Cards and Cameras

The Coastal Fool

SFW. Romance. Fluff. Before relationship. Loki needs help from a big strong man.

Not many people were out and about early this Monday morning. There was a slight chill in the sea salt air, but nothing natives of Noatun weren't used to by now. In fact, it was a welcome breeze compared to the past week that was heating up the plaza. By 14pm when schools are out, it should be busy since people are getting out of schools and work respectively.
But it's 7am. And Loki's alone, feeling the consequences of his actions.


Nothing like a morning workout to get the day started, he thought. He was still tired, but may as well stay up at this point. He began throwing himself around in the air, practicing some moves he plans to use on some angels who make their almost daily appearance. Loki's arms glowed a bright blue, and he back flipped twice before throwing his cards forward. It took some time for him to master the accuracy for that one.

With several battle grunts later, he caught his breath with a small confident smirk, what would be a shit eating grin to Loptr.
"'Guess I could go for another round." He challenges himself.
As he prepares to do the same double flip attack, Loki doesn't bother to take better note of his surroundings. I mean, he's lived here his entire life and practically every other Noatunian's life, so why bother?

With a gymnastic twirl backwards, bounce back then followed by another 360 flip, it all happened too quickly before he can do anything about it.

"Crap--!" Is all he can get out before he fell backwards down the stairs behind him, throwing his body far backwards with little control. The landing hurt as he let out an "oof" when he landed hard on his hip.

The god got right back up.
"That could've gone better..." he grumbled rubbing his side.
It's instinctual for him to use his powers to call back his cards, but annoyingly, no blue power shines around his wrist.
"Figures. I should have known this shit would happen."
It's not super common, but every now and then, Loki's powers will go MIA if he doesn't get enough sleep.
So...now he had to manually get his cards.

On this windy day.

He let out an annoyed sigh.
The search and rescue party didn't go on for too long, thanks to his agility and quick reflexes. Still didn't make it any less bothersome.
Loki named his cards out loud to double check if he got all of them.
"The Lovers, The Star, Transformation...Where's The Fool?" He asks no one. He dreaded where he would find it, and peering around the fence, It's just as he expected.

The Fool floated in the water just behind the dock fence.
"Well, at least you haven't floated away too far." Loki walked over to the little gate, and bends over the sharp metal, leaning and hoping to pick the card up, but it's just far enough out of his reach. "Shite. Loptr's stupid arms would be perfect right now..."

Then, an idea popped into his head.
His own magic naturally replenishes, but very slowly when he's tired. But they will go MIA randomly. Loki, in his determined, tired stupor, turned into a flying squirrel and easily slides between the gates. He hanged onto the gate and snagged the card.
Just as he turned to go, he feels his body grow.


----------------

"So...that's what happened. Now can you do me a favor and help me out of this thing??"
Luka stares down, mouth slightly agape at the stupid situation the boy's found himself in.
It wasn't enough that Luka already had a loon try and convert him to a fake religion earlier today. Now he's come across an angry little god stuck between a gate, face facing the city, ass out to sea.

"You know, kid, you're lucky no one can see you. Because this is not a position I'd be proud to be in."
"It doesn't help that you're sitting here making it worse, now just help me already, mate!"
Luka smirks at the boy's obvious anger and pang of embarrassment. "Alright, stop kicking your feet. Let me see what I can do."
He observes the fence, thinking it's not really possible to do much moving since they're made of metal, but maybe it's been worn down by time enough to be a bit malleable and broken partially. But the city is better managed than that, though. Worth a shot, anyway.
"Okay, try and wiggle through when I pull it."
Loki nods, and on the count of three, Luka's pulling and forcing the fence apart. At least he thought he was.
"Damn, I thought I had that there. I'm sure it moved even a little bit."
"Guess you've gotten soft. Time to hit the gym more, I suppose."
"Wh--? Do you see yourself right now? You're not in any position to say anything snarky, brat." he says with a somewhat annoyed chuckle, "I guess a god can't get past these damn bars. Maybe you've got to work on your magic."
Loki laughs, hiding the flusteredness Luka's comment made him feel. "Uh huh. Let's do it again, I think I felt myself move a bit."
Once again, Luka feels the strain on his muscles as he pulls the bars apart bit by bit. He cinches his face in with closed eyes as he really gives it his all to Free The Boy. But when he tries to catch his breath for a moment, he can see Loki wiggling around like silly string trying to pry himself out, and something snaps in Luka.

