Hail Hydra. (astolenrelic) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-12-05 19:17:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, fandral, loki odinson |
Who: Loki and Fandral.
What: Loki's birthday.
When: Thursday, December 5.
Where: Their house, a restaurant, their house again.
Rating/Warning: PG-13/Sappy romantic Asgardians (also, long log is long)
Status: Complete.
Loki used to get much more joy out of birthdays. Now, it's mostly just another day, and while he enjoys when his friends go out their way to treat him, he's not feeling it this year. A new set of dreams has started and it's put him in a terrible mood he can't quite shake, and he's one year away from thirty now, and that's sort of awful in itself.
After doing brunch, somewhat reluctantly, with his sister, he's now spent most of the day downstairs practicing magic. Mostly Asgardian magic, enchanting things and creating illusions, but when he gets restless he paces as he juggles some balls in the air. What a day.
Everything is set for their evening out, and Fandral is quite excited. He'd noticed, of course, that Loki's mood had dropped considerably over the past little while, but he's hoping to change that (and not make it worse) with an evening of romance.
After finalizing the reservation at the restaurant, he stands at the top of the stairs and knocks on the wall, "May I have permission to come down?"
Of course he knows Fandral's up to something. Fandral isn't a great liar at the best of times, and Loki would be beyond shocked if Fandral had left it all alone. Truth be told, he's sort of pleased and excited to see what Fandral's come up with. "Permission granted."
"Wonderful." He takes the stairs two at a time and pulls Loki into a hug from behind, kissing his neck warmly. "Happy birthday, love of mine. I trust you're free this evening?"
It's not a terrible greeting by any means. Loki reaches behind him to fluff at Fandral's hair a bit, then tips his head back so he can sort of look at the other man. "As it so happens, yes, I am." He may have purposely politely refused any other offers based on the fact that he assumed Fandral would plan something. But he won't say that.
"Wonderful. We have reservations tonight, and never fear I've given you plenty of time to get ready for it." He hums happily at the hair fluffing and nuzzles more firmly against Loki's neck.
"Do you want your presents now, or after dinner?"
He turns in Fandral's arms to face him, looking amused. "It's a miracle you and I get any place on time," he teases, feeling a bit better. It's hard to stay completely sour when Fandral's in such high spirits. "Best to do it now. Otherwise I'll spend the whole night trying to figure out what they might be."
"They're on the kitchen table," Fandral smiles, drawing Loki into a sweet sort of kiss. "Come upstairs and open them? I think you'll like them. I hope you will, I took great care in choosing them for you."
Loki can just imagine how much care Fandral likely put into present hunting. It's sweet. And it's more appreciated than Loki lets on. "I can hardly wait." He gives Fandral a quick kiss then takes his hand, heading upstairs to the kitchen.
He ushers Loki up, practically thrumming with excitement and hope that Loki will enjoy the carefully chosen gifts that he'd lovingly wrapped in green paper. "Here we are, dearest."
He nearly has to laugh at the green paper, but it's always been a colour that suits him, hasn't it? Even Tony Stark had mentioned that on their chance meeting not too long ago. He picks up the bigger of the two, which is undeniably a book. He's not sure what sort of books Fandral might get him, so he opens it cautiously and then runs his fingers over the cover with a pleased smile. "This is perfect. Thank you. I can't wait to read it."
"I thought -- since you've probably read yours to pieces by now, I'd get you something new. Well, not new. But something you perhaps haven't read yet." Loki looks pleased, and Fandral gives him a kiss, hoping that it was right. "Is it good?"
"Better than good." And thoughtful, in a way, so he's sure the next gift will be just as promising. He picks up the package and unwraps it, then stops. He knows immediately from the iconic crown what it is before he removes the green box from it's white package.
"Fandral," he says, somewhat in disbelief. When was the last time someone got him anything remotely close to this? Loki is almost breathless with anticipation as he opens it to see the watch. "This is ... Amazing. You didn't need to."
"I may have borrowed your watch to make sure the size was perfect. I know you've been having a hard time lately, and I wanted you to have a really special evening. I wanted to make you smile, and spoil you a bit. So I'm very, very happy that you like it." He reaches across to take Loki's hand and squeeze it. "I did need to. Because you deserve it. I feel like you don't hear that enough."
