(closed) tell me you've never loved me, tell me it was just a lie

[ikols]

who: loki and billy
what: escapades
when: llllate because NERDING OUT HAS NO CURFEW and neither does thievery
where: sanctum sanctorum
warnings: tba

[ With the sleeves of his shirt smoking and hair singed, a burn stripes down one side of Loki's face from temple to jaw as he barges into the Sanctum at ass o'clock, stripping off his coat to stamp on the blackened parts. Shit. The shadowthread will need reworking. That's going to be time-consuming. His hot vest makes a loud clatter when he dumps the too-warm scalemaille in haste, climbing the stairs as he makes his way toward a working bathroom (not the acid one). By the time he passes multiple doors and makes it to his destination, his eye is stinging and Loki drops to his knees by the sink, elbows hooked over the edge.

When he isn't so dazed he stands and peers into the mirror at the mess several would-be Hel Hounds have made of him, their breath particularly nostalgic from a bird's-eye perspective but never so close up. They weren't purebreds, of course, some moon-twisted Silent Hill remake of Thori, more like split-mouthed hyenas than anything ...

He's glad those jaws never took purchase. He would have totally shredded his coat, never mind his arm.

Making more noise than usual as he goes about washing his wound, disorientated, the godling yelps and curses without any volume control because either Sam is around visiting Stephen and will come by to help or Loki is home alone while the sorcerer is off with his squeeze on a horrendously normal date. Blood drips red onto ceramic, a sheen of blue caught in it when the electric lights shine a certain way.

Above all, Loki sincerely hopes there is some ice cream left in the unchained fridge. ]

Comments

[wiccant]

( being given loki's permission to hang around the sanctum hadn't meant--too much. it wasn't his building, after all, and not his ancient relics. billy had asked stephen, though; had gotten permission not only to hang around inside the building, but to go through the library. a nerd's dream come true, really--and not even just on the magic front.

the loud sounds and crashing wouldn't have been enough to grab his attention, not in here. it's loki's loud cursing that gets him up to his feet, wiping dust out of his hair and off his shoulders as he murmurs a soft spell under his breath, takes a step forward out of the library and straight in front of the bathroom the young god's inhabiting.

he stops there, raises a hand to rap knuckles against the wooden frame before taking the step forward it'd take to look into it--there are some things in this universe billy really doesn't want to see, and he's not quite willing to change walking straight into that. )

Loki. Are you okay? Do you need me to--? ( help? heal him? something? is he just being dramatic, or? )

[ikols]

[ It's so weird to hear that voice back in the Quarantine again, a comfort and a torment in one. ]

Billy? No, no, just ... had a merry time at Trixie, all is well.

[ Hissing as he prods his cheek too hard with a washcloth, he forces out a laugh. The fastest way to get rid of Billy is to embarrass him, and so, ]

What are you doing here at this hour, couldn't wait to see me again? Such an illicit affair this is turning out to be! You know, if you're crushing on Stephen and stalking him instead of me, I'll be so offended.

[wiccant]

I was reading. I'm not stalking either of you.

( please don't remind him of both loki's comments about having a crush on him before, and the loved thing. he was trying to erase both of those from his memory, thank you. it's--it's not that it bothers him. it's that he doesn't really want to stop and think about it. the pained sounds don't go unnoticed; billy hears them well enough, does recognize loki's attempts dissuade him from staying.

there are numerous reasons for behaving like that, and most of them, billy definitely does not want to walk in on. so he tries again, voice steady: ) You're not lying to me, are you?

[ikols]

I don't think so. A good time was had for a while, before ...

[ Before the monsters showed up to ruin his looting. Head down as he sits on the edge of the bath with a stifled grunt, he holds a soaked towel to his face and basks in the coolness, pressing it next to his forehead where his flame-heated helm has left a silly but sore red line across his brow.

It's a good job Loki feels intensely sorry for himself, no one else does. ]

I'll be okay in the morning.

