[Rogue nodded, not really trusting herself to speak.
This didn't feel quite real.
But she stood there, only slightly less tense than before. She didn't have to worry about absorbing him, and worrisome as that was, long term, immediately it was a relief. She clung to that knowledge like a life preserver.
It was a welcome distraction, a comfort, but it wasn't enough. This much close proximity, this much contact had her nerves blazing. Every instinct demanded that she do something, make it stop or intensify it.
Rogue started thinking of bland things. Sand. Palm trees. Rocks. Cheese. What Tony would say if he saw this right now--
No, don't think about that, Rogue.
She was rather proud of herself that when his finger brushed her forehead, she didn't do much more than exhale sharply and jump slightly in place.
Mountains. Dogs. Motorcycles. Oooh, motorcycles. She started naming all the pieces of the engine, even as her gaze made a constant pilgrimage between Loki's face and the fascinating space over his shoulder.
Her shoulders slumped in - something - relief - when he let go. Her tone was like a child's on the last period of the last day of classes before summer break.]
Are we done?
[He didn't have to do that for the rest of her white strands, did he?]
[Shortly before they leave to wreak all the havoc]
This didn't feel quite real.
But she stood there, only slightly less tense than before. She didn't have to worry about absorbing him, and worrisome as that was, long term, immediately it was a relief. She clung to that knowledge like a life preserver.
It was a welcome distraction, a comfort, but it wasn't enough. This much close proximity, this much contact had her nerves blazing. Every instinct demanded that she do something, make it stop or intensify it.
Rogue started thinking of bland things. Sand. Palm trees. Rocks. Cheese. What Tony would say if he saw this right now--
No, don't think about that, Rogue.
She was rather proud of herself that when his finger brushed her forehead, she didn't do much more than exhale sharply and jump slightly in place.
Mountains. Dogs. Motorcycles. Oooh, motorcycles. She started naming all the pieces of the engine, even as her gaze made a constant pilgrimage between Loki's face and the fascinating space over his shoulder.
Her shoulders slumped in - something - relief - when he let go. Her tone was like a child's on the last period of the last day of classes before summer break.]
Are we done?
[He didn't have to do that for the rest of her white strands, did he?]