Thor has always been a deep sleeper. This would not be the first time Loki took advantage of that.

Loki stalked slowly towards Thor's bed, the ghost of a smile on his lips. It had been a while since he'd gotten up to any mischief on Midgard, and he was happy with his latest scheme. At first, he had wanted to simply annoy and humiliate Thor, nothing too big, just remind his not-brother that he was still at large, and could still get to him whenever the mood struck. Any number of small pranks could have achieved that. But as Loki hid on Earth and watched Thor from afar, a more devious plan occurred to him.

Thor was clearly devoted to his new teammates and his new life here. Loki had watched as The Avengers fought together, dined together, lived and worked and played and relaxed together. He watched as Thor watched movies with Clint and Natasha, chatted with Bruce and Tony, and learned about modern Midgardian life together with Steve. Steve Rogers. The Soldier, the Leader, the Man Out of Time.

It was obvious from their interactions how much Thor admired the Captain. Loki had thought that Thor, hot-headed and arrogant as he was (less so since his banishment, but still...), would be unwilling to be anything less than the leader of their group, but he took to Capt. Roger's command without question. They were brought together at first by a similar unfamiliarity with the world around them, then found they had much more in common. They were both noble and chivalrous, and were viewed as somewhat old-fashioned or anachronistic by the rest of the team. They naturally gravitated towards each other, and had forged a deep friendship. Of all his teammates, Thor valued Steve the most, and therefore, if Loki were to attempt to contaminate any of his new relationships, this would be the one most devastating for him to lose.

It was a simple enough potion to concoct. The only hard part was capturing Capt. Rogers essence so Thor's thoughts would be focused on him, rather than the first person who touched him. Loki had caused a disturbance midtown and snuck into the tower afterwards while the Avengers were being debriefed. A single hair was sufficient to complete the potion.

Loki reached the bed. He ran his fingers through Thor's hair fanned out on the pillow, then climbed on top of him so he straddled Thor's hips. He pulled the small vial out of his pocket and removed the stopper. "Oh, Brother..." he breathed, "I don't envy you the tangled web your thoughts are about to become." He ran his thumb over Thor's bottom lip so his mouth opened a sliver. Loki poured three drops of the potion into Thor's mouth, then kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, Brother. This may be your last chance to do so for a while."

Thor slept on. Loki climbed down and walked to the window. He glanced back with another small smile, then disappeared.

Thor woke the next morning with no recollection of last night's visitor. He greeted everyone at breakfast as usual. The first hint that something was amiss came when Steve entered the kitchen and sat across from Thor. Thor could not look away from him: strong jaw, clear blue eyes, handsome features. Thor felt as though he had never seen him clearly before. After staring for several minutes, he became aware that the chatter had died around him and everyone was watching him.

"You okay there, Thor?" asked Tony.

"I apologize, my mind must have been wandering."

The conversation picked up around him again. Thor shook his head slightly to clear it. He wasn't sure what had come over him.

Later that morning, Thor sat alone in the lounge. The TV was on, but he paid it no attention. He kept going back to the way Steve had looked at breakfast. His appearance did not seem to have changed in any way. Thor could not understand why he had been so struck by the Captain that morning.

Steve entered and sat close to Thor, and he was struck anew. He was very aware of their thighs touching. It was difficult to focus on Steve's words, and he could not take his eyes off the finely toned limb now pressed to his own.

"Are you feeling alright?" Steve was saying. "You seemed a bit...distracted at breakfast." He laid a concerned hand on Thor's arm.

Thor slowly lifted his eyes to Steve's face, taking in every inch along the way. After a moment, he spoke. "I was distracted, Captain." He stood. "Let us leave it at that." As much as he hated to be so abrupt (and to remove himself from Steve's suddenly alluring presence), Thor forced himself to ignore the questioning look on Steve's face and leave the room.

