Salon buddies for @favoriteanalyst

[cuttingremark]

It started about a few months ago. Loki needed to relax after making the mistake of spending his winter holidays with his 'family' (which ended in another spectacular fight with Odin that resulted in one broken window and a lost snow globe Loki has thrown through said broken window), but his normal esthetician was booked solid for the next year and couldn't fit him in outside of his own pre-scheduled appointments no matter how much money he offered to throw at her. Wanda was the best in the city, probably the whole country, so it made sense, but there's still the issue of Loki needing something to relieve his tension so he didn't strangle his paralegals. The thought crossed his mind of setting up a tindr profile for a quick fuck, but he isn't in law school anymore and that was just a disaster waiting to happen.



Wanda saves him from making a bad decision by texting him the information for another technician she helped train. She claims he's new, but very talented, which he figures will do in a pinch. The link she sent him takes him to a rather outdated looking webpage for the "TVA Salon and Spa", an older establishment that apparently started in the 50's as a barber shop, but recent made the jump to full salon under new management. Despite the clunky UI, he's able to schedule an appointment for a basic manicure the very next day with the young man Wanda had told him about.

Casey is a nice young man. Not anywhere as skilled as Wanda, but his nails come out looking acceptable with their basic black polish and the hand massage he gets to begin with is utterly divine. He doesn't go into detail about his family problems, but the other gets the gist that the holidays were strained and is more than willing to play the oh-so-important role of listening ear even if his platitudes do ring a little hollow.

When the appointment is over, Casey hands him a card for a free deep conditioning treatment or 30 minute shoulder massage.

"These are really just for family and friends," he explains, "but you really seem like you need something to help you relax." He thinks about declining, but decides it isn't polite and takes the card anyway before handing the young man a $400 tip.

The stern looking woman at the front desk gives him a serious look as Casey nearly passes out in the background. "I'm going to be checking those to make sure they're real."

"But of course, I would expect nothing less." His usual winning smile does nothing to lighten her glare as she rings him out. She asks if he wants to use the card to schedule something today. Why not? It's a charming establishment and he has some free time coming up.

The masseuse the card is good for, Bee, is apparently booked solid for the next month, but the stylist, Mobius, just had a cancellation in the following week that fit perfectly in his schedule.

That appointment was the beginning of the end for Loki.

So in he walks six months later, having ditched his normal high-end stylist for a middle-aged man who looks like he works in a cubicle rather than a up-and-coming salon. It isn't his normally scheduled appointment, but his cases have been crazy and Thor just left for his "journey of self-discovery" aka backpacking across Europe, so all of Odin's attention is now on his youngest.

Joy.

If Loki were the sentimental type, he'd think it a shame that the lobby area of a salon is more comfortable for him than his childhood home.

Comments

[cuttingremark]

Loki giggles, pretty sure that isn't how paparazzi work.

"It's more than alright. I realize this is going a little fast, but...I like you. And I enjoy your company a great deal."

[favoriteanalyst]

"Well. Good. I'd hope so. They're still gonna have to reverse image search me to figure out my name. And then, soon enough, it won't matter anymore. But you've got a mystery man boyfriend willing to start shit. It's intrigue."

[cuttingremark]

"My favorite kind of intrigue. The type I know all the answers to." They get back to the hotel without further issue, Loki giving Mobius a sweet kiss as the elevator doors close.

[favoriteanalyst]

He certainly hopes that they won't wake up tomorrow to find the hotel surrounded by curious locals about the mystery man. For now, he'll relax and indulge in his boyfriend and their dessert. When they're in their room (Loki's room, their room, same thing at this point) he sets up by a little table by the window. It feels better than pretending not to notice the stares and the quickly turned heads, here.

"I really have had a good time here, all things considered. It's been a crazy month, and I can't believe we're doing this." It might all fall apart. It might not last. It might only be a passing fling after all--but he hopes not. "I can't believe you look at me and see anything at all."

[cuttingremark]

Loki casually rubs his foot against Mobius' leg. It isn't an overtly sensual motion, more founded in his need for contact than anything.

"And I can't believe I've told you all this bullshit about my past and family and you haven't gone running for the hills."

