I don't want you to feel like you owe me something just because I'm honest with you. I don't want this to be some kind of...exchange just cuz I'm nice to you. This is us, caring about each other and having a good time while doing so. [His own smile is an uncertain thing, but less fleeting at any rate.] Seemed to me like you were having a pretty good time.
It's not, [ Loki insists. ] It may have been, at first, when I was still getting to know you, but... that's not what I want to do. Kindness for payment in kind is still a trade that doesn't do much for anyone at the end of it, I'd rather it'd be something real. [ Something with the capacity to be emotionally messy, he guesses, and pulls a face. Well. He asked for it. ] I just don't want to fuck it up out of the gate.
[ He leans forward to kiss Mobius. He likes the other man's smile, it helps him feel like he's made the correct choices in this. ] I had a great time, actually.
[Kissing is definitely a good choice. Very frequently it's a good choice. It eases him up, makes his smile more comfortable.] Good, that makes two of us. Can't wait to do it again real soon. [Eventually, maybe Mobius will even believe that the time had really was that good for Loki. It's nice to hear, anyway.]
And don't worry so much about fucking it all up. We'll stumble here and there while we feel our way around this. Step on each other's toes. Part of figuring this out. I trust that this is real, so we'll cut ourselves on our sharp edges and pointy broken bits until we learn how we fit together.
[Don't worry so much seems easy for Mobius to say; he doesn't have centuries of fucking it all up under his belt. But there are kisses to be had, and they honestly go a long way towards quieting some of that noise in his head. ]
Whenever you want. [ Well. Within reason, he supposes. It's not like Loki has somewhere else to be, is it?
I trust that this is real has Loki smiling again, touching Mobius' cheek. ] I suppose I can try not to worry so much.
[If Loki keeps up touches like that, Mobius might actually get used to it. It's still a surprise, a gentle hand on his cheek, and not an unpleasant one. Mobius gets his arms more firmly around his (undefined?) partner, pulls him just a little closer.] So long as you try, that's the part that matters. And I'll always be open to talking about whatever needs talked about. In case you do worry you're fucking something up.
I can't imagine not trying. [ He can imagine convincing himself that he doesn't deserve this, Mobius' care and gentleness, much less the sex, but that doesn't mean he won't fight with himself for it.
Still. He presses his face to Mobius' shoulder to stifle a yawn. ] What else needs talked about? [ It's an honest question. Surely there are some other details they should figure out before they end up leaving this room again. ]
[It'd be easy to say forget it, or wait until morning, or they'll talk about stuff as it comes up--that last part is true, naturally, but he doesn't say any of that right away. He has to think about it, really consider.
That unspoken word floats to the forefront again. But he can't go there, not yet. Too big a word, love, too frightening. Too easy to misuse. He lets it sink again.]
We gotta figure out rooming. We can get away with this right now, but...if you wanted to stay, that'd be another discussion.
[Which is fucking wild that he can't bring himself to say The L Word but is perfectly willing to float the idea of Loki moving in with him. It's not like he has much, but it's a space meant for one, and anyway, that kind of move would probably be noticed. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.]
But that can also be something for later instead of now. [He nuzzles against Loki lightly, presses a kiss to his forehead.] I'm not gonna let this change how I treat you on the daily. You're still my responsibility, and I'm still gonna call you out when you're being a shithead. Don't think I'm about to go all soft on you just because we're a thing.
[ Loki's brow furrows in gentle confusion and contemplation, immediately smoothed out by Mobius' kiss. ]
I hadn't realized staying was an option available to me.
[ Hadn't realized that it was something Mobius would tolerate, living with Loki, much less consider.
It's probably for the best that Mobius doesn't bring up love. Loki is unused to the concept being applied to himself and is already internally reeling, just a little, at the changes on the horizon. He's not afraid, not exactly, just... it's a lot of changes.
But he smiles, when Mobius promises that he won't go easy on him, and Loki shifts deeper into the other man's arms. ] Good, I wouldn't want you to.
[It's warm, cozy, safe. To be wrapped up in one another this way, what feels like away from the world. And the physicality is easier. This whole encounter has been emotionally trying. Not just for Loki. Not with the way Mobius found himself oscillating wildly between nervousness and the desire to carve his initials on Loki's heart.
He tries to quiet the part of him that thinks that maybe he's finally bitten off more than he can chew, that making himself responsible for that very heart is a step too far, that he's going to fumble it, drop it, shatter it to pieces.]
no subject
no subject
[ He leans forward to kiss Mobius. He likes the other man's smile, it helps him feel like he's made the correct choices in this. ] I had a great time, actually.
no subject
And don't worry so much about fucking it all up. We'll stumble here and there while we feel our way around this. Step on each other's toes. Part of figuring this out. I trust that this is real, so we'll cut ourselves on our sharp edges and pointy broken bits until we learn how we fit together.
no subject
Whenever you want. [ Well. Within reason, he supposes. It's not like Loki has somewhere else to be, is it?
I trust that this is real has Loki smiling again, touching Mobius' cheek. ] I suppose I can try not to worry so much.
no subject
no subject
Still. He presses his face to Mobius' shoulder to stifle a yawn. ] What else needs talked about? [ It's an honest question. Surely there are some other details they should figure out before they end up leaving this room again. ]
no subject
That unspoken word floats to the forefront again. But he can't go there, not yet. Too big a word, love, too frightening. Too easy to misuse. He lets it sink again.]
We gotta figure out rooming. We can get away with this right now, but...if you wanted to stay, that'd be another discussion.
[Which is fucking wild that he can't bring himself to say The L Word but is perfectly willing to float the idea of Loki moving in with him. It's not like he has much, but it's a space meant for one, and anyway, that kind of move would probably be noticed. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.]
But that can also be something for later instead of now. [He nuzzles against Loki lightly, presses a kiss to his forehead.] I'm not gonna let this change how I treat you on the daily. You're still my responsibility, and I'm still gonna call you out when you're being a shithead. Don't think I'm about to go all soft on you just because we're a thing.
no subject
I hadn't realized staying was an option available to me.
[ Hadn't realized that it was something Mobius would tolerate, living with Loki, much less consider.
It's probably for the best that Mobius doesn't bring up love. Loki is unused to the concept being applied to himself and is already internally reeling, just a little, at the changes on the horizon. He's not afraid, not exactly, just... it's a lot of changes.
But he smiles, when Mobius promises that he won't go easy on him, and Loki shifts deeper into the other man's arms. ] Good, I wouldn't want you to.
no subject
He tries to quiet the part of him that thinks that maybe he's finally bitten off more than he can chew, that making himself responsible for that very heart is a step too far, that he's going to fumble it, drop it, shatter it to pieces.]
Get some rest. I'll be right here.