justdontgiveame | Labyrinthum Inbox

"I'd trust you to do that." Puck stayed where he was for the time being. "I thought you were here for my impromptu magic show." he joked with a bit of a sad smile and an exhale. "I haven't let myself do that in a while. But it did help."

The fear was easing off and with it, Puck's breathing steadied. "I think this for another moment, and then snacks." He gave a small nod of self confirmation. "Then some cuddling. A decent enough order to everything."

But when he spoke again, the confidence that had been in his voice was muted slightly. "I'm glad you're here." His grip tightened. "Very glad."

"This is what partners do, right? Friends, and lovers." Loki murmured back, tightening his grip for Puck as well. "And if you want to do more magic later, I will watch your back and help set things aright. I understand a need for outlets as well."

It was a good decision though, to stay there for now. Loki could and would be the strong one here--had been learning how to be so for others. Nor was it that difficult, as even his darker possessive sides agreed. Puck was, in many ways, his which included his to protect and to comfort.

"It is." Puck confirmed with a little chuckle. "As fun as the idea sounds of.. oh, I'm not sure where I'd start, but it'd probably involve transforming the forest into candy for a bit. But no, as fun as that idea does sound, I'll hold off for now."

He hugged Loki. "But it's good to know I've got someone who would be fine with that." It really was a better idea that they stayed in. Puck wouldn't be a rude host by dismissing Loki's kindness at coming to check on him. Also, the wounds were a little too fresh to be pacified by a round of quick fire transformation magic, or breaking things.

Likewise, Puck wanted to return Loki's want to protect and comfort in his own ways, even if he didn't pick up on any darker sides coming into play. Puck could be equally as driven to protect his loved ones. It came with the territory.

He broke the hug and turned to look at the table properly, eying the cakes and wine.

"So, tell the truth-- How many of these can you eat?"

"Before getting sick? Depends on the size. Of those...about a dozen." No hesitation, and letting Puck go when the other wanted. "I've not done it in a while however as I do very viscerally remember the last time I tried. Hedonist I may be, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid or forgetful."

Puck's eyes widened. He hadn't been expecting such a high number, and once he was at the table, he would wait for Loki to sit before sitting next to him. "A dozen! I was expecting.. four, maybe five at the most. Well, I certainly don't expect you to do that now."

He picked up one of the cakes, had a bite, and nodded at the taste. It wasn't the kind of sweetness that could knock someone metaphorically over. Puck could easily see having more before all of it landed at once. He chewed, swallowed and spoke after.

"I'm glad you're not, I'd hate to try explaining what ginger ale is and hoping I could find some for the resulting stomachaches."

"Ginger and lemon tea, was Mother's prescription. Or whatever is closest to those as I think there was also at least one Asgardian herb. In any case, I'm not going to be trying that again anytime, if ever. Once was enough." Loki sat easily, pleased when Puck sat next to him. "Any that we don't polish off are also yours to keep. They'll be good for another day or two. The same with the mead."

"I can imagine. I know some desserts on Earth can be very strong." Puck could think of at least three with some version of the name Death By Chocolate, all of them challenges from the idea of sugar itself, angry at the hubris of mortals but disguised as special occasion desserts. He finished one of the cakes in a few more bites and nodded.

"I don't want to say there won't be any left, so I won't say that." Puck got up long enough to grab some cups for the mead and then sat back down, pouring equal amounts into each cup. "Honey on top of honey. Somewhere, bees are thrilled."

"Also likely somewhat better for us than pure sugar or wine." Loki said, having already had half of his honey cake. Raising up his glass to, in faint toast and acknowledgement to his host. "We've had enough bitter, lately."

Puck nodded, lifting his glass in return. "We have, to less of it." He had a drink and smiled a bit after. "Oh, that blends together very nicely!" Puck could see why it was popular.

"Good. I am still willing to listen, too. Or I could try distracting you with stories or songs if you wanted." Loki said, after taking a drink. He was here for Puck, no matter what.

Puck sat his cup down and spoke after a moment. "You could distract me with your good looks." he joked with a faint smile. "But.. I've not felt that kind of anger or fear in a while. Having it uncovered by a series of questions was.."

Puck picked up another cake and had a small bite. "It was surprising. I'd thought I'd dealt with it."

"Was it because it's been a while, or perhaps because you weren't expecting it to be here. Or to be 'thrown' at you, so to speak, the way it was?" Loki was keeping it to gentle questioning that Puck didn't have to answer. But trying to tease out some of the specifics for his lover, to help analyze and overcome.

"Oh, I've heard plenty of idiocy in my years. I didn't expect it to be here, no. Humans.. Well, beings in general have different ideas of what fae are like. If all someone knows is the sanitized version, or if someone's been raised differently; then I can see why 'pretend they're here' is considered harmless. But from where I am as a member of their actual court, it just caught me off guard. It isn't harmless, and I didn't like the attempts at goading."

A small sip of mead was had. "It's only because Webby is a child that I managed to catch myself before either of those feelings could take over. I doubt it would have gone well if that had happened. I like playing with emotions as much as the next trickster, but there's a limit to it."

So it had been the mix of having it thrown at him along with just not expecting either of those emotional responses to kick in just at the idea of either Oberon or Titania actually being around. Or having to think about them outside of a vague awareness that they were probably still in Avalon going through their marital disputes and other dramas.

"I told her I didn't want to pretend they were there, and she just ignored that in hopes that I'd do what she wanted anyway. Where's the fun in that?" Puck asked with a huff.

