I see you || Loki

32. Sins Shown

You laid across the couch with Loki settled between your legs, his head rested on your stomach, his arms around your waist. It was comforting to you as much as it was to him. You let your head fall back and just enjoyed his presence, pushing all other worries away.

There were many other worries.

If you could ignore everything outside the walls of Loki's room, you would. You would cut it all off and just exist there eternally in that moment, when only one thing was certain but it was all you needed.

You ran your fingers through Loki's hair. Every so often, his arms tightened around you, as if he was making sure that you were still there.

But the world intruded on your peace by inches. The worries you swept aside were a blizzard in waiting. You had solved nothing. Asgard was still a swirling storm of chaos everywhere outside this room. The future hung in tatters, tangled in uncertainty.

"I should go," you said. You smoothed a lock of Loki's hair, then wrapped the strands around your finger.

Loki's arms tightened around you. "Stay."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"There is too much going on."

"I want you to stay."

"I know."

Loki propped himself up on his elbows and looked at you. "Please."

"That won't work this time." You leaned forward to press a kiss to his forehead. His eyes slipped closed. "I don't know what's going to happen next. I can't let myself get comfortable."

"Stay here," he repeated. "Stay with me so at least I'll know you're within my grasp."

Within my grasp...

Stars, as if you weren't always wrapped up in him. Only a day and a half had passed and a lifetime had gone with it. Your heart ached from the constant back and forth. There had been too much pain lately. Too much anguish. And all you really wanted was to stay right where you were, in Loki's arms. If you couldn't be certain of anything else, at least you could hold onto him.

"Are you still angry with me?" Loki asked. He reached up to tuck your hair behind your ear.

"I have every right to be," you said with a scowl. You'd played the part of Loki's puppet, pulled every which way by your strings. "In little more than a day, you've lied to me, forced yourself on me, threatened my family's reputation, and contrived to force me into marrying you."

"And yet you love me."

"I am very, very angry with you."

Loki took your hand in his, twining your fingers together. "Face facts, love. I will likely drive you mad every day we're together."

"Is that supposed to convince me to stay with you?"

"Yes," he said. "Because when I'm sorry, I'll make up for it magnificently." He pressed forward, pushing you back against the cushions with a kiss. The kiss burned through you, forcing your reaction. You arched into his embrace as if you could join yourself with him.

When he pulled back, you tried to regain your composure. "Now is not a good time to try to seduce me," you said, though you doubted if you would even resist the attempt.

"I'm always trying to seduce you."

You shoved at Loki's shoulders. He seemed to consider it for a moment, then sat back with a sigh.

"Stay, love." He captured your fingers as you rose from the couch. "Stay where I know you're with me."

"And what if I'm found here? What will that do for all your carefully constructed plans?"