enjoy it. 

“I think I’m starting to remember this one,” he stated, at a volume that would be audible to anyone paying attention to the two of them. Loki laced their fingers together, and Thor squeezed Loki’s hand. 

It was with a bit of daring that Thor spun Loki, dipping him with finesse that he shouldn’t really have had, if he didn’t know this dance well. The issue was, Loki was beautiful, and Thor was hopelessly in love with him, and this just felt far too good. Using the closeness that the dip brought, Thor leaned down, speaking soft and low into Loki’s ear. 

“If you keep looking at me like that, you’re going to need to meet me in the bathroom as soon as we’re done this dance.”

Loki rolled his eyes when Thor played up that he was remembering. Yes, Loki was sure that was obvious to anyone who was watching them, because he wasn’t really stumbling or hesitating. Loki was just that good of a teacher, it seemed.

“You’re getting it. Some-”

Thor dipping him was unexpected, and it was only when he stopped and held the dip that Loki got out the other half of the word. “-What.” God, Thor was so charming. So good-looking, and he was just focused on Loki. He was all Loki’s. For the first time, Loki really let himself understand that. Thor could be made to dance with a family friend’s daughter, he could be pulled away all night long to chat and make nice with fundraiser attendees. At the end of it all, though, he was Loki’s.

It didn’t mean Loki wouldn’t get jealous, but it certainly helped. Added together with their waltz, and Thor’s comment, Loki was feeling much better. Enough that he laughed when Thor pulled him back up.

“Are you?” Loki asked, quietly. Feeling daring, he pushed, taking over the lead from Thor, looking downwards so it would look like he was giving a few more pointers. “Because considering the spectacle we’re making, and how we’re making it, I don’t know if I want to slap you or kiss you.”

Thor raised his eyes at the comment about his eventual wedding, deciding not to comment on that. There was nothing to say that brought the conversation anywhere good. Instead, he let Loki lead him to the dance floor, smiling in quiet satisfaction. 

They were going to get away with this. All that had come their way were a few glances and knowing smiles. Everyone knew who Loki was, and what he did for a living, and most people here knew who Thor was too. Plenty of them had seen him trying and failing to dance with a woman, and now, oh, he was going to get a few pointers from his dancer brother, that’s cute. 

If only they knew. 

“Mmhm,” Thor replied softly, stepping in closer, eyes half-lidded for a moment as he smiled down at Loki. His hand slid onto Loki’s side as he took his other hand, gently picking up the lead of the waltz. Oh, yes, he did know this dance well, and it felt so much more natural with Loki. 

“How am I doing?” Thor asked slyly, voice low. “Any tips?”

This really was genius, in its own way, and Loki was amazed that Thor had thought of it. Thor was normally the one to go along with things, make sure the person he was dancing with was happy, certainly not walk away in the middle of a dance to grab his step-brother to dance with instead. Still, that was what Thor had done, and now the two of them were the ones moving around the dance floor.

It wasn’t so genius, though, the way Thor had looked at him for a second. With any luck, it was easily explained away as thankfulness and fondness by anyone in the crowd. It was too absurd to think that they were involved with each other, so no one would go there.

“Tips?” Loki repeated, and then pretended to be looking down, tracking their feet and giving pointers. “Here’s a tip: if you want this to look like me giving you pointers, stop leading so easily.” He looked back up, and couldn’t hide his grin. If his next words were overheard, that was fine. It would look like teasing encouragement. “You’re doing very well, darling.”

Without thinking, he moved to lace their fingers together, then stopped, for half a second, before doing it, and winking at Thor. It looked like teaching, teasing. Two brothers, the younger one showing the older how to charm a lady with class.

This definitely wasn’t good.

Loki had always tended to be a jealous person, not to mention a vindictive one. Thor himself had to admit to being jealous from time to time, particularly when it came to Loki, so he couldn’t exactly blame him, but it didn’t make it any easier to see him walk away into the crowd. 

The dance with Anna was stiff and awkward as Thor kept his distance, and kept trying to catch a glimpse of his brother. He knew how to do this dance, a simple waltz, the first thing Loki had ever taught him, but he knew the way he was doing it right now looked like he’d never tried it in his life. 