[ Accelerated healing is good for something and even if he won't be peachy keen, he won't have an open wound. Probably. ]

[wiccant]

( "i don't think so" roughly translates to "i'm halftruthing which is technically not lying". billy gets that. he gets it even more when the smell of blood finally hits him; it's nothing new, he's a superhero, he went through the civil war, vividly remembers his time in the cube, remembers cassie's body lying in the dirt after their battle with doom. which is all more than he ever wants to think about.

and more than enough to push past any hesitance he has of barging past any privacy barriers, turning on his heels to face the bathroom door and push in through the opening and--

that's. a mess. a hand raises to his mouth, covers the way his lips twist as he takes him in, takes a breath, before: )

Shit, Loki. ( it's a few steps into the bathroom before billy's droppng down onto his knees in front of him, reaching a hand up to grab for the soaked towel loki has to his head. ) You--you know I can heal, right? Idiot.

[ikols]

[ Having worked so hard to be calm and accepting, a more mature him who might gain Billy's trust faster, he sighs as he feels the weight of that stare and leans away from the hand that reaches for his towel. Unwilling to showcase his burned cheek.

Bloodshot green eyes peer at Billy, a frown sinking into place. ]

I'll heal anyway, this is nothing. Weren't you reading? [ That makes so far less sense to him than anything else. ] Who reads at this time of night ...

[wiccant]

There's a whole library here full of books about magic I haven't even heard of, much less read. ( don't be stubborn. billy won't push it; loki leans away, and he leaves his hand hovering in place, lips twisting even further down in response.

why is he being so stubborn about this. he supposes he could just open his mouth, speak the spell, and be done with it. but loki's leaning away from him. )

It's not nothing. Let me help you.

[ikols]

No.

[ He doesn't deserve Billy's help, certainly didn't expect to be ambushed with the guy at this hour while roughed up, the opposite of every responsible ideal he's been trying to display. His firm tone only eases when his shoulders slump, too tired to stay stoic for long. ]

It was just ... dogs in the woods, I'm alright.

[wiccant]

( he wants to hit him. but a fist isn't going to help loki, even if billy's own, non-magic powered fists wouldn't do shit to hurt him, either. billy doesn't move from his place, keeps his eyes focused on loki, gaze steady. there's hurt in his eyes; loki's burned, bruised, bleeding, and it's not as if billy's assistance really would take much out of him but loki won't accept it, and that's--that's what hurts.

then there's stupid half-truths that keep coming out of loki's mouth. ) It wasn't just dogs in the woods, a dog couldn't do this to you.

I. . I don't know what kind of stupid thought's going through your head that makes accepting my help unreasonable, but come on. You helped me earlier. ( when he was busy having a panic attack on the stairs. sure, loki's words caused it, but--he would have found out most of that eventually anyway, right? ) Let me help you. I want to.

[ikols]

I heal up just fine whenever I come back from the jungle, this will be a memory in mere days. I'm sorry that I look a mess, I couldn't outrun their breath, but you needn't lend me your aid. Really.

[ The towel lowers from his gummy face as he winces, conceding enough to offer it. ]

... But you could cool this down for me.

[wiccant]

Don't apologize because you got hurt.

( that's stupid, and unneeded. it's not as if loki came in here covered in blood and guts just because he knew billy was in here. he takes the towel when it's offered, focuses his eyes on the mess that is the gunk right under it.

billy does get to his feet, moves to the sink and turns it on despite all the blood in that, too--tests the temperature before moving the cloth under it to get it cooled down once more. )

You do realize that not letting me heal it is just going to get me to fuss over you more, right.

[ikols]

I could lock myself in my room.

[ It's a viable option; he has his own en suite. Billy could feasibly destroy any ward but the symbolism alone would keep him out. ]

[wiccant]

I could break your door.

( the cloth has been recooled, so he's. moving back in front of loki, moving to press it back against his face. )

[ikols]

You wouldn't.

[ He tries to avoid contact while taking the cloth back, dispirited as he thinks back to Tony's anxious fussing and how badly those forehead-kisses are missed tonight. You need to take care of yourself, Starshine. He leans forward on his knees, falling quiet as he wallows in past memories and present pains. ]

[wiccant]

There are a lot of things I would do when someone's hurt and bleeding that I wouldn't do normally.

