Cards and Cameras

Angelically Transmitted Disease

SFW. Romance. Sick fic. Before relationship. After a fight with a rogue Virtue in Noatun, Loki needs some TLC to calm his chaotic mind

　"IA-IDON ZIN!" All powerful waters A surge of water floods towards Noatun's Harbor Market, threatening to drown anything living in the immediate area, as just behind it a colossal entity throws itself into the air. It's not until a strength filled swing of Takemikazuchi pounds right against the side of Prudence's main face, breaking its helmet with a burst of angelic blood spilling out onto the waters. With that, the tsunami falls apart, ridding the city of a potentially deadly torrent.

Loki dashes closer raising his arms with a specific set of glowing cards, and with a powerful grunt darts them towards the open wounds of the giant Angel picking a fight with himself and Bayonetta. As the lizard falls down into the water, Bayonetta's voice booms despite the intense noise pollution of winds and splashes.

　"APACHANA! NAPTA!" Bayo drops her hips with a confident pose, hair whirling off of her to summon Hekatoncheir. Instantly, the Infernal Demon grabs its prey, ripping the legs off of its metaphysical counterpart. If Prudence was minding its own business, one would feel bad for the brutality it's enduring. It already had its wings torn off, and now it's immobilized. It screams as more blood paints the hub and waters. Loki has to use his sheild in order not to get an "ATD", he jokingly calls it.

　As the angel tries to find the last bit of energy to counter Bayo's final attack, she yells, "CANILU" and out a demonic hydra spawns. The head throws Prudences up into the air with unforgiving bites and slashes. Angelic gore rains down around Loki, darting out of the way as to not get crushed by Prudence sushi...until red splashes onto his face.

　"Argh!" He grunts angrily as he swipes the mess off of his eyes and mouth. It's thicker than human blood, as deceivingly as it looks when compared. Then all of a sudden, as per usual with angels, the blood glows a holy light, and then bursts into golden particles.

"You're better off avoiding the red drink than having a taste, little one." Bayonetta teases, hair forming back around her body. Loki pouts, still annoyed that he was even doused in the first place.

"Come off it, love. It was your fault in the first place!" Loki yells, holding back from cursing at his mom. Bayonetta places her hands on her hips, walking for a moment up to the mini god. She COULD have used a less messy way to end the ugly thing's life, but who knows if she was showing off or just being playful.

"Do you need 'mummy' to give you a bath after this? With your *whining* you fool me into thinking you're still drenched in it."

Loki's eyebrows furrow instantly at her comment. She knows repeating how he calls her mummy gets under his skin, so before he can say anything back, Bayonetta pops a green herbal lolipop into his mouth.

"You'll live, little one. Let's be on our way, Jeanne is finally cooking dinner tonight." A little grumble in Enochian can be heard from Loki before he glows blue and flies into her bust as a flying squirrel, ready to relax for the day.

Bayonetta was right. He will live.

But not in a way he'd like to.

He's tried teas concocted by Bayo, the food prepared by Jeanne, and grabbed some OTC meds, but none of it worked. As the days went by, his condition only got worse.

*SNIFF*. "Uughhh...shit...that one hurt..."
"Why don't you go sit down and relax? You won't feel any better walking around."
"Y-yeah. I guess you're right."

"Here, go lay down on the couch and I'll give you your pillows."

Loki nodded, dragging himself over to their living room. He plops down on its comfy cushions, only registering the TV until he looks directly at it. Now that "ATD" doesn't sound so funny anymore. Only supernatural beings can contract a sickness from another divine being. In this case, Loki contracted ORSBA ALLAR, Enochian for Drunken Bind. A human equivalent would be something close to a virus like a cold, but with impaired judgement and awareness. Loki and Loptr have gotten sick before, but that was thousands of years ago, as they made it their business to be as free of heavenly sicknesses as much as possible.

It could always be worse; he could have gotten Demonic blood on him.