Loki has always tried not to be the emotional sort. Dramatic at times, yes, but never emotional. Fandral seems to always manage to bring it out in him. Setting the box down, Loki leans in to give Fandral a kiss. "You're ridiculous," he says, laughing a bit. "Completely ridiculous." And sweet, and kind, and a better person than Loki can ever hope to be. "Thank you."
Fandral steps around the table and wraps him in a tight hug, pressing kisses to his hair, rubbing his back tenderly. "You're very welcome. If I can't spoil you at least once a year, what good am I, hmm?"
"You might have outdone yourself too soon. It's Christmas in twenty days," he teases. Honestly, a Rolex is good enough for both, and Loki won't complain if he gets nothing else for either. "I think you're plenty good."
"I'll do something else for Christmas. I just haven't figured out quite what, yet. Put it on, let me see how it looks on you?"
"I think I'd like snow for Christmas," Loki says, reaching for the watch. "Maybe we could take a trip out east during the holidays." He fastens the watch on his wrist, very pleased that Fandral went through the trouble of making sure it fits perfectly. "It's amazing. It's perfect."
"We'll go somewhere snowy, then." He likes that Loki's including him in his holiday plans, it makes him feel quite special. "Wonderful. And it suits you so well. Now, we absolutely must get ready for dinner or we'll be late."
"What, exactly, is the dress code where we're going?" Loki's already running through a variety of outfits in his head, each one going perfectly with his new watch.
"Dress to impress, I'd say. Though you always do. Mm, black tie optional?"
"I'm sure I can come up with something." He gives Fandral another kiss, because the man deserves it, then heads upstairs to start getting ready.
And Fandral does as well, feeling actually rather giddy about the whole thing. Loki likes his presents, there's champagne in his mini fridge, the rose petals are all laid out, and Fandral thinks the evening is going swimmingly.
A little while later, he knocks at Loki's door. "Sweetling, would you be ready in fifteen minutes?"
"Sweetling?" Loki finishes spraying his hair into place and grabs his tie, heading to his door with eyebrows raised. "Yes, I'm practically ready now."
"I'm trying not to reuse name and it's getting difficult. If you're practically ready now, we can leave sooner, if you'd like."
"You're the one who's made reservations." He puts on his tie, then reaches over to straighten Fandral's collar on his shirt. "We should go while we're ready. One wrong look in a mirror and both of us will be here for another hour yet."
"God forbid." He holds still while Loki straightens, then takes him by the arm to lead him downstairs. "I think you'll like where we're going."
And Loki gladly takes Fandral's arm, all bad thoughts momentarily banished for the time being. "I think it'll be incredibly hard for you to disappoint me at this point."
At the restaurant, Fandral is the very picture of a gentleman, opening doors and pulling out Loki's chair, kissing his cheek before settling across the table from him. "I think you've been here before, yes?"
He's nearly beside himself. He has to hit Fandral lightly on the arm as he sits down, trying to look subtly bemused but just looking pleased. "My favourite restaurant. How do you come by romance so easily, I wonder."
"Romance isn't always so easy, but I do my best to make it look effortless." He winks and reaches across the table to take Loki's hand and kiss his fingertips. "I've chosen well, then?"
"I don't really remember the last time I've had such a lovely birthday." He squeezes Fandral's hand. "It's more than I could have asked for."
"Good, I'm glad. That means I've done my duty as both friend and lover. Though that does mean expectations are high, for my birthday."
"Oh, does it?" He raises an eyebrow. "I guess we'll just need to wait and see, hmm?"
"I suppose we'll have to." Another kiss to Loki's knuckles before he releases Loki's hand. "I tease, though. I don't need anything very extravagant for my birthday. A quiet night in would be lovely."
"Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while." He orders his food and sips on wine, every now and then admiring his watch. "I'm sorry I've been less than good company lately."
"You've been having a hard time, I know that. That's part of why I wanted to make tonight so special. I can't change your dreams, but at I can at least try to make your waking hours a little more pleasant."