( like wish someone dead. loki is avoiding him, and it pisses him off even more--especially after how clingy he'd been just before. billy takes in a deep breath, moves his hands to brace them on the tub on either side of loki and leans into him, closer. )

Please let me help.

[ikols]

[ The nearness has him shying away by inches, avoiding eye-contact. His hands draw in, bringing the towel with them, and Loki retreats into himself like a fox down a hole, lashes shuttering. ]

I want to finish cleaning up. I can do it.

[ His chin jerks toward the door. ]

Head back to the library, Billy. I'll ... meet you there.

[wiccant]

Uh. No? I'm not leaving you here like this. Look at yourself, Loki.

( he's not only wounded, but he's--withdrawing. something billy has a deep understanding for. he does the same thing, more often than not. crawls in on himself and refuses to come out, for anyone. there's no way he's letting loki do the same now. he has to move out of himself to jerk his chin like that, so billy takes the opportunity to lean in further, presses his forehead against the unwounded part of loki's own. )

Listen. This is happening one of two ways, okay? I'm going to raise my hand, heal you, or I'm going to stay here and help clean you up. Then we can go to the library, and I'll reintroduce you to Elliot, who I left by himself surrounded by a bunch of dusty books, so I'd really prefer it if we could figure this out sooner rather than later.

[ikols]

[ A breath is punctured out of him as Billy veers in even closer, forcing Loki to look at him or at least in his general direction. Chewing his lip anxiously, he nods once and hesitantly reaches up to brush gentle fingertips along a jawline. ]

... Elliot?

[wiccant]

The fox. I brought him home. ( elliot seemed to suit better than edgar, so billy stuck with that instead. like this, he's at least getting some response out of loki--so he doesn't mind the touch. if loki's reaching into him, it's better than him pushing billy away. )

How are we doing this?

[ikols]

[ Billy has a pet fox. That's ... so cute. ]

Magic, then. Get it over with.

[ The physical ire isn't what is truly bothering him, the worst is internal. It isn't really accepting help if Billy isn't getting to the source and it's doubtful he ever will (again) so Loki doesn't mind taking the cheater's option. It's also the cleaner one, which he suspects will have a draw for Billy too, no one wants to tend to seared flesh. ]

[wiccant]

( the fox is generally smart enough to not let billy accidentally kill it via forgetting food; he leaves the window open for him, elliot comes and goes as he feels is necessary. as far as having a pet goes, it works well. )

You're going to talk to me, too. Okay? About this.

( he's not casting spells yet. the moment he leans away, starts letting magic lace his tongue, bends space and time to his will and fixes loki's injuries, he's sure loki's going to try and leave again. billy would. )

I'm glad you opened up to me about what happened before, but I want to know what's going on with you now, too. This isn't just--flesh wounds.

[ikols]

Not sure where you're going with that, the burns feel pretty wound-like to me.

[ Misdirecting the topic with a wince and a cautious touch to his cheek, he shakes his head. It's best not to overshare; his problems with Tony taught him that. ]

[wiccant]

Don't play dumb with me. ( he's not sadistic; loki touches his face and winces, and billy's raising a hand up, fingertips shimmering with that soft blue his magic forms as and he reaches over for his face, gently brushes them against loki's skin as he whispers soft: iwanttohealhimiwanttohealhim. loki's wounds patch themselves up fast enough, magic threading through flesh and healing over burns. )

I want to know what's going on with you. Talk to me.

[ikols]

[ He tries not to squint as Billy's spell gets to work, not wanting to end up fixed like he was pulling faces in the wind. The relief is great all throughout his body and he rubs his face to make sure the burn has gone, still uncomfortably warm. That may just be his proximity to one very Determined Kaplan, however. ]

There's no point. Thank you for this, though.

[wiccant]

( and he's not moving away. loki's skin is healed, but he's still a mess. his expression speaks volumes, and it's not volumes billy's particularly excited to see. the hand that had been pressing to his face shifts, cups the side of his face and he may not be used to this kind of proximity with loki himself, but.

billy's voice softens regardless, brows furrowing. )

Is keeping whatever this is all to yourself really helping?