Natural Disaster

   Thor made sure that his horse matched the pace of Loki’s all the way to the western province. He might not have been able to stop Loki from coming on this quest, but he was going to make damn sure that Loki didn’t endanger himself more.

   “You do know that I am perfectly capable of protecting myself,” Loki said without sparing a glance in the Aesir’s direction.

   “We can’t be too careful. Loki. We know not how many wish for your death nor how well planned this is.”

   “Ah yes, because I’m the Jotun runt whose virility will unite the realms.” Loki rolled his eyes.

   “I didn’t mean it as such and you know it.” Thor snapped.

    The Jotun smiled only just. “I know Thor, but that is precisely how most in this realm view me. What else would you have me do sit and wait at the palace until someone else came to attack?” Loki meets his eyes. “At least here, I’m surrounded by the greatest warriors in all of Asgard,” Loki smirked as Thor puffed out his chest with pride. “And you, of course.”

   Thor deflated. “I could have bested you if I’d been allowed my hammer.”

   He laughed. “No, you wouldn’t have.”

    The blond prince huffed. “I’ll gladly face you in a rematch tomorrow. If you doubt my skill.”

   “I don’t think its battle skills he’d like to best you with,” Tyr said from behind them. Balder smirked.

    Thor threw Mjolnir over his shoulder, knocking Tyr off the ass-end of his horse. This was preceded by Balder laughing so hard he too almost ended up on the ground.

   “I did mean my battle skills I am rarely bested.”

   Loki was still smirking. “Thor, any warrior out there could have bested you today. You were incapable of winning. I ensured as much last night.”

   Thor stared at Loki. “You cursed me!”

   “I did not I drugged you.”

   “You put poison in my wine!” Thor growled.

   Loki rolled his eyes. “I drugged you not poisoned. There is a big difference, mainly how you’re still alive.”

   “But his pride isn’t.” Balder laughed.

   Thor glared back over his shoulder at his younger brother before releasing Mjolnir once again, this time knocking Balder from his stead.

   “Would you stop abusing your brothers.” Loki sighed.

   “They started it.” Whined Thor like a toddler.

   “And I’m finishing it!”

    “What?” Thor asked confused before, Loki’s seidr flared to life and caused a higher up branch to bend down and slap Thor in the face. Like his brothers, Thor fell off the back end of his horse.

    Loki pulled his own to a stop as he laughed at Thor in the mud.

    Thor bolted up from the ground a bruise forming over the right side of his face. “Loki! You could have taken out my eye!”

    Loki just smirked. “Maybe like your sire, it would have granted you wisdom.”

    When the convoy finally stopped at a lake to allow the horses some drink and rest, Odin eyed his sons and Loki with suspicion.

    Loki stood stroking his horse’s face while Thor, Tyr, and Balder washed mud from the scrapes on their own faces.

   “My sons, was there a fight along the way I was not aware of?”

    The young men looked at him. “No father.”

   “Then, tell me, Thor, why do you look as though someone bested you and left a mark?”

   The three Odinsons turned their eyes to Loki.

   Loki smirked. “Let’s just say that words bruise more than one would think.”

    Odin turned his eye back to his sons. “Indeed.”

    The party reached Lord Hifelson’s manor, only to find it in flames. The local villagers were running about with buckets attempting to save their Lord’s manor. Hifeslson & his family were nowhere in sight.

  Tyr immediately turned his back to the flames to give orders to the Einherjar.

   “Lieutenant! Assemble your men to assist the villagers with the fire brigade.”

   The Lieutenant nodded before turning to give orders.

   Tyr turned to Thor and his friends. “Volstagg! Njord! Continue riding southwest. I fear Lord Hifelson may have set the fire himself as a distraction for his escape.”

   The two older men kicked their horses onward.

   “Sif! Hogun! Take the Southeast.”

   “Loki-” Tyr turned only to find Loki off his horse manipulating the water from the buckets the villagers brought him. “That. Carry on.”

   He turned to his older brother. “If ever there was a time for you to conjure a rainstorm out of will, brother, this would be it.”

   “I’m sorry, Tyr. I can only do so if I’m upset.”

   “That’s easy enough to achieve.” Fandral dismounted his horse and strutted towards the fire brigade. As he passed by, he patted Balder’s thigh. Balder sighed and took the reins of Fandral’s horse in his hands.

    When Fandral reached Loki, he spun him around and grabbed him by the waist. The Jotun was quite surprised.

   “What are you-”

   “We need rain and we need Thor to be angered.”

    Smirking Loki placed his hands on Fandral’s chest.

