[ there's something wrong, nico realizes, and he wonders if it's just too soon for him to pursue anything with loki. he inwardly berates himself, thinking about how hard loki had taken it when tony left. he should've known better. so he pulls his hand away, but only to wrap both of his around loki's neck, simply hugging the godling close enough so their heartbeats can be felt. ]

It's okay. It's okay, Loki. I get it. Thank you, for everything. [ he pulls back a fraction, enough to press their foreheads together. ] You mean a lot to me. I want you to be happy. But I don't want you to force anything either. If this... is too much, then I can wait however long it takes.