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[justabitoffun]

It had been nearly two years since he had set foot in this realm. Practically two years worth of almost non-stop seclusion and isolation. The brief visitations from his mother notwithstanding and the one short adventure with his brother that he used to escape the dungeons of Asgard besides the point. He had spent much of the second half of his isolation hiding in the forests of Alfheim. There had been plenty of time for contemplation and self-searching during the idle days and restless nights spent alone in the remote stretches of the wilderness.

Before that, he tried traveling the stars on his own. There were plenty of places to hide out in the darkness between realms and many breathless sights to distract the mind. But it had quickly lost its appeal with no one to share the cold beauty with and he found himself going in circles, running from an enemy that was only in his mind. (Everyone thought him dead. Why would they search for him?) A part of him must have ached in a way he didn't realize possible for eventually he found himself in an old, familiar place and settled in. When he thought of why he was here or what he was doing with his time he thought he recognized the voice that took shape in his head as it sounded suspiciously like someone he knew in the past. Old conversations seemed to spring to mind as he contemplated what to do next. He never came to a decision.

And then one day the God of Chaos grew restless. He tired of the repetition that was born out of idleness and isolation. He was bored of the nothingness that his life had turned into. It was time to stop hiding.

Finally, he made a quick decision. It was more like a whim.

Two years had past since he set foot in this realm of Midgard. Two years since he had seen the mortals scurrying about on their rock that they called Earth. Two years since he had seen a certain mortal man whom he had grown rather... fond of.

It took him less than two hours to find the man when he finally got down to it. The hardest part, admittedly, had been the casting of the magical story that gave him access to a seat next to the man. The computer had succumbed eventually, however, and one poor unfortunate soul lost his claim to the seat so that Loki could walk aboard the plane and, with an elegance that defied the circumstances, sit calmly next to Phil Coulson in a commercial flight back to the United States.

Comments

[sonofcoul]

Coulson was not fortunate enough to get an exit row this time, but he couldn't always be that lucky. It was more than a healthy flight back from Spain, though, so hopefully he would manage to muster up enough luck to catch a bit of sleep on the flight despite the cramped conditions.

One could only hope.

He was getting settled in his seat and glancing out the window when he noticed the seat next to him had acquired it's occupant. He turned his head to see what sort of travelmate he'd have to contend with on this particular flight...

... and all thoughts absolutely vacated his head, leaving him absolutely gaping.

[justabitoffun]

There was no greeting from the god. Loki took the time to settle in his seat, adjusting the cuffs of his pristine mortal business suit and staring dispassionately at his surroundings. His entire demeanor spoke of aloof aplomb. Clearly, nothing unusual here.

Then, finally, he turned his head towards Coulson and raised a brow.

"Pablo Jimenez, really?"

[sonofcoul]

"I had the alias already. It comes in handy," he murmured, still being unable to take his eyes off of Loki.

"I... It's really you? I'm not just imagining this?"

Please let him not be imagining this.

[justabitoffun]

Loki's lips twisted into a strange little smile.

"It has been some time, but, you know me... I like to be fashionably late."

[sonofcoul]

"You--" His voice stumbled a bit on the word, so he cleared his throat. "I heard you were dead."

The irony of the statement does not completely escape him, but details.

[justabitoffun]

Loki's eyebrows hiked up his forehead. "Did you now? News of that little...escapade traveled all the way here?"

He should have known. He should have anticipated Thor, the mighty Avenger, telling his little mortal friends such a story. Bah. Loki couldn't decide which was worse: the thought that Thor may have painted him in an epic image for dying nobly, or that the Thunderer likely fell short with his attempts and caused Loki's demise to sound pathetically frail. Either way, he wasn't too pleased with the outcome.

[sonofcoul]

Coulson just nodded, still reluctant to take his eyes off of Loki. "Sif was on Earth hunting a fugitive from Asgard, and she happened to mention it. I wasn't... it wasn't good news to hear."

[justabitoffun]

"Well that is pleasing," he replied offhandedly, turning to gaze at the isle where other passengers were still filing onto the plane before its departure. He was quiet a moment before turning back to clarify. "Here I was beginning to think you'd already gone and forgotten me."

[sonofcoul]

"I think it would take a lot more than two years to make me forget about you."

He shook his head, still intent on Loki. The other passengers may well not have existed. "I think it would take more than my lifetime."