"I'm torn, you know. Part of me wishes you'd have them, and the other part is glad you don't." Loki frowns a bit, then waves his hand dismissively. "They're just dreams, I know, but they have a way of getting to you."
"Maybe I will. I'll be sure to tell you if I do." Fandral brushes his foot against Loki's, under the table. "And you'll let me know if there's anything else I ought to be doing?"
"You know how much I love to criticize. Maybe you shouldn't give me an open invitation to do that." He gives Fandral a pointed look. "I think you're doing everything just fine, though."
"Ah, that's very true. Your brother, in fact, suggested I try speaking less as a general rule. Perhaps I'll take that advice." He winks at Loki and leans back in his chair to enjoy his wine.
"Thor's an idiot." It's hard to tell if Loki's joking or not. Probably because he isn't.
"Sometimes you do talk more than you should, but you mean well. I can't in all fairness hold it against you. You have such a lovely voice, after all."
"I wouldn't get very far in my job if I didn't have a lovely voice, I think."
"I wouldn't be so certain. There are plenty of actors out there who have irritating voices. You'd survive perfectly well on your looks and you know it."
"Still, better to err on the side of Benedict Cumberbatch than say, Matthew McCaughnohey."
"Touche." That gets Fandral a foot nudge. "I'd rather that, too, really."
"I'm glad you enjoy my dulcet tones. Otherwise living together might be rather tedious."
"It certainly can't be entirely easy for you, either. I know I'm not exactly the most personable of people."
"You do have your moods, sometimes. But luckily the house is big enough that I can retire to my own room until you feel like seeing my handsome face again."
Loki rolls his eyes, and the next nudge is more of a slight kick than anything else. "Always so charming."
"Ouch!" he laughs and nudges back gently. "You know what I meant. Only that I know someone as relentlessly cheerful as myself can be grating when one is in a bad mood."
"We're very much the opposite, you and I," he muses, over his wine. "I've always liked you, though. As a friend and all. The others were always impossible, but I could tell you never
meant any real harm.”
"I'll take that as a compliment." He's fairly certain it's meant as one, anyway. As certain as he ever is when Loki compliments him, at least. "Isn't there some saying about opposites attracting?"
"There is. It's opposites attract." He sets down his wine glass. "Though I think studies have proven that when it comes to people, that's not necessarily the case."
"Ha ha. Well it's served us well enough, it seems. Don't you think?"
"I'll admit, I'm surprised. If you'd told me a few months ago this is where we'd end up, I'd have laughed. And yet, here we are. I'm not complaining."
"Are you happy? Please be honest with me, now. I know I'm not known for monogamy or long term relationships, so I'd like to know I'm doing a halfway decent job so far."
"Fandral, everyone I've ever dated has eventually broken up with me because I'm insufferable, arrogant, and stubborn." Or Loki's broken up with them before they had a chance to, for reputation's sake, but Darcy had beaten him to the punch there. Then again, with Darcy, Loki had been trying to be nice. It's refreshing that Fandral simply knows that's how he is.
"Together, the two of us make an unbelievably unlikely pair. And you are the only person it seems, lately, who doesn't walk on eggshells around me. Of course I'm happy. I'm still waiting for the inevitable to happen, because you're right, you're not known for your monogamy, but for now I'm happy."
"I honestly don't see the point in worrying about something I haven't experienced myself. I haven't had any of the dreams the rest of you have, I haven't seen you -- bringing about the apocalypse. So until I do, I'm going to treat you as I always have."
"It wasn't really the apocalypse. It was the best depiction I could come up with without a voice." Loki waved his hand a bit, then paused the conversation while their meals were served. "The long and short of it is, I aided an alien invasion so I could take over earth, and in the process destroyed most of Manhattan and killed a handful of people."
"Ah, well. Hardly the apocalypse."Fandral raises his eyebrow and tucks into his meal to have something to concentrate on other than Loki and his possible apocalypse-causing. "An alien invasion though? That's -- impressive. Dare I ask your reasoning?"
He watches Fandral for a moment before starting his own meal, and then shrugs a bit. "Thor. I didn't manage to kill him the first time, and seeing how much he loved earth, I suppose it was as good a place as any. Didn't manage to kill him the second time, either, for the record."