As far as he knows, there's no metaphysical doctor to cure him. Many gods and divine beings, if they're vulnerable to it, can expect to deal with this annoying disease for a good two weeks. Or 100 years. Thankfully, due to his demi-god status, he's never had a divine sickness for more than two weeks.

That being said...

The boy was discovered by a pillow carrying Bayonetta, eyebrows raised to the scene before her.
Loki got onto the couch alright. But he was bent in an uncomfortable position that would make an average person shift quickly: head facing the TV, chest flat on the cushion, legs turned in the opposite direction, one arm hanging off the couch, the other bent under his cheek. Snot dripping from his nose paralleled by the drool pooling at his hand.

She scoffs at her little son with a smirk.
"Now little one, you won't get any better in a position like that."
"....hunh?"

Loki became unfurled. Instead of a bony hand, now he has his soft pillow to prop his head up. It's a good thing the Witch also brought a set of weighted blankets, because it's time to ***burrito*** this boy. Especially if it keeps him from getting into broken body poses again.

"Cheshire will be visiting you soon. Just for tonight, of course."
"Cheshuh..?? Like...our cat?"
Bayonetta feels her IQ drop for a moment. "No, *Luka*, sweetie. Viola isn't here, right now."
The lethargic god grunts in confirmation.
"WHen is he coming ov--ACHOO. when is he gunna be here luv.?."
"In about a few minutes if he's not crashing into buildings."
"yaaaaaaayyyy...."
"Jeanne and I are sorry we're leaving you for a moment, little one. But we'll see you when we return tomorrow."
"'shokay, lub. im fine here. in a burrito. have fun wif john."

Ding dong

The door bell chimes with a rhythmic knock. That's Luka for sure.
"That man can't just ask to be let in normally, can he?" Jeanne growls, fed up with the way he always does that. Bayonetta opens the door for the man, smile already pasted onto his face.
"Well, hello there, ladies. Off on a date?" Luka gives a gentleman's bow before the well dressed women. "Or are you just happy to see me?"
"You're no special occasion, Redgrave." The platinum witch retorts.
"You know I'm a big deal, which is why you've got me over here." the man says, confidently posing, hand upon his chest. From an outsider's perspective, Jeanne sounds like she hates the man, but they get along like cake and ice cream.
"We're out to go see that new movie, and spend some time at the new restaurant opening." Bayo says, tipping his hat down until he can't see causing him to flail before regaining his posture.
"You mean the Restaurant of the Holy See? Grand opening's tonight? You're a lucky pair of witches, huh? Hope you've prayed for your wallet."
"I'd argue you're even luckier, Cheshire. You've got the whole night to spend with our shining star."
Luka automatically knows who Bayonetta is talking about. "Where is the little brat?"
"...hh."

.....

They assume he tried to say, "Hi" to Luka.

A few hours have came and went.

Before they left, Bayonetta had explained to him that while fighting Prudence, Loki had contracted an ATD, Angelically Transmitted Disease. Bayonetta felt some guilt about the whole thing. What kind of mom wouldn't feel bad for accidentally getting her adoptive son sick? The whole time, however, as Bayonetta explained, Luka was fascinated. So much so that he pulled out his trusty notebook from his breast pocket, and began to take notes. Some symptoms to look out for include: impairment of judgement, lack of awareness, dizziness, chills, spontaneous laughter (as Jeanne unfortunately found out last night after making a joke), and symptoms typical of a human Influenza. Luka didn't know until he had arrived that he would be taking care of Loki, rather than actually relaxing with him.

But it's well worth it. Any time spent with Loki is often unpredictable, but a fun time for the both of them. This time, though, it's just going to be a little more interesting for the man.
"O'lm ar bigliad, mate, cirp unig g prap..." (Lit. I'm so comfy, mate, but I require within balance)
"Kid, remember, you gotta speak English for me to understand you."
"Oh. Yeah. I'm hungry, mate."
Luka assumes speaking randomly in Enochian is another part of his "lack of awareness". But Luka would be lying if he said it isn't funny, especially with his little accent of his. He has to stop himself from chuckling, lest he wants Loki to burst out laughing for an unknown amount of time.

