Unexpected

Chapter 17

Shifting waves of subconscious skimming over their minds that night and though Loki's magic did not connect them in their sleep, their minds hallucinated visions of the other while their bodies pressed together beneath silken sheets.

Some might say the intimate moment between the men had been squashed under the weight of exposed feelings, but in the night, Loki recalled the events of the evening with untroubled ease and his mind adjusted to the delightful sensation of having lost such an oppressive burden. Endre had been understanding and taken the young god in loving arms, reassuring him of the reality of his feelings and quietly fanaticizing to himself the future that they might have together.

Eventually, they'd gone to sleep, Endre pulling him in to his chest and laying sweet kisses to his hair as they drifted to sleep.

Morning's light did not quite reach the bed, but Endre's practiced sleep cycle had kicked back in and roused him around 5am as usual. He'd snatched the book he'd been studying and returned to bed to read while Loki slept on till morning.

Eventually, he was woken by the micromovements of turning pages and the quiet rustle of paper between fingertips. Blurred vision first took in the ceiling then Endre as his head fell to the side. Loki couldn't help the smile that appeared on his lips at the sight as it came into focus. Moments later, Endre mirrored his expression and put his book aside to lean over and kiss him.

"Good morning." Endre said as he leaned back to his side of the bed, "How'd you sleep?"

"Quite well, actually." He replied, stretching out and rolling onto his stomach before straightening up to his knees, "Have you been awake for long?"

"A few hours."

"Norns" He stated in groggy surprise, "Well, I'll get us some food, I imagine you're famished."

A dressed hologram of himself was summoned and passed through the closed door. Moments later they heard the frightened cry of the guard of duty who had just been startled by the sudden appearance of his prince in the hallway. Not long after, a servant entered with food and drink, setting the table as usual and leaving with only a brief glance at the bed where the two men sat conversing, bare, under the sheets.

They both bathed and dressed before eating and fell silent once again as they began their meals. Loki's mind investigated the details of his week on Vanaheim trying to decide on his next move. His assignment was all but completed now and he would have no formal reason to remain. The last piece of business was to set the Viceroy straight with the developments of the previous day and then he'd finished. It would be time to go home. Dread knocked on the walls of his mind demanding entrance. He was going to have to see Sif again, maybe not immediately, but sooner or later. A bottomless pit of unease opened in his stomach and the strength of its gravity threatened to drag Loki's mind into it. But his thoughts were abruptly cut off.

"Are you alright?"

Loki snapped his eyes from their suffocating grip on the butter dish and found Endre's face, nodding yes. The older man looked mildly concerned, sipping his tea and eyeing the younger.

"You look... worried." He continued, setting his cup back on the table and leaning a bit closer, "What are you thinking about?" Endre's eyes fell back to his plate and gathered another forkful of potatoes and vegetables.

Though part of him wanted to speak his thoughts freely, once again, Loki found an invisible hand clamped over his mouth preventing him from saying a word. He only looked around uncertainly, lips parting to speak then closing again. Endre waited as he continued about his meal, glancing back his way a time or two.