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Letting people closer requires trust. And I no longer have that ability.
[ and loki is not sure if he'll ever recover it again. the events of his past have left him fundamentally skewed. ]
[ and loki is not sure if he'll ever recover it again. the events of his past have left him fundamentally skewed. ]
[ loki lets out a shaky exhale at that. ]
. . . Yes.
[ loki trusts that steve will look out for him. maybe even defend him. ]
. . . Yes.
[ loki trusts that steve will look out for him. maybe even defend him. ]
[Steve's hand curls against Loki's chest.]
I won't take that for granted.
I trust you, too.
I won't take that for granted.
I trust you, too.
[ loki's eyes widen before he looks away. ]
That seems like a character flaw.
That seems like a character flaw.
[Steve reaches for Loki's jaw to encourage him to look back at him.]
It's not. I assure you.
It's not. I assure you.
[Steve sighs himself.]
No one dislikes you quite as much as you seem to dislike yourself.
No one dislikes you quite as much as you seem to dislike yourself.
[ geez, call him out, why don't you. weakly. ]
No one? I'm sure we can find a few people.
No one? I'm sure we can find a few people.
Yeah. And I'll punch 'em.
[He makes a fist and lightly taps it against Loki's chin.]
You included, pal.
[He makes a fist and lightly taps it against Loki's chin.]
You included, pal.
[ a slow smile appears. ]
I'll count on it then.
I'll count on it then.
[Steve's amusement fades just a little as he looks at that smile. His hand on Loki's chest flexes out to press palm against pulse.]
Ya know. That's kinda nice...
Ya know. That's kinda nice...
[ his eyelashes flutter as he inclines his head upward. ]
What is?
What is?
[Steve watches, head tilting up in a mimic.]
You smiling. Really smiling.
You smiling. Really smiling.
[ bemusedly, he shakes his head. ]
Then perhaps I'm not given adequate reasons to smile.
Then perhaps I'm not given adequate reasons to smile.
That sounds like a challenge, pal...
[He turns and focuses hard on the magic he's borrowing. With effort, he has a very sloppy, very imperfect blue blob with antenna and black eyes.]
Stitch?
[He turns and focuses hard on the magic he's borrowing. With effort, he has a very sloppy, very imperfect blue blob with antenna and black eyes.]
Stitch?
[ his lips twitch slightly. ]
Not good enough.
Not good enough.
[Steve frowns and adds gold horns to the blob.]
There. Now he's a Lokitch... [No that's terrible.] Stoki?
There. Now he's a Lokitch... [No that's terrible.] Stoki?
[ okay, he can't help the smile there. ]
What is a Stoki?
What is a Stoki?
[Steve glows back.]
A Stitch-Loki! Or...
[He splashes some red, white,.and blue on the artwork making it truly a mess.]
A Steve-Stitch-Loki? Maybe that's Stokive...
A Stitch-Loki! Or...
[He splashes some red, white,.and blue on the artwork making it truly a mess.]
A Steve-Stitch-Loki? Maybe that's Stokive...
[ he can't help chuckling. ]
It is starting to sound like an abomination.
It is starting to sound like an abomination.
[The laughing just encourages him.]
Hey!
Watch, the Atroma will bring Stokive here and you'll regret being so mean.
Hey!
Watch, the Atroma will bring Stokive here and you'll regret being so mean.
[ loki taps his chin with his index finger. ]
I'll take my chances.
I'll take my chances.
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