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They’re in a locker room, it’s pretty humid, steam is in the air. Some guys are hollering and loitering by the showers. Loki’s seen plenty of interesting guys around in his years. He’d fought all types of monsters and aliens, he himself was quite different as well. Though he passed himself for being a normal human quite well.
Right now he was fastening the laces on his shoes, eased along with slight magic as he noticed a newer acquaintance of his enter their area of lockers, it was sort of secluded, drawn back into the corners. Most other guys in there would have to take a few steps to see where they were.
This new friend of his, Orm, was quite an interesting fellow really. He was interested in politics and philosophy and arcane lore. He was supposedly an Atlantean king, well wannabe king, really he was a prince, but Loki could see he didn’t like being called that.
The two of them were in a similar situation as of late, trying to rough it during a period of exile, supposedly hostile takeovers and commandeering nuclear weapons is considered treason. So they were banished to the suburbs of Anywhere, America. Both beings had somehow settled in there, and frequented some of the same establishments, why exactly they were both in the Crunch Fitness, he only knew the half of. Loki found a strange solace in exercising his physical form, not very often but a jog here and there calmed him.
While Orm was smart and well educated, often leading in advanced topics of conversation he certainly dressed the other way. Loki was almost surprised at his wit at first. Loki found himself changing his clothes magically most of the time, to avoid the ease of his many fancy buttons and ribbons. This Orm, he was different. He always wore just t-shirts, shorts and sandals, one would have never guessed he was a prince.
Loki had also never seen Orm here before. They usually found each other studying local culture at a library or just out on the streets. “Well if it isn’t my fishy friend.” Loki greeted him as Orm walked in.
Orm hadn’t seemed to notice Loki at first, turning around with his hands at a locker. “Hello Loki.”
Loki smiled at the return of greeting, like he’d been invited in.
“Would I be able to find you in the swimming pool?”
“What?” Orm’s voice wavered only slightly.
“Was that assumptive? Are you here to use the gym’s pool?”
“No.”
Orm cranked open his locker, he was looking away for a moment, taking out some clothes before he turned around. “If you wish to know, I am practicing cardio. Training my lungs.”
“Oh yes, they are… abnormally small, correct?” The corner of his lip peaked against his will.
Orm scoffed and held from saying anything for a second, he lifted his t-shirt up above his head. Revealing to Loki that he wore a compression top underneath, hugging tightly to well defined muscles, each pec and ab standing out all on its own. “They’re average for my people.”
Loki was nearly too stunned to speak as he watched Orm undressing, the nerdy Atlantean prince was fit? The supposed emo little brother of Aquaman was practically ripped! He wasn’t just smart but he was hot too. Unfathomable odds. Loki struggled to find his tongue again.
“Not above average? I mean you are royalty.” He splathered out.
Orm’s gaze flickered, again he seemed vaguely offended but neglected to react strongly. “Yes actually, above average, I was just trying not to boast.” He huffed.
“Still smaller than mine I bet.” Loki teased.
Orm quirked a brow, “I hope so.”
Orm’s hand dipped, his fingers lingering under the edges of his waist band, and he lifted the compression gear. Loki (shame questionable) stared.
The man was gorgeously built, the freckles or spots? He didn’t know- often visible elsewhere continued onto his torso as well, and now a whole new prize awaited. Loki was of course familiar with the gills on his neck but now he was surprised to see Orm had more gills on the sides of his upper abdomen. As Orm took a breath, they seemed to move, struggling, as if they wanted to be the ones working instead of the lungs.
“What are you looking at?” Orm growled, and Loki was brought back.
“What do you think?” Loki asked, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. ‘Your sexy fucking body, hello?’
“They’re called gills.” Orm turned away. ‘He thinks I’m a freak. He’s the damn freak.’
“Yes I know what gills are, I didn’t expect to see them there.” He gestures.
Orm pulled on a new shirt, covering everything back up again. “You surface dwellers never do.”