"What's on your mind?"
"I was finking about the dog across the st--"
"Food wise."
"Hm...can you make me a grilled cheebs and ham?"
"Alright, little man. Get ready for the BEST grilled cheese you've ever had! Don't get out of your covers again, or I'm eating half of yours."
Loki sits there, tucked in a tighter burrito than before, innocently watching him through his icy eyes.
Stepping out of the living room, Luka watches Loki for a moment, who already seems to have forgotten about the sandwich, head directed at the TV.

----

Grilled cheese and ham sandwiches don't take very long to make, and Luka is sure Bayonetta and Jeanne will appreciate a clean kitchen sink the day after their evening rendezvous. As his own mother taught him years ago, "clean up as you go along." That way, he can eat his food without worrying about cleaning up on a full stomach. What's different is that he wasn't cooking for himself, but his little friend. Normally Bayo leaves food for Loki and Luka to help themselves to, but Luka assumes Jeanne didn't leave much after she finished earlier.

Nevertheless, the sandwich was done with buttery toast packed together, only separated by a tasty layer of cheese and ham. The man walks back into the living room expecting a bizarre sight. It isn't bizarre. Is it? He's not really sure.
The burrito'd Loki SOMEHOW got his cards all over the place. Not just his usual fighting deck, but his verse cards, tag climax cards, WIP cards, unused cards. Just all over the floor and on himself. Meanwhile he just seems to be watching TV as normal.
"What the hell happened here...?" Luka asks aloud. "Don't tell me you're going to make a house maid out of me."
"Huh?" Loki turns to the man holding his sandwich. "Oh. hey. Thanks, mate. I appreciate the grilled cheese."
The manservant hands over the plate and puts it on top of Loki's chest. "Before I help you out of your covers, WHAT happened here? Your cards are all over the place!"
"Oh. Yeah that happens sometimes when I'm sick. They just suddenly spawn and fall on me. Not sure why. When Loptr gets sick, his arms go all limp."
Luka doesn't really know how to respond to the last part. "Can you put them back so I can unwrap you?"
"Yeah, sorry." Loki closes his eyes, and with his emblem glowing, the cards disintegrate into blue-rainbow hued glitter and smoke. "Now, give me my sandwich before it gets cold, mate!"
Loki is now more like a mermaid than burrito, as his upper torso is free from the weighted blanket. He watches an action show on TV, chewing happily while holding his food in his dominant hand. Luka observes that the boy's symptoms come and go at random. His speech right now is mostly fine, but what about his chills? Or lack of judgement? Is he going to flare up in his temperature? Speaking of,

"How ya feelin? Better?"
Loki nods, putting his finger up at Luka as if to say 'give me a moment."
"Yeah, better. I feel a tad woozy if I'm honest."
"Let me check your temperature--"
Loki glares at the man suspiciously. ".......how?"
"What do you mean 'how'? Just by...oh. No, I'm only going to use my hand and put it on your forehead. Promise."
"O-okay."
There's definitely the lack of judgement going on still.
The man leans close to the sick Loki. Damn, if he didn't know better, his own heart could burst with how close they are to one another. To be honest, Loki can't tell if his heart is beating due to his disease or from Luka.

"Wow, even your face is heating up, kid. You must be goin' through it."
Loki can't admit it, but he knows very well he's blushing out of his mind. "Get this out of the way so that I can lay down again..."
The back of Luka's hand rests on Loki's forehead. He keeps it there to register how hold his head is getting. "You're still somewhat human, so maybe you still get a warm head like us normal mortals do when we catch a flu."
It's pretty warm.
Loki looks up at him through his eyelashes. He's so caring and protective. The god can't ever recall a time in his life where he's been so intimately cared for. There's Bayonetta, sure. But by someone he's developed feelings for. Loki sighs under his breath, face still burning for the wrong reasons.
"Well, you definitely feel warmer than I thought, but not enough to burn my hands. Do you want a water?"
"N-nah, mate. You can go rela...relaggs. matey."
"You don't have to tell me twice. Let me get you back into position."