"Ah yes. You mentioned -- or gestured, rather -- your disagreement with him, in your dreams." He's not certain what to think about all this, really. "However, you haven't done any of that here. You haven't actually brought an alien horde to destroy New York. Which, in my books, makes you firmly not a villain."
"I've told Thor I am. Or I may as well be. It seems pointless to be good when everyone expects the worst of you. Though, villain seems a bit pedestrian for what I am. What I am in the dreams, I mean." And what he intends to be, in the grand scheme of things.
"I don't have those expectations, if that's any comfort. Again, I haven't had these same experiences, or dreams, or what have you, so I'm something of an outsider in this. I don't know if that's an advantage or not. I haven't seen any megalomaniacal tendencies yet. So I'll reserve my judgement, if you don't mind."
Loki debates apologizing to Fandral now for nearly killing him in New Mexico, but decides against it. Instead, he reaches over to put his hand over Fandral's. "And this is why you make me happy, and why I can't imagine anyone better to spend my birthday with. You've made it an amazing day, really."
"I do have at least one more surprise for you up my sleeve, whenever we return home." He squeezes Loki's hand with a warm smile. Maybe if he continues to kill Loki to kindness, things will turn out differently here.
"You're going to spoil me." He keeps his hand in Fandral's for a few moments before carrying on with the meal.
"I fully intend to." With a wink and a grin, he carries on with his dinner.
Later, back at home, Fandral leads him upstairs, but keeps him in the hallway. "Give me just a moment?" he asks, kissing Loki's cheek and slipping into his room.
The rest of dinner is lovely, even if it's sort of mindless chatter about this and that. Back at home, Loki stands outside Fandral's door and raises an eyebrow. "You know, if I really wanted to I could find out what you're up to without you ever knowing."
"I'm setting the scene!" he calls from the room, where he's lighting candles as fast as he's physically able to. Once that is done and the champagne is out chilling in an ice bucket, he opens the door and kisses Loki. "Come in, then."
The lights are dimmed and there are candles here and there about the room to add to the ambience. The champagne is on the nightstand, and the bed is (neatly made, for once) scattered with rose petals. Fandral smiles and wraps his arms around Loki from behind, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "A bit cliche, perhaps, but I do like a little old fashioned romance now and again."
He kisses Fandral in return, then walks into the room. He has to laugh, but it's a fond sort of laugh, and really he's sort of touched by the gesture. "Please, I bet you do this for all your romantic interests on their birthdays." Loki slides his hands along Fandral's arms to rest over Fandral's hands. "I can't believe you did all this for me."
Fandral smiles and nuzzles at Loki's hair, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. "Shh, it's a joy and a pleasure to do this for you." And it is, especially when he gets a little laugh out of Loki like that. It's always good to see Loki smile, after he's been in one of his moods.
"A joy and a pleasure. Suddenly I'm wishing it was my birthday all year." Loki smirks a bit, teasing his fingers along Fandral's arms.
"Well, Christmas is only twenty days away, after all. Would you care for some champagne?" Though Fandral is almost reluctant to pull away to serve it.
"You're right. And we'll be somewhere snowy, and, I suspect, terribly romantic." Loki is of course, already ahead of the game. He has their Christmas plans already booked, but he’s testing the water. Fandral seems more than keen on the idea, though. "I trust after all this time and effort, it's not cheap champagne, either?"
He quite likes the thought of being somewhere snowy and terribly romantic with Loki for Christmas. "Perish the thought," he scoffs, "Only the finest for you. Besides, after the premiere parties I've been to, I'm entirely too snobbish about my champagne."
"You're the furthest thing away from a snob." Loki turns his head to kiss Fandral's cheek. "But I'm glad to hear that. I'll have to get you accustomed to wine in the same way."
Fandral squeezes Loki's waist briefly before pulling away with the utmost reluctance to serve them champagne. "I would love for you to teach me about wine. Come join me?"
"We'll make a night of it." He follows Fandral, taking one of the glasses. "Though I remember the first time we drank wine together since you came back."
"I had one glass too many, I believe. I'll watch myself, this time." He touches his glass to Loki's with a smile, then leans over and kisses him. "Cheers. Happy Birthday."
