for halfassed

[dreamsofpoison]

Just how and why Loki was back on Earth was a mystery. There had been no communication from Thor any Asgardian representatives. It wasn't obvious that Loki was back, in fact, his presence could have gone unnoticed if not for, well, mischief.

He'd somehow taken something belonging to one Clint Barton. Something very dear to him. His bow. Said bow now sat on a mantel above the fireplace in his current residence. It was a stone and log cabin. Lodge would be a more appropriate description. Logs make up A frame structures to support the roof. They also provide an excellent place to suspend someone from. Which inevitably happened when Barton followed the little trail of bread crumbs to find his bow and ultimately, Loki.

He's suspended near the fireplace, which is lit. Turned so he can see his bow sitting there on the mantel. He's hung high enough his toes barely brush the ground and apparently Loki took great care in securing his wrists in a specific type of cuff. The kind that would ensure he could keep him there for quite some time without much damage to his hands or wrists. He was stripped of his weapons and all his clothes save for his pants. Hence why he choose the beam close to the fire. It was the dead of winter outside.

As for Loki himself, he stood by the window, watching the snow fall and waiting for the subtle signs his captive has awoken. He's far removed from the armor and leather of before. Instead he's in simple mortal clothes but they still had a certain Loki-esque flair to them.

Comments

[dreamsofpoison]

"The keys to the snow machine are encased in ice," Loki explains with a smirk. "In the event you happened to escape."

[dreamsofpoison]

Learning the finer points of proper smore construction has absolutely nothing to do with his long term goals. Well, it may, if it serves as another way to gain Barton's aid in the future.

Incidentally, they are much better than both the soup and crackers alone. When he is not consistently setting marshmallows on fire.

[halfassed]

He levels a stare at Loki.

"Great planning, Sherlock," he says. "Real brilliant move. I'm not your servant. Get out there and get the keys, and melt them yourself, if you're so eager to go back to SHIELD."

[halfassed]

"So this is what you want to do for three days. Act like my boyfriend?"

[dreamsofpoison]

Loki laughs and leans his chin on his hand. "SHIELD is my best option but I am in no hurry. We can wait until they find us," he says then glances out the window. It stopped snowing outside. "Or spring."

[dreamsofpoison]

Loki's expression darkens. "No," he says regretfully. What he wants hasn't been working out quite according to plan. Barton is harder to control than he anticipated.

[halfassed]

He pauses, a long moment.

"Christ," he says, finally, and he storms outside. It doesn't take long to turn up the keys and the ice. It's not mobile. And it's actually an enormous block of ice.

This sucks.

He storms back in. Shakes the snow off. "You're an asshole."

[halfassed]

"Then what's stopping you?"

He's full, he's relatively content, he's pretty sure Loki's not going anywhere. This doesn't mean that he's discarding all caution, but he's determined to act more casual than he feels.

"Conspire," he says. "Devise. Trick. Whatever it is you do."

[dreamsofpoison]

"I've been told," he says and smiles far too brightly and perhaps a bit too fake.

[halfassed]

He slumps down on the sofa. He just needs to rest first. He's ... completely wrung out. His arms still ache.

He twists his shoulder around in the socket, testing it.

Fuck.

[dreamsofpoison]

Still wearing a blanket, Loki stands and moves away from the fire. He could tell the truth that is but it's better to allow him to think otherwise. There are two answers to his question that are true, one more damaging than the other and neither are ones he's willing to give.

He gives a sigh then carefully crafts his expression into something like defeat. "No, not now."

Then a quick change of the subject, "Will you sleep or am I fated to rude awakenings whenever I attempt it?"

[halfassed]

"Try it and see." A challenge. Even though Clint knows that he can't stay awake forever.

[dreamsofpoison]

"Cold first, I think," Loki says abruptly then stands. He heads into the kitchen to retrieve to small bags of ice. He tosses one, then the other at him.

"The blankets here produce heat if plugged in."

[halfassed]

"I know what an electric blanket is."

He simmers, angry, but presses the ice to his shoulders.

"A thousand years," he says -- "You have to have learned how to massage at some point." He's thinking aloud, not actually asking for a massage. He realizes, belatedly, how it sounds. "Not that I want your hands on me."

[dreamsofpoison]

"Hm," Loki nods, expecting the answer. He doesn't hide the calculating look then selects a piece of furniture furthest away from Clint but still somewhat comfortable. It turns out to be a padded chair. He draws his legs up into it and draws his blanket around protectively. Some shifting later he closes his eye and tries to sleep there.

[halfassed]

Clint rolls his eyes.

He steps away. Finds the stairs up into a kind of loft upper floor attic thing, and, whaddaya know, there's a guest bed up there. So he doesn't have to sleep with the scent of Loki around him, and he doesn't have to see Loki looking like a fucking vulnerable child. The kind of guy who needs Clint's protection.

Never mind that Clint was programmed to protect him, before.

He lies back and closes his eyes, but doesn't sleep.

[dreamsofpoison]

"All Asgardians learn," Loki says, "It's something of a necessity with a race of warriors." He'll leave out that as brothers he and Thor would massage each other after training, he doesn't want to completely break him.

"I can," he confirms then carefully adds, "If you wish."

[halfassed]

No. That's his instinctive response. And then he reconsiders, pauses. Loki messed him up this way. He should fix it.

Clint takes a breath, and says, "Hell no."

Well, there goes that idea.

[dreamsofpoison]

"As I thought," Loki says with a laugh.

[halfassed]

"Oh, go jump in a lake."

This all sucks.

Clint turns a glare on Loki. "So what was that all about? You just wanted to fuck with my body as well as my mind? You wanted to hear me beg?"

[dreamsofpoison]

Loki does appear to sleep but he could just as easily be faking it. He stays in the chair for some time but he eventually moves to the couch. Even there he doesn't stretch out. He curls into a tight ball and tells himself any soreness that results is worth it.

[halfassed]

A while later -- when he's sure Loki is asleep and not just sitting quietly, though he could be a really dedicated fake and Clint can't really prepare for that -- Clint approaches Loki, and crouches down. He shakes Loki's shoulder.

"Loki," he says.

Can't help it. Can't help the protective instincts.

If Loki doesn't move, he shifts forward and gathers Loki, wedding-style, into his arms. He'll carry him into the master bedroom.

[dreamsofpoison]

A small smile tugs at his lips, he did enjoy the begging. He considers how to answer before speaking. "Consider it... payment."

[halfassed]

"Payment?"

His voice is cold, and furious. He discards the ice bags, stalks closer to Loki.

"Payment? For what, services rendered? I think it was you taking exactly what you want. Kind of a habit of yours." Which he punctuates with a sharp poke to Loki's chest.

[dreamsofpoison]

Loki is asleep this time but he does wake as he's lifted. His eyes remain closed but he tenses. Other than that he lets himself be carried and doesn't struggle. If he's honest, which is rare, he's too exhausted to care.