Once again, Loki is burrito'd in the weighted blanket, watching TV again, mouth biting the last of his sandwich.


It's going on 9:30 now.
Newspaper in hand, Luka spends his quiet free time catching up with headliners. Though he reads words on newsprint, his mind is focused on the health of the boy fading in and out of consciousness across the room staring at the TV. Sleepiness is to be expected, but seeing this usually excitable, self assured, and athletic boy become a soggy, diseased, mound on the couch is new to him. Normally when they're together, they go adventuring, talk a ton, pranks are pulled (usually against Luka), and so forth, but the god resembles a snotty iPad addicted child. Let this damn sickness go away, Luka thinks to himself. Without a doubt, Loki is thinking the same sentiment.

There is some charm to this, though. Loki's innocent laughing fit earlier made Luka laugh along with him. And the boy accidentally smacking his head with his heavy millennium necklace got a good chuckle out of them...AFTER Luka put a band-aid on the scratch. This is why the blanket is on him.
When they laughed afterwards, well, it may have been his imagination, but Luka could've sworn the kid gave him a different smile. One he--

"Oiiiii..."
Luka sets aside his paper.
"What's up, kid?"
Loki whines for a moment. He shifts in place repeatedly, wiggling. "Can you...get this offa me? 's too hot."
"Sure, but promise me you won't get into a weird position like Bayonetta told me you did."
Loki nods drunkenly, and prepares to get unrolled. And just like that, once again he's freed. Pulling the covers aside, Luka can feel the heat that had accumulated. Yeah, he was boiling in there.
"Let me check your head again."
And when he places his hand on the emblem-adorned head again, it's fairly hot.
"Guess your head gets hotter when you're talking that way, huh."
"Bloody hell, I need to kiss you so bad, mate."
...
What?
".......Did I hear that right?"
Shite, did I say that out loud?
"I...mean I need a Kiss so bad, like the chocolate."
Loki sweats bullets, hoping Luka will take the bait.
"Oh. That makes more sense. I'm sure Jeanne has some more in her stash." With a little grunt, Luka gets up. "I'll get you some water, though. Want it or not, you need it, kid."
As the man heads towards the doorless entryway to the kitchen, he stops for a moment, disallowing Loki to question himself on what the hell just happened.
"You know, if you wanted a kiss from me, I'd be glad to give one out." He said with a shit eating smirk and wink, taunting a sickly Loki, just before he heads back into the kitchen.
Loki, at first, feels his heart flutter against his chest. He's left to try and rationalize those words until his face contorts into a pout and blush.

"H-hey! I meant a chocolate, and that's it!"
But it didn't matter. The sound of water running in the kitchen made it clear that he could not hear him. Probably.

This damned sickness. Fuck. This shit couldn't make him say anything more embarassing, can it? He dismisses this thought as the idea of getting jinxed would screw him further over. But it's not like he has any choice in the matter, does he? He tucks his nose close to his pillow and under the weighted blanket, thoughts stirring and running amok in his head until it's broken by the sound of footsteps getting closer.

"Here you go. Take a swig before you eat any of the candy." It's a familiar sight seeing Luka hand over food again to him, and he takes it with a small "thanks" with no eye contact. Loki does as he says and drinks almost half the cup in one sitting.
" 'thought since the girls are out having a good time, why not do the same?" Luka shuffles a bowl of candy in front of the boy with a smile, some of the snacks very well being from Jeanne's stash.
"In the mood to watch a movie? I watched this amazing film last night with a talented cast." The man pushes a chair close to Loki's couch, and pulls up the remote, signing into whatever streaming service he uses. Luka goes on about an array of actors Loki has never heard of before, but they sound popular, nonetheless. It's to be expected from Luka and his snooping nose. Hearing Luka so excited to share something with him though has the mini god smile gently, setting aside his previous embarrassment to listen to him. The man is so focused on showing him the movie, that the question he asked before feels more rhetorical now.

