driftfleet | first one to make that doctor who joke loses

[ He waves it off. ]

I have nothing to fear. But the Litany brings peace of mind.

[He flashes Leto a grin.]

You are my favorite liar, for you wear it so well.

[He idly runs his fingernails over the back of the tree, wrinkles his nose at the spongy feel of it.]

Peace is such a boring prospect, yes?

[ Something about being called a liar sets his teeth on edge. He has never lied. Not to his recollection, not about anything. And yet, there are lies spoken that he will never name.

His truth-sense was faltering of late. ]

Peace of mind isn't the same as peace time in the now.

[That might be why he does it. Or he might believe that Leto is lying in some way. Or maybe both.

It's always a question, if Loki believes in anything.]

I'd wager peace for a stretch of time is a far more likely thing.

Perhaps.

[ He's not concerned so much about the peace of the universe. ]

It depends on the people. Whether they want it. Or even know what they want.

And ever do they not. [It's not as if Loki ever knows what Loki truly wants either, but as his mother said, he's very good at understand everyone but himself. When he wants to.]

That's the charm of the universe as a whole. It cares not in the slightest for people.

It is not meant to.

[ It's supposed to exist outside of people's laws. It's only when others impose themselves on the universe that things go awry. ]

Though I hesitate to call it "charm".

Its base unfairness is the fairest thing of all.

We must have different standards of charm.

[ Wryly, but with faint amusement. ] That much is abundantly clear.

Though concepts like fairness and otherwise have no place on a universal scale. Morality is, after all, a ethical ideal developed by societies for societies.

[Loki smiles, eyes half closed in... pleasure.] Oh, please do say that again. Like music to my ears.

[ He cocks his head at that, surprised by Loki's reaction. ]

Morality is . . . subjective?

[Leto, you don't know what he's had to put up with, surrounded by humans--worse, would-be hero humans--for years.

A happy sigh.]

I shall wrap that around me as a warm blanket at night.

[ He softens a little, finally understanding Loki's dilemma. Understanding can only come so close when it comes from humans. ]

You're welcome.

[This sensation of being understood is such a new and glorious one. Rogue understands certain things about him, but not many others--though she likes him all the same, which is very important in its own way.

He leans his head to the side a little, and holds his hand out to Leto. Not quite a demand, more of an invitation.]

[ He hesitates. He's dallying in connections he should not make, but this was Loki. Just the name alone has Leto's trust. Carefully, he clasps it lightly. ]

[Oh Leto. You should never trust Loki. His birthright is death, after all. Odin had that much right.

Loki curls his fingers lightly in Leto's for a moment, a very affectionate gesture in its own way for someone like him. He tugs Leto's hand up to place a light kiss on his fingers, though he doesn't linger there.]

[ Oh, Loki. Leto reaches out to touch the side of his face, gentle. ]

You're very tired.

[This is the bit where he should laugh. Or run away. Both at the same time. He finds he doesn't want to, however. What he wants is to--

He rests his hand over Leto's, turning his face lightly into that touch.]

Some days, yes, very.

[His lips pull in a wry smile.]

But you know precisely that feeling. [The fatigue that has nothing to do with the body.]

[ He sighs. ]

I do. All too well. But I will hold onto hope.

[Some understanding can only come with time. With time, and the wear of loneliness, like water running ceaselessly over a stone. He huffs a little laugh.]

I have said it often, darling. Hope is a wretched poison.

[He has been at his most free and most absolutely destructive when he had no hope. That perfect moment on the Bifrost when something cracked inside him and he let himself fall into the void. That had been the death of hope. What's taken its place is something much sharper and more bloody.]

Then I am poisoned.

[ There's little changing it now. There's no denying that his hope was also his destruction. ]

But it allows me to linger in the small spaces of the world.

[A wry, crooked smile at that.]

And you shall not allow me to save you either, I wager.

For the best, perhaps, for I used all my saving for one life up on my idiot brother already.

[ He laughs softly, like falling leaves. ]

Who says I haven't been saved? I'm simply limited in some aspects. But I was saved long ago.

We shall argue the semantics of saved next, perhaps. [He strokes the back of Leto's hand lightly with his thumb.]

I lived another life, once. Well, one among many. And in that life, I was my brother's shadow and made corpses to protect him and Asgard.

I wonder if that Loki would agree with you.

Perhaps. But the only Loki I see right now is you.

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