epidemiology | CLOSED.

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CLOSED.

CHARACTERS: Ahad & Loki
DATE: Leramzen, before the heist
WARNINGS: It's them, so be careful. eta It's getting a little steamy.
SUMMARY: For once in his life, Loki is a supportive boyfriend.

Till the stars had run away,

[ the first few nights are spent at Loki's behest, heading from party to party to have a taste of fun before the real job comes. after the fire and destruction that came with Oska, and the horror of reliving his own existential trauma and exile, it's nice to fall into something that's familiar. he's a god of chaos, but chaos for the sake of chaos means nothing: it needs order sometimes, or ceases to be spontaneous.

this night he's come home early, his ears still ringing pleasantly. his fingers hook in the opening of his shirt, between his throat and his collar, and he pulls open the top few buttons with loose fingers. there's an audible phew as he steps through the door, bringing in the smell of night with him.

while Ahad's presence isn't surprising, the feeling in the room is. shrugging off his jacket, Loki tosses it over the nearest chair. he takes a few long steps toward the window. the city looks dazzling from above, a glowing metropolis by night shining like the jewel that they're supposed to steal.

after a moment, Loki offers a cigarillo to him between two fingers. it's wrapped delicately in paper, and is no doubt, stolen. ]

Fancy seeing you here.

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[ It was to Ahad's constant consternation that while he would rather have isolation, he required a certain amount of intimacy to function. Connection was messy, requiring constant upkeep and a certain amount of conflict to remain healthy. But it was in conflict that he was at the most risk. It was some kind of terribly irony that the only thing he required to sustain himself was also the only thing that could destroy him.

It was easier to go out and forget, but tonight the weight of his own nature and the partly resolved situation with Dany left him feeling bereft. It was here that Loki found him, staring out the window and pretending at stoicism.

It takes a moment, but he will take the cigarillo. ]

I do live here.

[ He'll hold the cigarillo to his lips, lighting it with a flick of his fingers. ]

[ Loki takes another from the case, and tucks it back into one of his pockets. he always seems to have them hidden in places, as if the thrill of having a little secret was all he needed to feel victorious. ]

You do, but the night is young and the parties rage on. [ there's a little smile. ] Leaving you in my company.

[ it's been a while. long enough that Loki can tell Ahad's apathy from his moping. ]

I'm not complaining. A coin for your thoughts?

[ he puts the cigarillo to his lips and leans in for Ahad to light his too, in the fashion that he wishes. ]

I could leave. [ He sounds tired, and makes no move to get up from his position near the windows. It's more commentary on the poor company he makes tonight, not on Loki's presence. ]

Should I be insulted by such a paltry offer?

[ But Ahad does lean closer, lightly Loki's cigarillo from the tip of his own. The entire move is much smoother than it has any right to be. ]

[ once he bridges the gap, Loki lingers close. there's a smooth inhale and a waft of smoke that curls into the air. there's something sweet about consuming something that was stolen from another, and Loki savors it. ]

You could be. [ his dark lashes fall half-lidded over bright eyes. ] Did you want another thousand dollar bottle of wine? Or more, perhaps. They do have lavish taste here.

[ The look Loki gets bordered on mischievous. ]

I would not refuse such an offering. Have you known me to turn down wine?

[ It's rhetorical, obviously. Ahad had never met a bottle of wine that he didn't enjoy. ]

[ that's not a bad Look. if Loki was teasing before, he half entertains the idea of finding a very expensive bottle of wine and taking it, just to indulge him. ]

No—neither good nor bad alike. [ he says smoothly around the cigarillo. ] ... I'm thinking about it. Despite their need for luxury, these people have horrendously low security.

...

Deal, then: wine for your thoughts.

[ Ahad will take a long moment to exhale, before finally making eye contact with Loki. ]

And yet, I see no wine.

[ If he really didn't want to talk, he would have ended this conversation, instead of teasing about it. ]

You'll have to trust me on this one. Procuring quality wine takes some time.

[ wine across the multiverse, anyway.

he doesn't push the matter. Ahad's here, and he's talking. what's on his mind will come up, eventually. ]

I suppose I can be patient.

[ With that he shifts slightly, beckoning Loki closer. ]

I owe you a thought.

