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“Hugo, just back down next time. Please.”
Loki held up a tissue to the other boys nose, pinching down on its bridge as blood trickled down Hugo’s face. Hugo had looked somewhat small while leaning forward with his head down, his pose akin to a slight bow. His eyes stared a hole into the ground as he waited for the gush of blood to stagnate. A small puddle of blood had formed on the floor, foggily displaying the two boys reflections.
“At least this is just practice,” Loki sighed. “You don’t normally pull things to levels this severe. Tone it down, okay?”
Hugo’s almost-silent hum signified some sort of compliance. He knew his words could get to people— it’s not often he has to resort to his psychological warfare, but when he does, it’s around a 90% success rate. The 10% failure either refers to ineffectiveness, or a situation as such where someone’s anger turns physical. He never hits back, though. Only speaks.
“You know we can’t risk commotion or injury on a bigger stage, especially since it’s you we’d be losing. You’re integral to this team, Hugo.”
Hugo looked up slightly, eyes trailing from the floor up to Loki’s collarbone then finally landing on his face, as if his vision alone let him eat the sight in front of him. He reached for the hand Loki had on his nose, slowly grabbing and bringing it down to his chest, allowing for a small amount of blood to run down his face. Lifting his head up fully, Hugo made eye contact with a bewildered yet humorously intrigued Loki. He’d returned to standing at his usual height, his eyes not once leaving Loki’s despite the now present height difference.
The red of the blood brightly contrasted against him, complementing both his complexion and hair. Hugo’s eyes had a subtle softness—almost a look of triumph— as the two stared at each other. Loki’s partial bewilderment had quickly conformed completely into amusement, a small smile forming across his face. His once-gushing nose had finally come to a complete stop.
Hugo spoke in a tone that clearly came out faster than intended, barely containing his appreciation for the other’s words.
“Let’s go practice. I’m ready. Beep boop.”
Loki reached his hand out to Hugo’s face, cupping it and running his thumb through where the blood had left itself. The smudge left a trail of red going from his nose to about halfway across his cheek. Hugo looked way too good with blood smudged all over his face, he thought to himself, the smile on his face widening a bit. He brought the others face down to his level and leaned in, leaving a small kiss on his lips and then another on the smudge of blood.
He then pulled away, replacing holding Hugo’s face by taking the other’s wrist in hand. He turned towards the infirmary door, still looking at Hugo.
“Try to keep up.”
Hugo looked at him with wide eyes, the faint blush on his face deepening. He took another tissue and dabbed the rest of the blood off his face. If this sight of Loki was only his to see, then this sight of himself would be only for Loki, too. Sharing moments like this with other people wasn’t something the either of them liked.
“You think I won’t?”
A small, hopeful question. Hugo knows he’s capable; he just wants to hear Loki say so.
“I know you will.”
The pair exited the infirmary side by side, Loki’s hand on his wrist moving down to interlock their fingers.
Perhaps Hugo should pick more fights.