    “I see.” He said leaning forward and kissing him. Loki moaned as Fandral kissing back and slid his hands to his backside. Seconds later, thunder rattled the ground and lightning split the skies as the rain began to pour. Loki broke away from Fandral to take a look at Thor.

    His eyes were practically lightning themselves.

    Tyr laughed as he spoke. “Balder, take him Northwest to search and keep him away from Thor.

     Loki winked at him as he rode by before turning back to the fire. Thor glared at his friend until he was out of sight.

      Tyr continued directing people to fight the fire.

       “And what would you order of me, Commander?” Odin quipped.

        Tyr turned to his king. “My apologies, Father, you outrank me and I should have waited for your orders before giving my own.”

         “It's alright, my boy. Seeing how well you lead the Einherjar, it gives me comfort to know when I’m gone our people will still be protected. Now if I can just get Thor to run the kingdom smoothly.” He motioned to his eldest son, who had joined in the bucket brigade.

         Tyr threw his leg over his horse and slid out of the saddle. “I believe Loki will achieve that in ways you can’t get through to him.”

          The Allfather watched as the two worked in perfect synchronization. Thor brought Loki buckets to manipulate the water into hard streams before turning them to ice on parts of charred timbers. As the ice steamed and melted, Loki used his seidr to cool it and send it back to the flames, while Loki did this Thor gathered more buckets.

           When they weren’t distracted by their feelings towards one another they were a force to be reckoned with. Norns help any who should cross them.

            Suddenly, something came hurdling out the upper window. Thor and Loki shared a brief glance before Loki sent a blast of water at the flames in the window.

Thor spun his hammer until she lifted him from the ground. He broke threw the burning timbers into the room.

            One of Lord Hifelson’s daughters lay on the floor. He quickly scooped her into his arms and retreated back through the window. Smoke burned his lungs and eyes.

            He leaped from the window to the ground. Coughing and sputtering, Thor laid the girl down. Loki pushed to her side. He knelt down next to her and placed his hands over her chest. They began to glow with green magic.

            The girl took a huge gasping breath and began coughing. Thor turned to Loki amazed at the master sorcerer he had become.

            A satisfied smirk pulled at his lips just before his eyes rolled to the back of his head. As Loki fell unconscious, Thor caught him with a grunt. He was still recovering from the smoke.

            The girl opened her eyes. “Is anyone else in there alive?”

            She shook her head and placed a hand on Thor’s thigh. “Thank you for saving me. If there is anything-”

            “No,” Thor growled before lifting and Loki bridal style and carrying him away.

            Loki awoke covered in furs. He could hear men laughing distantly.

            “How are you feeling?” Thor was sitting on a stool near the tent’s entrance.

            Loki groaned as he sat up. “Like I passed out from exhausting my seidr.”

            Thor chuckled and rose from his seat. He had to duck his head and shoulders to keep from taking down the tent. “You saved her life at your own expense. That was a noble thing to do.”

            Loki rolled his eyes. “I saved our witness in hopes of getting information. My intentions were not that of pure heroics such as yours, Thunderer.”

            Thor sat down on the furs next to Loki and offered him one of the bowls of stew in his hands. “Regardless of your intentions, your actions were noble.”

            Loki hid his blush by taking a sip of the soup. They sat in silence until the younger prince spoke again. “Has she said anything?”

            Thor stared down. “Not about what happened. But she is… grateful to say the least.”

            “Damn. We need a lead from her.”

            “Tyr has her under guard in case whoever set the fire tries to silence her.”

            “They could be watching the camp now or could have already left the realm.”

            Silence drew again.

            “Thor?”

            He hummed in response as he slurped up a noodle.

            “Why are we sharing a tent?”

            The blond set his empty bowl aside. “I… um… Tyr was joking that when Fandral got back, he’d bunk you two together for some… alone time. I got a bit protective and… lightning split a tree in two across the road.”

            Loki smirked. “So Tyr decided it best to have you bunk with me?”

            “Yes, and to help me escape Amora, she’s been trying to show me how ‘grateful’ she is for me pulling her from the flames.”

            “You must know that isn’t Tyr’s only motive for forcing us to share a tent.”

            Thor began to defend his brother. “I assure you Tyr has no nefarious plots. My brother is a good man.”

            Loki handed his empty bowl to Thor. “Nefarious no, but a plot most certainly.” Thor pulled a face. “Balder and Tyr are taking bets as to when or if you will try to bed me. I believe your friends and Njord have also placed some coin into these wagers.”

            Thor gaped like a fish. “You lie!”

            “Frequently and very well but not about this. If you don’t believe me go ask them.”