Thor was relieved to finally reach the solitude of his rooms that evening. The entire day had been much like the morning. He had very nearly caused an accident during team training that would have injured Tony by being so focused on the movement of Steve's lips that he didn't hear what he was actually saying. Steve want to discuss what had happened afterwards, but Thor had no explanation. None he could actually give, anyway. Thor had considered skipping dinner, but he knew that would arouse suspicion. It took all his concentration, but he managed to avoid another incident like breakfast, and escaped to his rooms as soon as he could.

He wasn't sure what was wrong with him today. Every moment spent apart from Capt. Rogers had Thor longing for him, another glance, another touch, anything. But when they were actually together, Thor was torn between that longing and wanting to flee, lest he do something he would regret.

He had always admired Steve, that much was true, and he felt a closer friendship with him than the others, but before today, friendship was truly all it was. So why was he now savoring every touch and glance, memorizing his every feature?

Thor began pacing the room. He had never really been attracted to men. Such things were not unknown on Asgard, and did not hold the same stigma that they seemed to have here on Earth. (Steve had once told him that it had been much worse at the time he came from, but Thor thought there was still a long way to go to true acceptance.) Thor had experimented some when he was younger, but for the most part had always preferred the fairer sex. Furthermore, he had known Steve for months now, and had never thought of him as anything more than a fellow warrior and friend. If he didn't know any better, he would have suspected some sort of outside influence, but Tony had reassured them all that nothing and no one could enter the tower without them knowing about it.

Thor wondered briefly if he should talk to Steve about this, but dismissed that thought as quickly as it came. Steve had spoken often of the woman he had loved before being trapped in the ice, and had courted several women since waking. He had also expressed some discomfort with the idea of men openly being together soon after the Avengers had formed. Tony had accused him of prejudice and told him how things had changed, and Steve had never expressed such thoughts again. But it proved to Thor now that his advances would be unwelcome. Thor sighed and stopped his pacing. The last thing he wanted to do was break his bond with Steve.

Thor got into bed. Perhaps tomorrow would be better. Perhaps he could shake this newfound infatuation.

He was in his chambers on Asgard. It was well after midnight. A warm breeze stirred the thin curtains and caressed his skin like a lover's sigh. He could see a figure standing on the balcony, facing him, beckoning to him. Though the moon was bright, it was as if shadows passed over the figure, blurring and shading his features so that Thor could not see him clearly until he had approached close enough to reach out and touch. Steven. His beloved. Thor smiled as he stepped even closer, close enough to feel the heat of his body, close enough to wrap his arms around Steve's shoulders, close enough to press their foreheads together. Close enough to feel Steve's breath on his lips. He ran his hands across Steve's shoulders, down his arms, across his stomach, over his naked hip, feeling the smooth skin, the hard muscles, caressing every inch he could reach of his beloved's body. He was a perfect paradigm of manhood, beautiful, powerful, ideally proportioned. There should be likenesses of him, statues of marble, to serve as an example for others to strive towards. He should be honored, revered, worshipped.

Worshipped...

Thor dropped to his knees and kissed the top of his foot, then his ankle, then the inside of his calf, dragging his lips and tongue slowly upwards. As Thor passed his knee, Steve leaned back against the stone railing of the balcony, and tipped his head back with a sigh. Thor travelled still higher, his hands stroking the sides and backs of Steve's legs while his lips continued trailing kisses across the soft flesh of his inner thigh. Just as Thor reached the crease at the top of his thigh, he felt Steve's fingers in his hair, nails scraping lightly...

Thor woke suddenly, sitting up and and scrubbing his face with his hands.

Was it not enough that Steve was in his every waking thought? Must he now invade his dreams, too? Thor looked out the window, thinking of his dream. It was still dark out, but dawn was very near. He laid back down, waiting for his alarm to go off, and willing his thoughts away from his teammate.

When Thor arrived at breakfast later that morning, he was relieved to see that Steve was not present. He began eating at top speed, hoping to finish quickly and escape before Steve showed up. His dream was still at the forefront of his mind, driving out all other thoughts, and he didn't know if he could behave properly if the subject of his nighttime visions was before him.

Beside him, Clint laughed. "Hey, slow down there, buddy, no one's going to take it from you."

