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In terms of visitors Loki could expect, there were very few outside his brother whom would willingly come to his door.
His repentance on Midgard had been forced by Odin and met with joy only by Thor. Although the mortals had grown to tolerate and even like him over the last year (helped in part by him saving their foolish hides in numerous battles) their visits were still rare.
When Anthony stepped into the room, Loki could admit to some pleasure at the sight. While the mortal’s company was more common now than it had been when he’d first arrived at the tower, it remained a bright spot in an otherwise bleak and boring existence.
Unfortunately, the man did not look either happy or excited to see him.
Loki frowned, but rather than show undue concern for the mortal’s mood (he was not yet ready to lower his guard that far), he gruffly asked, “I do hope you are not intending to bother me with a pathetic mortal problem.”
Normally, such a comment would begin a volley of verbal sparring and possibly an eyeroll but today, Anthony smiled tightly.
"Sorry," he answered. "You’re out of luck on that front. But, if it helps, I’m willing to pay upfront for the assistance.”
Loki’s frown deepened. “You are seeking my aid?”
“Magical aid, yeah.”
He tilted his head, observing the mortal. Anthony had come to stand in front of where he sat in his armchair with his book. Anthony wasn’t fidgeting, but he was wearing a suit. A different armour that he often wore.
“This does not relate to your lab or varying projects,” Loki deduced. “You would be more energetic.”
“Call it a personal favour.”
Loki closed his book. He had not been looking at it since the mortal entered, but now, he did not wish to give it an iota of attention.
“And what personal magical favour could you be requiring?”
“When we went up against Amora a few weeks ago, you said that spells of enchantment weren’t your strong suit, but that you could wield them easily enough.”
“Yes,” Loki answered, his tone wary.
“She focuses on inspiring affection.” Anthony stiffened his shoulders minutely, meeting his gaze with a fierce, determined expression. “I want you to provide the opposite effect.”
Loki blinked, rapidly. “You want me to remove emotions from you?”
“I want you to dampen or outright remove them, yeah. I know you’re competent and I trust you not to fuck up or ask too many questions. I’ll owe you one, and I know you’ve got a list a mile long of things you’d like to be able to have or do. I can make one of them happen, guaranteed.”
Loki narrowed his eyes, observing the mortal with increased perplexity and even a hint of genuine concern. To ask for such a spell…
“What emotion are you trying to repress?” he asked, his voice softer than he’d intended.
“Is that relevant?” Anthony asked, tone clipped.
“It is if I am to accept your request to repress them.”
Anthony clenched his jaw. He looked away, but after a long moment of silence, he answered, “Attraction. Affection.” He swallowed. “Guess you could call it unrequited love.”
Loki’s breath hitched. It was too quiet for Anthony to hear, but he felt those words as if they had been physical blows. Anthony wanted to repress love.
Miss Potts. He must still love her. There is no other explanation.
And it… hurt. A sharp sting that he would normally avoid acknowledging, but after such a reveal, he could not deny it.
A pathetic, useless infatuation, clearly.
And yet, as much as he wanted to feel the frustrated ache of the one he wanted still yearning for another, he could not accept it. For, when, in the many months since their break up, had Anthony looked anything remotely pining?
He’d been unhappy at the initial severing, yes, but he’d seemed to come to peace with it. To realise it was a good decision and necessary for her happiness and his. He had been happy and filled with the fire of creativity.
No, he could not still love her. And that meant…
“You have fallen for someone since your departure from Miss Potts.”
Anthony tensed. It was subtle, but Loki had been looking for it. The motion only confirmed his suspicions.
“And you believe this person doesn’t return your affections,” Loki surmised.
“I didn’t come here for an examination of my motives and emotions,” Anthony gritted out.
Loki scoffed. “If you expected me to agree to erase your emotions with nary a thought you clearly miscalculated.”
“Oh. I know you can be like a dog with a fucking bone if the subject interests you,” Anthony snapped, his voice rising with frustration, “but it’s just my fucking emotions. Dismiss it, move on, and pick your fucking payment.”
Irritated by the man’s attitude and uncomfortable with his growing envy, concern and disappointment, Loki stood. Their height difference found him looking down at the mortal. The man met his gaze with a glare.
“If you expect me to simply wipe your emotions without knowing the cause, you are mistaken.”
“Well, fuck that then. Forget about getting your favour.”
Anthony spun on his heel, looking ready to stomp off into another part of the tower. Loki darted out a hand and grabbed the man’s arm. Anthony tensed before trying to shake him off, but he was far superior in strength. Anthony then tried to pry his fingers off. When it had no effect, he looked ready to start trying more offensive means so Loki interjected.
“Do you realise that such spells are forbidden upon most realms? That to perform them, even with permission, is extremely frowned upon?”
Anthony stopped struggling, his agitation had lessened but he still didn’t look happy.
“Well, how was I to know that?”
“You could have asked.”
He let out a heavy breath. “Yeah. Probably would have saved me the hassle of this conversation.”
Anthony tried to tug away again, but Loki kept his hold. Anthony frowned and finally met his gaze. “Loki? Going to let me go?”
“No,” Loki answered. “I am going to divine exactly whom you hoped to force from your mind.”
“Or you could not,” Anthony countered.
But, as before, he was watching the mortal closely, looking for any indication that could help him uncover the truth. He saw a burst of panic and he tilted his head. He kept observing the mortal’s features. Seeing the increasing discomfort and nervousness and, when he stepped closer, he saw the mortal swallow.
He could not be certain, but, if he was right.
“Tell me, Anthony?” he said quietly, bringing his free hand to lightly cup the mortal’s chin. “Did you come here to have me erase your affections? Or on the hope that I might uncover and reciprocate them?”
Anthony closed his eyes.
“Fuck,” he whispered. “This really… I didn’t…”
“So, I am not the one you are infatuated with?”
Anthony was silent, the lack of response as damning as any assent. Loki grinned, triumph and delight flooding him.
“Excellent.”
He saw the brief confusion mar Anthony’s brow before he covered the mortal’s lips with his own.
Anthony sucked in a sharp breath, but almost instantly, Anthony’s hand gripped his shirt, as if to keep him close. He kissed back and Loki more fully cupped the man’s jaw, helping to encourage a deeper kiss.
It was delightful and Loki felt possessive glee by the time they broke apart. Anthony’s eyes had darkened and his lips were kiss swollen. The mortal stared at him with lingering shock.
“I think we can both agree this is a much better outcome then me bespelling you,” Loki said. “In fact, I do hope you are quite prepared to be known as my lover. I do not enjoy being kept in the shadows.”
“Sorry, I’m just… taking a moment to get my head around this. You… you actually want me?”
“Yes,” Loki agreed. “In fact, if it pleases you to know, I rather return the sentiments you wished to supress.”
“Oh,” Anthony breathed, still seeming mystified. “Oh, that… that’s really good, yeah.” He huffed a laugh and started to smile. “You know, you hid it well. I wasn’t even sure you liked me as a person, let alone anything else.”
Loki shrugged. “I don’t air my feelings lightly. And, for what it is worth, you were remarkably subtle yourself.” He smirked. “At least until you barged in claiming a need to be bewitched. Then you became quite obvious.”
Anthony rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, it wasn’t the best plan. Can you shut up and kiss me again?”
Loki laughed, but not for very long as the mortal leant forward and silenced him with another kiss. Loki felt a fresh burst of pleasure and tugged the mortal even closer. It was by far the best reward he could have received and he had not even needed to cast a spell for it.