Work Text:
As the late morning sun hit your face, you sighed in contentment, rolling over from your stomach to your back. And then a shadow crossed your face.
“How can you possibly be this happy?” A deep voice grumbled. You opened one eye, squinting at Loki, back lit by the sun, fully clothed.
“Well, for one, I’m dressed for the weather. How are you not sweating in…” You pulled your sunglasses off. “… are you wearing a sweatshirt? In Puerto Vallarta?”
Loki scoffed. “I didn’t realize there was a dress code. I must have missed Stark’s memo.”
You rolled your eyes and grabbed a romance novel from your bag you bought at the airport. “Don’t they have vacations on Asgard?”
Loki crossed his arms over his chest. “Ruling the Nine Realms doesn’t generally lend itself to leisure time.”
You flipped open your book. “Pity. And here I thought you knew how to have fun.”
His mouth dropped open. “Hey… I know how to have fun.”
You squinted at him. “Says the man wearing layers on the beach.” You returned to your book, smirking behind the pages. “If you want some help, just say the word.”
“I do not need help.”
You shrugged your shoulders. “Suit yourself. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” You glanced up at him. “In the fun room.”
You watched as Loki stormed off, mumbling about you not doing fun if it bit you on the ass.
“I have a very cute ass by the way!” you yelled after him.
-
Two days later, at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m., you woke up to insistent knocking at the door. With a groan, you dragged yourself to whip open the door to find Loki standing there.
“Loki… What the hell—”
“I’m asking for help.” He blurted out.
You rubbed your eyes. “Give me 15 minutes.” You walked away, leaving the door. Loki stepped into your hotel room, following you as you headed towards the bathroom.
“Where are you going?” You whipped around, snapping at him.
“Um… not the bathroom?” Loki grinned widely.
“Chair. Now.” You pointed at an uncomfortable chair and spun back around into the bedroom. Loki wandered to the chair but diverted towards your suitcase. “Touch it and die, Loki!” He sat down.
After a too brief shower, you stepped out in a romper and your hair wet. Loki stumbled to his feet. You took in his outfit and chuckled.
“Black is not really a vacation color, Loki.”
His long, slender fingers plucked at his pressed black t-shirt and black jeans. “I beg your pardon?”
You grabbed your bag. “Rule number one, you do not question.”
Loki nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Rule number two. Call me ‘ma’am’ again and lose a testicle.”
Loki smirked. “Apologies.”
You grinned back. “Come on, we’re going shopping.”
-
“LOKI!” you called outside of his hotel room bathroom. “Come on.”
“No.”
“Yes. I signed us up for surf lessons.”
The door flung up and Loki stepped out, bare-chested and in a pair of green board shorts. Your cheeks heated at the sight.
“You, what?” he demanded, his brows furrowed.
“Uh… surf lessons… you, me, and the sea.” You glanced at your phone. “And we are going to be late. Come on, Loki!” He had just enough time to grab a shirt before you dragged him towards the beach.
-
Loki turned out to be better at surfing than you expected. Although when he glanced over at you on the last wave, he wiped out hard.
“What happened?” you giggled as you paddled to the beach and flopped onto the sand. Loki flopped down next to you.
“My foot slipped.” he lied. He blushed under your gaze.
You furrowed your brow. “Oh.” You attempted to hide your disappointment by digging through your bag. “You’re getting red.” You shoved a bottle of sunscreen at him. “Put this one.”
Loki’s nose wrinkled. “I can’t reach my back. Will you help?”
“I can’t… I have to… go. Ask someone else.” You scrambled to your feet and took off before Loki could protest.
-
You avoided Loki for the rest of the day, begging off the team dinner that night.
“Come on,” Tony begged as you called him from your bed. “One drink. Just one drink and you can leave.”
You faked a cough. “I caught a bug on the flight. I would hate to get everyone sick.”
Tony sent an entire pharmacy to your room in response. The next morning, you heard Loki knocking on your door, but you ignored it and the three phone calls, choosing instead to bury yourself in the blankets of the bed.
When you finally emerged, you found a hammock tied up in a secluded area of the resort and settled in with your book. After no one bothered you, your mind slowed as the breeze6 rocked the hammock from side to side, lulling you to sleep.
-
When you ignored his phone calls and knocking, Loki took to searching every inch of the resort for you. And yet you eluded him. He slumped into a chair and held his head in his hands.
“Damn it all!” he cursed. Loki wasn’t sure how he fucked up, but something had gone wrong. He squinted under the blistering sun and noticed a shady spot off in the corner.
As he approached the area, he spied you asleep in the hammock, your book threatening to to tumble onto the ground, losing your place.
“Your book is—” Loki leaned over to grab the book, placing his weight on the hammock, sending you, your book, and him on a short but eventful ride to the ground.
“WHA!?!” you exclaimed as you noticed the hammock shifting. Your eyes snapped open to see Loki above and then below and then finally beside you. “WHAT THE FUCK, LOKI?!” You weren’t sure if you were screaming about him dumping you onto the ground or finding you in the first place. Neither were ideal.
“But your book… I didn’t realize…” he sputtered as he clamored for your novel, shoving it into your hands.
“Don’t you know how a hammock works?” You stood, brushing off the sand off your clothes.
His brow furrowed. “Of course, I don’t. I thought you were going to teach me how to have fun.” He stood as well, cleaning off his shorts and shirt. The ones you helped him buy. “I’ll let you be.” He stepped off towards the resort in hopes to find Thor or even Stark to annoy for amusement.
You sighed. “Wait… I’m sorry for being rude. I…” You chewed your lip as you contemplated how to finish the sentence. “Let me show you.” You placed your book down and sat down on the hammock before swinging your feet over and settling in. “Easy as pie. Your turn.”
You gestured to another hammock hanging nearby, but Loki sat down on the one you occupied, swinging his legs and sliding in next to you. He smiled widely at you. “You’re right, easy as pie.”
You gritted your teeth. “I meant one of the other hammocks, Loki.” You wiggled away.
“If I did that, we can’t talk. Why are you avoiding me?” Loki stared at you.
Your cheeks burned. “I… I… I… no… not… I…” you sputtered and mumbled.
“I thought we were friends.” Loki winced slightly at the word. “I thought you liked me.” he sighed. “But if I’m mistaken, I’ll let you be.” He swung his legs, but you grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him back.
“We are friends, Loki.” your voice trembled. “That’s the problem. We are just friends. And I like you.”
“How is that a problem? Friends should like…” His brows raised and his eyes grew wide. “Oh…”
You hid your face as you fought off hot tears. “Oh…” you sniped back, sarcastically. “Now if you don’t mind, I would prefer to wallow in my self-delusion and pity alone.” You pushed his shoulder, but Loki grabbed you by the wrist.
“I feel the same.” he said. “Why else did I agree to come to this wretched place? For a tan? I am a Frost Giant.” He chuckled. “I hoped to spend more time with you.”
“But… but…” Your mouth dropped open. “Why?”
Loki cupped your face with his hand, cool against your sun heated skin. “Does love need a reason?” He didn’t wait, couldn’t wait another moment. He pressed his lips to yours.
You sighed into the kiss and wrapped your arms around Loki as best you could. “Did you say ‘love’?” you giggled. “A girl could get spoiled with kisses like that.”
Loki nuzzled into your neck. “And you haven’t seen me in the bedroom.”
Tony overheard a loud shriek and giggle from the pool bar. He glanced up to see Loki running with you over his shoulder. “About fucking time.” he muttered before popping a nacho into his mouth.