Loki returns both the smile and the kiss, then takes a sip of the champagne. "Thank you, again, for all of this. Everything."
"It's your birthday. I wanted to make it the perfect evening." Another soft kiss, resting his hand at Loki's hip, nudging their noses together.
"I'd call it a success." He presses his free hand to Fandral's chest and gladly kisses back, enjoying the moment. He could get used to being spoiled like this.
"Wonderful." He wraps his arm around Loki's waist, careful not to spill their champagne in the process of pulling him closer.
Loki sips at his glass a little more, then presses a kiss to Fandral's cheek. "So. How long have you been planning all of this."
"A little while," he smiles, nuzzling at Loki's jaw and setting his glass aside to wrap properly around him. "A magician never reveals his secrets, isn't that what they say?"
He makes a gasp of mock offence and sets his champagne beside Fandral's. "As a magician, I'm not sure non-magicians are allowed to say that," he teases, resting his arms over Fandral's shoulders.
"Aren't we?" Fandral teases, depositing a light kiss on Loki's nose. "I work movie magic, does that count?"
"Not even close to what I can do." Loki looks fondly amused, toying with the hair at Fandral's nape. "You're more romantic than any one person has any right to be."
He hums and leans his forehead against Loki's, stroking a hand over his spine. "I make every effort to be so."
"Don't tell anyone, but I've grown to like it." He presses a kiss to the corner of Fandral's mouth, moving a hand so he can start loosening the knot of Fandral's tie.
"Your secret is safe with me." He shifts back just enough to start undoing Loki's tie as well, tossing it aside before he starts in on the buttons of his shirt.
"You'll forgive me if I have my doubts," Loki murmurs. He doesn't even fuss at his tie being inappropriately crumpled (he'll deal with that later). But he smiles anyway, giving Fandral a kiss as he follows suit with the shirt buttons after the tie.
"Well I swear not to post it on the forum, at least. Will you accept that?" Fandral shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it over the back of the chair, pushing at Loki's jacket next and helping him out of it.
"That's a start." Loki wriggles his arms free, then reaches for another sip of champagne while Fandral takes care of their jackets. Best not to let it go to waste, after all.
Well yes, since they did open the bottle, Fandral will finish his glass before swooping in with another kiss. "I like the way you taste with champagne."
He laughs, giving Fandral a nudge. "Stop it," Loki says before kissing Fandral again. "You'll make me blush."
"Good, I like when you blush. You look sweet when you blush." He kisses at Loki's cheek, chasing the hypothetical blush with a grin.
"I don't blush," he says, giving Fandral's chest another slight shove.
"Mm, no, you glow. There's a difference."
Loki raises an eyebrow, looking at Fandral like he might be a bit crazy. "I glow?"
"Not literally, of course. But when you're contented and relaxed, you do have a bit of a warmth about you."
"And normally I'm cold, is what you're saying." He looks amused, prodding Fandral. "Thank you. That's very charming of you."
"No -- don't twist my words." Fandral pouts a bit and pulls him in for another kiss, squeezing his hips. "You're laughing at me."
"You're so easy to fluster." Loki teases at Fandral's hair as they kiss. "You know I'm just teasing. Tell me again how sweet I can look."
He pushes Loki's shirt off his shoulders, sliding his hands over his arms and turning them towards the bed. "Exquisite. I want to press my lips to every inch of your creamy skin until you're breathless beneath me."
"Oh," he murmurs, working the last of the button's on Fandral's shirt. "How could I possibly deny such a request?"
"Is that a yes?" he grins, shrugging out of his own shirt, careless of where it drops.
"It's a what-are-you-waiting-for." Loki walks his fingers along Fandral's stomach, up to his chest. "You've gone through such an effort, surely you want to reap the rewards." He raises an eyebrow and smirks a bit.
Fandral takes up Loki's hand and presses a kiss to his knuckles before carefully leaning him back against the bed and stretching out on top of him. "Your smile is enough reward for me."
He rolls his eyes a bit, taking Fandral's chin in his hand and bring him in for a kiss. "You're a fool. But you're my fool."
"That I am. And you wouldn't have me any other way."
"Not in the least."