Loki forced himself to look away, and looked down, making sure he had actually finished tying his shoes.
Orm sat down now, to change his own shoes, the man actually had some sneakers and socks for once. Loki watched from the corner of his eye. “Allow me.” He spoke, along with a snap.
Using magic he changed Orm’s shoes for him, and Orm looked up still seeming irked.
“What? You don’t have servants to help dress you in Atlantis?” Loki tried now.
“You use magic so frivolously.” Orm said, standing up once again, Loki joined him.
“I happen to be quite an expert, thank you.”
“Right.” Orm walked out from the area and Loki watched him leave.
When Orm found his way to a treadmill out in the main gym floor, the people nearby wavered, some moving further away. Whether it was his general aura or they had any inkling of who he was he repelled people.
Loki could work with that, he could be anyone he wanted to be, and none of them would be repelled. He’d had the vague thought earlier that maybe Orm wasn’t interested in men. He didn’t seem outright gay but they’d discussed in the past about Atlantis having a much less heteronormative society and more mainstream queer and poly identities.
Was Loki assuming again, maybe Orm meant it just in a matter-of-fact way- he sounded like that about everything. Like most things were black and white. Maybe the man was straight, he kind of gave that vibe, more masculine and traditional.
Orm started up his treadmill and began to walk before speeding up to a light jog, he definitely wasn’t used to moving like this. He jogged for a few moments before he heard a clunk beside him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Loki climbing up onto the neighboring treadmill. He ignored it at first and kept moving.
Loki began to jog beside him, and to make it worse he started to chat. “You’re quite a heavy mouth breather.”
“Another astute observation.” Orm huffed out.
“Fish are remarkable creatures aren’t they? They are far more efficient at utilizing oxygen than land creatures. Especially in an environment that has a much lower volume of it.”
Orm took in a deep breath, now Loki finally says something interesting, but clearly he was trying to mock him. He looked over to give the other a quick glare, and was surprised to find Loki’s outfit had slightly changed. The materials of his clothing were now noticeably more sheer, something that would have been more normal in Atlantis maybe but in their current area would have caught you a dirty eye. ‘This guy’s weird’ He thinks.
Loki busts out his hip as he catches Orm’s glance, hoping his appearance would catch him, but Orm’s expression doesn’t change before he looks away.
Loki glances down at himself, he can see his own nipples easily through his tank, the fabric that is there struggling to hold what little of a chest he has anyway. Maybe Orm really wasn’t into guys.
“Now you’re even more impressive.” He says now, “You can convert oxygen in any environment.” The purr in his voice is so heavy it’s almost embarrassing.
“Right.” Orm says again, agreeing shortly, if he said any more he feared the statement would be proven wrong, he really did need to train his lungs better.
‘This guy doesn’t even realize I’m trying to flirt with him.’ Loki swears internally. ‘Less heteronormative my ass’. How much thicker did he need to lay it on?
Loki kept running for a few more minutes before gradually slowing down and slipping back off the end of the treadmill. He walked between the two, resting an elbow on the rail of Orm’s treadmill. With his other hand he lifted a water bottle and took a sultry little sip from it. Orm scowled at him.
“Thirsty?” Loki asked.
“No.” Orm grumbled, though it was obviously a lie, he had barely any control, his body was confused as hell from the jogging, sweating off all his moisture it held.
“Suit yourself.” Loki took another sip and Orm looked about ready to kill.
“On second thought I’ll leave this here.” He set the bottle down on the treadmill's little dashboard, and stepped away.
Loki continued to think, it was time to switch it up. After stepping away for a moment he started up his own treadmill again. He had a new plan.
As Loki began to jog again Orm paid no mind at first. Seemingly he didn’t notice anything different.
Loki let out the daintiest little cough, as he ran and thinking surely Orm might, what? Chivalrously toss back the water bottle. Even look over to check on him. And finally after a moment, Orm reluctantly turned his head again, this time a noticeable reaction occurring.
