Fall

Loki blinks back the tears that burn his eyes. He swallows hard and offers Frigga a tight smile.

“Your son? Am I not your son, also?” he challenges

Loki can see the Einherjar out of the corner of his eye. They are watching them. They are waiting for the moment when they can enter Loki’s cell and slay him where he stands. He takes a step back from Frigga and watches the number of emotions that flit their way across her face. She does not know how to answer him and yet that is answer enough in Loki’s eyes. He lets out a short, harsh bark of laughter and shakes his head at the woman before him.

“Oh, your silence speaks volumes, Mother.”

Frigga’s eyes slide shut for a moment as she takes a deep breath in.

“Loki, why must you play these games? Repent for what you have done and your father shall free you, that much I can guarantee.” She says softly as she taps on the pane of glass behind her.

Loki smirks and shakes his head.

“I shall not repent. I have done no more wrong than Thor.”

Frigga raises an eyebrow as she turns to leave.

“If you loved Thor the way you claim, you would repent.”

Loki makes a snarling sound and waves his mother away.

“Do not feel obligated to visit me anymore, woman. Your company only sours my mood.”

Frigga watches him through the glass sadly, a small smile on her lips.

“By blood you are not mine, Loki, but I love you nonetheless.” She promises.

Loki huffs at her and turns his head dismissively.

“If you loved me I would not be incarcerated in here. I would be roaming the palace like the Mighty Thor.” He says bitterly.

He doesn’t look up again. Instead he turns away and faces the blank, white wall opposite him. He can feel a lump in his throat, threatening to choke him.

“He is not so mighty without you by his side.” He hears Frigga whisper as she walks away.

Loki waits until she is long out of sight before screaming, a long, drawn out sound that causes the other prisoners shift in their cells uncomfortably.

.

Thor dreams of Loki. He dreams of his smooth skin and hot mouth, his gentle touch and sharp laughter. In his dreams Loki is young and carefree, he is the child from his youth that captured his attention so masterfully.

“Why can’t you sleep Thor?” Dream Loki whispers, stroking his face softly.

His dark hair is long and curly like it used be when they were young boys together. His cheeks are plumper with a hint of peach. His green eyes sparkle with mischief and Thor closes the distance between them eagerly.

“You know this is a dream, yes?” Young Loki breathes against his mouth.

Thor sighs and nods.

“Of course. But there are some traces of memory hidden within.”

Dream Loki laughs, a sound that soon becomes a cackles as his morphs into his brother now, all wiry muscles and sharp angles. His kind, sweet smile turns to one of dark humour. His long dark hiar becomes something shorter and much more unkempt.

“Ah, but only the good memories.” Loki snarls. “You would not dare recall the bad ones, would you?”

The light around them dims somewhat and suddenly they are both covered in blood. Thor knows that it is only a dream but the liquid is hot and wet on his skin and he can smell the iron, the back of his throat burning. He looks down at his hands and sees that they too are dripping with blood. Loki drops to a crouch before him and smirks up at him, his head tilted to the side almost playfully.

“Aye. You remember this, don’t you, brother? Jane lying at my feet, both of us drenched in her blood. It was beautiful, wasn’t it?” he laughs breathlessly.

Thor glances around and sees Jane’s limp, lifeless form at his feet. He shakes his head and takes a step back.

“This is only a dream.” He mutters, pinching himself, desperate to wake up.

Loki chortles happily.

“Ah! But there are some traces of memory hidden within, are there not?” he mocks, his eyes glittering with something dark and dangerous.

“Why are you doing this?” Thor demands.

Loki’s smile vanishes and he scowls up at Thor.

“Because you have left me to rot in that cell, haven’t you brother? After all your promises, all of those brave words. I am nothing more than a prisoner to you now.”

Thor shakes his head.

“That is not true, Loki! I care for you as deeply as ever but-”

“But what?” Loki hisses. “Are you really prepared to lose another loved one?”

He takes a swift kick at Jane’s motionless body causing the body to roll lifelessly. Thor’s stomach turns as he meets Loki’s hot gaze.