[justabitoffun]

The god's stoic demeanor cracked at that and a small, genuine smile appeared on his lips. "I suppose I will have to be reasonable then and forgive you."

[sonofcoul]

A soft smile threatened to blossom on his as well, although he kept it reined in with some rather obvious effort. "Well, thank you for your generosity."

[justabitoffun]

"You always did insist that I could be a benevolent god," he said with some small hint of wry amusement, "I suppose it is time that I simply put forth the effort to be one. At least so far as till the time I grow bored with it." He smiled at Coulson again. "Keep me entertained just a bit longer, will you?"

[sonofcoul]

Coulson's smile grew. "I'll do my best. Although I don't know how well 'The Joys of Flying Coach' would fit on any self-respecting entertainment roster."

[justabitoffun]

Loki glanced around at the spacious plane with all its passengers packed into the cabin. He was ignoring the sounds and smells like a pro before but now he took the time to take them in. His nose wrinkled in disgust.

Then he tilted his head to one side as he glanced back at Coulson. "Well. That can be easily remedied..."

[sonofcoul]

He paused, looking around slowly. It was a tempting offer. Flying commercial sucked. "Well... I wouldn't mind. If it wasn't noticed and we weren't missed."

[justabitoffun]

"Of course."

There was a pause as Loki sat back in his seat and closed his eyes for a moment. It only took a few seconds for Loki to write a script and put it into place. When he opened his eyes, the two of them were in a very different set of seats.

It was sunset in Mumbai and the two of them had a perfect view of the effects of the sun's diminishing light as it played along the coastal water.

[sonofcoul]

Coulson took a deep breath of the fresh air and let out a soft content sigh.

"And nowhere to be for the entire length of a transatlantic flight. I am going to enjoy this."

[justabitoffun]

"You're welcome."

Being away from the packed crowd also gave the god the confidence to touch Coulson for the first time since they'd been reunited. Tentatively, at first, his fingers trailed lightly over the agent's hand.

[sonofcoul]

Coulson's response was anything but tentative. He promptly threaded his fingers through Loki's own.

"I missed you. I'm glad you're here."

[justabitoffun]

Loki sighed in contentment and curled his fingers possessively around Coulson's own. "I spent a lot of time alone in the past two years," he said and then paused, perhaps not quite certain where he was going with the line. But the follow-up seemed inevitable. "It was not as pleasant as the two years before that."

[sonofcoul]

Coulson was happy to dance as long as Loki wanted. The sun was nice, but not really necessary in this case. All that he needed was standing with him, dancing.

He didn't want to speak, for fear of breaking the mood that had surrounded them. So he just let his thank you come forth from his demeanor.

[justabitoffun]

It was a lovely dance, and Loki had no qualms in giving it little flourishes here and there, carefully accommodating Coulson every step of the way as he led the way. If anyone passing by stopped to watch, the alien paid them no mind and simply kept dancing with his partner. That was all that mattered.

But everything had an end. Though Loki liked to look at it as simply the beginning of something else. Tonight, he knew what he wanted to come next. So eventually he slowed their dance to a simple pace that let the blood cool and wind down, and he hummed thoughtfully into his companion's ear.

"This is just the beginning, minn sváss. I would like to further the evening's events though perhaps privacy is best for what's next. Will you come with me tonight? Will you keep me company?"

[sonofcoul]

"How could I possibly say anything but of course?"

It had been a long two years, and he was looking forward to the proceedings just as much as Loki was. Even if... well, if some things would end up making themselves known, better get them out in the open instead of trying to hide them. That would never work.

[justabitoffun]

Loki smiled. "I am glad to hear you say that."

He stopped their dance and gazed down at Coulson. He was happy for this decision to come here; he had no regrets, and Coulson gave him none as he had, admittedly, feared. Perhaps some things couldn't be lost as easily as others...

"Come with me then," he said, and actually began to walk. He headed away from the now dark waters and vaguely back towards the city proper.

[sonofcoul]

"Right behind you," he said softly, turning to follow in Loki's wake. He'd hoped to have this reunion eventually. Even if he'd expected it less and less as time went by, there were still moments he'd just pictured turning and seeing Loki there again, as if nothing had ever happened.

He'd pictured having these moments again.

And even if some moments in between would almost certainly cause difficulties... well, it wasn't as if their relationship had ever been without them.