Work Text:
The ale is pleasantly buzzing about at the back of his mind and Thor hums, enjoying the wonderful sensation of the company in his chambers while Loki carries on about something or other next to him. He is most likely correcting him once again for something he’s blurted out randomly without no real reason about it and there’s a cool breeze coming in past the light curtains, a nice compliment to the unseasonably balmy evening that happens to be outside. The half moon is so bright Thor thinks there’s not too much need for the lit torches surrounding them inside. He gets distracted trying to count the constellations, beginning again and again when he loses count and has to start over from square one.
Loki is still talking. Thor has no idea what he’s saying, something about Father, something about an event two days ago he can barely recall at this very moment, but he always tries to listen and keep up as much as he can, allowing Loki's soothing, accented voice to fall over him in waves. Thor has always loved listening to that voice. He loves it when (though quite rare) Loki praises him, loves it when he scolds him, loves it when he drunkenly speaks for hours of really nothing after Volstagg and Fandral are the last two to go to bed (though currently they’re collected together against a nest of pillows laid out on the floor) and it’s only the two of them, alone in the world, sharing opposite ends of his bed in casual contentment. Here they aren’t princes of Asgard, they are just two friends, companions enjoying the flow of ale and happy in the company they keep.
A random sharp breeze rushes in, causing the flames to shimmy and dance, causing shadows to contrast against the walls. Fandral murmurs in his sleep, curling further into Volstagg. Thor thinks it’s rather cute in a way. He’s glad they enjoyed the evening, falling asleep inhaling more alcohol than they possibly should have, but he, despite drinking steadily at their pace, had pushed on. The moon rose, the stars shimmered, and he’d watched as Loki nursed one, two, maybe three steins carefully, never one to drink unabashedly as the others. If not for his flushed cheeks and unfocused eyes, Thor probably wouldn’t have been able to tell he was even drunk.
He inches closer, the bed creaking, his limbs feeling comfortably heavy and his skin just slightly too hot for what he’s currently wearing. He’s not entirely sure when it happened, but he’s found himself next to Loki and since he’s there, he doesn’t shy from snuggling up next to him in the process, pressing their bodies together. He rests his head on Loki’s shoulder and his brother smiles, eyes showing a mild curiosity and Thor leans in a bit more.
“What are you doing?” Loki asks. He shifts around so they’re facing each other, laid out on their sides. Thor catches sight of the thinly chained gold necklace Loki constantly hides away, and it tumbles out from underneath; the moonlight glints against a pendant of mjolnir Thor has given him ages ago as a jest after one of his trips to Midgard. The surprised but pleased laugh that falls past his lips makes Loki smile.
“Happy birthday, my dear Loki.” He says, still laughing. “I’ve gotten you a new present, would you like it now?”
“Thor, you needn’t have..” Loki starts, but the way his lips curl around his name has Thor leaning in, cupping a hand at his brother’s jaw and bringing their mouths together in something so uncoordinated and rough it couldn’t be called a proper kiss. He licks at Loki’s lips, tasting the ale there, and hums pleasantly.
He presses his body against Loki’s, a hand softly smoothed along his side. “Well? How was that? Do you like it?”
“Could have been better.” Loki murmurs into the space between them, a smirk across his lips. “You should try again, and keep trying until I finally tell you just when your gift is worthy enough for one like me.”
Thor makes a happy sound in the back of his throat. He leans in for another kiss and Loki meets him halfway. They stay like that, trading kisses, Thor practically trying to absorb Loki into him, pressed so desperately close. He knows in the morning this will end. He isn’t sure he’ll be able to do this without further liquid courage backing him up, and Loki will probably declare nothing of the sort happened.
That is, if he even remembers, though Thor is quite sure he will.
But right now they have tonight, and it’s Loki’s birthday, so Thor wants to give him everything. His vision is doing something funny, though, blurring at the edges. He thinks he falls asleep. It’s okay, because Loki follows him into his dreams. Fandral and Volstagg continue to sleep on the floor as he struggles to stay up, if only for a little while and cherish this precious time together.
“Stay with me, Loki.” He finds himself saying as they curl together under a bed of starlight. “Please?”
“You don’t have to ask,” Loki answers. The words sound real, and for a moment Thor is aware of a bed beneath him and a glass of water being pressed against his lips. He comes out of the dream only partially, to the sight of Loki tucking him in and the sound of Volstagg snoring on the other side of the room.
“You should use that energy to take care of yourself.” Thor slurs. “I am sure you are drunker than I am.”
“If you say so, Brother.” Loki lays a kiss on his forehead, Thor doesn’t miss the way his lips linger there and nuzzle his skin briefly. “You are so warm..”
Thor smiles. He feels like he should say something else, but it’s getting harder and harder to think as sleep struggles to take him back. “Goodnight.” He finally manages, his hand desperately curled around slender, nimble fingers.
“Sleep.” Loki’s other hand cradles his cheek and he can’t help but lean into it, a kiss pressed into the heel. “I promise, if you remember this in the morning, then you can regale me with more of your gifts. But until then, sweet dreams.”
He watches him go, disappearing past the heavy doors and into the black, inky shadows of the night.
Thor knows he’ll remember and he smiles again, settling in and going back to his dreams, eager to pick up where he left off with Loki and excitedly anticipating what the day holds for them in the morning.