Chapter Text
"I-I…"
"Well Captain, speak up. I'm waiting."
Steve closed his eyes and took a few breaths. He shouldn't have left the tower. He shouldn't have been there. He shouldn't feel like this, but he did. If the others, his teammates, his friends, were to ever find out that he… Oh man, he was done for.
He swallowed and tried again, but all that came out of his mouth was nonsense. Loki was getting impatient with him, Steve could tell.
He was backed into a wall, his wrists were red and his hands were going numb from the weird cuffs he was wearing. Loki's hand was on his neck, squeezing it slightly, enough for Steve to feel the pressure. His chest felt constricted from the blade Loki was pressing against it. His muscles ached and his skin felt bruised. Steve shouldn't have left the tower. He should've stayed in his room. He should've…
Loki coughed, signaling to the blonde that he was about done with him. "Captain, I'm growing tired of this little game. How much longer do I have to keep you here before you decide to tell me why you found it necessary to find out where I reside and spy on me? Hmm?" The god leaned forward, inches from Steve's face, trying to scrutinize the man.
Steve took a shaky breath before he just blurted it out in a whispered tone. "I-I think I'm in love with you." The blonde's face went scarlet red as he looked up into green eyes. After a second, he huffed out as his head slumped a bit forward, looking down at the floor.
Loki stood still, the blade he had pressed to the captain's chest fell to his side. His pale face was a mix of confusion and shock.
Well… This was an interesting turn of events.
Loki honestly didn't expect this. It had to be a lie, there was no way that Steve was in love with him. Even he had to think Steve was mad. It just had to be a lie. His hand around the blonde's throat began to tighten just a little more as Loki became angry again. Steve's breath hitched.
Then Loki felt a gentle touch to his face. It was more of a flutter really. Loki's green eyes shifted to Steve's. The trickster couldn't see much of him. The captain's face was a bit too close to the right side of Loki's for him to make out what Steve was doing. Though truth be told, Steve wasn't doing much besides the slight hitch of his breath (Loki was nearly choking the man). He felt the flutter a few more times before the god realized that Steve's eyelashes were fluttering against his face.
Loki blinked. He had heard of this before. In Asgard it was a way to show affection to ones you were courting. Loki knew that the captain was doing it unintentionally. He did have his hand wrapped tightly around the poor blonde's neck. He let the hand slide down Steve's chest 'til it was over his heart. He could feel the fluttering beats. The same fluttering sensation as the blonde eyelashes against his skin.
Loki pushed himself back a little, looking at blue eyes. "Your heart… Are you afraid?"
Steve took a shaky breath as he looked at the god with sincerity. "Yeah…"
"Of what? Being choked?"
"More like admitting that I have feelings for you… and what you might do to me. So yeah, I guess… Being choked has something to do with it."
Loki chuckled softly, which had Steve blushing again. "I see… You're much too honest Captain. Perhaps even for your own good." With that, Loki cupped the back of Steve's neck and lean in.