[ Loki barely shifts to move closer, as if it had been intention to do so, anyway. ]

Just one thought. I don't have enough currency to pay for two.

[ Loki will find himself subject to a full body lean. Ahad's usually more prickly than this, but tonight he seems to crave contact. ]

Perhaps I'll be generous, if the first thought leads to a second.

[ as Ahad makes himself comfortable, Loki watches with half-lidded green eyes, the brightness thin crescents under dark lashes. it's not until he settles that Loki lifts a free arm to settle on his opposite shoulder. ]

Please, indulge me. I seem to be in an indulging mood.

[ Ahad doesn't acknowledge the arm, but then he doesn't shrug it off either. That's as good a sign as any that he desired the touch. ]

She felt that I had abandoned her. [ He doesn't bother to explain who 'she' is, because why would Ahad make anything easier to follow? ]

[ his thumb draws along his shoulder. from between his lips comes a long line of smoke. for the moment, he doesn't say anything, just allows the words to linger. ]

Ah ... you spoke with her. Even now?

[ Ahad had been scarce, and Dany had been abandoned so many times, that he was sure she saw it everywhere.

he couldn't blame her, he did too. ]

We spoke. [ He's been ignoring his cigarillo, allowing it to burn down as he holds it between his fingers. ]

It is resolved, from a certain point of view.

[ from a certain point of view leaves a little matter of perspective. there were differences between gods and mortal, he knew that from trying to make it work with them, for trying to make it work with Verity and Thor.

sometimes the line between those desires was weak. ]

Yet something still seems to be bothering you, if you're here.

[ waiting for me, he wants to add, but doesn't. ]

I thought you might provide a suitable distraction.

[ His tone implies that Loki is clearly failing at that.

Not that he's being entirely serious. ]

[ a finger twirls around a lock of hair, tangling it in a neat knot before giving it a little playful tug. the mood isn't lost, and Loki intends to use it. ]

I'm working on it, but sometimes I'm rather mercurial. Famously so, actually.

[ The hair-pulling earns Loki a small frown, but Ahad doesn't otherwise protest. ]

Hurting each other...is inevitable.

[ There's a certain amount of finality to his words. It's something he's accepted as part of forming relationships, even if it will always damage him. ]

Yes ...

[ it comes after a pause, his fingers still teasing at Ahad's hair as they speak. he finishes the cigarillo, pinching the end and letting out a final waft of smoke through his mouth. the butt gets tossed to the side-table in an easy motion with his free hand. ]

I thought being a good friend meant never hurting someone, but everyone does it, eventually. The more you care, the more you can be hurt—or hurt other people, I suppose. We all come with baggage. Perhaps she sees everything as abandonment, because she expects to be abandoned, in the end.

Everything changes, even the hurting part.

[ he tips his head in toward Ahad's, pressing a cheek against his temple. ]

[ The cigarillo disappears from where it was thrown, while Ahad glares briefly at Loki. ]

I know all of this.

[ It would be petulant, if he didn't sound so bitter about it. If he didn't care as much for Yeine, he would wonder if his nature was more of a punishment than a gift. ]

Words.

[ he breathes out like a sigh, and then turns his chin to brush his lips against his hair. ]

I am being a poor distraction, aren't I?

[ He'll tilt his head to the side, to both show off his excellent profile and encourage Loki to perhaps turn that kiss into a line of kisses. It's not a subtle move, but then he's not feeling very subtle tonight. ]

There is room for improvement.

[ Loki smells like smoke and spice, and where Ahad offers, he leans into him. he doesn't indulge right away, and instead brushes his nose against his chin, and catches some of his hair between his lips.

there's a kiss at the corner of his jaw, and then another one further down. ]

... Better?

Marginally.

[ He'll reach around to bush his hair over his other shoulder and out of the way, wrinkling his nose at Loki as he does so. Ahad had long ago decided never to ask about why his hair is in Loki's mouth. ]

...there are times when your oral fixation goes too far.

[ That "oral fixation" is now part of Ahad's vocabulary can likely be blamed on Loki, too. ]

[ when he brushes his hair back, Loki leans forward with a smile that Ahad can probably feel more than see. there's a nip at his neck before he presses his lips against the space right under his jaw. ]

And times my oral fixation is just right.

[ he breathes against him. ]

Besides, my silver tongue needs to stay sharp.

