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"This whole bloody holiday feels a bit ridiculous," Loki sneers, his hands fisted in the pockets of a black peacoat as he waits for you to join him on the sidewalk.
You follow closely, your shoulders barely touching one another as you make haste towards the end of the city block.
"You're such a Grinch, Loki," you chuckle, shaking your head at your friend's incessant need to always complain, though it never failed to feel endearing to you.
"Ah," he nods his head, remembering the movie you had shown him a few weeks ago. "It's because my colors are green, as well?"
"No," you scoff. "It's because you're also a Christmas-themed party pooper."
He rolls his eyes playfully, a small smile forming on his lips as he watches your face. He always found that crinkle in your forehead that forms when you're determined absolutely adorable.
You neglect to notice his stare, continuing to walk around the corner, "You're telling me that after all these weeks, you still don't like the holidays? Not even a little bit?"
He shrugs, keeping up with you with ease, "It just feels a bit simple."
You look over at him slightly disappointed, prompting him to correct himself, trying his best to find the right words, "I mean...you love the holiday, and I have grown to really like the things that you feel so passionately about."
You smirk, bumping his bicep with your own teasingly, "Relax. I'm not going to bite your head off for not liking Christmas in New York City. Though I will question all of your opinions from here on out because of it."
He laughs, "You already question all of my opinions."
"Oh, right," you nod, a small smile forming at your lips.
You shiver a bit, wrapping your arms around your body before Loki looks you up and down, "Are you cold?"
"A little," you grimace, squeezing youself tighter. It had been the coldest night in the city thus far this season, and you were realizing that you probably should have added another layer or two.
"Here," he says, removing his black peacoat before draping it over your shoulders as you protest.
"Loki, no!" you whine. "It's cold! You're wearing one sweater, I don't want you to freeze to death."
He looks at you with a smirk, "Frost Giant, remember? I don't exactly get cold."
You smile softly, wrapping yourself in his jacket which smelled so much like him, "Thank you, Lokes."
"Of course, darling," he replied smoothly, following you to the end of the block.
Good lord, you had it bad for this man.
You and Loki had grown close as friends over the past ten months, ever since you started working as an assistant to Pepper Potts in the tower. Over time, you started to push through the man's tough exterior, truly forming a bond with him. You considered Loki to be one of your closest friends, and you knew that he felt the same.
The only difference was that you were head-over-heels in love with him. And Loki? There was no way in hell he felt even a fraction of that with someone like you. You didn't even have any powers. The only power you had was knowing exactly whenever Loki wanted his favorite chocolates, and you'd bargain that he could probably find that with any assistant at the Tower.
When you found out that this was his first Christmas on Midgaard, you had made it your own personal mission to make sure that he loved every second of it. He actually had no choice. You were going to make him a number one fan of Christmas in New York.
What you didn't know, and what Loki would be mortified if you were to ever find out, was that Loki would never let anyone else drag him along like this, not even Thor - but for you, Loki would do anything to make you smile.
Because Loki was crazy about you.
"Okay," you sigh, pointing at the small festival taking place in the city hub a block away. "This is my last stitch effort to win you over."
"What is this?" he asks.
"It's the annual 32nd Street Holiday Market," you reply. "Everyone in the community gathers around to sell festive treats, clothing, trinkets, mulled wine-"
"Mulled wine?" he asks, his interest immediately piqued. "That sounds delightful."
You grin, locking your arm with his, "I guess I know where we will be stopping first."
Forty-five minutes and two rounds of mulled wine later, you and Loki sat on a metal bench at the edge of the fair, giggling and joking with one another. Loki had bought you a small tchotchke of a hand-carved wooden reindeer, and you had bought him a soft green scarf, immediately wrapping it around his neck, scolding him for dressing so lightly.
"Are you having fun?" you smile, touching his arm where it lie draped over the seat of the bench.
Loki's cheeks reddened slowly, looking at your hand before nodding towards you, "Absolutely, especially now that you're so tipsy. You are an absolutely adorable drunk."
You blush, shaking your head with a chuckle, "You're so silly."
You go to push his chest playfully before your attention is drawn to the ice skating rink over Loki's shoulder.
"Have you ever been ice skating before, Horns?" you gesture to the rink behind him.
He follows your gaze and laughs hesitantly, "No, but how hard could it be?"
Apparently, very.
You drag him by both of his arms slowly as you both round the rink, his balance leaving something to be desired.
"What slipperly hell is this?" he hisses, losing his balance once more before you catch him in your arms.
You laugh, "Oh, come on. I know you're a quick learner - I'm sure you'll get the hang of this in no time, Loki."
He groans, straightening up as he grips your arms with a vice strength. He looks at you bashfully, embarassed that this is the first time you've seen him perform poorly at, well, anything.
But you look at him with an endless amount of admiration, moreso than before. You loved seeing this side of him; it made your heart swell with pride to know that he felt so comfortable being so vulnerable with you.
Time passes with minimal improvements before Loki is catching his breath and leaning against a stone wall, "I think we should call it."
"Okay," you laugh. "Thank you, by the way."
"For what?" he asks, putting his hands on his hips.
"All of this," you motion around you. "Just - spending time with me."
"Well, of course," he grins, resting his hand to cup your jaw. "I quite literally had no other plans this evening."
You smack his arm playfully, making him lose his balance before falling on his ass hard on the ice. You lurch over laughing, the both of you in a fit of giggles before you attempt to help him up.
-
After a trip to the hot chocolate stand and watching a small portion of an outdoor performance of A Christmas Carol, you and Loki began your walk back to the Tower hand in hand.
"Just so you know," Loki speaks slowly before looking at you with a soft smile. "I would have spent the evening with you regardless if I had other plans."
Your heart hammers in your chest, a bashful laugh escaping your lips, "You're just saying that, Silvertongue."
"I'm not, no, I promise," he stops, putting his hand over his chest with as much seriousness as he could muster. "Nothing gives me more joy than spending time with you, Little One."
Your lips part as you look into his eyes. His eyes glance to your lips before returning to you. You reach up on your tip toes, pressing a gentle and warm kiss to his cheek.
He looks at you with awe as you cradle his face in your hand, "Merry Christmas, Mischief."