Edited (editing for clarity!) 2024-03-25 02:46 (UTC)

"Webby is just that. A child." Loki agreed, understanding the other's grumpiness. Reaching up to stroke his hair and cheek, to soothe and remind the other he was there. "Because she has no idea of the real danger, as a child does. For all that she's been in dangerous situations, some life-threatening, she gets over it quickly. She's yet to see it fail, or have the bad consequences. It's all still, in many ways, a game to her for all that she may take it seriously. She also was not thinking about potential harm to others, only to herself. She's short-sighted in the way children often are, especially if they're unused to truly bad things happening without some hero or great act making it all 'right' again."

"Your feelings are all very valid and true though, and I'm similar. I would not like the attempts either, and old wounds can still hurt when poked or prodded. Especially unknowingly."

Edited 2024-03-25 02:49 (UTC)

Puck sighed. "You're right-- a child's understanding is different. I hope she learns from it, but I won't be there to explain in detail what she did wrong. I'm nobody's parent. Treating life like a game only works for so long, but I've seen older beings do the same."

Puck smiled at the touches and allowed his eyes to slide closed for a moment. "They can. Though recognizing that I could just stop responding was also very nice, honestly. I wish it hadn't reached that point, but here we are."

He reopened his eyes and had some more of his second honey cake.

"Here we are, and that's part of why I'm here." Loki said softly, one more affectionate brush before he pulled away. "You're not her parent, or her guardian, as much as you may care for her. Others will fight the battle too--and from what I saw, Aurora was doing quite a good job. Webby will learn, one way or another. Hopefully in a way that is not too painful, but if so? Well...that is sometimes the only way to learn."

"Still, I can't exactly show up as Owen, though I'd be amused by trying."

"All of that is true.. Even if I'm glad to have you here to help me get through all of the aftermath. Some of the hardest things to learn can come with the most pain." Puck really wasn't a stranger to that idea himself. Loki's last comment got him to laugh and he quickly put the cake down before he could drop it.

"I would be shocked if it happened!" But Puck knew what Loki meant by that and smiled. "I know what you're trying to say. Thank you."

"Well now I have to do this sometime just to see that reaction." Loki said with a smirk and mischief in blue-green eyes. But he nodded to Puck, and reached out to squeeze the other's hand.

"I would help you, against them. YOU are my priority and who I care about."

"I'll try to prepare for it." Puck joked back before he returned the hand squeeze and let his fingers lace with Loki's.

Puck knew that emotions were just a part of life itself, but having someone else to help through the harder ones provided a deep level of comfort. He smiled.

"I hope it doesn't come to that, but we make a good team. I'm sure we could handle both."

Loki's words were touching Puck deeper than even he realized, and his vision blurred for a moment as tears came in. With a bit of a chuckle, he reached up with his free hand and wiped at them.

"Ah."

Loki kept their hands laced, but wrapped his other arm around Puck too if he could. Letting the other hide, or lean if he wanted. There to be strength and support for Puck after all.

"Webby shouldn't have hurt you. I don't think she's realized that she IS hurting us, and not in service to a good cause like she thinks. Perhaps, later, she'll apologize or not." Loki mused softly, then nuzzled Puck's hair and forehead. "But I am proud of you, and you've given me a very good example to follow. In not lashing out but in removing myself before I hurt someone who doesn't deserve it and-or that I might care for."

Puck moved until he was leaning against Loki and sighed. "If she does or doesn't, it doesn't matter." Puck was still upset by all of it but he had meant what he'd said. He wouldn't take the ire he had for Oberon and Titania out on anyone except the two of them.

He smiled at the sudden nuzzling. "Oh, I never mentioned that I'm great at leaving a party, did I? Poor me, forgetting to bring up one of my stronger suits." he answered a bit quietly. "But no.. That's gotten me out of more sticky situations than I can think of right now." In some very decent comedic timing, Puck had some more of his mead.

Loki let him shift, moving with him to accommodate and hold him still. "See whereas I'm the one to make it all dramatic and then just walk out." He teased back softly. "It means when I do leave without attracting notice, no one actually realizes it and its easier to be sneaky."

The mead and cakes were brought for Puck primarily, so he could have as many as he wanted.

Puck laughed. "I can imagine both easily, and both fit you well. As far as being sneaky goes.." Puck rolled his shoulders in a lazy approximation of a shrug. "Of course we are. We're both tricksters. You don't get that title without knowing how to hide things."

Puck switched to Owen's voice suddenly. "Which I've already demonstrated nicely."

Puck wouldn't make himself sick on the cakes or mead, but he was enjoying both. The cup was finished and returned to the table. When he spoke again it was his normal voice. "Speaking of, I think Owen is due to show up again. I don't want him to be a wallflower, but he doesn't need to be the life of the party, either. I'll figure that out some other time."

The empty cup was refilled, and Puck eyed the next cake thoughtfully before simply throwing it into the mead. "Oh, why not? It can't hurt anything."

"Around enough to make himself present, but not showy. An appearance is due, yes." Loki agreed, then chuckled with Puck's actions. Hoping they meant that the fae felt better.

"At most, you might get a stomach-ache. But I'll help you weather that too." Loki murmured, bringing one hand up to stroke Puck's cheek and face affectionately. "You're my partner, and that's what partners do."

"Exactly. When I find the right time for it, he'll make one." Puck was feeling noticeably better and idly watched as the cake soaked up a fair amount of the mead.

"It's worth it, honestly." he responded with a playful grin before he leaned against Loki's hand. "They do, and if you ever decide to have another dozen of these I'll find some ginger and lemon tea ahead of your throwing caution into the wind." Puck assured him. It felt nice to joke around-- familiar, and comforting at the same time.

The cake was gently fished out of the cup and quickly eaten before it could fall apart. Puck inhaled sharply as the sweetness of the combination hit as hard as ice cream eaten too fast in the summer. He winced and closed his eyes for a minute, biting back a laugh, his hubris challenged and beaten.

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