But Loki snuggles in, getting comfy for the show to begin.
"It was called, 'Loyal Borough', and it's about this man who...actually, I'll let you see for yourself."
The movie is intense. In their now darkened room, the protagonist on the screen is overcoming the struggle of being the first man to beat a world record that was set years ago in Noatun: swim around the Italian shores with no boat in record time. Loki remembers hearing about this, but never followed up on it. He's lost in the story, immersed seeing the actor's amazing portrayal of the man who endured so much.

Luka's the same way, but stealing glances at Loki to see his reaction every now and then. Having seen the movie already, he knows what story beats will play out, but now it's more fun seeing a drunken-sick boy watch with him. Mindlessly, Loki grabs a candy and pops it into his mouth, slowly crunching on it with eyes affixed to the TV. The journalist finds himself giving an inaudible chuckle- the ones where a person's body will bounce a little in reaction to something funny, thinking to himself, "That was adorable. I could watch him forever."

But he doesn't let himself be too obvious about it. After all, he wants him to enjoy the movie.
Loki grabs a Hershey's Kiss, side eyeing Luka when he turns his stare away...
The film ends. Loki gets that fuzzy, warm feeling in his chest seeing the real man who completed his goal through pictures taken by friends.
"So, what did you think? Great reporting on his story. I don't think I could set myself up for something like that."
Loki finishes taking another swig of his water, drinking the last of it. "I'm happy for the guy, he deserved that new record." The god's voice is sweet to hear again after being silent for a while. "I wouldn't want to do that, though. Bad enough Angels would get in the bloody way."
Luka and Loki laugh.
It's now 11pm. Normally, Loki is getting ready to hit the sheets by then, but he's weirdly enough feeling awake. Must be another effect of ORSBA ALLAR. Schewpid angel. Then again, staring into a giant TV watching a movie would keep someone up a little longer than usual.
Luka stands up from his chair and turns his head to the wrapped boy, seemingly expecting something from him. Loki returns the look.

"Any better?"
"....So fah so gud?"
"Ah."
He chuckles at the sudden change in Loki's talk again--

"AHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHA."

....the hell was that?
It doesn't take too long for Luka to remember Loki's spontaneous laughing fits. His laughs sound so forced at first, but soon enough, he starts to genuinely laugh. Maybe he realizes the irony of his own comment vs his health. It gets Luka laughing along with him.
"I guess that's just bound to happen, huh, kid?" He says through the end of his snickering.
"I shupose so, matey. Bloody hell!" Loki laughs a bit before finally calming down.
Luka suddenly plops down next to Loki on the same couch, catching him off guard.
"Y'know, something's been brewing in my mind for a while."
With how close Luka is next to him, and how low his voice got, Loki gets that anxious pit in his chest, where seconds feel like hours waiting for him to respond.
"Why don't I get a little funny with you, too? Y'know?" He mimics the motion of taking a shot. "A little alcohol won't hurt at a time like this."

Loki blinks at the comment.
"okey hell yeuh mate lets drink. fuck it. lets down a bottol o wain!"
Luka knows damn well what he's doing. Now, he's not the type to want to be an active alcoholic, but there's definitely some ulterior motives. Not like Loki would be able to understand in the state of mind he's in.
"You aren't getting any since you're already Like That." Luka thinks. "Sure, lemme get you a shot." He says aloud.
Yeah right. As if Loki needs to be any more drunk than he's already been acting.
Truth be told, Luka wants to get drunk so that Loki can feel a little less alone in his embarrassing behavior. He walks over to a cabinet up high, grabbing red wine from the two witches' finest collection. Being a little embarassing with Loki is probably something the god needs right now. He won't admit it, now at least, but the way Loki tried to cover his tracks has been on his mind like white on rice.
Leaning in, placing his lips upon Loki's with closed eyes... looking into his ice-cold blue eyes with a heated smirk...shit. He shouldn't be thinking of him like that. He's practically BABYSITTING the kid. He contemplates the bottle in his hand, reading the label with vacant eyes and a full mind.