“What the hell?” Orm slowed his jog, and coughed, trying to clear his throat.
“Women are also excellent long-distance runners, don’t you know?”
“Yes but why would you- Nevermind, I don’t even care.” Orm looked away again.
Loki cursed herself again, this time she didn’t need to look down to see her tits as she jogged.
Orm showed absolutely no care now, he acted as if she didn’t even exist, like he never noticed her in the first place. It seemed Loki’s more feminine form had surprised Orm but did not succeed in stirring him any further. This was beyond puzzling at this point.
Loki was sure Orm being straight was the answer. Or perhaps any other number of circumstances, maybe Orm only liked Atlanteans, that in part seems like a given but when it comes down to it many Atlanteans don’t really look that different. Maybe Orm was more particular however, maybe he liked a specific hair color? Something super specific. Loki had scarcely the patience to set himself up in any manner of looks. Then he dwindled, ‘maybe Orm doesn’t like me.’
Orm only kept on jogging for a few minutes longer before taking a break. He slowed and took the water bottle Loki had placed earlier, drinking the whole thing in a gulp before setting it back down. Somehow the prince managed to slip in a whisper of a “thanks” somewhere as well.
Loki slowed as well, their form had faded at this point, quite neutral, they didn’t know where they stood. Like a plank in the wind, splinters for eyes looking dead into the heart of the hurricane. The hurricane being pretty little Orm of course.
“Everything okay?” Orm asked quietly, both in part because he was winded and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer.
“Could we run through a hypothetical?” Loki suggested, and he snapped his fingers once more, Orm observing as his water bottle was refilled.
“Go on.”
“You’re a visibly athletic man, you must enjoy exercise and training to some extent?”
“I do.” Orm sipped his water.
“Do you find it rewarding to be in the presence of others during these times?” The sound of a pen clicking could be faintly heard drifting in the aether.
“I suppose, I have trained with others for many years.”
“Now, what would really boost your morale? Hypothetically your new training partner is a little fluid appearance-wise.” Loki flexed their arms.
“I have no preference.”
“But you must, it is just a hypothetical Orm, please relax.”
“I haven’t a preference, does that not seem rather sex partial?”
Loki’s gaze narrowed trying to psychically connect with Orm for at least a microsecond so he could understand what the hell that was supposed to mean. ‘Of course it’s partial, that is the point of the question.’
Orm clarified himself, “A woman and man serve as equally fine training companions, depending only on their skill.”
“I meant like y’know, what would inspire you more?” Loki sought for the right wording, but it was not to be had. “Surely a man like you must like to admire his partner’s form.”
“Naturally.”
“Well then.” At a total loss, “I don’t think we’re talking about the same form.”
“Probably not, did you mean underwater or above water?”
“Definitely not.” Loki sighed, “By Odin’s beard Orm, I mean like their form.” He gestured wildly towards Orm’s blazen muscles.
Orm blinked, his expression otherwise unchanged, finally something seemed to click for him “are you trying to flirt with me?”
“No.” Loki uttered, eye contact between the two holding in a cold fuzz. “Yes of course I am!”
“I didn’t realize you held such interests in me.” Orm scratched his neck, the man really had had no clue.
“You think I act like this around everyone?”
“Well… yeah? I find you very strange, Loki.”
“Good to know.”
“That is not an insult, I find many strange things around here.”
“As do I, but perhaps I have overestimated my belief that certain concepts were universal.”
“You could have just asked, I wouldn’t have been offended.”
“Well then, would you be interested in me? That is, uhrm romantically?”
“No.”
“Well now I’m the one offended aren’t I.”
“Loki, I'm not interested in anyone romantically. I thought maybe you could tell.”
“You what?”
Orm took another gulp of his water and set the bottle down. “I guess not.”
“You- when you said- I guess I thought- alright then.”
“Yeah.”