Loki ordering for him gets a light, boyish raise of the eyebrows, pleased that old habits die hard. He's perfectly content with it, considering he's only shoved a tiny breakfast sandwich from the gas station down his gullet this morning. They're not huddled in the back booth of a Denny's at 2am and instead are in what looks like an artisenal cafe/restaurant, but things change. They've changed.
Paul can see it. Not just the growth spurt, the new-old tattoos: Loki's happy with what he's doing, on some level. It's in the way he carries himself. He'd seemed directionless before, small and willing to set himself on fire if it meant keeping others warm. At least now he can channel that in his profession.
Loki's face only twitches like it had earlier if he really, really cares. Paul finds himself glancing down for a hint of a wedding ring and finds a tiny cross tattoo nestled between Loki's thumb and forefinger instead. He wants to touch it. Touch Loki, too. A touch on the shoulder to see if he carries all of his tension there still. A hand over that undercut to feel the buzzed sides.
"LA feels like home," he confesses, and he's surprised at how hurt he suddenly feels about that fact despite the use of the present tense. The coffee arrives and Paul finally moves, reaching over to grab his cup.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-08-25 04:03 pm (UTC)Paul can see it. Not just the growth spurt, the new-old tattoos: Loki's happy with what he's doing, on some level. It's in the way he carries himself. He'd seemed directionless before, small and willing to set himself on fire if it meant keeping others warm. At least now he can channel that in his profession.
Loki's face only twitches like it had earlier if he really, really cares. Paul finds himself glancing down for a hint of a wedding ring and finds a tiny cross tattoo nestled between Loki's thumb and forefinger instead. He wants to touch it. Touch Loki, too. A touch on the shoulder to see if he carries all of his tension there still. A hand over that undercut to feel the buzzed sides.
"LA feels like home," he confesses, and he's surprised at how hurt he suddenly feels about that fact despite the use of the present tense. The coffee arrives and Paul finally moves, reaching over to grab his cup.
"Sorry about your car."