“I will do everything I can to free you-”

“Do it faster.” Loki growls before going up in flames.

Thor’s eyes snap open and he exhales slowly, his chest feeling much too tight.

“Damn you brother.” He whispers.

.

“He is not himself.” Sif mutters to Balder as she watches Thor spar in the training arena.

His movements are jerky and violent and too quick for her liking. He fights with a bloodlust Sif has never seen in training before. His opponents cower before him, practically surrendering before he has even delivered the last blow.

Balder shrugs coolly.

“Perhaps that is a good thing. Perhaps we need a new Thor, born anew with a fresh perspective.” He says calmly.

Sif looks at him sharply.

“Whatever he has done cannot be that bad. Surely the Allfather would have punished him as harshly as Loki had he been deserving of it?”

Balder sighs exasperatedly and gives Sif an impatient look.

“Do you honestly believe that? Father has spent centuries grooming Thor into the perfect warrior and king, do you think he would throw that all away by tarnishing his name?” he demands.

Sif eyes narrow as she watches Balder carefully.

“Thor cannot be as guilty Loki. Loki committed treason and murdered thousands of people with-”

“With Thor at his side.” Balder finishes firmly. “I have come to realize that my brothers are monsters that care more for themselves and their selfish urges than the people of Asgard.”

Sif frowns and turns her attention back to Thor. He was no longer fighting. Instead he was staring off into the distance, a disturbed and unhappy expression on his face.

“He misses him.” Sif says softly.

Balder glances at Thor. He knows he is. He can see it in everything Thor does. He is at a loss without Loki by his side.

“You do not.” She observes.

Balder shrugs once again, tearing his eyes away from Thor to look Sif in the eye.

“He was never a brother to me.” He answers truthfully. “I never understood what Thor saw in him.”

.

Their first fight had confirmed their relationship. Before it, they never knew if they were brothers or lovers or just brothers pretending to be lovers or lovers pretending to be brothers. It had been their mothers birthday. They were no longer boys. Thor was a man and Loki was just a few years behind. There had been a magnificent feast and royalty and dignitaries from all across the Nine were present. People were dancing and drinking and the merriment went on to be something that people talked about for moons afterwards. Thor and Loki has stayed by each other’s side, as always, commenting on the guests and jesting with each other.

Then, she had asked Thor to dance.

She was beautiful, all willowy curves and long blond hair. At first Loki felt slighted that she had not asked him. But then he watched them dance together, watched the way Thor’s hands crept down her back, just above the swell of her buttocks. He had whispered something in her ear and then he had kissed her.

“Oh. Aren’t they beautiful together!” Frigga had marvelled.

Loki saw red. With the flick of his hand, he forced the young beauty to trip over her dress. He then allowed a chandelier to drop right beside her, narrowly missing her left side. She had screamed and clung to Thor and the Thundered had met his stormy gaze with something furious brewing inside him. He made his excuses to the maiden and marched over towards Loki, dragging him towards the door. People were watching and whispering but they did not care. Thor had thrown him through the doors, pushing him up against the stone wall behind him.

“What kind of foolish trickery was that, Loki? You could have seriously hurt her!” he had roared.

“And what difference would that make, Thor? She is just another mindless, pretty woman wishing to spread her legs for the Golden Son of Asgard!” he had snarled.

“What is the matter with you?” Thor demanded. “It was only a dance!”

“And a kiss!” Loki hissed. “You kissed her right in front of me as though it were nothing!”

“But Loki, why does that-?”

“Because I love you, you stupid oaf!” Loki had all but shrieked.

The silence that followed afterwards had been deafening. Loki had made an attempt to slip away but Thor pinned him against the wall with all his weight, his blue eyes searching Loki’s desperately.

“Do you mean that?” he whispered.

Loki swallowed and nodded. Thor pressed his lips against Loki’s softly, the kiss gentle and loving and almost too much for Loki.

“Then I am sorry.” He whispered against Loki’s lips. “I did not realize that this… that we…”

“Neither did I.”