Oh. There was an idea. 

“Anna, darling, I hope you don’t mind, but - I’m sure you’ll notice I’m finding myself a little rusty on the waltz. You know my brother Loki is a professional dancer? He’s been trying to teach me, but I’m rather hopeless. You deserve a better dance partner than an oaf like me, so I think before we go any further…” Thor smiled, going for sheepish, glancing down and back up at Anna. 

“I’m just going to go see if he’ll remind me how this all works.”

Anna let him go, but Thor couldn’t help feeling it was with an air of confusion and slight annoyance. That was fair, he thought as he wove through crowds of people in suits and gowns, until he spotted Loki off near a wall, chatting with a couple Thor didn’t know.

“Pardon the interruption,” he said, stepping up behind Loki, putting an arm around his shoulders with what he hoped was his most charming smile. “But if I could, I just need to borrow my lovely brother - Loki, can you remind me of how to do the waltz?” Thor leaned down, speaking closer to Loki’s ear with a hint of a smirk. “I’m utterly useless at it, and you’re such a good teacher.”

This was all easier if Loki told himself he was enjoying the conversation he was having. The couple were friends of their parents - without an unwed, unattached child of their own to foist onto either Thor or Loki - and they had flagged him down. It had seemed like a blessing, but no sooner had the three of them started talking than Loki got a whiff of cologne and someone’s arm went around his shoulders.

Thor.

Ah. Thor, asking Loki to remind him how the waltz worked. Thor, calling himself utterly useless at it, when Loki knew for a fact that Thor had mastered the waltz completely.

This was surprisingly devious of Thor. What bits of the dance Loki had seen had looked stilted. What better way to make sure he could impress his partner than by getting a refresher from a professional. Dance a waltz, with Loki, in front of everyone, and raise no eyebrows.

“You know, Thor, darling, the only way I can really give you a reminder right now is to dance it with you.” He turned, looking Thor over with a smile. “You weren’t wooing that poor girl very well, were you? Mm. That just won’t do. Very well.” Turning back to the couple, he found them smiling, good-natured, amused. “Please, do excuse us. I need to help my dear brother.”

Thor didn’t miss the way Loki rolled his eyes. He’d hardly seen him approach; it was as though he’d materialized out of thin air just to roll his eyes at - what was her name again? - Anna’s conversation. 

Thor and Loki’s mother had slipped away after a minute or two, letting Anna take over, and Thor tried not to sigh. He smiled, polite, listening, and wishing he could escape, because it had been only too obvious that Frigga was trying to set him up. 

They’d had this conversation over family dinner not more than a week ago, and Thor thought he’d settled the matter then, putting the idea in his parents’ minds that he simply didn’t want a relationship right now. He supposed Frigga just couldn’t resist at a function like this. 

“I’m sure it would be easy to find someone to go with you,” Thor replied with a smile, glancing over to meet Loki’s eyes once more. Loki, who looked supremely unimpressed. Thor knew he wasn’t supposed to be doing this - socializing with other people in a specific way - but how was he supposed to get out of it without being incredibly rude? Anna’s parents were friends of his and Loki’s parents. It was complicated. 

That meant Thor couldn’t flat-out refuse when she asked him to dance, either. He looked Loki’s way once more, as he brought her to the dance floor while tasteful music played, trying to convey apology through the most subtle expression he could manage. 

This was not going the way Loki expected that it would.

Yes, there was always a danger of this, and Loki had known that, especially after their parents had asked about their love lives. That was just how parents were, and there was always a chance at something like this to meddle, which was precisely what Frigga was doing. Loki was sure she didn’t see it that way. She was introducing her step-son to a very nice, if, in Loki’s opinion, boring young woman, and hoping to see the seeds she planted flourish.

But Thor wasn’t supposed to let them. That was the agreement they’d had. 

Yet, here Loki was, sipping his champagne, and watching Thor walk out onto the dance floor with this girl, giving him a look that clearly said ‘sorry.’

But he was still going.

As soon as Thor’s eyes were off him, Loki turned on his heel and lost himself in the crowd, trying to do his best no to look over at the floor, but he failed. Failed until he had to put down his nearly drained champagne flute, because he was sure he could see a hairline crack running up from the stem.