Thor swallowed his mouthful, but before he could respond, Steve walked into the kitchen. Shirtless. Stretching, showing his impressive physique to its best advantage. Covered in a sheen of sweat, obviously having just come up from the gym. He poured himself a cup of coffee, with Thor watching his every movement, then turned and leaned against the counter. And smiled. Smiled directly at Thor, as if they were the only two in the room. Smiled in such a way that the only thing Thor could think of was lifting him up onto the counter and sucking his bottom lip into his mouth before kissing him breathless.

Thor sat frozen. Steve's smile turned quizzical, and he opened his mouth to speak. But before he could say a word, Thor let his fork fall onto his plate with a clatter and swiftly stood and left the room.

He left the entire tower, wandering the city and wondering what to do about his predicament. Around every corner was another sight or location that reminded him of Steve, some place they had visited together or destroyed during battle. Combined with his dream and the way Steve had looked that morning, every memory left him a bit more aroused and a lot more frustrated.

Of course, as soon as he returned to the tower, he ran into Steve almost immediately. He had almost made it to the corridor that lead to his room when Steve called from behind him.

"Hey, Thor!"

Thor took a deep, steadying breath and turned around, hoping his arousal would not be too noticeable. It was all Thor could do not to press Steve up against the wall and make him well aware of the state he had him in.

"What is it, Captain?"

Steve looked slightly taken aback by his clipped tone, but didn't comment on it. "I was thinking of going out for a while, I was hoping you'd come w-"

Thor cut him off. "I've just been out Captain, and I have other things to attend to now."

"Oh - okay then, I guess I'll see you later -"

But Thor had already turned away and was hurrying towards his room. He was aware he was being rude, but there was nothing else he could do. He forced himself to ignore the almost hurt tone of voice, tried not to picture how it would be reflected on Steve's face: knitted brow, eyes slightly narrowed though filled with concern - and so blue - slightly downturned lips...red...full...

Thor let out a low growl of frustration. Perhaps a cold shower was in order.

The cold water did not have the desired effect. He was just as aroused as he had been all morning. He rested his forehead against the cool tile and began to palm himself slowly. He tried futilely to think of anyone other than Steve; dear Jane, brave Sif, fierce Natasha, any number of comely maidens who had shared his bed back on Asgard, even Darcy, but every time his thoughts wandered back to his teammate. He clawed at the wall in frustration as the cold water assaulted his back. Finally, finally, he gave in, moaning softly as he wrapped his hand around his now fully erect cock.

Steve, smiling softly from across the table at breakfast - panting, sweaty and bloody after battle - laughing loudly with the rest of the team in the lounge - working out in the gym - bright blue eyes, soft lips, broad shoulders, strong hands - those hands, clapping him on the back, pinning him down while they sparred, knocking Thor's own hand away and fisting his cock...

Thor felt his cheeks flush even as his hand moved faster. He fervently hoped Steve would never find out about his strange fantasies. How horrified he'd be to see Thor now, if he knew what was going through his head...

What if Steve could see him now? If he burst through the door, threw back the shower curtain, and saw Thor stroking his cock rapidly while moaning Steve's name. What if he stepped into the shower, spun Thor around and pressed him back against the wall, then ran his hands down Thor's sides and hips as he dropped to his knees...

Thor threw his head back with a roar as his orgasm ripped through him. He came harder and longer than he had in years.

After a moment, he sighed heavily and turned his face to the water. It seemed nothing would distract him.

The gym was thankfully empty. Thor wandered about aimlessly, trying to calm his still agitated thoughts. Perhaps he needed a break. Living in such close quarters with the object of his obsession would surely only make it harder to get past it. He could probably find a reason to return to Asgard for a little while; the distance might be enough to turn his thoughts to anything other than -

"I hoped I would find you here."

Steve.

Thor sighed and looked out the window. His fantasies in the shower crowded into his mind and made it difficult to think of anything to say. He didn't trust himself to speak anyway.

Steve waited a moment for Thor to say something, but the silence stretched on. Steve crossed the room and stood a few feet behind him. "Thor, it seems like you've been avoiding me. Have I done something to offend you?"

"Far from it, Captain," Thor answered quietly.