            Thor scoffed. “My brothers know better than to rouse my temper.”

            Loki grinned and leaned in to whisper into Thor’s ear. “Then let’s try things my way.”

            From his position around the campfire, Tyr could see when Thor emerged from his tent. He jabbed Balder in his side with his elbow and directed his attention to Thor.

            Thor, who was shirtless- chest gleaming in the firelight with sweat, was fastening his belt as he walked towards the fire. His hair was loose and wild.

            Balder turned to Tyr to waggle his eyebrows.

            Thor dropped down on a log next to Tyr. He just stared into the flames without a word.

            Tyr grabbed a mug of ale and handed it to his older brother. “Thor, are you alright?”

            When he spoke he brought Thor out of his daze. “Oh yes, thank you.”

            Balder took a sip of his own drink to hide his glee. “How’s Loki?”

            “He’s much better now that he’s rested. Healing Amora took a lot out of him.”

            “Well did you put the fire back into him?” Tyr winked.

            Thor paused in his movement of his mug to his lips. “I don’t catch your meaning, brother.”

            Njord ceased his conversation with Volstag. “Thor, there is a love bite on your chest and all of us are at least a bit curious about Loki in a physical manner. Humor us a bit.”

            Thor grinned. “Rest assured you all may be curious but I will never let you experience his pleasures first hand.”

            “Don’t tease us. Give us at least a bit of meat.” Balder whined.

            “Aye. I would but there is none left; Loki took it all.”

            That got everyone’s attention. Volstagg and Tyr swore. Fandral had been usually quiet, probably hoping not to encore Thor’s jealous rage. His lecherous curiosity finally began too much.

            “Was your seed planted in fertile ground or did he wish for it to go unsown?”

            Thor chuckled. “Only time will tell if anything is to be reaped.”

            Tyr and Balder exchanged glances. “Thor, if Father finds out you sowed your seed out of a marriage bed, you know what he will do.”

            Thor threw his head back and laughed. “Let him. ‘s not such a dreadful fate to be married to the most beautiful creature in all the realms.” He caught Loki’s eyes in the shadows, which he hid. The Jotun ducked his head with a blush.

            “Aw! Sounds like Thor’s in love.” Balder sang-songed.

            “Oh stop it.” Thor rolled his eyes before taking a sip of Ale. It didn’t stop however Fandral joined in Balder’s chant. “Thor’s in love with Loki- Thor’s in love with Loki.”

            Njord rolled his eyes. “Fandral-Balder, are you five centuries old? As amusing as it is to torment my cousin, I’m going to bed and escaping this childishness.” He downed his meade and stood.

            Tyr cleared his throat.” Cousin, aren’t you forgetting something?”

            Njord sighed and reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins that he handed to Tyr. “There that’s all I have right now. I’ll give you the rest back in the citadel.”

            Thor could see Loki in the shadows. He gave him a slight nod. Loki only smirked and faded into the shadows.

            “Njord don’t leave. There is a spring feed pond not far from camp. I thought we all might go take a swim and wash all this soot off.”

            Volstagg slammed down his mug. “A glorious notion indeed. Aye, count me in.”

            The group of six men walked through the woods to the pond. Thor led the way with Balder wielding his light seidr by his side. The moment they walked down the sloped bank and saw the stars reflecting on the black water, they stripped and ran towards it.

They splashed and played like children. Thor grabbed Tyr and dunked him under. It quickly became a game of Thor and Volstagg versus everyone else.

            After a while, Thor heard the call of an owl native not of Asgard but Jotunheim. He laughed as he flipped his wet hair out of his face and strolled out of the water.

            He snatched his trousers from the ground and slipped them back on. “By the Norns, Thor, you must have torn Loki apart with that weapon.”

            Thor laughed with the others.

            “Aye. He would have, had I let him between my thighs.” Loki called as he dropped from a tree branch and sauntered over to Thor.

            “But Thor said-”

            “I know what Thor said. Anyone can be a good liar with coaching.” The Jotun leaned against Thor’s shoulder. All eyes turned to Thor as the pair started laughing.

            “What was the purpose of these lies?”

            Loki grinned like a cat with cream. “Tell me, where did you leave your clothes, Tyr?”

            Njord, Volstagg, Fandral, and Tyr paled. “Where are they?” demanded Balder.

            “In the trees. Thor wouldn’t let me dress the bilgesnipe with them. I would hurry to collect them. The ladies of the local village use these waters to do laundry in the early morn hours before dawn. You only have a few hours left.”

            Thor took Loki’s arm to walk back to camp. They didn’t get two steps before Njord commanded a wave to drench both of them.