A burst of laughter echoes in the quiet plaza.
"What? Why are you laughing, this isn't funny!"
"It's a little hard to take you seriously here, look at you! You're like a little kitten with a cup stuck on his head."
Loki feels his face heat up. "J-just...get me out of here..."
Something about seeing Luka's face light up so happily made him feel a little giddy inside, too. Despite the predicament.

"Let's try it again."
"Right, then."
"But you know, kid. We do look a little weird to the average person, huh. What's some guy randomly pulling on this fence for?" He says, pushing on his glasses.
Loki chuckles, "I guess it's not a good position for either of us to be in."
After some trials and errors, Loki's now.......still in the same position he was in before, but in a less painful spot.
It's been about 15 minutes, but let Loki and Luka tell it, it's been 2 hours.
"Augh, this whole thing is killing my arms. I think we're going to have to find another solution, kid. How 'bout you suck in your stomach."
"That's what I've been doing this whole time, mate!"
Luka rests his arm again on Loki's back. "Sorry to use you like an arm chair, but let me think for a moment."
Loki's eyebrows furrow. There's no point in complaining about it, it's not like he can do anything about it.
"Oh. Why don't I just lube you up? The water's gotta help with sliding you out."
"What? No, It's already cold enough with the wind. Bayonetta's going to kill me if I come home sniffling."
"She'll live. And so will you--"
"NO, WAIT. Please, there's got to be something else we can do."
Luka's eyes widened at Loki's begging little face. It was unfortunate that he's stuck, but the way he pleaded with his eyes made Luka just want to snatch him right up.

And so he did.

It was...an uncomfortable hug, but a hug in its own right.
Luka is lost for a moment, embracing the adorable little trapped god.
Confused, Loki watches him, expecting him to pull...until he realizes .......................he's just hugging him.

Loki's heart races, feeling Luka wrapped around him for some reason. "W-what are you doing? I-is now really the time for this?"
Though he put up a bit of a front, it's a welcome feeling. Compared to the bars trapping him, the embrace of his crush is a comforting and welcome contrast.

Luka can feel his little heart beat. It was originally fast, but then gradually slowed down to something more calm. He could be wrong, but he could swear that their heartbeats were now in sync.
"....Try now." He says, hugging him still.
At first, Loki almost wiggled.
But then he realized he's more awake, and more importantly, relaxed. Without realizing it, the both of them were tense in a stressful situation. The boy exhales and sucks in his stomach again, relaxed. And with one tough pull, though easy on the ribs, Loki is free.
A bright and glowing smile spreads across Loki's face as he got onto his feet.
"Ugh. Finally. Thanks, mate."
"No problem, kid. Guess we were making it more complicated than it needed to be."

They trade warm smiles for a moment, happy to be rid of such an annoying ordeal.
"...Where's that damn card you were looking for, anyway? Don't tell me it drifted away."

The mini god feels his power flood back into him. Loki instinctually uses his power to call back the final card, The Fool. He shows it to Luka with a teasing smile, "Of all the cards, huh?" Luka takes it from the boy's hand, and looks at it before drying it off with his scarf. But before handing it back, he places a kiss on it, placing it in the now blushing-like-mad boy's hands.

"W-whwhat was that for??"
"Oh, you know. A little good luck kiss for The Fool, is all. Anyhoo, you want to get something to eat? Bet you're hungry after getting into your own mess. You probably only want to relax now, so don't worry, I'll pay for whatever you'd like."
Loki bites his inner lip, pouting at the tall man in front of him, then averting his gaze. Yeah, he's hungry after working out and being stuck all morning. "S-sure. But did you really have to do that?"
"Do what? Oh please, would you rather me steal a kiss from you instead of your card? Let's head on over to The Sea's Meal. I told you I'd take you there some time." He said with a wink and smile, the pesky wind from before blowing the man's brown hair.
Loki's blood boiled in his cheeks, turning them a more intense blush.
"Alright, let's go already."
As they walk towards the restaurant hub, Loki quietly mumbles into the card Luka had kissed, imbuing the smooch onto The Fool for as long as the chant is active. A little something of what he would call an indirect kiss.