Again, Steve waited for Thor to say more, but he did not. He stood with his back to Steve, staring down at his hands, willing the other to leave before he said or did something he would regret.

Steve cast about for something else to say. "We could spar, if you like, since we're both here..."

As Steve spoke, Thor imagined a scene: Steve, skin slicked with sweat, trying to pin him to the mat, but Thor is too quick, too strong, and he flips them over, pressing Steve down, tangling his hand in Steve's hair, kissing him hard, all teeth and tongues and gasps and groans, as he ruts against Steve's thigh -

"NO!"

Thor clenched his fists and turned to the side. He had spoken too quickly and too loudly. Steve took in Thor's flushed face and embarrassed look, and the way he was edging towards the door.

"Thor, tell me what's wrong. You've been acting strangely for the last day or so."

"I assure you, Captain, all is well. I've merely been..." But the excuses died on his tongue as Steve moved closer, concern etched across his face. Steve reached out a hand, but Thor backed away.

"Are you sure? Look, whatever it is, I would like to help if I can, in any way..." As he spoke, he reached out again, this time managing to lay a hand on Thor's shoulder.

Something akin to electricity radiated through Thor's body at the touch, and he snapped. With a low growl, he grabbed Steve's upper arm and shoved him roughly back into the wall. Steve's mouth fell open in surprise, but before he could say a word, Thor was on him, claiming his lips in a desperate kiss, gripping Steve's hips and pulling their bodies flush together.

Thor's eyes were closed. He didn't want to see the horrified look on Steve's face. He couldn't stop, because he knew as soon as he did there would be questions, accusations, demands for answers that he wasn't sure he could give. He didn't know what caused these sudden feelings for his teammate, he just knew that he could resist them no longer.

There it was. This was it. He felt Steve's hand on the back of his head, tangling in his hair. His head was yanked back, and Thor opened his eyes. But instead of shock or anger or confusion, the look on Steve's face was pure lust. Thor wondered at that for a moment, but then Steve's mouth was on his neck, sucking, biting, moaning his name, and Thor stopped thinking altogether.

After a few minutes of frantic kisses and wandering hands, Thor needed more. He began tugging at Steve shirt to untuck it so he could finally feel the body he had been thinking about non-stop for the past two days, but Steve stilled his hand. "Thor, we can't do this here."

Thor groaned, but he knew Steve was right. "Your room is closest, come." Thor grabbed Steve's wrist and pulled him along as he made his way to Steve's quarters as quickly as he could.

The second the door clicked shut behind them, Thor pulled off Steve's shirt and pushed him onto the bed so he could resume his quest to feel every inch of him. Thor straddled Steve's waist and ran his hands down his chest. Every touch was a balm to the burning obsession he had been suffering the last few days. Steve was reclining on his elbows, staring up at Thor with a curious mix of emotions on his face, desire and apprehension and others less easily read. Thor pressed him flat onto the bed before removing his own shirt and lying on top of him. Between kisses, Thor said, "You have no idea how badly I've wanted this. I've been unable to think of anything else for two days straight."

Steve was panting softly and had hesitantly placed his hands on Thor's waist. "Two days?"

"Yes." Steve opened his mouth to say more, but Thor kissed his lips again, swallowing his words. After a moment Thor pulled back, with Steve chasing after him, trying to prolong the kiss, but Thor extracted himself from Steve's grasp. He stood and removed the rest of his clothes, his cock jutting out proudly from his body, drawing Steve's gaze downward. Thor grinned and took himself in one hand, reaching with the other to open Steve's trousers, but Steve grabbed his wrist.

"Thor," Steve gasped, "I... I've never done this with a man before..."

It was a few moments before his words broke through Thor's lust-addled mind. He pulled back and searched Steve's face. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to say, "We do not have to continue, if that is what you wish."

"NO! No, god no, that's not what I'm saying. I just thought... you should know..." Steve looked faintly embarrassed.

