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[dothelokimotion]

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[dothelokimotion]

[ laughter, like bells. ]

My brother isn't around. I won't tell him if you won't.

[thirtythird]

Our little secret, mo chridhe.

[The fumbled rush of static that comes with a kiss blown through the communicators before he hangs up. William is infinitely better than he'd been even a day before, but focusing on putting one leg before the other still feels important.

Less important is what bubbles to his lips when he does, finally, find his way to where Loki's restin.] --I had a dream the other day that I'd bought you a house.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki is still heavily bandaged around his torso and leg. his eyes widen, surprised and intrigued at the same time. a house. he could taste the future on his lips. he reaches out to brush his fingertips over the curve of william's jaw. ]

What would it look like?

[thirtythird]

[Very natural to lean against that light touch. Also quite natural to sit carefully in the presence of the injured while looking as casual as ever; a subtle but well-practiced skill.]

Oh-- nothing less than a proper manor house, love. [It's a foolish fantasy, but it makes him smile to ponder.] We'd have a little summer cottage up north, but-- a real house most of the year. With tall ceilings and lovely staircases.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki tilts his head at william curiously. ]

Is it normal to have two houses?

[thirtythird]

One is more-- average. [Admittedly.] But there's not much better to spend a fortune on.

[No need to get into how many palaces existed, surely. That got a bit dizzying.]

Quite nice, if you can manage it.

[dothelokimotion]

It shouldn't be too hard.

[ says the prince. ]

I've never thought about it before. Having a place of my own.

[thirtythird]

[There's a proper smile for that, despite the softness of his laugh.]

Of your own? Will I only be allowed in one of the houses?

[dothelokimotion]

Oh. Yes, of course. My apologies.

[thirtythird]

It might be the secret to a happy marriage, having our own houses.

[They've been doing well with their own spaces--and he could certainly imagine his mother would have preferred a house without his father in it from time to time.]

It is quite nice, really. Having a space all your own.

[dothelokimotion]

I had my own rooms, of course, but after . . . [ his brow furrows. ] . . . after I left, I didn't have anywhere else to go.

And settling down seemed too dangerous when I was being hunted.

[thirtythird]

[Logical, but based upon an unpleasant premise. There's a practiced thoughtlessness to reaching to tangle their fingers together.]

Something to explore, then.

[dothelokimotion]

Mmmm.

[ his eyelashes flutter even as he twines their fingers together in a squeeze. ]

My mother liked gardens.

[thirtythird]

We'll have to plant a large one. Just under the bedroom window. [It's actually thoughtless but entirely comforting to run his thumb across Loki's knuckles.] Calla lilies do well enough in the south of England.

[dothelokimotion]

[ william's act of remembrance brings a smile to loki's face. ]

What would you add to the house? Specifically for yourself?

[thirtythird]

A library. With great big chairs you could fall asleep in.

[Another silly thing, admittedly, but it twists the corners of his lips up all the same.]

And a good writing desk.

[dothelokimotion]

[ the corners of his eyes crinkle. ]

I loved the library in the palace. I used to stay there for days. Thor had to drag me out.

[thirtythird]

And you were probably actually reading, clever thing. I only want a quiet place for a nap.

[dothelokimotion]

There are worse places for a nap.

Were you trying to hide in the library?

[thirtythird]

[William has to blink at that. It's hardly surprising Loki is perceptive; it's just strange, after all these year, to still be learning things about himself.]

Sometimes, yes.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki smiles faintly. ]

We all need places to hide ourselves away.

[thirtythird]

The best and worst company one can find, hm?

[dothelokimotion]

. . . I don't really remember if I ever had company there.

[thirtythird]

Aye, the company of oneself. The person who remembers all your accomplishments and failings best.

[His attention drops to their joined hands, studying the patter of twined fingers.]

I had one of my first kisses in a library.

[And it had taken a while to get that one out of the failings category, apparently.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ ah. his fingers tighten briefly. ]

With whom?