"I should snap out of this...'the hell am I doing trying to get drunk around someone who needs me sober..."

He stands there alone in the kitchen. The little demon on his shoulder tells him to get drunk, and even if it's not a lot, at least just to get tipsy and enjoy the ride. But the angel warns him that he needs to stay intact of mind in case there's an emergency, and judgement needs to be made in seconds.
Wait a second.

Wasn't it an ANGEL that got Loki into this mess, anyway?

...

Luka shoos the angel away.

"I won't get too drunk. Besides, it's not like I don't deserve a little wine after tonight."
He pops open the bottle with a bit of pizazz and pours some in a wine glass for himself. In another cup, he pours a bit of ginger ale for Loki. There's a chance Loki knows what's soda and what's champagne, but that's a gamble he's willing to take. That voice in the back of his head is telling him, "Stop! Don't be an idiot, stay sober!" but it doesn't matter as he's already headed back to the living room.

He's glad he didn't bother giving him real alcohol, because somehow Loki found his way onto the other chair as a burrito. Yet again, cards everywhere.
He decides to ignore the mess for now as he holds both glasses in hand with a smile after an exasperated sigh. Stepping over the cards, he raises Loki's glass when he spots him approaching. "Look what I got for ya!" He says in an almost sing-song voice. "It's a different brand, hope that won't be a problem."

"Nah, mate! Bbring it ovah :DD" Loki waves, well, wiggles him over. He just seems happy to see him again, and that brings warmth around his heart.

This is definitely a game he's playing.
He sits down on the chair adjacent to him, only separating them is a table with some cup stands and books. "Oh, shit. Let me go and turn the lights back on."
"No waaaahries, I got tit." Loki raises his hands close to his temples, and starts speaking in Enochian really fast with a...pained face? Concentrated? It's a little hard to see but he's putting in the work.

Suddenly, a candle that was on each end of the table come alight. Luka scoffs with an impressed smile. He didn't have to do all of THAT. Either way the candles do their job, and the immediate space between the two is bright. Nice that the candles smell like pinewood and roses.
"You really went and did that, huh, kid...hats off to you." He raises his glass to Loki's who followed suite.
"Wot can i say? im just cool like that. cheers, mate"
"Hehe, cheers."

Clink.

They drink in the silence together, downing red wine and ginger ale, until a sigh comes from both of them, satisfied with the taste.
"dayum, this stuff's gudd. Any more of phatt stuff?"
"Your cup's still full!"
"Yeayh, but I know I'm gonna want moar. hehehehe"
"Don't blame you, I'm thinking of bringing both bottles in here."
"bbig brain idea. to be onest i didn't think you drank, mate. You always seem so bizzy wif other things to want even drink."
Luka just finished downing some more, "Kid, I'm a man in my 40s with a whole social life outside of journalism. You think I'd pass up the time to get a little buzzed with a few pals?"
"Tochey." Loki swings the glass of ginger ale--champagne--letting the ice bounce and tink off of each other, watching the drink sway. "Glad you're spending time with me."
"Glad to be here." Luka drinks from his glass again, then looking back into Loki's stare. He gives him a little wink.

Loki notices he's been looking for a little too long, and blinks away with a blush. "I-I mean it, though. I enjoy this sort of thing, mate. So...thanks."
"Not a problem, kid. But would you think any moment around me would be dull?" He confidently smiles and poses dramatically. Loki softly giggles at the exaggerated and bloated ego on this man.

The night goes on, and at some point, Luka had left and returned with a bottle of red wine and "champagne", indulging in its flavors and each other's presence. The candles are still burning its scented wax, and instrumental jazz began playing from Luka's favorite playlist. The candy bowl is slowly emptying as wrappers are left carelessly on the floor, scattered along with the verse cards Loki never cleaned up. They are too lost in each other's essence that who's going to bother caring about a little mess?