Thor smiled, relieved. "Oh, Steven. I am going to give you so much pleasure." He divested Steve of the rest of his clothing and moved him further up the bed before crawling on top of him again and kissing his way down his chest and stomach. Steve pushed back up onto his elbows so he could watch. Thor smiled predatorily up at Steve when he reached his navel, then slowly licked a stripe up the underside of Steve's cock. Steve gasped and grabbed at the sheets. Thor did it again, then closed his lips around the head of his cock. He slid down agonizingly slowly while Steve moaned and twisted his hands, bucking up slightly into Thor's mouth. Thor placed a hand on Steve's hip to hold him down.

Steve began whimpering. "More...please, more..." He was almost panting for it. Thor came back up just as slowly as he went down. "Patience," he said, before swirling his tongue around the head. Steve reached back and fumbled in the drawer of the nightstand for a moment before producing a bottle of lube. Thor took it and coated his fingers. He took Steve fully back in his mouth as he pressed one finger in. Steve moaned and writhed at the intrusion. Thor held still for a few moments so he could adjust.

"Are you alright?"

Steve nodded rapidly. "Yes...I'm ready."

Thor returned his attentions to Steve's leaking cock, while adding a second and third finger as quickly as he could comfortably do so. Steve was soon arching his back and fucking himself on Thor's hand, rubbing his own chest and becoming increasingly vocal. Thor was delighted. He had imagined Steve would be more reserved, as he was outside the bedroom, but he very much prefered a more responsive lover.

"Mmmm...ah, Thor...I'm getting close..."

Thor pulled off his cock with a pop, and removed his fingers. Steve whined at the loss, but before he could speak, Thor pushed at his hip. "Roll over, on your knees."

Steve rushed to comply. Thor pushed him down onto his elbows and spread his legs apart until he was almost flat on the bed, then spread lube over one hand.

"What are you going to do?"

Thor didn't answer; instead, he spread Steve's cheeks and pressed his tongue to his entrance while reaching underneath to grab his cock. Steve took a deep, shuddering breath. "Oh, my god..."

Thor began stroking him hard and fast while plunging his tongue in as deep as he could, licking Steve open further.

"Oh, Thor..." Steve breathed, gripping the pillow beneath him and pressing back onto Thor's hot, eager mouth.

"Yesss...say it louder." Thor tightened his grip as he sucked and nibbled at the tender flesh beneath his lips.

Steve moaned out, "So good...so close...yes...Oh, god, Thor..."

Thor released his cock for a moment to deliver a sharp slap to the back of his thigh. "LOUDER! Tell the world who's taking you apart!" He began stroking Steve harder and faster than before, and bit down on his ass.

"THOR!" Steve roared as he came over Thor's hand and onto the sheets.

Steve rested his head on his hands for a moment, panting, then looked back over his shoulder at Thor. Thor grinned wickedly as he licked the cum off his fingers. Steve returned his smile. "So," said Thor, as he sat back on his knees, stroking his manhood lazily, "are you ready for more?"

Steve huffed out a laugh. "Not just yet; give me a minute." He arched his back and closed his eyes.

Thor leaned forward so his cock rested in the cleft of Steve's ass, and trailed kisses down his shoulder. "Take as long as you need." He ran his hands down Steve's back, chasing them with his lips, admiring the strong frame and muscular form. He really is a beautiful man. How did I not notice sooner?

"I did not think you would be so receptive to my advances. In fact, I was so certain of rejection, I have had to restrain myself in your presence the last few days, or leave it entirely, as my thoughts had become so clouded with want that I did not trust myself not to reveal my true feelings."

Steve rolled over and sat up, catching one of Thor's hands in his own. He did not meet Thor's eyes, instead tracing the cords on the back of his hand with one finger as he considered his words. "Where I come from, or when, I should say, this sort of...relationship was seen as an illness and a crime. I learned early on to hide that side of me. Even after waking up here and now and learning that such things were more accepted, I didn't dare...I didn't know how...I mean, I was so used to hiding it, I just kept pretending to be normal. Then, when I met you, those feelings came back. I never thought you'd want...a man...a human...me. So I kept on pretending. I was happy just to be close to you...to be friends."