[favoriteanalyst]

"Please," he says with a scoff and a mild roll of the eyes, "my dad was a cop in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. A less than strictly tolerable parent who just happens to be in the public eye isn't enough to get me to blink. But it's apparently enough to get me to almost throw hands, so."

[cuttingremark]

"And that fire is one of the many things I find so attractive about you." He scoops up a bit of chocolate cake on his fork and holds it out for Mobius to take a bite. "That and your rugged good looks and amazing dick."

[favoriteanalyst]

His lips are just wrapped around the fork for that last bit, so he's struggling not to laugh while doing so. Doesn't quite work out, but nothing goes anywhere, so, success. "If only old partners of mine had been so gung ho about my dick; maybe I would've gone into something like porn when I was still finding my footing."

[cuttingremark]

Loki snickers at the reaction. "You know that was my backup plan if Odin ever cut me off."

[favoriteanalyst]

"What, get into porn?" He wiggles his own fork around in thought for a moment before cutting off a piece of strawberry cheesecake to offer up. "Now that I can see. You're a bit... I don't wanna say desperate. Overeager?"

[cuttingremark]

Loki chuckles before leaning forward to take the bite, eyes closing to savor the flavor.

"I may have a high sex drive. It's been a bit higher the past few weeks. Can't imagine why." He winks.

[favoriteanalyst]

"Am I your type?" An honest and interested question. "Older gentlemen do it for you?" something something daddy issues something

[cuttingremark]

"Occasionally, yes." He cocks his head, considering Mobius carefully. "It's not just that, though. It helps, don't get me wrong. But I think I would have been attracted to you even if you were a younger man."

[favoriteanalyst]

"For someone so into sex, you always show up for an appointment all touch-starved." Don't think he hasn't noticed after a couple times. "Maybe if you were seeing someone regularly for nails or a massage, they'd be sitting here instead." Musing aloud.

[cuttingremark]

"You think I didn't have a regular stylist before you? Armand was devastated when I made the swap." His foot continues it's motion. "There's just something about you that draws me in."

[favoriteanalyst]

"I'm flattered. Really. I don't see whatever it is you see, but I'm glad you see it. And then there's you. Easy to fall into your orbit. You make everything so easy and effortless somehow."

[cuttingremark]

Loki chuckles, his cheeks dusting every so slightly at the compliment. "They did call me Silvertongue for a reason."

[favoriteanalyst]

"And it wasn't entirely for your skills at oral?" Mobius shakes his head. "I wouldn't say it's that. Makes you sound like a liar, like a snake oil salesman or something. I know all the jokes about lawyers, sure, but. That's not what makes you easy to be around."

[cuttingremark]

"A name can have many meanings." Loki holds out another fork full of cake. "Perhaps we are simply drawn to each other. Like it's fate." At the last second he pulls the fork back and directs the bite into his own mouth, smirking playfully.

[favoriteanalyst]

He leans at the offer of cake--and pouts when it's pulled away. "You tease. Maybe the rest of this cheesecake is for me then." No, Loki will get more. In a second. "Fate, maybe, I doubt it. I think it's just...lucky happenstance that we crossed paths. Enough to feel like a twist of fate."

[cuttingremark]

"Whatever it is, I'm glad it happened." Loki leans across the small table and places a quick kiss on Mobius' nose.

[favoriteanalyst]

His smile is soft, grateful to have the company, finding Loki just cute in the moment. "Me too. It's a whirlwind, but a good whirlwind. And being around you is exciting. When was I ever gonna have paparazzi interested in me, huh?"

[cuttingremark]

"I'm sure it would have happened eventually. Your roguish good looks couldn't go ignored forever." Loki offers him another bite, this time of cheesecake, and this time doesn't pull away.

[favoriteanalyst]

He wraps his lips around the fork and lingers, letting a perhaps exaggerated enjoyment flutter across his face before slowly pulling back again with a delighted hum of approval.

"Is that what I've got, roguish looks."

[cuttingremark]

Loki nods, watching Mobius carefully as he pulls back from the fork. He leans forwards again quickly, before Mobius can fully pull back, capturing his lips in a deep kiss.