Now it's a little late to turn back. Luka won't realize it until later, but he just told Loki about how awesome he is at drawing his cats and dog, what ideas he has for the next paper he's planning on writing, and how Loki's his great bud. To anyone else who would have sat in this chat, they would've learned a little too much about how Luka can't sing and improvise, or how he hiccups a lot when he's drunk, but Loki doesn't mind. In fact, he knows a lot about Luka already, but it's all interesting to him anyway. The magician is getting stuck in another trance, listening to this handsome man go on and on about his life and cracking jokes.

"...bbbuttyeAH like right now im feelin it haha, this is no lie how you probably been feeling for the past 2 days hahaha" Luka pours himself another bit of wine, and some for Loki.
"Truth be told i havent felt this in a long time hahaaa" he holds his glass up before downing it.
"Ssame, mate after bayo banned me from drinking she neva let me find where she stashed her shidd,,,like love lemme get a sip tho" Loki wiggles his hands before him. "i feel like an oggtopus...i got extra arms"
"Do you feel comfortable?" Luka stares, almost expecting to see multiple arms.
"Nah they're too long :/" Loki fumbles his arms around.
Luka chuckles at how silly he looks. They both probably look silly.
The music sounds better, the room feels more vibrant. But Luka looks the same and yet somehow Loki feels himself falling even harder for him.
Luka grabs a chocolate from the bowl and makes a face looking confused and interested, before darting his eyes back at Loki. "remember when u said u wanted a Kiss? Like the chocolate? did u want the last one or did u want the one from my face?"
Loki sets his drink down, barely able to sit still and stop laughing. "i want bofa them mate, give me the chocolate and a snog so that it will be a double kiss mate"

Without hesitation, Luka opens the Kiss and gives Loki the candy. He puts it in his mouth just before he climbs over the table and places a kiss on Luka's lips.
"See? that was the ultimate kiss. literally no one has ever done that before, mate. for real."
Luka looks a bit lost in the sauce for the moment. "You tasted like choglate. lets do that again."
Loki leans in and places a kiss on Luka's lips again. And again. "You know, mate, I've been wanting to do this for a long time." Loki giggles playfully, "You're so fun to kiss with." His eyes begin to water, smiling drunkenly at the intoxicated man in front of him.
" Cut it out, no you didn't. Really?" Luka leans in a little closer, inquiring with a drunken curiosity. "Why are you crying?"

Loki wipes his eyes with his arms, struggling to do a simple thing as he's still seeing double and triple. "Nah, mate I'm not crying, I'm juss happie that I finally got to kiss you." He finally finishes up eating the chocolate, lovingly watching Luka's eyes.
"'Finally?' Heh, well, with a face like mine, it's been a long time coming." Luka smirks with a raised glass in hand, pinky out. "I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt the same way every now n then." Luka hiccups.

Loki stands up, removing himself from the other side of the table with a wobble in his gait, making his way torwards Luka. The man's personal space is sharing itself with his little date, who's now sat himself next to him, and admires him through bedroom eyes. This is a different circumstance to say the least, but he's never seen him so calm and lovely-dovey before, and it's so inviting. His arm is nudged by Loki's head as he snuggles up to him before then giving him another infatuated stare. Luka mirrors his smile down at Loki.

"Can I have another?"
Upon request, Luka leans in with puckered lips and his arm hugging around Loki's waist. With an out-of-it giggle, the two close their eyes and don't realize they're now lost in each other's embrace.


....Is that Dean Martin playing...? It's a warm welcome to wake up to on this bright and blue morning. There's that annoying blurriness in Luka's eyes as he comes to, rubbing it away with the top of his wrist. There's a familiar sting and grogginess in his head that's echoing about, but it's not as bad as it's ever been before. With his usual routine he'll be fine. Opening his eyes wide open, he remembers he's not in his own apartment. Nor in his comfortable bed.