Mm... [ He'll drop his shoulder at the nipping, leaving more of his neck exposed in a clear invitation. It takes a moment before he refocuses on Loki's words. ]

That pun is terrible.

[ Ahad tries, but that doesn't even end up sounding like a real complaint. ]

[ his lips are pressed against his neck, feather light as they trail downward. the sensation is light, meant to distract rather than indulge. ]

Would you like another?

[ the hand at his shoulder urges him into a half turn (though he's always waiting to see if Ahad will oblige or not, and there's a little thrill that he may defy). ]

[ He practically closes his eyes, focusing on that trail of kisses...

Right until Loki offers more puns. ]

The answer is always no.

[ He'll turn enough that Loki can clear see him roll his eyes, but otherwise resists being moved. ]

[ when Loki draws up its with a look of wide-eyed innocent that absolutely does not suit his face. in reconciliation, he brushes his face up against Ahad's, looking oddly content. ]

Ah—[ like a sigh ]—haaad ... Come to bed with me, at least?

[ The look Ahad gives him seems to clearly ask "why are you like this?" ]

If you insist. [ He says as if it were a heavy burden, having to stand up and move. ]

[ the innocence turns into a smidge of victory, and he gives Ahad a little tug to urge him to his feet. ]

Oh, I do insist.

[ he takes a few long steps back, expecting Ahad to follow. ]

[ Ahad raises an eyebrow at the tugging, but does stand. ]

Don't let it go to your head.

If all goes right ... [ Loki beckons to him, and then steps backwards until his knees hit the bed. he falls on his butt with a satisfied bounce. ] I intend to let it go to your head.

[ he crosses his leg at the knee as if in show, and tugs at the button of his shirt. ]

[ It's the combination of awful punning and bouncing on the bed that causes Ahad to pause. There's something incredulous about his expression here, as if he cannot believe he's truly considering going to bed with Loki in this moment.

Puns aren't sexy at all. ]

I deeply regret providing you with that phrase to play on.

[ but they're endearing!!

despite that whole dorky routine, Loki leans forward with a little leer that makes him look ten times cooler than he's actually coming off. ]

Really? Let's see if I can make you forget those regrets.

[ He doesn't look that cool...

But after a carefully measured sigh, Ahad steps closer and reaches out to catch hold of Loki's horns. He'll remove them, as long as Loki doesn't protest. ]

How hard do you intend to try?

[ From the put-upon look on his face, it's easy to assume that Ahad knows exactly what he's doing by giving Loki something as easy as 'hard' to work with. ]

[ there's a slight shift to the side as Ahad removes the diadem, tilting his head to make it more accessible. the headset slips into his fingers, and through Loki's hair. he presses his hand back through it, brushing it to the side. ]

How hard can you get?

[ yeah, he couldn't resist. ]

[ Ahad looks terribly unimpressed. ]

From listening to your puns?

[ Nevertheless, he does reach out to cup Loki's chin. ] Nothing but disappointment lies in that direction.

[ his head raises at Ahad's touch, bright eyes falling half lidded beneath dark lashes. with a little tip, he crosses the very thin gap between them, pressing a cheek just above his belly. ]

We could give it a try, regardless.

[ He doesn't twitch or anything as uncouth as that, but Loki can feel his momentary hesitation and then long exhale. The hand that was on his chin reaches up to play with the closest strands of Loki's hair. ]

I suppose there's nothing to lose by trying.

[ the corners of his lips twitch up, and he lifts a hand to curl a finger around the hem of his pants, giving it a playful tug. with a half turn of his head, his lips are brushing against his belly, the next breath he takes warm and deliberate. ]

It would be a shame if you didn't.

[ he says as he runs his finger along the dip of his pants, a knuckle brushing against his bare skin. ]

Anything to put a stop to the puns.

[ As if it were a burden, to keep Loki otherwise occupied. Not that anything was likely to be discussed for some time, puns or otherwise. ]

[ if it was something that kept Loki's mouth occupied, it was something that would keep the word garbage from coming through. where he would normally protest, he's finding other uses for his lips, finding a spot above his navel to press them among the folds of his shirt. there's an insistent tug on this pants, bringing him closer.

the dark nail slides to the button, and he lingers there between skin and clothing, enjoying the intimacy. ]

[ time to move this along... ]

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