Thor tipped his face up until their eyes met. "I always felt a deeper connection with you than any of the others. But it was only very recently that I realized what was missing." Thor kissed him softly. "I am only sorry we did not do this sooner."

Steve smiled. "So am I."

Thor pulled Steve up onto his knees and kissed him again, starting out soft but quickly turning heated. Thor could feel Steve's growing interest against his hip. Thor took Steve in hand to stroke him back to full hardness, and Steve followed his lead.

Thor could not get enough of Steve. His touches, his taste, the scent of him, the feel of the coarse hair beneath his hand and the hard muscles. Thor fell back onto the bed, pulling Steve down on top of him. Steve yelped in surprise but caught himself before landing with his full weight on Thor and laughed. Thor chuckled too and held Steve as tightly as he dared, relishing the feel of their bodies pressed together. Steve began rocking his hips slowly to rub their cocks together.

"Are you ready for more?" Thor asked.

Steve didn't answer right away, apparently lost in his own pleasure. Thor bucked up slightly and rubbed his thighs to get his attention. Steve's eyes flew open.

"More, love?" Thor repeated.

Steve nodded rapidly. "Yes. Yes, more. Tell me what to do." He moved as though to get off, but Thor stopped him.

"Stay there." Thor grabbed the lube to rub on his cock and Steve's hole, inserting one finger then two to make sure he was still prepared. Steve's head dropped back with a moan as he grabbed his cock and began riding Thor's fingers. Thor stopped him after a moment and pulled him forward so he could position himself at Steve's entrance. "You're in control in this position. Just relax, go slow, and do what feels best to you." He lightly stroked Steve's cock while waiting for him to make the next move.

Steve took a deep breath and pressed down, taking the head of Thor's cock inside. Thor's eyes rolled back in his head. So tight... They were both panting heavily, Steve with the overwhelming sensations that were completely new to him, Thor with the effort of holding back from thrusting up into him. Steve was rocking back and forth slightly, thighs trembling, taking Thor a little deeper each time. They moaned simultaneously when he finally bottomed out. When Steve began moving again, Thor thrust up slightly, experimentally, then harder when Steve responded positively. They soon had a good rhythm going, and Thor knew he wouldn't last much longer, though he wished it would never end.

Steve suddenly gasped and leaned forward. "What was... oh, do that again." Thor attempted to replicate the movement and knew he succeeded when Steve gasped again and clenched down hard on Thor's cock. Thor groaned at the sensation and grabbed Steve's hips to hold him still so he could try to brush against that special spot more frequently. Soon he had the angle right to hit it with almost every thrust, and Steve was becoming completely unhinged. He was writhing in Thor's grasp, hands scrabbling at Thor's shoulders and chest, head rolling and mouth open with half-formed words that grew increasingly louder as he drew closer to release. Soon he could do nothing more than scream, "Oh...oh...OH! THOOOOOOOR!" as he came completely untouched between them. The sight of Steve coming undone and feel of his insides throbbing around Thor's cock was enough to send him over the edge as well.

The sudden silence in the room was deafening. Steve moved to lay on the bed as well, but Thor held him still for a moment longer, wanting to prolong the feeling of utter completion he felt in the moment of release. It was a relief beyond the pleasure of his body; it was a soothing of his mind of the agitation he'd been suffering. After a few moments more, Thor pulled out and rolled them so they were laying side by side and staring into each other's eyes. Thor smiled at his newfound lover. "We will have to do that again sometime."

Steve laughed softly and leaned forward to touch their foreheads together. "Yeah. Definitely. As soon as possible."

That night, Loki decided to check on his handiwork. He appeared in the tower well after midnight and went searching for Thor. When he glanced in Steve's rooms, he stood frozen in shock. Steve and Thor were asleep, lying naked together on top of the blankets with limbs entangled. "Well now," he whispered to himself, "this is unexpected. Looks like you owe me one, Brother."

Steve stirred a little at the sound in the otherwise silent room. Loki immediately disappeared. Steve opened his eyes and glanced around. When his gaze landed on his bedmate, he smiled softly and ran his fingers through Thor's hair. Then he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.