"My head...nngh..." He rubs his temple, scratches his eyebrow and lets his hand fall onto his side. He then notices it actually landed on a Loki snuggled up next to him. "Wha...?"
Out like a light, the boy is a little spoon under Luka's arm. Just by seeing his sleeping face, he's reminded of all the bad decisions he had made last night.
"Damn..." He says quietly. "What have I gotten myself into." Redgrave not only got himself drunk, but also gave drinks to a kid who's already dealing with drunken-like symptoms. Guilt hits his gut like a rock. A million voices tell him he knows better than that, and the lure of alcohol isn't an excuse.

"Sorry, kiddo..." He stares down at the dreaming boy. "You can kick my ass when you get up. Not too hard, if you can help it." He chuckles to himself.
There's guilt marinating, naturally. What self-respecting man wouldn't feel it after a stupid choice? But that isn't to say he's regretful of a few other things he's done last night. With the hand resting on Loki, he rubs circles onto his skin with his thumb. There's no reaction from Loki other than a quiet snore.

"Now you got me wondering if you really meant that last night. Hell, did I even mean half the stuff I said?"
Loki's face is relaxed, lips slightly pursed and open. Normally Loki tends to sleep like any other; jaw agape and almost dead looking with the least flattering expression on. But here, he's like a pretty painting. Thank goodness he's a deep sleeper. Because waking him up would be like throwing a stone in the calm of a water, disturbing the scenery, even if just for a moment. His eyelashes are full, eyes closed covering his icy eyes. Then, he remembers the satisfying kisses they shared last night. There's no denying that was a date, or something close to it. His eyes trace down to Loki's lips. Stealing another kiss isn't a bad idea...

That answers that question.

"...Yeah, guess I did."

Though, weren't they listening to instrumental Jazz? Why are some of his favorite vocalists on right now? He puts the puzzle together as he looks around the room. No more chocolate wrappers. The wine glasses are put away, presumably. The sofa tables and chairs are arranged like they usually are.

"You lil' kiss-ass, you put that music on for me, didn't you?" Luka smiles, "But thanks for tidying up."
"No problem, mate, but I'll wake you up next time for you to help out, mate."
Luka jumps at the sudden voice speaking back to him. Loki chuckles.
"Bayonetta and Jeanne haven't made it home, yet, so you're safe from any lecture if she saw us like this."
"'m not worried about them...but it is appreciated, kid. But, look. There can't be a 'next time'."
Loki turns to look at him, seemingly almost worried.
"What I did last night was stupid as hell. I got you and myself drunk when I should've been sober. There's....a whole lotta wrong I did, and I won't let a part two happen." "Mate, the drinking helped. You don't have to apologize for anything." Loki puts his finger up before Luka can interject, "And I get it. It technically WAS a bad idea, but in the end, a lot of good came out of it. Right?"
Luka blinks. Loki huffs playfully. "You're so silly, mate. All you wanted was a good time, and that's what we got last night. Don't think too hard about it. And Bayonetta won't know a damn thing if we don't tell her."

A headache is still nagging at him, and he's still a bit tired, so there's no real energy left to try and argue about his selfish behavior last night. Not much else to do but to shrug it off.
"Is that your way of saying I'm a good kisser?" Luka winks and smiles at Loki who's standing in front of him. Loki feels his face heat up in a similar way to a few hours ago, and his breathing quickens.
"I-I didn't hate it..." he stares away towards a random point on the floor. Luka smiles, knowing the memory of last night is replaying in the boy's mind. "But you are very good...I suppose..."
Luka continues to stare at his cute reaction with a smug grin. Loki almost wants to slap him.

"S-stop staring at me like that! I meant what I said."
"Aww, don't play coy. You know, I can offer my kissing services any time. Free of charge, of course."
This cornball...!

"....I'll think on it." Loki sits beside him with a pout and blush. The journalist's hand places upon Loki's. The god looks shyly at the joining of their hands. "So...where do we go now?"

"Whereever you want it to go. But I think from last night I deserve a more special pet name than 'mate', baby."